2015-12-08 20:59

Ende (means the end)

That's it, the regular season beside the Army-Navy-game is over.

There are winners and losers and especially this weekend with so many Championship games played, teams won and lost very important games.

There were basically no upsets this weekend on the championship games, so no real surprises.

Some were close, very close even, but all the favorites did win out.

The committee did made their sit in and selected

1 - Clemson
2 - Alabama
3 - Michigan State
4 - Oklahoma

as the 4 playoff teams.

That means, Clemson will play Oklahoma and Alabama will take on Michigan State.

The only open conference champ beside the ones in the games a bit down under is the Sun Belt Champ.
Arkansas State did win the conference in a very big win over Texas State 55-17 as the only champ. Nothing to share here.

Some more coaching positions were filled during this weekend.

Bowling Green has to look for a new HC, Dino Babers did accept the gig at Syracuse.

Very surprisingly did Bronco Mendenhall leave BYU to become the new coach of Virginia. For me, this is a major deal for Virginia, but a kick into the family jewels of BYU. If BYU can't keep coaches from moving to a program like Virginia, then something is fishy.

Miami hired ex-Georgia HC Mark Richts.

Maryland decided to move forward with Michigans DC D.J. Durkin as new HC. Interesting move. Some say, Maryland has all the tools to become the 'Oregon of the East', referring to the close relationship with Under Armor, like Oregon has with Nike.

Memphis fired Arizona States OC Mike Norvell as new HC. Also an interesting move, the Sun Devils had several good and bad games this season.

The University of North Texas found their next HC in UNC Assistant Seth Littrell.

A bit surprising did South Carolina hire Auburns DC and former Florida HC Will Muschamp.

Toledo promoted their OC Jason Candle to HC.

UCF did hire Oregons OC Scott Frost as new HC.

And last new hire was Rutgers did chose Ohio States DC as their new HC, Chris Ash.

Now let's have a look at the BLOCK OF GRANITE TOP GAMES FOR WEEK 14

Fri. Dec. 4 - 8:00 pm ET
MAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois
This was over quickly.
The Falcons did lead 21-0 at the half.
NIU did try to start a comeback, but Bowling Green did keep them on distance.
At the end, the margin was 20 points and Bowling Green won the MAC.
Shortly after that it was announce their HC will leave for Syracuse, so it might happen that Bowling Green will not play as their old self in the bowl.
Bowling Green 34 - Northern Illinois 14 -> Jacks Score: 40-20

Sat. Dec. 5 - 12:00 pm ET
CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Southern Mississippi vs. Western Kentucky
This was great.
Southern Miss came out firing on all cylinders leading at some point 21-7.
Then came WKU shortly before the break and did score 2 TDs.
Game tied at halftime.
At the end of the 3rd did WKU lead by 3.
And then ... came the 1st-score-interception-2nd-score-punch by WKU and Southern Miss lost the game.
CUSA belong to the Hilltoppers.
Southern Mississippi 28 - Western Kentucky 45-> Jacks Score: 41-20

Sat. Dec. 5 - 12:00 pm ET
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#22 Temple vs. #19 Houston
I'm sure some Temple fans will see this different, but Houston had won this game early.
Temple was never really able to stop Houston and that's deadly.
At the end did Houston win by 11 points.
A big future lies ahead for the Cougars, if they can really keep their coach.
First they can celebrate the AAC title and then they can prepare to play a big team in a new years bowl, which is Florida State.
Temple 13 - Houston 24-> Jacks Score: 42-20

Sat. Dec. 5 - 4:00 pm ET
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#18 Florida vs. #2 Alabama
This did not turn out as I expected it.
I really thought Alabama would put up 14+ points per quarter, but at halftime it was only 12-7 ahead. (Floridas score was a punt return TD)
Alabama then had a better quarter in the 3rd and did outscore Florida 10-0 there to extend the lead to 22-7.
Not over yet, but almost.
The Crimson Tide did score 1 more TD until Florida did finally score on their own.
Overall did Florida not impress, but also not fail too much.
I think there is hope for the Gators next season and they can also play a nice Bowl.
Alabama will face Michigan State in the semis.
Florida 15 - Alabama 29 -> Jacks Score: 43-20

Sat. Dec. 5 - 7:30 pm ET
MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Air Force vs. San Diego State
Argggh. I did pick the Falcons and they did .. well ... have too many errors this weekend.
The game went back and forth.
It was 10-10 at halftime, Air Force scored 1st in the 3rd, SDSU did answer for tie at 17.
Then did the Aztecs score and Air Force answered for a tie at 24.
With 5 min. to play did SDSU score a FG and Air Force needed their last drive until they were stopped at mid field.
The Hail Mary went too short and was batted away.
The Aztecs did win the Mountain West.
Air Force 24 - San Diego State 27 -> Jacks Score: 43-21

Sat. Dec. 5 - 7:45 pm ET
PAC12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#7 Stanford vs. #20 USC
Oh this was great.
That Stanford RB did do it all and broke even a record set by Barry Sanders.
Christian McCaffrey was Stanfords best runner and best receiver, did keep the Cardinals drive alive and did score, often.
He score a rushing TD, a reception TD and a pass TD!
Overall did USC not play their best, or Stanford did play just better.
Stanford did never trail and won that game over time and did increase the margin quarter by quarter.
Would they be worth a playoff spot?
Maybe, but show me the team that should not be in from the group of 4?
Stanford will play the Rose Bowl, which is great, against Iowa, which is even greater.
I love the matchup.
USC will play Wisconsin, which is also a nice one.
Stanford 41 - USC 22 -> Jacks Score: 44-21

Sat. Dec. 5 - 8:00 pm ET
ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#10 North Carolina vs. #1 Clemson
That was a nice game, I did not expect to see.
Clemson did play a bit error prone, miss a FG and their punter had a total blackout during 1 drive, trying to run instead to punt and gave the Tar Heels great field position.
The Coach was not amused.
Clemson did lead 21-16 at the half and they were lucky to have that.
Then did Clemson turn on the afterburner and pulled away 35-16 and the Tar Heels did look like the sure losers.
But they came back and with a few ticks left on the clock, at 45-37, UNC was forced to make an onside kick to have a single chance to score a TD and maybe a 2 point conversion.
They kicked and DID recover, but were flagged for offside, which was a totally blown call.
The retry failed and Clemson won.
Clemson will now face Oklahoma in the playoffs, while UNC will play Baylor in a bowl.
North Carolina 37 - Clemson 45 -> Jacks Score: 45-21

Sat. Dec. 5 - 8:17 pm ET
BIG10 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#5 Michigan State vs. #4 Iowa
And the last championship game.
And a great finish.
But the game was all about defense.
Iowa did throw a bad interception early in the game in the endzone.
The ball was not well caught and then hit out of the arms of that receiver only to get caught by a Spartan.
No points and turnover.
Iowa did trail 3-6 at the half.
Then at the quarter switch at the end of the 3rd and start of the 4th, down 6-9, did Iowa throw out of nowhere a deep ball and scored a big play TD.
BOOM! Up 13-9.
But Michigan State did come back, right into the endzone with their final drive.
4th and 2 on Iowas 5 yard line.
Snap and STOPPED!
But wait a minute? Who did call a timeout BEFORE the snap? Iowa!
So still 4th and 2!
And Michigan State made the 1st down!
And the score!
Iowa in panic mode and they were not able to get another miracle play (tried a bad lateral play ...).
The Spartans will face now Alabama in the semis, Iowa will face Stanford in the Rose Bowl.
Michigan State 16 - Iowa 13 -> Jacks Score: 45-22

More interesting results:
Texas did beat Baylor 23-17 for the last win. Texas went out with a 5-7 record. We will see, if that's enough to stay at Texas, but it looks like it is, for now.
Georgia State did win against Georgia Southern 34-7 and secured a bowl spot on their own with that 6th win.
Kansas State won against West Virginia 24-23 and did also secure a bowl spot on their own.

'Til next time
Jack6 on BLOCK OF GRANITE

Tags: Block of Granite