There are 119 Division I-A football teams out there. No one man can follow them all this season. Lee Corso may be the lone exception. But since none of us are him, Blogcritics has appointed a crew to clean up the mess left each week on the co-ed stadiums across the country and summarize (for you, the infallible reader!) the top games, conference by conference.
ACC
After Week 6 of the season, the ACC doesn’t have all that much to feel good about.
The weekend started with North Carolina State upsetting the 17th-ranked Florida State Seminoles, 24-20. A few weeks ago a lot of people — myself included — had reserved a place in the head coach’s unemployment line for NC State’s Chuck Amato, but now the Wolfpack is 2-0 in the ACC and Florida State is 1-2.
On Saturday Clemson and Georgia Tech both had to come from behind to win their games. Clemson scored 24 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat Wake Forest 27-17 and Georgia Tech scored 13 unanswered points to beat Maryland 27-23. Losses by either of these teams would have really clinched the notion held by many that the ACC is el stinko this year.
Speaking of el stinko, Virginia lost to East Carolina, 31-21 in a game that was never close, and Duke gave Alabama a scare before the Blue Devils realized that they are destined to be gridiron failures and lost, 30-16.
In an uninspired effort Miami beat North Carolina 27-7, as the Hurricanes only managed 328 total yards and needed a trick play to score a touchdown at the goal line. “A Mr. Pink Slip is paging Mr. Coker, Mr. Pink slip for Mr. Coker…”
There are two decent ACC games this week as Boston College hosts Virginia Tech Thursday night and Wake Forest visits North Carolina State Saturday.
--Sal Marinello
Big XII
To say that the Red River Shootout is an important game is an understatement. Since 1999, when Bob Stoops arrived in Norman, the winner of this game has represented the South division of the Big XII in the conference championship game every year, save one. Based on that history, Texas may want to start booking a trip to Kansas City for December 2nd.
Turnovers would turn out to be key in the game. The Sooners lost the ball 5 times, including one credited to Adrian Peterson, who hadn't lost a fumble since last season. Despite Peterson being the only one to generate any offense on the day for Oklahoma (213 all-purpose yards, 1 touchdown), he couldn't overcome three fumbles and two interceptions.
Article comments
1 - M.D. Sandwasher
Michigan could be in a little trouble in their match up with PSU. The Detroit Free Press reported today that stud wide out Mario Manningham would sit out due to an apparent knee injury, but Michigan coach Lloyd Carr slightly diffused the rumors saying he needs to get more information before making an announcement.
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
They still have Steve Breaston. I think that's enough against Penn State.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
So does this mean Arkansas is the odds on favorite to win the Iron Bowl?
4 - DJRadiohead
Only if Mike Shula is the opposing coach. Alabama is better than Arkansas, Mike Shula is not.
5 - M.D. Sandwasher
It's official. Manningham had his knee scoped today. He's out at least this weekend.
Quarterback Chad Henne needs to put together a complete game, which will be difficult with his favorite target possibly out.
Breaston hasn't been the same this year, but I really like junior wide out Adrian Arrington.
Henne, tailback Mike Hart, and UM's ferocious
defense should be enough to get the win in Happy Valley.
6 - Names wrong on #8Louisville
Wideout Mario Urrutia 4 rec 134 yards 2 TD
QB Hunter Cantwell 17/32 340yards 10.6avg 3 td 1 int
Running bcak by committee.
Anthony Allen 7 car 70 Yds 10.0 avg 1 TD 18 LG
George Stripling8 car 39 Yds 4.9 avg 0 TD 21 LG
Brock Bolen 3 car 33 Yds 11.0 avg 0 TD 27 LG
Harry Douglas 1 car 23 Yds 23.0 avg 0 TD 23 LG
Kolby Smith 9 car 19 Yds 2.1 avg 1 TD 10 LG