The Ole College Try

Rivalry week part 2, and oh what a week it was!.

Game of the Week

Auburn Tigers 48 - Alabama Crimson Tide 45.  a big rivalry game, between two Top 15 teams ends up being way more exciting than these games usually are. Ninety-three points scored, a controversy (the Auburn field goal at the end of the first half), trickery and the resulting whining (the punt line-up and the resulting 12 man on the field penalty), and a missed field goal knocking Alabama out of the playoffs!  Super, super exciting!

Best Team Performance

Ohio State Buckeyes.  Playing a supposedly resurgent rival (Michigan), and utterly destroying them 56-27.  A 300 yard passer (Justin Fields), a 200 yard rusher (J.K. Dobbins) and a 100 yard receiver (Garrett Wilson) virtually locks Ohio State into the number 1 seed (especially since the committee no longer has to worry about a 1-4 LSU-Alabama rematch in the semi-finals.

Least Impressive Team Performance

Miami Hurricanes.  Consecutive losses to Florida International and Duke are a horrendous way to finish the season.  Will probably lose to an inferior team in an inferior, irrelevant bowl.

Most Impressive Individual Performance (Offense)

J.K. Dobbins, RB - Ohio State Buckeyes.  Dobbins finished with 211 yards rushing, 48 yards receiving and 4 TDs in Ohio State's rout of Michigan.

Most Impressive Individual Performance (Defense)

Jonathan Greenard, DE - Florida Gators.  Greenard had 3 sacks against Florida State, and probably would have had more if the rest of the defense also didn't dominate the Florida State offensive line (and playcalling).

Most Impressive Individual Performance (Special Teams)

Jalen Reagor, KR - TCU Horned Frogs.  Reagor's return touchdown in the loss against West Virginia was his second of the year, the first person to do this for TCU since 2012.  This gives him the spots over Jaylen Waddle only because I like the way he spells "Jalen" better.

Goat of the Week (Player Edition)

Elijah Moore, WR - Mississippi Runnin' Rebels.  Moore caught a 2 yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left in the game that brought the Rebels within an extra point of tying The Egg Bowl with Mississippi State at 21.  However, Moore decided to act like he was a dog (presumably a bulldog) and lifted his leg mimicking urination.  He received an unsportsmanlike conduct 15 yard penalty, and Luke Logan ultimately missed the longer extra point so Mississippi - and Moore - lost the game.

Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)

Nick Saban, Alabama.  He gets caught by a unique fake punt formation and has his team called for a 12 man on the field penalty that gives Auburn a first down late in the fourth quarter.  Without that penalty, a precious minute and a half do not run off the clock, giving Alabama at least a closer field goal to tie the game, if not a touchdown.

Breakthrough Performance

Kylin Hill, RB - Mississippi State Bulldogs.  Despite the above error on the part of Elijah Moore, Kylin Hill was a big part of why the Bulldogs won The Egg Bowl.  Hill rushed for 132 yards, setting up all of State's touchdowns.

Finally

We can stop discussing this Alabama team, as its defense was clearly not up to par this year, surrendering over 45 to LSU and Auburn.

Impact Injury

Tua Tagavailoa, QB - Alabama.  It is still Tua. Makes me wonder what this game would have looked like with Tagavailoa, although Mac Jones did play wonderfully.

Team Rising

Utah Utes.  After their 45-15 victory over Colorado guarantees them a spot in the Pac-12 championship game, their playoff destiny is mostly in the hands of the Utes.  Yes, they would have to beat Oregon, but that is up to them.  They are likely in the playoff ahead of the Oklahoma/Baylor winner (especially if it is Baylor, which would split the season series between the two).  Can the Utes take care of business and beat the Ducks?  We shall see.

Team Falling

Alabama Crimson Tide.  This is the first time that Alabama will miss the college football playoffs since its inception in 2014.

Player(s) to Watch

Jalen Hurts, QB - Oklahoma Sooners.  The Big 12 championship game all depends upon whether the second half against Baylor Jalen Hurts shows up, or the first half against Baylor Jalen Hurts shows up.  If it is the former, Baylor and Utah fight for the last playoff spot (assuming LSU defeats Georgia).  If it is the latter, Oklahoma lays its claim to the last playoff spot.

My New Favorite Player

Elijah Moore, WR - Mississippi Runnin' Rebels.  Despite the fact that his celebration cost his team the game, the manuever that started the "Piss Miss" was hysterical.

Players of the Week

5.  Jonathan Greenard, DE - Florida Gators.  See above.

4.  Jamale Carothers, RB - Navy Midshipmen.  Carothers gained 188 yards and scored 5 TDs in Navy's 56-41 defeat of Houston.

3.  Jaylen Waddle, WR - Alabama Crimson Tide.  Waddle caught 4 passes for 98 yards and 3 TDs, and also returned 3 kicks for 132 yards, including a 98 yard touchdown.

2.  Bryce Perkins, QB - Virginia Cavaliers.  In Virginia's 39-30 victory over in-state rival Virginia Tech, Perkins was 20-33 for 311 yards and 1 TD, ad also ran for 164 yards and 2 more TDs  His performance gets Virginia a date with Clemson in the ACC Championship game.

1.  J.K. Dobbins, RB - Ohio State Buckeyes.  See above.

Predicted Playoffs/Championship Match Ups

LSU Tigers (1) v. Utah Utes (4)/ (2) Ohio State Buckeyes v. (3) Clemson Tigers

Remaining Unbeatens

Clemson, LSU, Ohio State

Remaining Winless Team

Akron - Only winless team on the year, as Akron has finished its season.

Rant(s) of the Week

Why are we penalizes celebrations?  If someone scores and gets specifically in the other team's face, OK, that is unsportsmanlike.  But, other than that, it is just a celebration.  Sometimes they are great, sometimes they are funny, sometimes they are questionable, and sometimes they are just stupid.  But, let the kids celebrate.

Last Week's Trivia Answer

Last week's question was:

With two sacks against Penn State, Ohio State defensive end has set the school record for sacks in a season with 16 1/2 (despite being suspended for 2 games).  Whose record did he break?

The answer is Vernan Gholston.

Match up(s) to Watch


5.  Cincinnati v. Memphis (American Conference Championship) - A rematch of last week's game in which Memphis prevailed.  Memphis, if it wins, will be the Group of 5's representative in the New Year's Day bowls.  A Cincinnati win opens the door for Boise State or Appalachian State.

4. Utah v. Oregon (Pac 12 Championship) - Utah has the opportunity to make the playoffs with a win, whereas Oregon has its sights set on the Rose Bowl.  Oregon should be favored, but Utah's defense is tough.

3. Ohio State v Wisconsin (Big 10 Championship) - A Wisconsin victory throws the entire playoff scenario into chaos, and possibly (but not likely) knocks Ohio State out of the playoff.  

2.  Baylor v. Oklahoma (Big 12 Championship) - Both teams have 1 loss, and the winner could be playoff bound if this win is convincing enough, and if LSU defeats Georgia.  Baylor looking for revenge after losing to Oklahoma just weeks ago.

1. Georgia v. LSU (SEC Championship) - Easily the best game on the books.  A Georgia win likely puts two SEC teams into the playoff.  An LSU win makes the fight for spot number 4 (assuming Ohio State and Clemson victories) incredibly interesting.

Trivia Question of the Week

Since the Iron Bowl was important this week, the question is how many consecutive times has Auburn won the Iron Bowl when the game was played at Jordan-Hare Stadium and both teams entered the game ranked in the AP Poll?