Took a hit from the last predictions. This thing is anything but easy, you can sift through every statistic and piece of insider info you want, but sometimes a coin flip is just as effective. As it stands through 14 games, the Courtesy Wave is 7-7. Which is better than a lot of experts at SI and ESPN. Below are the next 8 bowl games for today and tomorrow, sit back and enjoy as the days are now filled with college football.
Thursday, December 30th
ARMED FORCES BOWL - Southern Methodist (7-6) vs Army (6-6) 11a in Dallas
Tune in for: Army in a bowl game for the first time in 14 years. Taking a break from Iraq & Afghanistan for a little gridiron action. Also check out the Mustangs 1,000 yard combo WR's Aldrick Robinson (8th) and Cole Beasley (23rd), as well as running back Zach Line and his 1,391 yards (11th), and not to mention Kyle Padron's 3,500 passing yards (11th). This Mustang offense is primed to score.
Shortest Drive: SMU - Located in Dallas in normally would be a short drive anyways, but since TCU (the host stadium) is renovated their park, SMU will host the Armed Forces Bowl this year and the next. Meaning its a home game for the Mustangs. Which doesn't immediately mean game over (see Hawaii), but is none-the-less a HUGE advantage for SMU.
Local Connections: Army - Robert Speidel CB, So. out of Saint Paul.
Courtesy Pick: Army does one thing really good, run the ball, fitting for our country's ground defense arm. At 256 yards/game that's good for 10th in the country. That's about all the good things I can say about Army football. They are dead last in passing at just 82 yards a game. They have beaten no one of significance, with their "best" victory on the road against Kent State (5-7). SMU can't shake its stick much more than Army, but they do hold 2 wins against bowl teams Tulsa & East Carolina. Playing at home with that offense, it'll be a tough day for our nation's defender's on the ground.
SOUTHERN METHODIST 27-14
PINSTRIPE BOWL - Syracuse (7-5) vs Kansas State (7-5) 2:20p in New York City
Tune in for: Football at Yankee Stadium. It's been done before, but worth checking out, if not for the novelty, than for 2 top tier backs in Kansas State's Daniel Thomas, 1,495 yards (10th) and Syracuse's Delone Carter, 1,035 yards (37th).
Shortest Drive: Syracuse. Now K-State is located in Manhattan, but not the big Apple one. Too bad, they would just have a short cab ride north. The Orange will take a 4 hour bus ride south to the Bronx and hope to enjoy a little home state cookin.
Local Connections: Kansas State - Ben Kall FB, So. out of Rochester.
Courtesy Pick: For the Wildcats, aside from a win over C-USA's UCF (10-3), Kansas State has no other wins of note, finishing 2-4 including a squeaker of a win against lowly North Texas (49-41). Syracuse can't say much more finishing 1-3, with a close win against a bad Rutgers team. Kansas State had a much tougher schedule, but one thing Syracuse did well was win on the road, never an easy task, going 5-1 away from Syracuse.
SYRACUSE 21-17
MUSIC CITY BOWL - North Carolina (7-5) vs Tennessee (6-6) 5:40p in Nashville
Tune in for: The game that should've been played earlier this season, but Tennessee paid North Carolina NOT to play them. Also tune in to catch two teams that not only border each other's states, but also carry pastel uniform colors orange and powder blue.
Shortest Drive: Tennessee - Vols fans will have a short 3 hour trip west on I-40. UNC will be coming via I-40 as well, but at 8 hours, more than double Tennessee's bus ride.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: Tennessee was 2-6 on November 5th, all but out of any bowl game before finishing with a 4 game win streak. A nice effort, but only 1 of those wins came against a bowl team and that was at home vs Kentucky (6-6). North Carolina won't have the home state advantage, but 4 of their 7 wins came on the road, including at a 24th ranked Florida State on November 6th.
NORTH CAROLINA 27-24
HOLIDAY BOWL - #18 Nebraska (10-3) vs Washington (6-6) 9p in San Diego
Tune in for: Huskies vs Huskers....A potential beatdown or an inspired revenge game. This is the 2nd meeting between the 2 teams this year. The first game, at Washington September 18th turned into a Huskie nightmare losing 56-21. Also try to keep your eyes on Nebraska's QB/RB rushing tandem of Roy Helu Jr. and Taylor Martinez who are averaging 6.8 and 6.4 yards per attempt respectively.
Shortest Drive: Washington, but consider the ozone first. If you're looking to travel by car, it'll be a 21 hour jaunt from Seattle. Slightly better than the 24 hour endeavor from Lincoln, NE.
Local Connections: Nebraska - Tobi Okuyemi DE, FR out of Maple Grove.
Courtesy Pick: You might be wondering how a 6-6 team gets matched up with a 10-3 foe. But if you look at Washington's schedule you'll see why. The Huskies played the 2nd toughest schedule in the country this year, their 6 losses coming to teams combined with a 53-21 record including top 5 teams Stanford & Oregon. But Nebraska is a formidable foe. Nebraska's 3 losses come via Texas, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma, all by 7 points or less. A top 10 rushing offense and top 10 overall defense should provide enough to get past the Huskies twice this year.
NEBRASKA 32-22
Friday, December 31st
MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL - South Florida (7-5) vs Clemson (6-6) 11a in Charlotte
Tune in for: The best pass rusher in the nation, Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers, who leads the nation is sacks with 15.5 and is naturally tops in yards lossed with -112. Bowers leads a top 10 defense which is why Clemson stays in games since they have nothing to write home about on their offense.
Shortest Drive: Clemson. Just a quick 2 hour drive to Charlotte for Tigers fans, should give an edge, that is, unless 6-6 doesn't warrant a road trip.
Local Connections: Clemson - Bryce McNeal FR, WR out of Breck in Minneapolis. McNeal has played in 11 games and is used sparingly as a wideout, with 19 receptions, he's 6th on the team.
Courtesy Pick: Clemson is marred by inconsistency. They played a tough schedule and we're not able to pull out the big win they desperately needed. A win against then #25 NC State at home 14-13 on Nov. 6th was the biggest of the season. Needless to say, their defense only carries them so far. The Bulls of South Florida have played a little more consistently, that is to say that they've played close games and won a few too finishing 4-2 on the season. However, they have no wins against top 25 teams and their signature victories come over 7 win teams, Louisville & Miami. The Bulls lack a big offensive weapon, which should play into Bowers and the Tigers hands.
CLEMSON 24-23
SUN BOWL - Notre Dame (7-5) vs Miami (7-5) 1p in El Paso
Tune in for: Historical matchup of the Bowl season. These programs are two of the most decorated in all of college football. Combined these teams hold 30 National Championships (consensus and retroactive). Nostalgia aside, these two teams represent the underachieving division. Loads of talent garnered by the name on the jersey, but lack of direction and leadership keep these teams from higher glory.
Shortest Drive: Notre Dame. But neither team will be taking the bus. In fact, this is the only bowl game where both teams have more than a 24 hour trip by car. Notre Dame comes in at 26, Miami at 31. Might want to check flights first. I wouldn't leave Miami for El Paso, but Indiana in the winter could use an El Paso break (just don't cross over the border).
Local Connections: These teams have taken 2 of the best players to come out of Minnesota High School Football. Notre Dame - Michael Floyd WR, Jr Cretin Derham Hall. Floyd spurned the Gophers and headed to South Bend, where he's become the next Larry Fitzgerald, an NFL star in waiting. His numbers aren't staggering, but his size and athletic ability have scouts drooling, enough so that he's considering skipping his senior season for the cash. Miami - Seantrel Henderson. Not only was Henderson the MN player of the year in 2009, he was the USA Today player of the year and consensus #1 player in the nation. He's been compared to as a combination of Jonathon Ogden and Orland Pace. I can see why the Gophers couldn't get him.
Courtesy Pick: Of the Hurricanes 5 losses, 4 came to bowl teams, including Ohio State, Florida State, and Virginia Tech. They also have a 4-2 record away from home. The Fighting Irish have won 3 in a row to salvage a lost season, all against teams with .500 or better records (Utah, Army, & USC). The Hurricanes are also in the middle of a coaching change, whereas Notre Dame might be figuring things out.
NOTRE DAME 27-21
LIBERTY BOWL - #25 Central Florida (10-3) vs Georgia (6-6) 2:30p in Memphis
Tune in for: A battle. Take the records out of the picture, Georgia's strength of schedule this year was 35th, compared to UCF's 108th. Switch schedules and Georgia could easily be 10-3 or better. But here they are and they'll make the best of it. The Bulldogs are in a bowl game, but if they lose it'll be the first time in 14 years that Georgia would have a losing record. Also take note on Jeffrey Godfrey, UCF's QB who can run it in just as much as pass it. Godfrey has at least 2 touchdowns a game rushing or passing in 6 of the last 7.
Shortest Drive: Georgia. A 7 hour trip west is much more doable than the 14 hour jaunt from Orlando.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: A quick glance at UCF's schedule and its easy to see one thing, nothing. They have no wins of note, and have only 1 win on the season versus a team with a winning record and that's 7-6 Southern Methodist (who could lose and finish at .500). Georgia, however, has finished the season nicely after starting 1-4. Their 2 losses in the last 5, an OT loss to Florida at a neutral site and a loss on the road against National Championship contender Auburn. Put the records aside, and look at the guts, it's not always a cut and dry story.
GEORGIA 34-27
CHICK-FIL-A BOWL - #20 South Carolina (9-4) vs #23 Florida State (9-4)
6:30p Atlanta
Tune in for: Steve Spurrier taking on Florida State in a flashback to his Florida days. Spurrier has super wideout Alshon Jeffrey and his 1,387 yards at his disposal too (good for 4th in the nation). Not to mention Marcus Lattimore's 1,198 yards rushing (22nd). A good old fashioned southern brawl is worth tuning in for regardless.
Shortest Drive: South Carolina. Slight edge to the gamecocks who have a 4 hour trip, just a 1 hour difference from Florida State's 5 hour ride.
Local Connections: None
Courtesy Pick: South Carolina is one of the few teams ever to face two #1 ranked teams in the same season. Beating Alabama on Oct. 9th 35-21 and getting crushed by Auburn 56-17 in their last game (Dec. 4th). The Gamecocks have had a tough schedule and rose to the occasion several times, picking up 7 of their 9 wins against bowl teams. Florida State is hoping the 3rd time's a charm in beating a Carolina team. The Seminoles lost consecutive games to North Carolina and North Carolina State before picking up 3 wins (all against bowl teams) in their last 4. This figures to be a battle and a tough call to make.
SOUTH CAROLINA 32-31
Showing posts with label nebraska. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nebraska. Show all posts
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Weekend Sports Guide Halloween edition
If you haven't got your costume yet for this weekend, then you're way behind the 8 ball. Halloween weekend is upon us and what was once a predominately kids holliday, has turned into a billion dollar adult consumer binge weekend. According to a couple surveys, the Average American spends $56-$70 on Halloween related things. Well if you want to shutter yourself in the rest of the weekend and save some dough. You can catch a few exciting games from this weekend's edition of the TCW Weekend Sports Guide.
MLB
Games 1 and 2 are in the books and its all Giants so far as San Francisco has claimed a 2-0 lead in the best of 7 series. The National League finally won an all star game and gave the Giants the advantage by opening up at home. All was thought to be lost on that advantage when Cliff Lee took the mound for the Rangers. But the dominant and nearly flawless postseason Lee didn't show up for the World Series and the Giants capitalized taking game 1. Then following the momentum and success of Lincecum, Matt Cain turned in a dazzling game 2 performance, shutting out Texas in an eventual 7-0 route. The Giants can relax a little as they head to Arlington.
WORLD SERIES GAME 3 - LEWIS (TEX) vs. SANCHEZ (SF)
If you're a casual fan, I will understand if you've never heard of Colby Lewis, but if you've been following the postseason, you should definately know who the other C.L. from Texas is.
Lewis is having a remarkable postseason, dominating the competition with a 2-0 mark and a 1.45 ERA. Not unprecedented, but utterly shocking coming from a journeyman pitcher who spent the last 2 years in Japan. A 12-13 mark on the season and career 24-28 W/L record, there was no reason to think that Colby Lewis would be a big advantage for Texas, but here we are. He's starting game 3 in the most important game of the series. He pitched them into the World Series, not he has to keep them in it. He's got a tough opponent to do so though in Jonathon Sanchez, a power pitcher who has racked up 24 strikeouts ins 15 plus innings this postseason. He throws a lot of pitches though and tends to walk a lot too. If the Rangers are patient, they can get to Sanchez and knock him out by the 5th. That's going to be tough though, the Rangers bats have been held silent and they are going to come out swinging to prove why they are considered the better team offensively in this matchup.
RANGERS take game 3 and make it an interesting series.
WORLD SERIES GAME 4 - HUNTER (TEX) vs BUMGARNER (SF)
The game 4 starters have been announced as Tommy Hunter versus Madison Bumgarner. However, this has to be listed with caution. If the Rangers win game 3, then the formula will stick and Hunter will start. If they lose game 3, look for the Rangers to start Cliff Lee instead as deperation mode will set in. This would still line up Lee for a Game 7 start if possible. For now, we'll discuss the 2 scheduled starters. 45 years. Thats the collective age of Bumgarner (21) and Hunter (24). Most guys that age are still partying in college or living with their parents. These guys are starting game 4 of the World Series. Hunter is older, but has not pitched in the postseason as much as Bumgarner. He had a decent 13-4 year, but doesn't have dominating stuff and relies heavily on his defense behind him. Bumgarner, the 10th overall pick in the 2007 draft has raw talent and a blazing fastball. However, he's never been on a stage this huge before and at 21 its hard to fathom how he'll be able to control his emotions. Look for Hamilton, Guerrero, Cruz, and Young to take charge offensively in games that could be high scoring.
RANGERS take game 4 and even up the series.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Last night saw another top 25 defeat by an unranked opponent as North Carolina State took advantage of a late fumble to upset 16th ranked Florida State. Which brings me to my next point. Predicting outcomes in College Football is easier said than done! After going 7-1 a couple weeks ago, I've gone 10-13 since, which has not only humbled me, but made me search more in depth on a team's potential. We'll see how I do this week.
TOP 25 FACE OFFS
5 MICHIGAN STATE (8-0) at 18 IOWA (5-2) 2:30p (CST)
The Spartans are in uncharted waters. The last time Michigan State was undefeated this late in the season was in 1966 when the team went 9-0-1 and claimed the National Championship under legendary coach and awesomely named Duffy Daugherty.
Surviving a scare from Northwestern last week, Michigan State finds an even tougher road opponent this week in Iowa. Ricky Stanzi and company are coming off a heartbreaking last minute loss to Wisconsin and are in a must-win mode to fight for the Big Ten Championship and stay in Rose Bowl consideration. Iowa has 2 losses, but only 1 Conference loss, meaning taking down the Spartans would even up the standings in the loss column, along with Ohio State, and Purdue. They'll take that motivation with them and send the Spartans home disappointed.
IOWA 28-24
6 MISSOURI (7-0) at 14 NEBRASKA (6-1) 2:30p
The fight for the Victory Bell could not have a more polarizing QB matchup in college football than what will take place this saturday in Lincoln.
Taylor Martinez is a run first, pass 2nd QB and Blaine Gabbert from Missouri is the exact opposite. Martinez is 10th in the nation in rushing at 870 yards, Gabbert has rushed for a total of 0 yards. Yep, that's not a typo, there he's netted exactly nothing this year. Gabbert may not be a household name, but his Tigers are ranked in the top 10, whereas the Huskers are not. (for now). Both teams are coming off upset victories over Oklahoma teams (OU for Missou and OK State for Nebraska). The Tigers are stout on defense which has kept their opponents at bay. But even if they shut down Martinez on the run, he may be showing tha he can throw too as evidenced in last week's 5 touchdown, 312 yard performance through the air. A home game for Nebraska, this will be a tough game for Missouri.
NEBRASKA takes it 31-24
RIVALRY GAMES
One of the joys of College is the traditions that each school is rooted in and a lot of those traditions take place on the battlefield between rival universities. Geography, history, symbolism, and former players/coaches all can take into consideration the traditions of a matchup. In many cases a Rivalry game is 2nd to a Conference championship, and it can provide entertainment in those years that desperately need it. Here are a few highlighted Rivalry Games this weekend.
PURDUE (4-3) at ILLINOIS (4-3) 11a - Purdue Cannon
This historic rivalry started back in the early 1900's when a group of Purdue students took a cannon to Champaign in anticipation of firing it to celebrate a Boiler victory.
The Boilermakers won, but the Cannon was discovered before the Purdue students could start their booming celebration. The Cannon was moved to a farmhouse near Milford, Ill., where it survived a fire and gathered dust until it was suggested the cannon be used as a trophy in the football series between the two schools when the rivalry was resumed in 1943 after a 12-year lapse. Purdue holds the series edge 30-26-2, winning the last 5 and 8 out of the last 10. Both teams struggle on offense, especially in the passing game, where both teams are in the bottom 15 in the country. They'll rely on the ground game and defense. Where the Illini have the edge. Each team is coming off blowouts, Illinois over Indiana 43-13 and Purdue in a loss to Ohio State 49-0. The Fighting Illini are are home and will use last week as a momentum to grab back the Purdue Cannon after a 5 year hiatus.
ILLINOIS 27-21
FLORIDA (4-3) vs GEORGIA (4-4)in Jacksonville - Okefenokee Oar
Officially the game is titled the Florida vs Georgia Football Classic, but with all the tailgating and other events associated with it, it has also been named the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party".
Although this series dates back to 1915, this is only the 2nd year a trophy has been presented to the winner. The Oar was crafted from a 1000-year-old cypress tree that once grew in the Okefenokee Swamp that straddles the Florida-Georgia border. This year's game will feature a rare sight, neither team is ranked at this time. But that will be a moot point as rankings don't mean a thing between these 2 teams. On the field the teams are going in opposite directions. The Bulldogs are gaining steam after starting the year 1-4, they've won their last 3 games, scoring 40 or more points each time against SEC mid-level competition. The Bulldogs have a chance to salvage there season and finish with a trip to a bowl game. They'll take a win over Florida over anything else however. The Gators are heading the other way after losing 3 straight, all to teams that are currently in the top 25 though. If they can right the ship, a win over Georgia sets up a big matchup against SEC West leader South Carolina, the winner of that game could be headed to the SEC championship game. Both teams have a lot at stake, and neither team has a definite advantage.
I'll take GEORGIA in a tough game in Jacksonville 27-24
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (2-4) at FLORIDA ATLANTIC (1-5) 3p - Shula Bowl
The Shula Bowl is named after former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula, to whom each school's first head coach has previous ties. FAU's head coach Howard Schnellenberger was an assistant of Shula in the 1970s and FIU's former head coach Don Strock was a player under Shula in the 1970s and 1980s.
Consider this game as a best of the worst matchup. As FAU and FIU are consistently 2 of the worst college football teams in the country. The series has been one-sided with Florida Atlantic holding a 7-1 edge. The Golden Panthers of FIU might have the edge though this year, coming of 2 straight wins (albeit against doormats Western Kentucky and North Texas). The Owls of FAU hold a lone victory against UAB, but did lose by just 13 to now #5 Michigan State earlier this year. Despite the 2-4 record, FIU is tied for first with Troy as the only undefeated Sun Belt teams. They have to hold on to the hope that they can sustain this winning streak and put them into contention for FIU's first ever bowl game. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 31-17
UPSET SPECIAL
KANSAS STATE (5-2) vs 17 OKLAHOMA STATE (6-1) 11a
These 2 teams have one big thing in common, Nebraska and not because you have to drive through Kansas to get to Nebraska. Both teams got scored on at will by the Cornhuskers giving up atleast 48 points to them. The CW put a lot of faith in Oklahoma State last week, but was burned by a suprisingly pass efficient Taylor Martinez. This week the 3 headed monster of Weeden, Hunter, and Blackmon is down to 2 after Blackmon's DUI cost him from suiting up this week. That puts a big emphasis on Hunter, who's 3rd in the nation and might rise to the challenge and prove he can handle the load if needed. K-State is coming off a close high scoring loss to Baylor, that vaulted the Bears from Waco into the top 25. The Wildcats have average 51 points in their last 3 games, and up until last week, had shown a very stingy defense. With Blackmon out, K State will rush the box more often and force Weeden to find other receivers. The Wildcats are no slouch on offense either, they'll the 7th best rusher in the country in Daniel Thomas to pull off the upset in Manhattan.
KANSAS STATE 42-28
GOPHER WATCH
It was hard to do, but I found something the Gophers do better than the Buckeyes, other than finding ways to lose games. The Gophers are actually ranked 1 spot higher than the Buckeyes at 41st in the nation in pass yards per game 246 to 244. This edge is likely to keep the Gophers in the game until the Buckeyes get off the bus at TCF Stadium.
The Gophers haven't beat Ohio State since the Middle Ages, but in a silver lining, at least theyre not facing the them in the Metrodome, where Ohio State went undefeated against Minnesota. The last time the Gophers beat Ohio State at home, I wasn't even an embryo (1981). After last week's desperate hope post as an upset special vs Penn State, I know much better now.
OHIO STATE 42-21
NFL
GREEN BAY (4-3) at NY JETS (5-1) 12p
The battle of the green jerseys takes place on Sunday at the New Meadowlands stadium.
Green Bay takes its show on the road after their big Sunday night win against the Vikings and Brett Favre's last return to Green Bay. At 4-3, the Packers are tied for the best record in the paltry NFC North. Aaron Rodgers is keeping the injured Packers afloat with steady and productive play, but he'll face a tough corner in Darrell Revis this weekend. On the other side, LT is making all the writers and experts rip up their predictions that he was riding into the sunset. He's back to being the man behind the offense, leading a powerful 1-2 punch of Tomlinson and Shonn Greene. With Sanchez offering enough efficiency to get the ball to them, Braylon Edwards, and Dustin Keller, the Jets have a balanced offensive attack. Coming off a bye week, New York is well rested to face a Packers team that played Sunday night and is duct taping their roster together.
JETS take this game. 34-24
MINNESOTA (2-4) at NEW ENGLAND (5-1) 3:15p
The magic that was last year for the Minnesota Vikings has seemingly lost its luster. After another long offseason of will he or wont he, Favre came back to much fanfare in Minnesota, but has yet to deliver anything remotely consistent to last year.
The Vikings 2 wins this year come against 1-5 teams, so despite being in the NFC North, where 9-7 could win the division, the panic button should already have been pushed for the Vikings. Add in the fractured ankle that Favre suffered last week, we don't even know if Favre will be playing this week. Either way, I wouldn't bet on the Vikings right now, especially on the road against New England. Trading Randy Moss and Laurence Maroney have only seemed to help the Patriots, despite lacking a true "star" running back or wide receiver. Brady makes up for that though. He's only tossed 4 interceptions all year and consistently hooks up with Welker on 3rd down.
PATRIOTS overcome a Viking invasion in New England 28-21
PITTSBURGH (5-1) at NEW ORLEANS (4-3) 7:20p
The battle of the last 2 superbowl champions takes place Sunday night at the defending champion's home stadium, the Superdome. The Steelers are just a minute's worth of time away from being undefeated on the season, despite playing the first 4 games without all-pro Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
The Steelers have gotten the job done they way they always do it, by rushing and defense. Mendenhall has been effective enough to offset back-up QB's Batch and Dixon, and the defense is #1 against the run. The Saints have played good but not great and definitely not consistent, trading wins and losses in the last 6 games. They have gotten it done through the air as expected with gunslinger Drew Brees behind center. Injuries to Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush have hurt the running game, a recent surge by Chris Ivory is positive though. I like Pittsburgh on the road, as they seem to be gelling with Roethlisberger and settling in for another deep post-season run.
STEELERS 28-27
Well that's it for now. Have a safe and happy halloween weekend and don't forget to throw out the orange peanuts and never take candy from strangers unless your in a costume.
bsv
the courtesy wave
MLB
Games 1 and 2 are in the books and its all Giants so far as San Francisco has claimed a 2-0 lead in the best of 7 series. The National League finally won an all star game and gave the Giants the advantage by opening up at home. All was thought to be lost on that advantage when Cliff Lee took the mound for the Rangers. But the dominant and nearly flawless postseason Lee didn't show up for the World Series and the Giants capitalized taking game 1. Then following the momentum and success of Lincecum, Matt Cain turned in a dazzling game 2 performance, shutting out Texas in an eventual 7-0 route. The Giants can relax a little as they head to Arlington.
WORLD SERIES GAME 3 - LEWIS (TEX) vs. SANCHEZ (SF)
If you're a casual fan, I will understand if you've never heard of Colby Lewis, but if you've been following the postseason, you should definately know who the other C.L. from Texas is.
Lewis is having a remarkable postseason, dominating the competition with a 2-0 mark and a 1.45 ERA. Not unprecedented, but utterly shocking coming from a journeyman pitcher who spent the last 2 years in Japan. A 12-13 mark on the season and career 24-28 W/L record, there was no reason to think that Colby Lewis would be a big advantage for Texas, but here we are. He's starting game 3 in the most important game of the series. He pitched them into the World Series, not he has to keep them in it. He's got a tough opponent to do so though in Jonathon Sanchez, a power pitcher who has racked up 24 strikeouts ins 15 plus innings this postseason. He throws a lot of pitches though and tends to walk a lot too. If the Rangers are patient, they can get to Sanchez and knock him out by the 5th. That's going to be tough though, the Rangers bats have been held silent and they are going to come out swinging to prove why they are considered the better team offensively in this matchup. RANGERS take game 3 and make it an interesting series.
WORLD SERIES GAME 4 - HUNTER (TEX) vs BUMGARNER (SF)
The game 4 starters have been announced as Tommy Hunter versus Madison Bumgarner. However, this has to be listed with caution. If the Rangers win game 3, then the formula will stick and Hunter will start. If they lose game 3, look for the Rangers to start Cliff Lee instead as deperation mode will set in. This would still line up Lee for a Game 7 start if possible. For now, we'll discuss the 2 scheduled starters. 45 years. Thats the collective age of Bumgarner (21) and Hunter (24). Most guys that age are still partying in college or living with their parents. These guys are starting game 4 of the World Series. Hunter is older, but has not pitched in the postseason as much as Bumgarner. He had a decent 13-4 year, but doesn't have dominating stuff and relies heavily on his defense behind him. Bumgarner, the 10th overall pick in the 2007 draft has raw talent and a blazing fastball. However, he's never been on a stage this huge before and at 21 its hard to fathom how he'll be able to control his emotions. Look for Hamilton, Guerrero, Cruz, and Young to take charge offensively in games that could be high scoring.
RANGERS take game 4 and even up the series.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Last night saw another top 25 defeat by an unranked opponent as North Carolina State took advantage of a late fumble to upset 16th ranked Florida State. Which brings me to my next point. Predicting outcomes in College Football is easier said than done! After going 7-1 a couple weeks ago, I've gone 10-13 since, which has not only humbled me, but made me search more in depth on a team's potential. We'll see how I do this week.
TOP 25 FACE OFFS
5 MICHIGAN STATE (8-0) at 18 IOWA (5-2) 2:30p (CST)
The Spartans are in uncharted waters. The last time Michigan State was undefeated this late in the season was in 1966 when the team went 9-0-1 and claimed the National Championship under legendary coach and awesomely named Duffy Daugherty.
Surviving a scare from Northwestern last week, Michigan State finds an even tougher road opponent this week in Iowa. Ricky Stanzi and company are coming off a heartbreaking last minute loss to Wisconsin and are in a must-win mode to fight for the Big Ten Championship and stay in Rose Bowl consideration. Iowa has 2 losses, but only 1 Conference loss, meaning taking down the Spartans would even up the standings in the loss column, along with Ohio State, and Purdue. They'll take that motivation with them and send the Spartans home disappointed. IOWA 28-24
6 MISSOURI (7-0) at 14 NEBRASKA (6-1) 2:30p
The fight for the Victory Bell could not have a more polarizing QB matchup in college football than what will take place this saturday in Lincoln.
Taylor Martinez is a run first, pass 2nd QB and Blaine Gabbert from Missouri is the exact opposite. Martinez is 10th in the nation in rushing at 870 yards, Gabbert has rushed for a total of 0 yards. Yep, that's not a typo, there he's netted exactly nothing this year. Gabbert may not be a household name, but his Tigers are ranked in the top 10, whereas the Huskers are not. (for now). Both teams are coming off upset victories over Oklahoma teams (OU for Missou and OK State for Nebraska). The Tigers are stout on defense which has kept their opponents at bay. But even if they shut down Martinez on the run, he may be showing tha he can throw too as evidenced in last week's 5 touchdown, 312 yard performance through the air. A home game for Nebraska, this will be a tough game for Missouri.NEBRASKA takes it 31-24
RIVALRY GAMES
One of the joys of College is the traditions that each school is rooted in and a lot of those traditions take place on the battlefield between rival universities. Geography, history, symbolism, and former players/coaches all can take into consideration the traditions of a matchup. In many cases a Rivalry game is 2nd to a Conference championship, and it can provide entertainment in those years that desperately need it. Here are a few highlighted Rivalry Games this weekend.
PURDUE (4-3) at ILLINOIS (4-3) 11a - Purdue Cannon
This historic rivalry started back in the early 1900's when a group of Purdue students took a cannon to Champaign in anticipation of firing it to celebrate a Boiler victory.
The Boilermakers won, but the Cannon was discovered before the Purdue students could start their booming celebration. The Cannon was moved to a farmhouse near Milford, Ill., where it survived a fire and gathered dust until it was suggested the cannon be used as a trophy in the football series between the two schools when the rivalry was resumed in 1943 after a 12-year lapse. Purdue holds the series edge 30-26-2, winning the last 5 and 8 out of the last 10. Both teams struggle on offense, especially in the passing game, where both teams are in the bottom 15 in the country. They'll rely on the ground game and defense. Where the Illini have the edge. Each team is coming off blowouts, Illinois over Indiana 43-13 and Purdue in a loss to Ohio State 49-0. The Fighting Illini are are home and will use last week as a momentum to grab back the Purdue Cannon after a 5 year hiatus.ILLINOIS 27-21
FLORIDA (4-3) vs GEORGIA (4-4)in Jacksonville - Okefenokee Oar
Officially the game is titled the Florida vs Georgia Football Classic, but with all the tailgating and other events associated with it, it has also been named the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party".
Although this series dates back to 1915, this is only the 2nd year a trophy has been presented to the winner. The Oar was crafted from a 1000-year-old cypress tree that once grew in the Okefenokee Swamp that straddles the Florida-Georgia border. This year's game will feature a rare sight, neither team is ranked at this time. But that will be a moot point as rankings don't mean a thing between these 2 teams. On the field the teams are going in opposite directions. The Bulldogs are gaining steam after starting the year 1-4, they've won their last 3 games, scoring 40 or more points each time against SEC mid-level competition. The Bulldogs have a chance to salvage there season and finish with a trip to a bowl game. They'll take a win over Florida over anything else however. The Gators are heading the other way after losing 3 straight, all to teams that are currently in the top 25 though. If they can right the ship, a win over Georgia sets up a big matchup against SEC West leader South Carolina, the winner of that game could be headed to the SEC championship game. Both teams have a lot at stake, and neither team has a definite advantage. I'll take GEORGIA in a tough game in Jacksonville 27-24
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (2-4) at FLORIDA ATLANTIC (1-5) 3p - Shula Bowl
The Shula Bowl is named after former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula, to whom each school's first head coach has previous ties. FAU's head coach Howard Schnellenberger was an assistant of Shula in the 1970s and FIU's former head coach Don Strock was a player under Shula in the 1970s and 1980s.
Consider this game as a best of the worst matchup. As FAU and FIU are consistently 2 of the worst college football teams in the country. The series has been one-sided with Florida Atlantic holding a 7-1 edge. The Golden Panthers of FIU might have the edge though this year, coming of 2 straight wins (albeit against doormats Western Kentucky and North Texas). The Owls of FAU hold a lone victory against UAB, but did lose by just 13 to now #5 Michigan State earlier this year. Despite the 2-4 record, FIU is tied for first with Troy as the only undefeated Sun Belt teams. They have to hold on to the hope that they can sustain this winning streak and put them into contention for FIU's first ever bowl game. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 31-17UPSET SPECIAL
KANSAS STATE (5-2) vs 17 OKLAHOMA STATE (6-1) 11a
These 2 teams have one big thing in common, Nebraska and not because you have to drive through Kansas to get to Nebraska. Both teams got scored on at will by the Cornhuskers giving up atleast 48 points to them. The CW put a lot of faith in Oklahoma State last week, but was burned by a suprisingly pass efficient Taylor Martinez. This week the 3 headed monster of Weeden, Hunter, and Blackmon is down to 2 after Blackmon's DUI cost him from suiting up this week. That puts a big emphasis on Hunter, who's 3rd in the nation and might rise to the challenge and prove he can handle the load if needed. K-State is coming off a close high scoring loss to Baylor, that vaulted the Bears from Waco into the top 25. The Wildcats have average 51 points in their last 3 games, and up until last week, had shown a very stingy defense. With Blackmon out, K State will rush the box more often and force Weeden to find other receivers. The Wildcats are no slouch on offense either, they'll the 7th best rusher in the country in Daniel Thomas to pull off the upset in Manhattan.
KANSAS STATE 42-28
GOPHER WATCH
It was hard to do, but I found something the Gophers do better than the Buckeyes, other than finding ways to lose games. The Gophers are actually ranked 1 spot higher than the Buckeyes at 41st in the nation in pass yards per game 246 to 244. This edge is likely to keep the Gophers in the game until the Buckeyes get off the bus at TCF Stadium.
The Gophers haven't beat Ohio State since the Middle Ages, but in a silver lining, at least theyre not facing the them in the Metrodome, where Ohio State went undefeated against Minnesota. The last time the Gophers beat Ohio State at home, I wasn't even an embryo (1981). After last week's desperate hope post as an upset special vs Penn State, I know much better now.OHIO STATE 42-21
NFL
GREEN BAY (4-3) at NY JETS (5-1) 12p
The battle of the green jerseys takes place on Sunday at the New Meadowlands stadium.
Green Bay takes its show on the road after their big Sunday night win against the Vikings and Brett Favre's last return to Green Bay. At 4-3, the Packers are tied for the best record in the paltry NFC North. Aaron Rodgers is keeping the injured Packers afloat with steady and productive play, but he'll face a tough corner in Darrell Revis this weekend. On the other side, LT is making all the writers and experts rip up their predictions that he was riding into the sunset. He's back to being the man behind the offense, leading a powerful 1-2 punch of Tomlinson and Shonn Greene. With Sanchez offering enough efficiency to get the ball to them, Braylon Edwards, and Dustin Keller, the Jets have a balanced offensive attack. Coming off a bye week, New York is well rested to face a Packers team that played Sunday night and is duct taping their roster together. JETS take this game. 34-24
MINNESOTA (2-4) at NEW ENGLAND (5-1) 3:15p
The magic that was last year for the Minnesota Vikings has seemingly lost its luster. After another long offseason of will he or wont he, Favre came back to much fanfare in Minnesota, but has yet to deliver anything remotely consistent to last year.
The Vikings 2 wins this year come against 1-5 teams, so despite being in the NFC North, where 9-7 could win the division, the panic button should already have been pushed for the Vikings. Add in the fractured ankle that Favre suffered last week, we don't even know if Favre will be playing this week. Either way, I wouldn't bet on the Vikings right now, especially on the road against New England. Trading Randy Moss and Laurence Maroney have only seemed to help the Patriots, despite lacking a true "star" running back or wide receiver. Brady makes up for that though. He's only tossed 4 interceptions all year and consistently hooks up with Welker on 3rd down. PATRIOTS overcome a Viking invasion in New England 28-21
PITTSBURGH (5-1) at NEW ORLEANS (4-3) 7:20p
The battle of the last 2 superbowl champions takes place Sunday night at the defending champion's home stadium, the Superdome. The Steelers are just a minute's worth of time away from being undefeated on the season, despite playing the first 4 games without all-pro Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
The Steelers have gotten the job done they way they always do it, by rushing and defense. Mendenhall has been effective enough to offset back-up QB's Batch and Dixon, and the defense is #1 against the run. The Saints have played good but not great and definitely not consistent, trading wins and losses in the last 6 games. They have gotten it done through the air as expected with gunslinger Drew Brees behind center. Injuries to Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush have hurt the running game, a recent surge by Chris Ivory is positive though. I like Pittsburgh on the road, as they seem to be gelling with Roethlisberger and settling in for another deep post-season run. STEELERS 28-27
Well that's it for now. Have a safe and happy halloween weekend and don't forget to throw out the orange peanuts and never take candy from strangers unless your in a costume.
bsv
the courtesy wave
Friday, October 15, 2010
TCW - College Football Couch Guide 10/16
Watched Nothing But Trouble last night. It's an old movie starring Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, John Candy, and Dan Aykroyd, mostly off the radar film, hadn't seen it since I was a kid. 
I found out it actually is more of a comedy than a horror. The same thing happened when I watched Edward Scissorhands many years later and found out it too was actually a dark comedy. Akroyd's character in NBT, scared the bejesus out of me as a kid, but as an adult, he was hilarious. The movie is B quality, but still it was a treasure find on Encore last night, but I digress to today's topic. Since I highlighted the MLB playoffs yesterday, today's post will be on Saturday's College Football key matchups. Let's see who should come out on top and who might have nothing but trouble.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
(all times CST)
RANKED MATCHUPS
#1 OHIO STATE (6-0) at #18 WISCONSIN (5-1) 6pm
The new number 1 in the land after Alabama's loss last weekend, Ohio State has a difficult matchup to try and avoid going 1 and done at the top of college football. The Buckeyes have steamrolled all 6 of their opponents so far this year, but other than a previously ranked Miami squad, Ohio State hasn't faced the toughest competition, until now.
The sea of Red fans will be nothing new to the Red White and Silver Buckeyes, but the 11th ranked rushing offense, led by John Clay (8th in the nation) of Wisconsin will be. Throw in top 20 Quarterback Scott Tolzien, the Buckeyes will have to be on top of their game defensively. Good thing for them, they are already, having the 7th best defense in the country. Offensively they are in great shape too, coming in 6th in the nation in scoring behind all-star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who boasts the 6th best QB rating in the country. This is a tough one to call, but I;ll go with the team who's been at number 1 before and should find a way to win. OHIO STATE 27-24
#7 AUBURN (6-0) vs #12 ARKANSAS (4-1) 2:30pm
Where one team runs, the other passes. A style of two very different offenses will be showcased in Auburn on Saturday. Arkansas will take to the air with pro-Quarterback-in-waiting Ryan Mallet. Mallet is 3rd in passing and 7th in QB rating in the country and has 2 go-to receivers in Joe Adams and the 6'3" Greg Childs. Auburn's strength is also in their quarterback, but where Mallet throws, Cam Newton runs. Newton is 12th in the nation in rushing (not the top QB though...we'll get to that).
Auburn's 2nd leading rusher and their feature tailback, Michael Dyer is just 5'9" and a freshman, yet he's out rushing Arkansas's best runner by 187 yards. Newton doesn't throw much, but he is efficient, having the 2nd highest QB rating in the country at 181. If they trade points on the pass/rush game, then which defense will step up to make the difference. Auburn has allowed 24 or more points in 4 of their 6 games, including 34 last week to reeling Kentucky. Arkansas has not allowed more than 24 points in ANY of their games this year. Their only loss came to then #1 Alabama, losing late in that game. Arkansas needs this game badly to make a statement and stay in the SEC race. Auburn could be ready for a letdown. Arkansas scores quicker on the pass and stops Newton. ARKANSAS 31-24
RIVALRY GAMES
#5 NEBRASKA (5-0) vs TEXAS (3-2) 2:30pm
111 out of 120. That's Nebraska's ranking in the passing game. That's right, the 5th ranked Cornhuskers have thrown for less yards than Akron, Ohio, Temple, Tulane, Florida International...I could go on all day. So they can't get it down through the air, they dominate in the running game as you probably guessed.
The Cornhuskers are 2nd in the nation in rushing at 337.6 yards per game, trailing only, ironically, Air Force. Like Auburn above, Nebraska is led by there fleet of foot quarterback, Taylor Martinez, who comes in 6th in the country in rushing (yet still does not lead all quarterbacks in rushing...just wait, we'll get there). Texas is coming off a bye week after a tough loss to their biggest rival Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout/Rivalry. They are an average team by most standards, not a typical Longhorns squad that usually boasts multiple NFL superstar talents. They've failed to break the top 50 in passing and rushing, and could use a signature victory to bring them back into the top 25 discussion. Nebraska needs this game more however, they're top 5 ranking has been scrutinized with a soft schedule, owning victories over Western Kentucky, Idaho, Washington, and a non-impressive win over South Dakota State, the Cornhuskers need to prove their top 5 ranking is legit. NEBRASKA 42-24
#8 ALABAMA (5-1) vs MISSISSIPPI (3-2) 8pm
How will the Crimson Tide react after losing their first game since 2008 last week at South Carolina.
If your the red and white, you want to come home and face a team with a weak defense; which is just the recipe they have in this game against Ole Miss. The Rebels are in the headlines this week, not for their play, but for their new mascot change to the Rebel Black Bear (who's actually brown), their first change since abolishing the original old Southern Plantation owner mascot/logo in 2002. The Rebels don't make any headlines on defense, having allowed a combined 121 points to Jacksonville State, Fresno State, and Kentucky. If Alabama's Julio Jones is healthy, look for Greg McElroy to light him up early and often. Even if he's not ready, this should be a bounce back game for Alabama, a team that's faced 4 ranked opponents already. ALABAMA 35-28
#20 OKLAHOMA STATE (5-0) at TEXAS TECH (3-2) 2:30pm
If you're looking for a place to watch good fireworks this weekend, you might want to steer your remote or drive on over to Lubbock, Texas and watch these to gong show offenses go at it.
The Cowboys of OK State have lit up opponents through a 3 headed monster of an offense. Quarterback Brandon Weeden ranks 11th in the country in passer rating, Running back Kendall Hunter is the 7th best rusher, and Justin Blackmon is 3nd in yards receiving and 4th in scoring. And even if the Cowboys can't reach the end zone, they have super kicker Dan Bailey, who's 4th in the nation in field goals made and a perfect 6-6 from 40 plus. Texas Tech can toss the oblong ball well too though, their QB, Taylor Potts has averaged 330 yards per game himself, but Texas Tech has been giving up points at will, 38 in the past 2 weeks to average at best Iowa State and Baylor each. They'll need a home cooking in this one to slow down and upset the Cowboys. OKLAHOMA STATE 48-35
CLOSEST BUS RIDE GAME
HOUSTON (3-2) at RICE (1-5) 2:30pm
Cougar fans won't have to go far to see their team play on the road tomorrow. In fact, toss the keys aside and skip the bus, its only 4 miles from one campus to another. I don't have a ton to say about this matchup other than the team's close proximity, my guess is if you're an alumni or a resident of Houston you would take interest, but that's about it. Houston came in this year with high hopes after a good season last year, but have only beat relative competition and failed in losses to UCLA and Mississippi State. The Owls 1 win came against North Texas 32-31 in a pillow fight. They will probably step up in this cross-town rivalry but only for the first half. HOUSTON 35-17
UPSET SPECIAL
#15 IOWA (4-1) at MICHIGAN (5-1) 2:30pm
When you're 5-1, playing at home in front of 100K plus fans, and have all-world quarterback Denard Robinson at your disposal, its hard to imagine that you'd be the underdog. But the AP has Iowa ranked and Michigan without a number beside it, so the favored team will be the black and gold Hawkeyes from Iowa.
The biggest difference in why Iowa is ranked and Michigan isn't is probably from the Hawkeyes top 25 defeat of Penn State and the Wolverines top 25 loss to Michigan State. Otherwise these teams have beat up bad opponents in their victories. Back to that all-world talented Heisman Trophy candidate Denard Robinson, who leads the nation in rushing (unbelievable) and has the 12th highest passer rating (164.1). They'll need all the offense they can muster against the nation's TOP defense in Iowa, only allowing 10.4 point/game. Look for Michigan to bounce back this week and beat behind the strength of Robinson, who will be Iowa's toughest test this year. MICHIGAN 24-14
GOPHER WATCH
MINNESOTA (1-5) at PURDUE (3-2) 11am
If you absolutely have to watch and have nothing better to do on a cool fall day, then I suppose you can tune into this one if you get the Big Ten Network.
I shouldn't be this hard on the Gophers, they are trying despite having an inept and still unproven coach 3 years into the Brewster project. The Gophers might just have a squeaker of a chance against a Purdue team with a questionable winning record. The Boilermakers 3 victories come against Western Illinois, Ball State, and Northwestern. The last, actually was a good road win against a then undefeated Northwestern team who has one of the best QB's in the Big Ten. If the Gophers O Line can keep DE Ryan Kerrigan (5.5 sacks) off of Weber, he might be able to get the ball to Marquis Gray, they're best weapon. But the Gophers have showed little in the ability to stop even modest offenses. Purdue is a decent running team and if the Gophers can't stop the run, they won't win the game. PURDUE 24-21
Well those are my Saturday picks, there's some more good matchups if your interested, USC/Cal, Illinois/Michigan State, Nevada/Hawaii, Missouri/Texas A&M, and Mississippi State/Florida should also tickle your fancy.
That's it for now, put your feet up and enjoy the weekend. Until next time, remember to close the shower curtain after use.
bsv
the courtesy wave
I found out it actually is more of a comedy than a horror. The same thing happened when I watched Edward Scissorhands many years later and found out it too was actually a dark comedy. Akroyd's character in NBT, scared the bejesus out of me as a kid, but as an adult, he was hilarious. The movie is B quality, but still it was a treasure find on Encore last night, but I digress to today's topic. Since I highlighted the MLB playoffs yesterday, today's post will be on Saturday's College Football key matchups. Let's see who should come out on top and who might have nothing but trouble.COLLEGE FOOTBALL
(all times CST)
RANKED MATCHUPS
#1 OHIO STATE (6-0) at #18 WISCONSIN (5-1) 6pm
The new number 1 in the land after Alabama's loss last weekend, Ohio State has a difficult matchup to try and avoid going 1 and done at the top of college football. The Buckeyes have steamrolled all 6 of their opponents so far this year, but other than a previously ranked Miami squad, Ohio State hasn't faced the toughest competition, until now.
The sea of Red fans will be nothing new to the Red White and Silver Buckeyes, but the 11th ranked rushing offense, led by John Clay (8th in the nation) of Wisconsin will be. Throw in top 20 Quarterback Scott Tolzien, the Buckeyes will have to be on top of their game defensively. Good thing for them, they are already, having the 7th best defense in the country. Offensively they are in great shape too, coming in 6th in the nation in scoring behind all-star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who boasts the 6th best QB rating in the country. This is a tough one to call, but I;ll go with the team who's been at number 1 before and should find a way to win. OHIO STATE 27-24#7 AUBURN (6-0) vs #12 ARKANSAS (4-1) 2:30pm
Where one team runs, the other passes. A style of two very different offenses will be showcased in Auburn on Saturday. Arkansas will take to the air with pro-Quarterback-in-waiting Ryan Mallet. Mallet is 3rd in passing and 7th in QB rating in the country and has 2 go-to receivers in Joe Adams and the 6'3" Greg Childs. Auburn's strength is also in their quarterback, but where Mallet throws, Cam Newton runs. Newton is 12th in the nation in rushing (not the top QB though...we'll get to that).
Auburn's 2nd leading rusher and their feature tailback, Michael Dyer is just 5'9" and a freshman, yet he's out rushing Arkansas's best runner by 187 yards. Newton doesn't throw much, but he is efficient, having the 2nd highest QB rating in the country at 181. If they trade points on the pass/rush game, then which defense will step up to make the difference. Auburn has allowed 24 or more points in 4 of their 6 games, including 34 last week to reeling Kentucky. Arkansas has not allowed more than 24 points in ANY of their games this year. Their only loss came to then #1 Alabama, losing late in that game. Arkansas needs this game badly to make a statement and stay in the SEC race. Auburn could be ready for a letdown. Arkansas scores quicker on the pass and stops Newton. ARKANSAS 31-24RIVALRY GAMES
#5 NEBRASKA (5-0) vs TEXAS (3-2) 2:30pm
111 out of 120. That's Nebraska's ranking in the passing game. That's right, the 5th ranked Cornhuskers have thrown for less yards than Akron, Ohio, Temple, Tulane, Florida International...I could go on all day. So they can't get it down through the air, they dominate in the running game as you probably guessed.
The Cornhuskers are 2nd in the nation in rushing at 337.6 yards per game, trailing only, ironically, Air Force. Like Auburn above, Nebraska is led by there fleet of foot quarterback, Taylor Martinez, who comes in 6th in the country in rushing (yet still does not lead all quarterbacks in rushing...just wait, we'll get there). Texas is coming off a bye week after a tough loss to their biggest rival Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout/Rivalry. They are an average team by most standards, not a typical Longhorns squad that usually boasts multiple NFL superstar talents. They've failed to break the top 50 in passing and rushing, and could use a signature victory to bring them back into the top 25 discussion. Nebraska needs this game more however, they're top 5 ranking has been scrutinized with a soft schedule, owning victories over Western Kentucky, Idaho, Washington, and a non-impressive win over South Dakota State, the Cornhuskers need to prove their top 5 ranking is legit. NEBRASKA 42-24#8 ALABAMA (5-1) vs MISSISSIPPI (3-2) 8pm
How will the Crimson Tide react after losing their first game since 2008 last week at South Carolina.
If your the red and white, you want to come home and face a team with a weak defense; which is just the recipe they have in this game against Ole Miss. The Rebels are in the headlines this week, not for their play, but for their new mascot change to the Rebel Black Bear (who's actually brown), their first change since abolishing the original old Southern Plantation owner mascot/logo in 2002. The Rebels don't make any headlines on defense, having allowed a combined 121 points to Jacksonville State, Fresno State, and Kentucky. If Alabama's Julio Jones is healthy, look for Greg McElroy to light him up early and often. Even if he's not ready, this should be a bounce back game for Alabama, a team that's faced 4 ranked opponents already. ALABAMA 35-28#20 OKLAHOMA STATE (5-0) at TEXAS TECH (3-2) 2:30pm
If you're looking for a place to watch good fireworks this weekend, you might want to steer your remote or drive on over to Lubbock, Texas and watch these to gong show offenses go at it.
The Cowboys of OK State have lit up opponents through a 3 headed monster of an offense. Quarterback Brandon Weeden ranks 11th in the country in passer rating, Running back Kendall Hunter is the 7th best rusher, and Justin Blackmon is 3nd in yards receiving and 4th in scoring. And even if the Cowboys can't reach the end zone, they have super kicker Dan Bailey, who's 4th in the nation in field goals made and a perfect 6-6 from 40 plus. Texas Tech can toss the oblong ball well too though, their QB, Taylor Potts has averaged 330 yards per game himself, but Texas Tech has been giving up points at will, 38 in the past 2 weeks to average at best Iowa State and Baylor each. They'll need a home cooking in this one to slow down and upset the Cowboys. OKLAHOMA STATE 48-35CLOSEST BUS RIDE GAME
HOUSTON (3-2) at RICE (1-5) 2:30pm
Cougar fans won't have to go far to see their team play on the road tomorrow. In fact, toss the keys aside and skip the bus, its only 4 miles from one campus to another. I don't have a ton to say about this matchup other than the team's close proximity, my guess is if you're an alumni or a resident of Houston you would take interest, but that's about it. Houston came in this year with high hopes after a good season last year, but have only beat relative competition and failed in losses to UCLA and Mississippi State. The Owls 1 win came against North Texas 32-31 in a pillow fight. They will probably step up in this cross-town rivalry but only for the first half. HOUSTON 35-17
UPSET SPECIAL
#15 IOWA (4-1) at MICHIGAN (5-1) 2:30pm
When you're 5-1, playing at home in front of 100K plus fans, and have all-world quarterback Denard Robinson at your disposal, its hard to imagine that you'd be the underdog. But the AP has Iowa ranked and Michigan without a number beside it, so the favored team will be the black and gold Hawkeyes from Iowa.
The biggest difference in why Iowa is ranked and Michigan isn't is probably from the Hawkeyes top 25 defeat of Penn State and the Wolverines top 25 loss to Michigan State. Otherwise these teams have beat up bad opponents in their victories. Back to that all-world talented Heisman Trophy candidate Denard Robinson, who leads the nation in rushing (unbelievable) and has the 12th highest passer rating (164.1). They'll need all the offense they can muster against the nation's TOP defense in Iowa, only allowing 10.4 point/game. Look for Michigan to bounce back this week and beat behind the strength of Robinson, who will be Iowa's toughest test this year. MICHIGAN 24-14GOPHER WATCH
MINNESOTA (1-5) at PURDUE (3-2) 11am
If you absolutely have to watch and have nothing better to do on a cool fall day, then I suppose you can tune into this one if you get the Big Ten Network.
I shouldn't be this hard on the Gophers, they are trying despite having an inept and still unproven coach 3 years into the Brewster project. The Gophers might just have a squeaker of a chance against a Purdue team with a questionable winning record. The Boilermakers 3 victories come against Western Illinois, Ball State, and Northwestern. The last, actually was a good road win against a then undefeated Northwestern team who has one of the best QB's in the Big Ten. If the Gophers O Line can keep DE Ryan Kerrigan (5.5 sacks) off of Weber, he might be able to get the ball to Marquis Gray, they're best weapon. But the Gophers have showed little in the ability to stop even modest offenses. Purdue is a decent running team and if the Gophers can't stop the run, they won't win the game. PURDUE 24-21Well those are my Saturday picks, there's some more good matchups if your interested, USC/Cal, Illinois/Michigan State, Nevada/Hawaii, Missouri/Texas A&M, and Mississippi State/Florida should also tickle your fancy.
That's it for now, put your feet up and enjoy the weekend. Until next time, remember to close the shower curtain after use.
bsv
the courtesy wave
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)