HOGANSVILI~ HOME NEWS - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009 PAGE 7-A
lege
tball News, Analysis and Prognostications
The Gridiron Gazette * 1690 Calls Creek Circle. Watkinsville GA. 30677 * gridirongazette@bellsouth.net * 706-255-0222
TENNESSEE AT NO. 2 ALABAMA
The Volunteers destroyed Georgia a few weeks ago,
but they better not have ,spent too much time during
their bye week gazing in the mirror. If they gazed
at the television on Saturday night, they saw' an
Alabama team that was plenty beatable. Nick Saban
is a taskinaster and surely worked his squad hard after
its tour turnover, nine-penal~, perfommnce agaiust
South Carolina. Tennessee's defense is stout enou~
to control the physicalAlabama running game, but it's
hard to see how the Volunteers will move the ball.
Alabama 25 - Tennessee 10
ARKANSAS AT MISSISSIPPI
There seems to be an awakening taking place at
Arkansas, especially on the defensive side of the ball_
where the Razorbacks held Auburn and Florida well
,below their average point totals Mississippi blasted
UAB last weekend, after getting blasted by Alabama
two weeks ago. The Rebels have averaged onb' 20
points in their last three conference games, and that's
why we're going with a resurgent Razorback team on
the mad in Oxford.
Arkansas 28 - Mississippi 25
VANDERBILT AT #21 SOUTH CAROLINA
The South Carolina defense had looked good all season
until it got pounded into submission by the Alabanla
running game. Eric Nom'ood and his compatriots
must have spent much of the week getting deep tissue
massage after Mark Ingram ran over thc~ for 246
yards. Luckily for the G~mlecocks, Vanderbilt doesn't
have anyone of Ingrmn's caliber. South Carolina will
get off to a slow start and this game will not be pretty,
but the Gamecocks have too much defense for a
beleaguered Vanderbilt offense
South Carolina 23 - Vanderbilt 10
LA-MONROE AT KENTUCKY
Rich Brooks always has his Wildcats ready to play,
but that will be a challenge this week afterupsetting
Auburn last Saturday. The Wildcats are looking ahead,
and they see ~,Jmlable games against Mississippi
State, Georgia, Vanderbilt and Tennessee, all unrmlked
and all severely flawed, and a possible bowl invitation
on the far horizon, Kentuck3' might toy with the
Warhawks a little bit, but they'll eventually; get serious
and g~'~ ~o blasine~% , a o • -
~" , Kentucky 30.-- La-Monroe 13
N 6: 'i'I ORIDA AT'MiS ISSIPPI STATE
To use the parlance of the groat movie The Godfathe~:
this one's a little bit like Michael taking on Fredo.
Urban Meyer and Mississippi State head coach Dan
Mullen are brothers of sorts. After all Mullen was
Meyer's offensive coordinator for several years before
heading to Starkville. That will make Mever's job
tins weekend a little more difficuh than usual, but
after the dismal performance put on the by Gators last
weekend, it won't be long before Mississippi State is
swimming with the fishes.
Florida 35 - Mississippi State 13
AUBURN AT #10 LSU
~INe Auburn offense seems to have lost some steam
over the past few weeks, and that's not helpftfl for
their trip to Baton Rouge on Saturday. LSU had the
week to mull what happened again~ Florida a few
weeks back. and the key to the Tigers' future success
will be whether or not they can protect quarterback
Jordan Jefferson. That won't be a problem against
an Aubtu-n defense that is far below recent standards.
and that's why the Bayou Bengals will return to their
wimling ways.
LSU 29 - Auburn 23
College Football News and Notes
Missouri, Minnesota, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Rutgers,
Maryland, LSU, and UCLA are anlong schools that
are now using helicoPters to help catch the attention
coveted recruits, the New York Times reports. UCLA
coach Rick Neuheisel uses a helicopter to drop in on
recruits during their games. The laelicopter is owned
by Larry Welk. grandson of composer Lawrence Welk.
Neuheisel told the NYT that the helicopter helps him
visit several high schools and beat the notoriously
difficult southern Calitbmia traffic Missouri head
coach Gary. Pmkel dropped in on a Parkway West game
by helicopter to check in on blue chip quarterback
prospect Tyler Gabbert. "It shows the in~portunce
recruiting and the resources college football coaches are
willing to use," Gabbert ,said. "Recruiting is kind of like
a business. They do everything they can to help make
the recruits tmow that they're wanted"... Alabama has
reached the top of the AP poll. The unbeaten Gators
had been in the top spot since the preseason, but the
Crimson Tide has been gaining groand tbr weeks by
wimung more convincingly than the Gators
Florida receiver Aat~on Hernandez caught seven passes for 92 yards to help the Gators squeak past
Arkansas 23 - 20. The poor showing by Florida cost them the top ranking in the AP poll.
If last weel::end had a theme, it was that none of the national title looked worthy of flieir loft)'
contenders
status. No. 1 Florida needed a late field goal to beat Arkansas 23 - 20 in Gainesville. T/ae Razorbacks
had the Gators by the throat but shot themselves in the foot so many times with blown defensive coverages and
penalties that they went back to Fa5 etteville with only three toes. No. 2 Alabama faced No, 20 South Carolina
in Tuscaloosa. and beat the Gamecocks 20- 6, The Crimson Tide overcame four turnovers and 116 yards in
penalties thanks to 246 rushing yards by M:ark lngram. Kentuck)~ got off the SEC snide when it went to East
Alabama and took care of Aub£mq 21 "-- 14. The Wildcat defense managed to hold the Tigers to 315 yards•
Georgia responded tocritics by knocking over Vanderbilt 34 - 10. The Bulldogs have the week off before
taking on what will be an ang~ Florida team. Mississippi State and Mississippi each had an easy time against
non-conference opponents.
No. 18 Georgm Tech Welcomed No. 4 Virginia Tech to The Flats by knocking off the Hokies 28 - 23.
Yellow Jacket quarterback Josh Nesbitt rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns. It was the first time since
1962 that Georgia Tech has beaten a top five team in Bobby Dodd Stadium. Clemson dominated Wake Forest
38 - 3 on the shores of Lake Hartwell. The Tiger defense has been playing lights out. N,C. State went up to
Boston College and got its head handed to it 52 - 20. Virgin!a_won its third straightby.beatmg Maryland 20 - 9.
No. 9 Miami took care of Central Florida 27 -- 7.
Elsewhere. No. 3 Texas looked average m beating No• 15 Oklahoma 16 - 13, The Sooners lost their
quarterback Sam Bradford to another shoulder injury, No, 7 Ohio State lost to Pnrdue 26 - 18. The Buckeyes
turned the ball over five times, four of them by quarterback Terrelle Prvor.
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KetlmCky
::V di rbilt
1-3 : .... 3-3 Nbrth:Cafel::ma State: ....... :
2-5 Flofid State ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
LSU
Auburn
...........
Mississippi State
Arkansas
t-2 4-2 Miami (FL) 2-1 5-1
1-2 3 -4 Duke 1 - l 3-3
1-3 3-3 North Carolina 0-2 4-2
1
Ranking
Florida
Alabama
Texas
Southern Cal
Cincinnati
Power Rating Ranking Power Rating
153.5 14. Houston 133.6
152.3 i5. PetmState ........ 133.5
151.2 i16. Oregon 133.0
1 9.9 - Ohio:State :: =I32.8
145.9 i18_ Oklahoma 131.6
............... t:30i4
139.9 i 20. Kansas 130.2
Iowa
137.5 :. 22. Mississippi 123.9
11. GeorgiaTech 137.2 i 24. Utah 124.2
inia Tech
136.3 : Prognostications and rankings updated weekly
FLORIDA STATE AT NORTH CAROLhNA
Both these teams are well refreshed after taking
last weekend to rest their wcarx, feet. Of course,
Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden mieht not
be feeling all that invigorated having spent the week
answering questions about his futttre. The only fitture
the Seminoles are concerned with involves a tnp to
Chapel Hill, where Butch Davis is tD'ing to get his
lhr Heels back on track. The Seminoles have plenty
of problems, but not as many as the guys in blue. and
that's why the visitors will come awav with a win.
Florida State 25 - North Carolina 19
CLEMSON AT #7 MIAMI (FL.)
Clemson walloped Wake Forest last weekend because
of an excellent defensive eftbrt that held the Demon
Deacons to just 178 yards. "Ihe Tigers have been
getting unremitting pressure on the quarterback, but it
seems that Miami quarterback Jacory Hams is innnane
to pressure. Clenason's defense is good enough to slow
the Hurricanes, bnt what will the Tigers do when
Miami takes C.J. Spiller out of the offensive equation?
The Tigers don't have an answer to that question, and
that's why they'll 1o~.
Miami WL.} 21 - Clemson 18
#11 GEORGIA TECH AT VIRGINIA
The Yellow Jackets got one of the greatest wins in
school history last w'eekend when they upended
Virginia Tech. Now Paul Johnson has to bring his
team back to earth in time to land in Charlottesville
on Saturday. After starting the season 0 - 3. A1 Groh's
Cavaliers are on a three-game wimnng streak, albeit
against sonic pre~' poor competition. \Veil. the price
of poker goes up when Georgia Tech comes to to~.
and Virginia doesn't have tile money or the talent to
stay in the game very long.
Georgia Tech 38 - Virginia 14
MARYLAND AT DUKE
Duke quarterback Thad Lewis completed 40 of 50
passes Ibr 459 yards and five toucMowns a few weeks
ago when the Blue Devils beat N.C. State. Duke head
coach David C utcliffe said it was tile best performance
he has ever seen from a qtmrterback High praise from
a man who coached both Mannings. Lewis doesn't
have to peffom~ qmte as well this weekend to knock
off a Maryland team that seems to be going throngh
the motions until its coach is fired at the end of the
yea[
Duke 31 - Ma~'land 24
BOSTON COLLEGE AT NOTRE DAME
The counlrv's two largest Catholic universities square
off in South Bend on Saturday. The Irish took Southeru
Cal to the wire m a game that will be used bv Charlie
Weiss as evidence of the progress his team }ms made
and as reason to keep him as head coach. All of that
will go out the window if Notre Dame falls to a
Boston College team that seems to be making strides.
The Eagles crushed N.C. State la~ weekend but were
helped bv three Wolfpack turnovers. Notre Dame
won't be as cooperative.
Notre Dame 31 - Boston College 23
WAKE FOREST AT NAVY
Just when Jim Grobe thinks tlm~gs can't get emv
worse after losing 37 - 3 to Clew~son, now his Demon
Deacons visit a 5 - 2 Na~' team that's on a fbur-game
winating streak and ranks 5th uationallv in rushing.
Wake Forest will find a way to slow the Midshipmen's
rushing attack. The problem for the Deacons is that
tlley have butterfingers vdth the ball, and they won't
sarvive the trip to Annapolis if that doesn't change.
Wake Forest 27 - Navy 25
#6 TCU AT #19 BYU
BYU's hopes of crashing the national championslfip
part},' were severely damaged when Florida State
destroyed them at home last month. The same can't
be said of TCU, who is undefeated with victories at
Virginia and Clemson. The Hona Frogs look into theh"
crystal ball and see that four of their remaining six
games are against sub par teams, which means if thev
can make it out of the Wasatch Mountains alive, then
they should be on a windward tack towards a BCS
bowl.
TCU 35 - BYU 24
#9 IOWA AT MICHIGAN STATE
Kirk Ferentz has his Hawkeyes 7 - 0 tbr the first time
in recent menmry and looking like the best team in the
Big Ten Iowa has ~ayed undeteated using a defense
that's chain tough and an offense that's efficient and
mistake free. Now they go to East Lansing where
Michigan State tbllowed up its big wm against
Michig~m t~o weeks ago by beating Northwestern
last week. "[lie Hawkeves are as well-coached and
smart as an3 team in the count, and they'll meet the
considerable challenge they'll face on Saturda~
Iowa 27 - Michigan State 20
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