Tag: LSU Tigers (Page 9 of 13)

      Week 11 College Football Primer

      November 8, 2008 /

      Top 25 vs. Top 25

      John Parker WilsonNo. 1 Alabama at No. 16 LSU, 3:30 PM ET Saturday
      Nick Saban doesn’t want the focus to be on him this week and for good reason since he spurned LSU a few years ago to go fail in the NFL. That storyline might be a little overrated though, because it’s doubtful the current Tiger players Saban recruited care much about beating him on Saturday. They’ll have more motivation beating a hated rival and knocking off the No. 1 team in the nation. ‘Bama has had issues playing four full quarters all season – will this be the week they finally play a full game and soundly beat a quality opponent? Or will LSU sustain the Tide’s initial punch and come through in the second half? This game is what SEC football is all about and we should expect nothing more than a close, physical matchup that comes down to the wire, even though Alabama has the superior team.

      No. 12 TCU at No. 8 Utah, 8:00 PM ET Thursday
      The Horned Frogs have the opportunity to knock off yet another MWC foe out of BCS title contention this Saturday when they pay a trip to Utah. TCU has held its previous five opponents to only 8.4 points per game and have also limited eight foes to a 2008 season low in yards, which is the most of any team in Division I football. Pundits love what the Frogs bring to the table defensively, but the Utes have plenty to offer themselves. Utah has held four of its opponents to season lows in yardage and has won nine in a row at home. They’ve also beaten TCU the past two meetings and obviously have a ton to play for.

      No. 11 Ohio State at No. 24 Northwestern, 12:00 PM ET
      The Wildcats got a lot of people’s attention last week when they pulled off a miracle upset of Minnesota in the final seconds of the game. But Ohio State has had over a week to stew about the loss to Penn State and they’ve had a ton of success against Northwestern over the past couple of years. The Buckeyes have allowed just 23 total points the past three games and it’s highly doubtful backup quarterback Mike Kakfa puts together back-to-back solid performances. It’ll be interesting to see how freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor rebounds after his crucial fumble played a big role in OSU’s loss to the Nittany Lions.

      Michael CrabtreeNo. 9 Oklahoma State at No. 2 Texas Tech, 8:00 PM ET, Saturday
      It’s no wonder why people keep talking about the Big 12 being the superior conference this season when it keeps churning out fantastic matchups like this every week. Tech had zero time to celebrate its win over Texas last week because the Cowboys offer another potential roadblock to the Raiders’ BCS title hopes. Much like last week, this game features a pair of Heisman Trophy candidates at quarterback in Graham Harrell and Zac Robinson. Can Tech continue to post 500 yards of offense every game or will Mike Leach’s team eventually stumble? OK State hasn’t won in Lubbock since 1944, but the Cowboys have played very well on the road under Mike Gundy and are hoping a win could elevate their BCS status after they hung tough with Texas a few weeks ago. Can the Raiders play as well defensively as they did last week against the Longhorns or will yet another top 5 team get picked off?

      No. 21 California at No. 7 USC, 8:00 PM ET, Saturday
      Many pundits have had this game circled as one where the Trojans could potentially fall victim to an upset. The Bears usually play USC close and fought the Trojans to the final whistle last year before losing by only a touchdown. USC struggled a bit last week in Arizona, but are incredibly tough to beat at the Coliseum. Maybe head coach Pete Carroll will call upon “Captain Compete” to rally his team again before the game.

      No. 20 Georgia Tech at No. 19 North Carolina, 12:00 PM ET, Saturday
      The Yellow Jackets struggled again last week but managed to knock off Florida State with a last second field goal after a goal line stop and a fumble recovery in the end zone (thank you reader GTA for the correction). Tech is 9-1 against the Heels in their last 10 meetings, but UNC has 17 interceptions on the season, which ties them for the most in the nation. The key in this game will be whether or not the Heels can stop Tech’s relentless ground attack for four quarters. If the Jackets find success on the ground, there will be no reason to put the ball in the air often and risk turning the ball over to a ball-hawking UNC defense.

      Other Notable Games:

      No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions at Iowa, 3:30 PM ET, Saturday
      Those fans that don’t want to see another Big Ten team play for a national championship will be watching this game with hopes that the Hawkeyes can pull off a huge upset. The Lions probably won’t faced another ranked team the rest of the way, although Iowa and Michigan State are no pushovers. PSU is coming off a bye week – will they come out flat or determine after moving down in the rankings?

      College Football

      A road map to the BCS title game

      November 4, 2008 /

      Graham HarrellHere is who the top six BCS teams currently have left to face:

      1. *ALABAMA: at Louisiana St.; Mississippi St.; Auburn
      2. *TEXAS TECH: Oklahoma State; at Oklahoma; Baylor
      3. PENN STATE: at Iowa; Indiana; Michigan State
      4. *TEXAS: Baylor; at Kansas; Texas A&M
      5. *FLORIDA: at Vanderbilt; South Carolina; The Citadel; at Florida St.
      6. *OKLAHOMA: at Texas A&M; Texas Tech; at Oklahoma State
      *-may also play in league championship

      Just based on the remaining schedule, it looks like the title game will probably come down to the league championship weekend, which only benefits Penn State since the Big Ten doesn’t have a championship game.

      But what’s interesting is that all six of these teams have potential pitfall games that could sink them before championship weekend. ‘Bama has the toughest road to travel with LSU and Auburn still left on its schedule, while Texas Tech has two dangerous games back to back in OK State and Oklahoma, while Florida-Florida State is always interesting. Penn State and Texas have arguably the easiest schedule, although Iowa and Michigan State could catch the Nittany Lions napping.

      Something I don’t want to hear this year his how championship week is essentially a playoff. That is the most exciting week in college football, but it’s not a true playoff system and it’s a joke when BCS supporters try to pedal it as such.

      College Football

      Nick Saban threatens reporters with “chewing” if they bring up his LSU past

      November 3, 2008 /

      Nick SabanAlabama head coach Nick Saban doesn’t want to focus on the past. That’s why he warned reporters not to bring up his LSU past this week as his No. 1 Crimson Tide prepare to face his old team, the LSU Tigers.

      “It’s going to be about our players and about our team,” he said after Saturday’s game. “I don’t care how hard anybody tries to make it about something else, it’s not going to be. I’m kind of giving you a little forewarning.

      “If somebody wants to get a you-know-what chewing this week, that’ll be a good way to get it.”

      Saban coached the Tigers from 2000-05, going 13-1 in 2003. His homecoming to the school he spurned for a two-year stop with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins just happens to coincide with what certainly appears to be his best team since then. Saban’s return to an SEC West rival makes a warm welcome by LSU fans highly unlikely.

      “It’s not going to be about that,” he said of facing his former team. “This team is 9-0 and has played extremely well all year long. LSU has a very, very good football team. They were national champs last year, they’ve lost to two top-10 opponents this year, and we’ve got to play them on the road.

      “And it’s going to be about our players and their players and the players on the field. That’s what it should be about. If anybody makes it about something else, then you’re not really being fair to the players.”

      Sorry Saban, but it’s reporters jobs to ask questions like, “Hey Nick, remember when you gave the middle finger to LSU so you could stroke your ego in the NFL for two years only to come back to college football, but help build a different SEC program?”

      Saban is trying to make the ‘Bama-LSU game about his players, which it should be. But journalists have to seek out the story and the story this week is his return to Baton Rouge. If he doesn’t want to be asked hard questions than maybe he should work on having a less shady past.

      College Football

      Week 10 College Football Primer

      November 1, 2008 /

      No. 25 vs. No. 25:
      Graham HarrellNo. 1 Texas vs. No. 7 Texas Tech, 8:00 PM ET ABC
      Both of these teams are coming off convincing wins but in completely different fashions. The Red Raiders absolutely routed a Kansas team that many thought could possibly hand Tech its first loss of the season. The Longhorns, meanwhile, got a major challenge from Oklahoma State but managed to hold on to victory despite some second half mistakes by Heisman candidate Colt McCoy. This will be the fourth consecutive ranked team (Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State) that UT faces in as many weeks. Can they keep playing at a high level or are they due for a letdown? The big question surrounding this game is how UT’s defense will stack up against TT’s explosive offense and vice versa. Not that the Longhorns are playing stout defense by any means, but they’ll be Tech’s toughest challenge to date. It’s going to be interesting to watch the dynamics of this game play out between Horns’ McCoy and Red Raider Heisman hopefuls Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree. McCoy certainly has an easier challenge this week, but Harrell and Crabtree have helped Tech average over 400 yards of offense in every game this year. Texas is arguably the most complete team in college football, while Tech can light up the scoreboard. The team that plays defense last might be the one that comes out victorious.

      No. 8 Florida at No. 6 Georgia, 3:30 PM ET CBS
      The game formally known as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Party” should be quite interesting this year after Mark Richt instructed all of his players to have a team celebration on the field after UGA scored the first touchdown in last season’s contest. The shrewd move didn’t go unnoticed by Urban Meyer and the Gators, who will no doubt seek a measure of revenge this weekend in Jacksonville. Florida has come alive since Ole’ Miss upset them a few weeks ago, pounding Arkansas, LSU and Kentucky with the greatest of ease. The Gators seem to have re-focused and a win over the Bulldogs could make a huge statement. Both of these teams still have national title aspirations and there is absolutely no love lost here. This is one of the fiercest rivalries in college football.

      Georgia TechUpset Watch:No. 15 Florida State at Georgia Tech, 3:30 PM ET
      The Seminoles have ridden strong defensive play all the way to the No. 15 spot in the polls, but does anyone else get the feeling they’re due for a letdown? GA Tech was a major disappointment last week in losing to Virginia, but that might have been more a testament to how great of a coaching job Al Groh has done turning around the Cavs than an indication that the Jackets are overrated. Even though GT isn’t ranked anymore, this is still an even matchup and I think the Jackets are going to try and make a statement to get back into the top 25.

      Other notable games:
      Nebraska at No. 4 Oklahoma, 8:00 PM ET ESPN
      The Huskers’ defense has improved over the past couple weeks, but will they be any match for Sam Bradford and the explosive Sooners’ offense?

      Northwestern at No. 17 Minnesota, 12:00 PM ET
      It doesn’t have the same luster as Ohio State-Penn State did last week, but this is the best of what the Big Ten has to over this weekend. The transformation of the Golden Gophers has been remarkable after they one just one game last year.

      College Football

      Ryan Perriloux is still costing LSU

      October 25, 2008 /

      Les MilesIn early May, the LSU Tigers kicked quarterback Ryan Perriloux off the team following multiple legal and disciplinary problems. After SEC rival Georgia trounced LSU 52-38 on Saturday, it’s clear that Perriloux is still costing his team.

      Perriloux was supposed to help the Tigers win another national championship this season. But because he couldn’t fly straight, sophomore Jarrett Lee has had to step into the starting quarterback role.

      While Lee has been far from bad this year (he has thrown for over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns), he clearly is no match against tougher SEC opponents like UGA. Although he did throw for three touchdowns, the Bulldogs befuddled Lee at times, forcing him into three interceptions and some rather costly mistakes.

      But Lee deserves a pass this season. He was supposed to be on the sidelines watching Perriloux run the offense. And perhaps even worse than Lee having to play is the idea that Perriloux also drove away blue chip prospects who didn’t want to ride the bench because he would block their playing time.

      Even though Les Miles has kept his team in contention much of this year, one got the feeling that eventually LSU’s inexperience on both sides of the ball would doom them. It did against Florida two weeks ago, and certainly did once again on Saturday vs. the Bulldogs. Matthew Stafford abused a young Tiger secondary, which opened up running lanes for Heisman candidate Knowshon Moreno, who rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown. All in all, it was an impressive performance by UGA.

      College Football

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑