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
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
No comments:
Post a Comment