The Crier

The Rundown

I’ve never been one to brag, but I beat the inhuman Tim Shields last week.

Andy Griesbaum · Sport · Oct 19, 2007

Everyone told me it couldn’t be done, but I gave 110% and proved all the naysayers wrong with my work ethic, grit, and determination. Hours spent ignoring schoolwork and watching ESPN have finally paid off. I don’t take weeks off either. I’m out there every day putting it all on the line, so don’t expect any less for the rest of the season. Okay, on to this week in college football. Second ranked South Florida just lost to unranked Rutgers. This makes two seasons in a row where Rutgers has upset a top 5 team, albeit this year their hopes of a championship season are already over. Last year, their upset of (3) Louisville sparked a run that established Rutgers as a new threat in college football. This year they were just there to spill punch on Cinderella’s dress. The South Florida Bulls won’t be making a miraculous run to the national championship this year, but can still take pride in how far their program has come in only ten years of existence. Something tells me that the Bulls won’t be the only ranked team to fall this weekend so let’s start looking at some of the match-ups.

Three Games to Watch:

1. (18) Auburn at (5) LSU:

This game should decide the SEC West champion. Last week, Kentucky proved that LSU was a beatable team, knocking them back to 5th in the rankings. These are the two teams that have dealt Florida their only losses this year. Auburn’s victory might have been the more impressive because they did it in the Swamp whereas LSU’s victory was at home in Baton Rouge. The key to this game is going to be the defenses. Glenn Dorsey and the Tigers D are going to be angry after giving up 43 points to Kentucky. Auburn’s offense, led by quarterback Brandon Cox, is going to have to step up their game if they want any success in Baton Rouge. After scoring only nine points against an underwhelming Arkansas team last week, this could be a problem. On the other hand, the Tigers defense held Heisman candidate Darren McFadden to only 43 rushing yards last week, a statistic that doesn’t bode well for an LSU offense that relies mainly on the run. Their hoss of a running back Jacob Hester had to leave the game last week against Kentucky, but should be ready to go on Saturday. I predict a defensive struggle, with LSU coming out on top 13-10.

1. (22) Texas Tech at (15) Missouri:

Missouri lost last week to a very good Oklahoma team, but it can be argued that the Sooners didn’t beat them. The Tigers beat themselves with dumb mistakes and turnovers. Coach Gary Pinkel probably had something to say about that in practice this week and I bet the Tigers come out determined and ready. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and quarterback Chase Daniel provided the majority of the Tigers’ offense last week and they’ll be called on again due to the lack of running back Tony Temple, who’s out with an ankle injury. The real test will be Missouri’s passing defense against the high octane Tech passing attack. Defensive back Pig Daniel was frequently in the right place at the right time against Oklahoma, but couldn’t seem to make the play that would turn the tide of the game. He’ll have to make those plays if Mizzou wants to control Tech’s offense. Tech’s true freshman wide receiver Michael Crabtree has been one of the nation’s biggest surprises this year with 17 receiving touchdowns and 1244 receiving yards. Those are great numbers for an entire season, and we’re only a little over halfway through this one. Tech quarterback Graham Harrell and Chase Daniel should have a great duel on Saturday. I predict Mizzou wins 45-37.

1. (20) Tennessee at Alabama:

The odds makers are calling this game 50/50. This rare occurrence is foretelling what should be a great game. Tennessee has recovered from an early embarrassing loss to Florida by winning three straight games, the most impressive being over then (12) Georgia. Quarterback Erik Ainge has stepped up his game, throwing for 6 touchdowns in those victories. In order to get to Ainge, the Alabama defense is going to have to get through one of the best offensive lines in football. The big men up front for Tennessee have only allowed two sacks the entire season. Bama’s quarterback isn’t too bad himself. John Parker Wilson, older brother of more famous Ross Wilson, the quarterback on MTV’s Two-a-Days, has been on a hot streak lately. He’ll have to keep it up against the Tennessee defense, which has turned itself around. In their first three games they allowed 41.0 points per game while in the last three games they’ve only allowed 20.7 points per game. I predict a tight game, with Alabama eventually coming out on top 24-21.

Upset of the Week:

Colorado is going to beat (15) Kansas. This Colorado team has already beaten Oklahoma, proving that they’re perfectly capable of stopping high-powered offenses. When I went to football camp at Kansas State, we used to joke that Kansas football doesn’t have a website because they don’t know how to string together three w’s. The Jayhawks have won their first six games of the season, rendering the joke meaningless, but this only means they’re long overdue for a loss. They haven’t won in Boulder in 12 years, and the Buffaloes have already proved they’re giant killers.

My Top 5 Teams:

1) Ohio State - They’re the best of the undefeated teams and will remain at the top of the list until they lose. People might say that they play a week schedule, but at least they’ve won convincingly against all of the patsies they play.

2) LSU - I’m gonna say that if Jacob Hester hadn’t left the game against Kentucky, they would have been able to convert that final 2nd down and 4 yards to go. LSU’s defense and solid running game make them a force to be reckoned with.

3) Kentucky - Heisman candidate Andre’ Woodson proved himself against LSU, leading the Kentucky offense to 43 points against what is considered the best defense in the country. We’ll see what happens when they take on Florida this weekend.

4) South Carolina - They deserve this spot because Boston College has played the weakest schedule of all the top teams and they’ve barely pulled away from all the games with wins. Also, Oklahoma has proven itself beatable and they looked very beatable against Mizzou last Saturday.

5) West Virginia - Pat White and Steve Slaton are scary good and their only loss this year came against South Florida when Pat White was injured.