Week 9 (Oct. 25-27) thread
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:07 am
Some very big games this week, should be a nice football weekend...
Thursday game:
Boston College at Virginia Tech. The winner is almost guaranteed a BCS berth barring a major upset to Virginia or GT down the line. The Hokies have become a much more well-rounded team since Tyrod Taylor took over at QB. He's banged up, which means the statue called Sean Glennon might match up against Matt Ryan. Tech will also be without superb ILB Vince Hall, but they still have their special teams magic and a very opportunistic defense. BC has tended to play to the level of competition for better and worse. They'll need their "A" game if they want to keep their national title hopes alive in Blacksburg.
Sat. Games:
USC at Oregon. See the thread.
South Florida at UConn. Both these teams are ranked and the Huskies could really solidify their Big East title hopes with a win. How does USF handle coming off a tough loss, and can Grothe solve what has become a very stout Husky defense.
Florida-Georgia. Winner stays alive in the SEC East, loser is looking at a pre-XMas bowl game against a crappy Big 10 or Big 12 team. Tim Tebow is banged up, which might limit his running.
Kansas at Texas A&M. The undefeated Jayhawks survived their trip to Colorado, but College Station is a different kind of monster. A&M runs the ball on everyone, but Kansas has shown a tough run defense and an opportunistic pass defense. A&M got bombed by Miami but has been very good at home, and Kansas hasn't won a road game against any school with "Texas" in its name (except North Texas) in almost 20 years.
Ohio State at Penn State. Can the Buckeyes keep the upset bug at bay in a place where they traditionally get stomped? The Lions are very good at home but have almost no ability to come from behind, and nobody owns the first quarter like the #1 scarlet and grey.
South Carolina at Tennessee. One of those "somethings gotta give" games: Spurrier owns Tennessee, but Phil Fullmer owns the Cocks. The maddening Vols have shown they can beat anyone but also get trashed by anyone, while the "other" USC still controls its own fate in the SEC East.
Hawaii at New Mexico State (Sunday). Fairly dangerous mainland trip for Hawaii. Neither team plays a lick of defense, so if you like watching your buddies play Madden, this is the game for you!
California at Arizona State. First real test for the Sun Devils, the beginning of a brutal stretch that could see the current unbeatens not win another game. Cal has lost two in a row and they've not done well in close games (despite the Oregon game this year), and these teams are almost identical statistically.
West Virginia at Rutgers. The Mountaineers are quietly clawing their way back up the BCS standings, and a quality win against a game Rutgers team still fighting for respect might go a long way come January.
Richmond at James Madison. Huge Atlantic 10 game for you DI-AA fans. The inexplicable loss to Towson by the Spiders takes some of the luster away, but these two rivals are both among the very best Championship Subdivision programs.
San Diego at Dayton. Good I-AA matchup between two teams that would be competitive against most lower-rung I-A schools.
Thursday game:
Boston College at Virginia Tech. The winner is almost guaranteed a BCS berth barring a major upset to Virginia or GT down the line. The Hokies have become a much more well-rounded team since Tyrod Taylor took over at QB. He's banged up, which means the statue called Sean Glennon might match up against Matt Ryan. Tech will also be without superb ILB Vince Hall, but they still have their special teams magic and a very opportunistic defense. BC has tended to play to the level of competition for better and worse. They'll need their "A" game if they want to keep their national title hopes alive in Blacksburg.
Sat. Games:
USC at Oregon. See the thread.
South Florida at UConn. Both these teams are ranked and the Huskies could really solidify their Big East title hopes with a win. How does USF handle coming off a tough loss, and can Grothe solve what has become a very stout Husky defense.
Florida-Georgia. Winner stays alive in the SEC East, loser is looking at a pre-XMas bowl game against a crappy Big 10 or Big 12 team. Tim Tebow is banged up, which might limit his running.
Kansas at Texas A&M. The undefeated Jayhawks survived their trip to Colorado, but College Station is a different kind of monster. A&M runs the ball on everyone, but Kansas has shown a tough run defense and an opportunistic pass defense. A&M got bombed by Miami but has been very good at home, and Kansas hasn't won a road game against any school with "Texas" in its name (except North Texas) in almost 20 years.
Ohio State at Penn State. Can the Buckeyes keep the upset bug at bay in a place where they traditionally get stomped? The Lions are very good at home but have almost no ability to come from behind, and nobody owns the first quarter like the #1 scarlet and grey.
South Carolina at Tennessee. One of those "somethings gotta give" games: Spurrier owns Tennessee, but Phil Fullmer owns the Cocks. The maddening Vols have shown they can beat anyone but also get trashed by anyone, while the "other" USC still controls its own fate in the SEC East.
Hawaii at New Mexico State (Sunday). Fairly dangerous mainland trip for Hawaii. Neither team plays a lick of defense, so if you like watching your buddies play Madden, this is the game for you!
California at Arizona State. First real test for the Sun Devils, the beginning of a brutal stretch that could see the current unbeatens not win another game. Cal has lost two in a row and they've not done well in close games (despite the Oregon game this year), and these teams are almost identical statistically.
West Virginia at Rutgers. The Mountaineers are quietly clawing their way back up the BCS standings, and a quality win against a game Rutgers team still fighting for respect might go a long way come January.
Richmond at James Madison. Huge Atlantic 10 game for you DI-AA fans. The inexplicable loss to Towson by the Spiders takes some of the luster away, but these two rivals are both among the very best Championship Subdivision programs.
San Diego at Dayton. Good I-AA matchup between two teams that would be competitive against most lower-rung I-A schools.
