Rivalry Week 2016

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch 

1.  #5 Washington Huskies @ #23 Washington State Cougars: The Apple Cup (named after the state's famous crop)

Most years the result of this rivalry game is no surprise at all.  The Cougars are usually at the bottom of the PAC 12 standings and harbor only the smallest glimmer of hope to upset the ferocious Huskies.  But this year, the strong arm of quarterback Luke Falk has fueled a strong season and helped them to their best record in years.  Plus, the Cougars were playing at home. This game looked to be a great candidate for a potentially thrilling game.

However, the Washington offense, led by accurate quarterback Jake Browning and running back Myles Gaskin, came onto the field raring to go.  They were on fire through the first two quarters, scoring five touchdowns in the first 27 minutes of game clock.  Luke Falk and his wide receivers couldn't get anything going on offense, as tight coverage and a withering pass rush by the Huskies defense ground the Cougars offense to a halt.

The Huskies led 35-10 at the half, solidly in control of the game.  Washington State managed to cut Washington's lead to 17 and had a chance to get even closer, but were stopped on a 4th and Goal attempt at the 1 yard line.  After that, the Cougars' hopes of clawing their way back into the game faded away.  It was not long before the Huskies were hoisting the Apple Cup above their heads once again.

Final Score: Washington 45 Washington State 17

2. #15 Florida Gators @ #14 Florida State Seminoles: Sunshine State Showdown

After a heroic goal line stand against LSU, the Gators were looking to continue their winning ways against their much-maligned in-state rival.  The Gators defense was looking to have success pressuring Seminoles quarterback Deondre François, who has been sacked many times this year.  Although their offense had been inconsistent all season, signs of improvement made the Gators confident they could move the ball against the Seminoles. 

The game was tight in the first half with neither team gaining a substantial advantage.  Two plays after a missed field goal by the Seminoles, Gators quarterback Austin Appleby was sacked and fumbled the ball, which was quickly recovered by defensive lineman Demarcus Walker.  Two plays after that, Florida State's star running back Dalvin Cook scored on a 17 yard TD burst.  A field goal by each team in the 2nd quarter made it 10-3 at the half.

Things continued to go wrong for Florida in the second half.  Although the Gators chomped into the lead with another field goal, the Seminoles carved through the Gators defense on the next drive.  In 9 plays they traversed 3/4ths the length of the field, ending with a long touchdown pass from François to top receiver Travis Rudolph.  Florida State scored two more touchdowns in the game while Florida only managed one on a fumble return for a touchdown.  Yet again, the Gators offense, which looked terrible at certain moments of the game, let them down.

Final Score: Florida State 31 Florida 13

Most Exciting Game of the Week 

#3 Michigan Wolverines @ #2 Ohio State Buckeyes: The Game

The most recent game in this historic rivalry to be as important as this one was 2006's matchup between #1 Ohio State and #2 Michigan.  That game was played in Columbus as well as it resulted in a slim 3 point win for the Buckeyes.  Would 'The Game' be that close this year?

After 25 minutes of game clock had expired, the Buckeyes looked to be in serious trouble.  Their offense was stagnant, while their defense was pushing themselves to pick up the slack.

Down 3-0, Ohio State's drive was extended by a running into the kicker penalty against Michigan, Nonetheless, Ohio State couldn't correctly channel the momentum to get into field goal range and were forced to punt.  Skilled punter Cameron Johnston stepped onto the field and booted a perfect punt that was downed at the 6 yard line.

On the very next play, Buckeyes defensive lineman Jalyn Holmes broke through the Michigan offensive line.  He tackled Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight just as the ball was thrown.  The ball flew awkwardly through the air and was caught easily by Buckeyes safety Malik Hooker.  With only 16 yards of turf in front of him and nobody in the way, Hooker dashed in for the touchdown.

However, Ohio State didn't hold the lead for long as the Michigan offense responded amazingly well to the calamitous play.  It seemed the adversity sparked a sudden increase in physicality of the Wolverines offense.  The offensive line held off the Ohio State pass rush on every play, allowing Speight to have enough time to complete 6 passes for 50 yards on the next drive.  With just seconds left in the half, Wolverines fullback Khalid Hill plunged through a mass of humanity for a 1 yard touchdown.

Coming out onto the field for the 3rd quarter, the Buckeyes offense looked as flat as they had in the first half.  Senior quarterback J.T. Barrett looked out of rhythm and off his game, which is very strange considering how much experience he's had.  Combine that with the fact that the running game wasn't working either gave me a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach that Ohio State's goose was cooked.

In the 3rd quarter, Ohio State went for a fake punt deep in their own territory, a head-scratching move to say the least.  Johnston ran with the ball toward the first down line but was stopped short by the Michigan defense.  Five plays later, Khalid Hill caught a short pass from Speight before running in for a 8 yard touchdown.

Now trailing by a score of 17-7, the Buckeyes offense still couldn't get the lead out of their pants.  After another Ohio State punt, the Michigan offense had a chance to put the game away.  But the Buckeyes would have none of that.  On the 5th play of the drive, Michigan was handed a loss of four yards due to a solid tackle by a Ohio State defender.  The following play, linebacker Jerome Baker stepped in front of Speight's pass and came up with a huge interception, returning it to Michigan's 13 yard line.

Ohio State was looking to get back in the game and were helped by a offside penalty on the first play of the drive.  High-energy head coach Jim Harbaugh, already annoyed at earlier calls he disagreed with, took issue with the penalty and blew his top.  He tossed his play call cards onto the field and slammed his headset onto the turf, breaking it in the process.  A official saw the entire tantrum and called a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct on Harbaugh.  This penalty, which Harbaugh totally deserved, pushed the ball forward to the 4 yard line.  Two plays later, running back Mike Weber lunged into the endzone for a touchdown.

Now it was late in the 3rd quarter and the Buckeyes had plenty of time to tie the score or take the lead.  Thanks to a trio of 3 and outs by Michigan, Ohio State had three chances to do so.  The first drive ended in a punt for the Buckeyes, while the second resulted in a very short 22 yard field goal attempt from the left hash.  Ohio State kicker Tyler Durbin, who hadn't missed a kick shorter than 40 yards all year, let the pressure get to him and hooked it wide left.  Head coach Urban Meyer looked like he wanted to personally smack the kicker upside the head.

Fortunately for Durbin, he would get another chance.  With a string of determined rushes and accurate passes, J.T. led his team deep into the redzone.  A key 13 yard completion from Barrett to wide receiver Marcus Baugh set up Durbin with a 23 yard attempt from the center hash.  Durbin converted this kick with one second left in regulation.  Buckeyes fans braced themselves for overtime.

Ohio State got the ball first in overtime and scored a touchdown on only the second play of the drive, a 7 yard touchdown dash by Barrett.  Michigan forced a second overtime, but only on a 4th down pass that receiver Amara Darboh was barely able to haul in for a touchdown.  In the second overtime, the Ohio State defense didn't allow Michigan to gain a single first down.  The Wolverines settled for a field goal, opening the door for Ohio State to take the victory.

But things would not be easy.  After a sack of Barrett on second down, the Buckeyes were facing 3rd and 9.  Barrett completed a short pass to star receiver Curtis Samuel who was soon staring down a wall of defenders.  He faked to the right, broke a tackle, then looped back around to the left side.  He dodged another defender and then dove for the first down.  He came up a yard short but his spectacular effort set up a manageable 4th and 1.  Urban Meyer decided to go for it instead of trying for a field goal (I wonder why?).  Barrett attempted to run for a first down but ran into his own blocker right at the first down line.  It looked to me like the ball broke the plane of the first down line by a whisker and the referee agreed.  They would review the spot but there was not enough video evidence to overturn the call.

The following play, Curtis Samuel took the handoff, darted through a gap in the defense, and strode untouched into the endzone.

Urban Meyer collapsed onto the field in sheer relief that his team had found a way to win a game that had the highest stakes I can remember.  The fans rushed the field, streaming around the security people trying to divert away from the players still on the field.  Soon the yellow vests of were engulfed by a sea of red.

Buckeyes win!!  Playoffs here we come!!

Final Score: Ohio State 30 Michigan 27 (2OT)

Top Championship Games to Watch

1. PAC 12 Championship: #4 Washington Huskies vs. #9 Colorado Buffaloes: 12/2 at 9 p.m. on FOX

Will the Huskies be howling in victory after an all-around excellent showing by their offense and defense or will they be stampeded by a herd of wild Buffaloes?

My pick: Washington

2. ACC Championship: #3 Clemson Tigers vs. Virginia Tech Hokies: 12/3 at 8 p.m. on ABC  

Will the Tigers maul the Hokies?  Definitely!

My pick: Clemson

3. Unofficial Big 12 Championship Game: #10 Oklahoma State Cowboys @ #8 Oklahoma Sooners: 12/3 at 12:30 p.m. on FOX

Although not officially a championship game, this annual rivalry game happens to feature the top teams in the Big 12 Conference.  Will the Sooners roll their covered wagons over the Cowboys or will the Cowboys avoid being run over and shoot the wheels off Oklahoma's outside playoff chances?

My pick: Oklahoma   

 

Week 12 2016

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch 

1.  #11 Oklahoma State Cowboys @ TCU Horned Frogs 

After a short burst of scoring late in the first quarter, TCU found themselves trailing by a score of 7-6 thanks to a blocked extra point.  The Cowboys tallied a field goal with 3 minutes left in the 2nd  quarter, giving the Horned Frogs plenty of time to score before the half.  Running back Kyle Hicks and quarterback Kenny Hill led their team all the way down to the 1 yard line.  On 3rd and goal, they opted for a direct snap to the running back, typically a good play call in the redzone, but Hicks was stopped short of the goal line. TCU opted to go for it on 4th down and went with a direct snap again.  But this time Hicks was looking to pass.  He had a receiver open but completely missed him on the throw.  Why they didn't let their quality quarterback throw it instead is something I'll never understand.

That blunder was the turning point of the game.  Oklahoma State's defense clamped down in the 2nd half and their offense came up big.  The Cowboys scored three touchdowns in the 2nd half and rode off into the sunset with their 9th victory of the year.

Final Score: Oklahoma State 31 TCU 6 

Most Exciting Game of the Week 

#22 Washington State Cougars @ #10 Colorado Buffaloes

For these two teams to be at the top of their respective divisions in the PAC 12 Conference is truly astounding.  Each team is usually the laughingstock of the conference, the team that the mid and upper echelon teams beat up on.  The Cougars managed to get to a bowl game last year, due in large part to the passing skills of quarterback Luke Falk.  With Falk returning this year, Washington State appeared to be in a position to factor somewhat in the PAC 12 title race, but nobody even considered Colorado to be a team to watch.  After a loss to Michigan early in the year, the Buffaloes stampeded their way through the all but one of their games with solid defense and a determined running game, slipping up only slightly in a loss to suddenly hot USC.  Saturday's throwdown looked to be full of loaded fireworks just waiting for a spark.

Points exploded onto the scoreboard in bunches in the first quarter.  After a Washington State punt on the first drive of the game, Colorado drove the ball 81 yards in 12 plays.  The final play of the drive was a 9 yard TD burst by running back Phillip Lindsay, which would not be his last.

On the next possession, a very successful screen pass by Luke Falk and a long run by running back Jamal Morrow got the ball into the redzone for the Cougars.  On the next play, Falk completed a crisp pass to wide receiver Robert Lewis for a 14 yard touchdown.

After two inconsequential drives, the Buffaloes took the ball into Cougars territory.  Then the drive stalled and Colorado found themselves in a 4th and 2 situation.  A 4th down pass by Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau fell incomplete and the Buffaloes turned it over on downs.  Three snaps later, running back Jamal Morrow snuck out of the backfield on a passing play and sped toward the endzone.  Falk threw a perfect pass that fell into the arms of Morrow who took it the rest of the way for a 46 yard TD.

Scoring slowed in the second half for the Cougars and the Buffaloes kept the pressure on. On the third possession of the 2nd quarter, quarterback Sefo Liufau found his rhythm on the ground and through the air, completing 4 of 6 passes and running for 14 yards and a touchdown.

The only points for Washington State in the 2nd quarter was a field goal at the end of a long drive.

In the 3rd quarter, Colorado took the lead and began to wrest control of the game.  Two out of the three Colorado possessions in the 3rd quarter resulted in touchdowns, due to the explosive running of Liufau and running back Phillip Lindsay.  Each scoring drive ended in a Liufau touchdown run.  Sandwiched in between the Buffaloes' TD drives was a 7 play drive by the Cougars which ended in another short touchdown pass by Falk.

The noise level in Colorado's stadium rose slowly louder and louder in the 4th quarter. Now down by 4, Washington State reached the redzone on their next drive but ran out of momentum upon reaching the 18 yard line.  Soon forced into a 4th down, Cougars head coach Mike Leach decided to go for it.  Falk's ensuing pass was caught by Kyle Sweet a yard short of the first down marker.  Sweet attempted to reach the first down but was stopped by a brilliant tackle made by exceptional safety Nick Fisher.  

The crowd was really amped up now, knowing that the Buffaloes were closing in on their first win over a top 25 team in what seemed like forever.  However, the Buffaloes were unable to put the game away, as a minor injury to Liufau turned a potential touchdown drive into only a field goal.  The Cougars were still within a touchdown but the Colorado defense remained locked in and forced Washington State into their only three-and-out of the game.  

The Cougars diminishing hope evaporated when they saw Liufau come back into the game.  Liufau completed 3 of 3 passes on the next drive and shut the door for any potential comeback.  On the 8th play of the drive, Lindsay took the handoff, darted through the gap opened by the offensive line, and blasted into the secondary.  A defender met him at the 5 yard line, but Lindsay kept his legs churning and rumbled into the endzone.  

Four minutes of game clock later, Colorado fans rushed down the hill at one end of the stadium and onto the field to celebrate with a herd of Buffaloes that continue to turn heads.

Final Score: Colorado 38 Washington State 24

Top Games to Watch: Rivalry Week 

1.  #5 Washington Huskies @ #25 Washington State Cougars: 11/25 at 3:30 p.m on FS1

Will the Huskies jump their way back into the championship race with a win over a disappointed Cougars team?  Or will Washington State finally win back the Apple Cup, the trophy that goes to the winner of this game every year, and achieve a gigantic step forward for their program?

My pick: Washington 

2.  #21 Florida Gators @ #16 Florida State Seminoles: 11/26 at 8 p.m on ABC

Will the Gators chomp their way to their 9th win of their season with their potent running game and rock solid defense?  Or will the Seminoles win the Sunshine State rivalry for the 2nd year in a row?

My pick: Florida

3. #3 Michigan Wolverines @ #2 Ohio State Buckeyes: 11/26 at Noon on ABC 

Once again, the Big Game has massive championship implications.  The winner is a virtual lock in my opinion for a playoff spot.  Will the Buckeyes' offense get back to their high scoring ways and forge the path to a playoff spot?  Or will the Wolverines achieve a victory with their great defense and opportunistic offense.

My pick: Ohio State!!!  

Extra Point

Dedicated to my friend BJ

#23 Florida Gators @ #16 LSU Tigers

The Gators trailed 7-3 at halftime, but were fixing to change things.  The Tigers got the ball first in the 2nd half and clawed their way to the Gators' 3 yard line.  On 2nd and Goal, LSU quarterback Danny Etling scrambled to his right, looking to complete a short pass to running back Leonard Fournette.  But Fournette slipped as a result of a legal block and Etling was forced to try to run it in himself.  Etling reached the 1 yard line but was blasted out of bounds by Vosean Joseph  using the hardest tackle I have seen all year. Fournette was tackled in the backfield on the next play and the Tigers chose to kick a field goal.  But the holder fumbled the snap and just barely had enough time to loft a desperation lob into the endzone.  The ball eventually hit the turf and LSU came away with nothing.

Taking possession of the ball at the 2 yard line, the Gators were not in the best position. So, head coach Jim McElwain called a long pass play to try get out of the shadow of their own goal posts.  Gators quarterback Austin Appleby lofted a pass 45 yards down the right sideline to wide receiver Kyrie Cleveland.  Cleveland snagged the ball, shook off an attempted tackle and galloped the rest of the way for a 98 yard touchdown.

After this breathtaking series of events, Florida held a 3 point lead.  Fast forward to 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter, and the Gators had a 16-10 lead.  Once again, LSU reached the redzone on the back of running back Darrius Guice.  After a 2nd and Goal rush by Guice, the Tigers were only 3 feet from a victory.  The 3rd and Goal play was a handoff to the fullback.  The middle of the Gators defensive line pushed through the Tigers offensive line and stopped the fullback for no gain.

Three seconds remained.  4th and Goal.  The game hung in the balance.  The play was a quick pitch to Guice.  The path straight ahead was blocked.  Guice cut to the left and tried to leap in the endzone.  Two Gators knocked him down at the 1/2 yard line.

The Florida players and coaches streamed onto the field, their faces jubilant.  A goal line stand to remember! Hats off to a spectacular defensive effort.

Final Score: Florida 16 LSU 10

My Top 6 

1. Alabama Crimson Tide 

The spot reserved for the team that hogs the championships and are slowly making the championship hunt predictable and increasingly dull.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes 

Although they barely survived a close rivalry game with Michigan State, I can't dock them for getting the job done.

3. Clemson Tigers

They clinched the ACC Atlantic division with win over Wake Forest and look to be a legitimate playoff caliber team. 

4. Michigan Wolverines

A well-coached team with a scary defense and a balanced offense.  Ohio State better be ready for them.

5. Washington Huskies 

Fortunately for the Huskies, somebody did slip up.  Louisville fell flat in a shocking 36-10 loss to the unranked but nonetheless determined Houston Cougars.  Whoever loses the Ohio State-Michigan game will most likely fall out of the top 4 and the Huskies will rise up another spot.

6. Wisconsin Badgers 

A similar team in many respects to Michigan but with less talent and one more loss

Week 11 2016

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch 

1. Baylor Bears @ #11 Oklahoma Sooners 

Baylor as a football program has risen in recent years from Big 12 bottom dweller to national power.  This meteoric rise is due in large part to the play of Heisman trophy winning quarterback Robert Griffin III who is now an NFL quarterback. Equally important was the coaching of Art Briles, whose legacy, however, is now tainted by scandal.  An instance of sexual abuse by one his players went unreported by Briles and certain members of his coaching staff a few years ago. When the truth was discovered and Briles' part in it was verified, the once respected coach was rightfully fired.  His former team is now struggling on defense under their new head coach and are not putting up the points they need to win big games.  And that's exactly what happened in this game.  

After a suffering an terrible 62-22 defeat at home to TCU last week, the Bears had to travel to Oklahoma to battle a Sooners team that has been on a roll since two early season losses.  Oklahoma put up double digits in every quarter, as quarterback Baker Mayfield and running back Joe Mixon torched the Baylor defense.  Thanks to 10 straight points in the 2nd quarter, Baylor only trailed by 11 at the half.  But Baylor's hopes of keeping this game close were dashed when Baylor quarterback Seth Russell was tackled hard and suffered a severe dislocated ankle.  As he was being carted off the field, the Baylor players started to believe that they would not win this game.  Backup quarterback Zach Smith played admirably but the Baylor defense had absolutely no success stopping Mayfield and the Oklahoma offense.

Final Score: Oklahoma 45 Baylor 24

2.  #20 USC Trojans @ #4 Washington Huskies 

Undefeated and off to their best start in years, the Huskies were looking to take a big step towards a possible PAC 12 Championship with a win over the vaunted Trojans.  Washington kicker Cameron Van Winkle and USC kicker Matt Boermeester traded field goals in the first quarter.  The 2nd quarter was lopsided and not in the way the home crowd wanted it to be.  On the Trojans' first possession of the 2nd quarter, quarterback Sam Darnold was on fire.  He completed four passes on four attempts, the last of which was a 13 yard TD pass to wide receiver Darreus Rogers.  Washington managed to get a field goal on their next drive, but Darnold was not done throwing accurate passes.  Although slowed down by 3 incompletions, Darnold used a pair of long throws to receiver Daniel Imatorbhebhe to get the offense close to the endzone.  Running back Ronald Jones Jr. ran it in for the touchdown to extend the Trojans lead to 11.  

Halfway through the 3rd quarter, Washington quarterback Jake Browning lobbed a pass to wide receiver John Ross for an exciting 70 yard touchdown.  The Huskies defense held the Trojans scoreless in the 3rd quarter, but would not be so successful in the 4th.  At the end of a 9 play drive, Darnold fired a short pass to Daniel Imatorbhebhe for a touchdown.  The stingy USC defense only allowed one first down after that and shut down any hopes of a Washington comeback.  They even added a safety at the end of the game.  

Final Score: USC 26 Washington 13

Most Exciting Game of the Week 

Texas Tech Red Raiders @ #13 Oklahoma State Cowboys

In the Big 12 Conference, spread offenses light up the scoreboard week after week.  Whether it is lack of defensive talent or poor coaching few can tell, but the fact remains that Big 12 defenses are unable to stop them most of the time.  But considering that the conference mainly exists in territory once a part of the Old West, Texas and Oklahoma, maybe it's fitting to have a bevy of shootouts every year.

This time it would be the Red Raiders against the Cowboys!  You could almost hear an outlaw yelling, "Get your pistols ready, boys!  We're going to have ourselves a shootout!"

The Cowboys were led by the Sheriff, quarterback Mason Rudolph, and his deputy, running back Justice Hill.   Rudolph, Hill, and the rest of their posse were set to do battle with the Red Raiders outlaw gang and their leader, quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The Cowboys struck first as Rudolph passed for a touchdown and ran for another on consecutive drives.  Mahomes and the Red Raiders fired back with an 11 play, 4 minute drive that ended with a TD scamper by Mahomes.

The next drive for each team resulted in a touchdown, bringing the score to a 21-14 Oklahoma State lead.  On the ensuing drive, a 38 yard completion by Rudolph proved to be a great supplement to 3 carries by Hill for a total of 24 yards.  On the final play of the drive, Hill busted into the endzone emphatically as if to say, "Justice will be done in this town, you outlaw varmits!"

However, the Red Raiders would not back down.  They scored two more touchdowns in the next 9 minutes on a pair of touchdown passes by Mahomes.  The game was tied at 28 at the half and the scoring was far from over.

Bullets in the form of footballs continued to be fired throughout the 3rd quarter. More bullets found their mark for the Cowboys than for the Red Raiders, allowing the Cowboys to build a 10 point lead going into the final quarter. 

But then the Red Raider defense begin to clamp down on the Cowboys offense, not unlike the lawmen getting surrounded in a saloon by villainous outlaws.  The Red Raiders were able to inch slowly closer to the Cowboys, tightening their siege of the saloon.  The Red Raiders scored a field goal early in the 4th quarter and a touchdown with just over a minute left.  The Red Raiders prepared to charge through the saloon doors into overtime for a final shootout.  

But before I get ahead of myself, let me talk about the extra point attempt after the touchdown.  The snap and hold were good but Texas Tech kicker Clayton Hatfield shanked it wide to the right.  The Texas Tech offense stood with their mouths agape, stunned and disappointed at the miss of a routine extra point at the worst possible moment of the game. 

This one point would be the difference.  A bizarre ending to a wild shootout, kinda like a stray bullet bounced off something and killed an outlaw just before they were about to charge into the saloon.  Clayton Hatfield is now about as loved on the Texas Tech campus as the Hatfield were by the McCoys.  

Final Score: Oklahoma State 45 Texas Tech 44

Thank you for joining me on this trip into the Old West.  Yee-haw!!

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 12

1.  #23 Washington State Cougars @ #12 Colorado Buffaloes: TBD

Will the Buffaloes defend their green pastures with a rousing defensive effort and the offense to match or will the Cougars extend their 8 game winning streak with a pivotal road upset?

My pick: Colorado

2.  #13 Oklahoma State Cowboys @  Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs:  11/19 at Noon on FS1

Will the Cowboys come away with another victory in a wild shootout or will their luck run out against the wily Horned Frogs? 

My pick: TCU!!

My Top 6

1. Alabama Crimson Tide 

No comment needed.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes have responded in the best way possible after their surprising loss to Penn State by winning games by a score of 62-3 in back-to-back weeks.  Their jump from #5 to #2 is also due to the fact that former #2 Clemson, #3 Michigan, and #4 Washington all suffered upsets on Saturday.

3. Louisville Cardinals

Lamar Jackson, arguably the most dynamic quarterback in the nation, has led this team into the national spotlight.  By virtue that their only loss was to highly ranked Clemson, while Clemson’s loss was to unranked Pittburgh, Louisville gets the slight edge. 

I would like to see Jackson get a shot to eviscerate the Alabama defense in the playoffs, which I'll admit would be an amazing feat.  But then again every Alabama loss in recent memory has come to a team with a dual-threat quarterback, so you never know.

4. Clemson Tigers

Clemson's loss to Pittburgh on Saturday was due in part to some absolutely horrendous penalty calls by the referees that went against the Tigers.  The first was a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the continuation of a tackle that began before the whistle was blown.  The second was for a pass interference penalty that the ref had no business in calling.  These two penalties helped Pittsburgh to 14 points that I don't believe they would have gotten otherwise.  Yes, some bad plays calls by the Clemson coaches also contributed to the loss, but that doesn't excuse the ridiculous antics of the men dressed like zebras.  Thankfully, Clemson can still get to the ACC Championship Game with a win over Wake Forest on Saturday.  If they win the ACC Championship Game they will almost assuredly be in the top 4. 

5. Michigan Wolverines 

Not too much has changed really for the Wolverines even though they fell out of the top 4.  Beat Ohio State and they're in the playoffs.

6. Washington Huskies 

Their loss to USC could be the undoing of their playoff chances unless Clemson or Louisville trip themselves up.

Week 10 2016

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch

1. #6 Ohio State Buckeyes @ #10 Nebraska Cornhuskers

The Buckeyes took the lead before their offense ever took the field and they never gave it up.  Safety Damon Webb caught a deflected pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown.  Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. responded relatively well by leading his offense on a drive that was long but only resulted in a field goal.  From there, the Ohio State offense took control of the game.  Quarterback J.T. Barrett, running backs Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel, and Ohio State's talented corp of receivers, tore the Nebraska defense to shreds.

The Buckeyes scored on every possession of the first half, scoring three touchdowns and a field goal.  Add that to the defensive touchdown, and the Buckeyes owned a 31-3 lead at the half.  Due to another interception return for a touchdown and more offensive touchdowns, Ohio State managed to double their point total in the second half. Meanwhile, the tough as nails Buckeye defense clamped down on every aspect of Nebraska's offense and didn't allow them to score another point.

Final Score: Ohio State 63 Nebraska 3

This dominating victory will surely look good to the College Football Playoff selection committee. However, the Buckeyes will still have to go through That Team Up North, the Michigan Wolverines to be exact, if they are to reach the playoffs.

2. UCLA Bruins @ #21 Colorado Buffaloes

After consecutive touchdown drives by each team midway through the 1st quarter, it looked like this game could be the high-scoring affair that I thought it would be.  But things can change in a hurry in college football and the offensive production slowed down to a crawl.  At the end of the 3rd quarter, the teams had a whopping 10 points apiece.  Colorado kicker Chris Graham booted a 37 yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to give the Buffaloes their first lead since the 1st quarter.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Bruins were forced to punt yet again.  The UCLA punter kicked it away to Colorado returnman Isaiah Oliver.  Oliver caught it cleanly, took advantage of three excellent blocks, and beat two other defenders to the edge.  He had only the punter left to beat.  The punter whiffed on the tackle, and Oliver soon strode into the end zone.  With that, it was clear the game was done and dusted.

Final Score: Colorado 20 UCLA 10

With this win, Colorado remains atop the PAC 12 South Division standings. Whether this surprising Buffaloes team will be the South Division champions at the end of the year will depend on how they do in their final two games against tough division foes Washington State and Utah.

Most Exciting Game of the Week

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Navy Midshipmen

A football game between Notre Dame and Navy has been an annual tradition since 1927, making it the longest uninterrupted series in college football.  Notre Dame has won the lion-share of the games, including a 43 game winning streak from 1964 to 2006.  On a side note, the game this was actually played on the home field of the Jacksonville Jaguars, partly because Jacksonville is home to three naval bases.  Navy's football stadium is not large enough to accommodate the large crowd that attends this game every year.

Navy's runs the rarely used triple option offense, where nearly every play is on the ground. The quarterback has the option to hand it off to the fullback, run it himself, or pitch it to a running back.  To be successful, the offense needs to gain 3 to 4 yards a play.  Doing that against a weak Notre Dame defense would be that difficult.

The game started off in exciting fashion as Notre Dame quarterback Deshone Kizer led his team down the field on a 10 play 75 yard drive that ended when he threw an excellent 36 yard TD pass to wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr.

It was now time for Navy quarterback Will Worth to have his turn.  After eight productive runs and a personal foul penalty on the Fighting Irish, the Midshipmen were in the redzone.  On each play there are four players in the backfield, the quarterback, two running backs and the full back.  On the ninth play of the drive, Will Worth faked a handoff to the fullback, then ran to the left with running backs Calvin Cass Jr. and Darryl Bonner.  Worth lateraled the ball to Bonner while Calvin Cass Jr. made a block that sprang Bonner for a 16 yard touchdown.

Notre Dame tallied a field goal on their next drive, but the scoring halted for a short time until the middle of the 2nd quarter.  Navy had the ball and the first play was a big one. Will Worth found a gaping hole in the defense and ran 60 yards before being tackled at Notre Dame's 20 yard line.  Seven plays later, Worth barreled into the endzone on a short TD run.

Tired of being a part of losing efforts, Deshone Kizer was determined that the half would have a positive ending for the Irish.  Notre Dame running backs Josh Adams, Tarean Foster, and Dexter Williams also stayed focused and helped ensure the drive got off to a good start with their aggressive running.  Later in the drive, Kizer was the focal point picking up big chunks of yardage with his legs and finished the drive off with a short TD pass to wide receiver Durham Smythe.  Only 30 seconds remained in the half and the Irish had secured themselves a 17-14 lead.

Navy got the ball first in the 3rd quarter and they took full advantage of the opportunity. Running back Chris High converted the first and only 3rd down with a 17 yard rush, but a botched snap backed the Midshipman up two fathoms, I mean yards. But on the next play, Calvin Cass Jr. was rewarded for his key block earlier in the game when he was pitched the ball.  He beat the defense to the edge and ran for a 37 yard touchdown.

North Dame wouldn't go down without a fight, and responded with a 10 play TD drive that culminated in another passing touchdown by Kizer.  Faced with another 3 point deficit, the Navy offense would have to put up more points.  Loss of yardage on first or second down usually spells trouble for any triple option offense.  But that's exactly what happened on the 4th play of the drive when Darryl Bonner was tackled way in the backfield for a six yard loss.  Thankfully for the Midshipmen, Will Worth has also proven himself as a good passer.

He passed on 2nd down to Jamir Tillman for a 9 yard completion, but a subsequent run for a loss of one set up a 4th and 6 punting situation.  Navy punted the ball, but Notre Dame was dealt a 5 yard too many men on the field penalty.  Now faced with a 4th and 1, Navy head coach Ken Niumatololo decided to go for it.  The Navy quarterback proved his worth, pun intended, by muscling forward for a two yard gain.  Navy lost yardage on two other plays of the drive but were able to overcome it with gutsy 3rd down runs. With 12 minutes remaining, Worth scored his second touchdown of the day.

Notre Dame's next drive looked promising but stalled in the redzone.  Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly elected for a field goal try instead of going for it on 4th down.  Kicker Justin Yoon nailed the short field goal but Notre Dame still trailed by a point.  As their style of offense is known to do, Navy got 3 first downs while using up most of the clock. But with 80 seconds left, Navy found themselves in a 4th down bind.  They weren't close enough for their field goal kicker and a punt wouldn't do much in terms of field position. So Coach Niumatololo went for the bold move: attempting a pass.  On the crucial play, Worth fired a pass to wide receiver Jamir Tillman for the game-clinching first down.

Having closed his eyes during the play, Niumatololo breathed a sigh of relief.  For the first time since 2010, the Midshipmen would be able to celebrate a win over the Fighting Irish. Soon the players were reveling in the knowledge that they could now be numbered among the few Navy players who had actually experienced a victory over Notre Dame.

Final Score: Navy 28 Notre Dame 27

Top Two Games to Watch: Week 11

1. #25 Baylor Bears @ #11 Oklahoma Sooners: 11/12 at Noon on ABC

Will this rivalry game result in a 7th straight win for the Sooners or will the Bears claw their way out of a downward trend in which they have lost two straight games?

My pick: Oklahoma 

2.  USC (University of Southern California) Trojans @ #4 Washington Huskies

Will the Huskies remain at the pinnacle of the PAC 12 Conference by beating traditional conference power USC or will the Trojans jump back into PAC 12 title contention with an upset victory?

My pick: Washington

Jonathan's Top Ten

Although the College Football Playoff Committee is in charge of picking the top 4 teams at the end of the year that will make it into the playoff, I though I would put together my own top 10 list.  I will update most if not every week.

1.  Alabama Crimson Tide

Although I dislike the Tide exceedingly, I cannot deny them the top spot.  They have one of the toughest schedules of any team and have not lost a game.  

P.S. To those who missed my first post I ever wrote 3 years ago, it will explain why I will never root for the Tide.  Here's the link: (http://collegefootballrulez.blogspot.com/2013/12/thank-you-auburn.html?m=1)

2.  Clemson Tigers

With head coach Dabo Swinney captaining the ship and spectacular duel threat quarterback Deshaun Watson at the helm, the Tigers have navigated rough waters to reach an undefeated 9-0 record.  They have survived every opponents' best shot, weathering each storm with a combination of efficient offense and determined defense. If Clemson and Alabama keep winning, the Tigers and the Tide will battle each other in the championship game for the second straight year.

3. Michigan Wolverines

The Wolverines are tough and mean, stomping weaker teams into the dust with overpowering defense and an offense that can strike at any moment.  However, other than a close battle with Wisconsin, Michigan has not faced as high a level of competition as Clemson has.  But I still don't envy the coaching staff trying to prepare their players to face this team.

4. Washington Huskies

Athlon Sports Magazine predicted that Washington would have a break out year and boy were they right.  They've beaten the best of the PAC 12 and done it with style.  They blew out a highly regarded Stanford team and went on the road to a loud environment and beat Utah.  I don't think they are as good as the top 3 teams, but they definitely deserve this spot.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes

After suffering an upset loss to Penn State on the road, the Buckeyes beat a pesky Northwestern team by 10.  They followed that up by running over Nebraska.  Just like two years ago when they won the championship, Ohio State is climbing steadily back toward into playoff contention.

6. Louisville Cardinals

Although the Cardinals are led by the amazing athlete known as Lamar Jackson, a dynamic quarterback that has made mincemeat of defenses all year, I believe Ohio State is just a hair better because of how firmly they crushed Nebraska.  Louisville will need help if they are to make the playoffs.

7. Auburn Tigers

Auburn powerful running game, fueled by a stable of running backs, has sparked a rebirth of the Tigers football program.  Additionally, quarterback Sean White, not to be confused with the famous snowboarder, leads the SEC in passing efficiency.  Their defense might be just as good as LSU's, a team that just held Alabama to only 10 points. The Tide better be ready to face these Tigers. 

8.  Wisconsin Badgers

 

The Badgers have a solid running game and a good defense but I don't think they'll be making the playoffs this year.

9. Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners have a great offense but a lackluster defense.  Their two losses at the start of the year are like a stone tied to their feet concerning their playoff chances.

10.  West Virginia Mountaineers

Sneaking in at #10 are the West Virginia Mountaineers.  I probably would have had them at #8 had they not lost to talented but usually underwhelming Oklahoma State.  They are a good team worthy of a spot in a quality bowl game.