Week 11: Fortnite Battle Royuck

Standings:
1.) Draper 30-11 (2-8 upset)
2.) Hoying 29-12 (1-9 upset)
3.) Schweinfurth 25-16 (5-5 upset)
4.) Seeberg 25-16 (2-8 upset)

We hope you enjoyed the four key ranked matchups last week that settled a great deal of the dust surrounding this year's playoff field. Because you're not going to see many more of those before rivalry week. Between then and now are two weeks (or, a fortnight, get it?) of blah matchups, starting with some lambs being led to the slaughter against Alabama and Clemson and a couple of ranked, somehow, teams that nobody cares about (hi, Auburn and Michigan State). You know it's bad when the best game of the week features Alabama (no prizes for guessing who wins by a million).

#16 Mississippi State Bulldogs @ #1 Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper:  I have moved to the side of darkness.  My colleague, Mr. Hoying, has been correct all along.  It's Bama's world and we're all living in it.  They are completely legit and will crush everything in their path.  Hail Saban.  MSU: 10 -- Bama: 48
Hoying: Nice knowing you, Bulldogs. MSU: 6--Bama: 38
Schweinfurth: Is there really any reason to break this game down? The Crimson Death Machine has almost reached full awareness and is already eviscerating everything/one in it's path. Clanga doesn't stand a chance. MSU: 7--Bama: 42
Seeberg: Quite honestly I love that middle-of-the-road SEC teams keep getting ranked, because we get to keep picking 'Bama games here at Let's Go Bucks and, well, I'm struggling this season so I need the easy W's.  No break down needed.  It's 'Bama, end o' story.  MSU: 14--Bama: 49

#2 Clemson Tigers @ #17 Boston College Eagles
Draper:  Here's another game that shouldn't be close.  Clemson is really finding themselves late in the season and prepping for the Bama beatdown.  With sunshine QBing the Tigers and Etienne holding it down on the ground, I don't expect the likes of Steve Addazio and company to make much of a dent.  Sure, they've been a nice little team this year, but Clemson is an 'elite' team (as James Franklin might put it).  Clem: 48--BC: 17
Hoying: Boy, it sure feels like forever and a day since Clemson fell backwards into a road win at Syracuse with their 3rd string warm body quarterback. Since then they've been the most terrifying death machine east of Tuscaloosa (and nobody plays football of consequence west of Tuscaloosa). BC has put together a nice little run of their own except for a blowout loss to Purdue (*droops head*) and a loss to the ACC's third competent team, NC State. How did Clemson do against the Wolfpack? Oh yeah, they stomped them by 34. I'm beginning to get a strong suspicion of who's going go have the honor of heading to Santa Clara on January 7 to, well, you know. Clem: 45--BC: 31
Schweinfurth: This game feels a like it could end up being pretty close. Don't get me wrong, I fully expect Clemson to win. I think the Tiger defense is just too much for the Eagles. The weather will be the great equalizer here. It is going to be cold in Boston and passing could be an issue. This feels like a grind it out game and Entiene has been outstanding for Clemson. Clem: 28--BC:24
Seeberg: Make no mistake, this isn't your older brother's BC team that thrived on elite defense and, well, only playing offense because it was forced to by rule.  They can score it and score it well.  Unfortunately for those hoping the TIgers stumble, BC can't stop anyone consistently either which is a poor recipe when facing a squad that just put up 77 (in barely over 3 quarters at that).  Clemson by half a million.  Clem: 52--BC: 28

#24 Auburn Tigers @ #5 Georgia Bulldogs
Draper: Has UGA figured it out after the inexplicable gag vs. LSU? I think so.  Jake Fromm is fine, but the rest of the team is the reason for the success.  Auburn is an riddle wrapped in an enigma.  They have shown some spurts of success vs. A&M and Washington, yet they were nipped by LSU and crushed by a mediocre Mississippi State squad.  Haven't watched much of these teams this year, but I have much more faith in the talent of the Dawgs.  Aub: 17--UGA: 27
Hoying: Not gonna lie, when I put up the first draft of games to pick this week, I didn't include this one on the list, because I didn't foresee Auburn being ranked by the Committee. And...I'm still kind of scratching my head. I guess they beat Washington (doesn't that feel like a million years ago?), so it would make sense to rank Auburn ahead of Washington. And they beat Texas A&M, but it's November, everybody's going to be beating the Aggies from now on. Meanwhile Georgia woke up just in time to flatten their meager East competition and secure a showdown with the Tide in the SEC Championship (the poor b*st*rds). I don't foresee Gus Malzahn lucking into the same voodoo magic that bottled the Dawgs up for a half down in Baton Rouge. Auburn has hit their usual ceiling of 7-8 wins in between runs to almost championships (unless you have Cam Newton). Aub: 20--UGA: 31
Schweinfurth: Auburn's offense has been downright dreadful this year. That offensive line can't block anything for Stidham. That poor guy my get dismantled by the Tide in a few weeks if he survives this game. Georgia has recovered from that weird loss to Florida nicely. The Dawgs are just going to H8 stomp this poor Tiger Team. Aub: 10--UGA: 38
Seeberg:  Fascinating.  The "Wheel of SEC Ranked Teams" inexplicably stopped on Auburn this week.  Oh well, one week at a time, right?  LSU peaked against the Bulldogs before gaining approximately .73 yards of offense against 'Bama last week.  UGA is just too good to play that poorly again- and it might not matter anyways because they're just that much better than their remaining competition, Auburn included.  On a completely irrelevant note, I wish teams from the south were named ANYTHING other than the TIgers or Bulldogs.  I'm getting tired of typing those two words.  Oh well, UGA and his goofy jowls lap up another W.  Aub: 16--UGA: 35

#10 THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ #18 Michigan State Spartans
Draper:  What to do? I keep waiting for the team to break out and showcase the talent, but they can't get out of their own way.  The players still swwm very disinterested at times and the coaches seem like they started game prep around 8 minutes INTO the 1st quarter. If the coaches can get it together, the sky's the limit (well..Bama's the limit).  I still believe the Haskins is a 1st round NFL talent and we have a few top 3 round wide receivers.  If we can scheme appropriately, there is no reason we shouldn't have an explosive performance every week.  The defense has a talent discrepancy, but a better scheme could hide some of the flaws.  The plus is MSU is incredibly pedestrian.  Lewerke is 'eh' and no one really scares you.  That being said, they have a reasonably average to above average talent across the board.  Consistency has been the Dantonio staple.  I could see any of a variety of things happening, but I expect a close game with a mistake or two being the difference.  When in doubt, lean on the better athletes.  OSU: 27--MSU: 21
Hoying: I don't get this team. On pure talent, they should be running teams out of the building week in and week out like Bama and mini-Bama above. On scheme, they look like a confused mess every week. Yeah, they finally got the running game going again last week (against a terrible terrible defense), but the air raid seems to have been grounded in the process. I can't figure out if this is a team in transition to something we're more used to at THE Ohio State University or if the coaches are just throwing things at the wall and seeing what will stick. Not that the Spartans are any easier to peg. They have great rushing defense, sure, unless they're facing an actual good running team like Michigan or Penn State. Is Ohio State a good running team? They were last year when they put up 335 yards on the ground. On the other side of the ball, the Spartans Will...have trouble getting anything going. But these Silver BBs seem to be the cure opposing offenses are looking for, being just a couple of key turnovers against Minnesota away from a full month of truly bad football. The injuries seem to be healing (except for one big hole), so it may be that our blue chip secondary can handle whatever the mighty Brian Lewerke can throw at them. And the Spartans don't have a ground game at all, so I wouldn't be worried on that front unless you really think our linebackers are worse than the likes of Central Michigan or Utah State. This game will be a knock-out, drag-down slop of a mess, and it may be that the first team to double digits will escape with a win. Under those circumstances, I'm willing to ride with Dwayne. He'll be far and away the best player on the field on Saturday. OSU: 17--MSU: 16
Schweinfurth: Hey look, the Buckeyes remembered how to run the ball last week! This is a really big deal. The next three opponents for the Bucks are all in the top 30 in total defense (yes, that includes Maryland). What bodes well for the Bucks is that the Spartan offense is totally depleted. The Bucks can line up in the base defense pretty much all game in this and match up with the Spartans. I really want to see more of Brendon White at the the safty spot opposite of Fuller this week. No more Isaiah Pryor. I've seen that horror show way too much this year. I do think the Bucks will move the ball this week by utilizing the screen game and a few downfield shots to loosen up the Michigan State D. This feels like last years game a bit. I think the Bucks run away with this one. OSU: 35--MSU: 14
Seeberg:  As even as this matchup has been since Urban took over (despite a typical talent disparity in the Scarlet and Gray's favor), this year's edition is outright bizarre.  You have easily stoppable force (OSU rush game) meeting immovable object (MSU's #1 rush D), and then easily stoppable force (MSU's woeful offense) meeting easily movable object (OSU's steel sieve D).  In my mind, whoever wins that fight of embattled units more often will ultimately win the day.  MSU does have some issues in the secondary and can be exposed via the pass, so points should still come with Haskins and the Buckeyes' bevy of quality receivers.  Can the Buckeyes get enough stops to sneak out a W?  I'm not so sure, but I do, however, believe the Spartans will stop themselves enough for that to be the case.  One or two "Sparty no!" moments allow the Bucks to escape East Lansing with a less-than-aesthetically-pleasing win.  OSU: 31--MSU: 27

Upset Special
Draper: Colorado over Washington State
Hoying: Rutgers over Mich......ahahahahahahaha Tennessee over Kentucky
Schweinfurth: Ok St. over Oklahoma
Seeberg: Navy over UCF

Grading the Bucks: Week 10--Nebraska

Not great, Bob.

Offense: B-
So we finally got the running game going...and forgot how to pass.  Dwayne Haskins has seemingly started a slow decline in accuracy (very odd...and disconcerting).  Honestly, I spent most of the time railing at the playcalling (more to come) but the accuracy issues are a bit concerning.  It was certainly nice to see the line opening a few holes here and there, but this was against a bad Nebraska team.  The push on 4th and short was still nonexistent and it is HUGE problem for an OSU unit that has (should have) better athletes than 99% of the schools they face.  Dobbins and Weber flashed (and finally broke a few tackles!) but growth need to continue.

Defense: C
Let's be clear...Nebraska isn't good.  Yet they seemed to move up and down the field with relative ease.  There have been a bevy of injuries on this side of the ball (primarily in the secondary) but that's no excuse to look as the Buckeyes have.  Teams have figured out how to neutralize the strength of the D-line with quick hitters and draw plays and our coaches haven't adjusted (more later).  We don't face a truly dynamic offense for the remainder of the regular season, but the running game of TSUN will be a problem.

Special Teams: I don't remember
Sorry...I don't remember the special teams play of last week which is usually a plus.  Instead of making fun of me for my crappy lack of analysis...make fun of Nebraska's kicker for....what this was.

Coaching: D-
This team is devolving.  The playcalling is getting worse.  There is no ingenuity in design and scheme.  It seems as if the coaches are assuming the better athletes will win without help.  I don't understand the apathy.  Two weeks to improve and Haskins looks worse.  Two weeks to gameplan and the playcalling was horrid.  The team looks wholly unprepared and I think there may be some questioning of the coaching duties within the ranks as well (no real reason to think this other than the players aren't stupid).  The ultimate failure was early in the game on a 3rd and 1.  We know the line wasn't successful on getting a push in the past few weeks, but there were 2 attempts to psych the players up and get that yard.  Barring that, try to throw the ball (which was usually successful). No.  Instead the playcall was a jet sweep with Paris Campbell that the line (predictably) was unable to provide any protection.  Loss of 2.  Then, to compound matters, we went for it on 4th down in what appeared to be a total reaction to the bad play. "We failed there, but we'll show them by running it down their throat" (with no fight left). Stuffed.  Momentum swing.  The coaches appeared to be on tilt with the stupidity of the first playcall and the overreaction following.  Urban appeared in disbelief when we didn't get it on 4th...but that's been this team the last few weeks.  I don't know how some of the brightest minds in coaching seem befuddled at scheming for a 2-6 opponent.  It's disturbing to say the least.

Overall: C-
Not great, Bob.  Not great. The talent still resides in Columbus in the Scarlet and Gray.  We can achieve most of the goals set out at the beginning of the year (sorry, I saw the Bama game and I welcome our new Elephant Overlords and their Commander Satan...er...Saban).  To achieve these goals, the mindset and mental aspects of the team/scheme must be improved and they must be improved NOW.  Michigan State isn't a great team, but Dantonio has been a thorn in Urban's side.  The opponents smell blood in the water.  Can the Bucks rally and live up to potential? I sure hope so.

Bonus--Uniforms: BUTT
Stop it.  Just stop it.  Ohio State doesn't need gimmicks.  I don't care if you think they look 'fire emoji'.  This is Ohio State.  Play for the tradition, play for pride, play for what's come before you and what's coming after.  Don't play for stupid looking gimmicky uniforms.  Scarlet and Gray are the colors and that's what we should be about.  Now...get off my lawn.