Hola, America.
Not only did I unwittingly overlook the MAC championship (Northern Illinois 23, Ohio 20), but should have paid ho-mage to the Baylor-Texas game (da Bears annihilated the Longhorns, 48-24). So out of the box, here's my first prediction of the weekend: Robert Griffin III will win the Heisman Trophy tonight. (By the way, Matt Barkley wasn't even invited to New York? Really????)
Most of my picks last weekend turned out to be right--LSU, Oklahoma State (which should be playing in the BCS championship game), Oregon, Wisconsin, Boise State, and BYU all winning as predicted. Truly surprised seeing Houston get thoroughly blown out (watched most of the game, Cougars were wannabees and Southern Miss was soooo stoked). And how about those Clemson Tigers...defying the odds, beating VA-Tech for the second time this season...even worse than the first.
Once again, Division III provides the anti-playoff argument, as Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater...ho-hum...will win their semi-final games and face each other next week for the seventh year in a row for the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.)
And now, without further delay, here's what my service academy family has been waiting for since Air Force nailed down the Commander In Chief's Trophy (again)...the ONLY game being played in Division I FBS this week.
Army (3-8) vs. Navy (4-7). Game will be played at FedEx Field in Landover, MD, seemingly providing a home field advantage to the USNA. Most of the pundits are leaning in the direction of the Middies. Yet they've been disappointing, which was especially the case during the middle of the season. They did rebound nicely to beat SMU, and their offense churns out 406 yards of total offense per game. In the early part of the season, Army showed more guts. After dropping its first two games, the Cadets rebounded with an impressive victory over Northwestern. But they've been manhandled by some pretty mediocre teams since then. Both teams defenses will be hard-pressed to stop the others' running game, and recently Navy has been more successful as it's held its last two opponents under 140 yards. Everyone knows this game is won as much on emotion as anything else, which is why Army has a real chance to pull the upset. But Navy QB Kriss Proctor has never lost to Army, and in my estimation that adds up to the better motivation. Sorry, family. PICK: Navy.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Titles On The Line--Both Home and Away
Don't want to be caught looking past this weekend to Army-Navy. Time to find the remote control and tune in for Conference Championship Week. Already 1-0 with last night's laugher in Eugene, so here's the way the rest of the weekend shapes up.
#7 Boise State (10-1) vs. New Mexico (1-10). Not gonna spend a lot of time on this. 10-1 vs. 1-10. Blue turf. Kellen Moore's final appearance at home. Angling for a top bowl game. PICK: Boise State.
BYU (8-3) vs. Hawaii (6-6). Nambi-pambi schedule mercifully comes to an end with Cougars' vacation trip to Honna-loolah. Hawaii's decent, probably good enough to beat BYU. Both teams have utilized two quarterbacks during their seasons; BYU because of injuries, Hawaii by choice. Both systems have been productive. Both defenses are good. I'm going with the upset, in part because I don't respect BYU for what it did in jumping out of a tough conference and into independent status where it picked on cupcakes all year. PICK: Hawaii.
Here's the championship run-down (I skipped the MAC on purpose):
CONFRENCE USA: #6 Houston (12-0) vs. #24 Southern Mississippi (10-2). Game began before I could update, but the following was written yesterday. Believe me or not, it doesn't matter...cuz I'll be right anyway. another home game for a conference championship, meaning even more pressure on Houston than on Southern, which has a very good team. Both play a modest conference schedule, the Golden Eagles having lost in an upset to UAB a couple of weeks ago and early in the season to Marshall. Houston annihilated both teams on its way to a perfect record. The Cougars had better not take Southern lightly, because it can play defense and score points as well. Nevertheless, the smart money is on the Cougars to make it to the school's first-ever BCS bowls game. PICK: Houston.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE: #1 LSU (12-0) vs. #12 Georgia (10-2)--Atlanta. Georgia has a nice little team. LSU is a freaking monster. I cannot imagine any scenario in which the Bulldogs upset the Bayou Bengals, especially after witnessing LSU come back against Arkansas last week. PICK: LSU.
ACC: #5 Virginia Tech (11-1) vs. #20 Clemson (9-3)--Charlotte. Even my good friend and Clemson '87 grad Chris Keuilian is predicting a slaughter...VA Tech over his beloved Tigers. I agree. Though Clemson beat up on the Hokies two months ago, Virginia Tech has rebounded from adversity much better than Clemson. Hokie offense has jelled while the Tiger defense has sputtered. Clemson is particularly vulnerable against the run, which is what the Hokies do best. PICK: Virginia Tech.
BIG 12: #10 Oklahoma (9-2) at #3 Oklahoma State (10-1). Not a true conference championship game, simply the latest installment of what the rest of the football world sees as the state championship of Oklahoma. Down there they refer to it as the "Bedlam Series". Whatever. Experts point to Oklahoma's manhandling of Iowa State, the only team to beat Oke State this year. But there were young emotions involved in that Cowboy loss, and this time--playing at home--OSU is salivating at the possibility that it still might get a show at the BCS national championship game (or at the very least a #2 ranking at the end of this season). For the Sooners to win, their defense will have to slow down OSU, and for the Cowboys to win, they'll have to score early and often and force OU to take to the air against its wishes. PICK: Oklahoma. State.
BIG 10: #15 Wisconsin vs. #13 Michigan State (Indianapolis). Wow, what's this world coming to...a championship game in the Big 10/11/12/16. Teams met earlier this year, with Spartans winning with a walk-off TD. Can you say "locker room material"?? Wisconsin has a beautifully balanced attack on offense that scores almost 45 points a game. Their defense allows just under 16 points. And they have a very exciting player in QB Russell Wilson and TB Montee Ball. For their part, Michigan has a defense that is just as impressive as Wisconsin's, but leaves a little to be desired on the offensive side of the ball, even though QB Kirk Cousins holds most MSU passing records. Special teams and the dreaded turnover may decide this one. Love Michigan State, but the Badgers will not lose to them twice in the same season. PICK: Wisconsin.
#7 Boise State (10-1) vs. New Mexico (1-10). Not gonna spend a lot of time on this. 10-1 vs. 1-10. Blue turf. Kellen Moore's final appearance at home. Angling for a top bowl game. PICK: Boise State.
BYU (8-3) vs. Hawaii (6-6). Nambi-pambi schedule mercifully comes to an end with Cougars' vacation trip to Honna-loolah. Hawaii's decent, probably good enough to beat BYU. Both teams have utilized two quarterbacks during their seasons; BYU because of injuries, Hawaii by choice. Both systems have been productive. Both defenses are good. I'm going with the upset, in part because I don't respect BYU for what it did in jumping out of a tough conference and into independent status where it picked on cupcakes all year. PICK: Hawaii.
Here's the championship run-down (I skipped the MAC on purpose):
CONFRENCE USA: #6 Houston (12-0) vs. #24 Southern Mississippi (10-2). Game began before I could update, but the following was written yesterday. Believe me or not, it doesn't matter...cuz I'll be right anyway. another home game for a conference championship, meaning even more pressure on Houston than on Southern, which has a very good team. Both play a modest conference schedule, the Golden Eagles having lost in an upset to UAB a couple of weeks ago and early in the season to Marshall. Houston annihilated both teams on its way to a perfect record. The Cougars had better not take Southern lightly, because it can play defense and score points as well. Nevertheless, the smart money is on the Cougars to make it to the school's first-ever BCS bowls game. PICK: Houston.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE: #1 LSU (12-0) vs. #12 Georgia (10-2)--Atlanta. Georgia has a nice little team. LSU is a freaking monster. I cannot imagine any scenario in which the Bulldogs upset the Bayou Bengals, especially after witnessing LSU come back against Arkansas last week. PICK: LSU.
ACC: #5 Virginia Tech (11-1) vs. #20 Clemson (9-3)--Charlotte. Even my good friend and Clemson '87 grad Chris Keuilian is predicting a slaughter...VA Tech over his beloved Tigers. I agree. Though Clemson beat up on the Hokies two months ago, Virginia Tech has rebounded from adversity much better than Clemson. Hokie offense has jelled while the Tiger defense has sputtered. Clemson is particularly vulnerable against the run, which is what the Hokies do best. PICK: Virginia Tech.
BIG 12: #10 Oklahoma (9-2) at #3 Oklahoma State (10-1). Not a true conference championship game, simply the latest installment of what the rest of the football world sees as the state championship of Oklahoma. Down there they refer to it as the "Bedlam Series". Whatever. Experts point to Oklahoma's manhandling of Iowa State, the only team to beat Oke State this year. But there were young emotions involved in that Cowboy loss, and this time--playing at home--OSU is salivating at the possibility that it still might get a show at the BCS national championship game (or at the very least a #2 ranking at the end of this season). For the Sooners to win, their defense will have to slow down OSU, and for the Cowboys to win, they'll have to score early and often and force OU to take to the air against its wishes. PICK: Oklahoma. State.
BIG 10: #15 Wisconsin vs. #13 Michigan State (Indianapolis). Wow, what's this world coming to...a championship game in the Big 10/11/12/16. Teams met earlier this year, with Spartans winning with a walk-off TD. Can you say "locker room material"?? Wisconsin has a beautifully balanced attack on offense that scores almost 45 points a game. Their defense allows just under 16 points. And they have a very exciting player in QB Russell Wilson and TB Montee Ball. For their part, Michigan has a defense that is just as impressive as Wisconsin's, but leaves a little to be desired on the offensive side of the ball, even though QB Kirk Cousins holds most MSU passing records. Special teams and the dreaded turnover may decide this one. Love Michigan State, but the Badgers will not lose to them twice in the same season. PICK: Wisconsin.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Fool Me Once, Shame On You
Gotta post this prior to kickoff.
PAC 12 Championship: #9 Oregon (10-2) vs. UCLA (6-6). What's this...an inaugural conference championship being played at the higher-ranked team's home field? Are you kidding? Actually, it shouldn't matter. I don't care how much the Bruins may like outgoing head coach Rick Neuheisel. Their emotions will carry them to the first 3-and-out and then Oregon's no-huddle will eat them alive. They don't "condition" in L. A., they "tone". Talk about apples and oranges, how about Ducks and lame ducks? PICK: Oregon.
The rest of the slate later...
PAC 12 Championship: #9 Oregon (10-2) vs. UCLA (6-6). What's this...an inaugural conference championship being played at the higher-ranked team's home field? Are you kidding? Actually, it shouldn't matter. I don't care how much the Bruins may like outgoing head coach Rick Neuheisel. Their emotions will carry them to the first 3-and-out and then Oregon's no-huddle will eat them alive. They don't "condition" in L. A., they "tone". Talk about apples and oranges, how about Ducks and lame ducks? PICK: Oregon.
The rest of the slate later...
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Results of Week 13: Not Even Close
BREAKING NEWS: Army-Navy game isn't next week, it's the week AFTER next. Ho-hum, guess we'll have to suffer through another weekend of good football first. Everybody try hard not to cop a "STERTOR" (just showin' off, it's dictionary.com's word o' the day).
Here's how Week #13 played out:
Air Force 45, Colorado State 21. See, Rams? Told you not to overlook AIR Force. QB Tim Jefferson throws for 221 yards and 3 TDs in the 2011 Chris Haskell "Point-5 Bowl". FLASH: Falcons Become Bowl-Eligible! The Academy will be a dangerous opponent, with the ability to rush for 300+ yards and throw for 200+. Only question will be how good the defense plays. I mean, Air Force's defense.
#7 Boise State 36, Wyoming 14. This makes six consecutive ten-win seasons for the Broncos...SIX! What's a Bronco gotta do to get some respect? Well, beating the toughest team on your schedule would help, like TCU this year. And winning--not finishing second in--your conference. Nevertheless, the day features Kellen Moore per usual, as the soon-to-be-high-draft-pick QB throws for three TDs and goes over 3,000 yards for the fourth consecutive season. Let's give Wyoming credit--picked to finish at or near the bottom of the conference, coming up with seven wins is a big deal.
San Jose State 27, Fresno State 24. Caps the worst EVER selection for Doormat of the Year. In the early blog years, even Temple went 1-10, and the infamous George O'Leary's UCF Bulls were nearly as cooperative. By notching its fifth victory of 2011, San Jose is guaranteed to finish ahead of either Army or Navy in the win column. Spartans turn Bulldogs upside down at home behind another outstanding performance from QB Matt Faulkner. Even though the SJSU defense gives up close to 500 yards in total offense, it's not enough to offset Faulkner's two second-half TD passes. Spartans won't have Fresno State to kick around any more, as Bulldogs move to the Mountain West next season.
USC 50, UCLA 0. Trojans leave no doubt as to who wins Los Angeles college football bragging rights. So it's kind of a shame that the 6-6 Bruins will play for the inaugural Pac 12 championship instead of USC. The big question now is whether or not Southern Cal QB Matt Barkley will return for his senior year. After tying the school record for most TD passes in a game (six) and the conference record for most in a season (39), he'll be tempted to take the money and run. Expect him to claim, "It isn't about the money", which means it's ALL about the money. Buh-bye, Matt.
#13 Georgia 31, #23 Georgia Tech 17. Not many of us remember the Dawgs started the season 0-2, meaning they've now won ten straight. Playing more like an undefeated team, Georgia showcases its own air show, in QB Aaron Murray who throws for 252 yards and four TDs. But allowing nearly 500 yards in total offense, they will have to play better D next week against LSU in the SEC championship to have a chance at winning. Mark Richt's job is secure...for another week.
#6 Virginia Tech 38, #24 Virginia 0. Second biggest blowout of the day. You knew I was just kidding when I picked the Cavs to win, right? I still don't like Frank Beamer, but his team does everything right in blanking a Virginia squad that was red-hot (four straight, six of seven) coming into the game. Hokies intercept UVA's Michael Rocco and hold them to just 30 yards of rushing. Game sets up yet another rematch, this one against ACC Atlantic champ Clemson, who won season's fifth game 23-3 in Blacksburg. Next week's game will be in uptown Charlotte, NC. Advantage: neither.
#12 South Carolina 34, #17 Clemson 13. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney says, "We are about to get back to playing the kind of football that I know we are capable of playing in order to have a chance to win this game." This is code for "The SEC is a waaaaaaaay better conference than the ACC." When you're only down one score, and your defense forces a turnover that gives your offense field position on the opponent's 36, you'd better come away with more than a field goal. Penalties and turnovers kill Clemson, which only makes them hate The Ol' Ball Coach even more than they did before the day began.
#8 Houston 48, Tulsa 16. Golden Hurricane move out to a 7-0 lead in the first before lightening strikes. Move over, Kellen Moore...may we present Case Keenum for your viewing pleasure. The "Houston Hotshot" throws for 457 yards and five scores, making scouts salivate from INDIANapolis to MINNEapolis. 12-0 Cougars likely to be the mid-major representative in a BCS game. The match I'd love to see--however unlikely it may be--would be vs. Boise State. Can you just picture the shootout?!
#2 Alabama 42, #24 Auburn 14. Iron Bowl isn't close, as RB Trent Richardson rushes for over 200 yards and QB A. J. McCarron throws for three TDs. Richardson's ninth 100+ yards of rushing ties 'Bama record set in 2009 by Mark Ingram, who went on to win Tide's first Heisman Trophy. A second half-opening kickoff return for a touchdown by Tigers' Onterio McCalebb is about the only thing Auburn has to brag about. Perhaps Alabama has the last laugh, as second-place finish in SEC West guarantees an extra week's rest, injury prevention, and game preparation for LSU in January.
#1 LSU 41, #3 Arkansas 17. QB Jordan Jefferson suffers an early interception, and the Bayou Bengals fall behind by fourteen points--each for the first time this season. Razorbacks emotions like a sugar high, and come crashing to earth when LSU's defense shakes off the cobwebs. Tyrann Mathieu leads the way, forcing a fumble and returning a punt 92 yards for a TD. Even a loss to Georgia in next week's SEC championship will not prevent Tigers from playing in the BCS championship.
Final Summit Continuation volleyball update: Team loses to six out-of-shape, overweight teachers, 3 games to 1. Teachers unable to walk the next day, show videos and make students complete packets of worksheets. Good news: basketball season begins this week. Site administration on scouting trips to District's comprehensive high schools, trolling halls for tall, credit-deficient students.
Here's how Week #13 played out:
Air Force 45, Colorado State 21. See, Rams? Told you not to overlook AIR Force. QB Tim Jefferson throws for 221 yards and 3 TDs in the 2011 Chris Haskell "Point-5 Bowl". FLASH: Falcons Become Bowl-Eligible! The Academy will be a dangerous opponent, with the ability to rush for 300+ yards and throw for 200+. Only question will be how good the defense plays. I mean, Air Force's defense.
#7 Boise State 36, Wyoming 14. This makes six consecutive ten-win seasons for the Broncos...SIX! What's a Bronco gotta do to get some respect? Well, beating the toughest team on your schedule would help, like TCU this year. And winning--not finishing second in--your conference. Nevertheless, the day features Kellen Moore per usual, as the soon-to-be-high-draft-pick QB throws for three TDs and goes over 3,000 yards for the fourth consecutive season. Let's give Wyoming credit--picked to finish at or near the bottom of the conference, coming up with seven wins is a big deal.
San Jose State 27, Fresno State 24. Caps the worst EVER selection for Doormat of the Year. In the early blog years, even Temple went 1-10, and the infamous George O'Leary's UCF Bulls were nearly as cooperative. By notching its fifth victory of 2011, San Jose is guaranteed to finish ahead of either Army or Navy in the win column. Spartans turn Bulldogs upside down at home behind another outstanding performance from QB Matt Faulkner. Even though the SJSU defense gives up close to 500 yards in total offense, it's not enough to offset Faulkner's two second-half TD passes. Spartans won't have Fresno State to kick around any more, as Bulldogs move to the Mountain West next season.
USC 50, UCLA 0. Trojans leave no doubt as to who wins Los Angeles college football bragging rights. So it's kind of a shame that the 6-6 Bruins will play for the inaugural Pac 12 championship instead of USC. The big question now is whether or not Southern Cal QB Matt Barkley will return for his senior year. After tying the school record for most TD passes in a game (six) and the conference record for most in a season (39), he'll be tempted to take the money and run. Expect him to claim, "It isn't about the money", which means it's ALL about the money. Buh-bye, Matt.
#13 Georgia 31, #23 Georgia Tech 17. Not many of us remember the Dawgs started the season 0-2, meaning they've now won ten straight. Playing more like an undefeated team, Georgia showcases its own air show, in QB Aaron Murray who throws for 252 yards and four TDs. But allowing nearly 500 yards in total offense, they will have to play better D next week against LSU in the SEC championship to have a chance at winning. Mark Richt's job is secure...for another week.
#6 Virginia Tech 38, #24 Virginia 0. Second biggest blowout of the day. You knew I was just kidding when I picked the Cavs to win, right? I still don't like Frank Beamer, but his team does everything right in blanking a Virginia squad that was red-hot (four straight, six of seven) coming into the game. Hokies intercept UVA's Michael Rocco and hold them to just 30 yards of rushing. Game sets up yet another rematch, this one against ACC Atlantic champ Clemson, who won season's fifth game 23-3 in Blacksburg. Next week's game will be in uptown Charlotte, NC. Advantage: neither.
#12 South Carolina 34, #17 Clemson 13. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney says, "We are about to get back to playing the kind of football that I know we are capable of playing in order to have a chance to win this game." This is code for "The SEC is a waaaaaaaay better conference than the ACC." When you're only down one score, and your defense forces a turnover that gives your offense field position on the opponent's 36, you'd better come away with more than a field goal. Penalties and turnovers kill Clemson, which only makes them hate The Ol' Ball Coach even more than they did before the day began.
#8 Houston 48, Tulsa 16. Golden Hurricane move out to a 7-0 lead in the first before lightening strikes. Move over, Kellen Moore...may we present Case Keenum for your viewing pleasure. The "Houston Hotshot" throws for 457 yards and five scores, making scouts salivate from INDIANapolis to MINNEapolis. 12-0 Cougars likely to be the mid-major representative in a BCS game. The match I'd love to see--however unlikely it may be--would be vs. Boise State. Can you just picture the shootout?!
#2 Alabama 42, #24 Auburn 14. Iron Bowl isn't close, as RB Trent Richardson rushes for over 200 yards and QB A. J. McCarron throws for three TDs. Richardson's ninth 100+ yards of rushing ties 'Bama record set in 2009 by Mark Ingram, who went on to win Tide's first Heisman Trophy. A second half-opening kickoff return for a touchdown by Tigers' Onterio McCalebb is about the only thing Auburn has to brag about. Perhaps Alabama has the last laugh, as second-place finish in SEC West guarantees an extra week's rest, injury prevention, and game preparation for LSU in January.
#1 LSU 41, #3 Arkansas 17. QB Jordan Jefferson suffers an early interception, and the Bayou Bengals fall behind by fourteen points--each for the first time this season. Razorbacks emotions like a sugar high, and come crashing to earth when LSU's defense shakes off the cobwebs. Tyrann Mathieu leads the way, forcing a fumble and returning a punt 92 yards for a TD. Even a loss to Georgia in next week's SEC championship will not prevent Tigers from playing in the BCS championship.
Final Summit Continuation volleyball update: Team loses to six out-of-shape, overweight teachers, 3 games to 1. Teachers unable to walk the next day, show videos and make students complete packets of worksheets. Good news: basketball season begins this week. Site administration on scouting trips to District's comprehensive high schools, trolling halls for tall, credit-deficient students.
Friday, November 25, 2011
ONLY A WEEK TO GO BEFORE ARMY-NAVY!
Union is finished for the season. Army, Navy, and BYU are all idle until next week. This leaves Smack Daddy with a tiny conundrum: find other games to mal-predict, or pretend there's nothing going on? Since there is no humility in my family (because I have it all), I choose to dive into several games of national import that have BCS implications. But first, let's deal with The Academy and every year's team that gets screwed by the BCS.
I mean, Boise State loses on a missed field goal and plummets from #4 to #10, but Oke State--behind the entire game--drops from #2 to ONLY #4?? C'MON, MAAAAAAAAAAN! Except now there's a very strong chance the nation will get to see The Game Everyone Wants To See. More on that below.
Here's Week #13:
Air Force (6-5) at Colorado State (3-7). Last week against TCU, the Rams contained QB Casey Pachall but allowed the Frogs to run against them at will. This week they'll face a Falcon offense that prefers to run but shows you enough pass looks so you have to be prepared for both. That spells trouble for the home team. Unless the CSU offensive line can block better for QB Garrett Grayson (who is actually the backup to injured starter Pete Thomas), The Academy's defense will put its offense on display for most of the afternoon. PICK: Air Force.
#7 Boise State (9-1) vs. Wyoming (7-3). Though disappointing, Broncos will battle for runner-up in their new conference, which will be the result if they beat the visiting Cowboys. Last week the Pokes held New Mexico under 300 yards of total offense, smothering QB B. R. Holbrook in the process. Lobos, meet Kellen Moore; he will tear you a new one. Bronco fans need only remember last year's matchup up, in which their team hung a 51-6 loss on the 'Boys--in Laramie, at that. PICK: Boise State.
San Jose State (4-7) at Fresno State (4-7). Teams have identical records, but SJSU was supposed to be worse while FSU was supposed to be better. Game is in Fresno; advantage Bulldogs. This is Spartans' final game of the season, while Fresno has San Diego State on the road next week; advantage San Jose. As they showed against Navy, SJSU can shut down a running team, but Fresno has become increasingly "ept" through the air; advantage Fresno. FSU gets to the opposing QB much more frequently than do the Spartans; advantage Fresno. PICK: Fresno State (unless you'll give me points...)
Some VERY interesting matchups this weekend. Just look at how Texas-Texas A & M went down yesterday...five yards further away from the goalposts and the game would have ended differently. Electric bills will spike for November because of the following lineup appearing somewhere on your TV tomorrow:
USC (9-2) vs. UCLA (6-5). Associated Press has Trojans ranked #10...ESPN reports this as being just slightly ahead of the Seattle Seahawks. Shows how significant recruiting violations can be. Game made more interesting because Bruins are poised to win the newly configured Pac 12 South and challenge Stanford or Oregon for the first-ever conference championship. Game will be played in the L. A. Coliseum at an unforgivable 7:00 PST kickoff. None of this matters to UCLA head man Rick Neuheisel, who would be gone at the end of the season were it not for the fact that he holds a job that nobody else in the country wants. Trojans are just too good, and this is the third time this season that they've played in what amounts to the closest thing to a bowl they'll see all season. PICK: USC.
#13 Georgia (9-2) at #23 Georgia Tech (8-3). Speaking of the coaching hot seat, this match is bigger for Georgia head coach Mark Richt than for players on either team. Win and he keeps his job; lose and he's gone. Doesn't matter that Bulldogs have clinched SEC East and will face LSU-Arkansas winner in the SEC championship. Richt knows it's one and done. On the other side, Paul Johnson can do no wrong, and is in no danger of losing his job. Will that make Tech looser and Dawgs tighter? UGA has the better team, but an historical tendency to choke in big games. Saturday should be an exception. PICK: Georgia.
#6 Virginia Tech at #24 Virginia. I don't like Frank Beamer...he makes me nervous just watching him gyrate on the sidelines every week. Also, Tech doesn't deserve this high a ranking, not when you lose to Clemson 23-3. PICK: Virginia.
#17 Clemson (9-2) at #12 South Carolina (9-2). They may have identical records, but Gamecocks are hungry and Tigers showed their complacency in losing to NC State last week. The "other Carolina" dispensed with its internal problems by dismissing QB Steven Garcia from the team a few weeks ago. Since then their offense has jelled. Clemson doesn't believe in itself, which is why the Tigers also lost to Georgia Tech three weeks ago. How else do you explain holding Virginia Tech to three points yet then allowing Maryland to score 45 just two weeks later? On top of that, Clemson only beat Wofford by eight. PICK: South Carolina.
#8 Houston (11-0) at Tulsa (8-3). My Facebook friend (and former swimmer) Brian Hosmer reminded me of the stellar season these Cougars have amassed. Am willing to bet that if you asked the average college football fan who were the remaining undefeated/untied teams, several one-loss teams would be mentioned. Houston languishes in the not-so-hot Conference USA, yet opened its season with a W over UCLA. Since then, the Cougs have outscored their opponents 546-201, hanging 73 points on both Rice and Tulane as well as 56 each on East Carolina and Alabama-Birmingham. Those four schools do not exactly put fear into the hearts of BCS contenders, any more than Boise State's opponents have in recent years. Besides, Houston faces a very capable Tulsa team, as well as the pressure of trying to achieve a perfect record heading into bowl season. The Golden Hurricane's three losses have come at the hands of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Boise State. So this game could be one of the best of the weekend...and it IS in Tulsa. PICK: Houston.
#2 Alabama (10-1) at #24 Auburn (7-4). REALLY tempted to take the Tigers in this one, but I'll come to my senses now and make the case for 'Bama. Except against LSU, Tide can score points. Then I remember the TWO games Auburn has lost when its opponent scored 45 points (LSU and Georgia). Alabama has scored 45 or more points on three separate occasions this season, and has been over 30 points a total of seven times. Like the detergent of the same name, this Tide will erase the stain on its 2011 record.. PICK: Alabama.
#1 LSU (11-0) vs. #3 Arkansas (10-1). Hogs only loss was to 'Bama and the SEC West title is on the line. But as witnessed by the emotional toll taken on Oklahoma State players by the loss of the school's women's basketball coach just before the game with Iowa State, heavy will be the hearts of the Arkansas players, due to the sudden and unexpected loss of redhsirt freshman TE Garrett Uekman to a heart attack last wek. A game of this emotional magnitude is too much for college-age kids. PICK: LSU.
UNSOLICITED COMMENTARY: Despite my picking to the contrary, Alabama is still vulnerable to Auburn. If 'Bama loses and LSU knocks off Arkansas as expected, both the Tide and the Razorbacks will have two losses which should drop them below Oklahoma State. However, there's a very real possibility that Oklahoma will upset the Cowboys when the two teams meet next week. Should that happen, the Stanford-Notre Dame game on Saturday looms large, as a Cardinal win allows them to make the case for the BCS title game. That would make this year's Boise State--Houston--the latest to clamor for a playoff system. I say, winner gets Army on its 2012 schedule.
I mean, Boise State loses on a missed field goal and plummets from #4 to #10, but Oke State--behind the entire game--drops from #2 to ONLY #4?? C'MON, MAAAAAAAAAAN! Except now there's a very strong chance the nation will get to see The Game Everyone Wants To See. More on that below.
Here's Week #13:
Air Force (6-5) at Colorado State (3-7). Last week against TCU, the Rams contained QB Casey Pachall but allowed the Frogs to run against them at will. This week they'll face a Falcon offense that prefers to run but shows you enough pass looks so you have to be prepared for both. That spells trouble for the home team. Unless the CSU offensive line can block better for QB Garrett Grayson (who is actually the backup to injured starter Pete Thomas), The Academy's defense will put its offense on display for most of the afternoon. PICK: Air Force.
#7 Boise State (9-1) vs. Wyoming (7-3). Though disappointing, Broncos will battle for runner-up in their new conference, which will be the result if they beat the visiting Cowboys. Last week the Pokes held New Mexico under 300 yards of total offense, smothering QB B. R. Holbrook in the process. Lobos, meet Kellen Moore; he will tear you a new one. Bronco fans need only remember last year's matchup up, in which their team hung a 51-6 loss on the 'Boys--in Laramie, at that. PICK: Boise State.
San Jose State (4-7) at Fresno State (4-7). Teams have identical records, but SJSU was supposed to be worse while FSU was supposed to be better. Game is in Fresno; advantage Bulldogs. This is Spartans' final game of the season, while Fresno has San Diego State on the road next week; advantage San Jose. As they showed against Navy, SJSU can shut down a running team, but Fresno has become increasingly "ept" through the air; advantage Fresno. FSU gets to the opposing QB much more frequently than do the Spartans; advantage Fresno. PICK: Fresno State (unless you'll give me points...)
Some VERY interesting matchups this weekend. Just look at how Texas-Texas A & M went down yesterday...five yards further away from the goalposts and the game would have ended differently. Electric bills will spike for November because of the following lineup appearing somewhere on your TV tomorrow:
USC (9-2) vs. UCLA (6-5). Associated Press has Trojans ranked #10...ESPN reports this as being just slightly ahead of the Seattle Seahawks. Shows how significant recruiting violations can be. Game made more interesting because Bruins are poised to win the newly configured Pac 12 South and challenge Stanford or Oregon for the first-ever conference championship. Game will be played in the L. A. Coliseum at an unforgivable 7:00 PST kickoff. None of this matters to UCLA head man Rick Neuheisel, who would be gone at the end of the season were it not for the fact that he holds a job that nobody else in the country wants. Trojans are just too good, and this is the third time this season that they've played in what amounts to the closest thing to a bowl they'll see all season. PICK: USC.
#13 Georgia (9-2) at #23 Georgia Tech (8-3). Speaking of the coaching hot seat, this match is bigger for Georgia head coach Mark Richt than for players on either team. Win and he keeps his job; lose and he's gone. Doesn't matter that Bulldogs have clinched SEC East and will face LSU-Arkansas winner in the SEC championship. Richt knows it's one and done. On the other side, Paul Johnson can do no wrong, and is in no danger of losing his job. Will that make Tech looser and Dawgs tighter? UGA has the better team, but an historical tendency to choke in big games. Saturday should be an exception. PICK: Georgia.
#6 Virginia Tech at #24 Virginia. I don't like Frank Beamer...he makes me nervous just watching him gyrate on the sidelines every week. Also, Tech doesn't deserve this high a ranking, not when you lose to Clemson 23-3. PICK: Virginia.
#17 Clemson (9-2) at #12 South Carolina (9-2). They may have identical records, but Gamecocks are hungry and Tigers showed their complacency in losing to NC State last week. The "other Carolina" dispensed with its internal problems by dismissing QB Steven Garcia from the team a few weeks ago. Since then their offense has jelled. Clemson doesn't believe in itself, which is why the Tigers also lost to Georgia Tech three weeks ago. How else do you explain holding Virginia Tech to three points yet then allowing Maryland to score 45 just two weeks later? On top of that, Clemson only beat Wofford by eight. PICK: South Carolina.
#8 Houston (11-0) at Tulsa (8-3). My Facebook friend (and former swimmer) Brian Hosmer reminded me of the stellar season these Cougars have amassed. Am willing to bet that if you asked the average college football fan who were the remaining undefeated/untied teams, several one-loss teams would be mentioned. Houston languishes in the not-so-hot Conference USA, yet opened its season with a W over UCLA. Since then, the Cougs have outscored their opponents 546-201, hanging 73 points on both Rice and Tulane as well as 56 each on East Carolina and Alabama-Birmingham. Those four schools do not exactly put fear into the hearts of BCS contenders, any more than Boise State's opponents have in recent years. Besides, Houston faces a very capable Tulsa team, as well as the pressure of trying to achieve a perfect record heading into bowl season. The Golden Hurricane's three losses have come at the hands of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Boise State. So this game could be one of the best of the weekend...and it IS in Tulsa. PICK: Houston.
#2 Alabama (10-1) at #24 Auburn (7-4). REALLY tempted to take the Tigers in this one, but I'll come to my senses now and make the case for 'Bama. Except against LSU, Tide can score points. Then I remember the TWO games Auburn has lost when its opponent scored 45 points (LSU and Georgia). Alabama has scored 45 or more points on three separate occasions this season, and has been over 30 points a total of seven times. Like the detergent of the same name, this Tide will erase the stain on its 2011 record.. PICK: Alabama.
#1 LSU (11-0) vs. #3 Arkansas (10-1). Hogs only loss was to 'Bama and the SEC West title is on the line. But as witnessed by the emotional toll taken on Oklahoma State players by the loss of the school's women's basketball coach just before the game with Iowa State, heavy will be the hearts of the Arkansas players, due to the sudden and unexpected loss of redhsirt freshman TE Garrett Uekman to a heart attack last wek. A game of this emotional magnitude is too much for college-age kids. PICK: LSU.
UNSOLICITED COMMENTARY: Despite my picking to the contrary, Alabama is still vulnerable to Auburn. If 'Bama loses and LSU knocks off Arkansas as expected, both the Tide and the Razorbacks will have two losses which should drop them below Oklahoma State. However, there's a very real possibility that Oklahoma will upset the Cowboys when the two teams meet next week. Should that happen, the Stanford-Notre Dame game on Saturday looms large, as a Cardinal win allows them to make the case for the BCS title game. That would make this year's Boise State--Houston--the latest to clamor for a playoff system. I say, winner gets Army on its 2012 schedule.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Down Goes EVERYBODY!
Imagine how Boise State must feel, now that all those conditions I laid out last week have come to pass. Oklahoma State beaten for the first time, but more importantly Oregon, Oklahoma, and Clemson all suffer a second loss.
Best win of all...da Bearsssss beating Boomer Sooners for the first time EVER. Was it just me, or did the Oklahoma defensive back simply give up on the last Baylor TD?
My principal losing bet with one of our math teachers, and having to wear a USC jersey at school all day tomorrow...PRICELESS.
The rest of the day went like this:
Air Force 45, UNLV 17. Game rescheduled for Falcon Stadium at the last minute! Rebs are like fish out of water...no penny slots at the airport, no free cocktails at the hotel. Air Force threatens to be renamed "Ground Force", as The Academy rolls up over 500 yards of total offense, and all but one of its seven TDs coming via the run.
Temple 42, Army 14. Smack blog poster "Deane" misplaces his head (so to speak), referring to Cadet "east coast pride". Hey, isn't Temple on the east coast too? (I was fed that line...) Instead, Black Knights keep their 2011 road record perfect with sixth straight loss. Owls look more like a service academy, rolling up 335 yards of rushing to compliment QB Chris Coyer's 4-of-5 passing for 79 yards and one TD. Army QB Max Jenkins was only 1-for-5 and 21 yards in Army's tune-up for arch-rival Navy.
San Jose State 27, Navy 24. Somebody said "Mids are hungry to become bowl-eligible". Um...NO?? Spartan D holds Navy ground game under 300 yards, which is almost always a recipe for Goat soup. SJSU QB Matt Faulkner looks pro-like, going 33-for-44and 345 yards, yet amazingly notching only one TD for all that efficiency. 4th quarter proves decisive, as Navy has ball only three times, punting once and turning it over twice on downs.
BYU 42, New Mexico State 7. Contest takes awhile to heat up, as score is tied 7-7 until late in the second quarter. Floodgates open for Cougars, who put up 35 unanswered points on the 4-touchdown performance of QB Matt Heaps. But it's BYU defense that holds Aggies nearly 200 yards under their season average total offense output. Cougs have already accepted invitation to play in Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, to face someone from Conference USA. Staying consistent with regular season schedule, that should be the 1-7 Tulane Green Wave.
#10 Boise State 52, San Diego State 35. One of the reasons Bronco QB Kellen Moore is so successful is RB Doug Martin, who has 36 carries for 129 yards in this W over SDSU. Aztecs keep pace statistically, as QB Ryan Lindley has more attempts and completions and only 16 fewer yards. Evidently State head coach Rocky Long is in the bar, watching a completely different game, as he remarks, "The only thing that I saw positive about tonight was that our team showed ability to hang in there when things were going as bad as they can possibly go." His halftime speech must have been a doozie, after describing his team's first quarter play with the "They can't go any worse than that."
Parting shots:
Best win of all...da Bearsssss beating Boomer Sooners for the first time EVER. Was it just me, or did the Oklahoma defensive back simply give up on the last Baylor TD?My principal losing bet with one of our math teachers, and having to wear a USC jersey at school all day tomorrow...PRICELESS.
The rest of the day went like this:
Air Force 45, UNLV 17. Game rescheduled for Falcon Stadium at the last minute! Rebs are like fish out of water...no penny slots at the airport, no free cocktails at the hotel. Air Force threatens to be renamed "Ground Force", as The Academy rolls up over 500 yards of total offense, and all but one of its seven TDs coming via the run.
Temple 42, Army 14. Smack blog poster "Deane" misplaces his head (so to speak), referring to Cadet "east coast pride". Hey, isn't Temple on the east coast too? (I was fed that line...) Instead, Black Knights keep their 2011 road record perfect with sixth straight loss. Owls look more like a service academy, rolling up 335 yards of rushing to compliment QB Chris Coyer's 4-of-5 passing for 79 yards and one TD. Army QB Max Jenkins was only 1-for-5 and 21 yards in Army's tune-up for arch-rival Navy.
San Jose State 27, Navy 24. Somebody said "Mids are hungry to become bowl-eligible". Um...NO?? Spartan D holds Navy ground game under 300 yards, which is almost always a recipe for Goat soup. SJSU QB Matt Faulkner looks pro-like, going 33-for-44and 345 yards, yet amazingly notching only one TD for all that efficiency. 4th quarter proves decisive, as Navy has ball only three times, punting once and turning it over twice on downs.
BYU 42, New Mexico State 7. Contest takes awhile to heat up, as score is tied 7-7 until late in the second quarter. Floodgates open for Cougars, who put up 35 unanswered points on the 4-touchdown performance of QB Matt Heaps. But it's BYU defense that holds Aggies nearly 200 yards under their season average total offense output. Cougs have already accepted invitation to play in Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, to face someone from Conference USA. Staying consistent with regular season schedule, that should be the 1-7 Tulane Green Wave.
#10 Boise State 52, San Diego State 35. One of the reasons Bronco QB Kellen Moore is so successful is RB Doug Martin, who has 36 carries for 129 yards in this W over SDSU. Aztecs keep pace statistically, as QB Ryan Lindley has more attempts and completions and only 16 fewer yards. Evidently State head coach Rocky Long is in the bar, watching a completely different game, as he remarks, "The only thing that I saw positive about tonight was that our team showed ability to hang in there when things were going as bad as they can possibly go." His halftime speech must have been a doozie, after describing his team's first quarter play with the "They can't go any worse than that."
Parting shots:
- Will consider dropping new "Qwik Piks" feature, after correctly picking only two winnahs. Or maybe just pick better games.
- National Championship Game Everybody Wants To See But Won't: LSU vs. Oklahoma State.
- National Championship Game We'll Probably See But Don't Want To: LSU vs. Alabama (again).
- Scenario In Which Boise State Can Still Play In The BCS Championship Game: LSU and/or Arkansas loses one of its last two games, Oke State loses to Oklahoma, Virginia Tech loses to Virginia, AND Stanford loses to Notre Dame. That would leave the Broncos to challenge the one-loss Crimson Tide. Hey, it could happen...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)