2021-09-22 15:59

I guess for some teams the alarm is ringing.

Here is my list of the teams which are in trouble:
Florida State - After losing against Notre Dame, Jacksonville State (FCS) and Wake Forest the heat is ON. They did fire their last HC in his 2nd season, when he did not deliver. The current one did not deliver also, except losses every FSU alumnus would like to forget, and he is in his 2nd season also. Not sure he will survive the season, regardless his great result he had in Memphis.
Indiana - I think the expectations were much higher than being right now 1-2 and losing to Cincinnati was not the plan, for sure. The good thing is, I think the HC is save, but the fans would have liked to see Indiana win, like last year, and I just don't see that happening.
Ohio - granted the team had a short-term transition when their HC did call it a career before the season. But the Bobcats were solid in BAD years and good in good years and now they are 0-3 with a loss against Syracuse, Duquesne (FCS) and against Louisiana. The good news is, the MAC season did not start for them so far, so in theory they can still cream every team from the MAC and dominate the conference, but I just doubt that. We will see, but right now I don't see the coach going far in Ohio.
Arizona - The Wildcats lost 3 games in a row now. BYU, SDSU and then Northern Arizona (FCS) did beat them. Arizonas HC is new, has no HC exp and is likely save this season, but for sure, nobody wanted the team to start 0-3. And the next weeks won't feature cupcakes. Hmmmm.

That's it for now. There are several teams I suspect to fall fast, once they are through with beating cupcakes (often in close games), but you never know, it might just be a bad start.

Let's go to the reviews of last weekends games.

The BLOCK OF GRANITE GAMES FOR WEEK 3

Sat. Sep 18
#1 Alabama @ #11 Florida
Florida came close. Very close.
It started like a typical game against Alabama.
You play, but you lose.
Florida was behind 3-21 after the 1st quarter, 9-21 at the half.
Then they had some fighting spirit and shorted the gap 23-28 after the 3rd quarter and held Alabama at a field goal afterwards.
The Gators scored and tried a 2-point-conversion to tie the game but failed.
Alabama got the ball with 3:10 left to play and were smart enough to run down the clock almost completely.
So, Alabama prevailed, but they did look beatable in this game.
#1 Alabama 31 @ #11 Florida 29 -> Jacks TOP GAMES Score: 5-4

#22 Auburn @ #10 Penn State
Auburn look good, but Penn State, at home in front of over 100K people was too much.
The Tigers did stay in the game, came in the 4th almost to a tied game, but trailed by 1 and Penn State got the ball, scored and won it all by then playing good defense.
I think both teams will have a say this season, both will finish in the TOP 25.
Penn State might have the tools and the team to kick Ohio State of the BIG 10 thrown and get a ticket to the big dance, but only time will tell.
#22 Auburn 20 @ #10 Penn State 28 -> Jacks TOP GAMES Score: 6-4

#19 Arizona State @ #23 BYU
At the start it was a quite defense driven game, but BYU was able to score, while ASU ... well, not so often.
The Sun Devils were behind at the half, 7-21.
Then came a good quarter for ASU in the 3rd, trailing afterward only 17-21, but they did fumble the ball away and allowed BYU to score again and that was that.
A turnover driven game, I hope both teams can overcome this.
#19 Arizona State 17 @ #23 BYU 27 -> Jacks TOP GAMES Score: 7-4

Other interesting games:
Virginia @ #21 North Carolina
A very score happy game, but unfortunately the Tar Heels did score a lot of more points than the Cavaliers, winning 59-39.
I guess it will be a mixed season for Virginia, while UNC can still dream for the ACC Championship game.
Jacks interesting games Score: 7-3

Oklahoma State @ Boise State
What a strange game. Boise OK at the start, then lost some ground trailing by 1 point at the half.
Then only errors and no scores on both sides for the whole 2nd half, making the halftime score the final one, with OSU winning 21-20.
Not sure what to make out of this.
Jacks interesting games Score: 7-4

Fresno State @ #13 UCLA
A score happy game, with Fresno State starting better, leading at the half, 23-10. UCLA came back, took the lead in the 4th, twice, but was unable to stop Fresno State from scoring and the Bulldogs won 40-37.
I think both teams will have an interesting season, not necessarily a very successful one.
Jacks interesting games Score: 7-5

Other funny results last weekend:
Clemson won against Georgia Tech 14-8. A very strange result and not good for all Tigers fans.
Cincinnati did win against Indiana 38-24. Looks more that it was, Cincinnati was lucky to profit of a clean Indiana meltdown in the 2nd half.
West Virginia did beat Virginia Tech 27-21. I can't make something out of the Hokies. Good team, bad team? Not sure.
Michigan State did beat Miami 38-17. This is non-conference, so only the national rankings are involved, but man ... Miami is in trouble, I think. And BIG 10 teams, better watch out, too.
Western Michigan did win against Pitt, 44-41. Surprising loss from Pitt. Crazy result.
Minnesota won against Colorado 30-0. Great win for Minnesota, I hope they can carry that over into their conference games.
USC under new coaching did crush Washington State 45-14. Will we see a turnaround under the interims coach (again)?
Memphis did beat Mississippi State 31-29. A great win for Memphis, against a SEC team.
Duke did beat Northwestern 30-23. Northwestern does not look good here.
Incarnated Word (FCS) did beat Texas State 42-34. Always fun to see a FCS team win.
San Diego State won against Utah 33-31 in 3 OT. Utah lost now 2 games as favorites and needs to get things done now.
Utah State did beat Air Force 49-45. Big win for the Aggies this season, being in some sort of rebuilding.
As mentioned, did Northern Arizona (FCS) beat Arizona 21-19.

That's it with last weekend.
Now, slowly I guess, we will see more and more conference games and the real fun starts.
I hope we will see some good games.
With the previous games sometimes hinting favorites not so strong, we might see some upsets and new teams emerging as leading candidates.
On the other hand, it also often happens that the teams did get the tiny missing things sorted out in the non-conference games and when the real games starting, the team is ready to take on the challenge.
We will see, what every team can bring to the matchups, my personal guess is, we might see some new faces in the playoffs, this year.

The BLOCK OF GRANITE GAMES FOR WEEK 4

Sat. Sep 25
#12 Notre Dame @ #18 Wisconsin
Brian Kelly is the HC of Notre Dame since 2010 and has won till now 105 game, tying Knute Rockne for most wins with the program. Rockne has won 3 national championships in his time with Notre Dame, Kelly so far ZERO.
His official record is only 84 wins, since team had to vacate a lot of wins from 2 seasons, thanks to academical misconduct. That does not help, with this number of wins, he is the only coach that long at the school, with ZERO Championships.
I'm not sure, why Notre Dame can't bring it home again, the had the chances and likely also the recruits, they get favorable ranks, they just can't deliver it on the field.
Why I'm saying this?
They are again ranked at #12, while all they did was beating Florida State (which later lost to a FCS team and Wake Forest), Toledo and Purdue. Not really powerhouses.
Wisconsin lost 1 game, against Penn State (who did beat Auburn last week) by 6 and won against Eastern Michigan (well, ok, that's not a good argument), and they are ranked at #18.
Betting line for the game?
Wisconsin at -5.5.
So, the people believe in Wisconsin in compare to Notre Dame, but the press puts Notre Dame higher.
See, favorable rankings.
But this week, I think Notre Dame will suffer.
Except they do it as the past few weeks and get the team just strong enough to beat the opponent by a few points.
I want to see that.
My take, is, Notre Dame will NOT rise in strength and will lose, by more than the 5.5 points.
Badgers win.

#7 Texas A&M @ #16 Arkansas
Jimbo Fischer was hired to bring Texas A&M something the team did not have since the late 30s, a National Championship.
His success is good, if not great, if you keep in mind we are talking about A&M inside the SEC.
The team’s major problem is, they are usually not strong enough to go the whole way to the SEC Championship game, usually beaten by Alabama.
This season, they might have a chance.
But it won't be easy and so far, they did also not look like THE sure thing.
Sure, they won all 3 games so far, New Mexico, Colorado and Kent State. All home games, and in case of Colorado, a very close one.
Only that Colorado is not the dominating team from the PAC 12. Fine, could be, because of old rivalries, but that shouldn't stop a title contender from winning, big.
This week they face Arkansas.
The Razorbacks are surprisingly ranked at #16, after beating Georgia Southern, Texas and Rice. Especially the Texas win did give them a lot of credits, I guess.
They have already now the win total of last season.
I think most can't make something out of this matchup.
Is A&M strong this season? Stronger than the results so far do suggest?
Is Arkansas having a breakthrough season under the 2nd year coach? Already?
No wonder Vegas favors the Aggies only by 5.5 points.
That's not much.
I guess Alabama would get double digit, likely 2 scores or more.
Given the results, I doubt we will see an upset, but hopefully a close game.
My 'support the weaker team' part want Arkansas to deal A&M a loss, but the Aggies should be at least a few seasons ahead in recruiting and strength.
Of cause, some errors or a weak approach can make that advantage gone, but I think Fischer can overcome such stuff.
So, I think we will see a close one, but ...
Aggies win.

#9 Clemson @ NC State
Right now, Clemson lives on borrowed time, granted by their defense.
Because their offense did so far suck, big time.
Not sure what the problem is, but they did almost lose to one of the worst teams inside the ACC.
Now they play North Carolina State, a team which did made them some trouble in the past seasons, when Clemson was in its prime.
Clemson lost their opener to Georgia, which did look like 'OK, they are in good shape, just lost to a slightly better team' and won against a FCS team by the usually high margin but then won only by 6 against Georgia Tech.
NC State won big time against South Florida, lost to Mississippi State and won against big time against a FCS team.
This looks OK for Clemson, but I'm just not sure, which team will show up, on the road, this week?
Vegas has the Tigers favored by 10 points.
If the old Tigers come up, this can be beaten by a mile.
But if the GT-Tigers come to play, the Wolfpack will eat them up.
I did through a coin and then did throw the coin away; I think Clemson will lose. Period.
Wolfpack win


Other interesting games:
Nebraska @ #20 Michigan State
If you are the HC of Nebraska, right now, you sit on one of the hottest seats in the country.
Some say, it's the hottest.
Scott Frost has to prove the Cornhuskers are moving into the right direction and a 2-2 record so far is, likely not good.
The team lost to Illinois in week zero and against Oklahoma last week.
Now they travel to unbeaten Michigan State, who did best ranked Miami last week.
I expect a close game, Vegas, too, with MSU being favored by 5 points.
There is not much to say about Nebraska’s strength, they seem to still search for something to click.
The Spartans play likely a team which wants to have a say inside their division and conference and they might get that right, fast.
I think the Huskers have to play smart and have to use their chances, whenever they come up.
Errors will help likely MSU more than Nebraska.
As this is a home game for the Spartans, I doubt Nebraska can do this.
IF they win here, the hot seat will cool a bit down, I guess. I just think they will lose.
Spartans win.

UAB @ Tulane
I like both teams and both were to shy of competition, which did turn out to be too much for such small schools.
But now they play against each other and for me surprisingly Tulane is favored by 4 points.
UAB did prove they can play and win in the past, while Tulane did prove in the past few seasons they are on the rise.
I'm torn between the UAB Blazers dominance of the past and that almost upset of Oklahoma by the Green Wave.
In doubt for the home team?
Green Wave win.

#24 UCLA @ Stanford
UCLA did look like the hottest thing out of California since breast implants on Hollywood starlets, but then they lost to Fresno State.
Man, what a shocker.
Likely Stanford lost to Kansas State, right?
Now they face each other, and I don't know what to do with that.
The betting line is UCLA -5.5, so UCLA is favored.
But will they win, on the road?
It's their 1st road game of the season, while Stanford had only one home game so far and lost that one.
Urgh.
I expect a high scoring game and at the end to see that team winning, which does commit the least errors.
Still I have to make a pick here and I pick the home team.
Cardinals win.

When I look at the previews I see that my plan to make 3 long previews and 3 short did so far not work.
Damn it.
Well, I hope it's worth it and you like it. ;-)

Weather on my vacation spot at the Baltic sea is OK, but could be better.
Still I enjoy walking at the shore with my wife.

'Til next time
Jack6 on BLOCK OF GRANITE

Tags: Block of Granite, News