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