Its Bowl Season!

Now that Christmas has come and gone and New Years Eve just days away it can only mean one thing...time to get those new years resolutions written down and, more importantly, we are now in the midst of nearly two straight weeks of college football action. I have yet to actually watch much of the games to this point but that will soon change especially when I head to Atlanta to see Clemson take on LSU New Years Eve. I had planned on not going and saving the little money I have left after Christmas shopping and stay at home, but Coca-Cola/Coke Zero gave me the hook-up with four free tickets so clearly I'm now going and pretty excited about seeing this BCS caliber match-up live. In my final post of 2012, I'm gonna take a brief look at the battle of Tigers and  the REAL Death Valley as well as pick winners for South Carolina's showdown in Tampa, a few other games of interest and all the BCS Bowls. Here we go!

Prediction Time: 

Clemson vs LSU: Chick-Fil-A Bowl

December 31, 2012

If you ask anyone, they'll tell you Clemson doesn't stand a chance in the Georgia Dome on New Years Eve. I mean, seriously, they are playing a team from the SEC...and Clemson didn't even win a horrible ACC conference. There is just no chance in the world Clemson can match LSU's talent and skill and are destined to endure another embarrassing blowout in a bowl game for the second straight year. (Yeah that sounds kinda  ridiculous doesn't it?) Any team can lose on any given day, THAT IS WHY WE PLAY THIS GAME IN THE FIRST PLACE! Who had Notre Dame running the table this summer? Who thought Texas A&M would give Alabama the business and stand tall in its first season in the SEC, and by a show of hands, who thought Urban Meyer would bring a 12-0 record this season to Columbus? I'm willing to guess not many people honestly saw any of those scenarios happening. But they did. And Clemson has a grand opportunity to turn some heads as well. LSU is far from "unbeatable". Sure they loss to Alabama by only four points but they also barely escaped Auburn on the road by two points...yes the same Auburn that went 3-9 this year and showed head coach Gene Chizik the door. Clemson has losses to two overall respectable teams in Florida State and South Carolina. However, both of those were the Tigers biggest games and they failed to get the job done when the pressure was on. Easier said than done, here are my four keys to a Clemson victory against LSU: 

1. Get Physical. Win the battle in the trenches and keep Montgomery off of Boyds back. Clemson did not contain South Carolina's Clowney and he made them pay for it. Same deal applies here. 

2. Make 3rd Downs Manageable- LSU has a great defense, and Clemson will have to put themselves into manageable situations on 3rd down. 3rd and 8, 9 10, etc spells trouble for Clemson and will allow LSU to bring more pressure and force Boyd into hurried throws and mistakes. 

3. Time of Possession- Against SC, the Tigers only had the ball for a near 8 minutes in the second half. They will have to avoid constant three and outs when on offense and get their defense off the field as soon as possible. Les Miles isn't afraid to go for it on 4th down and will likely test the heart of this defense a time or two on fourth down. It'll be up to them to respond. 

4. Execute- This one is obvious but I'm serious. Everyone has to do their part and execute. Play until you hear the whistle. Clemson has all the talent in the world on offense and has to make use of it if they want to win. Get Watkins some touches early (beyond the line of scrimmage for heavens sake!!!), make the running game a priority and take notes from SC and get your Tight End involved in the offense. Big Ford Diesel...that means you, brother! 

Bottom Line: It isn't often that I come into a game honestly worried but LSU scares me.... a lot. They are a great team with a even better coaching. I know we can win this game, but I don't know if we will actually play like it and get the job done. Clemson rose to he occasion against Auburn to kick off the season on this very field but overall, the Tigers have not played well in Atlanta as of late. Will the demons of this city make their return or will Dabo and company shock the world? We shall see, but as for me....I have to go with my gut. 

The Pick: LSU 34 Clemson 20

Other Games of Interest: 

South Carolina vs Michigan: Outback Bowl

Janurary 1, 2013 1pm

Pick: South Carolina 

Georgia vs Nebraska: Captial One Bowl

January 1, 2013 1pm

Pick: Georgia 

Wisconsin vs Stanford: Rose Bowl

Januray 1, 2013 5pm

Pick: Standford

Northern Illinois vs Florida State: Orange Bowl

January 1, 2012 8:30pm

Pick: Florida State

Florida vs Louisville: Sugar Bowl

January, 2 8:30pm

Pick: Florida

Oregon vs Kansas State: Fiesta Bowl

January 3, 8:30pm

Pick: Oregon

Texas A&M vs Oklahoma: Cotton Bowl

January 4 8pm 

Pick: Texas A&M 

Notre Dame vs Alabama: BCS National Title Game

January 7 8:30pm 

Pick: Alabama 

Big Opportunity for Clemson

It goes without saying that Clemson would love to erase the horrific memories of last season's bowl performance...or lack thereof against WVU last year and salvage, to a degree, this season with a win over LSU in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl on New Years Eve. The Tigers made most of their ACC competition look like high school squads but couldn't get the job done with they needed it most against Florida State and arch rival South Carolina. Both the Noles and Gamecocks had a stellar defense especially up front and dominated in the trenches to take control in both of those Tiger losses. As I mentioned in my last post, for Clemson to take the next step, we have to get more physical up front and play tougher. Get a swagger to us and play with heart. Once we start getting tougher up front and causing pressure, it will only help us in the secondary. The less time our defensive backs have to worry about a player breaking loose, the better. If we can't disrupt plays up front from the start, we put ourselves in better position to stop giving up the huge chunks of yards and plays we did all season long. Furthermore, we aren't going to get better until we play better teams. To be the best you have to beat the best, and to beat the best you have to start by playing the best. With South Carolina on the rise, LSU looming on New Years Eve and a showdown with UGA to open the 2013 season, the Tigers have a prime opportunity to gain some respect and make that next step towards being an elite college football team. I think its fair to say that the next two games for Clemson are the biggest in my lifetime when it comes to the big picture. A loss in both of those games will have Tiger fans getting very uneasy but two wins might would send Clemson nation into a frenzy.




A win on New Years eve along with keeping the likes of Hopkins and Boyd would have Clemson ranked in the top 15 heading into next season and a win at home against a talented UGA team would get the fans in orange buzzing and hungry for a run at the BCS title. There would be some well deserved respect earned for Clemson and it would also give the Tigers their first bowl win since 2009 in the Music City Bowl. However, a loss to LSU and UGA would mean three straight defeats to SEC competition and even more so than  now, fans would really begin to question coach Swinney  and his performance in big time games.  To be honest, I really think he has to find a way to go 2-1 against LSU and then UGA/SC next year to avoid catching some major heat from fans and administration, which will be no easy feat. And if the Tigers don't win the ACC next year either, Dabo will find himself on the hot seat. Bottom line. As I've said before, you have to beat South Carolina and Dabo is staring a 5th straight loss in the eyes when the Tigers head to Columbia next November. Running through the ACC is great but it isn't preparing us well for the better teams we line up against and we are exposed in all the key positions. LSU is similar to South Carolina. They might not have the most exciting offense in the country, but their defense backs them up and doesn't give up many points. Clemson has a great opportunity on its hands and I think they can truly benefit from looking back at the SC game film and seeing what went wrong and what went right. Learn from that game. I'm no football genius but you simply can't allow the other team to have the ball for over 20 minutes of the second half. That is unacceptable. Clemson will also have to find a way to keep a talented DE off of Boyds back. Greenwood, SC native Sam Montgomery is another monster player and they will have to keep him out of the backfield....something they couldn't do when they lined up against Clowney. The Tigers will definitely be hungry for a win as seniors Andre Ellington, Dalton Freeman, Spencer Benton, Johnathan Meeks, Jonathan Willard, and Malliciah Goodman will all be playing their last game in a Tiger uniform and want to go out on a positive note and set the tone for what will be a HUGE off-season. Clemson has had a record breaking season but with no ACC title and a fourth straight loss to Carolina, this game simply put is a must win if the Tigers want something to show for this 2012 campaign.

Bad News for Gamecock Fans

Is Marcus Lattimore's career as a Gamecock over?

Junior Running Back to forgo senior season, declare for 2013 NFL Draft 

Rumors broke early Monday morning that South Carolina Running Back Marcus Lattimore had made the decision to declare for the NFL draft, thus ending his career at the University of South Carolina. Ending a career in which just three years time, and truthfully only two full seasons combined due to injuries, that has turned him into not only a legend in South Carolina Gamecock history, but college football as a whole. Many people had Lattimore listed as a strong candidate for the Heisman heading into this season, but after suffering another devastating season-ending leg injury on October 27th against Tennessee, Lattimore was forced to watch the second half of the season from the sidelines for the second year in a row. Marcus had already overcome the odds and returned this year stronger and better than ever rushing for 662 yards and 11 touchdowns. It appeared he hadn't missed a beat and had made a full and complete recovery. However, a gruesome, gut-wrenching injury against the Vols left some, myself included, wondering if #21 would ever take the field again...whether it be for South Carolina or in the NFL. Hands down the worst injury I have ever seen. It left Williams-Brice Stadium nearly silent for over 10 minutes that dreadful afternoon in October.

So far, Lattimore is on schedule with his rehab and isn't using crutches. However, after suffering two injuries capable of ending his career two years in a row, it was time for Marcus to sit down and think over his next move. He promised Gamecock fans that they had not seen the last of him. I think he will be back too, but according to sources close to the situation, the next time we see Lattimore he'll be sporting a new jersey and possibly a new number as well. If the rumors are true, Marcus will leave South Carolina a year early as the all-time leading TD King in Columbia and will finish with 2,766 yards and 38 touchdowns overall. (Makes you wonder just how much he could have done had he stayed healthy all three years!) After his injury against Tennessee, Lattimore received an outpouring of support from athletes and coaches all over the nation including RGII, 2012 Heisman winner, Johnny Manziel, and NBA star Lebron James, all of which reached out to Marcus via twitter following his injury. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley even dubbed October 29th, 2012, also Marcus' 21st birthday, statewide "Marcus Lattimore Day" and a Student Government organized pep rally was held in his honor on campus.At the rally, teammates, head coach Steve Spurrier and AD Ray Tanner all addressed the crowd and honored Lattimore.


 As a Clemson fan, I must say there hasn't been another Gamecock player in my lifetime I've had more respect for. Such a good guy with a hard work ethic and a love for football. He gave his all to this University and program and earned the respect of fans and players across the nation. I'll be the first to say once he is ready to take the field again, I'll be one of his biggest supporters at the next level. He is a class-act guy and I wish him nothing but the best and a healthy career from here on out. If and when he makes his second big return to football, he will join the the ranks of Willis McGahee, Frank Gore, and Eddie George; all of whom overcame major leg/knee injuries to play again. Like these guys, Lattimore will have to not only have to work hard to make his return, but prove to owners and coaches that he is fully recovered and worth the risk with his past history of injuries. #21 no doubt has NFL talent and ability but it will be interesting to see who is willing to invest in him and how early he will go in the draft. Lattimore has the toughness and skill you can't coach. No other player in the country has his combination of size and ability to get the tough "between-the-tackles" yards as well as be able to explode through holes and accelerate and make cuts and moves like Marcus. His big size and speed make him a nightmare to bring down and 9 times out of 10, he's gonna get a yard or two more after in the initial contact. That ability and talent play in his favor big time as he prepares to embark on his journey to the NFL. Best of Luck, #21!

A Coach on the Rise: Clemson Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris

Is Chad Morris ready to build his own team? 

I have to admit, before we hired Chad Morris following the 2010 season, I had never heard of him. He had a respectable resume that included 16 years of high school experience and a one year gig at Tulsa in which we turned their offense into a high scoring machine. However, I was skeptical of what he could do to Clemson and didn't think it was a good hire for us. But Morris shut me up pretty quickly. In just two years, Chad Morris has turned Clemson into one of the most dangerous offenses in the country. Of course, it helps when you have guys like Tajh Boyd, Deandre Hopkins, Andre Ellington and Sammy Watkins to work with. Morris runs a high paced offense. quick tempo offense and keeps that wears down defenses. With his direction, Clemson was able to shatter the record books all season long and averaged over 40 points per game in 2012. The Tigers scored at will for much of the season, and made it look easy. The scary part of it all is that Chad Morris still isn't satisfied and according to him, he still hasn't "fully" installed his offense. I can only imagine what the Tigers will look like next season if Boyd, Hopkins etc stay for their senior year. With the offensive line nearly returning all its main players, Clemson has a chance to be THE best offense in the nation and have the numbers to back it up. Chad Morris is not your typical Offensive Coordinator. He coaches from the sidelines instead of the press box and has no problem grabbing his players aside after a mistake and getting them straight. He stays hydrated with Red Bull and he's puts his all into every game. He is already well respected around the country and his name continues to pop up as the off season approaches and head coaching positions need to be filled.



With all the firings that have taken place over the past month, many have thrown Chad Morris' name into the hat as a candidate. (Most notably, North Carolina State and Auburn) Though I'm not surprised, I have a few good reasons as to why I feel he is staying put in Tigertown for at least another two or three seasons. I'll start with the arguably the biggest one. CASH MONEY. Clemson upped Morris' contract last season to a 6 year deal worth about 1.3 million per year making him the second highest paid assistant coach in the nation. Many teams will have to dig really deep into their wallets to afford Morris right now and many of them simply can't afford his services right now. Next, Chad Morris already made the statement that he wanted to stay here a few years and not keep his family from moving to place to place. He loves Clemson and is committed. And to be frank, why would you leave Clemson with all the weapons he has in his arsenal right now? He has picture perfect situation with players that know and fit his system...why would you walk away when there is still so much to be accomplished? I just don't see it happening. Not right now. What many people don't realize and why Chad Morris' name wasn't very common in college football or this region before 2010...he was a high school coach. As a high school head coach in Texas (pictured above), he was 169-36, winning 80% of his games and three state titles including a back-to-back reign. This year makes his second season at Clemson. Before that, he spent one year at Tulsa turning them from a 5-7 season in 2009  to 10-3 in 2010, and before that....he coached high school football for 16 years. Now to be fair, he was very successful at the Head Coach level in high school in Texas but we all know its a big step from high school to college. Its a different ball game for coaches just like it is for players. He has proven he can coach at the college level from the assistant/coordinator level, but not sure he is quite ready to take on the head job and I'll tell you why.



Though Chad Morris passes the eye test and definitely will make a great Head Coach in the future, I don't think he's ready yet. He is a great coach with a great system and work ethic but don't forget..just four years ago he was roaming the halls of a high school making sure his players weren't doing the hankie-pankie with girls under the stairwells. I'm not just saying he isn't ready because I want him to stay at Clemson, I'd say the same if he was a candidate for the head coach job at Clemson right now. He still has some growing and learning to do before I think he'd be ready to build an entire staff and team by himself. Further proof that he isn't ready comes when you look at the South Carolina game the past two years. When he lined up against a top of the line defense, we folded like a raggedy lawn chair on the beach. He was consistent against inferior ACC opponents but being able to step up and punch tougher, more physical defenses in the mouth, similar to how they did in the first half against South Carolina, needs to happen more often. He will have another chance when the Tigers take on LSU December 31st in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. It will be very interesting to see how the offense fairs against LSU then next season in the opener against UGA which is shaping up to be one of the biggest season openers in Clemson history.

Chad Morris has interviewed for North Carolina State and Auburn coaching jobs but I don't see him leaving for either of those schools. And if I had to bet, I believe Auburn will stay in house and hire Gus Malzhan. They can hardly afford to pay a big name to come in and coach right now which just about automatically knocks out Morris out of the picture. Don't see him taking a huge pay cut right now to head to Auburn. Rumors are flying that Oklahoma State's Gundy might leave for Arkansas and that Morris would be of interest in Cowboy country. Though I anticipate that job offer would be more appealing, again, he has too much on the table at Clemson from weapons to money and facilities to walk away at this moment.One day, but not today, he will leave Clemson and become a stellar head coach on the college level. However, I don't see that happening at least until the end of the 2014 season. So relax, Tiger nation. Our red bull chuggin', gum chewin', genius offensive coordinator isn't going anywhere. Not yet. And to be brutally honest, if Dabo doesn't get a win over South Carolina or bring in another ACC Championship or two in the next 2-3 years and Morris is still around, he might find himself at the top of the list to replace Swinney. I've said it before and I"ll say it again, you usually don't stay at Clemson long if you keep losing to that team down south. But for now, I don't anticipate seeing Morris or Swinney leaving before the end of the 2014. I'll even take it one step further. I think there is a significantly better chance that Tommy Bowden is a head coach next season before Chad Morris is. As Roy Philpott would say, Bring On The Hate!!

Playing Catch Up

With classes coming to an this past week and finals starting up in a few days, I've been pretty busy which is why I'm just now getting around to last week's and yesterday's games. A lot has happened since I last checked in with you guys so lets take a look back at rivalry week, Championship weekend, Clemson's trip down to Columbia to battle the Gamecocks on the hardwood, and finally, a brief outlook at what's in store for college football fans this bowl season. Shall we? 

It was a huge opportunity for the ACC to make a statement in rivalry week with Georgia Tech facing Georgia, Florida State hosting Florida and Clemson welcoming rival South Carolina under the lights in Death Valley. Everyone knows the SEC is the superior conference, there is no arguing that, but it was a great opportunity for the ACC to get a big win or two over SEC competition. However, it was not meant to be. Florida State couldn't get it done against Florida and fell to the Gators, 37-26. Georgia Tech, winner of the coastal division, got rocked by Georgia 42-10 and Clemson could not get its defense off the field in the 2nd half and lost its fourth straight to Steve Spurrier and South Carolina, 27-17. 




Clemson stared off the game pretty well and actually led the Gamecocks at halftime but the offense stalled and the defense could not get off the field in the second half allowing South Carolina to hold the ball for over 20 minutes in the final 30 minutes of play. The Tigers did not contain Clowney and left him  with one-on-one chances that led to 4.5 sacks, they were on the negative side of the turnover margin (2-1) and simply could not get off the field on defense and move the football in the second half. It was a disappointing blow to end the regular season and a missed opportunity with both Conner Shaw and Marcus Lattimore sidelined with injuries. This makes four in a row for the Gamecocks and honestly, the way Clemson played, we didn't deserve to win last weekend. Once again though we were exposed. We MUST get more physical up front and get back to fundamentals. Our defense needs to get more physical and get a swagger to them. Learn the fundamentals and execute...its beyond me why our DB's get beat so often mainly because they simply don't turn around and LOOK for the football. There is no reason why we should have given up some of the Touchdown plays we have this season. That has to change. And you know what else has to change? Coaching. I love Dabo and think he has us POINTED in the right direction but are we moving? We get exposed in big games cause tougher, more physical teams straight up our-man us. That has to change if we want to take the next step. We overcame the "pulling a Clemson" this year but only because our offense scored nearly 40 points every time they stepped on the field. Also, Dabo has got to find a way to beat South Carolina. This is now four in a row and unless you count his interim win in 2008, he hasn't won a game against South Carolina since becoming Head Coach. Usually when that happens, you don't stay in Clemson long. He has done great things, ( Two division titles, 1 co-division title and 1 ACC Championship) but he needs to get a bowl win to end this season on a high note and get the Gamecocks next November or he might see fans posting "For Sale" signs in his yard this time next year. The ACC is weak and winning another title might not be enough to save him if he continues to lose to Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks. Thats the bottom line. 

Championship Weekend 

ACC- 
Florida State survived a late rally and knocked off Georgia Tech 21-15 in the ACC Championship game to punch their ticket to the Orange Bowl in Miami. 

SEC-
In one of the best games I've ever seen, Alabama outlasted a tough qne determined UGA team, 32-28. 


Big 12 Championship-
Kansas State reaffirmed that they were truly one of the best in the country and flew by Texas 42-24 under the leadership of Heisman hopeful, Collin Klein. 

Big 10-
Wisconsin took Nebraska behind the woodshed....(twice) en route to a 70-31 win as they claimed the Big 10 Championship. 

Pac 12-
UCLA couldn't quite get the job done and fell to Stanford as the Cardinals took possession of the Pac 12 crown. 

Now lets shift gears for a moment......

Clemson hit the road for Columbia Sunday to take on Frank Martin and the Gamecocks on the hardwood. The Tigers had lost the previous two meetings to very bad USC teams and desperately needed a win for not only basketball purposes but for the rivalry as a whole. Unlike the football team, the basketball squad got the job done and knocked off South Carolina in Columbia 64-55 in a game that saw the Gamecock Football honored at halftime. It was Brownell's first win over South Carolina and couldn't have come at a better time. The Tigers forced turnovers and took advantage of their chances at the Free Throw line...something they haven't done much in recent years, and were determined to come out on top Sunday. The Tigers were led by K.J. Daniels with 16 points. Daniels also had 7 rebounds and hit all of his free throws (7/7). Rod Hall gave the Gamecocks trouble all afternoon and contributed 15 points of his own, while Devin Booker pitched in 13 points and 8 rebounds in the win. 

Now lets get back to Football......

Where will your team be for the Holidays? 

Steve Spurrier and the (10-2) Gamecocks are headed back to a familiar place as they are set to take on (8-4) Michigan January 1st in Tampa, FL for the Outback Bowl. (8-4) Mississippi State will take on (9-3)Northwestern in the Gator Bowl down in Jacksonville. (10-2) Texas A&M is headed to the Cotton Bowl to face (10-2) Oklahoma. After falling short in the SEC championship, (11-2) UGA will take the Capital One Bowl against (10-3) Nebraska. (8-4) Vanderbilt will take on (7-5) North Carolina State in the Music City Bowl. (6-6) Michigan State has a date with (7-5) TCU at the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. (6-6) Virginia Tech will represent the ACC in the Russell Athletic Bowl against (9-3) Rugters. (10-3) Tulsa will battle (6-6) Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl. (6-6) Duke returns its first bowl game since I can remember when they take on (9-3) Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl. (7-5)West Virginia will take on (7-5) Syracuse in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. (6-6) Purdue and (7-5) Oklahoma State will compete in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. And last but not least, Clemson (10-2) will square off against LSU (10-2) in the Chic-Fil-A Bowl December 31st @ 7:30pm in Atlanta. 

BCS BOWLS: 


Discover Orange Bowl: 

Florida State (11-2) VS. Northern Illinois (12-1) 


Allstate Sugar Bowl:

Florida (11-1) vs Louisville (10-2)

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl:

Kansas St (12-1) vs Oregon (11-1) 

Rose Bowl: 

Stanford (11-2) vs Wisconsin (8-5) 

Discover BCS National Championship Game

Alabama (12-1) vs Notre Dame (12-0) 

Week 13: Rivalry Week

Its always nice to have a bye-week and my personal bye week from the hard, grueling blog grind came at great timing last week. No but seriously, last week seemed like I had something important to do every single day. Anyways, I'm back now and couldn't be more excited for rivalry week. Now lets get to business, shall we?

ITS RIVALRY WEEK! 

Its that time of the year again. The entire state of South Carolina is divided. You're either a Tiger or a Gamecock. No in between. Families are separated, friendships are put on hold...its the biggest weekend of the year in this state. Its the super bowl for South Carolina. Its not "just a game" and if you believe it is, you've clearly never been to one of these games. If you had told me in pre-season that we'd be 10-1 heading into this game with our lone lose coming to FSU on the road in a overall respectable loss, I would have laughed in your face. Sad thing is if I defense was just a little bit better, we'd be undefeated right now. Anyways, we have put together a great season and now have ourselves quite the match up this year in Death Valley. Clemson is riding a 13 game home winning streak. The last time they lost at home it was to...,you guessed it, South Carolina. However, much has changed this then and this years game will be much closer than the previous three. Clemson has look unstoppable on offense while looking absolutely horrible on defense at times. Tajh Boyd has nearly re-written Clemson's record books and DeAndre Hopkins is showing the nation what most people in the Clemson-Seneca area have known for years...he is one heck of a football player and athlete in general. For the Gamecocks, its been a roller coaster year. After looking like probably the best team in the nation against UGA, South Carolina lost the next two on the road to LSU and Florida and barely escaped Tennessee in Columbia the following week. They  wrapped up their home schedule with a less than impressive 24-7 win over Wofford while Clemson survived a shooutout with North Carolina State 62-48. And for the second straight year, Marcus Lattimore will be on the sidelines when these two teams meet up after his devastating knee injury. South Carolina has one of if not THE best defensive fronts in the country, but will they be able to disrupt Clemson's offense? I will be honest, if this game had been played four or five weeks ago, I would have picked South Carolina to win hands down. But the tables have since shifted and add in the mix Clemson is having its first night game in two years, against its rival who has had their number, with a BCS at-large bid on the table AND the simple fact Clemson has proved its not the same old Clemson team, makes things get a lot more interesting. Lets take a look at how this thing should play out! 

Players to Watch: 

For Clemson: 
QB Tajh Boyd--3,3336 passing yards; 41 TDs
WR DeAndre Hopkins--1171 Yards; 13 TDs
RB Andre Ellington--959 rushing yards; 8 TDs
Defensive Secondary--can they bounce back from last week's poor performance?


For South Carolina: 
QB Conner Shaw--1732 passing yards; 12 TDS
WR Ace Sanders--320 yards; 6 TDS
Defensive line--Can they terrorize a smarter, better, and quicker Tajh Boyd like they did last year?

When South Carolina Has The Ball: 

South Carolina has looked really good at times this year (see Missouri, UGA games) But at times, they looked equally as bad (See Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Wofford) The injury bug has been an issue and though he expected to play, not sure if Conner Shaw will be 100% when the takes the field and that could be a huge factor, obviously. Clemson's defense had improved tremendously after the first half of the season but took a major step back against North Carolina State Saturday. If Clemson can't get any pressure on Shaw it could be a long night on defense for the Tigers. Clemson's defensive front seems to get a little better each week and they should have no problem getting fired up and motivated for a strong performance against their rivals. However, bottom line here is South Carolina has a  talented offense and they are capable of causing Clemson a lot of headaches Saturday night. 

Advantage: South Carolina 

When Clemson Has The Ball: 

Clemson has scored almost at will this year and have scored over 35 points for 9 straight games. Boyd is 2nd in the nation in passing efficiency and Hopkins is arguably the best wide out in the nation and has the numbers to back it up. Clemson's offensive line has been overall pretty darn good this year, especially considering that was a major question mark entering the season. If Clemson can get the running game established early and force Carolina to respect the run, it will open up the passing game and Clemson has plenty of guys that go up and get the ball IF Boyd has enough time to throw down field. This is the best defense Clemson has seen all year and though I don't expect Clemson to drop 62 points like it did last week, they will score Saturday night and continue to do it in flashy ways. Clemson's consistency this year on offense gives them the upper hand here. The key for South Carolina is to stuff the running game and force Boyd to throw under pressure. If the running game gets going, especially if Boyd is able to get small chunks of yards here and there, it should be a fun night for the guys in orange. 

Advantage: Clemson 

Special Teams: 

Before last week I would have given Clemson the slight edge here but after last weeks showing against NC State I'm very concerned not only with our kick coverage but the line drive kicks Catanzaro was dealing Saturday night. Too close for comfort. Ace Sanders has proved he can take it to the house on more than one occasion this year so kicking to him will be dangerous. Special Teams and flipping the field is going to be HUGE in this game. This could very well be the deciding factor of the game. Clemson also has Spencer Benton who nailed a ACC record 62 yard field goal this season and could be called upon if needed late in the game. This could go either way, but I'm giving it to the Gamecocks. 

Advantage: South Carolina 

INTANGIBLES: 

From Boyd, to Hopkins, Watkins, Ellington, Ford and Bryant...Clemson has NFL talent at all the key positions and have skill players that can take it the distance every single time they touch the ball. These guys remember all to well how last season ended as well as how South Carolina has stuck it to them the past three years. The team has handled its success much better this year, has played to a standard every game and hasn't had the typical Clemson let down. The offense is in the top five nationally in scoring and Boyd's leadership, maturity and improvement from last season is unbelievable. Though the defense has looked very suspect and flat out terrible at times, the Tigers have won nearly every game by at least 14 points this year. South Carolina has been suspect at times this year against inferior opponents (see Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Kentucky) now I know a win is a win, but they can't afford to dig themselves into a hole Saturday night. Coach Spurrier is hall of fame coach and will have a good game plan ready and clearly has the coaching edge here with comes to the head coach. Luckily for Clemson, the coaches don't play the game.

Slight Advantage: Clemson 

The Bottom Line:

This game is going to come down to the trenches. Whoever can win the battle up front will

have more success. Also the team that can limit the mistakes. With Clemson having its first night game in two years and with all that's at stake, this atmosphere is going to be insane. Fans will have all day long to um..."get ready" for the game...and they will be very lively to say the least. If I'm Dabo and I win the toss, I'm taking the ball and possibly taking a shot down field the first or second of the game and trying to set the tone. An early score on the opening drive could go a long way in making sure Death Valley starts and stays loud all night long. South Carolina has owned Clemson as of late. However, the Tigers have simply not played well against them, (though SC has played a role in that). That being said this is different Clemson team. It has answered the call nearly every time this year. They are 8-2 against the spread this season with the only two times coming last week against State and early in the year against Ball St. Boyd had a nightmarish game last year but he's like a different player and not like a "concrete deer" this year as Morris called him. There is a lot on the the line and Clemson is catching the Gamecocks at a pretty favorable time. Shaw is struggling with  a foot injury, we all know Lattimore won't play and Clowney is fighting a nagging foot injury and bruised knee. They (Clemson) have to take advantage of the opportunity, and I think they will. The Spread is 4 points on the game and I think that's is right on the money. 

Prediction:  Clemson 31 South Carolina 27 

Take Your Pick: Rivalry Week

Florida v. Florida State

I'm torn in this game. Florida State hasn't gotten much love this year but they can put most of the blame on themselves when they lost on to NC State on the road. This is their shot to earn some respect and I think they put together their best game of the season since the Clemson showdown and they knock off the Gators in a very close game. 

Alabama v.  Auburn

Yeah....lets get serious here. I know anything can happen, but there is no way. Alabama wins, wins big and might just shutout the Tigers. Will this Chizik's last game on the Auburn sideline? Its been a long and tough year out on the plains and to say the Auburn faithful is frustrated would be a huge understatement.

Georgia v Georgia Tech

As much as I would like to see Tech pull the upset against UGA, once again I just don't see it happening. GT has struggled this year and I think the Bulldogs' defense will force some big turnovers that will ultimately doom the yellow jackets. UGA wins and gets ready for a HUGE showdown in the SEC Championship with Alabama. 

Ohio State v Michigan

Urban Meyer couldn't have asked for much more than what his players have done this year. They are undefeated and well on their way for the conference title game. Oh wait, no..they aren't eligible for that or the BCS title game this year. What a shame...all that hard work and they'll have basically nothing to show for it. But if you're looking for sympathy, keep looking cause you won't get any from me. DON'T CHEAT!!!! Anyways, Buckeyes win. 

Week 11 Predictions

Take Your Pick: Week 11

#10 Florida State faces its last major hurdle on the road to the ACC Championship. And though Virginia Tech has had a down year, going into their house on a Thursday night is no easy feat. VT doesn't have much to lose and they will give FSU their best shot. Problem is I'm not sure it'll be enough. The Hokies offense is horrific and I literally don't think they can score enough to beat Florida State. I think they will keep it interesting early and might even take an early lead...but it won't last. 'Noles pull away in the second half.

TCU faces off against #2 Kansas St Saturday after knocking off WVU last weekend. We still don't know if Klein will play or not and his absence could cost the Wildcats their shot for a trip to the National Championship. However, the past few weeks the Wildcats have performed exceedingly well and Klein or no Klein, Kansas St gets the job done and remains undefeated.

WVU takes on Oklahoma State in a battle of 5-3 squads. The Mountaineers are desperate for a win and if you count their bye week, they haven't woke up on Sunday as winners in four weeks. Will it be five after this week? I can't tell you. I was sure they would find a way to get the job done last week and they failed. I'm going to stick with my gut though and say things go in their favor Saturday.




#13 Clemson attempts to stay on track and make it 12 straight wins in Death Valley as it welcomes a Maryland team that can't seem to stay healthy. The Terps will be starting their 5th string QB aka a Linebacker when they take the field Saturday. They will also be without their leading tackler and wideout and rusher! Maryland has been a demon for Clemson over the past few years, especially in Death Valley. Add in the mix that Clemson doesn't have much film, really none at all to work off of due to the new QB, it makes things somewhat interesting. However, this is not the same ole Clemson team and they have proved it since their lone loss to FSU on the road. Its a different team. More talented, better coached, more mature. Bottom line is, Maryland has too many questions and Clemson is well focused and will take care of business. Tigers win big on their homecoming.

Miami faces a coastal division foe, UVA Satuday. The Cavs are just 3-6 this year and only have one conference win, a 33-6 pounding of NCST. Miami still has a shot at making a bowl game but really needs to win this week in order to help make that happen. I think the Canes get it done in large part thanks to their offense and the mismatches against the Cavs defense.

Boston College welcomes #4 Notre Dame to town in a prime time meeting between the two schools. Lets be honest, this one is a obvious. Boston College is 2-7 this year and hasn't done much of anything. While some will argue (myself included) ND should not be undefeated, they are still a solid team and have proved their worth this year. The spread on the game is 18.5.....I'd say BC will be lucky to keep it within three touchdowns. Irish cruise past the Eagles in this one.




#5 UGA can clinch the East division with a win over the struggling Auburn Tigers who are coming off just their second win of the season last week over New Mexico State. Now all signs would say Georgia wins and wins easily against the Tigers but this could easily be a trap game. The Tigers have nothing to lose, and though they have played horrible, lets not forget it wasn't too long ago Auburn nearly stunned LSU. I'm by no mean calling for an upset here, but I'm just saying...be careful, UGA.

#6 Florida squares off against La-Lafayette this weekend from the Sunbelt conference. Florida had trouble with Missouri last week but squeaked out the win. That was probably a wake up call for the Gators and they put the Ragin' Cajuns away early Saturday. No upset alert for the Gators this week.

#7 LSU welcomes another ranked opponent under the lights of Death Valley as #21 Mississippi State comes calling Saturday night. Both teams are 7-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play. How will the Tigers react after their heartbreaking loss to Alabama last week? It was a very physical and hard fought game that slipped away from Les Miles and company at the end. I know its hard to play in Death Valley but I'm going to go out on the limb and put the Tigers on upset alert. Its tough to come back from a loss such as LSU suffered and the Bulldogs are good enough to spring the upset.





#8 South Carolina aims to keep its BCS bowl hopes alive as Arkansas (4-5) comes to town for Homecoming in Columbia. The Gamecocks are still banged up though QB Conner Shaw is expected to be ready to play come game time. Senior Kenny Miles will get the start for Marcus Lattimore, who will be honored during the game but will not be in attendance. Arkansas has caused problems for South Carolina in recent past and despite a tough start, they haven't given up and would like nothing more than to ruin South Carolina's shot at a BCS bowl. But unfortunately, it won't happen. Gamecocks get it done.

#3 Oregon squares off against California..........yeah I'm not even going to entertain this one. Ducks win, and win big like they've done all year long.

#1 Alabama looks to avoid the upset against #15 Texas A&M in a 3:30 kick in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama rallied late in Death Valley last weekend to keep their #1 ranking in tact. McCarron showed great leadership and poise and led his team to a HUGE win on the road. Not sure I'm buying the whole "Alabama could beat some teams in the NFL" talk but I do believe they are the best team in college football and they will once again show the nation why against the Aggies.

What We Learned: Week 10

Week 10 Review 

Roll Tide, Roll! 

I expected another boring defensive struggle between these two teams on Saturday and until the Clemson game went final I did not even bother flipping the channel to watch the game. But luckily for me, things got really interesting just as I switched over halfway through the 3rd quarter. It appeared, for a moment, that LSU was going to pull the upset. But as I tweeted in the 4th quarter, I just had a feeling that someway Alabama was going to find a way to come back and win....and they did. That is what champions do. Even in the midst of playing against a hostile crowd and talented team and having all the momentum building up against them, they were able to deliver the knockout blow via a T.J. Yeldon 28-yard catch and run that put Bama ahead 21-17 with just 0:51 seconds left in the game. QB AJ McCarron grew up a lot Saturday and showed poise and leadership and led his team to huge win going 14-27 for 165 yards and also rushing for another TD from 9 yards out. Alabama is sitting pretty right now atop of the SEC and welcomes TAMU to town next weekend. At this point I would be extremely surprised if they don't win out and win the SEC Championship.

Don't forget about UGA

Since looking like a JV team at a 1A high school against South Carolina, UGA has looked  much better and are now only one win away from clinching the SEC East. If they can beat Auburn on Saturday, they will punch their ticket to the SEC championship where they will, baring some crazy turn of events, face Alabama. On Saturday, the Bulldogs allowed Ole Miss to hang around for a while and actually trailed them, but in the end, it was clear who was the better team with the rebels falling in Athens 37-10. Murray led the way for UGA on 21-28 for 384 yards passing and 4 TDs. Gurley had another strong outing rushing for 117 yards on 16 carries. UGA had trailed Ole Miss 10-0 before scoring the next 37 points in the game and sending the rebels packing. There was a article that came out last week predicting a UGA-Clemson showdown in the Sugar Bowl....I can't tell you how pumped I would be for that. A nice preview of the home and away series we (Clemson) have with them starting next season in Death Valley.

When it comes to football, Duke is still Duke 

During Duke's Pregame show, they were noted saying that "Clemson's receivers were not as good as FSU's and that would help them pull the upset." Not sure if word reached Clemson right before kickoff or not, but Boyd tore apart the Blue Devils secondary passing for four, yes FOUR TD passes in the 1st quarter alone. Three of the touchdowns were to Deandre Hopkins and Clemson made it look easy. Boyd has grown up a great deal since last year it and its showing. The Tigers are averaging 40 plus points per game and along with Oregon are the only teams that have scored at least 35 points in their last eight games. The Tigers racked up 718 yards of offense and had no trouble moving the ball against Duke. Clemson is now 8-1 overall and prepare for Homecoming against Maryland who is just trying to make it to the off-season alive. Along with having to play their 5th string QB...who had been playing LB, they also lost their team leading tackler, D. Hartsfield with a torn ACL. Times are rough in College Park right now though I expect we will still get their best shot in Death Valley this weekend. Duke can still make it to the ACC Championship but Clemson has to hope VT can knock off FSU for Clemson to take the first place seat. But as I mentioned, if Clemson can win out, they put themselves in position to snag an at-large BCS bid with a 11-1 record. It should be fun three weeks to close out the regular season.

High Scoring Showdown

Oregon and USC had a high scoring boxing match but the Ducks persevered and survived in large part thanks to Kenjon Barner who scored 5 TDs on 321 yards. He simply could not be stopped, those are absurd numbers...video game numbers. But they are real. Barkley's play helped keep USC in the game (485 yards, 4 TDs 2 INTs) but it wasn't meant to be. Oregon would survive 62-51 and take one big step closer to the BCS title game. Barner helped prove he is Heisman worthy and with Klein nursing and injury, this could be his chance to "steal" the trophy at the end of the season. The most telling stat of the game was total offense, USC earned 615 yards while Oregon added 730 to combine for 1,345 yards. That is a lot of yards, folks. Hard to believe both teams were able to rack up some many yards and light up the scoreboard the way they did. Its a tough blow for USC who now has three losses at 6-3 after having so much hype for a big year coming into the season.

Other News From the Weekend....

 West Virginia fell in double overtime on a 2-point conversion to TCU 39-38. After looking like BCS contenders Geno Smith and company have lost three striaght, and two of the games were blowouts. Kansas State outlasted Oklahoma State 44-30, but have possibly lost QB Collin Klein. ND stayed perfect by knocking off Pitt, 29-26. Florida escaped the upset and beat Missouri 14-7. Texas A&M hammered Miss St, 38-13. Texas knocked off Texas Tech, 31-22. A late TD put Nebraska past Michigan St, 28-24. Miami rocked VT 30-12 on Thursday night. UVA took out some frustration on a struggling NCST team, 33-6. Tennessee avoided the upset against Troy, 55-48. Vanderbilt blanked Kentucky 40-0 and Joker Phillips was told he would not return as head coach next season. Finally, OSU rocked Illinois, 52-22. This week I went 11-2 overall to improve my overall record for the season to 89-31. Looking forward to Week 11!

Take Your Pick: Week 10 Predictions

Week 10 Predictions 

#3 Notre Dame faces 4-4 Pittsburgh team at home. Battle of future ACC teams...oh wait. Never mind. Anyways, no upset alert here. Irish get the job done.

#4 Oregon heads to LA to battle  #17 USC. Huge game for both teams. The Ducks can't afford to trip up this week if they want a spot in the title game. I think they get the job done.

#2 Kansas St welcomes #24 Oklahoma State to town for Big 12 showdown. Collin Klein and the Wildcats win in convincing fashion and get one step closer to punching their ticket to a BCS bowl.





How will #7 Florida react to its first loss of the season? They had 6 turnovers against UGA last week and even when they held on to the ball, they didn't look so hot. I think they bounce back this weekend at home against Missouri.

#15 Mississippi State looks to rebound after last week's lost to #1 Alabama. They meet SEC newcomer #16 Texas A&M. This should be an interesting game and for some reason I really like Texas A&M in this match-up. Don't know why, but I'm just gonna go with it. Aggies pull the upset....if you wanna call it that.  

If #6 Georgia can knock off Ole Miss Saturday and then Auburn next week on the road, they clinch the SEC-East division. However a loss makes things very interesting with Florida, South Carolina and Georgia all back in the mix. Don't expect that to happen, though. Bulldogs pick up where they left off last week against Florida and send the Rebels packing.




Virginia Tech and Miami meet up in a battle of 4-4 teams. This one is simply going to come down to who wants it more and has fewer mistakes. That being said, I'm going with Miami.

Wake Forest vs Boston College.....who really even cares? Anyways, I'm taking the Demon Deacons. For no reason at all.

#18 Texas Tech and #23 Texas both have identical records at (6-2,3-2). Tech's Doege has thrown for over 2500 yards and 30 TDs this year, Texas is giving up over 30 points a game. I'm picking the Red and Black in a close one.




# 12 Oklahoma vs Iowa St. Can you say UPSET CITY?!?! No, I'm totally kidding. Not a chance. Sooners win. and win big.

#21 West Virginia will score enough to take down TCU cause we all know they can't rely on that defense to stop anything. Geno Smith and company take care of business.

#1 Alabama faces SEC foe #5 LSU in a rematch of the National Championship. To be honest I couldn't be any less excited to see this game. Expect another low scoring, defensive battle. Who can come up with the big play that will change the game? Hate to say it, Tiger fans, but I think Alabama is not only going to win, but they are going to win by at least 10. Alabama has looked solid all year long while LSU came a few plays from losing to both South Carolina and Auburn...who we all know is terrible this year. Roll Tide, Roll!

And last but not least.......

#13 Clemson @ Duke 
If you are looking for an upset, keep looking. Yes I know Duke is a much improved team, yes I know they are on top of the Coastal Division, but lets face it....that division is extra horrible this year. Yes, Clemson lost up there in 2004 after a big win against Miami. Yes, it could be trap game and a perfect time for Clemson to "pull a Clemson" but guess what? Its STILL Duke football and it ain't gonna happen. Duke has been giving up 39 points per game and gave up 560 yards of offense to FSU last week while Clemson is averaging 41 points per game. Clemson's secondary has had two overall solid performances the past two games after a rough start to the season. The secondary should have starting CB Breeland back this week and we will likely see Humphries back there again some as well. Clemson simply has too many weapons for Duke to keep up with. The Blue Devils may also have to play without QB Sean Renfree who suffered a head injury against FSU last week. Duke would need a lot of things to go wrong for the Tigers to even stay in this game. Clemson wins big and prepares to close out the regular season with three straight home games as they try to extend the streak to 14 straight wins in Death Valley.

Week 9 Review

Bigger Than Football 

The one thing I love about College Football and sports in general is that it brings people together. Even in the midst of a tragedy, fans can look outside of competition and heated rivalries to show sportsmanship and compassion in sad times. The scene that took place on the field in Columbia after RB Marcus Lattimore's gruesome injury with nearly the entire Tennessee sideline on the field praying for and comforting Lattimore was such a heartwarming gesture. Sometimes its bigger than football and hats off to not only Tennessee but everyone across the country that has shown their support for #21. As a Clemson fan, I'll be the first to say I hate everything about South Carolina Athletics, especially football. But my heart breaks for #21. He already came back and beat the odds from his torn ACL last season and now he has to start a long rehab process all over again. You hate to see these kind of injuries that can very easily end careers. Hopefully Saturday was not the last time we will see Lattimore in garnet and black, or playing in general. He's a fun to watch, a great player, and a great person. He represents his school well, stays out of trouble, and he's not much for the trash talk, he just goes out and plays football and I respect that. A lot. I wish him the best in his recovery and rehab.

Now lets take a look back at what went down Saturday....

I'll start with the Gamecocks. After two rough losses on the road and three very physical games, many wondered how the Gamecocks would fair. However, they answered the call and found a way to outlast the Volunteers at home in front of a solid crowd in Williams-Brice Stadium, 38-35. The loss of Lattimore sucked the life out of the fans in Columbia and it appeared as if Tennessee was going to "steal" one as they drove down the field late in the 4th quarter. However, Bray's long pass down field was intercepted by Victor Hampton and South Carolina took a knee and escaped with the win. They now get to rest up on the their bye week and hope to have everyone back at 100% (besides Lattimore) when they take on Arkansas Nov. 10th. Bray had a solid game on the road tossing for 368 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT, but the Gamecocks defense came out on the winning side on two late Tennessee drives and secured the victory. The win proved to be much bigger than the Gamecocks imagined. With the Florida loss, they technically aren't exactly out of the equation for winning the SEC East. More on that later on.

The Kansas State bandwagon picked up some more speed this weekend as the Wildcats took down Texas Tech, 55-24. Collin Klein had another strong showing throwing for 2 TDS and rushing for 2 more on the ground. This guy is the real deal and is the front runner for the Heisman. Not sure how anyone would be able to beat him out with the year he's had thus far. The Wildcats are now 8-0 and have accumulated three straight wins over top 15 opponents. This is a talented group of football players and they will without a doubt have an argument for being in the national title game if they win out the rest of the way, which....I think they will. The Wildcats have have proven the last few weeks they are legit and can hang with the big dogs of college football. I'm interested to see how they would fair against an Alabama or Florida defense but I think either way this team would make plays. They've done it all year long, but can they do it on the biggest stage of all against Alabama or Oregon? Only time will tell.





Clemson kept its ACC title dreams alive Thursday night going into Winston-Salem and having no trouble with the Demon Deacons, 42-13. The Tigers led 35-7 at halftime and QB Tajh Boyd broke the school record for passing yards in a game with 428. (5 Touchdowns) One of those big plays came on a hook-up with Sammy Watkins on a 61 yard play that showed us what we've been waiting to see all year long from the sophomore. The Tiger defense and secondary especially did fairly well against Wake Forest. There were some missed assignments here and there but for a group that had little experience, they did well. WR Adam Humphries also showed some promise and we will likely see more of him on the defensive side of the ball down the stretch. Both Peake and Bryant both stepped up and had touchdown catches in the win as well. The 7-1 Tigers now prepare for a Saturday night date in Durham with the Blue Devils. The early line on that match-up is 14.5 as of Monday night.

Florida was set to clinch the SEC East if they could have beaten their rival, Georgia. However, the Gators suffered 6 turnovers (including 4 fumbles and 2 interceptions) plaguing their chances and the Bulldogs came out on the winning side, 17-9.  Gurley had a big day racking up 118 yards on the ground and 1 touchdown. The UGA defense led by Jarvis Jones, stood tall and forced Florida into bad plays all day long. This game makes the East race a lot more interesting. Florida could have clinched the East outright with a win over Georgia. Now things get a little more cloudy with Georgia in the back round and South Carolina on their heels. It will be interesting to see how the Gators will react to their first loss of the year and a loss to their rival. Will they hang their heads and let UGA beat them twice? We will see when they take the field back at home against Missouri.

Well I guess its time to admit I was wrong cause after Saturday's display, it is clear that Notre Dame is worthy of getting some BCS praise. Not only did the Irish go into Oklahoma and get a win, they dominated the Sooners and left no doubt that they were the better team scoring 17 unanswered points in the 4th to secure the 30-13 win. The Irish defense gave Oklahoma no breathing room holding the Sooners to an average of 0.6 yards per carry and a total of just 15 yards on 24 total carries. Cierre Wood had the highlight of the night on a 61 yard rushing TD that gave the Irish their first score of the game. I've been doubting this team all year and waiting for them to trip up but they keep getting the job done and proving me wrong. Well, I'm tired of being wrong and I'm starting to "drink the Kool-Aid". These guys are legit and should be playing in a BCS bowl game when its all said and done.



Oregon keeps doing what its done all year long, blowing out its opponent, this time dropping 56 first half points en route to a 70-14 old school beat down at the expense of Colorado. The Ducks seem to look better almost every week and simply aren't even facing legitimate competition. The Black Mamba De-Anthony Thomas showed the nation once again how lethal he can be taking a punt return 73 yards to the house early in the first quarter. The Ducks scored early and often and had control from kickoff to the final whistle. With 21 straight games with at least 30 points, Oregon is now only one game away from tying the FBS record held by 06-07 Hawaii team as well as the Oklahoma State teams from 2010-2012. Oregon faces a test as it takes on USC next week. The game will not be quite as anticipated with the Trojans falling to Arizona Saturday but nevertheless it should be a solid game with a great atmosphere. Can the Ducks keep the streak going?



In other college football news, Auburn lost yet another one falling to Texas A&M 63-21.That makes it five straight losses for the Tigers and you better believe that the fans are getting rowdy. The question is will Chizik be gone after the season is "officially over" in November? ...cause lets face it, its already over. With UGA and Alabama still on the schedule, the Tigers have to hope they can take care of New Mexico State and Alabama A&M to try and salvage the scraps that are left from this season. Another interesting stat I saw the other day is that Chizik and Cam Newton are a combined 2-13 this season. Ouch. Funny how quickly times have changed for those two. Cam Newton will get it back together and the Panthers will have a better season next year but I'm not so sure Chizik will get the opportunity. The fact that there was big buyout for Tuberville plays into his hands as right now, Auburn literally may not be able to afford another coach at the moment. That being said, you can't go 1-7 and win less in SEC play at Auburn and not expect to catch a lot of heat. In other news, Washington pulled another big upset at home Saturday knocking off then-undefeated Oregon State 20-17. Duke was no match for the Seminoles and fell in conference play 48-7. Alabama kept its streak alive and handled the Bulldogs of Miss St., 38-7. Arizona upset #9 USC 39-36 and Texas rallied to beat Kansas 21-17. This week I went 8-3 making my overall season record 78-29. Halloween is Wednesday so that means Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that can only mean one thing around these parts...Clemson/South Carolina along with other major rivalries will be taking place soon. With BCS implications in many of these rivalry match-ups, its going to be an exciting end to the 2012 regular season!