Showing posts with label Oregon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oregon. Show all posts

Sunday, October 8, 2017

The Morning After - Sluggish Saturday

A few ranked teams fell while others didn't look their sharpest. Yes, the calendar flipped to October and the race to the CFB Playoff is finally heating up. Conference matchups give us a much better indicator of who the real contenders and pretenders are. Let's take a deep dive into this weekend's action!

1st Quarter
Deon Cain torched WF early for a 28-yard score.
(Photo courtesy Clemson Athletics)
After getting off to a very impressive start with two touchdowns in the first nine minutes of the game, Clemson's offense sputtered to the finish line. It's happened in the past where it seems the first series or two of "scripted plays," as they say, work to perfection. Then, it's as if offensive play-caller Tony Elliott scrambles to find plays that work. Usually, things begin to click and everything works out, as was the case Saturday against Wake Forest. It's still bothersome and something I hope doesn't come back to bite us later.

As for the rest of the game, the best defense in the nation did its thing again, shutting out Wake through three quarters before giving way to the backups who allowed the Demon Deacons to score. Kelly Bryant getting hurt didn't help matters offensively. Backup Zerrick Cooper looked slightly lost and ill-prepared to enter the game. Hunter Johnson showed he was ready on his first drive, going 4-for-4 with a couple passes to fellow freshman Tee Higgins and a TD toss to tight end Cannon Smith.

The win gives Clemson a 6-0 record for the third straight season. It was the 20th straight over an ACC Atlantic division foe. It was the 11th straight overall, now the nation's longest active winning streak. And it assures the Tigers a spot in the AP Top 5 for a school-record 31st consecutive poll.

Tiger fans, these are the glory days. Enjoy them while they last. And beat Syracuse.

2nd Quarter
Speaking of not being able to finish, for the second straight game, the Oklahoma Sooners raced out to a double-digit lead only to see it slip away. Against Baylor, OU saw the Bears score 24 straight to take a 34-31 lead before rallying and pulling out a 49-41 win. It was a different story at home against the Iowa State Cyclones. OU's 24-10 lead turned into a 31-24 ISU lead. OU managed to tie it, but the Cyclones scored the game-winner and prevented the Sooners from rallying again.

It was a shocking upset of the No. 3 team in the land, but The Athletic's Matt Fortuna revealed this was the seventh straight season Oklahoma has lost as a game as a double-digit favorite. In most years, the Sooners have recovered and gone on to play in New Year's Six Bowls, or at least prevent the season from flopping completely. This, however, is a new squad with a new coach.

I told several folks prior to the season that I'd be interested to see how OU responds to adversity under new leadership. Can Lincoln Riley right the ship quickly, as Bob Stoops did so many times? Sooner Nation better hope he does because it is officially Texas Week.

On a grander scale, the Big 12's Playoff hopes now fall to TCU, the remaining unbeaten in the conference. The Horned Frogs have already knocked off Oklahoma State and West Virginia, meaning OU is their last major hurdle. As proven Saturday, though, no one in the Big 12 can be overlooked.

3rd Quarter
Of course Miami-Florida State came down to the wire. This time it wasn't decided by the kicking units. Florida State drove the field and scored with 1:24 to go to take a 20-17 lead. It was the first time James Blackman has looked like a capable quarterback. The Noles apparently left too much time, as Miami went 75 yards in 1:18 and scored on a wild pitch and catch to the front corner of the end zone.

With :11 to go and the ball inside the 20, the Canes decided they had time for one shot at a touchdown. Malik Rosier placed a perfect ball over the shoulder of Darrell Langham, who barely got across the goalline before his knee touched. The play was reviewed for quite some time. Several angles showed maybe it was a TD and maybe not. In the end, the play stood as called and the Canes ended a seven-game losing streak to FSU.

The win further pushes Miami into discussion of being a team to beat in the ACC Coastal Division. Florida State, on the other hand, is now 1-3 with games against Louisville, Clemson and Florida still remaining. Because of their cancelled game due to Hurricane Irma, three more losses would put FSU's final record at 5-6. Unless the NCAA grants some kind of waiver - or they benefit from not having enough teams bowl eligible and their APR scores are high enough - the Noles would be ineligible for a bowl. Quite the fall for a team that began the season No. 3 in the AP Poll.

4th Quarter
Luke Falk is the best player only about a third of the country knows. The Washington State quarterback is lighting up the Pac-12 and running Mike Leach's offense to perfection. Falk had another impressive night in Autzen Stadium against Oregon. He threw of 282 yards and three scores to lead Wazzu to a 6-0 record for the first time since 2001.

But the big story might be the Cougs' defense. WSU has looked impressive on that side of the ball. Last week, it was USC and Heisman hopeful Sam Darnold who were shut down (327 total yards, 164 pass yards, 0 TDs and 1 INT). This week, the Ducks were held to 278 total yards and 10 points at home. Oregon was averaging over 49 points per game and nearly 540 yards per game going in.

The opponents keep lining up, the analysts keep doubting, and Wazzu keeps knocking 'em off. Slowly but surely we're finding out that we need to take Washington State seriously. With a couple Top 10 losses this week, the Cougs will move into the Top 10, giving the Pac-12 - and the state of Washington - two highly-ranked teams.

It's also conceivable that Wazzu will be 9-0 (upcoming games against Cal, Arizona, and Colorado, each hovering .500) when the Cougs host Stanford on Nov. 4. If they get past the Cardinal, two road games at Utah and the Apple Cup at Washington loom large. That Apple Cup is going to be juicy.

Overtime
As for Washington, the Huskies quite simply are the class of the Pac-12. Washington has yet to be really tested and may not be for several more weeks. Up next is a road game at Arizona State, then home dates with UCLA and Oregon before a Friday night trip to Stanford. ... The Big Ten took a couple blows this weekend. First was the OU loss to Iowa State. Wait, OU is in the Big 12. Yes, but remember the Sooner team you saw that couldn't handle Iowa State is the same one that manhandled Ohio State at the Horseshoe. Later in the night, Michigan fell victim to "little brother" Michigan State at home. The Wolverines were at least expected to compete in the East Division, but games at Penn State and at home against Ohio State are still to come. The offensive struggles finally caught up to UM and are glaring going forward. ... NC State picked up a huge win Thursday night against Louisville, essentially knocking Lamar Jackson out of the Heisman race before it ever heated up. The win also asserted the Wolfpack as the hands-down contender to knock off Clemson in the Atlantic Division. NCSU hosts the Tigers on Nov. 4 in what could turn into the de facto division title game. ... As aforementioned, TCU is now the only undefeated team remaining in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs have a slightly easy road to travel until Nov. 11 when they visit Norman. TCU will likely be the favorite in all except the OU game, and even then they might be the favorite in that one.

Tiger Tweets





















































-BtW
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Thursday, October 5, 2017

PTT: Prediction Time Thursday - Week 6

Much better week by my standards, but disappointed that I picked against Clemson. That won't happen again. Getting the picks started early this week since there is intriguing action beginning tonight (Thursday). Here's where things stand heading into October.

2017 Record
Overall: 65-18 (.783 win %)
Last Week: 10-2
Game of the Week Pick: 2-3
*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

AP Top 10
1 Alabama at Texas A&M
Saturday, 7:15 pm ET, ESPN
Alabama -26
Alabama stomped Vandy and Ole Miss by a combined 125-3. While Texas A&M presents a slightly tougher challenge, the Aggies are far from being worthy competition for the Crimson Tide. It seems like this Bama team is on a mission. Jalen Hurts is playing at an extremely high level and showing why he was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman. Tide 42-13

Wake Forest at 2 Clemson
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN2
Clemson -21.5
In three conference games plus the game with Auburn, Clemson has looked much more impressive on the road than at home. Here comes Wake Forest, limping after a close but no cigar loss to Florida State. The Deacons' confidence might be shook, but they won't roll over in Death Valley. Kelly Bryant needs to prove the Tigers passing game should be taken seriously. Tigers 35-10 

 Iowa State at 3 Oklahoma
Saturday, Noon ET, Fox
Oklahoma -30
Baker Mayfield has been as close to perfect as one can be this season. He's yet to turn the ball over and is averaging just over four TD passes a game. Nothing changes here. Sooners 52-20

4 Penn State at Northwestern
Saturday, Noon ET, ABC
Penn State -13.5
Saquon Barkley is doing it all for the Nittany Lions. He'll get another chance to showcase his skills against a scrappy Northwestern squad. The Wildcats always play Penn State tough in Evanston. This PSU team is a little different. Lions 40-10

5 Georgia at Vanderbilt
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN
Georgia -17.5
The Dawgs are en fuego right now, having taken down Mississippi State and Tennessee by a combined 72-3. Alabama proved Vandy was a fraud, as all should've expected. Now Georgia gets to have its way with the Dores. Dawgs 35-6

Cal at 6 Washington
Saturday, 10:45 pm ET, ESPN
Washington -27.5
Cal is playing teams close, but sits 0-2 in Pac-12 play. Washington had a slow start at Oregon State, but pulled away big in the second half. Jake Browning can sling it and his main target Dante Pettis is fun to watch. At night in Husky Stadium, this shouldn't be close. Other Dawgs 48-14

Michigan State at 7 Michigan
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, ABC
Michigan -10.5
The last time these two got together in the Big House, all heck broke loose. Sparty pulled off the improbable victory on a blocked punt returned for a touchdown as timed expired. John O'Korn was second string to begin the season for a reason, but the Wolverines are simply better than their in-state rival. Wolverines 34-21

GAME OF THE WEEK
Kenny Hill has TCU in the Top 10 as we enter October,
a spot not many predicted the Horned Frogs would be.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)
23 West Virginia at 8 TCU
Saturday, 3:30 ET, FS1
TCU -13.5
This is a surprise for Game of the Week. Following WVU's loss to Virginia Tech, the Mountaineers have put up 56, 59, and 56 points to get the offense rolling (albeit against East Carolina, Delaware State, and Kansas). Last we saw TCU, the Horned Frogs walked out of T. Boone Pickens Stadium with a 13-point win over then-No. 6 Oklahoma State. The Frogs behind Kenny Hill are looking like the Big 12 offense many thought they'd be. Defensively, Gary Patterson's team is living up to the expectation as well. That will be the difference Saturday. Frogs 41-27

9 Wisconsin at Nebraska
Saturday, 8 pm ET, Big Ten
Wisconsin -10.5
The Badgers keep chugging along while all the eyes are focused on the Big Ten East at the moment. Wisconsin hasn't received near enough praise, but they're probably OK with that. Nebraska needs a win bigtime. It'll be a great atmosphere to start, but once Big Red Nation realizes they can't compete with the big boys of the Big Ten, things will turn sour in Lincoln. Badgers 34-17

Maryland at 10 Ohio State
Saturday, 4 pm ET, Fox
Ohio State -31
Can anyone figure out Maryland? The Terps go on the road and put 51 points on Texas, then they lose at home 38-10 to UCF (who is a very good team, by the way). But it didn't stop there. Maryland knocked off an unbeaten Minnesota team on the road. Meanwhile, JT Barrett is looking better against weak competition, which is how Urban Meyer gets the respect back to his club. This may be close for a while, but Maryland can't hang that long with the Buckeyes. Bucks 45-17

Must Watch
17 Louisville at 24 NC State
Thursday, 8 pm ET, ESPN
Louisville -3
The atmosphere at Carter-Finley Stadium should be electric with the Wolfpack looking to assert themselves as the No. 2 team in the ACC Atlantic behind Clemson. Lamar Jackson still runs the show at Louisville, which means the Cards will put up some points. But NC State's defense can disrupt that just enough to get a big win. Pack 27-24

 13 Miami at Florida State
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN
Miami -3
Hurricane Irma forced this game to be moved here from what was supposed to be a Week 3 matchup. Now, the Noles look vulnerable and the Canes look like a Coastal Division contender. Whenever these two get together, it's fun to watch. There will be trash talk. There may be a scrum or two. And for some reason, this game loves to come down to the field goal units. Canes 24-23

11 Washington State at Oregon
Saturday, 8 pm ET, Fox
Washington State - 2.5
Luke Falk led Washington State to a huge win over USC last week at home. Now, the Cougars go on the road to a difficult place to play, Autzen Stadium. Mike Leach might think there are louder environments, but he didn't help his team out by calling out the Ducks faithful. I'm really excited for this one and hope it lives up to its billing. Cougs 44-35

 Stanford at 20 Utah
Saturday, 10:15 pm ET, FS1
Stanford -4.5
Bryce Love might be these best running back in the country west of Saquon Barkley. Love already has over 1,000 yards and has given Cardinal fans a good reason to forget about life without Christian McCaffrey. Rice-Eccles Stadium is no easy place to play, so I'm surprised to see the line this much in Stanford's favor. In fact, I'm buying undefeated Utah right now over two-loss Stanford. Utes 30-24

Keep An Eye On
Boise State at BYU
Friday, 10:15 pm ET, ESPN
Boise State -7.5
These two go back a long ways and the games are always hard-fought and down to the wire. They are two of the most recognizable non-Power 5 programs of the last decade. Even though BYU hasn't had quite the season it'd hoped for, they Cougars won't lay down at home. Boise State lost a stunner to Virginia two weeks ago, so the Broncos had time to regroup for the remainder of the season. What else are you gonna do on a Friday night? Broncos 31-17

LSU at 21 Florida
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, CBS
Florida -2
Ah, finally LSU goes to Florida. Should be good times in Gainesville after last year's bicker-fest. Neither team is fun to watch, but the hatred from Gators fans toward LSU will make it enjoyable. Gators 20-10

 Kansas State at Texas
Saturday, 7 pm ET, FS1
Texas -4.5 
Is Texas back yet? It seems like every week we are hearing about the Horns and whether they are back or back to being meh. Kansas State hasn't played like many thought they would early on. The SnyderCats have a road loss at Vandy and a closer than expected win over winless Baylor. Can they go on the road and beat a fickle Tom Herman Texas team that is offensively-challenged? Honestly, who knows? Cats 24-20

-BtW
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Friday, October 7, 2016

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 6

The first weekend of October provided some amazing finishes. On the second weekend of October, rivalries renew. Not your typical end-of-season rivalries, but some rather big ones. There are four matchups between Top 25 teams. Enough of the banter. On with the picks!

2016 BENched PTF Record
Last Week: 8-5
Game of the Week Pick: 0-1
Overall: 45-19 (.703 win %)
*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

Friday

No. 3 Clemson at Boston College (Line: Clemson -17)
Friday Night Lights for the No. 3 team in the land. Some things should just never happen. Lots of emotion in this one with the Eagles playing their annual "Red Bandanna Game." The Tigers are coming off the huge win over another bird type last week. The thought here is that Clemson has found its stride and is about to turn it up about 10 notches. Tigers 34-10

 Saturday

Texas vs. No. 20 Oklahoma (Line: Oklahoma -11.5) - Red River Showdown at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas
Big Game Bob takes on Charlie "Save My Job Again" Strong. The Burnt Orange and Crimson split at the 50 of the Cotton Bowl is a spectacle. OU will be without several key defenders, including a couple on the defensive line. No way the Longhorns overpower the Sooners again. Right? Ponies and Wagons 38-30

 Notre Dame at NC State (Line: NC State -2)
NC State playing a non-conference Power 5 opponent? Say whaaaat? Anyway, Notre Dame lacks a defense. NC State lacks the ability to have anything better than a mediocre season. The line flipped from ND -2.5 to State -2. There could also be potential weather issues from Hurricane Matthew. Take your pick. Irish 28-24

LSU at No. 18 Florida (GAME POSTPONED)
What could have been a 3-2 type ballgame has ended up 0-0 before it ever got started. The question now becomes what happens if either of these teams ends the SEC portion of their schedule 6-1? Hurricane Matthew 1, Gators and Gator Hunters 0

 Indiana at No. 2 Ohio State (Line: Ohio State -29)
Look, the Hoosiers upset Michigan State last week, and that might have been worse for them heading into the Horseshoe. Now the Buckeyes can't not take them seriously. Bucks 52-21

 No. 25 Virginia Tech at No. 17 North Carolina (Line: North Carolina -1.5)
Some people are high on the Hokies. Some, like me, have looked at their schedule and seen who they've beaten. The Heels are a tested bunch. And that kicker is savage. That's enough for me. Heels 37-28

 BYU at Michigan State (Line: Michigan State -6)
Sparty, as mentioned, is sulking from the loss to Indiana. Probably not good for any team coming to East Lansing this week. Taysom Hill hasn't looked the same as he did pre-injury for the Cougars. Sparty 20-14

 GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Texas A&M (Line: Texas A&M -7)
Things sure are rocky on Rocky Top. Of Tennessee's five wins, four have been after trailing by double-digits and the other was a nine-point win over Ohio (Bobcats, not State) after only leading by two going into the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Aggies should be at full strength and are out to prove a 5-0 start for the third straight year will lead to bigger things. Expect another insane atmosphere at Kyle Field, much like that at Death Valley last week in Clemson. Aggies 41-31
How many more miracles do the Vols have in them?
(Photo courtesy Tennessee Athletics)
No. 21 Colorado at USC (Line: USC -4.5)
Last week, then 1-3 USC was a 10-point favorite over then 4-0 Arizona State. I questioned it. USC answered it. Final score: Trojans 41, Sun Devils 20. So once again, here we are with the sub-.500 Trojans facing a 4-1 and ranked Colorado squad. The Buffs are legit. But what does Vegas know? They can't be right about this. Buffs 34-30

 No. 1 Alabama at No. 16 Arkansas (Line: Alabama -14)
Tricky trip for the Tide up to northwest Arkansas.  Bret Bielema's teams have played Bama tough the past few years. This Tide team is different with Hurts receiving the snaps. Tide 31-17

 No. 5 Washington at Oregon (Line: Washington -9)
The Huskies haven't beaten Oregon in 12 years. Seriously, George W. Bush was wrapping up his FIRST TERM as President. A loss by the Ducks at home to end this streak and you can fully expect that Phil Knight will be phoning his best bud, Chip Kelly. Huskies 48-24

 No. 23 Florida State at No. 10 Miami (Line: Miami -3)
I love this rivalry. It's how it's supposed to be. How much this game also gets affected by Hurricane Matthew could play a huge factor. Miami seems to be on the path back to glory, but hasn't played a worthy opponent yet. Don't fault the Canes for that, though. They've just beaten everyone on their schedule. However, they were out-gained by Georgia Tech and only defeated the Jackets by 14, a margin solidified by two defensive touchdowns. Take those away and Miami's offense tied GT's 21-21. On the flip side, this game is make or break for the Noles. A loss dooms the season (three losses before mid-October). A win gets FSU back on track for a decent bowl. Canes 23-17

Washington State at No. 15 Stanford (Line: Stanford -7.5)
How do the Trees react to being smoked by Washington last week? And did you see the Cougs wallop Oregon 51-33, beating the Ducks for the second straight season? Not real sure about the spread in this one. I like the upset! Cougs 41-35

-BtW
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Friday, September 9, 2016

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 2

After what was billed as the greatest opening weekend ever, college football enters cupcake week. Opening weekend produced some real exciting games, lots of upset, and left us wanting more. Unfortunately, the second week of the season will be a bit of a let down.

There are no Top 25 showdowns. Some decent games are on tap, including a few rivalries, but don't expect to be tied to your La-Z-Boy all day Saturday. Let's get to the picks!

2016 BENched PTF Record: 9-3 (.750 win %)
*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

Saturday

Penn State at Pittsburgh (Line: Pittsburgh -4.5)
Pitt-Penn State Rivalry (Penn State leads 50-42-4)
This rivalry is finally renewed after a 16-year hiatus. Neither team is coming off impressive wins in the first week, as the Nittany Lions beat Kent State 33-13 and the Panthers knocked off Villanova 28-7. James Conner's return was heart-warming. He scored two touchdowns in his first action since taking on and defeating cancer. Should be a dandy to kickoff the day. Despite the game being played in Pittsburgh and in an NFL stadium, the crowd should be pro-Penn State and the atmosphere tremendous.
Pittsburgh 23, Penn State 17

Troy at No. 2 Clemson (Line: Clemson -36)
For the third straight game, Clemson takes on an opponent from the state of Alabama. For the second straight week, the Tigers face off against a former Clemson defensive coordinator. Returning to the friendly confines of Death Valley for the first time in five games, Clemson aims to get its offense rolling against a scrappy, but overwhelmed bunch from Troy. This may be closer than the 36-point spread, but it won't be close enough to be worrisome for Tiger fans.
Clemson 38, Troy 17

Kentucky at Florida (Line: Florida -16.5)
The Gators led UMass 10-7 in the fourth quarter before pulling away 24-7, while the Wildcats blew a 35-10 halftime lead and lost to Southern Miss 44-35. Florida has a 29-game win streak over Kentucky, a streak that likely won't be broken this season in The Swamp.
Florida 28, Kentucky 10

 South Carolina at Mississippi State (Line: Mississippi State -7)
The Gamecocks opened the Will Muschamp era with a 13-10 win over Vanderbilt. South Carolina trailed 10-0 at halftime, but Perry Orth found some rhythm in the second half, enough to pick up the road win. Meanwhile, Mississippi State was left searching for answers after blowing a 20-7 lead against South Alabama, then missing a short field goal late that led to a 21-20 win for the Jaguars. The Bulldogs being a seven-point favorite is either telling that Vegas still believes in the Bulldogs, or what they think of the Gamecocks.
Mississippi State 27, South Carolina 17

 Arkansas at No. 15 TCU (Line: TCU -7.5)
This one will have eyes all over it. TCU was slow out of the gate against South Dakota State, ultimately winning 59-41. Kenny Hill seemed to grasp the Horned Frog offense, passing for 439 yards and two touchdowns, and rushing for three more scores. Arkansas struggled to put away Louisiana Tech, needing a fourth quarter TD to win 21-20. Expect the Hogs to stick with their ground and pound approach. If they get too far behind early on, it could be tough trying to play catch-up with the high-flying Frogs.
TCU 44, Arkansas 27

Iowa State at No. 16 Iowa (Line: Iowa -15)
Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy (Iowa leads 41-22)
Iowa returned a lot from the 2015 squad that went undefeated in the regular season, but faltered in the Big Ten Championship Game and the Rose Bowl. The Hawkeyes have another easy schedule that should allow them to win double-digit games again. Iowa State on the other hand is breaking in a new coach, as Matt Campbell made his way to Ames from Toledo. His debut was forgettable, though. The Cyclones fell to Northern Iowa in Week 1. A rivalry game can always produce an interesting result, but the only thing interesting about this one will be seeing the trophy on the field.
Iowa 40, Iowa State 17
BYU quarterback Taysom Hill is back for one more season.
Hill looks to lead his Cougars to a big win at Utah in the Holy War.
(Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)
BYU at Utah (Line: Utah -3.5)
Holy War (Utah leads 58-34-4)
It's not on the level of Alabama-Auburn, Ohio State-Michigan or Oklahoma-Texas, but there is no love lost between BYU and Utah. The Utes rolled out to a 35-0 lead on BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl in December before holding on for a 35-28 win. Fresh off a shutout of Southern Utah, the Utes aim for their second win over BYU in three games. BYU opened the season with an 18-16 win over Arizona at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale to kick off the Kalani Sitake era. Taysom Hill is back for the Cougars and that's a good thing for college football fans. Hill's mobility and toughness could lead BYU to an upset here. In fact, I'll pick it.
BYU 23, Utah 20

North Carolina at Illinois (Line: North Carolina -7.5)
The Tar Heels fell flat after holding a 10-point lead on Georgia in Atlanta, ultimately being run over by Nick Chubb. Good news, UNC fans, Illinois does not have a Chubb on the roster, or anything like him for that matter. Lovie Smith led the Fighting Illini to a 52-3 whooping over Murray State. North Carolina presents a different challenge with offensive weapons all over the field including running back Elijah Hood. Last year, Hood had 129 yards and a TD run in a 48-14 Tar Heel win over Illinois in Chapel Hill. Something tells me he has a big day in Champaign.
North Carolina 37, Illinois 24

Virginia Tech vs. No. 17 Tennessee (Line: Tennessee -11) - at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.
Over 150,000 folks will pack Bristol Motor Speedway for the most anticipated, but too far away to see from the stands game in college football history. Bristol, Tenn., splits the two campuses and this game has been in the works for years. Tennessee looked ugly in its season opener against Appalachian State, earning a come-from-behind 20-13 win in overtime. The Hokies struggled early in their opener against Liberty, but topped the Flames 36-13. Tennessee, on paper, has more talent. There could be many storylines out of this one, including the amount of fans, the noise level or lack of, the sight lines, the depth perception of the players, etc. Still, the Vols probably get it done.
Tennessee 24, Virginia Tech 13

 Texas Tech at Arizona State (Line: Arizona State -2.5)
The first of many late night starts that are actually pretty good games comes to us from Tempe, Ariz. Patrick Mahomes might be the best under-the-radar quarterback in college football. Most people expect the Red Raiders QBs to have huge stats because of the system. Mahomes, however, possesses a power arm, accuracy and mobility that sets him apart from previous Texas Tech signal callers. Arizona State also has a high-flying offense, so expect a lot of points in this one.
Texas Tech 45, Arizona State 38

 Washington State at Boise State (Line: Boise State -10.5)
Mike Leach and his band of pirates, er, Cougars head to The Blue" for the home opener for Boise State. Luke Falk, like Mahomes an unheralded but very good quarterback, will try to duplicate the 2015 season in which he threw for over 4500 yards and 38 TDs to just eight interceptions. The Cougars also lost to an FCS school to open that season, but went on to win nine games and defeated Miami in the Sun Bowl. Boise State has a force at running back, though. Jeremy McNichols leads the Broncos offense and could be trouble for Washington State, which gave up 45 points to Eastern Washington.
Boise State 52, Washington State 31

 Cal at San Diego State (Line: San Diego State -7)
San Diego State is a sleeper pick for the top Group of 5 team to emerge unscathed. A touchdown favorite, the Aztecs are hoping to upend a Cal team who have already had an interesting start to the season. The Bears scored 51 points to beat Hawai'i in the opener two weeks ago in Australia, but spent the last week overcoming jet-lag. Now, they head south to take on a team looking for a season-defining win.
San Diego State 41, Cal 31

 Virginia at No. 24 Oregon (Line: Oregon -24.5)
This late-nighter won't be pretty. FCS Richmond took down Virginia last week and Oregon looks to be as potent on offense as ever. The Ducks don't have a Marcus Mariota, but they do have Royce Freeman, the best running back you haven't heard of yet. You can head to bed at halftime of this one, if the game isn't already out of hand by then.
Oregon 63, Virginia 10

 -BtW
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Monday, November 30, 2015

The Ben Ten - Eighth Edition

Editor's Note: The Ben Ten is my attempt to put together the Top 10 teams (plus three) as of right now. Each week, I play the role of solo Playoff Committee member and submit my own ballot.

It was status quo for the Top 4 after a closer-than-expected rivalry weekend. Behind that, multiple changes. Championship Weekend is upon us, so let's see how they stack up at the top before the final rankings are released next week.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers are locked in to the top spot again.
(Photo courtesy TigerNet.com)
1) Clemson (12-0)
Previously: 1
Clemson closed out the regular season with a second consecutive win over in-state rival South Carolina. Deshaun Watson was healthy all year and because of that, the Tigers are 12-0 for the first time since 1981. Clemson faces surging North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game Saturday night in Charlotte.

2) Iowa (12-0)
Previously: 2
The Hawkeyes are the only other unbeaten team in the FBS, having secured their 12th win with a 28-20 victory at Nebraska. Iowa has quality wins on its schedule, but not a signature one. That could come against Michigan State in the Big Ten title game this weekend in Indianapolis.

3) Oklahoma (11-1)
Previously: 3
Baker Mayfield has the Sooners offense rolling. Behind the ground attack of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, Oklahoma has reeled off seven impressive wins in a row, the latter three coming against ranked teams Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State - two of which were on the road. Oklahoma is the outright Big 12 champion and awaits the final CFB Playoff Poll to find out its fate.

4) Alabama (11-1)
Previously: 4
Alabama survived its trip to the Plains for the Iron Bowl. The Tide have a wrecking ball at running back in Derrick Henry and he gashed Auburn's defense to the tune of 271 yards on 46 carries. Now, Alabama faces Florida for the SEC championship in Atlanta. The Gators are coming off a 27-2 defeat at home at the hands of Florida State. 

Playoff projection: Clemson vs. Alabama in the Capital One Orange Bowl;  Iowa vs. Oklahoma in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
*NOTE: The CFB Playoff Committee factors in many variables and does its best to send the No. 1 overall seed to its closest destination. Clemson is geographically closer to Miami, Fla., than to Arlington, Texas.


5) Michigan State (11-1)
Previously: 7
The Spartans emphatically defeated Penn State, 55-16, to clinch the Big Ten East Division and a matchup with Iowa in Indy. Connor Cook looked healthy over the weekend and that gives MSU a big advantage in the B1G Championship. Michigan State has wins over Oregon, Michigan and Ohio State, and would solidify its place in the Top 4 by knocking off currently undefeated Iowa.

6) North Carolina (11-1)
Previously: 8
Outside of Clemson and Iowa, there's only one team with 10-plus wins in a row ... that'd be North Carolina, which has 11 straight wins. The Tar Heels went up 35-7 in the first quarter over rival NC State on their way to a 45-34 win. UNC finished conference play 8-0 and set up one of the most intriguing championship games of the weekend against No. 1 Clemson. Can the Heels reach the Playoff with a win?

7) Ohio State (11-1)
Previously: 10
After looking offensively challenged against Michigan State, the Buckeyes bounced back and looked most dominant at Michigan in a 42-13 victory. The only question with this team is, where was that all year? Had the Buckeyes been that impressive, there'd be no questioning their ranking - and they might not have fallen to Michigan State. What could have been...

8) Stanford (10-2)
Previously: NR
Kevin Hogan and the Cardinal went blow-for-blow with Notre Dame and got in the last punch to knock off the Irish, 38-36. The win boosted Stanford's chances to reach the Playoff, should there be chaos at the top. In the Pac-12 Championship, Stanford will face four-loss USC, a team it beat way back in September, 41-31.

9) Florida State (10-2)
Previously: NR
Florida State's Dalvin Cook might be the most underrated running back in college. Cook carried the ball 26 times for 183 yards and two scores in helping FSU defeat the Gators in front of the largest crowd ever at The Swamp, 27-2. The Noles await the final poll for their destination - likely a NY6 Bowl.

10) Notre Dame (10-2)
Previously: 5
The Irish claim to fame right now? Two road losses to Top 10 teams by two points each. Notre Dame had its six-game winning streak snapped with a heart-breaking loss at Stanford and now has lost by two points to the Cardinal and Clemson. The problem is, other than a home win against USC, that's about all ND has to crow about. Still, the Irish are in a good position and will probably end up in the Fiesta Bowl

Next three up:
TCU (10-2)
In the cold and driving rain, TCU found a way in double OT to take down Baylor and come away 1-2 in its big November games. The Horned Frogs positioned themselves to grab a top-tier bowl game, but losing star receiver Josh Doctson (for the season) and quarterback Trevone Boykin (missed 1.5 games) ended championship hopes for Gary Patterson's squad.

 Baylor (9-2)
Like TCU, the Bears went 1-2 during their three-game swoon against the Big 12's best. And like TCU, it was injuries that did Baylor wrong. Quarterback Seth Russell was sorely missed in losses to OU and TCU. Baylor still has one game to play, a home game against Texas, to try to reach double-digit wins for the fourth time in the last five seasons. It appears the Bears would be headed to the Sugar Bowl, but that is not certain.
 
Oregon (9-3)
The Ducks have to be wondering what this season could've been if Vernon Adams Jr. stayed healthy. Oregon has won six straight since his return to the lineup and the offense looks lethal, almost like when Heisman winner Marcus Mariota led the Ducks. Oregon could land in the Alamo Bowl against one of the Big 12 powers.

Dropped out:
Baylor (6) and Oklahoma State (9)

-BtW



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Friday, November 20, 2015

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 12

I got back on the plus side with a double-digit win week. Four of the Top 10 teams fell last week, so upsets we aplenty. This week will provide a few more Top 10 teams falling with two Top 10 battles. Along the way, there very well could be more upsets and shakeups in the polls. As is customary, I'll pick each of the Top 10 teams' games along with the other top games of the weekend. On to the picks!

Last week's record: 10-5
Overall: 45-19 (.703 win %)
*Rankings below are CFB Playoff Committee rankings

 No. 21 Memphis at Temple (Line: Memphis -1.5)
Despite two straight losses, the Memphis Tigers remain in the Playoff Committee Top 25. Temple, which lost to South Florida can take a step closer to locking up a spot in the AAC title game. The Owls' loss is puzzling, given how well they played against Notre Dame. Now, they return home to host Paxton Lynch and a pretty good Tigers team. Could be another down-to-the-wire game for the AAC. Temple 34, Memphis 31

Florida Atlantic at No. 8 Florida (Line: Florida -31)
The first of many SEC cupcake games in November. FAU is bad and the Gators will use this week to prepare for a date with hated-rival Florida State. Florida 44, Florida Atlantic 6

No. 12 Michigan at Penn State (Line: Michigan -3.5)
White-out games at Penn State are a spectacle in the sport. But Michigan lucked out, as this game will be at noon and not at night. Happy Valley will still be hoppin'. It's a trap game for the Wolverines in the sense that they could have an opportunity to knock off Ohio State for a division title next week. To get there, though, they have to get past the Nittany Lions. Christian Hackenberg has never transformed into the QB we thought he'd be. PSU will rely on its defense to keep it within striking distance. Michigan 27, Penn State 17

No. 17 North Carolina at Virginia Tech (Line: North Carolina -5.5)
Hokie fans get to say goodbye to Frank Beamer. When Enter Sandman plays and Virginia Tech makes its way through the tunnel, Lane Stadium will jolt into a frenzy like never before. The emotions in this one, though, will only carry VT so far. North Carolina is playing at a different level and Marquise Williams isn't showing signs of slowing down. The Heels clinch a spot in the ACC title game with a win. North Carolina 45, Virginia Tech 21

Purdue at No. 5 Iowa (Line: Iowa -23)
Iowa is better than people are giving it credit for, but Purdue is no measuring stick. The Hawkeyes shouldn't have any trouble in this one. If they do, it's only because they get caught looking ahead to a showdown at Nebraska next week. Iowa 28, Purdue 10

No. 9 Michigan State at No. 3 Ohio State (Line: Ohio State -13.5)
This one has been circled on the calendar for a long time. It's finally here, but it's lost some luster due to the Spartans loss and an injury to quarterback Connor Cook. Even if Cook plays, it's going to be up to the defense to slow down Ohio State. Something tells me Urban Meyer has been holding back and is ready to unleash what we saw in the Buckeyes' final games a season ago. It also sets up a huge clash next week in the Big House. Ohio State 40, Michigan State 17
Things could get chippy between the Buckeyes and Spartans.

No. 15 LSU at No. 22 Ole Miss (Line: Ole Miss -6.5)
What happened to Leonard Fournette? Well, it's not all on him. He has been the victim of terrible offensive line play the past two games and it's a reason LSU has fallen from No. 2 to No. 15. This week doesn't get any easier with a trip to Ole Miss. In the last two weeks, the Rebels have lost in heart-breaking fashion and been idle, yet somehow fell out of the rankings, then climbed back to No. 22. I guess whatever's best for Alabama, right? Another topic, another day. For now, Les Miles has his back against the proverbial wall. How will he and his bunch respond? Ole Miss 27, LSU 21

No. 20 Northwestern at No. 25 Wisconsin (Line: Wisconsin -10)
Northwestern hasn't fallen off the map after the first half of the season, so there's some progress for Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats. A trip to Camp Randall Stadium to take on a Badger team whose only losses are to No. 2 Alabama and No. 5 Iowa is a tough task. The Wildcats have won their last three games by a combined 11 points after being destroyed by Michigan and Iowa by a combined 78-10. Bowl positioning is at stake and Wisconsin is looking for another 10-win season. Wisconsin 34, Northwestern 24

UCLA at No. 13 Utah (Line: Utah -1.5)
Utah received bad news this week when it was announced that running back Devontae Booker will undergo knee surgery and miss the rest of the season. The Utes still have plenty of weapons and haven't lost at home this season. UCLA, on the other hand, can swipe control of the Pac-12 South and have won 11 of 12 on the road. Because of Utah's loss at Arizona last week, the Bruins - and technically USC - can win the division by winning out. It all rests in freshman sensation Josh Rosen's hands, er, on his right arm. UCLA 35, Utah 23

No. 24 USC at No. 23 Oregon (Line: Oregon -4)
The Ducks shocked Stanford last week and are now a Cardinal loss to Cal away from causing Pac-12 North chaos. Of course, that requires Oregon getting past USC in what was billed in the preseason as a Pac-12 title game preview. Most likely not anymore, but still a good one nonetheless. The Trojans had a couple extra days to prepare coming off their Thursday night win at Colorado, but another long trip to a raucous environment gives Oregon the edge. The two quarterbacks, Cody Kessler for USC and Vernon Adams for Oregon, will be intriguing to watch. Oregon 41, USC 31

Wake Forest at No. 1 Clemson (Line: Clemson -29)
Clemson's defense has taken a beating the past few weeks, perhaps a sign of the lack of depth the Tigers have. Offensively, not many teams are better. Clemson, led by Deshaun Watson, has posted over 500 yards in six straight games and won all six by double-digits since back-to-back wins by three and two over Louisville and Notre Dame, respectively. With Wake Forest coming to Tiger Town for Senior Day, it's a chance for Dabo Swinney's club to work out the kinks before the showdown with Palmetto State rival South Carolina. Although, every time this season I've thought Clemson would win big, it was closer than expected. Clemson 45, Wake Forest 17

Charleston Southern at No. 2 Alabama (Line: Alabama -20.5)
Why? Seriously, why is this game being played in the second to last week of the regular season? Alabama 52, Charleston Southern 14

No. 10 Baylor at No. 6 Oklahoma State (Line: Oklahoma State -1)
Baylor's quarterback situation is one to watch. With Seth Russell out, all the focus is on freshman Jarrett Stidham. It's been reported that Stidham is still banged up from taking a beating by the Sooners last week. That means Shock Linwood is likely to play a bigger role. Baylor's mettle will be tested because the Bears' hopes and dreams of a perfect season were dashed. Can they do the same to the Cowboys, who remain as the Big 12's lone unbeaten? JW Walsh and Mason Rudolph have responded to Mike Gundy's two-quarterback system brilliantly. The Pokes could use a big win to set up an epic Bedlam game next week. Oklahoma State 49, Baylor 35

No. 18 TCU at No. 7 Oklahoma (Line: None due to injuries)
OU celebrated beating Baylor as if it had won much more than just another game. I don't think that's a problem, but there's still two big ones to play. Baker Mayfield has been nothing short of spectacular. With TCU falling off a cliff, and the Horned Frogs' two stars injured - QB Trevone Boykin and WR Josh Doctson - this is right there for the taking for OU. Oklahoma 51, TCU 27

Boston College vs. No. 4 Notre Dame (Line: Notre Dame -15.5)
The coolness factor of this one being played at Boston's iconic Fenway Park is reason enough to check out some of this game. That and the rivalry between the only two Catholic schools in major college football. Notre Dame can't get caught looking toward the season finale at Stanford. Boston College lacks an offensive identity. The Eagles will do their best to protect their backyard, even as the "visiting" team. But the Irish are just too talented. Notre Dame 34, Boston College 20

 -BtW
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Sunday, November 15, 2015

The Morning After...

1) Sometimes, you have to learn to get out of your own way. The Clemson coaching staff was trying to get some valuable playing time for a younger player and add another dynamic to an already uber-dynamic offense. But lesson learned. With a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter, co-offensive coordinators Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott elected to run the "Wildcat" with freshman quarterback Kelly Bryant. Bryant fumbled, Syracuse recovered, scored on the next play, and the belief meter shot through the Carrier Dome roof. Next time, let's wait until the game is in the third or fourth quarter to get our younger players the experience they need.

2) With that said, Clemson took a shot from a hungry bunch. Syracuse had lost six straight games - now seven - but the record isn't indicative of the team the Orange have. 'Cuse struggles on the road, but in the Dome, the Orange are dangerous. Clemson and LSU have the two largest wins as opponents, both by 10 points. Survive and advance is the name of the game for the Tigers who need to win three more games to assure themselves a spot in the College Football Playoff. Never thought I'd be typing those words in 2015...

3) What else can you say about Deshaun Watson? The guy is ridiculously good. He finished another game with over 400 yards of offense - 360 passing, 105 rushing - adding three touchdowns. He orchestrated Clemson's offense to its sixth straight game of over 500 yards, a first time in school history. And every time he took the field with Syracuse looking to swipe momentum, he showed poise and moxie to move the Tigers down the field. The kid is legit. To steal a line from the ESPN broadcast, "He, alone, is worth the price of admission."

4) Statistically speaking: Clemson is 10-0 for the first time since 1981, the season of the Tigers' first and only national championship ... The 10 wins marks the fifth straight season Clemson has won that many games. Clemson became just the 15th program in NCAA history to do that ... Clemson is 7-0 in the ACC and has never been 8-0 ... Clemson has 699 wins in its history and can claim No. 700 against Wake Forest Saturday, which happens to be game No. 1200 for the Tigers ... CU has won 27 ACC games in the last four years, a school-best ... 13 straight wins dating to last year and 37 straight wins over unranked teams in the AP Poll ... Watson is 14-1 as Clemson's starting QB.

5) Is Big Game Bob back? I don't know if I'd go that far, but Big Game Baker most certainly is. Baker Mayfield continues to prove every doubter wrong. He had to walk on a Texas Tech, starred as a freshman for the Red Raiders, and was let go by Kliff Kingsbury who decided he wanted to go in another direction. Mayfield showed up on Oklahoma's campus unannounced, walked on with the Sooners, and has now taken the reigns of the Sooner Schooner. What a win for the Sooners to waltz into McLane Stadium where Baylor was undefeated in its brief tenure in its sparkling new home. Mayfield's passion bleeds through his crimson and cream uniform and finds itself spreading on the Sooner sideline. Add in the fact that Oklahoma is, you know, extremely talented and the equation results in a scary thought ... No one wants to play this Oklahoma team. OU has won five straight games, outscoring its opponents 276-84. If they can find themselves in the College Football Playoff, watch out.

6) Farewell, Pac-12. We hardly knew ye. With two regular season weeks still to play, the conference is finished. Stanford was the best hope for a Playoff spot and everyone pointed to the Cardinal's season finale with Notre Dame and the Pac-12 Championship Game as the de facto play-in games. Oregon went to Palo Alto and said, "Remember us?" and knocked off Stanford 38-36. That left Utah as the final one-loss team from Pac-12. But the Utes dropped a two-overtime thriller at Arizona. With several unbeatens and many more one-loss teams, you can assuredly leave the Pac-12 out of the Playoff this season.

7) That's good news for the Big 12, whose fate now rests in the state of Oklahoma's hands. The aforementioned Sooners are surging toward what looks to be another Bedlam classic. Oklahoma State used another 17-point comeback to take down upset-minded Iowa State, 35-31. The Cowboys are the Big 12's last unbeaten and still have Baylor and OU in the final two weeks. Should OU beat TCU and OSU beat Baylor this coming weekend, all eyes in the college football world will turn to America's heartland Nov. 28.

8) Alabama may have had the most impressive win of the weekend by going into Mississippi State and out-classing the Bulldogs. The Tide's 31-6 win over the No. 17 team will likely solidify their spot in the Top 4. However, that impressive win over LSU took a hit as Arkansas went to Baton Rouge and upset the Tigers. The Hogs wasted little time in asserting their dominance with a 31-14 win to keep the Golden Boot trophy. Still, Bama seems to be on track to claim a Playoff spot. Personally, I don't have them in my Top 4, but we know the Committee can't keep Nick Saban out.

9) We are down to five unbeaten teams with Baylor's loss. There are four Power 5 teams - Clemson, Ohio State, Iowa and Oklahoma State. And then there's Houston. The Cougars looked dead in the water at home, trailing 34-14 to Memphis after the first play of the fourth quarter. Houston's star quarterback Greg Ward Jr. went down in the first half with an injury and backup Kyle Postma was thrust into the fire. He led a furious comeback and a Memphis field goal sailed wide right with under 30 seconds to play, securing a 35-34 Houston win. It was the first big game for Houston and the Cougs' first chance to impress the Playoff Committee. Mission accomplished. Houston now is the frontrunner for the Group of 5 spot for a New Year's Six Bowl, especially following Temple's flop against South Florida. The Owls impressed everyone two weeks ago with a hard-fought loss to Notre Dame, but fell 44-23 to a mediocre USF team.

10) Senior Day has arrived in Death Valley and this senior class tops the last one as the winningest in Clemson history. Let's send them out in style. Beat Wake Forest.

-BtW
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