2010 - week 13

Show of hands, did anyone else think last week's action was intense and amazing? I sure did! Other than the occasional mid season monster slate of games that can happen on one Saturday, Thanksgiving week is usually the most exciting week of games. For one thing, not all the games are on Saturday. There were big games on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. And the actual games played did not disappoint.

I have to start with it.

TBSATCUBS is gone, and you want to know why? Because Boise State lost! Hahahaha! Finally, the most annoying team in all the land was kicked to the curb, pun intended. No more possible national title scenarios involving them, no more do they belong conversations. I love it. I know most people root for the underdog, but that doesn't mean I have to. I have wanted them to lose for so long, and didn't think they would. But the Nevada Wolfpack came running all over them. They erased a 24-7 lead to force overtime. Which is where things got bad for Boise. Kicker Kyle Brotzman, if he hasn't already, is looking for a hole in the middle of nowhere to crawl into and hide. He missed two field goals, one that would have won the game, and one that would have sent the game into another overtime. I do feel bad for him, but not for the team. They didn't belong after all, and they never will. Final score 34-31. Nevada.

Well TCU did take care of business against maybe the worst team in college football, 66-17 over New Mexico.

Post Thanksgiving game.

It was weird watching the Texas vs. Texas A&M game in the sense that the Longhorns needed to win to become bowl eligible, and the Aggies were trying to add to one of the best seasons in a while. I think it's safe to say that EVERYONE overestimated Texas this year. Most preseason magazines and writers had them in their top ten. Well guess what, they are 5-7 and needing to reevaluate a lot of things in the offseason. They did play pretty well in this game however, but you could tell A&M was the better team. Texas put everything on the line, and still came up short. Texas' defense also held the Aggie offense to just 366 yards of offense, one of their lowest totals of the season. But QB Garret Gilbert had a horrendous year passing, and could never really get the offense going. He had 17 interceptions, to only 10 touchdowns. I still think he'll be good, he just needs more work. A&M on the other hand is headed to the Cotton Bowl to hopefully get destroyed by Alabama or LSU. Final score 24-17, Texas A&M.

Unbelievable.

When Alabama came flying out of the tunnel to steamroll Auburn to a 24-0 lead in the second quarter, one would think that game was over. Nope, that's why you play the game. But with Alabama's defense, and the game being played in Tuscaloosa, surely Bama could hold on. Bama QB Greg McElroy even threw for 335 yards in the first half! But Cam Newton showed why he is going to win the Heisman, and why Auburn is still undefeated. They have come back in eight of their 12 games this season to pull out victories. This one was the most impressive, considering the Auburn defense had to step up as well. They held Bama to only three points the rest of the game, as the offense slowly chipped away at the lead. Eventually, a seven yard touchdown pass by Newton to his tight end in the fourth quarter was the difference. Cam Newton now seems he will be eligible for the rest of the season. And one of the funnier moments of the year goes to the Alabama public address announcer. Before the game while Auburn was warming up, he played over the loud speakers Steve Miller Band's "Take the Money and Run," and "Son of a Preacher Man." Hilarious! Final score 28-27, Auburn.

Too much hype.

Even though it was lost in the shuffle of what happened above, the media always likes to think a team like a 7-3 Arizona can pull the upset over Oregon. I didn't think so. And even when Arizona took a 19-14 lead into halftime, I wasn't worried. Because it was a matter of time before Oregon ran off a 34-10 second half to an easy victory, and put themselves also one win away from the national title game. Another 537 yard performance on offense against a "good defense." Too bad running back LaMichael James had to play the same year Cam Newton did, because he might be your Heisman winner if not for that. He has 1,548 yards and 19 touchdowns on the year, and did not play in the first game. Final score 48-29, Oregon.

Nice "rivalry."

The only thing that constitutes Nebraska-Colorado as a rivalry is because it is the last game of the regular season. But there was no way Colorado was going to pull the upset and knock the Huskers out of the Big 12 Championship. Even with Nebraska's offense somewhat struggling coming in, they were still able to rush for 265 yards as a team. And thanks to running back Rex Burkhead's two touchdowns passes and one rushing, that was all they needed. No problems there. Final score 45-17, Nebraska.

Thank you very much.

I couldn't have asked for a better end to the football weekend than a Hog victory over LSU. It was a great game all around. Arkansas' defense has really stepped up this year, improving dramatically from a year ago. They held the LSU offense to just 294 total yards and even held them to a field goal when LSU got the ball for a first down on the Ark nine yard line on one occasion. It also helps though that LSU has never really been able to stay consistent on offense from game to game, where Arkansas does. Ryan Mallet again threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. Two of them to Cobi Hamilton, and were a couple of the most exciting plays of the season. The first came on a bullet from Mallet down the sideline that Hamilton snagged, then ran the rest of the 85 yards to the end zone. The second, was with six seconds left before halftime. I, along with half the world thought Mallet would take a knee and go to half. But instead threw another strike to Hamilton at about the 45, and when two LSU players collided it set him free to take it in for the 80 yard score. I don't think LSU recovered from that, and it gave the Hogs just the confidence they needed to take the rest of the game. It may have propelled them into their first BCS bowl ever. Final score 31-23, Arkansas.

Speaking of big plays.

I don't think I have enough time to go through all of the monster touchdowns that were scored in the Bedlam game in Stillwater. It was a true rivalry game that neither team wanted to lose. For the first time I think ever, Oklahoma State wasn't playing spoiler against OU. If OSU could win, they would be outright Big 12 South champions, and the world would end, well maybe not. Same goes for OU, with a win, they would move on to the conference title game. Here is a run down of the last five minutes of the game, to illustrate how both teams didn't give up. OU kicked a field goal to go up 33-24, then OSU drove down and scored on a 15 yard pass to Justin Blackmon, OSU down 33-31. Next OU possession, an 86 yard TD pass to Cameron Kenney, OU up 40-31. Ensuing kickoff returned all the freaking way by Justin Gilbert, OSU down 40-38. Next OU possession, 76 yard TD pass to James Hanna, OU up 47-38. Still following? OSU gets the ball back and the drive stalls, kicks a field goal. OSU goes for the onside kick and is recovered by OU. That is a rivalry game. OU to the Big 12 title game. Final score 47-41, Oklahoma.

Is this still a rivalry?

Ohio State-Michigan has always been a huge game, the two schools hate each other. But over the last three or four years, it has been a scarlet and gray lopsided look. My main man Terrelle Pryor outplayed his counterpart Denard Robinson, accounting for 220 yards passing with two touchdowns, and another 49 rushing. Robinson could only muster 87 yards passing, did have 105 rushing, but no touchdowns. That is of course thanks in part to Ohio State just being a better team overall. That has resulted in an unanticipated game that used to be the most anticipated game of the year. Michigan fans can't be happy that the Buckeyes are starting to think of it just as a regular game, and not the gargantuan rivalry it used to be. Coaches on both sides have been fired just because they couldn't beat the other one in the past, its that bad. Ohio State has now won seven in a row in the series. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez' hot seat is becoming en fuego. Final score 37-7, Ohio State.

Speaking of the Big 10.

The winner, even though it was a three way tie, is Wisconsin. The best rushing team in college football that doesn't run a triple option. They have three running backs that can start any game and be very productive. This week, Montee Ball, who was considered the third string running back to start the year, went for 178 yards and 4 touchdowns! They just seem to plug someone in each week and they produce. Wisconsin may be the best one loss team in the nation, and could beat just about anyone right now. They are a lock for a BCS bowl, and I wouldn't want to play them. Their latest victim was a good Northwestern squad, although they were without starting QB Dan Persa. They were no match. Final score 70-23, Wisconsin.

At least this one turned around.

Another rivalry that has lost serious luster over the years is Florida vs Florida State.Thanks again in part to Florida dominating the last six years in a row. But with Florida having an incredibly down year, and Florida State playing well, the tables turned. To be honest, Florida's offense just sucks. The heir apparent to Football Jesus John Brantley was extremely overrated and over hyped, and the offensive line has been atrocious. 276 total yards of offense against a streaking Fla State team isn't going to get it done. Good to see the Noles back though, they played themselves right into the ACC championship game against Virginia Tech. First year head coach Jimbo Fisher has earned some credit from me. Final score 31-7, Florida State.

Blowout of the week - Northern Illinois over Eastern Michigan, 71-3.

JV basketball score of the week - Tulsa over Southern Miss, 56-50.

Until next week.