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?)
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
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