College Football
Week 8 – The Big Ten returns
The only thing
normal is
Alabama and
Clemson
With everyone else, you can expect the unexpected.
The normal: Alabama 41, Georgia 24 and Clemson 73, Georgia Tech 7
The unexpected: South Carolina 30, Auburn 22, Arkansas 33, Ole Miss 21, Kentucky 34, Tennessee7, Wake Forest 40, Virginia 23 and Florida State 31, North Carolina 28.
That appears to be the way it’s going to be during the 2020 season. Of course we have yet to hear from the Big Ten. But that will soon change.
Meanwhile, back to the normal. During the first half, the Georgia-Alabama game was reminiscent of the last two times these teams met. Those two games went down to the wire. Alabama rallied to beat Georgia 26-23 (OT) for the national championship in January 2018. Then in December 2018, Alabama rallied to beat Georgia 35-28 for the SEC championship.
Saturday night, Georgia led Alabama, 24-20 at halftime. It was 2018 all over again. But in the second half, there was nothing reminiscent about those 2018 games. The Tide outscored the Dawgs 21-0. Mac Jones passed for 417 yards, Najee Harris rushed for 152 yards, Devonta Smith caught 11 passes for 167 yards and Jaylen Waddle caught six passes for 161 yards, as Alabama beat Georgia, 41-24.
Saturday afternoon, the other normal – Clemson – made it look like a routine day for the Tigers. Perhaps an exaggerated routine. Clemson demolished Georgia Tech, 73-7. Faced with a double threat, the Yellow Jackets defense stopped one of the threats but they couldn’t stop the other. Tech’s defense held Travis Etienne to just 44 yards rushing. However, the other Clemson threat – Trevor Lawrence – passed for 404 yards and five touchdowns.
Ironically, both Alabama’s Mac Jones and Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence were 24-for-32 passing on Saturday. Both threw one interception.
Yeah, if there is anything normal this season, it’s Alabama and Clemson.
Then there was the unexpected. Granted, Auburn was only a three-point favorite over South Carolina. But it was a strong three points. South Carolina and Auburn fans excluded, most thought Auburn would win the game. The Tigers got the upper hand at first. Auburn led 9-0 at the end of the first quarter. But after that, the Gamecocks outscored the Tigers 30-13. South Carolina won, 30-22.
The outlook for Will Muschamp is looking better. The outlook for Gus Malzahn is looking grimmer. Both teams are 2-2, but Auburn is really 1-3.
Tennessee was favored to beat Kentucky by six points. But the unexpected happened in Knoxville. The Vols not only lost to the Wildcats, they lost 34-7. Tennessee has suffered back-to-back beatings – bad beatings. Last week, the Vols lost to Georgia, 44-21. Against Kentucky, four turnovers didn’t help Tennessee any.
The outlook for Mark Stoops is looking better. The outlook for Jeremy Pruitt is looking grimmer. Both teams are 2-2. Tennessee is not only not ready for primetime, the Vols aren’t even ready for a 3 a.m. showing on some obscure cable channel.
Things were looking up for Lane Kiffin. Ole Miss looked respectable in losses to Florida and Alabama. The Magnolia Boys beat Kentucky. Ole Miss was just a two-point favorite over Arkansas, but it was a strong two points. Excluding Ole Miss and Arkansas fans, most were certain that Ole Miss would win.
But Arkansas coach Sam Pittman is defying odds this season. Arkansas beat Ole Miss, 33-21. You can’t win a game with seven turnovers. Six of those turnovers were interceptions thrown by Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral. Doesn’t sound like a Lane Kiffin offense to me. At 21 points, Ole Miss was held to its lowest point total this season. The Landsharks were averaging 41.7 points a game coming into the contest against Arkansas.
The outlook for Sam Pittman is looking brighter and brighter every week. The outlook for Lane Kiffin is suffering. Arkansas is 2-2, but really 3-1. Ole Miss fell to 1-3.
The really unexpected happened in Tallahassee Saturday night. Fifth-ranked North Carolina was an 11-point favorite coming into the game against Florida State. But in the second quarter, the Seminoles led the tar Heels, 24-0. At halftime, FSU led 31-7.
Then the Noles held on for dear life. North Carolina outscored FSU, 21-0 in the second half. But when the final gun sounded, Florida State had upset North Carolina, 31-28. The Tar Heels suffered their first loss.
And finally, Virginia was a three-point favorite over Wake Forest. Somebody didn’t tell that to the Deacons. At halftime, the score was tied, 20-20. In the second half, Wake Forest outscored the Cavs, 20-3. Instead of losing by three points, the Deacons won by 17 points, beating Virginia, 40-23. The Cavs were crippled by three turnovers. Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman passed for 309 yards and Kenneth Walker rushed for 128 yards.
Except for Alabama and Clemson, the normal this season may be to expect the unexpected.
Week 7 started earlier than previous weeks. The action began on Wednesday night in Lafayette, Louisiana, where Coastal Carolina beat Louisiana, 30-27. The Chanticleers’ Massimo Biscardi kicked a 40-yard field goal with 0:04 on the clock to give Coastal Carolina the win. The Chanticleers improved to 4-0.
The following night, we had a basketball game. Not really, but the score sounded like one. Arkansas State outlasted Georgia State, 59-52. The teams combined for 1,192 total yards. Arkansas State passed for 551 of those yards.
We had a double header on Friday night – SMU at Tulane and BYU at Houston. In the first game, SMU and Tulane played to a 34-34 tie at the end of regulation. In overtime, the Mustangs beat the Green Wave, 37-34, on a 27-yard field goal by Merek Glover. SMU quarterback Shame Buechele passed for 384 yards and two touchdowns. The Mustangs improved to 5-0.
In the second game, BYU remained unbeaten, as the Cougars beat Houston, 43-26. BYU quarterback Zach Wilson passed for 400 yards and four touchdowns. BYU improved to 5-0.
All the Big 12 teams were off Saturday, except for West Virginia and Kansas. The Mountaineers got off to a slow start, spotting the Jayhawks 10 points. Then WVU scored 38 unanswered points and went on to beat Kansas, 38-17. West Virginia’s Leddie Brown rushed for 195 yards
In the ACC, Miami bounced back from its first loss last week to beat Pitt, 31-19. The Miami defense held Pitt to just 22 yards rushing.
Still in the ACC, Notre Dame had a close call with Louisville. The Irish beat the Cardinals, 12-7, in a lackluster game. The teams combined for just 557 total yards. Notre Dame’s Kyren Williams did rush for 127 yards. Duke led NC State, 20-14, at halftime. Then the Wolfpack shutout the Dookies 17-0 in the second half. NC State beat Duke, 31-20.
In the ACC’s nightcap, Virginia Tech bested Boston College 40-14. BC suffered five turnovers. Two Hokie running backs had outstanding games. Hendon Hooker rushed for 164 yards and Khalil Herbert rushed for 143 yards.
Texas A&M added to Mike Leach’s woes. The Aggies beat the Bulldogs, 28-14. Texas A&M held Miss state to -2 yards rushing.
In the featured encounter in C-USA, Louisiana Tech was no match for Marshall. The Herd beat the Bulldogs, 35-17. Marshall held Louisiana Tech to just 7 yards rushing. Marshall improved to 4-0.
And finally, in what was the most exciting game of the day, Memphis scored on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Brady White to Calvin Austin with 1:08 left in the game to beat UCF 50-49. UCF had a chance to pull it out, but came up short on a 39-yard field goal attempt in the waning seconds. With less than four minutes to go in the game, Memphis trailed UCF, 49-37.
Week 7’s Winners: West Virginia running back Leddie Brown and Coastal Carolina. Week 7’s Losers: Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn and Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral.
There were six games postponed Saturday due to COVID-19 issues. One of the games was LSU at Florida. The Gators have so many players with COVID their game with Missouri this week has been postponed. Florida not only has players with COVID, but Gators coach Dan Mullen has it too. Sounds like there is a lack of respect for the COVID guidelines and protocols at Florida.
Yes, the Big Ten returns to action this week. The best encounter of the seven games should be Michigan at Minnesota. Two of the most intriguing games are Nebraska at Ohio State and Penn State at Indiana.
The Mountain West Conference also begins play this week. We still have a couple weeks before the Pac-12 and the MAC join the party.
Yet another former Major League Baseball player died last week – Joe Morgan. Morgan played second base for five MLB teams from 1963 to 1984 – most notably for the Cincinnati Reds. He played for the Reds from 1972 to 1979 where he won two World Series championships in 1975 and 1976. Morgan was also named the National League Most Valuable Player those two years. He is considered one of the greatest second basemen of all time. Following baseball, Morgan was a broadcaster for ESPN, ABC and NBC from 1985 to 2006. Joe Leonard Morgan was 77.
One of my all-time favorite movies as a young boy was “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.” The film had a tremendous cast – Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming, Jo Van Fleet, John Ireland, Earl Holliman, Dennis Hopper, Whit Bissel, DeForest Kelley, Martin Milner, Lee Van Cleef and Jack Elam. Just think of all the movies and TV shows that group has been in. Rhonda Fleming died last week. She was 97. Rhonda Fleming was known as the “Queen of Technicolor.”
My friend, Tim Muth, has bruises all over his body. He was watching the North Carolina-Florida State game Saturday night and he kept pinching himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
So the Big Ten is back this week….Unfortunately, Florida isn’t….Lane Kiffin, Jeremy Pruitt and Gus Malzahn are doing some serious head scratching this week….Five Group of Five teams are ranked in both the AP and Coaches Polls – Cincinnati, BYU, SMU, Marshall and Coastal Carolina. Cincinnati is the highest ranked at 9th. The Bearcats and SMU meet this week in Dallas….Latest rumor: Arkansas coach Sam Pittman to Texas….Have a great week.
Touchdown Tom
Weekend Recap
GAME OF THE WEEK: Uga takes a bath – Alabama 41, Georgia 24 (Touchdown Tom said: Alabama 28, Georgia 20). The teams were equal in rushing yards – 145 for Georgia, 150 for Alabama. The difference was in passing yards. Of Alabama’s 567 total yards, 417 were through the air. Bama placekicker Will Reichard kicked a 52-yard field goal. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett threw three interceptions. He also completed less than 50% of his passes. Nick Saban is 22-0 against his former assistant coaches.
RUNNER-UP: Cock-A-Doodle-Doo – Coastal Carolina 30, Louisiana 27 (Touchdown Tom said: Coastal Carolina 30, Louisiana 29). At the end of the first quarter, the score was 7-7. At halftime it was 13-13. At the end of the third quarter, the score was 20-20. Early in the fourth quarter, it was 27-27. Then the teams went 12 minutes without scoring a single point, before Coastal Carolina kicked a 40-yard field goal with 4 seconds to go in the game. The stats were fairly even, except that Coastal Carolina controlled time of possession for more than 38 minutes.
REST OF THE BEST: Ho-hum – Miami (Florida) 31, Pitt 19 (Touchdown Tom said: Miami 30, Pitt 19). Neither team displayed much offense – only 636 total yards between them.
Ground attack – Virginia Tech 40, Boston College 14 (Touchdown Tom said: Virginia Tech 29, Boston College 20). Virginia Tech held Boston College to only 90 yards rushing. BC quarterback Phil Jurkovec passed for 345 yards and two touchdowns.
Postponed – Oklahoma State at Baylor (Touchdown Tom said: Oklahoma State 29, Baylor 24). The Oklahoma State at Baylor game was postponed due to COVID-19. The game will be played in December.
Cougars beat Cougars – BYU 43, Houston 26 (Touchdown Tom said: BYU 30, Houston 27). When the fourth quarter began, Houston led BYU, 26-21. BYU outscored Houston 22-0 in the fourth quarter. BYU had 478 total yards – 400 passing and 78 rushing.
Postponed – Cincinnati at Tulsa (Touchdown Tom said: Cincinnati 22, Tulsa 17). The Cincinnati at Tulsa game was postponed due to COVID-19 issues at Cincinnati. The game will be played on December 5.
Still cruising – Marshall 35, Louisiana Tech 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Marshall 24, Louisiana Tech 19). Marshall running back Brenden Knox rushed for 125 yards. The Herd had two turnovers. Marshall held Louisiana Tech for 267 total yards.
Never a dull moment – Memphis 50, UCF 49 (Touchdown Tom said: Memphis 32, UCF 26). The teams combined for an amazing 1,577 total yards. The quarterbacks combined for 1,087 of those yards. UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel had 601 yards passing. The teams combined for 75 first downs.
Postponed – LSU at Florida (Touchdown Tom said: Florida 37, LSU 33). The LSU at Florida game was postponed due to a COVID-19 problem at Florida. The gale will be played on December 12.
YE OLDE STOMPING
GROUNDS:
Less Miles – West Virginia 38, Kansas 17 (Touchdown Tom said: West Virginia 34, Kansas 15). West Virginia racked up 544 total yards, while holding Kansas to 157 yards – only 62 yards rushing and 95 passing. The Mountaineers had 29 first downs to 7 for Kansas. WVU quarterback Jarret Doege was 26-for-44, passing for 318 yards and three touchdowns. Down with COVID-19, Kansas coach Les Miles didn’t make the trip to Morgantown.
Packed – NC State 31, Duke 20 (Touchdown Tom said: NC State 28, Duke 25). Both teams had three turnovers. Neither quarterback passed for more than 194 yards and no running back rushed for more than 86 yards. Entering the fourth quarter, NC State led, 21-20. NC State quarterback Devin Leary left the game with a broken fibula. The Wolfpack improved to 4-1.
Week 7 Results: 9 winners, 0 fumbles (100 percent)
ELSEWHERE AROUND FLORIDA:
Temple 39, South Florida 37
Superlatives
Impressive Passers:
UCF’s Dillon Gabriel – 35-49-0 for 601 yards (5TDs); Memphis’ Brady White – 34-50-0-486 (6TDs); Alabama’s Mac Jones – 24-32-1-417 (4TDs); Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence – 24-32-1-404 (5TDs); SMU’s Shane Buechele – 23-37-0-384 (2TDs), and North Carolina’s Sam Howell – 20-36-1-374 (3TDs).
Also, Boston College’s Phil Jurkovec – 28-51-2 for 345 yards (2TDs); Troy’s Gunnar Watson – 26-38-2-333 (3TDs); Arkansas State’s Layne Hatcher – 21-28-0-332 (4TDs); West Virginia’s Jarret Doege – 26-44-1-318 (3TDs); Georgia State’s Cornelious Brown – 18-35-0-314 (3TDs), and Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman – 16-27-0-309 (1TD).
Impressive Rushers:
West Virginia’s Leddie Brown – 195 yards (1TD); East Carolina’s Rahjai Harris – 172 yards (1TD); Liberty’s Shedro Louis – 170 yards (2TDs); North Texas’ Jason Bean – 169 yards (3TDs); Virginia Tech’s Hendon Hooker – 164 yards (3TDs); Navy’s Nelson Smith – 157 yards (2TDs); Middle Tennessee’s Chaton Mobley – 156 yards (1TD), and Alabama’s Najee Harris – 152 yards (1TD).
Also, Virginia Tech’s Khalil Herbert – 143 yards; Troy’s Kimani Vidal – 143 yards (1TD); North Texas’ Deandre Torrey – 143 yards (2TDs); Georgia State’s Tucker Gregg – 142 yards (1TD); UTSA’s Sincere McCormick – 133 yards; UAB;s DeWayne McBride – 131 yards (1TD); Tulane’s Stephon Henderson – 130 yards (1TD); Wake Forest’s Kenneth Walker – 128 yards (3TDs); Tennessee’s Eric Gray – 128 yards, and Notre Dame’s Kyren Williams – 127 yards.
Quotes of the Week
“I did something today that I’ve never done. I messed up, threw a beer bottle through my window and my wife left me. Yeah, and I don’t even drink. I had two beers. I wasn’t even drunk. I just can’t stand to watch this team anymore. I can’t do it. My blood pressure is up, and I’m cool and I’m calm. I don’t get this way. Tennessee football has done that. I didn’t do it. Blame it on Jarrett Guarantano. I can’t watch this team anymore. I can’t watch them next week. I can’t watch them the rest of the season. I can’t watch them anymore,” a Tennessee football fan, calling into a Knoxville talk radio show after the Vols lost to Kentucky.
Tweets of the Week
“I’m not an epidemiologist, but Nick Saban on the sidelines is irresponsible and moronic.”
“Nick Saban was diagnosed with COVID-19 days ago. He has his mask down, yelling in the face of an official. That is inexcusable.”
“Nick Saban pulls his mask down. If I’m the ref, he’s getting a personal foul.”
“Ref made sure to put his mask on in front of Saban.”
“Nick Saban, who confirmed had COVID-19 earlier this week, has his mask off yelling at the referee.”
“Nick Saban pulls off mask to yell at ref. Wouldn’t be noteworthy, well….”
“There should be a 15-yard penalty for every time Nick Saban pulls his mask down.”
“The ref isn’t buying Saban’s negative tests.”
Sign of the Day
They Have Ugly Uniforms And Kirby Has A Terrible Haircut
Touchdown Tom’s
Predictions for
RUNNER-UP: 2. Cincinnati (3-0) at SMU (5-0) – (AAC vs. AAC) – 9 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN2 – Big matchup in the AAC. These are the only two unbeaten teams in the conference. Cincinnati has the better defense. Bearcats know how to ride – Cincinnati 30, SMU 26.
REST OF THE BEST: 3. NC State (4-1) at North Carolina (3-1) – (ACC vs. ACC) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ESPN – North Carolina was eatin’ high on the hog until the Tar Heels ran into Chief Osceola last week. They better get that loss out of their system. It doesn’t get any easier this week. Although State lost its quarterback. Still, a good game should be expected. Wolves get stuck in the Tar – North Carolina 34, NC State 29.
4. Michigan (0-0) at Minnesota (0-0) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC – Bout time the Big Ten got playin’. This should be a good one. Time for Jim Harbaugh to put up or shut up. The Gophers make him shut up – Minnesota 23, Michigan 20.
5. Alabama (4-0) at Tennessee (2-2) – (SEC vs. SEC) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, CBS – I think Tennessee is about to get its third-straight smack down. After all, Alabama is tougher than Georgia and Kentucky. Vols fans didn’t expect a start like this. The Tide ride – Alabama 38, Tennessee 11.
6. Louisiana (3-1) at UAB (4-1) – (Sun Belt at C-USA) – 8 pm ET, Friday, CBSSN – This is a good interconference affair between the Sun Belt and C-USA. Two of the better teams from each conference. No gumbo in Birmingham – UAB 34, Louisiana 31.
7. Virginia Tech (3-1) at Wake Forest (2-2) – (ACC vs. ACC) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday – ESPN3 – Wake Forest surprised Virginia last week. Can they surprise Virginia Tech this week. Not likely, but they will give the Hokies a battle. The Hokies knock the Deacon out of his pulpit – Virginia Tech 27, Wake Forest 23.
8. Notre Dame (4-0) at Pitt (3-3) – (ACC vs. ACC) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC – Louisville gave Notre Dame a scare. Pitt is capable of doing the same. There is an advantage to playing at home. But the Panthers can’t take advantage of it – Notre Dame 30, Pitt 21.
9. Penn State (0-0) at Indiana (0-0) – (Big Ten vs, Big Ten) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, FS1 – By all factors this should be a win for Penn State. But some think Indiana is loaded this year. They say the Hoosiers can finish third in the Big Ten East. Can they knock off the Lions? Close, but no Banana for the Hoosiers – Penn State 34, Indiana 28.
10. Georgia Southern (3-1) at Coastal Carolina (4-0) – (Sun Belt vs. Sun Belt) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ESPNU – Coastal Carolina is having quite a year. And there may be no stopping the Chanticleers. But Georgia Southern will give it a try. The Eagles are no pushovers. The Chicken roosts – Coastal Carolina 26, Georgia Southern 22.
YE OLDE STOMPING
GROUNDS:
West Virginia (3-1) at Texas Tech (1-3) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 5:30 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN2 – Sometimes it is tough playing out in Lubbock. This may be one of those times. But Neal Brown owes Texas Tech paybacks. Could be a lot of touchdowns and field goals. The Red Raiders eke one out – Texas Tech 31, West Virginia 30.
Nebraska (0-0) at Ohio State (0-0) – (Big Ten vs, Big Ten) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, FOX – Scott Frost says Nebraska will play anybody. He’s getting his wish right out of the starting blocks. Either the Huskers will give the Buckeyes a fight. Or they will get blown out. Very interesting game. Fields melts the Frost – Ohio State 31, Nebraska 18.
Baylor (1-1) at Texas (2-2) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – Texas coach Tom Herman is a hurtin’ Horn. Some say the decision is already made to replace him. He needs to turn things around – and soon. Herman’s no hermit in the game – Texas 27, Baylor 24.
Iowa (0-0) at Purdue (0-0) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, BTN – Iowa is favored. But you never know. Purdue could pull a shocker. The pundits don’t give the Boilers much credence. The Hawkeyes don’t either – Iowa 27, Purdue 23.
ELSEWHERE AROUND
FLORIDA:
Florida State (2-3) at Louisville (1-4) – (ACC vs. ACC) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ESPN3….
Florida Atlantic (1-0) at Marshall(4-0) – (C-USA vs. C-USA) – 2:30 pm ET, Saturday….
Tulsa (1-1) at South Florida (1-4) – (AAC vs. AAC) – 7:30 pm ET, Friday, ESPN….
Touchdown Tom
P.S.
Not exactly college football related, but in the autumn of October, as the college football season approached its halfway point, the number one song in the country…
…75 years ago this week in 1945 was “Till The End Of Time” by Perry Como
…70 years ago this week in 1950 was “Good Night Irene” by Gordon Jenkins and The Weavers
…65 years ago this week in 1955 was “The Yellow Rose Of Texas” by Mitch Miller, and “Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing” by The Four Aces
…60 years ago this week in 1960 was “Save The Last Dance For Me” by The Drifters, and “I Want To Be Wanted” by Brenda Lee
…55 years ago this week in 1965 was “Yesterday” by The Beatles
…50 years ago this week in 1970 was “I’ll Be There” by The Jackson 5
…45 years ago this week in 1975 was “Bad Blood” by Neil Sedaka
…40 years ago this week in 1980 was “Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen
…35 years ago this week in 1985 was “Take On Me” by A-Ha
…30 years ago this week in 1990 was “Praying For Time” by George Michael, and “I Don’t Have The Heart” by George Ingram
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