After a surprisingly interesting week one everyone has a weekend to catch their breath with mostly vanilla match-ups across the country. Last weeks records: Gomer (5-7) Chief (6-6)
Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Gomer: If the Bulldogs had not relinquished their number one raking this past week I’d expect Central Michigan to have a decent chance at an upset. CMU QB Dan LeFevour has the experience and talent necessary to navigate the UGA Defense, but the CMU Defense (remember they’re in the MAC so calling it a Defense might be a stretch) has almost no hope of stopping the efficient Stafford and the powerful Moreno. I expect this to be at least somewhat interesting for a bit. CMU: 28 – UGA: 52
Chief: Central Michigan was one of the standout midmajors that no one paid attention to. Yes, they lost on a last second field goal to Purdue in the Motor City Bowl, but this is a team that almost never even sniffed the postseason let alone almost beat a Big 10 opponent. On the other side, the Bulldogs are suffering from myriad injuries that seem to get more prevalent every week. QB Dan LeFevour should make this a game—for a half—then the angry Dawgs that were disrespected in the poll this week will take care of business between the hedges. CMU: 20—UGA: 44
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. East Carolina Pirates
Gomer: As nice as it would be to see the Mountaineers go down to up-and-comer ECU I think that Virginia Tech was more than ripe for the picking in week one. WVU’s attack will be unstoppable by most defenses, which is why they should easily win the Big East this year. Noel Devine and Pat White will not have a problem getting around the Pirate defense that easily shutdown the inept VT “attack”.
WVU: 38 – ECU: 17
Chief: The Mountaineers got off to a rocket like start with Pat White shooting to the top of most Heisman lists by *gasp* throwing for 5 touchdowns. The bad news for the Neers, it was against Villanova. ECU stunned the nation with the first big upset of the 2008 season by out-Beamering Beamer with a block punt to seal the win over the Hokies. This ECU team could be something special, but I just don’t think they have enough to beat WVU. I do however think that this will be the best game of the day. I wouldn’t be surprised with a Pirate win, but I think a last second FG lets Morgantown give a HUGE sigh of relief. WVU: 28—ECU: 27
Minnesota Gophers vs. Bowling Green Falcons
Gomer: As many writers have mentioned, people are still baffled by the Tim Brewster hire last year at Minnesota. The offense looks even better than last season, but the defense is still atrocious. When you are still playing your starters in the 4th quarter against NIU, there seems to be a problem. BGSU is coming off of a nice upset of Pitt on their home field. BGSU could be set for a let down, but I think they are just better. Sheehan will lead the offense up and down the field, and Briggs will help bring some serious pressure on Gopher QB Adam Weber.
Minn: 28 – BGSU: 34
Chief: The Gophers, having matched last year’s win total (1) already look to make it 2 in a row against the Falcons. Last year’s 3OT thriller was great, but BG showed it has a little something after upsetting Pitt on the road. I’ll be honest, Pitt was overrated, but it’s amazing that BG could steal one on the road. Minn is so very much improved this year, but I don’t think it will be enough. Minn: 23—BG: 30
Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators
Gomer: The Gators looked impressive in their opener vs. HAWAII… most teams would look impressive in this game considering the Warriors are a shell of their previous selves. Miami has a young QB named Robert Marve who actually broke all the high school records that Tim Tebow set while he was a young QB in Florida. Randy Shannon’s young Canes will slow down the Florida attack, but the Gators are too talented and too experienced to be held back for long. Look for the ‘Canes to be the thorn in a few teams side this season.
Miami: 17 – UF: 31
Chief: The Gators haven’t beaten the Hurricanes since 1985 and many think this is the year to do it. I don’t know about 21 point favorites (I think Miami has improved somewhat), but I can’t argue that UF is clearly better. Miami will have to look elsewhere for a breakout game. Tim Tebow should be able to ‘wow’ the nation with another 9-15 performance against a subpar opponent. UM: 17—UF: 31
Ohio University Bobcats vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Gomer: Ohio U, how now one really cares about you, you behave like a jealous step-child and do nothing but complain about OSU. Your band may be exciting but no coach, especially not The Great One(s) have ever call you TBDBITL let alone the State. But we certainly cannot forget that we are State and you are Ohio…. (watch the video below to get that one).
OU: 6 – OSU: 44
Chief: Another Week another weak opponent. I hate the way teams schedule all these patsies. I can see 1 as a tune-up, but come on. OU is actually worse than YSU in the Sagarin rankings. With that said, the Buckeyes are without Heisman hopeful Beanie Wells--too bad it doesn’t matter. The only hope for the hapless Bobcats are to catch the Buckeyes looking ahead….not gonna happen with Beanie sidelined. This team needs to show the nation that it can still contend without number 28 toting the rock. Let’s not forget that the Bucks defense put up a gooseegg on the Penguins (not to mention allowing -11 rushing yards and less than 80 total yards) and someone once said ‘defense win’s championships’. While the talk surrounds Beanie and Pryor, Boeckman and the defense will continue running this team from behind the scenes. OU: 6—OSU: 41
Other Games:
Georgia Tech @ Boston College , Gomer: BC Chief: BC
Miami (OH)@ Michigan , Gomer: Michigan Chief: Michigan
Cincinnati @ Oklahoma , Gomer: Oklahoma Chief: OU
Oregon State @ PSU , Gomer: PSU Chief: PSU
Ole Miss @ Wake Forest, Gomer: Wake Chief: Wake
Texas A&M @ New Mexico , Gomer: UNM Chief: UNM
USF @ UCF, Gomer: USF Chief: USF
Northwestern @ Duke, Gomer: NU Chief: NU
Thoughts and Musings from Chief:
Good for you USC, you ran it up on a pathetic ACC team that YSU would have fought valiantly. In the words of Denny Green, “If you’re gonna crown ‘em, crown their a**es’. This shows how much pull the media has. ESPN has already started the ‘is USC the greatest team of all time’ schpiel. It’s pathetic. USC looked great, but let’s be honest, so did OSU, OU, and even Stanford for that matter. Wait until any of these teams plays a real game before you determine their worth. Preseason rankings are nothing more than (un)educated guesses. Now, all of a sudden, UCLA is a ranked team?! Why? Because they won one of the ugliest games of the weekend over a Tennessee team that looked hapless? Clemson #9? Swing and a miss. Tennessee #18? Can you say, ranking based on history/conference? Hey, I’m guilty too, but taking preseason rankings as law, is just ignorant. Clemson looked like a contender in the offseason and now looked like an FCS team. Before we elevate Bama to the top 15 (fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, I’ll put Bama in the top 10?!), can we wait to understand the quality of Clemson?
With that said, I will go back and say that I gained a ton of respect for one Rick Neuheisel this weekend. Everyone commented on the transition of 4 int Kraft to Heisman finalist Kraft in the second half, but honestly, Neuheisel had no one else to play QB. He couldn’t pull him unless Rick suited up in the locker room. Come to think of it, did they show Kraft and Neuheisel in the same screen in the 2nd half?) The play of the game in my mind wasn’t on the field at all. It was the coaching by Neuheisel when UT made the FG to send the game into OT. Most coaches would look businesslike at their play-cards and hope to find the solution to lead a mediocre team over a perennial top 15 finisher. Not Neuheisel. As ball went through the uprights, he started pumping his fist in the air in excitement as if to say, ‘Great! Now we get to play more football!’ This rubbed off on his team as they played OT with great energy and enthusiasm. He showed me that he can coach the heart of a team which is the most important quality of a head coach. Sorry, but I don’t think the monopoly is over yet, but you made me a believer that with coaching like that, it could be in time. Good for you Neuheisel.
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