September 15, 2005
College Football Preview: Blogging the Big Games
It's another big weekend of college football and it's time for your team to represent. Here's a rundown to just a few of the headline games this weekend, along with blog links for more insight:
THURSDAY
Utah at TCU (ESPN 7:30p)
In what might be the MWC championship game, on-again, off-again TCU hosts the Utes and their 18-game winning streak.
Utah - Andy in Utah
SATURDAY
Oregon State at Louisville (ESPN 12n)
After watching Kentucky frustrated the Cardinals in the second half, a talented team like Oregon State has to be salivating at the opportunity before them. For it's part, Louiville needs to shut down Oregon State quarterback Matt Moore, who has 646 yards and five TDs for the 2-0 Beavers and lead with Michael Bush on the ground attack. Perhaps it's an omen or just a coincidence, but Oregon State's Sara Jean appears on the cover of Playboy's "Girls of the Pac 10" edition, which was just released this week. Hmmm.
Oregon State - Beavers Blog
Oregon State - Jason's OSU Beavers Blog
Louisville - C-J Cards Fan
Louisville - Before I Get Old
Miami FL at Clemson (ABC 3:30p)
After losing at home to the Tigers last year, you have to think that this one will mean something to the Hurricanes. Clemson has already beaten Texas A&M and Maryland and the CU offense looked like it might be finding it's stride last week. Clemson must establish the run if they want to win this game. With Tyrone Moss possible out for this one, Miami has to establish Devin Hester as a threat - something they failed to do against FSU. This is a "must-win" game for Coker if he wants to wear the 'Canes headset next year.
Clemson - Clemson Tigers Sporting News
Clemson - The Tigernet
Clemson - Jeff Quinton
Clemson - The MUSC Tiger
Clemson - Orangejack Blog
Miami - Canes Addiction
Pittsburgh at Nebraska (ABC 3:30p)
The Frank Solich grudge match. A lot of people are having trouble trying to decide what to make of both Nebraska (are they decent?) and Pitt (can Wanny win?) This one could go the way of the transitive property: Nebraska > Frank Solich > Pitt.
Nebraska - Husker Extra
Nebraska - Husker Mike's Blasphemy
Nebraska - StrugglingJoe
Pitt - Pitt Sports Blather
Pitt - On the Prowl
Alabama at South Carolina (CBS 3:30p)
The rising Tide against the Old Ball Coach. I know 'Bama fans have been looking forward to having Spurrier in their sights for a while, but it will be interesting to see what Mike Shula can make of South Carolina. USC gave Georgia fits last week and 'Bama's no UGA. So....
Alabama - Tide Corner
Alabama - Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer
South Carolina - The Cool Chicken
South Carolina - The Crow
Michigan State at Notre Dame (NBC 3:30p)
I suspect this is one of the hardest UND tickets to get since Florida State rolled into South Bend. Notre Dame's much improved defense has been the difference maker for Weiss, and the Irish will need to continue to make strides to shut down Michigan State's dynamic offense. UND is 2-0 - luck of the Irish or are they legit?
Notre Dame - The Blue-Gray Sky
Notre Dame - The Backer
Notre Dame - Kanka's Sports
Notre Dame - Kelly Green
Notre Dame - NDCHOOCHOO
Notre Dame - Brendan Loy
Notre Dame - THEIRISHBROGUE
Michigan State - The Enlightened Spartan
Michigan State - Grinz on Green
Florida State at Boston College (ESPN 7:30p)
I hope someone is wearing white in this, because it's an awful lot of Garnet/Maroon and Gold. The first division matchup for both schools and it should be the game that sets the tone for the ACC Atlantic for years to come. ESPN GameDay is on hand in Boston to highlight this matchup as the conference inaugurates BC with it's perennial powerhouse. The key matchup is FSU's defense versus BC's offense. If FSU controls Boston College, then it will take a lot of pressure off the young Seminole QBs.
Boston College - Eagle In Atlanta (BC)
Florida State - Sporting Fools
Tennessee at Florida (CBS 8p)
The stakes are huge for this game - the winner controls their destiny to the SEC championship game and the loser needs help. This game has everything you could want in college football - bad blood, rabid fans, coaching intrigue, dramatic endings, and...oh yeah...lots of orange. It's really difficult to judge Tennessee right now, so it's hard to say if they're up for the Gators. I suspect Meyer has an awful lot in store for the Vols that UF hasn't put on the field yet this year. This game could make Chris Leak a legend at Florida.
Florida - Every Day Should Be Saturday
Florida - We Are the Boys
Tennessee - UT Vols Blog
Tennessee - Voluminous
Comments:
Orson Swindle said:
posted on September 15, 2005 4:18 PM — 12.13.183.235 — link — abuse?
We're blogging the UT-UF game, but we can't promise to be blogging sober by the time the whole thing's done.
boifromtroy said:
posted on September 15, 2005 4:57 PM — 66.134.232.250 — link — abuse?
Great feature...even if it is SEC/ACC oriented!
Oklahoma-UCLA, Arizona-Purdue and USC-Arkansas all will have some major national implications.
Cumberland Ave said:
posted on September 15, 2005 5:56 PM — 24.215.202.246 — link — abuse?
Hey Dave,
I hear Open Date has a wide "open" offense. Watch out Tigers. By the way, it appears the following week the Vols may eat a game-day meal in Knoxville, fly down to Baton Rouge, go straight to Tiger Stadium and fly back the same night. Guess there will be no gumbo treats for the Vols.
Cumberland Ave said:
posted on September 15, 2005 6:06 PM — 24.215.202.246 — link — abuse?
Hey Dave,
I hear Open Date has a wide-open offense. Watch out Tigers! By the way, the following week, it appears the Vols will take a game-day meal in K-Town, fly down to Baton Rouge and head straight to Tiger Stadium. Guess there will be no gumbo treats for the Vols in Baton Rouge.
Everyone, except for me it seems, is picking the Gators over the Vols. UT is fast becoming the ghost of the late Rodney Dangerfield in terms of getting no respect.
posted on September 15, 2005 6:56 PM — 69.73.42.221 — link — abuse?Ben Prather said:
The Wyoming Air force game might decide who the #2 team is behind the Utah TCU winner in the MWC.
With FSU playing Boston College and Miami playing Clemson, two teams that are looking strong vs two teams that looked ugly against each other in the opening week. These two games should sort out how these teams stand.
As for the Florida Tennessee game, Florida has been firing on all cylinders while Tennessee has posted a couple of uninspired wins. It should be a good game, but I gotta pull for Florida in this one.
Maybe cumberland Ave is onto something. And maybe Arkansas will pull off the upset of the century. Guess we will see saturday.
posted on September 16, 2005 6:23 AM — link — abuse?
You gotta watch out for that Open Date squad. They've wrecked more than a few National Championship teams.
Cumberland Ave said:
posted on September 16, 2005 9:12 AM — 24.215.202.246 — link — abuse?
Hey guys,
Did you watch that TCU/Utah overtime game last night?
TCU's freshman running back looked great in his college debut. I think the kid ran for over 150 yards or so. I don't have the complete stats.
Cumberland Ave said:
posted on September 16, 2005 10:57 AM — 24.215.202.246 — link — abuse?
Coach Fulmer was not pleased with the Vols' Thursday practice. Good news is that Jason Mitchell will start at linebacker. WR Robert Meacham is probable to start due to an ankle injury against UAB. The Vols' wide receivers attributed all those dropped passes against UAB to lack of concentration and focus on gaining yardage after the catch. Practices this week focused on getting back to basics and concentrating on catching the ball before attempting to gain extra yardage. Pretty basic principle that the senior, junior and sophomore wide receivers at UT have failed to grasp thus far this season with the exception of two good catches against UAB.
The weather forecast for Gainesville on Saturday does not look good. The expected high is 94 and the low 70 and thunderstorms are possible. Let's just hope it stops raining well before kickoff.
According to reports in the Gainesville Sun, Florida's defense has improved its techniques since last year and the Vols should expect a four-man rush and more blitzing than in the past.
Florida expects UT to focus on using its massive offensive line to create big holes for its running backs. There's concern in some circles that UT's offensive lineman are too big and not agile and quick enough to block well on pitch outs and reverses, etc.
ESPN's commentators think that the height advantage of UT's receivers should weigh in their favor against Florida's short cornerbacks and safeties.
Aaron said:
posted on September 16, 2005 3:53 PM — 155.101.234.231 — link — abuse?
The only good thing that came out of the game tonight is a little more confidence in our kicking game. I would like to say that certain aspects of the game went well, but they didn't. Our offense of line was terrible in the first half, and their offensive line was dominant. When Johnson did get some time in the pocket, he didn't know what to do with it. Am I the only one that looks at the guy standing there and shouts "RUN?" I know a recent quarterback of ours began his career playing very conservative, but Johnson needs to make things happen.
What was with the running game tonight? Better yet, where was the running game tonight? That wasn't the Ganther we all know and love. He looked exhausted (as did Johnson) throughout the entire game. Perhaps the team got caught up in the Dallas night life last night, a little different speed than good ol' Salt Lake.
And what complaint would be complete without a knock on the officials? Talk about two critical calls down the stretch, not to mention poor clock control. How is it that the clock doesn't stop when a receiver runs out of bounds? Don't tell me his momentum was backwards, cuz he simply caught the ball and turned out of bounds. And how about that "rub" play on the final touchdown? My understanding, and according to Sports Center, it is only illegal if they throw a flag...enough said.
Well, I don't think this ruins the season, we couldn't really expect to go undefeated again. The team proved that it is not deserving of a top 25 spot, and maybe it is better that we can now play the rest of the season without as much pressure. Lets get a little more creative on offense next week Wittingham!
Cary said:
posted on September 18, 2005 5:54 PM — 205.188.116.199 — link — abuse?
Louisville scraped by with a 36-point victory over the Pac-10's Oregon State, last season's bowl-winner over Notre Dame. Guess the Cards managed to fill a few of those "chinks" that were "exposed" by Kentucky as posted in another blog.
Previously, that blogger picked Pitt in the Big East over Louisville, then considered West Virginia as league leader after Week 1. Hmmm...sounds suspiciously like an FSU fan who can't get past a loss to the Cards in 2002.
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Cumberland Ave said:
posted on September 15, 2005 11:41 AM — 24.215.202.246 — link — abuse?UT is an underdog again and AP has picked Florida to win 28-24.
I'll pick UT.
Possible scores:
UT 17 Florida 13
UT 20 Florida 17
UT 24 Florida 20
UT 14 Florida 13
UT 24 Florida 21
I just can't decide on a margin of victory. I think the Vols' running game and defense will prevail over the Gators.
What do you think?