Weekend Starts Right Now

Week #6 is upon us, with a trio of D-I games on tap this evening.  Most notably, the #12 UCLA Bruins, hippest thing to hit L. A. since the Clippers, travel to the Beehive State to face the Utah Utes.  But my attention will be on the pros, as I join several members of my Friday morning "Breakfast Club" to watch the Bills play the Browns at our local Burgers 'n Beer.  Most of the guys belong to the same fantasy league (I play a separate pool back east), including "The Mace" who is a Buffalo native and refers to this game as "The Battle for Lake Erie".  Pulling for the Brownies to cover the 4.5 points.  Apparently this craze of playing games on Thursday nights is spilling over to the high schools, so had to weigh in on one team we follow here on The Smack.  Enjoy your weekend, see you on the flip-side.

Thursday night (prep):

Rogers (2-2) at Graham-Kapowsin (4-0).  The Mighty Eagles are perfect on the season, including an opening win vs. Post Falls (Idaho).  They thumped Emerald Ridge by 36 points (who Rogers beat by three) and outscored Federal Way by 18 points (to whom Rogers lost by 20).  GKHS outscores its opponents in every quarter, has surrendered only 125.5 yds./game in rushing, and though they’ve fumbled six times they have yet to lose a single one and have only suffered a single interception.  Sure looks like a long night for the Rams on the road.  PICK:  Graham-Kapowsin.

Friday night:

Utah State's "12th Man"

BYU (2-2) at Utah State (3-2).  Game being played on 47% of Romney Stadium, where Aggies are on a winning streak not seen since the Merlin Olson days.  Both QBs are versatile, with State’s Chuckie Keeton being the better passer and the Cougars’ Taysom Hill the better runner.  The game may come down to who wins the turnover battle.  For all that Hill does for BYU, he has only thrown one TD pass but has been intercepted four times.  It’s more likely the Cougars will run on the Aggies.  If Utah State can contain BYU to four yards/carry or less, as it has with its previous opponents, the home team should win.  PICK:  Utah State.

Saturday:

Union (0-3) at Springfield (3-1).  Dutchmen travel across state lines to take on the Pride, both teams in search of their first Liberty League wins.  Springfield has fattened itself on the likes of Husson and Mt. Ida (oldsters:  isn’t that where Charlie Weaver’s from?).  Springfield leads the alltime series, though Union won decisively in 2012.  Union has the league’s top-ranked rushing defense, which will be tested by Springfield’s DIII-leading rushing offense.  Look for them to rebound from the sting of last week’s late-4^th quarter loss to Rochester.  PICK:  Springfield.

"Dude, you land on the ground, we land on boats!"

Air Force (1-4) vs. Navy (2-1).  See how being televised nationally on CBS suddenly ended the government shutdown?  OK, skip the lectures on how the game (as well as the next one) are paid for with non-public funds.  Back to football.  Navy will be looking for its offense to return to normal, and judging from the early season results, Air Force may be able to oblige.  No national security leaks this week to speculate who will play QB for the Falcons.  But one has to assume that, if any footballs travel through the sea-level air space, they will be Navy’s.  Also, I like the Middies’ defense better, as they only allowed 19 points in a losing effort last week.  PICK:  Navy.

Army (2-3) at Boston College (2-2).   If the Eagles can play a whole game the way they played the first quarter last week against Florida State, this won’t be a contest.  Missing its two leading tacklers on defense also will not help Army’s cause.  The net result will be less pressure on QB Chase Rettig and possibly bigger holes for Eagle running backs to find in the line.  BC’s defense is far from exemplary, allowing over 400 yards and 26.8 points per game thus far.  Whoever executes the most successful running game will control the tempo and time of possession.  Given that the Eagles can use the run to set up the pass, my money’s on them.  PICK:  Boston College.

The latest on Lane Kiffin

USC (3-2) idle (mercifully); next vs. Arizona (Thu. 10/10).  Another of my colleagues, also a USC grad, has tickets available.  Wonder why he doesn’t want to use ‘em.  Oh that’s right, Friday’s a school day and Tucson is a five-hour drive from here.

Georgia State (0-4) vs. #1 Alabama (4-0).  ‘Bama has the biggest, baddest linemen on both sides of the ball.  Put simply, the Panthers won’t be able to run, pass, or block.  The Crimson Tide’s QB AJ McCarron may be another first-rounder, and RB T. J. Yeldon is an All-American.  Maybe it would’ve been better had both schools agreed to cancel the game.  Maybe Congress will shut it down.  But hand it to State’ coach Trent Miles, who remarked “We’re excited to go play and compete against the best.”  Alabama is the best.  See Tony Barnhart?  Here’s your check, Coach Miles.  PICK:  Alabama.

Gratuitous gesture toward my principal

#2 Oregon (4-0) at Colorado (2-1).  First time in Boulder for Ducks since Buffs joined the Pac-12.  Altitude may be a factor in slowing down the Oregon offense, but not as big a factor as QB Marcus Mariota.  Though he doesn't post a high completion percentage, Mariota has had nine TD passes without an INT this season.  Hey, their defense isn't bad either, tied for 4th best in the country.  They force turnovers, too.  Colorado jacked up the score against the likes of Colorado State and Central Arkansas to begin the season, but managed only 17 points against Oregon State last week.  I say the Ducks are money.  PICK:  Oregon.

South Portland (3-1) at Sanford (2-2).  The Spartans have losses this season to Bonny Eagle (playoff team since 2001 until last year) and Thornton (last year’s Class A champ).  The Riots surprised everyone by knocking off Thornton opening day and have the more impressive record and quality wins.  Not much else is available on which to base a prediction, as the Maine preps don’t post their stats with any regularity.  Based on pre-season projections, a strong running game behind a big O-line certainly gives Sanford a chance at home.  But I grew up in South Portland, so I’ll play favorites.  PICK:  South Portland.