Saturday notes on a Sunday 10/5

*The most impressive team to thing point in the season is the Mississippi State Bulldogs.  Dan Mullen has built an absolute monster in Starkville.  The Bulldogs are mean and aggressive defensively.  They were all over Texas A&M receivers Saturday.  I thought Kenny Hill and company would tear them apart.  I was dead freaking wrong.  Hill threw 3 picks in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the score would indicate.  Dak Prescott and the MSU Offense torched the Aggies Defense in a beautiful fashion.  They had exemplary balance and kept the Aggs offguard all day.  Prescott himself was a stud.  He threw for 259 and ran for 77 accounting for 5 total TDs.  This is a team to contend with going forward.  I could not have been more impressed.

*Im not big on the polls, but can we please get LSU out of the top 25?  This is a team that should have lost to a very average Wisconsin team, then gets blown up by Mississippi State and battered by Auburn.  Both of those losses occurred at home, where they enjoy one of the best home field advantages in the country!!  This is not a good team.  LSU amassed a paltry 280 total yards on the day and failed to convert a 3rd down.  I have a ton of respect for the Tiger program, but this is not a good team right now.

*The bleeding continues in Ann Arbor.  Michigan loses, again, this time to Rutgers.  Rutgers QB threw for over 400 yards and the Wolverines are now firmly circling the drain.  Its time to start an office pool as to when Brady Hoke gets canned.  Its an inevitability at this point.

*Washington State had a very peculiar game with Cal.  First off the score, 60-59, is startling.  Did you ever think you would see a score like that?  WaSU gained 812 yards including 734 through the air.  Those numbers are eye popping.  812?!  Incredible.  A combined 123 passes were thrown on the evening and no turnovers were committed.  These are very strange numbers for a Pac 12 game between 2 of the cellar dwellers.  Im going to keep an eye on these 2 teams, something is going on here.

*Arizona State beat USC on the strangest Hail Mary I have ever seen.  ASU QB Mike Bercovici heaved an uncontested 46 yard TD to Jalen Strong as time expired.  When I say uncontested, it was exactly that.  He was uncovered, did not have to fight for the ball, and just strolled in for the game winner.  I have never seen anything like it.  This Hail Mary capped a furious comeback.  ASU was down 11 with just 3 minutes to go and rallied for the win.  Pac 12 football is just incredible.

STOCK UP
Ole Miss– Enormous win for the Rebs over the Tide.  This was an excellent game.  Well done Ole Miss.
TCU– I gave the Horned Frogs little chance to beat the Sooners.  I was wrong.  They outplayed OU all the way around.
Notre Dame– Defeating Stanford always lands you on the stock up list.
Kentucky– The Wildcats beat South Carolina to improve to 4-1 on the year and 2-1 in SEC play.  Mark Stoops is doing a hell of a job there.
Northwestern– Consecutive wins against Penn State and Wisconsin after starting 0-2.  Pat Fitzgerald has really turned this team around.
Miss State– If I had a vote in the polls I would strongly consider the Bulldogs for the #1 spot.

STOCK DOWN
Nebraska– Poor performance on the national stage.  Highly disappointing.
Texas Tech– This is a bad team.  Getting rolled by an average KState team?  Not good coach Bro.
Cincinnati– losing 41-14 in your conference opener to Memphis is a damn good reason to land on the stock down list.
UCLA– The Bruins finally got too close to the fire and got burned.  This team is wildly inconsistent.
North Carolina– Why do I always think the Heels will morph into a good team?

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Saturday notes on a Sunday 9/21

*Sweet Jesus did Virginia Tech shit the bed on Saturday.  The Hokies led 24-17 and had the Jackets on the ropes.  Then Georgia Tech converts a 4th and 15 and a couple of plays later scores on a 31 yard TD pass.  Virginia Tech then procedes to throw an interception on the first play of their next drive.  VT QB Michael Brewer makes a horrible decision and hands the Jackets the ball on the 40.  GT milks the last couple of minutes off the clock and kicks a game winning FG with no time remaining.  Georgia Tech scored 10 points in the final 2:03 to win the damn thing.  If I am a Hokie fan, I am absolutely sick.  Beamer’s boys completely melted down in the last 3 minutes of the game.  2 weeks ago the Hokies were riding high after a win in the horseshoe against Ohio State, now they are another ho-hum 2-2 team wondering where their season is going.

*In case you havent noticed, Melvin Gordan is a full grown man.  This dude is the best in College Football.  Saturday that fact was on full display.  Gordon darted, and slashed through the Bowling Green defense to the tune of 253 yards and 5 TDs on a mere 13 carries.  That is nearly 20 yards per carry.  Gordon is outstanding and if you arent taking notice, well then you should.

*There is joy in Starkville!!!  The Mississippi State  Bulldogs went into Death Valley and slapped around the LSU Tigers.  MSU hadn’t won there in over 20 years.  The score of this game is incredibly misleading.  At one point, MSU led 34-10.  That is incredible.  Dan Mullen’s bunch jumped all over the Tigers from the beginning.  Dak Prescott threw for 268 yards, ran for over 100 and accounted for 3 total TDs.  This Bulldog team is one to watch going forward.  They could be a real spoiler for the likes of Alabama or Texas A&M.  Then again perhaps LSU isnt very good.  We shall find out in the coming weeks.

*Florida State suspended Jameis Winston for the Clemson game, and it nearly cost them.  I think his suspension is silly, but fortunately for them Clemson doesnt have a kicker.  The Tigers missed 2 FGs in a game that went to overtime.  The Seminoles were inept offensively without Winston.  FSU only gained 318 total yards last night.  That is pathetic.  Its a wonder they got out alive.  Winston will return, they will run the table and make the Playoff, but they were extremely fortunate Saturday night.

*The game of the day might have been Cal @ Arizona.  Arizona was down 28-6 at haltime and 31-13 deep into the 3rd before coming back to win on a hail mary.  That is insane.  The Wildcats needed 36 4th quarter points for the comeback win.  WOW!!

Stock Up
Mississippi State– huge win for that program.  Death Valley is a tough spot, and they owned it.
Indiana– A week after losing to Bowling Green the Hoosiers go on the road and beat Misery.  Stock up Hoosiers!!
Iowa– Tough, gritty win over a decent opponent on the road.
East Carolina– Putting up 70 and notching your 2nd win in as many weeks against the ACC is worthy of my respect.

Stock Down
Virginia Tech– A choke job like that lands you on the stock down list.
Michigan– Losing at home to Utah, in such a pathetic fashion, is the kind of L that causes boosters to meet.
Florida’s Offense– Peeee-eeeew.
Central Michigan– Any team that loses to Kansas should consider dropping football altogether.

Follow College Football Junkie on Twitter: @jakeanderson998

Week 4 Primer

Week 3 turned out to be a pretty good weekend worth of games.  The slate initially wasnt the most appealling, but it turned out terrific.  In particular the South Carolina/Georgia game was, to this point, the best of the year.  The game was decided by the slimest of margins.  Ultimately Georgia failed to take advantage of opportunities and lost a tough one.  The Gamecocks dodged a huge bullet and perhaps put their season back on track.  This week is full of fun and exciting matchups around the country.  Lets take a look:

Auburn @ Kansas State– As far as non conference Thursday night games go, this is as good as it gets.  Manhattan will be hoppin for the Tigers, but I dont think this game will live up to the hype.  Its just a hunch, but I think Gus Malzahn’s bunch will go into Bill Snyder Family Stadium and absolutely silence the Wildcat faithful.  Auburn currently has 4 rushers averaging more than 5 yards per carry.  Then there is big play machine Sammie Coates on the outside.  Auburn just has to much.  If K-State can hang around and make this a game into the 4rd quarter, then they have a punchers chance.  I don’t see it.  Give me Nick Marshall, Sammie Coates and Cameron Artis-Payne to lead the way for the Tigers to blow the Wildkitties off the field.

Mississippi State @ LSU– Are the Bulldogs legit?  Many folks seem to think that Dan Mullen’s bunch is a real sleeper in the SEC West.  An enormous opportunity awaits Dak Prescott and company in Baton Rouge.  LSU got out of the gates slowly against Wisconsin in the opener.  Since trailing mid way through the 3rd quarter, the Tigers have outscored their opponents 108-0.  This is your typical Les Miles LSU squad, big, fast and talented.  Sophmore WR Travin Dural already has 4 TDs and is averaging over 30 yards per reception.  Im sure Dural has the attention of the Bulldogs.  I expect this one to be super tight.  Give me the Tigers to win at home, Death Valley is amongst the toughest places to play and while I think the Bulldogs could be a surprise team, I don’t think they are ready to go on the road and steal a game like this.

Clemson @ Florida State–  This was a monster, top 5, matchup last year.  The Noles came out and beat the pants off the Tigers and staked their claim as a legitimate title contender.  This years Florida State squad has been less than impressive.  They only beat Oklahoma State by 6, and just seem to be slumbering through the early season.  They had better wake up by Saturday.  Clemson will be hungry to avenge the beat down they took last year.  That fact doesnt even take into account that FSU will be without Jameis Winston who is being foolishly suspended for yelling an obscene phrase.  That fact gives Clemson a decided edge but Florida State is the superior team.  Clemson has more that a decent chance to walk into Tallahassee and urinate all over the Nole’s parade.  I don’t think it will happen, give me FSU to win this game.

Miami @ Nebraska–  Definitely a top game.  Looking forward to this one tremendously.  I will link my full preview below.  I will put it out sometime Friday afternoon/evening.

Oklahoma @ West Virginia–  Boomer Sooner hits the road this week and goes to the land of burning couches.  I must admit, I think I was wrong about the Sooners.  I thought that perhaps they were over rated in the preseason.  After last Saturday I am rethinking that claim.  OU put a spanking on a decent Tennessee team, forcing 3 turnovers and recorded 5 sacks.  This defense is fast and hungry.  That defense gets a real test Saturday when they take the field against the Mountaineers.  WVU QB Clint Trickett is the best that nobody is talking about.  Trickett is completing a mind blowing 75% of his passes with 7 TDs on this young season.  Remember that the Mountaineers have played both Maryland and Alabama at this point.  Trickett will be a challenge for Mike Stoops’ bunch, but I think they are up to it.  Give me the Sooners to win a game that is closer than most would think.

Pick of the Week- Damn folks, I am now, an astounding 0-2 in my picks of the week after Indiana laid an egg and got beat by Bowling Green.  Bowling freaking Green!!!  Perhaps a few M&Ms could be won by going against my weekly pick.

This week my pick is Florida +15 against Alabama.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Florida is a very good team.  I simply think this spread is far too high.  15 points in a conference game?  Sounds good to me.  Alabama had a difficult time with West Virginia’s skill position players in week 1, giving up 365 passing yards.  Florida has speedy WRs and a pass happy offense too.  The Gators are currently averaging 345 yards and 50 points per game.  Florida’s offensive attack could make covering the spread difficult.  I also don’t think Alabama has the offense to blow this game open.  Even if they do, a backdoor cover from a garbage time TD is a real possibility.

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Saturday notes on a Sunday 8/31

*The Penn State/Central Florida game was a real treat.  First off it started at 7:30 giving me my College Football fix bright and early.  Secondly it was a fascinating matchup with incredible action that combined for the best game of the day.  For most of the game UCF could muster little offensively.  Then they replaces Pete Dinovo with Justin Holman under center.  Holman was terrific.  He completed some accurate passes in tight spots including a 4th and 10 with the game on the line.  Holman will be a good one for the Knights.  The Lions  rode a productive performance by Christian Hackenberg, who threw for 454 yards, to victory.  This one was tight, it could have easily gone either way.  In the end, Penn State mounted a game winning drive in the last 1:20 to win it at the gun.  Thats a hell of a way to ring in the first College Football Saturday.

*A strange opening day.  Several top teams struggled to get going.  Alabama danced around with West Virginia all day long, Ohio State survived a hell of a scare from Navy, Florida State had a tougher time with the Pokes than most figured, UCLA required 3 defensive TDS (more on that later) to escape Virginia, Texas Tech gave up 400 yards to Central Arkansas, NC State needed a comeback to defeat Georgia Southern.  All over, heavily favored teams were struggling.  I am not sure what this means, but it sure was interesting.  Its definitely something to follow going forward.

*I picked UCLA to win the Pac 12 and today, after 1 game, I look foolish.  I thought this was one of the better teams in the country, but against a bottom tier ACC team the Bruins stunk up the joint.  The Bruins required 3, yes, 3 defensive TDs to hold off Virginia 28-20.  More concerning is the Offensive Line play.  Brett Hundley was sacked 5 times and harassed countless others.  Hundley is a good QB, but if they cant keep him upright, then they are going nowhere.  The Virginia Cavaliers arent the 85 Bears, so Jim Mora and company had better get this figured out in a hurry of this season is going nowhere.

*The Wisconsin Badgers totally shit the bed Saturday night against LSU.  UW had looked good jumping out to a 24-7 lead over the Tigers.  Then the Badgers went in the tank.  Their final 5 possessions are as follows: punt, punt, PICK 6, Interception, punt.  These 5 drives totaled 32 yards.  Not only did the Badgers fail to finish LSU, they pretty much rolled out the red carpet for their comeback.  Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen stubbornly stuck with Tanner McEvoy who was pitiful, going 8/24 for 50 yards and 2 Ints.  With the Tigers charging, Andersen declined to insert QB Joel Stave, a known commodity, into the game.  Andersen and The Badgers will have all kinds of excuses for why they lost this game, but ultimately they gave it away.

STOCK UP-teams who impressed

-Texas A&M- I’d put the Aggies twice if it didnt seem silly to do so.  They walked into South Carolina and absolutely scorched the earth.  I cant tell you how impressed I was with them.
-USC- Slapping around a pretty decent Fresno State squad lands the Trojans on the stock up list.
-Rutgers- Going all the way across the country and coming out with a W is quite a feat for a program with no real expectations.  The low bar qualifys the Knights for the Stock Up list.
-UTSA- The Roadrunners went into Houston and peed all over their brand new stadium.  This is a huge win for this program.  Great job by Larry Coker and staff, starting that program and building it into something.
-Georgia- Ill take my medicine on this one.  I thought Clemson would walk into Athens and steal one.  I was wrong.  The Dogs showed me something by scoring the games final 31 points.  Well done Dogs.

STOCK DOWN- teams who depressed
Northwestern- Letting Cal walk in and kick you in the junk?  I have to rethink the Wildcats after that piss poor performance.
South Carolina- There are no words for my level of disappointment.
Wisconsin- Badger fans have to be sick after pissing that one away last night.
Washington- The Huskies land here for playing around with Hawaii like it was their pet.  Stock down UW.
UCLA- Blocking should be a point of emphasis this week at Bruin practice.

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Notes and Such 2/15

*The top story this week is the proposed 10 second rule.  Under this rule it would be illegal for the Offense to snap the ball with more than 29 seconds remaining on the play clock.  Coaches from all over the country are spewing their outrage.  I think this is much ado about nothing.  First off, I doubt it will pass.  Secondly, even the fastest teams don’t snap the ball with less than 29 seconds on the play clock.  Auburn, who goes as quickly as anyone, would have been penalized only twice during the BCS Title game against Florida State.  That is not a big difference.  Regardless, I am against the rule.  I think the current set of rules are fine, but must be enforced.  If the Offense substitutes, the official should provide the defense the same opportunity.  Currently this rule is inconsistently enforced.  Make it consistent and the “problem” is solved.

* Last Sunday SEC Defensive Player of the year, and All American Michael Sam came out of the closet.  I’m thrilled by this news because we can get this story over with and move on with our lives.  This is not a big deal.  There are homosexuals in all walks of life, including athletics.  Regardless, the media will make a big stink out of this, but at least the story will be out there and over with.  Thank goodness for that.

*Here is a story that, flat out, pisses me off.  High school Senior LB Rashaan Evans is being harassed by Auburn fans who feel betrayed he didn’t pick the hometown school.  They are making this kids life a living hell everywhere this young man goes.  Its insane.  They are even telling folks not to go to the Evans’ family restaurant.  This is way over the line.  Hounding a teenager because he didn’t pick your school is indefensible.    Give the kid a freaking break.  Do you remember being 18?  Did you want to stay in your home town?  The Lord knows I didn’t.  Some people need to get a god damn life.  Stories like this make me lose all faith in humanity.

*Jadaveon Clowney spoke out this week, stating his opinion that Collegiate athletes should get paid.  He even went on to say that he “might have stayed” if he were receiving payment for his services.  I’m throwing the bullshit flag here.  If you buy this I have some beach front real estate to sell you.  Even if he were getting paid in college, there is no way that money would hold a candle to the dough the NFL is about to throw at him.  His claim is absolutely ridiculous.  I’m fine with Clowney stating his opinion, that is his right, but come on man.  Lets not go overboard.  Clowney played his entire Junior year with an eye on the NFL.  He wasn’t staying in Columbia regardless of payment.

Weekly Top 5- Best College Football Stadiums
1) The Rose Bowl– The best stadium in this country, regardless of its use.  I love watching games in this stadium.  The grass, the hills in the background, the 100,000+ fans.  It is absolutely incredible.  The Rose Bowl is #1 on this list by a mile.
2) Kyle Field- Perhaps the most unique setting for a football game.  In the football-crazed state of Texas, Kyle Field is the crown jewel.  The chants and cheers from the crowd, the cadets, the swaying of the stadium make this venue one of the best in the nation.  It is fantastic.
3) Beaver Stadium- This is easily the most underrated stadium in College Football.  When Penn State takes the field, this stadium gets hopping.  A night game in Happy Valley has a special feel to it.
4) Tiger Stadium-Tough call here, but I’ll go with the home of the Bayou Bengals.  This is the one stadium where you can tell EVERYONE is wasted.  I doubt there is a rowdier crowd in all of College Football.
5) The Big House- A bit of a cliche answer, but this stadium is outstanding.  It just has a special feel to it.  Perhaps I did not have the proper appreciation for it untill my team joined the B1G.  The Big House is a magical place.

A couple of notes from around the rest of the sports world

I have to tell you folks, I’m really getting sick of figure skating.  It just doesn’t do anything for me.  It doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with it, it just doesn’t fit my tastes. NBC seems intent on showing figure skating at every turn.  I can see why in terms of ratings and getting eyeballs on their product.  But for me, I cant get into it.  Can we see more downhill skiing, hockey, or even speed skating?  Please?

I have to give a big shout out to Nebraska basketball.  The Huskers have won 5 of 7 conference games for the first time in a decade.  I cant tell you how excited about this I am.  Typically, at this point of the season, NU hoops is long forgotten.  Tim Miles deserves a boat load of credit for the way this team has come together.  Its like a completely different team from a month ago.  Terran Pettaway is a damn good ballplayer and Shevon Shields is coming along nicely.  I’m eager to see how this team continues to gel and what the results might be.  There is a very real possibility that Nebrasketball could be on the bubble come Selection Sunday.  To simply be in the conversation for an NCAA tournament bid would blow my mind.

follow: @jakeanderson998

Looking ahead to week 8

Its going to awful hard to top last week.  There were upsets all over the place and thrilling finishes galore.  This week has an awful lot to live up to.  Lets take a look at some top matchups.

Texas Tech @ West Virginia- A few weeks ago I wrote off the Mountaineers.  I figured they were Dog feces after getting shut out by Maryland.  Then they beat the bejesus out of Oklahoma State in Morgan town.  This shocked the hell out of me and has restored my faith in them.  The Red Raiders will be starting their second Freshman QB in Davis Webb.  I think its going to be too much for Tech and they fall to West Virginia.

Florida @ Missouri- Do the Tigers have the maturity to forget about last week’s MONSTER win and focus on a team at home minus James Franklin?  I say no.  Give me the Gators.  Their Defense will feast on a backup QB.

Auburn @ Texas A&M- The Aggies are coming off an absolute thriller in Oxford.  It was perhaps the most excititng game I have watched this season.  This week Auburn comes to town for a game that will not be short on firepower.  The Auburn Offense is averaging 287 yards per game while The Aggie Defense ranks 96th in the country for points allowed.  We know The Aggs can score but can they come up with the necessary stops to win the game?  I don’t think so.  This game is my upset special.

UCLA @ Stanford- The big stunner last weekend has Stanford losing to Utah.  There is no time for a hangover for The Cardinal as this week they get a very good UCLA team.  UCLA is led by Brett Hundley whose Offense is averaging 45 points per game.  But the Bruins have yet to play a Defense like this one.  The Stanford front 7 is as good as any in the country.  This one will be fascinating.  Give me the home team.

USC @ Notre Dame- A classic matchup even though neither team is very good.  Give me Notre Dame.

Washington @ Arizona State- The Huskies have to forget about last weekends loss to Oregon and take to the road against the Sun Devils.  Arizona State smoked Colorado last week but Washington will be a much tougher test.  This game pits 2 terrific QBs against each other.  Taylor Kelly and Keith Price are 2 of the best this conference has to offer.  Ill take Price to take his team on the road and come out with a victory.

LSU @ Ole Miss- I still think Ole Miss is a good team despite 3 straight losses.  They are simply in a tough stretch in a tough league with a TON of young players.  This team is still dangerous to a team like LSU.  After a big game against Florida perhaps LSU comes out a bit flat.  I like the Tigers in this one but I think it will be closer than most experts would have you believe.

Florida State @ Clemson- This one is going be be fantastic.  2 great teams, both with a ton at stake.  I think whoever wins is a frontrunner in the National Title chase.  Clemson has the edge at QB with Boyd.  He has the skins on the wall and thus the upper hand.  Clemson is also at home.  But give me the Seminoles in this one.  I think the bright lights might be a bit much for the Tigers.  Either way this one is a cant miss.

Saturday views from the couch 10/13

Wow.  What a fantastic day of College Football.  There was game after game of thrilling action.  I think this was the best Saturday yet.  Here are some views and observations.

*7 Top 25 teams fell on Saturday.  That is more than a quarter of them and they went down in a variety of ways.  There was the predictable (Washington, Florida, Northwestern), The Stunning (Georgia, Stanford)  and The disappointing (Oklahoma, Michigan).  Some of these teams were bound to fall, particularly when we got into conference play.  But 7?  Damn

*What the hell Oklahoma?  You had a chance to bury the Horns and instead you let them run over you?  263 total yards isnt going to do it.  So much for thinking Blake Bell was going to be the guy going forward.  I suppose I have to give credit to Texas who actually stuck with the run.  When you have horses like Jonathan Gray and Malcolm Brown you have to ride them.  Both of those guys rushed for over 120 yards.  A great win for Texas but this has to be absolutely disappointing for Boomer Sooner.

* Oh Georgia.  My Oh My.  This one will make Mark RIcht and Aaron Murray sick to their stomach at seasons end.

*Penn State beat Mr. Inconsistent in a 4 OT thriller yesterday evening.  Penn St. needed, and got, a furious last minute TD drive with heroics by Allen Robinson.  The OT sessions were sloppy by both teams.  Penn State won as they were the first to score a TD, in the 4th OT period, There were no points were scored in 2 of those periods.  In other news Im ready to proclaim Allen Robinson as one of the 2 or 3 best receivers in the country.  That dude is a baller.  This game also served as a reminder of how much Beaver Stadium can rock.  That has to be one of the best atmospheres in the country.

*It has to hurt to be a Stanford fan this morning.

*Did anyone watch the Texas A&M/Ole Miss game?  Wow what a game.  Ole Miss led by a TD with 6 minutes to go.  Give The Aggs credit.  They stormed back and won the game at the gun.  John Football his usual self.  Just another 346 yards passing 124 yards rushing day.  Nothing special, just another day at the office.  Trey WIlliams added 2 rushing TDs for A&M in this one.  Williams is really fun to watch.  You can think what you will of A&M but they are going to play some very entertaining games this season.  I would suggest tuning in.

Stock up
LSU– The Tigers might be the best team in the SEC.  Their Offense is rolling and if yesterday was any indication their Defense is gaining footing as well.
Michigan State- Look out big 10.  Sparty might have found some Offense.
Oregon– The Ducks are so consistent it often gets overlooked.  Yesterday they beat a fine Washington team in a hostile environment and nothing is thought of it.
South Carolina– Going on the road and putting the smack down on a Conference opponent lands you on the stock up list.
Wisconsin– Damn.  The Badgers put a beat down on the Wildcats.
BYU– Nice win for The Cougs.

STOCK DOWN
Oklahoma– Come on Boomer.
Georgia– For the love of Christ!!  I shower the Dogs with praise, calling them a Title Contender after beating LSU and since then they have played poorly in 2 games and lost to Misery.  UGH
Miami (OH)- Losing the UMASS?  Unless we are talking about basketball this will land you on the stock down list.
Michigan– Who are these guys?  The team that came out of the gates on fire or the squad that is staggering around like a hobo after a bottle of scope.
Eastern Michigan– allowing 50 points to Army?
Stanford– I wont pour salt in the wound but I have to put the Cardinal on this list.

Big time Saturday 10/12

Believe it or not folks this Saturday marks the halfway point of the College Football Season.  I for one am stoked for a big time lineup loaded with awesome games.  Lets look at each time slot.

11 a.m- The headliner is The Red River Shootout in the Cotton Bowl.  Lord knows that is a monster gamer around here.  Folks have been gearing up for it for days.  A little fact I found fascinating is that The Texas student tickets didn’t sell out.  That is down right disgraceful.  I also learned this week that Mack Brown is 5-9 against Bob Stoops.  Consider that 3 of those wins came in a 4 year period in the mid 00’s.  Basically Bob Stoops owns Mack Browns ass, and the games the last couple of years show it.  Today the Sooners will attempt to win 4 in a row in this historic rivalry.  The spread is 14.5 and I think that is conservative.  Its going to be an ass whooping, which is always fun.  However I will not be watching this game.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers take to the road for the first time this season against the hapless Purdue Boilermakers.  If the Huskers are indeed making progress this game should not be close.  Tommy Armstrong makes his 3rd career start against a decent, but still not good, Boilermaker Defense.  The calls among many Husker fans for Armstrong to be the permanent starter are getting louder.  Armstrong is fueling that fire with efficient play and strong running.  Today the sample size grows for Armstrong and perhaps the controversy along with it.  On the Defensive side of the ball the Huskers look to build on the improvement seen last week.  The Big Red Defense only allowed 10 points (minus a junk time TD) and were better all the way around.  This Boilermaker Offense is weak, and is starting a first time freshman QB.  If this Defense is worth their weight in salt they should smell blood in the water and go after this guy.  The Big Red rolls in this one.

2:30- This lineup is absolutely stacked.  First off Florida/LSU will square off in Baton Rouge.  The TIgers have won 2 of the last 3 meetings in this matchup.  This one is the battle of the impotent Gator Offense against a struggling Tiger Defense.  The difference to me is Zach Mettenberger.  He has provided the LSU Offense with a spark I haven’t seen in a long, long time.  If the Defense can get it together the Tigers will be a force in the SEC West.  Offensively they have playmakers all over the field.  Odell Beckham and Jeremy Hill are absolute studs.  But it starts and ends with Mettenberger who will again be terrific.  The Tigers wont put up 40 on the Gators but they wont have to.  Give me the Tigers at home.

Northestern @ Wisconsin.  Last week the Wildcats exerted a tremendous amount of energy against Ohio State.  This week they go to Madison.  Camp Randal will be fired up for this one.  If this were any team but Northwestern I would say they are doomed.  But Northwestern appears to have what it takes to bounce back, go on the road, and play great again.  Wisconsin is a damn good team but I think The Wildcats will make this a game and perhaps come away with it.  Either way it will be a fantastic affair.

If those 2 games weren’t enough to wet your appetite there is also the Oregon @ Washington game.  This one pits the Pac 12 upstart Huskies against the well established Oregon Ducks.  The Huskies are surprising a lot of folks right now with the way their season has begun.  Keith Price looks to be one of the best QB’s in the nation.  Currently Price is completing 71% of his passes.  Newly renovated Husky Stadium will be the backdrop for this one and you can bet it will be rockin.  Still I think the Ducks will show why they are a legitimate National Title contender.  Marcus Mariota is phenomenal.  His completion % is not in the neighborhood of Price, but Mariota has 14 Tds and NO INTERCEPTIONS.  Mariota is the straw that stirs the drink for The Ducks and will be the difference in this one.

7p.m- Compared to the 2:30 time slot, this one has no juice.  There are a number of games with good teams against inferior competition.  At 4:00  there is Michigan @ Penn St., Stanford @ Utah starts at 5,  Alabama @ Kentucky kicks off at 6.  These are all decent affairs but fall well short of what happens at 2:30.  The one game that really turns my head is Texas A&M @ Ole Miss.  This one will be good.  I don’t think the Aggs are good enough to blow folks out.  Likewise I don’t think The Rebs are good enough to run away from anyone either.  This one will be back and forth.  Johnny Football has shown he can shred most any Defense, and The Aggs dont have the kind of playmakers Defensively that they have had in the past.  Don’t blink in this one.  Ill take the Rebs in a squeaker.

looking ahead-week 5

Last week will go down as one of the least eventful weeks of the college football season. Fotunately for all of us this week is much different.  There are numerous big games and even better big conference games.  I had to be somewhat selective this week..  Here is a run down of this weeks action.

Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech (Thursday)- A team that impressed me last weekend in Georgia Tech, against a team that is turning into a bit of an under acheiver in Virginia Tech.  Can the Hokie Defense stand up to Vad Lee and the Rambling wreck?

SMU @ TCU- The battle for the Iron Skillet.  This is a big one around here.  TCU has struggled early on while the Ponies havent exactly set the world ablaze.  Then again June Jones’ club always brings their best to Fort Worth.

LSU @ Georgia- SEC play gets ramped up as Jeremy Hill and the Tigers go between the Hedges against Aaron Murray and the Bulldogs.  This is my game of the week.  If Georgia plays as loose as they did against South Carolina, I like the Dogs.

Oklahoma @ Notre Dame- Here are 2 teams that I don’t know what to think of.  Oklahoma seems to have found its starting QB in Blake Bell, but if he is so great why wasn’t he the obvious choice all along?  Meanwhile Notre Dame’s offense seems to sputter with Tommy Reese.  Not that they have any options there.  I dont think I could possibly be surprised by the outcome of this game.

Ole Miss @ Alabama- The new kid on the block in the SEC goes to Tuscaloosa to tangle with the big bad bully.  This should be a good game on paper but I think The Tide might put a spanking on the Rebs.  I just think Ole Miss is a bit too green for such a matchup.  I could be wrong of course.

Arizona @ Washington- This will be an underrated game.  After beating 3 patsies the Wildcats finally get to the meat of their schedule.  Meanwhile the Huskies are this years surprise team to this point.  These 2 programs are on the rise. Give me the home team in this one.

Wisconsin @ Ohio State- The 2 best teams in the Big 10 go at it in Columbus.  This game could very well decide the Leaders division when its all said and done.  Ive been impressed early with The Badgers and new coach Gary Andersen.  Meanwhile the Buckeyes appearing to be coming into shape.  It appears Braxton Miller will play.  I expect Chris Borland and the Wisonsin Defense to give the Buckeyes plenty of problems.

GAMBLERS CORNER

OKState -19.5 @ West Virginia
Wyoming -12.5 @ Texas State
Wisconsin +7.5 @ Ohio State
Arizona State -6.5 vs. USC
Miami -19 @ South Florida

Looking ahead…..

One of the best trends around college football is the early season showdown.  It seems years ago these were rare treats for the college Football fan to behold.  Now There are several good games taking place week 1.  Here is a look at a few of them.

North Carolina @ South Carolina Thursday- Ive long been an admirer of Larry Fedora.  I think he is one of the best young coaches in college football and will do great things in Chapel HIll.  That said Thursday night he takes his team into a buzz saw in Columbia.  South Carolina is a legitimate National Title Contender with studs all over the field.  We all know about Clowney but the rest of the D-line is similarly fantastic.  South Carolina balances a monster Defense with a pretty good offense.  The spread on this game is S.Carolina -11.  I’m hoping this affair is closer than that.

LSU vs. TCU Saturday night from a test tube in Arlington Tx- This is an intriguing matchup between a team with a lot to replace, LSU, and a team that was remarkably young last season in TCU.  While most will think LSU will beat up on the boys from Fort Worth, I think otherwise.  Gary Patterson will have his team ready.  TCU is a program with a chip on its shoulder and this game plays right into that.  Also dont forget the game may be “neutral” site but look at a map.  TCU will be well represented.  Maybe the Frogs dont win the game but it will be highly competitive.

Georgia @ Clemson- This is a rare top 10 showdown week 1.  Aaron Murray vs, Taj Boyd.  My mouth waters just thinking about this fantastic matchup.  This one will be a real treat.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Bulldogs win this one but Ill take Clemson to hold serve on their home field.  I expect this game to be a dandy.  If you are big into atmosphere, as I am, Death Valley will be rockin Saturday night.
Ole Miss @ Vandy Late Thursday night- This is the battle of teams you shouldn’t sleep on.  James Franklin has worked wonders at Vanderbilt, turning them into a damn fine team while Hugh Freeze at Ole Miss is in the process of doing the same.  Im not a fan of conference games this early in the season but that wont stop be from enjoying this one.  Give me the Commodores over the Rebels by a field goal.

Alabama vs Virginia Tech, Saturday night from Atlanta- This one sounds a whole lot better on paper than it will in real life.  The Crimson Tide will do to the Hokies, this year, what they did to Michigan last year.  The score last year was 41-14.  I expect a similar score.  I have very little faith in Logan Thomas and Alabama is so freaking loaded it wouldn’t matter anyway.  The spread reflects this notion as the Tide are a 21 point favorite.

These are some of the big time week 1 matchups that have had me salivating for months.  Later today I will go over some games that interest me personally.  5 MORE DAYS FOLKS.  Get your foam finger and game day treats ready!!