College Football Odds and Sods: LSU is Tough, Michigan is Delusional
By Ty Duffy
LSU beat Ole Miss 10-7. Conventional wisdom, congealed in rankings, suggests it was an upset. #Narrative rambles on about Tiger Stadium at night being the place where dreams go to die. Reality indicates what may be the 5th best team in the SEC West can beat any of the top four.
The Rebels losing should not have surprised. Ole Miss edged Bama at home. They have not done much else. While that defense passes muster, the offense has been erratic. The Rebels don’t run the ball well (12th in yards/carry in the SEC). Bo Wallace may have top billing hair, but he’s a supporting cast quarterback.
LSU winning should not have surprised. The Tigers have not looked dominant. But, teams are not static. Great coaches and talented players will find each other in the wilderness, at some point. LSU is forming into what most expected them to be: a team with a powerful run game and a suffocating defense.
The Tigers may be the division’s 5th best team. But, that could mean a 9-3 finish and a Top 15 ranking entering bowl play.
No. 1 Mississippi State survived an upset bid at plucky Kentucky, with a fluke touchdown making the proceedings appear more comfortable. There will be lingering concerns about the Bulldogs’ defense, which conceded 9.1 yards/pass. The teams combined for eight fumbles in this game. Only one was recovered by the opponent.
No. 4 Alabama dispatched Tennessee 34-20. Lane Kiffin proved his point with two long Amari Cooper touchdowns, then the Tide offense didn’t do much the rest of the game. Alabama’s offensive line hasn’t got much push for a very talented backfield this season. That feels like it may become significant at some stage.
No. 5 Auburn held off South Carolina 42-35. It was quite the offensive duel between Malzahn and Spurrier. The Gamecocks went for it, converting five of six fourth down conversion attempts. Unfortunately, the sixth came in the red zone with SC down a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Is a Big Ten team really getting into the playoff ahead of the team that finishes 2nd in that division?
Pac-12 teams Oregon, Arizona State and Utah are ranked in the Top 20 and won this weekend. To see this on the East Coast, you would have had to be up watching football after 1:00 AM. That’s not wise in a sport where perception outweighs raw performance. Not coincidentally, the Pac 12 has four teams that should be ranked ahead of Michigan State. Only one is, in one of the major polls, and that team beat MSU by three touchdowns.
Raising the Stakes
Michigan rediscovered its identity under Brady Hoke: turnovers, empty bravado and profound delusion. Losing to the Spartans, badly, was a given. The Wolverine offense predictably coughed, farted and fell on its face under pressure. Their not terrible defense held on for about a half before caving in. But, since this is Michigan in 2014 fergodsakes, the 24-point football defeat was not the worst of it.
Linebacker Joe Bolden drove a stake into the turf at Spartan Stadium before kickoff. Seriously, what sort of program does that? This was good for Mark Dantonio, since Mike Hart’s little brother narrative was getting a bit stale. The only thing “little brother” about all grown up Michigan State is their fervid determination to beat big brother’s soft, flabby ass at every opportunity.
Michigan will try to keep doing what they’ve been doing and to execute. With one regulation win in Brady Hoke’s last 12 games against Power 5 teams and Notre Dame, it is clearly working.
The Good…
Don’t Hurt Him, Gary… Gary Patterson seems to have a grudge against handsome men. TCU dropped 82 points on a hapless Texas Tech defense. Trevone Boykin threw for seven touchdowns and 11.1 yards/attempt. Aaron Green and Trevorris Johnson combined for 210 yards and three touchdowns, on 16 carries. The Horned Frogs are in the playoff race. Was the Big 12 trying to tell us something?
Country Roads… West Virginia hit the road in a prime letdown spot and were unaffected, beating down Oklahoma State 34-10. Former Michigan pariah Tony Gibson’s defense stopped 13/15 Oklahoma State third down attempts. The Mountaineers are a legit Big 12 contender. Remaining showdowns with TCU and Kansas State are in Morgantown.
Illinois All of a Sudden… Illinois won a B1G football game. It was the second conference win of Tim Beckman’s reign, first against a B1G team that won a game against an FBS opponent the same season. The Illini were outplayed and were fortunate to win on a fumble recovery touchdown, but why quibble? For those in Columbus, that was Ohio State’s potential second-best regular season win losing to Illinois.
The Not So Good…
Eye Test Fail… Ohio State escaped Happy Valley with a 31-24 win in overtime. Their vaunted offense, against a decent Penn State defense on the road, averaged fewer than four yards/play rushing and passing. That win, at a time when the eye test is Ohio State’s only hope, was a blow to the Buckeyes’ playoff candidacy. Though, on the basis of that form, that may not be an issue for them.
All the Fumbles… Pitt averaged 6.4 yards/carry. Chad Voytik completed 75 percent of his passes, averaging 9.7 yards/attempt. The Panthers, nonetheless, lost 56-28 to Georgia Tech, after losing six fumbles, five on the first five possessions.
UCLA… Recruiting and swing passes into oblivion do not make a title contender. UCLA blew a 17-point fourth quarter lead to Colorado before winning 40-37. Fittingly, Brett Hundley won the game by breaking out of a play call and taking the ball into the end zone himself. Six wins this year for UCLA. Five have come by a touchdown or less. The Bruins still play Arizona, Washington, USC and Stanford.
Video of the Week
Mississippi State running back Josh Robinson had one of the more impressive runs you’ll see this season. He did not win his appeal to get those last two yards.
GIF of the Week
An Ole Miss partial young lady took out her frustration on a milk jug.