College Football Week 2

As exciting as the first weekend of college football was, the second is equally as terrible. Of the 22 ranked teams in action, there is not a single game between two of them. I was literally struggling to find my three points for this post, no joke! While there may be a lack of marquee games, there is no lack of games in general. We have a fully stocked slate of games to pick, and ten of them will be from our "experts" just before the action gets started. So let's dive in!

1) The Battle at Bristol

Although I have love for neither team, you'd have to not register a pulse to say that you aren't excited for this game. Football in the middle of a racetrack? I think the idea is great, This is definitely a game you will want to turn on should you find yourself bored in the middle of a Saturday evening. The most people to witness a college football game saw Michigan take on Notre Dame in 2013. The attendance that night was 115,109. Bristol is expected to smash that record on Saturday night. Officials are expecting over 150,000 people in attendance! Now about the game; Tennessee will have to play better if they hope to win. After last week's near scare with Appalachian State, the Vols dropped from Top 10 to barely Top 20. Virginia Tech is no Appy State. If Tennessee has the same troubles that plagued them on opening night, they will not enjoy their trip to the World's Fastest Half-Mile. I'm thinking upset.

Virginia Tech 24, Tennessee 17

2) TCU Welcomes Arkansas

TCU handled FCS foe South Dakota State last week, but not as easily as they had hoped. The Horned Frogs won 59-41 but allowed 461 yards in the victory. Not many teams last week can say they gave up that many yards and still won by three scores. Arkansas edged out Louisiana Tech in it's opener 21-20 in a game where they had a fourth quarter drive to take the lead. Despite TCU giving up so much on defense, Arkansas will have a hard time putting up those numbers on anyone. Cue "the SEC is overrated" talk.

TCU 48, Arkansas 10

3) I Warned You about the Schedule

Since there aren't many other games I will watch, you're stuck with me being a homer for our last topic. Kentucky travels to Florida for the SEC opener for both schools coming off a very Kentucky-like" collapse. After leading 35-10 with under a minute to go before the half, the Cats took the rest of the game off last week and lost to Southern Mississippi 44-35. Unacceptable! Coming off the upset, they face a tough hill to climb when they face the Florida Gators in the Swamp; a team they haven't beat in their last 29 tries. Florida hosted UMass last week and by no means showed off any offense in the 24-7 win. One could say that their defense showed up, but come on, it's UMass. This game will be focused on the run offense. Whichever team rushes for the most on the ground should win. Take it for what it is worth.

Kentucky 28, Florida 24

Other Games

Oklahoma State over Central Michigan

North Carolina State over East Carolina

Pitt over Penn State

Michigan over UCF

Cincinnati over Purdue

Houston over Lamar

Rutgers over Howard

Minnesota over Indiana State

Army over Rice

Boston College over UMass

Georgia over Nicholls State

Texas A&M over Prairie View A&M

Wyoming over Nebraska

Florida State over Charleston Southern

Clemson over Troy

Temple over Stony Brook

Georgia State over Air Force

Southern Cal over Utah State

West Virginia over Youngstown State

Ohio over Kansas

Georgia Tech over Mercer

Bowling Green over North Dakota

Navy over Connecticut

Northwestern over Illinois State

Ohio State over Tulsa

Miami (OH) over Eastern Illinois

Duke over Wake Forest

Appalachian State over Old Dominion

Wisconsin over Akron

Nevada over Notre Dame

Alabama over Western Kentucky

Baylor over SMU

Mississippi over Wofford

Indiana over Ball State

Colorado State over Idaho State

Marshall over Morgan State

Elon over Charlotte

Kent State over North Carolina A&T

Miami over Florida Atlantic

Georgia Southern over South Alabama

Louisiana-Lafayette over McNeese State

Oklahoma over Louisiana-Monroe

Vanderbilt over MTSU

Western Michigan over North Carolina Central

Toledo over Maine

South Florida over Northern Illinois

North Texas over Bethune Cookman

Louisiana Tech over South Carolina State

Southern Mississippi over Savannah State

Texas over UTEP

South Carolina over Mississippi State

Auburn over Arkansas State

Iowa over Iowa State

Utah over BYU

Missouri over Eastern Michigan

LSU over Jacksonville State

North Carolina over Illinois

Tulane over Southern

UCLA over UNLV

New Mexico over New Mexico State

Fresno State over Sacramento State

Texas Tech over Arizona State

Boise State over Washington State

San Diego State over Cal

Oregon over Virginia 

Arizona over Grambling State

Hawaii over Tennessee-Martin

Check back at noon for Smith Bros Pick Panel

-Dug

@chansm1th

And, we’re off! Last night, we had several entertaining games to tie us over until Saturday. We had blowouts, and we had drag outs. Two ranked teams were in action with one displaying power over an inferior opponent while the other showed multiple question marks. A “Way-too-Early” Heisman candidate put up ridiculous numbers in limited action, but it was a place kicker who might have won the night. Before we get into the Friday slate of games, let’s look at what you’re talking about this afternoon.

 

Crisis Averted!

Tennessee came into their opener as a three touchdown favorite, as the announcers kept reminding us. Appalachian State led the entire game until Tennessee scored on a 67-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Later in the period, redshirt freshman kicker Michael Rubino, who had already missed an extra point, sent a 41-yard field goal wide right. The Mountaineers would win the toss before overtime, and elect to go on defense first. From the 3-yard line, Josh Dobbs rolled to his right, leaped, stretched, and took a hard shot at the goal line which in turned caused him to fumble the football forward. Quick thinking on the part of Jalen Hurd, who jumped on the ball, would give Tennessee the score they needed in overtime. App State was ineffective with their turn, and Tennessee’s defense sealed the game, 20-13.

This game will give Tennessee fans fits. It was an obvious letdown for a team that has such high expectations. Luckily for them, they have more than a week to prepare for Virginia Tech when they face the Hokies at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

Early Heisman Showing

The Fighting Lamar Jacksons defeated lowly Charlotte last night in a rout, 70-14. Jackson only played one half, but in truth, he didn’t need that much time. Jackson completed 17 of his 23 passes for 286 yards while running for another 119. Of the eight touchdowns he was responsible for, six came from his arm while two from his legs. Granted, it was Charlotte playing the Cardinals, but where do we place all of the praise? Is Lamar Jackson that good? Did Bobby Petrino just run it up? Is Charlotte just that bad? Louisville takes the field again next Friday against ACC foe Syracuse. Maybe we’ll have a more clear picture then.

 

Pride of the SEC?

If we’re throwing out Heisman candidates already, what about jumping onto a band wagon? As early as the season is, South Carolina currently holds the path to it's own destiny in the SEC East...along with five other division opponents. However, for this night, the Gamecocks are on top of the standings. In Will Muschamp's return to head coaching, the Gamecocks rallied from being down 10-0 at the half to squeak by the Vanderbilt Commodores by a final of 13-10. The Player of the Game was the senior place kicker Elliot Fry. Fry nailed a 55-yard field goal with 0:35 left that would eventually be the difference. With a road win in the SEC, albeit Vandy, South Carolina will play next week in Starkville against a Mississippi State team they have beaten seven straight times. 

Other Scores from Last Night

Central Michigan 49, Presbyterian 3

Wake Forest 7, Tulane 3

Cincinnati 28, UT-Martin 7

UConn 24, Maine 21

North Carolina State 48, William & Mary 14

Indiana 34, Florida International 13

Utah 24, Southern Utah 0

Utah State 45, Weber State 6

Western Kentucky 46, Rice 14

Minnesota 30, Oregon State 23

New Mexico 48, South Dakota 21

Idaho 20, Montana State 17

UNLV 63, Jackson State 13

-Dug

@chansm1th

Halftime Report

Show Me

Tennessee finds itself trailing 13-3 to Appalachian State at the half. In my earlier post, I demanded that Tennessee show me that they deserved all of the hype that they were being given. Through the first 30 minutes of play, I am disappointed. App State has controlled the momentum since this game kicked off. Tennessee has caught several bad breaks though. On their first full offensive drive of the game, Tennessee had a touchdown overturned when a receiver dropped the ball while going to the ground. Instead of seven points, they settled for three. Not long after, the Vols' defensive leader, Cameron Reeves-Maybin was ejected on a targeting foul when he lowered his head into a Mountaineer who had signaled for a fair catch on a punt. After all of this, Tennessee found itself having the ball with under 5:00 to go in the first half. Josh Dobbs connected on a pass to Josh Smith over the middle for about a 25-yard gain. Dobbs then rushed the offense to the line to set off another play, which they got off. After Hurd's run up the middle, the play before was reviewed and determined that the ball hit the ground before the receiver caught it. Now, I have always been led to believe that if the next play gets off, the previous cannot be reviewed. It would appear that the rules have changed.


Butch Jones better give the speech of his life in the locker room. In most cases, when a team that is favored finds itself behind, they mount a ferocious comeback. From one half of play, I haven't seen an ounce of the type of fight that UT will need. The Mountaineers have a legitimate shot of pulling this off if something doesn't change in a hurry.




Let's take a look at other games going on right now. Early in the third quarter, Louisville leads Charlotte 56-0. Lamar Jackson has had a hand in all eight of Louisville's scores.


Two minutes before halftime, Vanderbilt is ahead of South Carolina 10-0.


7:00 left in the second quarter, Western Kentucky is on top of Rice 30-7.




Check back later for more updates.


-Dug
@chansm1th

College Football Thursday

Finally!!

A new season of college football will kick off tonight. Predictions and talk will now turn into reality as is is time to make the statements on the field. It all begins tonight as we have 16 games on the schedule. Here are three things to watch for, along with predictions for each of tonight's games.

1.) Tennessee Starts the Season with High Expectations

This is by far the most hyped team that Rocky Top has fielded in the last 15 years. Butch Jones might have finally turned the train wreck he inherited into a title contender. Most polls have the Volunteers in their Top 10, and consider them to be the odds on favorite to win the SEC East. Now all they have to do is produce. Too many times has this team been talked up only to under perform. You want me to take you seriously? Show me. Don't overlook Appalachian State though. The Mountaineers like to run and put up a lot of points. If Tennessee does take them seriously, they should win convincingly. If not, State will keep this one close and put a scare into the Tennessee fans. 

Tennessee 38, Appalachian State 24

2.) Vanderbilt/South Carolina will Control the SEC East after Tonight

Scary, isn't it? One of these two teams will be leading the nation's strongest conference, and control their own destiny. Last season, the two combined for a 3-13 record in the SEC. Expectations this year seem to point toward a similar scenario. Take nothing away from either though. THEY WILL BE LEADING THE SEC AFTER TONIGHT! Let the victor have their moment of glory seeing as it will only last for a week as multiple teams open up conference play in Week 2.

Vanderbilt 17, South Carolina 9

3.) Western Kentucky Begins it's Quest for the Top 25

You read that right. The Hilltoppers are a legitimate threat as a mid-major program. Tonight will be the first of their many runovers as I firmly believe they will be ranked this season. WKU is going to win the Conference-USA, and they could very easily only have one loss on the year going into the conference championship game. A year ago, the Hilltoppers averaged 44.3 ppg and 526.4 ypg, both stats good enough to have them in the Top 10 nationally. Their opponent tonight, Rice, ranked near the bottom of the nation in all major defensive categories. Kickoff is at 8 PM, but this one will be over by 8:30.

Western Kentucky 63, Rice 17

Other Games Tonight:

Central Michigan over Presbyterian

Louisville over Charlotte

Wake Forest over Tulane

Cincinnati over UT-Martin

UConn over Maine

North Carolina State over William & Mary

Florida International over Indiana

Utah over Southern Utah

Utah State over Weber State

Minnesota over Oregon State

New Mexico over South Dakota

Idaho over Montana State

UNLV over Jackson State

Check back later for quick reactions to the games. Tomorrow morning, we'll look at where I was wrong. 

-Dug

@chansm1th

From the Desk of Taco

   Hello sports fans. It's Taco. Yes, I know I'm not a regular writer for this blog and I'm well aware that I am no Smith, but here we are.

   Sports.. *sigh* To be perfectly honest I am no aficionado to the extent of my counterparts on this blog, but I enjoy a good sportsball match like the rest of 'em! My fan-hood is rather narrow. University of Tennessee athletics and Boston Red Sox baseball. I enjoy a good Houston Texans football game on occasion but other than that I'm merely a casual sports observer.

 
    On a more personal note, I am a United States Sailor (hints why I am not a regular contributor) and a pretty big nerd. My Xbox (first sign) has every Star Wars film on it and too many games to mention. My laptop is constantly running anime or Youtube videos of people playing video games or suggesting anime... (I know, I know) When I manage to break away from that, however, I sport America's colors! Like today for example, I wore U.S. Navy camo all morning and my Big Papi shirt at night. I'll let you decide which is more red-blooded.

   Enough about me. Let's get to brass tax. The Boston Red Sox are making a shot at some history here. Earlier this week they scored 13 or more in three straight games (a first in Red Sox history) to add to their 56 runs over the last five straight wins. That's honestly outstanding for the team that has finished dead last in the AL East two years in a row. As I am writing this, they happen to be trailing the Houston Astros 7-6, but when you think about it that's 6 more runs! I can't even be mad! With this being said, I know it's early, but keep your eyes on my Sox this season. This season is giving me the same feeling I got in 2013 and we all know what happened back then.

Keep on keepin' on,
Taco