Top 10 Bowl Games to Watch: 2014

Top 10 Bowl Games to Watch

1.  Rose Bowl: #2 Oregon Ducks vs. #3 Florida State Seminoles: Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. on ESPN

This game will be the first College Football Playoff game ever played!!  The play of the starting quarterbacks of each team will determine who advances to the National Championship Game. Leading the Ducks is this year's Heisman trophy winner Marcus Mariota, while last year's Heisman winner Jameis Winston will command the Seminoles.  There are major differences between these two quarterbacks both on the field and off.  Mariota has put up exceptional numbers this year, running for 14 touchdowns, throwing for 38 touchdowns and throwing only 2 interceptions!  Winston, on the other hand, has thrown for only 24 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.  The differences off the field are even more apparent as Mariota's Heisman acceptance speech was filled with his thanks for others, rather than praising himself, while Winston has gotten into trouble doing dumb things for his entire college career.  I will cheer for the upstanding man that is Mariota instead of the immature boy that is Winston.  GO DUCKS!!

2.  Sugar Bowl: #4 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. #1 (not for long) Alabama Crimson Tide: Jan. 1 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Ohio State comes into this game with a slight edge in momentum.  Alabama got an expected victory in the SEC Championship Game over an inconsistent Missouri team, while Ohio State, with their third string quarterback Cardale Jones, scored a multitude of points against Wisconsin in a surprising 59-0 blowout win.  The Buckeyes will have to match their amazing performance if they are going to beat that pesky Alabama team.  Ohio State's run game will have to fire on all cylinders once again and Jones needs to play as well as he did against Wisconsin in order for the Buckeyes to knock off the Red Tide, I mean Crimson Tide.  The defense will also need to play great to slow down a balanced Alabama offense.  Ohio State could definitely shock the nation again.

3.  National Championship Game at Cowboys Stadium:  ??? : Jan 12. at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN 

Who will make it to the final round?  Only time will tell.  I hope Alabama won't make it here, but if they do Oregon will hopefully be waiting there to deal them a long-overdue loss.  My prediction is that the Ducks will win it all!

4.  Peach Bowl: #6 TCU Horned Frogs vs. #9 Ole Miss Rebels: Dec. 31 at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN

TCU fell out of the top 4 in the final College Football Playoff rankings.  However, the Horned Frogs still made it in to a major bowl game and have a chance to prove how good they really are against a tough SEC team, which features a usually stellar defense. Quarterback Trevone Boykin (pictured below) will look to have another great game both running and passing the ball and end the year right with a New Year's Eve victory!

5.  Fiesta Bowl: #10 Arizona Wildcats vs. #20 Boise State Broncos: Dec. 31 at 4 p.m. on ESPN

This year's Fiesta Bowl pits two quality teams out west against each other.  Arizona is coming off of a disappointing loss to Oregon while Boise State brought home the Mountain West Conference championship.  Normally, a team down at #20 would not be selected to play in a major bowl game like this. To understand why you need to know the difference between Power 5 conferences and the non-Power 5 conferences.  The Power 5 conferences include the SEC (South-Eastern Conference), the PAC (Pacific American Conference) 12, the Big 12, the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference), and the Big 10.  These conferences features teams that have been good for decades, due to the quality of the players and coaches.  The non-Power 5 conferences include the Mountain West Conference, the American Athletic Conference, the MAC (Mid-American Conference), the C-USA (Conference USA) and the Sun Belt Conference.  Under the new playoff/bowl system the highest ranked team from the non-Power 5 conferences gets a guaranteed spot in a major bowl game, hence Boise State's place in this bowl.  Boise State has pulled 2 upsets in the Fiesta Bowl in 2007 and 2010.  Can the Broncos due it again behind the powerful strides of running back Jay Ajayi, or will Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon lead his team to a bounceback win?

My pick: Arizona

6.  Boca Raton Bowl: Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Marshall Thundering Herd: Dec. 23 at 6 p.m. on ESPN

Both teams roll happily into this new bowl game in sunny Florida after winning their respective conference championship games. Northern Illinois defeated Bowling Green for their 3rd MAC title in 4 years while Marshall defeated Louisiana Tech for the C-USA Championship.  Will the Huskies' run game produce enough yards to create clear passing lanes, which is how they win games, or will Marshall stampede their way to victory?

My pick: Northern Illinois of course!

7.  Cotton Bowl: #5 Baylor Bears vs. #9 Michigan State Spartans: Jan 1. at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN

Baylor fans, coaches, and players are all upset over getting knocked out of the top 4 by Ohio State. They have a great chance to proof how good their high-scoring team is against the experienced defensive-minded Spartans.  What's even better for the Bears is that this game will be played in the same stadium as the National Championship Game: Cowboys Stadium in Texas.  Probably 60% or more of the fans in the stands will be cheering for Baylor, as the Baylor campus is also in Texas. Although Baylor wanted more, the consolation prize is pretty sweet.

My pick: Baylor

8.  Orange Bowl: #7 Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. #12 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. on ESPN

Both of these teams have accomplished good things this year but have also lost their final games. Mississippi State beat 3 top 10 teams in a row in late September and early October, but lost their last game to in-state rival Ole Miss (Mississippi).  Georgia Tech won the ACC Coastal Division Title but was defeated by Florida State in the ACC Championship Game due to their pathetic defense.  Will quarterback Dak Prescott lead his Bulldogs to a victory or will the Yellow Jackets be able to play well enough on defense to make this close?

My pick: Mississippi State

9.  Outback Bowl: #18 Wisconsin Badgers vs. #19 Auburn Tigers: Jan 1 at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN2

These two teams are quite similar to the duo mentioned in game #8.   Like their SEC counterpart Mississippi State, Auburn failed to achieve a win in their yearly rivalry game with Alabama. :( Wisconsin, like Georgia Tech, won a division title but were blown out in their conference championship game by Ohio State. :)  Will Wisconsin running back and Heisman finalist Melvin Gordon run for 200+ yards and fuel a Badgers victory?  Or will Auburn dual-threat (running and passing) quarterback Nick Marshall marshal the troops and the lead the Tigers to a quality bowl win?

My pick: Wisconsin

10.  Alamo Bowl: #11 Kansas State Wildcats vs. #14 UCLA Bruins (old name for brown bear): Jan. 2 at 6:45 p.m. on ESPN

This notable bowl game is played in an excellent domed stadium not far from famous Fort Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.  The Wildcats and Bruins each managed to claw their way to respectable 9-3 records.  The winner will achieve the coveted 10-win season.  Will the great quarterback-wide receiver duo of Jake Waters and Tyler Lockett be enough to propel Kansas State to a victory?  Or will UCLA's junior quarterback Brett Hundley, playing in his final college football game (due to his decision to enter the NFL draft early), end his tenure with the Bruins by guiding his teammates to a triumph in San Antonio?

My pick: UCLA

Championship Week

Championship Week

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch

1.  Oregon Ducks vs. Arizona Wildcats

This game was described as a game in which Oregon would be looking to avenge their upset loss to Arizona early in the year.  The Ducks did that and much more.  The game seemed like it was over at halftime as the Ducks defense would not let the Wildcats do anything on offense.  On the other side of the ball, Heisman candidate quarterback Marcus Mariota led Oregon to 23 1st half points.  The score at the half was Oregon 23 Arizona zip. The final score was even uglier.  However, with this win Oregon will get their shot at Florida State and maybe even Alabama in the playoffs.  That would make me very happy if they beat both of those teams. :)

Final Score: Oregon 51 Arizona 13

2.  Florida State Seminoles vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The 1st half of this game could be described as a scorefest with a total of 49 points scored. Georgia Tech's triple-option rushing attack was on a roll, reaching the endzone on almost every drive. However, the Yellow Jackets' defense was as crumbly as a honey graham cracker as they let the Seminoles offense score just as easily.  Florida State had a 1 touchdown lead at the half and they would not trail during the remainder of the game.  The Yellow Jackets' offense was not as productive in the 2nd half which allowed the Seminoles to build a 9 point lead.  Florida State was able to absorb a late touchdown and recovered Georgia Tech's onside kick attempt to seal the game.  Just like bees, the Yellow Jackets only knew how to attack, not how to defend.

Final Score: Florida State 37 Georgia Tech 35

3. Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers

This game was undoubtedly the most surprising game of the weekend.  If you recall from last week's blog, Ohio State is having to rally behind their 3rd-string quarterback Cardale Jones after 2 fantastic quarterbacks suffered season-ending injuries.  Unbelievably, the Buckeyes have a 3rd great quarterback on their roster, as Jones passed for 257 yards and 3 touchdowns, all of which were perfect passes that were hauled in by star receiver Devin Smith. (see below)  On defense, the Buckeyes had their best game of the year, holding the Badgers' running game, headlined by record-setting running back Melvin Gordon, to only 71 yards!  The fate of Wisconsin was perfectly summed up when an Ohio State defensive lineman forced Gordon to fumble, and talented freshman Joey Bosa scooped up the loose ball and sauntered into the endzone.  The Buckeyes would absolutely destroy the Badgers 59 to nothing.  This awesomely amazing victory earned the Buckeyes a spot in the 1st College Football Playoffs.  More on that later.

Final Score: Ohio State 59 Wisconsin 0

Most Exciting Game of the Week

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs @ Marshall Thundering Herd

(The Marshall football team was the subject of the great movie We Are Marshall.  It's worth watching.)

Unlike other college football championship games that are played at a neutral site, the Conference-USA (C-USA) Championship Game is played at the better team's stadium. The main reason why is that this conference takes in less revenue than other more prestigious conferences and can't afford to play a championship game in an NFL stadium. Anyway, the Marshall players and fans were hoping to capture a conference championship to make up for their loss in overtime the previous week that ended their perfect season and the possibility to go to a New Year's bowl game.

As the game began, the Marshall players looked like they hadn't yet shaken off last week's heartbreaking loss.  The offense, led by record-setting QB Rakeem Cato, was inconsistent and the defense was weak as the Bulldogs had a 17-7 lead halfway through the 2nd quarter.  In the last 5 minutes of the half, the Thundering Herd used their horns to bull their way to a 40 and a 46 yard field goal, both of which were the longest kicker Justin Haig had ever converted.

At the start of the 2nd half, Marshall looked as though they had finally put the past behind them and were ready to battle for the C-USA Championship.  On their first drive they converted a 3rd and 17 and managed another 40 yard field goal.  Now trailing only by 1, the momentum slipped away from Marshall after a blocked punt set up Louisiana Tech in the red zone.  Bulldogs' running back Kenneth Dixon sprinted into the endzone on the next play, but the extra point was blocked.  Going into the 4th quarter, Louisiana Tech led 23-16, but the game wasn't over yet.

After Cato and the offense only managed 3 points on two golden opportunities to tie the game up, the Thundering Herd defense would have to save the day.  They subscribed to the defensive adage "bend but don't break" as they allowed a 30 yard completion but stopped the Bulldogs at the 32 yard line. Louisiana Tech attempted a 49 yard field goal but it sailed wide and the Marshall fans cheered as the ball fell harmlessly into the stands. With 5 minutes left, Cato was determined to not let his teammates and the fans suffer through another disappointing loss.  10 plays later, Cato had completed 6 of 7 passes for 47 yards and run another 11 yards and Marshall was at the Bulldogs' 5 yard line.  On 2nd and Goal, Cato rolled out to the right, and fired a crisp pass that was caught for the game-winning touchdown.  Only minutes later, the Marshall Thundering Herd had captured the C-USA Championship and Cato was hoisting the championship trophy surrounded by his celebrating teammates.

Final Score: Marshall 26 Louisiana Tech 23

Final College Football Playoff Rankings

1.  Alabama Crimson Tide

2.  Oregon Ducks

3.  Florida State Seminoles

4.  Ohio State Buckeyes

These rankings were determined by a 12 member selection committee that includes athletic directors and former coaches, unlike the previous system of polls and computer rankings which only chose two teams who would compete for the national championship. Ohio State's blowout win over Wisconsin warranted their unexpected jump into the top 4. Alabama and Ohio State will face off at the Sugar Bowl and Oregon and Florida State will battle at the Rose Bowl.  The winners will go to play at Cowboys Stadium for a shot at the national championship.  Buckle your seat belts.  Its going to be a wild ride.

Week 14

Week 14

Result of Last Week's #1 Game to Watch

Northern Illinois Huskies @ Western Michigan Broncos

The weather for this game that would decide the MAC West Division title was cold and snowy, but which team would avoid the chill of defeat?  Midway through the 2nd quarter it looked like the Broncos would trample the Huskies and run away with the game.  Western Michigan held a 21 to 7 lead and had shut down the Huskies' offense since their first drive. Thankfully, the Huskies managed to kick a field goal before halftime to shrink the Broncos' lead to 11.  The Huskies came out after halftime looking like a different team, as the defense forced punts and turnovers and the offense capitalized on those opportunities.  Northern Illinois scored 2 touchdowns on a 4th down run by wide receiver Akeem Daniels (see below) and a short run by quarterback Drew Hare.  The Huskies now had a 24-21 lead and the defense would have to protect that lead.  The Huskies' defense forced a 3 and out early in the 4th quarter, but their teammates on offense failed to get any points after a missed field goal on the ensuing drive.  The Northern Illinois defense would have to come up with another defensive stop. They did one better as linebacker Sean Folliard simultaneously sacked the Broncos quarterback and forced a fumble that was recovered by the Huskies.  Northern Illinois would seal the win with a late touchdown and walk away with a 31-21 win and their 5th straight division title.  This week they will prepare to avenge last year's MAC Championship Game loss to Bowling Green.

Final Score: Northern Illinois 31 Western Michigan 21

Most Exciting Game of the Week

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ Georgia Bulldogs

This yearly rivalry game is always heated, but this year's version would have both coaching staffs shaking their heads in disbelief at some point in the game.

After 3 quarters chock full of turnovers and missed opportunities, the game was tied up at 14. Georgia settled for a field goal on a promising drive early in the 4th quarter.  The Yellow Jackets responded with a 13 play, 7 minute long TD drive that showcased the effectiveness of Georgia Tech's triple option offense in taking control of a game.  The Yellow Jackets held a 21-17 lead and got ready to kickoff.  Instead of kicking the ball toward a talented kick returner, the coaching staff elected to kick it short to the Bulldogs' 30 yard line where it would be caught by a Georgia blocker. Unfortunately, the Georgia blocker failed to remember the need to CATCH THE BALL and instead let a Yellow Jackets' player catch it.  Consequently, the kickoff actually functioned like an onside kick, and the Yellow Jackets kept possession of the ball.  The Georgia special teams coach most likely wanted to whack that player on the helmet with a clipboard.

At any rate, all Georgia Tech needed to do was to run out most or all of the clock.  The Yellow Jackets got a 1st down but soon were in a 3rd and 12 situation 2 plays later. Instead of doing the smart thing and calling a run play to set up a manageable field goal attempt, the Georgia Tech coaches foolishly called a pass play.  From the start of the play, quarterback Justin Thomas was under heavy duress.  He rolled out to the right and as he was winding up to throw the ball away, the ball slipped out of his fingers and landed on the turf where it was recovered by the Bulldogs.  Thomas could not even look as the Bulldogs drove down the field and scored a touchdown on 4th and Goal with 18 seconds left.  (24-21)

Usually, that would be the last significant play of the game, but this day was different. Georgia also elected to kick it short, but a good return by a Georgia Tech blocker set up the offense in very good field position.  Thomas faked like he was going to pass but instead ran right up the middle and cut to the left, stepping out of bounds at the Bulldogs' 36 yard line with 4 seconds left.  Kicker Harrison Butker came out onto the field to attempt a 53 yard kick that would be his career long if he made it. With the entire stadium seemingly holding their breath, Butker nailed the kick right down the middle, with only an inch to spare over the crossbar.  The Yellow Jackets erupted in celebration as they were miraculously heading to overtime.

Georgia Tech got the ball first and scored a touchdown with ease on running back Zach Laskey's 3rd touchdown of the game against a tired and frustrated Georgia defense.  But the routine extra point was blocked, meaning a touchdown and a extra point would win the game for the Bulldogs.  The Bulldogs soon were getting close to doing just that as they had a 2nd and Goal at the 9.  Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason dropped back and fired a pass toward the endzone, but Georgia Tech defensive back D.J. White stepped in front of the intended receiver and intercepted the pass.  The Yellow Jackets' players and coaches rushed the field with pure happiness and reveled in the victory that can only be described as a miracle.

Final score: Georgia Tech 30 Georgia 24 (OT)

Top 3 Games to Watch: Championship Week

1.  Oregon Ducks vs Arizona Wildcats: 12/5 at 9 p.m. on FOX

This Championship Game is a rematch of a regular season game earlier this year in which the Wildcats pulled off a huge upset of the Ducks, which I covered.  Will the Wildcats claw their way to another upset or will the Quack Attack (I came up with with this name all by myself) be victorious?

My pick: Arizona

2.  Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Florida State Seminoles: 12/6 at 8 p.m. on ABC

Florida State's last 6 wins have been downright unimpressive, achieving close victories against teams they should have dominated.  It is high time for someone to finally beat them and teach them that championships aren't won in such a fashion.  Will the Yellow Jackets sting the Seminoles by handing them their first loss in 2 years?  Or will the Seminoles eke out another win that they don't deserve?

My pick: Georgia Tech

3.  Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers: 12/6 at 8:15 p.m. on FOX

During a hard-fought victory in a rivalry game against Michigan, the Buckeyes lost their 2nd Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback this year.  They lost Braxton Miller before the season even began and J.T. Barrett broke his ankle in the game versus Michigan.  Now it falls to 3rd string quarterback Cardale Jones to lead his team in the Big Ten Championship.  Head Coach Urban Meyer and the rest of the Buckeyes' play callers will have to call just the right plays to help Jones get comfortable in the game.  Will Jones have a breakout performance and complement Ohio State's run game to overcome a talented Wisconsin team.  Or will Wisconsin hand Ohio State their 2nd straight loss in the Big 10 Championship Game?

My pick: Ohio State 

Week 13

Week 13

Most Exciting Game of the Week

1.  Minnesota Golden Gophers @ Nebraska Cornhuskers

This game would decide which of these 2 teams would remain in the running for the Big Ten Championship and which would fall to the wayside.  

The 1st quarter ended with the teams tied at 7, but the 2nd quarter would feature an unusual scoring play.  On a drive that began on the first play of the quarter, Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. and running back Ameer Abdullah teamed up to lead their offense to the Minnesota 18 yard line. Then, on the 8th play of the drive, Armstrong threw a pass to a receiver for an 18 yard touchdown. The Golden Gophers got the ball and proceeded to burrow their way down the field, relying on the running skills of quarterback Mitch Leidner and starting running back David Cobb.  However, after moving the chains 4 times, the Nebraska defense caught on to their opponent's strategy and forced Minnesota into a field goal situation.  Kicker Ryan Santoso lined up for an easy 30 yard attempt.  The ball is snapped, the hold is perfect, but the kick is blocked by a Nebraska defender!  The ball flips awkwardly through the air and is picked up by defensive back Nate Gerry who picks up a wall of friendly blockers and runs it back 85 yards for the touchdown.  The teams traded punts and soon halftime was reached.  The Cornhuskers held a 21-7 lead heading into the half where seasons are made or lost.

Nebraska got the ball first in the 2nd half, but wasted the opportunity as Armstrong got sacked 2 times within the first 3 plays.  The ensuing punt netted only 25 yards, due to a relatively short punt and a good return.  1 run by Leidner and 3 by Cobb got the ball into the endzone.  Unfortunately, Cobb injured his hamstring on the TD run.  The Gophers would have to continue their comeback without the player who generates 40% of their total offense.  Only a determined team effort could make up for his absence.

Seeing their lead cut in half, the Nebraska offense responded with a drive in which 8 rushes by Abdullah and his backup Amari Cross, got the ball into the red zone.  But the Minnesota defense clamped down, and forced a 4th down.  Kicker Drew Brown hit his 30 yard field goal, and the Cornhuskers had stretched their lead to 10.  The Gophers had to respond but in order to do so the 2nd and 3rd string running backs, Donnell Kirkwood and Rodrick Williams Jr., would have to give their all.  They did just that, and the run threat for Minnesota seemed just as dangerous as before.  5 combined runs by Kirkwood and Williams complemented by 2 key passes by Leidner, set the Gophers up with a 4 and 1 at the Cornhuskers' 18 yard line.   Minnesota Head Coach Jerry Kill decided to roll the dice, and kept the offense on the field.  The gamble paid off with a skillful TD run by Williams. Nebraska's lead had now shrunk to 4, but their offense was held down by conservative play calling and they were held scoreless in their next 2 drives.  

With 8 minutes left, the Gophers got the ball and set their sights on the endzone.  They were almost denied by the Nebraska defense, but captured the momentum thanks to a clutch (football speak meaning timely) pass from Leidner to receiver KJ Maye.  5 plays later, Minnesota got the touchdown they were looking for on a short run by Leidner.  The Gophers now had a 28-24 lead with only 3 minutes remaining.  Finally, the Nebraska coaching staff started calling some bold passing plays and soon they got the ball down to the Minnesota 30 yard line.  Looking for the win, quarterback Armstrong completed a great pass to one of his receivers at the 5 yard line.  The receiver turned around to attempt to reach the goal line, but at the last second a Minnesota defender knocks the ball loose and recovers it to seal the win. (see below)  Much to the dismay of Cornhuskers fans, the Gophers won for the first time in Nebraska since 1960.  It's as if the Gophers scurried into the cornfield and ate all the corn.

Final Score: Minnesota 28 Nebraska 24

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 14

1.  Northern Illinois Huskies @ Western Michigan Broncos:  11/28 at 11 a.m. on ESPNU

This matchup will decide who will represent the West Division in this year's Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship Game.  It comes as no surprise that Northern Illinois is in the hunt for a 5th straight West Divison title.  Even in a supposed down year after Heisman finalist Jordan Lynch graduated, the Huskies manage to find more dynamic play-makers just waiting to step into the spotlight, such as bruising running back Cameron Stingily.  However, it is shocking for Western Michigan to be in the MAC title chase.  In one year the Broncos have gone from a 1 win season to competing for the West Division title. Running back Jarvion Franklin and energetic 34 year old Head Coach P.J. Fleck, who is a graduate of Northern Illinois, has been the fuel for this rapid turnaround. So will the Huskies stick to their winning ways or will the Broncos trample them?

My pick: Northern Illinois.  You should also know this by now.

2.  Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ Georgia Bulldogs: 11/30 at Noon on ESPN SEC Network

This rivalry game is sure to be heated as both teams will play hard for a year's worth of bragging rights.  Will the triple-option attack by Georgia Tech control the clock and the scoreboard?  Or will the Bulldogs defend their home turf with the determined running of Nick Chubb and the crisp passing of Hutson Mason?

My pick: Georgia

Special Requests

The Illinois Fighting Illini have stunned a Big 10 Conference foe once again.  On Senior Day, the last day the Illinois seniors would play at home, a senior came through. Struggling on offense against Penn State, the Illinois coaching staff elected to put in senior Reilly O'Toole to spark the offense.  He led a touchdown drive in the 2nd quarter and 3 drives that ended in a field goal in the 2nd half.  The last 3 points were the difference in the game as Illinois kicker David Reisner, dealing with heavy wind, hit the game winner with no time left on the clock.  A hard-fought 16-14 victory over Penn State had been achieved and the players and fans celebrated happily.  With this win, Illinois still has a chance to make a bowl game with a win in their final game.

Week 12

Week 12: A Week That Should Have Been Better

Result of Last Week's #1 Game to Watch

All you need to know is Alabama won.  I don't want to talk about it any further.

Final Score: I can't bear to type it.

Most Exiting Game of the Week

1.  Washington Huskies @ Arizona Wildcats

2 weeks prior to this game, Arizona had watched their chances of going to the PAC 12 Championship game mostly disappear in a tough loss to UCLA.  Would they be able to keep their hopes of receiving a quality bowl invite with a win over a resilient Washington team?

Fast forward to late in the 2nd quarter, Arizona is trailing by 10 but their offense has the ball in the redzone.  Unfortunately for Arizona that's as far as they can get and they have to settle for a field goal.  But Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez had a trick up his sleeve.  Instead of snapping the ball to the holder, the long snapper fired it backwards into the hands of kicker Casey Skowron.  Skowron dashed around the right side of the defense and beat the last defender to the corner of the endzone for the touchdown. (celebration below)

With about a minute left in the half, the Huskies got the ball back, but had no intention of keeping it. On the 4th play of the drive, the center snaps the ball low and the ball shoots past the quarterback Cyler Miles.  Miles picks up the loose ball, but is soon tackled and he fumbles.  An Arizona player falls on it, and the offense gets the ball again at the 19 yard line.  4 plays later, running back Nick Wilson speeds into the endzone, giving the Wildcats a 21-17 halftime lead.

Washington scores 9 points in the 3rd quarter, not 10 thanks to a botched snap on the extra point. That missing point would come back to haunt the Huskies.  At the beginning of the 4th quarter, Arizona has the ball at their own 15 yard line, but soon arrives at the Washington 22 by way of a 63 yard pass from quarterback Anu Solomon.  But they cannot get another 1st down and have to settle for a field goal.  This time Skowron kicks the field goal, and shrinks the Huskies' lead to 2.

For the next 3 drives, the teams trade punts.  Then the Wildcats mount an determined effort to take the lead.  They get all the way down to the Washington 17 yard line, but then an Arizona receiver ran the wrong route and Solomon's pass is intercepted by a wide open Washington defensive back in the endzone.   With only 4 minutes left, all the Huskies had to do was run out the clock.  They accomplished that until they reached midfield where the same Arizona player who recovered the ball in the first half forces a fumble and his teammate recovers 

About 1 1/2 minutes remain in the game and the Wildcats just need a field goal to win.  A combination of runs by Wilson and passes by Solomon get the ball to the 30 yard line.  Skowron sets his sights on the target and takes a deep breath.  The ball is snapped, the hold is good, and the football soon sails majestically through the goal posts.  The fans jump up and down in celebration and within minutes Skowron is being carried off the field on his teammates' shoulders.  Its not many times a kicker is considered the hero of a game, but scoring 13 points in 1 game certainly warrants that honor.

Final Score: Arizona 27 Washington 26

Special Requests

The Georgia Bulldogs needed a win over a tough Auburn team to stay in the hunt for a trip to the SEC Championship Game.  At the end of this game, however, Georgia looked like the tougher team. The Bulldog defense held the usual explosive Auburn offense to a measly 7 points.  The Georgia offense was just as dominant, amassing over 400 total yards, including nearly 300 on the ground. The final score was 41-7, giving new life to the Bulldogs' SEC Championship dreams.  

With its 3rd loss, Auburn's once very promising season has been chewed to shreds.  They still have to face that darn Alabama team.  They could win.  Miracles do happen you know.

Week 11

Week 11

Top 2 Most Exciting Games of the Week

1.  No. 14 Ohio State Buckeyes @ No. 8 Michigan State Spartans

This game would most likely decide who would win the Big 10 Conference and have the best chance to make it to the playoffs.  Each team was raring to go before the players even arrived at Spartan Stadium.  

Early in the 2nd quarter, Michigan State answered Ohio State's 1st touchdown drive of the game with their second TD drive.  The Spartans were now up 14-7 and Ohio State wanted to respond quickly. Unfortunately, the kickoff returner for Ohio State was paying too much attention to how he would score a touchdown and wasn't fully focused on the ball flying towards him.  The ball slipped through his fingers and landed on the turf where the Spartans recovered it.  The Buckeyes would be in serious trouble if they gave up a second straight touchdown.  However, after standing tall for 2 plays the Ohio State defense got a break when a touchdown was called back due to a holding call.  Michigan State attempted a 39 yard field goal but missed it wide to the left.  

The Buckeyes' blunder hadn't cost them and quarterback J.T. Barrett and his offense were eager to get back on the field.  On the 1st play, Barrett threw a short pass to receiver Michael Thomas, who broke a tackle and won the ensuing footrace to the endzone.  The game was tied, instead of the Spartans being up by 2 touchdowns: a huge difference.  The Ohio State defense only allowed Michigan State to gain 1 first down on their next drive and soon the ball was back in the hands of their offense.  5 plays later, Barrett fired a 44 yard pass to star receiver Devin Smith who caught it for the touchdown.

The Buckeyes held that lead at the end of the 1st half. (28-21)

After holding the Spartans to a field goal on the 1st drive of the 3rd quarter, Ohio State set their sights on taking control of the game.  They put together a long and methodical drive that ended with a short touchdown run by sophomore running back Ezekiel Elliot.  The Buckeyes were now up by 11 points and would coast to a 49-37 win.  But will this win give them a high enough boost in the playoff rankings to have a shot to get into the top 4?  Only time will tell. 

2.  No. 7 Kansas State Wildcats @ No. 6 TCU Horned Frogs

Both these teams have purple as one of their two primary colors, and the game would decide who were the true Purple People.  A song about a flying purple people eater comes to mind.  Anyway, due to their respective rankings this game would decide who would assume a major spot in the playoff discussion.

At the half, the scoreboard showed TCU was leading 17-7.  It could have been 21-7 without a bad move by the referees who spotted the ball at least a yard short, forcing the Horned Frogs to kick a field goal.  O.k. I'm done venting.

Thankfully, TCU got the ball first in 2nd half, and after a very good kickoff return followed by 2 great passes by quarterback Trevone Boykin, soon found themselves at the Kansas State 19 yard line. On the next play, Boykin dropped back to pass but saw an opening and sprinted past the defensive line.  Soon he was at the 5 yard line and saw two defenders converging right in front of the goal line. He charged towards them and initiated a jump that turned into a front flip after his body hit one of the defenders.  Before you knew it he had landed in the endzone.

After that electric play, the Wildcats' quarterback Jake Waters led his team on a TD drive that culminated in a superb TD pass to quality receiver Curry Sexton.  However, the Horned Frogs were not about to let Kansas State think they could mount a comeback.  3 plays into their next drive, TCU would put the game away.  Running back Aaron Green, starting in place of injured BJ Catalon, took the handoff, beat the Wildcat defenders to the edge, cut back from the right sideline to the left sideline, picked up a wall of blockers, and coasted into the endzone.  The fans were going crazy after two fantastic touchdowns and they could feel a victory coming on.  They were right and the Horned Frogs were soon celebrating a big 41-20 win.

Reaching the playoffs is now quite possible for TCU, as long as they win the rest of their easy games.

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 12

1.  No. 1 Mississippi State Bulldogs @ No. 4 Alabama Crimson Elephants/Tide: 11/15 at 3:30 p.m. on CBS 

This game has huge implications for me, because I REALLY want to see Alabama knocked out of the championship race.  Will Mississippi State go on the road and prove they are still #1?  Or will Alabama lose?  Hahaha.

My pick: Do I even need to say it.

2.  Toledo Rockets @ Northern Illinois Huskies: 11/11 at 8 p.m. on ESPN 2

This rare Tuesday, yes Tuesday, night game will decide who will win the West Division in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and likely win the conference title.  Will Northern Illinois's powerful running game led by bruising running back Cameron Stingily lead them to a victory?  Or will Toledo keep their undefeated conference record intact?

My pick: Northern Illinois