Saturday Notes on a Sunday, well make that a Monday

Sorry folks, various Halloween celebrations caused me to be quite ill for most of yesterday.  As a result, I could barely look at he computer screen, let along hold a thought or type some words.  So here are my Saturday notes normally reserved for Sunday but this week, for your reading pleasure, they are here on Monday.  Enjoy. 

*Pittsburgh fans had to be beside themselves after a total implosion in the 1st quarter Saturday against Georgia Tech.  In an important division game, the Panthers cough it up 5 times in the 1st quarter alone.  I don’t think I have ever heard of a team turning the ball over that many times in a quarter, and it was a team that I regard as pretty decent.  As you can imagine shooting yourself in the foot like that typically doesnt result in wins, and that held true as the Jackets won handily.

*Ameer Abdullah flat out went off Saturday for my beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers.  He was sensational accounting for 341 all purpose yards and 3 TDs.  This guy does it all.  He had 225 yards rushing on just 19 carries, 26 receiving yards and 90 return yards including one return he nearly took the distance after almost downing it at the 1.  If you are not familiar with Abdullah’s work, you are missing one of the best players in the country.  His effort and his attitude are wonderful compliments to his physical talents, which are substantial.  It has been a joy to watch him over the last 4 years.

*Another year, another defeat of the Michigan Wolverines at the hands of “little brother” Michigan State.  The Spartans dominated the Wolverines Saturday in a matchup of teams going in opposite directions. The numbers are staggering.  186 total yards, 3 turnovers, just 61 rushing yards, many of those in junk time.  It was an ass whipping all the way around.  Furthermore, Michigan had the stones to throw a spear into the Spartan turf during pregame.  This blatant disrespect only fueled State and emboldened Mark Dantonio to add a salt in the wound score in the games final minute.  This has to be freaking embarrassing for fans of the Big Blue.  Surely Saturdays defeat has to be the final nail in the Brady Hoke coffin.  Lets hear from Wolverine fans, what do you think?

*Dont look now but the surprise team in the Big 12 is the West Virginia Mountaineers.  A week after an upset over top 5 Baylor the Mountaineers go on the road, to Boone Pickens Stadium and walk out with a resounding 34-10 victory.  WVU did it behind 17 4th quarter points and holding the Pokes to 2-15 on 3rd down.  I absolutely did not think anything would come of this years West Virginia squad.  Hell, I wasnt sure about Dana Holgerson at all.  The Mountaineers now sit at 6-2 with those 2 losses coming to Alabama and Oklahoma.  This is a team to watch going forward.

*Les Miles has often referred to Death Valley as a “place where dreams go to die.”  That held true Saturday night as the Ole Miss Rebels had their perfect season ended by an improving, but still not great, LSU team.  The Tigers won despite turning the ball over 4 times.  When was the last time a team beat a top 5 team after turning the ball over 4 times?  This loss falls squarely at the feet of the Ole Miss Offense and in particular Bo Wallace.  Wallace was a lousy14-33 passing on the night.  I understand that wins and losses do not solely fall on the QB, but when your Defense forces 4 turnovers and holds the opposition to 10 points, someone on the opposite side of the ball has to answer for that.  Ole Miss is not done, but losing a divisional game like that removes any wiggle room that may have existed for their playoff hopes.

*Speaking of Playoffs, this week the comittee will meet and determine who they believe are the top teams in the country.  So, each week I will give you mine.  These 4 are the teams that I believe will be in the playoffs at seasons end.  They will also be fluid.  If I dont like a teams performance, out they go.  This week I will go with the following in no particular order.  Oregon, Miss State, Florida State and Michigan State.  Stay tuned, these are subject to change in this week to week sport.

STOCK UP
TCU– putting up 80 on coach Bro puts you on the stock up list every time.
Illinois– Thanks a bunch Illini, for doing the Nebraska Cornhuskers a solid.  We appreciate it.
Utah– Has anyone noticed the Utes are 6-1 and in the thick of an ultra competitive Pac 12 South?
West Virginia– The Fighting Holgerson’s are turning some heads this fall.
Kansas State– This team has every shot at being a playoff team.  Tough games lie ahead, but KState is up to it.

STOCK DOWN
Michigan– The Wolverines are just plain sorry.
Ole Miss– Great teams win games in all phases.  Its clear the Rebs arent there yet.
UCLA– A football game with Colorado should not be that close, especially for a team with as much raw talent as the Bruins.
Virginia Tech– How did this team beat Ohio State?  That offense is atrocious.
Maryland– a nice win last week followed by an ass whipping this week.  Who are these guys?

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Big 12 Picks

It seems that the whole damn world is in love with the Oklahoma Sooners.  Everywhere I look “experts” are putting Oklahoma as conference champions with legitimite National title aspirations.  I suppose they recall the last thing they saw.  That was, OU defeating Alabama behind a sterling performance by QB Trevor Knight.  That was an impressive win for sure, but I recall something else from the 2013 Sooners.  I recall a curb stomping at the hands of the Baylor Bears.  Then there was an embarrassment, in Dallas, to the lackluster Horns.  OU benefited from winning 3, single possession conference games last year.  That is not the mark of a team with an overwhelming amount of talent.   Oklahoma does return 8 defensive starters including their top 3 tacklers, and QB Knight.  There is promise in Norman, I just don’t buy it.  First, I am unconvinced that Knight will cement himself amongst the league’s best QBs.  His numbers are not great.  He only started 5 games and had a 9/5 TD/Int ratio.  4 of those TDs came in the Sugar bowl.  The notion that he will step in an be awesome is questionable.  I also don’t believe their talent level is vastly superior to their competition.  Thus, I do not believe the Oklahoma Sooners will win the Big 12.  The question is, who will?

There are a few contenders in this strange, hodge podge conference.  The Texas Longhorns have a new sheriff in Charlie Strong.  Strong will be the kick in the pants needed in Austin.  UT appears to have the horses to contend immediately.  Jonathan Gray and Malcolm Brown form the best RB tandem in the league.  They also return 8 defensive starters and 6 of their top 8 tacklers.  Strong has a terrific history of stout, fast defenses.  He will work wonders with this group.  I just cant hitch my wagon to David Ash.  Ash’s career numbers aren’t bad, but he only played in 3 games in 2013.  If not Ash, who plays QB for the Horns?  Tyrone Swoopes?  Ill pass.  TCU is another viable candidate to win the league.  The Frogs lost 4 close games to conference foes and were riddled by injuries last season.  Gary Patterson brought in a new Offensive Coordinator, Sonnie Cumbie, to install the spread.  They also got the QB to run it in the form of graduate transfer Matt Joeckel and simultaneously return QB Treyvon Boykin to the receiving core.  The Frogs are legitimate contenders, but I cant pick them in the first year with such a different offensive philosophy.  Kansas State will always be a contender as long as Bill Snyder is in Manhattan.  He has the Midas touch.  This year they have a returning starting QB in Jake Waters and perhaps the best WR in the conference in Tyler Lockett.  But I’m not picking the Wildcats either.  Who else?  Okie State?  I don’t thinks so.  Tech?  You’re high.  hmmmm.

That leaves the Baylor Bears as the team with the least amount of warts.  The Bears only return 3 defensive starters, and only 2 of their top 8 tacklers, but the offense will again be among the nations best.  Bryce Petty returns after throwing 32 TDs and just 3 Ints in 2013.  He also ran for 14 TDs.    Baylor returns 5 of their top 6 receivers as well as 800 yard rusher Shock Linwood, who I expect to have a break out year.  This unit could be even better than in was last year when it led the nation in numerous offensive categories including total offense and points per game.  The defense will be a work in progress, and it wont be pretty, but it doesn’t have to be.  There is a WIDE margin for error with this group.  They have to just be good enough.  Opposing teams are going to have a hell of a time keeping pace with this outrageous Bear offense.  Most of my faith in the Bear program stems from my admiration of Art Briles.  He has done a trans-formative, damn near miraculous,  job in Waco.  It was not long ago that Baylor was a laughing stock.  The difference is remarkable.  The turnaround is as great as any Ive ever witnessed and its all due to Briles’ incredible coaching acumen.  Baylor won the conference in 2013 and I am calling for a repeat in 2014.

follow: @jakeanderson998