Results of Last Week's Games to Watch
1. #17 Arkansas Razorbacks @ #21 Auburn Tigers
From Auburn's first snap on offense, the Tigers completely dominated every phase of the game. The Auburn offensive line opened up a big opening that allowed running back Eli Stove to take a simple handoff and speed away for a 78 touchdown run. The Auburn defense bottled up the usually effective Arkansas run game, preventing the Razorbacks from ever having a chance. Starting running back Kamryn Pettway and quarterback Sean White lit up the scoreboard, bringing the Tigers squarely back into SEC contention.
Final Score: Auburn 56 Arkansas 3
2. #6 Texas A&M @ #1 Alabama Crimson Tide
The Aggies played the best any team has played against Alabama since Ole Miss went to toe to toe with the Tide in September. After a slow start, the Texas A&M offense got cranking close to the half. A passing touchdown on each side of halftime by Trevor Knight gave the Aggies a 14-13 lead over Alabama, a noteworthy accomplishment. The Tide responded with a long touchdown drive capped off by a passing touchdown by freshman sensation Jalen Hurts. Three possessions later, the Aggies committed two serious mistakes. First, the Aggies gave up a sack, then running back Keith Ford fumbled the ball which was recovered and returned for a touchdown by Alabama. It is very hard to recover after giving up a defensive touchdown; against Alabama it is a death knell. Simply put, the Tide took it from there.
Final Score: Alabama 33 Texas A&M 14
I continue to be disappointed as I watch team after team fold like a deck of cards to the Tide. Will they win the championship? If their opponents keep finding ways to give away the game, it is very likely they will.
Most Exciting Game of the Week
Oregon Ducks @ California Golden Bears
The PAC-12 Conference plays many of it games late in the day, making for a very late airtime over here on the East Coast. This has given rise to the phrase "PAC 12 After Dark." Many of these games turn out to be high scoring back-and-forth affairs, none more so than this matchup.
Thanks to four passing touchdowns by Cal quarterback Davis Webb, the Golden Bears held a 31-14 halftime advantage.
A Cal field goal on the first possession of the 3rd quarter lengthened their lead to an even 20. Later in the 3rd quarter, the Ducks offense finally took flight. Quarterback Justin Herbert, promoted over original starter Dakota Prukop, led Oregon on a series of touchdown drives that should receive top marks for speed and efficiently. A long run by Herbert set up the first touchdown, while a pass from Herbert to running back Tony Brooks-James helped the 2nd drive to take off.
The 3rd drive was 11 plays long, but Herbert ran the no-huddle offense so well that he was able to tally a passing touchdown after just 2 1/2 minutes. In the meantime, the weak Oregon defense had come up with two important defensive stops.
Now trailing by a point in the 4th quarter, it was time for the Cal offense to respond. Webb and running back Tre Watson fueled an 11 play drive of their own that put the Golden Bears in front once again.
Wanting to establish a 7 point lead late in the game, Cal head coach Sonny Dykes decided to go for two. Webb flung a pass to tight end T.J. Hinnault who caught it in the endzone for 2. After trading punts with Cal, Oregon got the ball with less than 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Three plays later, Herbert lofted up a deep pass to wide receiver Charles Nelson who caught it for a 42 yard touchdown. After the extra point was converted, the Ducks had tied the game. Webb, Watson, and the rest of the Cal offense used the remaining time to set up a 41 yard field goal. Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich called both his two remaining timeouts right before California kicker Matt Anderson booted the ball, a strategy called "icing the kicker." This time the strategy paid off as Anderson missed the kick as time expired.
Yet again, the Most Exciting Game of the Week ventures into overtime. Oregon got the ball first and scored just two plays later on a 20 yard TD pass from Herbert to wide receiver Jalen Brown. A 12 yard completion by Webb set up a short TD run by the young quarterback to send the game into the 2nd overtime. With the order of possessions switching, the Golden Bears got the ball again. After clawing their way to the 3 yard line, Cal's drive was stalled by 3 penalties in a row on the offensive line. The Golden Bears had to settle for a field goal by Anderson, opening a window that the Ducks could fly through for the victory. On the 2nd play of Oregon's drive, Herbert fired a low pass over the middle. Unfortunately for Herbert, Cal linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk was standing in the way. The talented linebacker tipped the ball to himself and shut the window hard. Splat went the Ducks!
The California players and fans celebrated with shouts of joy while Oregon players shook their heads, knowing this was a season they would love to forget.
Final Score: California 52 Oregon 49 (2OT)
Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 9
1. #4 Washington Huskies @ #17 Utah Utes: 10/29 at 3:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 1
Will quarterback Jake Browning help the Huskies prove they are the best team in the PAC-12 Conference or will the Utes win in a defensive struggle in front of an energetic home crowd?
My pick: Washington
2. #7 Nebraska Cornhuskers @ #11 Wisconsin Badgers: 10/29 at 7 p.m. on ESPN
Will Wisconsin stretch their winning streak to two games with a crucial Big Ten victory or will Nebraska continue on their surprising unbeaten season?
My pick: Nebraska
Two-Point Conversion
Final Score: UTEP 52 UTSA 49 (5OT)
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