Category: College Football (Page 90 of 296)

Dayne Crist injured, Irish in serious trouble

September 11, 2010 / Paul Costanzo

Notre Dame’s season hinged on a few things, but by far the most important thing was the health of starting quarterback Dayne Crist.

Behind the third-year quarterback on the depth chart was a walk-on with a famous name, and a bunch of a freshmen. Well, now the Fighting Irish are finding out just how good those guys behind Crist are. Or bad.

Crist drove Notre Dame 72 yards for a touchdown on its opening drive against Michigan, but his quarterback sneak for a score was his last play. True freshman Tommy Rees entered the game and threw an interception on his first attempt. Michigan scored one play later. After another three and out, Rees was lifted for Nate Montana, who hasn’t had much better luck.

The only hope for the Irish in this game was to outscore Michigan. And now that the defense is not only going to have to stop Denard Robinson, but is going to have to spend most of the day trying to do it, it would be a miracle if they pulled this one off.

In other news, Virginia Tech goes down to James Madison. Sorry, Boise.

College Football, External Sports

Dayne Crist Dayne Crist injured Nate Montana Notre Dame Tommy Rees

Apparently Turner Gill spent two weeks preparing for Georgia Tech

September 11, 2010 / Paul Costanzo

DETROIT - DECEMBER 5: Head Coach Turner Gill of the Buffalo Bulls looks on against the Ball State Cardinals during the MAC Championship game on December 5, 2008 at Ford Field in Detroit Michigan. (Photo by: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Lost among the major Week 1 storylines in college football was Kansas’ loss to FCS (I-AA) opponent North Dakota State in coach Turner Gill’s debut.

The Jayhawks not only lost to NDSU, but looked absolutely awful doing it, scoring just three points and getting held below 100 yards rushing. But today, Gill went a long way toward erasing a lot of the early doubt Kansas fans might have had after that loss, as the Jayhawks knocked off No. 15 Georgia Tech, 28-25.

It’s another reminder that we shouldn’t pay too much attention to what we see in Week 1, or at least not do too much prognosticating based off of it. Many teams hold a lot back when playing lesser opponents, as basic plays, along with a higher talent level is usually enough. That obviously didn’t work for Kansas a week ago, and Gill deserves a lot of the blame for not having his team ready for its opener. But it looks like the Jayhawks aren’t going to be the pushover Week 1 seemed to have shown us.

In other early-game news, Marcus Lattimore is the kind of running back that can make even Steve Spurrier a run-first kind of coach. The South Carolina true freshman carried the ball nearly 40 times today against Georgia, and each one was more punishing for the Bulldog defenders. If Stephen Garcia can get things figured out, South Carolina could contend in the SEC this season.

– Virginia Tech clearly has a little bit of a Boise State hangover, as it struggled with James Madison through the first half, leading 13-7 (that’s since gone to 16-7). The Hokies run game, which was supposed to be its strong point, is struggling again, as super sophomore Ryan Williams is being held under four yards a carry. This, of course, is bad news for Boise State, as some will use any poor outing by the Hokies as a reason to punish the Broncos.

College Football, External Sports

Boise State's National Title hopes Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Kansas Jayhawks Marcus Lattimore South Carolina Gamecocks Turner Gill Virginia Tech Hokies

Harris vs. Pryor, Saban vs. Paterno, Kelly vs. RichRod; it’s going to be a good day

September 11, 2010 / Paul Costanzo

There’s a reason that ESPN is calling today “Monster Saturday”: ~~It has completely run out of creative ideas.~~ It’s a huge freaking day for college football.

If you’re a college football fan, today is one of those days where you put off all household chores, and curse your friends for even thinking of having a significant event. Or, if you’re a sports writer/part-time blogger, you curse the people who decided to hold your 10-year high school reunion during the Alabama/Penn State game. I mean, c’mon.

Miami is at Ohio State, Penn State is at Alabama, Florida State is at Oklahoma, and Michigan and Notre Dame might actually mean something. That’s a lot of tradition and meaning all packed into one day.

So how’s it all going to go?

College Football, External Sports

A.J. Green Alabama Crimson Tide Christian Ponder Denard Robinson Georgia Bulldogs Jacory Harris Mark Ingram injured Notre Dame Ohio State Oklahoma Sooners Penn State South Carolina Gamecocks Terrelle Pryor

2010 College Football Week 2 Top 25 Primer

September 9, 2010 / Anthony Stalter

Ohio State University quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against Marshall University during the first quarter of their NCAA football game in Columbus, Ohio, September 2, 2010. REUTERS/Matt Sullivan (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

Schedule, game times and interesting tidbits about the top 25 action in Week 2 of college football…

(Games are listed by date and time)

Thursday, September 9

No. 21 Auburn vs. Mississippi State, 7:30PM ET
The Tigers have won eight of the last nine meetings between these two teams, including four straight on the road. After throwing for 186 yards and three touchdowns as well as rushing for 171 yards and two scores in a 52-26 win over Arkansas State last Saturday, Auburn’s Cameron Netwon was named the SEC’s offensive player of the week. He’ll have to be on top of his game tonight in Starkville, after Mississippi State held Memphis to only 41 yards rushing last Saturday in a 49-7 victory. This will be both teams’ conference opener.
Odds: Auburn –1.5 (56.5)

Friday, September 10

No. 23 West Virginia vs. Marshall, 7:00PM ET
This will be the fifth straight meeting between these two teams, as the Mountaineers have won the previous four meetings by a combined score of 141-43. Marshall was crushed 45-7 by Ohio State last week, while West Virginia routed Coastal Carolina, 38-0. Thundering Herd head coach Doc Holliday faces his alma mater and former boss Bill Stewart in this contest, and hopes that Marshall’s defense can improve on the 529 yards of total offense they allowed last week to the Buckeyes.
Odds: West Virginia –12 (47)

Saturday, September 11

San Jose State vs. No. 11 Wisconsin, 12:00PM ET
One week after getting crushed by Alabama, the Spartans will once again play the cupcake role when they take on a Badgers team that rolled UNLV 41-21 last Saturday. Wisconsin hasn’t lost a home opener since Colorado beat them 43-7 in 1995. This will only be the second meeting between these two programs, as the Badgers lead the all-time series 1-0. For San Jose State to have a chance, it’ll have to slow down a Wisconsin running game that amassed 278 yards on the ground last week.
Odds: Wisconsin –38 (56)

College Football, External Sports

College football odds College football point spreads Jacory Harris Terrelle Pryor