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

Week 9 2015

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch

1.   West Virginia Mountaineers @ #5 TCU Horned Frogs

The Horned Frogs jumped out to a 17 point lead in the 1st quarter after scoring on each of their first 3 possessions.  West Virginia scored 10 straight points on back-to-back drives in the 2nd quarter, but would be held scoreless the rest of the game.  TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin put together another fantastic showing, throwing for almost 400 yards and 3 touchdowns, 2 of which were hauled in by sensational wide receiver Josh Doctson.  Even Horned Frogs' kicker, Jaden Oberkrom, played great, booting a career long 57 yard field goal just before the half!

Final Score: TCU 40 West Virginia 10

This excellent defensive showing bodes well for TCU, seeing how they will face 2 of the nation's highest scoring offenses in Baylor and Oklahoma in the coming weeks.

2.  #11 Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs

Just as I thought, the Georgia offense remained stagnant through most of the game, showing only short bursts of life.  Gators quarterback Treon Harris connected on a 66 yard TD reception to wide receiver Antonio Callaway and avoided throwing any interceptions.  Florida running back Kelvin Taylor provided the rest of the spark for the offense, rushing for 121 yards and 2 TD's.  Adding to the frustrations of Georgia fans, the Gators defense came up with 4 interceptions and also recovered a muffed punt in the endzone for the 1st points of the game.

Final Score: Florida 27 Georgia 3

After this key victory, the Gators are guaranteed a spot in the SEC Championship Game where they will most likely face the winner of next Saturday's showdown between LSU and Alabama.  More on that later.

Most Exciting Game of the Week

Oregon Ducks @ Arizona State Sun Devils

This game happened while most of us were sleeping, but it kept a bunch of fans up very late.  Buckle your seat belts for a wild ride.

Fast forward to 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter and Arizona State has just scored a touchdown to take a 31-20 lead.  Oregon Head Coach Mark Helfrich knows his team needs to respond with a touchdown of their own in order to stay in the game.  The Ducks score before their offense even sets foot on the field, as wide receiver Charles Nelson returns the ensuing kickoff the length of the field for a pivotal touchdown!.  2 possessions later, Oregon takes the lead on an explosive 62 yard TD run by running back Kani Benoit.  

Arizona State returns the favor in the 4th quarter, scoring 10 points within 5 minutes, thanks to the great passing and superb leadership of senior quarterback Mike Bercovici.  Down by a score of 41-34, Oregon goes 3 and out on the ensuing drive, giving Arizona State a chance to put the game away.  Four plays later, however, Bercovici's pass is intercepted at the Oregon 40 yard line.  Five minutes remain and it's now or never for the Ducks.  

Ten hard-fought plays later, Oregon has a 1st and Goal at the 8 yard line.  Ducks quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. throws an incompletion on 1st and 2nd down and a trick play fails on 3rd down.  Now only 12 seconds remain, and the Ducks are holding on to a wing and a prayer.  The ball is snapped and Adams is forced to scramble backwards and to his right to avoid the blitz.  Adams is fast running out of options and heaves the ball to the back of the endzone in front of the goal posts.  Two receivers, Dwayne Stanford and Johnny Mundt, are in the area along with an Arizona State defender.  All 3 of them jump into the air simultaneously as the ball approaches.  Stanford collides with Mundt just as he catches the ball.  Somehow, he hangs onto the ball and falls on his backside just barely in bounds.  Adams races over to celebrate with Stanford, but they both know overtime is fast approaching.   

Adams finds Stanford again on the very first play of overtime for a 25 yard pass that gets Oregon a touchdown within one play.  Arizona State answers with a 6 play drive that reaches the endzone on the strength of Bercovici's arm and legs.  In the 2nd overtime, Arizona State gets the ball first.  After 2 plays net only 7 yards, Bercovici escapes from the pocket on third down, sidesteps a defender and dives into the endzone for a 18 yard TD.  The Ducks' run game provides the spark they need to lengthen the game even further, as running back Royce Freeman received the handoff 4 out of the 5 plays of their drive, scoring a one yard TD on his final carry.

The order of the possessions switch once again and Oregon gets a chance to strike first.  3 plays later they find their target when Adams completes a pass to wide receiver Bralon Addison for a 20 yard TD.  However, the Ducks fail the mandatory 2 point conversion, giving the Sun Devils an opportunity they were looking for.  On the 1st play of their drive, Bercovici completes a 22 yard pass that sets his offense up with a 1st and Goal from the 3 yard line.  After an incompletion on 1st down, Bercovici looks to pass again on 2nd down.  Standing in his way is Oregon defensive back Arrion Springs.  He sees the pass coming, steps into the passing lane, and intercepts the pass.  He takes a knee in the endzone, ending the game.

The Ducks fly onto the field to celebrate a thrilling overtime victory.  Arizona State fans stare down in disappointment, wondering how their team let this game slip away.

Final Score: Oregon 61 Arizona State 55 (3OT)

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 10

1.   #2 LSU Tigers @ #4 Alabama Crimson Tide: 11/7 at 8 p.m. on CBS

This game is a MUST WATCH!!  Not only will the winner of this rivalry game most likely win the SEC West division (if Ole Miss doesn't win the rest of their games), they will also be a clear favorite to be selected as one of the 4 playoff teams.  Adding to the stakes, College Gameday will broadcast their weekly 3 hour long pregame show from the Alabama campus.  If LSU beats this pesky Alabama team, the Crimson Tide will be eliminated from playoff contention.  That would make a great early Christmas present for me!

GOOOOOO TIGERS!!!

2.  #8 TCU Horned Frogs @ #14 Oklahoma State Cowboys:  11/7 at 3:30 p.m. on FOX

This first major test for the Horned Frogs comes on the road in Stillwater, Oklahoma surrounded by 60,000 noisy fans dressed in orange.  Boykin, Doctson, and running back Aaron Green, will have to play at the high level TCU fans are used to seeing if they are come home with a big victory. Thankfully, the way the Horned Frogs' defense is playing lately makes me think the offense won't have to do all the work.

My pick: TCU all the way!

  Extra Point

I can't fail to mention the crazy desperation play that Miami used to beat Duke 30-27.  Miami players lateraled the ball 8 times to piece together a 75 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. However, the officials totally bungled the review, completely missing the fact that one of the runners' knee was, in fact, down just before one of the lateral and overlooking at least 2 blocking penalties against Miami.  It was an incredible play, but the replay officials should have gotten it right.