Week 4 2015

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch

1. #18 Utah Utes @ #13 Oregon Ducks

2. #9 UCLA Bruins @ #16 Arizona Wildcats

These games turned out to be very similar in many respects.  If you remember from last week, I picked the home teams to win.  Unfortunately for the fans in Eugene, Oregon and Tucson, Arizona, my picks were solidly wrong.  No, the games weren't close; they were blowouts in favor of the away teams!  Both the Utes and the Bruins dominated every aspect of the game: offense, defense, and special teams.  Utah and UCLA's offense were cranking on all cylinders.  Bruins' freshman quarterback Josh Rosen and slippery running back Paul Perkins shredded the Wildcats' defense.  1200 miles to the northwest, Utah quarterback Travis Wilson, playing through an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, threw the enthusiasm out of the packed stadium with a 227 yard 4 TD passing performance.  As a result of these titanic losses, the losers have dropped out of the rankings.  Better luck next time, home teams!

Final Scores:  Utah 62 Oregon 20 & UCLA 56 Arizona 30

Most Exciting Game of the Week

#3 TCU Horned Frogs @ Texas Tech Red Raiders

If you like high scoring, heart-stopping, spellbinding games, you would have loved this one!  Good defense could not be found at few points of this game as the teams accounted for a total of 1,357 yards of offense, 70 1st downs, and zero turnovers.  This game came down to the final play, so buckle your seats belts!

The big story line coming into the game was the state of the TCU defense.  Due to a bunch of injuries to their defensive starters, the Horned Frogs defense was expected to be porous.  However, the play makers on offense, Heisman hopeful QB Trevone Boykin, stellar wide receiver Josh Doctson, and running back Aaron Green, might just make enough plays to win it.  On the other side, Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes was looking to extend the Red Raiders' legacy of upsetting Top 5 opponents at home.  

TCU's Boykin, Doctson, Green, and Texas Tech's Mahomes were all playing their best from the first snap.  The speed at which the ball traveled up and down the field during the 1st half was truly amazing.  Watching the game was like being on a roller coaster.  You scarcely had time to familiarize yourself with the score before another touchdown occurred.  The Red Raiders were just as effective on offense thanks to the crisp passing of Mahomes and the speedy legs of running back DeAndre Washington.   Wide receiver Josh Doctson was the star for the Horned Frogs, catching 3 touchdowns in the 1st half alone, the last with under a minute left in the 2nd quarter. (see below)  That TD reception gave TCU a 33-28 lead going into halftime.

The scoring in the 3rd quarter slowed down a little bit and the Horned Frogs' slim lead shrunk, as Texas Tech scored 10 points to TCU's 7. Going into the 4th quarter, the score was TCU 40 Texas Tech 38.  The final quarter would feature a jaw-dropping play similar to the crazy play that Ole Miss pulled off last week.  

On Texas Tech's 1st drive of the 4th quarter, Mahomes and Washington led their team down the field once again on a 12 play drive that was capped off by a short TD run by Washington.  TCU got the ball back and took back the lead at the end of a TD drive that only took half as many plays.  Then, the Red Raiders offense came back onto the field and picked up where they left off.  Mahomes and Washington continued to tear TCU's defense apart en route to yet another touchdown.  Now there was just under 6 minutes left in the game and the Red Raiders held a 52-45 lead.  I'm sure you're expecting that TCU scored a TD on their next drive.  Actually, they went 3 and out.  Fortunately for the Horned Frogs, so did the Red Raiders.

TCU got the ball again with 3 minutes remaining.  One last chance to win the game.  Could they pull it off?  After the fifth play of the drive, it looked like they would, as another pass from Boykin to Doctson got the ball to the 8 yard line.  However, after 3 straight run plays failed to cross the goal line, TCU was staring at a last chance 4th and Goal with 29 seconds left.  The snap was caught by Boykin and he immediately looked for Doctson.  Doctson jumped high into the air just above a Texas Tech defender.  Boykin threw the ball his way, but the pass was a bit too high and it hit Doctson's fingerprints.  For a fleeting moment, it looked like Texas Tech would hold on for the upset.  However, the ball deflected downward towards the back of the endzone.  Just in case, running back Aaron Green had been following behind Doctson.  The ball deflected toward him, he dove, caught the ball, and stuck his foot into the grass.  After the referee raised his arms to signal a touchdown, Green and the entire team celebrated wildly.  The commentator shouted: "Do you believe it?!!"

But 23 seconds were left on the clock and the Red Raiders would make it interesting.  They got the ball to the 50 yard line for 1 final play.  Mahomes completed a short pass instead of a Hail Mary.  The Horned Frogs were protecting against the possibility of a Hail Mary and this gave the receiver to advance to about the 30 yard line.  By this time, the defense converged on him, forcing 3 consecutive laterals that got the ball to the 15 yard line.  The TCU defense trapped the ball carrier against the sideline and finally knocked him out of bounds at the 10 yard line.    TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson breathed a sigh of relief as the victory was sealed.  The final sentence spoken by the commentator before he signed off: "I think I need a break."

Final Score: TCU 55 Texas Tech 52

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 5

#13 Alabama Crimson Tide @ #8 Georgia Bulldogs: 10/2 at 3:30 p.m. on CBS

This is the first time in a long while that Alabama has been the underdog and boy it is refreshing to see.  Georgia continues to play well every year under long-time head coach Mark Richt.  This year's offense features talented sophomore running back Nick Chubb and accurate quarterback Greyson Lambert.  Will the Bulldogs be able to knock the Crimson Tide out of the playoff race and solidify their spot as the favorite to win the SEC East?  Or will that pesky Alabama team find a way to keep themselves in the playoff race just like last year?

My pick: Do I need to even say it?

#6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ #11 Clemson Tigers:  10/2 at 8 p.m. on ABC

Notre Dame comes into this game battle-tested and ready to play.  They have weathered the storm of losing their starting quarterback one week before facing a ranked opponent in Georgia Tech.  They completely dominated Georgia Tech and I expect they to play just as well against Clemson.  Yes, Clemson is a better team than Georgia and Notre Dame is playing on the road in this game.  Nevertheless, Notre Dame is a resilient team and Clemson has somewhat of a tendency to under-perform in big games.  Two years ago, College Gameday (a great pregame show on ESPN at 9 a.m to noon every Saturday of the regular season) was on hand for Clemson's game against a tough Florida State team.  The Clemson players and fans were revved up, but from the first snap the Tigers played terribly, making mistakes on offense and defense.  And guess who's going to be there this weekend: College Gameday.  

My pick: Notre Dame

Extra Point

This post would not be complete without talking about Florida's amazing comeback win over Tennessee.  With 10 minutes left in the game, the Gators were down by 13 points after giving up a 16 play TD drive.  But Florida had defeated Tennessee for 10 years in a row and the Gators were not about to see the streak end in the Swamp.  The Gators put together a long drive, converting a 4th and 7 on the way to a TD pass by QB Will Grier.  The stout Gators defense then forced an important 3 and out and gave the ball back to their offense.  4 plays later, however, they were facing a 4th and 14. Grier fired a pass to receiver Antonio Callaway who sprinted around a Tennessee defender and ran down the sideline into the endzone for a 63 yard TD. (see below) The Gators now led by a point and the fans were going crazy.  However, just like Texas Tech, Tennessee made it interesting.  They managed to get to the Florida 37 yard line to attempt a long 55 yard field goal.  Thankfully for the Gators it sailed just, and I mean just, to the right.  Phew!  The Gators are now 4-0 and ranked (#25) for the first time since 2013.  They have to face a great Ole Miss team next weekend and they are predicted to lose.  But they still have a chance.  Go Gators!!

  

Week 3 2015

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch

1.  #18 Auburn Tigers @ #13 LSU Tigers

LSU fans were treated to a track meet for their team's running backs.  LSU is a team that relies heavily on their running game and they needed little more against the porous Auburn defense.  This game should be the first major step in a Heisman campaign for LSU sophomore Leonard Fournette (pictured below).  His mix of agility, speed, and ability to knock a defender backwards, makes him the best running back I have seen in my 4 years of closely following college football.  Watching the highlights on this page will help you understand: Leonard Fournette Highlights  (ignore the 1st video and scroll down).  The Auburn offense continued to sputter, just like they did against Jacksonville State, due mainly to the fact that highly touted Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson has largely turned out to be a dud.  By halftime, the game was basically over.

With the manner of this loss, Auburn is out of the playoff picture and will be lucky to piece together 6 wins this year.  My pick of Auburn as one of the teams to make it into the playoffs now seems like a horrible mistake.  Of course, everyone believed Jeremy Johnson was going to be far better.

Final Score: LSU 45 Auburn 21

2.  #14 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

This game was the first start of Notre Dame's new quarterback Deshone Kizer, in for injured team captain Malik Zaire.  Not only did Kizer handle his first start well, the Irish defense played excellently.  Georgia Tech's playbook is loaded with a variety of run plays designed around the triple option, a play that gives the quarterback the option to give the ball to the fullback, run it himself, or pitch it to the running back.  Defensive coordinators across the country will tell you this is the most difficult offense to prepare for because of how confusing it can be for the defense.  However, if the defenders cover every option no matter where the ball goes, the triple-option attack can be rendered mostly ineffective, which is just what Notre Dame did.  That gave their offense plenty of opportunities to score points, most notably a long passing TD from Kizer to lightning-fast receiver Will Fuller (reminiscent of last week's miracle pass).  The other exciting TD came when running back C.J Prosise broke a tackle and weaved past two defenders for a 91 yard score.  Georgia Tech made it close with two touchdowns in the final minute, but their 2nd onside kick was recovered by Notre Dame.

If Notre Dame keeps winning, they will be strong contenders to make it into the College Football Playoffs.

Final Score: Notre Dame 30 Georgia Tech 22

Most Exciting Game of the Week

#15 Ole Miss (Mississippi) Rebels @ #2 Alabama Crimson Tide

I should have picked this as a "Game to Watch."   College Gameday, the nation premier pregame show, chose this game as the location of last week's show.  All I can say is: they picked a great one.

The Rebels upset the Crimson Tide last year in Mississippi and the Tide were looking for revenge.  But would they find it in front of their home crowd?

Jake Coker was Alabama's starting quarterback for the first two games, but the coaches thought he could have played better.  So before the game, the coaches gave the start to sophomore Cooper Bateman.  However, this decision soon proved to be a terrible choice as the Alabama offense only managed a grand total of 3 points with Bateman as quarterback.   Meanwhile, Ole Miss scored 10 points due largely to their running game.  On the ensuing kickoff, Alabama returner Kenyan Drake promptly fumbled the ball and Ole Miss jumped on it.  4 plays later, the Rebels took a 17-3 lead on a hard-nosed TD run by quarterback Chad Kelly.

Having had enough of Bateman's ineffectiveness, Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban put Jake Coker back in as quarterback, a decision that made Tide fans happy.  Making up for lost time, Coker led his team down the field on a long 16 play drive that cut the deficit to 17-10 going into halftime.  Nevertheless, Ole Miss was proud of their 1st half performance and was getting ready to light up the scoreboard.

The Rebels got the ball to start the 2nd half and on the 5th play of the drive something incredible happened.  The shotgun snap deflected off Kelly's fingertips and flew 3 feet directly upward.  Kelly caught the ball, but by then two Alabama defensive lineman were directly in front of them.  He heaved the ball towards his best wide receiver, Laquon Treadwell, who was locked in double coverage.  At that moment, it looked like a bad idea, however it turned out to be everything but.  The ball hit Treadwell's fingertips, bounced off of the helmet of an Alabama defender, and seemed to hang in the air.  Ole Miss receiver Quincy Adeboyejo had been running alongside Treadwell and simply swooped in, caught the ball, and sprinted 50 yards into the endzone.  Ole Miss players celebrated while the Alabama players and fans tried to make sense of the crazy play.

The rest of the game went like this: the Rebels offense continued to produce electrifying TD plays while the Crimson Tide kept the game close with touchdowns of their own.  Chad Kelly was a part of all of the Ole Miss touchdowns.  Let's see: there was the play where Kelly fakes like he's going to run, but then, just before he crosses the line of scrimmage, he throws to wide open receiver Cody Core, who runs untouched into the endzone for a 73 yard TD.  And, of course, the play when Kelly throws a perfect TD pass to Treadwell just above the helmet of an Alabama cornerback.  Adding this onto the fact that Alabama committed 5 turnovers while Ole Miss had none, it came as no surprise as the Crimson Tide's furious rally came up short.

With this win, Ole Miss skyrocketed to #3 in the rankings and are hard not to consider as a serious contender for one of the 4 playoff spots.

I'm starting to really like Ole Miss.  It's hard not to when they beat Alabama 2 years in a row.

Final Score: Ole Miss 43 Alabama 37

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 4

1.  #18 Utah Utes @ #13 Oregon Ducks: 9/26 at 8 p.m. on Fox

Starting quarterback for the Ducks, Vernon Adams, is recovering from a broken finger, but should be ready at the start of this game.  Oregon will need him against a stout Utah defense.  Utah's starting quarterback Travis Wilson is also battling injury and is doubtful for the game.  Because of that, I think the Ducks will win with or without Adams. 

My pick: Oregon

2.  #9 UCLA Bruins @ #16 Arizona Wildcats: 9/26 at 8 p.m. on ABC

College Gameday will be on hand in Tucson prior to the game.  UCLA looks like a playoff caliber team with talented quarterback Josh Rosen and a tough defense.  But Arizona has a great quarterback of their own in sophomore Anu Solomon.  I think the hype before the game combined with the home field advantage will help the Wildcats to make this a very close game.  The deciding factor for who I will pick is the fact that my Uncle Chris Maloney is a professor at the University of Arizona.  So, GO WILDCATS!!!!  Arizona pulls off the upset at home.

My pick: Arizona

Week 2 2015

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch

1.  #19 Oklahoma Sooners @ #22 Tennessee Volunteers

This game was dominated by the Volunteers during the first twenty minutes as they slowly but steadily built a solid 17-0 lead.  The only points the Sooners could manage in the 1st half was a field goal tallied with just under 5 minutes left in the half.  The 3rd quarter was the most boring twenty minutes of football I've seen in awhile.  Overthrown passes, dropped balls, and feeble run plays helped create a period of game time that featured 7 punts, a missed field goal, and an interception.  It appeared inevitable that Tennessee would coast to a 17-3 victory.  However, with 13 minutes left in the game, Oklahoma began a 14 play drive that ended in a 5 yard TD pass by quarterback Baker Mayfield.  The lead had been cut in half, but Tennessee's offense continued to sputter.  After another punt by the Volunteers, the Sooners methodically drove down to the red zone again.  On a 3rd and Goal with 40 seconds left, Mayfield threw the ball while getting chased into the hands of star receiver Sterling Shepard who caught it for the game-tying touchdown..  The passionate Volunteers fans were stunned their team had let the Sooners come back.  

In the 1st overtime, both teams scored a touchdown during their allotted possession, forcing a 2nd overtime.  During Oklahoma's 2nd overtime possession, on a 3rd and 3, Mayfield again found Shepard who sped into the endzone for a 18 yard TD.  On the 3rd play of Tennessee's possession, Oklahoma cornerback intercepted the pass to seal the victory.  The Tennessee faithful filed glumly out of the stadium, disappointed that their team had let a game get away from them.

Final Score: Oklahoma 31 Tennessee 24 (2OT)

2.  #7 Oregon Ducks @ #5 Michigan State Spartans

Aside from Oregon's first drive, Michigan State's defense dominated the first half.  Through the first thirty minutes, the Spartans held the usually explosive Ducks offense to just over 200 yards and 7 points, due in large part to two interceptions and a 4th down stop.  On offense, most of the big plays came from senior quarterback Connor Cook who threw 2 passing touchdowns to give the Spartans a 14-7 halftime lead.  After a Michigan State punt on the first possession of the 2nd half, Oregon returner Braylon Addison caught the punt, made the first man miss, picked up a wall of blockers, and sprinted into the endzone.  After the dust settled from the 81 yard punt return TD, the Spartans got back to business.  Thanks to 2 TD runs by Michigan State running back LJ Scott and great defense in the 3rd quarter, Oregon never even tied the game again.  The Ducks made it close at the end, managing to drive into Spartans territory down by 3, but they were stopped on 4th and long.  The Michigan State players sprinted onto the field as the clock struck zero, knowing they had achieved a great victory over a top 10 team. 

Final Score: Michigan State 31 Oregon 28

Most Exciting Game of the Week 

#9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Virginia Cavaliers

The first score of the game came by way of a unusual play.  Notre Dame was lined up for a field goal.  The holder, who happened to be backup quarterback Deshone Kizer, caught the snap and tossed it to a tight end who bulldozed his way into the endzone.  Judging from the expressions on the Virginia sideline, nobody saw that coming.  Adding to the peculiarity of the end of Notre Dame's first drive, they went for 2 and failed, leaving the score at 6-0.

Fast forward to the 2nd quarter.  After two field goals by the Fighting Irish, the Cavaliers offense, led by junior quarterback Matt Johns, found their stride and scored 2 touchdowns, giving them a 14-12 halftime lead.  The 3rd quarter was all Notre Dame as talented quarterback Malik Zaire threw for a touchdown while the Virginia offense struggled.  But late in the 3rd quarter, tragedy struck the Irish.  While Zaire was getting tackled, a Virginia defender landed on his foot, thereby twisting his ankle in a cringe worthy direction.  Zaire tried to get up but quickly fell back onto the ground.  It was soon evident that Zaire's ankle had broken, a season ending injury.  On the next play, backup Deshone Kizer handed to ball off to speedy running back C.J. Prosise who ran 24 yards for a touchdown.  The Irish now had a 26-14 lead, but the mood of the entire team seemed deflated after seeing their starting quarterback carted off the field.  That feeling would come into play in the final quarter.

The Notre Dame defense seemed as distraught as the offense over the injury and quickly gave up a 6 play TD drive to Virginia.  (26-21 Irish lead)  Little happened during the next 5 minutes of the 4th quarter, as a Virginia drive ending in a lost fumble was sandwiched between 2 Notre Dame punts.  Just under 8 minutes remained, and the Cavaliers knew it was now or never.  Starting at their own twenty, Virginia resolutely drove down the field.  Not a 4th & 3 situation or even a 3rd & 15 could stop them.  Running back Albert Reid punched the ball into the endzone giving the Cavaliers a slim 27-26 lead.  Virginia tried to go for 2 to give them a field goal sized advantage but they failed.

1:52 remained and Notre Dame needed only a field goal to win.  Notre Dame managed to get the ball to the Virginia 39 yard line in the next minute and a half, thanks to crisp passing by Kizer.  The game looked like it would come down to whether or not Irish kicker Justin Yoon could manage to convert a long field goal.  But Kizer had one more play to work with and he would take full advantage of it.  After avoiding a sack, Kizer lofted the ball toward receiver Will Fuller who was sprinting toward the left side of the endzone.  Fuller blew past a Cavaliers defender, lifted his hands, and caught the ball for a touchdown!

The Virginia fans stood in stunned silence, as the Notre Dame fans who had made the trip high-fived each other.  Every year, it seems that Notre Dame manages to win at least 1 game in stunning fashion, but this time it came at a heavy price.  Without Zaire, many now consider this team unworthy of top 10 status.

Final Score: Notre Dame 34 Virginia 27

Top 2 Games To Watch: Week 3

1.  #18 Auburn Tigers @ #13 LSU Tigers: 9/19 at 3:30 p.m. on CBS

This ferocious battle between Tigers features two teams whose seasons are trending in opposite directions.  Auburn is 2-0 but the manner of their last win makes me seriously question my choice to pick them as one of the teams to make it into the College Football Playoff.  They let a puny team from Jacksonville State, a division I-AA team, get way too close to upsetting them at home.  Auburn had to score a late touchdown to force overtime, which they managed to win.  That's not the kind of performance that's going to earn them anything more than a loss in the rigors of SEC play.  LSU's offense, on the other hand, is firing on all cylinders on the legs of sophomore powerhouse Leonard Fournette.  Will Auburn piece together a win in hostile territory, or will LSU continue their upward climb in the polls with a key home victory?

My pick: LSU Tigers

2.  #14 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets  @ #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish: 9/19 at 3:30 p.m. on NBC

The home crowd should help Notre Dame chances, but many questions remain for this game.  Will Kizer back up his heroics with a solid performance against a good Yellow Jackets defense?  Will Notre Dame's defense find a way to stop the spirited Georgia Tech triple option rush attack?  Or will the Yellow Jackets sting the Irish with a loss that could very easily end their chances to get into the College Football Playoff?

My pick: Notre Dame

Extra Point:

BYU wins again on a Hail Mary again, this time in front of their home crowd beating #20 Boise State.  The call by the ESPN commentator made it even better:  "WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE!!!  TOUCHDOWN BYU!!"  Check out the video on this page: http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=400787118

Week 1 2015

Week 1 2015

Most Exciting Games of the Week

1.  Brigham Young (BYU) Cougars @ Nebraska Cornhuskers

Astounding finishes are easy to find in any college football season and this year has already provided an example.

After one quarter of play, the Cornhuskers had plowed their way to a 14-7 lead.  However, BYU senior quarterback Taysom Hill was not about to let his Cougars go down without a fight.  Using his arms and legs, Hill ignited the offense to 17 2nd quarter points, aided by a timely turnover forced by the Cougars defense.  As the teams headed to the locker rooms, BYU had a 24-17 halftime lead.

During the half, the Nebraska fans anxiously awaited the start of the 2nd half, hoping their team would find a way to extend their winning streak in season opening games to 30, a streak which began all the way back in 1986.  Would this be the year the streak would finally be broken?

Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. and his offense came out in the 2nd half determined to take back the lead.  Unfortunately, they went 3 and out on their first possession of the third quarter.  Nebraska cornerback Nate Gerry picked up the slack, intercepting Hill's pass and returning it to the BYU 35 yard line.  Three plays later, Cornhuskers running back Terrell Newby evened the score at 24 with a 10 yard TD run.  On their next possession, Armstrong capped off an 8 play drive with a short TD pass.

Nebraska held onto their 28-24 lead through the end of the 3rd quarter.  Things got even worse for BYU at the start of the 4th quarter when Hill had to leave the game with a minor leg injury.  That left the offense in the hands of freshman backup Tanner Mangam.  With the help of his receivers and running backs, Mangam led a drive that resulted in a field goal to get his team within a point.  Both teams did little on offense until only a minute remained in the game.

The Cougars had the ball with 48 seconds left in the game at their own 24 yard line.  6 plays later, BYU had the ball at the Nebraska 42, 4th and 3 with 1 second remaining.  Mangam caught the shotgun snap, rolled to his right and heaved a Hail Mary pass into the endzone.  Receiver Mitch Mathews leaped into the air, caught the ball in traffic, then stretched backwards into the endzone for a game-winning touchdown!!  The home fans were silent while the Cougars ran onto the field and celebrated their miracle victory.

The season opening winning streak for Nebraska has ended at 29 games.  And whoever faces BYU in the coming months better be ready to take on a truly battle-tested team.

Final score: BYU 33 Nebraska 28

2.  North Dakota State Bison @ Montana Grizzlies

This game was not on my radar, mainly because these two teams play in the 1-AA division of college football.  (All the big teams play in 1-A)  However, this game was a full 5 days before the start of 1-A action and I was craving some good college football. This game would not disappoint.

North Dakota State came into this game a heavy favorite, coming off their 4th straight Division 1-AA championship.  But Montana kept the game close with their explosive passing attack.  Nevertheless, with 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter the Grizzlies were staring at a 28-35 deficit.  They had the ball and were desperately in need of a touchdown.  However, their ensuing drive stalled inside the 10 yard line.  Instead of going for it on 4th down, Head Coach Bob Stitt elected to kick a field goal and hope his defense could force a 3 and out.  The Grizzlies defense roared like a mother bear protecting her cubs and proceeded to force a punt with a minute and a half remaining.  Starting at his own 20 yard line, Grizzlies quarterback Brady Gustafson led his team to the Bison 44 yard line.  But after 3 incomplete passes the Grizzlies were backed up into a corner.   On 4th down, Gustafson came through at last, firing a 31 yard completion to receiver Reese Carlson.  5 plays later, Montana was forced into yet another last chance opportunity: 4th and Goal at the 1 yard line with 6 seconds left.  Gustafson handed off to running back Joey Counts who cut left around the mass of blockers and ran in for the game-clinching touchdown.  The packed house of Grizzlies fans roared in victory and the players were soon celebrating on the field.

The first college football game televised this season turned out to be the first upset. This year is going to be good!

Final score: Montana 38 North Dakota State 35

Games to Watch: Week 2

1.  #7 Oregon Ducks @ #5 Michigan State Spartans

This key game in the 2nd week of the season is a rematch from week 2 of last year. Last year, Oregon defended their home turf expertly, riding their high-powered passing and running attack en route to a 46-27 win over Michigan State.  However, the exceptional quarterback who fueled that attack, Heisman Winner Marcus Mariota, is now in the NFL.  Fortunately for the Ducks they have a great new quarterback to take his place: Vernon Adams.  Adams is a transfer from Eastern Washington University who decided to use his final year of college football eligibility to play for Oregon.  He's had three very productive seasons at Eastern Washington, passing for over 100 touchdowns during his career there.  Will Adams pilot his new team to a victory in hostile territory or will the Spartans' defense be able to form a phalanx and shut down the Ducks' offense?  (If you want to know what I'm talking about just Google the "Battle of Thermopylae")

My pick: Michigan State

2.  #19 Oklahoma Sooners @ #23 Tennessee Volunteers  

This intriguing early season match-up features two programs going in opposite directions.  The Volunteers are gaining momentum under 3rd year Head Coach Butch Jones.  Last year, they earned a berth in their first bowl game in 4 years, and have a duo of running backs who are projected to have a great year in 2015.  Oklahoma, on the other hand, watched their conference championship hopes for last year go up in smoke, posting a disappointing 8-5 record.  Will the Volunteers continue their upward climb with an important victory over a top 25 team, or will the Sooners reclaim their lost momentum with a win on the road?

My pick: Tennessee

Extra Point

 

(A new optional feature of my blog posts)

Ohio State's embarrasment of riches at quarterback

It's been the biggest question of the off-season: who will start at quarterback for the Buckeyes?  Would it be former Big 10 Player of the Year Braxton Miller who couldn't play last year due to a shoulder injury suffered prior to the season?  Or J.T. Barrett who led his team to an 11-1 regular season record last year, amassing substantial passing and rushing yards?  Or Cardale Jones who quickly made a name for himself as he led his team to victories in the Big 10 Championship and the College Football Playoff Semifinal and Championship Games?

A couple of months ago, Miller made the transition to wide receiver, leaving the QB battle between Barrett and Jones.  Jones won the battle, known only when he took the first snap against Virginia Tech in Monday night's game.  Although the Buckeyes trailed at the half by a score of 14-17, Ohio State's offense quickly outpaced Virginia Tech's in the second half.  Surprisingly, all three quarterbacks, even Miller, played during the game.

The list of touchdowns are as follows.

1. 24 yard TD pass by Jones in which he threw the ball off his back foot and across his body and was caught by receiver Curtis Samuel who was the victim of pass interference.
2. 80 yard TD run by talented running back Ezekiel Elliot.
3. 54 yard TD pass that was thrown by Jones to Miller.
4. 53 yard TD run by Miller, featuring a totally awesome spin move. (See https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wq6ComNZ_Vs
5. 10 yard TD run by Jones.
6. 26 yard TD pass by Barrett

Viewing this list, it is obvious that the Buckeyes have 3 different talented players who can take snaps at quarterback.  With all that firepower, will the Buckeyes repeat as national champions?  Yes they will, providing they don't make a major mistake during a game which has tripped up many a great team in the past.