By Wally
Nothing like a Friday to pause and take a look at the possibilities for the weekend. Similarly, Chief Osceola is feelin’ frisky today and lookin’ to hunt down some Sooners this weekend by warming up with the ol’ spear toss. Meanwhile, the residents of NDNation are afraid to look at what awaits them. So, without further adieu, here’s a look at some of Saturday’s key college football games.
#4 Boise State at Toledo (Fri): BSU was off last week so might be a bit rusty. Toledo was thisclose to pulling one out vs Ohio State. This one might be close for a quarter and a half, but the Broncos flex their muscles and pull away for the win … 31-17.
Penn State at Temple: This is gonna be a good game, especially since it’s at Temple. PSU’s QB uncertainty and general lack of production from that position could cost them the game here. If Temple can remain stout vs the run, this will go down to the wire. Sure, let’s call for the upset … Owls win 20-17. Whadya say, Ray??
#18 West Virginia at Maryland: There’s certainly a prevalent theme this week with many of the favorites being tested on the road against decent teams. This is no exception. The Terps have had two weeks to prepare for this one after getting by Miami in their opener. Feel good guy, Randy Edsall, has his new team fired up … and their ugly new uniforms have their own special shock value. Take the Terps in another upset … 24-21.
#21 Auburn at Clemson: The Tigers will win, no doubt about it! Okay, I know, which Tigers??? Auburn has been quite lucky to be 2-0 going into this one and now they’re facing their first road test. I just don’t think Clemson has the horses, as much as I’d like to see them end Auburn’s 17 game winning streak. Auburn’s Tigers win by 3.
#23 Texas at UCLA: Another tightly matched game with the favorite on the road. Texas has struggled mightily to it’s 2-0 record while searching for decent play at the QB position. Seems Mack Brown has decided to platoon two youngsters at the position and has benched the incumbent. UCLA lost to Houston on the road two weeks ago. Except at QB, the Longhorns are much more talented than the Cougars … and they’re better coached than the Bruins, since the enigmatic Rick Neuheisal mans the sideline in Westwood. Texas doesn’t need great QB play to win this game … they just need to play physical … run the ball and stop the run. Let’s go with a Texas win … 24-17.
Tennessee at #16 Florida: This is a tough one, but I’m going with the home favorite. Not sure either of these rebuilding teams could rise to Top 10 status in their wildest dreams this season, but I have more confidence in the Gators. They have more talent, they’re at home, and employ a coaching staff with higher pedigree. Florida wins by 10.
#15 Michigan State at Notre Dame: Why is Mark Dantoni smiling? That’s cuz he’s coming into Rockne’s House and he knows ALL the pressure is on the Irish. And he also knows he can outsmart Brian Smelly … which he did, of course, last year in stunning game-ending fashion. Here’s the confounding thing about the Irish … they are favored to win this game as they have been favored to win their first two games … and we know how that turned out. But can you believe the “not even getting any votes” 0-2 Irish are actually 5 point favorites over the #15 Spartans??? I say take the points and run … the Spartans may win this game outright. In fact, I’m picking ND to lose until they can demonstrate some level of competence in playing a full game and playing smart. They need to start playing up to their talent level, and they MUST do it this Saturday. But until I actually see it on the field, I’m going with the opponent … except maybe Purdue next week. Spartans win another heartbreaker against the Irish … 30-28.
Syracuse at USC: The Orange doesn’t have much of a running game and that will play right into USuC’s hands. Trojans win by 17. When are they gonna play someone good??
#1 Oklahoma at #5 Florida State: This is the Game of the Day. And now that Bobby Bumfuzzled Bowden is retired, I can now more easily root for the Seminoles, not that it’s easy. But when it comes to beating Boob Stoops, I can root for almost anyone … ‘cept for Meeeeeeeshigan. The ‘Noles were manhandled last year by the Sooners. I think the X factor in this game is Oklahoma’s D vs FSU’s Offense. Will FSU be able to score enough to pull off the upset? They’ll need to score more than 30. I say no … not this year. Sooners take it 31-27.
#17 Ohio State at Miami: Nothing like a nice tilt between two “rogue programs”. We might see a couple hundred probation officers in the stands for this one. This is like a game between two prisons. I heard that recently fired OSU coach Jim Tressel has been asked to do the honorary coin flip but couldn’t because he’s not allowed within 200 yards of college players. Everyone’s on probation!!! Fans attending this game will get free tatoos and free admission to one of the various strip clubs in South Beach … courtesy of Miami booster and convicted felon Nevin Shapiro. Both teams’ alums must be sooooo proud!!! Whadya root for in this one??? It’s obvious … a 0-0 tie!!! Okay … seriously … I’ll go with the Buckeyes to win 21-14.
Anyone see LSU’s manhandling of Miss State last night? Pretty impressive showing by the Tigers in a hostile environment … no need for luck, that’s for sure. Their toughness, strength and speed all over the field … all positions … is gonna make them VERY tough to beat this year. I’ll be kinda surprised if they’re not undefeated come December.
Feel free to chime in with your predictions! Hope everyone has a great weekend!
TEMPLE OVER PSU? Fight, fight, fight for the Cherry and the White! WOW!
Don’t be surprised when SU hangs close with USC.
Any word on which uniforms Maryland will wear?
Casey … I think Maryland is gonna break out the turtle shell helmets for this one. Should be interesting.
Joe Paterno is 27-0 in his career vs. Temple. People are saying this could be the year the Owls (what an intimidating name, huh?) beat Penn State for the first time since 1941.
Ain’t gonna happen.
Paterno isn’t “coaching” PSU anymore … he’s just up there sittin’ in the booth … not really sure what he’s doing. Not sure if he’s alive actually. OK … that was mean … sorry. 😉
Doesn’t really have much to do with Paterno anyway. The point was how long it’s been since Temple has beaten Penn State.
I’m here to warn ya, Chas (someone’s got to benefit from my “experience” with extreme disappointment when it comes to college football) …. Notre Dame has played Navy every year since there were battleships … Until 2008 or so, ND had won every game since Roger Staubach won the Heisman for Navy back in the ’60s. The lesson: winning streaks will end … and it will be painful.
Yeah, I know Wally. I’m a Yankees fan. I know about winning streaks coming to an end.
I think that last sentence could qualify as a humble brag. 🙂
Wally,Crossword Pete, Boog, Granny Goose er Lou Holtz, Rudy, Quasimoto and Leprechaun (I think he’s a little light in the loafers)
Tomorrow Notre Lame goes to 0-3 and USuC to 3-0…I’m jus’ sayin’ !
😉
C’mon, Crash. USuC has played an AWFULLY WEAK schedule thus far. They barely beat Minnesota, probably the worst team in the Big 10, maybe in the country, and they followed it up with another struggle vs a weak Utah squad … all at home. Now they invite Syracuse in … a bottom half Big Least team. My high school team would be 3-0 after those three games … with a much bigger margin of victory.
But the best thing is this …. USuC could go 12-0 …. AND IT WOULDN ‘T MATTER … cuz they’re on PROBATION! Enjoy your bowl game. Oh, that’s right, there won’t be one. Doh!
Tee hee 🙂 🙂 🙂
Wally,
0-3…3-0…I prefer 3-0 but that’s just me…
“Cheer cheer for ole’ 0 and 3″…Sing it with me Gomers !
Rename the mosaic Another Touchdown ? Jesus !
T for Temple U
Un-i-ver-sity!
Fight! Fight! Fight! For the cherry and the white;
For the cherry and the white we’ll fight, fight, fight!
I love it, Wally. Owls by a FG. They will need to score on special teams to win this game, though. “The Linc” will be packed out, which in the past was an anomaly on Saturdays.
I also think someone will now read this post in the near future who works for UnderArmor and think the turtle shell on the helmet is a good idea and sell it to Maryland. Better patent that idea now! Heck – they may come out one game dressed as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Maryland colors!
Hahaha – stop it! Two helmet stickers in the matter of minutes.
Rey … the already did! You WILL SEE turtle shell helmets sometime this season donned by Maryland … maybe today.
I honestly thought you were kidding. Doesn’t surprise me though. They should look ridiculous.
Syracuse not in the Big East? Not playing in Madison Square Garden for the conference tourney? Not silencing a raucus Georgetown crowd? What in the world…
Yes Wally Minnesota has the same record as ND…0-2 at least Utah has won a game unlike Notre Lame 0-2 soon to be 0-3 today thanks to Sparty…Hey the SFU/Notre Lame game is on Versus at 1PM EST in case you missed it 2 weeks ago…followed by the UM/Notre Lame game last week…That was a good one too…It’s ridiculous enough to have Notre Lame on TV every week but is it necessary to replay these games 3-4 times during the week after they gag ? Seriously ? It must be brutal Gomers flipping through the channels and seeing these replays…Don’t they learned anything from these game films ? Apparently not…Well enjoy todays game on NBC (Nothin’ But Crap) In case you choose not to watch and who’d blame you, don’t fret, it will be on again 4 times next week with the same result…0-3…Enjoy and always remember,
BEATND
🙂
Temple up 7-0. Come on lightning! Temple is 15-0 when Bernard Pierce carries the football 15+ times a game. 4-8 when he doesn’t. Keep feeding him Addazzio!
Their nickname is the Owls and their fight song refers to them as the cherry and white. Ugh… It’s no wonder they’ve only had success in basketball.
Chas – We alumni of Pennsylvania’s greatest institution of higher education respect Penn State’s continuous case study of social gerontology.
…And we have one heck of a crew team and men’s gymnastics team at Temple.
Of course, we both know Rey that the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon are the state’s greatest institutions of higher learning. Our alma maters are a level below.
Did I see that flash across the TV correctly? Syracuse and Pitt have applied for admission to the ACC ??
The Temple-Penn State game was horrible. Turnovers that led to nothing, except more turnover. Punts galore. Missed FGs. 3 yards and a cloud of field turf gunk. And the Nittany Lions pull it out 14-10. Maybe next year…
I told you so.
“I told you so” is almost as lame as someone complaining about NOT getting an assist on the Who am I?
Yea Wally, they have applied for to join the ACC. Which would make the ACC a power conference, because it is to expensive for a program to leave. Guess we just gotta wait and see for this one
I jokingly said Temple had no chance of beating Penn State, then dryly pointed out I was right, and that’s lame Casey? Your standards are a little out of whack.
Helmet sticker Chas !
If FSU’s offense was a little better last night – they would have beaten the Sooners last night. The big stage looks too big for Emanuel though. But that Seminoles defense was flying around last night and was handling a pretty good Sooner offense.
Texas looked that yesterday? Or is UCLA that bad?
I meant Texas looked that good.
Smitty —
I’m not terribly sold on either team … Oklahoma or FSU …. as being Top 5 at the moment. I’m not yet a believer that either team plays “great” defense. Kudos to OU for winning in a tough venue though.
Texas is not as good as they looked vs UCLA … cuz UCLA isn’t very good.