HUSKERS HUFF & THEY PUFF BUT TEXAS STILL STANDING, BUCKEYES EXPOSED, GATORS TOO & HOW 'BOUT THEM TIGERS?
So the Nebraska Cornhuskers & their fans have bitched & complained about their "unfair treatment" from the Big-12 & how they got screwed in the conference title game last year. But mostly it's the Texas Longhorns that have rubbed the Huskers the wrong way. We've heard for months about "red-demtion" & the world-wide "red-out" for Saturday, October 16th. It was going to be get-even time with those crummy Longhorns. Freshman Taylor Martinez was being discussed as a Heisman contender after shredding the likes of Washington & Kansas State. There was just no way Texas could mount a drive & score on the dreaded Nebraska Blackshirt Defense. They ran stories of Husker fans who came from as far away as Thailand to witness the revenge game of the century. Well mighty Husker huffed & he puffed & when he was blue in the face & could blow no more, the Texas Longhorns had notched their ninth win against Nebraska in their last ten games, 20-13. Oh, it was ugly, Nebraska QB's combined for an 8 of 21 day passing. I did say quarterbacks, meaning Martinez was yanked midway thru the 3rd quarter after putting the ball on the ground for the 3rd time. No more 200-yard games either, Martinez was held to a pitiful 21 yards on 13 carries. Bo Pelini's revenge squad kicked in 10 penalties for 94-yards. Considering the Huskers were held to 202 total yards, those penalties really hurt. Texas didn't look too hot either, but sophomore QB Garrett Gilbert was able to run for 71-yards & 2 touchdowns. The receivers for both teams were pathetic, dropping 7 passes, 4 of which probably would have been touchdowns. Mack Browns has never lost 3-straight as the Longhorns' coach, they had won 8 of the last 9 with Nebraska & yet people were willing to lay ten points on a Cornhusker team led by a freshman QB with a fumbling issue. All of a sudden the Huskers look almost vulnerable, let's see how they rebound with a trip to unbeaten Oklahoma State next Saturday.
Top-ranked Ohio State got exposed tonight by the 18th rated Wisconsin Badgers 31-18. Wisconsin jumped out to a 21-0 lead & then stood around until midway thru the 4th quarter when Ohio State had pulled within 21-18. They responded to the wake-up call & marched right down the field to score a touchdown & after an interception, kicked the clinching field goal. Please, please, I beg you, no more Terrelle Pryor for Heisman talk. He's not even an average passer, inaccurate, floats the ball when he should throw it on a line, cannot throw the ball while moving left & for such a big guy, he goes down pretty easily in the pocket. If Alabama fell to #8 after losing to South Carolina, the Buckeyes ought to fall out of the top-10 as well as any consideration for the BCS title game. People mock Boise State? They'd pummel the Buckeyes.
Speaking of #3 ranked Boise State, they took care of business tonight, dispatching San Jose State 48-0. The Broncos held SJS to just 80-yards of total offense & minus-12 yards on the ground. Boise QB Kellen Moore went 14 of 16 for 231 yards & 2 scores. In the past two seasons, Moore has thrown 53-touchdown passes against just 4 interceptions. Ridiculous. Look for Boise to open the first BCS Poll, released tomorrow night on ESPN at 7:15, in the top-3.
Another "BCS Buster", 4th ranked TCU, also went about their business, doing what was required by beating BYU 31-3. Horned Frogs' QB Andy Dalton threw four touchdown passes on a 24 for 36 night. The November 6th matchup with unbeaten Utah for the Mountain West Conference crown looms big down the road.
Oklahoma looked like the 6th ranked team in the land pounding out 672-yards of total offense on the way to a 52-0 win over Iowa State. The Sooners travel to Columbia Missouri next week to battle the Tigers on the ABC Saturday night national TV game. I'm beginning to believe the Big-12 is wide open right now, there are five teams that could win this conference.
Seventh ranked Auburn found themselves in a shootout against Arkansas. The Razorbacks lost QB Ryan Mallett to a concussion but his backup, Tyler Wilson, blew up the Auburn defense for 332-yards passing & 4 touchdown passes. Arkansas found themselves ahead 43-37 early in the 4th quarter......& then the roof caved in, Auburn scored 28-unanswered points in just 5:08. The 65-43 score marked the most points ever scored in an SEC conference game. It was really sad to watch after the Razorbacks had fought so valiantly to get smothered so quickly. Auburn QB Cam Newton rushed for 188-yards & 3 scores while completing 10 of 14 for 140 yards & another TD. Unbeaten Auburn takes on 7-0 LSU next Saturday as the SEC will begin to sort itself out, Auburn's the better team, but LSU is mighty lucky.
LSU extended their unbeaten season to 7-0 by beating McNeese State 32-10. LSU was probably looking ahead to the Auburn matchup, they didn't play very well, but what's new?
Tenth-ranked South Carolina, fresh off their two-touchdown win over #1 Alabama, traveled to Lexington Kentucky to play the Wildcats. Steve Spurrier was 17-0 lifetime against Kentucky, but SC hadn't coverend a game in Lexington in over a decade. The Gamecocks were cruising 28-10 at half, cruising being the operative word, but they were stuck in cruise control during the 2nd half, not adding to their advantage. Meanwhile the Wildcats scored 7 in the 3rd Qtr & then 14 in the 4th, the winning touchdown coming with 1:15 left in the game on a 24-yard pass to Randall Cobb. Kentucky's Marcus Lattimore totaled 212-yards & 3 touchdowns on just 19-touches running & receiving. The SEC East is a mess, everyone has at least two losses while the West has unbeaten LSU & Auburn & 1-loss Alabama.
Speaking of the SEC East, #22 Florida's humiliation continued tonight, losing at home to Mississippi State 10-7. It was the Gator's 3rd straight defeat, a new low for Urban Meyer. The Bulldogs pulled off this road upset despite QB Chris Relf's hideous passing performance. He completed just 4 of 9 passes for 33-yards. Florida started shaky & has gotten worse as the season progressed. They are officially out of contention for anything meaningful for the first time in many, many years.
Alabama bounced back to defeat Ole Miss 23-10. Nothing exceptional, the Crimson Tide just did what they had to do, they're still the best team in the SEC in my eyes. With games remaining at LSU & Auburn, the Tide can salvage their season yet.
What appears to be the best team in the Big-10, #13 Michigan State, moved to 7-0 with a 26-6 win over hapless Illinois. Since the Spartans don't play Ohio State & have already beaten Wisconsin, their trip to Iowa on October 30th is the most important game in the Big Ten this season. After 15th ranked Iowa ran their record to 5-1, beating Michigan in the Big House 38-28, they now face back-to-back games with Wisconsin & Michigan State in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes then have a trip to Evansville to play the pesky Northwestern Wildcats & then home to play a wounded Ohio State.
So I made a wager on the over between Oklahoma State & Texas Tech. Looked great for a half but after intermission the game turned into a turnover fiesta, OK State throwing two redzone picks & the Red Raiders fumbling away two chances inside OSU territory, plus Tech failed to convert a 4th & 1 at the Cowboy 3 late in the game. It all spelled doom for yours truly but Oklahoma State remains undefeated & they play the very angry, but somewhat impotent, Nebraska Cornhuskers in Stillwater next. Can't see the Cowboys remaining undefeated as they still have to visit Texas & host the Sooners if they can get by Nebraska. By the by, I mentioned a player I'm watching very closely, Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. He had another outstanding game against Tech, catching 10 passes for 207-yards & a touchdown, his twelfth in just 6-games.
How about them Mizzou Tigers???? As a 3 1/2 point underdog, the Tigers visited Texas A&M & were very rude to their hosts, beating the Aggies 30-9. Mizzou QB Blaine Gabbert came into the game with a hip pointer & was heavily padded but it didn't seem to bother him as completed 10-passes to both TE Michael Egnew & WR Wes Kemp. Kemp caught 2 touchdowns & WR T.J. Moe added 6 catches & a touchdown. The Mizzou defense was superb, holding the Aggies scoreless for over 42-minutes. Even without pass rush specialist Aldon Smith, the Tigers, led by DE Brad Madison(3 sacks) sacked Aggie QB Jerrod Johnson 6 times. Johnson had been plagued by turnovers, 18 in the past four games, but he protected the ball better on Saturday, he just couldn't get his team in the endzone. The Tigers will now go home to face Oklahoma & one of them will no longer be undefeated. How exciting.
In other Saturday news, Oregon State coach Mike Riley showed once again he has major cojones. After scoring a touchdown in the 2nd overtime at Washington, Riley decided to go for 2 to win the game right there. QB Ryan Katz's throw to WR Joe Halahuni fell incomplete & the Huskies went home a winner, 35-34.
I told you in my Saturday Plays post, the Nevada Wolfpack had not won at Hawaii since 1948. They still haven't, the #19 ranked Wolfpack went down to the Rainbow Warriors 27-21. I had Hawaii +7 points, so with my Mizzou & Texas wagers, I had a pretty good birthday, despite the turnoverpalooza down in Lubbock. Cinnamon rolls for breakfast, really hot, hot wings for lunch & a nice salad with a Marco's Pizza for dinner. All served in the comfort of the TV bunker. Also made special because Linda & Ron were there thru the whole day & evening & the Chiefster too.
Leaning toward three more underdogs tomorrow, Baltimore, Atlanta & Kansas City. If the spreads don't get blown up, I'll play all three. I'll let you know in the morning. Sixteen hours of this is enough, bedtime.
Top-ranked Ohio State got exposed tonight by the 18th rated Wisconsin Badgers 31-18. Wisconsin jumped out to a 21-0 lead & then stood around until midway thru the 4th quarter when Ohio State had pulled within 21-18. They responded to the wake-up call & marched right down the field to score a touchdown & after an interception, kicked the clinching field goal. Please, please, I beg you, no more Terrelle Pryor for Heisman talk. He's not even an average passer, inaccurate, floats the ball when he should throw it on a line, cannot throw the ball while moving left & for such a big guy, he goes down pretty easily in the pocket. If Alabama fell to #8 after losing to South Carolina, the Buckeyes ought to fall out of the top-10 as well as any consideration for the BCS title game. People mock Boise State? They'd pummel the Buckeyes.
Speaking of #3 ranked Boise State, they took care of business tonight, dispatching San Jose State 48-0. The Broncos held SJS to just 80-yards of total offense & minus-12 yards on the ground. Boise QB Kellen Moore went 14 of 16 for 231 yards & 2 scores. In the past two seasons, Moore has thrown 53-touchdown passes against just 4 interceptions. Ridiculous. Look for Boise to open the first BCS Poll, released tomorrow night on ESPN at 7:15, in the top-3.
Another "BCS Buster", 4th ranked TCU, also went about their business, doing what was required by beating BYU 31-3. Horned Frogs' QB Andy Dalton threw four touchdown passes on a 24 for 36 night. The November 6th matchup with unbeaten Utah for the Mountain West Conference crown looms big down the road.
Oklahoma looked like the 6th ranked team in the land pounding out 672-yards of total offense on the way to a 52-0 win over Iowa State. The Sooners travel to Columbia Missouri next week to battle the Tigers on the ABC Saturday night national TV game. I'm beginning to believe the Big-12 is wide open right now, there are five teams that could win this conference.
Seventh ranked Auburn found themselves in a shootout against Arkansas. The Razorbacks lost QB Ryan Mallett to a concussion but his backup, Tyler Wilson, blew up the Auburn defense for 332-yards passing & 4 touchdown passes. Arkansas found themselves ahead 43-37 early in the 4th quarter......& then the roof caved in, Auburn scored 28-unanswered points in just 5:08. The 65-43 score marked the most points ever scored in an SEC conference game. It was really sad to watch after the Razorbacks had fought so valiantly to get smothered so quickly. Auburn QB Cam Newton rushed for 188-yards & 3 scores while completing 10 of 14 for 140 yards & another TD. Unbeaten Auburn takes on 7-0 LSU next Saturday as the SEC will begin to sort itself out, Auburn's the better team, but LSU is mighty lucky.
LSU extended their unbeaten season to 7-0 by beating McNeese State 32-10. LSU was probably looking ahead to the Auburn matchup, they didn't play very well, but what's new?
Tenth-ranked South Carolina, fresh off their two-touchdown win over #1 Alabama, traveled to Lexington Kentucky to play the Wildcats. Steve Spurrier was 17-0 lifetime against Kentucky, but SC hadn't coverend a game in Lexington in over a decade. The Gamecocks were cruising 28-10 at half, cruising being the operative word, but they were stuck in cruise control during the 2nd half, not adding to their advantage. Meanwhile the Wildcats scored 7 in the 3rd Qtr & then 14 in the 4th, the winning touchdown coming with 1:15 left in the game on a 24-yard pass to Randall Cobb. Kentucky's Marcus Lattimore totaled 212-yards & 3 touchdowns on just 19-touches running & receiving. The SEC East is a mess, everyone has at least two losses while the West has unbeaten LSU & Auburn & 1-loss Alabama.
Speaking of the SEC East, #22 Florida's humiliation continued tonight, losing at home to Mississippi State 10-7. It was the Gator's 3rd straight defeat, a new low for Urban Meyer. The Bulldogs pulled off this road upset despite QB Chris Relf's hideous passing performance. He completed just 4 of 9 passes for 33-yards. Florida started shaky & has gotten worse as the season progressed. They are officially out of contention for anything meaningful for the first time in many, many years.
Alabama bounced back to defeat Ole Miss 23-10. Nothing exceptional, the Crimson Tide just did what they had to do, they're still the best team in the SEC in my eyes. With games remaining at LSU & Auburn, the Tide can salvage their season yet.
What appears to be the best team in the Big-10, #13 Michigan State, moved to 7-0 with a 26-6 win over hapless Illinois. Since the Spartans don't play Ohio State & have already beaten Wisconsin, their trip to Iowa on October 30th is the most important game in the Big Ten this season. After 15th ranked Iowa ran their record to 5-1, beating Michigan in the Big House 38-28, they now face back-to-back games with Wisconsin & Michigan State in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes then have a trip to Evansville to play the pesky Northwestern Wildcats & then home to play a wounded Ohio State.
So I made a wager on the over between Oklahoma State & Texas Tech. Looked great for a half but after intermission the game turned into a turnover fiesta, OK State throwing two redzone picks & the Red Raiders fumbling away two chances inside OSU territory, plus Tech failed to convert a 4th & 1 at the Cowboy 3 late in the game. It all spelled doom for yours truly but Oklahoma State remains undefeated & they play the very angry, but somewhat impotent, Nebraska Cornhuskers in Stillwater next. Can't see the Cowboys remaining undefeated as they still have to visit Texas & host the Sooners if they can get by Nebraska. By the by, I mentioned a player I'm watching very closely, Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. He had another outstanding game against Tech, catching 10 passes for 207-yards & a touchdown, his twelfth in just 6-games.
How about them Mizzou Tigers???? As a 3 1/2 point underdog, the Tigers visited Texas A&M & were very rude to their hosts, beating the Aggies 30-9. Mizzou QB Blaine Gabbert came into the game with a hip pointer & was heavily padded but it didn't seem to bother him as completed 10-passes to both TE Michael Egnew & WR Wes Kemp. Kemp caught 2 touchdowns & WR T.J. Moe added 6 catches & a touchdown. The Mizzou defense was superb, holding the Aggies scoreless for over 42-minutes. Even without pass rush specialist Aldon Smith, the Tigers, led by DE Brad Madison(3 sacks) sacked Aggie QB Jerrod Johnson 6 times. Johnson had been plagued by turnovers, 18 in the past four games, but he protected the ball better on Saturday, he just couldn't get his team in the endzone. The Tigers will now go home to face Oklahoma & one of them will no longer be undefeated. How exciting.
In other Saturday news, Oregon State coach Mike Riley showed once again he has major cojones. After scoring a touchdown in the 2nd overtime at Washington, Riley decided to go for 2 to win the game right there. QB Ryan Katz's throw to WR Joe Halahuni fell incomplete & the Huskies went home a winner, 35-34.
I told you in my Saturday Plays post, the Nevada Wolfpack had not won at Hawaii since 1948. They still haven't, the #19 ranked Wolfpack went down to the Rainbow Warriors 27-21. I had Hawaii +7 points, so with my Mizzou & Texas wagers, I had a pretty good birthday, despite the turnoverpalooza down in Lubbock. Cinnamon rolls for breakfast, really hot, hot wings for lunch & a nice salad with a Marco's Pizza for dinner. All served in the comfort of the TV bunker. Also made special because Linda & Ron were there thru the whole day & evening & the Chiefster too.
Leaning toward three more underdogs tomorrow, Baltimore, Atlanta & Kansas City. If the spreads don't get blown up, I'll play all three. I'll let you know in the morning. Sixteen hours of this is enough, bedtime.
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