Category: College Football (Page 229 of 296)

Couch Potato Alert: 9/29

Jermaine DyeDetroit Tigers vs Chicago White Sox
The White Sox will try to keep their season alive when they face the Detroit Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field. The Sox need have to win this make-up game in order to force a one-game playoff on Tuesday against the Twins, who currently lead the AL Central. Be sure to tune in and watch this crucial game on ESPN2 at 2:05 PM ET.

Ravens vs Steelers
The Ravens, led by rookie QB Joe Flacco and a strong defense, are on top the AFC North with a 2-0 record, but no one’s sold on them just yet. They travel to Pittsburgh to play a Steelers team that is coming off of a tough loss at Philadelphia last week. This is a good opportunity for the Ravens to show the NFL that they’re serious contenders. Watch this growing rivalry on ESPN at 8:30 PM ET.

MLB Division Series
The MLB playoffs begin this Wednesday with the Brewers heading to Philadelphia to play the Phillies at 3:00 PM ET. That game will be followed by Dodgers and Cubs at 6:30 PM ET. The Red Sox and Angels are the late game, starting at 10:00 PM ET. Thursday you can catch the Twins/White Sox go to Tampa to face the surprising Rays at 2:30 PM ET. The Brewers and Phillies will play game two at 6:00 PM ET. Game two of the Red Sox and Angels begins at 9:30 PM ET. All games can be seen on TBS.

Pittsburgh vs #13 South Florida
The Bulls of South Florida look to stay undefeated when they square off against the Pittsburgh Panthers this Thursday. With all of the upsets that occurred just this past weekend in college football, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Panthers come into Raymond James Stadium and steal one from the Bulls. This game can be seen on ESPN at 7:30 PM ET.

No. 8 Alabama cruises past No. 3 Georgia 41-30

Glenn CoffeeWhat a wild, wild week in college football. No. 1 USC falls to Oregon State. Ole’ Miss shocks No. 5 Florida. Little ol’ Navy beats No. 16 Wake Forest. Michigan turns the ball over five times in the first half, but overcomes a 19-0 deficit to defeat No. 9 Wisconsin.

And if all that wasn’t enough, No. 8 Alabama rolled into Athens and stomped No. 3 Georgia, 41-30. So much for the Bulldogs’ plan to “Black Out” the Tide.

Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide built a shocking 31-0 halftime lead and despite the Bulldogs best efforts at a comeback in the second half, Alabama cruised. They played about as close to perfect as they could, totaling 129 yards on the ground (Glen Coffee had 86 yards and 2 TDs), dominating the time of possession battle and despite playing in a hostile environment, amassing only two penalties for a nine yards. They also scored on their first five possessions and turned the ball over just once.

Georgia was at a disadvantage with dynamic RB Knowshon Moreno hobbled, but even if he were 100%, it wouldn’t have mattered. Alabama came out with more energy, played a cleaner game and quite frankly, Saban just out-coached Mark Richt. The Dogs could do nothing in the first half and it was almost like Alabama was in UGA’s offensive huddle the entire night. And it was only a matter of time before Georgia’s lack of experience on the offensive line caught up to them like it did tonight. ‘Bama’s defensive front was more physical and it showed with how UGA could do nothing on the ground, which in turn affected Matthew Stafford and the passing game.

Criticize Saban for the way he left LSU for the NFL and then the Miami Dolphins for Alabama, but the man has brought quality football back to that school in just two years. And with USC, Georgia and Florida all falling this week, the Tide will find themselves in great position to make a run at a title appearance. Saban’s biggest task now is not allowing his team to have a setback against programs like Kentucky, Ole’ Miss, Tennessee and Arkansas State over the next few weeks before they have to play at LSU in November.

No. 9 Wisconsin chokes in second half, falls to Michigan 27-25

Sam McguffieDespite Michigan spotting them five turnovers and a 19-0 lead at halftime, No. 9 Wisconsin fell short at the Big House on Saturday, 27-25.

Trailing 19-0 late in the third quarter, Michigan cut the deficit to 19-7 after Steven Threet hit Kevin Koger for a 26-yard touchdown pass. The Wolverines followed up that score with a Brandon Minor 34-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to make the game 19-14. On Wisconsin’s first play after the kickoff, John Thompson picked off Badger QB Allan Evridge and took to the house for a 25-yard touchdown to give the Wolverines a 20-19 lead. They extended the lead to 27-19 on a three-yard Sam Mcguffie touchdown run with just over five minutes remaining in the game.

Wisconsin wound up cutting Michigan’s lead 27-25 with only 13 seconds left, then made a 2-point conversion before the play was wiped out because of an ineligible man downfield. Their next 2-point attempt failed, and the Wolverines were able to run out the clock on the change of possession.

I know Michigan has now won 23-straight Big Ten openers and are still one of the more storied programs in the nation, but anyone who watched them in the first half of this game and early in the season knows that this is not the same UM program of years past. And with that, Wisconsin should be embarrassed for losing to a team that handed them scoring opportunity after scoring opportunity in the first half and didn’t even pick up a first down until the third quarter. Michigan deserves credit for not quitting at halftime and the defense stepped up tremendously in the second half, but the Badgers blew a golden opportunity to cash in on all of the upsets going on in college football this week.

Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez doesn’t have his players in place yet, but he can use this win as a huge stepping-stone for the rest of the year. This upset was big not only to show that the Wolverines still have fight in 2008, but also that Rodriguez has his program moving in the right direction.

Upsets continue – Navy tops No. 16 Wake Forest 24-17

Navy-Wake ForestFor the second year in a row, Navy pulled off one of best upsets in college football. Last year the Midshipmen beat Notre Dame for the first time in 43 tries, defeating the Irish 46-44 in South Bend. On Saturday, they pulled off an even bigger upset, beating No. 16 Wake Forest 24-17 at BB&T Field.

Wake, who perhaps was looking ahead to its game next week with Clemson, absolutely shot themselves in the foot all game. The Deacons turned the ball over an astonishing six times and mustered only 39 rushing yards. Conversely, Navy ran at will, racking up 294 yards and once they built a 17-0 lead at halftime, they never looked back.

Apparently nobody wants to win the ACC. One would have thought that with their big win last Saturday at Florida State, Wake would have used the momentum to take control of the conference. Instead they lost to an unranked Navy team that picked off four passes and dominated in time of possession, 35:40 to 23:19. Maybe Maryland, who pulled off an upset themselves on Saturday in beating No. 20 Clemson 20-17, can emerge in the Atlantic. But then again, the Terps also lost to Middle Tennessee State earlier this year.

Just a quick note about Navy, the Midshipmen go into virtually every game undersized, outnumbered and often with less overall talent on their roster. But they also have more heart, determination and focus than a lot of their opponents. And their upset over Notre Dame and Wake the past two years proves that.

Ole’ Miss shocks No. 4 Florida 31-30

Jevon SneadIt’s officially upset week in college football. After No. 1 USC fell 27-21 to Oregon State Thursday night, another top 5 team was defeated on Saturday when Mississippi knocked off No. 4 Florida 31-30.

After Florida RB Percy Harvin scored on a 15-yard touchdown run with just over three minutes remaining in the game to cut the Rebels’ lead to 31-30, Gators’ K Jonathan Phillips had an extra point blocked. Florida’s defense forced a punt, but Tim Tebow was stopped on 4th and 1 sneak attempt from the Ole Miss 32-yard line less than two minutes left to play, which allowed the Rebels to run the clock out after the change of possession.

QB Jevan Snead threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead Ole Miss. Junior WR Shay Hodge also hauled in three passes for 133 yards and a touchdown.

After USC lost on Thursday night, several pundits felt that Florida was the best team in the nation and would compete for a title. But this game proves how tough it is to come out of the SEC. Mississippi isn’t even one of the conference’s best, but as they proved Saturday, no team in the SEC is a pushover. To upset the No. 4 team in the nation is impressive. But to go into Gainesville and knock off the No. 4 team in the nation is unbelievable, especially considering Florida arguably has the best player in the nation in Tebow.

Oregon State will just have to share the upset spotlight this week.

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