Final Thoughts
Before The Week 4 Games
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2012 Fearless Predictions
Final Thoughts
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Pete Fiutak
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Richard Cirminiello
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Terry Johnson
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Phil Harrison
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Matt Zemek
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Pete Fiutak
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- Be prepared, America. If Notre Dame beats Michigan as convincingly as it beat Michigan State, you’re about to be blown away by Irish BCS conversation at least until just before Halloween and the road trip to Oklahoma.
- There’s talk that Michigan had the right week of practice and appears ready to start looking like the Michigan team everyone has been waiting for. However, if Denard Robinson is forced to do his Tom Brady impersonation, the Irish will be more than happy to take its chances.
- 957 Steps Ahead Of The Game Fear Of The Week: Notre Dame vs. LSU/Alabama loser in the Sugar Bowl.
- It will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER happen, but take a moment and groove on the dream of the complete and utter chaos that would ensue if we’re coming out of the Thanksgiving weekend with an unbeaten Alabama/LSU winner, an unbeaten Big 12 team, Pac-12 team or Florida State, and an unbeaten Notre Dame coming off a win at USC.
- If Florida State comes up with a solid and convincing win over Clemson, it will be Game On for the national title discussion. If Clemson comes up with a solid and convincing win on the road over Florida State, the story next week will be about how much the ACC sucks and how Clemson will eventually be all Clemsony and blow it.
- The No. 1 reason why life is more fun when the Pac-12 is good – late night games. Oregon will probably throttle Arizona, but with a 10:30 pm start on the East Coast, it’s at least an interesting way to close things out.
- It’s like the throw the quarterback can’t get back. He spots the safety jumping the route at the exact nanosecond the ball has left his hands. That’s my comment about ULM’s Kolton Browning being this year’s RG3 during my appearance with the Loose Cannons on Fox Sports Radio, but upon further thought, that might not be that far off.
While Browning isn’t as efficient as Griffin was, and he wasn’t able to pull out the Auburn game in overtime, just being in overtime in a game like that deserves credit. Remember, this is Louisiana-Monroe pushing Auburn after everyone was expecting big things after the great win over Arkansas. Browning still produced, and now he has 649 passing yards, six touchdowns, one pick, 127 rushing yards and two scores in two games.
- Actually, Nick Florence isn’t doing a bad job as the new RG3. Griffin is obviously an ultra-talented quarterback, but the Art Briles system is a star maker.
- Yeah, watch Baylor-ULM. It’s eye-candy, and there won’t a be a lick of defense, but after BYU-Boise State, America needs this.
- I’m done with Boise State’s stupid blue field.
- Something to keep an eye on in the Baylor-ULM shootout. ULM leads the nation in time of possession, holding on to the ball for over 37 minutes per game. Only Houston, Briles’ old club, has had the ball less than Baylor, holding it for just 22:44 per game so far.
- Time of possession doesn’t really mean anything to a team like Baylor, but it means a lot for a defense going against a ball control attack that relies on controlling the game and tempo. Kentucky is 120th out of 123 ranked teams in time of possession, while Florida is ninth averaging 33:49 per game.
- No offense, Kentucky, but I have my Gator gear rolling this week. I want to see a 4-0 Florida hosting LSU at home two weeks later.
- I’m positive I’ve written this several times before but I’m too lazy to look it up; Florida leaves the state of Florida just once – at Vanderbilt on October 13th – the rest of the regular season.
- Remembering, the Vegas lines are determined by the market, the public believes in Arkansas even more than John L. Smith. Most lines move a few points after they first go off, but Rutgers-Arkansas was floated out there as even and the line got HAMMERED. It’s currently Arkansas -8.5, nine in a few places.
- You don’t give the Stoops brothers two weeks to prepare for a one-dimensional offense like Kansas State’s. You don’t.
- Most Interesting Fun Stat Of The Week That Means Nothing In The Overall Chain Of Human Events: Kansas State is second in the nation in fewest penalties allows with just five for 14 yards over three games. That actually matters considering keeping mistakes to a minimum is everything to the Wildcats. Who’s No. 1? Central Michigan. The Chippewas didn’t commit a penalty in their first two games of the year, but they turn the ball over a ton. CMU goes to Iowa this week.
- And the most penalized team in college football so far? Nevada has been nailed 32 times for 312 yards, but Louisiana Tech is technically last the nation by a whopping margin committing an average of 13.5 per game. 118th in the nation in penalties is Baylor and 117th is Rutgers.
- By the way, Nevada, Louisiana Tech, Baylor and Rutgers are a combined 9-1.
- The four least penalized teams in America – Central Michigan, Kansas State, East Carolina and Florida Atlantic – are a combined 7-4.
- Last year, Akron had the third-worst scoring offense and finished 115th in total yards. The passing game was the second-to-last in passing efficiency and averaged a pathetic 163 yards per game. Meanwhile, the defense was dead last in tackles for loss and 116th in sacks.
- This year after three games, Akron is fifth in the nation in passing, averages 496 yards of total offense per game, is an improved 52nd in passing efficiency and has generated six sacks after coming up with nine all of last year. Senior quarterback Dalton Williams is 11th in the nation in total offense throwing for 1,006 yards and ten scores.
- Auburn fans, right here, right now. Forgetting all the history as well as the 2010 national championship t-shirt you’re wearing, if you had your choice between first-year Akron head coach Terry Bowden and Gene Chizik, which one would you want as the head man?
- If you were my close, personal friend and you were going off to Vegas to legally “invest” what little money you might have left, I’d suggest taking a look-see at Missouri +10 over South Carolina; Florida Atlantic +50 over Alabama; LSU -20 over Auburn; Oklahoma -14 over Kansas State; and my Master Lock, Five-Star Pick of the Millennium of this Week, Air Force -10.5 over UNLV.
- I went 3-3 last week and am 6-10 overall.
- Seriously, I was asked a few times today 1) is Lane Kiffin’s “act” wearing thin after this loss to Stanford and 2) has Matt Barkley’s NFL stock dropped? First of all, Kiffin has actually been fine so far; outside of a few quirks, there aren’t a lot of major beefs and, remember, his got the program through the storm. He’s treating his players like pros, and that includes in the press conferences. Second, Matt Barkley is barely 6-2, if that. Losing to Stanford didn’t make him shorter. If he’s the No. 1 overall draft pick it won’t be because of his stature.
- He’s not going to be the No. 1 overall draft pick.
- But he’s going to look like it in a blowout win over Cal. USC, it’s time to be USC.
Final Thoughts
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Pete Fiutak
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Richard Cirminiello
-
Terry Johnson
-
Phil Harrison
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Matt Zemek