Top 10 Bowl Games to Watch: 2015

1.  Orange Bowl (National Semifinal): 

#1 Clemson Tigers vs. #4 Oklahoma Sooners: Dec. 31 at 4 p.m. on ESPN

The first College Football Playoff Semifinal to be televised features two high-powered offenses.  Oklahoma will travel to Miami seeking their first national championship since 2000.  A dynamic offense led by a phenomenal quarterback in Baker Mayfield and a pair of powerful running backs in Semaje Perine and Joe Mixon have the Sooners scoring an incredible 46 points per game.  On the other side of the ball, a resilient defense led by Eric Striker has come through when needed most.

However, one of the few teams in the country that can match up to Oklahoma's offense and defense is the Clemson Tigers.  Remember that Clemson has not lost a game all year, and just won the ACC Championship Game by a slim margin over #10 North Carolina.  Head Coach Dabo Swinney has used his excitable style of coaching, in which he often seems like a motivational speaker, to get his team to believe in themselves and put together a great season.  The talents of quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Wayne Gallman could turn this game into a shootout.  But can the defense come up with enough defensive stops to send the Tigers to the National Championship Game?  

My pick: Clemson

2.  Cotton Bowl (National Semifinal):

#2 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. #3 Michigan State Spartans: Dec. 31 at 8 p.m on ESPN

While the Orange Bowl is a showcase for two high-powered offenses, the Cotton Bowl will a battle between two very talented defenses.  The Spartans and the Crimson Tide rely heavily on their defenses and running games to limit the number and length of their opponents' drives.  The quarterbacks on these teams have a less prominent role in the offense, but are still called upon to make plays when needed.  Alabama quarterback Jake Coker has put up decent numbers, but Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook is definitely Coker's superior in terms of stats and experience.  However, Alabama has the advantage at the running back position because they have the Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry.  Henry put up record-breaking numbers against the usually stout defenses of the SEC.  

However, before you start to think Alabama can just use Henry's abilities to snatch up another National Championship trophy and put it into their overloaded collection, consider these facts.  First, the Crimson Tide have 0, count em' 0 wins against teams currently in the Top 18 teams of the rankings.  Yes they do have 3 wins over teams who were ranked in the Top 10 at the time, but those teams have fallen far off the pace, revealing how weak they were.  More importantly, for a football team to succeed come postseason they need to have what's called a two-dimensional offense, meaning the running and the passing game are both effective components of the offense.  All year long, Alabama has relied on Henry to win games and when he hasn't been as productive, Coker has shown a tendency to be inaccurate with his passes.  In other words, Alabama has a one-dimensional offense which can be beat by the defense who can slow down Henry and possibly intercept a pass or two.  If the defenses of Michigan State and Clemson/Oklahoma can't stop the Crimson Tide's quest for another championship (a thought that makes me roll my eyes) college football as a whole has failed to stop the obtrusive behemoth of Alabama from grabbing another trophy with their smelly arms.

My pick: Hmm... let me think... Michigan State!!

3.  Fiesta Bowl:

#7 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. on ESPN

These two teams have had similar seasons, but the effort they displayed throughout was not.  Notre Dame played with the most determined mentality of any team this year.  To finish with a 10-2 record with the amount of injuries they had is incredible.  In their 2nd game against Virginia, after starting quarterback Malik Zaire suffered a broken ankle, 2nd-stringer Deshone Kizer came in and led his team to a heroic comeback victory.  During the rest of the season, the Fighting Irish lost their top 3 running backs and five starters on defense.  In spite of this, Notre Dame's two losses were to teams who are currently in the Top 6 by a combined score of 4 points!!!  Even though they came up short at making the playoff, the players on the 2015 Notre Dame team should be applauded for the resolve they showed. 

Ohio State came into this year with arguably the most talented players on offense and defense.  The defense played very well all season, but the offense never seemed to reach their full potential.  A battle between a pair of very talented quarterbacks in J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones was never fully resolved until the 7th game of the season, creating a sense of uneasiness among the coaches and fan base.  In my opinion, the Buckeyes only played with about 90% of the effort they could have given.  The overall talent of the offense and defense was good enough made up for this lack of effort over the first 10 games.  However, this string of wins stopped when the offense only managed to gain 132 yards in a losing effort to a scrappy Michigan State team and their backup quarterback.  This lone defeat was enough to knock them out of the 4 playoff spots, which could be viewed as unfair.  However, not playing with 100% effort will doom most teams' playoff chances.  Thankfully, they get a chance to redeem themselves in the Fiesta Bowl where running back Ezekiel Elliot could have a field day against a depleted Notre Dame defense.

My pick: Ohio State, of course!

4. Rose Bowl:

#5 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. #6 Stanford Cardinal: Jan. 1  at 5 p.m. on ESPN

2015 was a groundbreaking year for the Iowa Hawkeyes.  Head Coach Kirk Ferentz modeled the Iowa program after many NFL franchises, where stingy defense and a productive run game are the keys to victory.   Ferentz and his staff have recruited the athletes to run his pro style offense and defense to perfection.  The players bought into this old-school system and have led Iowa to its first undefeated regular season in school history.  They did go on to lose the Big Ten Championship Game to Michigan State, but only after their defense gave every last ounce of energy in an attempt to put together a goal line stand.  The Playoff Selection Committee rewarded the Hawkeyes by only dropping them one spot in the rankings, helping Iowa to their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1990.

Stanford, on the other hand, did not get through the regular season without suffering a defeat.  They endured the disappointment of two somewhat surprising losses to Northwestern on opening weekend and to Oregon when the Ducks appeared weak.  However, the one constant was sophomore phenom Christian McCaffrey (pictured below) who has made a huge impact as a running back, receiver, and kick returner.  The statistics for McCaffery are nothing short of stunning.  When you add his rushing, receiving, return, and even passing yards (on 3 trick plays), you end up with over 3,500 yards!  This incredible stat line earned him 2nd place in Heisman voting.  (The reason he didn't win the coveted trophy might have something to do with the fact that more voters reside on the East coast than the West coast which is where Stanford is located.)  Senior quarterback Kevin Hogan added his own talents to the mix and the Cardinal soon found themselves holding the PAC 12 Championship Trophy.

I have to believe McCaffery will be the difference-maker in this game, so I will pick Stanford to win.

My pick: Stanford

5. Peach Bowl:

#18 Houston Cougars vs. #9 Florida State Seminoles: Dec. 31 at Noon on ESPN

One of these teams is used to being in the national spotlight while the other is not.  Florida State won a national championship two years ago and has at least contended for a national title for 4 straight years.  The Seminoles lost quarterback Jameis Winston to the NFL draft after last season, who has had a decent years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Due to this, most analysts and fans expected this to be a rebuilding year in which the Seminoles might win 9 games at the most.  However, Head Coach Jimbo Fisher and his players were not content to have a sub-par season.  Florida State recorded ten wins, their only defeats coming to #1 Clemson and to Georgia Tech on an improbable blocked field goal returned for a touchdown.

Houston is a newcomer to this stage, but you better believe they will come ready to play.  The Cougars amassed an impressive 11-1 record, with the only loss occurring in the one game when dual-threat quarterback Greg Ward Jr. did not start due to a minor injury.  Ward led the Cougars to two big wins over Navy and Temple, while his backup, Kyle Postma, guided his team to a comeback victory over Memphis in Ward's absense.  This will be the biggest game in the Cougars' lives and they will play hard and fast.

Will the power of Florida State's running game wear the Cougars' defense down or will the Houston players compete with enough determination to record the biggest upset victory in school history?

My upset pick: Houston

6. Alamo Bowl:

#11 TCU Horned Frogs vs. #15 Oregon Ducks: Jan. 2 at 6:45 p.m. on ESPN

It was a season of "what could have been" for each of these teams.  Injuries, not lack of effort or execution, was the main culprit behind this failure to reach their lofty goals.

One week into the Ducks' season, senior quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. was hit with a cheap shot by an opposing player which broke the index finger on Adams' throwing hand.  Even so, he started the next week in a big game against Michigan State and played well.  However, it was obvious the injury was affecting him and eventually he was sidelined by the coaches to give him time to recover.  Oregon struggled without him, most notably getting blown out by Utah in Week 4.  By the time Adams returned, the Ducks were effectively out of the PAC 12 Championship race.  However, with Adams back under center, Oregon ripped off 5 wins in a row, setting themselves up for an appearance in a quality bowl game.

Injuries plagued the Horned Frogs from the start of the season.  A rash of injuries on defense in the first five games left gaping holes in the TCU defense that opposing offenses would exploit all season long.  A highly productive offense featuring dynamic quarterback Trevone Boykin, shifty running back Aaron Green, and an incredibly talented wide receiver in Josh Doctson allowed TCU to win the first 8 games.  But once Doctson suffered a season-ending broken wrist and Boykin's ankle got hurt, the Horned Frogs were soon knocked out of the heated Big 12 Championship race.  Boykin returned in time for their final game against Baylor, a hard-fought contest played in the rainiest conditions I've seen all year.  TCU pulled out a victory in double overtime thanks to two total touchdowns by Boykin and an exceptional effort by the defense to stop Baylor on 4th and 1 to win the game.

Will Vernon Adams end his college career with a thrilling victory or will Boykin be the one celebrating the win in his last game in a purple and white uniform?

My pick: TCU!!!

7. Russell Athletic Bowl:

#10 North Carolina Tar Heels vs. #17 Baylor Bears: Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN

Both of these teams were competing for their respective conference championships just a few weeks ago, but neither could finish the deal.  Baylor's fall from favorite to win the Big 12 to finishing 4th in the conference was mainly due to a string of injuries to the quarterback position. In the 1st quarter in their final game against Texas, Baylor was forced into fielding their 4th string quarterback, who was listed as a wide receiver on the roster.  Earlier in the season, the Bears rebounded after a close loss to Oklahoma with an convincing win over Oklahoma State.  Unfortunately for Bears fans they lost their final two games, a double overtime loss in rainy conditions against TCU and a surprising loss to Texas.

North Carolina did better than Baylor, amassing an impressive 11-2 record through the regular season and the ACC Championship.  The Tar Heels' season was bookended by two losses in the same stadium, Bank of America stadium (home of the Carolina Panthers), to South Carolina in the season opener and Clemson in the ACC Championship Game.

Will senior quarterback Marquise Williams end his career with North Carolina in style by leading his offense to enough points to outscore Baylor? Yes, definitely!

My pick: North Carolina

8. Miami Beach Bowl:

#25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. University of South Florida (USF) Bulls: Dec. 21 at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN

Due to the incredible talents of quarterback Brandon Doughty (pictured below), Western Kentucky won their first ever conference championship since joining the top tier of Division 1-A college football (there is also Division I-AA, II, and III).  The Hilltoppers went undefeated in Conference USA play, including a conference championship win over Southern Mississippi.

On the other sideline will be the South Florida Bulls.  In just one year, the Bulls doubled their win total from 4 to 8 wins.  The highest point of USF's season was a 21 point upset victory over the #22 Temple Owls, a team which would eventually make it to the American Conference Championship Game.  

Can the Bulls pull off another upset or will Brandon Doughty and his receivers be too much for them?

My pick: Western Kentucky

9. Sugar Bowl:

#12 Ole Miss Rebels vs. #16 Oklahoma State Cowboys: Jan. 1 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

The regular season for the Rebels was filled with captivating upset victories and a trio of surprising losses.  An thrilling upset of #2 Alabama in their 3rd game made many Ole Miss fans begin to think that this would be a special year.  Two weeks later, however, the Gators humiliated the Rebels in a 38-10 beat-down.  Late season losses to Memphis and Arkansas knocked them out of contention for the SEC Championship.  But two November victories over LSU and Mississippi State vaulted the Rebels back into position to snag a coveted spot in the Sugar Bowl.

Ten weeks into the season, Oklahoma State had battled their way to an undefeated record with two important games against ranked opponents fast approaching.  Fortunately for the Cowboys, both of the games would be played within the friendly confines of their home stadium.  Experts predicted that this would give Oklahoma State an edge in those games.  However, the Cowboys lost both of those games by double digits and were soon facing the fact they had blown the most favorable home field schedule in the Big 12 Conference.

Will the Rebels finish their rollercoaster year with a victory they can build on next season or will the Cowboys get back to their winning ways? 

My pick: Ole Miss

10. Pinstripe Bowl:

Indiana Hoosiers vs. Duke Blue Devils: Dec. 26 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC

These two schools are known more for being powerhouses on the basketball court than the gridiron, but their football programs are on the rise.  Both Indiana and Duke got off to a good starts, went through tough losing streaks, and tallied wins in the final 1 to 2 weeks of the season.  

Seven weeks into the season, Duke was riding high at 6-1, having just won a quadruple overtime thriller against Virginia Tech.  One week later, the Miami Hurricanes, trailing by 3 with 6 seconds left, returned a kickoff on the last play of the game for a touchdown by lateraling the ball 8 times.  The play was reviewed by the officials.  Watching the review, it was clear that the knees of one of the ball carriers hit the ground, but officials failed to overturn the play and Miami won.  The loss demoralized the Duke players and they couldn't put together a winning effort until their final regular season game against lowly Wake Forest.

The Hoosiers started off 4-0, but quickly fell into a 6 game losing streak, made all the worse by the fact that in one of those game they blew a 25 point lead en rote to a loss to Rutgers.  Fortunately, their final two games were against weak teams, allowing them to reach six wins and bowl eligibility.  Becoming eligible to go to a bowl game was huge for Indiana, seeing how its only their 2nd trip to a bowl in the last 21 years.  Talented quarterback Nate Sudfeld and determined running back Jordan Howard would like nothing more than to lead the Hoosiers to their first bowl victory in that same span of time.

My pick: Indiana

Championship Week 2015

Results of the Championship Games

1.  Big Ten Championship: #5 Michigan State Spartans vs. #4 Iowa Hawkeyes

This game was billed as a defensive struggle and it did not depart from the script.  Neither team scored a touchdown in the first 3 quarters, relying on their field goal kickers to score points.  The Spartans took a 9-6 lead with just under a minute remaining in the 3rd quarter and hoped their defense would hold the Hawkeyes to a field goal at the most.  Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard and wide receiver Tevaun Smith had other plans.  On the 3rd play of the ensuing Iowa drive, Beathard launched the ball 45 yards downfield where Smith was one step ahead of a trailing Spartan defender.  Smith looked the ball in, secured the catch, and sprinted the rest of the way for an 85 yard touchdown.  Iowa now lead 13-9. 

After the next two possessions resulted in punts, the Spartans got the ball back with 9:31 left on the clock.  Just like Notre Dame did against Stanford, Michigan State began a "textbook" 4th quarter drive, where the offense tries to score a touchdown while simultaneously taking as much time off the clock as possible.  However, Notre Dame's drive cannot stand up to Michigan State's truly awe-inspiring drive.  By the time the Spartans reached the Iowa 13 yard line they had converted 3 critical 3rd downs while using over 6 minutes of the clock on 15 plays! (Mind you, an average drive only lasts about 9 or 10 plays.)  

Michigan State running back L.J. Scott had already run the ball 8 times on the drive but he refused to take a breather on the sideline, knowing his team needed him.  However, the Iowa defense stiffened and soon the Spartans were staring at a 4th and 2 and elimination from playoff consideration.  In an attempt to catch the Iowa defense off-guard, Head Coach Mark Dantonio agreed with his offensive coordinator Jim Bollman to have quarterback Connor Cook run the ball instead of Scott.  Cook caught the shotgun snap, dashed to the left and got tackled just as he got the 1st down at the Iowa 3 yard line.  Most defenses would be unable to stop a running back from scoring a touchdown inside the 5 yard line, but Iowa defenders had the determination to have a chance.  Scott ran up the middle on 1st down and was stopped at the 1 yard line.  He ran to the left on 2nd down and was stopped at the 1.  Spartans fans were on their feet but began to wonder if the Iowa defense would deny them  a playoff bid by defending 36 inches of turf.  On 3rd down, L.J. Scott ran to the right but was stood up by two Iowa linebackers at the 1 yard line.  But Scott refused to go down.  He somehow turned around and reached the ball across the goal line for an extremely hard-fought touchdown.  

After this 22 play drive, the longest drive in the entire season, only 27 seconds remained.  That can be considered a lot of time after what Stanford pulled off against Notre Dame, but Michigan State's defense is a lot less porous than Notre Dame's.  The Spartans forced a fumble and were soon celebrating a huge win and a spot in the College Football Playoffs.

Final Score: Michigan State 16 Iowa 13

2.  American Conference Championship: #22 Temple Owls @ #19 Houston Cougars

The MVP of this game was undoubtedly Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr.  He torched the best defense in the American conference for 148 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns.  The threat of Ward throwing the ball opened up running lanes for him, especially on a key 47 yard TD run in the 2nd quarter.  Temple quarterback P.J. Walker tried to will his team back into the game in the 4th quarter, but the Houston defense was too strong for the Owls to overcome.  Houston Head Coach Tom Herman was doused by not one but two containers of Gatorade as time expired.  Excessive dousing?  No way! Houston players knew they had just locked up a spot in the Peach Bowl, their first-ever appearance in a top-tier bowl game.  They will face the Florida State Seminoles, a team that outmatches the Cougars in terms of talent.  However, I have to believe that Houston has enough heart to make up for it.

Final Score: Houston 24 Temple 13

3.  ACC Championship: #1 Clemson Tigers vs. #10 North Carolina Tar Heels:

Similar to how Clemson started in their last big game against Florida State, the Tigers got off to a slow start in the 1st half, but then pulled away in the 3rd quarter.  Clemson had a slim 21-16 lead at halftime, but the Tigers would double their score in the next 20 minutes of play due to the passing and rushing talents of Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson and the speedy feet of running back Wayne Gallman.  

However, the Tar Heels led by senior quarterback Marquise Williams were not done scoring either.  North Carolina scored a touchdown before and after a 4th quarter Clemson field goal.  The Tar Heels scored the 2nd touchdown with only a minute to go to pull within 8.  Since they were within one score, North Carolina Head Coach Larry Fedora called for an onside kick.  The kick was perfect: it bounced off the hands of a Clemson player and was recovered by North Carolina.  The Tar Heels were still alive.  But wait!!  North Carolina was flagged for being offsides, necessitating a re-kick.  Unfortunately for the officials, later replays showed the Tar Heels were clearly NOT offsides.  Clemson would recover the 2nd kick and run out the clock for the win.  I think that Clemson was the better team, but that blown call is inexcusable, especially after the blunder earlier in the year by ACC officials in the Miami-Duke game.  

Final Score: Clemson 45 North Carolina 37

Rivalry Week 2015

Results of Last Week's #1 Game to Watch

#13 Florida State @ #12 Florida Gators

If I had to sum this game up in one word, I would choose ugly.  The Florida Gators defense played well in the first half but their offense was absolutely atrocious.  Quarterback Treon Harris played his worst game of the year and the running game was shut down by Florida State's defense.  It was no surprise when the Gators' defense began to fall apart, because they had spent so much time on the field.  The stands began to empty early in the 4th quarter and soon the Seminoles were celebrating in a largely empty stadium.

Final Score: Florida State 27 Florida 2

(It would have been a shutout without a safety committed by Florida State halfway through the 4th quarter)

Most Exciting Game of the Week

#6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ #9 Stanford Cardinal

In a high-scoring contest, it's a rarity when neither team is ahead by more than 7 points at least some point in the game.  But that's exactly what happened to these two teams who, before Saturday night, still had an outside chance at making the playoffs.  In addition to all that, the longest 30 seconds in the lives of Notre Dame fans occurred during this game.  The question is, would it end in a victory for the Irish?

Notre Dame's offense was held scoreless in the first quarter, but a 93 yard kickoff return by wide receiver C.J. Sanders kept the Irish within 7.  In the 2nd and 3rd quarters, just when one team captured the momentum with a touchdown or field goal, the other side would steal it away from them.  Quarterback Kevin Hogan and wide receiver Devin Cajuste were the playmakers for Stanford while quarterback Deshone Kizer and running back Josh Adams earned the bulk of the yardage gained by Notre Dame.

Late in the 3rd quarter, a decision was made that affected the outcome of the game.  Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly chose to go for 2 after a touchdown in order to build a 3 point lead.  However, as recent occurrences have proved, going for 2 is a risky choice.  As it would turn out, Notre Dame offense was unable to overcome the percentages, and watched as Kizer's pass fell incomplete.

A mere 5 seconds into the 4th quarter, the Cardinal took a 6 point lead on a 10 yard TD pass from Hogan to tight end Austin Hooper and the resulting extra point.  The spirited Stanford defense forced 2 three-and-outs early in the 4th, but the equally as stouthearted Notre Dame defense prevented the Cardinal from closing out the game.  Then, with 6 minutes left, the Irish started what can only be describes as a "textbook" 4th quarter drive.  What that means is that the offense needs to score a touchdown while simultaneously taking as much time off the clock as possible.  This is difficult to accomplish because the offense must run the ball effectively and convert on 3rd down, which is no easy task.  But Notre Dame is well coached and they showed it.  They used up all but 30 seconds of the remaining time, scoring on a short touchdown run by Kizer.  The ensuing extra point gave the Irish a 36-35 lead.  However, if the Irish had kicked an extra point after that 3rd quarter drive they would have had an opportunity to try a 2 point conversion to go ahead by 3, during a time when going for 2 is far more timely.

You might be thinking, "A one point lead is safe with only 30 seconds remaining, right?"  I thought the same thing, but Stanford proved me wrong.  Hogan was sacked on 1st down, but Notre Dame defensive lineman Isaac Rochell tackled Hogan by grabbing his face-mask, giving Stanford 15 free yards via penalty.  This unnecessary and foolish move by Rochell gave their opponents the ball at the Stanford 46 yard line, only one medium length passing play away from getting into field goal range.  Two plays later, Hogan did just that, firing a 27 yard pass to his favorite target, Devin Cajuste.  After a 2 yard run by Heisman hopeful Christian McCaffery, Stanford was set up for a potential game-winning 45 yard field goal.

Senior kicker Conrad Ukropina stepped onto the field and sighted his target in. Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly tried to "ice" the kicker by calling a timeout just before the snap, but it was to no avail because Conrad already had ice in his veins.   After the timeout, Ukropina sent the ball flying through the uprights and his teammates running joyously onto the field.  For the 2nd straight week a kicker became a hero, and he was given the honor of being carried off the field.

Final Score: Stanford 38 Notre Dame 36

Top 3 Championship Games to Watch

It's Championship Week and conference champions will soon be crowned.  There are many reat opportunities to watch great teams duke it out.

1.  Big Ten Championship Game: #4 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. #5 Michigan State Spartans: 12/5 at 8 p.m. on Fox

(Site of College Gameday)

Securing a spot in the playoffs is certainly no easy task, but that's what either of these teams will earn if they win this game.  A conference championship is an enticing enough goal as it is, so this game should be energetic to say the least.  Iowa is undefeated while Michigan State has one loss, but the Hawkeyes have played an easier schedule.  Will the Hawkeyes add another win on top of their unblemished regular season record or will the Spartans take their place in the top 4 with a important victory?

My pick: Michigan State

2.  American Conference Championship Game:  #22 Temple Owls @ #19 Houston Cougars: 12/5 at Noon on ABC

This game will decide which of these teams earns a spot in either the Sugar or Peach Bowl, a bowl game that these 2 teams could only dream of before this season.  As the American is a relatively new conference, they don't have the money needed to pay for a neutral site, usually an NFL stadium.  Instead, home field advantage goes to the team with the better record, which is Houston.  Will the Cougars ride the energy of the home crowd to a huge victory, or will the Owls swoop in and snatch a win?

My pick: Houston

3.  ACC Championship Game: #1 Clemson Tigers vs. #10 North Carolina Tar Heels: 12/5 at 8 p.m. on ABC

If the #1 Clemson Tigers want to stay in the top 4 they need to win this game.  They better be careful with North Carolina who has won 11 games in a row on the talents of senior quarterback Marquise Williams and running back Elijah Hood.  However, Clemson also has a powerful one-two punch in quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Wayne Gallman.  Will the Tigers lock up their position atop the playoff standings with an ACC Championship win or will Tar Heels slip past them with their high powered offense?

My pick: Clemson

Week 12 2015

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch

1.  #9 Michigan State Spartans @ #3 Ohio State Buckeyes

This pivotal game in the hunt for the national championship was close from the very beginning, which is surprising considering the fact that Spartans' backup quarterback Tyler O'Connor had to play in place of injured starter Connor Cook.   Both defenses played arguably the best they had all season and made it seem inevitable that neither team would reach 20 points.  After no scoring in the opening quarter, both teams managed to get into the endzone once in the 2nd quarter.  Ohio State jumped out to a 14-7 lead on a 1 play touchdown drive set up by a fumble on a Michigan State punt return.  The Spartans evened the score on their next drive which lasted for 6 1/2 minutes and ended with a short TD run.  

The Buckeyes' usually potent offense was held to a whopping 27 yards in the 4th quarter, giving the Spartans every opportunity to end their rival's 22 game winning streak.  Late in the final minutes of regulation, Michigan State fought their way to the Ohio State 23 yard line, setting up a 41 yard field goal.  Spartans kicker Michael Geiger had missed a 43 yarder earlier in the game, but now had an opportunity to be a hero.  Geiger made the kick with plenty of room to spare and began celebrating. He held his left arm straight out and swinging his other arm in circles, making it look he was strumming an electric guitar, all while running down the field.  Ohio State players, coaches, and fans could only hang their heads in disappointment.

Final Score: Michigan State 17 Ohio State 14

2.  Western Michigan Broncos @ Northern Illinois Huskies

Yet again, the Broncos and the Huskies were battling for a spot in the MAC Championship Game late in November.  And, just like last year, the result was still in doubt well into the final quarter of play.  The Huskies held a slim 14-10 lead going into the half, but the 3rd quarter was all Broncos.  After a field goal cut the deficit to 1, Western Michigan's defense forced the Huskies to punt on their next possession.  One play after that, Broncos quarterback Zach Terrell lofted a pass to standout wide receiver Corey Davis who grabbed it cleanly and raced down the sideline for a 72 yard TD.  Western Michigan went for 2 in an effort to take the all-important 7 point lead, but two Northern Illinois defenders converged on the ball carrier and stopped him short of the goal line.  

On the ensuing drive, the Huskies faced a 3rd down, deep in their own territory.  Northern Illinois quarterback Ryan Graham zipped a pass to an open receiver, giving the Huskies a much needed 1st down.  That drive ended in a touchdown thanks to the speed of running backs Joel Bouagnon and Jordan Huff.  Now it was the Huskies turn to go for 2, since they wanted to be ahead by at least a field goal.  Just like the Broncos, they failed.  Going for 2 is risky business, huh? 

The Northern Illinois defense stiffened in the 4th, allowing only 67 yards.  However, after one failed drive, the Broncos punter pinned the Huskies right in front of their goal line.  The Northern Illinois offense was unfazed.  Two plays after a long 44 yard run by Huff, Ryan Graham completed a deep pass to star receiver Kenny Golladay who then outran the Broncos' safety to the endzone.  The Broncos tried to mount a game-tying drive but were stopped on 4th down by a determined Huskies defense.  Soon, Head Coach Rod Carey, his staff, and the players were celebrating a win that put them one step closer to a 6th straight MAC West Division title.

Final Score: Northern Illinois 27 Western Michigan 19

Most Exciting Game of the Week

#18 TCU Horned Frogs @ #7 Oklahoma Sooners

Coming into this game, many people thought TCU would be no match for Oklahoma, especially because the Horned Frogs were playing without their two greatest weapons on offense, quarterback Trevone Boykin and wide receiver Josh Doctson, who had been sidelined due to injury.  Nobody, including myself, thought this game would be close.  Oh, how wrong we were.

Second-string quarterback Foster Sawyer got off to a good start tossing a 37 yard TD pass to wide receiver Kolby Listenbee.  However, the rest of his time on the field was unproductive as he threw two interceptions and failed to lead his team to a single point.  In the meantime, Oklahoma scored 23 unanswered points on the arm of quarterback Baker Mayfield and the legs of running back Semaje Perine.  Unfortunately, Mayfield suffered an apparent head injury and was forced to leave the game at halftime.  Backup Trevor Knight was the quarterback with a helmet on coming back out from the locker room.  TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson knew this was just the opportunity the Horned Frogs needed.

Knight was unprepared to face the bright lights and the TCU defense was able to quickly force a punt.  Better yet, the punt was botched and the Horned Frogs recovered the ball at the Sooners' 26 yard line.  One play later, running back Aaron Green provided the spark the TCU offense needed.  Green got the handoff, but quickly found an unblocked defender directly in front of him.  Not wanting to be stopped in the backfield, he zigged to the right, zagged to the left to avoid a second defender, and sped into the endzone for an exhilarating touchdown.

The entire team came back to life after this game-changing play, but Oklahoma came up with a resounding response 4 possessions later.  Shortly after another interception thrown by Foster Sawyer, Semaje Perine tore down the field on a 72 yard TD run, in spite of a injury he suffered earlier in the game that caused him to limp into the endzone.

The Sooners were now leading by a score of 30-13, but they were unable to score the rest of the game.  TCU was struggling mightily on offense, so Patterson put 3rd-string quarterback Bram Kohlhausen in the game.  It took Kohlhausen a few drives to get comfortable, but he played spectacularly once he did.  With 9 minutes left in the game, he completed a pass to wide receiver Kavontae Turpin who bounced off a defender and bolted down the field for a 86 yard TD.

The Horned Frogs' defense came up with an interception on the ensuing drive and gave the ball right back to their offense.  5 plays later TCU narrowed the deficit to 7 on a field goal by Jaden Oberkrom.  Now only 6 minutes remained, and the TCU defense needed to force another punt.  They did so in determined fashion, forcing a three-and-out.  Two minutes had since ticked off the clock and the Horned Frogs would be guaranteed only one more chance to tie or win the game.  Green, Kohlhausen, the offensive line, and the wide receivers went to work, driving the ball down to the Oklahoma 14 yard line.  But now they faced a 3 and 8, and were fast running out of chances.  Kohlhausen caught the shotgun snap and lofted a risky pass to wide receiver Emanuel Porter who was being covered by two different defenders in the endzone.  Fortunately, Porter had a height advantage and used it perfectly to snag a pivotal touchdown pass.

An easy extra point would send the game to overtime but Patterson and his players wanted to win the game in regulation and were confident they could do so.  TCU came out in a five wide receiver formation, spreading the Oklahoma defense out as far as they could.  After the snap, Kohlhausen rolled out of the pocket, forcing Oklahoma senior safety Steven Parker to stop covering his assigned receiver go after the quarterback to prevent him from having a clear path to run into the endzone.  Kohlhausen saw that his intended target, wide receiver Shaun Nixon, was now open in the endzone.  Just as Kohlhausen threw the ball, Parker leaped high into the air and batted the ball away.

Steven Parker landed on his feet a hero.  His teammates embraced him and together they triumphantly walked onto the sideline.  TCU's desperation onside kick failed and Oklahoma was soon the victor of this rollercoaster game.

Final Score: Oklahoma 30 TCU 29

Thankfully, Mayfield passed concussion tests and should be ready to play against rival Oklahoma State this Saturday.

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 13

1.  #13 Florida State @ #12 Florida Gators:  10/28 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN

Florida State is out of the ACC Championship race after their loss to Clemson a few weeks ago, but has a good chance to take down the Gators, who just had an overtime scare against the lowly Florida Atlantic Owls.  Will the Seminoles notch a win in this heated rivalry game or will the Gators find a way to get back on track?

My pick: Can't go against my Gators!  

2.  #6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ #9 Stanford Cardinal

Notre Dame needs to play well in this game to bolster their playoff resume in the eyes of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.  Right now, the Irish are on the outside looking in and need a resounding victory over a tough Stanford team to even have a chance at getting the 4th and final spot in the playoffs.  The question is: can they do it?

My pick: Notre Dame in a close one.  In other words, not enough to get them into the top 4

Week 11 2015

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch

1.  #12 Oklahoma Sooners @ #6 Baylor Bears 

What started as a defensive struggle in the 1st quarter quickly turned into a high scoring race to the finish.  An Oklahoma touchdown drive using the last 3 minutes of the 2nd quarter gave the Sooners a slight advantage in this back-and-forth affair.  Due to this timely score, Oklahoma never trailed in the 2nd half.  Every time Baylor would tie the game, the Oklahoma offense, led by quarterback Baker Mayfield and running back Semaje Perine, responded with a touchdown or at least a field goal.  Late in the 4th quarter, the Bears were only down by 3 and had forced the Sooners into a 3rd and Goal.  However, Baylor couldn't stop Baker Mayfield who scrambled out of the pocket and bought himself enough time to find wide receiver Dmitri Flowers for a pivotal touchdown.  An interception thrown by freshman quarterback Jarrett Stidham on the first play of Baylor's next drive sealed the win for Oklahoma.

Final Score: Oklahoma 44 Baylor 34

This win catapults the Sooners to be serious contenders for a playoff spot if they can defeat TCU and Oklahoma State in their final two games.

2.  #21 Memphis Tigers @ #24 Houston Cougars

With just over a minute to go in the 1st half and his team trailing 20-0, Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. was sacked and limped off the field with an ankle injury.  In came sophomore Kyle Postma who had attempted only 6 passes in his short college career.  Surprisingly, Postma's lack of experience was by no means apparent as he completed 4 of his next 5 passes, the last of which was a 30 yard touchdown pass.  The Cougars had clawed their way closer and now trailed only by 13.  However, early in the 4th quarter, Memphis running back Tevin Jones sprinted into the endzone after a 25 yard run, giving the Tigers a nearly insurmountable 20 point lead.  Nevertheless, the Cougars refused to give up.  Thanks to the resiliency of their defense, Houston was able to score 3 touchdowns in the next 13 minutes.  Memphis had a chance to salvage a win with a late 48 yard field goal but kicker Jake Elliot missed it wide right and the Cougars came away with a victory.

Final Score: Houston 35 Memphis 34

Most Exciting Game of the Week

#14 Michigan Wolverines @ Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana won their first 4 games of the season, on the improved play of senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld.  But after five straight conference losses, the Hoosiers were desperate for a win and hoping to upset the visiting Wolverines.  After 2 quarters of play, Indiana had played well but trailed by 8 points due in large part to 3 touchdown passes from Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock to wide receiver Jehu Chesson.

The Hoosiers defense knew they would have to step up their game if their team would be able to mount a comeback.  The Indiana defensive line came out with an unrelenting desire to sack Rudock, which they did on two of the next 3 plays.  After losing 15 yards on 3 plays, Michigan was forced to punt from their own 10 yard line.  Indiana wide receiver Mitchell Paige was waiting near midfield, ready to provide a spark for his team.  Paige caught the ball, broke two tackles and sprinted past everyone else for a 51 yard punt return for a touchdown.  This one play fired up the crowd and made the players on the Indiana sideline believe they could actually upset Michigan.

Halfway through the 3rd quarter, Indiana got their first lead of the game on a field goal that gave them a 26-24 edge.  They held that lead until the same point in the 4th quarter, when Michigan kicker Kenny Allen made a short field goal to give the Wolverines an even slimmer 27-26 lead.  Faced with the possibility of losing another close game, the Hoosier fans started to get nervous.

Indiana running back Jordan Howard remained calm, having had experience in dealing with unnerving situations.  Late last year Howard had endured great disappointment when his former football team, the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) Blazers, was shut down due to lack of funding.  He eventually transferred to Indiana and has had an productive season.  Howard received a handoff on 6 of the next 8 plays, culminating in a 24 yard TD run.  The Hoosiers went for 2 and Howard burst into the endzone again, stretching Indiana's lead to 7.

The pressure was now firmly on Michigan, down by 7 with just over 2 1/2 minutes to go.  The Wolverines drive started off fast, as they reached the Indiana 41 yard line after only 3 plays.  However, after a screen pass resulted in a loss of 2 yards, Michigan was faced with a 3rd and 3.  Quarterback Jake Rudock nevertheless remained confident.  On the next play, however, Rudock was forced to throw the ball earlier than he wanted to in order to avoid getting sacked.  His target is Chesson, his receiver who had already scored 3 touchdowns.  The throw is a little short, so Chesson hit the breaks, caught the ball, turned around, and dove to the 2 yard line.

Only 39 seconds remained, but Michigan is very adept at converting short yardage situations.  Shouldn't be a problem, right?  Wrong!  Three running plays later, Michigan had lost 3 yards and had to call their last timeout with 5 seconds remaining.  The Wolverines were forced to throw on their last chance opportunity.  Rudock caught the shotgun snap, and who did he find open between 2 defenders in the endzone?  Chesson of course!  Chesson held on to the ball despite the efforts of the two Indiana defenders to knock it away.  Overtime was on the way.  (Overtime is a theme in the Game of the Week, isn't it?)

Indiana got the ball first in overtime and scored a touchdown on 5 plays thanks to the running of Howard and Paige.  Michigan scored even faster, when, on the 2nd play of the drive, Rudock threw a 21 yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Butt. (There could be some puns there)  In the first possession of double overtime, the Wolverines one-upped themselves, as Rudock completed a 25 yard TD pass on the 1st play.  I would think it understandable if the Indiana offense was out of gas at this point, but they weren't.  Howard got his team down to the five, but just like the Wolverines, the Hoosiers couldn't punch it in after 3 straight running plays,  But unlike the Rudock's pass on 4th down, Indiana quarterback Nate Sudfeld's pass to Paige was broken up by Michigan defensive back Delano Hill.

Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh breathed a sigh of relief, knowing this win had kept his team's quest to win the Big Ten Conference alive.

Unfortunately, Indiana is still looking for their first conference win.  But if they win their final two games on the road against unranked opponents, they will still be eligible to go to a bowl game.

Final Score: Michigan 48 Indiana 41 (2OT)

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 12

1.   #9 Michigan State Spartans @ #3 Ohio State Buckeyes:  11/21 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC

(Site of College Gameday)

To say this game is important to both of these teams would be a massive understatement.  Depending on the result of the rivalry game between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines in 2 weeks, the winner of this contest will have the inside track to the Big Ten Championship Game and a spot in the 2nd ever College Football Playoffs.  Even before the start of this season, college football analysts (including me) zeroed in on this game as a deciding factor in the national championship race.  Can the Buckeyes win at home and keep their undefeated season alive?  Or will the Spartans fight their way back into the playoff discussion with an upset of the Buckeyes?

My pick: Ohio State Buckeyes all the way

2.  Western Michigan Broncos @ Northern Illinois Huskies: 11/18 at 8 p.m. on ESPN 2 

About this same time last year, I chose this matchup between the front runners in Mid-American Conference's (MAC) West Division as one of my Games to Watch.  Amazingly, these same two teams are up to their old tricks.  Both teams have only one conference loss and this game will decide who goes to the MAC Championship Game.  Will the Huskies be howling in victory after 60 minutes or will the Broncos win their first division title in since the 90's?

My pick: Northern Illinois Huskies

Week 10 2015

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch

1.  #2 LSU Tigers @ #4 Alabama Crimson Tide

Aside from a 10 point burst by LSU in the 2nd quarter, this game was dominated by Alabama.  The Tigers' Heisman hopeful running back Leonard Fournette was completely bottled up by the Crimson Tide defense.  The LSU defense, on the other hand, was as porous as a kitchen sponge, allowing Alabama's running back to rush for over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns.  The difference in the effectiveness of each team's running game made for a contest that was effectively over by the end of the 3rd quarter.

Final Score:  Alabama 30 LSU 16

My dislike of Alabama deepens every time they triumph in a big game.  Why?  Because nothing makes for dull sports news like a headline that communicate the uninteresting fact that Alabama won again.  Boring!!  I long for the day when they lose 2 games in a single regular season.  It's way past time for college football to produce two teams that can accomplish that!  Ole Miss beat them already and I just need one more team to step up and vanquish Alabama's championship hopes.  Could Mississippi State be that team? This could be a letdown game for Alabama and they have to go on the road to a noisy environment to face a quality SEC team.  Mississippi State has a very talented dual-threat quarterback in Dak Prescott, and the Alabama defense has had trouble in recent years stopping a dual-threat quarterback. Upset alert, hopefully!!

2.  #8 TCU Horned Frogs @ #14 Oklahoma State Cowboys

TCU's usually red-hot offense was effectively contained by a talented Oklahoma State defense.  TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin was intercepted 4 times and he was held to only one TD pass.  Contributing to this unfortunate result was a left wrist injury suffered by exceptional wide receiver Josh Doctson which sidelined him in the 2nd quarter.  Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph stole the spotlight from Boykin, throwing for 352 yards and 5 touchdowns on just 16 completions.  The raucous Oklahoma State fans were treated to a signature win by their Cowboys.

Final Score: Oklahoma State 49 TCU 29

This loss most likely dashes the Horned Frogs' chances to get into the playoffs.  Harsh, you might think?  That what happens to a team with a weak schedule when they lose a game.

Most Exciting Game of the Week

Arkansas Razorbacks @ #18 Ole Miss Rebels

Arkansas found their way back into the coveted Most Exciting Game of the Week slot two weeks after their quadruple overtime win over Auburn.  This time the Razorbacks were on the road and could they come up with more late game heroics?

Seven minutes left in the 4th quarter, the score was tied at 38 and Ole Miss had the ball.  Quarterback Chad Kelly and the offense knew scoring a touchdown on this drive would put a lot of pressure on Arkansas to respond with a touchdown of their own.  Kelly and running back Jordan Wilkins put their talents to good use and got the ball across the goal line after only 6 plays.  Pressure applied, the Razorbacks offense was still confident they could bring their team back from the brink of defeat.

Starting the drive with just under 5 minutes remaining, Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen handed the ball off to reliable running back Alex Collins 4 straight times and watches with a smile as his teammate gains a total of 40 yards on those 4 carries.  The Ole Miss defense was now completely focused on stopping the run and that gave Allen the opportunity he was waiting for.  He missed on his first throw, but followed that up with two completions to wide receiver Dominique Reed, the latter resulting in a 17 yard TD.  Due to all the run plays, the Razorbacks used up over 4 minutes of the clock, leaving little time for the Rebels to work with.  A sack of Kelly with 22 seconds left made overtime a virtual guarantee.

The Arkansas players and coaches have been here before and they knew all about handling the pressure of overtime.  But did they win that overtime game against Auburn because of their defense?  Heck no!!  It took Ole Miss only 3 plays to score a touchdown on an 8 yard run by Kelly.  Brandon Allen, Alex Collins, the offensive line and the receivers all strapped on their helmets and prepared to answer.

After two plays, however, things weren't looking so good.  A delay of game penalty and a 10 yard sack brought up a 3rd and 25 for the Razorbacks.  Allen's 3rd down pass thrown toward wide receiver Hunter Henry fell incomplete.  4th down loomed large and Arkansas needed a miracle.  Allen scrambled out of the pocket and throws to Henry again.  This time, Henry was able to catch it and ran to within 5 yards of the 1st down line, where he starts to get tackled.  Knowing if he gets tackled the game would be over, Henry flung it backwards over his head, hoping his teammates werein the area.  Fortunately, they are.  An Arkansas lineman tipped the desperate lob and guess who got his hand on it: Alex Collins.  Collins ran to the left, picked up some blockers and dove across the 15 yard line for the 1st down.  The Arkansas sideline erupted in cheers after watching the miracle unfold.

Two plays later, Allen threw a TD pass that pulled the Razorbacks to within one.  Traditional thinking suggests that you should kick the extra point and extend the game into double overtime.  But that didn't stop Arkansas Head Coach Bret Bielema from wanting to play for the win.  He kept his offense on the field to try for a game winning two point conversation.  On the ensuing play, Allen rolled out to the right but is sacked before he can get a pass away.  The game appears over.  BUT WAIT!!  Defensive end Marquis Haynes grabbed Allen's face mask on the tackle.  Arkansas got another chance to score from just a little bit closer to the goal line.  On this play, Allen took the shotgun snap, sprinted around the right side of the offensive line, and flipped over a defender as he crosses over the goal line!

The Arkansas players and coaching dashed onto the field, celebrating yet another overtime victory.

Final Score:  Arkansas 53 Ole Miss 52

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 11

1.  #12 Oklahoma Sooners @ #5 Baylor Bears:  11/14 at 8 p.m. on ABC

(Site of College Gameday)

Will the Sooners roll into this game and overpower Baylor with their explosive offensive and stout defense?  Or will the Bears maul the intruders and continue on their trek toward an undefeated season that will get them into the playoffs?

My pick: Oklahoma

2.  #24 Memphis Tigers @ #22 Houston Cougars:  11/14 at 7 p.m. on ESPN 2

Memphis was undefeated prior to last week's loss to Navy.  Can they bounce back and notch a road win against an undefeated Houston team?  Or will the Cougars prove they are the more powerful cats and get one step closer to a spot in a New Year's Bowl game with a pivotal home win?

My pick: Houston

Extra Point

#16 Florida State Seminoles @ #1 Clemson Tigers  

This weekend would have been a complete disaster for me if it wasn't for the resiliency of the Clemson Tigers.  After making a bad mistake on both offense and defense in the 1st half, the Tigers found themselves trailing 10-6 at the half.  On their 2nd possession of the 3rd quarter, the Clemson offense hit their stride.  Quarterback Deshaun Watson lobbed a screen pass to wide receiver Deon Cain who ran 38 yards for a touchdown.  Florida State tallied a field goal on the next drive, but that's all Clemson would allow for the rest of the game.  The Tigers scored 10 points in the final quarter and played great on defense, especially on a 4th and 1 when linebacker Ben Boulware tackled star Florida State running back Dalvin Cook for no gain. (see below)  Soon, thousands of Clemson fans rushed the field to join with the players to celebrate their first victory against Florida State in 4 years.

Final Score: Clemson 23 Florida State 13