"Week 2 Recap”
Written by Wendi
I know I am not the only one still trying to gauge teams. This was a very difficult week for the picks. At least in my opinion. About half of the games on the picks were decided by one score. It’s no shocker that the matchup between the Iowa’s was low scoring and full of field goals. Only one touchdown was scored and there was only 452 yards of total offense between the two teams. Final score was in favor of Iowa State 16-13. Iowa State sits at 3-0 and 12 of the last 14 meetings between these two teams have been decided by 10 points or less. Now that is a rivalry. Just not the biggest.
It took 2 OT and 1059 total yards to decide the Baylor and SMU game. SMU jumped to a 10-0 early lead but Baylor kept themselves in the game with explosive play from QB Robertson. He has put up some yardage the last couple of weeks. Multiple times during the game, Baylor was down two scores and worked their way back. Ultimately, SMU missed their field goal and Baylor made theirs to win 48-45.
Looking at the stats of the Illinois and Duke game, you would be amazed that the final score was 45-19. Duke had 438 yards compared to Illinois at 419. But those FIVE turnovers didn’t help Duke which made all the difference. It was only 14-13 at the half in the Illini’s favor but Illinois was just too much for Duke to handle in the second half and the game became a runaway. 45-19 Illinois.
The Virginia and NC State game went back and forth, back and forth…and back and forth. NC State was able to get a touchdown with under a minute left in the game that put them ahead 35-31. I am still trying to figure out how this was a "non-conference” game but they are in the same conference.
Missouri’s defense smothered Kansas’ explosive offense to only 251 total yards with only 28 of those yards being on the ground. Who knew Penn State’s transfer QB Pribula was that good? But that will also be decided when conference play starts. The game was tied 21 at the half but Missouri was able to pull away in the 4th quarter to win 42-31.
I remember having a conversation with David last week regarding Oregon State when we were talking picks. If I am not mistaken, the conversation went something like this-
Me: David, who do you like in this game?
David: Surely Oregon State isn’t going to lose twice at home, right?
Me: Oregon State is going to say "Hold my beer”
Yeah, that pretty much summed up that game. Especially on special teams. When the head coach does his halftime interview with the sideline reporter and says "Special teams are a F#@*ING joke”, you know its bad. And that wouldn’t be the only F bomb dropped. During a holding penalty as the ref was announcing it, the same lineman that was called for holding yells next to the mic "F!*K”. Things are not looking good in Corvallis. Freson State won 36-27.
But do not fret Beaver fans. Michigan looked just as bad. Our 5 star QB went 9 of 24 for 142 passing yards. So much for him saying "you ain’t seen a freshman like me”. Um, yes I have. Maybe it was the terrible play calling. Maybe it they didn’t want to put too much on him in a hostile road game. Whatever it was, it felt like last year all over again where we couldn’t throw a forward pass. Running up the middle was not working. When you’re down, there’s usually only one way to go right? Or do you just stay down? But honestly, Oklahoma looked really good. SEC better watch out. Oklahoma 24-13.
Texas State is still looking impressive over their shootout win over their I-35 rival (since 2012) UTSA. With six lead changes, the Bobcats got the last one and a 43-36 win. The Bobcats sit at 2-0 and will face Arizona State on the road this coming weekend. Virginia Tech had a 20-10 lead at the half but put up no other points in the second half against Vanderbilt. With five touchdowns in the second half for Vandy, they rallied to win 44-20. The Hokies now sit at 0-2 on the season and will look to rebound this weekend against in state foe Old Dominion.
12th ranked Arizona State travelled to Mississippi State, and I think they left with the thought that "no one needs no more cowbell”. I made the mistake one year going to a bowl game when Michigan played Mississippi State. A few minutes into the game, I already had a terrible headache from hearing all those cowbells. (Mich lost 52-17, so I heard it all game). I can only imagine what it sounded like for the Sun Devil players and fans. Even watching it on TV, that cowbell sound is all you can hear. It was so loud. The Bulldogs jumped to a quick 17-0 lead and it looked grim for AZ ST. But the Sun Devils came roaring back and took the lead 20-17. However, MSST scored a late touchdown to win 24-20.
I know the picks are out this week already but have yet to look at them as I type this. I hope they weren’t as challenging as this past week. Be gentle on us please. <Editors note: It’s not as bad as last week>
On to Pick'em’s…
Well, I am glad that I fared better than the goal I set. Which was 25 points. How did you all fare? I know David’s goal was 25 as well and he nailed his. He got exactly 25 but he slid a bit overall in the rankings while finishing 4th from the bottom weekly.
Adam and Sam are still cruising after week 2. Adam is in 1st still with Sam in 3rd not far behind. Mike H. sitting in second place just waiting on Adam to slip up… which we all know WILL happen eventually. But then again as is in the past, so will Mike H.
After a good showing in week 1 for the Meggers family, the same cannot be said for the second week. Neither Mike M, Sean, nor Rick finished higher than 6th for the week but Sean is sitting in 4th place overall tied with Chris so Sean needs to stay consistent to stay at the top.
I think Kim and Noah are playing just to play at this point. They both took the biggest fall this week. Even though mom won the most points, she’s still only two points above last place. Marc and Cindie are trying to do just enough to stay afloat and not sink.
I did the math and out of 140 boxes (14 players, 10 games) it was almost 50/50 on the red and green. 76 green to 64 red. I knew there would be a lot of red as all of these games this past weekend could have gone either way. There were a bunch of high points on SMU and Arizona State. And David had his 10 and 9 on those games that he lost.
Looking at the chart, Cindie and Chris are the only ones trending up. Chris took the biggest jump from 8th to 4th. Can he keep the momentum going?
Most points for the week: Evelyn was ale to rebound from her 8 points last week to nailing 41 points in a very challenging week. Congrats on the $20!
Least points for the week: Kim netted only 21 points which took her from the middle of the pack to the bottom.
Best pick of the week: Evelyn, Adam & Chris picking Mississippi State over Arizona State. All I kept hearing Saturday night from Sam in confusion was "Mississippi State wasn’t supposed to be good!”
Worst pick of the week: Let’s just say going 10 on your team probably isn’t the smartest thing to do. To be fair, I thought that no matter who I put my 10 on, I was at risk of losing it. So, go big or go home, right? Well, I was at home disappointed, and the Michigan Wolverines traveled home disappointed.
Letters to the Editor:
This one was submitted after the article last week referring to the Bama and FSU game.
"Alabama needs a lot of work on both offense and defense.”
I think Bama will be fine and Bama and the rest of the country was shocked to see FSU come out blazing the way they did.
"What’s Michigan’s outlook after the loss to Oklahoma?”
Not good if they are going back to the same playbook as last year with a 5* QB under center now.
"So, NOW Texas is back, right?”
It was San Jose St.
"Roses are red, violets are blue, wait that’s Michigan….I forgot the rest….what was it?”
I want to forget it to.
"What does a gator use to chomp with if he has no teeth?”
He uses a "bull” clamp.
Here are the rankings after Week 2:
1. Adam – 80 points
2. Mike H. – 79 points
3. Samuel – 76 points
4. Sean – 68 points
5. Chris – 68 points
6. Wendi – 65 points
7. Rick – 63 points
8. Cindie – 60 points
9. David – 57 points
10. Mike M. – 55 points
11. Marc – 54 points
12. Kim – 52 points
13. Evelyn – 49 points
14. Noah – 47 points
33 points separate first and last place!
