NCAA football: Five to watch for this weekend

#21 Arizona @ #1 Oregon- The Ducks can clinch a BCS berth and at least a share of the Pac-10 title with a victory over Arizona Friday night.  Oregon comes in near the top of the nation in all major offensive categories, averaging 50.7 points per game and 542 yards of total offense.  However, after squeaking by Cal last week in which they were held to just 15 points, they will see a Wildcat defense today that is no slouch.  The 20^th ranked defense nationally, Arizona also boasts a passing attack that puts up over 300 yards per game led by Nick Foles.  Rainy weather slows the passing attack and LaMichael James and company rebound in a big way, Oregon wins 42-21.

#2 Auburn @ #11 Alabama- Ah the Iron Bowl.  Alabama is pretty good at home, having won 20 straight in Tuscaloosa in dominating fashion.  They have allowed one rushing touchdown during that streak and in 19 of those 20 wins have held the opposing team to 15 points or less.  They are also 5-0 versus nationally ranked opponents.  Enter Cam Newton and the #2 ranked Auburn Tigers.  Newton looks to put a cap on a Heisman trophy caliber season and also keep BCS title hopes alive.  Newton has accounted for 39 touchdowns in 11 games and has a chance to pass for 2,500 yards and rush for 1,500 yards, which no NCAA quarterback has ever accomplished.  I liked Alabama coming into this season and despite two losses I like them now.  From top to bottom this roster has more talent but Cam Newton has been the hands down most electrifying player in the nation.   However, I feel that defense always wins games.  Combine Alabama’s stalwart defense and a vicious rivalry-hungry home crowd, and Alabama pulls off the minor upset 24-17.

               

#4 Boise @ #19 Nevada- How hot is Boise State?  They come into Reno riding a 24 game win streak, which includes a November in which they have outscored Hawaii, Idaho and Fresno State 145-21.  Led by Heisman hopeful Kellen Moore, this Boise offense looks to stay on track against a rare ranked opponent.  Opposite Kellen Moore is Colin Kaepernick, one of the best kept secrets in football running one of the most exciting offenses, the Pistol.  Kaepernick is among the nations leaders, averaging over 300 yards of offense per game out of his half cocked shotgun style offense.  The real battle in this game though is in the trenches.  Nevada’s senior running back Vai Taua is the active leader with 24 career 100-yard rushing performances.  He will have a tough task against Boise’s number one rush defense, only allowing 72 yards per game.  As I said before, defense wins games.  It also helps to have Kellen Moore who doesn’t know what it means to throw an interception.  Boise State creeps past TCU in the polls with a decisive victory over a ranked opponent and possibly gains some much deserved respect.  Boise wins 35-24.

#13 Oklahoma @ #9 Oklahoma State- The Cowboys comes into this game as the higher ranked team for just the fourth time in series history and have not beat the Sooners since 2002.  Oklahoma State holds a one game lead in the Big 12 South and can clinch a berth in the conference title game for the first time with a victory Saturday night.  Coach Gundy’s team boasts an offense that averages 552 yards per game led by one of the nation’s best trio’s, quarterback Brandon Weeden, running back Kendal Hunter and wideout Justin Blackmon.  The Cowboys have won ten games in the regular season for the first time in school history.  Two premier wideouts, Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles and Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon look to prove they are the best target in the state as Kendall Hunter looks to show the Cowboys can also run the ball at will.  The Cowboys have said all week they like to feel like underdogs and I believe that focus will help this team continue its winning ways and send Bob Stoops and his crew home packin.  Oklahoma State wins 45-38.

Colorado @ #15 Nebraska- Yes Huskers fans I have you as my upset special yet again.  With Cody Green set to start as Taylor Martinez nurses a bum ankle, a red hot Colorado team looks to take advantage.  The Buffaloes have averaged 441 yards per game in November, 100 more than they have all season.  Junior tailback Rodney Stewart has almost 500 yards and five touchdowns in the last three contests, which could pose a problem for a Huskers defense ranked 57^th nationally against the run.  Don’t look for QB Cody Hawkins to air it out much though because Nebraska has the number one ranked pass defense in the country led by Thorpe Award finalist Prince Amukamura, say that five times fast.  The Cornhuskers can clinch a Big-12 North title with a victory or a Missouri loss to Kansas but I don’t expect either to happen.   The loss of Martinez is too much against a Colorado team with nothing to lose, Colorado pulls off the upset 27-21.

It was tough to pick five matchups this week.  Forced to leave a few out but also pay attention to the Backyard Brawl as Pitt faces off against WVU with both teams looking to keep Big East title hopes alive.  Also keep an eye on LSU vs. Arkansas if you want to see Ryan Mallett’s rocket arm against perhaps the best overall defensive player in the nation, cornerback Patrick Peterson. 

By Ian Hanford

Weekend Watch!

Filling you in on the can’t miss games of the weekend. Unless you honestly have something better to do.

Let’s start with the NFL, or as the big boys are calling it these days, the No Fun League.

Enjoy!

Oakland @ Pittsburgh – Black and Silver vs. Black and Yellow. Rap lyrics, or a game of  great magnitude this weekend?  If you selected C, all of the above, you are correct.  The last time the Steelers and Raiders played a meaningful game in November Marcus Allen was still playing for the black hole.  Oakland is 5-4, leading the AFC West and seems to be getting stronger each week, which isn’t peachy news if you are a Steelers fan because William Gay and his distressing secondary have allowed 272.6 passing yards per game since Oct. 17, sixth most in the league. And don’t forget Oakland waltzed into Pittsburgh last November and defeated the Steelers as heavy underdogs. Bruce Gradkowski won homecoming king and the Steelers were left without a date to the prom as the Raider defeat was the first of what was a 3 game losing streak at the wrong time for Pittsburgh (Kansas City and Cleveland followed), ultimately ensuing in Pittsburgh missing the playoffs. So who does this game mean more to you ask? The answer is the Steelers. Could you imagine the talks of déjà vu around the burgh’ if they were to fall?  This is a different Steelers team compared to last year. They’re resilient, led by their QB Ben Roethlisberger who will have an immense bounce-back game. And on the opposite side there’s no Kenny Stabler, or Bruce Gradkowski for that matter, but a historically inconsistent quarterback in Jason Campbell. Look for the Steelers to shut down Darren Mcfadden and Oakland’s rushing attack, thus resulting in Campbell and company struggling in the pass game.  And don’t forget the much anticipated regular season Steeler debut of Shaun Suisham. They won’t need him for much other then extra points.

-      -Take the Steelers. 21-10

New York Giants @ Philadelphia – Or should I say the Giants @ Michael Vick? (Stupid). Yeah I said it . . .Andy Reid has built the most dynamic, powerful, quick-strike offense that football has seen in a long time. Lesean Mccoy, Desean Jackson, and Jeremy Maclin, three individuals that can take it the distance on any play, surrounding MVP Candidate Michael Vick, how do you say that's not fair in code language? New York appeared to be the best team in the NFC until last week when they lost 33-20 to the fighting Jon Kitna’s. Eli Manning decided to illustrate once again why he will never be as reliable as his brother, and a Giants defense that came into the game ranked #1 in the league surrendered 430 yards to a rather helpless attack. Although Vick hasn’t defeated a top 15 NFL defense yet this season, how can you bet against this guy right now? Also remember the Eagles put up totals of 85 points and 765 yards in sweeping the season series from the G-men a season ago. All signs point to Philly as they take control of the NFC East.

-Eagles 30 Giants 20

Green Bay @ Minnesota - Hmm, I think I’ve seen this movie before. Brett Favre vs. his former foe again? Oh wait, that's Something About Mary. Listen up people, this game is no longer about Brett Favre. It’s about Aaron Rodgers. The current Packers QB will try and not do his best favre impression, and attempt to throw the ball to his own team.  I guess Brett has another excuse though if he happens to throw a few more interceptions. He threw to the guys in green for 17 years. Sidney Rice comes back, but can’t salvage this game, or the season for Minnesota. Take the Packers here silly, 19-16

Indianapolis @ New England- Wow. Get ready for some serious homoerotic comments from Phil Simms. Set your Tivo. More importantly, it's Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning!!!!!!!! But not really. This is the Colts vs. the Patriots. Not Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, these men won't be hitting each other. My mother once told me football was a team game, and boy was she spot on. Right now the Patriots are looking more like a team, although Tom Brady has been as much of a one man army this season as Peyton Manning is every. Interesting storyline and subplot to follow . .this game will feature a different cast then we’re used to viewing. There will be no Dallas Clark or Austin Collie, but a Jacob Tamme and a Pierre Garcon. For New England, no Randy Moss or Kevin Faulk, but a Brandon Tate and a kid called Woodhead. Look for the role players to play a bigger role then you would originally think. Obviously though, there is a constant, and that is and has been Peyton Manning and Tom Brady who just happen to still be playing some of the most epic football of their career. To me, this is a coin toss. The Colts defense has struggled recently against the pass, and the patriots offense seems to finally have hit their moss-less stride. Take Tom Brady to land the knock out blow.

Patriots 30 Colts 26

UPSET SPECIAL:

49ERS OVER BUCCANEERS. 25 -20

Troy Smith has this team believing once again. He also hates Pirates.

This post is brought to you by: Mike Nicastro – who ironically finds he has a great deal of fun while watching the NFL.

Now for the league with the kids who do not get paid....at least for the most part.


By Ian Hanford

#9 Ohio State @ #20 Iowa-The Buckeyes walk in to Iowa City against the best three loss team in the nation.  Iowa averages over thirty points per game at home against conference opponents despite having the toughest home conference schedule in the Big Ten.  Ohio State needs to grab early momentum unlike last week against Penn State in order to keep pace for the conference lead.  Led by Adrian Clayborn and one of the best twelfth men in the nation, Iowa wins 21-17. 

      #7 Wisconsin @ Michigan- Coming off a Big Ten record tying 83 point performance against conference foe Indiana, Wisconsin looks to maintain the inside track in the conference race.  As electric as Denard Robinson is for Michigan, sadly he cannot improve the 93^rd ranked red zone touchdown defense.  Combine that with Wisconsin’s offense being the best in the nation at punching in touchdowns in the redzone, and Wisconsin wins going away 38-17. 


     #13 Arkansas @ #21 Mississippi State- Led by Ryan Mallett, the Razorbacks are third in the nation in pass offense and thirteenth in scoring offense.  Though both of these teams are out of SEC title contention, bowl position is still up for grabs.  Mississippi State looks to get the Vick Ballard led run game back on track after a tough loss to Bama.  Mallett is too much as Arkansas wins 31-14 

      #16 Virginia Tech @ #24 Miami- Virginia Tech can claim the ACC coastal division crown with a victory on Saturday.  Stephen Morris will make his third straight start for the Canes, who are coming off of two straight victories.  Tyrod Taylor shows young Morris what a veteran plays like and the Hokies win 27-14. 


      #8 Nebraska @ #19 Texas A&M-   In my upset special this week, Ryan Tannehill leads an Aggies team that has won four straight games for the first time since 2006.  The Cornhuskers are tenth in the nation in scoring defense and hold the inside edge to win the Big Twelve North.  Despite the staunch scoring defense of the Huskers, Tannehll continues to pace an offense averaging 312 yards through the air in its last four wins.  Aggies win 24-21.