Tuesday, October 30, 2012

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!


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Week 9 Predictions

We hear it every year. November is probably the biggest month in college football. Its the final full month of regular season action and everyone wants to make it a "November to Remember". Its a good time for teams like Florida, Oregon, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Kansas St and Alabama who are still undefeated. But it is also good for 1-loss teams like Clemson, Oklahoma, Florida State, and USC who, if they win-out, will find themselves right back into the top 15 or even better. Especially with how the SEC is playing this year, these guys will eventually have to play each other and someone will have to lose which leaves room for some other guys to possibly move up in the rankings. Lets take a look at whats in store for us this weekend.

Thursday Night Special


Its a errie feeling for Clemson fans. It was this week four years ago following a Thursday night loss to Wake Forest on the road that the Tommy Bowden era came to an end and the Dabo Swinney era began. It seems longer than that but it was just four years ago. Since then, #18 Clemson has been able to make significant progress winning two division titles and one ACC conference title though there was a 6-7 season sandwiched in between those two. Things have changed since the Bowden era but many things have not. If Clemson wants to take the next step, they have to take care of business in games like these. Bottom line is the Tigers are the favorite in the game and though they will be tested defensively with a even more depleted secondary this week without Robinson and Breeland combined with WR Michael Campanaro making a return for the Demon Deacons, the Tigers should get the job done. Clemson should have little trouble moving the ball and putting up points against the Wake Forest defense who is giving up over 400 yards per game at home this season. It may not be the prettiest of wins ever, but Dabo Swinney and company get it done on the road and set up cross-division showdown with Duke next Saturday night.

Prediction: Clemson 34 Wake Forest 21



 Home Sweet Home

The Gamecocks are back in Columbia on the tail end of a brutal stretch that saw them go from looking like a top 5 caliber team to more like a typical top 15 or 20 team in a matter of just two weeks. Of course you have to factor in who they played and it being on the road but bottom line is #13 South Carolina has lost two straight, both conference losses and cannot afford to make it three in a row with Tennessee coming to town this weekend. South Carolina has got to get the running game back up to speed so that they aren't forced to throw the ball around...we found out that isn't their game. They have only rushed for 70 combined yards the past two weeks, they need to be getting that much plus some from Lattimore alone. When Lattimore is successful and has 20+ carries, its usually a happy ending for the Gamecocks. Tennessee is an improved team and can move the ball as well, though they have had some struggles on defense. This is a game South Carolina "should win" but how will they respond after the last two weeks? How will Shaw respond after being benched last week? With the SEC East title basically out of reach will the guys be motivated enough for a noon kick against the Vols, whom they've beaten the last two years? As a Gamecock fan, you can only hope so. I think they win a very close in Columbia

Prediction: South Carolina 28 Tennessee 24



Another SEC Showdown


Another week is here and we have another huge top 10 SEC match-up that has both conference and national title implications. With a win, #2 Florida clinches the SEC East division, keeps its undefeated record in tact and takes a big step closer to returning to the top of the SEC ladder. #10 Georgia is standing its their way though and will not back down without a fight. This is a rivalry game and with South Carolina losing two in a row, Georgia has life again. No pun intended here, but this is going to be a full pledge dog fight. A lot is on the table. I personally think Florida can win this game and win it fairly convincingly but you never know what to expect in a game like this. The atmosphere is going be insane and its going to be a long, physical, punch-for-punch boxing match. Florida keeps proving people wrong and I for one have started to believe in them. I picked them to beat South Carolina last week, though I had no idea it'd be in such dominating fashion. Using logic, you'd think Florida might roll against UGA since the bulldogs were whipped by the Gamecocks and the Gators absolutely shutdown South Carolina at every turn. I'm by no means saying this too will be a blow out, but Florida will make it known that they are the better team.

Prediction: Florida 21 Georgia 10


I mentioned how #8 Oklahoma, who lost to #3 Kansas St earlier this year at home was in a favorable position to end the season on a high note. If the Sooners win out and have a little help along the way they have an outside shot at having an argument for being in the national championship. I will say this, I don't think its going to happen, nor am I 100% on the fact they even win the rest of their games. BUT the door of opportunity is still cracked open. They just have to take advantage and get a little lucky with some outside help. This week should tell us a lot. With #5 and 7-0 Notre Dame coming to town, we will get a better look at both teams and learn more about just how good they are. This was one of my last test for the Irish before I believed if they were legit or not. IF they can get by Oklahoma things shape up well for the Irish down the final stretch. However, I think the party train takes a hit this weekend. Sooners pull the upset at home.

Prediction: Oklahoma 35 ND 30




#1 Alabama faces a test at home when #11 Mississippi State comes to town with its perfect record of 7-0. This could be a trap game. The line is about 24 points last time I checked which really surprises me. This game is really Bama's first real test. The Bulldogs secondary is good enough and offense is productive enough to make this game worth watching. Add in the fact that LSU-Alabama is next week so the Tide could be looking ahead a bit which could prove to be tragic for Alabama. I think Saban's team has to be focused 100% and ready to play or they could be in for quite a battle. He (Saban) is known for having great game preparation and they will be focused and ready to go Saturday night. Furthermore, I Alabama is just the better team. They win, but I'm not by as much as people (especially Bama fans) are going to expect.

Prediction: Alabama 28 Mississippi State 13


Other Predictions for the Week: 


#3 Kansas St over  #14 Texas Tech

#4 Oregon over Colorado

#9 USC over Arizona

#12 Florida State over Duke

#20 Texas A&M over Auburn

#23 Texas over Kansas





Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Week 8 Review

What We Learned Saturday: 

College football fans learned a lot this weekend but more questions rose to the surface. I still can't name a single team I believe will be in the national title game yet, though if I had to make a pick, Alabama would be it. Not buying the Notre Dame story yet but Oregon is still rolling, Kansas St proved they are the real deal and LSU is keeping its title hopes alive. If they can beat Alabama next week, they are right back in mix. Florida manhandled South Carolina, Duke is on top of the coastal division in the ACC, West Virginia has taken a complete 360 turn the last two weeks, Mississippi State is still undefeated and Auburn has lost....again. Lets take a look at all the major results from Saturday.




Kansas State had the arguably the biggest statement of the weekend Saturday when they traveled into Morgantown, West Virginia and had their way with the Mountaineers, 55-14. Its the second big road win for the Wildcats as they defeated Oklahoma earlier this season. These guys are the real deal and QB Collin Klein is an elite player and making a strong argument for capturing the Heisman. Klein threw for 323 yards and 3 TDs while rushing for 41 yards and 4TDs as well. Klein can do it all and he showed the nation once again just how dangerous he can be not only in the passing game, but on the ground as well. Geno Smith struggled and threw his first two interceptions of the year. It appears this high flying offense has stalled. We knew the defense was very suspect and had major issues to fix. This is even more evident now as the offensive woes have doomed the Mountaineers the past two weeks. If Kansas State can knock off Texas Tech next week, which I believe they will, watch out. Texas is the only other ranked team left on the schedule and they play them at home. Could this be the year of the Wildcat?



Oregon continues to cruise past its opponents as they made another victim out of Arizona State, 43-21. It appeared that the Ducks were going to score 100 Thursday night as they had racked up 43 with just under 12 minutes left in the 1st half. However, they would not score again and held off a very late rally from the Sun Devils. An interesting stat from this game was that neither team scored in the 3rd quarter, not everyday that you see that. Something else that caught my eye was thtOregon QB Marcus Mariota thew for a touchdown, rushed for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass...all in the first half. Impressive to say the least. RB Kenjon Barner was the difference in the game as he rushed for 143 yards and 3TDs including a 71 yard sprint that put the Ducks ahead 7-0 early in the game. The Ducks look great on both sides of the ball but still have some roadblocks to pass if they want to return to the BCS title game. A road trip to #9 USC followed by a visit to California preludes a home match up against #17 Stanford and they conclude with a trip to #7 Oregon State. Its far from over if you are a Duck fan.




Florida put on a show in the Swamp and made a statement not only for the SEC East race and SEC overall but a jump towards BCS title talk as well. Though South Carolina was doomed with turnovers, the Gators controlled the entire game from start to finish. They (SC) lost three crucial fumbles and two of them led directly to Florida touchdowns. For the second straight week, South Carolina's rushing game was smothered as they only accounted for 36 yards of the total offense. The running game is huge for the Gamecocks offensive production and if you can take that away, the past two weeks have shown us..you put yourselves in good position to defend them.On top of 4 turnovers, the Gamecocks were also 3-14 on 3rd down. The offense simply could not get anything going and they were kept out of the end zone against the Gators. South Carolina is now basically out of the SEC title game discussion. They still have plenty to play for and can make a good bowl game but they have to regroup, get healthy again and get back to their game. They haven't been able to control the game or tempo like they were the first few weeks of the year. With the 44-11 win, Florida can now clinch the SEC-East division with a win over rival Georgia this weekend.



Ohio State kept its undefeated record in tack but possibly at the cost of QB Braxton Miller. Miller was injured and rushed to the hospital after taking a big it. He checked out fine and is said to not have a concussion but his condition and status is unclear for this week. He practiced on Monday but it was reported that he was very sore.The Buckeyes had to rely on back up Kenny Guiton to rally the team to a victory late in the game and into overtime to outlast Purdue 29-22. Ohio St, like South Carolina had trouble holding onto the ball and had four turnovers that helped keep the Boilermakers in the ball game. However, it wasn't meant to me and Urban Meyer's group overcame some adversity and got the win to remain perfect on the season and keep their title hopes alive. Ohio State has a favorable last stretch with, in my opinion, their only remaining hurdle being a road trip to #25 Wisconsin and a season finale at home against #22 Michigan.



Clemson's defense again answered the call in the second half and shutdown Virginia Tech, holding them to only 1 TD in the last 30 minutes of play. The defense had a big day that was highlighted by Johnathan Meek's 74-yard pick-6 off Logan Thomas in the second quarter. Thomas also threw another interception to guess who, Mr. Meeks which also had the potential to be a pick-6 for the Tigers.The Hokies also had two costly fumbles. On the offensive side, #19 Clemson only had 295 yards of total offense compared to VT's 406, yet they outscored the Hokies 38-17. For those keeping score, that's three in a row for Clemson over Coach Beamer's team and they've been outscored by a total of 99-30. The Tigers have shut down the Hokies' offense three straight games, though it must be noted VT isn't the same ole VT we have grown used to the past few years in the ACC. Nevertheless, the last time Clemson played them at home they lost by 20 points. The tables have turned now and the Tigers pushed their streak to 11 straight wins in Death Valley. A very impressive feat for the guys in orange. Clemson has a short turn around this week as they travel to Wake Forest Thursday night. They will be without CB Darius Robinson who is out for the season with a fractured ankle and broken bone in his foot. Boyd suffered a stinger in his shoulder but is expected to be fine and ready to play on Thursday night.



You never know what to expect with the ACC. No better example can be given that the fact that Duke is on top of the coastal division as of right now. Yes, DUKE. The FOOTBALL team. Yes, those guys. They just might be playing for an ACC title in December. After knocking off North Carolina 33-30 Saturday, the coastal division is now the Blue Devils' to lose. That game with Clemson next weekend is looking like it could be one of the most intriguing of the weekend. Who would have thought that? Unbelievable what Cutcliffe has done this season with these guys. In other ACC news, FSU took care of business against Miami on the road, 33-20 Saturday night and still control the Atlantic division. Dan Mullen over at #12 Mississippi State is also making a name for himself and a run at SEC coach of the year. His bulldogs are 7-0 after a 45-3 domination of Middle Tennessee State. However, the next three weeks will tell us just how good these guys are. They have to travel to #1 Alabama next week. That is followed by a home showdown with Texas A&M and then they hit the road again to take on #6 LSU. If they can't through this stretch with a 2-1 record or better, it will make things even more interesting in the race to the SEC championship.Three interceptions helped LSU survive against Texas A&M 24-19. Notre Dame stayed undefeated with a narrow 17-14 win over BYU. Alabama overpowered Tennessee 44-13 in Neyland stadium. In the Big 12, Texas outlasted Baylor 56-50 in a shootout. Oklahoma rolled pass Kansas 52-7.  In another Texas shootout, Texas Tech got past TCU 56-53. Rugters kept its perfect season intact with a 35-10 rout of Temple. And finally, Oregon State got the job done over Utah 21-7. I bounced back with a strong week going 12-2 on Saturday with my predictions. For the year, I'm now 70-26. Not bad, but still room for improvement.


On a more serious note, I'd like to close out this week with a request. Something much bigger than football. Within the past two weeks, 2 Clemson students have passed away due to an automobile accident. And on Monday, a friend of mine from high school suddenly lost her father. For those that believe in prayer I ask that you lift these families up in the coming days and weeks. I can't imagine what any of them are going through but I truly believe everything happens for a reason and its a part of God's plan. I hope and pray they find the strength and understanding to make it through this difficult time. 


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Week 8: How Bad Do You Want It?

Setting The Stage


There's a song by country singer Tim McGraw entitled "How Bad Do You Want It?" I'm not a country music person for the most part, but its a good song with a great message. The chorus of the song says "How Bad You Do Want It? How Bad Do You Need It? Are You Eating...Sleeping...Dreaming With That One Thing On Your Mind? How Bad Do You Want It? How Bad Do You Need It? ...Cause If You Want It All, You Gotta Lay It All Out On The Line!"

That song sums up my preview of Week 8 and what I believe coaches will be preaching to their players. How bad do you want to be good? How hard are you willing to work these last few weeks to be successful? With the first BCS rankings out for the year, the season is beginning to wind down and if you want to make a late run towards a conference or national championship, now is the time to step up your game. You have to leave it all out on the field and play inspired and smart football. As far as I'm concerned, everyone needs to take on the mentality that its a one-game season. Nothing matters but who you play this week. The biggest game on your schedule is always the next one and you better act like it or you may find yourself reevaluating your season goals come Sunday morning.

This week should be another solid weekend for college football fans. For the 3rd straight week, South Carolina finds itself in a top ten showdown as it travels to The Swamp to take on Florida. After knocking off the Gamecocks last week in Death Valley, LSU heads to College Station to take on the Aggies. Alabama takes on Tennessee who is coming off a loss to Mississippi State. West Virginia looks to bounce back after last week's woodshed beating as they face off against Kansas St. In the ACC, Florida State hits the road to take on Miami, North Carolina and Duke square off in Durham in the prime time slot and last but not least, Clemson takes on Virginia Tech in Death Valley after a much needed bye week in a high noon contest. Here is how I see it playing out....

Its Prediction Time! 


I'm not sure there has ever been a time South Carolina was ranked in the top 15 for as long as they have been this season.The Gamecocks have overcome poor showings on the road against Kentucky and Vanderbilt while flexing its muscle at home against Missouri and Georgia. Last week they couldn't get much going offensively but still managed to have a shot a winning the game in the fourth quarter against LSU. My main concern is one I posed last week. How will they fare playing on the road in a hostile environment? They fell short last week in Death Valley and heading into The Swamp Saturday at 3:30pm won't be much easier, if at all. The Gamecocks are in for its third straight top ten showdown and will have to find a way to get a "W" in Steve Spurrier's old stomping grounds. I'm sure he and the Gamecocks won't exactly get a warm welcome when they take the field. I question how South Carolina will respond after a though physical loss on the road. Like last week, this game will be won in the trenches and decided on who can make the big play. Special Teams will also be huge and Ace Sanders has the ability to take it the distance every time he touches the ball. The leadership of Shaw, who is closing in on 1000 passing yards ( 9 TDs) will be huge. It'll be up to him to get the guys ready pre-snap on offense. A big key will to establish something early and get some points on the board and "TRY" to keep the Florida fans seated and the Gator's offense on the sidelines. This is a big hurdle South Carolina needs to cross to if they want to capture their first SEC title. With one loss already under its belt and Florida still undefeated, the Gamecocks can't afford to fall two games behind the Gators. I've picked South Carolina to win every game so far this season but have been keeping an eye on this game since Florida knocked off Tennessee in Knoxville. I think the combination of last week's physical loss and having to play a Florida team that is firing on all cylinders right now is too much and just bad timing for South Carolina. Add in the fact that Lattimore is likely out with a bruised hip, Kelcy Quarles is questionable, as well as Clowney who was limited in practice this week doesn't help the matter. To add more fuel to the fire, a flu bug has been flying around the team all week including Ace Sanders and Bruce Ellington so many of the Gamecock's key players are either out or might not be 100%.  Its going to be a tough one for South Carolina and I think they still put up a fight, but it won't be enough. Not quite.

Prediction: Florida 24 South Carolina 16


LSU was able to bounce back in a major way last week from its loss at Florida as the Tigers took down South Carolina. Now the Tigers are back on the road and have to travel to yet another tough stadium and face Texas A&M. The Aggies are 5-1 on the year, their only loss coming to Florida on a 20-17 decision at home. LSU controlled the trenches last week and if they can find a way to do that again Saturday they should be in great shape to pick up a big SEC road victory. They will have to find a way to keep QB Johnny Manziel in check who has thrown for over 1600 yards and 14 TDs this season. He has also rushed for 676 yards and 10 TDs. Can they keep the Aggie offense in check like they did against SC? I'm going to say yes, though the game will be closer than LSU fans will probably like. No need to worry, Tiger fans. They will get the win.

Prediction: LSU 33 TAMU 27 


Alabama has to hit the road for a prime time meeting in Neyland Stadium against Tennessee. On paper I wouldn't really think twice about this game but it could very easily be a trap for the Tide. However, Alabama has yet to be even legitimately challenged. I said it in my week 7 review and I'll say it again. Alabama is good and I wouldn't be surprised if they go undefeated in the regular season. Bama's McCarron has passed for 12 TDs this year and on the ground, Lacy has led the way with 491 yards and 7TDs. For the Vols, Tyler Bray has thrown for over 1700 yards and 16 TDs. I think Tennessee can keep it interesting for some of the first half but Alabama will prove its the better team down the stretch and get the win.

Prediction: Alabama 54 Tennessee 28



Its week 8 and I'm still not exactly sure where Kansas St came from but the Wildcats are 6-0 and head to WVU for a Big 12 showdown at 7pm Saturday. The Wildcats have had a few close calls but the bottom line is that they are undefeated. That being said I think it comes to an end this weekend. I see Geno Smith (25 TD passes on the year) and company bouncing back from an embarrassing showing against Texas Tech and knocking off the Wildcats and keeping his Heisman hopes alive. Both teams are scoring over 40 points per game so expect another high scoring affair with the Mountaineers coming out on top.

Prediction: WVU 49 Kansas St 35 


In a game that has lost some of its luster recently, Florida State heads down the interstate to Miami to take on the Hurricanes, who after winning four of their first five games to start 4-1, have lost two straight games are desperate for a win. I would say Miami will have an advantage with it being at home...but lets be serious. When is the last time Miami filled up a stadium? Nevertheless, its not in Tallahassee which helps. Morris is having a great year for the Hurricanes and needs just 9 yards to surpass 2000 yards through the air for the season. Miami's offense can hang with FSU but their defense has struggled this year and if they can't keep EJ Manuel and Chris Thompson in check, they will steamroll that defense. As much as I want Miami to pull it out and give Clemson the chance to control is own ACC destiny again, I just can't pull myself to think the Seminoles will fall Saturday. Just cant do it.

Prediction: FSU 56 Miami 35



Saturday night North Carolina takes on Duke on ESPNU and its not basketball. Still not sure how this game got the prime time slot, but I will not even get into that cause its useless and you can probably figure out how I feel about the situation. Both squads enter the game 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the ACC. Both are in the coastal division so a loss is not only puts you behind the 8-ball but gives you a loss to your rival as well. I'm going to give the edge to the Tar Heels. Giovani Bernard leads the way as North Carolina gets the win in Durham. Hopefully everyone brings flashlights to the game cause I didn't even know they had stadium lights there. Maybe they will play inside Cameron Indoor Arena...okay, I'm done.

Prediction: North Carolina 28 Duke 24




After a much needed bye week, Clemson welcomes Virginia Tech to town. It'll be Military Appreciation Day, which is always a big day in Tiger town. Add in the Daniel Rodriguez story and this has the making for a special day in Clemson. Rodriguez will lead the team down the hill with the American flag, so if you are going to the game, be sure to arrive early. Clemson had VT's number last year and only gave up 13 points and outscored the Hokies 61-13 overall. Sammy Watkins played a big role offensively and you gotta believe he is primed for his breakout game this season. Following his suspension, Watkins has struggled to get back to full speed and after battling a stomach bug he should finally be 100% mentally and physically for the Hokies. I don't even need to mention what should have been addressed in the bye week defensively. I know Chad Morris will have a great plan on offense so we just need to focus and execute...something we did very well against these guys last year. We are in Death Valley and despite it being a noon kickoff, we should have a great crowd. Nuk Hopkins is having a stellar season and is making quite a name for himself this season with 777 yards and 8TDs. He doesn't really deal with the media and chooses to let his play on the field do the talking. Literally. The guy met with the media for the first time since the season started this week. He is strictly business and that's what you love to see. Bottom line is most of the skill players that gave VT headaches last year are still here this year and based on the rocky season the Hokies have had to this point, you have to give Clemson the edge at home. Tigers have a quick turnaround as they face Wake Forest on the road next Thursday night. But first things first, handle your business on Saturday.

Prediction: Clemson 49 Virginia Tech 28


Other Predictions 

Take Your Pick:Week 8


Oregon over Arizona State

Notre Dame over BYU

Oregon State over Utah

Oklahoma over Kansas

Georgia over Kentucky

Miss St. over MTSU

Texas Tech over TCU

Stanford over California

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Week 7 Review

I'd like to start this review by saying Clemson won Southern Living Magazine's "The South's Best Tailgate" Award. Of course I'm a little bias but gotta say I agree. There is NOTHING like a Game Day in Clemson, SC. Hands down. You can read that article here!  Not to knock other school's tailgating, but its just not the same. But I'm not here to talk about Magazine competitions.

My Tigers had the week off and it was very nice. My school, Presbyterian College (PC) had homecoming and I worked all weekend with my job in the Sports Information Department with Soccer, Volleyball and Football all having home events so it was perfect timing not only for Dabo and the crew, but for us fans as well. Me especially. Nice break to regroup and get ready to go full speed ahead for this final stretch. Now, lets take a look back at what happened since we last talked:


Geno Smith and WVU seemed nearly unstoppable through the first six weeks. Their defense was flat out awful but their offense was like a freight train with no brakes. However, the train ran off the track this week and came to a screeching halt thanks to Tommy Tubberville and Texas Tech. The Red Raiders left no doubt dominating the mountaineers 49-14. Seth Doege had a record setting day throwing for 499 yards and 6TDs while also rushing for 86 yards on the ground. Great leadership by this young man. Not only did WVU's BCS title run take a big hit, so did Smith's Heisman campaign though I do believe he has time to recover. Ya Think Auburn (1-5) is starting to miss good ole Tommy yet?



Alabama kept Missouri win less in SEC play Saturday as they beat the Tigers 42-10. Big stats from this game? Missouri only had 129 yards of total offense...and only 3 yes, THREE yards rushing. Alabama's defense dominated the Tigers upfront and they didn't stand a chance in the world. Alabama is good, folks. Real Good. As a Clemson fan I've been hearing a lot about how SC could possibly compete with Alabama. I think its laughable. Alabama has NFL talent at nearly every position. South Carolina....and nearly every other team in the nation would have problems and serious mismatches all  if they squared off against the Tide.




Florida had no trouble with Vanderbilt on the road taking care of the Commodores 31-17 behind a 177 yard rushing performance from Jeff Driskel, who put up this impressive total on just 11 total carries. The Gators are looking better each week and now prepare to welcome home The Head Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier for a Top Ten Showdown in the Swamp this weekend. ESPN College Game Day will be there. The Gators are a 3.5 favorite over the Gamecocks. Going to be a tough haul for SC after playing a very physical game in a hostile and warm environment last week in Death Valley. Can they be physically and mentally ready for another physical game on the road?



Texas got it handed to them by the hands of Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. The Sooners beat their rivals 63-21 behind the solid play of QB Landry Jones who passed for 321 yards and 2 TDs. The play of the day came from RB Damien Williams of Oklahoma who took a RB Draw 95 yards for the score late in the first quarter. Another big stat on the day was the Sooners accumulating over 677 yards of total offense against the Long Horns. That's two losses in a row now for Mack Brown and Texas. They take on Baylor (3-2) at home next week as they try to get back on track.





Notre Dame improved to 6-0 following a VERY controversial play to end the game as Stanford was "denied" from the end zone in overtime. In my eyes, Stanford's Stepfan Taylor crossed the plane to  score the TD but the play was reviewed and upheld and ND won 20-13. Are the Irish back? It seems to be so...but I'm still not buying in....not yet. If they can get past BYU and Oklahoma...then I might jump on board and believe. But that remains to be seen. Hats off to Coach Kelly though for putting together a great season to this point.



South Carolina gave LSU all they could handle in Death Valley but in the end, they fell to the Tigers 23-21 in front of a packed house. They (SC) battled hard and for a while I thought the Gamecocks were going to pull it out. However, LSU's defense smothered South Carolina and held them to a season low of 34 yards rushing. The Gamecocks had LSU on the ropes but its hard to win in Death Valley and the Tigers have now won 22 straight at home dating back to 2009. Its a tough loss for the Gamecocks but they have to shake it off quickly. They have another top ten showdown on the road at the Swamp and I can promise you they will get the Gators best shot. No time to hang your head and don't let LSU beat you twice.


Other News: 


Louisville got past Pittsburgh 45-35. Ohio St outlasted Indiana 52-49 in a unexpected thriller. Mississippi State improved to 6-0 with a big win at home over Tennessee, 41-31. TAMU just nearly got past Louisiana Tech 59-57 in another shootout game. Michigan blanks Illinois 45-0. Arkansas let out some frustration on Kentucky, 49-7. Ole Miss blasted Auburn 41-20. The Tigers only win this season came on a last second FG against Louisiana -Monroe. Hard to believe just two years ago these guys won a BCS title and this year they, in all likelihood, will be home for the holidays. In the ACC, Duke blew a 20 point lead and fell to Virginia Tech 41-20. North Carolina edged Miami (FL) 18-14 and Florida State bounced back from its loss to NC State and beat BC 51-7. This week I went 8-5 to bring my season record to 58-24 as we head to Week 8.


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Week 7 Previews and Predictions

Its already Week 7?!?


Hard to believe its already week seven. This season is going by way too fast for me. So if anyone knows how to slow down time, feel free to make this last season longer. This week we have a top 15 match-up as rivals #15 Texas and #13 Oklahoma square off. #1 Alabama travels to Columbia, MO to take on Missouri. The Tigers are still looking for that first SEC win. ESPN's College Game Day will feature #7 Notre Dame taking on #13 Stanford. Florida travels to Nashville to battle Vanderbilt and finally we have another top 10 showdown as Steve Spurrier takes his 6-0 and #3 Gamecocks into Baton Rouge to play #9 LSU. Here's how I see it all playing out. 

Clemson has the week off, Prepares for VT and Wake Forest


Clemson has a bye week this weekend and it comes with nearly perfect timing. The Tigers are 5-1 and are playing well (except for defense) and need to be rested up as we hit the final stretch. The break is also much needed because Oct 20th, Virginia Tech comes to town. Though its a game Clemson should be favored and "should" win, just a few days later on Oct 25th they hit the road to take on division foe, Wake Forest in a Thursday night match-up. The following week Clemson travels to Duke then prepares for a three game home stand to end the season with Maryland, North Carolina State and rival South Carolina. With a week off and even more time to prep, I suspect that Clemson will pick up where it left off against the Hokies last season and get a big win to make it 11 straight wins in Death Valley for Dabo Swinney and the Tigers. 


Red River Rivalry 


Texas is having a great season and comes into week 7 with an overall record of 4-1 and 1-1 in Big 12 play, their only loss being credited to Geno Smith and West Virginia. For the Longhorns, David Ash has played great and has lead the offense to an average of 46.8 points per game which ranks 6th in the nation. He's thrown for 1276 yards and 11 TDs. Texas is giving up 26.4 points per game on defense. The Sooners are also off to a solid start, ranked 13th and 3-1 on the year. The Sooners are averaging 38.3 points per game and giving up 16.0. Should be another exciting game of football between these two rivals but I'm going to give the edge to Texas in this match-up. 

                                                                                                      Prediction: Texas 24 Oklahoma 18



Alabama looks to continue its dominance over opponents this weekend when it travels to Missouri. The Tigers have yet to get that first SEC victory and would love to make that happen against the #1 team in the nation. However, I don't see it happening. The Crimson Tide have looked nearly flawless to this point and I don't see them have any problems taking care of business this weekend. They are a 21 point favorite for a reason, they are good. No upset here, folks. Bama rolls. 

Prediction: Alabama 49 Missouri 21 



After doing what they do best last week at NC State, FSU looks to get back on track when they take on Boston College. I would say this game could be interesting. BC has a solid passing game and they can also run the ball. They hung with my Tigers for far longer than I liked and I think they could give FSU some problems. However, with the game being in Tallahassee I have to give the Noles the edge. Just don't think BC has what it takes to go into the Doak and get it done. FSU, lead by Thompson on the ground, pull away from the Eagles in the second half.  

Prediction: Florida State 47 Boston College 24


The Gators pack up and head to Nashville to play Vanderbilt. On paper it looks like Florida would roll in this game but the Commodores are tricky. They came a blown pass interference call away from probably knocking off South Carolina in week one. And speaking of the Gamecocks, they come to the Swamp next week for a HUGE showdown with the Gators. The key is for Florida to stay focused at the task at hand. Next week's game losses a lot of its luster if you trip up against Vanderbilt. Don't look ahead, cause it might cost you! Florida is 8.5 favorite and I think that is right on the money. 

Prediction: Florida 28 Vanderbilt 21 


Duke, yes Duke is one win away from becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 1994. I was still wearing pull ups the last time Duke went to a bowl game, but after this weekend that could change. The Blue Devils will have to go into Lane Stadium and face a frustrated and struggling Hoke squad if they want to get that 6th win this weekend though. I've yet to get to see the Blue Devils play so I'm not buying in just yet. They are clearly an improved team but winning in Lane Stadium is a tall task for anyone. Duke has the ability to win this game, but I think they fall just short. Hokies get it done at home. 

                                                                                         Prediction: Virginia Tech 30 Duke 21


And finally, 

South Carolina heads to that other Death Valley to battle LSU


At first glance I would say LSU wins this game, bottom line. However once you really look at things, its gets interesting. First I'll start with the Gamecocks. Yes they are undefeated and #3 in the nation but they have played all their "big games" at home so far this year. Furthermore, when they played on the road they struggled. Vandy had them on the ropes until the final possession of the game in week 1. Two weeks ago they were down 17-7 at halftime to a TERRIBLE Kentucky team on the road. They won both of those games BUT they cannot afford to have a bad half or game on the road in Death Valley and expect to win. Some people are questioning how good LSU actually is. They lost to Florida 14-6 last week on the road and word on the street is they blamed the heat. (I'm not making this up). Is this still football we are taking about? Good Grief, MAN UP!! LSU hasn't been all too impressive this year and nearly lost to Auburn on the road, who is having a flat out awful year. And based on last week's performance against UGA,  if LSU doesn't block South Carolina's Clowney and Taylor coming off the ends, they are going to be in for a long, long night. If Mettenberger has time, he can make some things happen. He's tossed for 6 TDs and 1174 yards this season. However, he needs to really step up this week and lead his team. I think the difference in this game is South Carolina's defense and Marcus Lattimore on offense. He's back at 100% following last season's injury that sidelined him and hes already rushed for 9 TDs. Bottom line is LSU hasn't showed me enough to believe they can win this game, even with it being at home. As much as I want to see South Carolina go down, it may have to wait at least another week. Gamecocks get the job done in Baton Rouge and South Carolina takes another step towards winning its first SEC Championship in school history.  

Prediction: South Carolina 27 LSU 23


Other Predictions: 


#5 West Virginia over Texas Tech

#7 ND over Stanford 

#11 USC over Washington 

Tennessee over #19 Mississippi State 

#22 Texas A&M over #23 Louisiana Tech 

Miami (FL) over North Carolina 

Ole Miss over Auburn








Monday, October 8, 2012

Week 6 Review

BCS Shake Up! 


As we reached the midway point of the regular season we faced a HUGE Saturday of football with a few battles of undefeated teams facing off and other big match-ups that I dubbed Statement Saturday. It was a chance for teams to begin separating themselves from the rest of the pack. A few rose to the occasion and answered the call while others failed miserably and took a step back. From a personal standpoint, I took another step back this week. After running the table and going 10-0 last week, I went 9-5 Saturday to make my overall record this year 50-19...which isn't too shabby I suppose. Lets take a look back on all the happenings from around the nation that took place Saturday. 


The Gators Are Back! 


Florida knocked off LSU in the swamp 14-6 to improve to 5-0 on the season. Led by Mike Gillislee with 146 yards and 2TDs, the Gators continued their impressive start to the 2012 campaign and proved they are the real deal and are a force again in the SEC-East. The Tigers were doomed by poor play, turnovers (3) and penalties (8-83 yards) and simply could not stop Gillislee. Another striking stat was 42 yards...that was what LSU rushed for as a team. I don't care who you are and what offense you run..when you gain less than 50 yards rushing...you are probably going to lose. Zero balance or significant offensive production at all for the Tigers. LSU had struggled as of late and had not been very impressive so this shouldn't be a major surprise though its still a huge upset for the Gators. LSU now prepares for the Gamecocks in that "other" Death Valley next week, 8pm kickoff. Florida meanwhile heads to Nashville to take on the Commodores for a 6pm kickoff. 


Geno Smith For Heisman? 


I still have nightmares anytime I think about Smith and the WVU offense. As much as I dislike them, gotta give them credit as they continue to put up big numbers. They are impressive on offense but like my Tigers, could use some major improvement on the defensive side of the ball. Smith though is making up for the lack of defense as he put up impressive numbers again this weekend going on the road against Texas and getting the 48-45 victory . Smith was threw for 268 yards and 4 TDs while Andrew Buie had a record setting day rushing for 207 yards and 2Tds.  And if that's not impressive enough for you...Smith has now thrown for 24 touchdowns and get this...ZERO interceptions this year. Geno is what you call a "grown man"! 


Buckeyes Keep Winning


I said it last week and I'll say it again...the path to the BCS championship is becoming more and more doable for OSU if they keep winning. With losses coming for either Bama, LSU, South Carolina and Florida...all the Buckeyes have to do is keep on winning and they will have a solid argument for a spot in the title game. They keep winning and doing it in style..example being knocking off Nebraska this weekend 63-38. Miller, another Heisman hopeful rushed for 186 yards...72 of which coming off just one carry. Another dual threat QB like Smith who should be in NYC at the end of the season...and also likely to have his team in the top 5 as well. 



Clemson racks up 600 yards of offense, rally to beat Georgia Tech


It wasn't pretty and at times....it was flat out ugly. But Clemson found a way to get the job done and thanks to a huge 4th quarter, a safety, big stop in the red zone and a blocked FG, the Tigers held on for a 47-31 win against its rival from the Coastal Division and kept its ACC Championship hopes alive. (More on how big this win was later on) Nuk Hopkins continued to show up and show out reeling in 7 passes for 178 yards and 2 big play Tds. Tajh Boyd struggled early but settled down and made some good passes down the stretch and had a huge game one the ground making things happen when his wide outs were covered. He rushed for 63 yards and averaged 4.3 per carry and had some big runs that kept the chains moving for Clemson. Roderick McDowell again came into the game and helped finished the job with some fresh legs and energy rushing for 56 yards and 2 TDs. Boyd moved ahead of Charlie Whitehurst with the most career TD passes. He is on pace to absolutely smash that record, especially if he is to return next season. With the win, Clemson now prepares for a much needed bye week. Next up will be the Hokies October 20th in Death Valley, a noon kick. Which makes zero sense to me...ESPECIALLY seeing as North Carolina @ Duke has the prime time slot....but I won't even open up that can of worms. 


Will The Real Seminoles Please Stand Up?


Well FSU did what I expected them to eventually do this season and lose a game they had no business losing. I had been neck-deep in this FSU hype all off season and through the first half of this season. The Noles traveled to North Carolina State and fell to the Wolf Pack 17-16. The Noles were shutout in the second half and NCST hung around and after blowing a chance late in the game to score on a questionable play call, they cashed in on their last chance with 15 seconds remaining on 4th down. With the game on the line, Glennon stood in the pocket and fired the ball into the chest of Bryan Underwood from 2 yards out and the extra point proved true securing the upset over the #3 ranked Seminoles. Bad news for FSU is they still have to travel to Virginia Tech and Miami so the race for the Atlantic division just got VERY interesting. And more importantly, for me, my Clemson Tigers are without a doubt, right back in the race. Just gotta keep winning. FSU now must refocus and get ready for Boston College. 


South Carolina dominates Georgia, improves to 6-0


I missed the first quarter of this game where most of the damage was done, but it was clear to me that South Carolina was the better team, was better prepared and had the better game plan and smothered UGA's offense. Clowney, Taylor and the rest of the D-line gave Murray and the offensive line fits all night long and they simply could not block the Gamecocks. I recall numerous times where Clowney was literally hurdling offensive linemen and tight ends rushing towards the backfield. Meanwhile, South Carolina was firing on all cylinders and recorded another punt return TD via Ace Sanders. (Note to everyone: don't kick to him) UGA not only was dominated they barely escaped the shutout scoring a TD with less than 2 min remaining in the game. Lattimore had another big game against the Red and Black rushing for 109 yards and 1TD. The Gamecocks gave their fans a great show and kept them cheering all night long which didn't help the Bulldogs struggles. With the 35-7 win, the Gamecocks now prepare for another road trip as they head to Baton Rouge for LSU next weekend. After that, they head to the swamp..that is followed by a home match up against Tenneessee. Ranked #3 in the nation and having to go on the road in hostile environments can they keep up this streak...a 10-0 streak which is now the nation's longest active streak? We will see. 



Other News


Its not just about Basketball in Durham anymore. Duke is now 5-1 following a 42-17 beat down of UVA. Not going to lie, that Clemson-Duke game in Durham is slowly but surely looking like a major trap game for the Tigers. The Blue Devils are playing well and are gaining more and more confidence as the season grows. They could easily be some the party crashers for some ACC teams this year. Funny thing is...if  the ACC Championship were played today, it'd be Maryland vs Duke. Again...this is football. My oh my how times have changed! In other news, Vanderbilt knocked off Missouri 19-15 Saturday. Zac Stacey rushed for 72 yards and 2 TDs. Missouri is still searching for that first SEC victory. North Carolina got past VT 48-34 behind a 262 yard 1 TD showing from Gio Bernard. Kansas St gave Kansas all it could handle 56-16 and remained undefeated. Oregon cruised past Washington 52-21. Notre Dame steamrolls Miami (FL) 41-3. Iowa St upsets TCU and snaps their 12 game winning steak, 37-23. Oklahoma had not problems with Texas Tech, 41-20 over the Red Raiders. And Stanford outlasted Arizona in 4 OTs, 54-48. In a battle of struggle city, Arkansas beat Auburn 24-7. Gene Chizik...I feel your pain, but I hope you don't win another game this season. Back to GT for moment, they announced Monday that Defensive Coordinator Al Groh had been fired following its third straight loss in which his defense gave up an average of 46 points and twice gave up over 600 yards of total offense. And finally, back to the UGA game. After finding out his father had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer Friday, Murray had one of the worst games of his life Saturday and returned home to find his house had been egged and rolled with toilet paper. C'mon people...its a football game. Its just a game! There are far more important things in life. Win, lose, or draw...stay classy! 




Thursday, October 4, 2012

Week 6: Statement Saturday

The title says it all. This weekend gives us another amazing slate of football to watch with a handful of big match ups between ranked teams. Its about that time to separate the good teams from the great teams and this weekend provides the opportunity for teams to widen, or close the gap. If you can't find a game that grabs your attention this weekend then you simply just aren't looking. I'll know which ones I'll be keeping an eye on and there are quite a few:


2 in a row for Washington? 


Washington pulled the upset on Stanford last Thursday night and cracked the top 25 coming in at #23. Can they pull off another big win this weekend when it plays #2 Oregon? I would love to see it happen but I think the Ducks are too fast and too talented. Add the fact that Washington has to go into Eugene to play the game, I gotta give the advantage to Oregon. They win, and win in convincing fashion.

Prediction: Oregon 47 Washington 30 





Plenty of Intriguing Match Ups This Weekend





#10 Florida (4-0), who is coming off their bye-week welcomes #4 LSU to town Saturday afternoon at 3:30pm. Florida has been impressive thus far with two big wins at Texas A&M and Tennessee already under its belt. LSU struggled with Auburn and didn't exactly blow Towson out of the water as I would have expected last week. This game is in the swamp and the well rested Gators are going to give LSU their absolute best shot. However, I'm not sure it will be enough. LSU wins a close one.

Prediction: LSU 24 Florida 20




In another clash of undefeated teams, #8 West Virginia heads to Austin, Texas to battle the #11 Longhorns at 7pm. Geno Smith is already closing in on 2000 yards passing at 1728 yards through the first five weeks. (600+ coming in last weeks win over Baylor) Both teams are 4-0 and 1-0 in conference play. WVU looks really. really good and I think they get it done on the road.

Prediction: West Virginia 38 Texas 28






#3 FSU faces a potential trap game as it travels to Raleigh to take on the Wolf Pack in prime time action. Glennon is off to a great start tossing for 10 TDs and over 1400 yards so far this year. For the Noles, Thompson has been big on the ground with 430 yards and 5 TD's. As much as I want to see FSU go down, I don't think NCST is the team that can do it, but I pray that I'm wrong. Too much talent on both sides of the ball for me to pick against them this week.

Prediction: Florida State 31 North Carolina State 17 





#12 Ohio St looks to move to 6-0 Saturday when it host #21 Nebraska. Braxton Miller has been cash money this year closing in on 1000 yards through the air and 600 yards on the ground for a combined 15 TDs on the year. Don't look now but the Buckeyes keep winning and they could very well make their way into the BCS title game with some losses promised to a few SEC teams ranked ahead of them.

Prediction: Ohio St. 35 Nebraska 27 






#15 Clemson welcomes a struggling Georgia Tech team that's is 2-3 on the year and coming off back to back losses from Miami and Middle Tennessee St. (Ouch!) They are going to be a frustrated group of yellow jackets. But I can assure you Clemson has not forgot about last year's game in ATL. Sammy Watkins is expected to be back following his sickness with an abdominal virus. Andre Ellington will also be 100% and ready to play this year. The defense will have its work cut out for them stopping the option and giving up the big play...and they will likely give up a lot of yards. Thankfully, the offense should help offset some of that. Look for a high scoring affair with the Tigers pulling away in the second half.

Prediction: Clemson 51 Georgia Tech 38 








#5 UGA travels to Columbia for a showdown with #6 South Carolina. College Game Day. Two undefeated teams. SEC title implications, BCS implications. Bragging rights. This game is what its all about. Last year the Gamecocks outlasted the Dawgs 45-42. I expect another classic this year as well. Marcus Lattimore has had great games against UGA and he could be the difference again this year. Gurley is having a great year on the ground for UGA. Both defenses are extremely talented, both have great QB's and exceptional backfields. Don't expect a high scoring affair like last year though. My heart and the Clemson fan in me says Georgia gets it done, but my gut tells me South Carolina pulls it out. Gotta go with my gut on this one. Another memorable ESPN Game Day experience for Gamecock fans and they roll into Baton Rouge next weekend on a roll.

Prediction: South Carolina 23 Georgia 21



Other Games of Interest 

#9 Notre Dame over Miami (FL)

Texas Tech over #17 Oklahoma 

Auburn over Arkansas 

North Carolina over Virginia Tech

Duke over Virginia (The Blue Devils are 4-1, just FYI) 

Missouri over Vanderbilt 

Texas A&M over Ole Miss