The Crier

The Rundown

It looks like 110% effort just isn’t enough to beat Tim Shields some weeks.

Andy Griesbaum · Sport · Oct 27, 2007

A weaker soul might be disheartened by this fact, but not me. Giving it your best is what the game is all about. Knowing that you have left all of your effort out on the field of battle is where the true satisfaction comes from. So Tim, I say to you, you may beat me nine times out of ten, but I’m gonna be there gunning for you every week. Good luck, my esteemed nemesis. On another note, a tip of the cap is in order for (2) Boston College. They earned their rank last night with a come from behind victory over (8) Virginia Tech. Heisman hopeful Matt Ryan threw two touchdown passes in the last two minutes and eleven seconds of the game to lead the Eagles over the Hokies 14-10. A torrential downpour limited the offenses of both sides for the majority of the game. Ryan was able to rally when the rain stopped though, and get his passing attack going. BC also deserves credit in the academic arena. They graduate over 90 percent of their scholarship athletes while the majority of big time athletic schools graduate around 60 percent. Seventeen members of their football team have already received their degrees. Kudos to BC on maintaining academic integrity while achieving athletic excellence, which is what college sports should really be about.

Three Games to Watch:

(9) USC at (5) Oregon 3:00pm Eastern
This is the first time in USC’s past 45 conference games that they have been the underdogs. It’s also the first time two top-10 teams have played each other in the history of Autzen Stadium. I bet there will be some crazy Ducks up in Eugene on Saturday. If Oregon wins this game, USC will finally be dethroned from their position atop the Pac-10. Go Ducks Go! USC quarterback Mark Sanchez’s father may be heroically battling the fires in San Diego County this weekend, but I really want to see his son’s team lose. Everyone has been talking about how impressive their 38-0 victory over Notre Dame was. If I remember correctly, a certain team hailing from Ann Arbor, MI also beat the Irish 38-0. I’m not impressed USC. Let’s see how your defense stacks up against one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Running back Jonathan Stewart rushed for 251 yards last week against Washington, establishing himself as one of the premier backs in the country. Not to mention quarterback Dennis Dixon can burn you on the ground or through the air. Oregon set a school record last week for rushing yards in a game and came within six of breaking the record for total offense. USC’s always strong D should pose a little bit more of a challenge than Washington’s, but Oregon is clicking right now. I’d wish the Trojans good luck if I didn’t want to see them embarrassed on Saturday, but I do. Go Ducks!
Prediction: Oregon over USC 45-28

(20) Georgia at (9) Florida 3:30pm Eastern
Tim Tebow, the “freak of nature” according to Georgia Coach Mark Richt, is coming home to Jacksonville on Saturday. Florida’s sophomore quarterback comes into the game leading the nation in passer rating, 177.5, and has thrown for 17 touchdowns and rushed for 10. The numbers alone are ridiculous, but when you add in that he’s only a sophomore and he runs like a fullback, Tebow becomes one of the scariest players in college football. He currently has a banged up shoulder and Coach Urban Meyer restricted him to no-contact in practice this week, but something tells me that won’t affect Tebow’s play on Saturday. Tebow may be the one having the monster season, but Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford was the number one quarterback prospect in the class of 2006. Tebow was number 2. Stafford could show why he had that ranking against the Gators. Their secondary is shaky at best, and safety Major Wright just had surgery to repair a broken thumb. He’s expected to play, but I doubt that he’ll be 100% after a Monday surgery. The Bulldogs have lost 15 of the past 17 games to the Gators, and I think the trend will continue.
Prediction: Florida over Georgia 35-17

(15) South Carolina at Tennessee (7:45, Eastern)
Both of these teams are coming off of humiliating defeats. Vanderbilt upset South Carolina 17-6 and Alabama blew out Tennessee 41-17. South Carolina and supposed offensive mastermind Steve Spurrier have yet to figure out how to move the ball. They average 340.5 yards per game of total offense, 93rd out of 119 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Last week against Vanderbilt they only managed 195 yards of total offense. Their quarterbacks combined for 3 interceptions and their offensive line had 5 false starts. Not so hot for a team that was ranked sixth in the nation at one point. Spurrier has an impressive 10-6 record against the Volunteers and an 8-4 record against Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer in his career. Fulmer on the other hand, has a 13-1 record against South Carolina. Mathematics cannot be relied on to decide this one. Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge was on his game against ‘Bama, going 22-for-35 with 243 yards in the air, but his main target, Lucas Taylor was bothered by a toe injury and only had two catches. Taylor’s injury is apparently still nagging him. This does not bode well with a South Carolina secondary looming in the shadows that leads the nation in passing defense, allowing 145.9 yards per game. I think Spurrier will come up with some tricks and be the thorn in Fulmer’s side once again.
Prediction: South Carolina over Tennessee 24-21

Upset of the Week:
A top-10 team has to lose this week if there’s going to be any continuity to this season, and I’m thinking Arizona St. is looking like they want to be that team. Sun Devil Quarterback Rudy Carpenter had an abysmal game, 16-for-36 with 4 interceptions. The Bears know how to defend him. Nate Longshore is coming off of a bad game against UCLA and he’s the type of quarterback that rebounds well from an embarrassing outing. I predict that he and Justin Forsett will break out against the Sun Devils and keep the Bears in the top-25.
Prediction: California over Arizona St. 35-24

My Top 5
1) Ohio St. - They survived last week’s match-up with Michigan State, and now they have a tough game going into Penn State. Anthony Morelli actually looked like a real quarterback last week, but that doesn’t really matter for Penn State. because the Buckeyes D is too good. The only ones with a shot at beating the Buckeyes are our Wolverines.

2) LSU - It’s between them and Boston College, and BC just doesn’t have the same kind of power that LSU does. LSU showed its moxy again last week against Auburn, going for the endzone rather than a game winning field goal. I heard that Michigan was Les Miles’ dream job. If only…

3) Boston College - They protected their undefeated season last night from (8) Virginia Tech. Matt Ryan fought through the rain to show why he’s a candidate for the Heisman. I won’t say he deserves it because it’s obvious that Mike Hart should get it.

4) Oregon - Their defense might not be too hot, but their offense will melt your face. Things looked bad when running back Jeremiah Johnson injured his knee, but Jonathan Stewart showed he could carry the team all by himself, going for 251 yards. Just beastly.

5) West Virginia - Any team with Pat White and Steve Slaton is just plain dangerous. They’ve got two ways of burning you, whereas their opponent on Saturday, (25) Rutgers, just has Ray Rice. They’ll win that one, but the rest of their schedule has the potential for being very tough.