With the Crimson Tide in a bye week and only two games between ranked teams, were you one of those who thought it was a good Saturday to work in the yard or clean the gutters or (gasp!) spend time with the family? If that is true then you missed out on some good ol' fashion chaos.
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Georgia 41 South Carolina 30
A week after coming up short in Clemson, the Bulldogs bounce back with a big win over South Carolina. Todd Gurley ran 30 times for 134 yards, 1 TD, and an 8-yard TD catch. He is starting to look like a serious Heisman candidate. Aaron Murray was 17/23 for 309 4 TDs 0 INT. It was probably his best game but I have to wonder if he can repeat thi sperformance as it seemed he just wanted to get that 0-3 South Carolina monkey off his back. Jadaveon Clowney (sack, 2 TFL) put in a better effort than week 1 vs. UNC but it produced some odd numbers:
South Carolina's Defense With Clowney On/Off The Field:
On | Off | |
Percent of plays | 78% | 22% |
Plays | 59 | 17 |
UGA Yards per play | 8.3 | 2.8 |
UGA 10+ Yard plays | 17 | 2 |
Source: ESPN Stats & Information
Despite the tackles, he was really a bit of a non-factor against UGA. Clowney is still an elite talent but I have to think his NFL draft stock has dropped just a tick or two.
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Michigan 41 Notre Dame 30
Brady Hoke is a smart cookie. He knew how to use Notre Dame's cancellation of the series with the Wolverines as a tool to fire his team up. Brian Kelly? Not so smart. This may be some serious trolling here but I have a feeling the Irish are heading on a downward slide.
Brigham Young 40 Texas 21
Mack Brown fires defensive coordinator Manny Diaz after some former 3-star QB from Idaho named Taysom Hill rushed for 259 yards and three touchdowns on Bevo. The Longhorns gave up a school record 550 yards. Real estate agents are circling Mack's Austin home.
Washington State 10 Southern Cal 7
54 yards passing! Preseason All-American Marqise Lee had 7 catches for 27 yards and 3 rushes for -3. What Trojans fans were left in the Coliseum were audibly chanting "Fire Lane Kiffin!" For those of you concerned about the plight of this gentle humble soul, fear not. He will probably be hired by the Dallas Cowboys as Head Coach. Or maybe Hugh Hefner will hire him as his Breast Inspector General. He's earned it, right?
Miami 21 Florida 16
Florida took 6 visits to the Miami red zone and came away with 9 points.
* TD 2 plays after a blocked punt (2-pt conversion failed)
* Jeff Driskel interception
* Stopped on downs
* Trey Burton fumble
* Field goal
* Driskel interception
Just for good measure, the Gators threw in two more fumbles (Matt Jones, Driskel) and 10 penalties for 70 yards. Driskel was not good but there is absolutely nobody else to put in at QB for Florida.
You have got to hand in to Al Golden. Through all this dragged-out probation investigation (in it's third year!), he has managed to build a decent team and keep the program viable. If they can get through a tough five week Oct-Nov gauntlet (vs Ga Tech, @ UNC, vs Wake Forest, @ FSU, vs. VaTech) at 3-2 or better, they should be looking at a 10-win season.
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° I know it was only Virginia but, man, Oregon looks good. The Ducks have some serious speedsters on that team putting up 557 total yards, 320 on the ground against the Wahoos. "Paging Tennessee. There is a reality check on the red courtesy phone."
° Is there reason for concern in land of Boomer Sooner? Oklahoma struggled against West Virginia who now resides in the post-Geno Smith/Tavon Austin era. This is the same WVU team that had to come back last week to defeat William and Mary 24-17. Despite two interceptions, two fumbles, and a yanked QB, the Sooners were able to hold off the couch burners 16-7.
° Louisville's quest for an undefeated season is looking ever more likely after Cincinnati lost to Big 10 bottom-feeder Illinois 45-17. The BearCats were looking like the hardest team on the Cardinals schedule until they ran into the Illini. This Saturday's match-up with the mighty Kentucky Wildcats and later on with Rutgers might be their toughest games remaining.
° Senior Ole Miss cornerback Charles Sawyer was pulled over by university police at 2 a.m. Sunday and was arrested for DUI after he failed to stop at a stop sign. The returning starter was looked to be a leader in the secondary but has played sparingly after a shoulder injury in fall camp. Hugh Freeze has yet to comment on the situation.
° Ohio State QB Braxton Miller sprained MCL in his left knee and is reportedly "day-to-day".
° Cincinnati QB Munchie Legaux (I am not making that up) is out for the season after a gruesome hit against Illinois bent his left knee in a direction it is not supposed to go.
° FYI: Alabama's home game against Colorado State on September 21 will kickoff at 6 pm CT and will be televised by ESPN2 or ESPNU.