big daddy russ
10-24-2006, 12:44 PM
Not many marquee matchups this weekend, but a bunch of potential upsets on tap.
BIG GAMES
THURS- #10 Clemson @ NR Virginia Tech... See below, "potential landmines"
SAT:
#19 OU @ #23 Mizzou- Chase Daniel is the best QB in the Big XII, but OU still has tons of untapped, raw talent. I think OU pulls off a close one, but it'll be fun.
NR Kent State @ NR Ohio- That's not Ohio State, just Ohio. As in the Bobcats. "Why, oh why, BDR, would you ever mark down a MAC game as a big game?" It's simple for everyone who lives in Texas. Whoever wins this game becomes the team that's favored to win not only their division (both teams are in the MAC East), but also their conference. I know Central Michigan has a good squad, but I believe both Kent State and the Frank Solich-led Bobcats (former Nebraska coach) are better than Central Michigan. Now here's where it comes full circle: the winner's looking at an invite to the GMAC Bowl where they'd play C-USA's second team on January 7. And who might that be? There's a very good chance it'll be U of H. Cougar High suffered it's lone in-conference loss to Southern Miss (by a 31-27 margin), but already has a key conference win with the lone key game left being their November 11 showdown with Tulsa. Don't get me wrong, Houston still has a great chance to win the conference, but if they don't the team that beats them will be Southern Miss, the lone team that the GMAC Bowl would realistically think about picking up over the Coogs. Follow all that?
NR Miami @ #21 Georgia Tech- Miami's not ranked, but they're not dead, either. They have the talent to sneak up on a 'Jackets team still reeling from last week's lashing by Clemson.
#8 Tennessee @ South Carolina- See below
POTENTIAL LANDMINES
THURS:
#10 Clemson @ NR Va Tech... Clemson's been playing like a national title contender while the Hokies, well, let's just give Frank Beamer a pass for their first seven games of the season. The thing is, the two teams they lost to were Boston College and Georgia Tech, both of whom are ranked. They still have a stifling defense (only Georgia Tech has scored more than 22) and QB Sean Glennon looks like he's finally starting to "get" it. They have the national spotlight all to themselves and it's in Blacksburg, so you know it'll be close.
SAT:
#7 Auburn @ NR Ole Miss... "How is this a potential landmine?" you may be asking yourself. Sure, it's quite possibly the best team in the SEC against the second-worst, but don't write off the Rebels just yet. Auburn's as beat up as they come. Their o-line is in shambles, their RB corps is depleted, and starters TB Kenny Irons, OL Brandon Duckworth, FB Carl Stewart, FS Aairon Savage and TB Brad Lester (a backup to Irons, but has started two games this year) are all questionable for this game. The Tigers' top two centers are also out for the game, meaning a possible slide to C by starting RT Jonathan Palmer, a slide to RT by nicked-up RG Duckworth, and starting a guy that has played maybe two games of live action on a line that wasn't exactly stellar to begin with. Couple that with the fact that, although they only have two wins, Ole Miss has tons of talent, highlighted by the front seven on defense. The line is young, but anchored by All-Conference candidate Brandon Jenkins. Jenkins is joined by two stud Freshman and a stud soph on the line, while the LB crew is anchored by one of the ten best defenders in the entire nation, Patrick Willis. Can five-star QB Brent Schaeffer finally rally this offense in the biggest game he's played since his days at Tennessee?
NR Northern Illinois @ NR Iowa- Until last week, Iowa was a trendy favorite to win the Big Ten. Sure, they've slipped, but they still have Drew Tate, Kirk Ferentz, and a solid defense. But they're going into a tricky situation against NIU. If NIU RB Garrett Wolfe can control the clock and keep the game out of Drew Tate's hands, a tired defense may be all that's standing between Wolfe's troops and a colossal upset.
NR Colorado @ NR Kansas- You're right, KU isn't very good, but on the other side of the field you have a Buffs squad that lost to I-AA Montana State. Sure, CU beat Tech, but Tech always seems to gaffe against at least one underling a year, right? Thing is, this is a different Buffs team than the one that lost to Pocatella High. Dan Hawkins has this team coming together at the right time, during the creampuff filling of the schedule. This may not be a colossal upset that will become an ESPN Instant Classic, but considering where they've come from it could be a HUGE step forward for the boys up in Boulder.
#3 USC @ NR Oregon State- I could've gone with UGA @ Florida, but I just can't see UF losing that one at home. This one, on the other hand, pits a team about as good as the Bulldogs against a team not quite as good as Florida... and it all happens in Corvallis, OR. If USC slips up before it gets to Cal, this is where it happens.
#8 Tennessee @ South Carolina- It doesn't get much tougher than Williams-Brice, and the Ole Ball Coach has that Gamecock defense humming. GameDay will be there, and so will Syvelle Newton and Sidney Rice.
#22 Texas A&M @ Baylor- It'll be all over the front page of the Downlow before long. You know the history. I don't need to say a word.
BIG GAMES
THURS- #10 Clemson @ NR Virginia Tech... See below, "potential landmines"
SAT:
#19 OU @ #23 Mizzou- Chase Daniel is the best QB in the Big XII, but OU still has tons of untapped, raw talent. I think OU pulls off a close one, but it'll be fun.
NR Kent State @ NR Ohio- That's not Ohio State, just Ohio. As in the Bobcats. "Why, oh why, BDR, would you ever mark down a MAC game as a big game?" It's simple for everyone who lives in Texas. Whoever wins this game becomes the team that's favored to win not only their division (both teams are in the MAC East), but also their conference. I know Central Michigan has a good squad, but I believe both Kent State and the Frank Solich-led Bobcats (former Nebraska coach) are better than Central Michigan. Now here's where it comes full circle: the winner's looking at an invite to the GMAC Bowl where they'd play C-USA's second team on January 7. And who might that be? There's a very good chance it'll be U of H. Cougar High suffered it's lone in-conference loss to Southern Miss (by a 31-27 margin), but already has a key conference win with the lone key game left being their November 11 showdown with Tulsa. Don't get me wrong, Houston still has a great chance to win the conference, but if they don't the team that beats them will be Southern Miss, the lone team that the GMAC Bowl would realistically think about picking up over the Coogs. Follow all that?
NR Miami @ #21 Georgia Tech- Miami's not ranked, but they're not dead, either. They have the talent to sneak up on a 'Jackets team still reeling from last week's lashing by Clemson.
#8 Tennessee @ South Carolina- See below
POTENTIAL LANDMINES
THURS:
#10 Clemson @ NR Va Tech... Clemson's been playing like a national title contender while the Hokies, well, let's just give Frank Beamer a pass for their first seven games of the season. The thing is, the two teams they lost to were Boston College and Georgia Tech, both of whom are ranked. They still have a stifling defense (only Georgia Tech has scored more than 22) and QB Sean Glennon looks like he's finally starting to "get" it. They have the national spotlight all to themselves and it's in Blacksburg, so you know it'll be close.
SAT:
#7 Auburn @ NR Ole Miss... "How is this a potential landmine?" you may be asking yourself. Sure, it's quite possibly the best team in the SEC against the second-worst, but don't write off the Rebels just yet. Auburn's as beat up as they come. Their o-line is in shambles, their RB corps is depleted, and starters TB Kenny Irons, OL Brandon Duckworth, FB Carl Stewart, FS Aairon Savage and TB Brad Lester (a backup to Irons, but has started two games this year) are all questionable for this game. The Tigers' top two centers are also out for the game, meaning a possible slide to C by starting RT Jonathan Palmer, a slide to RT by nicked-up RG Duckworth, and starting a guy that has played maybe two games of live action on a line that wasn't exactly stellar to begin with. Couple that with the fact that, although they only have two wins, Ole Miss has tons of talent, highlighted by the front seven on defense. The line is young, but anchored by All-Conference candidate Brandon Jenkins. Jenkins is joined by two stud Freshman and a stud soph on the line, while the LB crew is anchored by one of the ten best defenders in the entire nation, Patrick Willis. Can five-star QB Brent Schaeffer finally rally this offense in the biggest game he's played since his days at Tennessee?
NR Northern Illinois @ NR Iowa- Until last week, Iowa was a trendy favorite to win the Big Ten. Sure, they've slipped, but they still have Drew Tate, Kirk Ferentz, and a solid defense. But they're going into a tricky situation against NIU. If NIU RB Garrett Wolfe can control the clock and keep the game out of Drew Tate's hands, a tired defense may be all that's standing between Wolfe's troops and a colossal upset.
NR Colorado @ NR Kansas- You're right, KU isn't very good, but on the other side of the field you have a Buffs squad that lost to I-AA Montana State. Sure, CU beat Tech, but Tech always seems to gaffe against at least one underling a year, right? Thing is, this is a different Buffs team than the one that lost to Pocatella High. Dan Hawkins has this team coming together at the right time, during the creampuff filling of the schedule. This may not be a colossal upset that will become an ESPN Instant Classic, but considering where they've come from it could be a HUGE step forward for the boys up in Boulder.
#3 USC @ NR Oregon State- I could've gone with UGA @ Florida, but I just can't see UF losing that one at home. This one, on the other hand, pits a team about as good as the Bulldogs against a team not quite as good as Florida... and it all happens in Corvallis, OR. If USC slips up before it gets to Cal, this is where it happens.
#8 Tennessee @ South Carolina- It doesn't get much tougher than Williams-Brice, and the Ole Ball Coach has that Gamecock defense humming. GameDay will be there, and so will Syvelle Newton and Sidney Rice.
#22 Texas A&M @ Baylor- It'll be all over the front page of the Downlow before long. You know the history. I don't need to say a word.