9-9
CENTRAL
FLORIDA VS
FLORIDA INTL :-(
STANFORD VS
ARIZONA :-)
BYU
VS UTAH :-(
MIAMI
FLORIDA VS OSU :-) :-/
NEW MEXICO
STATE VS UTEP :-)
OKLAHOMA VS FLORIDA STATE :-)
ILLINOIS VS ARIZONA STATE :-(
BALL STATE
VS BUFFALO :-)
OHIO VS MARSHALL :-) :-)
KENTUCKY VS LOUISVILLE :-(
SAN DIEGO ST
VS WASHINGTON ST :-(
TEXAS VS
UCLA :-)
NOTRE DAME VS MICHIGAN
ST :-(
MINNESOTA VS MIAMI
OH :-(
MISSISSIPPI
VS VANDERBILT :-(
IOWA VS PITTSBURGH :-)
CLEMSON VS AUBURN :-(
MARYLAND VS WEST VIRGINIA :-)
Well, I learned something this week...I don't know what I'm talking about. After my record last week and how I so eloquently stated my reasoning I thought maybe I just might know something about NCAA football. But looking at my picks this week and my way off-base reasoning after the fact, I see that anybody can sound like they know what they're talking about...including me. Heck, I had myself fooled. This is what I suspected about everyone else but I am firmly included in that little secret. Before each week's picks I need to re-read my own About This Blog as a humble reminder. The other thing I learned is that I need to be careful not to pick what I'd like to see happen even if the research supports that as a possibility (as opposed to a probability). In the end my NFL picks saved me (13-3) but I don't give that near the effort I give my NCAA picks because I just don't have the time. Also, only 5 other people in our pool had more points than me this week so that helped my standing. Off we go...
Florida International only beat Central Florida by a TD, but despite Central Florida's 300 total yards versus FIU's 238, the 62 yard advantage was wiped out by 71 yards in penalties and 42 yards lost in 6 sacks. Fumbles were also costly for UCF: the first led to an FIU TD late in the second quarter and another in the third quarter at their own 8 yard line led to an FIU TD two plays later. I'm really surprised the score wasn't any worse.
The first half of BYU vs Utah was a game, but in the second half it wasn't even close. It was a low scoring game...for BYU...but to my credit I did write that since this is a rivalry anything could happen, and it did. Penalties cost BYU 70 yards and sacks cost them 21 yards, but 6 fumbles and 1 interception were the most costly. It's interesting to note that Utah held BYU to 11 yards rushing but allowed 343 yards passing. They face Central Florida next week who has a pretty balanced game, but they killed themselves Saturday with penalties and turnovers similar to BYU.
Oklahoma and Florida State were tied 13 - 13 in the middle of the fourth quarter. There is some serious defense on both teams but then Oklahoma allowed a 56 yard TD on 4th and 28, they didn't see it coming. After all was said and done Oklahoma did prevail as expected. There was a nasty, unfair hit on a Florida State receiver inside the Oklahoma 5 yard line when two Oklahoma guys sandwiched Kenny Shaw...but the worst of it was both defenders clearly led with their helmets. Shaw laid motionless for several minutes and was removed from the field on a backboard as a precaution, thankfully he's okay. This sort of thing sickens me because players could become paralyzed or worse from such hits. I think a 15 yard penalty isn't severe enough and I would be in favor of ejecting players for such unnecessary roughness. I saw it in the NFL last weekend too and they should be ejected and fined. None of the coaches in these games took the offending players out. Until the penalties are stiffer it will keep happening.
Illinois only beat Arizona State by three points but they led the most of the game. I didn't think Illinois had it in them but it turns out they did...just by a hair!
Wow, did I pick the right team in Ohio vs Marshall! I thought this might be a close game but Ohio shut Marshall out after the first quarter and never looked back, they won 44 - 7.
When I first saw the outcome of San Diego vs Washington State I thought this was a clear example of me not knowing what I'm talking about, but I did write that for San Diego to beat WSU they would need to have a multi-faceted game...and they did -- with 273 yards passing and 227 yards rushing. I also wrote that if WSU can contain running back Ronnie Hillman they should be able to put up enough points to win. Well, they did not contain Hillman because he had 191 yards rushing and four TDs. Three of those TDs came in the 4th quarter and made for a lopsided score of 42 to 24.
Notre Dame walked all over Michigan State. MSU seemed sluggish to me and the biggest difference between them and Michigan is Michigan never gave up against Notre Dame. After the half MSU looked and acted defeated and their defense was not as advertised. I did write that I was probably wrong in picking MSU and I was. (Note to self: listen to self.)
Minnesota vs Miami (OH) is a good example of me picking what I'd like to see verses what is probable. Minnesota only won by 3 but it was an uphill battle for Miami even though they were tied 16 - 16 in the third quarter thanks to a TD pass to Chris Givens. (Chris is the brother of my co-worker.) Minnesota always seemed to have a bit of an edge on Miami but it was a good game and both teams played well. Minnesota only had 6 more total yards than Miami, but 25 yards in penalties really hurt Miami.
Vanderbilt beat Mississippi soundly and didn't allow them to score until the fourth quarter. I really had no idea what I was talking about in this case.
West Virginia dominated Maryland the first half but then the Terps managed a 21 point comeback in the second half, but WVU was far enough ahead and managed to score 10 more points in the second half to keep their lead. At least Maryland's uni's looked a lot better this week.
Ohio State Segment
I picked the right team in OSU vs Miami but my team lost badly. It was a very difficult game to pick because of all the unknowns due to suspensions. I couldn't decide until late Friday night but I finally settled on Miami, then the next morning I second-guessed myself, but as the day wore on I began to believe I fortunately (or unfortunately) picked correctly. I didn't pick Ohio State mainly because those other pundits who sound like they know what they're talking about only picked OSU because they thought Miami's QB Jacory Harris would make his usual mistakes (and he did)...but that was the only argument they gave. Considering OSU's performance against Toledo I understood why. But back to the Miami game, I know that Ohio State failed in every aspect of the game: missed tackles, dropped passes (butters!), playing the receiver instead of the ball in the end zone, and serious over throwing by the QB. It seemed to me that they simply didn't have the talent and/or experience needed. The shame of it is hearing people say things like they miss coach Tressel. If coach Tressel were still with OSU and the same personnel were on the field I doubt there would've been a different outcome. The problem wasn't play calling, the problem was that the players weren't able to execute. Maybe there is a coaching problem because there were a lot of fundamentals lacking in every area, it's as if many of them never played before. But I have a fundamental problem wishing upon a fallen star. Moving on...
Fashion Segment
With so many new, throwback, and limited edition uniforms in college football these days it deserves its own section. This section will also include commentary on fashion statements made by anyone involved in college football: coaches, officials, fans, and announcers. No one is safe. In some instances links must be used instead of images due to copyright restrictions.
The End
Ohio State Segment
I picked the right team in OSU vs Miami but my team lost badly. It was a very difficult game to pick because of all the unknowns due to suspensions. I couldn't decide until late Friday night but I finally settled on Miami, then the next morning I second-guessed myself, but as the day wore on I began to believe I fortunately (or unfortunately) picked correctly. I didn't pick Ohio State mainly because those other pundits who sound like they know what they're talking about only picked OSU because they thought Miami's QB Jacory Harris would make his usual mistakes (and he did)...but that was the only argument they gave. Considering OSU's performance against Toledo I understood why. But back to the Miami game, I know that Ohio State failed in every aspect of the game: missed tackles, dropped passes (butters!), playing the receiver instead of the ball in the end zone, and serious over throwing by the QB. It seemed to me that they simply didn't have the talent and/or experience needed. The shame of it is hearing people say things like they miss coach Tressel. If coach Tressel were still with OSU and the same personnel were on the field I doubt there would've been a different outcome. The problem wasn't play calling, the problem was that the players weren't able to execute. Maybe there is a coaching problem because there were a lot of fundamentals lacking in every area, it's as if many of them never played before. But I have a fundamental problem wishing upon a fallen star. Moving on...
Fashion Segment
With so many new, throwback, and limited edition uniforms in college football these days it deserves its own section. This section will also include commentary on fashion statements made by anyone involved in college football: coaches, officials, fans, and announcers. No one is safe. In some instances links must be used instead of images due to copyright restrictions.
After starting off the season with a mess of a uniform, Maryland's uni's in week 3 were very sleek
I've also noticed a disturbing trend in uniform fashion with linemen tucking in their shirtsleeves and exposing their shoulder pads. Maybe there's a practical reason for this but it ruins the look of a perfectly nice looking uniform
The look is much more suitable for a samurai warrior
Michigan State wore their Nike Pro Combat uni's against Notre Dame. The mascot logo looks very nice
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| Courtesy of Nikeblog.com |
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