Saturday Football Fever

November 14, 2009, Athens, GA.

This week, the South’s “oldest rivalry” is re-ignited when the Auburn Tigers (7-3, 3-3 SEC)  and Georgia Bulldogs (5-4, 3-3 SEC) meet for the 113th time at 7pm in Athens at Sanford Stadium. Former Bulldog head coach Vince Dooley played his collegiate ball at Auburn, and that’s why this is referred to as the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.” Auburn is 1 of 2 teams that Georgia has played more than 100 times in their history.

Out of all of the meetings of these two teams, the Tigers hold merely a two game advantage. The rivalry is fierce and the outcome of their games is always close. The Tigers, however, have won 10 of their last 13 games at Sanford Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Both teams are coming off homecoming wins. Auburn’s 63-31 win over Furman catapulted it into the Top 25 in the coaches’ poll. Georgia shut out Tennessee Tech 38-0.

Last time the two teams met in 2008, Georgia beat Auburn 17-13. But that was with Matthew Stafford and before Joe Cox was their quarterback. I am hoping Joe Cox can step up his game for the matchup!

Auburn player, Ben Tate has rushed for 1,142 yards this season. Auburn is currently the second highest scoring team in the SEC. Auburn’s defense is last in the league in scoring, and they are allowing more than 26 points per game.

The Tiger’s offense ranks 13th nationally in red zone offense, scoring on 31 of 33 opportunities.

This could be a high scoring game with many penalities and turnovers. From what I have read, and based on the record at Sanford Stadium, the Georgia Bulldogs are not favored to win. I am hoping they can dig deep to fight, fight, fight! and we can all see a great game tonight!

In other college football this week:

The key game this week isn’t in any of the major conferences, but in the Mountain West, where No. 4 TCU hosts No. 16 Utah at 7:30PM ET on Saturday. TCU is a 17-point favorite at home.

Another key matchup this week is in the Big Ten when No. 10 Ohio State hosts No. 15 Iowa. The Buckeyes are 14.5-point favorites at home against the Hawkeyes. This game will likely decide the winner of the Big Ten title and the automatic BCS bowl bid.

Steve Spurrier faces his old team  as well when South Carolina hosts Florida. The Gators are 15-point road favorites. Last year, Florida posted a 56-6 win over the Gamecocks in the Swamp. South Carolina has lost three of its last four games, but has yet to lose at home this season.

Saturday Football Fever commences with many great games to watch, as the college football season starts to wind its way down! I will be watching to see how all of these matchups turn-out!

Filed under: Game Thoughts

Tags: Athens, auburn tigers, Ben Tate, College Football, Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, ESPN2, Florida., GA, georgia bulldogs, Iowa, Joe Cox, mark richt, matthew stafford, Ohio State, Sanford Stadium, Saturday Football, sec, South Carolina, Steve Spurrier, TCU, Utah, Vince Dooley

October 31, 2009 Georgia Florida Game. Jacksonville, FL.

Black Eyes, Black Helmets, Black Britches, Black DAY. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

Tim Tebow with his eye black. It always warms my heart to see the number of people he is reaching by putting scripture verses on his eye black!  It is reported that the number of people who see his eye black and look up the verses is in the millions! Saturday, the verse he had on his eye black was Phil 4:13 which says “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” These are the kind of black eyes I like! This is what I would call the GOOD in the game.

The black eyes that result in real black eye injuries are the ones when players are behaving badly. Clearly, on purpose if you view the video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDOy-RMIpF0&NR=1, Florida linebacker Brandon Sikes intentionally eye gouged Georgia running back Washaun Ealey last Saturday. The officials did not see it, and it did not become apparent until after the game that such bad behavior had taken place. Brandon Sikes was given a one half of a game suspension against Vanderbilt. Certainly a small punishment for trying to gouge another player’s eyes out! This is what I would call the BAD in the game.

The black helmets and the black pants…definitely the UGLY in the game! I missed the Bulldogs’ silver britches. I understand that coming onto the field in black can help pump up the players and I get that. But, in a matchup between Tim Tebow and Joe Cox, well, Georgia never had a chance! The black helmets and black britches only marked an ugly ending to a dark day for Georgia. Georgia lost this game: 41- 17.

Filed under: Game Thoughts

Tags: Black Britches, Black Helmets, Black pants, Brandon Sikes, Eye Black, Eye Gouge, Florida Football, florida gators, georgia bulldogs, Georgia Florida Game, Georgia football, mark richt, Tim Tebow, UFLA, UGA, University of Florida, University of Georgia, urban meyer, Washaun Ealey

By now, you’ve probably read that UGA is going to pull the “blackout” for the Alabama game this weekend.  You’ve probably also read all the other hoopla surrounding the blackout.  Here’s my take on the blackout and the game itself.

First of all, when the black jersey’s were used in the Auburn game, it was a great way to get the team and the fans hyped up.  And to some extent, it psyched out the Tigers.  Then the black was used in the bowl game and it wasn’t quite as exciting.  Now its being used for the Bama game and it seems to have lost a little bit more of its luster.  I’ve even talked to many UGA fans who agree.

There’s a resaon that Notre Dame only wears the green jersey’s (and not just because they lose when they wear them) – it’s because they are meant to jack fans and players up for the game every few years that is hugely important to the program.  For UGA, that was the Auburn game was last year – it helped keep the momentum going after the Florida win and carried the team for the rest of the season.  But three times in the span of nine games?  That takes something away from the experience.

What it really comes down to is who is the better, more prepared team.  And both teams are good and will come in well prepared.  Honestly, I think the media is reading too much into the give and take between Saban and Richt.  They are just two coaches having a little fun, trying to keep things light going into a big game.  In the end, laundry will have no bearing on this game.

Breakdown

UGA - The offense is solid.  Moreno takes a load of pressure off Stafford with his ability to run the ball and AJ Green has emerged as a reliable threat at receiver, which UGA hasn’t had in several years.  That being said, I’m still not sold on Stafford as the “best NFL QB prospect in the country”.  From what I’ve seen of him this year, he still makes bad decisions and struggles against good defenses.  You also have a young offensive line that is still trying to figure out how to play with each other after a rash of injuries have caused some shuffling of positions.  The defense has been solid, but they haven’t faced a very good or balanced offense yet.  The Dawgs are also the most penalized team in the SEC, averaging almost 11 per game, which is double the next closest team.

Bama – The offensive line is mean, nasty and is dominating.  Andre Smith, Antoine Caldwell and Co. open up huge holes for the running game and they make John Parker Wilson look like Tom Brady with all the time they give him.  Mark Ingram is the bruiser and Glen Coffee is the speedster and they combine to make one of the best RB tandems in the conference.  Julio Jones and Nick Walker are excellent targets for JPW.  The defense has been stingy this year, allowing only 9.2 points per game.  They are lead by the disruptive Terrance “Mount” Cody, a 365 pound beast in the middle.  The linebackers, while young, have been solid and the secondary has been good.  Javier Arenas is the X factor on special teams, having already returned one punt for a TD and averaging 18.7 yards per return.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I’m a Bama alumni and psychotic Tide fan.)

Prediction

I think this game will be closer than either side wants to believe.  It will be physical and relatively low scoring.  In the end, I think penalties will kill the Dawgs and special teams will be the difference.  Leigh Tiffin will kick the winning field goal in the final minute and Bama will win 27-24 in a thriller.

Filed under: Game Thoughts

Tags: aj green, alabama crimson tide, andre smith, antoine caldwell, auburn tigers, florida gators, georgia bulldogs, glen coffee, javier arenas, john parker wilson, julio jones, knowshon moreno, leigh tiffin, mark ingram, mark richt, matthew stafford, nick saban, nick walker, terrance cody

By now, most people have probably already seen Knowshon Moreno’s leap.

Unless, that is, you were waiting to see it on Sports Center.  Apparently, the worldwide leader buried the UGA highlights and didn’t even show Moreno’s leap.  And Mark Richt is complaining about it.

According to Richt, “They missed the boat or didn’t do their homework or whatever. I don’t know how they couldn’t have noticed that as thorough as it seems like that are most of the time.”

Here’s the deal coach.  You are playing the Central Michigan Chippewas and you blew them out.  You’re not going to be the lead highlight on ESPN, especially when there are upsets to show.  And really, who cares what Knowshon does against a small time team?  Outside Athens, GA, no one.  Had this come against the elite athletes that play for USC, Florida or Oklahoma, then it would be noteworthy.  But he’s leaping over an undersized safety who wasn’t good enough to get a scholarship offer from a Big Ten school, including Northwestern.  Why is that supposed to be mind blowing?

Don’t get me wrong, it was a nice play.  But for Richt to chastise ESPN for not playing it is ridiculous.  Had it been a truly, utterly amazing play, then I could see his point.  But its not as impressive as Richt seems to think.

Filed under: Player News

Tags: big 10, central michigan chippewas, espn, florda gators, georgia bulldogs, knowshon moreno, mark richt, northwestern wildcaats, oklahoma sooners, sec, usc trojans

Some random thoughts about week after having a day to digest everything.

- Washington got screwed. I understand that the excessive celebration penalty was called as it is stated in the NCAA rule book, but I think the spirit of the rule was not upheld.  Did Locker toss the football in the air?  Yes.  Did he do it to taunt BYU or excessively celebrate?  No.  He was charged up from scoring in the final seconds of the game to seemingly send the game to OT and give his team a chance to win.  There is a lot of emotion in college football and as long as Locker wasn’t doing it in an unsportsman like manner (and he wasn’t), then it shouldn’t be called.  The game should have been decided on the field and not by a poor call by a referee.

- Why were Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno still playing late during their blowout of Central Michigan?  My guess is that it had something to do with padding their stats for thier Heisman campaigns.  But doesn’t Richt know what can happen when a coach foolishly leaves in his best player late in a blowout?  That was a dangerous move to keep those two in the game, especially when UGA is trying to make a title run.

- Notre Dame looked BAD (3-12 on 3rd down, 4 turnovers) against San Diego State. Jimmy Clausen didn’t look very good and they didn’t run the ball very well (3.1/carry).  And I LOVE it!!!!!  I HATE Notre Dame.  They won 3 games all of last year and they got more coverage than teams like BYU and Cincinnati, that actually had winning seasons.  This year, its more of the same.  They are undeserving of all the hype and media attention they get.  And I hope they fall on their faces again.  HARD!

- Miami is on its way back to being a dominant program.  They played Florida tough, but just ran out of gas at the end.  That is attributed to their lack of quality depth, but that will be solved with a few more recruiting classes like this past one.  Randy Shannon is going to turn them around.

- How about East Carolina?!?! They knock of their 3rd consecutive ranked opponent (going back to the bowl game last year) and their first top 10 team since 1999.  And they didn’t just squeak by West Virginia – they DOMINATED them.  Looks like Skip Holtz could be on his way to a Conference USA title and giving BYU a run at being this years BCS buster.  Keep your eye on ECU.

- If Alabama is going to be taken seriously, then they’ll need to have more games like the Clemson game and less like the Tulane game.  They didn’t score a single offensive TD and only had 172 total yards.  Sure, they were missing some O-Linemen, but they need to execute better to be able to beat the heavy weights in the SEC.

- The ACC didn’t do much to redeemed itself after being beat up in week 1.  Maryland was whipped by Midde Tennessee State, Duke lost to Northwestern in the Turd Bowl, Virginia managed to only put up 16 points against FCS team Richmond and Miami was beaten by Florida.  When they added BC, VT and Miami back in 2004, they expected to beocome the new superpower in college football.  We are still patiently awaiting that moment.

- Sam Bradford continues to put up better numbers than Matthew Stafford agasint similar (if not better) competition.  Why does he still not get as much Heisman love?

Filed under: Weekly Thoughts

Tags: acc, alabam crimson tide, bcs, big 10, big 12, boston college eagles, byu cougars, central michigan chippewas, cincinnati bearcats, clemson tigers, conference usa, duke blue devils, east carolina pirates, fcs, florida gators, heisman trophy, jake locker, jimmy clausen, knowshon moreno, mac, mark richt, maryland terrapins, matthew stafford, miami hurricanes, middle tennessee state blue raiders, mountain west, mwc, ncaa, northwestern wildcats, notre dame fighting irish, pac 10, randy shannon, richmond spiders, sam bradford, san diego state aztecs, sec, skip holtz, sun belt, tulane green wave, uga bulldogs, virginia cavaliers, virginia tech hokies, washington huskies, west virginia mountaineers