2011 - week 9

Times are getting tough, and no one is safe. There are only a few unbeaten left, and there are about to be less. The national title race is about to get interesting. But first, we'll take a look at how we got here.

Get it out of the way.

I'll start with the Hogs this week, because frankly, it makes me sick. I know everyone says a win is a win, and I get that. But Arkansas has to scratch and claw their way back into games in the second half against teams like Texas A&M(5-3), Ole Miss(2-6), and Vanderbilt(4-4) because they let them jump out to big leads early. It's super annoying. What is it about this team that they can't get it going unless they get hit in the mouth first, which happens every game now. If I have to hear Bobby Petrino say one more time about how he's happy the way the team responded after being down, I'm going to puke. I have an idea, stop having to respond! Again, these have been to teams that aren't exactly lighting it up against everyone else either. None are ranked, A&M is having a disappointing year, Ole Miss hasn't won a conference game in 14 tries, literally, and Vanderbilt is still Vanderbilt. And I still don't understand why Jarius Wright is the only receiver who can get open. I'm happy he is having a great season, but all the talk of this being the best receiving corps in the country is out the window. Greg Childs fell off the planet and gave up, I don't hear Joe Adams' name ever anymore, and Cobi Hamilton plays in slow motion. And don't even get me started on the defense, or lack there of. Not to mention, thanks to Marquel Wade, we've added a thugalicious aspect to the team. Arkansas is the luckiest, most overrated 7-1 team in the history of college football. And I can't wait to go to Fayetteville this weekend to cheer them on against South Carolina!

Wait, what?

So just one week after Texas Tech completely controls the entire game and beats OU IN Norman, they follow that up with getting run out of the stadium to....wait for it....Iowa State. Talk about getting up for one game and forgetting you still had to play the rest of the season. Tech amassed almost 600 yards of offense at OU, and then 290 against Iowa State. Tech QB Seth Doege was my player of the week last week, throwing for over 400 yards and 4 td's, this week, 290, no touchdowns. Way to go dude. This game was in Lubbock too. Typical Tech I guess, they're about as roller coaster of a program as there is. Final score 41-7, Iowa State.

Speaking of roller coasters.

Remember about three weeks ago when I said Wisconsin may be the fourth best team in the country, and has a very good shot to play for the national title? Well, I was an idiot. They have now lost two games in a row, and are out of it, nationally at least. They somehow gave up a game ending hail mary touchdown pass at Michigan State(which was awesome), and let the completely discombobulated Ohio State come back more than once to beat you. Not only that, it was another long touchdown pass that cost them, this time with just 20 seconds left. After everyone thought Russell Wilson was the final piece in the Wisconsin arsenal to go all the way, it seems as though he wasn't. Although he did play well, throwing for 259 yards and three scores with no picks. The most surprising thing is Ohio State. They haven't been able to do anything on offense for a while, until freshman Braxton Miller got it going. He threw for only 82 yards, but rushed for 99 and two td's. Or maybe it was the uniforms, those were sick. See for yourself. http://www.nikeblog.com/2011/09/12/2011-ohio-state-pro-combat-uniform/  Final score 33-29, Ohio State.

Speaking of wild finishes.

And who just cemented himself the Heisman. Andrew Luck and Stanford got out of the Los Angeles Coliseum after three overtimes with a win. There hasn't been many good things to say about USC recently, but they were 6-1 and playing good football. Stanford, as mentioned before, won 15 games in a row going into last week. And again, Luck came through. He passed for 330 yards, 3 touchdowns, and even overcame an interception return for a touchdown to still win. The guy is unbelievable. USC QB Matt Barkley is also pretty good, who threw for 284 yards and three scores himself. He is the least talked about good quarterback in the country. It wasn't enough however. Stanford's win streak is at 16. Final score 56-48, Stanford.

Still rolling along.

And still somehow a little quiet. I don't know if its the fact people don't think they will finish this high or what, but Oklahoma State is 8-0, third in the BCS, and steamrolling their opponents. This week it was a high powered Baylor squad, who got so much love to start the season, but has now fizzled. Okie State's offense is probably the most balanced out of the top teams. Not only can Brandon Weedon sling it around, but they rushed for 327 yards last week, with 5 touchdowns. The defense still needs work, giving up 622 total yards to Baylor. But they seem to be able to make plays when they need it, sort of the bend, don't break mentality. Mike Gundy has taken this team to new levels. The Big 12 title will come down to Bedlam at the end of the season. Final score 59-24, Oklahoma State.

Finally.

I've said in recent weeks, I'm just waiting for Clemson to not live up to their hype, and fall. And thanks to Georgia Tech, they did. Ga Tech is one of those teams that if the triple offense is clicking, they are tough to beat. They got it going for 383 yards rushing. Clemson freshman Sammy Watkins still played well, catching 10 balls for 159 yards and a score. There is no better freshman in the country this year, period. Clemson is still a really good team, they're just not top five good. Final score 31-17, Georgia Tech.

Speaking of top five good.

After playing uninspired against an inferior opponent and getting beat like they do once a year, OU got back on track. Going to Kansas State where no one in their right mind thought the Wildcats would be undefeated and ranked ninth, was going to be a challenge. But OU stormed out of the gate, playing inspired. Hey see what happens when you get ready?! K State even put up a good fight for a while, having a 17-14 lead in the second quarter. But it was a mismatch after that. OU finished with 690 total yards, to K State's 240. And after being behind 17-14, the Sooners scored 44 unanswered points the rest of the way. Sorry K State, not as good as you thought you were. Final score 58-17, Oklahoma.

Speaking of up and down.

One week after Michigan State threw a hail mary pass as time ran out to beat Wisconsin, they scored three points and lost. Notice a theme this week? Play huge one week, come out flat the next. The Spartans could never get it going at Nebraska, who themselves are a little hard to figure out. Although the Huskers are 7-1, I don't feel completely comfortable that every week they are going to play up to their potential. They did this week however, holding Michigan State to just 187 total yards. Final score 24-3, Nebraska.

Blowout of the week - Sam Houston State over Lamar, 66-0.

Thanks and see ya later.

Remember all the talk about Texas A&M to begin the season? About how great they were and how they were going to a BCS bowl? Well, they lost to Missouri 38-31 in overtime, at home, and are now 5-3. Their third double digit halftime lead given up this year. Bye bye.

Until next week.