TWICF - This Week in College Football: 12/3/11

The Week That Was

This was a quiet week for upsets as all of the favorites won including:

• #1 LSU over #3 Arkansas which was close for the first quarter, than LSU woke up thanks to Tyrann Mathieu’s 92 yard punt return and the Tigers then proceeded to run over the Razorbacks 41 -17. 
• Michigan ended its 7 year drought against the Buckeyes, 40 – 34.  As I was cheering for the Wolverines, I was impressed by Freshman QB Braxton Miller.  If a couple of passes did not sail on him, the Buckeyes could have won this.  I am happy I can say “GO BLUE!!!!”  With Urban Meyer coming, he and Brady Hoke could be the next chapter of Woody vs. Bo.
• One point I would like to make about the Michigan / Ohio State game is the about the commentating of Chris Spielman.  Mr. Spielman is not just an alumni of OSU, but one its best players in history and when I heard he was calling the game, I was thinking, this will be one sided.  I could not have been more wrong.  Chris Spielman was professional, critical and congratulatory of both teams throughout the entire game.  I know it must have been killing him, but he did an outstanding job.  A lot of athletes looking to jump into the broadcast booth should listen to Chris Spielman.

The Top Ten Rankings for this Week

1. LSU
As noted above, the Tigers beat the Razorbacks and now will face Georgia for the SEC Championship.  As much as Georgia has been on a role, it ends here.  The Tigers are on a mission with Les Miles leading them.  Tigers win this by 21 as they go to the BCS Championship game

2. Alabama
Bama won their grudge match and got some redemption as the beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl  42 – 14.  Now they wait to see if LSU wins setting up some discussion, but in the end they will play against LKSU for the title.

3. Oklahoma State
The Cowboys were off last week and now they get their chance to have a say in the title game.  They play Oklahoma for the Big 12 title, with the winner going BCS bowling, and the runner up most likely joining them.  The Cowboys need this more, if they want a chance to get in the title game.  They will go all out and win a close but high scoring game by 10 in the fourth quarter, and then wait their fate.

4. Stanford
Cardinal QB Andrew Luck started strong with 3 first half touchdown passes as Stanford easily got past Notre Dame 28 – 14.  They now wait which BCS bowl they will go to in January

5. Virginia Tech
The Hokies quickly dispatched their in-state rival Virginia 38 – 0.  They now play in the ACC Championship game vs. a Clemson team that has fallen on hard times of late.  I think the Hokies get revenge on their only loss of the season and continue the Tigers woes.  Hokies by 10.

6. Houston
Houston had little difficulty with Tulsa as they won 48 – 16 and now playing a tough Southern Mississippi team.  Cougar QB Case Keenum won’t be as amazing as he has so far this year (4726 yards passing, 43 TD and only 3 Int) but the Cougars get their first BCS Bowl game with a win in this game.  Houston by 21.

7. Boise State 
The Broncos keep pushing Houston for the non BCS conference bid as they beat Wyoming 36 – 14.  Now they have to get some luck and win their game vs. New Mexico.  They will go 1 for 2, beating New Mexico by 24, but the Cougars get the automatic bid.  They will have to wait to see where they are going.

8. Arkansas
The Razorbacks played LSU tough for about a quarter and a half, but then experienced what every other team has gone through as they lost 41 – 17.  Now they wait to see where they go bowling this season.

9. Oregon
The Ducks had little trouble with the Beavers of Oregon State winning  49 – 21.  Now they host the inaugural PAC-12 Championship game against a UCLA team with a fired coach.  As much as UCLA would like to win this for Rick Neuheisel, the Ducks are at home and too potent.  Oregon wins this ugly by 35.

10. Oklahoma
The Sooners were hoping their  26 – 6 win vs. Iowa State was a tune up for not just the Big 12 Championship, but the BCS title game, but too many mistakes cost them the chance at the title game.  They do get Oklahoma State for the Big 12 Championship, but they will end this the way their title hopes went, down the drain.  They lose by 10.

Heisman Update

This has been one crazy season trying to predict the Heisman Trophy.  Stanford QB Andrew Luck has been the front runner all season, with the likes of Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden, Houston Cougars QB Case Keenum, Alabama RB Trent Richardson, Wisconsin QB Russel Wilson, Boise State QB Kellen Moore and Oregon RB LaMichael James making a case for it, but there is one name missing that has been overshadowed by this great group of players, including his own QB, and should get serious consideration - Wisconsin Jr. RB Montee Ball. 

Ball is currently second in the nation in rushing with 1,622 yards, and a nation leading 34 touchdowns (29 rushing, 5 receiving and a 2 point conversation for 206 total points).  He has been the little engine that could all season to give up the spot light to his transfer QB Wilson.  Ball has rushed for over 100 yards in 8 of the Badgers 12 games, and over 200 yards twice, averaging 135 yards a game.  He has also caught 17 passes for the 5 touchdowns.  Montee has scored at least 1 touchdown in each game and 2 or more in 10 of the 12 games.  How someone with the second most touchdowns in a season in NCAA history (second to NCAA and NFL Hall of Famer and Heisman Trophy winner Oklahoma State’s Barry Sanders). 

I feel Luck has been the poster boy for the trophy all season and should win the trophy, but Montee Ball should get some votes and a seat in NY next to Luck, Richardson, Keenum and Weeden.

Game of the Week

#13 Michigan State vs. #15 Wisconsin at Lucas Oil Field, IN Saturday – 2:30pm on ABC If any game needed to be replayed it was this one.  The first game ends on a controversial “Hail Mary” pass as time expired as the Spartans beat the Badgers 37 – 31.  The game started out with the Badgers up early, the Spartans then took command to lead late to only see Wisconsin tie it up with less than a minute to go setting up the classic ending.  The Badgers title hopes went out the window with that catch.

This time around, the Badgers have a neutral field to play on in the inaugural Big Ten Championship game.  They have the offense with two possible Heisman candidates QB Russell Wilson and scoring machine RB Montee Ball, while the Spartans have the defense, led by All-American DE Jerel Worthy.  I think having the first game to look back on; I feel the Badgers will have too much going for them to lose a second time to Sparty.

Prediction:  No Hail Mary this time - Wisconsin wins by 7.

Season: 7 - 5 (LSU keeps me on the positive side)

Someone who could be in New England in 2012

Luke Kuechly, LB Boston College
I was not sure who I thought would be a good fit for this week, as we have hit most of the needs the Patriots have.  I decided to discuss it with the 60MaxPowerO.com website Editor, Dana Draper, and see what direction I should look at.  We were thinking a top WR, but after looking at mock drafts for the better part of last night and seeing the real three top receivers going before the 15^th pick, and some having as many as seven going in the first round, I decided to look in a different direction.

Boston College All-American Linebacker and tackling machine Luke Kuechly is only a Junior and there is no guarantee he is coming out this year, but if he does, mock drafts have him going mid to late first round.  This would be an excellent fit for the Patriots solidifying the middle for years to come, which would also allow Jerod Mayo to move to his more natural spot on the outside.  Kuechly has shown superior lateral movement and the ability to find the ball whether in someone’s hands (leads the nation in tackles this year with 191, 2 short of the NCAA record for a single season) or in the air with the3 interceptions this year.  Also in his favor is the height and weight (6’3” and 240) fit into Patriots scheme and fit for a linebacker.

If he comes out this year, the Patriots would be wise to grab him with either of their first round picks.

Previous possibilities:

11/25 – Michigan State DE Jerel Worthy

11/18 - Iowa WR Marvin McNutt

11/11 - LSU CB Morris Claiborne

11/4 – Michigan Center David Molk

10/28 – Alabama safety Mark Barron

Projected: Mid to late 1^st round.  Quality pick