2010 - week 11

I apologize for the lateness this week, but I am a busy man. I can only do so much!

It was almost the most hectic weekend of the season. If a couple of things would have gone a different way in a couple of games, the BCS would have gone into meltdown mode.

Here is what I mean.

Might as well start with the number one team.

A middle of the road Cal team filled with guys who just came over from Starbucks after writing poetry, would be no problem for Oregon right? WRONG?! It goes to show that a team with a good defense (Cal has the number one ranked defense in the PAC-10) always has a MUCH better chance of winning. Have I ever said that before? Anyway, Oregon could never get their adrenaline filled offense going. They were held to just 317 yards of total offense, which is 250.2 less than their average per game.It took a punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter to give the Ducks their first points. And a turnover on the Cal 29 in the third quarter resulted in their next, and only remaining TD of the game. This is how close it came to the number one team going down. Oregon had a 15-7 lead in the fourth quarter, had the ball, but a forced fumble that Cal recovered in end zone cut it to 15-13! Cal went for two and failed. And Cal even had a chance a few minutes later to kick a filed goal that would have given them the lead with not a lot of time remaining, but missed the try. Yes, it was that close. Final score 15-13, Oregon.

A valiant effort.

Sitting at number two in the BCS, only needing one more win to clinch the SEC west was Auburn. A visit from Georgia could throw a monster wrench into that with a win however. And when Georgia took a 21-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, it got very interesting. But as it turns out, it was just a matter of time before Cam Newton and maybe the next best offense in the country got going. Auburn ran off 21 unanswered points, on their way to simply outscoring Georgia. The Bulldogs hung tough though, it was 35-31 Auburn at the end of the third quarter. Auburn's defense is not great however, but with that offense, and still not seeing anyone who will be able to stop Newton, I don't see how they won't have a good chance to win it all. I know I always say a good defense will almost always beat a good offense, but no one has been able to do it in the SEC, where the best defenses reside. Final score 49-31, Auburn.

TBSATCUBS.

Although TCU almost blew it! All of the talk about if TCU and Boise State belong, might sound better as long as they keep winning. While I don't want either team, ESPECIALLY Boise State, to make it in the national title game, we very well can't debate it if they can't beat the weaklings they already play. Moving on, TCU escaped over San Diego State(yes, barely) 40-35, and Boise rolled again over Idaho 52-14.

Too quiet.

All the talk and attention has gone to the other tall, athletic QB, but Terrelle Pryor(yes, he is still the man to me) leads the quietest 9-1, top ten ranked team in the country. After a dominating win over Penn State last weekend, the Buckeyes are sitting pretty for their sixth straight Big Ten title. A showdown with Iowa this week proves large. In terms of raw talent, I would say Pryor and Newton are equal, but Pryor has shown this year he has progressed as a passer. If Pryor ran it as much as Newton, who knows what kind of Heisman talk there would be. T.P. still runs a 4.4 40, and has a cannon arm. If it were up to me, I would take Pryor, if nothing else, he doesn't steal laptops and demand payment to play somewhere. But that's just speculation.

A little overrated.

Mississippi State had won six in a row, and were ranked in the top 25 for the first time in forever. But how good were they really? I'll tell you. In that six game winning streak, the combined record of their opponents was 30-32, and three of those wins were against non BCS schools, including an FCS school. And even though Alabama had now lost two games and was out of the running for a repeat conference title, you wondered the state of each team. And just as I suspected, Miss State isn't nearly as good. Or maybe Bama was pissed, I don't know. What I do know is that Bama got it going early and often with big plays for touchdowns. They scored on plays of 45, 78, and 56. It was never really a game. Final score 30-10, Alabama.

Speaking of unsure.

What in the world is going on with Texas? It was kind of funny when they lost to Kansas State and Baylor, even after beating Nebraska. But when Oklahoma State came to Austin and took it straight to them from the get go, it's not really funny anymore, its just sad. OSU receiver Justin Blackmon had another stellar game, catching nine balls for 145 yards and a score. But this was Texas' fourth loss at home this year. Sure, every big time program has it's off years, look at Florida this year too. But an off year for an elite program such as Texas usually means eight or nine wins still. But the Longhorns are in danger of not making a bowl this year. QB Garrett Gilbert has not progressed after he played so well in the national championship game last year. They have no run game, a below average passing game, and seem to be playing uninspired. It's just another way OU fans can stick it to Texas, because even on OU's down years, they still went to a bowl game. Final score 33-16, Oklahoma State.

Speaking of OU.

A nice way to rebound against Texas Tech after its dismal performance last week. Of course it was in Norman, where the Sooners can't lose. I would challenge the '92 Dallas Cowboys to come to Norman and see how they come out. But Tech never had a chance, it was 38-7 at half. OU's defense even showed up, holding Tech's vaunted passing attack to just 144 yards. And again, Landry Jones played excellent at home, throwing for 317 yards and five td's. Wide receiver Ryan Broyles broke the OU record for receptions and touchdowns after his third td of the game. That's impressive considering the playmakers OU has had at receiver the last several years. Final score 45-7, Oklahoma.

Remember when?

It seems like ten years ago that Virginia Tech was 0-2 after losses to Boise State and James Madison. Well, they are now 8-2 and primed for another ACC championship. Of course, the ACC is the most unpredictable, wackiest of all conferences in the land. So you never know what might happen. But you have to give them credit, we knew they were a good team, just didn't know it would take this long to find out. Their latest victim to add to their win streak was equally disappointing North Carolina. Said to have the greatest defense the nation had ever seen, they are now just 6-4, and out of the ACC race. I guess it doesn't help when half of your team decided to party where they shouldn't have been partying. Oh well. Final score 26-10.

OK fine.

It took a win over the most dysfunctional Florida team in The Swamp I've ever seen, but South Carolina pulled it off (I just threw up in my mouth a little). I guess if South Carolina was going to win the SEC East for the first time since joining in '92, I'm glad that it gets downplayed considering Florida and Georgia are both having very disappointing seasons. If not for those two choking it up, SC would be where they always are, in the middle of the division. So the SEC championship is set, Auburn vs. South Carolina. They played a good game once already this year, with Auburn winning 35-27 in the final minutes. I will say that Gamecock running back Marcus Lattimore is the freshman of the year, he rushed 40 times for 212 yards and three td's. Final score 36-14, South Carolina.

A Hog blip.

Because I can. Not much to say about a shellacking of a lesser opponent. UTEP came to Fayetteville on senior night when Arkansas felt like sending the seniors out the right way. Tight end DJ Williams, the greatest senior of them all, caught two touchdown passes. He will also be receiving the Disney Spirit Award at the College Football awards next month, he is a great guy. Final score 58-21, Arkansas.

The "what in the bleep was that?" game of the week.

The match up on paper seemed like a good game, both teams had similar records. But the Tennessee Volunteers decided to act like a good team and give it to Ole Miss in an inappropriate way. Ole Miss has a good offense, and have been in some close games against the top teams in the SEC. Tennessee has as well, and should have beaten the currently fifth ranked LSU Tigers earlier in the year. So as the game went on and Tenn was rolling up yards and points I thought to myself, "where did this come from? Is Peyton Manning back for Tennessee today?" No, it was just Tyler Bray, who since he has been inserted into the starting role, Tenn is playing much better. He threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns. While former thief, I mean Oregon Duck but instead current Ole Miss QB Jeremiah Masoli, is probably wishing he was back in Eugene playing for the number one team in the country. Final score 52-14, WHAT?! Tennessee.

Blowout of the week - Wisconsin over Indiana, 83-20.

JV basketball score of the week - Tulane over Rice, 54-49.

Until next week.