Recharged, Refreshed and Energized!

Hello, out there in blogging land!  I've returned, like Douglas MacArthur, to my blog after a loooong weekend of travelling, trains, and fun.  Friday, I went to a very exciting high school football game (my team won 40-34) but I didn't get home until almost midnight.  Then, I had to get up early (6:30) in the morning to travel to NYC for the New York City Comicon.  All I can say is, if you ever have a chance to get to comic-con in NYC, do it.  It's like nothing I've ever seen before.  There are so many people in the Javits Center that it's like navigating a crowded highway in a car.  To top it all off, most people are wearing costumes, so it's like you're on the way to a Halloween party.  I didn't dress up, and I was perfectly happy not wearing a costume.  On Sunday, I had to take relatives that were visiting for the weekend to Woodbury Commons, a local outlet mall located 20 minutes from my house.  After that, we got together as a family and enjoyed a cookout.  Today was my relax, do nothing and recharge day.  That's exactly what I did.  But, I know why you're here....and it's not to listen to me go over my weekend plans.  So, without further ado, let's get to the weekend's action!

Game #1 - Illinois (-5) vs. Rutgers - I told you.  I told you that Rutgers was bad.  So, needless to say, the Fighting Illini went into Rutgers and handled them pretty easily.  Not too much in the way of passing from A.J. Bush, but he did run the ball pretty well (118 yds. and 2 TD's) so he can be a dual threat quarterback.  Reggie Corbin led the Illini on the ground with 137 yards and another touchdown, and Ricky Smalling caught a touchdown pass in the 38-17 win for the Illini.  Also, the Illini played good defense (for once) on the year, picking off Arthur Sitkowski 3 times.  I can't say too much more about Rutgers....I'm getting tired of using the same words.  Rutgers might not win a game this season.  They're already 23 point underdogs to Maryland, a team that looks like it might come together and win a few more games here and become bowl eligible, a great achievement for a team that was soooo far in darkness.

The "Blackout" crowd on the campus of Rutgers University.  Should be called more of a "silver-out" as there look to be more stands than people.

Final Score - Illinois 38, Rutgers 17
My Record through this game - 5-1


Game #2 - Kentucky (+6.5) vs. Texas A&M -  This was a good defensive struggle that had ZERO offense.  I mean, c'mon Kentucky.....your offense, which was averaging almost 30 points a game, scores 7?!  7!  They had to rely on a late defensive touchdown from their defense to force the game into overtime, and that's when things got really nuts.  The first series in overtime, Kentucky gets the ball and moves it backwards.  Yes, they moved the ball backwards (penalties and lost yardage).  So, on comes the field goal kicker for Kentucky (Myles Butler), who (I thought) was more than capable of making a 43 yard field goal.  Or, so I thought.

So, on to the second series in overtime, where Texas A&M is trying their darndest to score.  Run, 10 yards.  Pass, 5 yards.  They have the ball 1st and 10 at the Kentucky 14 (or somewhere around there) and they throw a screen pass to the running back.  Kentucky's defense forgets how to tackle, or took lessons from Deion Sanders on how to tackle and allows the back in the end zone.

  I'm just glad they didn't kick the extra point.  Phew!  I escape with this one.


Final Score - Texas A&M 20, Kentucky 14
My Record through this game - 6-1

Game #3 - NC State (-5) vs. Boston College

I knew this was too good to last.  I knew the winning streak couldn't continue.  BUT, at least I didn't lose this week (yet).  I wrote about how A.J. Dillon was a game time decision and Boston College's fate would hang in his shoes.  Well, I was right.  Dillon didn't play, and the Eagles' leading rusher only ran for 90 yards.  But, the Wolfpack did everything they could to lose this game.  Turn the ball over four times?  Check.  Have two kicks blocked?  Check.  Have to convert a third and long in the fourth quarter to keep the ball and keep the clock running?  Check.  Boston College scored 20 straight points in the fourth quarter to make the game interesting, and then attempted an onside kick.  The wolfpack recovered, and then it was kneeldown mode.  The wolfpack hang on and move to 5-0 this season in the ACC, a much better and rejuvenated conference than most people think.

Wolf Pack is Back!

Final Score - NC State 28, Boston College 23 (A push!)
My Record through this game - 6-1-1

And, now, we've reached the bad portion of the show, ladies and gentlemen.......the two losses of the week!

Loooser, Loooser, Loooser!

Game #4 - Mizzou (+1) vs. South Carolina

I thought Drew Lock and the Mizzou offense would come to play and beat an underachieving South Carolina team.  They did everything but win the game.  Lock didn't throw any touchdown passes, but Missouri outgained South Carolina 490-377 and outrushed them 286-128.  You have 286 rushing yards and you DON'T WIN!!!  What universe is this??  There were many external factors that played into this game as well....for example, an hour and 16 minute lightning delay, followed by Mizzou kicking a field goal to go ahead 35-34, then a first time starting quarterback (Michael Scarnecchia) leads the Gamecocks on a 53 yard drive which led to a game winning field goal.  I understand that it was wet and dreary, but the Mizzou defense needs to do a better job of actively playing defense and not just going into the "shell" prevent like so many teams do.  Unfortunately, I lost this one.

Final Score - South Carolina 37, Mizzou 35
My Record through this game - 6-2-1

Game #5 - Rice (-1) vs. UTSA

I should've listened to my own advice.  All week, I was thinking about the roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote clip that I put on here on Thursday.  All I could think was, "What if you replaced the coyote with an owl and that was actually how the game turned out....Well, it was.  Rice couldn't do anything, UTSA ran away with the win, and Rice is now worse off for losing that game.

                 Replace Wile E. Coyote with an owl and you have the game between Rice and UTSA....

Final Score - UTSA 20, Rice 3
My Record through this game - 6-3-1

Games I like this week (at first glance):

Georgia Tech -3 vs. Duke
Texas A&M -2 at South Carolina
West Virginia -6 at Iowa State
Indiana +5 vs. Iowa

Be Back later with more details......