It's been two weeks since I have done a weekend preview for college football. I come back at a crucial time in the season; we're close to the first BCS rankings being revealed, and we already have some surprises. Alabama has gone down, Auburn is the highest ranked team in the SEC, Florida and Texas are both on two game losing streaks, and it has been rumored that had the BCS rankings come out this week, Boise State (gasp!) would hold the top spot in the rankings. Depending on how this weekend plays out, we could have even more parody in season that, like previous years, looks headed to make the BCS system look completely flawed.
5 Games to Pay Attention to This Weekend
Illinois at #13 Michigan State (Saturday, 12 PM EST)
I picked Michigan State to be a team that could surprise in the Big Ten, but I didn't expect them to be doing as well as they are. They don't have either an outstanding offense or defense, but have played very well under pressure, and have the guts that a team needs to have a special season. This weekend's game may be the toughest test for the Spartans thus far, though. Illinois, evident in their close game with Ohio State and then their beatdown of Penn State in Happy Valley, is not that bad. At least, not on defense. They rank next to last in total yards per game on offense, ahead of only Penn State. For the Illini to win, they will need to shut down Spartans quarterback Kirk Cousins and hope they can muster enough points on offense to squeak out a close one. For the Spartans, a balanced offensive attack, and just not giving up any easy points on defense will be key if they want to keep their undefeated season intact.
My Pick: 24-17 Illinois
#21 Missouri at Texas A&M (Saturday, 12 PM EST)
If you wanted to truly evaluate how good the 2010 Missouri Tigers really are, their next three games would be a good thing to keep an eye on. After facing Texas A&M this weekend, the Tigers get to play Oklahoma at home, and then travel to Lincoln to play Nebraska the following week. Not only are these three games important to Missouri, but they are important to determining the entire Big 12 race. If Texas A&M has anything to say about it, Missouri will be an afterthought by this time next weekend. The Aggies have suffered tough losses in consecutive weekends to Oklahoma State and Arkansas, teams that are now both ranked, and also teams that Texas A&M had legitimate shots at beating. The season is slowly starting to slip away for the Aggies, so quarterback Jerrod Johnson needs to step up big in this game and re-start the success train. Starting 0-2 in the Big 12 South usually doesn't garner approval from fans, especially if you're a team from Texas.
My Pick: 38-31 Texas A&M
Texas at #5 Nebraska (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)
Texas has to be angry. After being easy handled by UCLA, the Longhorns were unable to pull a big upset over rival Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout. After the loss to the Sooners, Texas dropped out of the top 25 for the first time in ten years. Now, after having an off week to think about all this, Texas gets to face yet another Big 12 power, Nebraska, in Lincoln. Mack Brown has the ability to get his players ready for big games such as this one, and all the other factors mentioned before should just add fuel to the fire for the Longhorns. However, they are going to have to play very well in a hostile Lincoln environment in order to pull off the upset. Many people are not aware of just how good Nebraska's defense is, and emotions alone are not going to win the game for Texas. It should be interesting to see how Texas responds in this one.
My Pick: 28-24 Nebraska
#12 Arkansas at #7 Auburn (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)
Arkansas probably should have beaten Alabama two weeks ago. Unfortunately for Arkansas, Ryan Mallett made some key mistakes late in the game, and now the Razorbacks may be left wondering what could have been if they make it through the rest of the season with just that one loss. In this high profile matchup between two highly ranked SEC teams, it should be a battle of the quarterbacks, so Mallett will get his chance for redemption. On the other side, Auburn's Cam Newtown continues to play well and make my analysis that he is a "poor man's Terrelle Pryor" sound foolish. However, Newton will be going up against a defense much better than anything he's faced this season thus far. Of the defenses he has faced so far, Mississippi State ranks the best in yards per game allowed, giving up 328, good for 36th best in the nation. Arkansas gives up 302, good for 19th best. I highly doubt Arkansas will let Newton run for almost 200 yards and four touchdowns, but we'll have to see.
My Pick: 35-24 Arkansas
#1 Ohio State at #18 Wisconsin (Saturday, 7 PM EST)
Of their last 44 home games, Wisconsin had managed to win 40 of them. In other words, Camp Randall Stadium is where teams' winning streaks go to die. The Buckeyes are hoping to keep their winning streak intact when they travel to Madison to play the Badgers in a night game, which only adds to the hostility already present at Camp Randall during football games. If Wisconsin wants to win this game, they will need to be less predictable on offense. Two weeks ago, Michigan State found that containing the Badger running attack (as well as going for it on fourth down three times) was a recipe for success. Although it is highly unlikely that Jim Tressel will go for it on fourth down that many times (if at all) on the road, he will definitely be aiming to stop Wisconsin running backs John Clay and James White. If Wisconsin can't find a balance between the run and passing attack, they will have a hard time not losing their fifth game in 45 tries at home.
My Pick: 35-31 Ohio State
5 More to Flip To
N.C. State at East Carolina (Saturday, 12 PM EST)
N.C. State has been a major surprise this year. East Carolina is always tough at home, though.
#15 Iowa at Michigan (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)
If Michigan can't win this game either, then you have to start to wonder if people were too quickly proclaiming the Wolverines as being "back".
#20 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)
There will undoubtedly be a lot of scoring in this game. When is the Tommy Tuberville we all came to know and love at Auburn going to show up at Texas Tech?
Mississippi State at #22 Florida (Saturday, 7 PM EST)
Urban Meyer would probably have to take off a few weeks for chest pains if the Gators were to drop this game too...
#19 Nevada at Hawaii (Saturday, 11:30 PM EST)
How good is Nevada? Well, better than Cal, that's for sure.
The next portion of this post features my predictions for the MLB's ALCS and NLCS. If you have actually read this entire post up to this point, I thank you.
ALCS (New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers
The Rangers have home field advantage, which I'm sure that the Yankees would like to have. The Rangers also have Cliff Lee, which I know the Yankees would like to have. Of the two, one seems to be more important than the other, and Cliff Lee may end up being one of the most important parts of this series. Home field advantage hasn't meant much to the Yankees, as they were able to beat Minnesota twice at Target Field en route to sweeping the Twins in the ALDS. In the Texas vs. Tampa Bay ALDS, neither team won a single game at home. However, Cliff Lee did manage to win two games for the Rangers, and in order to beat the Yankees, will likely have to do so again in this series. Remember that two game series back in early August between the Rangers and the Yankees? The Rangers showed true tenacity in those games, winning in ten innings in the first and only losing by one run in the second. After that series, I thought "if this team gets a chance against the Yankees in the playoffs, they may be able to surprise some people". With Cliff Lee as their trump card, I still think they can.
Prediction: Rangers in seven
NLCS (Philadelphia Phillies vs. San Francisco Giants)
Unfortunately, the National League's Championship Series isn't as intriguing as the American League's, which isn't something I thought I'd hear myself saying about a month ago. Both teams have extremely good starting pitching, but the Giants have very little offensive firepower. I am one to preach the quote "defense wins championships", but at some point, you also need to acknowledge that to win games, you need to put runs up on the board. With the Giants averaging just three runs per game so far in the playoffs, I don't see how they can stay with the Phillies, even with their great pitching. Remember, not only does San Francisco have offensive issues, but they will have to face the trio of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels. A threesome like that can shut down even the best offenses in the game.
Prediction: Phillies in six
- K. Becks
Showing posts with label arkansas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arkansas. Show all posts
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
NCAAF Week 4 Weekend Preview
The common belief is that the teams in the SEC are always beating each other up, thus knocking each other out of contention for a national championship. This weekend is the start of the beatings that will likely ensue for the rest of the season in that conference. High profile SEC matchups (Alabama vs. Arkansas and South Carolina vs. Auburn, to name a couple) will result in at least two of the SEC's seven currently undefeated teams to suffer their first loss of the season. At least one Top 15 team will go down. Thanks to the top teams in the conference beating on each other this weekend, there will likely be a major shakeup in the rankings come Sunday. They branded two weekends ago Monster Saturday, but this weekend could be as monstrous as any in the SEC. After tomorrow, we will have a much clearer picture of who are the contenders and who are the pretenders down South.
Top 5 Games to Pay Attention to This Weekend
#1 Alabama at #10 Arkansas (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
Last year, the Alabama defense shut down Ryan Mallett on their way to a 35-7 drubbing. This year the Razorbacks should be in a much better position to challenge the Tide. For Arkansas, it all starts with the turnaround on defense. A team that ranked last in total yards per game given up last year now ranks second in the SEC, behind only Alabama. Alabama is still very strong on defense, which should make it hard for Ryan Mallett to do a whole lot more than he was able to last year. If the defense for Arkansas is as improved on defense as the statistics suggest, they should keep this game close enough for Mallett to give them a shot at winning.
My Pick: 27-17 Alabama
#12 South Carolina at #12 Auburn (Saturday, 7:45 PM ET)
I was pretty sure that Clemson was going to be able to knock off Auburn last weekend, and if it hadn't been for Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker being injured the entire second half, they may have won that game. That is why am very confident that South Carolina will be able to do what their rivals could not last Saturday night. I don't think it was Clemson's defense that lost them the game. They just couldn't find a way to score points in the second half when they needed to. South Carolina has the tendency to have the same problem, but I believe that they won't even need to score that much in order to beat the Tigers.
My Pick: 24-13 South Carolina
#24 Oregon State at #3 Boise State (Saturday, 8 PM ET
Oregon State was able to keep the game against TCU close thanks to a couple of interceptions thrown by Andy Dalton. If the Beavers want to upset the number three team in the nation, they are going to have to force turnovers yet again. Boise's Kellen Moore was able to lead Boise over Virginia Tech thanks in part to the fact that he took good care of the football. If he is able to do that again, then the talent on the Broncos roster will probably be the difference in this game. Oregon State has gone as far as to practice on a blue field this week in preparation for the Smurf Turf, so if that doesn't say anything about the impact of playing in Boise for opposing teams, I don't know what does.
My Pick: 44-28 Boise State
#22 West Virginia at #15 LSU (Saturday, 9 PM ET)
Although they are 3-0, LSU doesn't really look like one of the best teams in the SEC this season. Even though they average over 28 points per game scoring, their passing game hasn't been all that productive. West Virginia, on the other hand, has had a surprisingly good passing game so far. This game will likely be a battle between LSU's defense (which has been solid) and West Virginia's offense, in particular the passing game. If this game were in Morgantown, I may go the other way with my pick. However, at home, LSU is going to need a collapse similar to the one they had against North Carolina in the second half in order to lose this game.
My Pick: 30-17 LSU
#5 Oregon at Arizona State (Saturday, 10:30 PM ET)
Arizona State did a nice job in Madison last weekend, coming within a blocked extra point of overtime with Wisconsin. This weekend the Sun Devils face an entirely different offensive attack. Oregon has been putting the pedal to the metal offensively in all three of their games this season, scoring an average of sixty-three points per game. It would be one of the shockers of the entire season if the Sun Devils were able to beat Oregon, and I'm not saying that it's going to happen. Just keep an eye on this game if Arizona State is still hanging around in the second half.
My Pick: Oregon 44-17
5 More to Flip To
#16 Stanford at Notre Dame (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
I think Charlie Weis could have started 1-3 with this schedule too...
Temple at #23 Penn State (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
Temple looks to be the class of the MAC. They have the capability of making this one interesting.
UCLA at #7 Texas (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
UCLA handled a Texas team last week. Can they make it two in a row?
Kentucky at #9 Florida (Saturday, 7 PM ET)
If this game wasn't being played at The Swamp, I would give Kentucky a much better chance of winning this game. Still, I think they at least have as much of a chance as Tennessee did last week.
California at #14 Arizona (Saturday, 10 PM ET)
The Pac-10 is weird. Arizona looked great last weekend, and Cal looked terrible. It could be the exact opposite this weekend, and I wouldn't even be all that surprised.
Storylines for the Weekend
North Carolina is cooked
Oh, how the tables have turned on the Tar Heels. Three weeks ago, they were getting ready for a game with the LSU Tigers, hoping that a win would be a proving point that they were one of the better teams in college football this season. Now, thanks to multiple suspensions handed out by the NCAA, the Tar Heels may just want to make it a goal to finish with a winning season. If North Carolina loses this weekend at Rutgers (which I believe they will), they will have a hard time not thinking of the 2010 campaign as a lost season. This is a sad but good example of what can happen when players receive improper benefits and are caught.
The Heisman race will begin to take shape
Right now, the Heisman bubble is still very fluid. After this weekend, we should have a better sense of who is really competing for college football's top individual prize. Ryan Mallett and Mark Ingram face off, which will undoubtedly result in one gaining a leg up on the other. Kellen Moore will get his second (and possibly last) shot to perform in front of a national audience to make his case as a Heisman contender. Terrelle Pryor has a chance to pad his stats against an Eastern Michigan team that is just plain bad. We're still weeks away from really knowing who is fighting for the bronze bust, but the conversation is becoming more relevant.
- K. Becks
Top 5 Games to Pay Attention to This Weekend
#1 Alabama at #10 Arkansas (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
Last year, the Alabama defense shut down Ryan Mallett on their way to a 35-7 drubbing. This year the Razorbacks should be in a much better position to challenge the Tide. For Arkansas, it all starts with the turnaround on defense. A team that ranked last in total yards per game given up last year now ranks second in the SEC, behind only Alabama. Alabama is still very strong on defense, which should make it hard for Ryan Mallett to do a whole lot more than he was able to last year. If the defense for Arkansas is as improved on defense as the statistics suggest, they should keep this game close enough for Mallett to give them a shot at winning.
My Pick: 27-17 Alabama
#12 South Carolina at #12 Auburn (Saturday, 7:45 PM ET)
I was pretty sure that Clemson was going to be able to knock off Auburn last weekend, and if it hadn't been for Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker being injured the entire second half, they may have won that game. That is why am very confident that South Carolina will be able to do what their rivals could not last Saturday night. I don't think it was Clemson's defense that lost them the game. They just couldn't find a way to score points in the second half when they needed to. South Carolina has the tendency to have the same problem, but I believe that they won't even need to score that much in order to beat the Tigers.
My Pick: 24-13 South Carolina
#24 Oregon State at #3 Boise State (Saturday, 8 PM ET
Oregon State was able to keep the game against TCU close thanks to a couple of interceptions thrown by Andy Dalton. If the Beavers want to upset the number three team in the nation, they are going to have to force turnovers yet again. Boise's Kellen Moore was able to lead Boise over Virginia Tech thanks in part to the fact that he took good care of the football. If he is able to do that again, then the talent on the Broncos roster will probably be the difference in this game. Oregon State has gone as far as to practice on a blue field this week in preparation for the Smurf Turf, so if that doesn't say anything about the impact of playing in Boise for opposing teams, I don't know what does.
My Pick: 44-28 Boise State
#22 West Virginia at #15 LSU (Saturday, 9 PM ET)
Although they are 3-0, LSU doesn't really look like one of the best teams in the SEC this season. Even though they average over 28 points per game scoring, their passing game hasn't been all that productive. West Virginia, on the other hand, has had a surprisingly good passing game so far. This game will likely be a battle between LSU's defense (which has been solid) and West Virginia's offense, in particular the passing game. If this game were in Morgantown, I may go the other way with my pick. However, at home, LSU is going to need a collapse similar to the one they had against North Carolina in the second half in order to lose this game.
My Pick: 30-17 LSU
#5 Oregon at Arizona State (Saturday, 10:30 PM ET)
Arizona State did a nice job in Madison last weekend, coming within a blocked extra point of overtime with Wisconsin. This weekend the Sun Devils face an entirely different offensive attack. Oregon has been putting the pedal to the metal offensively in all three of their games this season, scoring an average of sixty-three points per game. It would be one of the shockers of the entire season if the Sun Devils were able to beat Oregon, and I'm not saying that it's going to happen. Just keep an eye on this game if Arizona State is still hanging around in the second half.
My Pick: Oregon 44-17
5 More to Flip To
#16 Stanford at Notre Dame (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
I think Charlie Weis could have started 1-3 with this schedule too...
Temple at #23 Penn State (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
Temple looks to be the class of the MAC. They have the capability of making this one interesting.
UCLA at #7 Texas (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
UCLA handled a Texas team last week. Can they make it two in a row?
Kentucky at #9 Florida (Saturday, 7 PM ET)
If this game wasn't being played at The Swamp, I would give Kentucky a much better chance of winning this game. Still, I think they at least have as much of a chance as Tennessee did last week.
California at #14 Arizona (Saturday, 10 PM ET)
The Pac-10 is weird. Arizona looked great last weekend, and Cal looked terrible. It could be the exact opposite this weekend, and I wouldn't even be all that surprised.
Storylines for the Weekend
North Carolina is cooked
Oh, how the tables have turned on the Tar Heels. Three weeks ago, they were getting ready for a game with the LSU Tigers, hoping that a win would be a proving point that they were one of the better teams in college football this season. Now, thanks to multiple suspensions handed out by the NCAA, the Tar Heels may just want to make it a goal to finish with a winning season. If North Carolina loses this weekend at Rutgers (which I believe they will), they will have a hard time not thinking of the 2010 campaign as a lost season. This is a sad but good example of what can happen when players receive improper benefits and are caught.
The Heisman race will begin to take shape
Right now, the Heisman bubble is still very fluid. After this weekend, we should have a better sense of who is really competing for college football's top individual prize. Ryan Mallett and Mark Ingram face off, which will undoubtedly result in one gaining a leg up on the other. Kellen Moore will get his second (and possibly last) shot to perform in front of a national audience to make his case as a Heisman contender. Terrelle Pryor has a chance to pad his stats against an Eastern Michigan team that is just plain bad. We're still weeks away from really knowing who is fighting for the bronze bust, but the conversation is becoming more relevant.
- K. Becks
Friday, September 17, 2010
NCAAF Week 3 Weekend Preview
They called last weekend Monster Saturday in reference to the number of big matchups being played around the country. Although no one has coined a name for this weekend, there are a lot of interesting games this weekend as well. Here is a list of my top five games to pay attention to this weekend, as well as some storylines that I'd like to address.
Top 5 Games to Pay Attention to This Weekend
#12 Arkansas at Georgia (Saturday, 12 PM ET)
Georgia has never started 0-2 in the SEC under Mark Richt, but they have a tough test this weekend if they want to keep it that way. I put Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett on my preseason Heisman watch for a reason; he has the ability to pick defenses apart, even in the most hostile atmosphere. Georgia has had trouble scoring the ball this season, putting just six points on the board in a loss to South Carolina last weekend, which is not a recipe for success against a Razorbacks team known for their offensive firepower. The Bulldogs are missing wideout A.J. Green more and more every week.
My Pick: 31-17 Arkansas
#10 Florida at Tennessee (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
This is the most interesting matchup this weekend in my opinion. Tennessee looked good against Oregon last weekend for about a quarter and a half, and then went totally flat on offense for the rest of the game. Florida has not been overly impressive on offense this season either, so barring some sort of career day by John Brantley, Tennessee will probably not give up forty-five unanswered to the Gators like they did against Oregon. Florida is 5-0 against the Vols under Urban Meyer, but those wins were during the Chris Leak and Tim Tebow eras. Add the fact that Florida may be a little overrated, and that the game is being played in Knoxville, and we may be looking at the first Top 10 upset of the season.
My Pick: 27-24 Tennessee
Clemson at #16 Auburn (Saturday, 7 PM ET)
The ACC looked awful as a whole last weekend, so this is a game where they can attempt to regain some of the respect they lost. Clemson may be the class of the ACC, but then again, they may not be. Regardless, I think that Auburn is a little bit overrated, much like their SEC counterpart Florida. Cameron Newton is kind of like a poor man's Terrelle Pryor, but unlike Pryor, Newton routinely has to rely entirely on himself to make plays. Auburn will need to be more unpredictable against Clemson if they want to win this game, because Clemson has the playmakers on defense to contain Newton.
My Pick: 34-27 Clemson
#6 Texas at Texas Tech (Saturday, 8 PM ET)
Last time this game was played in Lubbock, Michael Crabtree was able to score a late touchdown to lead the Red Raiders over the Longhorns, which proved to be the only loss Texas would suffer that year. Crabtree is no longer there to help the Red Raiders out, and as usual, Texas Tech has a questionable defense. Currently, Texas Tech averages 43.5 PPG on offense, and they're definitely going to need to score a lot tomorrow night if they want to beat the Longhorns. Even then, it may not be enough. Texas has had some trouble offensively early on in games this year, so Texas Tech will need to hope that happens and take advantage of it. As for the Longhorns, playing catch up against a team like Texas Tech, who can score at will, is not recommended.
My Pick: 41-31 Texas
#9 Iowa at #24 Arizona (Saturday, 10:30 PM ET)
This is the only game this weekend featuring two ranked teams, so naturally it is one to watch. Iowa has cruised in their first two games, but their first real test will be against the Wildcats, who will test a Hawkeye defense that gives up a Big Ten best 216 yards per game. The Wildcats will need a balanced offensive attack, and cannot rely on Nick Foles to carry to offense. Arizona will need to find a way to contain Iowa's defensive line, or this game could have an end result similar to the 2009 Holiday Bowl, which the Wildcats lost 33-0 to Nebraska.
My Pick: 28-13 Iowa
5 More to Flip To
California at Nevada (Tonight, 10 PM ET)
Cal's defense should be too much for Nevada. Should...
Georgia Tech at North Carolina (Saturday, 12 PM ET)
Both teams are in dire need of this win, if only to instill some confidence, which both have lost a lot of.
East Carolina at Virginia Tech (Saturday, 1:30 PM ET)
Who would have guessed that the Hokies could start the season 0-3?
Air Force at #7 Oklahoma (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
The Falcons are probably a little too undersized to beat the Sooners, but they looked really good in a win over BYU. This one could be interesting.
Notre Dame at Michigan State (Saturday, 8 PM ET)
Notre Dame has had trouble in East Lansing as of late. Could the Irish go 0-2 against Michigan teams yet again?
Storylines for the Weekend
Georgia's Mark Richt is NOT on the hot seat
I was listening to the Paul Finebaum Radio Network yesterday, and a lot of people were calling in speculating on whether or not Georgia head coach Mark Richt is on the hot seat if he loses to Arkansas this weekend. The answer, quite simply, is no. The Bulldogs have a redshirt freshman starting at quarterback, and are without their star wideout until the fifth game. Once A.J. Green returns and Aaron Murray gets some game experience under his belt, the Bulldogs will turn it around, and probably finish the season on a high note. There are clear reasons why the Bulldogs offense has been bad so far, and Richt isn't one of them.
Don't Stop Living In The Red
You think Boise State's field is bad? If you do, you're really going to get a kick out of this. There's no editing or Photoshop work there. No, that's actually the University of Eastern Washington's field, which will be played on for the first time this weekend. I like Boise's field, but I think that the red could quickly become an eyesore. Also, you won't be able to make the joke that birds dive into it thinking it is water like you can with Boise's field. I wouldn't expect any big name programs to try this any time soon.
Time for the Pac-10 to make a statement
Last weekend, the ACC made a statement, but in a bad way. The Pac-10 has a chance to look really good on the national stage. As far as underdogs are concerned, Arizona is at home against Iowa, Washington is at home against Nebraska, and UCLA is at home against Houston. These are all games that the Pac-10 can realistically win and use as ammunition against critics who believe that the conference is weak. If the Pac-10 doesn't want to become an afterthought as the ACC may have become after last weekend, then they need a big weekend from not only the top of their conference, but from the middle as well.
Thanks to my dad, I now have an easier way for you all to get to the blog. By typing in www.aroundthecorn.com, you will now be directed to the page. It should be much easier for you all to tell people how to get to the blog. I am aware that saying around the corn sports blog dot blogspot dot com is a mouthful, and even harder to remember. As always, thanks to everyone that has ever taken the time to read my work.
- K. Becks
Top 5 Games to Pay Attention to This Weekend
#12 Arkansas at Georgia (Saturday, 12 PM ET)
Georgia has never started 0-2 in the SEC under Mark Richt, but they have a tough test this weekend if they want to keep it that way. I put Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett on my preseason Heisman watch for a reason; he has the ability to pick defenses apart, even in the most hostile atmosphere. Georgia has had trouble scoring the ball this season, putting just six points on the board in a loss to South Carolina last weekend, which is not a recipe for success against a Razorbacks team known for their offensive firepower. The Bulldogs are missing wideout A.J. Green more and more every week.
My Pick: 31-17 Arkansas
#10 Florida at Tennessee (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
This is the most interesting matchup this weekend in my opinion. Tennessee looked good against Oregon last weekend for about a quarter and a half, and then went totally flat on offense for the rest of the game. Florida has not been overly impressive on offense this season either, so barring some sort of career day by John Brantley, Tennessee will probably not give up forty-five unanswered to the Gators like they did against Oregon. Florida is 5-0 against the Vols under Urban Meyer, but those wins were during the Chris Leak and Tim Tebow eras. Add the fact that Florida may be a little overrated, and that the game is being played in Knoxville, and we may be looking at the first Top 10 upset of the season.
My Pick: 27-24 Tennessee
Clemson at #16 Auburn (Saturday, 7 PM ET)
The ACC looked awful as a whole last weekend, so this is a game where they can attempt to regain some of the respect they lost. Clemson may be the class of the ACC, but then again, they may not be. Regardless, I think that Auburn is a little bit overrated, much like their SEC counterpart Florida. Cameron Newton is kind of like a poor man's Terrelle Pryor, but unlike Pryor, Newton routinely has to rely entirely on himself to make plays. Auburn will need to be more unpredictable against Clemson if they want to win this game, because Clemson has the playmakers on defense to contain Newton.
My Pick: 34-27 Clemson
#6 Texas at Texas Tech (Saturday, 8 PM ET)
Last time this game was played in Lubbock, Michael Crabtree was able to score a late touchdown to lead the Red Raiders over the Longhorns, which proved to be the only loss Texas would suffer that year. Crabtree is no longer there to help the Red Raiders out, and as usual, Texas Tech has a questionable defense. Currently, Texas Tech averages 43.5 PPG on offense, and they're definitely going to need to score a lot tomorrow night if they want to beat the Longhorns. Even then, it may not be enough. Texas has had some trouble offensively early on in games this year, so Texas Tech will need to hope that happens and take advantage of it. As for the Longhorns, playing catch up against a team like Texas Tech, who can score at will, is not recommended.
My Pick: 41-31 Texas
#9 Iowa at #24 Arizona (Saturday, 10:30 PM ET)
This is the only game this weekend featuring two ranked teams, so naturally it is one to watch. Iowa has cruised in their first two games, but their first real test will be against the Wildcats, who will test a Hawkeye defense that gives up a Big Ten best 216 yards per game. The Wildcats will need a balanced offensive attack, and cannot rely on Nick Foles to carry to offense. Arizona will need to find a way to contain Iowa's defensive line, or this game could have an end result similar to the 2009 Holiday Bowl, which the Wildcats lost 33-0 to Nebraska.
My Pick: 28-13 Iowa
5 More to Flip To
California at Nevada (Tonight, 10 PM ET)
Cal's defense should be too much for Nevada. Should...
Georgia Tech at North Carolina (Saturday, 12 PM ET)
Both teams are in dire need of this win, if only to instill some confidence, which both have lost a lot of.
East Carolina at Virginia Tech (Saturday, 1:30 PM ET)
Who would have guessed that the Hokies could start the season 0-3?
Air Force at #7 Oklahoma (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
The Falcons are probably a little too undersized to beat the Sooners, but they looked really good in a win over BYU. This one could be interesting.
Notre Dame at Michigan State (Saturday, 8 PM ET)
Notre Dame has had trouble in East Lansing as of late. Could the Irish go 0-2 against Michigan teams yet again?
Storylines for the Weekend
Georgia's Mark Richt is NOT on the hot seat
I was listening to the Paul Finebaum Radio Network yesterday, and a lot of people were calling in speculating on whether or not Georgia head coach Mark Richt is on the hot seat if he loses to Arkansas this weekend. The answer, quite simply, is no. The Bulldogs have a redshirt freshman starting at quarterback, and are without their star wideout until the fifth game. Once A.J. Green returns and Aaron Murray gets some game experience under his belt, the Bulldogs will turn it around, and probably finish the season on a high note. There are clear reasons why the Bulldogs offense has been bad so far, and Richt isn't one of them.
Don't Stop Living In The Red
You think Boise State's field is bad? If you do, you're really going to get a kick out of this. There's no editing or Photoshop work there. No, that's actually the University of Eastern Washington's field, which will be played on for the first time this weekend. I like Boise's field, but I think that the red could quickly become an eyesore. Also, you won't be able to make the joke that birds dive into it thinking it is water like you can with Boise's field. I wouldn't expect any big name programs to try this any time soon.
Time for the Pac-10 to make a statement
Last weekend, the ACC made a statement, but in a bad way. The Pac-10 has a chance to look really good on the national stage. As far as underdogs are concerned, Arizona is at home against Iowa, Washington is at home against Nebraska, and UCLA is at home against Houston. These are all games that the Pac-10 can realistically win and use as ammunition against critics who believe that the conference is weak. If the Pac-10 doesn't want to become an afterthought as the ACC may have become after last weekend, then they need a big weekend from not only the top of their conference, but from the middle as well.
Thanks to my dad, I now have an easier way for you all to get to the blog. By typing in www.aroundthecorn.com, you will now be directed to the page. It should be much easier for you all to tell people how to get to the blog. I am aware that saying around the corn sports blog dot blogspot dot com is a mouthful, and even harder to remember. As always, thanks to everyone that has ever taken the time to read my work.
- K. Becks
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
NCAAF: SEC Preview
The college football preview is underway again, after a little weekend break. For those of you that were waiting for the next preview to be on Monday (I said in my Thursday post that Monday would be the next day that I did a preview post), sorry for the delay. However, I did a post about my weekend at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, and I would really appreciate it if you gave that a read as well. It's the post right under this one, if you're wondering.
Overview
Arguments aside, the SEC has been more or less the conference to beat throughout the past decade. The conference has had five BCS national championships, twelve BCS bowl game wins, and the best winning percentage in BCS bowl games during that time span. This year, the debate over which conference is the strongest will re-surface, and this time people may not be blowing hot air. The Southeastern Conference has the reigning National Champions in Alabama, who also boast the reigning Heisman winner in tailback Mark Ingram. However, conferences such as the Big 10 may have closed the gap that has seemed to separate the SEC from the rest of the pack throughout the last ten years. Like always, this year's Southeastern Conference will have powerhouse teams, All-American players, and primetime matchups. Only time will tell if anyone else can keep up with them.
Team(s) With the Best Shot at a National Championship Bid
Alabama
No surprise here. The best team with the best player from last year is probably a favorite to make it back to the national title game yet again. Quite honestly, the only team that can beat the Alabama Crimson Tide this year is the Alabama Crimson Tide. They have a potential trap game versus Penn State early in the year, and as always Florida and LSU (who the Tide have to play at Death Valley) will not be give-me games. However, with almost all of the essential pieces from last year's title winning team returning on offense and a promising defense, only a lapse in concentration or poor execution can bring the Tide down.
Florida
I'm not completely sold on the Gators, but you can't really ever count out an Urban Meyer coached team these days. Obviously, the biggest hole that the Gators will have to fill is the one left by quarterback Tim Tebow. Although John Brantley is touted as a great replacement, he will have to fill the shoes of Tebow rather quickly, as the Gators have to travel to Knoxville to face Tennessee on September 18th. I'll be surprised if Florida remains undefeated by the middle of October, but you never know.
Watch Out! (Team That Could Surprise)
Georgia
They may not look all that impressive the first few weeks of the season as redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray adjusts during his first few games, but the good news is that he doesn't have to go up against any extremely tough defenses in those games. The Bulldogs schedule is favorable (no game against LSU, at home against Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech), and the defense should be much better than last year. After several years of disappointment, this could be the year that Georgia finally exceeds expectations.
Out-Of-Conference Game To Watch
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (October 9th)
There aren't really any national title implications here, but the star power is definitely there. Ryan Mallet (Arkansas) and Jerrod Johnson (Texas A&M) are two of the best quarterbacks in college football, and both could be strong Heisman candidates by the end of the season. Both of these gunslingers should have a field day against questionable defenses, so the game should be a fun one to watch from an offensive standpoint. This game could end up being one, big highlight reel.
In-Conference Game To Watch
Alabama vs. Florida (October 2nd)
Chances are, both of these teams will be undefeated and probably in the Top 5 when this game is played. Might this be only Part I of II in the Alabama/Florida saga of 2010? Although one team's national title hopes will take a serious hit after the conclusion of this game, the SEC title game may be a chance for the loser to exact their revenge.
Conference Predictions
East Division
1. Florida (11-1, [7-1])
2. Georgia (10-2, [6-2])
3. Tennessee (7-5, [4-4])
4. South Carolina (6-6, [3-5])
5. Kentucky (6-6, [3-5])
6. Vanderbilt (1-11, [0-8])
West Division
1. Alabama (12-0, [8-0])
2. Arkansas (10-2, [6-2])
3. LSU (9-3, [5-3])
4. Auburn (6-6, [3-5])
5. Mississippi (5-7, [2-6])
6. Mississippi State (2-10, [0-8])
Championship Game (Alabama vs. Florida)
Winner: Alabama
Considering that most of my readers are from the Midwest, you'll be happy to know that the next college football preview is the Big Ten Conference.
- K. Becks
Overview
Arguments aside, the SEC has been more or less the conference to beat throughout the past decade. The conference has had five BCS national championships, twelve BCS bowl game wins, and the best winning percentage in BCS bowl games during that time span. This year, the debate over which conference is the strongest will re-surface, and this time people may not be blowing hot air. The Southeastern Conference has the reigning National Champions in Alabama, who also boast the reigning Heisman winner in tailback Mark Ingram. However, conferences such as the Big 10 may have closed the gap that has seemed to separate the SEC from the rest of the pack throughout the last ten years. Like always, this year's Southeastern Conference will have powerhouse teams, All-American players, and primetime matchups. Only time will tell if anyone else can keep up with them.
Team(s) With the Best Shot at a National Championship Bid
Alabama
No surprise here. The best team with the best player from last year is probably a favorite to make it back to the national title game yet again. Quite honestly, the only team that can beat the Alabama Crimson Tide this year is the Alabama Crimson Tide. They have a potential trap game versus Penn State early in the year, and as always Florida and LSU (who the Tide have to play at Death Valley) will not be give-me games. However, with almost all of the essential pieces from last year's title winning team returning on offense and a promising defense, only a lapse in concentration or poor execution can bring the Tide down.
Florida
I'm not completely sold on the Gators, but you can't really ever count out an Urban Meyer coached team these days. Obviously, the biggest hole that the Gators will have to fill is the one left by quarterback Tim Tebow. Although John Brantley is touted as a great replacement, he will have to fill the shoes of Tebow rather quickly, as the Gators have to travel to Knoxville to face Tennessee on September 18th. I'll be surprised if Florida remains undefeated by the middle of October, but you never know.
Watch Out! (Team That Could Surprise)
Georgia
They may not look all that impressive the first few weeks of the season as redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray adjusts during his first few games, but the good news is that he doesn't have to go up against any extremely tough defenses in those games. The Bulldogs schedule is favorable (no game against LSU, at home against Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech), and the defense should be much better than last year. After several years of disappointment, this could be the year that Georgia finally exceeds expectations.
Out-Of-Conference Game To Watch
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (October 9th)
There aren't really any national title implications here, but the star power is definitely there. Ryan Mallet (Arkansas) and Jerrod Johnson (Texas A&M) are two of the best quarterbacks in college football, and both could be strong Heisman candidates by the end of the season. Both of these gunslingers should have a field day against questionable defenses, so the game should be a fun one to watch from an offensive standpoint. This game could end up being one, big highlight reel.
In-Conference Game To Watch
Alabama vs. Florida (October 2nd)
Chances are, both of these teams will be undefeated and probably in the Top 5 when this game is played. Might this be only Part I of II in the Alabama/Florida saga of 2010? Although one team's national title hopes will take a serious hit after the conclusion of this game, the SEC title game may be a chance for the loser to exact their revenge.
Conference Predictions
East Division
1. Florida (11-1, [7-1])
2. Georgia (10-2, [6-2])
3. Tennessee (7-5, [4-4])
4. South Carolina (6-6, [3-5])
5. Kentucky (6-6, [3-5])
6. Vanderbilt (1-11, [0-8])
West Division
1. Alabama (12-0, [8-0])
2. Arkansas (10-2, [6-2])
3. LSU (9-3, [5-3])
4. Auburn (6-6, [3-5])
5. Mississippi (5-7, [2-6])
6. Mississippi State (2-10, [0-8])
Championship Game (Alabama vs. Florida)
Winner: Alabama
Considering that most of my readers are from the Midwest, you'll be happy to know that the next college football preview is the Big Ten Conference.
- K. Becks
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