Hey All,
I hope you're all enjoying your Holidays. Here's the column you love to read, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. (We still miss you, Alan Malamud.)
Let's take a look at the next 12 bowl games on the slate for 2009-10.
Eaglebank Bowl: UCLA (6-6) V. Temple (9-3)
Dec. 29, Washington, DC, 4:30 PM EST (ESPN)
UCLA: This is a UCLA squad that has been a true 6-6 team. I see good things and bad things in this squad. The good things are UCLA's defense led by LB Reggie Carter, DT Brian Price and their kicking game led by PK Kai Forbath and his 55+ yard leg. The bad is UCLA's whole offense. This offense just doesn't click. The bRuins have used three QBs this year and none of them have done well. I've looked at the stats here. The defense must score for UCLA to win this game.
TU: Owls HC Al Golden was turned down for the UCLA job a little while back and all he's done since then is take a woeful Temple programa nd turn them into a nine game winner in the MAC. Outside of USC RB coach Todd McNair, can you even name anyone who's ever played for Temple? Maybe you can, but I can't. That's how remarkable it is that the Owls are 9-3. TB Bernard Pierce leads the Owls offense rushing for 119 YPG. That means he's gone for a little over 1,300 yards this season and scored 15 TDs. Temple is a very solid MAC team.
Prediction: I see UCLA's offense sputtering, while the bRuin defense turns in a heroic effort and loses, 12-9.
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl: Bowling Green (7-5) V. Idaho (7-5)
Dec. 30, Boise, ID, 4:30 PM EST (ESPN)
BG: The Falcons throw the ball a lot and WR Freddie Barnes seems to catch a lot of those throws. Barnes leads the country in receptions with 138, and TDs with 16. He's third in receiving yards at 1,551 for the season. While BG can pass, they can't run or stop the run well. They like to get in shootouts with their foes. A note of irony; The Falcons are playing this bowl game on the blue turf at Boise State. The Falcons hosted Boise State in their fourth game of the year and were smashed, 49-14.
ID: The Vandals have risen from the dead to finish with a winning record and go to a bowl game for the first time this decade and only the second time in school history. Idaho can run the ball as well as throw it. QB Nate Enderle has been good all season, but TB Demaundray Woolridge keeps the team moving. He only averages about 70 YPG on the ground, but his combination of running and receiving skills keeps the Vandals in a lot of games. The Vandals are looking to break a season-ending three game losing streak in this bowl game.
Prediction: Idaho feeds off the hometown crowd and overwhlems Bowling Green, 43-31.
Pacific Life Holiday Bowl: Arizona (8-4) V. Nebraska (9-4)
Dec. 30, San Diego, CA, 8:00 PM EST (ESPN)
UofA: The Wildcat faithful ringed the field as the clock ran down. Everyone in Tuscon was sniffing Roses, then Oregon pulled out a late second win and sent the Wildcats on a path to this bowl. Oh, so close yet... Well, after that crushing loss tom UO, the Wildcats won their last two games of the year with a good defense and just enough offense to get by. So, I don't think UofA will have a problem getting up forn this game. They want to send a message for 2010. So why not take down the team that came :01 away from Big XII title? The big question for the Wildcats is can they contain Ndamukong Suh enough so they can run the ball? It's that simple. If UofA can run, then they can pass, and then they can win. RB's Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin need to have big games.
N: Wow, a Texas friendly "official review" kept the Huskers out of a BCS bowl. I think the boys from Lincoln will come into this game with a chip on their shoulder. We all know Ndamukong Suh is almost unstoppable. So, what else do they Huskers have? The Huskers have QB Zac Lee and RB Roy Helu, Jr. Lee's thrown for 1,970 yards and 13 TDs this year but his 10 interceptions have hurt Nebraska this year. Meanwhile, Helu, Jr. led the Huskers rushing attack with 1,139 yards and 10 TDs of his own.
Prediction: Arizona wins this defensive battle on an Alex Zendejas field goal, 17-14.
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl: Houston (10-3) V. Air Force (7-5)
Dec. 31, Fort Worth, TX, 12:00 PM EST (ESPN)
UH: The Cougars have 10 wins and ended up here because they couldn't finish off East Carolina in the C-USA title game. The Cougars feature QB Case Keenum and his aerial circus. Check out these numbers. Keenum has completed 468 out of 659 passes for 5,449 yards and 43 TDs this season. The most impressive stat is that he's only thrown nine interceptions. That means his INT percentage is 1.3 percent. Wow. So, how good was East Carolina's defense when they picked off three of his passes in the C-USA title game? So, we know UH will thorwn from the time they get off the bus, but their defense is the key to this game. Can they play with the discipline required to stop Air Force's option attack? The Cougars are 111 out of 120 in rushing defense, while Air Force is ranked number 3 in the nation in rushing offense. Hmmmmmm.
USAFA: The Falcons are the polar opposite of the Cougars. They run the option and they run the ball a lot. How often do they run the ball? Well, the Falcons didn't qualify to be ranked in passing efficiency by the NCAA because they didn't average 15 passes attempted per game. By running the option, USAFA takes time off the clock and limits the number posessions a team gets in a game. They also play defense pretty well. We know that Houston comes into this game with the top passing offense in the country, but did you know that Air Force is the number one passing defense in America? This looks like a really good game to watch.
Prediction: I really like Air Force in the upset here. Falocns win it, 23-16.
Brut Sun Bowl: Oklahoma (7-5) V. Stanford (8-4)
Dec. 31, El Paso, TX. 2:00 PM EST (CBS)
OU: I know USC's season has been a big disappointment, but the Oklahoma faithful have to be on suicide watch. They were supposed to be hitting on all cyclinders this year, then they had to play that first game. BYU smashed Sam Bradford's shoulder an OU's season in one play. OU since then has lived and died with the arm of QB Landry Jones. When He's on, OU can roll, when he's not, they lose. He's thrown for six TDs in a game this year and also five interceptions in another. It's simple to see that he needs to have a big game here.
SU: He almost won the Heisman, he runs like a runaway freight train, and can throw a pass too. He is Toby Gerhart and he will be the focus of the Oklahoma defense. OU is ranked seventh in the nation at stopping the run. You know you're gonna see eight and nine guys up at the line of scrimmage to stop Gerhart. So like with the Sooners, this game falls on the shoulders of the QB. With Andrew Luck sidelined with a bad finger, can backup Tavita Pritchard keep the Cardinal in the game? I don't think so.
Prediction: With Luck out, Stanford is out of luck. OU wins, 23-10.
Texas Bowl: Navy (8-4) V. Missouri (8-4)
Dec 31, Houston, TX, 3:30 EST (ESPN)
USNA: Watching Navy run the option is a pleasure. It's even a bigger pleasure to watch after I heard about the philosophy of the offense from HC Ken Niumatalolo. He equated the option to Judo, as in the fact that in Judo, the object is to use you opponents weight and strengths against him with great counter moves that constantly keeps your opponent confused and off balance. So this offense has a counter for every defensive set it sees. The only thing that stops it is poor execution. It's fun to watch this offense unfold during a game. The key to this game for the midshipmen is executing well, so that they can control the clock and keep the Missouri offense off the field.
M: Missouri's rushing defense must do the job for the Tigers to win this game. If they hold Navy in check, then QB Blaine Gilbert and RB Derick Washington will get their chance to open this game up. Gilbert threw for 2,300 yards and 23 TDs this season, while Washington ran for 803 yards and 10 TDs this season.
Prediction: The Tigers defense will hold Navy in check, Missouri 31, Navy 19.
Insight Bowl: Minnesota (6-6) V. Iowa State (6-6)
Dec. 31, Tempe, AZ 6:00 PM EST (NFL Network)
MINN: This is the third time in four season that the Golden Gophers are playing in this bowl. Last year they lost 42-41 to Kansas and in 2006, the Gophers fourth quarter collapse v. Texas Tech HC Glen Mason is job. So, how have this program gone since they fired Mason? Not far. The Gophers top WR, Eric Decker missed four games this year and still led the team in receptions, yards, and receiving TDs. This team finished 8th in the Big Ten and last in the Big Ten in scoring offense, putting up 21 PPG. As for the Gopher defense, the good news is that it ranks 52 places higher than their offense according to the NCAA stat boys. The bad thing is that the offense is ranked 113th out of 120. Wow.
ISU: How these guys beat Nebraska, 9-7 is beyond me. The Cyclones don't have much of an offense. Iowa does like to run the ball with RB Alexander Robinson lugging the leather most of the time. QB Austen Arnaud has some good moments this season, but it's been an up and down year for him. However, that is expected from a 6-6 ball club. The Cyclones ability to play inspired ball for stretches at a time can male this game interesting.
Prediction: Minnesota should get the Insight Bowl monkey off their backs and win, but my gut is telling me that Iowa State wins a squeaker, 24-22.
Chick Fil-A Bowl: Virginia Tech (9-3) V. Tennessee (7-5)
Dec. 31, Atlanta, GA, 7:30 EST (ESPN)
VT: The Tech offense runs on the legs of RB Ryan Williams. His 128 YPG game keep the chains moving, opens up the passing game and puts points on the board. However, the VaTech Defense is the true strength of the team. The stop the pass well, allow only about 15 PPG, and run very well to the ball. They are more than capable of stopping the Volunteer offense.
UT: Which Volunteeer team will show up? The one that lost to UCLA or the one that manhandled Mississippi? The men in orange have a tough defense which keeps the team in games, but it's the poor execution of their offense that loses games. Tennessee needs big games from QB Jonathan Crompton and RB Montario Hardesty to get a win here.
Prediction: Despite a good game from the Tennesee defense, the Hokies get the victory, 23-10.
Outback Bowl: Northwestern (8-4) V. Auburn (7-5)
Jan. 1, Tampa, FL 11:00 AM EST (ESPN)
NW: The Wildcats started off poorly this season, but have won their last three games. Two of those last three wins were over Iowa and Wisconsin. The Wildcats are also the only Big Ten team that runs the spread offense. The Wildcats can put yards and points up in bunches behind the arm and legs of QB Ben Kafka. NU is pretty decent on defense, but hasn't faced the kind of speed that Auburn has all year.
AU: The Tigers do what Northwestern does, only they do it better. Auburn owns the edge in every statisical category coming into this game. 'nuff said.
Prediction: Auburn gets a scare from Northwestern, but pulls away at the end, 38-21.
Capital One Bowl: Penn State (10-2) V. LSU (9-3)
Jan. 1, Orlando, FL 1:00 PM EST (ESPN)
PSU: This is a Nittany Lion team that has won 10 games wiithout any of those wins being memorable. A weak nonconference slate of Akron, Syracuse, Temple, and Eastern Illinois doesn't make me think these Lions can handle LSU. PSU lost their only two big games to Iowa and Ohio State. I see nothing impressive about this team, yet they are favored by three points. Huh?
LSU: The LSU defense has collapsed as of late giving up almost 400 yards a game. They also rank 108th in the nation in total offense. QB Jordan Jefferson can either be great or horrible and the TB situation at LSU is in the air since Charles Scott broke his collarbone in November. Will he play? Will he not? We don't know. So, now I see why PSU is favored by three points.
Prediction: I know it's sounds wrong, but I'll take the Penn State here. The Nittany Lions win, 24-16.
Konica Minolta Gator Bowl: West Virginia (9-3) V. Florida State (6-6)
Jan. 1, Jacksonville, FL 1:00 EST (CBS)
WVU: The Mountaineer offense is a pretty good one. RB Noel Devine ran for 1,372 yards and 12 TDs while QB Jarrett Brown threw for 2,129 yards and 11TDs. The 'Eeers aren't to bad on defense either, but this really doesn't matter because this game all comes down to state of mind that FSU brings into this game.
FSU: The administration got its' way and forced out HC Bobby Bowden. This is his last game roaming the sidelines for the Seminoles. 34 season, awesome teams, and a few national titles. Emotions will be running high in front of a raucous Seminole-friendly crowd. Hmmmmmm...
Prediction: I think the Seminoles come and win one for the old man. FSU 29- WVU 25.
Until next week folks, you have to get to the QB to stop the run-and-shoot.
-The Commissioner
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
2009-10 Bowl Preview- Part I
Hey All!
It's time for the one thing you really like reading each week, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. (We still miss you, Alan Malamud.)
Let's take a look at the first 12 games. Take a look at my fearless predictions and we'll see how I stack up as a prognosticator when the bowls are over.
New Mexico Bowl : Fresno State (8-4) V. Wyoming (6-6)
Dec. 19, Albuquerque, NM 4:30 EST (ESPN)
FSU: Bulldogs TB Ryan Mathews ran for 1,664 yards and 17 TDs as the spearhead of the nation's 7th best rushing offense. The Bulldogs also have played a typically nightmarish schedule which usually makes theM a tough bowl team.
WYO: The Cowboys are a 6-6 squad making their first bowl appearance since beating UCLA, 24-21 in the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl. The Cowboys six wins came against a weak schedule. In fact, only one of the Pokes wins came against a team that finished with a winning record, and that team was 1-AA Weber State that finished their season at 7-5.
Prediction: The Bulldogs are too tough for these Cowboys to handle, FSU rolls 38-17.
St. Petersburg Bowl: UCF (8-4) V. Rutgers (8-4)
Dec 19, St. Petersburg, FL, 8:00 EST (ESPN)
RU: The Scarlet Knights spent most of the season under the radar after being smashed at home by Cincinnati. Throw in a head scratcher of a loss to Syracuse and you see why nobody really saw any of Rutgers eight wins. The boys from New Jersey win their games with a strong defense and just enough offense to get by.
UCF: The Golden Knights piled up eight wins without anyone paying much attention either. However, UCF was one fourth quarter interception away from making it to the C-USA title game. UCF's defense is the key to this game. It ranks #4 in the nation against the run and #112 against the pass. Can UCF slow down Rutgers passing game enough to get a win?
Prediction: The Scarlet Knights get just eough offense to squeak by the Golden Knights, 17-16.
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Southern Miss (7-5) V. Middle Tennessee St. (9-3) Dec. 20, New Orleans, LA, 8:30 EST (ESPN)
USM: The Golden Eagles expected more out of this season and didn't get it. Two close losses to Houston and East Carolina put the Eagles back in this bowl for the second year in a row. QB Martevious Young has thrown for 1,590 yards this year along with an impressive TD to INT ratio of 13 to 1. USM is no great shakes on defense, but the key to the game for USM is their mindset coming into the game after having a disappointing regular season.
MTSU: The Blue Raiders went 5-7 last year and are thrilled to be in the second bowl game in school history. QB Dwight Dasher has had a pretty good season running the spread offense. He threw for 2,627 yards and 21 TDs while running for 953 yards and 11 TDs. He may have a field day against USM's 113th ranked pass defense.
Prediction: The Blue Raiders will soar past the Eagles to a big win. MTSU takes it, 42-24.
MAACO Las Vegas Bowl: Oregon State (8-4) V. BYU (8-4)
Dec. 22, Las Vegas, NV 8:00 EST (ESPN)
OSU: The Beavers are looking back on a season of coulda, shoulda, wouldas after watching their chance at the Rose Bowl slip away at Autzen Stadium a couple of weeks ago. They now are stuck in this bowl because no other bowl with a Pac 10 tie-in wanted them. The Beavers should be real angry coming into this game. As for the Xs and Os, we all know the Beavers will only go as far as the Rodgers brothers will take them.
BYU: How bored/jaded can you get as a team when you go to the same lower tier bowl five season in a row? We'll find out how BYU handles it soon. The Cougars are one bad day against TCU from a shot at a BCS bowl. SR QB Max Hall grabs most of the headlines and may grab them in this game as he faces OSU's 87th ranked pass defense.
Prediction: Everything points to BYU winning, but I think OSU wins the trench battle and the game, 26-21.
San Diego Co. CU Poinsettia Bowl: Utah (9-3) V. California (8-4)
Dec. 23, San Diego, CA 8:00 EST (ESPN)
UTAH: The Utes didn't have enough to go undefeated again, but they still played good football. The Utes defense ranks among the best in the nation in almost every category. They aren't too bad on offense either. TB Eddie Wide ran over 1,000 yards and 12 TDs, while QB Terrance Cain threw for 1,624 yards and 11 TDs of his own. You can also throw in the fact that the Utes have won five straight bowls. The Utes will a tough bowl opponent.
CAL: What Golden Bear team will show up? The one that wins by three TDs a game or the one that loses by four TDs a game? I've never seen a team this year where mindset rules over talent more than the 2009 Golden Bears. We know Cal's Offense can light up a scoreboard when clicking and how dominant their defense can be when motivated. Will they be motivated in this game? I don't know.
Prediction: Utah will be prepared and will beat a listless bunch of Bears, 34-15.
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: Nevada (8-4) V. SMU (7-5)
Dec. 24, Honolulu, HI, 8:00 EST (ESPN)
SMU: June Jones comes back to Hawaii with a bowl team in tow. What a story! Jones gets SMU to their first bowl since the death penalty and he comes back to get a win in his old stomping ground. Too bad it won't happen. The run and shoot looked like the chuck and duck sometimes this year as Mustang QB Bo Levi Mitchell threw for only 1,725 yards, 12 TDs, and 10 interceptions. The Mustangs defense hasn't helped the cause much either. The SMU defense ranks 100 out of 120 teams in the FBS.
UN: The Wolfpack come into this game boasting three 1,000 yards rushers, a QB that's thrown for over 1,800 yards and a defense that can't stop the pass. Sounds like this one might be a shootout.
Prediction: The kids from Nevada win this shootout, 53-37
Little Caesars Bowl: Marshall (6-6) V. Ohio (9-4)
Dec. 26, Detroit, MI, 1:00 PM EST (ESPN)
MU: The Thundering Herd win my award for least interesting team in a bowl. They are a little below average in every statistical category and have no outstanding players. ZZZZzzzzzz.
Ohio: The Bobcats' offense isn't much to talk about as they win their games by playing strong pass defense and forcing a lot of turnovers. Ohio ranks sixth in the nation in turnover margin averaging +1 per game.
Prediction: The Bobcats keep the Thundering Herd from Thundering, 17-6.
Meineke Car Care Bowl: Pitt (9-3) V. North Carolina (8-4)
Dec. 26, Charlotte, NC, 4:30 PM EST (ESPN)
PITT: Two devastating losses in their last two games have to take their toll on this team. This is a game that will hinge on the Panthers' state of mind at kickoff. If the Panthers do show up, then RB Dion Lewis will lead the way. He comes in the game as the nation's third leading rusher with 1,695 yards and 16 TDs. QB Bill Stull is pretty good too. he's thrown for 2,470 yards, 21 TDs and only eight interceptions.
UNC: The Tar Heels are a schizophrenic bunch. They looked great in wins over Va. Tech and Miami, and awful in losses to Virginia and NC State. However they have won five of their last six games and are peaking at the right time.
Prediction: North Carolina upsets the out of sorts Panthers, 28-27.
Emerald Bowl: Boston College (8-4) V. USC (8-4)
Dec. 26, San Francisco, CA, 8:00 PM EST (ESPN)
BC: The Eagles are thrilled to be in this game facing USC. The Eagles are looking to this game as a test as to how far their program has come this season. The Eagles have reached 8-4 by virute of a defense that allows 104 rusing YPG, and about 20 PPG. Offensively, 25-year old freshman QB Dave Shinskie threw for a little over 1,800 yards, 14 TDs, and 13 interceptions. TB Montel Harris keeps the offense moving by rushing for 113 YPG. He's what USC hates to see, he's small and quick.
USC: The Trojans are embarrassed to be here. Eight wins isn't much to celebrate around Trojanland. The Xs and Os don't matter in this game as much as the Johnnys and the Joes. Will USC get up for a lower tier bowl at a baseball stadium? We shall see.
Prediction: Everything points to a BC win, but I can't pick against USC. Trojans escape with a win, 28-18.
Gaylord Hotel Music City Bowl: Kentucky (7-5) V. Clemson (8-5)
Dec. 27, Nashville, TN, 8:30 PM EST (ESPN)
UK: The Wildcats are one of the ten SEC teams to get a bowl game. The Wildcats went a paltry 3-5 in SEC play with a defense that ranks 100th nationally against the run, allowing 183 YPG. That just doesn't sound good.
C: Speaking of running, RB C.J. Spiller must be salivating over getting to play against the UK run defense. I think this game is that simple.
Prediction: The Wildcats won't be able to hold that tiger, Clemson runs away, 31-10.
Advocare V100 Independence Bowl: Texas A&M (6-6 V. Georgia (7-5)
Dec. 28, Shreveport, LA, 5:00 PM EST (ESPN2)
TAMU: QB Jerrod Johnson has put up big numbers this year. He's thrown for 3,217 yards, 28 TDs and only 6 interceptions. As a team the Aggies have a third down conversion rate of over 50%. That's great. Problem is, the Aggie defense is a sieve that gives up 33 points and over 430 YPG. That's why they are a 6-6 team.
UGA: The Bulldogs have a lot better defnese than the Aggies, but their offense lags at times. QB Joe Cox has shown he can move the team down the field, but his 14 interceptions to 22 TDs is not a good thing.
Prediction: I think Georgia's defense makes enough key plays to claim a victory, 34-27.
Champs Sports Bowl: Miami (9-3) V. Wisconsin (9-3)
Dec. 29, Orlando, FL, 8:00 PM EST (ESPN)
TheU: The 'Canes put themselves back on the football map this season behind the arm of Jacory Harris and the legs of their three headed RB monster that goes by the names Griag Cooper, Damien Berry, and Javarris James. Big wins over Georgia Tech and Oklahoma show just how good this team can play.
WIS: The Badgers are who we thought they were. They run the ball well with big John Clay and his 1,396 yards and 16 TDs. They also stop the run well and are your prototypical Big Ten team. They play physical, on both sides of the ball, but have no speed.
Prediction: Miami will make a statement for the 2010 season and spank the Badgers, 37-7.
Until next week folks, remember, you have to play assigment football to properly defend against the triple option.
-The Commissioner
It's time for the one thing you really like reading each week, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. (We still miss you, Alan Malamud.)
Let's take a look at the first 12 games. Take a look at my fearless predictions and we'll see how I stack up as a prognosticator when the bowls are over.
New Mexico Bowl : Fresno State (8-4) V. Wyoming (6-6)
Dec. 19, Albuquerque, NM 4:30 EST (ESPN)
FSU: Bulldogs TB Ryan Mathews ran for 1,664 yards and 17 TDs as the spearhead of the nation's 7th best rushing offense. The Bulldogs also have played a typically nightmarish schedule which usually makes theM a tough bowl team.
WYO: The Cowboys are a 6-6 squad making their first bowl appearance since beating UCLA, 24-21 in the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl. The Cowboys six wins came against a weak schedule. In fact, only one of the Pokes wins came against a team that finished with a winning record, and that team was 1-AA Weber State that finished their season at 7-5.
Prediction: The Bulldogs are too tough for these Cowboys to handle, FSU rolls 38-17.
St. Petersburg Bowl: UCF (8-4) V. Rutgers (8-4)
Dec 19, St. Petersburg, FL, 8:00 EST (ESPN)
RU: The Scarlet Knights spent most of the season under the radar after being smashed at home by Cincinnati. Throw in a head scratcher of a loss to Syracuse and you see why nobody really saw any of Rutgers eight wins. The boys from New Jersey win their games with a strong defense and just enough offense to get by.
UCF: The Golden Knights piled up eight wins without anyone paying much attention either. However, UCF was one fourth quarter interception away from making it to the C-USA title game. UCF's defense is the key to this game. It ranks #4 in the nation against the run and #112 against the pass. Can UCF slow down Rutgers passing game enough to get a win?
Prediction: The Scarlet Knights get just eough offense to squeak by the Golden Knights, 17-16.
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Southern Miss (7-5) V. Middle Tennessee St. (9-3) Dec. 20, New Orleans, LA, 8:30 EST (ESPN)
USM: The Golden Eagles expected more out of this season and didn't get it. Two close losses to Houston and East Carolina put the Eagles back in this bowl for the second year in a row. QB Martevious Young has thrown for 1,590 yards this year along with an impressive TD to INT ratio of 13 to 1. USM is no great shakes on defense, but the key to the game for USM is their mindset coming into the game after having a disappointing regular season.
MTSU: The Blue Raiders went 5-7 last year and are thrilled to be in the second bowl game in school history. QB Dwight Dasher has had a pretty good season running the spread offense. He threw for 2,627 yards and 21 TDs while running for 953 yards and 11 TDs. He may have a field day against USM's 113th ranked pass defense.
Prediction: The Blue Raiders will soar past the Eagles to a big win. MTSU takes it, 42-24.
MAACO Las Vegas Bowl: Oregon State (8-4) V. BYU (8-4)
Dec. 22, Las Vegas, NV 8:00 EST (ESPN)
OSU: The Beavers are looking back on a season of coulda, shoulda, wouldas after watching their chance at the Rose Bowl slip away at Autzen Stadium a couple of weeks ago. They now are stuck in this bowl because no other bowl with a Pac 10 tie-in wanted them. The Beavers should be real angry coming into this game. As for the Xs and Os, we all know the Beavers will only go as far as the Rodgers brothers will take them.
BYU: How bored/jaded can you get as a team when you go to the same lower tier bowl five season in a row? We'll find out how BYU handles it soon. The Cougars are one bad day against TCU from a shot at a BCS bowl. SR QB Max Hall grabs most of the headlines and may grab them in this game as he faces OSU's 87th ranked pass defense.
Prediction: Everything points to BYU winning, but I think OSU wins the trench battle and the game, 26-21.
San Diego Co. CU Poinsettia Bowl: Utah (9-3) V. California (8-4)
Dec. 23, San Diego, CA 8:00 EST (ESPN)
UTAH: The Utes didn't have enough to go undefeated again, but they still played good football. The Utes defense ranks among the best in the nation in almost every category. They aren't too bad on offense either. TB Eddie Wide ran over 1,000 yards and 12 TDs, while QB Terrance Cain threw for 1,624 yards and 11 TDs of his own. You can also throw in the fact that the Utes have won five straight bowls. The Utes will a tough bowl opponent.
CAL: What Golden Bear team will show up? The one that wins by three TDs a game or the one that loses by four TDs a game? I've never seen a team this year where mindset rules over talent more than the 2009 Golden Bears. We know Cal's Offense can light up a scoreboard when clicking and how dominant their defense can be when motivated. Will they be motivated in this game? I don't know.
Prediction: Utah will be prepared and will beat a listless bunch of Bears, 34-15.
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: Nevada (8-4) V. SMU (7-5)
Dec. 24, Honolulu, HI, 8:00 EST (ESPN)
SMU: June Jones comes back to Hawaii with a bowl team in tow. What a story! Jones gets SMU to their first bowl since the death penalty and he comes back to get a win in his old stomping ground. Too bad it won't happen. The run and shoot looked like the chuck and duck sometimes this year as Mustang QB Bo Levi Mitchell threw for only 1,725 yards, 12 TDs, and 10 interceptions. The Mustangs defense hasn't helped the cause much either. The SMU defense ranks 100 out of 120 teams in the FBS.
UN: The Wolfpack come into this game boasting three 1,000 yards rushers, a QB that's thrown for over 1,800 yards and a defense that can't stop the pass. Sounds like this one might be a shootout.
Prediction: The kids from Nevada win this shootout, 53-37
Little Caesars Bowl: Marshall (6-6) V. Ohio (9-4)
Dec. 26, Detroit, MI, 1:00 PM EST (ESPN)
MU: The Thundering Herd win my award for least interesting team in a bowl. They are a little below average in every statistical category and have no outstanding players. ZZZZzzzzzz.
Ohio: The Bobcats' offense isn't much to talk about as they win their games by playing strong pass defense and forcing a lot of turnovers. Ohio ranks sixth in the nation in turnover margin averaging +1 per game.
Prediction: The Bobcats keep the Thundering Herd from Thundering, 17-6.
Meineke Car Care Bowl: Pitt (9-3) V. North Carolina (8-4)
Dec. 26, Charlotte, NC, 4:30 PM EST (ESPN)
PITT: Two devastating losses in their last two games have to take their toll on this team. This is a game that will hinge on the Panthers' state of mind at kickoff. If the Panthers do show up, then RB Dion Lewis will lead the way. He comes in the game as the nation's third leading rusher with 1,695 yards and 16 TDs. QB Bill Stull is pretty good too. he's thrown for 2,470 yards, 21 TDs and only eight interceptions.
UNC: The Tar Heels are a schizophrenic bunch. They looked great in wins over Va. Tech and Miami, and awful in losses to Virginia and NC State. However they have won five of their last six games and are peaking at the right time.
Prediction: North Carolina upsets the out of sorts Panthers, 28-27.
Emerald Bowl: Boston College (8-4) V. USC (8-4)
Dec. 26, San Francisco, CA, 8:00 PM EST (ESPN)
BC: The Eagles are thrilled to be in this game facing USC. The Eagles are looking to this game as a test as to how far their program has come this season. The Eagles have reached 8-4 by virute of a defense that allows 104 rusing YPG, and about 20 PPG. Offensively, 25-year old freshman QB Dave Shinskie threw for a little over 1,800 yards, 14 TDs, and 13 interceptions. TB Montel Harris keeps the offense moving by rushing for 113 YPG. He's what USC hates to see, he's small and quick.
USC: The Trojans are embarrassed to be here. Eight wins isn't much to celebrate around Trojanland. The Xs and Os don't matter in this game as much as the Johnnys and the Joes. Will USC get up for a lower tier bowl at a baseball stadium? We shall see.
Prediction: Everything points to a BC win, but I can't pick against USC. Trojans escape with a win, 28-18.
Gaylord Hotel Music City Bowl: Kentucky (7-5) V. Clemson (8-5)
Dec. 27, Nashville, TN, 8:30 PM EST (ESPN)
UK: The Wildcats are one of the ten SEC teams to get a bowl game. The Wildcats went a paltry 3-5 in SEC play with a defense that ranks 100th nationally against the run, allowing 183 YPG. That just doesn't sound good.
C: Speaking of running, RB C.J. Spiller must be salivating over getting to play against the UK run defense. I think this game is that simple.
Prediction: The Wildcats won't be able to hold that tiger, Clemson runs away, 31-10.
Advocare V100 Independence Bowl: Texas A&M (6-6 V. Georgia (7-5)
Dec. 28, Shreveport, LA, 5:00 PM EST (ESPN2)
TAMU: QB Jerrod Johnson has put up big numbers this year. He's thrown for 3,217 yards, 28 TDs and only 6 interceptions. As a team the Aggies have a third down conversion rate of over 50%. That's great. Problem is, the Aggie defense is a sieve that gives up 33 points and over 430 YPG. That's why they are a 6-6 team.
UGA: The Bulldogs have a lot better defnese than the Aggies, but their offense lags at times. QB Joe Cox has shown he can move the team down the field, but his 14 interceptions to 22 TDs is not a good thing.
Prediction: I think Georgia's defense makes enough key plays to claim a victory, 34-27.
Champs Sports Bowl: Miami (9-3) V. Wisconsin (9-3)
Dec. 29, Orlando, FL, 8:00 PM EST (ESPN)
TheU: The 'Canes put themselves back on the football map this season behind the arm of Jacory Harris and the legs of their three headed RB monster that goes by the names Griag Cooper, Damien Berry, and Javarris James. Big wins over Georgia Tech and Oklahoma show just how good this team can play.
WIS: The Badgers are who we thought they were. They run the ball well with big John Clay and his 1,396 yards and 16 TDs. They also stop the run well and are your prototypical Big Ten team. They play physical, on both sides of the ball, but have no speed.
Prediction: Miami will make a statement for the 2010 season and spank the Badgers, 37-7.
Until next week folks, remember, you have to play assigment football to properly defend against the triple option.
-The Commissioner
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Week 14
Hey all,
Here it is, the one, the only, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. (We still miss you, Alan Malamud)
Summaries
Arizona 21- USC 17: Well, the up and down Trojans were down again this week after dropping a very winnable game to the Arizona Wildcats. The Trojan offense continued to sputter. Especially in the first half, where they held the ball for a little over nine minutes, with five of those minutes coming on their only scoring drive of the half. Things improved slightly in the second half where USC managed to tie the game at 14-14 early in the fourth quarter then go ahead 17-14 with 7:13 to play. Then the Wildcats took over the game. led by QB Nick Foles, the Wildcats marched 80 yards for the winning TD. That march was capped off by Foles hitting WR Junior Criner with a 36-yard TD pass with 3:14 left to play. USC couldn't answer that score, with the offense sputtering with four straight incompletions to snuff out the Trojans hopes of victory. Nick Foles was the hero for UofA hitting on 22 of 40 passes for 239 yards and 2 TDs.
Telling Stat: 7s win games not 3s. USC settled for a field goal late in the fourth quarter and it cost them the game.
Washington 42- California 10: This one was all Huskies. UW dominated the Golden Bears for a full 60 minutes. Husky QB Jake Locker had his best game of the year. He completed 19 of 23 passes for 248 yards and 3 TDs. He also had a good day running, racking up 77 yards on 14 carries and 2 TDs on the ground. That's a 5 TD game folks. Meanwhile the Husky defense bottled up Cal, holding the Bears to 81 rushing yards on the afternoon. Cal TB Jahvid Best sat out this game, still suffering from the effects of two concussions this year.
Telling Stat: They don't like going North. In their two trips to the Northwest this year, California's record is 0-2 and they have been outscored 84-13 in those losses.
Oregon 37- Oregon State 33: The 113th edition of the Civil War was the most important game ever played in the rivalry. It was the only time that winning meant going to the Rose Bowl for both sides. The game lived up to the hype. It was a great back and forth game with heroes and goats on both sides. The big hero though was UO QB Jeremiah Masoli. Masoli didn't have a great statistical day only throwing for 200 yards and rushing for 40, but he kept the offense moving all night long. His leadership on UO's final drive sent his squad to Pasadena. UO RB LaMichael James continued his outstanding freshman year with 166 yards and 3 TDs on the ground. Not to be forgotten in the losing effort for the Beavers is QB Sean Canfield who lit up the Duck secondary for 306 yards and 2 TDs. Now we'll see of the Ducks can get their first Rose Bowl win since 1917.
Telling Stat: 7s win games, not 3s- Part II. OSU settled for field goals on three drives in the first half of this game. If they had gotten touchdowns, we might be talking about a Beaver invasion of Pasadena.
Observations
...My simple math calculations were wrong. I had written off Army as not being bowl eligible. Not so, the Black Knights of the Hudson are on the bubble at 5-6. A win over Navy this week would put them in the Eagle Bank Bowl v. Temple. A loss by Army would give UCLA the bid. So, Go Army!!!! Beat Navy!!!!
...Gotta give love to Fresno State O-lineman, Devan Cunningham. Fresno State scored a a TD with :02 seconds left to get within a point of Illinois, 52-51. The Bulldogs then went for two. QB Ryan Colburn's pass was deflected into the hands of Cunningham who rumbled three yards into the endzone to give the Bulldogs a 53-52 win over the Illini. Gotta love it when the big men rumble.
...And then there were two. Western Kentucky dropped a 24-20 decision to Arkansas State to finish the season at 0-12. So that leaves WKU and Eastern Michigan as the only two winless teams in the FBS this season.
...All four semifinalists in the Division III football playoffs this week are undefeated. The four teams are a combined 51-0 this season, and oh yeah the Mount Union Purple Raiders are one of the final four.
...Arizona is the best tackling team I've seen this season. No too many teams get a lot of yards after the catch on the Wildcats.
...I'm just disgusted that the Big Ten got two teams into BCS bowls.
...I'm glad USC didn't end up in El Paso. The current crime statistics from the El Paso- Juarez area are scary.
... All 10 bowl eligible teams from the SEC got bowl bids. If there ever was an argument that there are too many bowls, that's it.
...Gee, I wish Mark Sanchez hadn't left early.
...Remember when Matt Barkley was a Davey O'Brien award semifinalist? That was about 10 interceptions ago.
...I know the Hawaii Bowl will be a fun game to watch with Nevada taking on SMU, but how much better of a game would it have been if Hawaii had gotten in? Hawaii-SMU would have been awesome!!!!
...I've been puting tailgate gear away for a day or so realizing the regular season is over and I feel as sad as a lot of other people do when they take down their Christmas tree. Oh well, next home game is in 2010 v. Virginia.
Until next week folks, watch out for screen passes on third and long.
-The Commissioner
Here it is, the one, the only, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. (We still miss you, Alan Malamud)
Summaries
Arizona 21- USC 17: Well, the up and down Trojans were down again this week after dropping a very winnable game to the Arizona Wildcats. The Trojan offense continued to sputter. Especially in the first half, where they held the ball for a little over nine minutes, with five of those minutes coming on their only scoring drive of the half. Things improved slightly in the second half where USC managed to tie the game at 14-14 early in the fourth quarter then go ahead 17-14 with 7:13 to play. Then the Wildcats took over the game. led by QB Nick Foles, the Wildcats marched 80 yards for the winning TD. That march was capped off by Foles hitting WR Junior Criner with a 36-yard TD pass with 3:14 left to play. USC couldn't answer that score, with the offense sputtering with four straight incompletions to snuff out the Trojans hopes of victory. Nick Foles was the hero for UofA hitting on 22 of 40 passes for 239 yards and 2 TDs.
Telling Stat: 7s win games not 3s. USC settled for a field goal late in the fourth quarter and it cost them the game.
Washington 42- California 10: This one was all Huskies. UW dominated the Golden Bears for a full 60 minutes. Husky QB Jake Locker had his best game of the year. He completed 19 of 23 passes for 248 yards and 3 TDs. He also had a good day running, racking up 77 yards on 14 carries and 2 TDs on the ground. That's a 5 TD game folks. Meanwhile the Husky defense bottled up Cal, holding the Bears to 81 rushing yards on the afternoon. Cal TB Jahvid Best sat out this game, still suffering from the effects of two concussions this year.
Telling Stat: They don't like going North. In their two trips to the Northwest this year, California's record is 0-2 and they have been outscored 84-13 in those losses.
Oregon 37- Oregon State 33: The 113th edition of the Civil War was the most important game ever played in the rivalry. It was the only time that winning meant going to the Rose Bowl for both sides. The game lived up to the hype. It was a great back and forth game with heroes and goats on both sides. The big hero though was UO QB Jeremiah Masoli. Masoli didn't have a great statistical day only throwing for 200 yards and rushing for 40, but he kept the offense moving all night long. His leadership on UO's final drive sent his squad to Pasadena. UO RB LaMichael James continued his outstanding freshman year with 166 yards and 3 TDs on the ground. Not to be forgotten in the losing effort for the Beavers is QB Sean Canfield who lit up the Duck secondary for 306 yards and 2 TDs. Now we'll see of the Ducks can get their first Rose Bowl win since 1917.
Telling Stat: 7s win games, not 3s- Part II. OSU settled for field goals on three drives in the first half of this game. If they had gotten touchdowns, we might be talking about a Beaver invasion of Pasadena.
Observations
...My simple math calculations were wrong. I had written off Army as not being bowl eligible. Not so, the Black Knights of the Hudson are on the bubble at 5-6. A win over Navy this week would put them in the Eagle Bank Bowl v. Temple. A loss by Army would give UCLA the bid. So, Go Army!!!! Beat Navy!!!!
...Gotta give love to Fresno State O-lineman, Devan Cunningham. Fresno State scored a a TD with :02 seconds left to get within a point of Illinois, 52-51. The Bulldogs then went for two. QB Ryan Colburn's pass was deflected into the hands of Cunningham who rumbled three yards into the endzone to give the Bulldogs a 53-52 win over the Illini. Gotta love it when the big men rumble.
...And then there were two. Western Kentucky dropped a 24-20 decision to Arkansas State to finish the season at 0-12. So that leaves WKU and Eastern Michigan as the only two winless teams in the FBS this season.
...All four semifinalists in the Division III football playoffs this week are undefeated. The four teams are a combined 51-0 this season, and oh yeah the Mount Union Purple Raiders are one of the final four.
...Arizona is the best tackling team I've seen this season. No too many teams get a lot of yards after the catch on the Wildcats.
...I'm just disgusted that the Big Ten got two teams into BCS bowls.
...I'm glad USC didn't end up in El Paso. The current crime statistics from the El Paso- Juarez area are scary.
... All 10 bowl eligible teams from the SEC got bowl bids. If there ever was an argument that there are too many bowls, that's it.
...Gee, I wish Mark Sanchez hadn't left early.
...Remember when Matt Barkley was a Davey O'Brien award semifinalist? That was about 10 interceptions ago.
...I know the Hawaii Bowl will be a fun game to watch with Nevada taking on SMU, but how much better of a game would it have been if Hawaii had gotten in? Hawaii-SMU would have been awesome!!!!
...I've been puting tailgate gear away for a day or so realizing the regular season is over and I feel as sad as a lot of other people do when they take down their Christmas tree. Oh well, next home game is in 2010 v. Virginia.
Until next week folks, watch out for screen passes on third and long.
-The Commissioner
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Week 13
Hey all,
I know we're still getting over the big Thanksgiving weekend. So here's the column you love to read, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. (We still miss you, Alan Malamud.)
Summaries
USC 28- UCLA 7: The victory bell stays safely in Trojan hands after a game that featured 59 minutes of frustration followed a minute of pure excitement. USC took a 7-0 lead in the halftime on a 62-yard interception return by LB Malcolm Smith. The Trojans held a 14-0 lead after three quarters thanks to an Allen Bradford, 2-yard TD run. UCLA cut USC's lead to 14-7 with 5:41 left on a Chane Moline 2-yard run. Then USC went on what was considered to be a game sealing drive and a 21-7 lead on another Allen Bradofrd TD run. However, after stopping the bRuins and holding the ball in UCLA territory with :54 seocnds left, USC HC Pete Carroll had his offense kneel down to kill the clock. Defiantly, UCLA HC Rick Neuheisal called a timeout. USC then responded to the timeout with a 48-yard bomb to WR Daminan Williams that truly put a dagger into the bRuins and unleashed a torrent of emotion from the Trojan faithful and humiliation and anger amongst the bRuins. Ahhh, this is what rivalries are made of.
Telling Stat: The kid was nails down the stretch. USC QB Matt Barkley completed five of six passes for 91 yards and a TD in the Trojans final two drives of the game.
Arizona 20- Arizona State 17: UofA scored two touchdowns in a span of four seconds in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead on ASU. It looked like a rout was starting, but then the Sun Devils held the Wildcats in check and managed to tie the game at 17-17 on a 14-yard TD pass from Danny Sullivan to Kyle Wiiliams with 2:02 to play. Then, one of those mistakes that will be remembered forever in the rivalry occurred. The Sun Devils forced the Wildcats to punt with a little over a minute to play. ASU sent Kyle Williams back to return the punt. He muffed it. UofA recovered on the ASU 22-yard line. Three plays later Alex Zendejas booted the game-winning field goal from 32 yards out.
Telling Stat: 2:02. It took 2:02 for Kyle Williams to go from hero to goat for the Sun Devils.
Stanford 45- Notre Dame 38: The main story going into this game was how this was going to be Charlie Weis' last game at the helm for ND. The story coming out of this game was how good Stanford TB Toby Gerhart is and how he deserves a shot at the Heisman. All Gerhart did was run for 205 yards and 3 TDs. Oh, he also threw for a TD too. His great day overshadowed QB Jimmy Clausen's 340 yard, 5 TD performance for the Irish. This game was a back and forth battle with Stanford scoring the winning TD with :59 left. The Cardinal finish the season at 8-4.
Telling Stat: Great players shine in the fourth quarter. Toby Gerhart threw for the game tying TD and then carried the ball 7 out of the 11 plays on Stanford's final drive which included the game winning TD.
Washington 30- Washington State 0: The Apple Cup returns to Seattle after the Dawgs battered the Cougars last week. The defense set the tone for the Huskies. Three different times, the Husky defense knocked a Cougar QB from the game. Also, the longest any Cougar drive lasted was 3:46 seconds and 35 yards. On the offensive side of things, the Huskies wore down the Cougar defense with their rushing game. TB Chris Polk rushed for 130 yards and a TD and QB Jake Locker ran for 94 yards and a TD as well. As for the passing game, Locker threw for 196 yards and a TD. The Huskies now have possession of the Apple Cup.
Telling Stat: 45 years. The win was UW's first shoutout of Wazzu since 1964.
Observations
...If you need a good reason to watch the Hawaii-Wisconsin game this week, I've got one. Hawaii is the lone team left in the FBS on the bowl eligibility bubble. By virtue of their 24-17 win over Navy last week, the Warriors are now just a win away from a bowl game.
...Simple Math- Part III. 68 teams will go to a bowl this year. As of Sunday, there are 71 teams eligible to go to a bowl. So, that means that three teams won't go bowling. (That number could increase to four if Hawaii wins this week.) Here's my guess as to who won't make the cut.
1. Iowa State: They have a bad record in the weak Big XII north and don't travel well.
2. UCLA: bRuins don't travel well and Pac 10 bowl tie-ins only go six deep.
3. Minnesota: Really? You think the seventh place team in the Big Ten will get a bowl? Really?
...With Notre Dame's loss to Stanford, the Irish finished the year with two wins in four games v. Pac 10 opponents. That's as many as ASU and two more than Wazzu got this year. Funny thing is that ND got those two wins in 14 less games than ASU and Wazzu got theirs.
...Yes, Charlie Weis has been fired by Notre Dame, but as we all laugh at this fact, just remember Mr. Schematic Advantage was 2-0 v. UCLA. That's pretty cool.
...And then there were two. Eastern Michigan finished the year at 0-12. The Eagles are this year's first winless team. Western Kentucky will join them as 0 for 2009 if they lose to Arkansas State this week.
...Stanford's Toby Gerhart should get an invite to the Heisman ceremony. I know Colt McCoy is everybody's darling, but Gerhart deserves to go to New York and be recognized among the elite players in the country.
....I just can't get behind Boise State getting a BCS bid. They played one tough game all year that they had 10 months to get ready for. They played UC Davis, an FCS team, and a WAC league schedule that's medicore at best. If Boise was in a real conference, they'd lose at least five games a year.
...The Epic Fail of the weekend belongs to HC Mark Mangino of the Kansas Jayhawks. In a year in which his team has underachieved and he is being investigated by the school over allegations of abuse of his players, Mangino did not need to choke away a win over arch-rival Missouri, but he did. Up 39-36, the Jayhawks had the ball with a little over a minute to play on their own one-yard line. After two incomplete passes, Mangino called for a QB draw from his own endzone. Yes, his QB was tackled for a safety. Up 39-38 now, the Jayhwaks had to give the ball back to Mizzou with a free kick from their own 20. Mizzou got a good return on the kick, and several plays later kicked the game winning field goal as time ran out. That game will take a while for the KU faithful to get over.
...Hats off to Arkansas going 7-5 this season and becoming the team that nobody in the SEC wants play right now. A big bowl win could springboard the Hogs to a great 2010 season.
...It's a weird year in college football when Cincinatti, TCU, and Boise State are all undefeated. It's also weird because Idaho, SMU, Connecticut, Temple, and Wyoming are all bowl eligible.
...It looks like Penn State will get a BCS bid because they travel well. That stinks.
...SMU HC June Jones has led his team to a 7-5 record and received a contract extension for bringing back the Mustangs from the dead. However, he's got to wonder how the heck his team lost to Wazzu this year. SMU is the 1 in the Cougars 1-11 season.
...For the first time in four years, the Commissioner's team, the Tough Turkeys beat the Cranberry Crushers in our Thanksgiving day game. The Turkeys built up a 16-0 halftime lead and held on for the 23-16 victory.
...I'm on record as officially loving USC's last TD pass against UCLA. To me it seemed like an entire season's worth of frustration was released in that pass. Go get 'em, Big Balls Pete!!!!!
Until next week folks, remember to use your timeouts wisely!
-The Commissioner
I know we're still getting over the big Thanksgiving weekend. So here's the column you love to read, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. (We still miss you, Alan Malamud.)
Summaries
USC 28- UCLA 7: The victory bell stays safely in Trojan hands after a game that featured 59 minutes of frustration followed a minute of pure excitement. USC took a 7-0 lead in the halftime on a 62-yard interception return by LB Malcolm Smith. The Trojans held a 14-0 lead after three quarters thanks to an Allen Bradford, 2-yard TD run. UCLA cut USC's lead to 14-7 with 5:41 left on a Chane Moline 2-yard run. Then USC went on what was considered to be a game sealing drive and a 21-7 lead on another Allen Bradofrd TD run. However, after stopping the bRuins and holding the ball in UCLA territory with :54 seocnds left, USC HC Pete Carroll had his offense kneel down to kill the clock. Defiantly, UCLA HC Rick Neuheisal called a timeout. USC then responded to the timeout with a 48-yard bomb to WR Daminan Williams that truly put a dagger into the bRuins and unleashed a torrent of emotion from the Trojan faithful and humiliation and anger amongst the bRuins. Ahhh, this is what rivalries are made of.
Telling Stat: The kid was nails down the stretch. USC QB Matt Barkley completed five of six passes for 91 yards and a TD in the Trojans final two drives of the game.
Arizona 20- Arizona State 17: UofA scored two touchdowns in a span of four seconds in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead on ASU. It looked like a rout was starting, but then the Sun Devils held the Wildcats in check and managed to tie the game at 17-17 on a 14-yard TD pass from Danny Sullivan to Kyle Wiiliams with 2:02 to play. Then, one of those mistakes that will be remembered forever in the rivalry occurred. The Sun Devils forced the Wildcats to punt with a little over a minute to play. ASU sent Kyle Williams back to return the punt. He muffed it. UofA recovered on the ASU 22-yard line. Three plays later Alex Zendejas booted the game-winning field goal from 32 yards out.
Telling Stat: 2:02. It took 2:02 for Kyle Williams to go from hero to goat for the Sun Devils.
Stanford 45- Notre Dame 38: The main story going into this game was how this was going to be Charlie Weis' last game at the helm for ND. The story coming out of this game was how good Stanford TB Toby Gerhart is and how he deserves a shot at the Heisman. All Gerhart did was run for 205 yards and 3 TDs. Oh, he also threw for a TD too. His great day overshadowed QB Jimmy Clausen's 340 yard, 5 TD performance for the Irish. This game was a back and forth battle with Stanford scoring the winning TD with :59 left. The Cardinal finish the season at 8-4.
Telling Stat: Great players shine in the fourth quarter. Toby Gerhart threw for the game tying TD and then carried the ball 7 out of the 11 plays on Stanford's final drive which included the game winning TD.
Washington 30- Washington State 0: The Apple Cup returns to Seattle after the Dawgs battered the Cougars last week. The defense set the tone for the Huskies. Three different times, the Husky defense knocked a Cougar QB from the game. Also, the longest any Cougar drive lasted was 3:46 seconds and 35 yards. On the offensive side of things, the Huskies wore down the Cougar defense with their rushing game. TB Chris Polk rushed for 130 yards and a TD and QB Jake Locker ran for 94 yards and a TD as well. As for the passing game, Locker threw for 196 yards and a TD. The Huskies now have possession of the Apple Cup.
Telling Stat: 45 years. The win was UW's first shoutout of Wazzu since 1964.
Observations
...If you need a good reason to watch the Hawaii-Wisconsin game this week, I've got one. Hawaii is the lone team left in the FBS on the bowl eligibility bubble. By virtue of their 24-17 win over Navy last week, the Warriors are now just a win away from a bowl game.
...Simple Math- Part III. 68 teams will go to a bowl this year. As of Sunday, there are 71 teams eligible to go to a bowl. So, that means that three teams won't go bowling. (That number could increase to four if Hawaii wins this week.) Here's my guess as to who won't make the cut.
1. Iowa State: They have a bad record in the weak Big XII north and don't travel well.
2. UCLA: bRuins don't travel well and Pac 10 bowl tie-ins only go six deep.
3. Minnesota: Really? You think the seventh place team in the Big Ten will get a bowl? Really?
...With Notre Dame's loss to Stanford, the Irish finished the year with two wins in four games v. Pac 10 opponents. That's as many as ASU and two more than Wazzu got this year. Funny thing is that ND got those two wins in 14 less games than ASU and Wazzu got theirs.
...Yes, Charlie Weis has been fired by Notre Dame, but as we all laugh at this fact, just remember Mr. Schematic Advantage was 2-0 v. UCLA. That's pretty cool.
...And then there were two. Eastern Michigan finished the year at 0-12. The Eagles are this year's first winless team. Western Kentucky will join them as 0 for 2009 if they lose to Arkansas State this week.
...Stanford's Toby Gerhart should get an invite to the Heisman ceremony. I know Colt McCoy is everybody's darling, but Gerhart deserves to go to New York and be recognized among the elite players in the country.
....I just can't get behind Boise State getting a BCS bid. They played one tough game all year that they had 10 months to get ready for. They played UC Davis, an FCS team, and a WAC league schedule that's medicore at best. If Boise was in a real conference, they'd lose at least five games a year.
...The Epic Fail of the weekend belongs to HC Mark Mangino of the Kansas Jayhawks. In a year in which his team has underachieved and he is being investigated by the school over allegations of abuse of his players, Mangino did not need to choke away a win over arch-rival Missouri, but he did. Up 39-36, the Jayhawks had the ball with a little over a minute to play on their own one-yard line. After two incomplete passes, Mangino called for a QB draw from his own endzone. Yes, his QB was tackled for a safety. Up 39-38 now, the Jayhwaks had to give the ball back to Mizzou with a free kick from their own 20. Mizzou got a good return on the kick, and several plays later kicked the game winning field goal as time ran out. That game will take a while for the KU faithful to get over.
...Hats off to Arkansas going 7-5 this season and becoming the team that nobody in the SEC wants play right now. A big bowl win could springboard the Hogs to a great 2010 season.
...It's a weird year in college football when Cincinatti, TCU, and Boise State are all undefeated. It's also weird because Idaho, SMU, Connecticut, Temple, and Wyoming are all bowl eligible.
...It looks like Penn State will get a BCS bid because they travel well. That stinks.
...SMU HC June Jones has led his team to a 7-5 record and received a contract extension for bringing back the Mustangs from the dead. However, he's got to wonder how the heck his team lost to Wazzu this year. SMU is the 1 in the Cougars 1-11 season.
...For the first time in four years, the Commissioner's team, the Tough Turkeys beat the Cranberry Crushers in our Thanksgiving day game. The Turkeys built up a 16-0 halftime lead and held on for the 23-16 victory.
...I'm on record as officially loving USC's last TD pass against UCLA. To me it seemed like an entire season's worth of frustration was released in that pass. Go get 'em, Big Balls Pete!!!!!
Until next week folks, remember to use your timeouts wisely!
-The Commissioner
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Week 12
Hey All,
It's time for the Thanksgiving edition of Note on a Pac 10 Scorecard. I hope your team hasn't been playing like turkeys this season. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
Oregon 44- Arizona 41 2OT: This was a classic duel in the desert with the Arizona Wildcats looking for their first Rose Bowl berth ever in the biggest game played in Arizona since Dick Tomey roamed the sidelines in Tucson. However, Ducks QB Jeremiah Masoli led his team on impressive drives in the fourth quarter and overtime to put the Ducks on the verge of going to Pasadena. The Ducks forced overtime when Masoli led them on a 15 play, 80-yard drive where Masoli hit TE Ed Dickson with an 8-yard TD pass with :06 left. Then in the second overtime, Masoli took it in from one yard out to secure the victory for the boys from Eugene. After his run won the game, thousands of dejected Wildcat fans were left on the sideline, never getting to storm the field after a victory that didn't happen.
Telling Stat: He carried the team. In the fourth quarter and OT , UO QB Jeremiah Masoli threw or ran the ball in 31 of the Ducks 41 plays from scrimmage.
Oregon State 42- Washington State 10: The Beavers were the team who got to scrimmage with the Cougars this week. When it was over, the Beavers had barely broken a sweat and found themselves with a chance to play for a trip to Pasadena. OSU QB Sean Canfield hit on 22 of 29 passes for 231 yards and two TDs, while Jacquizz Rodgers lugged the leather 24 times for 165 yards and two TDs of his own in this laugher. The Beaver defense held the Cougars 192 total yards on the afternoon.
Telling Stat: It could have been worse. If OSU hadn't racked up 13 penalties for 107 yards, they could have hung 60 points on Wazzu.
California 34- Stanford 28: One week after thrashing USC and becoming the darlings of college football, the Stanford Cardinal were beaten by Cal in "The Big Game." The Golden Bears held the ball for almost 40 minutes in this game, but they still couldn't stop Stanford TB Toby Gerhart who ran for 136 yards and 4 TDs. However, Cal's Shane Vereen offset his efforts by rushing for 193 yards and 3 TDs of his own. However, it was Cal LB Mike Mohamed who etched his named forever into the rivalry with his interception of Stanford QB Andrew Luck on the Golden Bears goalline with a little over a minute to play to secure Cal's seventh win in the last eight yeas over Stanford.
Telling Stat: They had no home cookin'. Stanford's loss was their only one at home this season.
UCLA 23- Arizona State 13: Defense once again ruled the day for the bRuins as their defense outscored their offense 14-9 in their win at the Rose Bowl. The bRuin defense harassed ASU QB Samson Szakacsy all day. In the first quarter CB Alterraun Verner picked off a pass and took it to the house to give his squad a 7-0 lead. Then, in the second quarter DE Akeem Ayers returned a Szakacsy fumble nine yards for a touchdown. That was followed by another bRuin fumble recovery that the bRuin offense turned into a field goal. The bRuin offense managed to move the ball enough so that their defense could get a rest and UCLA came away with the win. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils couldn't get out of their own way for most of the day by committing nine penalties to go with six turnovers on the afternoon.
Telling Stat: ASU had 12 possessions in this game, they turned the ball over in six of those possessions.
Observations
...And then there were two. New Mexico finally enjoyed the taste of victory with a 29-27 win over Colorado State. So that leaves just Western Kentucky and Eastern Michigan as the only winless teams in the FBS.
...Simple Math: Week 2. 68 teams will make it to a bowl this season. As of this week, 70 of the 120 FBS teams are bowl eligible. Of the 50 teams leftover, only 8 still have a chance to become bowl eligible. here are those eight and who they have left to play...
1. Duke: 11/28 V. Wake Forest
2. Connecticut: 11/28 V. Syracuse, 12/5 V. South Florida
3. UAB: 11/28 V. Central Florida
4. Kent State: 11/27 V. Buffalo
5. Toledo: 11/27 @ Bowling Green
6. Western Michigan: 11/24 V. Ball State
7. Wyoming: 11/27@ Colorado State
8. Hawaii: 11/28 V. Navy, 12/5 Wisconsin
...Luke Lippincott gained 162 yards on 19 carries in Nevada's 63-20 blowout win over New Mexico State. With those 162 yards, Lippincott became the third member of the Wolfpack backfield this year to rush for 1,000 yards. That makes Nevada the only team in NCAA history to have three 1,000 rushers in the same season. QB Colin Kaepernick and RB Vai Taua are the other two members of this history making backfield.
...Washington. Oregon,and Stanford all have beaten USC this season, then lost their next game. The Cardinal were the latest victim of this trend as they followed up a win over USC with a loss to California in "The Big Game." So, who did UW and UO lose to after they beat USC? They both lost to Stanford. That's just a little ironic, huh?
...I feel sorry for the people across the country who didn't get to see the Oegon-Arizona game due to ABC's regional bias. It was a tough, great game.
...Colorado HC Dan Hawkins is most likely on his way out of Boulder with a 16-32 record over the past four seasons. Hawkins has been vilified over the last couple of seasons by the Buffalo faithful for starting his son Cody at quarterback. Things have deteriorated so much this season, that Hawkins benched his son. That opened the doors even wider for fans to pile on and call for the head of both Dan and Cody. I don't think there were many guys out there that wouldn't have wanted to play for their dad on a major college team. If they had won more, it would be a feel good story meriting national attention. Now, it's just sad.
...Note to the student section of the University of Arizona. Only get ready to storm the field when you've got a game won. You all looked really pathetic standing around during the sidelines during those two overtime periods.
...I still can't believe I didn't get to see the Stanford- Cal game because DirectTv dropped the Vs. channel.
...To hear Joe Paterno lobby for a BCS bowl for Penn State is sickening. The Big Ten is maybe the fifth best conference this year. TCU could crush Penn State.
...So, Jimmy Clausen got decked by an irate Irish fan late Saturday night after ND's loss to UConn. That was a classless act by rotten fan. That behavior has no place in sports.
...I used to write off the spread option and wildcat offenses as gimmick schemes that wouldn't last very long. However, it looks like these schemes will be around for awhile. I also am enjoying seeing a different kind of player at QB in these systems. It reminds of the old days of football where your QB as well as all your backs had to be triple threat guys who could run, pass, and catch the ball. Is the dropback passer on his way out, and the triple threat back making a comeback? Only time will tell.
...With USC playing in a lower tier bowl this season, I've heard some bad matchups being proposed out there. However, nothing sickens me more than a rematch with Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl.
...Boy, if this doesn't mean Charlie Weis is out at ND, I don't know what will convince you. Weis' west coast recruiting trip following ND's game at Stanford this week has been cancelled.
...I see LSU HC Les Miles has finally taken responsibility for his poor clock management at the end of the LSU-Ole MIss game. It only took two days and several camera angles showing his blowing it to change his mind. Paul Hackett couldn't have screwed up the Tigers final drive any better.
...I knew this game was big, and that thought was confirmed by an article sent to me by our field office in Salem, OR. The December 3rd Oregon-Oregon State game will be the most important game in the 113 year history of the this rivalry which is know as "The Civil War." Never has winning this game meant going to the Rose Bowl for both sides. This year it does. That says it all, folks.
Until next week folks, remember to practice proper clock management and pace yourselves at the table on Turkey Day!!!
-The Commissioner.
It's time for the Thanksgiving edition of Note on a Pac 10 Scorecard. I hope your team hasn't been playing like turkeys this season. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
Oregon 44- Arizona 41 2OT: This was a classic duel in the desert with the Arizona Wildcats looking for their first Rose Bowl berth ever in the biggest game played in Arizona since Dick Tomey roamed the sidelines in Tucson. However, Ducks QB Jeremiah Masoli led his team on impressive drives in the fourth quarter and overtime to put the Ducks on the verge of going to Pasadena. The Ducks forced overtime when Masoli led them on a 15 play, 80-yard drive where Masoli hit TE Ed Dickson with an 8-yard TD pass with :06 left. Then in the second overtime, Masoli took it in from one yard out to secure the victory for the boys from Eugene. After his run won the game, thousands of dejected Wildcat fans were left on the sideline, never getting to storm the field after a victory that didn't happen.
Telling Stat: He carried the team. In the fourth quarter and OT , UO QB Jeremiah Masoli threw or ran the ball in 31 of the Ducks 41 plays from scrimmage.
Oregon State 42- Washington State 10: The Beavers were the team who got to scrimmage with the Cougars this week. When it was over, the Beavers had barely broken a sweat and found themselves with a chance to play for a trip to Pasadena. OSU QB Sean Canfield hit on 22 of 29 passes for 231 yards and two TDs, while Jacquizz Rodgers lugged the leather 24 times for 165 yards and two TDs of his own in this laugher. The Beaver defense held the Cougars 192 total yards on the afternoon.
Telling Stat: It could have been worse. If OSU hadn't racked up 13 penalties for 107 yards, they could have hung 60 points on Wazzu.
California 34- Stanford 28: One week after thrashing USC and becoming the darlings of college football, the Stanford Cardinal were beaten by Cal in "The Big Game." The Golden Bears held the ball for almost 40 minutes in this game, but they still couldn't stop Stanford TB Toby Gerhart who ran for 136 yards and 4 TDs. However, Cal's Shane Vereen offset his efforts by rushing for 193 yards and 3 TDs of his own. However, it was Cal LB Mike Mohamed who etched his named forever into the rivalry with his interception of Stanford QB Andrew Luck on the Golden Bears goalline with a little over a minute to play to secure Cal's seventh win in the last eight yeas over Stanford.
Telling Stat: They had no home cookin'. Stanford's loss was their only one at home this season.
UCLA 23- Arizona State 13: Defense once again ruled the day for the bRuins as their defense outscored their offense 14-9 in their win at the Rose Bowl. The bRuin defense harassed ASU QB Samson Szakacsy all day. In the first quarter CB Alterraun Verner picked off a pass and took it to the house to give his squad a 7-0 lead. Then, in the second quarter DE Akeem Ayers returned a Szakacsy fumble nine yards for a touchdown. That was followed by another bRuin fumble recovery that the bRuin offense turned into a field goal. The bRuin offense managed to move the ball enough so that their defense could get a rest and UCLA came away with the win. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils couldn't get out of their own way for most of the day by committing nine penalties to go with six turnovers on the afternoon.
Telling Stat: ASU had 12 possessions in this game, they turned the ball over in six of those possessions.
Observations
...And then there were two. New Mexico finally enjoyed the taste of victory with a 29-27 win over Colorado State. So that leaves just Western Kentucky and Eastern Michigan as the only winless teams in the FBS.
...Simple Math: Week 2. 68 teams will make it to a bowl this season. As of this week, 70 of the 120 FBS teams are bowl eligible. Of the 50 teams leftover, only 8 still have a chance to become bowl eligible. here are those eight and who they have left to play...
1. Duke: 11/28 V. Wake Forest
2. Connecticut: 11/28 V. Syracuse, 12/5 V. South Florida
3. UAB: 11/28 V. Central Florida
4. Kent State: 11/27 V. Buffalo
5. Toledo: 11/27 @ Bowling Green
6. Western Michigan: 11/24 V. Ball State
7. Wyoming: 11/27@ Colorado State
8. Hawaii: 11/28 V. Navy, 12/5 Wisconsin
...Luke Lippincott gained 162 yards on 19 carries in Nevada's 63-20 blowout win over New Mexico State. With those 162 yards, Lippincott became the third member of the Wolfpack backfield this year to rush for 1,000 yards. That makes Nevada the only team in NCAA history to have three 1,000 rushers in the same season. QB Colin Kaepernick and RB Vai Taua are the other two members of this history making backfield.
...Washington. Oregon,and Stanford all have beaten USC this season, then lost their next game. The Cardinal were the latest victim of this trend as they followed up a win over USC with a loss to California in "The Big Game." So, who did UW and UO lose to after they beat USC? They both lost to Stanford. That's just a little ironic, huh?
...I feel sorry for the people across the country who didn't get to see the Oegon-Arizona game due to ABC's regional bias. It was a tough, great game.
...Colorado HC Dan Hawkins is most likely on his way out of Boulder with a 16-32 record over the past four seasons. Hawkins has been vilified over the last couple of seasons by the Buffalo faithful for starting his son Cody at quarterback. Things have deteriorated so much this season, that Hawkins benched his son. That opened the doors even wider for fans to pile on and call for the head of both Dan and Cody. I don't think there were many guys out there that wouldn't have wanted to play for their dad on a major college team. If they had won more, it would be a feel good story meriting national attention. Now, it's just sad.
...Note to the student section of the University of Arizona. Only get ready to storm the field when you've got a game won. You all looked really pathetic standing around during the sidelines during those two overtime periods.
...I still can't believe I didn't get to see the Stanford- Cal game because DirectTv dropped the Vs. channel.
...To hear Joe Paterno lobby for a BCS bowl for Penn State is sickening. The Big Ten is maybe the fifth best conference this year. TCU could crush Penn State.
...So, Jimmy Clausen got decked by an irate Irish fan late Saturday night after ND's loss to UConn. That was a classless act by rotten fan. That behavior has no place in sports.
...I used to write off the spread option and wildcat offenses as gimmick schemes that wouldn't last very long. However, it looks like these schemes will be around for awhile. I also am enjoying seeing a different kind of player at QB in these systems. It reminds of the old days of football where your QB as well as all your backs had to be triple threat guys who could run, pass, and catch the ball. Is the dropback passer on his way out, and the triple threat back making a comeback? Only time will tell.
...With USC playing in a lower tier bowl this season, I've heard some bad matchups being proposed out there. However, nothing sickens me more than a rematch with Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl.
...Boy, if this doesn't mean Charlie Weis is out at ND, I don't know what will convince you. Weis' west coast recruiting trip following ND's game at Stanford this week has been cancelled.
...I see LSU HC Les Miles has finally taken responsibility for his poor clock management at the end of the LSU-Ole MIss game. It only took two days and several camera angles showing his blowing it to change his mind. Paul Hackett couldn't have screwed up the Tigers final drive any better.
...I knew this game was big, and that thought was confirmed by an article sent to me by our field office in Salem, OR. The December 3rd Oregon-Oregon State game will be the most important game in the 113 year history of the this rivalry which is know as "The Civil War." Never has winning this game meant going to the Rose Bowl for both sides. This year it does. That says it all, folks.
Until next week folks, remember to practice proper clock management and pace yourselves at the table on Turkey Day!!!
-The Commissioner.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Week 11
Hey All,
It's time for your favorite column, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
Stanford 55- USC 21: There weren't a whole lot of Trojan fans left in the Coliseum when the clock hit triple zero and the Cardinal had hung the most points ever on a USC team. Yes, even more than the 51 that ND hung on USC in'61 or the 52 that Russell White's California squad scored on USC in '91. Funny thing is that USC was actually in the game here, trailing only 28-21 at the start of the fourth quarter. That was when the roof fell in. The Trojan defense which had been poor all game, completely collapsed in the fourth quarter allowing the Cardinal to move the ball at will. Meanwhile, the offense continued to sputter. Couple that with a few gift interceptions thrown by QB Matt Barkley and you can see how this one got way out of hand. Not a lot of stats to talk about here. The Trojans were simply physically manhandled by Stanford. The Trojans got pushed around for three quarters, then quit in the fourth. Yes folks, the Trojans quit in the fourth quarter.
Telling Stat: 41/0. USC was held to 41 yards and 0 points in the fourth quarter of this debacle.
California 24- Arizona 16: A funny thing happened to the Wildcats on their way to this week's showdown with Oregon. The Golden Bears jumped up and slapped the Wildcats on Senior Day, in Berkeley. Cal kept UofA in check all day, holding an 18-16 lead thanks to four Giorgio Travecchio field goals and a Kevin Riley TD pass. However, the Bears found themselves staring defeat in the face as UofA had a third down and 3 to go at the Cal 25. Then came one of the biggest mistakes of the year by UofA QB Nick Foles. Foles threw a pass only to have it knocked back into his face. He caught the ball and then threw it again. That was two forward passes. That's illegal. After the penalty from the spot and loss of down, the Wildcats were staring at a 55-yard field goal attempt on fourth down. UofA went for the first down and failed to convert. Then on Cal's first play from scrimmage TB Shane Vereen took the ball 61 yards to house for the game-clinching TD.
Telling Stat: They missed Nic. Wihtout TB Nic Grigsby, Cal held Arizona to 73 yards rushing for the game.
UCLA 43- Washington State 7: The death march known as Washington State's football season continued with the bRuins dismantling the Cougars, in Pullman. Cougar QB, Marshall Lobbestael threw interceptions the first three times his team had the ball and the rout, as they say, was on. UCLA QB Kevin Prince threw for 314 yards and a TD while FB Chane Moline chipped in with three short TD runs to aid the bRuins cause. UCLA rakced up 28 first downs to Wazzu's seven. The bRuins also outgained the Cougars 556-181 in total yardage.
Telling Stat: Not in regulation. The Cougars have not led a game this year in regulation. Their only lead came when they won in overtime against SMU.
Oregon State 48- Washington 21: Mix two TD passes from QB Sean Canfield with two TD runs by Jacquizz Rodgers and throw in two TD receptions from James Rodgers and you have the recipe for a rout. This game wasn't as close as the score shows. The Beavers dominated this game, running up a 41-7 lead in the third quarter before emptying the benches and giving up a couple of late scores to the Dawgs.
Telling Stat: It was the worst. UW's 27 point loss was the Huskies worst to OSU in school history.
Oregon 44- Arizona State- 21: The Ducks got back in the win column in impressive style after suffering their first Pac 10 loss of the season to Stanford last week. The Ducks used three TD runs from TB LaMchael James and a TD pass from QB Jeremiah Masoli to build up a 31-7 halftime lead over the Sun Devils. The second half was a not much more than a glorified scrimmage with both sides emptying their benches in the final quarter. James finished the day as the Ducks offensive star with 150 yards rushing to go with his three TDs.
Telling Stat: 84/82. ASU rushed for a meager 84 yards in the game, but to make it worse, they were penalized for 82 yards.
Observations
...And then there were three. With Rice coming from behind to beat Buffet Bob Toledo's Tulane squad, only New Mexico, Eastern Michigan, and Western Kentucky remain winless this season.
...Simple math time. 34 bowls= 68 teams needed to fill those slots. As of today, only 61 teams are bowl eligible. Now factor in that 34 teams have already been eliminated, that leaves 25 teams to fight for the remaining seven bowl slots. So here's three games to watch this week with bowl eligibility hanging in the balance.
1. UCLA- ASU: The Sun Devils need a win to keep their bowl hopes alive, while a UCLA win would kill ASU's bowl hopes and earn bowl eligibility for the bRuins.
2. Nebraska- Kansas State: Big XII North Title is on the line in this, and KSU would reach bowl eligibility as well if they win.
3. Tennessee- Vanderbilt: Lane Kiffin can get to a bowl in first season as a HC and the Vols can be the 10th team in the SEC to become bowl eligible this season. Ahhh, playing those 1-AA schools does pay off, huh?
....Stanford HC Jim Harbaugh's try for two at the end of the USC-Stanford game was a Woody Hayes inspired, bush league manuever. However, continuing to score TDs wasn't. If a team can't stop a simple dive play at the end of the game, then that team deseves to get scored on.
...You always remember the games played in November, but do Florida and Alabama fans really want to remember watching their teams take on Florida International and UT Chatanooga this week? I doubt it.
...The Pac 10 has five teams ranked in the BCS top 25. That equals the total of the Big XII and the SEC combined.
...On the flip side of Pac 10 success is Washington State. They've only won 2 conference games in their last 17 tries with both of those wins coming against Washington.
...Norm Chow could get the Trifecta of coaching this year. As OC, his bRuins have already beaten Tennesee who is coached by Lane Kiffin, they have also beaten Washignton who is coached by Steve Sarkisian. A win over USC in two weeks and Norm Chow's team will have beaten his former boss and his two replacements at USC.
...I would like to welcome the Temple Owls back to the land of the living in college football. Remember folks, this was the same school that is the only team ever asked to leave a BCS conference because they were so bad. HC Al Golden has his team at 8-2 overall and 6-0 in MAC play. Somewhere, Bill Cosby is proud.
...The NCAA Division III playoffs start this week, and as always the Mount Union Purple Raiders are the team to beat. However, I will cheer for Cal-Lutheran because they are the only far western team in the playoff field.
...There are a few good rviarly games to be played this week across the country, and as with rivarly games, throw the records out the window, pride and bragging rights are at stake. In the Big Ten, Ohio State will take on Michigan, while Indiana will face Purdue with the old oaken bucket at stake. In the Pac 10, California and Stanford will meet in "The Big Game", while in the Ivy League, Harvard and Yale will meet in "The Game." There are a few others out there this week, but these games always appeal to me.
...I was at the supermarket last nigh and saw that the USC defense's picture on the back of my milk carton.
...Time to give a cheer for the Penn Quakers. The Quakers clinched the Ivy League title last week with a 17-7 over Harvard. The Ivy League schools don't participate in the FBS Subdivision playoffs, so the Ivy League title is a big deal indeed.
...The NCAA Division II playoffs are going into their second round this week. A lot of the usual D-II suspects are in the playoffs, but two outside teams to watch are Central Washington and Arkansas Tech. CWU is the only team from the far west left in the playoffs and Arkansas Tech could upset the whole bracket if they beat North Alabama this week.
...Would somebody tackle Stanford TB Toby Gerhart? He's still running at the Coliseum.
...Arizona has lost two games in Pac 10 play on the strangest of plays. First, they lose at Washington on the kicked/hit the ground interception at Washington, then they lose at California due to an illegal second forward pass. UofA could be 8-1 and 6-0 in the Pac 10.
Until Next Time Folks, watch for the draw on third and long and put a spy on the quarterback.
-The Commissioner
It's time for your favorite column, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
Stanford 55- USC 21: There weren't a whole lot of Trojan fans left in the Coliseum when the clock hit triple zero and the Cardinal had hung the most points ever on a USC team. Yes, even more than the 51 that ND hung on USC in'61 or the 52 that Russell White's California squad scored on USC in '91. Funny thing is that USC was actually in the game here, trailing only 28-21 at the start of the fourth quarter. That was when the roof fell in. The Trojan defense which had been poor all game, completely collapsed in the fourth quarter allowing the Cardinal to move the ball at will. Meanwhile, the offense continued to sputter. Couple that with a few gift interceptions thrown by QB Matt Barkley and you can see how this one got way out of hand. Not a lot of stats to talk about here. The Trojans were simply physically manhandled by Stanford. The Trojans got pushed around for three quarters, then quit in the fourth. Yes folks, the Trojans quit in the fourth quarter.
Telling Stat: 41/0. USC was held to 41 yards and 0 points in the fourth quarter of this debacle.
California 24- Arizona 16: A funny thing happened to the Wildcats on their way to this week's showdown with Oregon. The Golden Bears jumped up and slapped the Wildcats on Senior Day, in Berkeley. Cal kept UofA in check all day, holding an 18-16 lead thanks to four Giorgio Travecchio field goals and a Kevin Riley TD pass. However, the Bears found themselves staring defeat in the face as UofA had a third down and 3 to go at the Cal 25. Then came one of the biggest mistakes of the year by UofA QB Nick Foles. Foles threw a pass only to have it knocked back into his face. He caught the ball and then threw it again. That was two forward passes. That's illegal. After the penalty from the spot and loss of down, the Wildcats were staring at a 55-yard field goal attempt on fourth down. UofA went for the first down and failed to convert. Then on Cal's first play from scrimmage TB Shane Vereen took the ball 61 yards to house for the game-clinching TD.
Telling Stat: They missed Nic. Wihtout TB Nic Grigsby, Cal held Arizona to 73 yards rushing for the game.
UCLA 43- Washington State 7: The death march known as Washington State's football season continued with the bRuins dismantling the Cougars, in Pullman. Cougar QB, Marshall Lobbestael threw interceptions the first three times his team had the ball and the rout, as they say, was on. UCLA QB Kevin Prince threw for 314 yards and a TD while FB Chane Moline chipped in with three short TD runs to aid the bRuins cause. UCLA rakced up 28 first downs to Wazzu's seven. The bRuins also outgained the Cougars 556-181 in total yardage.
Telling Stat: Not in regulation. The Cougars have not led a game this year in regulation. Their only lead came when they won in overtime against SMU.
Oregon State 48- Washington 21: Mix two TD passes from QB Sean Canfield with two TD runs by Jacquizz Rodgers and throw in two TD receptions from James Rodgers and you have the recipe for a rout. This game wasn't as close as the score shows. The Beavers dominated this game, running up a 41-7 lead in the third quarter before emptying the benches and giving up a couple of late scores to the Dawgs.
Telling Stat: It was the worst. UW's 27 point loss was the Huskies worst to OSU in school history.
Oregon 44- Arizona State- 21: The Ducks got back in the win column in impressive style after suffering their first Pac 10 loss of the season to Stanford last week. The Ducks used three TD runs from TB LaMchael James and a TD pass from QB Jeremiah Masoli to build up a 31-7 halftime lead over the Sun Devils. The second half was a not much more than a glorified scrimmage with both sides emptying their benches in the final quarter. James finished the day as the Ducks offensive star with 150 yards rushing to go with his three TDs.
Telling Stat: 84/82. ASU rushed for a meager 84 yards in the game, but to make it worse, they were penalized for 82 yards.
Observations
...And then there were three. With Rice coming from behind to beat Buffet Bob Toledo's Tulane squad, only New Mexico, Eastern Michigan, and Western Kentucky remain winless this season.
...Simple math time. 34 bowls= 68 teams needed to fill those slots. As of today, only 61 teams are bowl eligible. Now factor in that 34 teams have already been eliminated, that leaves 25 teams to fight for the remaining seven bowl slots. So here's three games to watch this week with bowl eligibility hanging in the balance.
1. UCLA- ASU: The Sun Devils need a win to keep their bowl hopes alive, while a UCLA win would kill ASU's bowl hopes and earn bowl eligibility for the bRuins.
2. Nebraska- Kansas State: Big XII North Title is on the line in this, and KSU would reach bowl eligibility as well if they win.
3. Tennessee- Vanderbilt: Lane Kiffin can get to a bowl in first season as a HC and the Vols can be the 10th team in the SEC to become bowl eligible this season. Ahhh, playing those 1-AA schools does pay off, huh?
....Stanford HC Jim Harbaugh's try for two at the end of the USC-Stanford game was a Woody Hayes inspired, bush league manuever. However, continuing to score TDs wasn't. If a team can't stop a simple dive play at the end of the game, then that team deseves to get scored on.
...You always remember the games played in November, but do Florida and Alabama fans really want to remember watching their teams take on Florida International and UT Chatanooga this week? I doubt it.
...The Pac 10 has five teams ranked in the BCS top 25. That equals the total of the Big XII and the SEC combined.
...On the flip side of Pac 10 success is Washington State. They've only won 2 conference games in their last 17 tries with both of those wins coming against Washington.
...Norm Chow could get the Trifecta of coaching this year. As OC, his bRuins have already beaten Tennesee who is coached by Lane Kiffin, they have also beaten Washignton who is coached by Steve Sarkisian. A win over USC in two weeks and Norm Chow's team will have beaten his former boss and his two replacements at USC.
...I would like to welcome the Temple Owls back to the land of the living in college football. Remember folks, this was the same school that is the only team ever asked to leave a BCS conference because they were so bad. HC Al Golden has his team at 8-2 overall and 6-0 in MAC play. Somewhere, Bill Cosby is proud.
...The NCAA Division III playoffs start this week, and as always the Mount Union Purple Raiders are the team to beat. However, I will cheer for Cal-Lutheran because they are the only far western team in the playoff field.
...There are a few good rviarly games to be played this week across the country, and as with rivarly games, throw the records out the window, pride and bragging rights are at stake. In the Big Ten, Ohio State will take on Michigan, while Indiana will face Purdue with the old oaken bucket at stake. In the Pac 10, California and Stanford will meet in "The Big Game", while in the Ivy League, Harvard and Yale will meet in "The Game." There are a few others out there this week, but these games always appeal to me.
...I was at the supermarket last nigh and saw that the USC defense's picture on the back of my milk carton.
...Time to give a cheer for the Penn Quakers. The Quakers clinched the Ivy League title last week with a 17-7 over Harvard. The Ivy League schools don't participate in the FBS Subdivision playoffs, so the Ivy League title is a big deal indeed.
...The NCAA Division II playoffs are going into their second round this week. A lot of the usual D-II suspects are in the playoffs, but two outside teams to watch are Central Washington and Arkansas Tech. CWU is the only team from the far west left in the playoffs and Arkansas Tech could upset the whole bracket if they beat North Alabama this week.
...Would somebody tackle Stanford TB Toby Gerhart? He's still running at the Coliseum.
...Arizona has lost two games in Pac 10 play on the strangest of plays. First, they lose at Washington on the kicked/hit the ground interception at Washington, then they lose at California due to an illegal second forward pass. UofA could be 8-1 and 6-0 in the Pac 10.
Until Next Time Folks, watch for the draw on third and long and put a spy on the quarterback.
-The Commissioner
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Week 10
Hey All,
It's time for the column that takes up at least five minutes of your day, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. Boy, do we miss you Alan Malamud.
Summaries
USC 14- Arizona State 9: This was a truly ugly game. From sputtering offenses to referees throwing flags at will, this game was plain ugly. It would be fitting that an ASU mistake would give USC the halftime lead when much maligned ASU QB Danny Sullivan threw a pass that was picked off and returned for a TD by USC's Will Harris. USC led at the break 7-3. The Trojans broke out its' coma for one big play in the third quarter when WR Damian took a short screen pass and turned into a 75-yard touchdown to give USC a 14-3 lead. At this point the ASU faithful were stunned. The Sun Devils had controlled the game, yet were down double digits in the third quarter. Then the USC offense slipped back into its' coma and the defense held on for the tough win.
Telling Stat: They won? USC threw for only 112 yards, rushed for 146 more, had 98 yards in penalties, yet won.
Oregon State 31- California 14: The Golden Bears annual slide contiued with a bad home loss to the Beavers. Overshadowing the Bears' loss was the concussion suffered by TB Jahvid Best. Best took a wicked fall after leaping into the endoze to cut OSU's lead to 14-7 in the second quarter. Best layed motionless on the field until he was carted off by paramedics and then taken to a local hospital. The image of their fallen teammate took a visible toll on the Golden Bears as they were never in the game after that moment. OSU dominated the rest of the game with QB Sean Canfield completing 29 of 39 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns.
Telling Stat: They were freaked out. After Best's injury, the Golden Bears gained only 92 yards on their last eight possessions of the game with the 67 of those yards coming on a late fourth quartter drive when OSU had the game well in hand.
Arizona 48- Washington State 7: UofA's Travis Cobb took the opening kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown and the Wildcats never looked back in this rout of the Cougars. The Wildcats moved the ball at will on the Cougars. They racked up 648 yards of offense, 27 first downs and held the ball for 41:19. Meanwhile, the hapless Wazzu offense was held to 185 total yards and eight first downs. The lone bright spot for Wazzu continues to be punter Reid Forrest who punted 8 times in this game for nifty 44.6 yard average.
Telling Stat: They can't compete. Wazzu is winless in Pac 10 play, losing each game by an average of 32 points.
UCLA 24- Washington 23: The bRuins used two quarterbacks and a strong effort from their defense in the second half to get their first Pac 10 win of 2009. UCLA QB Kevin Prince built on his fine fourth quarter at Oregon State last week by lighting up the Husky secondary for 212 yards and a touchdown before he was knocked from the game with a concussion on a helmet-to-helmet hit from UW LB Donald Butler. Kevin Craft then came in and led the bRuins to their their final 10 points of the game and the win. The bRuin defense set the stage for a comeback by holding the Huskies scoreless for the final 26:52 of the game. UW QB Jake Locker threw for 235 yards and 2 TDs in a losing effort.
Telling Stat: They couldn't capitalize on 'em. UW forced five bRuin turnovers, but couldn't get the win.
Stanford 51- Oregon 42: Just one week after being hailed as the greatest thing since sliced bread, the Oregon Ducks fell in a shootout on The Farm. The Duck defense had no answer for Cardinal TB Toby Gerhart who rushed the ball 38 times for 223 yards and three TDs. The Duck defense didn't have an answer for QB Andrew Luck either who threw for 251 yards and two TDs of his own. On the flipside of things, the Stanford defense managed to hold tough at critical times to ensure the win. However, Duck QB Jeremiah Masoli completed 21 of 37 passes for 334 yards and three TDs. He also ran for 55 yards and a touchdown as well.
Telling Stat: Both squads scored quickly. The longest scoring drive of the game lasted only 4:35.
Observations
...They've got trouble, trouble right now in Iowa City. Trouble with a capital T, that rhymes with P, which is before Q, which stands for Quarterback. Not only did the Hawkeyes' undefeated season get ruined in their 17-10 home loss to Northwestern, it looks like QB Ricky Stansi is lost as well. If Stansi can't make the trip to Columbus this week to face the Buckeyes, Iowa could go from #1 in the computer polls to #2 in the Big Ten in two short weeks.
...And then there were still four. New Mexico, Eastern Michigan, Western Kentucky, and Rice are still winless this season with identical 0-9 records.
...Don't cry for me, West Virginia. You can still be Big East Champs. West Virginia's last three games are with Cincinnati, Pitt, and Rutgers. If the 'eers win out, they're BCS bound.
...So much for Duke having a shot at the ACC crown, The Blue Devils were whipped by North Carolina ,19-6 last week. The Blue Devils still need a win to be bowl eligible.
...There may be a bright golden haze on the meadow, but not much else to be happy about in Oklahoma right now. A season that held such promise in Norman has fallen apart as quickly as Sam Bradford's shoulder. Further evidence of how much Bradford is missed was last Saturday when his backup Landry Jones threw five interceptions in a 10-3 loss to arch-rival Nebraska.
...Quietly making noise this week are the Nevada Wolfpack. After starting out 0-3, the boys from Reno have won six straight and are undefeated in WAC play. If they get by Fresno State and New Mexico State, they will have a showdown with Boise State for the conference title.
...Oh, to dream the impossible dream. TCU is now #4 in the BCS ratings and has the best chance of any team outside fo the BCS to make it to the National Championship Game.
...Air Force is this year's couple of points team. Meaning, they're a couple of points away from being undefeated. The Falcons are 6-4 with all four losses coming by a total of 20 points. Two of their losses were in overtime to Navy and Utah.
...525,600 minutes? Well, it's been about twice that long that Norm Chow has been at UCLA and the bRuin offense has started to wake up in the last week or so. The question to the UCLA administrators and faithful is, do you step up and actually pay Chow a salary that matches his skills or do the bRuins stay low-budget and let him go with a thank you to the Tennessee Titans for the two-year rental?
...Way to go Navy! The middies played smart, tough, inspired football and beat Notre Dame. Best stat of this game was that Navy's QB threw the ball only three times, completing two of those passes with one going for a touchdown. Navy must have had a schematic advantage.
...It is a puzzlement as to how anybody could think that Wazzu should bring Paul Wullf back for another year as Head Coach of the Cougars. Nothing has improved in Pullman since he took over the program.
...One last note folks, 20 years ago last week, the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner closed down. The Examiner had a great sports page with writers like Alan Malamud and Mel Durslag. With the age of newspapers is coming to an electronic end, I find myself more and more missing one of the great sports pages of Los Angeles.
Until next week folks, watch for bubble screens and the skinny post.
-The Commissioner
It's time for the column that takes up at least five minutes of your day, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. Boy, do we miss you Alan Malamud.
Summaries
USC 14- Arizona State 9: This was a truly ugly game. From sputtering offenses to referees throwing flags at will, this game was plain ugly. It would be fitting that an ASU mistake would give USC the halftime lead when much maligned ASU QB Danny Sullivan threw a pass that was picked off and returned for a TD by USC's Will Harris. USC led at the break 7-3. The Trojans broke out its' coma for one big play in the third quarter when WR Damian took a short screen pass and turned into a 75-yard touchdown to give USC a 14-3 lead. At this point the ASU faithful were stunned. The Sun Devils had controlled the game, yet were down double digits in the third quarter. Then the USC offense slipped back into its' coma and the defense held on for the tough win.
Telling Stat: They won? USC threw for only 112 yards, rushed for 146 more, had 98 yards in penalties, yet won.
Oregon State 31- California 14: The Golden Bears annual slide contiued with a bad home loss to the Beavers. Overshadowing the Bears' loss was the concussion suffered by TB Jahvid Best. Best took a wicked fall after leaping into the endoze to cut OSU's lead to 14-7 in the second quarter. Best layed motionless on the field until he was carted off by paramedics and then taken to a local hospital. The image of their fallen teammate took a visible toll on the Golden Bears as they were never in the game after that moment. OSU dominated the rest of the game with QB Sean Canfield completing 29 of 39 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns.
Telling Stat: They were freaked out. After Best's injury, the Golden Bears gained only 92 yards on their last eight possessions of the game with the 67 of those yards coming on a late fourth quartter drive when OSU had the game well in hand.
Arizona 48- Washington State 7: UofA's Travis Cobb took the opening kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown and the Wildcats never looked back in this rout of the Cougars. The Wildcats moved the ball at will on the Cougars. They racked up 648 yards of offense, 27 first downs and held the ball for 41:19. Meanwhile, the hapless Wazzu offense was held to 185 total yards and eight first downs. The lone bright spot for Wazzu continues to be punter Reid Forrest who punted 8 times in this game for nifty 44.6 yard average.
Telling Stat: They can't compete. Wazzu is winless in Pac 10 play, losing each game by an average of 32 points.
UCLA 24- Washington 23: The bRuins used two quarterbacks and a strong effort from their defense in the second half to get their first Pac 10 win of 2009. UCLA QB Kevin Prince built on his fine fourth quarter at Oregon State last week by lighting up the Husky secondary for 212 yards and a touchdown before he was knocked from the game with a concussion on a helmet-to-helmet hit from UW LB Donald Butler. Kevin Craft then came in and led the bRuins to their their final 10 points of the game and the win. The bRuin defense set the stage for a comeback by holding the Huskies scoreless for the final 26:52 of the game. UW QB Jake Locker threw for 235 yards and 2 TDs in a losing effort.
Telling Stat: They couldn't capitalize on 'em. UW forced five bRuin turnovers, but couldn't get the win.
Stanford 51- Oregon 42: Just one week after being hailed as the greatest thing since sliced bread, the Oregon Ducks fell in a shootout on The Farm. The Duck defense had no answer for Cardinal TB Toby Gerhart who rushed the ball 38 times for 223 yards and three TDs. The Duck defense didn't have an answer for QB Andrew Luck either who threw for 251 yards and two TDs of his own. On the flipside of things, the Stanford defense managed to hold tough at critical times to ensure the win. However, Duck QB Jeremiah Masoli completed 21 of 37 passes for 334 yards and three TDs. He also ran for 55 yards and a touchdown as well.
Telling Stat: Both squads scored quickly. The longest scoring drive of the game lasted only 4:35.
Observations
...They've got trouble, trouble right now in Iowa City. Trouble with a capital T, that rhymes with P, which is before Q, which stands for Quarterback. Not only did the Hawkeyes' undefeated season get ruined in their 17-10 home loss to Northwestern, it looks like QB Ricky Stansi is lost as well. If Stansi can't make the trip to Columbus this week to face the Buckeyes, Iowa could go from #1 in the computer polls to #2 in the Big Ten in two short weeks.
...And then there were still four. New Mexico, Eastern Michigan, Western Kentucky, and Rice are still winless this season with identical 0-9 records.
...Don't cry for me, West Virginia. You can still be Big East Champs. West Virginia's last three games are with Cincinnati, Pitt, and Rutgers. If the 'eers win out, they're BCS bound.
...So much for Duke having a shot at the ACC crown, The Blue Devils were whipped by North Carolina ,19-6 last week. The Blue Devils still need a win to be bowl eligible.
...There may be a bright golden haze on the meadow, but not much else to be happy about in Oklahoma right now. A season that held such promise in Norman has fallen apart as quickly as Sam Bradford's shoulder. Further evidence of how much Bradford is missed was last Saturday when his backup Landry Jones threw five interceptions in a 10-3 loss to arch-rival Nebraska.
...Quietly making noise this week are the Nevada Wolfpack. After starting out 0-3, the boys from Reno have won six straight and are undefeated in WAC play. If they get by Fresno State and New Mexico State, they will have a showdown with Boise State for the conference title.
...Oh, to dream the impossible dream. TCU is now #4 in the BCS ratings and has the best chance of any team outside fo the BCS to make it to the National Championship Game.
...Air Force is this year's couple of points team. Meaning, they're a couple of points away from being undefeated. The Falcons are 6-4 with all four losses coming by a total of 20 points. Two of their losses were in overtime to Navy and Utah.
...525,600 minutes? Well, it's been about twice that long that Norm Chow has been at UCLA and the bRuin offense has started to wake up in the last week or so. The question to the UCLA administrators and faithful is, do you step up and actually pay Chow a salary that matches his skills or do the bRuins stay low-budget and let him go with a thank you to the Tennessee Titans for the two-year rental?
...Way to go Navy! The middies played smart, tough, inspired football and beat Notre Dame. Best stat of this game was that Navy's QB threw the ball only three times, completing two of those passes with one going for a touchdown. Navy must have had a schematic advantage.
...It is a puzzlement as to how anybody could think that Wazzu should bring Paul Wullf back for another year as Head Coach of the Cougars. Nothing has improved in Pullman since he took over the program.
...One last note folks, 20 years ago last week, the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner closed down. The Examiner had a great sports page with writers like Alan Malamud and Mel Durslag. With the age of newspapers is coming to an electronic end, I find myself more and more missing one of the great sports pages of Los Angeles.
Until next week folks, watch for bubble screens and the skinny post.
-The Commissioner
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Week 9
Hey All,
I hope you all still have Halloween candy left to munch on as you read the column you've been waiting for, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
Oregon 47- USC 20: This loss wasn't just a loss for the Trojans, it was the worst loss for USC in the Pete Carroll era and one of the worst Trojan losses of all time. USC's clueless defense gave up 613 yards, allowed the Ducks to score on nine of their 11 drives, and allowed UO QB Jeremiah Masoli to roll up 386 yards of offense and score two TDs. Meanwhile, the USC offense collpased as the Oregon offense rolled. Highly touted TE Blake Ayles showed he was no Anthony McCoy with his poor game and USC's running game was rendered irrelevant as the Trojans fell farther behind. It truly was a Hallowen nightmare for USC.
Telling Stat: Oh, did they run. The Ducks rushed for 391 yards on 49 carries v. USC. That's a cool 8.0 yards per carry.
Oregon State 26- UCLA 19: For three quarters Oregon State dominated UCLA. The Beavers held a 16-0 halftime edge, then led 16-3 after a third quarter that looked like a controlled scrimmage. Then while OSU was making postgame party plans, UCLA found their offense. bRuin QB Kevin Prince hit on 69% of his passes in the fourth quarter. He threw two TD passes and two two-point conversions to tie the game at 19-19 with 2:06 to play. Then, the bRuin defense, which had been the strength of this year's squad, collapsed. OSU drove 70 yards in 1:22 for the winning TD which came on a James Rodgers 17-yard run. The bRuins are still winless in Pac 10 play.
Telling Stat: Who knew he could throw? In addition to being a great little RB, Jacquizz Rodgers showed off his arm when he threw a 14-yard TD pass to WR Brady Camp in the second quarter.
Notre Dame 40- Washington State 14: The hapless Cougars traveled to San Antonio for a paycheck and a beatdown from ND. ND QB Jimmy Clausen shredded the Wazzu secondary completing 22 of 27 passes for 268 yards and two TDs in three quarters wirht of work. With ND up 33-7 at the end of three quarters, the Irish faithful got to see their first glimpse of Clausen heir apparent Dayne Crist. He calmly came in and threw a 64-yard TD pass to put the Irish up 40-7 . ND is now 2-1 in Pac 10 play.
Telling Stat: They played keep away. ND held the ball for almost 41:00 while running up 592 yards and 32 first downs on Wazzu.
California 23- Arizona State 21: This had to be one of the sloppiest games played in the Pac 10 this season. The Golden Bears led 17-14 after a first half in which the two squads combined for four turnovers, five fumbles, several sacks, and 145 yards in penalties. The second half wasn't much better as the two squads kept trying to give the game away. ASU finally succeeded in that effort as they allowed the Golden Bears to take the ball with 3:19 to go and march 74 yards to the seven-yard line where PK Giorgio Travecchio nailed a 24-yard field goal with :21 seconds left to give Cal the win. Cal QB Kevin Riley was the offensive star of the day with 351 yards passing and two TDs, while much maligned ASU QB Danny Sullivan threw for 244 yards and a TD, but his two interceptions had the Sun Devil faithful booing him again.
Telling Stat: He did it when it counted. On Cal's game-winning drive, QB Kevin Riley completed five of six passes to put his team in position to win.
Observations
...Iowa has to be the worst undefeated team I have ever seen. If it weren't for miracle plays and a conference that is on par with WAC, the Hawkeyes would have at least four losses.
...And then there were four. There are four winless teams left in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Rice, Eastern Michigan, New Mexico, and Western Kentucky are all 0-8. Of these four teams, it looks like New Mexico has the best shot of going winless. Rice, EMU, and WKU all play at least two under .500 teams the rest of the way. New Mexico still has 7-1 Utah, 6-2 BYU, and 8-0 TCU left to play. The Lobos only chance for a win will be in their next to last game v. 3-6 Colorado State.
...From the in case you missed it file, Houston beat So. Miss, 50-43 in a shooout where the two teams combined for a little over 1300 yards of offense. The Cougars have no defense which means that their upcoming game with SMU and the Mustangs' run and shoot offense could be a real numbers show.
...If Indiana only had to play first three quarters each week they'd be undefeated.
...I haven't seen a USC defense play that poorly in a very long time. In fact, nobody I know had ever seen USC give up that many yards in a game. Why, because the only game in which USC gave up more yards was in 1946. I talked to my mom. She wasn't at the game, so she didn't see it either.
...Maybe now, somebody on USC's defense might start covering the slot receiver.
...Is there a division worse in college football than the Big XII North? Kansas State is the cream of the division with a 3-2 conference record and is 5-4 overall with losses to Louisiana-Lafayette and UCLA. Texas fans should make their reservations for Pasadena right now.
...Somebody better tell Georgia to stop wearing uniforms that feature black instead of red. They just stink in the black uniforms.
...Hey now, let's give a cheer for Duke. The Blue Devils are on a three-game winning streak in the ACC. If they beat North Carolina this week, they will be GASP, CHOKE, GASP, bowl eligible. I don't know if the football world can handle the prospect of both Duke and Idaho being bowl eligible.
...Would somebody stop Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli? He's still running. USC hasn't stopped him yet.
...Just when UCLA QB Kevin Prince looks like he's getting his act together, the bRuin defense fails. Nore Dame now has two more conference wins than UCLA and Washington State combined.
...If a nine win Notre Dame team gets a BCS bid and Boise State and TCU end up both being undefeated and left home, oh what furor there will be.
...I don't care what anyone says, no Pac 10 team has ever been happy going to any bowl but the Rose Bowl.
...Boy, USC could sure use Broderick Green right now.
...Arizona State is the NCAA leader in most penalty yards per game with 84.4. Last week against Cal, the Sun Devils had 85 yards in penalties by halftime, with 75 of those yards coming on five personal fouls.
...The USC defense has given up over 1,500 yards in its' last three games. Last year, the Trojan defense gave up 2,983 yards in 13 games.
...If you don't want to see Cincinnati or Notre Dame in a BCS game, you better start rooting for Pitt. The Panthers have the best shot of beating both these teams down the stretch.
Until next week folks, remember to cover the slot receiver and make sure the ball carrier is wrapped up before you go for the strip.
-The Commissioner
I hope you all still have Halloween candy left to munch on as you read the column you've been waiting for, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
Oregon 47- USC 20: This loss wasn't just a loss for the Trojans, it was the worst loss for USC in the Pete Carroll era and one of the worst Trojan losses of all time. USC's clueless defense gave up 613 yards, allowed the Ducks to score on nine of their 11 drives, and allowed UO QB Jeremiah Masoli to roll up 386 yards of offense and score two TDs. Meanwhile, the USC offense collpased as the Oregon offense rolled. Highly touted TE Blake Ayles showed he was no Anthony McCoy with his poor game and USC's running game was rendered irrelevant as the Trojans fell farther behind. It truly was a Hallowen nightmare for USC.
Telling Stat: Oh, did they run. The Ducks rushed for 391 yards on 49 carries v. USC. That's a cool 8.0 yards per carry.
Oregon State 26- UCLA 19: For three quarters Oregon State dominated UCLA. The Beavers held a 16-0 halftime edge, then led 16-3 after a third quarter that looked like a controlled scrimmage. Then while OSU was making postgame party plans, UCLA found their offense. bRuin QB Kevin Prince hit on 69% of his passes in the fourth quarter. He threw two TD passes and two two-point conversions to tie the game at 19-19 with 2:06 to play. Then, the bRuin defense, which had been the strength of this year's squad, collapsed. OSU drove 70 yards in 1:22 for the winning TD which came on a James Rodgers 17-yard run. The bRuins are still winless in Pac 10 play.
Telling Stat: Who knew he could throw? In addition to being a great little RB, Jacquizz Rodgers showed off his arm when he threw a 14-yard TD pass to WR Brady Camp in the second quarter.
Notre Dame 40- Washington State 14: The hapless Cougars traveled to San Antonio for a paycheck and a beatdown from ND. ND QB Jimmy Clausen shredded the Wazzu secondary completing 22 of 27 passes for 268 yards and two TDs in three quarters wirht of work. With ND up 33-7 at the end of three quarters, the Irish faithful got to see their first glimpse of Clausen heir apparent Dayne Crist. He calmly came in and threw a 64-yard TD pass to put the Irish up 40-7 . ND is now 2-1 in Pac 10 play.
Telling Stat: They played keep away. ND held the ball for almost 41:00 while running up 592 yards and 32 first downs on Wazzu.
California 23- Arizona State 21: This had to be one of the sloppiest games played in the Pac 10 this season. The Golden Bears led 17-14 after a first half in which the two squads combined for four turnovers, five fumbles, several sacks, and 145 yards in penalties. The second half wasn't much better as the two squads kept trying to give the game away. ASU finally succeeded in that effort as they allowed the Golden Bears to take the ball with 3:19 to go and march 74 yards to the seven-yard line where PK Giorgio Travecchio nailed a 24-yard field goal with :21 seconds left to give Cal the win. Cal QB Kevin Riley was the offensive star of the day with 351 yards passing and two TDs, while much maligned ASU QB Danny Sullivan threw for 244 yards and a TD, but his two interceptions had the Sun Devil faithful booing him again.
Telling Stat: He did it when it counted. On Cal's game-winning drive, QB Kevin Riley completed five of six passes to put his team in position to win.
Observations
...Iowa has to be the worst undefeated team I have ever seen. If it weren't for miracle plays and a conference that is on par with WAC, the Hawkeyes would have at least four losses.
...And then there were four. There are four winless teams left in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Rice, Eastern Michigan, New Mexico, and Western Kentucky are all 0-8. Of these four teams, it looks like New Mexico has the best shot of going winless. Rice, EMU, and WKU all play at least two under .500 teams the rest of the way. New Mexico still has 7-1 Utah, 6-2 BYU, and 8-0 TCU left to play. The Lobos only chance for a win will be in their next to last game v. 3-6 Colorado State.
...From the in case you missed it file, Houston beat So. Miss, 50-43 in a shooout where the two teams combined for a little over 1300 yards of offense. The Cougars have no defense which means that their upcoming game with SMU and the Mustangs' run and shoot offense could be a real numbers show.
...If Indiana only had to play first three quarters each week they'd be undefeated.
...I haven't seen a USC defense play that poorly in a very long time. In fact, nobody I know had ever seen USC give up that many yards in a game. Why, because the only game in which USC gave up more yards was in 1946. I talked to my mom. She wasn't at the game, so she didn't see it either.
...Maybe now, somebody on USC's defense might start covering the slot receiver.
...Is there a division worse in college football than the Big XII North? Kansas State is the cream of the division with a 3-2 conference record and is 5-4 overall with losses to Louisiana-Lafayette and UCLA. Texas fans should make their reservations for Pasadena right now.
...Somebody better tell Georgia to stop wearing uniforms that feature black instead of red. They just stink in the black uniforms.
...Hey now, let's give a cheer for Duke. The Blue Devils are on a three-game winning streak in the ACC. If they beat North Carolina this week, they will be GASP, CHOKE, GASP, bowl eligible. I don't know if the football world can handle the prospect of both Duke and Idaho being bowl eligible.
...Would somebody stop Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli? He's still running. USC hasn't stopped him yet.
...Just when UCLA QB Kevin Prince looks like he's getting his act together, the bRuin defense fails. Nore Dame now has two more conference wins than UCLA and Washington State combined.
...If a nine win Notre Dame team gets a BCS bid and Boise State and TCU end up both being undefeated and left home, oh what furor there will be.
...I don't care what anyone says, no Pac 10 team has ever been happy going to any bowl but the Rose Bowl.
...Boy, USC could sure use Broderick Green right now.
...Arizona State is the NCAA leader in most penalty yards per game with 84.4. Last week against Cal, the Sun Devils had 85 yards in penalties by halftime, with 75 of those yards coming on five personal fouls.
...The USC defense has given up over 1,500 yards in its' last three games. Last year, the Trojan defense gave up 2,983 yards in 13 games.
...If you don't want to see Cincinnati or Notre Dame in a BCS game, you better start rooting for Pitt. The Panthers have the best shot of beating both these teams down the stretch.
Until next week folks, remember to cover the slot receiver and make sure the ball carrier is wrapped up before you go for the strip.
-The Commissioner
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Week 8
Hey All,
Inhale, now exhale. whewww. Several BCS schools can now relax after getting by some close calls this past weekend. So from East Lansing to Tuscaloosa to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, here's this week's edition of Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
USC 42- Oregon State 36: The Trojan offense continued to improve, with great efforts from QB Matt Barkley, TB Alan Bradford, and WRs Ronald Johnson and Damian Williams. However, the defense was turned to swiss cheese by OSU's passing game and that gave the fans a game that wasn't decided until the Trojans were able to run out the clock. Oregon State QB Sean Canfield lit up the Trojan defense to the tune of 329 yards and 3 TDs in the losing effort. However, the bigger news from this game may be that the Trojans have found themselves a power back to fill in for the injured Stafon Johnson. Alan Bradford rumbled through the Beaver defense for 147 yards on 15 carries and 2 huge touchdowns. It turned out to be a game where the offense had to carry the defense for USC and they did.
Telling Stat: 3 first downs= W. USC's biggest drive of the game came when they picked up 3 first downs to run the final 5:41 off the clock an preserve the victory.
Oregon 43- Washington 19: The Ducks went into Seattle and got their sixth win in a row over the Huskies. After a sluggish first quarter, the Ducks woke up when Tyrell Irvin fell on a blocked punt in the endzone. The Ducks followed that with a two-point conversion by Nate Costa and never looked back. Up 15-3 at the half, UO then scored on their first three possessions of the third quarter to go up 36-6. The Huskies did score two cosmetic TDs late, but this one was over early. TB LaMichael James ran for 154 yards and two TDs to lead the Duck offense, while QB Jeremiah Masoli threw for 157 yards and ran for 54 more along with 3 TDs on the afternoon.
Telling Stat: They do it quickly. UO put 43 points with only a little over 26 minutes T.O.P.
California 49- Washington State 17: Golden Bear QB Kevin Riley threw three passes in the first quarter and all three went for touchdowns. Thrown in a 76-yard punt return for a TD by Jeremy Ross and Cal was up 28-3 at the end of the period. Then, as they say, the rout was on. Cal then turned the rest of the game into a glorified scrimmage and cruised to an easy win. Wazzu did manage to throw for alomst 400 yards on Cal, but the Cougars were in pure passing mode from about five minutes into the game.
Telling Stat: They averaged a first down per play. The Golden Bears only ran 50 plays in the game, but they ran up 559 yards of offense, that's 11.18 yards per play.
Stanford 33- Arizona State 14: SU TB Toby Gerhart carried the ball 27 times for 125 yards and a touchdown while Fr. QB Andrew Luck hit on 17 of 28 passes for 236 yards to lead the Cardinal to an easy win over the Sun Devils. Stanford's defense shut down the ASU in the first half while the offense built up a 24-0 halftime lead. Even though the Sun Devils did try to make a game of it in the second half, this one was never in doubt. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Stanford V. ASU.
Telling Stat: They shut 'em down. Stanford forced four punts and a fumble in ASU's five first half drives.
Arizona 27- UCLA 13: Once again UCLA's defense and special teams showed up, but their offense didn't in this ugly loss in Tucson. The bRuin defense forced five, count 'em five, Wildcat turnovers and their offense couldn't turn any of those into scores. Heck, UCLA's only TD came off a fumble return for a TD. Meanwhile, the Wildcats got just enough offense to win. UofA QB Nick Foles did throw for three interceptions, yet his two TD passes and 247 yards in the air helped his squad avoid a very embarrassing loss.
3=O TDs = LOSS. The bRuins three QBs completed only 15 of 35 passes for 146 yards and zero TDs in this embarrassing loss.
Observations
...And then there were five. That's the number of winless teams left in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Rice and Miami of Ohio are 0-8, while Eastern Michigan, New Mexico, and Western Kentucky are all 0-7.
...I was eight years old and listening to the old Prudential Colllege Scoreboard (hosted by Dave Dyals) when Iowa State last went into Nebraska and got a win. That was 1977. The Cyclones forced eight Cornhusker turnovers in a 9-7 win last Saturday, in Lincoln. The Cyclones are now 5-3 on the season and one big win away from being bowl eligible.
...While everyone has been talking about undefeated Cincinnati as being the greatest thing since sliced bread in the Big East, the Pitt Panthers are quietly sitting at 7-1 after dismantling South Florida, 41-14. The Pitt-Cincinnati game on December 5th could be have bigtime BCS implications.
...Taylor Mays' game has deteriorated over the last few weeks. He has forsaken coverage and potential interceptions for a quest to make a "sportcenter hit." That's a bad thing for USC.
...Speaking of teams below the radar, the Arizona Wildcats are 5-2 with their only two losses coming on the blown call interception return at Washington and a 10 point loss at undefeated Iowa. However, the Wildcats still face the toughest part of the schedule with tough road games at Cal and USC and a home date with Oregon.
...It's funny how USC's penalty numbers returned to a more normal level when the director of Pac 10 officiating attended the game.
...Well, Idaho's great season took a big hit with their 70-45 loss to Nevada.
...They can now go bowling. Here's the list of bowl eligible schools by conference.
ACC: Georgia Tech
Big XII: Texas, Oklahoma State
Big East: Pitt, Cincinnati, West Virginia
Big Ten: Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State
SEC: Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, LSU
Pac 10: USC, Oregon
C-USA: Houston
MAC- Central Michigan
Mountain West: TCU, Utah, BYU
WAC: Boise State, Idaho
Sun Belt: NONE
...Notre Dame has more Pac 10 wins (1) than UCLA and Washignton State combined (0). This week the Whining Irish take on Wazzu at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, TX.
...Wow, I knew the bRuin faithful were not happy with Norm Chow, but when your own players start calling you names and talking bad about you to recruits, you're in trouble. I really don't think Norm stays in Westwood after this season. However, Randall Carroll has become a new great recruiting force for USC.
...Damian Williams' punt returns have been a great surprise for the Trojan faithful. After a rough start it seems, the Trojan special teams are getting better every week.
...After all the talk about how Miami was the best one-loss team in the nation, they now have two after losing 40-37 in OT to Clemson. I don't which was a bigger surprise, the fact that Miami lost or that Clemson actually won a game that mattered.
...It was great to see Alan Bradford have a breakout game. He's a tough, inside runner who gets better as the game goes on. Note to Jeremy Bates: Give Alan the ball at least 15 times a game.
...For those who love this stuff, it does look like the SEC and the Big XII protect their big teams, while the Pac 10 doesn't. Alabama and Florida are 7th and 9th in penalty yardage in the SEC. Texas is 7th in penalty yardage in the Big XII. Meanwhile, USC is 3rd in penalty yardage in the Pac 10.
...Gameday will be in Eugene this week for the USC-UO game. I guess this will make up for the Berkeley snub earlier this year.
...It's good to see TCU ahead of Boise State in the BCS standings. I think the Mountain West Conference deserves a BCS automatic berth. I also thing the Big East should have their berth taken away.
...I see Notre Dame has weakend their schedule even more for 2010 in the school's great quest to reach a BCS bowl with Mr. Schematic Advantage at the helm. The Whining Irish have added Western Michigan and Tulsa to next year's slate. Why don't they just schedule Occidental and Whittier and get it over with?
...I know the UCLA defense is less impressed with Norm Chow than Randall Carroll.
...It was great to see Stafon Johnson at the Coliseum last Satruday night. I just still wish he was in uniform. You are greatly missed, Stafon.
Until next week folks, when tackling remember to stick, stay, wrap, and grab.
-The Commissioner
Inhale, now exhale. whewww. Several BCS schools can now relax after getting by some close calls this past weekend. So from East Lansing to Tuscaloosa to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, here's this week's edition of Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
USC 42- Oregon State 36: The Trojan offense continued to improve, with great efforts from QB Matt Barkley, TB Alan Bradford, and WRs Ronald Johnson and Damian Williams. However, the defense was turned to swiss cheese by OSU's passing game and that gave the fans a game that wasn't decided until the Trojans were able to run out the clock. Oregon State QB Sean Canfield lit up the Trojan defense to the tune of 329 yards and 3 TDs in the losing effort. However, the bigger news from this game may be that the Trojans have found themselves a power back to fill in for the injured Stafon Johnson. Alan Bradford rumbled through the Beaver defense for 147 yards on 15 carries and 2 huge touchdowns. It turned out to be a game where the offense had to carry the defense for USC and they did.
Telling Stat: 3 first downs= W. USC's biggest drive of the game came when they picked up 3 first downs to run the final 5:41 off the clock an preserve the victory.
Oregon 43- Washington 19: The Ducks went into Seattle and got their sixth win in a row over the Huskies. After a sluggish first quarter, the Ducks woke up when Tyrell Irvin fell on a blocked punt in the endzone. The Ducks followed that with a two-point conversion by Nate Costa and never looked back. Up 15-3 at the half, UO then scored on their first three possessions of the third quarter to go up 36-6. The Huskies did score two cosmetic TDs late, but this one was over early. TB LaMichael James ran for 154 yards and two TDs to lead the Duck offense, while QB Jeremiah Masoli threw for 157 yards and ran for 54 more along with 3 TDs on the afternoon.
Telling Stat: They do it quickly. UO put 43 points with only a little over 26 minutes T.O.P.
California 49- Washington State 17: Golden Bear QB Kevin Riley threw three passes in the first quarter and all three went for touchdowns. Thrown in a 76-yard punt return for a TD by Jeremy Ross and Cal was up 28-3 at the end of the period. Then, as they say, the rout was on. Cal then turned the rest of the game into a glorified scrimmage and cruised to an easy win. Wazzu did manage to throw for alomst 400 yards on Cal, but the Cougars were in pure passing mode from about five minutes into the game.
Telling Stat: They averaged a first down per play. The Golden Bears only ran 50 plays in the game, but they ran up 559 yards of offense, that's 11.18 yards per play.
Stanford 33- Arizona State 14: SU TB Toby Gerhart carried the ball 27 times for 125 yards and a touchdown while Fr. QB Andrew Luck hit on 17 of 28 passes for 236 yards to lead the Cardinal to an easy win over the Sun Devils. Stanford's defense shut down the ASU in the first half while the offense built up a 24-0 halftime lead. Even though the Sun Devils did try to make a game of it in the second half, this one was never in doubt. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Stanford V. ASU.
Telling Stat: They shut 'em down. Stanford forced four punts and a fumble in ASU's five first half drives.
Arizona 27- UCLA 13: Once again UCLA's defense and special teams showed up, but their offense didn't in this ugly loss in Tucson. The bRuin defense forced five, count 'em five, Wildcat turnovers and their offense couldn't turn any of those into scores. Heck, UCLA's only TD came off a fumble return for a TD. Meanwhile, the Wildcats got just enough offense to win. UofA QB Nick Foles did throw for three interceptions, yet his two TD passes and 247 yards in the air helped his squad avoid a very embarrassing loss.
3=O TDs = LOSS. The bRuins three QBs completed only 15 of 35 passes for 146 yards and zero TDs in this embarrassing loss.
Observations
...And then there were five. That's the number of winless teams left in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Rice and Miami of Ohio are 0-8, while Eastern Michigan, New Mexico, and Western Kentucky are all 0-7.
...I was eight years old and listening to the old Prudential Colllege Scoreboard (hosted by Dave Dyals) when Iowa State last went into Nebraska and got a win. That was 1977. The Cyclones forced eight Cornhusker turnovers in a 9-7 win last Saturday, in Lincoln. The Cyclones are now 5-3 on the season and one big win away from being bowl eligible.
...While everyone has been talking about undefeated Cincinnati as being the greatest thing since sliced bread in the Big East, the Pitt Panthers are quietly sitting at 7-1 after dismantling South Florida, 41-14. The Pitt-Cincinnati game on December 5th could be have bigtime BCS implications.
...Taylor Mays' game has deteriorated over the last few weeks. He has forsaken coverage and potential interceptions for a quest to make a "sportcenter hit." That's a bad thing for USC.
...Speaking of teams below the radar, the Arizona Wildcats are 5-2 with their only two losses coming on the blown call interception return at Washington and a 10 point loss at undefeated Iowa. However, the Wildcats still face the toughest part of the schedule with tough road games at Cal and USC and a home date with Oregon.
...It's funny how USC's penalty numbers returned to a more normal level when the director of Pac 10 officiating attended the game.
...Well, Idaho's great season took a big hit with their 70-45 loss to Nevada.
...They can now go bowling. Here's the list of bowl eligible schools by conference.
ACC: Georgia Tech
Big XII: Texas, Oklahoma State
Big East: Pitt, Cincinnati, West Virginia
Big Ten: Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State
SEC: Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, LSU
Pac 10: USC, Oregon
C-USA: Houston
MAC- Central Michigan
Mountain West: TCU, Utah, BYU
WAC: Boise State, Idaho
Sun Belt: NONE
...Notre Dame has more Pac 10 wins (1) than UCLA and Washignton State combined (0). This week the Whining Irish take on Wazzu at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, TX.
...Wow, I knew the bRuin faithful were not happy with Norm Chow, but when your own players start calling you names and talking bad about you to recruits, you're in trouble. I really don't think Norm stays in Westwood after this season. However, Randall Carroll has become a new great recruiting force for USC.
...Damian Williams' punt returns have been a great surprise for the Trojan faithful. After a rough start it seems, the Trojan special teams are getting better every week.
...After all the talk about how Miami was the best one-loss team in the nation, they now have two after losing 40-37 in OT to Clemson. I don't which was a bigger surprise, the fact that Miami lost or that Clemson actually won a game that mattered.
...It was great to see Alan Bradford have a breakout game. He's a tough, inside runner who gets better as the game goes on. Note to Jeremy Bates: Give Alan the ball at least 15 times a game.
...For those who love this stuff, it does look like the SEC and the Big XII protect their big teams, while the Pac 10 doesn't. Alabama and Florida are 7th and 9th in penalty yardage in the SEC. Texas is 7th in penalty yardage in the Big XII. Meanwhile, USC is 3rd in penalty yardage in the Pac 10.
...Gameday will be in Eugene this week for the USC-UO game. I guess this will make up for the Berkeley snub earlier this year.
...It's good to see TCU ahead of Boise State in the BCS standings. I think the Mountain West Conference deserves a BCS automatic berth. I also thing the Big East should have their berth taken away.
...I see Notre Dame has weakend their schedule even more for 2010 in the school's great quest to reach a BCS bowl with Mr. Schematic Advantage at the helm. The Whining Irish have added Western Michigan and Tulsa to next year's slate. Why don't they just schedule Occidental and Whittier and get it over with?
...I know the UCLA defense is less impressed with Norm Chow than Randall Carroll.
...It was great to see Stafon Johnson at the Coliseum last Satruday night. I just still wish he was in uniform. You are greatly missed, Stafon.
Until next week folks, when tackling remember to stick, stay, wrap, and grab.
-The Commissioner
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Week 7
Hey All,
After a great trip to South Bend that produced another great Trojan victory over Notre Dame and Charlie Weis' schematic advantage, it's time for the column you all love to read, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. We still miss you Alan Malamud.
Summaries
USC 34- Notre Dame 27: This roller coaster of a game had everything. A true freshman that threw for almost 400 yards. A tight end that had five catches for over 150 yards, a fake filed goal, numerous missed calls, bad calls, and replays. It also had sacks, big runs, big hits and late hits. It also had one big goal line stand by the Trojans. A stand in which USC had to win the game on the final play twice. After four hours, the Trojans walked away with their eighth straight win over the Fighting Irish. Once again Matt Barkley continued his incredible freshman year by throwing for 380 yards and 2 TDs. Meanwhile, the USC defense led it's young defensive line consistently put pressure on Irish QB Jimmy Clausen.
Telling Stat: Mr. Schematic advantage is now 0-5 Vs. USC.
Arizona 43- Stanford 38: In this shootout of a game, the Cardinal held a 38-29 lead at the end of third quarter and looked well on their way to a big Pac 10 win. Then the Wildcats stepped it up and dominated Stanford in the fourth quarter and got a win to keep pace with the top teams in the Pac 10. UofA's defense stopped Stanford twice on fourth down deep in their own territory to give their offense a chance. The Wildcat running game, which had been dormant for most of the game, then came alive. First it was TB Greg Nwoko with a 43-yard TD to put UofA within two points at 38-36. Then, with 2:57 to play, TB Nic Grigsby broke a 57-yard TD run to put the Wildcats up to stay at 43-38. There were big stats for the QBs in this one. Stanford's Andrew Luck threw for 423 yards and three TDs, while Wildcat QB Nick Foles threw forn 415 yards and three TDs of his own.
Telling Stat: They did it in two plays. The two long TD runs that won the game for UofA accounted for 110 of the Wildcats 138 total rushing yards in the game.
California 45- UCLA 26: The Golden Bears put up big numbers with some big plays to spank the bRuins at the Rose Bowl. Cal scored five first half TDs on the bRuins, but none was bigger than TB Jahvid Best's 93-yard TD run with 5:05 to go in the half. The funny thing is except for that run, UCLA held him check, as he finished with 102 yards on 18 carries for the day. On the offensive side of things for UCLA, they got a a decent effort out of TB Jonathan Franklin who ran for 101 yards on 11 carries and two TDs. bRuin QB Kevin Prince did manage to have a decent day as well throwing for 311 yard and a TD, but his interception that was turned in to CAL's last TD of the day was plain horrible. The win gave CAL HC Jeff Tedford his first win in the Los Angeles area. Until then he had gone 0-7 combined Vs. UCLA and USC at the Rose Bowl and Coliseum.
Telling Stat: Who needs to get into the red zone? CAL's five offensive TDs were on plays that covered 42, 43, 51, 93, and 24 yards.
Arizona State 24- Washington 17: Another week, another cardiac finish for the Huskies. After punting to ASU with 22 seconds left, it looked like the game was headed to overtime tied at 17 all. Then, embattled Sun Devil QB Danny Sullivan let one fly and amazed the crowd in Tempe. Sullivan stepped up in the pocket threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Chris McGaha with five seconds left to give the Sun Devils a 24-17 win. The Sun Devils had seen their 17-7 third quarter lead evaporate after a Chris Polk 23-yard TD run and a Erik Folk 29-yard field goal tied the game with 3:50 to play. Then came the bomb. The TD pass was McGaha's only reception of the game for the Sun Devils who remain a factor in the Pac 10 race with the win.
Telling Stat: All it takes is one. Until the TD pass, the Husky defense allowed only three points since the early in the second quarter.
Observations
...And then there were six. There are six winless teams left in the FBS. Rice, Miami (OH), Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Western Kentucky, and New Mexico are all still looking for that elusive first win.
...Just how bad can the officiating get in the Pac 10? The Pac 10 crew that worked the USC-Notre Dame game was just plain awful.
...Is it any surprise that according to Pollspeak.com, a website that tracks college football polling, Scott Wolfe of the Los Angeles Daily News is always rated as one of the worst voters in the AP Poll every week?
...With their 35-23 win over Hawaii last week, Idaho is bowl eligible for the first time this century. The Vandals are the only team with a wining record left on Boise State's schedule.
...I found out a rather disturbing fact from one of the officials from the USC-Notre Dame game last week. He told me that the replay booths in college football aren't equipped with HD setups. That means that all of us at home are looking at better views of the game than the replay officials. That's scary.
...I guess it's time for everybody to take notice of Arizona. The Wildcats are 4-2 with their only losses coming on the road to undefeated Iowa and on a bad call at Washington.
...Oh, by the way, the crew that blew the call that cost Arizona the game at Washington was the same lousy crew that worked the USC-Notre Dame game.
...Alabama looks like the most complete team in the nation right now.
...Outside of Idaho, the most surprising 6-1 team this year has to be Pittsburgh. However, big games against South Florida, Notre Dame, West Virginia, and Cincinnati still loom large on the Panthers' schedule.
...I think we can officially announce the end of Jimmy Clausen's 2009 Heisman Trophy hopes.
...Wouldn't it be neat if Tennesse beat Alabama this week?
Until next time folks, watch for fake field goals and the quarteback draw.
-The Commissioner
After a great trip to South Bend that produced another great Trojan victory over Notre Dame and Charlie Weis' schematic advantage, it's time for the column you all love to read, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. We still miss you Alan Malamud.
Summaries
USC 34- Notre Dame 27: This roller coaster of a game had everything. A true freshman that threw for almost 400 yards. A tight end that had five catches for over 150 yards, a fake filed goal, numerous missed calls, bad calls, and replays. It also had sacks, big runs, big hits and late hits. It also had one big goal line stand by the Trojans. A stand in which USC had to win the game on the final play twice. After four hours, the Trojans walked away with their eighth straight win over the Fighting Irish. Once again Matt Barkley continued his incredible freshman year by throwing for 380 yards and 2 TDs. Meanwhile, the USC defense led it's young defensive line consistently put pressure on Irish QB Jimmy Clausen.
Telling Stat: Mr. Schematic advantage is now 0-5 Vs. USC.
Arizona 43- Stanford 38: In this shootout of a game, the Cardinal held a 38-29 lead at the end of third quarter and looked well on their way to a big Pac 10 win. Then the Wildcats stepped it up and dominated Stanford in the fourth quarter and got a win to keep pace with the top teams in the Pac 10. UofA's defense stopped Stanford twice on fourth down deep in their own territory to give their offense a chance. The Wildcat running game, which had been dormant for most of the game, then came alive. First it was TB Greg Nwoko with a 43-yard TD to put UofA within two points at 38-36. Then, with 2:57 to play, TB Nic Grigsby broke a 57-yard TD run to put the Wildcats up to stay at 43-38. There were big stats for the QBs in this one. Stanford's Andrew Luck threw for 423 yards and three TDs, while Wildcat QB Nick Foles threw forn 415 yards and three TDs of his own.
Telling Stat: They did it in two plays. The two long TD runs that won the game for UofA accounted for 110 of the Wildcats 138 total rushing yards in the game.
California 45- UCLA 26: The Golden Bears put up big numbers with some big plays to spank the bRuins at the Rose Bowl. Cal scored five first half TDs on the bRuins, but none was bigger than TB Jahvid Best's 93-yard TD run with 5:05 to go in the half. The funny thing is except for that run, UCLA held him check, as he finished with 102 yards on 18 carries for the day. On the offensive side of things for UCLA, they got a a decent effort out of TB Jonathan Franklin who ran for 101 yards on 11 carries and two TDs. bRuin QB Kevin Prince did manage to have a decent day as well throwing for 311 yard and a TD, but his interception that was turned in to CAL's last TD of the day was plain horrible. The win gave CAL HC Jeff Tedford his first win in the Los Angeles area. Until then he had gone 0-7 combined Vs. UCLA and USC at the Rose Bowl and Coliseum.
Telling Stat: Who needs to get into the red zone? CAL's five offensive TDs were on plays that covered 42, 43, 51, 93, and 24 yards.
Arizona State 24- Washington 17: Another week, another cardiac finish for the Huskies. After punting to ASU with 22 seconds left, it looked like the game was headed to overtime tied at 17 all. Then, embattled Sun Devil QB Danny Sullivan let one fly and amazed the crowd in Tempe. Sullivan stepped up in the pocket threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Chris McGaha with five seconds left to give the Sun Devils a 24-17 win. The Sun Devils had seen their 17-7 third quarter lead evaporate after a Chris Polk 23-yard TD run and a Erik Folk 29-yard field goal tied the game with 3:50 to play. Then came the bomb. The TD pass was McGaha's only reception of the game for the Sun Devils who remain a factor in the Pac 10 race with the win.
Telling Stat: All it takes is one. Until the TD pass, the Husky defense allowed only three points since the early in the second quarter.
Observations
...And then there were six. There are six winless teams left in the FBS. Rice, Miami (OH), Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Western Kentucky, and New Mexico are all still looking for that elusive first win.
...Just how bad can the officiating get in the Pac 10? The Pac 10 crew that worked the USC-Notre Dame game was just plain awful.
...Is it any surprise that according to Pollspeak.com, a website that tracks college football polling, Scott Wolfe of the Los Angeles Daily News is always rated as one of the worst voters in the AP Poll every week?
...With their 35-23 win over Hawaii last week, Idaho is bowl eligible for the first time this century. The Vandals are the only team with a wining record left on Boise State's schedule.
...I found out a rather disturbing fact from one of the officials from the USC-Notre Dame game last week. He told me that the replay booths in college football aren't equipped with HD setups. That means that all of us at home are looking at better views of the game than the replay officials. That's scary.
...I guess it's time for everybody to take notice of Arizona. The Wildcats are 4-2 with their only losses coming on the road to undefeated Iowa and on a bad call at Washington.
...Oh, by the way, the crew that blew the call that cost Arizona the game at Washington was the same lousy crew that worked the USC-Notre Dame game.
...Alabama looks like the most complete team in the nation right now.
...Outside of Idaho, the most surprising 6-1 team this year has to be Pittsburgh. However, big games against South Florida, Notre Dame, West Virginia, and Cincinnati still loom large on the Panthers' schedule.
...I think we can officially announce the end of Jimmy Clausen's 2009 Heisman Trophy hopes.
...Wouldn't it be neat if Tennesse beat Alabama this week?
Until next time folks, watch for fake field goals and the quarteback draw.
-The Commissioner
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