4 and 0! We were right on all the games that we picked. Yesterday some teams proved themselves and others proved that they are not ready for the big time. Let’s recap.
1. 55-17. I Was NOT expecting this to happen in Dallas! Oklahoma absolutely dismantled Texas in the annual Red River Rivalry. Texas was overmatched from the opening snap. And you knew it was a matter of time before Oklahoma’s offense started rolling against the young secondary of Texas. Oklahoma scored 2 FGs on the first two drives and Texas’ young defense was playing ok. But the wheels came off after Jazz Reynolds converted on a 3rd down and 25. It was Broyles killing them underneath, Stills killing them over the top, and Reynolds killing them on 3rd downs. Texas could get no pressure on Landry Jones. He stood back there very comfortable and just took advantage of his WR just being flat out better than Texas’ secondary. Landry Jones had 305 yards passing in the first half. But the story of the day was just how smothering Oklahoma’s defense was. Texas was discombobulated on offense. The two young QBs were constantly under pressure. You will never beat an Oklahoma giving them the ball 5 extra times. But the offense didn’t need to convert them all into touchdowns because the defense scored 3 times. Frank Alexander just maybe one of the best defensive ends in the country. Travis Lewis, Tony Jefferson, and Tom Wort were flying all over the field making plays, deflecting passes, and sacking the quarterback. Oklahoma dominated all aspects of the game. It looked like they had a point to prove because all everyone talks about is LSU and Alabama. If you watched Oklahoma play against Florida State and now Texas, you just cannot sleep on their defense. They are for real. I picked Oklahoma by 15. But not by 38. The lone bright spot for the Longhorns was Fozzy Whitaker’s 102 yard touchdown return. Texas has a lot of growing left to do. I think they will be ok. But there will still be more growing pains. 35-20 was my prediction. I was way off.
2. Florida had 2 weeks of nightmares. Alabama one week, LSU the next week. Florida went to Death Valley and got dismantled by the Tigers 41-11. They couldn’t get anything going against the stingy LSU defense. Driskel was knocked out the game, and the wheels just came off the bus. Alabama exposed Florida’s run defense the week prior. So LSU just took advantage of that same weakness. Florida’s defensive line likes to go around blocks, not take them on and defeat them. This causes their LBs to get blocked, opening up numerous running lanes. Florida is a very talented team, but this is their first year under Muschamp. There are going to be some growing pains. LSU ran the ball at will with Spencer Ware and Alfred Blue. The LSU QBs were efficient going 10/14 for 215 yards and 2 tds. The most important stat is that they did not turn the ball over. Jordan Jefferson is fighting to get his job back. But there is no way Les Miles should pull Lee in favor of Jefferson. But according to Miles and the LSU staff, Jefferson has been spot on in practice and is focused like he has never been before. This is a story that is brewing in Baton Rouge. The little disruptive force better known as Tyran Mathieu did have 4 tackles and an interception. This kid is just a game breaker and should be the leader for the Thorpe (Nation’s Best Defensive Back) and should also be in the Heisman conversation. The matchup with Alabama is looming on Nov. 5. Both schools are off the week prior. That game will be epic. I picked LSU over Florida 35-3.
3. Auburn goes to Fayetteville and just can’t get it going as they lose to Arkansas 38-14. Auburn is not getting any production from the QB position. 9/25 with 3 interceptions just won’t cut it when your defense is as useless as a 3 tired car. Michael Dyer has been great over this stretch and seems to be the answer for an Auburn offense that is struggling to move the ball. I thought that Auburn really did a good job against South Carolina. But I think it was just the fact that South Carolina just played that bad. Auburn is now 4-2 and facing some serious offensive questions. Do you play Frazier or do you try to win with Trotter? Neither was very effective against an average Arkansas defense. But it starts with the play calling, continues with the QB play, and ends with the defense. They are not tackling well, covering well, blitzing well. They just are 3 steps behind on every single play. Tyler Wilson played well throwing for 262 yards and 2 tds. The biggest plus for Arkansas was the fact that they actually got some production in the running game. No play was bigger than Joe Adams going for 92 yards as he hurdled over the Auburn player and didn’t break stride for a TD. Arkansas has a warrior at QB. Wilson gets hit more than any other QB in the SEC and he completes the throws. But they had better protect him better or he is going to have someone shorten his season up with a concussion. I had Arkansas 45-35.
4. Georgia holds on against Tennessee 20-12. Isaiah Crowell did not really have the impact that he has been having over the past 3 weeks. But he scored when they needed him to. Tennessee’s defense played fairly well. Georgia’s offense really couldn’t get a lot going against them. It just seems that Tennessee is always missing one part of the game that keeps them from winning. And their offense is just so one sided. Pass pass pass pass. They have to get some balance, especially with LSU coming in next week and Alabama coming in the next. Bray throws it too many times against those secondaries, it will get intercepted. You can’t be one dimensional with these teams. They have to get Poole going, or it will be a bad two game stretch. He only had 7 carries for. Aaron Murray was decent going 15/25 for 227 yards. Malcolm Mitchell had 126 of those yards. After starting off 0-2, Georgia is on a 4 game win streak with Vandy coming to town. This is Georgia’s SEC East title to loose right now. If Richt can keep his team motivated, he will keep his job. At least for another season. I picked Georgia over Tennessee 24-14.
Check out more articles from 4th and Inches Magazine. Follow us on Twitter @4thandInchesMag and follow the blog 4thandInchesMagazine.Blogspot.com!
No comments:
Post a Comment