SATURDAY WRAP-UP & MY PRO PLAYS
Since I'm a Big-12 guy, I'm going to start with the mess that is the Big-12 North. After today's action, Kansas State is in 1st place at 3-1. Kansas freakin' State! Iowa State is 2nd at 2-2. For the first time since the Carter Administration, the Iowa State Cyclones beat Nebraska at Lincoln. The Cornhuskers turned the ball over 8 times. This was game one of the Big-12 North "ugly triple header". Kansas looked just awful getting hammered at home by Oklahoma, 35-13. Playing without TE Jermaine Gresham, QB Sam Bradford & RB DeMarco Murray, half of their skill position starters, OU was never in danger in this game. Since Coach Mark Mangino mentioned his quarterback, Todd Reesing, should be in the running for the Heisman Trophy, they lost both games & Reesing has been terrible in both. Texas beat knots on Mizzou tonight, 41-7 & it wasn't as close as the score might indicate. Coach Gary Pinkel insists on playing injured QB Blaine Gabbert. His ankle sprain hasn't heeled & yet Pinkel trots him out there to get mauled. He isn't helping his team & his team, with the exception of Danario Alexander, Will Ebner & Sean Weatherspoon, looked under coached, under motivated & totally out classed. What can you say about Texas A&M? They get lit up by Arkansas, 47-19, were crushed by Kansas State last week, 62-14, so did anyone expect them to win in Lubbock today against Texas Tech? Not only did they win, but they punished the Red Raiders, 52-30. I have seen every single televised Big-12 game this season & of 2 things I am certain, this conference is all about OU & Texas & somewhere, off in the distance, are the other 10 teams. You could rename this conference the Big-2 + 10 also-rans.
The number 1 & 2 teams in the country, Alabama & Florida both squeaked out a win. 'Bama won by blocking a last second Tennessee field goal attempt preserving a 12-10 victory. The Crimson Tide's nose tackle, All-American Shaun Cody, blocked it along with another. Tennessee played very inspired defense, but in the end, they couldn't overcome 4 Leigh Tiffen field goals. Another controversial call in an SEC game involving Florida reared it's ugly head tonight. Gator cornerback Dustin Doe, intercepted a pass & as he neared the goaline, wide receiver Brandon McRae, knocked the ball out of his hand & covered it in the endzone. The play was ruled a touchdown by the game officials. After review, the play stood. I didn't think it was a touchdown at full speed, I didn't think it was a touchdown after watching it on several replays. But when ESPN racked up twin replays, running them side-by-side, there was no doubt it was a fumble & touchback. The score at this time was Florida 23 Mississippi State 13 with 8:50 left to play. I'm tired of watching the zebra's give Florida a helping hand when they're struggling. If the SEC hands down another apology to a Gator opponent, Vegas ought to take them off the board, way too many coincidences. I'm not saying it was the difference in the game, it wasn't, but it made their lead almost insurmountable. C'mon guys, what's fair is fair.
Notre Dame escaped again, 20-16 over Boston College. Second string QB Dave Shinskie out gained Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen, but he threw 3 picks, the last one Irish territory in the last minute of the game. They take on 1-6 Washington State next week before 6-2 Navy & 7-1 Pitt. Can they keep up the Houdini act?
USC & Oregon head toward their showdown next Saturday in Eugene winning Saturday. Oregon crushed Washington 43-19 & USC hung on to defeat Oregon State, 42-36. Even tho both teams have 4 games remaining after this game, whoever wins is certainly in the driver's seat for the PAC-10 title. USC smoked the Ducks last year 44-10, the week after they were embarrassed by Oregon State. This should be a knock-down-drag-out battle.
For as much as a lot of the media wants USC to be ranked higher than they deserve, The teams in front of them in the BCS Poll, Boise State, Cincinnati & Iowa all won. Boise & Cincy by blowouts & Iowa, on the last play of the game. QB Ricky Stansi took the snap with 2-seconds left & threw a touchdown pass to WR Marvin McNutt on a slant pattern to win the game 15-13. Iowa controls their own destiny, if they beat Ohio State in Columbus November 14th & whip 3 other stiffs at home, they are Big-10 Champions & guaranteed a BCS Bowl invitation. Iowa is a tough team, both mentally & physically.
TCU, #8 in the BCS Poll, went to BYU tonight & beat big knots on the Cougars 38-7. Every time I watch Gary Patterson's team, I'm so impressed by their defense. If you get to see the Horned Frogs on TV, put an eyeball on #98, DE Jerry Hughes, a great pass rusher & a motor that never stops.
I ended up with Houston, Boise State & the over in the OU-KU game, so I won 2 of 3. I chickened out on Michigan & I didn't bet Iowa either. Here's my pro plays:
Green Bay(-7) at Cleveland
Cleveland had over 10 players out with the flu this week, but most are supposed to play tomorrow, even tho they missed several practices. Green Bay skunked Detroit 26-0 last week & the Browns have only scored 3 offensive touchdowns in their last 8 games.
Chicago(+3) at Cincinnati
Bengal running back Cedric Benson, cut last season by the Bears, has said he has some "unfinished business" with the Bears. Never threaten a team as good as the Bears. Even without Brian Urlacher, Pisa Tinoisamoa & possibly DT Tommie Harris, I like the Bears here. Cincy has lost their leading pass rusher, Antwan Odom & they're banged up across their defensive front. When a game looks to be very close, I'll take the underdog most of the time. I'm taking the Bears here.
I also like Kansas City, Atlanta & Pittsburgh, but there's something about each one of them that will keep me uninvolved. If by chance, the Falcon-Cowboy game goes to 4 1/2, I'll take the Falcons, I just don't see Dallas making this their 1st signature win this season.
The number 1 & 2 teams in the country, Alabama & Florida both squeaked out a win. 'Bama won by blocking a last second Tennessee field goal attempt preserving a 12-10 victory. The Crimson Tide's nose tackle, All-American Shaun Cody, blocked it along with another. Tennessee played very inspired defense, but in the end, they couldn't overcome 4 Leigh Tiffen field goals. Another controversial call in an SEC game involving Florida reared it's ugly head tonight. Gator cornerback Dustin Doe, intercepted a pass & as he neared the goaline, wide receiver Brandon McRae, knocked the ball out of his hand & covered it in the endzone. The play was ruled a touchdown by the game officials. After review, the play stood. I didn't think it was a touchdown at full speed, I didn't think it was a touchdown after watching it on several replays. But when ESPN racked up twin replays, running them side-by-side, there was no doubt it was a fumble & touchback. The score at this time was Florida 23 Mississippi State 13 with 8:50 left to play. I'm tired of watching the zebra's give Florida a helping hand when they're struggling. If the SEC hands down another apology to a Gator opponent, Vegas ought to take them off the board, way too many coincidences. I'm not saying it was the difference in the game, it wasn't, but it made their lead almost insurmountable. C'mon guys, what's fair is fair.
Notre Dame escaped again, 20-16 over Boston College. Second string QB Dave Shinskie out gained Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen, but he threw 3 picks, the last one Irish territory in the last minute of the game. They take on 1-6 Washington State next week before 6-2 Navy & 7-1 Pitt. Can they keep up the Houdini act?
USC & Oregon head toward their showdown next Saturday in Eugene winning Saturday. Oregon crushed Washington 43-19 & USC hung on to defeat Oregon State, 42-36. Even tho both teams have 4 games remaining after this game, whoever wins is certainly in the driver's seat for the PAC-10 title. USC smoked the Ducks last year 44-10, the week after they were embarrassed by Oregon State. This should be a knock-down-drag-out battle.
For as much as a lot of the media wants USC to be ranked higher than they deserve, The teams in front of them in the BCS Poll, Boise State, Cincinnati & Iowa all won. Boise & Cincy by blowouts & Iowa, on the last play of the game. QB Ricky Stansi took the snap with 2-seconds left & threw a touchdown pass to WR Marvin McNutt on a slant pattern to win the game 15-13. Iowa controls their own destiny, if they beat Ohio State in Columbus November 14th & whip 3 other stiffs at home, they are Big-10 Champions & guaranteed a BCS Bowl invitation. Iowa is a tough team, both mentally & physically.
TCU, #8 in the BCS Poll, went to BYU tonight & beat big knots on the Cougars 38-7. Every time I watch Gary Patterson's team, I'm so impressed by their defense. If you get to see the Horned Frogs on TV, put an eyeball on #98, DE Jerry Hughes, a great pass rusher & a motor that never stops.
I ended up with Houston, Boise State & the over in the OU-KU game, so I won 2 of 3. I chickened out on Michigan & I didn't bet Iowa either. Here's my pro plays:
Green Bay(-7) at Cleveland
Cleveland had over 10 players out with the flu this week, but most are supposed to play tomorrow, even tho they missed several practices. Green Bay skunked Detroit 26-0 last week & the Browns have only scored 3 offensive touchdowns in their last 8 games.
Chicago(+3) at Cincinnati
Bengal running back Cedric Benson, cut last season by the Bears, has said he has some "unfinished business" with the Bears. Never threaten a team as good as the Bears. Even without Brian Urlacher, Pisa Tinoisamoa & possibly DT Tommie Harris, I like the Bears here. Cincy has lost their leading pass rusher, Antwan Odom & they're banged up across their defensive front. When a game looks to be very close, I'll take the underdog most of the time. I'm taking the Bears here.
I also like Kansas City, Atlanta & Pittsburgh, but there's something about each one of them that will keep me uninvolved. If by chance, the Falcon-Cowboy game goes to 4 1/2, I'll take the Falcons, I just don't see Dallas making this their 1st signature win this season.
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