I hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving holiday weekend. I caught the Texas @ A&M game last night, and I thought the personal foul call late in the game was ludicrous. This was a great opportunity for a no-call, and not allow the game to be determine by an unnecessary penalty. But Big XII officials have a reputation for propping up Texas and stepping in to lend them a hand. Last night was no different and it seemed like another moment in a long line of head scratchers that have benefited The Longhorns.
Hopefully the Big XII egos can be set aside and this rivalry can be salvaged. The SEC handles rivalries a bit different. No one said the teams liked each other, but we never let that get in the way of good rivalry.
ARKANSAS (#3) at LSU (#1)
A lot, rightfully so, has been made of this game. The line has LSU -12, and I think Arkansas' lack of a true road win has many skeptics of Arkansas that might catch up with them today. The last time Arkansas saw a great defense (Alabama back on Sept 24th), they got shutdown when it counted most. LSU seemes to be on a path of destiny, but The Razorbacks will have their shot today in a similar fashion to '07 game. LSU had the better squad on paper, but a motivated Arkansas team walked away with the win. Petrino's offense is the 10th best passing attack in the country, and that will account for something. Matching up against LSU and finding a crease in that defense will be tough going. They'll have to use LSU's aggressiveness against them. Expect a lot of crossing routes, pick plays, and screens. I like LSU in this one. Their defense and run game are too strong, and I seem them getting more 3rd downs converted, controlling the clock and controlling the line of scrimmage.
HOUSTON (#8) AT TULSA (#27)
This game does have some extra juice on it as the CUSA West claim is at stake. This one might be closer than many think as Tulsa has been playing tough opponents throughout the year (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Boise), but failing to win one. Tulsa has reeled off 7 wins in a row, and Houston has not lost a game November 27th of last year. Today just might be there day, but its highly unlikely as Case Keenum continues to astound and beat up on lesser foes.
Showing posts with label Arkansas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arkansas. Show all posts
Friday, November 25, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
WEEK 12: 3rd & Long
The season is closing in on a landmark photo finish. Despite all the talk, LSU and Oklahoma State are out in front and in the driver seat. Everyone seems to be playing out doomsday what-if scenarios, but with a couple weeks to play and the Thanksgiving weekend just around the corner, it looks like we’re coming down the stretch in style.
#1 LSU has to get past Ole Miss in The Magnolia Bowl. Fans and alums in Oxford are ready to rid themselves of the grease fire in Oxford. Houston Nutt’s squad has gone nowhere fast this year, and Nutt will not be back. While Ole Miss opponents want him stay, it’s the right move. It is astounding just how much money Houston has accumulated with people paying him to leave. Next Friday the much anticipated SEC West Showdown between Arkansas and LSU, and this game looms big for LSU. With their eye on the prize, LSU will try to stay focused and handle the task at hand. This week’s game should a good primer game, where the backups will see some good playing time.
#2 Oklahoma State has jumped out to the best record in school history. At 10-0, many are clamoring for Brandon Weeden for the Heisman and for good reasons. He’s thrown for over 3600 yards, with a 73.1% completion ratio, 31 TDs and just 9 picks. Justin Blackmon has been sensational. He’s currently #6 in the country in receiving yards (1142) and tied for 1st in receiving touchdowns (14). I have him going #2 in the upcoming NFL draft. They travel to Ames, Iowa for a Saturday night matchup against Iowa State. And don’t forget about Randle. At RB he’s currently #3 in the nation in rushing touchdowns (21). To say Oklahoma State is all revved up and hitting on all cylinders, would be the understatement of the year.
#3 Alabama hosts Georgia Southern this weekend. Holding teams to very few points and yards is the name of the Crimson Tide’s game this year. Bama has been holding opponents to just over 7 points per game and just over 181 yards per game. Georgia Southern is currently 9-1, but Saturday should be a bad day at the office for them as Alabama is hoping to win this one and have a couple chips fall their way in the coming days at the top of the BCS rankings discussion.
#4 Oregon is coming off a big-time win last weekend against Stanford. The defense was primed and ready for then-Heisman-frontrunner, Andrew Luck. Getting 2 interceptions on Luck helped keep the Cardinals at bay and secure the big conference win. As for this weekend, Southern Cal is coming to town, and despite the spread this game is shaping up to be one of the best of the weekend. The Matt Barkley to Robert Woods show will be interesting to watch against an Oregon D that Nick Aliotti has pointed in the right direction.
#5 Oklahoma has never lost to Baylor (#22) in the series history. The Sooners have won all 20 previous matchups against The Bears. Recently losing OU All-American receiver, Ryan Broyles, was a huge loss for the Sooners. Oklahoma has plenty of players, but being stopped just yards short of the Oklahoma all-time record books in reception yards is a tough pill to swallow. With that being said Robert Griffin III has never looked better. To get an idea about just how good Robert Griffin III is…74.2 completion percentage, 3093 pass yards, 29 TDs, and just 5 interceptions. Oklahoma is in the same boat as Alabama down, they have to have something happen at the top go their way.
#6 Arkansas aside from a loss to Alabama has been quietly whipping up on people this year. At 9-1 many know The Razorbacks can play with anyone. Just ask Tyler Wilson. He’s leading the SEC in passing yards (2850). He’s second in the SEC in touchdowns (18) behind Aaron Murray (27). They have a team playing sound defense and a Bobby Petrino style offense that many in the league know that is hard to stop, with very few teams out there qualified to stop them. Bama was up to the task, but many are wondering if LSU is up to it. LSU has yet to see a passing game as dynamic as the Razorbacks. Miss State has struggled this year and at .500 (for the moment), all eyes are on next week’s Arkansas-LSU annual regular season finale in The Battle for the Golden Boot. Through the years this has been one of the most interesting endings to the regular season in all the country and this year looks no different.
#7 Clemson hits to road with a game in Raleigh against NC State. Sammy Watkins is still questionable, but Clemson has its eyes on the ACC Championship game. NC State is very similar to Miss State currently at 5-5, but they are in serious jeopardy of falling below the .500 mark. Coach Swinney has this Clemson heading the right direction and all signs point to a rematch between VA Tech and Clemson. Tajh Boyd is leading the ACC in passing yards (3017) and passing touchdowns (27). Ellington and Watkins have been wonderful in moving the ball, racking up the yards and balancing the attack.
#8 VA Tech took care of business Thursday night by beating up North Carolina in a close one. UNC pulled within 3, but could not convert the onside kick. Frank Beamer holds on for his 250th win, with his 6th win in a row. David Wilson is leading the ACC in rushing yards (1442), and with this kind of production the Hokies might give Clemson a run for their money in the rematch in Charlotte.
#9 Stanford hosts Cal in “The Big Game”. I was in doubt of this Stanford team minus Coach Harbaugh for the 2011 season, and last week proved to be the tipping point. Look for Stanford at home to bounce back. Cal’s defense is…just not that good. The problem with this Stanford team is the receiving crew is…just not that good.
#10 Boise State has to be reeling from another installment of their own version of the twilight zone. With another field goal kick missed, so go their hopes at a national championship. The kick again proves costly because they will get knocked down to a less than stellar bowl game (and expect a much less glitzy bowl payout – we are talking millions of dollars difference). They should bounce back against San Diego State and dismantle the outmatched opponent.
Other notables:
#11 Houston has been scorching opponents all year and they look to set more records this weekend as they host SMU. If you like points tune into this one. The total in this one is 75.5 and look for this one to hit. Houston can drop 50 in half easy, and Houston is currently “making their case”. Case Keenum is has been blistering defenses all year. He’s currently the national leader in passing yards (3951) and passing touchdowns (37).
#14 Georgia is playing some of the best ball this squad has seen in years. The offensive and defensive lines have really come into their own, and the defense in its 2nd year in Coach Grantham’s 3-4 is getting downright stingy. Jarvis Jones is leading the SEC in sacks (10), and Bacarri Rambo is leading the SEC in interceptions (7). Highly touted freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell is the front runner for SEC Freshman of the year, and he’s had a very positive impact on the offensive balancing act. One of the greatest surprises to come out of Athens is the post-AJ Green wide receiving corps that has stepped up in a big way. They have to beat Kentucky to secure a return visit to Atlanta for the SEC Championship. The last time they were in ATL under the bright SEC lights was back in 2005, so this one has been a long time coming for Coach Mark Richt.
#1 LSU has to get past Ole Miss in The Magnolia Bowl. Fans and alums in Oxford are ready to rid themselves of the grease fire in Oxford. Houston Nutt’s squad has gone nowhere fast this year, and Nutt will not be back. While Ole Miss opponents want him stay, it’s the right move. It is astounding just how much money Houston has accumulated with people paying him to leave. Next Friday the much anticipated SEC West Showdown between Arkansas and LSU, and this game looms big for LSU. With their eye on the prize, LSU will try to stay focused and handle the task at hand. This week’s game should a good primer game, where the backups will see some good playing time.
#2 Oklahoma State has jumped out to the best record in school history. At 10-0, many are clamoring for Brandon Weeden for the Heisman and for good reasons. He’s thrown for over 3600 yards, with a 73.1% completion ratio, 31 TDs and just 9 picks. Justin Blackmon has been sensational. He’s currently #6 in the country in receiving yards (1142) and tied for 1st in receiving touchdowns (14). I have him going #2 in the upcoming NFL draft. They travel to Ames, Iowa for a Saturday night matchup against Iowa State. And don’t forget about Randle. At RB he’s currently #3 in the nation in rushing touchdowns (21). To say Oklahoma State is all revved up and hitting on all cylinders, would be the understatement of the year.
#3 Alabama hosts Georgia Southern this weekend. Holding teams to very few points and yards is the name of the Crimson Tide’s game this year. Bama has been holding opponents to just over 7 points per game and just over 181 yards per game. Georgia Southern is currently 9-1, but Saturday should be a bad day at the office for them as Alabama is hoping to win this one and have a couple chips fall their way in the coming days at the top of the BCS rankings discussion.
#4 Oregon is coming off a big-time win last weekend against Stanford. The defense was primed and ready for then-Heisman-frontrunner, Andrew Luck. Getting 2 interceptions on Luck helped keep the Cardinals at bay and secure the big conference win. As for this weekend, Southern Cal is coming to town, and despite the spread this game is shaping up to be one of the best of the weekend. The Matt Barkley to Robert Woods show will be interesting to watch against an Oregon D that Nick Aliotti has pointed in the right direction.
#5 Oklahoma has never lost to Baylor (#22) in the series history. The Sooners have won all 20 previous matchups against The Bears. Recently losing OU All-American receiver, Ryan Broyles, was a huge loss for the Sooners. Oklahoma has plenty of players, but being stopped just yards short of the Oklahoma all-time record books in reception yards is a tough pill to swallow. With that being said Robert Griffin III has never looked better. To get an idea about just how good Robert Griffin III is…74.2 completion percentage, 3093 pass yards, 29 TDs, and just 5 interceptions. Oklahoma is in the same boat as Alabama down, they have to have something happen at the top go their way.
#6 Arkansas aside from a loss to Alabama has been quietly whipping up on people this year. At 9-1 many know The Razorbacks can play with anyone. Just ask Tyler Wilson. He’s leading the SEC in passing yards (2850). He’s second in the SEC in touchdowns (18) behind Aaron Murray (27). They have a team playing sound defense and a Bobby Petrino style offense that many in the league know that is hard to stop, with very few teams out there qualified to stop them. Bama was up to the task, but many are wondering if LSU is up to it. LSU has yet to see a passing game as dynamic as the Razorbacks. Miss State has struggled this year and at .500 (for the moment), all eyes are on next week’s Arkansas-LSU annual regular season finale in The Battle for the Golden Boot. Through the years this has been one of the most interesting endings to the regular season in all the country and this year looks no different.
#7 Clemson hits to road with a game in Raleigh against NC State. Sammy Watkins is still questionable, but Clemson has its eyes on the ACC Championship game. NC State is very similar to Miss State currently at 5-5, but they are in serious jeopardy of falling below the .500 mark. Coach Swinney has this Clemson heading the right direction and all signs point to a rematch between VA Tech and Clemson. Tajh Boyd is leading the ACC in passing yards (3017) and passing touchdowns (27). Ellington and Watkins have been wonderful in moving the ball, racking up the yards and balancing the attack.
#8 VA Tech took care of business Thursday night by beating up North Carolina in a close one. UNC pulled within 3, but could not convert the onside kick. Frank Beamer holds on for his 250th win, with his 6th win in a row. David Wilson is leading the ACC in rushing yards (1442), and with this kind of production the Hokies might give Clemson a run for their money in the rematch in Charlotte.
#9 Stanford hosts Cal in “The Big Game”. I was in doubt of this Stanford team minus Coach Harbaugh for the 2011 season, and last week proved to be the tipping point. Look for Stanford at home to bounce back. Cal’s defense is…just not that good. The problem with this Stanford team is the receiving crew is…just not that good.
#10 Boise State has to be reeling from another installment of their own version of the twilight zone. With another field goal kick missed, so go their hopes at a national championship. The kick again proves costly because they will get knocked down to a less than stellar bowl game (and expect a much less glitzy bowl payout – we are talking millions of dollars difference). They should bounce back against San Diego State and dismantle the outmatched opponent.
Other notables:
#11 Houston has been scorching opponents all year and they look to set more records this weekend as they host SMU. If you like points tune into this one. The total in this one is 75.5 and look for this one to hit. Houston can drop 50 in half easy, and Houston is currently “making their case”. Case Keenum is has been blistering defenses all year. He’s currently the national leader in passing yards (3951) and passing touchdowns (37).
#14 Georgia is playing some of the best ball this squad has seen in years. The offensive and defensive lines have really come into their own, and the defense in its 2nd year in Coach Grantham’s 3-4 is getting downright stingy. Jarvis Jones is leading the SEC in sacks (10), and Bacarri Rambo is leading the SEC in interceptions (7). Highly touted freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell is the front runner for SEC Freshman of the year, and he’s had a very positive impact on the offensive balancing act. One of the greatest surprises to come out of Athens is the post-AJ Green wide receiving corps that has stepped up in a big way. They have to beat Kentucky to secure a return visit to Atlanta for the SEC Championship. The last time they were in ATL under the bright SEC lights was back in 2005, so this one has been a long time coming for Coach Mark Richt.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
WEEK 8: 1st & Ten
1. LSU - Looks like the Tigers will be minus a few players with Auburn coming to town Saturday afternoon (3:30 CBS). Tyrann Mathieu (CB), Tharold Simon (D-back) and Spencer Ware (RB) will be sitting this one out. Don't sleep on Chizik. Will Michael Dyer (RB) and Emory Blake (WR) be enought against a stout LSU defense? Crazy enough, this could be a good thing for LSU. I see them getting in some good reps for the backups building better depth, who could very easily be starting elsewhere.
2. Alabama - Bama hosts TN Saturday night. Without Tyler Bray the Volunteers are looking very thin at QB. Look for Sims to be dismantled, and somebody better warm up the 3rd string QB. Could be a really, really long night for Dooley and company. Saban is 16-1 since October '07.
3. Oklahoma - Nation's longest home winning streak plays center stage Saturday night in Norman (39 straight home W's for Oklahoma). OU is tuning up for next week's matchup against a Kansas State team which is in the midst of a revival.
4. Oklahoma State - Noon kick in Columbia as talk of the SEC swirls. This one is on upset alert. Missouri is banged up, and Gundy has Oklahoma State out to a 6-0 start. Can they stay focused? The tigers in loosing efforts gave Oklahoma and K-State a run for their money. Weeden + All-American Blackmon = Dangerzone. Weeden is completing almost 73% of his passes with 16 TDs.
Blackmon has caught 7 of those.
5. Boise State - At home, heavy favorites. Last time Boise lost a home conference game was 1998 - that's 46 straight conference home game wins.
6. Wisconsin - 8:00 PM in East Lansing will be a sight to see. Two heavyweights in the B1G square off, and these 2 could be squaring off again for the B1G Championship Game at the end of the season. The Spartans are coming off an emotional thrashing of in-state rival, Michigan, and Coach Dantonio will have them on point for a home game against The Badgers - just without #2, William Gholston. He's the 2nd leading tackler on the team - a difference maker. I'm just not sure how long Michigan State's defense can hold up with bone crushing style Wisconsin has been flexing all year.
7. Clemson - Clemson is some of the hottest action in the country right now. They have reeled off 7 straight wins and are enjoying being the BCS limelight. Boyd, Sammie Watkins and Ellington have absolutely been sensational. Between the 3 they have racked up 2012 passing yards & 19 TDs (Boyd), 740 rushing yards (Ellington) and 728 receiving yards & 8 TDs (Sammie Watkins).
8. Stanford - The Cardinals (6-0) host Washington (5-1) Saturday night (8:00 ABC). The Huskies remain right on Stanford's heels. Their only loss of the season came to Nebraska, and they will have thier hands full against Andrew Luck. He has 18 TDs and just 3 interceptions. With Coach Harbaugh gone and causing a stir in the NFL, one has to wonder if anyone can derail Stanford's season.
9. Arkansas - Coming off a bye week, Arkansas (5-1) heads to Oxford to face a 2-4 Ole Miss squad that is reeling. The Razorbacks will descend upon the Grove. How Ole Miss has won an SEC game this year is beyond me. They are not very good - at all. Look for Petrino to make life miserable for Coach Houston Nutt.
10. Oregon - Oregon (5-1) heads into Boulder, CO to enjoy a nice road game at Folsom Field. Too bad for Colorado - they are a grease fire. They are 1-6 this year ,and they have yet to even sniff a PAC-12 victory. Look for the trend to continue for the Buffaloes. They will be 1-7 come Saturday evening.
2. Alabama - Bama hosts TN Saturday night. Without Tyler Bray the Volunteers are looking very thin at QB. Look for Sims to be dismantled, and somebody better warm up the 3rd string QB. Could be a really, really long night for Dooley and company. Saban is 16-1 since October '07.
3. Oklahoma - Nation's longest home winning streak plays center stage Saturday night in Norman (39 straight home W's for Oklahoma). OU is tuning up for next week's matchup against a Kansas State team which is in the midst of a revival.
4. Oklahoma State - Noon kick in Columbia as talk of the SEC swirls. This one is on upset alert. Missouri is banged up, and Gundy has Oklahoma State out to a 6-0 start. Can they stay focused? The tigers in loosing efforts gave Oklahoma and K-State a run for their money. Weeden + All-American Blackmon = Dangerzone. Weeden is completing almost 73% of his passes with 16 TDs.
Blackmon has caught 7 of those.
5. Boise State - At home, heavy favorites. Last time Boise lost a home conference game was 1998 - that's 46 straight conference home game wins.
6. Wisconsin - 8:00 PM in East Lansing will be a sight to see. Two heavyweights in the B1G square off, and these 2 could be squaring off again for the B1G Championship Game at the end of the season. The Spartans are coming off an emotional thrashing of in-state rival, Michigan, and Coach Dantonio will have them on point for a home game against The Badgers - just without #2, William Gholston. He's the 2nd leading tackler on the team - a difference maker. I'm just not sure how long Michigan State's defense can hold up with bone crushing style Wisconsin has been flexing all year.
7. Clemson - Clemson is some of the hottest action in the country right now. They have reeled off 7 straight wins and are enjoying being the BCS limelight. Boyd, Sammie Watkins and Ellington have absolutely been sensational. Between the 3 they have racked up 2012 passing yards & 19 TDs (Boyd), 740 rushing yards (Ellington) and 728 receiving yards & 8 TDs (Sammie Watkins).
8. Stanford - The Cardinals (6-0) host Washington (5-1) Saturday night (8:00 ABC). The Huskies remain right on Stanford's heels. Their only loss of the season came to Nebraska, and they will have thier hands full against Andrew Luck. He has 18 TDs and just 3 interceptions. With Coach Harbaugh gone and causing a stir in the NFL, one has to wonder if anyone can derail Stanford's season.
9. Arkansas - Coming off a bye week, Arkansas (5-1) heads to Oxford to face a 2-4 Ole Miss squad that is reeling. The Razorbacks will descend upon the Grove. How Ole Miss has won an SEC game this year is beyond me. They are not very good - at all. Look for Petrino to make life miserable for Coach Houston Nutt.
10. Oregon - Oregon (5-1) heads into Boulder, CO to enjoy a nice road game at Folsom Field. Too bad for Colorado - they are a grease fire. They are 1-6 this year ,and they have yet to even sniff a PAC-12 victory. Look for the trend to continue for the Buffaloes. They will be 1-7 come Saturday evening.
Friday, September 30, 2011
WEEK 5 PREVIEW
As we head into October and the second month of the 2011 college football season, there are a handful of games that you really just can’t miss this weekend. Conference standings are starting to shape up, and the pretenders are being exposed. Who had Clemson undefeated midday on October 1st? They travel to a very tough Blacksburg, VA, and many are tuning in for the Tajh Boyd – Sammie Watkins show. And there’s one thing for sure The Swamp will be off the charts Saturday night with Alabama in town as two undefeated SEC teams face off.
Cowboys Stadium in Arlington Texas will be the site for the Texas A&M (#14) – Arkansas (#18) matchup. The Aggies will have to put last week’s devastating loss to Oklahoma State out of their mind. Last week Oklahoma State just had more in the tank down the stretch. Great coaching shows and it rose to the top just before halftime and out of the second half gates. And Oklahoma State showed in the 3rd quater how to get it done. A&M went into the half up 20-3 only to see the most unbelievable 3rd quarter imaginable where they gave up 21 points and scored none themselves, the Aggies will have to learn the lessons and just flush the bad from memory. Arkansas is in the same boat coming off a tough loss to Alabama. This should be a good early October test determining who can bounce back and who continues to fall from grace. A&M’s ground game has the edge here, but don’t ever count out Bobby Petrino’s passing attack. I’m positive The Razorbacks came away from Tuscaloosa with a number of things to work on during this week's practices.
Mississippi State at Georgia will be another noon kickoff where we’ll find out who this Georgia team really is. Georgia is currently favored by a touchdown. Last week’s win on the road in Oxford was a largely unimpressive win. The kicking game specialized in missing and the offense should have blown out the Rebels. In a game where the backups should have played almost the entire 4th quarter and received some solid reps (working toward the future), the starters were in late trying to hang on to the lead. Sure the Georgia Defense is showing some great progress and picking it up big time, gravitating towards the upper half of the SEC’s Defensive elite. But it is hard to miss - UGA's red zone offense is pathetic. For a team with tons of tight end talent you would think Mike Bobo would bring out the big boys down in the red zone and punch in for a couple TDs with Crowell or play action to some wide open sure handed tagets. So for Georgia: expect the unexpected. In a season where many were pumped for Miss. State it’s hard for State fans to come to grips with an 0-2 SEC start. Question: Can Georgia plug the middle and keep State off the edge? Question: Can Coach Bobo stop popping the clutch and let this offense just turn it loose? If not, it’s going to be another tough pill to swallow in A-town.
It’s a big day for football in the state of South Carolina. The Gamecocks (#10) host Auburn, and this will be a great barometer as Clemson took care of business beating Auburn at home back in week 3. South Carolina is currently favored by 10, but things are not all good in Columbia. The dysfunction is rising up and boiling over. Spurrier’s headset is taking a beating and his visor is in tatters. Thank goodness he has Lattimore and one of the most exciting defenses around to carry the load. That combination is tough to beat despite Garcia’s bumbling. Look for the Gamecocks to expose Auburn this year. Both teams have yet to lose an SEC match, but something has got to give. Queue up Sandstorm and look for Lattimore on the national stage to really make his mark for the Heisman.
Clemson (#13) at Virginia Tech is a big time cross divisional ACC clash. These two teams could easily be seeing each other again, squaring off in Charlotte for the December 3rd ACC Championship game. Bud Foster has no doubt been watching countless hours of new on the scene Chad Morris and Clemson’s revved up offense. Coach Morris is the right fit for Clemson at Offensive Coordinator, and his offensive scheming is the breath of fresh air that this team needed. Virginia Tech is favored by 7, but I’m just not seeing it. VA Tech has struggled this year – just pop in the tape of the East Carolina game, and I like Clemson’s run defense. Look for Dabo and company to keep the Boyd-Watkins-Ellington-Hopkins show rolling. Bottom line, there are too many Clemson weapons for Virginia Tech to stop them all. Plus I see Logan Thomas having trouble on 3rd and long situations, but Blacksburg...at night. Look for a really close one.
Alabama #3 travels to The Swamp to square off against #12 Florida. This is far and away the marquee game of the day. Coach Will Muschamp has this Florida squad back on track and he’s playing to his team's strengths. The run game is on point again, and the defense is playing really, really good. The Florida defense only gave up 36 points for the entire month of September. On the other side, you’ve got Alabama, who has been playing great defense with a solid run game, and a fairly unproven passing game. The Crimson Tide only surrendered 32 points in December. The matchups to watch in this one are Florida’s run game against The Tide D, and Florida’s QB play from John Brantley against The Tide secondary. And finally how will AJ MacCarron perform on 3rd and long situations? Because, to me, it is clear that Alabama’s Offense has not seen a defense all year with this kind of prowess.
Another primetime game of the night is the Nebraska (#8) at Wisconsin (#7) game. Good luck getting a ticket to this one. Two of the best rushing programs in the country square off in this new found Big 1G rivalry. Both teams have laid waste to their competition. A cross divisional game, all chips will be on the table come Saturday night. Look for Taylor Martinez to take a beating against the Wisconsin defense. Wisconsin has only given up 34 points in the month of September, and that’s nothing to shake a stick at regardless of who you’re playing. These guys are BCS grade. I expect Wisconsin to get into the red zone behind the Russell Wilson - Montee Ball – James White ground game, and punch in TDs in the redzone via the tight ends. Look for a close one early, but Wisonsin to pull away late.
Cowboys Stadium in Arlington Texas will be the site for the Texas A&M (#14) – Arkansas (#18) matchup. The Aggies will have to put last week’s devastating loss to Oklahoma State out of their mind. Last week Oklahoma State just had more in the tank down the stretch. Great coaching shows and it rose to the top just before halftime and out of the second half gates. And Oklahoma State showed in the 3rd quater how to get it done. A&M went into the half up 20-3 only to see the most unbelievable 3rd quarter imaginable where they gave up 21 points and scored none themselves, the Aggies will have to learn the lessons and just flush the bad from memory. Arkansas is in the same boat coming off a tough loss to Alabama. This should be a good early October test determining who can bounce back and who continues to fall from grace. A&M’s ground game has the edge here, but don’t ever count out Bobby Petrino’s passing attack. I’m positive The Razorbacks came away from Tuscaloosa with a number of things to work on during this week's practices.
Mississippi State at Georgia will be another noon kickoff where we’ll find out who this Georgia team really is. Georgia is currently favored by a touchdown. Last week’s win on the road in Oxford was a largely unimpressive win. The kicking game specialized in missing and the offense should have blown out the Rebels. In a game where the backups should have played almost the entire 4th quarter and received some solid reps (working toward the future), the starters were in late trying to hang on to the lead. Sure the Georgia Defense is showing some great progress and picking it up big time, gravitating towards the upper half of the SEC’s Defensive elite. But it is hard to miss - UGA's red zone offense is pathetic. For a team with tons of tight end talent you would think Mike Bobo would bring out the big boys down in the red zone and punch in for a couple TDs with Crowell or play action to some wide open sure handed tagets. So for Georgia: expect the unexpected. In a season where many were pumped for Miss. State it’s hard for State fans to come to grips with an 0-2 SEC start. Question: Can Georgia plug the middle and keep State off the edge? Question: Can Coach Bobo stop popping the clutch and let this offense just turn it loose? If not, it’s going to be another tough pill to swallow in A-town.
It’s a big day for football in the state of South Carolina. The Gamecocks (#10) host Auburn, and this will be a great barometer as Clemson took care of business beating Auburn at home back in week 3. South Carolina is currently favored by 10, but things are not all good in Columbia. The dysfunction is rising up and boiling over. Spurrier’s headset is taking a beating and his visor is in tatters. Thank goodness he has Lattimore and one of the most exciting defenses around to carry the load. That combination is tough to beat despite Garcia’s bumbling. Look for the Gamecocks to expose Auburn this year. Both teams have yet to lose an SEC match, but something has got to give. Queue up Sandstorm and look for Lattimore on the national stage to really make his mark for the Heisman.
Clemson (#13) at Virginia Tech is a big time cross divisional ACC clash. These two teams could easily be seeing each other again, squaring off in Charlotte for the December 3rd ACC Championship game. Bud Foster has no doubt been watching countless hours of new on the scene Chad Morris and Clemson’s revved up offense. Coach Morris is the right fit for Clemson at Offensive Coordinator, and his offensive scheming is the breath of fresh air that this team needed. Virginia Tech is favored by 7, but I’m just not seeing it. VA Tech has struggled this year – just pop in the tape of the East Carolina game, and I like Clemson’s run defense. Look for Dabo and company to keep the Boyd-Watkins-Ellington-Hopkins show rolling. Bottom line, there are too many Clemson weapons for Virginia Tech to stop them all. Plus I see Logan Thomas having trouble on 3rd and long situations, but Blacksburg...at night. Look for a really close one.
Alabama #3 travels to The Swamp to square off against #12 Florida. This is far and away the marquee game of the day. Coach Will Muschamp has this Florida squad back on track and he’s playing to his team's strengths. The run game is on point again, and the defense is playing really, really good. The Florida defense only gave up 36 points for the entire month of September. On the other side, you’ve got Alabama, who has been playing great defense with a solid run game, and a fairly unproven passing game. The Crimson Tide only surrendered 32 points in December. The matchups to watch in this one are Florida’s run game against The Tide D, and Florida’s QB play from John Brantley against The Tide secondary. And finally how will AJ MacCarron perform on 3rd and long situations? Because, to me, it is clear that Alabama’s Offense has not seen a defense all year with this kind of prowess.
Another primetime game of the night is the Nebraska (#8) at Wisconsin (#7) game. Good luck getting a ticket to this one. Two of the best rushing programs in the country square off in this new found Big 1G rivalry. Both teams have laid waste to their competition. A cross divisional game, all chips will be on the table come Saturday night. Look for Taylor Martinez to take a beating against the Wisconsin defense. Wisconsin has only given up 34 points in the month of September, and that’s nothing to shake a stick at regardless of who you’re playing. These guys are BCS grade. I expect Wisconsin to get into the red zone behind the Russell Wilson - Montee Ball – James White ground game, and punch in TDs in the redzone via the tight ends. Look for a close one early, but Wisonsin to pull away late.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
GAMES OF THE WEEK: SEC EDITION
VANDERBILT (2-3) AT GEORGIA (2-4)
NOON - SEC NETWORK/ESPN
Georgia introduces a new UGA today, UGA VIII.The collar will be passed, and a new chapter beings in Athens. Watching Georgia last weekend, I was overwhelmed with how fast Aaron Murray actually is. He really does not the get the "running-spotlight", as Georgia runs more of pro set, but I think Richt & Bobo will find more and more ways to get him out in space with roll outs and moving the pocket. The Georgia tailback tandem is up to their usual tricks, and Caleb King will not be playing this one due to a failure to show up in court. Calling all college interns - I have a job for you. Drive the Georgia football players around and keep them out of trouble. I guarantee it will be a full time job. Way to stay focused, Dawgs. Regardless, this Georgia team should have a good day at home. Murray has been getting better and better each week, and that will continue today. I see A.J. Green lighting up Vandy, just as he did last year on the road in Nashville. Keep an eye out for Freshman Ken Malcome, especially if Ealey puts the ball on the turf. There has been discussion about red shirting him, but he might get in today as the Dawgs are really thin at tailback these days. UGA VII gets his first W. Look for UGA by 17.
ARKANSAS (4-1) AT AUBURN (6-0)
3:30 PM - CBS
Looks like this will be an instant classic on The Plains as two highly ranked teams square off in this SEC West showdown. When you look at it we're talking about two Heisman hopefuls leading their teams as Cam Newton leads the 8th ranked rushing offense in the land against Ryan Mallett's 3rd ranked passing offense. Should be some fireworks in this one for sure. The two key match ups for me are (#1) How Auburn's secondary holds up against Ryan Mallett's attack, and (#2) How does Arkansas' defense even begin to stop Cam Newton. Auburn has been rolling this year. They are unbeaten, and they put down Ark State, Miss State, Clemson, South Carolina, Louisiana-Monroe, and Kentucky. They are tried and tested in my book. Arkansas on the other hand has beaten Tenn Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, Georgia, and Texas A&M, but they most noticeably let a big one get away, as the lost to Bama at home. If they can't beat Bama at home, I don't think they'll be able to beat Auburn in Jordan-Hare. Look for the Tigers in this one by 7.
SOUTH CAROLINA (4-1) AT KENTUCKY (3-3)
6:00 PM - ESPN2
In what looks like a trap game for Carolina, Coach Spurrier is going to have his hands full up in Lexington. Kentucky in some circles has The Gamecocks right where they want them. The Gamecocks are coming off such a big game in Columbia against Bama, and Carolina will have to quickly refocus and stay on target here if they want to continue their trek to Atlanta. If Derrick Locke is out, then I really like Carolina's chances, but Kentucky is tough. From a statistical standpoint Kentucky has a lot of the edges: (Passing Yards, Rushing Yards, Points Scored), but Carolina has the edge in two key stats Points Against and overall record. The stats don't amount to whole lot if you have 3 losses. Look for Lattimore to continue having a great season. He'll have a 100+ yards and a couple TDs, and Carolina wins this one by 10.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (4-2) AT FLORIDA (4-2)
7:00 PM - ESPNU
Who would have predicted back in the summer that these two teams would be squaring off, both at 4-2. The loser of this one, goes home with their 3rd SEC loss on the year. Dan Mullen has things revving up, and Florida's fans are piling on Offensive Coordinator, Steve Addazio. By my take, if Addazio looses this one and loses ugly, then he might be looking for another job. Welcome to life after Tebow. Statistically Miss State is a better team in a lot of areas. Florida is in the middle of an identity crisis and really beginning to feel the departure of its intellectual property (Charlie Strong, former D Coordinator, and former O Coordinator, Dan Mullen). On that note, look for Dan Mullen's squad to play tough, but their lack of a big time set of receivers really hurts them in a game like this. Florida by 7.
OLE MISS (3-2) AT ALABAMA (5-1)
9:00 PM - ESPNU
Talk about walking into a bad situation. Ole Miss has the unlucky fortune of going up against Bama this week in their house. Bama got roughed up a bit after they got it handed to them in Columbia, SC. Massoli could be running for his life today. Bama is going to throw the kitchen sink at Ole Miss this weekend and control the running game. With Julio Jones not playing this looks like a cloud of dust game. Look for Ingram and Richardson to carry the load today. Bama by 17.
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