CFB Weekend Preview: Conference Play
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by Suckatsports
College football weekend preview will run weekly, and will take a quick gander at some of the upcoming games. Quick breakdowns and predictions will be included, but don't quote it on SportsBook, they'll still take your money.
As much fun as really good non-conference match ups are (and there was a lack of them this year), the year really starts with the beginning of conference play. At the beginning of the year, the coaching staff has two goals for the year, and the first one is always winning the conference. In fact, when you win your own conference, no matter how crummy it is, things tend to fall into place. For all the misery that has been swirling around the Michigan program, they still have as good a chance as any team to win their own conference and prove all the critics wrong. Even with the beginning of the conference season, however, the games leave much to be desired. When there's a headliner like LSU-USC (not that USC), you know it's a down week. Hot week in the SEC. So, here we go.
If you could watch one game this weekend, I guess it would be LSU hosting South Carolina. This was never really a rivalry, and really probably still isn't, but with the way these two are playing might be some of the highest level in the SEC. Realistically we're still waiting for the Florida-LSU game. However, this weekend, is really a battle of defenses, and South Carolina has a pretty good athletic one. None of the national football prognosticators talked about the play makers Spurrier has on the defensive side of the ball, in fact, this team was largely forgotten in the "best conference in the country." But, Spurrier beat Georgia (in Sanford stadium no less) with exactly that - a suffocating, play making, athletic defense. It's such a change from the offensively furnished teams of the past (well, not at USC), that it's great to see a coach adapt a system to his players instead of the other way around. But, now let's turn our attention to what I see as the best team in the country: LSU. They're going to win this game, and they're going to win it going away because they're just that good. They're too talented on both sides of the ball, and when your second string quarterback can put up sick numbers like 300 yards in a game, you know something good is happening in Baton Rouge. There's no QB controversy in Death Valley, but Ryan Perriloux is the future down there. LSU 40, USC 10.
Other games that need your attention:
- Georgia at Alabama. Is this really a big game? I can't believe I'm writing this! All joking aside, when this game came on the schedule, it was Georgia that should have been 3-0 coming into an Alabama team that desperately needed a win. Not that things have changed much. I hear they're renaming the stadium to Saban Field if they win this game. In all seriousness, what to make of this Georgia team? They've finally broken out of an offensive slump, but it was against a lackluster opponent, and they looked absolutely sloppy against USC, and I don't know if that's because of USC or Georgia. I have a hard time admitting this, but Saban may have worked his magic too quickly, even with John Parker Wilson. Alabama wins in front of their home crowd, and Georgia takes another step back. Alabama 21, Georgia 20.
- Penn State at Michigan. Penn State hasn't beaten Michigan in The Big House since roughly '94, and they haven't beaten them at all since '96. Really, I'm too lazy to see if '96 was at Michigan, but that's neither here nor there. Besides having John Cooper's number, Carr has owned Paterno, and it's tough to say that anyone's owned Paterno after so many years. Either way, this year this is a measuring stick for both teams. Michigan found its team against a horrid Notre Dame team (more on them later), and they may be rolling down here if they can get up to a semi-respectable .500. On the other side, Penn State (and really, Big 10 as a whole) has looked wholly unimpressive against wholly unimpressive competition. Sure, they blew out a set of terrible foes, but we all know that this is the game they've been preparing for. Morelli needs to step up if this team is to compete for a Big 10 title, and even though this is merely the fourth game, it will make or break both seasons. Depending on which team decided to show up against Penn State, the PSU defense will either have a nightmare, or their best game ever. They gave up 24 points to Buffalo, so they could be exploited. On the other hand, the Michigan defense can really step up if Penn State decided to play Big 10 football. I think Morrelli and Penn State are frauds, and Paterno's woes continue. Michigan 21, Penn State 14.
- Michigan State at Notre Dame. For the second week in a row, two unranked teams make a list of games you should keep your eye on. And in that mess is Notre Dame (unranked, and winless) is leading the charge. For the first time in their history, they are a two-touchdown underdog at home to an unranked team. But don't be fooled by MSU's lack of number before their name, they've been somewhat impressive in their last 3 games, and have a 5 game winning streak in South Bend, it's like their second home. Under D'Antonio the Sparty front seven has gotten considerate action in the offensive backfield, coming up with a nation-leading 17 sacks in three games. Under Weis, the Domers front 5 have spent considerate action in the backfield leading the nation in sacks allowed. This is a bad combination for ND. MSU has the talent on offense to run up and down on that historically-horrible-under-Charlie-Weis defense, and have the athletes up front to once again cause misery for Golden Boy Jimmy Clausen. Good news looms, however, I'm feeling an offensive touchdown for ND this game. That won't help them, as MSU hands them their 4th loss of the season, and 5th straight (or is it 6th) overall. Michigan State 37, Notre Dame 16.
The rest of the games are pretty much garbage conference openers, but if you see the ESPN Bottomline, check out how good the OU defense is going to be against an explosive Tusla offense. Dan Shanoff picks Tulsa to win outright, I take them to get slaughtered, because OU is now my dark horse to make a run for the national championship. That is, now that Texas A&M, everyone else's dark horse was slaughtered by a mediocre (but fired up) Miami team. That was a bad loss.
Heisman Lookout. It's become increasingly difficult to pick new names every week, especially because it's a preconceived notion that Darren McFadden is going to win anyway - and he should. He has been nothing short of elective, but if he also played on defense, his team might have more wins. There's no reason not to have a fun race, however, so how about Sam Bradford (QB, OU) completing something like 70% of his passes for a ton of touchdowns? He's the new Colt McCoy! What's been with that guy anyways? He's stunk it up hardcore when he was supposed to be good. Either way, the quarterback is a 5 head monster this year, but the Heisman will, once again, go to a running back.
Notes. Some reports are, that Colt Brennan is injured, and thus his flawed assault on the NCAA record books will take a short detour. I don't buy it. No matter how injured he is, and I'm guessing it's something minor, he'll be out there chucking touchdowns against the powerful defense of Charleston Southern. We all know their knack for defense is highly renowned, in Hawaii too. This whole thing is a fraud, but the NFL Scouts keep saying that he's one of the best quarterbacks this season. I just have a hard time buying it, because Timmy Chang was equally impressive (holds the record) several years ago, and he couldn't cut it on an NFL practice squad.
Enjoy the weekend, and Go Bucks.
Friday 09/21 Morning Quickie [Dan Shanoff]
Photo: Orange and Blue Hue
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1. Michigan defense is horrible. Against the spread. However, no one in the Big Ten runs the spread really (yeah, NW and Purdue) so that may help. 2. I think PSU is overrated, and hasn't played anyone. They beat the same ND team mercilessly. 3. PSU hasn't beaten Michigan in like 10 years.
I hope I'm proved wrong. I hate Michigan, and would love for them to lose. I just have this bad feeling, however, that they'll win.