The Retrospective, Week 4
Week 4 Record
Straight Up: 7-0
Against the Spread: 4-3
Well, it seems I’ve come crashing back to Earth, at least as far as picking against the spread is concerned. And picking all seven favorites to win (six of them at home), doesn’t exactly make me…all together now…Nostra-fucking-domas, as my record this week in the “competition” would indicate. But I’ll happily take an unbeaten record any day of the week.
Some quick thoughts:
Virginia (+13.5) at Georgia Tech
My Prediction: GT - 28, UVA - 14
Actual Result: GT - 24, UVA - 7
I was right in that Virginia was unable to get anything going offensively with a first-time starter at quarterback. The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, impressed me by jumping all over them in the first half. However, Tech had a bit of a problem putting the Cavs away. That’s something they’ll need to work on if they hope to finish off a team that possesses a little more firepower on offense.
Colorado (+24) at #9 Georgia
MP: UGA - 17, CU - 10
AR: UGA - 14, CU - 13
Right in the outcome, not in the execution. As expected, a couple of good defenses kept this game close, though I thought the Bulldogs would be the ones setting the tempo and trying to salt it away in the fourth quarter. Georgia always seems to sleepwalk through the first halves of 12:30 games, and this one was no exception. Credit goes to the Colorado staff for putting together a good offensive game plan. The boot plays they ran in the first half kept Georgia’s aggressive pass rushers off balance. A lot of bad things will be pointed out on the tape, but it’s hard to discredit the momentum and character that a tough win like this can bring to a team.
#24 Penn State (+16.5) at #1 Ohio State
MP: OSU - 27, PSU - 13
AR: OSU - 28, PSU - 6
You know a game is boring when the biggest story coming from it is Joe Paterno going to take a shit before halftime. Anyway, the Penn State defense really showed me something in giving up just two touchdowns. It’s just too bad Anthony Morelli had to have a total meltdown in the last couple of minutes. A solid win for the Buckeyes, but I just don’t buy into the whole idea ESPN has of penciling them into the national title game right now.
#20 Arizona State (+7.5) at #22 California
MP: UCB - 31, ASU - 21
AR: UCB - 49, ASU - 21
Dirk Koetter once again shows his team is not quite ready for primetime after a quick 3-0 start. They got absolutely blitzed in a second quarter where Nate Longshore tossed three touchdown passes and Rudy Carpenter threw a pick six. Either Cal has finally got things going, or these are just the same old Sun Devils. Maybe we’ll see a real mutiny after all.
Alabama (+1.5) at Arkansas
MP: AK - 17, AL - 13
AR: AK - 24, AL - 23
I just want to know how Mike Shula refused to send kicker Jamie Christiansen out there for the extra point after Leigh Tiffin missed three field goals in regulation. He claims the injured kicker (who won three games last season) hadn’t gotten enough reps after an injury. So, you’re going to tell me that Christiansen can’t go out and convert an EXTRA POINT with the game on the line because he hasn’t gotten enough reps? Personally, I’d have more faith in Kenneth Darby putting one through the uprights than the kid who’d already MISSED THREE FIELD GOALS!!! I can’t say anything else about this game.
#12 Notre Dame (-3.5) at Michigan State
MP: ND - 34, MSU - 27
AR: ND - 40, MSU - 37
Looks like there’s a fourth personality of this schizophrenic Notre Dame team that I failed to account for. The “we’re-down-16-after-the-third?-No-big-deal-Michigan-State- will- melt- down-for us-like-they-always-do” personality. Anyway, the Notre Dame defense is just flat out bad. Luckily, the Spartans went more conservative in the second half than Chan Gailey with an 8 point lead against Virginia Tech on a Thursday night.
Kentucky (+23.5) at #5 Florida
MP: UF - 38, UK - 17
AR: UF - 26, UK - 7
A bit of a letdown, as expected, between playing at Tennessee and the Armageddon of a schedule they have the next three weeks. The Gators ran for a lot of yards and threw for even more against an awful Kentucky defense, but the scoreboard didn’t really reflect that. I’d say that’s more of a reflection on how lethargic Florida was in the early going than anything else.
Straight Up: 7-0
Against the Spread: 4-3
Well, it seems I’ve come crashing back to Earth, at least as far as picking against the spread is concerned. And picking all seven favorites to win (six of them at home), doesn’t exactly make me…all together now…Nostra-fucking-domas, as my record this week in the “competition” would indicate. But I’ll happily take an unbeaten record any day of the week.
Some quick thoughts:
Virginia (+13.5) at Georgia Tech
My Prediction: GT - 28, UVA - 14
Actual Result: GT - 24, UVA - 7
I was right in that Virginia was unable to get anything going offensively with a first-time starter at quarterback. The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, impressed me by jumping all over them in the first half. However, Tech had a bit of a problem putting the Cavs away. That’s something they’ll need to work on if they hope to finish off a team that possesses a little more firepower on offense.
Colorado (+24) at #9 Georgia
MP: UGA - 17, CU - 10
AR: UGA - 14, CU - 13
Right in the outcome, not in the execution. As expected, a couple of good defenses kept this game close, though I thought the Bulldogs would be the ones setting the tempo and trying to salt it away in the fourth quarter. Georgia always seems to sleepwalk through the first halves of 12:30 games, and this one was no exception. Credit goes to the Colorado staff for putting together a good offensive game plan. The boot plays they ran in the first half kept Georgia’s aggressive pass rushers off balance. A lot of bad things will be pointed out on the tape, but it’s hard to discredit the momentum and character that a tough win like this can bring to a team.
#24 Penn State (+16.5) at #1 Ohio State
MP: OSU - 27, PSU - 13
AR: OSU - 28, PSU - 6
You know a game is boring when the biggest story coming from it is Joe Paterno going to take a shit before halftime. Anyway, the Penn State defense really showed me something in giving up just two touchdowns. It’s just too bad Anthony Morelli had to have a total meltdown in the last couple of minutes. A solid win for the Buckeyes, but I just don’t buy into the whole idea ESPN has of penciling them into the national title game right now.
#20 Arizona State (+7.5) at #22 California
MP: UCB - 31, ASU - 21
AR: UCB - 49, ASU - 21
Dirk Koetter once again shows his team is not quite ready for primetime after a quick 3-0 start. They got absolutely blitzed in a second quarter where Nate Longshore tossed three touchdown passes and Rudy Carpenter threw a pick six. Either Cal has finally got things going, or these are just the same old Sun Devils. Maybe we’ll see a real mutiny after all.
Alabama (+1.5) at Arkansas
MP: AK - 17, AL - 13
AR: AK - 24, AL - 23
I just want to know how Mike Shula refused to send kicker Jamie Christiansen out there for the extra point after Leigh Tiffin missed three field goals in regulation. He claims the injured kicker (who won three games last season) hadn’t gotten enough reps after an injury. So, you’re going to tell me that Christiansen can’t go out and convert an EXTRA POINT with the game on the line because he hasn’t gotten enough reps? Personally, I’d have more faith in Kenneth Darby putting one through the uprights than the kid who’d already MISSED THREE FIELD GOALS!!! I can’t say anything else about this game.
#12 Notre Dame (-3.5) at Michigan State
MP: ND - 34, MSU - 27
AR: ND - 40, MSU - 37
Looks like there’s a fourth personality of this schizophrenic Notre Dame team that I failed to account for. The “we’re-down-16-after-the-third?-No-big-deal-Michigan-State- will- melt- down-for us-like-they-always-do” personality. Anyway, the Notre Dame defense is just flat out bad. Luckily, the Spartans went more conservative in the second half than Chan Gailey with an 8 point lead against Virginia Tech on a Thursday night.
Kentucky (+23.5) at #5 Florida
MP: UF - 38, UK - 17
AR: UF - 26, UK - 7
A bit of a letdown, as expected, between playing at Tennessee and the Armageddon of a schedule they have the next three weeks. The Gators ran for a lot of yards and threw for even more against an awful Kentucky defense, but the scoreboard didn’t really reflect that. I’d say that’s more of a reflection on how lethargic Florida was in the early going than anything else.
posted by lconneff | 4:49 PM
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