Week 4 2016

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch 

1.  #19 Florida Gators @ #14 Tennessee Volunteers 

This game was very simply a tale of two halves.  The first half went very well for the Gators and very bad for the Volunteers.  Tennessee's entire team looked like they were sleepwalking.  Offensive ineptitude, egregious dropped passes, and sluggish defense made the Volunteers look like a high school team.  Meanwhile, the Gators scored 21 points on three impressive drives that included excellent long completions and timely screen passes. Florida held a 21-3 lead at the half and looked to have this rivalry game well in hand.

Much to the surprise of everyone attending or watching this game, Tennessee came out in the 2nd half looking like a completely different team.  Quarterback Josh Dobbs started to look like the talented senior he is and his receivers finally found a way to wash the butter off their hands.  Running back Jalen Hurd caught Tennessee's first touchdown after a Florida defender blew the coverage.  On the drive after Florida's third 3 and out of the half, Dobbs found wide receiver Ethan Wolf who stretched out as far as he could to snag the ball before stumbling into the endzone.  Florida's offense continued to sputter due in equal parts to suddenly predictable play calling and a reinvigorated Tennessee defense. The Volunteers took the lead on a long pass down the sideline that was juggled then caught by wide receiver Jauan Jennings who took it the rest of the way for a 67 yard touchdown.  Tennessee never looked back.

Final Score: Tennessee 38 Florida 28

Most Exciting Game of the Week 

#10 Texas A&M Aggies vs. #17 Arkansas Razorbacks

Played annually in Cowboys Stadium, this hard-fought rivalry never ceases to be filled with excitement.  A close game is almost a given.

Arkansas' first scoring opportunity was set up by a fumble by Texas A&M on a punt return.  Quarterback Austin Allen found wide receiver Keon Hatcher for 15 yard TD to give the Razorbacks the early lead.  Early in the 2nd quarter, Arkansas was the guilty party in the fumble department.  A faulty handoff between Allen and running back Dominique Reed resulted in an easy recovery by A&M.  3 plays later, Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight made an excellent move on a designed quarterback run and dashed 42 yards for a touchdown.

This run seemed to touch off a powder keg of explosive plays.  Running back Rawleigh Williams III of Arkansas broke off a 55 yard run that set up a short field goal.  The Aggies responded with a field goal of their own after a long pass completion from Knight to top wide receiver Ricky Seals-Jones.  The back and forth battle continued as Arkansas moved 75 yards in only 5 plays using a good mix of running and passing plays.  Williams capped the drive off with a 7 yard TD run.

Only 90 seconds remained in the half but that was more than enough time for the Aggies.  3 plays after a key 3rd down pass from Knight to wide receiver Josh Reynolds, Knight evaded the entire defense again on a 48 yard touchdown run that looked even easier than the first one.  The game was tied at 17 at halftime.

The third quarter seemed short due to a very long drive by Arkansas.  The Razorbacks traveled down the field slowly but effectively, taking 14 plays to reach the Aggies 2 yard line.  Arkansas is the sort of team built specifically to dominate goal line situations and their fans were expecting them to have few problems getting the ball in the endzone. The Aggie defense had other things in mind.  1st down: Williams stopped at the 1.  2nd down: Allen stopped on a quarterback sneak.  3rd down: Allen brought down centimeters from the goal line.

Now uneasiness and doubt began to cross the faces of the Arkansas coaches and players. Still believing they would find a way to score a touchdown, the Razorbacks went for it on 4th down.  Allen handed the ball to receiver Keon Hatcher who attempted to run around the left side of the mass of defenders in the center of the field.  But defensive back Armani Watts was having none of that and tackled Hatcher well short of the goal line.

Two plays later, the momentum of the game swung even further away from the Razorbacks.  Knight lofted a perfect pass down the right sideline to Reynolds who had a step on defensive back DJ Dean (meaning he was one stride ahead of him).  Reynolds caught the ball in stride, outran Dean's tackle attempt, and ran untouched for a 92 yard touchdown.  

The last six plays had changed the game completely and Arkansas was not resilient enough to respond effectively.  On Arkansas' next drive, defensive end Daeshon Hall sacked Allen and forced a fumble that was recovered by the Aggies.  Three plays later, Knight completed his 2nd touchdown pass of the game to receiver Christian Kirk.  I knew from the looks on their faces, Arkansas would not be winning this game.

Final Score: Texas A&M 45 Arkansas 24

With their blend of gritty defense and lightning-fast offense, Texas A&M poses a serious threat to Alabama.  As does Tennessee.  This could be a really good year!  

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 5

1.  #3 Louisville Cardinals @ #5 Clemson Tigers: 10/1 at 8 p.m. on ABC

This is a highly anticipated matchup of two of the best teams in the nation.  Louisville rocketed from #10 to #3 in the poll after an stunning 62-20 beat-down of Florida State in which Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson put up 5 total touchdowns.  Clemson has faced a slightly easier road to a 4-0 record, but have a very talented and experienced team lead by senior quarterback Deshaun Watson.  Will Clemson maintain their dominance over the ACC with a huge win spurred on by their loyal fans or will Louisville slay another giant and continue their quest for a championship. 

My pick: Louisville 

2. Oklahoma Sooners @ #21 TCU Horned Frogs: 10/1 at 5 p.m. on FOX

Will TCU earn a key home victory that will secure their place in the heart of the battle for the Big 12 Conference Championship or will Oklahoma snatch a desperately-needed win that will pull them out of the tailspin they have found themselves in?

My pick: TCU!!

Week 3 2016

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch

1.  #2 Florida State Seminoles @ #10 Louisville Cardinals

Quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Louisville offense had put up over 1500 yards of offense through their first two games of the season.  That is an incredible number no matter how weak the competition is, and Charlotte and Syracuse are definitely weak.  No one expected that kind of production to continue against the always talented Florida State defense, but that's exactly what happened.  Lamar Jackson used his explosive speed and excellent decision making to completely shred Florida State's defense on drive after drive.  When the players headed back to the locker rooms for halftime, Jackson had already scored 3 rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown.  The Florida State sideline looked shell-shocked as they were trailing 35 to 10.  Things would only get worse for the Seminoles as the Cardinals would score four more touchdowns in the 2nd half, including a punt return touchdown and Jackson's 4th rushing touchdown.   The Florida State offense simply had no chance of keeping up.

Final Score: Louisville 63 Florida State 20

With this very impressive win, Louisville has vaulted their way to number #3 in the AP poll and a position as a tough playoff contender.  Clemson better be ready when the Cardinals fly into town in two weeks.

2.  #12 Michigan State Spartans @ #18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

What I thought might be a very close game all the way through, turned out to be a mostly one-sided affair.  Notre Dame put the first points on the board with a rushing touchdown by Deshone Kizer.  After that Michigan State began to dominate the game.  Beginning in the 2nd quarter, the Spartans scored 36 straight points while the Irish offense was plagued by inefficiency and a pair of turnovers. 

Down by 29 points, Notre Dame mounted a valiant comeback late in the 3rd quarter and throughout the 4th.  They got back within 8 points and had the ball with 4 minutes left. However, Kizer was sacked on a key 3rd down and the Irish could not overcome it.  Once again, Michigan State has found a way to silence the doubters.  This is the last time I underestimate them.

Final Score: Michigan State 36 Notre Dame 28

Most Exciting Game of the Week

#22 Oregon Ducks @ Nebraska Cornhuskers 

Although ranked in the top 25, Oregon was viewed as a slight underdog in this game. The experience of Nebraska's redshirt senior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. was a big part of that.  His level of skill and great leadership can keep the Cornhuskers in any game. The Ducks' starting quarterback had no lack of experience either.  For the second year in a row the Ducks acquired the services of a graduate transfer from an FCS school.  Last year they convinced Vernon Adams Jr. from Eastern Washington to use his final year of eligibility to play for the Ducks.  This time they got Dakota Prukop from Montana University to come to Oregon.

On the third possession of the game the Ducks offense found their wings.  After a string of good running plays by Dakota Prukop and running back Royce Freeman, second string running back Tony Brooks-James finished off the drive with a 20 yard TD run.  As is Oregon's strange pattern of late, the Ducks went for 2 and made it.  Late in the first quarter, Tommy Armstrong Jr responded with a 22 yard TD strike to star receiver Jordan Westerkamp.

The next two touchdowns were scored by Oregon and they went for 2 both times but failed to convert either of them.  With 40 seconds left in the half, Nebraska returner De'Mornay Pierson-El returned a punt to the Oregon 19 yard line.  5 plays later, Armstrong cut Oregon's lead in half with a second touchdown pass to Westerkamp. Thanks to Oregon's failed 2 point conversion attempts, Nebraska was only down by 6 heading into the half. 

The Cornhuskers used their first two possessions of the 2nd half wisely, scoring two touchdowns on either side of a Oregon 3 and out.

Nebraska now held a 28-20 lead and Prukop and the Ducks offense knew it was time to take flight. On two straight drives, Oregon used Prukop's passing and running skills to set up the run game. Third string running back Kani Benoit gained most of the yardage and a touchdown while Brooks-James got the other touchdown.  Instead of doing the smart thing and kicking extra points, the Ducks went for 2 both times and ended up failing at both.  

Nebraska was now down by 4 but failed to score on their next drive.  However, the Nebraska defense forced a much-needed 3 and out, giving their offense another chance. After 9 plays, Nebraska found themselves in a do or die 4th and 9.  Westerkamp found an open spot in the zone defense and Armstrong fired the ball to him for a pivotal first down. 2 plays later, Armstrong took off on a designed quarterback run, dashed through the defense, and reached the endzone just as he was tackled.

The 90,000 fans of the 350th straight sellout crowd in Nebraska's Memorial Stadium cheered wildly for their boys in red.

With 2 1/2 minutes left, Oregon had plenty of time to get into field goal range for a shot at tying the game.  However, the Cornhuskers defense stepped up once again and forced the Ducks into their own do or die 4th down after a sack of Prukop.  On the ensuing play, Prukop was forced out of the pocket and was brought down from behind well short of the first down. 

The crowd roared with a loud cheer as the struggles that Nebraska had in winning close games last year shrank into the past.  Oregon fans on the other hand struggled to comprehend why their team hadn't attempted more extra points.

Final Score: Nebraska 35 Oregon 32 

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 4

1.  #19 Florida Gators @ #14 Tennessee Volunteers

Much like last year, Florida faces more quarterback issues.  Starting quarterback Luke Del Rio, who was playing very well, suffered a knee injury in last week's game and is expected to be out for 2 to 3 weeks.  The Gators will have to turn to Purdue transfer Austin Appleby who has shown promise.   For Appleby to be successful the Gators' potent run game will have to continue to be productive.  Their opponents are the Volunteers who are very talented but have been inconsistent at times.  Their struggles against the Gators in the last few years should be gnawing at the back of their minds.

My pick: Florida

2. #17 Arkansas Razorbacks vs. #10 Texas A&M Aggies 

This game between old rivals played in Cowboys Stadium should be very exciting.  Will the Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen have another big day or will he be out-dueled by A&M quarterback Kenny Hill?

My pick: Texas A&M 

Week 2 2016

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch 

1. #17 Tennessee Volunteers vs. Virginia Tech Hokies

The setting for this game was truly astounding.  Bristol Motor Speedway is gigantic, massive enough to contain two major league baseball stadiums with room to spare.  The singing of the national anthem was especially moving, as 150,000 fans stood and held up colored signs to make it look like a gigantic American flag was wrapped around the inside of the stadium.

After a breathtaking entry onto the field by the teams, the action was set to begin. The first quarter was all Virginia Tech. The Volunteers offense sputtered while the Hokies used great effort from their running backs to score two touchdowns.  The Tennessee sideline seemed devoid of emotion, looking exactly how they did when they eked out a win over overmatched Appalachian State a week ago. Fortunately for the Volunteers, the 2nd quarter would be far different.

On the first play of the quarter, bad timing forced a fumble by the Hokies which the Vols recovered after a mad scramble.  Setting up shop at the Virginia Tech 5 yard line, it took Tennessee only one play to score on a perfect pass and catch from quarterback Josh Dobbs to receiver John Jennings. This sudden change in momentum ignited the emotions on the Tennessee sideline and would fuel them the rest of the game. 

The combined passing and running ability of Dobbs and the route running skills of the Tennessee receiving core began to make mincemeat of the Virginia Tech defense.  The Volunteers would score 17 more points in the quarter and go on a 45-3 scoring run that stretched until late in the 4th quarter.  

With a string of tough teams on the horizon for Tennessee, including Alabama, I am very happy about this great victory for the Volunteers.

Final Score: Tennessee 42 Virginia Tech 17

2. Penn State Nittany Lions @ Pittsburgh Panthers 

This game was the long awaited renewing of a rivalry between the best two college football teams in Pennsylvania and it attracted a sellout crowd.  The star of the Panthers is undoubtedly running back James Conner, whose heroic quest to beat cancer and return to the football field has endeared him to fans in Pittsburgh and beyond.

On at least two drives in the first half, a hard-nosed run by Conner gave the Panthers a key first down that propelled them to a touchdown. Pittsburgh held a 28-7 lead at one point but Penn State mounted a comeback with touchdown drives sandwiched around halftime.  The Panthers responded with a long touchdown drive that ended in Conner's first touchdown of the day, a one yard plunge into the endzone.

Penn State managed to quickly close the gap by scoring 10 straight points early in the 4th quarter, three of them off a turnover (scoring points off a turnover means a team scored on the drive after recovering a fumble or snagging an interception). Not about to blow a lead on their home turf, Panthers returner Quadree Henderson returned the ensuing kickoff all the way to the Penn State 10 yard line, setting up the offense with a very short field.  Three plays later, James Conner caught a shovel pass and ran nearly untouched for the pivotal touchdown of the game.  Conner celebrated joyously as did the throng of Pittsburgh fans.

Penn State made the Pittsburgh fans bite their nails with a late touchdown and a two point conversion, but Pittsburgh managed to seal the deal with an interception on the next Penn State drive.  With this win, expect big things from the Panthers heading into ACC conference play in a couple weeks.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 42 Penn State 39

Most Exciting Game of the Week

Arkansas Razorbacks @ #15 TCU Horned Frogs

In week 1 both of these teams struggled to distance themselves from inferior competition, but escaped with close wins.  The Frogs and the Hogs would hope to put those uninspired performances behind them.

The first half was hard to watch as a TCU fan.  The TCU offense struggled mightily, as a string of punts and a pair of turnovers was all they could manage.  For their part, Arkansas did not capitalize on the opportunity to race out to a huge lead, only managing 6 points offensively.  The only touchdown for the Razorbacks was on an interception return.  

On the first drive of the 3rd quarter, the Horned Frogs offense finally woke up. Six completions by quarterback Kenny Hill to five different receivers got the Frogs all the way down to the 9 yard line. Hill handed the ball to receiver Kyle Hicks who ran outran the defenders to the corner of the endzone to get TCU on the board.  Three possessions later, Arkansas scored a touchdown drive of their own that lasted six plays.  

Not long after, only one quarter remained.  After Arkansas missed a field goal, TCU scored a touchdown in under two minutes.  A pair of consecutive punts by the Razorbacks gave the Horned Frogs all they needed to put together two more productive drives that ended in short touchdown scampers by Kenny Hill and Kyle Hicks. 

With only two minutes left and down by eight, Arkansas was faced with the very real possibility that they had let a victory slip through their fingers.  However, quarterback Austin Allen, whose brother was the starting quarterback for Arkansas last year, rallied the troops on offense.  On every play of the next drive, Allen completed a pass to one of his quality receivers, the last one to Keon Hatcher for 16 yards and a touchdown.

On the ensuing two point conversion attempt, Arkansas employed a trick play.  This time, Allen handed the ball over a running back who flipped the ball to Hatcher who ran to his left before passing the ball back to Allen now wide open in the endzone!  The score now tied at 28 with only a minute left it looked like the game was headed to overtime.

TCU kickoff returner KaVontae Turpin had other ideas.  He caught the ball, followed the pathway his blockers made for him and raced all the way down to the 27 yard line.  A field goal to win the game seemed like a distinct possibility, especially after the Horned Frogs managed to make a 1st down on a run by Kenny Hill.  With 10 seconds remaining, Ryan Graf and his kicking team lined up for an short 28 yarder. However, Arkansas had a secret weapon in 6' 10" lineman Dan Skipper. Skipper timed up the snap perfectly, jumped up, and stuck his paw in the path of the kick.  The ball deflected sharply to the side and TCU fans reluctantly prepared themselves for overtime.

Allen threw a pass to tight end Jeremy Sprinkle on the third play of Arkansas' drive for a 19 yard touchdown, and TCU quarterback Kenny Hill responded with a 11 yard dart to receiver Taj Williams for the tying touchdown.

In the second overtime, TCU started with the ball but could only gain 5 yards in 3 plays and had to settle for a field goal.  The first play for the Razorbacks offense went far better.  Third string running back Dominique Reed entered the game and gained fifteen yards in one go, setting Arkansas up with a first and goal.

2 plays later, Arkansas had made it down to the 5 yard line.  On this crucial 3rd and goal, Austin Allen caught the shotgun snap and immediately ran towards the corner of the endzone.  Thanks to a couple of good blocks and great effort by Allen, he forced his way into the endzone for the game winning touchdown.

With this impressive performance, Arkansas looks like a team that could make waves in the West Division of the SEC.  Their home game against Alabama in four weeks might just prove to be the game with the result I've been waiting for.

Final Score: Arkansas 41 TCU 38 (2OT)

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 3

1. #12 Michigan State Spartans @ #18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish: 9/17 at 7:30 p.m. on NBC

Can the mean and green Spartans come to South Bend and a notch a victory or will the Fighting Irish successfully defend their home turf and return to the playoff discussion with an important victory?

My pick: Notre Dame 

2. #2 Florida State Seminoles @ #10 Louisville Cardinals: 9/17 at Noon on ABC

Will the Cardinals vault themselves into legitimate playoff contention with a monumental victory or will the Seminoles use their powerful running game to continue their hunt for their 2nd National Championship in 4 years. 

My pick: Louisville

Week 1 2016

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch

1.  #3 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #15 Houston Cougars

Although not the earliest game of the day (Boston College battled Georgia Tech over in Dublin starting at 7:30 a.m. our time) the result of this top 15 matchup proved which team woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  

Oklahoma owned a 17-13 lead after a quarter and a half, but after their first drive which resulted in a touchdown, the Sooners offense struggled to find consistency.  The scrappy and determined Houston defense was making life difficult for the opposing quarterback-running back duo of Baker Mayfield and Semaje Perine.  The Cougars managed two field goals late in the half, included a 47 yarder right before halftime, giving them a 19-17 lead.

The first Oklahoma drive of the second half starting promisingly, but stalled at the Houston 36 yard line.  Head Coach Bob Stoops decided to try for a long 53 yard field goal.  I thought almost immediately that a Houston returner would have a chance to return the kick for a touchdown if the kick was short, just like what happened in the spectacular upset of Alabama by Auburn three years ago  (read about it here)  Sure enough, Houston put speedy cornerback Brandon Wilson in the back of the endzone.   And just as I expected, the kick was short.  The Oklahoma kicking team noticed the returner just after he caught the ball and by then it was too late.  Wilson sped down the field next to his team's sideline, his path cleared by ten Houston blockers.  He raced into the endzone and celebrated wildly with his teammates. 

Why the Oklahoma coaching staff didn't warn their players to be prepared for a possible return is beyond me.  It just proves that those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it.  

Oklahoma receiver Jarvis Baxter fumbled the ball on the next drive and twelve plays later, Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. cashed in the turnover for seven points.  After a largely uneventful 4th quarter, the feisty Cougars were celebrating yet another marquee victory over a prominent foe.  A playoff spot is not out of the question for Houston if their winning ways continue.

Final Score: Houston 33 Oklahoma 23

2. #18 Georgia Bulldogs vs. #22 North Carolina Tar Heels 

This weekend was chock full of games that looked great on paper and didn’t disappoint on the field. This was one of them.  

At the half, the Bulldogs had built a 14-10 lead on the shoulders of running backs Nick Chubb and Brian Herrian.  However, on the opening kickoff of the 2nd half, North Carolina would change things in a hurry.  Tar Heels running back T.J. Logan received the kickoff cleanly, found a hole, and ran 95 yards for a touchdown.  On the ensuing Georgia drive, the North Carolina defense stiffened, forcing a field goal which sophomore William Ham missed.  Quarterback Mitch Trubisky and running back Elijah Hood led the Tar Heels on a quick TD drive ended with a T.J. Logan touchdown.  

Georgia responded with a twelve play touchdown drive that cut the deficit to three. When North Carolina got the ball back they quickly found themselves back up against their own endzone after two costly penalties.  Then came the boneheaded play call of a screen pass in the endzone which resulted in an easy safety for Georgia (2 points).  Three possessions later, Georgia snagged a two point lead on a field goal of a shorter distance by William Ham.  After a quick three-and-out by the Tar Heels, Nick Chubb put the game away with a powerful 55 yard touchdown run.

At the end of it all, Chubb led the Bulldogs with 222 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns, outdistancing T.J. Logan by over 120 yards.  I guess we know who the big dogs are after this game.  

Final Score: Georgia 33 North Carolina 24

Most Exciting Game of the Week 

#10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Texas Longhorns 

Last season, the Longhorns limped along to a 5-7, especially disappointing to a program with as storied a tradition as Texas.  But with the arrival of a new recruit from a nearby high school, highly-touted quarterback Shane Buechele, things were fixing to change.

After the first half, Buechele had accumulated one touchdown through the air and one on a quarterback sneak.  For his part, Notre Dame quarterback Deshone Kizer played great in the first half too, tossing two brilliant touchdown passes to the same receiver.  The difference was a short touchdown scored by Texas' running quarterback Tyrone Swoopes with a minute left in the half.

Little more than thirty seconds into the 3rd quarter, Buechele threw a long pass to receiver John Burt who caught the ball in stride and ran the rest of the way for a 72 yard touchdown.  The drive after a three-and-out by the Irish, Texas kicked a field goal and Notre Dame found themselves down by 17 points.  Then, the offense and defense of Notre Dame came alive.  After three quick TD drives surrounding two punts and a turnover by Texas, the Fighting Irish had a 35-31 lead.  Almost on cue, Buechele and running back Derrick Foreman used their respective skills to score a touchdown in under two minutes. The extra point after this touchdown is worth noting.  Notre Dame blocked the extra point and defender Shaun Crawford returned it to the opposite endzone, giving his team two points.  The score was now tied at 37 and would remain so until the end of regulation.

In the first overtime, it took only one play for Notre Dame to score a touchdown while Tyrone Swoopes scored for Texas on a four play drive (remember, drives in overtime start at the opponent 25 yard line).  The second overtime contained the deciding moment. Notre Dame managed only three yards in three plays, forcing them to kick a field goal. This gave Texas the golden opportunity they were waiting for.  Swoopes ran the ball three times on the final possession, scoring the clinching touchdown on a six yard run where he stretched the ball across the goal line as he was tackled.

The Longhorns rushed the field and surrounded Swoopes as they celebrated.  Soon, Texas Head Coach Charlie Strong was being hoisted up onto his players' shoulders not unlike how the Longhorns have dramatically changed the expectations for their season.

Final Score: Texas 50 Notre Dame 47 (2OT)

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 2

1. #17 Tennessee Volunteers vs. Virginia Tech Hokies: 9/10 at 8 p.m. on ABC

The only reason I need to give why this game will be interesting is the fact that they are playing it on the infield of Bristol Motor Speedway!  A first of its kind college football experience for sure!

My pick: Tennessee

2. Penn State Nittany Lions @ Pittsburgh Panthers: 9/10 at Noon on ESPN

Pittsburgh running back James Conner fought a successful battle against cancer to return to the football field.  Seeing him score a touchdown to add to his running total would be a sight to behold.

My pick: Pittsburgh