College Football for 10/12

[Guest Blackston]

I don't know if next weekend is going to get any flashy names like "Judgment Day" '97 or anything, but it certainly deserves it. This is the college football weekend that the nation has been waiting for! I don't have lines yet, but I will go ahead and edit them into my post when I find them. Without further ado:

 

National Game of the Week: Oklahoma (5-0)(1-0) at Texas (5-0)(1-0)

Synopsis: Ah, the good old Red River Shootout, a great rivalry, even when the game is just played for pride. This year's edition is worth much more then pride, as the fast track into the Big XII Title game, and possible national title hopes ride on this. Preseason hype for this game has been off the page, but I am not sure if the teams involved can live up to the hype. Just last week, Texas slipped past the Oklahoma State Cowboys, at home none the less, while Oklahoma escaped from Missouri with a "W". Pundits on ESPN have been quick to say that the teams were just looking ahead to this game, but I am just not so sure. I like both teams defense quite a bit, but neither team's offenses have lit the world on fire. I think that I am going to go with Oklahoma in this game, for the simple reason that Texas quarterback Chris Simms does not have a good record playing in the big-time games. I could see Oklahoma jumping ahead early in the game, and Simms making stupid plays that cost the Longhorns big.

The line: Texas by 3

My pick: Oklahoma by 13

 

ACC Game of the week: North Carolina State (6-0)(1-0) at North Carolina (2-3)(0-1)

Synopsis: With the Noles on the road, this game takes ACC game of the week, sort of by default. This game should be an interesting game, as NC State has probably played the weakest schedule of any undefeated team, with a close overtime victory at Lubbock being the only true test for them. North Carolina, on the other hand, is battle tested, with a nasty schedule thus-far. The fact that this game is a heated rivalry game played in Chapel Hill means that UNC is going to be up for this game, looking to mar their in-state rival's undefeated record. I don't think that Philip Rivers and his teamates will allow for the upset to happen, but I look for UNC to bounce out to an early lead, before losing at the end to a last-minute drive by the Wolfpack.

The line: NC State by 5.5

My pick: NC State by 3

 

Big East Game of the Week: Florida State (5-1)(1-0) at Miami (5-0)(2-0)

Synopsis: Part two of the huge-ass games played this weekend. People around the country are saying that Florida State is coming into the Orange Bowl looking like fresh Hurricane-meat. With Florida State struggling against Clemson (for a bit anyways), and losing at Louisville, while Miami has looked like the proverbial 800 pound gorilla this one looks like a no-brainer to pick, doesn't it? Not so fast my friend. Bobby Bowden would not become the second most winning coach in the history of the NCAA if he couldn't win the big games, and this one definately counts as a big game. Miami's offensive attack has been stopped before this year for a half, by Boston College. The key lies with successful ball-control offense, mixed with a good run-stopping defense. Make Dorsey beat you through the air, and be sure to pop him when he lets the ball go. BC was set to go into the half with the lead, before all hell broke loose, and Miami took a three point lead into the half on route to drubbing the Eagles in the second half. The problem with BC was that they didn't have the athletes to hang with the Hurricanes, I would be willing to be that the Seminoles might be able to run with the big dogs from Miami Now, I am not going to pull the trigger on predicting a Seminole win right here, but I am just saying that it wouldn't surprise me in the least. I am expecting the Seminoles to hang with the Hurricanes throughout the whole game, with maybe a missed field goal being the difference in the score...

The line: Miami by 13

My pick: Miami by 2

 

Big XII Game of the Week: Texas Tech (4-2)(1-0) at Iowa State (5-1)(2-0)

Synopsis: Lost in the national spotlight by the more prestigous Big XII game at the top of the page, this one will probably turn out to be a great game. I wouldn't be surprised to see one, or possibly both of these teams playing in the Big XII Championship game. Texas Tech is a good team with losses to Ohio State and North Carolina State, two undefeated teams. TT is also just coming off of a HUGE win over their rival Texas A&M at College Station. Iowa State had a bye week to stew a bit after thrashing perennial Big XII North power Nebraska. It seems like the Colorado Buffaloes are the only team standing in the way of the Cyclones winning the Big XII North championship. This game here should be a really fun game to watch, as Kliff Kingsbury and Senaca Wallace are two extraordinary athletes, and splendid quarterbacks. I like the Cyclones because the game is in Ames.

The line: Iowa State by 6.5

My pick: Iowa State by 17

 

Big Ten Game of the Week: Penn State (4-1)(1-1) at Michigan (4-1)(1-0)

Synopsis: Big game for Joe Pa's crew this weekend, as they go up against pre-season Big Ten favorite Michigan. This is about as important an early season conference game can be, as a Penn State loss will pretty much eliminate the Nittany Lions from the conference title picture. Michigan is coming off of a bye week after thumping Illinois in Champaign, which is usually never an easy task (though this year... it sort of is). Michigan still has many questions regarding their quarterback John Navarre, and the Wolverines will need him playing at full potential if they want to protect their home-field this year. A question mark for Penn State is the health of super-sophomore quarterback Zach Mills. In the win at Madison last week, Mills sprained his shoulder pretty badly. Even though it didn't effect his performance against the Badgers last week, I hope that Mills will be able to go at full strength against UM, or else it could be a long game for the Nittany Lions. I like Penn State in this one because I don't think that John Navarre is mobile, or accurate enough to take advantage of PSU's suspect secondary. Chris Perry is not going to be enough to lead the Wolverines to victory, as PSU's run defense is tough.

My pick: Penn State by 14

 

PAC-10 Game of the Week: Oregon (5-0)(1-0) at UCLA (4-1)(1-0)

Synopsis: The undefeated Ducks come down to sunny Los Angeles to take on their greatest threat of the year so far. In-conference road games are usually difficult enough, but in the PAC-10 there are so many good teams, that a road trip will be hell for any team. This one will not be different. The weird thing in this game is that UCLA seems to play better on the road then they do in the confines of the Rose Bowl. The Bruins are just coming off of a good victory on the road over an undefeated Oregon State team. At home, UCLA has gotten rocked by a unpredictable Colorado Buffalo team, and the Bruins just squeaked by a decent Colorado State team. I just don't know if UCLA will be able to hold off the potent Duck offense this weekend. I'm going to give the nod to Oregon.

The line: UCLA by 1

My pick: Oregon by 21

 

SEC Game of the Week: Tennessee (4-1)(1-1) at Georgia (5-0)(2-0)

Synopsis: This game's result could turn the top of the SEC Eastern division into a veritable cluster fuck. The Georgia Bulldogs are currently in control of their own destiny after beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa for the first time, ever. That game against Bama was just about as emotional a game as one can be, and the Bulldogs found a way to escape with a win, just like all the great teams do. Just a couple of weeks ago, Tennessee was ready to skin a reeling Florida Gator squad in front of a capacity crowd at Neyland Stadium, but instead saw their national title hopes go up in a monsoon. A lesser team might have found a way to collapse upon itself, but the Volunteers went out and played the Arkansas Razorbacks tough, going all the way to six overtimes before emerging victorious. The Volunteer's also got some unexpected good news, as the Gators were defeated by Ole Miss, making the SEC East race wide open again. This game will be interesting, as both teams won very close, emotional games, I am just left wondering which team will get themselves back up to play. I'm thinking that Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer will not allow the Volunteers to miss this opportunity, even though they will be playing between the hedges in Athens. I've got to go with the Volunteers in this one, in a close game.

The line: Georgia by 2

My pick: Tennesse by 7

 

UNDEFEATED TEAMS:

Just a list of undefeated teams, and who they are playing this week

 

NC State: at North Carolina

Georgia: vs Tennessee

Oklahoma: at Texas

Texas: vs. Oklahoma

Miami (Fl): vs. Florida State

Oregon: at UCLA

Virginia Tech: at Boston College

Ohio State: vs. San Jose State

Notre Dame: vs. Pitt *Look for a Pitt victory here!!!!!*

Bowling Green: at Central Michigan

Air Force: vs. BYU

************************************************************

 

Here's hoping to a fun weekend, ripe with upsets. Best of luck to your favorite teams!

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

Pitt wont beat Notre Dame...

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

After a two week absentia status, my Vol Fan Swagger will now return for the big game against Georgia. I'd put it up there with the OU/UT and FSU/UM games in terms of importance. I mean, it is another pair of top 10 teams playing each other. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Tennessee still has a shot at the Fiesta Bowl if we can stay undefeated for the rest of the season. The next four weeks will be ballbusters, since we've got Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina(pah, not worried about that one), and F-ING MIAMI to play. We MUST beat Miami to stay in the Title Picture though.

 

Miami will be given a game, but I put the margin of victory around 10 instead of 2. Right on about Oklahoma. I've never seen the big deal with Texas, and this game will prove that there is no big deal with them. Just a pretender to the title of being called UT, which only one team has the right to use.

 

All that said, Georgia has a good shot at beating Tennessee, but they'll have to play their asses off, because we want to avenge the loss last year in Knoxville.

 

Fo sheez,

Kotzenjunge

[Guest Blackston]

I'm thinking that the way for a team to beat Notre Dame is to have a wide-open offense, and a decent defense. After watching Pitt snotfuck Syracuse at Cuse, I've got to say that Notre Dame is going to have its' hands full on Saturday, even though it will be in South Bend.

[Guest phoenixrising]

UCLA/Oregon: At first this would look like a mismatch because Oregon is ranked #7 and UCLA is unranked. However, it's not. Last year, UCLA almost beat Oregon at the Rose Bowl...as a matter of fact UCLA had them but Toledo went conservative on the final drive, and the long field goal missed. Both teams are loaded offensively, so i wouldn't be surprised to see a classic Pac-10 game ensue with lots of offense. Oregon has the better defense right now while UCLA's has been burned, plus Leisle, UCLA's best defensive lineman, is out. On the other hand I think Oregon is ripe for an upset, they haven't played any top teams while UCLA has played Colorado, Colorado State and Oregon State. Call this my upset special, with the Bruins completely screweing up any Pac-10 chance for the national championship by beating Oregon.

 

Oklahoma/Texas - Won't get to watch this one (West is getting UCLA/Oregon) but I can imagine a game similar to last years, a classic defensive struggle. Both teams contain top notch defenses, but the offenses have struggled. I think this is the big game that Texas finally wins. Cedric Benson didn't play in last year's game, and Texas could not run the ball. Oklahoma can't run the ball at all, and I doubt they'll do it on Texas.

 

Florida State/Miami - Miami wins here, but it shouldn't be a blowout. FSU has too many good players to keep it from becoming a blowout, but Miami has the better team overall.

 

Tennessee/Georgia - The "emotional letdown" factor should be evened out as both teams won close games last week. Neither team has impressed me much so far, but I'll bet both will turn it up a notch, as whoever wins this game will likely win the SEC East. I think Tennessee takes it.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

3 Top 10 games, and 2 Top 25 games.

 

Oklahoma over Texas

Michigan over Penn St.

Miami over Florida St.

Tennesse over Georgia

UCLA over Oregon.

[Guest hardyz1]

Notre Dame: vs. Pitt *Look for a Pitt victory here!!!!!*

You are the spawn of Satan.

[Guest Blackston]

Tonight, Conference USA plays in a big conference matchup on ESPN. Memphis plays Louisville at 8 tonight.

[Guest Smark Hammill]

Same old weak, heartless, soft Texas. Sooners by a TD.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

Penn State plays their asses off and beats Michigan(I hope).

 

Oregon creams UCLA.

 

Notre Dame destroys Pitt.

 

Fo sheez,

Kotzenjunge

[Guest Blackston]

I just read off that Casey Clausen was injured in the overtime game against Arkansas. X-rays show that it is a hairline fracture of the collarbone, and Phil Fulmer has said that while he expects Clausen to play against Georgia, the decision is going to be made at gametime.

[Guest benoitrulz4life]

Alabama fans can still feel good even when Bama loses. As long as Tennessee, Notre Dame, and Auburn lose.

 

Fuck all three of them.

[Guest Rabbi_wilson13]

My one good friend is a hardcore Notre Dame fan set on an Irishcane National Championship, and he's worried about Pitt because of the points they can put up.

 

Oklahoma is going to crush Texas. Simms is a joke.

 

Oh, and Penn State's going to beat Michigan as well. If it wasn't for damn Iowa, we'd be in the Top Ten easy.

 

Ah well, a great weekend for college football indeed.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

WOW.

 

Florida State brought it, Miami brought it after getting their act back together. Game of the Year so far. Pity a team had to lose that.

 

Now let's see if my boys can beat Georgia.

 

Fo sheez,

Kotzenjunge

[Guest jimmy no nose]

How did Florida State miss that field goal? They played a very good game of football up until there.

[Guest Kinetic]

They should have gone for the field goal on second down when they had time to set up and two downs to work with if they screwed up. They barely got the opportunity in the first place, as it took them about fifteen seconds just to get set and spike the ball. Then the snap was low and, well...you saw the result. Still, what great game that was. I'm so glad I called in sick.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

*Pissed off Rant on*

 

Fucking Bowden. Why the hell do you settle for a 43 yard FG. You had plenty of time to try to score a TD or get a much easier FG. Over 40 in College isn't automatic. Don't blame the kicker, it's Bowden's fault they lost.

 

*Rant off*

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

At the half, our defense is saving us. Special Teams is to blame for 5 of Georgia's 8 points, but when the opposing team has a dude with a 43-inch vertical leap and we're attempting a fairly long field goal...

 

Anyway, Banks has been a good replacement so far, if only we could just get a pass game in effect. So far we're ripping them up on the ground, but we've GOT to get some pressure on their quarterback. That entire last drive of theirs we only rushed four and he had all day to throw the ball.

 

We can win this game, I think. Our defense is holding when it needs to, as shown by the stand we made at the goal line midway through the second quarter. As long as our offense can stay out there long enough to give the defense some rest, the fatigue won't take effect until hopefully we're ahead by a comfortable margin.

 

The Texas/Oklahoma game is spectacular from an intensity standpoint, but Oklahoma is seriously off today, and Texas is showing me much more talent than I thought they had.

 

And what about that MAN-SIZED hit that Florida State receiver took late in the Miami game? I mean, he was NAILED, and I'm surprised he was able to get up.

 

Penn State is winning still, I think. Good for them.

 

UCLA is giving Oregon a game, and I'm surprised.

 

All in all, this day has lived up to the hype given it over the course of this week in every possible way.

 

GodDAMN I love Saturdays in the Fall.

 

Fo sheez,

Kotzenjunge

[Guest Flyboy]

WOW.

 

Florida State brought it, Miami brought it after getting their act back together. Game of the Year so far. Pity a team had to lose that.

Yeah... I was screaming through most of the game.

 

I would hate to be the guy going back to school, though.. knowing you missed the game winning field goal. Tsk.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Yeah... I was screaming through most of the game.

 

I would hate to be the guy going back to school, though.. knowing you missed the game winning field goal. Tsk.

That loss wasn't the kickers fault, it was Bowden's. Never settle for a 43 yard FG in College.

 

Sorry for bringing it up again, but this loss really pisses me off.

[Guest Blackston]

I was jumping up and down screaming too. I mean, they had more then a minute to fuck around with, and they were sitting there running draws right up the middle. If they didn't get that last play off, though, that would have had to go down as the greatest time management blunder in the history of sports... and it was real close that they got the play off, too. Wow, what a game that one was.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

Okay, barring a miraculous comeback, here's where I say why Tennessee lost. I could say that we were pretty much playing without our arms and legs with so many injuries, but I won't.

 

The week was planned with Clausen starting in mind, and when they decided it'd be a bad idea, they made the decision way too late. As a result, Banks was left with plays he probably didn't practice with as much. Also, the receiving corps let him down, failing to shed Georgia's secondary, and when they do, either not catching the ball or getting sufficient blocks off of screen passes. So we ran it a lot during the first half, and were successful, but you can't have a one-dimensional offense all four quarters. Banks's inexperience hurt as well, not being cognizant enough to drop on that fumble in the third quarter that put the nail in the coffin. NEVER TRY TO PICK UP THE BALL, DAMMIT. This lead to a lot of three-and-outs or inability to capitalize on new first downs. We got into Georgia territory, but never came out of it with anything, as the two fourth down play calls were terrible.

 

This offensive impotence meant that the defense had to be out there more, and they're still banged up and tired from last week's epic against Arkansas. Georgia's touchdown drive at the beginning of the third quarter showed just how our defense was deteriorating as they managed to drive 70-something yards in less than two minutes in seven plays without a hurry-up offense.

 

In short, we needed to bring our A Game today against Georgia, but brought something resembling a C+ game with a lack of performances by big playmakers like Washington and Witten, and trying to defeat the #6 team in the nation with a freshman quarterback who, despite showing tremendous promise for the future, really didn't have a chance.

 

We have an off-week to heal up and prepare for Alabama, another tough game. As we are now though, we are in no shape to take on Miami in four weeks.

 

I am forced to wonder how this game would have gone if we didn't have some ten or eleven injured players.

 

Fo sheez,

Kotzenjunge

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

Mistakes Patrick makes: Trusting Fulmer NOT to fuck up momentum and win a game.

 

If I could get my hands on him, I'd pistol-whip him and carve the words "FULL KICKOFF" into his forehead with a flathead screwdriver.

 

Fo sheez,

Kotzenjunge

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

And now fucking Michigan wins.

 

If Texas somehow comes back and Florida shitstomps LSU, I'm going to mark this up as the sulkiest sports day ever for me.

 

Fo sheez,

Kotzenjunge

[Guest Kinetic]

*Pissed off Rant on*

 

Fucking Bowden. Why the hell do you settle for a 43 yard FG. You had plenty of time to try to score a TD or get a much easier FG. Over 40 in College isn't automatic. Don't blame the kicker, it's Bowden's fault they lost.

 

*Rant off*

Well, the guy had made two field goals of comparable distance in the first half, so it's not like he couldn't make it. I still contest that it was the snap that screwed the kick up. If they had just attempted the field goal after the Miami timeout without running that draw, the kicker could have fallen on the ball and they would have had another opportunity.

[Guest Rabbi_wilson13]

Penn State just got fuckin' screwed. Never should of went into overtime, since we had the catch in FG range WITH BOTH FEET IN and they called it out.

 

Not to mention a bunch of phantom calls we never get to see the replay of.

 

BUUULL SHIT.

 

But hey, Chris Sims is sucking, so I'm a happy camper. Someone explain to me how OSU is playing San Jose freaking State in the middle of the Big Ten schedule?

[Guest Kinetic]

I'm watching the end of the Texas-Oklahoma game and Musberger goes off on this lengthy rant about how much potential he sees for Chris Simms in the NFL. Bullshit. Chris Simms is an overrated piece of shit who can't perform in big games. In fact, he's never, ever won a game against a team ranked in the top ten. He threw three interceptions today in what I would consider a fairly miserable performance. It wasn't Rex Grossman against Ole Miss miserable, but it was pretty damn bad. So how does this guy keep getting verbal blowjobs like this? Is it nepotism or what?

[Guest razazteca]

JR: Boomer Sooner Bawd Gawd Oklahoma beat Texas 35-24 with a minute left in the game.

 

Is'nt it ironic that the MVP of the game for Oklahoma is Quentin Griffin, Quintisential Cruiserweight Running Back with a lotta heart? The quickness of Griffin ran circles around Texas defense as he ran for nearly 250 yards for 1 TD.

[Guest JHawk]

But hey, Chris Sims is sucking, so I'm a happy camper. Someone explain to me how OSU is playing San Jose freaking State in the middle of the Big Ten schedule?

 

Because there are 11 teams in the Big Ten, so somebody's got to have a non-conference game.

[Guest Kinetic]

Barring an act of God that involves Steve Spurrier descending from a helicopter onto Florida Field with his playbook in hand, it appears as though Florida is going to lose. Badly. Let me explain why that's going to happen:

 

They suck. Rex Grossman is yet another Florida quarterback being exposed as inferior without Spurrier's genius backing him up. Their offensive line is for shit. Their special teams look better than they did against Kentucky, but that's no consolation. As it stands, they're going to get the holy living fuck kicked out of them by Georgia and Florida State. That much is a given. They'll be lucky to make a bowl game or even have a winning record. It sucks, but whatever. The key is that they fire Ron Zook in the off season and do whatever it takes to salvage this program.