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.
No comments:
Post a Comment