The Ole College Try

I usually try to use this write-up as an analysis of this week's games, however, since I missed last week's write-up, and since last week included Alabama-LSU, I am certainly going to be dropping in references to both of the last two weeks.

Game of the Week

(Week 11) - LSU Tigers 46 - Alabama Crimson Tide 41.  LSU jumps out to a big lead, but Alabama claws its way back in the second half until an LSU touchdown puts the game out of reach, except for the bomb Alabama throws on the next play to make it 46-41 with just enough time left to make it interesting.  LSU cements the win with a couple of first downs and stakes its claim to the number 1 ranking.  Great play from all the great players, exciting scoring opportunities, controversial plays (Moss's first down catch).  This game had it all.

(Week 12) - Oklahoma Sooners 34 - Baylor Bears 31.  Baylor jumped out to a 28-3 halftime score, only for Oklahoma to come storming back behind Jalen Hurts, without star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.  Oklahoma puts itself into the conversation for the final playoff spot with Georgia, Oregon, Utah and Penn State.

Best Team Performance

LSU Tigers.  They scored 46 on Alabama, enough said.  Yes, they gave up 41, but in such a slugfest that can sometimes be expected.

Least Impressive Team Performance

Maryland Terrapins.  The Terps lost 73-14 to Ohio State in Week 11.  There is no shame in losing to the Buckeyes this year, but the fact that the score was so lopsided, especially after scoring 79 and 63 in its first two games this year, is especially disappointing.  On this particular day, Maryland's football team gave up more points that Maryland's basketball team.

Most Impressive Individual Performance (Offense)

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB - LSU Tigers.  Yes Joe Burrow was great, but LSU does not defeat Alabama without the exploits of Edwards-Helaire.  He gained 103 yards rushing and scored 3 TDs, and added 77 more yards receiving, on 9 receptions, and another touchdown.  He was the best player on the field.

Most Impressive Individual Performance (Defense)

Terrel Bernard, LB - Baylor Bears.  In week 11, Bernard was a monster.  He totaled 19 tackles, including 1 sack and 3 for losses in Baylor's 29-23 victory over TCU to stay undefeated.  He followed that up with a 15 tackle performance against Oklahoma, which included 8 solo tackles, a sack, and 1 1/2 tackles for loss in Baylor's narrow 34-31 loss to the Sooners.

Most Impressive Individual Performance (Special Teams)

Matthew Trickett, K - Kent State Golden Flashes.  Trickett went 3-3 on field goals, including a 44 yard game winner, and 3-3 of extra points as Kent State defeated Buffalo 30-27 in week 12.  But, Trickett also set up his own game-winner by recovering his own perfectly executed onside kick.

Goat of the Week (Player Edition)

Offensive Line - Texas Longhorns.  If you can remember back to the beginning of the season, and one of the storylines was "Is Texas Back?"  That answer is a resounding "NO", and the offensive line is a major reason why.  Offering no holes for the Longhorn backfield, Texas amassed only 54 rushing yards in a 23-21 loss to Iowa State.  Out of those 54 yards, 27 were gained by quarterback Sam Ehlinger, but it took him 12 carries to even accomplish that.

Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)

P.J. Fleck - Minnesota Golden Gophers.  I do not want to place Fleck here, and in a large measure he does not deserve it, but, sometimes that is the position of the coach.  Fleck ran onto the field after an Iowa defender decked a Minnesota receiver.  Iowa drew a critical 4th down personal foul penalty, but then so did Fleck as he ran onto the field immediately after the play.  In Fleck's defense, he was not jawing with Iowa, or picking a fight with any of the players; it looked as if he was just trying to check on his downed-player, but, he was so fast and was on the field before any other coaches and trainers, that the officials had no choice but to flag him.  I still support what he did, but it helped cost the team in a 23-19 loss to the Hawkeyes, Minnesota's first.

Please note - I am not going to pile on Nick Saban for still having Tua Tagavailoa in the game when he dislocated his hip, as it was still the first half.

Breakthrough Performance

Brock Purdy, QB - Iowa State Cyclones.  Iowa State has had a nice season, going 6-4 after beating Texas 23-21.  But, after playing several close matches, Purdy broke out statistically with a monster against the Longhorns, going 30-48 for 354 yards and 2 TDs, in a game that was supposed to feature the quarterback on the other sideline Sam Ehlinger.

Finally

Shea Patterson, QB - Michigan Wolverines.  It seems like Patterson has been here before, having one good game after failing to live up to expectations all through college.  But, his 24-33 for 384 yards and 4 TDs performance in Michigan's 44-10 trouncing of Michigan State shows that perhaps, just perhaps, Michigan can finally compete with Ohio State this year.  (Doubtful, but perhaps.)

Impact Injury

Tua Tagavailoa, QB - Alabama.  It is still Tua.  This time the question is not whether Tua can be dangerous or close to 100%, but rather how good can Alabama be without Tua, as he will miss the rest of the season (and likely his Alabama career) after dislocating his him and the posterior fracture.

Team Rising

Utah Utes.  Utah, having defeated UCLA 49-3, and covering a 45 1/2 points spread, sit atop the Pac-12 South with a 6-1 record, 9-1 overall.  They have two remaining conference games against bottom-dwellers Arizona and Colorado. Two wins there, and they should face the expected Pac-12 North champion Oregon Ducks.  Both sit at 6 and 7 in playoff rankings, but would likely jump Alabama into 5th, and likely make the playoffs if LSU defeats Georgia in the SEC Championship game (and likely not if Georgia defeats LSU).  Also, can you imagine Utah being favored by 45 1/2 over UCLA?  Amazing job with the program.

Team Falling

Alabama Crimson Tide.  First there was the devastating loss to LSU in week 11, and now the devastating loss of Tua Tagavailoa in week 12.  Will likely still be ranked number 5 in the playoff rankings (or at least should) after this week's 38-7 drubbing of Mississippi State, but Oregon, Utah, Oklahoma and Penn State are all nipping at their heels.

Player(s) to Watch

John Rhys Plumlee, RB - Mississippi Running Rebels.  Playing the LSU Tigers the week after LSU defeated Alabama could be a great time to take advantage of the Tigers overlooking an opponent.  That did not happen this week as LSU defeated Mississippi 58-37.  Despite the lopsided score, Mississippi running back Plumlee ran for 212 yards on just 20 carries, and scored 4 TDs.   

My New Favorite Player

Dameon Pierce, RB - Florida Gators.  Tom Petty, who is from the Gainesville, Florida area and who used to work for the University athletic department, died on October 2, 2017.  Ever since then, starting with the first home game after his death on October 7, 2017, the University of Florida has played I Won't Back Down for the crowd to sing just after the traditional playing of the alma mater, We Are the  Boys, between the third and fourth quarters.  (I know, it is know Jump Around at Wisconsin).  This past week, Pierce was on the field for I Won't Back Down, and after air guitaring and air drumming portions of the song, began to do the Stanky Leg.  To Tom Petty.  Definitely my new favorite player.

Players of the Week (Just Week 12)

It is a shame that I skipped week 11 as there were a ton of great performances See Ewards-Helaire, Clyde.

6.  Jalen Hurts, QB - Oklahoma Sooners.  Hurts led Oklahoma's incredible comeback win over Baylor by throwing for 297 yards and 4 TDs, while also rushing for 114 yards.

5.  Jonathan Taylor, RB - Wisconsin Badgers.  Taylor ran for 204 yards and 2 TDs in Wisconsin's 37-21 victory over Nebraska, setting the NCAA record for most rushing yards through a junior season.

4.  Tyler Huntley, QB - Utah Utes.  Huntley threw for 335 yards and 2 TDs in Utah's 49-3 thrashing of UCLA.  Amazingly, he did it on only 14-18 completions/attempts.

3.  John Rhys Plumlee, RB - Mississippi Running Rebels.  See above.  Would ordinarily be ranked higher, except Mississippi lost to LSU.

2.  Ja'Marr Chase, WR - LSU Tigers.  Chase hauled in 8 catches, for 227 yards and 3 scores as LSU defeated Mississippi 58-37.

1.  Joe Burrow, QB - LSU Tigers.  Three star performances in the same game, topped by Burrow's 32-42 for 489 yards and 5 TDs.

Predicted Playoffs/Championship Match Ups

LSU Tigers (1) v. Oregon Ducks (4)/ (2) Ohio State Buckeyes v. (3) Clemson Tigers

Remaining Unbeatens

Clemson, LSU, Ohio State

Remaining Winless Team

Akron

Rant(s) of the Week

Fans that do not understand the rules.  Yes, I realize that it looked like Moss was out-of-bounds before he caught the pass against Alabama.  But, he was ruled pushed out-of-bounds, and in that circumstance he is allowed to re-establish himself inbounds and be the first player to touch the ball on a pass.  You can disagree that he was pushed out-of-bounds, but please at least understand what the call is, and the rules pertaining to that call - before griping.

Last Week's Trivia Answer

Last week's question was:

President Donald Trump is expected to attend the Alabama-LSU matchup.  When was the last time a sitting President attended s regular season college game between the top 2 ranked teams, who played, and who was the President?

The answer is 1969, Texas and Arkansas, and Richard Nixon.

Match up(s) to Watch

5. Akron v. Miami (Oh) - The Zips are running out of opportunities to win a game this season, (plus it is a generally uninteresting week)..

4.  SMU v. Navy - This should actually be an incredibly exciting game.

3.  Pittsburgh v. Virginia Tech - This is one of the four games in the next two weeks that will determine whether Virginia, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, or Miami is slaughtered by Clemson in the ACC Championship game.  

2.  Harvard v.  Yale - The Game!  Enough said.

1.  Penn State v. Ohio State - The winner of this game wins the Big 10 East, and will earn the right to play in the conference championship game.  Winner is likely still in the playoff chase, while the loser is all but out (yes, even if it is Ohio State).

Trivia Question of the Week

This should be pretty easy, but, Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor eclipsed the NCAA record for most rushing yards through a junior season.  Whose record did he break?