Bo Pelini Cries "ARGO!!", Apologizes To Husker Nation

Is Forgiven By Tom Osborne

Going into Week #4 in college football the headlines revolve around all you @#$%1&* fair-weather fans out there.  Coaches are putting YOU on notice:  "We're mad as hell and we're not going to take your whining any more."  Joining Lane Kiffin on "the watch" is Texas coach Mack Brown who still has a few assistants he can fire before they come for his playbook.  But in Chicago coach Pat Fitzgerald and his #18 Northwestern Wildcats are riding a 3-0 wave into their showdown with FCS juggernaut Maine.

Since Fitzgerald took the reins in 2006, he reportedly has focused attention on the sleep habits of his players.  He has changed practice times, instituted sleep assessments, and even mandated team naps on game days.  Naps during the work day...jeez, I wanna play for this guy!  His strategy last week also included making ESPN's Mike Greenberg the honorary team captain, and asking Greeny to address the locker room before the Western Michigan game, an eventual 38-17 victory.  All this innovation has led in part to a Wildcat offense that averages 43 points/game.

No games of the century this week.  In fact, the only game between Top 25 teams is #5 Stanford hosting #23 Arizona State.  Good weekend to give some love to the FCS, Division II, and Division III teams. Attention:  Sentinel--New Hamster is a 4-point favorite over Colgate-Palmolive.  Here's the rest of the action, as seen through my eyes:

Action from Union-Ithaca, 2011

Union (0-1) vs. Ithaca College (1-0).  The Bombers roll into Schenectady looking for their second win of the season.  QB Phil Neumann threw for 201 yds. and 2 TDs in Ithaca's 31-7 victory over Moravian.  When not throwing to one of nine different receivers, Neumann defers to RB Rakim Jones, who gains just under 5 yds./carry.  Their only noticeable weakness is holding onto the football, turning it over three times last week.  The Dutchmen must do a better job of protecting QB Connor Eck as well as find a way to establish a ground game with RB Jake Larson.  The Union D was stellar against both the run and the pass (2.2 yds./carry and 5.8 yds./pass vs. Utica).  Since the game is at home after a road loss to start the season, I’ll take the good guys.  PICK:  Union.

Air Force (1-2) vs. Wyoming (2-1).  Let’s be positive, shall we?  Air Force now owns the fourth-longest active streak of games in which the team has scored (249), behind only Michigan, Florida, and TCU.  OK, that’s enough.  Wyoming runs up the yards, and can score either on the ground or through the air.  The Falcons are pretty much limited to their ground attack.  Fortunately for them, the Cowboys give up a lot of yards that way.  The Academy benefits from home field advantage and, with a little luck, that should spell the difference.  I’m going with the mild upset.  PICK:  Air Force.

Army (1-2) vs. Wake Forest (1-2).  After both teams won their openers, both dropped their next two.  Gotta like Army’s strength of schedule (Ball State and Stanford) compared to Wake’s (Presbyterian, Louisiana-MONroe).  Wake has the ACC record-holder in receptions per game in WR Michael Campanaro, but with a league-worst 0.8 yds/carry can’t seem to run the ball even a little bit,  With a ball-control, run-oriented offense, Army should be able to do what the Deacons’ other opponents have done:  move the ball down the field and score three out of every four times inside the 20.  Although Wake won last year’s shootout, it’s Army’s turn this year, and playing at home they get the nod.  PICK:  Army.

"Idle Navy"; vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y.

Navy (2-0) idle (2^nd bye week this season????); next 9/28 at Western Kentucky.

BYU (1-1) vs. Utah (2-1).  That Utah is ranked #14 in the nation against the run is hugely misleading.  Truth is, they’re so inept against the pass that opponents tend to skip the ground game altogether.  This does not bode well against Quarterback U, and though the Cougars' Taysom Hill got off to a slow start against Virginia, he was all over Texas last week, including 259 yds. running the football.  Interestingly, BYU’s defense is proving to be its strong point, so look for a solid (but not lopsided) Cougar win in Provo this Saturday.  PICK:  BYU.

Boston College (2-1)  idle; next 9/28 vs. Florida State.

"Drink on, SC!"

USC (2-1) vs. Utah State (2-1).  Smack Daddy is sooooo tempted to pick the Aggies in an upset.  This is mostly because colleague and USC-grad Mr. Rad(ical) read the blog last week and said, “Keep your day job.”  Well, I did ask for feedback.  Anyway, it could be alma mater warfare in the hallways of our fair school, as Mr. Hough’s boys invade the Coliseum with a high-flying aerial attack led by QB Chuckie Keeton.  Unfortunately, the Aggie defense doesn’t put much pressure on the QB, so whether it’s Cody Kessler or Max Wittek the Trojans will be able to mix up their plays to utilize Tre Madden, the latest tailback hero (and no relation to John).  In a battle between balance vs. imbalance, I'll take balance.  Althought I don't want to.  PICK:  USC.

Georgia State (0-2) vs. Jacksonville State (3-0).  Was going to make an Artis Gilmore reference until I realized I was confusing Jackson State with the U. of Jacksonville.  These Gamecocks play in the Ohio Valley Conference...anybody have a map??  What do they think "GPS" stands for...Giant Possum Slingshot?  Unlike South Carolina, they’re undefeated so far this season.  That’s not likely to change against the Panthers. A trio of running backs--Miles Jones, Troymaine Pope, and Elijah Jenkins--each averages over 5 yds./carry.  The combination of QB Max Shortell to WR Telvin Brown nets close to 12 yds./pass.  I’m envisioning an offensive line that dominates the line of scrimmage.  Panthers have surrendered  38 points/game thus far in 2013.  They may surrender a whole lot more to JState.  PICK:  Jacksonville State.

This, apparently, is what passes as a Red Riot these days.

South Portland (1-1) vs. Massabesic (0-2).  Waterboro, that’s where.  The Mustangs are led by Jon Gallant, who was last seen coaching Deering.  Last week they lost to Biddeford, which was crushed by Bonny Eagle in Week #1.  On the strength of common opponents, once removed (and home field advantage), this should be red and white all the way.  But factoring in the Steve Stinson coefficient, anything could happen.  PICK:  South Portland.

Rogers (0-2) vs. Emerald Ridge (0-2).  Both teams have lost to Federal Way, but Rogers scored twice as many points against the Eagles as did Emerald Ridge.  Of course, the Rams also gave up more points to FW, so where does that leave us?  Last week Rogers stopped Beamer on three straight two-point conversions, so obviously they are tough in short-yardage situations in the red zone.  Emerald Ridge scored both of its TDs on long pass plays last week against Federal Way.  If da Rams can pressure the QB, it should be a "discount daaable-check" at home.  PICK:  Rogers.