#21 Missouri @ Arizona State- Well, since there are not many big games this week, we'll throw a Mizzou game in since they're rumored to be a potential SEC team in the future. ASU returns 15 starters from last year. In Week 1, ASU ran for over 200 yards and passed for 300 in a laugher over UC Davis last week. Missouri played a better opening opponent in Miami (OH) and struggled to a 17-6 win. SO QB James Franklin was unimpressive in his first start and Mizzou only had 129 yards passing.
#16 Mississippi State @ Auburn- We know Auburn struggled mightily with Utah State and was extremely fortunate to come out with a win. Meanwhile Miss State blew out Memphis and gained 645 yards of offense along the way. Question #1: Can Auburn move the ball the ball against a non-prevent defense? Auburn gained 1/3 of its total offensive yards on the final two drives when Utah State went away from its base D. Question #2: Can Auburn stop the run? The Tigers gave up 227 yards on the ground to Utah State, while the Bulldogs ran for 309 against Memphis. If the answer to either one of those questions is 'Yes,' then this game will be very close.
# 3 Alabama @ #23 Penn State- Last year, Bama ground out a 24-3 win at home against Penn State that didn't seem as close as the score indicated. This year, Penn State is at home and look to give Bama a better game. Bama's defense dominated Kent State as expected and the offense gained close to 500 yards, but turned the ball over 5 times. PSU ran the ball very well against Indiana State and played great defense, but was surprisingly ineffective in the air with 114 yards passing.
#12 South Carolina @ Georgia- UGA's offense never moved the ball against Boise State until they were down by a couple of scores and playing catch-up, while their defense came out inspired for 3 drives, then rolled over and played dead for much of the remainder of the game. South Carolina decided to finally show up beginning in the 3rd quarter against ECU last week after trailing by 10 at the half. While some may be concerned about SC's defense allowing 260 yards passing to ECU- it was on 56 attempts (4.6 yards/attempt), the real concern is their offensive passing which combined to go 10/25 for 131 yards.
I know the focus of this blag is the southern states, but when they play a team like Arizona State it gives me a chance to suggest things like you doing a blog about "Teams that should be dominant or at least good every year, but remain irrelevant" I would suggest you add Az STate and Hawaii to the blog. YOU mean to tell me that a coach from those schools can't walk into the living room of an 18 year old high school stud from any state in the country, or at least Cali which is the biggest state for football talent behind only texas and maybe FL...and say to that 18 year old boy..."Hey kid, it's Hawaii!!! You can live here! For free! WIth the beaches and the girls! Ha-wa-ii!!" Or "Hey kid, Arizona state has been voted the hottest spot for co-eds and the number 1 party school in the country several times. We have amazing athletic resources, and we are in a winnable conference. Why dont you sign here"
ReplyDeleteYet, neither of those schools is ever really relevant. They have years where they make mini-runs in the rankings, but come on! They should be perennial powers!