We’re getting closer to ‘moving day’ in college football. We are not there yet. The Texas Longhorns are #1 in the land. When you watch them, you wonder how that can be. A strong 4th quarter against Ohio State just goes to show how much fear of the Big Ten there is out there. Texas will be hard-pressed to keep giving us more to be impressed with. And we need some reason to be impressed from Texas. The behavior of some of their players has been less than impressive.
The Football Writers Association of America named Colin Simmons the “Player of the Week” after he recorded 5.5 sacks at Tennessee when he wasn’t acting like he was urinating after a good play. More Texas nonsense. When it gets real, they will fold like an origami petunia. Shame on the FWAA.
Last Friday night the Northwestern Wildcats showed up in Bloomington. They let me hold up their flag. The Hoosiers were a twenty-point favorite. Not so fast my friends. The Indiana offense started with two the center moved the ball penalties. Coach Cignetti was LIVID.
The Northwestern defense figured something out. Face it, those boys from Evanston probably take difficult math classes along the lake. They are a smart bunch.
Let’s face it. The Indiana offense is still trying to find itself. Moving the ball and gaining yards never put a point on the board without crossing the goal line. The Indiana Hoosiers had a hard time finding the endzone when it was just a couple yards away. What does that do to the confidence?
Look, I am a realist. The Hoosiers have outscored their opponents 91-6 in the first half this season. Raise your hand if you are dumb enough think there’s a hole to point out with that stat. You’re not Alabama fans. Coach Cig is 31-2 as the Indiana Football Coach. Don’t ever forget things like that.
Last week’s picks were an all-time clunker. 7 winners and 7 losers. Still, I am prepared to go out on limb or two this week too. The season total is 28 winners and 14 losers. That hurts.
This week:
Mississippi State beats Alabama… This State team has an offense that Bama won’t be able to stop with an 11 AM kick in Starkville.
SMU beats Boston College… The Ponies are at home.
Michigan beats Minnesota… Goldy is at home. Michigan lost a close one to Iowa. The Wolverines will rise up.
Wisconsin beats Michigan State… A team that did find itself last week was Wisconsin with a victory in Happy Valley. Look for that momentum to build at Camp Randall.
Georgia beats Vandy… Silver britches will not be denied at home.
Tennessee beats Auburn… The Vols rebound after a tussle last week with Texas.
Mizzou beats Florida… Let’s see what Florida is made of. Columbia is a long way from The Swamp.
Ohio State beats Iowa… Can the Iowa defense force enough turnovers? I don’t think so.
Virgina beats Florida State… The Cavs pull this one off, and the Seminoles keep looking for answers.
Kentucky beats South Carolina… The Cats tasted a big V already. They’ll make fewer mistakes, even on the road.
Illinois beats Purdue… That big new scoreboard in Champaign had better have new lightbulbs. It will be in for a workout on the home side.
USC beats Washington… The Trojans won’t lose a consecutive game at home.
Indiana beats Rutgers… The best thing for Indiana happens this week. That is getting out of Bloomington! Look for Josh Hoover to throw for more than 300 yards and 5 TDS.
Louisville beats NC State… This may be the game where the Cards get their head out of their shoes and play like they have good sense.
I am already wistful and it is only the first weekend of October. I don’t want to see this month end. The fall is here and gone. Have fun with it.