3rd and Goal: Week 8 Preview

3rd And Goal: Week 8 Preview

This week promises to solidify the bowl picture on who is legit, and who isn’t legit. This week is also is the warm up for the big game coming up in 2 weeks, putting Alabama and LSU in the fight for the title game. Let’s get to this preview.

1. #20 Auburn travels to Death Valley to take on the #1ranked LSU Tigers. This is LSU’s warm up game to the battle in Tuscaloosa that is already getting the hype as the true national championship game. But the big news isn’t if Auburn will keep it close, but will LSU have their star players for the Alabama game. Tyran Mathieu, All-American Candidate, Tharold Simon a reserve DB, as well as starting RB and leading rusher Spencer Ware will be missing out of the line-up after they tested positive for synthetic marijuana. They are suspended right now indefinitely and no one really knows if they will be back for the Alabama game. I don’t know if Spencer Ware will be missed as much as Mathieu and Simon. LSU is noted for their defensive depth, but they have a stable of running backs as well. But just as LSU will be missing players, Auburn has been clipped by the injury bug. Emory Blake is Auburn’s most explosive WR and he is gimpy with a knee. Also Tre Mason (Hamstring) & Trovon Reed (Shoulder) are questionable this week as well. They will be missing LaDarius Owens at LB as well. I don’t think LSU will show much this week and will continue to pound the ball and keep the full bag of tricks ready for the Alabama game. If you have noticed, LSU hasn’t been showing much on offense all season. There should be a steady dosage of Michael Dyer for the LSU defense from Auburn. He is the closest thing that the LSU defense will see to Trent Richardson. Dyer is a complete back that runs hard to the outside as well as between the tackles. Clint Mosely has a daunting task with his first start coming against the secondary of LSU. I don’t think that you will rule out seeing Frasier and Trotter as well. Overall I think even this LSU team missing two of their star players and a major contributor in the defensive secondary will struggle with Auburn much. LSU will win this game 28-10.

2. The best back you don’t ever hear about will be on display in Coral Gables as Lamar Miller and the Miami Hurricanes take on the Rambling Wreck from #22 Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech was shocked last week in Virginia and if they are not careful, they will be shocked again. Virginia came out and put their foot in Georgia Tech’s mouth. Tevin Washington is not very efficient throwing the ball and showed last week that he cannot be depended upon to win a game. When it comes to a game that they have to come back in, they are not offensively constructed to make a comeback. This is a ball control offense, and they have to dominate early in order to control the game late. Georgia Tech is #2 in the nation in rushing the ball and the triple option is very difficult to defend. When the season is over, they may have 3 1000 yard rushers; the leader of the pack is Orwin Smith, who is averaging an amazing 13.2 yards per carry! Miami has a pretty good back as well in Lamar Miller. He is a grown man and his 6.4 yard average is as real as it gets. Jacory Harris is going to have to do a better job of giving his running game some support and taking care of the football. Lamar Miller can’t be the only player stepping up. Travis Benjamin is very explosive and they need to find a way to get him more touches. This isn’t the traditional Miami defense either. I am used to seeing Miami with a dominating defensive lineman, a fantastic LB and a lock down corner. Someone on that Miami defense is going to have to step up and make something happen to get a stop and get the offense more possessions. Al Golden is doing a great job as coach of the Hurricanes. But I think that Miami falls to Georgia Tech 28-20.

3. The game of the Week is #6 Wisconsin travelling to take on #16 Michigan State. Wisconsin has been DOMINATING every team they have played; but the only team they played with substance is an overrated Nebraska team that they completely dominated. They are leading the country in scoring offense and are the most balanced team in the country as far as offense goes. The defense is a bit overrated in the scoring defense column, but they do have playmakers on the field on defense. They will have to be focused and locked in to deal with Baker, Cousins, and Cunningham. Edwin Baker is coming off of one of his best games of the season rushing for 167 yards against bitter rival Michigan. I am staring to think that Michigan State’s defense maybe legit. They are #4 in scoring defense, #1 in passing defense, #3 in rushing defense, #2 in overall defense. They frustrated a pretty good Michigan ground game, and have been shutting teams down. But they have not faced a team as balanced as Wisconsin, or a QB as good as Russell Wilson. Michigan State’s defense can be beaten though; all you have to do is watch the Notre Dame tape. Floyd and company killed them. Also of note Gohlston will be suspended this game for the cheap shot that he took against Denard Robinson and the punch he threw. He was out of control and he earned it. If Wisconsin puts on an impressive win as they did against Nebraska, look out polls; because Wisconsin will start having a case for that championship game. Wisconsin 31-13.

4. #25 Washington is playing against the media’s “chosen one” in the Pac-12 #8 Stanford. They boast the anointed Heisman Trophy winner Andrew Luck. We will finally get to see what Stanford is really made of before their showdown with Oregon because Stanford has played ABSOLUTELY no one. San Jose State, Duke, Arizona, UCLA, Colorado, and Washington State? And they are #8 why? Oregon should be ranked over them because they actually beat a pretty good Arizona State team. But I guess when Luck is on your side, who needs to play any real competition? Luck is playing well, but he just hasn’t had to prove much against inferior opponents. 71% completion, 1719 yards and 18tds to 3 ints, you can’t argue with the results. Looking at this game, you can’t possibly think that Washington has a chance. Consider this: Keith Price is throwing the ball very well this year as well going for 69.4% completion with 21 tds and 4 ints. He is going to have to play a flawless game against Stanford and Washington is going to have to run the ball to keep Luck on the sideline. Steve Sarkisian has the right tools to do it. Another good back that no one is talking about is Chris Polk. He has 728 yards and is the # 7th ranked rusher in the country. Sarkisian is a pretty good big game coach. Don’t forget the big time win against USC a few years ago. I have Washington winning this game in the upset 28-25. I think Sarkisian’s experience as a coach helps him in this win. But in order for them to win, they have to come out and establish the run. This will keep Stanford’s offense off the field and Luck on the sideline. This way the luck will with Washington.

This week of College football should be interesting as other notable games include #2 Alabama vs Tennessee in an overrated match up; Alabama is dismantle Tennessee. #7 Clemson needs to be careful with North Carolina. They are a good team with a solid defense. Winters is a good coach and can put together a game plan. Dabo Swinney and company will have to come with a good game plan. Stay tuned to the Goal Line Stand to recap the highlighted games. Follow me on twitter @4thandInchesMag!