PIECE OF HEAVEN IN WEEK SEVEN

Still winnng

Yep. We got our butts paddled last Saturday, going just 3-5 with our picks. Our worst performance since September 26, 2015. But that’s going to happen when you’re picking big team, big stake games, especially the UPSET SPECIALS.

So, you can cry in your beer and confess to momma what you’ve been doing with your lunch money. Or…better yet, start doubling down on your picks! Because Saturday is a whole new day and a whole new opportunity to make Mo’ Money.

We have a great slate of games this Saturday with more than a couple having conference title and CFP implications. Georgia travels to Baton Rouge. Badgers bounce over to Ann Arbor. Penn State tangles with Sparty. So read up and get ready to lay down some chips.

FAN UPDATE

Huskers invade Madison

The Husker Nation travels well and often turn road games into home games. Jumpin' Jeff, our Nebraska go-to guy has close to perfect attendance at Cornhusker games, home and away. This weekend he's enjoying Chicago in advance of the Nebraska-Northwestern game in Evanston. Last week he was in Madison for the Husker-Badger game where he met up with Helga, the Sweet Corn Queen of Dane County. Since he lost an arm-wrestling match with Helga, he and fellow Husker Michael had to work the Sweet Corn booth with Helga. Good time had by all.

A LOOK AT UCLA-CAL

He knows the Pac-12

 Although this game is far from the CFP radar we’re still interested in this West Coast classic. We’ve asked our guy on the ground, Lair of the Bear (LOTB), to provide his thoughts on the game. LOTB grew up in the shadows of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, often working the games by selling Pepsis and old lottery tickets. He’s also a proud alum of Cal Berkeley and his family includes both Bruin and Golden Bear followers. So he’s witnessed a ton of UCLA and Cal football through the years. Here’s his take on tomorrow’s game.

FROM LAIR of the BEAR

LOTB with his crazy crew: UCLA & CAL

The college football nation may not be buzzing about this Saturday's Cal-UCLA match-up in California Memorial Stadium, but this is a BIG game for both programs.

This is the annual Joe Roth Memorial Game, which honors the memory of the All-American Cal quarterback who died of cancer shortly after his college career ended in 1976. The Bears will wear throwback helmets and uniforms to commemorate the occasion.

The Chip Kelly era at UCLA is still looking for it’s first win.

Last week both the Bruin defense and offense showed great improvement when they played the #7 Washington Huskies TOUGH at the Rose Bowl, before succumbing 31-24. The Cal Golden Bears came out of the chute quickly going 3-0 including a 21-18 victory over BYU the week before BYU visited Madison and downed the #4 Wisconsin Badgers 24-21. Since then, the Bears have stumbled with successive Pac-12 loses to Oregon and Arizona. This UCLA game is critical, as the Bears need a W, if the Bears want to reach their goal of going bowling this year.

UCLA has played a much tougher schedule than the Bears, with four of their five foes currently ranked in the AP top 25 and the five having a combined 25-3 record.

For the Bruins on offence, the game rests on the shoulders on their true freshman quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson who has started the last four games. He has been improving almost play to play. Against the Huskies he completed 27-of-38 passes for a career-high 272 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. The Bruins have discovered a running game with the emergence of Joshua Kelley. Kelley walked on in Westwood and has earned a scholarship. He had his real coming out party when he rushed for 124 yards in the loss to Colorado Sept. 28. Against Washington he had 125.

The UCLA defense is improved from last year, but considering they gave up 484 yards a game last year there was nowhere to go but up, and they haven't climbed all that far.

The leading tackler is safety Adarius Pickett, which says a lot about the play of the Bruins' front seven. A lot of offensive players with the ball find their way into the secondary, either by rush or pass. It also is testimony to the season Pickett is having. He was just added to the watch list for the Ronnie Lott trophy.

The Bears will probably play both quarterbacks, redshirt sophomore dual threat Brandon McIlwain and pro-style, redshirt freshman Chase Garbers. (The Bears have had some good ones in recent years including Aaron Rodgers and Jared Goff.) McIlwain has been “rough”, making a slew of mistakes, but he’s also adding a dynamic rushing element at quarterback. Chase Garbers has completed 65% of his passes, so UCLA has to prepare for both.
However, the Bears main offensive strategy will be to run their senior, Patrick Laird, who was on the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award and Wuerffel Trophy, as well as a candidate for the Doak Walker Award and Burlsworth Trophy.

Cal is first in the Pac-12 in time of possession, and has done a good job at converting on third down and keeping things moving. The UCLA defense is the second-worst in the nation coming up with third down stops.

Cal will grind out the clock, it’ll run for well over 200 yards, and it’ll come up with a solid win that might not be aesthetically pleasing, but will get the season back on track.  GO BEARS!

THE GREAT EIGHT™ for WEEK SEVEN…

#7 WASHINGTON @ #17 OREGON…this is the oldest rivalry in the West, dating back to 1900, and Saturday’s get together is the most significant in several years. The Huskies return to Autzen Stadium where they doled out a 70-21 butt kicking in 2016. So a whole lot of animosity is bubbling up. Key to this game is Washington’s defense, ranked #1 in scoring defense and allowing only 3.8 yards per carry. The edge goes to the experienced Huskies as the Ducks are pretty young and still developing. In a super tight game, Washington clips the Quackers in Eugene.

#15 WISCONSIN @ #12 MICHIGAN…this is must-see TV Saturday night in Ann Arbor. Each team has a non-conference loss so the loser is eliminated from any shot at the CFP. This will be a step up in competition for the Wolverines who started 2018 with a loss to Notre Dame before reeling off  5 wins over lesser opponents. Key to this game is offensive line play and the ground game. The Badger o-line is clearing the way for rushers to average 6.2 yards per carry. That’s stout. Johnathan Taylor will be critical as the Michigan defense is allowing only 2.6 ypc and less than 100 yards rushing. This could be a slugfest.  The play of UM qb Shea Patterson could be the difference. Wolverines nip the Badgers.

#2 GEORGIA @ #13 LSU….the Dawgs embark on a tough brutal slate of games beginning with a road trip to the Red Stick to take on a tough LSU. The Tiger defense will be a handful for the Dawg ground game, and Smart’s defense has to find a way to generate more consistent pressure on qb Joe Burrow who disappointed in the Florida game. This should be the best game of the day and not one to miss. Dawgs have too many weapons to lose. Georgia over the Tigers.

MICHIGAN STATE @ #8 PENN STATE…consider this an elimination game  for a shot at the Big Ten championship. Both teams have one conference loss so the stakes are high. Key to this game is Penn State’s ability to pressure and harass Spartan qb Brian Lewerke. He’s thrown 6 picks already while being sacked 12 times in 5 games. Even with the departure of Saquon Barkley, the ground game for the Nittany Lions rolls on with Trace McSorley (175 yds v Ohio State) and Miles Sanders.  Penn State bites Sparty in this one.

#16 MIAMI @ VIRGINIA…this appears to be a no brainer, so much so we’re letting one of our junior pickers to call this one. Facts to know:  Miami averages 41.5 points per game while the defense is currently ranked #2 in the country highlighted by 20 sacks and 14 forced turnovers. The Cav’s o-line has given up 12 sacks so far. Uh oh. This road trip to Charlottesville poses no threat to the Hurricanes. ‘Canes blow through the Wahoos.

DUKE @ GEORGIA TECH…..the Jackets break with tradition tomorrow by donning blue trousers for the first time fueling debate over the correct shade of blue. Not sure why they would change a thing after stinging Louisville 66-31, cranking out 542 rushing yards. The key to this game is Duke’s ability to limit GT’s option game and force the Bees into third and long situations. The pressure will be on GT’s qb Taquon Marshall. He attempted only 2 passes last week vs the Cardinals, but he didn’t have to since the ground game was putting up monster numbers. This game is absolutely critical to both teams in the ACC Coastal Division. In an UPSET SPECIAL, Duke topples the Jackets.

TENNESSEE @ #21 AUBURN…back in the day these two teams played each other on a regular basis, but now it’s just an occasional matchup. Nevertheless this is an important game especially for the Tigers who were embarrassed by Mississippi State. But this game will be over for the Vols by halftime unless they get a complete infusion of football smarts. What team gets flagged THREE times for illegal formation on punt plays? And their tackling effort in the Georgia and Florida losses was pathetic. Overlay that with their inability to get the ball to playmakers such as Callaway, Palmer and Chandler, this will be another long, butt beating for the Vols. Are we being too tough on UT? Prove us wrong and start playing smart. Auburn smacks Tennessee.

UCLA @ CAL...this game certainly means more to the 0-5 Bruins then just getting young guys reps for 2019, right? They face a struggling Cal team but let’s face it, the Bruins will be out muscled in this one. The UCLA defense is one of the weakest in the nation, their return teams are inadequate, and the offense has a hard time finding the endzone. Meanwhile, Cal is king of time of possession (#1 in PAC-12) and finds ways to keep the chains moving, especially with their ground game. Put your greenbacks on the Golden Bears. Cal wins.

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