Nate Burns
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A Look Around The Country
Nate Burns via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Upset Saturday shakes up the Playoff Race
Welcome back to my weekly column, A Look Around the Country. I’ll be highlighting notable games from the week before, the week ahead and of course, the Heisman and Playoff race. Special features include an in-depth look at the Buckeyes and a Michigan update, mainly for folks to bask in their misfortunes. Feel free to comment with your opinions, I hope you enjoy!
Georgia, Ole Miss, UCLA, Notre Dame all went down on Upset Saturday but that does not mean they are out of the playoff picture completely. Alabama and Florida both looked great and so did Oklahoma. This race is far from over.
Notable Games Last Week
Oklahoma 44, West Virginia 24
The Sooners won big over West Virginia and have gotten themselves into the Big 12 race. I mentioned this last week, but everyone is paying attention to TCU and Baylor as playoff contenders. I am starting to think Big Game Bob has one more big season in him. OU takes on Texas this week in the Red River Rivalry. Hate to see it because I like the guy, but Charlie Strong may not have much time left in Austin.
Alabama 38, Georgia 10
Who said the Tide was dead? Ok, I did. Alabama silenced a lot of doubters by demolishing Georgia and putting themselves back atop the SEC. I still think the Tide drops 2 more games this season but if they were to win out, they’ll be back in the Playoff.
Ohio State 34, Indiana 27
So, that was closer than expected. The Buckeyes nearly derailed their perfect season in Bloomington of all places but were able to escape in the final minute. The offense has been average thus far but Zeke Elliott exploded and even came close to Eddie George’s single game rushing record (314 vs Illinois, 1995). Urban has said that he thinks the offense is close to something big, which is good to hear. I do think they will get their act together and we will all be able to look back on this with good humor. Be patient.
Florida 38, Ole Miss 10
Gator Chomp! Florida was able to handle the Rebels quite handedly and are now in the driver’s seat of the SEC East race. I am very surprised that they won especially in the way that they did it. Jim McElwain has done a great job in year one and will be a popular candidate for Coach of the Year. Ole Miss will need to go back to the drawing board.
Clemson 24, Notre Dame 22
Clemson was able to hold off a late surge by the Irish for a 2 point win in Death Valley. Despite the victory, I am not high on the Tigers and expect them to lose at least once. Notre Dame can win out and maybe make the playoff, but they would have to be very impressive the rest of the season. Clemson’s big game with Florida State still looms.
Big Games this Week
Maryland at Ohio State
So, that was closer than expected. The Buckeyes nearly derailed their perfect season in Bloomington of all places but were able to escape in the final minute. The offense has been average thus far but Zeke Elliott exploded and even came close to Eddie George’s single game rushing record (314 vs Illinois, 1995). Urban has said that he thinks the offense is close to something big, which is good to hear. I do think they will get their act together and we will all be able to look back on this with good humor. Be patient.
Saturday, October 10 at Noon on Big Ten Network
Northwestern at Michigan
I’ve never been more excited for a Northwestern-Michigan game in my entire life. Both teams are ranked so I would expect the Big House to be rocking for this one. If Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats are able to pull this one out (and I think they will) they could very well be a top 10 team and will be a frontrunner for the Big Ten Title Game. This will be their toughest game for the rest of the season so if they win, they could be a playoff favorite !?!?!?? headed into December. Unreal.
Saturday, October 10 at 3:30pm on Big Ten Network
California at Utah
College Gameday will be in Salt Lake City for a game that is usually watched by nobody, including the team’s fans. Utah is the favorite in the Pac 12 and I see them taking care of business quite easily against Cal. It’ll be played at 10pm eastern so if you stay up that late, enjoy yourself.
Saturday, October 10 at 10pm on ESPN
Michigan Update
Michigan shutout Maryland in impressive fashion and take on a ranked Northwestern team next. But it doesn’t get any easier as they play Michigan State next week in Ann Arbor. Spoiler Alert: Sparty is going down.
Heisman Watch
1. Leonard Fournette, LSU
2. Trevone Boykin, TCU
3. Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
4. Derrick Henry, Alabama
5. Seth Russell, Baylor
6. Nick Chubb, Georgia
My Playoff if the Season Ended Today
*Editor’s Note: This will be a volatile poll every week based on performance in the past week and resume to date, very similar to the Playoff Committee.
1. Ohio State (beat Indiana, plays Maryland)
2. Michigan State (beat Purdue, plays Rutgers)
3. Baylor (beat Texas Tech, plays Kansas)
4. LSU (beat Eastern Michigan, plays South Carolina)
Just Missed the Cut
5. TCU (beat Texas, plays Kansas State)
6. Utah (Bye week, plays Cal)
7. Clemson (beat Notre Dame, plays Georgia Tech)
8. Alabama (beat Georgia, plays Arkansas)
9. Florida State (beat Wake Forest, plays Miami)
10. Notre Dame (lost to Clemson, plays Navy)
Continue reading...
Nate Burns via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Upset Saturday shakes up the Playoff Race
Welcome back to my weekly column, A Look Around the Country. I’ll be highlighting notable games from the week before, the week ahead and of course, the Heisman and Playoff race. Special features include an in-depth look at the Buckeyes and a Michigan update, mainly for folks to bask in their misfortunes. Feel free to comment with your opinions, I hope you enjoy!
Georgia, Ole Miss, UCLA, Notre Dame all went down on Upset Saturday but that does not mean they are out of the playoff picture completely. Alabama and Florida both looked great and so did Oklahoma. This race is far from over.
Notable Games Last Week
Oklahoma 44, West Virginia 24
The Sooners won big over West Virginia and have gotten themselves into the Big 12 race. I mentioned this last week, but everyone is paying attention to TCU and Baylor as playoff contenders. I am starting to think Big Game Bob has one more big season in him. OU takes on Texas this week in the Red River Rivalry. Hate to see it because I like the guy, but Charlie Strong may not have much time left in Austin.
Alabama 38, Georgia 10
Who said the Tide was dead? Ok, I did. Alabama silenced a lot of doubters by demolishing Georgia and putting themselves back atop the SEC. I still think the Tide drops 2 more games this season but if they were to win out, they’ll be back in the Playoff.
Ohio State 34, Indiana 27
So, that was closer than expected. The Buckeyes nearly derailed their perfect season in Bloomington of all places but were able to escape in the final minute. The offense has been average thus far but Zeke Elliott exploded and even came close to Eddie George’s single game rushing record (314 vs Illinois, 1995). Urban has said that he thinks the offense is close to something big, which is good to hear. I do think they will get their act together and we will all be able to look back on this with good humor. Be patient.
Florida 38, Ole Miss 10
Gator Chomp! Florida was able to handle the Rebels quite handedly and are now in the driver’s seat of the SEC East race. I am very surprised that they won especially in the way that they did it. Jim McElwain has done a great job in year one and will be a popular candidate for Coach of the Year. Ole Miss will need to go back to the drawing board.
Clemson 24, Notre Dame 22
Clemson was able to hold off a late surge by the Irish for a 2 point win in Death Valley. Despite the victory, I am not high on the Tigers and expect them to lose at least once. Notre Dame can win out and maybe make the playoff, but they would have to be very impressive the rest of the season. Clemson’s big game with Florida State still looms.
Big Games this Week
Maryland at Ohio State
So, that was closer than expected. The Buckeyes nearly derailed their perfect season in Bloomington of all places but were able to escape in the final minute. The offense has been average thus far but Zeke Elliott exploded and even came close to Eddie George’s single game rushing record (314 vs Illinois, 1995). Urban has said that he thinks the offense is close to something big, which is good to hear. I do think they will get their act together and we will all be able to look back on this with good humor. Be patient.
Saturday, October 10 at Noon on Big Ten Network
Northwestern at Michigan
I’ve never been more excited for a Northwestern-Michigan game in my entire life. Both teams are ranked so I would expect the Big House to be rocking for this one. If Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats are able to pull this one out (and I think they will) they could very well be a top 10 team and will be a frontrunner for the Big Ten Title Game. This will be their toughest game for the rest of the season so if they win, they could be a playoff favorite !?!?!?? headed into December. Unreal.
Saturday, October 10 at 3:30pm on Big Ten Network
California at Utah
College Gameday will be in Salt Lake City for a game that is usually watched by nobody, including the team’s fans. Utah is the favorite in the Pac 12 and I see them taking care of business quite easily against Cal. It’ll be played at 10pm eastern so if you stay up that late, enjoy yourself.
Saturday, October 10 at 10pm on ESPN
Michigan Update
Michigan shutout Maryland in impressive fashion and take on a ranked Northwestern team next. But it doesn’t get any easier as they play Michigan State next week in Ann Arbor. Spoiler Alert: Sparty is going down.
Heisman Watch
1. Leonard Fournette, LSU
2. Trevone Boykin, TCU
3. Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
4. Derrick Henry, Alabama
5. Seth Russell, Baylor
6. Nick Chubb, Georgia
My Playoff if the Season Ended Today
*Editor’s Note: This will be a volatile poll every week based on performance in the past week and resume to date, very similar to the Playoff Committee.
1. Ohio State (beat Indiana, plays Maryland)
2. Michigan State (beat Purdue, plays Rutgers)
3. Baylor (beat Texas Tech, plays Kansas)
4. LSU (beat Eastern Michigan, plays South Carolina)
Just Missed the Cut
5. TCU (beat Texas, plays Kansas State)
6. Utah (Bye week, plays Cal)
7. Clemson (beat Notre Dame, plays Georgia Tech)
8. Alabama (beat Georgia, plays Arkansas)
9. Florida State (beat Wake Forest, plays Miami)
10. Notre Dame (lost to Clemson, plays Navy)
Continue reading...