Army stinks, huh? I'll tell you what stinks...my picks! Springfield? DEAD. Air Force? DEAD. SMU? DEAD. Boise State? DEAD. My commentary on BSU playing in the BCS championship game? DEAD...sorta forgot to mention that the Broncs had to run the table, which obviously they can no longer do. (Wait...Oklahoma State just scored again.) Well, at least Army still stinks, too.
Union 44, Springfield 36. Not content to simply watch the Liberty League automatic berth get flushed as Hobart stomps Rochester, Dutchmen take to the air and manhandle a tough Pride team. Senior QB Drew Connolly throws for 352 yards and three TDs, while the receiving corps puts up record-breaking numbers. Garnet stays on the ground for most of the 3rd quarter, but as Springfield creeps back in, Connolly seals the deal with a 50-yard heave to TE Eric Zavadsky. UColl press release reminds us that it's the 30th winning season in the past 31.
Wyoming 25, Air Force 17. 'Boys catch The Academy dreaming about bowls and surprise at Falcon Stadium. What kills a win? TURNOVERS, of which the Falcons have five. Wyoming QB Brett Smith proves too potent, throwing for 139 yds. and rushing for 75 more. While more prolific on the ground, AFA's Connor Dietz manages only 5 passes, one of which is intercepted.
Rutgers 27, Army 12. Establish the run, then go to the air. Sound football advice...if you have an air game, that is. Cadets get 165 combined yards from Larry Dixon and Angel Santiago, but can't overcome the 196 yds. and two TDs through the air logged by Scarlet Knights' QB Chas Dodd. Dodd is helped by the 127 yards gained on the ground by his running backs, plus the 32-yard TD run following a blocked Army punt.
Navy 24, Southern Methodist 17. Here's an example of winning one-dimensionally, as Middies go over the 300-yd. mark (again) in rushing, 107 of which come from QB Kriss Proctor. The Mustangs had trouble generating offense, and are held to just a field goal in the first half. Their two touchdowns come as 2nd half bookends, making the score look closer than it is.
BYU 42, Idaho 7. Two different QBs combined for three TDs, as Cougars final tally goes on the board before Vandals manage to score. Idaho comes into game ranked #115 in offense, then proceeds to under-produce by forty yards, scoring only on an 82-yard run late in the 3rd quarter. Hey, I hear that the Big East is looking for teams.
TCU 36, Boise State 35. Broncos forget how to play pass defense, and lesser-renowned Frog QB Casey Pachall becomes opportunist following BSU fumble in the 4th quarter. Game on a silver platter for Boise--TCU kickoff goes out-of-bounds, a spurious 4th down pass interference call goes their way, and QB Kellen Moore puts the ball right smack dab in the center of the field. PK Dan Goodale goes wide-right from 39 yds. and any chance for a BCS title goes with him.
Utah State 34, San Jose State 33. Spartans jump out to an early lead behind the passing of QB Matt Faulkner, who has 340 yds. and a TD on the day. Aggies get it close in the second half, then shut down SJSU before tallying the final score with just :47 left on the clock.
Question posed on ESPN's The Sports Reporters this morning: Which team benefited the most from Boise State's loss? Rule out Stanford, itself a big loser to Oregon. Maybe Oregon itself, who can make the claim that it's only loss came to LSU in the first week of the season. But if they can pull of what would now be seen as an upset over Oke State, it would seem that Oklahoma might have just re-inserted itself into the BCS championship game. Now imagine if LSU loses the SEC championship game...we might very well see a Sooners-Tide final. The more things change, the more they stay the same...except for Army.
In the "add insult to injury" department: This morning when I arrived at church, there was a Wyoming-logo floor mat outside the door to my office. My 1st counselor, a Wyo grad, was sitting inside with a big grin on his face, wearing a Wyo t-shirt over his whites shirt and tie, and also wearing a Wyo baseball cap. In big letters on the whiteboard he had written, "Wyo 25 > AF 17." Some people have no respect for their elders. Oh, well..."next year." At least the Commander-in-Chief Trophy will remain in its rightful Rocky Mountain home, even if AF does end up in the Big East.
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