Weekly Predictions: Week 6

Roll Tide! And did they ever against Georgia last week. Clemson, more precisely Tommy Bowden, let me down last week with poor clock management as they lost to a resilient Maryland team. It was also a wild week across the country for Top 10 teams: So Cal lost to JaQuizz Rodgers and Oregon State, Florida lost to Mississippi, along with other upsets. Will this week stack up to last week in excitement and unpredictability? More importantly, how will I fare this week, after going a lackluster 11-6?


VS






#19 Commodores (4-0, 2-0)
Vanderbilt is what you call a run first team. They are averaging 202 yards on the ground, but just a mere 80 yards passing, but are putting 30 points/game on the board. Quarterback Chris Nickson (30-for-52 292 yards, 3 TDs) is Mr. Everything for the 'Dores. Along with his arm, he is second on the team in rushing with 56 carries for 270 yards and 5 TDs. Runningback Jared Hawkins (67 carries, 314 yards, 3 TDs) leads the team in rushing. There is no true game-breaking
deep threat receiver known yet.

The defense is giving up about 17 points/game. They are led by linebacker Patrick Benoist (37 tackles, 1 sack), cornerback DJ Moore (15 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INTs), safety Ryan Hamilton (30 tackles, 3 INTs), and cornerback Myron Lewis (26 tackles, 2 sacks).

#13 Tigers (4-1, 2-1)
Auburn is averaging about 20 points/game on 156 rushing yards and 172 passing yards/game. Quarterback Chris Todd (75-for-130, 815 yards, 3 TDs, 4 INTs) has struggled thus far in the season, as has the rest of the offense. Neither Ben Tate (86 carries, 393 yards, 2 TDs) or Brad Lester (42 carries, 174 yards, 1 TD) has been able to get completely on track, while the receivers are struggling as well.

The defense is giving up about 11 points/game, and keeping teams under 100 yards rushing a game, and just at 150 yards passing. They are led by a host of players, namely defensive backs Jerraud Powers (25 tackles) and Walter McFadden (10 tackles, 1 INT), defensive end Antonio Coleman (19 tackles (7 for loss), 4 sacks), strong safety Mike McNeil (21 tackles, 1 sack)and linebacker Trey Blackmon (19 tackles, 2 sacks).

Breakdown
The match-up will be Vanderbilt's running offense against the tough Auburn defense. The Commodores need to establish a stronger passing attack, or else Auburn can put 8-in-the-box and send 3 in pass protection. For Auburn, they need to get their offense on some type of track and get back to what worked--lining up and pounding the ball.

Prediction

Who would've thought Vanderbilt would've been in the top 20 at the beginning of the season? I didn't. Bobby Johnson has something going at Nashville, the only question is can he keep it going?

Auburn is still looking for its offensive identity, and are coming off a heart-breaker with LSU. Auburn will be coming to show their defensive muscle, while Vandy is depending on a healthy Nickson. Added motivation for Vandy: win and they are a win away from being bowl eligible, and are sitting very nice in the conference standings.


Vanderbilt 20

Auburn 21





@


Seminoles (3-1, 0-1)

The 'Noles are coming off a big out-of-conference win over the Big 12's Colorado, yet they still don't have a proven QB. They are averaging roughly 200 yards passing and rushing each/game, while putting up 21 points/game against quality competition (sorry, W. Carolina and Chattanooga aren't necessarily what we call powerhouses here at the Report). Quarterback has been inept, while being split between Christian Ponder and DeVontry Richardson (combined 60-for-117, 787 yards, 8 TDs, 6 INTs). Antone Smith (53 carries, 302 yards, 5 TDs) heads the running game, while Jermaine Thomas (27 carries, 162 yards, 2 TDs) spells him. Richardson also adds to the running attack, logging 17 carries for 152 yards and 3 TDs. Greg Carr and Tyrone Easterling headline the quazi-passing game.

The defense is giving up about 10 points/game, but an average of 20 in the past two games. They are also giving up 67 yards on the ground, and 156 yards passing. They are led by linebacker Derrick Nicholson (25 tackles), defensive back Myron Rolle (21 tackles) and defensive end Everrett Brown (10 tackles, 3 sacks).

Hurricanes (2-2, 0-1)
Miami is coming off a heartbreak, near win over conference foe, and former coach, North Carolina and Butch Davis. The offense is putting up nearly 30 points/game on 150 yards rushing and 170 yards passing. Quarterbacks Robert Marve (26-for-40) and Jacory Harris (22-for-37) split time at the position, combining for 508 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT. Craig Cooper (35 carries, 181 yards, 3 TDs) headlines the running game while a host of players also carry the ball (combined 43 carries, 218 yards, 3 TDs). The passing game really has no true leader, and really hasn't gotten in the air.

The defense is giving up about 20 points/game on 75 yards rushing, but are weak against the pass (212 yards/game). The D is led by linebackers Glenn Cook (18 tackles), Sean Spence and Spencer Adkins (3 tackles, 2 sacks), and defensive end Eric Moncur (3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT).

Breakdown

Both teams are surprisingly similar: neither has that potent an offense, neither have an established QB, while both have very fast, athletic defenses. Should be a low scoring, fast ball game where defense will be the key. Both need to get in the face of the others offense, while each offense needs to get on track. Could be a question of who came to play.


Prediction
This game could best be described as the 'Battle of the Former Super-Powers'. Both schools, along with Virginia Tech and Boston College, were suppose to carry the ACC after expansion. Only half of that dream has occurred, and neither Florida schools have looked good.

Both are in different places. Miami is trying to find itself, and shed the Thug U mantra it gained in the '80s and '90s. FSU is simply waiting on Bobby Bowden to leave so Jimbo Fisher can have complete control.

There will be athletes all over the field, but mostly on defense. Neither team really has a potent offense that strikes fear in the hearts of defenses like they did in the '90s. This will be a low scoring, defensive ball game that will be won, or lost, on a last second field goal. At least that hasn't changed with this Sunshine State rivalry.

Miami 21
Florida State 20

Last Week: 11-6
Week 1: 15-6
Week 2: 14-3
Week 3: 13-3
Week 4: 12-2
Overall: 65-19 ( 77% )

The Rest of the Week:
Georgia Tech over Duke
Boston College over NC State
Virginia Tech over W. Kentucky
Maryland over Virginia
North Carolina over Connecticut
Florida over Arkansas
Alabama over Kentucky
Tennessee over N. Illinois
South Carolina over Mississippi
Southern Cal over Oregon
Wisconsin over Ohio State
Stanford over Notre Dame

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I'm SICK of Tim Tebow!

Image
I'm pretty sure all are aware that the Florida Gators have a QB by the name of Tim Tebow . The guy is a specimen: 6-foot-2, 240 lbs...can run over LBs, and complete passes, while running the spread option offense. He is also a humanitarian, a humble Christian, and a seemingly squeaky clean guy...and I couldn't be sicker of him. I'm sick about hearing about how great he is on and off the field..with every announcer and color commentator (mostly on CBS) prepared to get on their knees and give him what they think he needs. I've come to the conclusion that he is a pure system QB that couldn't function in a pro-style offense. The guy has a horrible throw that will get picked off in the next level: A long wind up, and unbalanced base, and a sidearm wobbler that can be picked off by even the worst pro-DBs. The guy is a fullback playing QB, and FB is where I expect him to be in the pros. A guy his style will not translate to the NFL. Also, this whole "perfect angel&quo
Read more

Gamecocks in historic year two under Paris

Image
The one truth heading into this college basketball season for South Carolina men's team was expectations were low, at least nationally. Coming off an 11-21 season, excitement could best been described as tepid for second year coach Lamont Paris. Hell, the Gamecocks were picked to finish dead last in the league in preseason media polls.  But behind some key transfer additions, as well as an influx of freshmen talent, the Gamecocks are sitting at 21-3 and tied for first in the Southeastern Conference with seven games left.  Already, this is the best second year improvement under a new coach in program history. Better than Frank Martin, who had back-to-back 14-win seasons; better than Eddie Fogler, who went from nine wins to 10; better than George Felton, who went from 15 wins to 19; better than Frank McGuire, who went from six to 11 from 1964-1966.  For context, previous coaches Darrin Horn, Dave Odom, Steve Newton and Bill Foster all had second-year setbacks in win totals.   So rega
Read more

The Economy Falling is a Good Thing

Believe it or not, this recession/depression is a blessing in disguise. You ask how is this so? People are losing their jobs, homes are foreclosing, the auto industry is failing, Wall Street has tanked. How is this possibly good? I'll explain. An epidemic has been going on since the 1990s. Before that time, we worked hard, were the leaders in innovation, and where seen as the place to go to get out of the international ghetto. Now, we have competition in China, Russia, and even Brazil's export economy system. What went wrong? Simple. We have become complacent, lazy, and spoiled while our competitors have passed us by in job, innovation, and prominence. We need this to toughen up and rediscover our American tenacity and grit; The traits that got us to the top in the first place. A little story. I remember planting trees in the yard with my father, and he fell in the hole we were digging because, well, he is a little clumsy. Being a wide-eyed 16-year old, I asked why he did not
Read more