Not Olive Loaf, But Just As Tasty

 (That one's for you, nephew)

 

Hurrying to post this preview before tonight's early games.  Still sluggish from attending last night's performance of Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers with Edie Brickell.  Print THAT across the back of a football jersey.  That reminds me...SALTALAMACCHIA, the Sawx are in the ALCS again!  Here's hoping my TV doesn't spontaneously combust with all the sports that seem to be showing these days.  And now for something completely different...Week #7 in college (and selected high school) football.

Thursday:

Whaddya mean it's a "party school"?

Air Force (1-5) vs. San Diego State (2-3).  This is just not the Falcons’ year.  On the other hand, State is playing its third game in 13 days, so maybe Air Force can take advantage of the Aztecs’ fatigue.  Their common opponent was Nevada, with SDSU winning and USAFA losing to the Wolf Pack.  Both of those contests were high-scoring affairs resolved by relatively small margins.  Two of State’s losses came at the hands of pretty decent teams (Ohio State, Oregon State).  Neither team plays very good defense.  Air Force’s offense is run-oriented, while San Diego State’s is well-balanced.  If the altitude bug has deflated the Aztecs’ tires in the second half, Air Force may be able to come away with its second W of the season.  I’ll take a flyer, so to speak.  PICK:  Air Force.

USC (3-2) vs. Arizona (3-1).  Trojans’ first game in the EOE (Ed Orgeron Era), which should be short-lived.  Both teams are coming off a bye week, but USC has had the more tumultuous experience by far.  The Wildcats’ potent running offense was all but grounded in their most recent game, a loss to Washington.  USC has the most to prove, especially after Orgeron reinstated desserts to the Trojans' training table.  We'll see if chocolate chip cookies help Southern Cal in continuing to hold opponents to 3.5 yds./carry, or if improves on their allowing 10.5 yds/pass.  Since a passing game is important in breaking the Trojans, Arizona will struggle because they don’t have the air attack to complement their running game.  While many are picking the Wildcats to match last year’s shootout win.  I think otherwise.  PICK:  USC.

Friday:

South Portland (4-1) at Scarborough (2-3).  Back when The Sentinel and I went to SPHS, Scarborough was known as the Redskins and didn’t even have a football team.  We had Willard Beach, they had Higgins.  After early-season losses to both Sanford and Thornton, both of whom lost to South Portland, they played some pretty decent ball, losing late to a tough Bonny Eagle team that handled the Riots with ease and crushing a rebuilding Biddeford by 25 points.  Scarborough isn’t exactly a road trip for the Riots, just a quick bus ride out Highland Avenue and a short juke up the Gorham Road.  But the Riots will have to find a way to hurry QB Ben Greenburg and shut down a potent rushing attack led by RB Dan LeClair.  Treating Bonny Eagle as a statistical anomaly, the Riots have held opponents to 11 points/game.  Defense wins championships, and the Red & White are riding the wave to a possible deep postseason run.  PICK:  South Portland.

Rogers (2-3) at Kentwood (5-0).  Looks like another tough game for the Rams, who run into an undefeated foe for the second consecutive week.  The Conquerors boast a potent aerial act featuring QB Brian Campbell and WR Terrence O’Grady, who combined for three TDs last week in a lopsided win over Kentridge.  Kentwood seems to throw the ball for distance and then pound it inside for red zone scoring.  The rushing duo of Derrick Bell and Brandon Systma will challenge the Ram defensive line which has allowed opponents nearly 170 yards a game.  The defense gets nasty when opponents fall behind and have to turn to the passing game.  Kentwood allows just 29% passing and 145 total yds./game, which further explains why they’ve outscored its opponents 60-0 in the 4^th quarter.  Sorry, this shouldn’t be close.  PICK:  Kentwood.

Saturday:

Heads-up:  Sources report that ex-USC coach Lane Kiffin will be appearing on ESPN's "College Game Day".  Post mortem or job interview?  You be the judge.  Just don't forget to set that DVR, wouldn't want to miss out on this quality viewing.

Union (1-3) vs. Worcester Polytech (2-3).  It’s Homecoming Weekend in Schenectady!  Rum & cider ensconced firmly beneath jackets and a world-renowned kazoo band at halftime!  First impressions can be misleading, as each team has lost three games.  Upon further review, Union ranks 1^st in the Liberty League in total defense, allowing 220 yds./game, while WPI ranks dead last with 420.6.  The Engineers have one defensive advantage, getting to the QB.  The Dutchmen may have learned to prevent that in last weekend’s win against St. Lawrence.  Offensively, the teams are pretty even, though WPI scores more points.  Led by kickoff return specialist Sean Murphy (24.8 yds./touch), they also have a decided advantage across the board in special teams. categories.  The Dutchmen should be cranked for Homecoming, so if the O-line holds, I see adrenaline levels determining the outcome.  PICK:  Union.

Army (2-4) vs. Eastern Michigan (1-4).  Second week in a row that the Black Knights have had to face a team whose nickname is the Eagles.  Army’s defense would be reason for concern, allowing over 29 pts/game.  It’s just that Eastern has struggled to put points on the board, averaging under 13 pts./game.  The Eagles’ defense has been bitten by the long ball, giving up 20+ yards on 40 total plays, and nine TDs on plays of 50+ yards.  When you consider that most of these are running plays, and Army is one of the top rushing teams in the country, I’d say it’s safe to side with the home team.  Signal callers may decide the outcome of this one.  The Black Knights’ Angel Santiago is questionable, with an ankle injury.  ESU’s Tyler (Mercedes) Benz, who completes 64% of his passes but has been intercepted four times.  If the Army defense allows Benz to establish passing routes, this could turn into a surprise.  Not.  PICK:  Army.

Home of Randolph and Mortimer Duke

Navy (3-1) at Duke (3-2).  The Blue Devils have already shown they struggle with the triple option, falling to ex-Navy coach Paul Johnson’s Georgia Tech Yellowjackets 38-14 last month.  Yet the Dookies’ backup QB Brandon Connette has stepped firmly into the starter’s role and is a legitimate threat to either run or pass for double-digit yards every time he touches the ball.  But a team that already gives up 28 points and 400 yards a game will have trouble containing Navy’s Keenan Reynolds and company.  If this were hoops, there’d be a shot clock.  Absent one on the gridiron, the key may well be who dominates time of possession, so my money’s on the Middies.  PICK:  Navy.

BYU (3-2) vs. Georgia Tech (3-2).  Cougars get a look at one of the masters of the triple option when the aforementioned Georgia Tech visits Provo.  BYU also prefers to run the ball, although QB Taysom Hill is coming off a previous win in which he threw more than he ran.  Since both teams are also solid defensively, the game may come down to which one commits the most mistakes, either penalties or turnovers.  In such a situation, always go with the home team.  And then there’s that pesky altitude thing.  PICK:  BYU.

"Fear The Rock" (K, you know what I mean)

Boston College (3-2) at #3 Clemson (5-0).  Not this week, Eagles.  This is Clemson, with Heisman candidate Tajh Boyd leading a potent offense that scores both on the ground and through the air.  Yet as impressive as they are on the attack, it is the Tigers’ defense that has them sitting atop the ACC and challenging for their first national title since the Danny Ford-led 1981 team.  Unfortunately for BC, its lack of a consistent, penetrating defense will give Boyd & Co. all the time they need to orchestrate win #6.  Clear edge to the home team in Death Valley.  PICK:  Clemson.

#2 Oregon (5-0) vs. #16 Washington (4-1).  Quietly, coach Steve Sarkesian has built the Huskies into a Pac-12 contender.  Bodies should be flying all over Husky Stadium on Saturday.  Oregon coach Mike Helfrich sprung his best Lou Holtz imitation in the weekly presser, claiming that his Ducks--averaging nearly 60 points a game--“haven't played remotely to what we can in any phase in any game”.  Huh?  The Huskies don’t score as much as Oregon, but they control the ball and pile up the yards.  Under “normal” circumstances, this would favor them, but as explosive as Oregon’s offense typically is, they don’t need a lot of time on the field to be successful.  As with most top teams, even those that score a lot have outstanding defenses to thank, and the Ducks are no exception, limiting opponents to just 11.2 points/game.  Interestingly, some actually grade Washington’s defense better than Oregon’s, and it’ll have to be for the Huskies to pull off the upset, and in Eugene at that.  I don’t think so.  PICK:  Oregon.

Georgia State (0-5) vs. Troy (3-3).  Mercifully, Georgia State begins its Sun Belt Conference schedule this week against the Trojans, and will be playing at home again.  I’ll never forget the scare Troy put into Florida State just a few short years ago.  Their current QB Corey Robinson leads the nation in completion percentage (.742) and has thrown for nearly 12,000 career yards.  RB Brandon Burks can run but also has 24 receptions coming out of the backfield this year.  Were it not for an atrocious defense, this would be a rout for Troy.  Actually, even WITH an atrocious defense, this should be a rout for Troy because the Panthers can’t score.  Another long week.  PICK:  Troy.