WEEK ELEVEN. FEELS LIKE HEAVEN
The temps
have finally dropped here in the Southeast and it’s finally feeling a lot more
like fall football, the way God intended.
We’ve
fired up the outdoor fire pit, have plenty of brats and beans and all of the
accoutrements required for a full Saturday of college football. Some smoky
scotch and some smooth bourbon are poised for pouring to take the chill off. So we’re ready freddy for
some great fall football. And, boy, we have some dandy games on tap, and lots of opportunities to make mo' money.
WEEKEND
REWIND
We rebounded last Saturday with a respectable 5-3 showing. We did extra bigly with our UPSET SPECIAL pick of Purdue upsetting the hapless Huskers.
EXTRA POINTS (these are guaranteed to make you sound smart at tomorrow's tailgate...bet on it)
You miss him. Yes you do |
• Takes a special team to lose back to back to Indiana and Purdue, after getting spanked by Minnesota. That's a heckuva job that little Scottie is doing up there in Lincoln. Has anyone dared to tell him this isn't Central Florida?
Pontoon boats make wonderful decks |
• Wondering where to park your pontoon boat for the season? How about a backyard deck. Works for this Oklahoma fan.
FROM BAYOU
BENGAL…..
The most feared man in Tiger-Land |
This season feels different.
Sure, the standard "It's Bama Week" terror is still there. Yes, the Louisiana State Football Tigers have lost in the past...don't worry about how many games in a row to a team that clearly sold its soul to the devil long ago. And yes, both teams have continued to haul in 5 star recruit after 5 star recruit, sending those recruits to the NFL, rinse and repeat.
So what's different this year?
Sure, the standard "It's Bama Week" terror is still there. Yes, the Louisiana State Football Tigers have lost in the past...don't worry about how many games in a row to a team that clearly sold its soul to the devil long ago. And yes, both teams have continued to haul in 5 star recruit after 5 star recruit, sending those recruits to the NFL, rinse and repeat.
So what's different this year?
Is it LSU
being known, for this first time in my personal fandom, as an Offensive
Juggernaut?
Gone are
the days of the power toss to the running back, ram the ball down the defense's
throat, and only throw the ball when the sun sets in the east and the mountains
fall into the sea.
Now are
the days of a gunslinging QB, 3 100-yard receivers every game, and a
sneakily-still-power running game. Putting up 45+ points a game is the new
norm, and God rest the soul of any Vegas under bets when LSU plays a good
defense.
The question is: will it be enough?
The question is: will it be enough?
The
defense is more "bend and only sometimes break" than it has been in
the past under the great Dave Aranda, and one of the leaders of the Tiger
defense (Michael Divinity) was just excused from the team.
With
likely 1st overall pick Tua Tagovailoa more than probably back just two short
weeks after a bad ankle injury, Alabama will be at favored by at least a
touchdown at home. Can the Tigers roar, and master the Crimson Tide?
I say yes! Tigers by 4!
The great wise one in Bama-Land |
FROM KENNY CLYDE...
Buckle up
for "Game of the Century" episode 3.
LSU and
Bama square off again in a battle of the SEC's titans.
As usual, there are championship opportunities riding on this game. Not as usual, LSU is bringing a high powered offense, while Alabama's D is only B+ at best.
I will promise you that this game will not end 9-6. Both quarterbacks will be challenged to rack up scores on every possession.
Let's break it down:
Offense? Bama by a nose
Defense? Tigers
Kicking? Tigers
Kick Returns? Bama
Coaching: Tide
Tie-breaker? Bama is batting .840 at home.
If the Tigers can keep the lid on Bama's 4-headed receiving corps, if Bama can keep Tua upright, if Joe Borough has a career game, and if LSU can limit Jaylon Waddle's return yardage it will be an overtime game.
Look for turnovers and key penalties to be the deciding factors.
Roll Tide Roll! BAMA WINS!
As usual, there are championship opportunities riding on this game. Not as usual, LSU is bringing a high powered offense, while Alabama's D is only B+ at best.
I will promise you that this game will not end 9-6. Both quarterbacks will be challenged to rack up scores on every possession.
Let's break it down:
Offense? Bama by a nose
Defense? Tigers
Kicking? Tigers
Kick Returns? Bama
Coaching: Tide
Tie-breaker? Bama is batting .840 at home.
If the Tigers can keep the lid on Bama's 4-headed receiving corps, if Bama can keep Tua upright, if Joe Borough has a career game, and if LSU can limit Jaylon Waddle's return yardage it will be an overtime game.
Look for turnovers and key penalties to be the deciding factors.
Roll Tide Roll! BAMA WINS!
Opening in January, the Official Beer Garden of Woolard's Weekend Winners. Stay tuned for updates and get ready to spend some of your winnings on cold beer and delectable snacks like big juicy weiners. Special discount for fans of losing teams because losers need love, too. Mention WWW for a winning discount!
THE
GREAT EIGHT™ FOR WEEK ELEVEN
#1
LSU @ #2 ALABAMA…this game is won or lost
on the arm of LSU qb Joe Burrows and his ability to throw against the weakest
part of the Bama defense, the secondary. The Tigers will need Joe’s arm because
they have no run game to speak of. It’s been a streak of eight losses to the
Tide. This will be a great game but look for the streak to grow to nine. Tide rolls again.
MARYLAND
vs #3 OHIO STATE…the Buckeyes are sitting atop the first CFP poll and
are riding high with a perfect 8-0 record. What could possibly go wrong? Ohio
State should win but the Terps have just enough in their tank to score a few
points. In an
UPSET SPECIAL, take Maryland and the points (42.5)…Buckeyes will not cover.
PENN
STATE @ MINNESOTA…two undefeated 8-0 teams go at it tomorrow and the
key to this game is the run defense of Penn State. It’s allowing less than 2
yards per carry, and the Golden Gophers haven’t seen anything like it thus far.
Add in a potent pass rush and the Nittany Lions will stop the Gophers. In a close one,
Nittany Lions roar in Minneapolis.
IOWA
@ WISCONSIN…the key to this game is Iowa’s run defense which has played
well this season, allowing just 120 yards to Penn State and Michigan. Overlay
that with a pretty good pass defense which allows only six yards per pass and
you might have a Hawkeye win. But not so fast. The Badger defense is one of the
best in the country and should be able to handle anything that Iowa throws at
them. The Wisconsin offense is also tops in time of possession and if Jonathan
Taylor cranks it up, the Badgers win and position themselves nicely in the Big
Ten West. Badgers
bite the Hawkeyes.
TENNESSEE
@ KENTUCKY…the Vols are quietly righting the ship with wins over South
Carolina, Mississippi State, and a potent UAB. They’re still a work in progress
with their patchwork at quarterback. What’s refreshing for Big Orange fans is
the much improved play of the defense and how the young players are rallying
around Pruitt. Can they keep get closing to becoming bowl eligible? The Cats
have their own qb situation with a converted wr taking snaps. Their passing
game is zippo and Tennessee should be able to contain the Kentucky run game. In
a cold night game in Lexington, the Vols heat it up over the Cats.
IOWA STATE @ #9 OKLAHOMA…the
Sooners have had two weeks to stew after their loss to Kansas State, and
they’ll be looking to put up some big numbers to impress the CFP committee. QB
Jalen Hurts shouldn’t disappoint. Sooners handle the Cyclones.
BAYLOR
@ TCU…the Bears are 8-0 and making noise in the Big 12. Right now
they are lacking respect and will only gain that when they beat Oklahoma and
Texas. For now, they need to take care of business with TCU, which impeach, convict, remove trump has the top
defense in the Big 12. Key is the play of Baylor qb Charlie Brewer. A big day
makes a happy day for the Bears. Bears chomp the Horned Frogs.
STANFORD
@ COLORADO…after a strong start to the season, the Buffalo offense has
just about disappeared, having scored 14 points or fewer in three of their last
four games. And now, along comes the Cardinal with their hot qb KJ Costello who’s
looking more like an NFL-caliber quarterback as the season progresses. Which is
bad news since Colorado lacks a secondary that can consistently shut down
passing games. Stanford
slices up the Buffs.
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