Seminoles’ Weinke Now Having a Blast

Party on, Chris Weinke.

Nice to see the balding, 26-year-old sophomore quarterback has adjusted to college life.

After leading Florida State to last week’s win over North Carolina, Weinke threw a postgame bash at his off-campus home that was halted by Tallahassee police in the wee hours.

Officer: “Mr. Weinke, could you please ask your son to turn down the music.”

Weinke: “I am the son!”

Weinke has reason to celebrate. After nearly losing his starting job after his six-interception game against North Carolina State on Sept. 12, Weinke has been almost perfect in leading the Seminoles back into national title contention.

In his last seven games, Weinke has thrown for 1,884 yards, 16 touchdowns and no interceptions.

Saturday’s game will probably decide the Atlantic Coast Conference title. A win by Florida State would continue the Seminoles’ dominance in the conference.

Currently No. 6 in the bowl championship series rankings, Florida State can help itself by knocking off No. 5 Florida on Nov. 21, but the Seminoles would still probably need a loss from three of the four remaining schools ranked above them--Ohio State, Tennessee, UCLA, Kansas State--to have a chance to finish first or second in the BCS.

Virginia is one of only two ACC schools to defeat Florida State, but the Cavaliers have a history of fading in November and are not the same defensively since the loss of star safety Anthony Poindexter because of a season-ending injury.

With Nebraska’s 47-game home winning streak ended last week by Texas, Florida State now owns the current longest streak with 38 wins in a row at home.

Line: Florida State by 17.

Rating the TV Games

**** Don’t leave the recliner

*** The yardwork can wait

** OK to flip to fishing show

* For arena football scouts only

** No. 13 Notre Dame (6-1) at Boston College (3-5), 9 a.m., Channel 2

Notre Dame pays respects to Big East before taking all sports to Big Ten next year.

Line: Notre Dame by 11 1/2.

** Minnesota (4-4) at No. 8 Wisconsin (8-0), 9 a.m., ESPN

Badgers’ last dance with wallflower before closing Big Ten season against Michigan and Penn State.

Line: Wisconsin by 20.

* Maryland (2-6) at North Carolina (3-4), 9 a.m., ESPN2

Um, this looked like a good game at August production meeting.

Line: North Carolina by 16.

** No. 25 Air Force (7-1) at Army (2-5), 9 a.m., FSW

Air Force ranked nationally but trails Wyoming in wacky WAC Mountain Division.

Line: Air Force by 12.

*** Colorado (6-2) at No. 18 Missouri (6-2), 9:30 a.m., FSW2

Reunion of famous “Fifth Down” game. Buffaloes’ offense could use a few extra downs now.

Line: Missouri by 6.

*** Washington (5-3) at No. 21 Oregon (6-2), 12:30 p.m., Channel 7

The 100th fan to enter Autzen Stadium wins Ducks’ starting tailback spot.

Line: Oregon by 6 1/2.

** Alabama (5-3) at Louisiana State (4-4), 12:30, p.m. Channel 2

In survey of nation’s biggest football teases, LSU dubbed “Syracuse of the South.”

Line: LSU by 9.

*** Mississippi State (5-2) at Kentucky (5-3), 3 p.m., ESPN2

Bulldogs need win to stay in SEC West race; Wildcats need to pad Tim Couch’s passing stats.

Line: Kentucky by 7 1/2.

** Fresno State (3-5) at San Diego State (4-4), 4 p.m., Channel 7

Aztecs damaged WAC title hopes with loss to BYU; Fresno State damaged credibility by hiring Tarkanian.

Line: San Diego State by 1.

** Oklahoma (3-5) at No. 7 Texas A&M; (8-1), 4 p.m. FX

A loss here and Sooner Coach John Blake can start cleaning out Barry Switzer’s old desk.

Line: Texas A&M; by 19.

*** No. 15 Syracuse (5-2) at West Virginia (4-3), 4:30 p.m., ESPN

In one swoop, Orangemen can strengthen hold on Big East lead and make the Mountaineers squirm for bowl bid.

Line: Syracuse by 2 1/2.

** Wyoming (7-1) at Colorado State (7-3), 6 p.m., ESPN2

ABC chiefs call emergency meeting to find out why so many WAC games being televised.

Line: Colorado State by 7.

* San Jose State (3-6) at Hawaii (0-8) (tape) 12:30 a.m., FSW2

“Last call for college football!”

Line: San Jose State by 7 1/2.

5 Things To Look For

1. Kansas State fans rooting for 7-2 Nebraska to romp against Iowa State. Say what? The Cornhuskers’ slide is the worst thing that could have happened to Kansas State. The Wildcats needed a win over a 10-0 Nebraska on Nov. 14 to propel them to the top. At No. 4 in the BCS standings, a Kansas State win over a reeling Nebraska doesn’t mean as much.

2. Travis Prentice holding on to the ball. The Miami of Ohio tailback trails only Texas’ Ricky Williams for the national rushing race, averaging 160.5 yards a game in helping the 7-1 Redhawks to their best start in 21 years. The chance of Prentice fumbling against Northern Illinois on Saturday? Slim. He has 601 consecutive carries without a fumble.

3. Jim Everett hearing more footsteps. With 2,982 yards, Purdue sophomore quarterback Drew Brees needs 670 passing yards in three games to break Everett’s school record of 3,651. With remaining games against Northwestern, Michigan State and Indiana, we like Brees’ chances.

4. Central Florida at Auburn. Much like Marshall’s Randy Moss a year ago, Daunte Culpepper is not getting the Heisman attention he deserves. Culpepper is having a terrific year, leading the nation in total offense, 404 yards a game, and passing efficiency with a 178.7 rating. Culpepper’s one mistake was an early season loss to Purdue in Central Florida’s only scheduled national television appearance.

5. Ricky’s march toward Dorsett. Ricky Williams needs 294 yards against Oklahoma State on Saturday to break Tony Dorsett’s Division I-A NCAA rushing record 6,082. Don’t count Williams out this weekend--he’s averaging 204 yards a game--but he’ll probably pass Dorsett at Texas Tech next week or against Texas A&M; on Nov. 27.

The Other Games

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FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG at Arizona 24 Washington St. at Arizona St. 6 1/2 California Penn St. 3 at Michigan at Ohio St. 28 Michigan St. at Navy 11 Rutgers at Bowling Green 7 Akron Purdue 13 at Northwestern at N. Carolina St. 14 Wake Forest W. Michigan 10 1/2 at Ball St. at Ohio 13 1/2 E. Michigan at Marshall 19 Cent. Michigan at Texas 11 1/2 Oklahoma St. Miami, Ohio 16 at N. Illinois Kansas St. 29 at Baylor Nebraska 26 1/2 at Iowa St. Florida 29 at Vanderbilt at BYU 16 1/2 New Mexico at Arkansas 9 1/2 Mississippi Tulane 16 1/2 at Memphis Indiana 13 1/2 at Illinois at Utah 17 Texas El Paso at SMU 8 Tulsa at TCU 2 1/2 Rice So. Mississippi 9 at Houston at Pittsburgh 14 Temple at Auburn 5 Central Florida at Kansas 16 North Texas Louisiana Tech 18 at Arkansas St. Nevada 6 1/2 at Utah St. at Tennessee 42 Ala. Birmingham at NE Louisiana 11 SW Louisiana at New Mexico St. 3 1/2 Boise St.

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CHRIS DUFRESNE’s Top 25

1. Ohio State (8-0): Buckeyes’ “Get Out the No. 1 Vote” campaign pays huge dividends.

2. Tennessee (7-0): Fans stumped when asked to name the quarterback who played before Tee Martin.

3. UCLA (7-0): Bruins hurt by drastic drop in most recent Barbers’ poll.

4. Florida State (8-1): School announces it has no shelf space available for another ACC trophy.

5. Florida (7-1): Spurrier phones Jeb Bush just to let him know who runs the state.

6. Texas A&M; (8-1): Team battered and bruised but, hey, it’s only Oklahoma.

7. Kansas State (8-0): Omen. Wildcats’ No. 68 schedule rank coincides with last year school beat Nebraska--1968.

8. Arizona (8-1): Tomey’s wife, a writer, begins work on novel, “My Pac-10 Coach of Year.”

9. Wisconsin (8-0): Ol’ 98 in Madison is team’s BCS strength-of-schedule rank.

10. Penn State (6-1): Joe “the Body” Paterno throws hat in ring for governor’s race.

11. Georgia (6-2): Served as olive pit in “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” loss to Florida.

12. Nebraska (7-2): It’s sort of like watching the last days of Lombardi’s Packers.

13. Notre Dame (6-1): Here’s a switch: USC hoping to knock Irish out of Rose Bowl race on Nov. 28.

14. Arkansas (7-0): At last curious, Rankman faxes school for name of coach and updated roster.

15. Missouri (6-2): To become believer, Rankman says, “Show me three straight wins.”

16. Oregon (6-2): Funny how it goes when you lose six or seven of your top tailbacks.

17. Tulane (7-0): Bowden family cheers ouster of Alabama Gov. Fob James, a former Auburn tailback.

18. Syracuse (5-2): Orangemen’s color schemes intrigue Orange Bowl officials.

19. Texas (6-2): Forward Heisman mail to UT, care of R.W., Austin, Texas.

20. Michigan (6-2): School dismisses “Grinding Halt” as proposed nickname for offense.

21. Georgia Tech (6-2): Rats, players were hoping to take in Atlanta Hawks’ game during bye week.

22. Virginia (7-1): Perfectly good season about to be ruined by Florida State pothole.

23. Miami (5-2): ‘Canes become UCLA’s favorite team until Dec. 5.

24. Colorado (6-2): Buffalo offensive coordinator ordered to undergo intensive CPR training.

25. Central Florida: (7-1) Dear Notre Dame: Which school has the best record among the independents?