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?

Follow College Football Junkie on Twitter: @jakeanderson998

 

 

 

SEC West Picks

In a less than bold selection, I am picking the Alabama Crimson Tide to win the SEC West.  The Tide have been hands down the best program in the country over the last several seasons, winning 3 National Titles.  This Alabama team is similarly talented but there are question marks.  First, Florida State transfer Jake Coker takes the reigns under center.  Coker has potential, but to this point he has done nothing.  I think a lot people overlook how good A.J McCarron was.  He was a cool, calming force on ridiculously talented teams.  I don’t think Bama can just roll out of bed and replace him.  The other big question is new Offensive Coordinator Lane Kiffin.  Any time a high ranking coach is changed, there is a transition.  What will the Alabama offense look like with Kiffin calling the plays?  The Tide certainly have the horses, but this change poses a real question in 2014.  Regardless I will stick with this Alabama team.  The schedule is managable and the talent is ample.  Alabama returns their top 5 rushers including T.J Yeldon who rushed for over 1200 yards and 14 TDs in 2013.  As always, Nick Saban and Kirby Smart know how to coach defense, and this unit will be one of the best in the nation.  The Bama defenders have talent aplenty and speed to burn.  This is a physical unit that is annually one of my favorites to watch.  The Crimson Tide indeed have a couple of pressing concerns in 2014, but I will call for them to win the division none the less.

I would like weigh in on the rest of the SEC West.  Many believe that Auburn will once again win this division and be a National Title contender.  I disagree.  Last year Auburn won 6 single possession games including 2 of the most improbable wins imaginable.  We all remember the field goal return against Alabama, but most forget the hail mary that beat Georgia.  There is no way the Tigers are that fortunate again.  They also lost key cogs in Tre Mason, and OT Gregg Robinson.  Gus Malzahn is obviously a fantastic coach, but there is no way they duplicate the success they had in 2013.  The wild card, in my estimation, is Ole Miss.  The Rebel defense could be nasty, as they return 8 of their top 9 tacklers from last year.  That is a unit to keep an eye on.  Offensively, QB Bo Wallace might be the best QB in a league short on experienced QBs.  Wallace must improve his ball security for the Rebels to make the leap to a top team.  The real asset in Oxford is Hugh Freeze who I hold in high regard.  He is a damn good coach who had the unenviable task of cleaning up the dumpster fire Houston Nutt left behind.  Ole Miss has improved each year and could potentially be on the cusp of being awesome.  They are a real dark horse contender not just in the SEC West, but nationally.