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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Sunday, September 10, 2017

The Morning After - Putting the D back in Death Valley

Saturday started with overtime amidst the corn between Iowa-Iowa State and finished with triple-OT on the Palouse between Washington State-Boise State. What a great day of college football that gave us a small sample of what to expect this season. Chaos. Fun. And more of those "WOW" moments.

1st Quarter
Clemson's defense stuffed Auburn's ground game,
holding the SEC Tigers to 42 yards.
(Photo courtesy Clemson Athletics)
If you needed proof that Clemson is more like Alabama than anyone else, I hope you watched the Tigers sack Auburn. Eleven times. Clemson's defense is elite and it is what will carry Clemson all season. I mentioned during preseason that Clemson wouldn't win a lot of 35-31 type games, but more on the 17-14 side. Here we are. Clemson gets two quarterback rushing touchdowns and allows 117 yards to Auburn in a 14-6 slobber-knocker. Kelly Bryant has his work cut out for him, but FSU aside, there won't be a better defense he faces all year. By the team the Noles come to Death Valley mid-November, it's believable that Bryant and the Clemson offense could be humming.

As for Clemson's D, this marks the third game in the last four it hasn't allowed a touchdown dating to the 31-0 shutout of Ohio State in last season's Fiesta Bowl. Austin Bryant isn't a household name like Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence, or Christian Wilkins, but he racked up four of Clemson's 11 sacks. Tre Lamar isn't Kendall Joseph or Dorian O'Daniel, but his impact was felt. As was K'Von Wallace's who filled in for the injured starter Van Smith. It's been a next man up mentality for the past few years. The difference is Clemson is recruiting more talented players every year.

The Tigers now face the defending Heisman Trophy winner in Lamar Jackson. This defense against that guy? Get your popcorn ready. Beat Louisville.

2nd Quarter
Oklahoma made THE statement win of the weekend over THE Ohio State University. Baker Mayfield was terrific at the Horseshoe and made it well-known that he was not pleased with his team's performance a year ago in this game. Mayfield finished 27-35 for 386 yards and three touchdowns, adding his name to the top of the early season Heisman contenders. What impressed me most about this game, though, was Oklahoma's defense. The Sooners showed out and proved a lot of folks wrong, including me. I don't think JT Barrett is a good quarterback and the Buckeyes have plenty of issues on offense, but OU has had defensive issues for several seasons. Saturday night in Columbus, they looked like a Playoff-caliber unit.

I was also extremely impressed with the adjustments Lincoln Riley made at halftime. This game was 3-3 at the intermission and OU was moving the ball between the 20s. They couldn't find a way to get points, though. That changed after Ohio State scored to make it 10-3 early in the third quarter. OU went on a 28-6 run the rest of the game. In-game adjustments define championship teams. Riley passed his first big test against the great Urban Meyer. The Sooners will likely be favored the rest of the way now and that Nov. 4 date in Stillwater is going to be must-see TV.

3rd Quarter
Despite a big day on the ground from Stanford's Bryce Love (17 carries, 160 yards and a TD), USC dominated the Cardinal to solidify its status atop the polls and the Pac-12. Quarterback Sam Darnold had a big day in the win. He went 21-26 for 316 yards and four TD passes. The Trojans also found a running game with two rushers going over 100 yards - Stephen Carr 11 carries for 119; Ronald Jones 23 for 116 and two scores. USC was 10-for-12 on third downs and amassed 623 yards of offense. This was the USC team that won its final nine games of 2016 and could very well be on its way to an undefeated season if it continues to play like that the rest of the way. That's a scary team out in LA.

4th Quarter
Freshman quarterback Jake Fromm out-performed expectations for Georgia on the road at Notre Dame. Fromm did just enough to give the Bulldogs a win in South Bend (or was it North Athens? Sheesh, there was a lot of red and black). He passed for 141 yards and a touchdown, but still looked like a freshman at times playing in a big road game. He turned the ball over twice, but overcame the mistakes to lead UGA down the field when it needed it most. As for Notre Dame, Brian Kelly could be on the final leg. Notre Dame isn't showing any signs of being an elite team and Kelly is showing his true colors in his press conference. Not a good look for the prestigious Catholic university.

Overtime
South Carolina's Deebo Samuel was at it again with another kick return for a score and two more rushing TDs as the Gamecocks continue to impress early on. South Carolina could very well be 4-0 heading into a late-September matchup at Texas A&M. The way the Aggies are looking, that could put Will Muschamp's team one win from bowl eligibility before October arrives. ... If anyone is going to give Oklahoma and Oklahoma State trouble in the Big 12, it'll be a team in purple. TCU and Kansas State look like that next tier of teams ready to contend with the big boys. The Horned Frogs struggled to put away Arkansas, but ended up with a 21-point win on the road. K-State has scored 55 points in back-to-back games against weak competition, but the Wildcats may be for real. We'll find out more when they travel to Vanderbilt this weekend. ... Oregon held on for a big win over Nebraska, 42-35, after leading 42-14 at halftime. The Ducks went into prevent offense mode for much of the second half. Nebraska tried to do its best Josh Rosen/UCLA impression, but came up short. That's a big win for Willie Taggart early in his Oregon career. ... Penn State absolutely dominated in-state rival Pitt. And then head coach James Franklin dominated Pitt in the postgame, saying Pitt's win against PSU last year was like their Super Bowl, but this was more like PSU beating Akron. Savage. ... It's clear that the rich keep getting richer - Alabama, Clemson, USC, Oklahoma, Penn State, etc. But the poor are getting poorer, as far as Power 5 bottom feeders go.

ACC - Syracuse lost to Middle Tennessee State; Virginia lost to Indiana
Big 12 - Kansas lost to Central Michigan; Baylor lost to UTSA
Big Ten - Rutgers lost to Eastern Michigan
Pac-12 - Arizona lost to Houston; Oregon State lost to Minnesota (48-14)
SEC - No losses, but Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M struggled with Eastern Kentucky, UT-Martin, and Nicholls, respectively.

When it comes to the "top to bottom" argument, there's not a P5 conference out there that can win that. 

Tiger Tweets
























-BtW
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Friday, September 8, 2017

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 2

Time for some more predictions! This weekend packs a big punch with great action all day and late into the night. Pour a cup or two of coffee and expect to be up late Saturday night. On with the picks!

2017 Record
Overall: 17-2 (.895 win %)
Game of the Week Pick: 1-0
*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

AP Top 10
Fresno State at 1 Alabama
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN2
Alabama -43.5
Alabama gets a chance to work on its offense with Fresno State in town. What will be interesting is if Jalen Hurts continues to struggle throwing the ball. Freshman Tua Tagovailoa impressed during the spring game and will likely get his first chance at live action on Saturday. Could quarterback controversy begin brewing in Tuscaloosa? Tide 48-0

GAME OF THE WEEK
The QB battle between Baker Mayfield and JT Barrett
is a dandy in the marquee game of the weekend.
5 Oklahoma at 2 Ohio State
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, ABC
Ohio State -7.5
After getting thumped by the Buckeyes a season ago, the Sooners visit Ohio State with revenge on their minds. This is an intriguing coaching matchup with first-year coach Lincoln Riley against veteran Urban Meyer. Baker Mayfield looked terrific in the opener. Oklahoma appeared to find a few answers to who will step up at running back and wide receiver. Abdul Adams was shifty and quick out of the backfield. Jeff Badet and Mark Andrews are go-to targets for Mayfield. The question is, does OU have an answer for the nasty defensive front for the Buckeyes? The advantage lies with Ohio State's defense. I trust Mayfield more than JT Barrett, even on the road. But I believe the Sooners are behind on the defensive side. Barrett has plenty of speed around him and it will be tough for OU to keep up with the talented Buckeyes. Bucks 37-27

13 Auburn at 3 Clemson
Saturday, 7 pm ET, ESPN
Clemson -5
Kelly Bryant and Jarrett Stidham each get their first real test as new starters. Stidham has the tougher challenge going on the road in a night game at Death Valley. Both defenses are elite. Clemson will try to use its speed and chaotic backfield against a stout Auburn defensive front. Auburn has a more straight forward running game with Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway. However, Johnson suffered a hamstring injury last week and likely won't play, while Pettway was suspended and will get his first action of the season at Clemson. He'll be fired up, no doubt. But so will the Clemson defense, Clemson offense, and Clemson crowd. ACC Tigers 24-17

Pittsburgh at 4 Penn State
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Penn State -21.5
The Nittany Lions are on a mission to prove many of the doubters wrong. The loss to Pittsburgh a season ago kept Penn State out of the College Football Playoff. Despite the weapons returning on offense, many have Penn State behind Ohio State in the Big Ten East. Before getting to the Buckeyes, PSU needs to avenge this loss. With Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley leading the way in front of a raucous sold out, white out Happy Valley, Penn State gets it done big. Lions 44-17

14 Stanford at 6 USC
Saturday, 8:30 pm ET, Fox
USC -5.5
I've been back and forth on this one, mostly because of how good Stanford looked two weeks ago in the opener and how mediocre USC looked last week against Western Michigan. Bryce Love filled in the shoes left by Christian McCaffrey extremely well, rushing for 180 yards and a score on just 13 carries. Stanford had two weeks to prepare for this one and USC dropped in the polls after it struggled. However, this is destined to be an early Heisman campaign type game for Trojan quarterback Sam Darnold. If USC was simply keeping it vanilla last week and still scored 49 points, then watch out. Trojans 38-35

Montana at 7 Washington
Saturday, 8 pm ET, Pac-12
No Line 
Well, there's not much to say about this. Washington needed a big second half to put away Rutgers (yes, that Rutgers!). But the Huskies and Jake Browning are fine. For now. Huskies 55-10

Cincinnati at 8 Michigan
Saturday, Noon ET, ABC
Michigan -34
Wilton Speight nearly cost himself his starting job and Michigan the game last week against Florida. Speight was able to redeem himself and led the Wolverines to a big win over the Gators to open the season. Michigan steps back this week and should roll over a Cincy team that struggled with Austin Peay. Wolverines 52-6

Florida Atlantic at 9 Wisconsin
Saturday, Noon ET, Big Ten
Wisconsin -33
The Badgers looked good against Utah State. Scary good. Another ho-hum game means another big Wisconsin win. The only reason to tune in is to see Lane Kiffin exploding on the sidelines for the Owls. Badgers 49-13

10 Florida State - OFF
The Noles' game against Louisiana-Monroe was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma. Other games throughout the state and affecting teams from Florida have also been cancelled. BENched sends his thoughts and prayers to the people of the state of Florida as they brace for one of the worst storms to hit the US.

Must Watch
17 Louisville at North Carolina
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN
Louisville -9.5
Lamar Jackson totaled 485 yards in a close win over Purdue and all he did was "hurt" his Heisman stock. Sheesh, people. The guy is electric. It's just a shame the team he has around him is just OK. Meanwhile, North Carolina lost at home to Cal, despite the Bears playing in the morning hours Pacific Time - I guess they didn't have an issue with their body clocks like Stanford did a few years back. I think this line might be a little too close and Jackson puts on another show ahead of Louisville's showdown with Clemson next week. Cards 41-24

 23 TCU at Arkansas
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, CBS
TCU -3
These two produced a epic finish last year with TCU storming back to force overtime, but the Hogs escaping Ft. Worth with a double-OT win. Now, the scene flips to Fayetteville. Kenny Hill threw four TDs and the TCU offense showed some major firepower, albeit against Jackson State. Likewise, the Razorbacks sleep-walked through their win over Florida A&M. BENched expects a shootout with the team with the ball last getting the victory. Frogs 47-42

 Nebraska at Oregon
Saturday, 4:30 pm, Fox
Oregon -13.5
Oregon couldn't get out of its own way in Lincoln last year, failing several two-point conversions en route to a three-point loss. Under new leadership, the Ducks won't be quite as finesse in these type of games. Nebraska nearly coughed up its win last week against Arkansas State. Autzen Stadium is no easy place to play and Royce Freeman is eager to put his own name into the hat for early-season Heisman candidates. Ducks 40-27

 15 Georgia at 24 Notre Dame
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, NBC
Notre Dame -5.5
A fun one in South Bend as two historic teams face off for just the second time ever. The Dawgs will go with freshman Jake Fromm to lead the charge. Fromm steps in for the injured Jacob Eason. The youngster looked sharp in UGA's win over Appalachian State. Going on the road in the hallowed Notre Dame Stadium is a little different, though. The Irish will counter with a first-year starter themselves. Brian Kelly has given redshirt sophomore Brandon Wimbush the nod. Notre Dame crushed Temple to open the season. At home, under the lights, this one goes to ND. Irish 31-24

Utah at BYU
Saturday, 10:15 pm ET, ESPN2
Utah -2.5
The Holy War. One of the more underrated rivalries in football. BYU hasn't come close to looking good this season. The Cougars needed all four quarters to put away Portland State and then were blanked by LSU, 27-0. The Utes, meanwhile, have a quarterback in Tyler Huntley who took over for Troy Williams - last season's starter. Huntley's dual-threat ability will cause problems for many teams this year, starting with BYU. It's a late one, but this game tends to go down to the wire. You'll be happy you stayed up for the finish. Utes 23-20

 Keep An Eye On
Iowa at Iowa State
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN2
Iowa -3
Crazy things happen at Jack Trice Stadium. If you're looking for a little rivalry action early on Saturday, this one will do it. Iowa trounced the Cyclones last year. Can ISU turn the tables? Hawkeyes 34-28

 Wake Forest at Boston College
Saturday, 1 pm ET, ESPN3
Even
No, this one isn't exciting. In fact, it's not even on TV! You'll have to pull up ESPN3 to find it. But the Deacs and Eagles generally produce close games and the winner will have some kind of momentum going in conference play. Remember, Wake Forest was in the division hunt mid-November last year. Deacons 20-14

 South Carolina at Missouri
Saturday, 7 pm ET, ESPN2
Missouri -2.5
There could be points. Lots and lots of points in the battle of Columbias. Missouri and Drew Lock have already hung 70 on the board. South Carolina and Jake Bentley are on the upswing and took down NC State, scoring 35 points despite going against a tough defensive front. In between Ohio State-Oklahoma and Clemson-Auburn, check this one out. Gamecocks 48-44

Boise State at 20 Washington State
Saturday, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN
Washington State -10
Any chance to get to watch the pirate himself is great. Mike Leach has Washington State as a legit Top 25 program. Quarterback Luke Falk is the real deal. Wazzu will be out for revenge after falling on the blue turf last year. Cougs 37-31

-BtW
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Sunday, September 3, 2017

The Morning After - Winning the Opener

Welcome back to The Morning After, a Sunday staple of BENched. TMA began as a way for me to provide my thoughts on the previous day's Clemson game. It morphed into writing about the national landscape.

A new season is upon us and I'm going with a new format. There will be four quarters and an overtime, followed by "Tiger Tweets."  The first quarter will be all Clemson. The second through fourth quarters will be a look at the most important games from the weekend. Overtime will be some quick hits of the other action. Tiger Tweets will be a condensed game thread of some of my personal favorite tweets about the game.

There are still a few games to go over the holiday weekend. None should really impact the Playoff race, but a couple could turn the burner a little higher on some already hot seats.

1st Quarter
If you read my season-opening post, you know I'm high on my Tigers. It all stems from knowing Dabo Swinney loves the underdog role. With all the offensive firepower gone, pundits across the nation are hesitant to pick Clemson for a third straight Playoff run. That's understandable, but Swinney plays that chip on his shoulder better than most.

Kelly Bryant showed off his arm and his wheels
to lead Clemson in a blowout win over Kent State.
(Photo courtesy AP)
I realize Kent State is not a barometer for this team, but as Swinney mentioned during postgame this team played a relatively clean game. It was good to see Kelly Bryant lead the offense to three straight scoring drives. One of Clemson's strengths is its offensive line (returning four of five starters). Bryant had time to throw and the lanes were wide open to run through. The Tigers were very balanced and played 91 players in the game. Getting the youth playing time will pay dividends down the road. Clemson scored 56 points, gained 665 yards (312 passing, 353 rushing), all four running backs scored a rushing touchdown along with Bryant, and the passing game was on point.

Kent State managed 120 total yards and threw just five passes, completing one for one yard. I don't know why the Golden Flashes stuck to the running game against one of the best defensive front sevens in the country, but it's hard to get a read on the Tiger D when a team is voluntarily one-dimensional.

There is lots of promise for this team. The talent is there, but these next four games to close September are a different animal than what these youngsters have seen at the collegiate level. Clemson has Auburn visiting Saturday, then travels to Louisville, home vs. Boston College, and at Virginia Tech. Buckle-up, Tiger fans.

As always, one game at a time. Beat Auburn.

2nd Quarter
The GOAT (Greatest Opener of All-Time) was quite the DUD. Early on, it looked like we'd have a competitive game. But as it wore on, it was clear the Alabama was a step above Florida State. The Tide stuffed the Noles running game, holding FSU to 40 yards on the ground. Ultimately, offense and special teams blunders doomed the Seminoles. Good teams, like Alabama, take advantage of those mistakes.

Where FSU was impressive was on defense. Despite being put in terrible situations much of the second half, the Noles stiffened up and kept the deficit from growing. Alabama outgained FSU by just 19 yards. Jalen Hurts only threw 18 passes, completing 10 for 96 yards and a TD - seven of those completions and the TD were to playmaker Calvin Ridley. But Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough, and Hurts combined for 39 rushes for 168 yards (4.3 yards per carry).

FSU would have had a long way to go to reach an ACC Championship this year before Deandre Francois got hurt. If his knee injury is serious, the Noles may be in rebuild mode with a young backfield. I feel bad for Francois. He's done nothing but get pounded into the ground since he put on that uniform. I hope his career isn't ruined because FSU can't block for him.

I'm also not completely sold that Alabama looks like the best team in the country just yet. In year's past, they destroyed their opening week competition. On Saturday, they struggled and were practically gifted some points off turnovers.

Still, I think both teams will be in the conversation in November.

3rd Quarter
Another team that impressed many but I'm holding back on is Michigan. The Wolverines had a hard time getting things going against a stout Florida defense. Starting QB Wilton Speight threw two pick-sixes that would have sunk Michigan against any other opponent with an offensive pulse. Lucky for the Maize and Blue, this was Florida. Quarterbacks not named Tim Tebow or Danny Wuerffel, umm, aren't good. Somehow, the Gators put up 181 passing yards, but only ran for 11.

Yes, Florida was without a lot of suspended players, including its starting running back and star wideout. However, at a place like Florida it's inexcusable not to have backups ready to fill in and take over.

On the other sideline, the stats show Michigan dominated this game. The scoreboard told me it was a nine-point game late in the fourth quarter. How do you only give up three offensive points and find yourself needing a defensive score to seal the deal? Michigan is a young squad and this win will go a long way for confidence-building. I still think Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin are above them in the Big Ten right now.

4th Quarter
I dislike preseason predictions and prognostications (despite myself picking the Playoff teams last week). I think it places expectations on teams that haven't stepped on the field yet. Then, we judge a season-opening game based on those expectations and that's simply not fair. Take USC and Sam Darnold for example. Many anointed Darnold as the Heisman favorite based on last year. They have USC pegged as the Pac-12 representative for the Playoff. Maybe that got to the Trojans heads a bit, as they were deadlocked at 28 midway through the fourth quarter with Western Michigan.

Ohio State is another example. The preseason No. 2 team and favorite to win the national championship by many, trailed 14-13 at halftime at Indiana. The Buckeyes won going away, 49-21. Despite holding the Hoosiers to 17 rushing yards, OSU allowed 420 through the air. It took the offense three quarters to hit its stride, but that happens.

Let's hold off on the hot takes for another couple weeks until we see some of these teams against better competition. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Overtime
Most of the top teams played cupcake games. However, there were some other interesting results. I'll start with South Carolina knocking off NC State. The Wolfpack doubled the Gamecocks' yardage output 504-246, but shot themselves in the foot too many times. Deebo Samuel made some huge plays for USC and Jake Bentley showed off his skillset. But once again, hold your horses. South Carolina got the win, but there are plenty of question marks. NC State took the loss, but much like a season ago, one play here or there can turn this team into a conference contender.

The conference debate was a major talking point in the offseason. The ACC finished 2016 on top, but that quickly went south. Aforementioned FSU and NC State lost to SEC schools, North Carolina lost at home to Cal, Pittsburgh needed overtime to pull out a win against Youngstown State, and Louisville squeaked by Purdue. The Big Ten had the best weekend, getting out of conference wins away from home over Florida and Texas by Michigan and Maryland, respectively. Purdue's loss to the Cards looked respectable and even Rutgers managed to hang with No. 8 Washington for a half.

Like I said, it's a marathon still. Lots can happened between now and conference championship weekend.

Tiger Tweets












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Thursday, August 31, 2017

PTT: Prediction Time Thursday - Week 1

A weekend of college football has already come and gone. In case you missed it, the season opened with Colorado State thumping Oregon State 58-27 and concluded with Stanford destroying Rice 62-7 down under, with a few other minor results in between.

A newer-ish format for my weekly picks, but I hope you still enjoy the content. Sometimes this will come out Thursday and sometimes Friday, pending the impact of the Thursday games. Keep in mind, the "Must Watch" games of course include Top 10 teams, but will be listed separately. With an official opening weekend filled with bigtime matchups, let's get right to it.

2016 Record Recap
Overall: 140-59 (.704 win %)
Bowl Picks: 16-4
Game of the Week Pick: 7-4
*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

 AP Top 10
GAME OF THE WEEK
1 Alabama vs. 3 Florida State (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia)
Saturday, 8 pm ET, ABC
Alabama -7.5
(EDIT: I read the line wrong. It is Bama -7.5)
With all that Bama does return on offense - QB Jalen Hurts, RB Bo Scarbrough, WR Calvin Ridley - and knowing Nick Saban doesn't lose in season openers, I have a hard time going against the Tide (as much as I want to and hope FSU wins). It is a clash of two titans in college football this year and arguably the most anticipated opener of all-time. The ACC is the better conference, but Alabama is the better team. Plus, Alabama doesn't lose in Atlanta - new stadium or not. Tide 23-17

2 Ohio State at Indiana
Thursday, 8 pm ET, ESPN
Ohio State -21
Offensive guru Urban Meyer had to do some soul searching following a 31-0 beatdown in the Fiesta Bowl. He went out and hired former Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson, who never found much success at IU. Doesn't matter now. He has a depth chart stacked with talent. I wouldn't be surprised if the Buckeyes score often and don't stop. Bucks 58-17

4 USC vs. Western Michigan
Saturday, 5:15 pm ET, Pac-12
USC -27
If PJ Fleck were still at Western Michigan, I'd give the former boat rowers a chance. Sam Darnold is atop nearly every preseason Heisman list for good reason. Expect the Trojans to have a field day here. Trojans 47-13

 5 Clemson vs. Kent State
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN
Clemson -40
The Kelly Bryant era begins. Dabo Swinney and Co. are in search of 10-win season No. 7 in a row, but this will be the first without Tajh Boyd or Deshaun Watson. It'll be the Tigers defense that is the strength this season. The Golden Flashes shouldn't put up much of a fight. Tigers 38-6

6 Penn State vs. Akron
Saturday, Noon ET, ABC
Penn State - 30.5
Between Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley, the Nittany Lions ought to be a fun team to watch. Like many in the Top 10, this is a tune-up game for next weekend when Pittsburgh comes to Happy Valley. Lions 45-10

 7 Oklahoma vs. UTEP
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, Fox
Oklahoma -43
Sooner Nation officially welcomes in the Lincoln Riley campaign. Baker Mayfield is back for his senior season, but he'll have to find new playmakers to help his cause. Bob Stoops won 10 Big 12 titles in 18 seasons at OU. What's in store for his protégé? Sooners 63-21

8 Washington at Rutgers
Friday, 8 pm ET, FS1
Washington -27.5
The Huskies were knocked for their out-of-conference schedule a season ago. Going on the road in the Big Ten is generally a step up. At Rutgers, though, might be going in the opposite direction. Jake Browning is fun to watch. U-Dub could be on a crash course to play USC for the Pac-12 title. Huskies 55-13

9 Wisconsin vs. Utah State
Friday, 9 pm ET, ESPN
Wisconsin -27
Finally, Wisconsin opens the season against a non-SEC West opponent (Bama 2015, LSU 2016). The Badgers are a sleeper to crash the Playoff party this season. BENched isn't sold on Bucky just yet, but they'll have no trouble with Utah State. Badgers 38-16

10 Oklahoma State vs. Tulsa
Thursday, 7:30 pm EDT, FS1
Oklahoma State -18
How long will Mike Gundy let his mullet grow? Sadly, that may get more attention than his team, which actually has a chance to run through the Big 12 and reach Playoff status. Mason Rudolph and his main target James Washington are sure to give the Pokes some fire power. OSU has had success, however, when its defense makes plays. Don't be surprised if Tulsa gives the Cowboys fits. Pokes 48-24

Must Watch
Colorado State vs. Colorado (Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado)
Friday, 8 pm ET, Pac-12
Colorado -5.5
The Rocky Mountain Showdown gained intrigue when the Rams head-butted Oregon State out of the newly-opened CSU Stadium last Saturday. Colorado State now plays its second-straight Pac-12 foe with in-state rival Colorado in Denver. The Buffs were the Pac-12 South champion a year ago, but stumbled in the postseason, looking non-competitive in the title and bowl games. This is an underrated rivalry that is must-watch TV on Friday night (if you have Pac-12 Network). Buffs 34-30

 11 Michigan vs. 17 Florida (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas)
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Michigan -3.5
Who's starting at quarterback? Neither has announced its starting quarterback in a game of "Let's see who can be the most annoying team." Regardless, we know the Gators will be without at least eight players who have been suspended and Michigan is looking at replacing nearly its entire starting roster from a season ago. Which Jim are you siding with - Harbaugh or McElwain? Wolverines 20-14

 Texas A&M at UCLA
Sunday, 7:30 pm ET, Fox
UCLA -4.5
The Hot Seat Game seems to be starting earlier and earlier each year. A&M's Kevin Sumlin and UCLA's Jim Mora can ill-afford a poor start to the season, making this game all-the-more interesting. The Bruins trailed 24-9 entering the fourth quarter in College Station before sending the game to overtime, where the Aggies pulled out the win a season ago. Is Josh Rosen really the "Rosen One?" Can the Aggies start AND finish a season? Bruins 27-24

 22 West Virginia vs. 21 Virginia Tech (FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland)
Sunday, 7:30 pm ET, ESPN
Virginia Tech -4.5
What used to be an intense Big East rivalry, was halted in the mid-2000s, and is now being resurrected as a neutral site game. The Mountaineers and Hokies don't like each other, plain and simple. Justin Fuente took VT back to 10 wins and showed promise as a first-year coach. But the Hokies must fill a lot of holes on offense. Will Grier, the former Florida QB suspended for PEDs, has won the starting job in Morgantown. Expect a battle to the finish. Hokies 33-27

 25 Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia)
Monday, 8 pm ET, ESPN
Tennessee -3
Paul Johnson loved bragging about being 3-0 against the SEC East in 2016, beating Vandy, Georgia, and Kentucky. The Jackets get a crack at another to open 2017 with Tennessee making the trip to Atlanta as the second game of the Labor Day extravaganza to open the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. I don't know what to think about either team. They both are starting new quarterbacks and neither ever lives up to preseason hype. I'll give UT the edge for having all summer to figure out how to slow down Johnson's triple-option offense. Vols 26-20

Keep An Eye On
Maryland at 23 Texas
Saturday, Noon ET, FS1
Texas -18
Not dire, but eager to see Texas under Tom Herman. Horns 31-20

NC State vs. South Carolina (Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina)
Saturday, 3 pm ET, ESPN
South Carolina -4.5
NC State will be physical on defense. South Carolina has playmakers on offense. A good one to have for the "last channel" button. Pack 27-24

Appalachian State at 15 Georgia
Saturday, 6:15 pm ET, ESPN
Georgia -14.5
Last season, the Mountaineers took another SEC East favorite (Tennessee) to overtime. Could they do the same here? Dawgs 38-17

 16 Louisville vs. Purdue (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana)
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, Fox
Louisville -24.5
Look, I firmly believe Deshaun Watson was the best player in CFB last year. But Lamar Jackson was a close second. Any chance to see his electrifying style of play can't be passed up. Cards 59-27

 BYU vs. 13 LSU (Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana)
Saturday, 9:30 pm ET, ESPN
BYU -14
The game has been moved from Houston to New Orleans, so it will be even more pro-LSU than before, though to no fault of LSU's. BYU struggled with Portland State in the opener, winning 20-6. Were they looking ahead? Also, Derrius Guice will remind a lot of folks of Leonard Fournette in a hurry. Tigers 27-20

-BtW
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Wednesday, August 30, 2017

College Football, BENched Make Triumphant Return


This still feels like it happened yesterday.
It's safe to say that every Clemson fan across the nation has been waiting for - and dreading - this day since the early morning hours of January 10.

College football has returned, and with it, the first installment of the 2017 Clemson Tigers. The trophy resides in a small corner of Upstate South Carolina for the time being. Until the Tigers are out of it this year, Clemson fans can be seen smiling from ear to ear. Fans of the orange and purple are stoked to see their team board the buses, rub Howard's Rock, and run down The Hill as defending National Champions for just the second time in school history - the first since 1982. It surely will bring a tear or two to my eye.

They also know it's the beginning of a new season, one that will slowly wipe away memories of 2016. Gone are Deshaun Watson, Wayne Gallman, Jordan Leggett, Mike Williams, Artavis Scott, Ben Boulware, Cordrea Tankersley, and Carlos Watkins. In step new faces ready to prove there won't be a drop-off. A new champion will be crowned (and who knows, it could be Clemson again!).

This year will be different for BENched as well. Many of you know my wife and I are expecting our first child quite literally any day now (We're having a boy and his name will be Xander). (Edit: When I typed this Tuesday, no baby. Now it is Wednesday and Xander is here!!!) With a Clemson national title in hand and sleep soon to become null and void, I'll tone it back ever-so-slightly.

While I still plan to write often, some changes will be necessary. I still plan to do weekly predictions either Thursday or Friday. These are commonly known as PTT or PTF (Prediction Time Thursday/Friday). I'm planning on a new format of predicting all Top 10 teams, featuring a few "Must Watch" games, and adding a section for games to flip to during commercials.

On Sunday, my ever-popular piece "The Morning After..." will continue with a few tweaks. In the past, it's been heavily Clemson-focused. I'll try to bring that part back a tad and add a few more nationally relevant thoughts. My hope is that I'm able to provide you with a more balanced college football viewpoint instead of mostly Clemson and just a few bigger items.

My time for writing any other pieces will be limited once Xander arrives. That said, I am more excited for football to begin than ever before! I watched every game this past Saturday just to get back in the groove.

I normally don't do predictions, but I'll leave you with this. Here's my 2017-18 CFB Playoff prediction:

Semifinals
Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual - 2 Ohio State vs. 3 USC
Allstate Sugar Bowl - 1 Alabama vs. 4 Clemson

2018 National Championship Game -  3 USC vs. 4 Clemson

 -BtW
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