Anniston Housing

James Wilder Jr. will be a Florida State Seminole
After reports that the nation’s top recruit would attend Georgia, James Wilder, Jr. said that he’ll be attending Florida State University in the fall.

Read more on Bay News 9 Tampa Bay

Meyer ‘feels great’ in latest return to Florida
Healthy again, head coach eager to lead Gators to SEC title game for the fourth time in five years.

Read more on Pensacola News Journal

Just before you get to Pensacola traveling west in the Florida Panhandle you come to a great little town called Fort Walton Beach. If youre from the nearby states of Alabama, Georgia or Mississippi you may have spent a spring break or two in the area. Fort Walton Beach is famous for its white sand beaches, both commercial and recreational fishing fleets, and anything you can think of to do on the water. As with many Panhandle destinations, the busiest time of the year is no doubt spring break, however the fishing is great year ’round and the beautiful beach resorts are always welcoming, they also have weekly or monthly rentals for bigger groups and longer stays. There are many golf courses, tennis courts, miniature golf courses and beachside parks for families to enjoy.

One such place is the Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island, it overlooks a beautiful white sand beach with crystal clear water; they have a covered picnic area right there where you can enjoy the view of the beach while you enjoy your lunch. There are also several great little restaurants there like the Crab Trap that has a great deck where you can get a tropical drink and a delicious fish sandwich and watch all the action on the beach. While youre watching the beach it’s not unusual to see a kite surfer or even a dolphin go by.

Kite surfing is a very popular sport on Florida, some say one day soon itll even be more popular than surfing but I doubt it. Kite surfing is exactly what youre thinking it is. A kite surfing board is a board that you stand on, like a snowboard, but with a huge slingshot like kite attached to it. It takes a few hours to learn but a lifetime to master. An experienced kite boarder can go flying through the water, catch massive air, do a flip or two and then land in the waves and keep going. Its a thrill to watch and Id love to try it.

The boardwalk is centrally located, close to many hotels and resorts on the island, which means its within walking distance in many cases. The beach itself is a great place to lay around soaking up the sun, build a sandcastle or play volleyball; they even provide the nets for you. Something I really liked was the fact that after youve gotten all hot, sweaty and hungry playing volleyball, they have showers there so you can clean up a little bit and get the sand off before you head up to the boardwalk for some lunch or shopping.

Okaloosa Island also has a great fishing pier, which is another popular pastime in Fort Walton Beach, as it is all over Florida. Its a huge pier, when it was first built in 1972 it was 962 ft long; then in 1998, it was lengthened to nearly a 1/4 mile at 1262 feet. The Okaloosa Island Pier is all about catching the ‘big’ one, and some huge fish have been caught off the pier, a Tarpon that weighed over 100 pounds and a 42 pound King Mackerel are just two on record, you can also catch Cobia, Redfish, Pompano, Ladyfish and Bluefish. The end of the pier is shaped like an octagon which allows for the maximum fish fighting room. There is a bait and tackle shop on the pier and they even make their own rigs for kids that have no hooks in them, safety first. If you get hungry while trying to land the big one you can buy snacks, sodas and other beverages, and if you don’t have a rod of your own, you can rent one there. When youre ready for a little nibble yourself and you want something a little more substantial you too can get a bite at Anglers, which is conveniently at the beach end of the pier. I also found out that they do beach weddings at the Angler which I thought was very romantic. They serve a lot of fresh seafood, as youd imagine, but have a few steak and chicken dishes too.

Fort Walton Beach has been around for years and is rich with history, I was surprised to learn that theyve found archaeological evidence, like pottery, of Indians living here between 600-1650 A.D..Then from around 1500-1800 came the pirates, the most infamous being Billy Bowlegs. If you dont recognize that name heres one Ill bet youll know, especially if you’re a football fan, Danny Wuerffel. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1996 when he was the quarterback of the University of Florida Gators; he attended Fort Walton Beach High School, theyre real proud of that.

Fort Walton Beach is a great little panhandle town that is a wonderful place to spend a few days no matter what time of year you choose to come so well see you soon.

Cerabino: ‘Lazy’ Florida is really ‘Busy Bee of South’
Cerabino: ‘Lazy’ Florida is really ‘Busy Bee of South’

Read more on The Palm Beach Post

FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT INFORMATION for Florida Mortgage applicants
 

Frequently Asked Questions
 In 2008, Congress enacted a $7500 tax credit designed to be an incentive for first-time homebuyers to purchase a home.  The credit was designed as a mechanism to decrease the over-supply of homes for sale. 
 
For 2009, Congress has increased the credit to $8000 and made several additional improvements.  This revised $8000 tax credit applies to purchases on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. 
 
Tax Credits — The Basics
 
1.       What’s this new homebuyer tax incentive for 2009?
 
The 2008 $7500, repayable credit is increased to $8000 and the repayment feature is eliminated for 2009 purchasers.  Any home that is purchased for $80,000 or more qualifies for the full $8000 amount.  If the house costs less than $80,000, the credit will be 10% of the cost.  Thus, if an individual purchased a home for $75,000, the credit would be $7500.    It is available for the purchase of a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. 
 
2.       Who is eligible?
 
Only first-time homebuyers are eligible.  A person is considered a first-time buyer if he/she has not had any ownership interest in a home in the three years previous to the day of the 2009 purchase.
 
3.       How does a tax credit work?
 
Every dollar of a tax credit reduces income taxes by a dollar.  Credits are claimed on an individual’s income tax return.  Thus, a qualified purchaser would figure out all the income items and exemptions and make all the calculations required to figure out his/her total tax due.  Then, once the total tax owed has been computed, tax credits are applied to reduce the total tax bill.  So, if before taking any credits on a tax return a person has total tax liability of $9500, an $8000 credit would wipe out all but $1500 of the tax due.    ($9,500 – $8000 = $1500)
 
4.       So what happens if the purchaser is eligible for an $8000 credit but their entire income tax liability for the year is only $6000?
 
This tax credit is what’s called “refundable” credit.  Thus, if the eligible purchaser’s total tax liability was $6000, the IRS would send the purchaser a check for $2000.  The refundable amount is the difference between $8000 credit amount and the amount of tax liability.  ($8000 – $6000 = $2000)  Most taxpayers determine their tax liability by referring to tables that the IRS prepares each year.  
 
5.       How does withholding affect my tax credit and my refund?
 
A few examples are provided at the end of this document.  There are several steps in this calculation, but most income tax software programs are equipped to make that determination.
 
 
 
6.      Is there an income restriction?
 
Yes.  The income restriction is based on the tax filing status the purchaser claims when filing his/her income tax return.  Individuals filing Form 1040 as Single (or Head of Household) are eligible for the credit if their income is no more than $75,000.  Married couples who file a Joint return may have income of no more than $150,000. 
 
7.       How is my “income” determined?
 
For most individuals, income is defined and calculated in the same manner as their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on their 1040 income tax return.  AGI includes items like wages, salaries, interest and dividends, pension and retirement earnings, rental income and a host of other elements.  AGI is the final number that appears on the bottom line of the front page of an IRS Form 1040.
 
8.       What if I worked abroad for part of the year?
 
Some individuals have earned income and/or receive housing allowances while working outside the US.  Their income will be adjusted to reflect those items to measure Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI).  Their eligibility for the credit will be based on their MAGI.
 
9.       Do individuals with incomes higher than the $75,000 or $150,000 limits lose all the benefit of the credit?
 
Not always.  The credit phases-out between $75,000 – $95,000 for singles  and $150,000 – $170,000 for married filing joint.  The closer a buyer comes to the maximum phase-out amount, the smaller the credit will be.  The law provides a formula to gradually withdraw the credit. Thus, the credit will disappear after an individual’s income reaches $95,000 (single return) or $170,000 (joint return). 
 
For example, if a married couple had income of $165,000, their credit would be reduced by 75% as shown:
 
 Couple’s income    $165,000
Income limit          150,000
 Excess income                     $15,000
 
The excess income amount ($15,000 in this example) is used to form a fraction.  The numerator of the fraction is the excess income amount ($15,000).   The denominator is $20,000 (specified by the statute).
 
In this example, the disallowed portion of the credit is 75% of $8000, or $6000
($15,000/$20,000 = 75% x $8000 = $6000) 
 
Stated another way, only 25% of the credit amount would be allowed.
 In this example, the allowable credit would be $2000 (25% x $8000 = $2000)
 
 
10.   What’s the definition of “principal residence?”
Generally, a principal residence is the home where an individual spends most of his/her time (generally defined as more than 50%).  It is also defined as “owner-occupied” housing.  The term includes single-family detached housing, condos or co-ops, townhouses or any similar type of new or existing dwelling.  Even some houseboats or manufactured homes count as principal residences. 
 
11.    Are there restrictions on the location of the property?
 
Yes.  The home must be located in the United States.   Property located outside the US is not eligible for the credit.
 
12.   Are there restrictions related to the financing for the mortgage on the property?
 
In 2009, most financing arrangements are acceptable and will not affect eligibility for the credit.  Congress eliminated the financing restriction that applied in 2008.  (In 2008, purchasers were ineligible for the $7500 credit if the financing was obtained by means of mortgage revenue bonds.)  Now, mortgage-revenue bond financing will not disqualify an otherwise-eligible purchaser.  (Mortgage revenue bonds are tax-exempt bonds issued by a state housing agency.  Proceeds from the bonds must be used for below market loans to qualified buyers.)
 
13.   Do I have to repay the 2009 tax credit? 
 
NO.   There is no repayment for 2009 tax credits. 
 
14.   Do 2008 purchasers still have to repay their tax credit?
 
YES.  The $7500 credit in 2008 was more like an interest-free loan.  All eligible purchasers who claimed the 2008 credit will still be required to repay it over 15 years, starting with their 2010 tax return. 
 
Some Practical Questions
 
15.   How do I apply for the credit?
 
There is no pre-purchase authorization, application or similar approval process.   All eligible purchasers simply claim the credit on their IRS Form 1040 tax return.  The credit will be reflected on a new Form 5405 that will be attached to the 1040.  Form 5405 can be found at www.irs.gov.
 
16.  So I can’t use the credit amount as part of my downpayment?
 
No.  Congress tried hard to devise a mechanism that would make the funds available for closing costs, but found that pre-funding would require cumbersome processes that would, in effect, bring the IRS into the purchase and settlement phase of the transaction. 
 
17.  So there’s no way to get any cash flow benefits before I file my tax return?
 
Yes, there is.  Any first-time homebuyers who believe they are eligible for all or part of the credit can modify their income tax withholding (through their employers) or adjust their quarterly estimated tax payments.  Individuals subject to income tax withholding would get an IRS Form W-4 from their employer, follow the instructions on the schedules provided and give the completed Form W-4 back to the employer.  In many cases their withholding would decrease and their take-home pay would increase.  Those who make estimated tax payments would make similar adjustments.
 
Some “Real World” Examples
 
18.  What if I purchase later this year but can’t get to settlement before December 1?
 
The credit is available for purchases before December 1, 2009.  A home is considered as “purchased” when all events have occurred that transfer the title from the seller to the new purchaser.  Thus, closings must occur before December 1, 2009 for purchases to be eligible for the credit.
 
19.   I haven’t even filed my 2008 tax return yet.  If I buy in 2009, do I have to wait until next year to get the benefit of the credit?
 
You’ll have a helpful choice that might speed up the process.  Eligible homebuyers who make their purchase between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009 can treat the purchase as if it had occurred on December 31, 2008.  Thus, they can claim the credit on their 2008 tax return that is due on April 15, 2009.  They actually have three filing options. 
 
·         If they purchase between January 1, 2009 and April 15, 2009, they can claim the $8000 credit on the 2008 return due on April 15.
·         They can extend their 2008 income-tax filing until as late as October 15, 2009.  (The IRS grants automatic extensions, but the taxpayer must file for the extension.  See www.irs.gov for instructions on how to obtain an extension.)
·          If they have filed their 2008 return before they purchase the home, they may file an amended 2008 tax return on Form 1040X.  (Form 1040X is available at www.irs.gov) 
 
Of course, 2009 purchasers will always have the option of claiming the credit for the 2009 purchase on their 2009 return.  Their 2009 tax return is due on April 15, 2010.
 
20.   I purchased my home in early 2009 before the stimulus bill was enacted.  I claimed a $7500 tax credit on my 2008 return as prior law had permitted.  Am I restricted to just a $7500 credit?
 
No, you would qualify for the $8000 credit.  Eligible purchasers who have already claimed the $7500 credit on a 2008 return for a 2009 purchase may file an amended return (IRS Form 1040X) for the 2008 tax year.   This amended return will enable them to obtain the additional $500 credit amount.
 
21.   If I claim my 2009 $8000 credit on my 2008 tax return, will I have to repay the credit just as the 2008 credits are repaid?
 
No. Congress anticipated this confusion and has made specific provision so that there would be no repayment of 2009 credits that are claimed on 2008 returns.
 
22.   I made an eligible purchase of a principal residence in May 2008 and claimed the $7500 credit on my 2008 tax return.  My brother, who has never owned a home, wishes to purchase a partial interest in the home this spring and move in.   Will he qualify for the $8000 credit, as well?
 
No.  Any purchase of a principal residence (or interest in a principal residence) from a related party such as a sibling, parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle is ineligible for the tax credit.  Since you and your brother are related in this way, he cannot qualify for the credit on any portion of the home that he purchases from you, even if he is a first-time homebuyer. 
 
23.   I live in the District of Columbia.   If I qualify as a first-time homebuyer, can I use both the $5000 DC credit and the $8000 credit?
 
No; double dipping is not allowed.  You would be eligible for only the $8000 credit.  This will be an advantage because of the higher credit amount, plus the eligibility requirements for the $8000 credit are somewhat more easily satisfied than the DC credit.
 
24.   I know there is no repayment requirement for the $8000 credit.  Will I ever have to repay any of the credit back to the government?
 
One situation does require a recapture payment back to the government.  If you claim the credit but then sell the property within 3 years of the date of purchase, you are required to pay back the full amount of any credit, including any refund you received from it.  A few exceptions apply.   (See below, #24).  Note that this same 3-year recapture rule applies, as well, to the $7500 credit available for 2008.  This provision is designed as an anti-flipping rule.
 
25.  What if I die or get divorced or my property is ruined in a natural disaster within the 3 years?
 
The repayment rules are eased for many circumstances.  If the homeowner who used the credit dies within the first three years of ownership, there is no recapture.  Special rules make adjustments for people who sell homes as part of a divorce settlement, as well.  Similarly, adjustments are made in the case of a home that is part of an involuntary conversion (property is destroyed in a natural disaster or subject to condemnation by eminent domain by an authorized agency) within the first three years.
 
26.   I have a home under construction.  Am I eligible for the credit?
 
Yes, so long as you actually occupy the home before December 1, 2009.
 
 
WITHHOLDING EXAMPLES: 
Note:  The impact of estimated tax payments would be the same.
 
Situation 1:  Sally plans her withholding so that her withholding is as close as possible to what she anticipates as her income tax liability for the year.  When she fills out her 1040, her liability is $6000.  She has had $6000 withheld from her paycheck.  She also qualifies for the $8000 homebuyer credit. 
 
Result:  Sally’s withholding satisfies her tax liability and reduces it to zero.  She will receive a refund of the full $8000.
 
Situation 2:  Nick and Nora file a joint return.  Nick is self-employed and makes estimated payments; Nora has taxes withheld from her salary.  When they compute their taxes, their combined withholding and estimated tax payments are $11,000.  Their income tax liability is $9800.  They also qualified as first-time homebuyers and are eligible for the $8000 refundable tax credit. 
 
Result:  Ordinarily, their combined estimated tax payments and withholding would make them eligible for a refund of $1200 ($11,000 – $9800 = $1200).  Because they are eligible for the refundable tax credit as well, they will receive a refund of $9200 ($1200 income tax refund + $8000 refundable tax credit = $9200)
 
Situation 3:  Cesar and LuzMaria both have income taxes withheld from their salaries and file a joint return.  When they file their income tax return, their combined withholding is $5000.  However, their total tax liability is $7200, generating an additional income tax liability of $2200 ($7200 – $5000).  They also qualify for the $8000 first-time homebuyer tax credit.
 
Result:  Cesar and LuzMaria have been under-withheld by $2200.  Ordinarily, they would be required to pay the additional $2200 they owe (plus any applicable interest and penalties).  Because they are eligible for the refundable homebuyer tax credit, the credit will cover the $2200 additional liability.  In addition, they will receive an income tax refund of $5800 ($8000 – $2200 = $5800).  If they owed penalties and/or interest, that amount would reduce the refund.
 
FHA HOME LOANS DOWN TO A 530 FICO!

Thomas W. Martin

1st Continental Mortgage
 
http://www.FHAmortgagePrograms.com 

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Licensed in Alabama, Florida, California, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, Pennsylvania,  Tennessee, Texas.

If you have already decided to purchase a home in Florida, you must be knowing about Mortgage loans. You cannot probably purchase a house without a Florida mortgage loan unless you have built up a fortune for yourself. Even if you have managed a fortune, you would need a mortgage to pay for the recurrent bills and closing costs.

Before you start shopping for a Florida mortgage loan, you need to decide upon your financial stance. For this, you would need to figure out your total income, how much liquid cash is available with you to make the down payment as well make up for the closing cost, and how much you can afford to pay each month. Once you have a clear idea of your financial status, you would then need to decide upon the tenure…i.e. whether you would want a long term Florida mortgage loan, or a shorter term mortgage.

Interest rates on short term mortgage loans are comparatively lower than their long term counterparts. In case you choose to opt for a short time Florida mortgage loan, you need to be ready to bear substantially higher monthly payments. decide upon this very carefully, because many a times, individuals fail to get a long term foresight of his financial status.

If you cannot afford the higher payments for a short time loan, say for example a 15 year mortgage, you should typically go for a longer-term loan (30 years or so). 30 years mortgage will cost you more over the tenure, however monthly payments would be lesser, hence you would have more available capital.

You should also take consider your home equity or the worth of your home if you are going for a second Florida mortgage. while considering home equity you should take into account appreciation of value, or the rising worth of your own home coupled with the boom in the real estate market. This will save you a lot of money and taxes too.

Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. Expands With Sixth Florida Location, Consolidating Its Self Storage Presence in Broward …
DAVIE, FL–(Marketwire – 07/15/10) – Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. (SSTI) — a publicly registered non-traded REIT targeting the self storage market — recently acquired an approximately 1,040-unit self storage facility located in Davie, Fla. The site will be rebranded under the SmartStop(SM) Self Storage trade name. “This acquisition represents our growth strategy across the country,” said H …

Read more on Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance

Florida is one of the 50 states which makes up the United States of America and is located in the south east of the U.S. Nearby states include Alabama and Georgia. Most of Florida’s land extends into the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean in the form of a large and beautiful peninsula. Florida is very well known for having an amazing subtropical climate, the south of the state experience a real tropical climate which has made many areas of the state very popular with visitors and tourists, this has earned them the nickname of ‘the sunshine state’.

Miami is a very well known destination in Florida with over four million residents and the headquarters to some of the country’s largest companies, banks and organizations. The city is an ideal destination for experiencing activities and sights within culture, entertainment, television, fashion and film. Miami apartment rentals are very popular and provide a modern and sleek accommodation for tourists. If sunbathing in Miami is more of your thing, then the Miami Beach villa option would be ideal and a stunning way to enjoy and relax on your vacation.

The Florida vacation home rental industry is very popular, and with destinations such as Miami, Orlando and Clermont there is no wonder why people are opting to enjoy their holiday there. Orlando is a major tourist destination in Florida, Orlando’s diverse and vast array of culture and entertainment combined with a modern city and a world famous Walt Disney resort has made the city a hot spot with people looking for Orlando vacation rentals. If you would prefer to take in a spot of history or visit a more authentic destination, why not try St. Augustine. There are many point of interest which is guaranteed to fascinate all visitors with attraction such as an alligator farm, the Bridge of Lions and the site which has the oldest port in the continental United States, it makes for a perfect St. Augustine condo rental destination.

Whether you are looking for a sunshine holiday, sight seeing holiday, shopping holiday or an educational holiday, the cities of Florida has it all. A Florida vacation home rental would be the perfect way of offering freedom and flexibility to allow you to experience all you can in this vast and colourful state.

Florida was officially accepted as the 27th state of the United States of America on March 3, 1845. Situated in the southeastern part of the US, Florida is bordered in the northwest by Alabama and in the northeast by Georgia. The climate of Florida varies between tropical and sub-tropical all the year round. Florida ha the fourth highest population in the USA, estimated at approximately 18,328,340. It also, incidentally, has the fourth highest GDP in the United States. Florida is also known as the ’sunshine state’, and offers uncomplicated approaches to property ownership.

Real estate is not the same in all places; because of which it is important to gain full information about the rules and regulations about owning properties in Florida. The association between buyers and agents in Florida is mainly of two types: Buyers Agents and Transactional Brokers. Buyers Agents are appointed mainly to carry out all transaction procedures on behalf of the property buyer, and guide him through the process. Transactional Brokers simply sell the properties for sale in Florida to the interested buyers. Extensive information about properties for sale in Florida may be obtained from the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC), whim aims at “protecting the public by regulation of real estate and appraisal licensees through education and compliance”.

While buying properties in Florida, certain basic rules should be kept in mind: Most importantly, the budget for buying this property in Florida must be decided upon and kept to, before selecting the property. Florida offers a huge choice of properties to select from, but the buyer should, under no circumstances, feel pressurized to buy any particular property for sale in Florida. It is also essential, that the buyer finds out about all transaction laws provided by the State, and also about the locality in which the property is situated.

For the benefit of first-time buyers of properties for sale in Florida, the following steps have been provided: The property to be bought must be identified, and the exact location found out. This sort of information is now easily available on the internet. Secondly, the price of the particular property in Florida must also be found out, in order to see whether it fits the budget or not. The values of such properties for sale in Florida vary according to the part of the state, and how well-known it is. All finances must be worked out, information regarding mortgage loans and other financial help sought from the banks and money lenders, and all interest rates compared, in order to determine the most beneficial offer. As a last step, a solicitor or real estate agent must be assigned to successfully carry out the transaction process. Following the above-mentioned steps, makes the buying of properties in Florida a very simple task.

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation provides beneficial financial loans for those who are interested in properties for sale in Florida. They are continually increasing housing opportunities, keeping in mind that their programs suit the needs of potential buyers of property in Florida. Some of their better known programs include the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) Program and the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program.

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley

Florida started the season as the No. 1 pick in the AP Top 25 Poll and will remain No. 1 for the 7th straight week after beating the No. 4 Louisiana State Tigers in Baton Rouge, 13-3, in this season’s biggest match-up featuring two Top 5 teams.

The Gators’ swarming defense silenced the Tiger crowd to win their 15th consecutive game, the longest current win streak among major schools, and LSU had its 32-game winning streak in Saturday night games snapped. LSU, ranked last in the SEC in total offense coming into the game, never got untracked and could muster only 162 yards.

Tim Tebow, the heart of Florida’s offense and former Heisman Trophy winner, returned after suffering a concussion two weeks ago. Tebow’s presence helped assure the Gators that they would remain on top with a top effort. LSU started the game with a perfect 5-0 mark and ended it with a 5-1 record. Florida remains unbeaten at an overall 5-0 and sits on top of the SEC’s East Division.

Three other Top 25 teams lost their first game this week—Auburn, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Unranked Arkansas hosted and upset 17th-ranked Auburn, 44-23, as Michael Smith rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown, and the Razorbacks raced to a 34-3 lead before sticking a fork in the Tigers. Now it can be confirmed that Auburn was a really suspect Top 25 choice since its first 5 victories came against teams with a combined 9-14 record.

Arkansas is now 3-2 and full of spit and vinegar; the Razorbacks other two wins have come against 149th-ranked, 1-AA Missouri State and 63rd-ranked Texas A&M. Big deal? I think not. Arkansas is not that good and neither is Auburn.

No. 21 Nebraska hit the road and took the measure of No. 24 Missouri, 27-12, handing the Tigers their first defeat. It was simply not a good week for Tiger teams as LSU, Auburn and Missouri all lost for the first time in College Football’s Week 6. Missouri, which had a 12-0 shutout after 3 quarters, quit too early and celebrated as Nebraska won the 4th quarter 27-0, and the game.

Should Missouri have been in the Top 25? As the Hertz rental ad says, not exactly. The Tigers built their 4-0 record on teams with a combined 6-12 record, and that includes 1-AA Furman, that raging powerhouse from South Carolina.

No. 9 Ohio State hosted Wisconsin and cost the Badgers their first loss, 31-13, before sending them back to Wisconsin. The Badgers were at least unranked, even with a 5-0 record coming into the always screaming, always sold-out 101,000-plus-seat horseshoe stadium in Columbus.

A much more significant victory came from No. 3 Alabama as the Crimson Tide took its record to 6-0 with an away victory over 20th-ranked Mississippi, 22-3. The Tide led 19-zip after 3 quarters. Can we now stop all of the preseason publicity about Mississippi this and Mississippi that? The Rebels’ hot shot quarterback—Jevan Snead—continued his mission to greatness by throwing 4 interceptions.

Ole Miss is now 3-2 and one croak away from sliding into a swamp. Should Mississippi even be in the Top 25? Nah, the Rebels have some real proving to do.

Other ranked teams with away victories this week included:

No. 10 TCU over Air Force 20-17. Without a 4th quarter field goal, TCU would have gone into overtime. No. 13 Oregon continued its momentum by beating UCLA 24-10. No. 15 Oklahoma State outlasted Texas A&M to win again with another lame performance, 36-31. If Oklahoma State keeps giving up 31 points a game, they are not going to keep winning for long.

No. 18 Brigham Young topped UNLV 59-21. No. 22 Georgia Tech just made it by Florida State 49-44 in a shootout. BYU is now 5-1 and Florida State 4-2; one could easily argue that Georgia Tech is better than BYU, and may well prove so before the season is over.

Ranked teams with home victories included:

No. 2 Texas over Colorado 30-28 after Colorado led 14-10 at the half. Colorado is now 1-5 with their only win over Wyoming. Texas has played no one so far this season. After Oklahoma next, the Longhorns play no one really significant through the end of the season. Texas should win a lot of games and there will be no evidence to show that they should play in the National Championship Game this year.

No. 5 Virginia Tech beat up Boston College 48-14. No. 11 Miami (FL) stomped 1-AA Florida State 48-16. Big whoop. No. 12 Iowa had an unimpressive 30-28 win over Michigan. Another big whoop; Iowa should have won by at least 2 touchdowns at home, nonetheless, Iowa’s 5-0 mark is the Hawkeyes best start since 1985. No. 14 Penn State kicked around 152nd-ranked, 1-AA Eastern Illinois; boy, those tough Nittany Lions really know how to charm some cream puffs.

No. 16 Kansas took all afternoon to finally beat Iowa State 41-36. Kansas gave up 36 points to a team that is 3-3. You have to ask yourself, even at 5-0, why should they be ranked so high? The Jayhawks compiled their unbeaten record against teams with a combined 8-12 record, including the 187th-ranked, 1-AA Northern Colorado powerhouse (1-4) from the Rockies. Kansas may be unbeaten, but they are hardly good.

No. 19 Oklahoma beat Baylor 33-7. No. 25 South Carolina just nudged by Kentucky 28-26, a team that Florida beat 41-7; that’s why Florida is No. 1 and South Carolina No. 25. At least the Gamecocks scored a touchdown in each quarter against Kentucky.

Three 5-1 teams that are still looking for recognition and respect won again. Central Michigan whipped Eastern Michigan 56-8; Central Michigan is the worst 1-A team in the nation, currently ranked 164th by Sagarin (there are only 120 teams in 1-A football). Idaho on-the-road (yes, Idaho, don’t laugh) beat San Jose State 29-25.

Pittsburgh, behind 21-13 after 3 quarters at home, won the 4th quarter 11-0 to beat Connecticut, 24-21.

There were at least 3 other notable wins. After 3 straight losses to Central Michigan, Notre Dame and Wisconsin by a combined 13 points, Michigan State evened its record at 3-3 by beating Illinois 24-14 on-the-road.

At 4-1, Stanford looked like the second best team in the Pac 10 behind USC, but Oregon State reminded them of why it is tough to beat the Beavers at home, upsetting The Cardinal 38-28. All bets in the Pac 10 race are now off as Oregon is 3-0, Stanford 3-1 and 3 teams are 2-1—Southern Cal, Oregon State and Washington (yes, the same Washington that was 0-12 last year).

Speaking of Huskies, Washington let Arizona into the red zone at least 8 times and was behind 33-21 at home with 4:22 left. Jake Locker engineered a drive with a 25-yard TD strike to Kavario Middleton with 2:55 left and then a miracle happened.

On the ensuing play after the kickoff, Arizona’s Nick Foles threw another bubble screen pass to Delashaun Dean that was short and behind the receiver. The ball bounced off of his foot and into the air, was promptly intercepted by Husky linebacker Mason Foster and he turned around and rambled 37 yards into the end zone to put Washington ahead, 34-33 with 2:37 remaining.

Jake Locker then completed a 2-point conversion to Jermaine Kearse to make it 36-33. The Husky defense, which had given up 461 yards to Arizona, then suddenly got ugly. Daniel Te’o-Nesheim sacked Nick Foles for a 6-yard loss, and true freshman cornerback Desmond Trufant intercepted Foles’ 4th down attempt to put the Wildcats away.

Washington, twice a dog at home against Southern Cal and Arizona, has shown it is all about playing hard for 60 minutes, finding a way to win, finishing off an opponent and having fun doing it.

Washington’s miracle play brought back great memories of “The Immaculate Reception” during a 1972 playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders. Late in the game a Pittsburgh receiver was hit hard as he tried to make a catch, the ball was deflected and just before it hit the ground, it was caught by Franco Harris, who picked it out of the air and then ran it in for the touchdown that won the game for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh had struggled for 4 decades to win a playoff game, and The Immaculate Reception—called by NFL films as the greatest play of all time—led to the Steelers eventually winning 4 Super Bowls before the end of the decade.

Could something special be happening at the Montlake Campus of the University of Washington Huskies? Count on it, miracles do not happen often, especially on football fields. Washington, you will recall, upset then No. 3-ranked Southern Cal 16-13 earlier in the season.

Six bottom feeders remained winless by losing this week—Ball State, Miami (OH), Eastern Michigan, Rice, New Mexico and Western Kentucky. Florida International got the money off of its back by beating Western Kentucky 37-20—go Golden Panthers (that’s the nickname of FIU, which few would know except those folks who live east of the Mississippi River).

Top 25 teams that were idle this week included No. 6 Boise State, No. 7 Southern Cal, No. 10 Cincinnati and No. 24 South Florida.

That’s it, that’s all, Smokey, put a wrap on it.

(Editor’s Note: The rankings in this article are from the AP Top 25 Poll of sportswriters and sportscasters, and any ratings are from Jeff Sagarin.)