The day started with a ranked matchup between Texas Tech traveling to Utah. It appeared that in the first half, neither team seemed to want to do anything on offense. Both teams combined for four turnovers in the first half alone and Texas Tech had a 10-3 lead at the half. Both teams still struggled on offense in the third quarter but Texas Tech opened it up in the 4th quarter and outscored Utah 24-7 for a final score of 34-10 in The Red Raiders’ favor.
Well it wouldn’t be the Big 12/ACC without a lot of offense right? With just over 900 total yards and three combined turnovers, it was a close game until the very end between SMU and TCU. TCU was able to score two late touchdowns to retake the lead and won 35-24. Speaking of a lot of offense - Jumping to a 28-17 Arkansas lead at the half over Memphis, this was another game where it was close until late in the fourth quarter. Memphis took a one-point lead with under five minutes to go. Arkansas was driving and got down inside Memphis’ 10-yard line and decided they didn’t want to win and fumbled the ball away. I heard it from my house and you may have too but I heard a lot of tears crying over the high points lost on Arkansas.
If anyone has really been paying attention to Wisconsin this year, they would know that their offense has been struggling. Week 1, it was 3-0 at halftime against Miami OH. Not the Hurricanes. The "other” Miami in Ohio. We saw how they did with a mediocre Bama team. Not a shocker that Maryland won. 27-10. Maryland is now sitting at 4-0 and could be a contender in the B1G.
If I had a dime for every football fan blaming the refs for their team’s loss, I would be a millionaire. If you ask an Auburn fan about their losses, you would get the same answer. But against Oklahoma, the Sooners needed the refs in their back pocket to pull this win out. Its pretty blatant when the SEC puts a statement out regarding it. No fret Auburn fans; it’s not like this will be your only loss. Maybe next time, the Ref’s will let you win. Guess Oklahoma will be the "darling” of the SEC now instead of Alabama. Sooners win 24-17.
Michigan is still trying to open up the passing game and it was an abysmal showing yet again against Nebraska. Total yards passing was 105. Definitely looking like last years playbook. But I guess if you can run the ball for almost 300 yards, who needs to throw it? Nebraska showed it was unable to stop the run and maybe aren’t quite there yet to being competitive in the B1G since they are still unable to beat a top 25 team. Michigan wins by a field goal 30-27.
With Scott Frost back at UCF, he is picking up where he left off at. UCF hosted UNC and UNC is still struggling on offense. UCF’s defense shut UNC out in the first half and held them to a total of 217 total yards and wins 34-9. Maybe Scott Frost will win them another championship.
Remember when Duke was always having all of those turnovers? Well against, NC State, they shockingly kept it clean. It was Duke who forced four costly turnovers for the NC State offense. By all accounts, NC State should have won that game on paper but Duke was able to capitalize on the turnovers and won 45-33. Two of those turnovers came in the fourth quarter. Looks like Manny Diaz can keep his job….for now.
Let’s just face it, Illinois had no business being ranked in the top 10. They got eviscerated 63-10 by a feisty Indiana team who is now 15-2 under Curt Cignetti and looks to have another chance at making the College Football Playoffs. They will face a high potent Oregon team in a couple of weeks and that will be their biggest test so far this season. As for the Fighting Illini, their season isn’t quite over with but faces an undefeated USC team this weekend.
The night finished with some Big 12 action that didn’t disappoint between Arizona State and Baylor. David really needs to quit picking these teams that go down to the wire. After losing to Mississippi State a couple of weeks ago, the Sun Devils have been on a roll beating Texas State last week and they got the "W” in Waco against Baylor in a too close for comfort game. Baylor has a great quarterback but I think if they can get it going and minimize the turnovers (they had 3 against AZ St.), they could be a really good team. They now sit at 2-2 after falling to the Sun Devils 27-24.
I have looked at this week’s picks already and have a feeling, some of us will not be doing so hot come Saturday night.
On to the pick em’s…..
For the second week in a row, David has finished in the teens. Can he recover or will he continue to slide further away from first place? I don’t want to kick him while he is down…but……David, whatever you are doing, it isn’t working. That is all!!! And for everyone else, don’t be a David.
Samuel has continued to dominate with a nine-point lead over second place. Can Adam dethrone him? Surely Sam can’t keep it up for 9-10 more week, right? With Adam and Sam not having the best of weeks, it helped everyone else close that gap a little bit more. Chris and myself are tied at 3rd waiting on Sam or Adam to fall. I have a feeling this is the week. With Rick scoring the most this week, it moved him up a place but he will need to continue to be spot on with his picks.
Sean still has not been able to get out of the 4th place spot. This is your week Sean. I feel it. I feel that you will drop two spots. Look on the Brightside, you wouldn’t be in 4th anymore, right? Mike H. is sounding more like David these days - "It’s a business decision”. How can you not pick your team? But then again, I wouldn’t pick Auburn either. I look back at why everyone went so high on Wisconsin. Just because ESPN has a team favored but a lot doesn’t mean anything. I think that is what some of you base your picks on. You can’t do that and that percentage means nothing. At least to me it doesn’t. I’m not going to point names and name fingers. But you know who you are. Mike M. finished third this week and will need to keep the momentum going to keep gaining ground. All three of the Meggers finished in the top 4. How about that! At this rate, we may have to change it to the "Hall/Meggers Family Pick’ems”. Kind of has a nice ring to it.
Noah must have had a good birthday last week. He has managed to climb out of the cellar for the time being. But I think it has more to do with everyone else doing worse. But either way, congrats on the leap up. I think with how Cindie has been doing with her picks, she will be right along side David before you know it. Kim, Evelyn and Marc are still trying to find their identity and where they stand in the rankings but they may want to start getting aggressive in their picks.
Most points for the week: Rick needed a Baylor flop to get the most points for the week with 37 (not that impressive) and his $10. Congrats. Don’t make it a habit.
Least points for the week: Just when you think David couldn’t go any lower….Well, actually he did. Not only did he finish last for the week but it landed him last overall. David finished in the teens at 19.
Best pick of the week: Rick, Samiel & Marc picking Memphis over Arkansas and Wendi & Mike M. picking Maryland over Wisconsin helped shift the dynamics of the week.
Worst pick of the week: Chris going 9 points on UNC over UCF. Apparently Chris didn’t receive the memo about UNC not being good this year. To sum up a meme I have been seeing floating around - The Clemson vs UNC game will be airing at 10am on the Cartoon Network on October 4.
Letters to the Editor:
"How much longer shall I suffer by the end of Saturday night?”
Well, if you make better picks…….
"I think Miami is back”
Still too early too tell….Florida gave them a run for their money for a while.
"Can we buy points? You know, like, "I’ll take 10 points for $20 to be added to mine?””
Are you asking for yourself or asking for a friend?
"What’s are Sam’s chances of doing terrible in Week 5?”
Odds are 50/50.
Here are the rankings after Week 4:
1. Sam – 151 points
2. Adam – 142 points
3. Chris D. – 132 points
4. Wendi – 132 points
5. Sean – 131 points
6. Rick – 129 points
7. Mike H. – 122 points
8. Noah – 110 points
9. Cindie – 109 points
10. Kim – 105 points
11. Evelyn – 104 points
12. Mike M. – 103 points
13. Marc – 102 points
14. David – 92 points
59 points separate first and last place!
