The 2o21 college football regular season is getting close to it’s finish line, but there are still some hurdles for teams to jump through before making their victory lap.
Remaining Schedule for the top 10.
#1 Georgia – Tennessee, Charleston Southern, and Georgia Tech. Of all the top 10 teams, the dogs probably have the clearest path to the playoff, even if they lose the SEC Championship game, they’re a lock.
#2 Cincinnati– USF, SMU, and ECU. Just keep winning and you will have a seat at the table.
#3 Alabama – New Mexico St, Arkansas, and Auburn. The Tide need to finish strong in November. I haven’t thrown in the towel on Saban’s team but they need to play discipline football from here on out.
#4 Oklahoma– Baylor, Iowa St, and Oklahoma St. The Sooners have a tough November schedule. All three remaining opponents are capable of beating the Sooners. Can coach Riley keep his team focused?
#5 Oregon – Washington St, Utah, and Oregon St. – The Ducks have been a fun team to watch this season. Even with the one asterisk(Stanford loss) they have a nice win against Ohio St in Columbus and that is not easy to do. If Oregon can win out and win the Pac-12, they should be in the dance.
#6 Ohio St.- Perdue, Michigan St, and Michigan. – This might not be the most dominant buckeye team, but they just find ways to win. However, the last three games could spell trouble. I see another loss, possibly to Michigan. Then again, it is Michigan and they seem to rise to the occasion against the Wolverines.
#7 Notre Dame – Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Stanford. – The Irish seem to always find a way in the playoff. Even with one loss, there’s still a chance for them to squeeze in. They just need to win and win decisively.
#8 Michigan St – Maryland, Ohio St, and Penn St. – The Spartans were sitting pretty last week in the first playoff rankings and I think it got to their head because Perdue brought them down to reality. However, they can still make it if they win out.
#9 Michigan – Penn St, Maryland, and Ohio St. – The Wolverines have more than likely lost their chance for the playoff. However, the one possible redemptive outcome left is beating Ohio St and there is a good chance they can.
#10 Oklahoma St.- TCU, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma. One word- Bedlam. The Cowboys should take care of the horn frogs and red raiders. If they can upset the Sooners, man o man, that would create chaos.
The good news for all of these teams is that there is still time to finish strong. The bad news is in the end, only 4 teams are getting into the playoff. With that said, it’s going to be a wild finish. I look at the Iron Bowl, Bedlam, and Ohio St/Michigan during rivalry week- the winner of those games will for almost certainly help them get into their conference championship game. Win that game, and you could be in the playoff.
There’s still a lot of football to be played but the margin of error is very, very slim. Who will come out on top and who is on the outside looking in? Stay tuned!
Today, there are a few teams that better have eyes in the back of their heads or they could get caught watching the paint dry.
Wake Forest vs. UNC at 12 PM – The Demon Deacons are having a banner season. They’re currently 8-0 for the first time in program history. And, they’re in the AP top ten for the first time in history. This has a lot to do with the Quarterback play from Sam Hartman. The Sophomore has thrown for 2,475 yards and 22 touchdowns. Also, the offense is averaging 40 points a game. It’s an incredible stat for a team that struggled to get three wins two years ago. Times are good the team out of Winston-Salem, but they better come ready for a fight as they take on North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The Tar heels aren’t having a banner season, as they’re currently 4-4. It’s not a shock though, as they lost most of their firepower to the draft and grduation last year. They do however still have Quarterback Sam Howell, who has had a solid season so far. Howell has thrown for 2,192 yards and 19 touchdowns. His stats are comparable to Hartman’s and I think today you will see a shootout. The question is, who is be able to get the turnovers/stops on defense?
Michigan St vs. Perdueat 3:30 PM– Heisman candidate Kenneth Walker III and the undefeated Spartans look to keep the W column going as they take on a very good boiler maker team who has already taken down an undefeated team in Iowa. This has the makings of an upset all over it. Sparty better come out guns blazing and play solid defense. They can’t afford to let Perdue to get in any rhythm on offense or it could be trouble for Michigan State.
Navy vs. Notre Dame at 3:30 PM– The Irish are still in the playoff hunt. They have only one loss and that is to undefeated Cincinnati and that was at home. Today they will face Navy and their option offense. The Irish only see this offense once a year. Even though Navy is struggling this year, the Irish cannot afford to play undisciplined or it could be a long day in South Bend. I expect Notre Dame to win but the offense they’re playing will slow down the game and force them to make precise decisions.
Other notable games:
LSU vs. Alabamaat 7:00 PM – Bama looks to stay in the playoff hunt has the Tigers come to spoil their day. Look for Bryce Young to have a big game for the Tide.
Tulsa vs. Cincinnati at 3:30 Pm – The Bearcats get the spotlight today and another chance to prove to the playoff committee and world that they belong with the big boys. Cincy needs a decisive win.
Liberty vs. Ole Miss at 12:00 PM– Hugh Freeze returns to the grove but he probably won’t get the red carpet treatment. Ole Miss defense will be the key in this game.
Auburn vs. Texas a&mat 3:30 PM – The aggies host the tigers for an sec showdown. A&M has been great with the ground game since their Bama win. Auburn has been running it well too. Defense might take a back seat today.
Clemson vs. Louisville at 7:30 PM- Clemson is still struggling on offense but their defense is keeping them in games. Will Shipley has been a breath of fresh air as well. D.J. will need to be sharp for the Tigers tonight.
USC vs. Notre Dame isn’t the oldest rivalry in college football but it’s certainly one of the best. With a combined 39 National Championships and 14 Heisman Trophy winners, it’s easy to see why it’s held in such high esteem. The two teams have been playing since 1926, with the Irish leading the series 47-37-5.
Here’s a recap of a few instant classics:
1988– #1 Notre Dame comes to the Coliseum to take on #2 USC, the first and only time they have been ranked as such, without their RB stars Ricky Waters and Tony Brooks due to being suspended by coach Lou Holtz. The Trojans have a record sell-out crowd for the game, hoping the 12th man would give them an advantage. However, it was the Irish defense lead by DE Frank Starns who contained USC QB Rodney Peete and the Trojan offense. Irish went onto win the National Championship that season.
2005– The 05 edition came down to the wire . The Trojans came into South Bend ranked first in the nation while the Irish were surprising everyone with their potent offense created by new head coach Charlie Weis who previously was offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. Both teams traded blows all game long, and then a crucial 1rst and Goal with 3 seconds left in regulation, Trojan QB Matt Leinart runs up the middle with an extra push by star running back Reggie Bush to lift his teammate in the end zone to secure the win. The game is now known as the “Bush Push”.
This yeas edition might now have the same shine as past years, but it has talent and potential across the board.
Starting at Quarterback for USC is junior Kedon Slovis, who on the season has thrown for 9 touchdowns and 1,519 yards, has been a leader for the men troy, even when he’s had to share the role with Freshman Jaxson Dart. Both young men have good arms, but consistency has been an issue.
Lining up behind them is RB Keontay Ingram and Vavae Malepeai. Both backs have combined for 5 touchdowns and 641 yards rushing. And out on the ends is WR Drake London and Tahj Washington, who have combined for 6 touchdowns and 1109 yards. This is USC’s strength on offense, and rest assured, they will have their chances to get open Saturday.
For the Irish, Jack Coan has been the model of consistency, throwing for 10 touchdowns and 1,208 yards. Coan has been a great fit for the Irish at QB. While he might not have the star power as a Bryce Young or Spencer Rattler, he has been a general for the Irish in the heat of battle. Even banged up, he’s got the job done on offense.
On Defense, DL Isiah Foskey, Justin Ademilola, and Jayson Ademilola have been the bulls up front. They’re a hard trio to block and can create havoc on opposing offenses.
For USC to get the upset, they have to create some turnovers. They have not had much success in the category. And on offense, get in rhythm and find your open receivers. Lastly, establish a run game. That’s been the weakest link for them this year.
And for ND, play to your strengths, which is blitzing on defense and airing it out on offense.
Even if USC is down this season, it’s a rivalry game and that means it’s going to be a grudge match. The game goes down at 7:30 PM on NBC.
Week 7 gave us more upsets and at the same time some clarity on who belongs at the top. Week 7 also saw some familar faces return to some not so welcome cheers and thrown golf balls? Let’s take a look at this past crazy weekend.
#11 Kentucky 13 #1 Georgia 30– The dogs continued their defensive dominance on Saturday, allowing only 13 points and 51 yards rushing. The dogs also blocked a field goal and extra point. Kentucky moved the ball fairly well, but could not get many sustained drives. Also, they turned the ball over and you can’t do against a great time like Georgia and expect to win. Dogs are off this weekend and their annual cocktail party with Florida next Saturday.
UCF 21 #3 Cincinnati 56– The Bearcats wasted no time taking care of UCF on Saturday. The Golden Knights could not stop Cincy’s ground game, as RB Jerome Ford ran for 4 touchdowns and 189 yards rushing. QB Desmond Riddler wasn’t asked to do too much, throwing for 1 touchdown and 141 yards. But when you have a great run game, you don’t have to throw often. Cincy faces the triple option on Saturday as Navy host the #3 team in the nation.
#5 Alabama 49 Mississippi 9– The Tide got back on track by thumpping Miss St. 49-9 on Saturday evening. Quarterback Bryce Young threw for 4 touchdowns and 348 yards in the air. Alabama’s defense finally played up to their potential, shutting down the bulldogs to -1 yards rushing and picked off Miss QB Will Rogers 3 times. The Tide host Tennessee this Saturday for the annual “Third Saturday in October”.
Other Scores–
#12 Oklahoma St 32 #25 Texas 24 – Cowboy QB Spencer Sanders ran and threw for a pair of touchdowns on Saturday, helping his team defeat the Longhorns in a Big XII slugfest.
#13 Ole Miss 31 Tennessee 26 – This was a really good game that could have gone either way, but a call late in the game caused the fans in Neyland Stadium to lose all sense of reality and decided to throw debris on the field and even hit Ole Miss Coach Lane Kiffin with a golf ball. That’s a new low for UT. This is why you can’t have nice things.
#20 Florida 42 LSU 49 -This season hasn’t gone the way it should for both of these schools, but LSU doesn’t lose at home much. The gators got torched in the air and on the ground. This was a great offensive productive win for the Tigers. Now they have to find a new coach as coach O is stepping down at the end of the season.
Purdue 24 #2 Iowa 7 – The Hawkeyes must have been on a upset high from last week that it carried over to being upset themselves. Purdue was able to score 24 points and gain 464 yards of offense on a very stingy defense. Iowa now has to get it together for the remainder of the season to get to the B1G title game.
Stock Check
Florida– Trending down– You just lost to 3-3 LSU. Also, you couldn’t stop a team who has had an issue scoring all season and you have #1 Georgia on deck! Mullen better get his team together or it could be a down hill slope for the gators.
Texas – Trending down– That’s two games in a row you lost, both to teams from Oklahoma. The Longhorns have got to learn to finish games and play better on defense.
NC State- Trending up– The wolf pack have one loss, and that was to SEC Mississippi St earlier in the season. They have two crucial games coming up- Louisville and Wake Forest. You get by those two games and you can punch your ticket to Charlotte.
San Diego St– Trending up– The Aztecs won in 2OT on Friday, making their record 6-0. They have Air Force next week but after that, there is no big test until the last game which is against Boise St.
Michigan St– Trending up– No one is showing sparty love, so allow me. They’re 7-0 and are paying great football. However, the last 4/5 games will tell us how good they really are( Michigan, Penn St, Purdue, and Ohio St).
Baylor– Trending Up– Times are good in Waco, TX. Only one loss in conference play and the rest of their games are winnable.
Check back later this week for my USC vs. Notre Dame matchup and week 8 games.
Two teams, one mission- win the SEC East. This Saturday, Georgia and Kentucky will square off in a game that should decide the SEC East division. In most years, this game is an afterthought, but this isn’t most years. Bama is down, Georgia and Kentucky are up, and this could be one of the best games of the season.
For Georgia, the task is simple- Run the ball and stop the run. The bulldogs have lived up to those two goals all season.
On defense, the dogs have only given up a total of 33 points and 385 yards on the ground- Holy Mackerel! That’s astonishing. The unit is lead by Jordan Davis (DT), Nolan Smith(LB), Nakobe Dean (LB), Adam Anderson (LB), and Travon Walker (DL). These individuals are delivering the pain to opposing offenses across the SEC. If they continue to dominant on that side of the ball, this unit could be the best defense in college football history.
On offense, you arguably have the best backfield in the country- Zamir White, Kendell Milton, James Cook, and Kenny McIntosh. The four of them have combined for 10 touchdowns and 936 rushing so far this season. In the air, it’s been pretty good as well. Both Quarterbacks haven’t been asked to do too much, but they have delivered in every game. J.T. Daniels and Stetson Bennett have thrown for a combined 1313 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. Even with Daniels banged up, the offense has been more than productive for the bulldogs.
Meanwhile, Kentucky has been carving out it’s own path this season. The wildcats, who are 4-0 in the SEC, are using a very well balanced offense and a anchored defense to defeat their opponents.
On Offense, wildcat Quarterback Will Lewis has thrown for 1,134 yards and 11 touchdowns. His go to men are WR Wan’Dale Robinson and RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. All three of these young men have been the triple headers for the wildcat offense this season. And for the unsung hero’s WR Josh Ali and TE Isaiah Epps have also helped the cause, combining for 380 yards and two touchdowns.
For Kentucky to have a chance to upset Georgia, they will need to be able to run but most importantly, the o-line has got to give Will Lewis time to make decisions and find his open receivers. The wildcats are most dangerous through the air and they will need that weapon for this game.
Phew- what a weekend! We saw #1 go down to an unranked team. We saw a freshman Quarterback come in to save his team. And we saw a Quarterback who might be the tallest player in college football. Without further ado, let’s get this show on the road:
#1 Alabama 38 Texas a&m 41-The aggies were saving their best football for Alabama this past weekend. From start to finish, they had control of this football game. Alabama had a hard time getting to Quarterback Zach Calzada who threw for 3 touchdowns and 285 yards. The Aggie O-line held their own which is no easy feat against Alabama. The Tide’s Bryce Young had a great game, even in loss, throwing for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns. The difference was the Aggies made plays on defense and Bama didn’t. Aggie coach Jimbo Fisher got a signature win on Saturday, now the question is, can he keep his team focused for the remainder of the season? For Nick Saban’s crew, this wasn’t the outcome they wanted but he’s not ready to throw in the towel just yet. They still have all their goals there, but the margin error is very slim.
#6 Oklahoma 55 #21 Texas 48– The 117th edition of the Red River Shootout lived up to it’s name. The Longhorns stormed out of the gate and scored of it’s first two possessions. While the Sooners moved the ball with Spencer Rattler, it was true freshman, Caleb Williams who ignited the spark Oklahoma needed to win the game. This game went back and forth, but late in the 4th Quarter 8 seconds left, running back Kennedy Brooks took a 33 yard run to the house to seal the deal and help the Sooners win.
#2 Georgia 34 #18 Auburn 10– Georgia brought the nation’s #1 defense to the plains on Saturday and looked a little confused early, but they settled down and held Auburn to 10 points and only 48 yards on the ground. Auburns Bo Nix didn’t look bad, as he threw for 217 yards in the air. He just didn’t have much time to make plays, which is the status quo for the bulldogs defense. Georgia welcomes 6-0 Kentucky to Athens this weekend for another SEC showdown.
#4 Penn St 20 #3 Iowa 23– The Hawkeyes were the underdog in their own backyard which is a rarity, so they took that personal on Saturday. Iowa’s defense has been it’s bread and butter this season and they forced two crucial picks against Penn St’s Sean Clifford who struggled for much of the game. Iowa held the Nittany Lions to 107 yards rushing and no touchdowns in the air. It was a complete team effort and now the Hawkeyes are the #2 team in the land.
Other Games:
#13 Arkansas 51 #17 Ole Miss 52– No defense, only offense in this SEC showdown that literally came down to the wire. Sam Pittman’s team scores with 1 second left in regulation and then decides to go for the win and attempt a two-point conversion…that was no good. That was not a great play call, guys.
#14 Notre Dame 32 Virginia Tech 29– Enter Sandman couldn’t save the Hokies on Saturday night as the Irish once again, came to play late in the game and kick a game winning field goal to survive in Blacksburg. The Irish are off this week and welcome bitter rival USC to South Bend on the 10/23.
#19 Wake Forest 40 Syracuse 37– The Demon Deacons just might be a team of destiny in 2021, as they continue to shock the world. They’re 6-0 for the first time since 1944. If they go undefeated then head coach Dave Clawson needs the coach of the year award because what he is doing is with this program is incredible.
LSU 21 #16 Kentucky 42– Wildcat QB Will Lewis threw for 3 touchdowns and 145 yards on Saturday, helping his team improve to 6-0, while LSU slumps to 3-3 and is left with more questions than answers. Kentucky has their biggest test to date with Georgia in Athens this Saturday.
Stock Check
Cincinnati – Trending up– They keep winning, even if the competition isn’t really much competition. Bearcats have UCF coming to town this weekend. Should be a win.
Oklahoma – Trending up– With that thrilling comeback, the Sooners showed the world they got the fire power to hang with anyone. Just work on that defense and you will be fine.
Arizona St– Trending up -Herm Edwards has his Sun Devils playing some really good football. There’s still a lot of football left, but I like their chances to make it to the Pac-12.
Coastal Carolina– Trending up– You know, I really shouldn’t be shocked. They have a great coach. They have a great team. Let’s see how far can they go…
LSU– Trending down– From National Champions to a National Dumpster Fire, that’s the current situation at LSU. They have a lot of injuries but they should be better than this. Coach O’s future looks questionable in Tiger land.
Duke – Trending down– Cutcliff is going on his 14th season in Durham and it seems his program has hit a ceiling. I really don’t like saying that because he’s one of the best offensive minds out there, but there is clearly something wrong right now with his team.
One of the many reasons why college football is so special is because of it’s rivalries. Yes, other sports have their own rivalries- Yankees vs. Red Sox in the MLB, Lakers vs. Celtics in the NBA, and Giants vs. Eagles in the NFL. These rivalries are great and are very popular. But what helps college football stand apart from all other sports is something I like to call “Tradition”. Tradition, defined by Webster’s Dictionary is, “the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction.” This is college football, and one of the greatest rivalries in this sport is The Red River Shootout- Texas vs. Oklahoma.
Legendary coaches and players like Darrell Royal and Barry Switzer , Brian Bosworth and Vince Young are echoed “loud and proud” through the halls and locker rooms in Norman and Austin-and in this years edition, there could be some new hero’s ready to make their mark and etch their names in the history books.
These two first met in 1900, where the Longhorns came out victorious, 28-2. Texas currently leads in the all time series- 62-49-5 and they play for the Golden Hat. Now, when you look at this hat, you’re probably thinking” what’s the big deal?” I agree, it’s just a gold cowboy hat mounted on a large block of wood. However, for these teams, it’s the spoils of war, a prize for the victor, and a banner for conquest. For Texas and Oklahoma, it’s everything.
This series is important for many reasons and I’ll just give you a few:
National Championships are on the line.
Potential heisman candidates show out in this game.
Records are broken.
Many games come down to the wire.
Tradition
This years edition is shaping up to be a humdinger.
Oklahoma is coming into Dallas undefeated and the #6 team in the nation. Sophomore Quarterback Spencer Rattler has played well enough, throwing for 1260 yards and ten touchdowns. However, if Rattler and his offense want to roll on Saturday, the offensive line has got to do a better job protecting him. Though five games, Rattler has been sacked 8 times. That’s too much, and Texas loves to blitz. The Sooners need to control the line of scrimmage on Saturday, don’t give the Longhorns any chance to sneak in. If I’m the Sooners, I’m feeding the rock to Running Back Kenny Brooks a lot in this game. You need to try to keep the Longhorn offense on the sideline at all costs.
Texas on the other hand has had no issue running the football. The Longhorns have scored 17 touchdowns on the ground thanks to the backs like Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. The duo have combined for 880 yards rushing so far this season and have carved up defenses in the Big XII. The pass game has not been too shaby either. Casey Thompson, the Junior Quarterback from Oklahoma City has been the leader of this young group and has started to get a hand of coach Sarks playbook, throwing for 707 yards and nine touchdowns. The issue on Saturday is that the Sooners defense might be the best in the conference and play man coverage very well.
With all that said, this is what matters the most– Both schools can’s stand each other. You’re either burnt orange or crimson and cream. You’re either “Hook’em horns” or “Boomer Sooner”. So grab you a fried snickers and a corndog at the Texas State Fair, then hop over to the Cotton Bowl and watch two legendary programs battle it out for bragging rights and for college football glory.
Week 5 has come and gone and so has a few teams who had playoff hopes. It was a wild weekend for sure, but we now are starting to get some separation and clarity on who is for real and who was only kidding.
Arkansas 0 Georgia 37 – I honestly thought the razorbacks would put up a fight, but Georgia once again proves me wrong by shutting them out. The hogs had hardly any opportunities to score on the bulldogs, as their stought defense once again came to play. Arkansas could only come up with 162 yards and 9 first downs in this game. On offense, the bulldogs don’t really have to air it out much, with or without J.T. Daniels. Zamir White and Kendall Milton scored two touchdowns each, adding a total of 4 touchdowns and 273 yards rushing. Georgia is for real and has put the nation on notice.
Cincinnati 24 vs. Notre Dame 13 -Cincy Quarterback, Desmond Riddler might be the most underrated QB in the country. He made ND’s defense look like a FCS school. The bearcats came into South Bend as the underdog and came out as the victor. The group 5 have had some really great teams since the CFP was established, but haven’t been able to impress the committee to put anyone in. That might change this year.
Florida 13 Kentucky 20 – Beating the Gators for the second time in three years might not be a trend, but it’s how you get a shot at the SEC championship. Coach Stoops has his team playing really good football, on both sides. Junior Quarterback Will Lewis only threw for 87 yards and the ground game accumulated only 137 yards, but that was enough for a team that plays great defense.
Auburn 24 LSU 19 – For all of the criticism on Auburn Quarterback Bo Nix, no one can say anything to him for at least one night, as he lead his Tigers to a come back for the ages. Nix looked like an all-star, and it helped to get Auburn a win at Tiger Stadium for the first time since 1999! Meanwhile LSU is looking for answers on defense, and oh, by the way, you take on 5-0 Kentucky this weekend.
Louisville 34 Wake Forest 37 – If I told you Wake Forest would be the gold standard in the ACC this season, you would probably laugh in my face. This team is special. They just find ways to win. Sophomore Quarterback Sam Hartman threw for 324 yards and 2 touchdowns on Saturday, helping his team hold on and defeat the Cardinals. Wake Forest is playing great football, and this is because they don’t many mistakes and are playing really good defense. They still have Clemson, NC State, Boston College, and Army to play, but all of those games are winnable.
Oregon 24 Stanford 31 – Stanford looked to be down and out, but on a 1rst and goal at the end of regulation, Tanner McKee found Elijah Higgins in the end zone to tie the game and send it to overtime. And in OT, he found John Humphreys on a 14 yard pass to upset Oregon in a game I thought the Ducks had secured the win. Lesson for Oregon– never quit on a game! This could cost them a seat at the CFP table.
Stock Check
Georgia– Stock Rising. The Bulldogs are shutting down opposing teams with great defense. This team has the potential to go all the way. I’m not real concerned about J. T. Daniels injury, they have capable backups.
Notre Dame– Stock Falling. As an independent, you have the luxury to create your own schedule, but there is a downside- it’s called losing. Notre Dame’s name can only carry it for so long. The Irish all but destroyed their playoff hopes after losing to Cincy on Saturday.
Kentucky– Stock Rising. Beating a good Florida team shows me that Coach Stoops Wildcats are a legit SEC contender. The real test comes later when they face Georgia.
Cincinnati– Stock Rising. The bearcats looked great in South Bend. Now can they continue to show everyone that they’re for real and break into the playoffs?
Michigan– Stock Rising. Big Blue defeated Wisconsin for the first time in Madison in twenty years. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines are looking good but they still have Sparty, Penn State, and their bitter rival Ohio State at the end of the season. Can he finally get over the hump?
Texas – Stock Rising– The Longhorns have been a different team since their loss to Arkansas. Sark has his boys playing at a high level right now. This weekend is the annual showdown with Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl. If they win that game, the Longhorns could be sitting pretty in the Big XII and a chance to play in the CFP.
San Diego State– Stock Rising– The Aztecs are 4-0 for just the second time in forty years and aren’t showing any signs of slowing down. Brady’s Hoke’s team has defeated two Pac-12 teams and are looking like the best team in the Mountain West. Can they keep it up?
Florida – Stock Falling– For the Gators, losing to Alabama was a minor setback, but losing to Kentucky could be the nail in the coffin and a shot at the SEC championship. Their only hope now is to win out in the East and hope Kentucky slips up.
Check back later this week for my write up on the Red River Shootout.
Arkansas running back Rakeem Boyd (5) tries to get past Georgia defender Ryland Goede (88) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Have you ever wondered what would happen when an unstoppable force meets an unmovable object? So have I. I believe that question will be answered this weekend when Arkansas takes on Georgia this Saturday in Athens.
The Bulldogs have been close to perfect on the defensive side of the ball this season. In four games, the dogs have only given up a total of 23 points and 264 yards rushing. It sounds inconceivable, but it’s reality. This shouldn’t be a shock to us. Head Coach Kirby Smart knows defense, and he has recruited at a high level on that side of the ball. Even Nick Saban had to get more help with recruiting at Alabama due to how well Georgia has done. Players like linebacker Channing Tindall and the monster defensive lineman, Jordan Davis have been a terror for opposing offenses. Georgia does not give you much time to think- they attack fast and hit hard. However, they’re going to see a fast-paced offense when Arkansas comes to town. I expect Kirby to give the hogs several looks on defense to catch them off balance.
So what about Arkansas’s offense? It’s pretty good. The razorbacks are averaging 36 points a game and have a well-balanced attack on offense. Sophomore Quarterback KJ Jefferson has thrown for 844 yards and 6 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 230 yards. This kid is a true dual-threat Quarterback, something the dogs haven’t seen this season. Lining up on each side of Jefferson are wide receivers Treylon Brooks, Tyson Morris, and Warren Thompson. These guys have great hands and speed, and they have combined for six touchdowns. They will need to be on their A game for Georgia.
Keys to the game–
For Arkansas, you’re going to get several looks on defense from Georgia. The Bulldogs love to bring the pressure, so you have to counter that with screens, draws, and quick passes. If I’m offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, I am letting KJ Jefferson make plays with his legs because he’s going to feel the pressure a lot in this game. The more you keep Georgia’s offense on the sideline, the better chance you have for the upset. On defense, stuff the run because you’re going to see their backs run the ball to try and wear you down.
For Georgia, just play your game, which is physical on defense and ground and pound on offense. The Bulldogs can control this game early if they can get three and outs and some turnovers. On offense, just hand the ball off to your stable of running backs – Zamir White, James Cook, and Kendall Milton.
Other games on tap for week 5:
#14 Michigan vs. Wisconsin– Wolverines are looking to gain more traction in the B1G while Wisconsin is struggling with their starter Graham Mertz. Should be easy win for the wolverines.
Texas vs. TCU – Texas scored 70 points last week against Texas Tech. Was that a fluke or a sign that starter Casey Thompson is starting to grasp Sark’s playbook? TCU’s Max Duggan can sling the rock as well, as he has thrown for 717 yards and 7 touchdowns. It could be a shootout in Forth Worth, Texas.
Ole Miss vs. #1 Alabama (WES’s GAME OF THE WEEK)- The Tide have won the previous five meetings, but this years matchup could be very interesting. Ole Miss star Quarterback, Matt Corral is currently the favorite to win the Heisman. So far, he’s living up to the name, throwing for just under 1000 yards passing and nine touchdowns. This will be his biggest test of the season as his team goes against a bama defense that on average only gives up 17 points a game. If I know Lane Kiffin, he is probably looking at multiple ways to score on Bama. I for see trick plays and onside kicks in this game.
#3 Oregon vs. Stanford– The Ducks continue to build momemtum every week and now they look to continue their winning ways by taking on a solid Stanford team who is still licking their wounds from last week’s lost to UCLA. Oregon is the better team, but they better not go through the motions in this game or they could suffer the same fate USC did two weeks ago.
#6 Oklahoma vs. Kansas St. – The past two weeks the Sooners have escaped from games they could have easily lost. The offense is not humming like it should and Spencer Rattler is starting to get into a sophomore slump. This should be a game where he breaks out of it. Meanwhile the wildcats are looking to play spoiler, as they on average are only allowing 19.5 points per game. If they can get to Rattler, that could help them get the upset.
#21 Baylor vs. #19 Oklahoma St. – Two pass heavy offenses meet in Stillwater this weekend and there could be 100 points between the two of them. If you enjoy offense, then grab some popcorn because this will be a shootout.
#10 Florida vs. Kentucky – The Wildcats are 4-0 and are hosting the 3-1 Gators in a primetime SEC matchup. Kentucky has played Florida close that past few years. The last win came in 2018 in the swamp. I expect Mark Stoops to bring a lot of pressure on Emery Jones and Anthony Richardson. That will be the key for them to stay in this game because Florida has the firepower on offense. I look for Dan Mullen to establish the run game early to wear out the wildcat defense.
#22 Auburn vs. LSU – Auburn needed a little home cooking last week to survive an upset from Georgia State. I’m not sure if Auburn was just not pumped up to play the panthers or still down from losing a tough game against Penn St, but they looked inept on offense. Meanwhile, LSU’s Max Johnson threw 4 touchdowns against the Mississippi St Bulldogs and helped his team get a jump in the SEC West. I like the cajun tigers in this game.
Boston College vs. #25 Clemson – Boston College is 4-0 and the Eagles have been playing really good football. And as bad as Clemson has been on offense, I want to believe Dabo gets his troops pumped up for this game. The word is still out on D.J. Uiagalelei. My question is if he continues to struggle, will Dabo make a switch? The Tiger offense needs a spark, and everyone knows the backup Quarterback is the most popular player on the team. The Tigers do get Will Shipley back on offense, so that’s a start. Boston College is looking to beat the Tigers for the first time in Death Valley since 2007, when Matt Ryan lead them to a come back for the ages.
We have just about completed a month of college football and it’s already shaping up to be a roller coaster season. There have been some incredible upsets, while there have been some heartbreakers. If you’re feeling good about your teams current position, don’t get too comfy because things can change on a dime. And if you’re feeling down about your team, never fear, it’s early in the season and there’s still plenty of time to right the ship.
Let’s see what happened over the weekend:
Clemson 21 NC State 27 – I had a bad feeling about the Tigers going into Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday. They narrowly escaped Georgia Tech last week and they can’t get consistent Quarterback play out of D.J. Uiagalelei. Here’s a stat for you- Clemson had 10 first downs, NC State had 31! The wolfpack also outgained the Tigers on offense with 386 yards to 214 yards. NC State simply made plays when it mattered, and now they’re sitting nice in the Atlantic division. For Clemson, something is obviously wrong with the Tigers offense. Uiagalelei is a great athlete but his timing on his throws are off which is hindering the Tigers to move the ball through the air. Clemson’s defense is great but they can only carry this team so far. BTW, Clemson has 4-0 Boston College coming to town on Saturday. Great win for Coach Doren and the wolfpack.
Texas a&m 10 Arkansas 20 -Even after going 3-7 in 2020 and his first season in Fayetteville, head coach Sam Pittman knew he had his hogs on the right path. His players play with discipline and toughness, something that has been missing from the razorbacks from a while. So far in 2021, Arkansas is 4-0, defeated Texas and Texas a&m(first time since joining the SEC), and are 1-0 in the SEC West. For Texas a&m, Jimbo Fisher cannot be pleased with his teams offensive performance. Only 151 yards passing and zero touchdowns is not a winning formula. The Aggies have dug themselves a hole and only winning out will give them a shot at the playoff.
Notre Dame 41 Wisconsin 13– I still haven’t figured out Notre Dame. They barley beat a sorry FSU team, squeak by Toledo, and escape Purdue. But against Wisconsin, they came to play. Defense picked off the badgers Quarterback, Graham Hertz four times and held them to 240 yards in the air. Now they have #9 Cincinnati coming to South Bend. If starting QB Jack Coan can’t go, the Irish should be fine with back up Drew Pyne.
West Virginia 13 Oklahoma 16– Here is a game I thought that would be a typical Big 12 offensive shootout and ended up being a SEC like defensive slug fest. Spencer Rattler didn’t have his best game, throwing an interception and only one touchdown. Hand it to the Mountaineers, they got to Rattler a lot in this game. However, the sooners dished it on defense as well and their kicker, Gabe Brkic nailed a 30 yard field goal at the end of regulation to help the Sooners get the win. Lincoln Riley will be scratching his head this week and try to figure out how to get more points against Kansas State.
UNC 22 Georgia Tech 45– Sam Howell was sacked for a record 8 times in this game, and his team only gained 62 yards on the ground. The Yellow Jackets kept the pressure on Howell all night and contained the #21 ranked tar heels for most of the night. Georgia Tech Quarterback, Jeff Sims displayed the athleticism he was so heavily recruited for, rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for two. The kid looked like former Louisville Quarterback, Lamar Jackson. Now, Georgia Tech is 2-2(1-1 ACC) and has a good Pitt team on deck. If they can get by the Panthers, the Yellow Jackets will be sitting nice in the Coastal Division.
Stock check:
Clemson– Trending down. Offense is not clicking with D.J. and they lost their bell cow on defense, Brian Breese for the season. Dabo needs to rally his troops and find a way to salvage this season.
Georgia Tech – Trending up. The Quarterback play of Jeff Sims was special on Saturday. Also, the defense got eight sacks on Sam Howell! If the Yellow Jackets can keep this up on both sides of the ball, look out ACC.
Arkansas – Trending up. Razorbacks are 4-0 and are looking like a dark horse team in the SEC. They have a date with Georgia on Saturday in Athens and that game will tell us a lot about the Razorbacks, win or lose.
Texas a&m – Trending down. I know losing their starting Quarterback Haynes King earlier in the season was not expected, but Jimbo Fisher needs to either simplify the playbook for backup Zach Calzada or look at other options at Quaterback because they’re not moving the ball. The schedule only gets more difficult for the aggies.
Florida – Trending up. The Gators might have lost to Alabama last week, but even in that loss they looked like a team with a lot of firepower and grit. That was a nice win against a Tennessee team who is getting better every week. That’s what it takes to win in the SEC. I believe the gators will continue to surprise a lot of people. That game with Georgia later in the season will be can’t miss television.
Check back later this week for my Week 5 pics and summary of the Georgia/Arkansas game.
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