Showing posts with label Tennessee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tennessee. Show all posts

Sunday, October 1, 2017

The Morning After - No Sandman Needed

Clemson's defense swarmed the Hokies all night.
(Photo courtesy Clemson Athletics)
Since Dabo Swinney took over Clemson, the Tigers are 5-0 against Virginia Tech - two games in Blacksburg, two in the ACC title game, and one in Clemson. Swinney's Tigers have scored 23, 38, 38, 42, and 31 points against Bud Foster's defenses. The Hokies have managed to score more than 17 points only once - last season's ACC Championship Game in which Clemson won 42-35. The other outcomes have been by two scores or more each, including Saturday night's 31-17 Tiger victory. When Dabo and VT meet, the beasts under the bed - as in the familiar "Enter Sandman" lyrics - are the Tigers waiting to put the Hokies to sleep.

1st Quarter
I admit it. I was foolish. I picked against Clemson again. My reasoning wasn't so much that I felt Clemson would play bad, but moreso that Virginia Tech would play up - College Gameday in town, night game at Lane Stadium, game circled since last year's ACC Championship Game, etc., etc.

I was wrong. I should've known. I should've listened. Dabo Swinney has built Clemson into a powerhouse. Clemson is no longer the program it was in the 90s and 00s. This program has won 10 games six straight seasons. It has played in back-to-back National Championship Games, winning the most recent one. It doesn't rebuild when its best playmakers move on. It reloads - for the most part with better players.

Kelly Bryant was once again tremendous in a hostile road environment. Clemson's defense was lights out. Until a garbage time touchdown, the Hokies had one touchdown drive. It lasted all of one play, two yards, thanks to a punt return to the two yard line. Virginia Tech couldn't sustain drives. The Hokies went three-and-out on four of their first five series. The one where they got a first down? They got one first down and punted. Dorian O'Daniel notched his second pick-six, this one to seal the deal. Austin Bryant also came up with a spectacular INT. It warranted Wide Receivers Coach Jeff Scott saying he needed to get Bryant a #WRU T-shirt. Bryant may also petition for a cornerback spot. He lined up on a fourth down out by the numbers and obliterated a wide receiver screen better than any defensive back ever has.

And that's what this team is. It's a team of freak athletes. Ones that play defensive end, but look like linebackers. Running backs with out of this world speed. And receivers with hands you swear have stick'em on them.

I spoke with a great friend of mine with whom I text throughout a lot of the Clemson games and I told him, this team is like a boa constrictor. They slowly wrap around the opponent and begin to squeeze. It's not flashy. There's not a lot happening like the quick strike rattle snake or the dancing cobra. Just a slow, methodical death grip. The more the opponents try to escape with trick plays and all the eye-candy moving shifts, the tighter the grip gets. Ask Louisville. Ask Auburn. And now ask Virginia Tech. The life of their team slowly slipped away. They saw it coming, but there was nothing they could do about it once face-to-face with the snak-, I mean, Tigers.

What a time to be a Tiger, y'all.

2nd Quarter
Let's back up to Friday night when Washington State knocked off USC on the Palouse. Luke Falk out-dueled Sam Darnold. It feels like this win effective eliminates USC from Playoff contention and we're only just now in October. On the other hand, we should be giving some serious thought to Washington State.

This is the second straight year that Mike Leach has Wazzu highly ranked. A loss in the Apple Cup to rival Washington ended hopes of a division title, but we could be well on our way to the Apple Cup winner deciding the Pac-12 North again. Washington looks like the better overall team, right now anyway. However, Washington State put the league on notice that it can take down anyone, including the Pac-12 favorite Trojans.

3rd Quarter
A couple of double-takes when looking at SEC games this weekend. First was Georgia destroying Tennessee in Neyland Stadium, 41-0. The Dawgs did it with a freshman QB, no less. Jake Fromm is playing like anything but a freshman. He's got Georgia all the way up to No. 5 in the rankings and many believe this team has a shot to dethrone Alabama. It certainly appears that UGA will represent the East, because Florida is meh and no one else looks competitive. As for Tennessee, I am shocked we haven't heard of Butch Jones' firing yet. It's inevitable, right? Sorry, but you don't lose on your home field 41-0 the week after chastising the media.

Then there was LSU. It's like the Bayou Bengals saw the Tennessee loss and wanted to one-up the Vols. Troy went into Tiger Stadium at night and tamed the Tigers. A 24-7 game ended 24-21 with Troy still on top, but aside from the late comeback, this one was all Trojans.

So let's recap the past few weeks. Mississippi State curb-stomps LSU 37-7, then gets embarrassed at Georgia 31-3 and at Auburn 49-10. LSU already has a terrible loss, nearly loses at home to Syracuse, then does lose to Troy. Ole Miss has back-to-back losses to Cal and Alabama, the latter by a score of 66-3 after having a bye week to prepare for the Tide. Vandy was the flavor of the week, until it played Alabama (and lost 59-0) and Florida (and lost 38-24). Texas A&M has a pair of seven-point wins over Arkansas and South Carolina, but the Aggies get to host Bama this weekend. The Gamecocks and all-world Jake Bentley scored 17 points to beat La Tech in the last minute 17-16, then scored 17 again and lost to A&M. In fact, they haven't scored more than 17 since Sept. 9.

This is the conference everyone thinks is the best top-to-bottom? Give me a break.

4th Quarter
The jury is still out on Oklahoma State, even though the Cowboys got a much-needed bounce-back win over Texas Tech, their ninth in a row in the series. OSU allowed the Red Raiders to score 14 straight to tie the game late, but got a Mason Rudolph TD with just over a minute to go to pull out the win. The Pokes get a bye week to regroup and refocus before hosting currently winless Baylor and then going on the road to Texas and West Virginia before Bedlam.

The Big 12 is a three-team race with Oklahoma and TCU at the top and OSU waiting in the wings if either of them stumble. OU plays both the Cowboys and Horned Frogs on back-to-back weekends to kickoff November, so we may not know much about the Big 12 race until then. Kansas State and West Virginia are also teams to watch, but both of them have out-of-conference losses holding them back for now.

Overtime
I'm going to use this space this week to blast the poll voters. First, your "votes" mean nothing. The only poll that matters is the one that comes out after the conference championship games. And that one isn't yours, it's the Playoff Committee's, who the folks diligently studying each contending team are doing a much better job ranking them than you are. Is that why you are so petty with your votes? Second, how can you rightfully look at Clemson's rΓ©sumΓ©, compare it to Alabama's, and think, hmm, clearly Alabama is the better team. Forty-four AP Poll voters out of 61 put Alabama on top. That is a change of +9 for Clemson, who only had eight first-place votes last week. This despite Clemson becoming the first team in college football history to beat three Top 15 teams before the calendar flipped to October. This despite Clemson going on the road and taking down the reigning Heisman winner and a hungry Hokie team by a combined 40 points. This despite Alabama's "best win" is over now unranked and 1-2 Florida State.

It's worse in the Coaches Poll, where Clemson gained just two additional first-place votes. Are y'all that scared of what Nick Saban might say at his press conference? Are you too prideful to drop almighty Alabama off their perch because, hey, another team not only looks as good or better, but has proven it on the field with their wins? Good for Bama beating Vanderbilt and Ole Miss like a drum. They should. Vandy was picked sixth in the East. A horrendous division, mind you. And Ole Miss was picked last in the West. So the Crimson Tide winning 59-0 and 66-3 isn't all that shocking, nor impressive.

You know what is? Clemson. Little ole Clemson who, "How are they gonna replace all those offensive stars?" is now 5-0 and owns a 92-44 point margin over THREE Top 15 teams.

Here's what I'll tell you. Keep us at No. 2. Seriously. Go ahead. Bow down to Bama. Praise Saban. Because all you're doing is giving Dabo more locker room material. You're feeding the "nobody believes in us" monster that YOU created. Vegas will probably tell you that Alabama is a 6-7 point favorite over Clemson if they were to play this week. And you'll listen like you always do. Thanks for giving us everything we need to go back to the Playoff again. And make it back to the title game where we will face Alabama again. And for the second time in three games, we'll prove we're better.

But you might believe that either.

Tiger Tweets









































-BtW
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Friday, September 29, 2017

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 5

BENched took a few chances and they went awry. It's early in the season, so that was expected. You live and learn and move forward. Going to try something a little different this week with the picks. Let's do it!

2017 Record
Overall: 55-16 (.775 win %)
Last Week: 9-8
Game of the Week Pick: 2-2
*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

AP Top 10
Ole Miss at 1 Alabama
Saturday, 9 pm ET, ESPN
Alabama -27
Remember when the Rebels were a thorn in Nick Saban's side? They won't be again for a long, long time. Tide 51-12

GAME OF THE WEEK
Can the Tigers survive Lane Stadium?
2 Clemson at 12 Virginia Tech
Saturday, 8 pm ET, ABC
Clemson -7.5
We've arrived at the exact week of the season when I picked against Clemson one year ago. I took Louisville to down the Tigers last season. Fortunately, I was wrong. A year later, you'd think I'd've learned my lesson. I simply feel like this Hokie team is different. Yes, Josh Jackson is a freshman quarterback going against the best defensive line in the country. Yes, Clemson is battle-tested, having already defeated two Top-15 teams. Yes, Kelly Bryant played cool, calm, and collected in his first road start. But something feels much different than two weeks ago at Louisville. Maybe I'm being too pessimistic about my team. I don't have an Xs and Os breakdown of why I think Virginia Tech will win. To be honest, Clemson making it through September 4-1 would be a really good thing. If they are 5-0 after Saturday night, we could really be in for Bama-Clemson III. For now, I'll pull the reins back. Hokies 20-17

 (NOTE: After I typed this Thursday evening, I received my IPTAY package in the mail Friday afternoon and am having serious second thoughts. Perhaps that was a good omen? We'll see.)

3 Oklahoma - BYE

Indiana at 4 Penn State
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, Big Ten
Penn State -18
It would not be surprising to see Penn State have a bit of a hangover following last week's thrilling win at Iowa. Getting Indiana at home for that hangover game helps. Lions 31-16

5 USC at 16 Washington State
Friday, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN
USC -5
I'm sensing either a wild shootout on the Palouse or a Friday night stinker. Wazzu is the trendy pick. I like Luke Falk slightly more than Sam Darnold right now. Statistically, Falk's having a much better season than the guy that's getting the Heisman love. I'm just not convinced the Cougs are ready to show out in primetime. Trojans 38-28

6 Washington at Oregon State
Saturday, 8 pm ET, Pac-12
Washington -26.5
Can't see this one being much of a game. The Huskies took it to Colorado last week. Expect even worse for the Beavs. Dawgs 52-7

7 Georgia at Tennessee
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, CBS
Georgia -7.5
The Georgia-Tennessee game has been decided by eight points or less each of the past six years. Expect it to be close. Tennessee is winless in its last 24 games against teams ranked in the Top 10 since 2008. Expect Georgia to make it 0-25. Other Dawgs 34-27

8 Michigan - BYE

9 TCU - BYE

Northwestern at 10 Wisconsin
Saturday, Noon ET, ABC
Wisconsin -14.5
Somehow, this game will be low scoring and close because Big Ten football. Badgers 21-9

Must Watch
14 Miami at Duke
Friday, 7 pm ET, ESPN
Miami -6.5
Get your weekend started with an enticing matchup between two undefeated ACC Coastal schools. The Hurricanes found new life in the second half last week against Toledo. Duke used a balanced attack to knock off rival North Carolina. Both teams are looking to get a leg up in the standings. As much as I'd like to pick Duke and think David Cutcliffe has this team squarely in contention, Miami has too many weapons. Canes 34-20

 15 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
Saturday, 8pm ET, Fox
Oklahoma State -10.5
It seems like no matter what, Oklahoma State can't lose to Texas Tech. A night game in Lubbock is no cakewalk, though. Tortillas will be flying as will the football through the air. I'm guessing this one will be pretty high-scoring. Get your popcorn ready. Pokes 58-45

Keep An Eye On
Florida State at Wake Forest
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Florida State -7.5
How odd is it that we have winless Florida State visiting undefeated Wake Forest? FSU's troubles are highly concerning. No one can block up front and I wasn't overly impressed with freshman quarterback James Blackman. Wake may be able to get a steal here, but I'm sticking with the Noles to finally get a W. Noles 27-20

 24 Mississippi State at 13 Auburn
Saturday, 6 pm ET, ESPN
Auburn -9
So maybe Mississippi State isn't that good after all. And maybe Auburn's offense just needed to be completely healthy. Either way, this one could get ugly on the Plains. Auburn 40-17

 Cal at Oregon
Saturday, 10:30 pm ET, FS1
Oregon -15
Cal took USC to the brink and Oregon had trouble stopping Arizona State. It is full-on #Pac12AfterDark in Eugene. Ducks 45-42

-BtW
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Sunday, September 17, 2017

The Morning After - Leaving No Doubt

Dabo Swinney doesn't like the term "defending" champions, rather he thinks of his new team as "attacking" champions. As in, they are attacking another championship. In Swinney's words, the Tigers left no doubt that they will be in the hunt once again this season.

1st Quarter
Kelly Bryant outplayed the reigning Heisman winner in his first road start.
(Photo courtesy Clemson Athletics)
Y'all starting to believe that Clemson is more than Deshaun Watson? Look, this program has been built to last. There's a reason the Tigers have won 10+ games six straight seasons - and are headed for a seventh. There's a reason Clemson is one of the few teams that "looks like Alabama" when it steps on the field with Alabama. There's a reason Swinney continues to say, "The best is yet to come."

The Tigers dismantled Louisville, who admittedly is probably very much overrated at this point. The Lamar Jackson effect swept the nation, but the pundits let that cover up the fact that the Cardinals aren't very good anywhere else. Clemson showed up and showed out. The Tigers out-manned the Cards at every position on the field, including quarterback. Brent Venables schemed brilliantly against Jackson in his second try. Clemson left no doubt in its 47-21 win.

Unsung hero: Hunter Renfrow, who once again made several clutch catches.
Big Play of the Game: Dorian O'Daniel's 44-yard pick-six
Big Play of the Game II: Ray-Ray McCloud's 79-yard TD reception
Big Play of the Game III: Travis Etienne's 81-yard TD run

Kelly Bryant was sharp. His downfield accuracy is incredible. His vision and ability to keep his eyes downfield while scrambling reminds me so much of Watson. Several times this year he's scrambled, found an open receiver, squared up his shoulders and delivered a bullet on the numbers. That takes talent. And Bryant is showing he's a talented quarterback.

Watch out, world. Clemson may have lost Watson. And Gallman. And Williams. And Boulware. And Leggett. And Tankersley.

But they have Bryant. And Feaster. And Cain. And McCloud. And Joseph. And O'Daniel.

And the list goes on. Clemson is here for the long haul. Too much can happen between now and December, but a third straight Playoff trip is not a stretch. Let's take it one at a time, shall we? Beat Boston College.

 2nd Quarter
For three-and-a-half quarters, I was falling asleep watching a 1930s re-run of a Tennessee-Florida game. By some miracle, the game auto-switched to 2017 and got exciting late in the fourth quarter. Seriously though, neither team looked like its offense knew what a football or a goalline was. Then, fireworks.

Tennessee's comeback from down 10, twice, was lucky in itself. Florida was headed in for a 20-3 lead, but a Vol player stripped the ball just before the touchdown resulting in a touchback, not a touchdown. Tennessee proceeded to score to make it 13-10. Florida finally got its first offensive TD to extend the lead back to 10, but Tennessee stormed back to tie the game with about 40 seconds to go.

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks chucked the ball 70 yards in the air and found Tyrie Cleveland on the other end sliding into the end zone for a most improbable Hail Mary at the buzzer for the win. I have to say, I felt good for the Gators after what they and the rest of the state of Florida has been through this past few weeks. The Miami-FSU game was postponed this weekend, so the Gators carried the proverbial Florida flag for the weekend. A win like that was very uplifting. It was also fun to watch.

3rd Quarter
Speaking of fun, man, can Texas and USC play every year? I didn't think Texas would go on the road and put up a fight against Sam Darnold and the Trojans. The Horns did and and it led to another classic between the two blue blood programs. Credit Tom Herman for having his team hyped up as a big underdog once again. He was notorious for doing that at Houston and it translated over to Austin.

But Darnold was clutch when he needed to be. After Texas took a three-point lead with 45 seconds to go, Darnold led the Trojans into scoring position with no timeouts in his pocket. In overtime, he fired a perfect pass on the first play to give USC the lead. In the second OT, he didn't need to do much except keep USC in field goal range.

For all Texas did well, it was a costly double-overtime fumble at the goalline that was the game-changer. With two losses and a conference slate still to go, it'll be difficult for Texas to get bowl eligible. The Horns may not be back yet, but Saturday night it looked like they are well on their way.

On the other hand, we all might have been a little premature in calling USC a Playoff team. The Trojans can certainly still get there. Todd Helton is a heckuva coach and there's talent all over the field. The road to the Playoff will be filled with bumps and how the Trojans navigate it will determine their fate.

4th Quarter
A pair of upsets gave the Pac-12 a bit of a black eye this weekend. UCLA went on the road to Memphis and fell to the Tigers 48-45 in a back-and-forth affair. Josh Rosen made one too many mistakes for a player many regard as one of the top QBs in the upcoming NFL Draft. In the nightcap, San Diego State dropped Stanford, 20-17, meaning the Cardinal have yet to win a game in the US this season. Remember, Stanford's lone win came against Rice in the season opener in Australia way back on August 26. Stanford has fallen twice now in Southern California - last week at USC and this week at SDSU.

Northern Illinois also pulled off an upset, this one perhaps more impressive because it came on the road. The Huskies went into Lincoln and scored a win against Nebraska. The Huskers have to be wondering if the Mike Riley hire was a big mistake. In his third year, Riley's Huskers haven't created an identity and now have a home loss to Northern Illinois, the same team that was beat by Boston College. Yikes.

 Overtime
It's only mid-September, but I cannot wait until Nov. 4. Why? Bedlam, that's why. Oklahoma State, led by Mason Rudolph, has one of the most prolific offenses this season. Rudolph ripped apart an awful Pitt secondary to the tune of 423 yards and five TDs in the first half! Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield continues to solidify his Heisman candidacy. Mayfield threw four more touchdowns in a blowout win over Tulane. He's yet to throw an interception this season. The showdown in Stillwater will be can't miss TV. ... Penn State notched its second shutout of the young season with a 56-0 win against overmatched Georgia State. The Nittany Lions are headed into Big Ten play with a ton of confidence on both sides of the ball. Everyone knew about Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley, but PSU has a stifling defense. ... Virginia Tech got off to a slow start against nemesis East Carolina. The Hokies turned it on in a hurry, turning a 17-7 deficit at the end of the first quarter into a 64-17 thrashing of the Pirates. Tech QB Josh Jackson threw for 372 yards and five TDs. The Hokies get a tuneup game against Old Dominion next week before hosting Clemson on Sept. 30. Blacksburg is going to be insane.

 Tiger Tweets




































-BtW
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Friday, September 15, 2017

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 3

Another good week by BENched, but the matchups get harder to pick every week. This week doesn't present much in the way of "Must See" action, but plenty of college football across the landscape to enjoy. Let's get to the picks!

2017 Record
Overall: 32-4 (.889 win %)
Last Week: 15-2
Game of the Week Pick: 1-1
*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

AP Top 10
Colorado State at 1 Alabama
Saturday, 7 pm ET, ESPN2
Alabama -28.5
Nick Saban gets a visit from another for SEC coach, as former Georgia assistant Mike Bobo brings his Rams down south. That should be all the drama surrounding this one as the Crimson Tide roll again. Tide 38-10

Tulane at 2 Oklahoma
Saturday, 6 pm ET, PPV
Oklahoma -35
Fresh off planting their flag in Ohio Stadium, the Sooners return home for a slightly easier matchup. Baker Mayfield is a Heisman front-runner and I'd expect to only see him for a half in this one. Sooners 66-13

GAME OF THE WEEK
Christian Wilkins and the Clemson defense is up to the task
against Lamar Jackson and Louisville.
3 Clemson at 14 Louisville
Saturday, 8 pm ET, ABC
Clemson -3
Last season produced a classic between Louisville and Clemson. Lamar Jackson was electric and nearly led the Cardinals to a last-minute comeback win. Instead, Clemson won its third straight over its new ACC foe. All three have been won by six points or less. This year, it's the reigning Heisman winner against the reigning National Champions. Everyone is excited to see if Clemson's dominant defensive line can contain Jackson. I think the linebackers are actually the key to the Tiger defense. Additionally, the Cards are struggling on the defensive side of the ball. They've held Purdue and North Carolina to a total of 68 rushing yards, but have allowed 677 passing yards in those two games. This could be the game Kelly Bryant shows off his arm and his wheels. Deon Cain had a huge game against Louisville last year and I wouldn't be shocked if he does again. Jackson is going to get his. However, this is Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables' second shot at stopping Jackson. Tigers 27-23

Texas at 4 USC
Saturday, 8:30 pm ET, Fox
USC -15.5
Yes, the 2006 Rose Bowl was a classic. No, Vince Young is not running out of the Texas tunnel. Trojans 45-21

Georgia State at 5 Penn State
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, Big Ten
Penn State -37
The Nittany Lions get a layup before conference play. Not much to see here. Lions 54-9

Fresno State at 6 Washington
Saturday, 9:30 pm ET, Pac-12
Washington -33
A week after going up against Alabama, the Bulldogs of Fresno State head up to Seattle to take on another top 10 team. Brutal scheduling, Fresno State. Huskies 52-17

Air Force at 7 Michigan
Saturday, Noon ET, Big Ten
Michigan -23
Michigan's defense is pretty good. But Jim Harbaugh may want to consider calling a search party to find his offense. Air Force won't be a pushover. Wolverines 33-20

Army at 8 Ohio State
Saturday, 4:30 pm ET, Fox
Ohio State -31
How will the Buckeyes respond from being embarrassed on their home field? If JT Barrett struggles here, there could be a QB change on the horizon. Like Air Force, Army won't go down easy. Buckeyes 38-16

9 Oklahoma State at Pittsburgh
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN
Oklahoma State -11.5
Pittsburgh nearly knocked off the Cowboys last year in Stillwater. Mason Rudolph and Co. won't take the Panthers lightly. Expect a close game through halftime, but the Pokes pull away late. Cowboys 48-17

 10 Wisconsin at BYU
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Wisconsin -16.5
BYU's offense is struggling. A lot. Wisconsin gets to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Provo, Utah. They'll enjoy it more leaving with a win. Badgers 31-9

Must Watch
23 Tennessee at Florida
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, CBS
Florida -4
The Vols stopped an 11-game losing streak to Florida a season ago. They needed a monster second half to do so. The Gators will look for revenge down in The Swamp. And they'll get it. Gators 25-17

Keep An Eye On
25 UCLA at Memphis
Saturday, Noon ET, ABC
UCLA -3
Josh Rosen and the Bruins travel East and apparently aren't getting respect from Vegas. Memphis had a game against UCF canceled due to Hurricane Irma, so the Tigers are still somewhat a question mark. What does Vegas know??? Bruins 38-28

Notre Dame at Boston College
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN
Notre Dame -13
It wasn't long ago that this used to be a yearly rivalry game and it was actually pretty good. BC's move to the ACC and both teams' slide into mediocrity or worse has dulled it up quite a bit. The Irish are looking for something to shake off the loss last week to Georgia. The Eagles just need something after struggling to win at Northern Illinois and getting blown out by Wake Forest. BC won't find it here. Irish 34-17

SMU at 20 TCU
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPNU
TCU -20
The Metroplex rivalry is more heated than one would think. SMU generally pulls off one upset a year. Will it be against the Horned Frogs, who may still be struggling with an offensive identity? Frogs 31-28

12 LSU at Mississippi State
Saturday, 7 pm ET, ESPN
LSU -7.5
This is more of a chance to see if LSU has really upgraded its offense. It's also a chance to see if Nick Fitzgerald can pull off another stunner in Starkville. The cowbells will be clangin'! Bulldogs 20-17

Kentucky at South Carolina
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, SEC
South Carolina -5.5
South Carolina gets its first home game of the season and the Gamecocks are hoping for some home-field magic against Kentucky. The Wildcats have defeated South Carolina three straight seasons. The line is close, but Jake Bentley and Deebo Samuel are too much for the Cats to handle. Gamecocks 37-20

Kansas State at Vanderbilt
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, ESPNU
Kansas State -3.5
Neither team has been tested with Vandy having defeated Middle Tennessee State and Alabama A&M, and K-State beating Central Arkansas and Charlotte. So this one is very much a toss-up. If there's an edge, it's probably with the Wildcats' offense. Jesse Ertz is back at the helm and has looked sharp so far. Wildcats 31-24

19 Stanford at San Diego State
Saturday, 10:30 pm ET, CBS Sports
Stanford -8.5
Bryce Love is most certainly the answer to who will fill Christian McCaffrey's shoes. The Cardinal suffered a tough loss at USC and now must try to rebound at SDSU. The Aztecs are not to be taken lightly. They won at Arizona State last week and are going for the Pac-12 sweep of their schedule. Ultimately, Stanford responds nicely. Cardinal 30-21

-BtW
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Friday, October 14, 2016

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 7

A light week of picks, but a strong slate of games. Nos. 1 and 2 have to go on the road in Top 10 battles. Surely there will be an upset somewhere along the way. On Rocky Top? At Camp Randall? See what BENched thinks with the picks below!

2016 BENched PTF Record
Last Week: 7-5
Game of the Week Pick: 1-1
Overall: 52-24 (.684 win %)
*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

Friday

Mississippi State at BYU (Line: BYU -7)
This late night Friday game won't be watched by many in the southeast and that's probably a good thing. The Cowbells didn't clanga-clanga much last week in a home blowout to Auburn. No cowbell this time either. Cougs 31-20

Saturday

NC State at No. 3 Clemson (Line: Clemson -17.5)
Deshaun Watson reportedly "has fun" against the Wolfpack. He's put up massive numbers in two seasons against NC State. The Pack finally plays someone that doesn't have multiple first names. Seriously. Tigers 55-23

 Kansas State at No. 19 Oklahoma (Line: Oklahoma -14)
BENched is unsure if Ole Bill Snyder is still living or if the powers that be at Kansas State have cloned him. Either way, the Snydercats are the cream of the Big 12 defensive crop. Which ain't saying much in this league. OU exorcised its Longhorn demon last week. Can it do the same against a team that has won its past two in Norman? Ponies and Wagons 31-28

No. 20 West Virginia at Texas Tech (Line: West Virginia -1)
Welcome to the Central Time Zone, Mountaineers. WVU is playing its first game in Big 12 country this season, and first true road game. This is generally where the 'Neers have struggled. Does Kliff Kingsbury even know what a defense is? I mean, golly, the Red Raiders gave up 44 points to the Snydercats. Masked Riders 49-45 

No. 10 Nebraska at Indiana (Line: Nebraska -3)
This line should scare the corn out of the Huskers. Indiana was within seven of Ohio State on the road last week and upset Michigan State the week before the in Bloomington. Nebraska hits the stretch of its schedule where we find out who this team really is. Huskers 27-24

North Carolina at No. 16 Miami (Line: Miami -7)
Devastating losses for both of these teams makes this game mean more. UNC was walloped by the Hokies in Hurricane Matthew, 34-3, while the Canes fell to the rival Noles on a blocked extra point, 20-19. Loser here is basically eliminated in the Coastal Division. Canes 44-38

No. 1 Alabama at No. 9 Tennessee (Line: Alabama -12)
Tennessee volunteered to cough up seven turnovers last week at Texas A&M in an overtime loss. Alabama continues to dominate everyone in its path. That path heads north to Rocky Top. Alabama's good for one loss a year, right? Is this it? Nahhhh. Tide 45-27

No. 12 Ole Miss at No. 22 Arkansas (Line: Ole Miss -7.5)
This game is great for the fact that you will get to relive Arkansas' miracle win at Ole Miss several times throughout the broadcast. I think the over/under for showing that replay is set for 7.5. I'll take the over. As for the game, Ole Miss wants revenge. Arkansas just wants to be relevant. Bret Bielema will be on the hot seat after this one. Rebs 37-27

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 8 Wisconsin (Line: Ohio State -10.5)
No Lambeau Leaps this week, but will the Badgers be celebrating
a landmark victory over Ohio State?
(Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)
Wisconsin went to the Big House two weeks ago and left as the only team to hold Michigan under 45 points. The Wolverines won that day 14-7. Clearly the Badgers have a tough defense. And they've had a week off to prepare for this one. Ohio State almost got caught looking ahead to this matchup last week, pulling away from Indiana late. The Mad House will be jumping around and the belief here is this line could get destroyed. How good is Ohio State? Probably good enough for a Playoff run. But will there be a bump in the road in Madison? Such a tough call. Why not, let's go for the upset. Badgers 27-21
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Monday, October 10, 2016

Shake up in the Ben Ten - Second Edition

A week after releasing my initial 2016 Ben Ten rankings, a few things happened to shake them up. First, Clemson leapt Ohio State for No. 2 - which if this were the playoff really wouldn't matter. Two teams lost allowing two new teams to enter the ranking. And one team lost, but actually moved up! Who was it? Find out with the second week of the Ben Ten.

Playoff Teams

 1) Alabama
Last week: No. 1
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): USC, Ole Miss, Arkansas
This week: at No. 9 Tennessee
Alabama continues to roll and continues to score in all phases. The Tide have nine non-offensive touchdowns. Another big road test awaits on Rocky Top.

 2) Clemson
Last week: No. 3
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): Auburn, Louisville
This week: vs. NC State
Clemson resembled the team that went to the National Championship last season in a 56-10 win at Boston College. The Tigers are the only Power 5 team with three true road wins so far this season.
Clemson soared past BC Friday and now soars up to No. 2 in the Ben Ten.
(Photo courtesy Clemson Football)

3) Ohio State
Last week: No. 2
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): Oklahoma
This week: at No. 8 Wisconsin
Perhaps the Buckeyes didn't pay close enough attention to Indiana. The Buckeyes led by seven midway through the third before pulling away late. A trip to Madison looms.

4) Michigan
Last week: No. 4
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): Colorado, Wisconsin
This week: Bye
Who leads the nation in scoring offense? That'd be Michigan. The Wolverines are the first to reach 300 points this season and did so with an emphatic 78-0 win at Rutgers. Rest up, Big Blue. And enjoy Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

Next in line

5) Washington
Last week: No. 6
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): Stanford, Oregon
This week: Bye
After gut-busting Stanford, the Huskies curb-stomped Oregon, 70-21, in Autzen. Ouch. That's a combined 114-27 over the two Pac-12 teams who have won the past seven conference titles.

 6) Texas A&M
Last week: No. 9
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): UCLA, Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee
This week: Bye
Texas A&M survived the late Tennessee rally. The reward? A bye week to prepare for the Aggies' road trip to Tuscaloosa on Oct. 22.

7) Louisville
Last week: No. 7
Record: 4-1
Key win(s): Florida State
This week: vs. Duke (Friday)
Discussion about Louisville this weekend was that the Cards lost during their bye week due to Houston falling to Navy. On the flip side, how good did Louisville look to hang with a Clemson team that is finding its stride?

 8) Nebraska
Last week: NR
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): Oregon
This week: at Indiana
The Huskers make an appearance here for the first time this season. Nebraska has yet to impress and its best win is against a team that is now 2-4 (Oregon). Nebraska, though, could easily get to 7-0 before back-to-back road trips at Wisconsin and Ohio State, where it could prove its ranking. Or not.

9) Tennessee
Last week: No. 10
Record: 5-1
Key win(s): Virginia Tech, Florida, Georgia
This week: vs. No. 1 Alabama
Yes, the Vols moved up despite a loss. Tough pill to swallow for the Vols, who turned the ball over seven times and fell in overtime on the road at Texas A&M. No time to sulk, though, as the Crimson Tide invade Neyland Stadium.

 10) Boise State
Last week: NR
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): Washington State, Oregon State
This week: vs. Colorado State
Sure there are a few more unbeaten Power 5 teams who could be ranked here - Baylor or West Virginia - but the Broncos are playing extremely well. Boise State has yet to trail this season and has wins over two Pac-12 opponents.

Dropped out: Houston (5), Miami (8)

 Four on the outside: Wisconsin, Baylor, West Virginia, Houston
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Sunday, October 9, 2016

The Morning After... The Blow Out Weekend

BENched presents The Morning After... My weekly college football observations, where this weekend you were either blown out by your opponent or by Hurricane Matthew.

 1) Halfway through the 2016 schedule, we like to welcome the real Clemson Tigers to the season. Just six days removed from a huge emotional win over No. 3 Louisville, Clemson traveled to play Boston College, a place where wins have been a struggle. There was no struggle Friday night. Clemson clicked on all cylinders and led 21-3 after one quarter. When the backups entered the game in the fourth quarter, it was evident the talent gap between the two squads. Clemson's 56-10 win was the first time Clemson scored 50+ points since Oct. 31, 2015, at NC State (56-41 win).
The Tigers were able to rise above and soar past the Eagles Friday night.
(Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)
2) For the third time this season, Clemson's balanced offensive attack gained over 200 yards both rushing and passing. Wayne Gallman only needed nine carries to reach 100 yards rushing (109 to be exact). His 59-yard touchdown run was the first Tiger play over 50 yards this season. On the ensuing drive, Deshaun Watson hit Mike Williams for a 50-yard pass in which Williams dove and stretched out entirely to make a spectacular grab. The next drive, tight end Jordan Leggett went 56 yards to paydirt, giving Clemson three consecutive drives of 50+ yard plays after having zero such plays in the five previous games. It's safe to say the Tiger offense is gaining momentum.

3) BC's offense is abysmal, that much is clear. But Clemson's defense was able to get pressure with little blitzing. Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins and a host of other D-linemen ravaged the Eagle backfield all night. Like last year, Clemson's defense is ahead of the offense. With more depth, however, it appears the trudge toward the end of the season won't be a factor. It was made well known in 2015 that the defensive Tigers were worn down come season's end. This unit appears to be picking up steam with six regular season games to go.

 4) Statistically speaking: Clemson has now won 44 straight games against unranked opponents. ... The Tigers are 6-0 for the fourth time in the last six years. Clemson had been 6-0 only four times in the previous 78 seasons. ... CU is 77-0-1 when gaining 200 yards passing and rushing. ... Watson is 24-2 as a starter. One of the losses came to Georgia Tech in 2014 when he was injured in the first quarter and didn't return. The other is to Alabama in last season's National Championship Game. ... Gallman has 15 career games with over 100 yards rushing. That ties a Clemson record with Raymond Priester. ... Deon Cain had two more TD receptions, the second consecutive game he's hauled in two scores. He leads the team with six touchdown catches.

 5) The Red River Showdown was once called the Red River Shootout. While the name won't change back, the game itself turned into a shootout. Oklahoma's offense had little trouble solving Charlie Strong's defense, gaining 672 yards in the 45-40 win. Samaje Perine bulldozed his way to 214 yards and two scores, while receiver Dede Westbrook had 10 catches for 232 yards - a Sooner record - and three touchdowns. The trouble for the Crimson and Cream came on defense. Longhorn freshman quarterback Shane Buechele threw for 245 yards and three TDs. OU couldn't stop D'Onta Foreman on the ground either, allowing 159 yards and two TDs to the Horns runner.

It was the defense, however, that came up with two crucial stops late in the third and early in the fourth quarters. When OU took a 28-27 lead, the Sooners forced a 3-and-out. Westbrook then hauled in his third score of the game to put the Sooners on top 35-27. Another 3-and-out gave OU the ball back and again they scored for what ultimately proved to be too much for Texas to overcome.

With TCU and Texas behind them, OU has a clear shot at the Big 12 title. Kansas State, Baylor and Oklahoma State must visit Norman. Oklahoma travels to West Virginia late in the year, but the conference title may be wrapped up before then.

6) No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 9 Tennessee produced a classic. It seems that most games the Vols are involved in these days turn out to be classics. The Aggies led 28-7 early in the third quarter, and 35-21 late in the fourth. But don't count out Big Orange. Tennessee scored twice in the final three minutes to send the game to overtime. Both kicked field goals in the first frame, but Texas A&M prevailed 45-38 after scoring and then intercepting Josh Dobbs. The next two weeks see both teams facing No. 1 Alabama - Tennessee on Oct. 15 at home; Texas A&M on Oct. 22 at Bama.

7) Saturday Stunners: No. 6 Houston was the second Top 10 team to go down. The Cougs lost on the road to Navy 46-40. Houston's dream of crashing the Playoff party ended in Annapolis. ... No. 10 Miami became the third Top 10 team to fall, as the Canes dropped their seventh straight to No. 23 Florida State when the Noles blocked a potential game-tying extra point. ... Other Top 25 teams to go down were: No. 17 North Carolina getting blown away in Hurricane Matthew by No. 25 Virginia Tech, 34-3; No. 21 Colorado lost 21-17 at USC; No. 16 Arkansas lost big to No. 1 Alabama (not surprising here); And Washington State drop-kicked No. 15 Stanford on The Farm, 42-16.

8) Notre Dame is off to its worst start (2-4) since 2007 following a 10-3 loss at NC State. The Irish and Wolfpack played amidst the hurricane conditions in Raleigh. The field was more fit for slip-and-slide, but no excuses as both teams dealt with the problematic conditions. The Irish still have Stanford, Miami, Navy, Virginia Tech and USC still on the schedule. It's very possible Notre Dame won't make a bowl game this season.

9) There are now only 11 unbeaten FBS teams remaining. Nine are from Power 5 conferences and two Group of 5 teams.

Power 5
ACC - Clemson
Big 12 - Baylor and West Virginia
Big Ten - Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio State
Pac-12 - Washington
SEC - Alabama and Texas A&M

 Group of 5
MAC - Western Michigan
MWC - Boise State

Some games to keep an eye on next week - Alabama at Tennessee, Nebraska at Indiana, West Virginia at Texas Tech, and Ohio State at Wisconsin.

10) The schedule finally becomes a little more routine. Six games to go, all on Saturdays, one bye week, and four home games. One at a time. Beat NC State.

-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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Monday, October 3, 2016

Ben Ten makes its return

Now that we are over a month into the season, it's time to start taking a look at a ranking of sorts. I'll play CFB Playoff Committee member and give you my Top 10. It's time to unveil the first installment of the 2016 Ben Ten.

Playoff Teams
Alabama right back where it left off the 2015 season. At the top.
1) Alabama
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): USC, Ole Miss
This week: at No. 16 Arkansas
The Crimson Tide passed their only real test to date - winning at Ole Miss. Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts brings a new element to Alabama's offense. Big month ahead for the Tide.

 2) Ohio State
Record: 4-0
Key win(s): Oklahoma
This week: vs. Indiana
Ohio State has looked dominant. The Buckeyes have outscored their opponents 228-37. The demolition of Oklahoma in Norman put the country on notice. This team is nasty.

3) Clemson
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): Auburn, Louisville
This week: at Boston College (Friday)
It took playing the nation's best offense for the Tigers to get their offense rolling. Clemson held Louisville well below its season average for points, total yards and yards per play.

4) Michigan
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): Colorado, Wisconsin
This week: at Rutgers
No questioning that Michigan is tough. But does it have enough playmakers to hang with Ohio State? We won't know until November. Harbaugh has turned the program around, though.

Next in line

 5) Houston
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): Oklahoma
This week: at Navy
If Greg Ward Jr. played for a Power 5 school, he'd be getting a lot more Heisman love. Simply, no one wants to mess with the Cougs. Houston gets one more moment to shine when it hosts Louisville in November.

6) Washington
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): Stanford
This week: at Oregon
The Huskies put a beating on reigning Pac-12 and Rose Bowl champion Stanford. Washington is fast and athletic. Chris Petersen has the Huskies playing similarly to his Boise State teams - loose and tough.

7) Louisville
Record: 4-1
Key win(s): Florida State
This week: Bye
Lamar Jackson deserves all the praise. He's a freak of an athlete. The Cards showed more in the loss to Clemson than they had in blowout wins earlier. If they can run the table and have a few other things happen, Louisville could be the first non-conference champion to make the Playoff.

8) Miami 
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): None yet
This week: vs. No. 23 Florida State
Mark Richt has brought back a certain swag to The U. The Hurricanes host in-state rival Florida State this weekend and can solidify themselves as the ACC Coastal favorite.

9) Texas A&M
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): UCLA, Auburn, Arkansas
This week: vs. No. 9 Tennessee
For the third straight year, A&M is 5-0. Is the third time the charm? Big matchup in College Station this weekend as the Vols come to town.

10) Tennessee
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): Virginia Tech, Florida, Georgia
This week: at No. 8 Texas A&M
Alright, Vols. Here's your chance to prove the big deficit comeback wins and the lucky breaks are no fluke. Tennessee already has a firm grasp on the SEC East. But how will it fare against the West's best the next two weeks?
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