You Make the Call...

During Friday Night's Louisville-UConn game with the game tied 7-7 :

this play happened

Now the wave happened...whether or not it was a proper 'fair catch' wave seems to be the issue for debate but the players pulled up (for if you tackle a player after calling fair catch its a penalty) and Larry Taylor ran the return the rest of the way for a touchdown but I agree with all Sean McDonough's points (which I usually do, except for one).

So should this have been a reversed call or not?

What I'm Watching: Week 8

12:30pm Tennessee at Alabama (Lincoln Financial)-The game that is ALWAYS played on "The Third Saturday in October". I don't get Raycom or Lincoln Financial or whatever but I wish I did as knowing no matter what year it is, no matter what the sports or political landscape, this game is always played on the Third Saturday in October is one of those cool traditions that makes college football what it is.



3:30pm Miami at Florida State (ABC Regional) or USC at Notre Dame (NBC)- Depending on which no longer relevant rivalry is closer or shows any kind of offensive competence. I'd watch Florida-Kentucky but with no Noah, Horford, or Brewer on the other side Gillespe's squad should roll.

7:00pm Cleveland at Boston (Fox)- I'm writing this during the 8th inning of Game 5. Hopefully I won't regret that.

9:00pm Auburn at LSU (ESPN)- Assuming the Red Sox game doesn't go until 1:30am this 9pm game should be a solid nightcap

This Week in Pageantry...

While you were wondering why they don't call it "University of West Florida"...

A Baylor Assistant Couldn't Wait in Line...

Arizona State's National Championship push ended before it got started...

Purdue did their best Appy State impression BEFORE last Saturday's game

Nebraska fired their AD, which should help their run defense tremendously

Cal fans said I told you so

Coach Fran tried to enlist some VIPs

The WAC had a WACky Weekend with Boise State and Hawaii surviving.

and Rocket Ismail compared Notre Dame's football season to a Big Mac...

Pumpin for Thursday: Week 8

South Florida (-3) at Rutgers, Over/Under 52

Vegas Algebra Says: South Florida 27.5, Rutgers 24.5

Stats Say:

South Florida Rushing Offense: 181YPG (35th nationally)
Rutgers Rushing Defense: 139YPG (45th)
Most of South Florida's success should come through the run


South Florida Passing Offense: 213YPG (73rd)
Rutgers Passing Defense: 158YPG (5th)
South Florida QB Matt Grothe will not be able to pass on Rutgers

Rutgers Rushing Offense: 182YPG (32nd)
South Florida Rushing Defense: 106YPG (26th)
No reprive for Ray Rice's disappointing Senior season against the Bulls run defense

Rutgers Passing Offense: 308YPG (12th)
South Florida Passing Defense: 178YPG (15th)
The surprising Mike Teel goes up against a great Bull secondary in the key matchup of this game


South Florida Turnovers Gained: 21 (T-4th)
Rutgers Turnovers Lost: 10 (T-33rd)
This is how South Florida's been winning, forcing turnovers as they did against West Virginia

Rutgers Turnovers Gained: 9 (T-98th)
South Florida Turnovers Lost: 13 (T-62nd)
South Florida has coughed up the ball but Rutgers hasn't had many opportunities to say the least


Game Plans:

Rutgers: Get Ray Rice going, protect the ball and keep the Thursday Night crowd in Piscataway involved in the game.
South Florida: Force Mike Teel to make mistakes allowing the Bulls to work from a short field and establish themselves as the second best team, if not the best, in the country.

My Thoughts:

Maybe its the ugly uniforms, maybe its the lack of a brand name but count me among the South Florida naysayers. Grothe's been okay and the rest of the offense is pretty pedestrian and I don't know how they would stack up against even some of the one loss teams in the top ten. Rutgers at home with 3 points looks like the best bet here. And it's Thursday bet the over

Pumpin' For Thursday: Week 7

Florida State (-6) at Wake Forest, Over/Under 44

Vegas Algebra Says: Florida State 25, Wake Forest 19

Stats Say:

Florida State Rushing Offense: 120YPG (88th nationally)
Wake Forest Rushing Defense: 111YPG (27th)
Florida State shouldn’t be able to run the ball

Florida State Passing Offense: 225YPG (63rd)
Wake Forest Passing Defense: 247YPG (83rd)
Florida State’s opportunities should come via the pass

Wake Forest Rushing Offense: 139YPG (71st )
Florida State Rushing Defense: 82YPG (11th)
Wake Forest will not be able to run the ball

Wake Forest Passing Offense: 199YPG (84th)
Florida State Passing Defense: 221YPG (59th)
Wake Forest could be able to pass

Wake Forest Turnover Gain: 14 (T-21st)
Florida State Turnover Loss: 3 (T-3rd)
This is the key matchup Florida State protects the ball well and Wake Forest takes it away often

Wake Forest Turnover Loss: 14 (T-90th)
Florida State Turnover Gain: 10 (T-68th)
Conversely Wake Forest gives up the ball too often but Florida State hasn’t taken it away

Wake Forest Interceptions Lost: 10 (T-102nd)
Florida State Interceptions Gain: 5 (T-72nd)
Wake Forest Quarterback Riley Skinner throws too many interceptions but FSU’s Pass Defense is pedestrian

Game Plans:

Wake Forest: Throw the ball early to get the lead and take advantage of the Thursday night home crowd. An early turnover would help.
Florida State: Stop the run and force Riley Skinner into obvious throwing situations and capitalize on opportunities.

My Thoughts:

I think Florida State’s game plan is more likely to work and Skinner seems like the type who forces things when playing a big opponent on a big stage. Plus he’s only a sophomore. I think this is one instance where its okay to take the road favorite on a Thursday. Also like the over here because the running game is taken out of the game plans for both teams.

Pumpin' for Thursday: Week 6

Kentucky at South Carolina (-3.5), Over/Under 57.5

Vegas Algebra says: South Carolina 30.5, Kentucky 27

Thoughts: By far the most intriguing Thursday game so far. South Carolina and Kentucky are both atop the SEC East and both have one impressive win (Georgia and Louisville respectively). Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson is getting Heisman consideration but Steve Spurrier is 14-0 against Kentucky.

Suggestions: For the past five weeks this site has been crunching numbers and paying attention to facts like Spurrier's record against Kentucky and South Carolina's Top 25 Defense. And PFT is slipping, therefore I am gonna pick this game solely on feel. Kentucky FEELS like a team of destiny and its rare you get a chance to pick a Top Ten team AND get 3.5 points. It's Thursday and Steve Spurrier's involved so the OVER sounds like a good bet here too.

You Can't Grieve Forever

Memphis is going to go ahead and play their nationally televised Tuesday Night ESPN game against Marshall despite the death of defensive lineman Taylor Bradford.
Bradford was shot and killed on campus Sunday evening.
The players voted, unanimously, to play this game as scheduled.