The sports babble earlier this week was all about the alarming CF&P+BXYZ ranking emitted via smoke signals and hand puppets, and we’ll get to that. We, personally, are not alarmed, though we’re a touch skeptical.
But more importantly, it’s time for our annual MAC Attack! – and as so often, it couldn’t come soon enough. Politics is on the highest volume setting and likely to be so for weeks, if promises from the media about how long it’s going to take to count the vote are an indication.
So it’s a major relief when the MAC starts playing weeknights as November steals in. Between the MAC and the World Series, there are quality ways to do a little recreating in the den without having to listen to all the vociferous talking-head yelping. So far this week, Ohio has crunched Buffalo, for example (45-20), and Central Michigan laid Northern Illinois even lower than NIU’s been laid so far, while Bowling Green surprised us a bit by knocking off Western Michigan in a low-scoring affair.
This always-welcome scheduling feature accounts for Toledo not being in our line-up before next week. As politics crescendos on Tuesday 8 November, Toledo from our Inner Circle will be offering alternative fare on ESPN hosting Ball State. Go Rockets; go MAC!
As for the first bowl ranking, we’re not as skeptical of Tennessee at #1 as we are that Ohio State is really better than Georgia, and Clemson is really better than Alabama. Well, OK, we’re not so sure about Tennessee, and we think there’s some “Dude! Flavor of the week” factor there, but we do agree the Vols are very good and belong in the Top 4 Conversation, as the Babble has it.
As for Michigan at #5, the Wolverines do have a test before Ohio State (our own #16 Illinois on the 19th; otherwise it’s just Rutgers and Nebraska), while the Buckeyes face only Northwestern, Indiana, and Maryland. It’s going to come down to the wire on this one. If Blue wants the East German judge juice going into the Storied Rivalry, they need to rack up points, maimings, and maulings more than they usually do.
Don’t forget to set your clocks back Saturday night (unless you’re planning to do it at 2 AM Sunday, which seems kind of ill-advised). We hate Daylight Saving Time.
Oh, and speaking of solar system events, there’s a blood moon scheduled on Election Day, because of course. Known as the Beaver Blood Moon, this one will get itself over and done with before the in-person, Election Day voting starts, with an initial appearance in the 3 AM hour on the East coast on 8 November, and running for 85 minutes. It will be visible as a full lunar eclipse all across North America – the last one for three years, reportedly.
Thursday night update: Rice actually beat UTEP 37-30, and Coastal Carolina knocked off Appalachian State in a Sun Belt bout. In the NFL game, which most football faithful were probably watching, Philadelphia took out Houston 29-17.
Inner Circle
The University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane, which beat Notre Dame 28-27 on 30 October 2010, is in some peril now at 3-5, coming off the 45-34 loss to rival SMU. That one hurt. On Saturday, TU will host #19 Tulane (7-1), which shot up four slots (in the AP poll) after a nice win over Memphis. Tulane, you’ll no doubt remember, beat Kansas State in September, as well as Houston and South Florida of the American more recently, and has been looking pretty good this year. The Green Wave in fact leads the AAC standings, so we can hardly quarrel with the 7.5-point give for Saturday’s game. Nevertheless, we’ll end with the battle cry: Reign ’Cane!!
Oklahoma continues its character-building season, coming off the 27-13 win over offense-less Iowa State to host Baylor on Saturday in Norman (on ESPN+. Can you spell R-E-L-E-G-A-T-I-O-N?). The Sooners and Bears are both 5-3 as the showdown looms, and we’re no more certain about this than the oddsquad, which has OU giving 3.5.
We expect Coach Aranda to have the Baylor D well prepared for Dillon Gabriel, his three-let’s-be-realistic receivers (Mims, Farooq – dang! – and Stoops), and RB Eric Gray, which is basically what Aranda has to do. The skill-players are willing, but the offensive “look” diversity is weak for the Sooners. They just don’t have that many tricks. Their O-line, while improving, has work to do. At any rate, we remain hopeful for at least a middle-slot Booger Bowl. Boomer!
New #18 Oklahoma State fell hard, and is just lucky not to have fallen further, off the really bad blank-out loss to Kansas State (which, as mentioned, lost to Tulane earlier in the season). We reckon, with the injury to Spencer Sanders, that the Cowboys are out of The Conversation at this point; but they would be anyway, on a clear-eyed look. They could run the table against Kansas (motto: “What difference, at this point, does it make?”), Iowa State, Oklahoma, and West Virginia, pride of the Big 12, and it wouldn’t do them any good.
It’s Kansas the Pokes head to in Lawrence on Saturday. The Jayhawks aren’t half bad this season, taking the field this week at 5-3. They’re only 2-3 conference, and coming off three straight conference losses, but they’ve scored competitively in each one, which Big 12ers know they ain’t been use-ta doin’. Given the iffy status of OK-State QB Spencer Sanders, the oddscritters have this as a pick ’em.
Navy got past Temple last week to surge to 3-5, and we’re delighted the Mids are still in the Booger Bowl hunt. They’re playing a tough American foe, the 6-2 Bearcats, in Cincinnati on Saturday, so we kind of fear that that right-hand 6 will crop up by Saturday night. But we never say never, and in spite of the 19-point give by Cincinnati, we say Go Navy!
Air Force will be at Army after a week hiatus for both teams; we missed our tip on this one last week, having forgotten that the Storied Rivalry meet was to be moved to the MLB Rangers’ Globe Life Field (Choctaw Stadium) in Arlington, TX in 2022. These details get away from us. The sponsors have livery paint all over this one: not only do the Rangers get a nod, but the game is formally named – Lockheed Martin Commanders’ Classic – and is officially presented by USAA.
So, to summarize: Rangers, Choctaw Stadium, Globe Life, Lockheed Martin, USAA, and Army and Air Force. Got that? (We’d mutter something about trying too hard, and never accruing the same cachet as The Game in December, but we doubt we have to. Our Football Commentary Service faithful know.)
We wish both Inner Circle teams well. AFA gives 7.
Virginia Tech had a discouraging episode of late kickstarting and a big penalty pile in the relatively narrow loss to NC State (motto: “They have a football team?”) last Thursday. The Hokies are 2-6, which uncharacteristically (of late years) is actually worse than the next opponent’s record of 3-5 as they prepare to host tail-dragging Georgia Tech in Blacksburg for their Storied Rivalry, the Battle of the Techs. (We understand there’s a movement to refer to this noble rivalry tradition as “TechMo,” but we’re not fans.)
The action will be on ESPN3, and since it’s two ACC teams we’re hopeful to catch it in the ESPN pickup gaggle here on the Left coast. We again commend to you this week’s Hokie podcast (“Talking Turkey”) from Old Army Brat, to prepare your minds for the event.
VT is giving 3.5. We can accept that, after the Yellow Jacket losses to Virginia and Florida State.
We’re frankly apprehensive as Nevada, 2-7 off the loss to San Jose State and out of bowl contention, takes a week off to try and shake the injuries off before meeting Boise State for their big game on 12 November. The sick, lame, and lazy list has just been a problem for the Wolf Pack since the end of September (along with the dearth of returning experienced players), though they did make a good run at it last week in the 35-28 loss. We understand spark-plug RB Devonte Lee’s status is still iffy for the BSU game, and the Pack is lacking their starting kicker, out with a collarbone injury.
We couldn’t be prouder of LSU, the new CF-Umptyfratz #10 as the bowl susceptibility period kicks into gear. The Zouave weren’t in action last week, as befits a squad with a head of steam up taking the field to host #6 Alabama in their massive Storied Rivalry of Serious Humongitude on Saturday evening. We’d like to see what this week’s LSU could do versus Tennessee, but we’ll have to make do with the Tide. (No notable trinkets invade the field for this rivalry, by the way. It’s just a monster honking football game every year. Goes back to 1895; this will be meeting 87.)
The remainder of the LSU schedule isn’t going to get them into The Conversation (Arkansas, U.-Alabama-Birmingham, and Texas A&M). But we’re feeling good about a quality bowl for this hard-working, steadily improving crew (as correspondent Kermit points out, the O-line’s improvement is especially noteworthy), which at this writing is the SEC-West leader over Ole Miss and Alabama. With a victory over the Tide, LSU would be sitting pretty for the SEC championship face-off.
Alabama give is 13.5. We’ll see. Tide QB Bryce Young has been playing at maybe 80% power since his shoulder injury against Arkansas a month ago; we wouldn’t take the points, and in fact think LSU has a pretty good chance to pull off another stunner on ’Bama. Geaux, geaux – geaux geaux geaux!
#7 TCU has specialized in pulling it out with big second-half surges this season, and the 41-31 win over West Virginia last week was no exception. The 8-0, Big 12-leading Frogs host 4-4 Texas Tech for their Storied Rivalry this week, a battle they wage for the Saddle Trophy, which delights us every year because it’s a lovely saddle that for some reason has to live in a dark-stained wooden container. We attribute this to some likely misdirected bureaucratic reflections on the part of Texas Tech, whose Red Raider gallops around the field at random during innocent football games.
TCU still has Texas, Baylor, and Iowa State to get past after Tech, and in an unusually competitive Big 12, anything could happen. But at the moment, they’re finding a way to get it done every week, and look likely one way or the other to be in the Big 12 championship game on 3 December. We don’t foresee them being in The Conversation at this point; teams 1-6 at the starting gate are almost certainly the population for that, unless SMOD hits.
Horny Toads give 8.5.
Toledo, as mentioned earlier, will host Ball State on Tuesday 8 November, and besides seeking to win the game will carry the burden of keeping us sane here at the TOC Football Commentary Service, as the election returns roll in. Division-leader Toledo, 6-3 overall and 4-1 conference, has locked in bowl eligibility, and with a win over Ball State can pretty much finish off competition for the MAC-West title. The big question will be QB Dequan Finn, who sat out the EMU game last week with his shoulder in a sling after the injury against Buffalo.
The hunt for the MAC championship right now looks like a match with MAC-East leader Ohio, after the Bobcats scratched out Buffalo. Toledo can shape that by beating Ohio rival Bowling Green on the 15th.
Obviously, no line on Ball State-Toledo yet.
Wyoming came home from Hawaii laden with the Paniolo Trophy after a rousing 27-20 victory over the Rainbow Warriors. The Pokes are 6-3 now, bowl-eligible, and have the week off before engaging Colorado State in their Storied Rivalry on 12 November. Just wait until you see the trophy for that. Well done, Cowboys!
New #16 Illinois edged up another slot with the win over Nebraska last week. The Illini will host a struggling Michigan State in Champaign on Saturday, and the combination of QB Tommy DeVito and RB Chase Brown (1,208 yards and counting) has the oddsquad on fire. We can’t remember the last time Illinois was giving 17 points to anyone, but by golly they’re giving 17 to the Spartans. At 7-1, 4-1 conference, with Purdue lagging and facing them next week, Illinois is looking good in the Big 10 West pole position.
We note that the Illini’s big 2022 rivalry games come 1-2-3 after this week (Purdue, Michigan, and Northwestern). It’s early days to dream, but Illinois could make it a Grand Slam and play for Illibuck too this year – even without beating Michigan – if Ohio State beats Michigan on the 26th. (We officially can’t get enough of Illibuck, as some of you know.)
Top 10
New #1 Tennessee heads to new #3 Georgia on Saturday for what absolutely, positively has to be the undisputed game of the week. They don’t git no bigger’n this. SEC-East and Top 4 Conversation all on the line here, and it’s only the first weekend of November.
Georgia’s laying 8, because the oddsbubbas, like honey badger, don’t care. This one is also a Storied Rivalry, though not a decorated one. It goes back to a respectable 1899.
#2 Ohio State is giving 38 at Northwestern.
#4 Clemson is giving 3.5 at an unranked Notre Dame. You can understand our skepticism about the Tigers’ placement vis-à-vis Alabama.
#5 Michigan heads to Rutgers, donating 26.5 to the Scarlet Commies. For those who may want to wallow in The Incident from last week’s rivalry game, here’s some low-down from the local Fox affiliate on the tunnel brawl. (Michigan State has apologized.)
We’ve covered #6, #7, and #10. Static #8 Oregon will be at Colorado (motto: “We take a pounding!”), favored by 31.5.
New #9 USC (-21.5), which seriously ought to have a Storied Rivalry here but it’s too late now, will be hosting Cal for a night game.
Best of the rest
Don’t despair about Friday night. UMass will be at UConn, with the Huskies giving 15.5.
Our Storied Rivalries start off on Saturday when #17 North Carolina heads to Virginia to meet for the South’s Oldest Rivalry, an affair that would be august if it didn’t involve the Yahoos. It goes back to 1892 and will unfold for the 127th time with the Tar Heels giving 7.
You probably thought we’d forget the Storied Minnesota-Nebraska Rivalry (if only because it seems more decent to avert our eyes from whatever Nebraska’s up to this week). Shows what you know. Goldie and Pals head to Lincoln to duke it out for the $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy, which we regret to say was not found at a construction site or landfill.
There were some sophomores, as we understand it, who thought this would be a good idea when Nebraska recently defected to the Big 10. The rivalry actually goes back to 1900, because on the Great Midwest-Great Plains football-scape, done everybody been playing everybody for over a century. Rivalry happens. Minnesota’s favored by 16.
Meanwhile, #20 Syracuse will be at Pitt for their Storied Rivalry, Panthers with the 3.5-point odds-nod.
You have to know #21 Wake Forest at #22 NC State (motto: “They have a football team?”) is a Storied Rivalry. So it is – going back to 1895 and gearing up for chapter 116 on Saturday – and you’d be surprised how often the contestants have met in recent years ranked right next to each other. Should be a pretty good game, in fact. Demon Deacons are laying 4.
And now: you know how we’ve been waiting for this one. Yes, it’s Hawaii at Fresno State for the Golden Screwdriver! This Storied Rivalry is played for one of the finest tokens in all football. We’re thrilled it will be on FS2 as the Saturday nightcap, where decent, law-abiding people can see it.
The rivalry began in 1938, but the Screwdriver is a latecomer, its inspiration dating to 2002 when Fresno State fans were accused of throwing a screwdriver at the Hawaii bench. Investigation turned up little, but Fresno State apologized anyway, and naturally the idea of playing for a Golden Screwdriver emerged from the ashes of enmity. The token was approved sometime around 2018, though reporting is cagey about that. Earlier, we have the impression that the Screwdriver was being played for kind of on the down-low.
You’d pretty much have to mount a trophy like this, if only to keep it from being stuffed absentmindedly in a pocket, but for obvious reasons its trophy street cred is only enhanced by that detail. We could not love thee, dear, so much, loved we not random-cut indoor-outdoor turf pieces more.
Fresno State gives 27.5.
Otherwhere, the Saturday marquee game features Florida State at Miami (Da U), but we don’t recommend it. The ’Noles give 7.5.
Among other picks, we’re pifflicated that Arkansas is hosting Liberty for their first-ever confrontation (with the Hogs giving only 14.5, yet). We think #24 Texas (-2.5) at #13 Kansas State has potential, and we wouldn’t dismiss Houston at SMU (-3), which is usually a fun time, though it’s on NFL Network this go-round. For late-night fare, #12 UCLA (-11) at Arizona State has possibilities.
Other ranks
In FCS, McNeese State came oh-so-close in a 28-27 loss to Southeastern Louisiana last week, and branches out to host non-conference Eastern Illinois (Charleston, IL; Ohio Valley) on Saturday evening in Lake Charles. We’re proud of McNeese for hanging in there and scrimmaging up through a 1-7 (so far), near-total rebuilding season. The Eastern Illinois Panthers come in 2-6, with one conference win over Murray State.
Saturday in Lake Charles will see showers and a high of 70 during the day; it’s not clear if the precip will have tapered off by game start at 7 PM Central.
In Div II, Slippery Rock (8-1) has rebounded to #10 in the Coaches poll off the win over Clarion last week, and hurls itself next at visiting Edinboro U. (Edinboro, PA), which comes in 4-5 off a loss to Seton Hill. The Fighting Scots’ PSAC record is poor (2-4), and the Rock is on a roll, so we’re hopeful.
Although SRU lost to 7-1 Indiana (PA) earlier in the season, it’s still possible for the Rock to make the conference championship match with Shepherd U. – but SRU has to beat Edinboro. The outcome of IUP’s Saturday game will decide the other half of the deal.
Saturday will enjoy the mildest conditions in the 7-day Slippery Rock forecast, with low 70s and partly cloudy for the 1 PM kickoff.
To no one’s surprise, Central Oklahoma took a 38-7 dive to #5 Pittsburg State last week, and emerges to face this weekend’s opponent toting a 5-4 record. The Bronchos will be at Nebraska-Kearney (conveniently located in Kearney, NE) for the MIAA match, going head-to-head with a Loper (antelope; get it?) squad that’s piled up a 6-3 record, and kept its loss to the top MIAA team much closer than UCO’s (35-28 to Pittsburg State). NKU lost 28-24 to NW Missouri, however, whereas UCO bagged a surprise W out of that clash. We’re on pins and needles.
This game will skate on mid-60s and heavy cloud cover, ahead of the cold front coming in next week. Kickoff is at noon on Saturday.
In Div III, Rose-Hulman trounced Defiance 76-35 last week, a most pleasant outcome but one that suggests defensive weaknesses the Engineers could do without next week, when they play the big season finale with long-time rival Mount St. Joseph. This Saturday, however, RHIT – now 5-3 overall/5-0 conference – heads to HCAC opponent Hanover College (Hanover, IN). Hanover’s 4-4/4-1 conference, and performed respectably (44-29) in its loss to 8-0 fire-eating conference leader Mount St. Joe, so these Panthers won’t be beanbag.
All-day rain is expected for the 2 PM game start, but it won’t be terribly cold – just soggy – with a high in the upper 60s.
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy fell to 5-3 on a 27-13 loss to Springfield (MA) last week, a likely buzzkill for post-season invites (although in Div III you never know).
The Mariners have this week off to prepare for their grand-exit match with Coast Guard on the 12th. If they win that one, it’s all good.
[Miscellaneous crowdsource question: is it weird to be listening to Christmas music already?]
Feature image: Illinois WR #1 Isaiah Williams blasts past defenders with a toss from QB Tommy DeVito for a 46-yard TD, the Illini’s first of the day, in the win against Nebraska on 29 Oct 2022. ESPN video, YouTube.
The Optimistic Conservative 
LSU has a shot but there is a reason that Bama is favored. Roll Tide Roll, around the bowl and down the hole. Coach Kelly is proving to be just what LSU needed we really expected a 7 win season as a plus for Kelly. Orgeron really took the program down though winning a natty.
Heavy rain expected in the morning, though there really is something to the saying that it never rains in Tiger Stadium on Saturday nights. Heavy rain from cool fronts moving through the area will begin to split when reaching the Mississippi River then at most a light drizzle will hit the area of LSU to 1 mile due east (where I live) and join back a half a mile to the east again. The same goes for lightning. I have no idea what causes this anomally but that is what happens.
Here in Baton Rouge I slept until 10AM and the rain sort of squalls passed. My wife said not heavy at all. The sun was shining by 10:30. The field should be dry by gametime, and even everything west of Alabama should be dry by gametime.
Good news. Geaux!
Vols & Dogs may count more, but this may be the best game played today.
Georgia by a touchdown is my prediction
Thank you for the picture! I-L-L!
Michigan St also has most of their defense suspended for the brawl in the Michigan tunnel, so it will be doubly difficult I think for them. That same weather front Kermit referenced will be coming through Champaign. High winds which will make passing really tough, which is the only possibility for MSU to threaten the Ilini. We may actually cover the 17 point spread. Of course, if we are up 14 points in the 4th Bielma will just run, run, run.
If we hold serve, next up is Purdue for the Big Ten West title. And I will be there. Hope I don’t jinx them.
I-N-I!!
I have no insight for the OU/Baylor party. Two so so teams playing for nothing much. Perhaps Poulan could get back in the picture.
7-7 in the 1st last I checked. Can’t throw away a sawbuck a month to see the odd ESPN+ game. OU needs to climb back into must-broadcast territory.
Have to admit, I didn’t have “OU-Baylor on ESPN+” on my Bingo card for this fall.
Windy at Northwestern, will have to be a running back game.
Report in from big ten country – it is really windy everywhere and OSU cannot pass to save its life in Evanston where they are tied with Northwestern 7-7 at half. Purdue at home is having similar problems and trail to Iowa 17-3. Iowa for all their offensive woes can play defense. Purdue has a long road back.
And Iowa’s first play from scrimmage in the second half is a 75 yard run for TD. 24-3. That might be the kill shot for Purdue.
Ohio St will win, ugly but a W. The question this raises for me is if they cannot pass, can they beat Michigan. My answer is no. They are built for warm climes in national championship games. If the weather is bad for the Michigan game would not surprise me to see MIchigan beat them.
Purdue loses 24-3. Miserable game, high winds made it tough to pass. They are still in the hunt in the Big Ten West but there is a log jam with them now.
Nebraska making a last ditch effort to catch Minnesota down 20-13 at home. But coming up short. Wisconsin keeps winning with new head coach. Maryland with not a good effort. TCU looks safe against Tech.
Getting ready for my Illini in Champaign against Mich St. 58 degrees in Champaign, but winds at 20 gusting over 30.
Of course, there is this little game in Athens, GA, going on that might have a few eyeballs on it too.
Ugly first half in Chicago
Buckeyes made 70 straight 20+ points games.
I’m hopeful VT is going to do it here. It’s one-possession and still nearly 7:00 left, but if they’ll lose the stupid penalties I think they can hang onto this one. Fun to get to watch at least part of the game.
Wind clearly a factor in Ohio State-NW game. If you didn’t see the wind you’d think the Buckeyes decided to leave all their starters at home.
Well, they got it done.
TCU doing the usual and pulling away as the clock winds down. The Big 12 has their number and plugs up the run early, but eventually the Frogs start giving Demercado just enough hole to squirt through.
Congrats to Air Force, in the close fight that erupted from the Rangers-Globe-Life-Choctaw-Stadium-Lockheed-Martin-USAA game. If there was an opponent in there somewhere, I think it had to be Army. (Army showed pretty well, BTW. Good game.)
TU minus the starting QB just didn’t have enough to get past Tulane. Some great plays in there, but Tulane really is pretty good this year. Congrats to the Green Wave.
I can’t see the Buckeyes getting penalized for bad weather. Tennessee however needs to step up.
Oh, ow VT needs a stop here.
Not feeling it, but never say never.
Ouch to the nth. So close. Another one bites the dust. Hokies hit that un-magic 7. Sigh.
On to the midday slot. Illini up 7-0 already. Georgia with second blood but more points. Kansas draws first on OK-State.
Baylor hacking and slashing, 17-14 over the Sooners in 2Q. Feels like this would have been the score if both teams were ranked on 5 Nov. Pigball bounces funny.
Illini down 9-7 at half. Very uninspired start. The typical Illini game it seems. Half time adjustments have been our savior all year – will need to be again. Haunting stat – have been down at halftime only one other time – against Indiana where we lost.
Speaking of Indiana – Penn St. is stomping them 24-7 right before the half.
Georgia showing every D coordinator how to stop Tennessee. And they are driving again for a score before the half. Ok State just can’t seem to stop the spiral.
Well, our punter just punted into the blockers – Mich St scores TD on ensuing possession. Illini down 16-7. It doesn’t feel good at all.
And now feels worse. Illini just making mistakes and catching bad breaks today.
Georgia looks like getting it done.
OK State is another Big 12 front-runner that got soft from lack of competition over last decade. Big reset going on out there. All 3 Oklahoma teams too dependent on starting QB, little depth at key skill positions. Tulsa’s po’ folks and has more excuse, but recruiting at the other two has been in a low swing. Some similar dynamics at Baylor and even Texas.
Sigh. Navy. Being an option team isn’t the way to repair a 20-10 deficit with less than 8:00 remaining in the game.
Well, maybe getting the picture on the blog is like the old SI Cover Curse! Lol!
Illini going down.
Sorry about that. Try to be impartial with the feature images but sometimes it goes sideways.
Huh. Liberty up 21-13 on Arkansas.
What do you even say?
Illinois put up good numbers. Outdid MSU in pretty much every category except the scoreboard.
Spartan D down some starters with the suspensions, but seemed in bend-but-don’t-break mode today.
Tough match.
Hawgs couldn’t convert the 2 on their final TD. Liberty knocks them off 21-19.
Not sure what happened to the Hawgs this year. I expected them to be much more competitive.
Tennessee is out of the top 4, Ok State may fall off altogether.
Tennessee in a bad spot. Probably just like Michigan/Ohio St loser.
Georgis is pretty good. LSU giving Alabama everything they can handle. Alabama fighting for a spot in the playoffs tonight.
What a finish by LSU. That was a ballsy call by Kelly for the win
McNeese WINS.
What. A. Game.
As K says, what a call on the 2-pointer by Kelly too. Not like this was a bowl game they could afford to just lose. All on the line, and he trusted his guys.
Great pressure by LSU D on Young and the receivers all night. Big improvement over 8 weeks ago. Alabama really is a great team. LSU just won this one fair and square.
Good job on McNeese – no gimme there, they’ve clearly been improving. The competitive score last week seemed like an indication.
In our Other Ranks:
Slippery Rock over Edinboro 28-21. Indiana (PA) beat Clarion, so they’ll play Shepherd for the PSAC championship next week. SRU will have one more vs. Kutztown.
UCO lost by THAT MUCH in a 20-18 heartbreaker to Nebraska-Kearney.
Rose-Hulman rolls over Hanover 47-17.
Not sure I would have guessed Notre Dame as Clemson’s bridge too far. But the Tigers have been looking beatable all year. Don’t see them back in The Conversation.
Florida State destroyed Miami. Didn’t expect it to be that close.
Michigan finally got in gear and started racking up the points. They’ll have to look purtier than the Buckeyes for the artistic expression factor in the CFpfffftt blindfold dart throw.
Apparently there was absolute insanity at Gerald Ford in the 77-63 SMU win over Houston. Didn’t get the game here.
Fresno State’s up 31-0 on Hawaii at the half, so I’m thinking the Screwdriver goes to the Bulldogs this go-round.
USC and UCLA scores looking as expected.
Basketball game score?
That was neglectful of me. Will do better next time.
A lot of defense in the Toledo game. Both teams doing a good job keeping the receivers covered. Frisky offenses still making stuff happen. Rockets are defending Ball State’s RB Steele pretty well.
It’s a good game and looks like it’ll come down to the wire. A welcome respite from politics. Serious gagging reflex when Bret Baier said “red mirage” right out of the gate. What’s the point of Fox News if they’re just going to chant the same scripted propaganda?