The Home Stretch
College Football is coming down to the wire y'all, with the potential for some wrenches being thrown into the mix. Meanwhile, if you're a luke warm fan of the NFL, now is the time to start watching. Heading into the last 6 weeks of the season, this is where shit gets real.
Before we look at this weekend's match ups let's take a stroll down memory lane to last Saturday when Texas went from being in a pretty good position to take control of the game, to throwing in the towel....all in under a minute.
Starring Down the Barrel of 7-5:
That's what it looks like for these Horns. For all intents and purposes, put me in the camp of those who believe this team has thrown in the towel. It was evident in the second half and I think we'll see a lot of the same on Thanksgiving night. Mack knows it's over (rumors are swirling that he's been approached, and agreed to step down after the season...duh), the assistant coaches know it's over and I can assure you the players are feeding off that.
The two plays I speak of were towards the end of the first half with Oklahoma State driving down - they throw a ball into the end zone where Adrian Phillips is in perfect position to pick off the pass in the end zone. Instead, the ball sales (literally) right through his hands and into the hands of the Cowboy receiver. Touchdown. Intercept that pass and you have the ball with just under 2 minutes to play, down 14-10 with a chance to drive down for a field goal or touchdown before halftime (and you get the ball to start the second half). Instead, it's 21-10 with a minute to go. Two plays later, Case throws a ridiculous pass into coverage and it's picked off and taken to the house. 28-10. There's your ball game and it's not even halftime yet. There's the Texas we know and love.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Case McCoy is not a good QB. He is well-suited for a gig in division 2, or some other conference. Not here. Not ever. Couple that with the disastrous handling of Tyrone Swoopes and his redshirt and that sums up the offensive savvy of the Longhorns this year. I love Applewhite, I really do, but I think he took a couple steps back in his career this year - and I know Mack's controlling bullshit had a lot to do with it. But nonetheless, Major may be looking at a year or two of position coaching after this stint.
At the end of the day, this Texas team is who they are. A mediocre team that's had some tough injuries that have been simply too much to overcome. Couple that with Daje Johnson's suspension this week and you're looking at a loss in the form of a Tech team who WILL absolutely get up for this game and a Texas team that, well, won't.
Enough of that crap bag, let's look to this weekend as we've got a couple of humdingers...
Texas A&M at LSU:
The high-flying SEC offensive show is sure to continue in Baton Rouge this weekend when the Aggies visit LSU. One thing is for certain, there's no chance of any academic competition breaking out in this one folks. Nor will you see much defense being played as this is sure to be a fun game to watch. The Aggies will look to exact some revenge for last year's beat down at home where LSU's defense simply overwhelmed the Aggie offense. Not much chance of that happening again this year as LSU's defense is certainly not what it was last year, and Manziel and company are better and more confident.
However, LSU's offense is certainly improved this year whereas the Aggie defense continues to sputter between non-existent and halfway coherent. As I said, should be a fun game to watch with lots of scoring. LSU is going to have to figure out how to take away Mike Evans, or at the very least contain him, which is no easy task. Meanwhile, the Aggie defense is going to have to figure out how to....well....do something, anything to slow down Mettenberger and Hill. I'm particularly anxious to see how/if the Aggies can contain Jeremy Hill. If he's able to go off and a control-the-pace kind of game, it will be tough for the Aggies.
With all of that said, I just have a gut feeling that the Aggies are going to win this one. It is Baton Rouge, but it's a day game which certainly helps - that place just isn't the same when the sun is up. Plus, I think Manziel is wiser in his second year and a bit more efficient. I'm sure he'll be making a few circus plays like he does to keep drives alive, but he's certainly more polished. Give me the Aggies by 10.
Texas A&M -41
LSU - 31
Baylor at Oklahoma State:
Cue the "The Freaks Come Out at Night" music for this one. The good folks at game day are in town for this one and I truly think this environment is going to be electric. A huge test for Baylor in this one as you know Gundy will have this team relaxed and pumped up. I don't necessarily think they'll have the right game plan, but the intensity will most certainly be there. I know Texas is mediocre this year, but Okie State barely broke a sweat in dismantling them. The interesting thing about Okie State that few are talking about is the fact that their defense has quietly been very good this year, even keeping them alive in a few games while the offense struggled to find their identity. They have shaved 9 points off their defensive points allowed average since last year. That's a very big deal in this conference. They also lead the nation in interceptions and are top 5 in total turnovers generated. Bottom line: Baylor will have to protect the ball if they are going to take this one.
Enough of the Okie State defensive love fest - they are about to face the most prolific offense in college football today. Baylor's big test? Tuning out the hype around this game and not getting discouraged with the flow of the game. No doubt Art Briles has done wonders at Baylor, especially considering the history of this program. But this is the exact kind of game they have been losing during this resurgence. There's nothing wrong with 11-1 or 10-2, but at some point you have to get over that hump in games like this. And I think they will. Look for Baylor to ride Seastrunk hard in the early going of this game - one of the few things Texas showed is that they can have success with power running. And as ugly as the Texas game was, they did keep Okie State to just 338 yards of total offense. That simply won't get it done against Baylor - they need 450+ to keep track. I don't see it - give me the Bears in this one.
Baylor - 38
Okie State - 32
Other Notable Games...
Missouri at Ole Miss - I'm a) a believer in Missouri, and b) not a believer in Ole Miss. I realize the Rebels are coming off of a nice win over LSU, but they epitomize inconsistency. And I'm sorry, but those that are saying Franklin coming back for the Tigers will throw them off are crazy. He was the starter - he was injured - he's better. Let him play. He gives you the best chance to win. Give me Missouri by 2 touchdowns in this one.
Arizona State at UCLA - This game has not generated as much hype as the above games, but this could be a gem this weekend. A win by the Sun Devils and they clinch the south division in the Pac 12. A win by UCLA and they are still alive. Give me the Bruins to get the win at home.
OU at Kansas State - Sooners are broken and battered. Give me the White Wizard in this one. Add QB Blake Bell to the list of players out for the Sooners. The injury bug has bitten this team big time this year. Much like Texas, the party is over for Oklahoma.
NFL Notes:
As we head into the final 6 weeks of the season, things are starting to heat up in a few divisions - anything can happen. NFC East, NFC North and AFC North are divisions to keep an eye on. There's potential to see quite a bit of movement amongst these teams. Let's look in more depth at 2 key games coming up this weekend. Of course starting with....
Denver at New England - I don't care who you are, if you can't get up for this game, you don't have a soul. It doesn't get much better than Manning vs. Brady. Sure, the media has been and will continue to over hype and over analyze this game, but it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, these are 2 of the best ever both relish this opportunity and the match up. Brady has the edge in head-to-head record, Super Bowls, and playoff record, while Manning owns statistical advantages. Whatever, both are great. History aside, looking at this game it comes down to game plan. That Bronco offensive line really showed a lot of resolve against KC, keeping Manning upright the entire game (if you follow NFL and KC, you know how big of a deal that was). At the end of the day, I just don't think New England has the horses to keep up with Denver. They have been hampered on defense by injuries and loss of talent. Give me Denver by 10 in this one.
Dallas at New York - Here's a great match up of two teams heading in opposite directions. The Giants could not have had a worse start to their season without simply not showing up to any games. They have been abysmal - but here we are in late November and the Gents are holding tight to a 4-game winning streak while the Cowboys are doing their usual late-season swan song. In New York with the weather - and Dallas' complete lack of defensive prowess and you've got yourself a Giants victory. And if they pull it off - the Giants and Cowgirls will be within a game of the Philadelphia "This can't last, right?" Eagles. Giants here by 14 points.
Other NFL Notes:
Before we look at this weekend's match ups let's take a stroll down memory lane to last Saturday when Texas went from being in a pretty good position to take control of the game, to throwing in the towel....all in under a minute.
Starring Down the Barrel of 7-5:
That's what it looks like for these Horns. For all intents and purposes, put me in the camp of those who believe this team has thrown in the towel. It was evident in the second half and I think we'll see a lot of the same on Thanksgiving night. Mack knows it's over (rumors are swirling that he's been approached, and agreed to step down after the season...duh), the assistant coaches know it's over and I can assure you the players are feeding off that.
The two plays I speak of were towards the end of the first half with Oklahoma State driving down - they throw a ball into the end zone where Adrian Phillips is in perfect position to pick off the pass in the end zone. Instead, the ball sales (literally) right through his hands and into the hands of the Cowboy receiver. Touchdown. Intercept that pass and you have the ball with just under 2 minutes to play, down 14-10 with a chance to drive down for a field goal or touchdown before halftime (and you get the ball to start the second half). Instead, it's 21-10 with a minute to go. Two plays later, Case throws a ridiculous pass into coverage and it's picked off and taken to the house. 28-10. There's your ball game and it's not even halftime yet. There's the Texas we know and love.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Case McCoy is not a good QB. He is well-suited for a gig in division 2, or some other conference. Not here. Not ever. Couple that with the disastrous handling of Tyrone Swoopes and his redshirt and that sums up the offensive savvy of the Longhorns this year. I love Applewhite, I really do, but I think he took a couple steps back in his career this year - and I know Mack's controlling bullshit had a lot to do with it. But nonetheless, Major may be looking at a year or two of position coaching after this stint.
At the end of the day, this Texas team is who they are. A mediocre team that's had some tough injuries that have been simply too much to overcome. Couple that with Daje Johnson's suspension this week and you're looking at a loss in the form of a Tech team who WILL absolutely get up for this game and a Texas team that, well, won't.
Enough of that crap bag, let's look to this weekend as we've got a couple of humdingers...
Texas A&M at LSU:
The high-flying SEC offensive show is sure to continue in Baton Rouge this weekend when the Aggies visit LSU. One thing is for certain, there's no chance of any academic competition breaking out in this one folks. Nor will you see much defense being played as this is sure to be a fun game to watch. The Aggies will look to exact some revenge for last year's beat down at home where LSU's defense simply overwhelmed the Aggie offense. Not much chance of that happening again this year as LSU's defense is certainly not what it was last year, and Manziel and company are better and more confident.
However, LSU's offense is certainly improved this year whereas the Aggie defense continues to sputter between non-existent and halfway coherent. As I said, should be a fun game to watch with lots of scoring. LSU is going to have to figure out how to take away Mike Evans, or at the very least contain him, which is no easy task. Meanwhile, the Aggie defense is going to have to figure out how to....well....do something, anything to slow down Mettenberger and Hill. I'm particularly anxious to see how/if the Aggies can contain Jeremy Hill. If he's able to go off and a control-the-pace kind of game, it will be tough for the Aggies.
With all of that said, I just have a gut feeling that the Aggies are going to win this one. It is Baton Rouge, but it's a day game which certainly helps - that place just isn't the same when the sun is up. Plus, I think Manziel is wiser in his second year and a bit more efficient. I'm sure he'll be making a few circus plays like he does to keep drives alive, but he's certainly more polished. Give me the Aggies by 10.
Texas A&M -41
LSU - 31
Baylor at Oklahoma State:
Cue the "The Freaks Come Out at Night" music for this one. The good folks at game day are in town for this one and I truly think this environment is going to be electric. A huge test for Baylor in this one as you know Gundy will have this team relaxed and pumped up. I don't necessarily think they'll have the right game plan, but the intensity will most certainly be there. I know Texas is mediocre this year, but Okie State barely broke a sweat in dismantling them. The interesting thing about Okie State that few are talking about is the fact that their defense has quietly been very good this year, even keeping them alive in a few games while the offense struggled to find their identity. They have shaved 9 points off their defensive points allowed average since last year. That's a very big deal in this conference. They also lead the nation in interceptions and are top 5 in total turnovers generated. Bottom line: Baylor will have to protect the ball if they are going to take this one.
Enough of the Okie State defensive love fest - they are about to face the most prolific offense in college football today. Baylor's big test? Tuning out the hype around this game and not getting discouraged with the flow of the game. No doubt Art Briles has done wonders at Baylor, especially considering the history of this program. But this is the exact kind of game they have been losing during this resurgence. There's nothing wrong with 11-1 or 10-2, but at some point you have to get over that hump in games like this. And I think they will. Look for Baylor to ride Seastrunk hard in the early going of this game - one of the few things Texas showed is that they can have success with power running. And as ugly as the Texas game was, they did keep Okie State to just 338 yards of total offense. That simply won't get it done against Baylor - they need 450+ to keep track. I don't see it - give me the Bears in this one.
Baylor - 38
Okie State - 32
Other Notable Games...
Missouri at Ole Miss - I'm a) a believer in Missouri, and b) not a believer in Ole Miss. I realize the Rebels are coming off of a nice win over LSU, but they epitomize inconsistency. And I'm sorry, but those that are saying Franklin coming back for the Tigers will throw them off are crazy. He was the starter - he was injured - he's better. Let him play. He gives you the best chance to win. Give me Missouri by 2 touchdowns in this one.
Arizona State at UCLA - This game has not generated as much hype as the above games, but this could be a gem this weekend. A win by the Sun Devils and they clinch the south division in the Pac 12. A win by UCLA and they are still alive. Give me the Bruins to get the win at home.
OU at Kansas State - Sooners are broken and battered. Give me the White Wizard in this one. Add QB Blake Bell to the list of players out for the Sooners. The injury bug has bitten this team big time this year. Much like Texas, the party is over for Oklahoma.
NFL Notes:
As we head into the final 6 weeks of the season, things are starting to heat up in a few divisions - anything can happen. NFC East, NFC North and AFC North are divisions to keep an eye on. There's potential to see quite a bit of movement amongst these teams. Let's look in more depth at 2 key games coming up this weekend. Of course starting with....
Denver at New England - I don't care who you are, if you can't get up for this game, you don't have a soul. It doesn't get much better than Manning vs. Brady. Sure, the media has been and will continue to over hype and over analyze this game, but it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, these are 2 of the best ever both relish this opportunity and the match up. Brady has the edge in head-to-head record, Super Bowls, and playoff record, while Manning owns statistical advantages. Whatever, both are great. History aside, looking at this game it comes down to game plan. That Bronco offensive line really showed a lot of resolve against KC, keeping Manning upright the entire game (if you follow NFL and KC, you know how big of a deal that was). At the end of the day, I just don't think New England has the horses to keep up with Denver. They have been hampered on defense by injuries and loss of talent. Give me Denver by 10 in this one.
Dallas at New York - Here's a great match up of two teams heading in opposite directions. The Giants could not have had a worse start to their season without simply not showing up to any games. They have been abysmal - but here we are in late November and the Gents are holding tight to a 4-game winning streak while the Cowboys are doing their usual late-season swan song. In New York with the weather - and Dallas' complete lack of defensive prowess and you've got yourself a Giants victory. And if they pull it off - the Giants and Cowgirls will be within a game of the Philadelphia "This can't last, right?" Eagles. Giants here by 14 points.
Other NFL Notes:
- I know this is nothing new, but it continues to baffle and amaze me how Jerr-A Jones thinks he has a f'ng clue what he's doing as GM. I mean, it's laughable. This organization may continue to increase it's value and revenue, but they will never be relevant in the postseason as long as this ass clown continues this game. NEVER.
- I really like RGIII, and I know Washington lacks a true offensive talent aside him, but he's having himself a good 'ol fashioned sophomore slump. They need to put a lot of focus (and money) into building around him.
- If you haven't been paying attention to this run Carolina is on, start. This team is playing with a purpose and confidence that has them nipping at the Saints' heals. They've won 6 straight, including consecutive wins over San Fran on the road and New England. Check them out...they're playing great.
- Jacksonville at Houston....might be the worst game of the season.
posted by The Bearden Wonder at 11:30 AM
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