What We Learned From Week 10 In College Football
Sunday, November 02, 2008
We're in for another nutty November. Texas was a tipped pass away from pulling off the defeat of Texas Tech in Lubbock, and a very clear path to the Big 12 title. Texas got manhandled on both sides of the ball for about two and a half quarters by Tech (some of it aided by what Colt McCoy implied was illegal contact by the DBs in his post-game presser), yet still came back to take the lead by a point with 1:29 left in the game. But that tipped and dropped pick by safety Blake Gideon led to Michael Crabtree making an amazing catch and scampering into the end zone with a second left. Now, we will have a new #1 later today after Tech's 39-33 win.
That new #1 is likely to be Alabama, who gobbled up its cupcake when Arkansas State came to town. Everyone's waiting for the return of Nick Saban to Baton Rouge, set for next Saturday -- as LSU beat Tulane 35-10.
Charlie Weis is really bad with late 4th quarter play calling. Late in the game with Pitt and in overtime, the Irish were regularly getting into the red zone but were unable to cash in thanks to a series of poorly chosen running plays, along with good Pitt defense, and after blowing a field goal in the 4th OT, Pitt was easily able to ride on LeSean McCoy one more time (he had 168 yards on the day) close enough to send the kicker out for a 36-33 win.
Florida will likely be in the SEC East's representative in the championship game barring any unforseen slip-ups. Georgia settled for field goals early when Florida got touchdowns, and the inexplicable onside kick by Georgia to give the Gators a short field was one I'd question from Mark Richt. However, when Richt blew his top on a favorable spot to Tim Tebow. I understood. The Golden Boy rushed for 3 TDs and threw for 2 more. He didn't need your help, Penn Wagers. The fitting juxtaposition of the game: hearing Gary Danielson talking about how Stafford was an NFL-ready gunslinger, then watching Stafford throw a pick two plays later in Favre-like fashion.
Tommy Tuberville needs to have his resume ready. Losing 17-7 to Ole Miss isn't gonna help matters.
Bo Pelini has a lot of work to do in Lincoln. Giving up 62 points to Oklahoma is rather embarrassing on a Bill Callahan-like level, but then again, it's only his first year. Gene Chizik's Iowa State team was similarly demolished by Oilahoma State, mostly thanks to Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant, who hooked up 4 times for touchdowns in Stillwater.
Missouri is supposed to be the Big 12 North's rep in the conference championship, right? Right. So, I know Baylor QB Robert Griffin is some sort of serious threat running and passing, but that doesn't mean that Baylor should be covering at home against the Tigers. Mizzou held on 31-28.
Georgia Tech got out to a lead early and nearly gave it up, but for the grace of a Florida State fumble in the end zone that FSU recovered to seal a 31-28 win. Jonathan Dwyer continues to be an absolute beast, rushing for 145 yards and 2 scores.
GT's division is a complete mess. Miami beat UVA thanks to two touchdown passes from Jacory Harris in the fourth quarter and in OT, followed by a fumble recovery on the Hoos' turn on offense in OT.
Football in the state of Washington is in need of a federal rescue plan. Neither Wazzu nor U-Dub could score a measly point against Stanford and USC, respectively. (These were scores of 58-0 and 56-0.)
I'm now forced to conclude that Bret Bielema is a complete idiot. Why would you call time out with the Michigan State offense rushing to get a field goal off before time expired? Wisconsin did just about everything else okay, holding Javon Ringer to 54 yards and forcing the kicker to make all 4 FGs he tried. But the Badgers' coach gave the Spartans the game.
Mike Kafka went through his own metamorphosis replacing the injured C.J. Bacher for Northwestern as they went to the Metrodome. Kafka rushed for more than 200 yards, necessary with RB Tyrell Sutton out for the season, but the game was headed to OT until Adam Weber's pass became a deflection off receiver Eric Decker, and landed in the arms of Brendan Smith for a pick six and a 24-17 win.
12 Comments:
You're wrong about the Wisconsin timeout. It was called with 18 seconds left, I think. At that point, the kicking unit was already out on the field. The line was already lined up. The holder was on one knee, and the kicker was doing whatever voodoo kickers do before making a kick.
The idea that they would have had difficulty getting the kick off with about eighteen seconds left is ludicrous. Sure, the announcers said it, but that doesn't make it true.
Tubberville is already out at auburn
Just for the record, had Texas have won, it would NOT have been four straight against undefeated teams. When they beat Missouri, the Tigers had lost the week prior to Oklahoma State.
Virginia should have never been in that position yesterday. Besides a 2nd half defensive meltdown(Miami had a 2nd and long on their own 3-yrd line late in the game and snded up scoring, for one example), they had two FG attempts go Scott Norwood. This game is gonna eat at them for a long time; I guarantee it. I know it's gonna bother me. Oh well, at least my parents' alma mater(Alfred University) won, and is poised to win the Empire 8 and making the D-III playoffs.
Maynard - 18 seconds can be pulled off (I've watched NFL teams do it in 15), but you leave the pressure on them to do it. Still a stupid coaching decision.
Ted - I'll fix that now.
w_rabb: you got a link confirming that or is that inside information?
opps my bad ..... got tubberville and bowden mixed up but the way things are going he might be out as well
I was hoping Texas and Alabama would win out so we would be spared the specter of an SEC team routing a Big 10 team in the title game again. Now Big 10 biased media can vote PSU No 1, please would somebody beat PSU ?
Just a quick point: Charlie isn't calling plays anymore. The bad red zone calls are on Mike Hayward, the OC.
Big, but close, win for Texas Tech. Penn State should still be ranked #2.
Do any of the Auburn "faithful" think they can get a better coach than Tubberville? Seriously?? They pay several million a year to pay all the ex-coaches still on the payroll. Why add another 6 million to that figure?
As a Washington resident, I would like to apologize on behalf of both the Huskies and Cougars for bringing shame upon the Pac-10 with their atrocious brand of "football."