Weekly Predictions: Week 4
I have to say I've been very pleased with this college football season so far--except for the terrible officiating that has run rampant. The Washington game stands out when they called quite possibly the most ticky-tack celebration call in the history of sports. Sadly, I feel officiating played a role in the outcome of the USC v UGA game--a game that Georgia won 14-7. But, I went 2-1 on the special picks, adding with So. Cal beating the life out of Ohio State, but I was shut out from the sweep with Virginia Tech's upset of Georgia Tech, helping me to a 13-3 week (Arkansas vs Texas was postponed due to Hurricane Ike. The Reports' thoughts and prayers are with those in Texas)
Well, it is a new week, new games, same emotion.
How will I do this week?
#10 Tigers aka War Eagle (3-0, 1-0)
Auburn had an odd game last week as they opened SEC play against Mississippi State. A hard fought, low scoring game isn't odd in the SEC. A game with a final score of 3-to-2 is.
The Tigers are led by the running game in the still new spread offense. Runningbacks Ben Tate (48 carries, 278 yards,1 TD) and Brad Lester (35 carries, 148 yards 1 TD) are making a bid for most dynamic backfield duo in the SEC. Quarterback Chris Todd (44-for-75, 472 yards, 1 TD 1 INT) manages the offense with a slightly anemic passing game that doesn't yet have a wideout with double digit catches yet.
The defense has been stingy for the Tigers, giving up only 5 points/game. Defensive back Jerraud Powers leads the D with 18 tackles and 1 Int. Defensive end Antonio Coleman (12 tackles, 3 sacks), cornerback Walter McFadden (9 tackles, 1 INT) and linebacker Tray Blackmon (11 tackles, 1 sack) head up a tough defense whose only weakness appears to be (statistically) pass defense (160 yards/game).
#6 Tigers aka Bayou Bengals (2-0, 0-0)
LSU is coming off a game where they administered an absolute beat down--a 41-3 clawing to North Texas. Quarterbacks Andrew Hatch (17-for-31, 202 yards, 1 TD 1 INT; 10 carries, 61 yards,1 TD) and Jarrett Lee (16-for-28, 200 yards, 2 TDs) co-head the offense--expect Hatch to get the bulk of the duty. LSU has a duo at running back to match Auburn, with Charles Scott (23 carries, 262 yards, 2 TDs) and Keiland Williams (10 carries, 41 yards). WR Brandon LaFell is the primary deep target, with 11 catches, 156 yards, and 2 TDs.
Safety Harry Coleman (10 tackles), defensive-end Rahim Allen (5 tackles, 1 sack), and safety Curtis Taylor (6 tackles, 1 INT) lead the retooled defense.
Breakdown
This is a big game for both teams. With a win, Auburn establishes a nice foot hold in the SEC West. If LSU wins, it gets them started on the right foot in conference play.
Auburn likes to run (nearly 205 yards/game). They also like stopping the run (53 yards/game).
LSU's problem is the level of competition they have played. D1AA Champs Appalachian State and North Texas. The Bayou Bengals have shut down their opponents--like they have suppose to--but how the Tigers do when faced with adversity is yet to be seen.
Prediction
For Auburn to win, they will have to do much better than their 3-point performance against Miss. State. I think they will do so. I'm not ready to say LSU has recovered after the loss of so many players from last year's National Title team, and I still say QB is shaky for them. For LSU, watch for Trindon Holliday and Demetris Byrd to have strong days--if LSU wants to win the game.
Close ball game, and should be another Western classic with the two biggest gamblers in college football--Les Miles and Tommy Tubberville.
Auburn 21
LSU 13
Seminoles (2-0, 0-0)
The 'Noles have been tearing through opponents, and followed suite last week with a 46-7 beat down over...Chattanooga. Quarterback Christian Ponder (24-for-39,376 yards, 6 TDs) is the leader of the offense, but Drew Weatherford is still waiting in the wings. Antone Smith (20 carries, 124 yards, 2 TDs) and Jermaine Thomas (18 carries, 125 yards, 2 TDs) are the head runners for the Noles, while Brandon Reed (7 catches, 129 yards, 2 TDs) and Greg Carr (6 catches, 114 yards, 1 TD) give the deep threat.
The athletic defense is led by linebacker Toddrick Verdell (13 tackles, 1 sack), defensive end Everett Brown (4 tackles, 2 sacks) and linebacker Derrick Nicholson (10 tackles).
#18 Demon Deacons (2-0, 0-0)
Wake Forest is coming off a nail-biter that needed some late game heroics to pull out a 30-28 incher over Ole Miss. QB Riley Skinner (59-for-79, 487 yards, 5 TDs) enters his third season at signal caller, and has a firm grasp of the Deacon offense. More importantly, he has thrown zero interceptions in two games. Brandon Pendergrass (23 carries, 83 yards, 2 TDs) and Josh Adams (26 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD) spearhead the running game while DJ Bolden (18 catches, 156 yards) and Brandon Wooster (12 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD) give the downfield targets.
Linebackers Stanley Arnoux (13 tackles) and Aaron Curry (12 tackles, 0.5 sacks) and corner Alphonso Smith (9 tackles, 1 INT) lead the defense that is giving up about 100 yards on the ground, but over 200 through the air.
Breakdown
Florida State (Chattanooga and Western Carolina) has played officially nobody so far. Wake hasn't played the toughest teams either (Baylor and Ole Miss). The only advantage Wake has is that they faced adversity against Ole Miss, while FSU has breezed by opponents. How the 'Nole starters do in a full 4 quarters is yet to be seen. Game could be decided by attrition.
Prediction
Wake may not have the athletes that FSU has, but there is one thing they do have--great coaching on their side. The Deacons are a very fundamental team that can hit you in the mouth, or use misdirection and trick plays.
The thing that hurts Florida State the most is the same thing that made them FSU--Bobby Bowden. Instead of being formidable, he has become the biggest liability to the 'Noles cause by not stepping down and letting Jimbo Fisher have complete and total control.
The best chance for the Noles is to pass the ball against the suspect Deacon pass defense, but they still don't have a proven QB.
This game would probably be a little more lopsided if in Winston-Salem instead of Talahassee.
Wake Forest 35
Florida State 27
Last Week: 13-3
Week 1: 15-5
Week 2: 14-3
Overall: 42-11 (79%)
The Rest of the Week:
Georgia Tech over Miss. State
Alabama over Arkansas
Florida over Tennessee
South Carolina over Wofford
Vanderbilt over Ole Miss.
Georgia over Arizona State
E. Carolina over NC State
Clemson over SC State
Maryland over C. Michigan
Boston College over Central Florida
Miami over Texas A&M
Virginia Tech over North Carolina
Well, it is a new week, new games, same emotion.
How will I do this week?
@
#10 Tigers aka War Eagle (3-0, 1-0)
Auburn had an odd game last week as they opened SEC play against Mississippi State. A hard fought, low scoring game isn't odd in the SEC. A game with a final score of 3-to-2 is.
The Tigers are led by the running game in the still new spread offense. Runningbacks Ben Tate (48 carries, 278 yards,1 TD) and Brad Lester (35 carries, 148 yards 1 TD) are making a bid for most dynamic backfield duo in the SEC. Quarterback Chris Todd (44-for-75, 472 yards, 1 TD 1 INT) manages the offense with a slightly anemic passing game that doesn't yet have a wideout with double digit catches yet.
The defense has been stingy for the Tigers, giving up only 5 points/game. Defensive back Jerraud Powers leads the D with 18 tackles and 1 Int. Defensive end Antonio Coleman (12 tackles, 3 sacks), cornerback Walter McFadden (9 tackles, 1 INT) and linebacker Tray Blackmon (11 tackles, 1 sack) head up a tough defense whose only weakness appears to be (statistically) pass defense (160 yards/game).
#6 Tigers aka Bayou Bengals (2-0, 0-0)
LSU is coming off a game where they administered an absolute beat down--a 41-3 clawing to North Texas. Quarterbacks Andrew Hatch (17-for-31, 202 yards, 1 TD 1 INT; 10 carries, 61 yards,1 TD) and Jarrett Lee (16-for-28, 200 yards, 2 TDs) co-head the offense--expect Hatch to get the bulk of the duty. LSU has a duo at running back to match Auburn, with Charles Scott (23 carries, 262 yards, 2 TDs) and Keiland Williams (10 carries, 41 yards). WR Brandon LaFell is the primary deep target, with 11 catches, 156 yards, and 2 TDs.
Safety Harry Coleman (10 tackles), defensive-end Rahim Allen (5 tackles, 1 sack), and safety Curtis Taylor (6 tackles, 1 INT) lead the retooled defense.
Breakdown
This is a big game for both teams. With a win, Auburn establishes a nice foot hold in the SEC West. If LSU wins, it gets them started on the right foot in conference play.
Auburn likes to run (nearly 205 yards/game). They also like stopping the run (53 yards/game).
LSU's problem is the level of competition they have played. D1AA Champs Appalachian State and North Texas. The Bayou Bengals have shut down their opponents--like they have suppose to--but how the Tigers do when faced with adversity is yet to be seen.
Prediction
For Auburn to win, they will have to do much better than their 3-point performance against Miss. State. I think they will do so. I'm not ready to say LSU has recovered after the loss of so many players from last year's National Title team, and I still say QB is shaky for them. For LSU, watch for Trindon Holliday and Demetris Byrd to have strong days--if LSU wants to win the game.
Close ball game, and should be another Western classic with the two biggest gamblers in college football--Les Miles and Tommy Tubberville.
Auburn 21
LSU 13
VS
Seminoles (2-0, 0-0)
The 'Noles have been tearing through opponents, and followed suite last week with a 46-7 beat down over...Chattanooga. Quarterback Christian Ponder (24-for-39,376 yards, 6 TDs) is the leader of the offense, but Drew Weatherford is still waiting in the wings. Antone Smith (20 carries, 124 yards, 2 TDs) and Jermaine Thomas (18 carries, 125 yards, 2 TDs) are the head runners for the Noles, while Brandon Reed (7 catches, 129 yards, 2 TDs) and Greg Carr (6 catches, 114 yards, 1 TD) give the deep threat.
The athletic defense is led by linebacker Toddrick Verdell (13 tackles, 1 sack), defensive end Everett Brown (4 tackles, 2 sacks) and linebacker Derrick Nicholson (10 tackles).
#18 Demon Deacons (2-0, 0-0)
Wake Forest is coming off a nail-biter that needed some late game heroics to pull out a 30-28 incher over Ole Miss. QB Riley Skinner (59-for-79, 487 yards, 5 TDs) enters his third season at signal caller, and has a firm grasp of the Deacon offense. More importantly, he has thrown zero interceptions in two games. Brandon Pendergrass (23 carries, 83 yards, 2 TDs) and Josh Adams (26 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD) spearhead the running game while DJ Bolden (18 catches, 156 yards) and Brandon Wooster (12 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD) give the downfield targets.
Linebackers Stanley Arnoux (13 tackles) and Aaron Curry (12 tackles, 0.5 sacks) and corner Alphonso Smith (9 tackles, 1 INT) lead the defense that is giving up about 100 yards on the ground, but over 200 through the air.
Breakdown
Florida State (Chattanooga and Western Carolina) has played officially nobody so far. Wake hasn't played the toughest teams either (Baylor and Ole Miss). The only advantage Wake has is that they faced adversity against Ole Miss, while FSU has breezed by opponents. How the 'Nole starters do in a full 4 quarters is yet to be seen. Game could be decided by attrition.
Prediction
Wake may not have the athletes that FSU has, but there is one thing they do have--great coaching on their side. The Deacons are a very fundamental team that can hit you in the mouth, or use misdirection and trick plays.
The thing that hurts Florida State the most is the same thing that made them FSU--Bobby Bowden. Instead of being formidable, he has become the biggest liability to the 'Noles cause by not stepping down and letting Jimbo Fisher have complete and total control.
The best chance for the Noles is to pass the ball against the suspect Deacon pass defense, but they still don't have a proven QB.
This game would probably be a little more lopsided if in Winston-Salem instead of Talahassee.
Wake Forest 35
Florida State 27
Last Week: 13-3
Week 1: 15-5
Week 2: 14-3
Overall: 42-11 (79%)
The Rest of the Week:
Georgia Tech over Miss. State
Alabama over Arkansas
Florida over Tennessee
South Carolina over Wofford
Vanderbilt over Ole Miss.
Georgia over Arizona State
E. Carolina over NC State
Clemson over SC State
Maryland over C. Michigan
Boston College over Central Florida
Miami over Texas A&M
Virginia Tech over North Carolina
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