Thursday, November 19, 2015

This week's College football picks, featuring James Taylor, The Dropkick Murphys and Rodgers and Hammerstein


Last week: 7-1; For the season: 61-17.


The College Football Playoff rankings link: http://www.collegefootballplayoff.com/view-rankings

 

 

“In my mind I’m going to Carolina.”—James Taylor.   # 1 Clemson hosts Wake Forest. 

After a depressing weekend road trip to scenic South Bend last week, the Demon Deacons drive south across the NC/SC state line to Clemson. 

Meanwhile, the Tigers are back home where they can rub Howard’s Rock for good luck as they run down the hill in Memorial Stadium minutes before kickoff.

Rub the rock or not, it’s doubtful the Fightin’ Dabos will need much luck this Saturday. The Tigers lead the CFP rankings--and after the win over ‘Cuse last weekend--have secured a school-record fifth consecutive 10-win season.

Wake is 1-57 all-time against Top 10 opponents.

Clemson QB Deshaun Watson will update his Heisman-esque resume passing and running…and, to paraphrase Barry Corbin’s character in No Country For Old Men, that will be that, as they say.

Projected winner: Clemson.

 

The Muppets take Columbus.  #3 Ohio State Hosts #9 Michigan State. 

The spirts of the late, great Buckeyes HBC Woody Hayes and State’s Duffy Daugherty will watch over the Horseshoe on Saturday when 9-1 Sparty comes to see 10-0 Brutus the Buckeye.

Fifty years ago this season, Duffy’s Spartans won the national championship. 

This Saturday’s game may be decided by who has the better QB.  State’s Connor Cook is expected to return after an injury last week; for OS, J.T. Barrett will get his second start in a row after sitting out a game for impaired driving.

The Spartans are 5-1 against their last six Top 10 opponents.  The Buckeyes have won a record 30 consecutive Big 10 games.

The Buckeyes also have this fellow named Zeke Elliott whose prowess at running back will surely obtain for him a visit to New York for a shot at the Heisman.

See Zeke.  See Zeke run.

Projected winner:  Ohio State.

 

“OOOOk-lahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain.”-Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.   #6 Oklahoma State hosts #10 Baylor.

As if the Baptists didn’t get enough from the state of Oklahoma with a loss to the Sooners last Saturday night in Waco, now they actually have to go to the Sooner State, to face the undefeated Cowboys.

As is with the top Big 12 teams, the Bears and the Cowboys can light up the scoreboard. Baylor is the #1 FBS offensive team; Ok. St. is #18.

The only “D” on Saturday night in Stillwater may be the one in OSU HBC Mike Gundy’s last name.

The Cowboys will feel mighty home on the range at Boone Pickens Stadium.

Projected winner: Oklahoma State.

 

“We know we belong to the land.  And the land we belong to is grand!”-Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.  #7 Oklahoma hosts #18 TCU.

After bashing the Baptists in Jerusalem-On-The-Brazos last Saturday night, the Sooners look to extend their winning record against church schools by welcoming the Horned Frogs to Norman.

After a fall from grace, the 1-loss Frogs hope to have QB Trevone Boykin back on the field, but he will be without this ace receiver Josh Doctson who has a season-ending wrist injury.

Meanwhile, for the Crimson & Cream, QB Baker Mayfield continues his push to get into the Heisman debate.

TCU has the #2 FBS offense; OU’s is ranked #6.

But, the Sooner D is #21.

As Richard and Oscar wrote, “You’re doing fine, Oklahoma!  Oklahoma—OK!”

Projected winner: OU.

 

The Uncle Verne Bowl:  As I Lay Dying-William Faulkner.  #15 LSU @ #22 Ole Miss.

A big contingent of Cajuns will drive north on US 61 to Oxford where between the LSU and Ole Miss fans (The traditional game day shindig in The Grove)---SHOCK---there may be a party atmosphere!

Even with the mouthwatering deep fried whatever and the white cloth tables and crystal, following season-setback losses for both teams, the clash between the Tigers and the Rebs just won’t have that same feeling as it would have if it’d been played pre-smack downs.

LSU hopes to shake the doldrums of back-to-back losses to Bama and Arkansas—and get running back Leonard Fournette back into the Heisman race.  While Ole Miss will try to return to its pre-three loss glory.

The Tigers’ Fournette will have to have a terrific game, as will his compatriots, to stave off a victory by Ole Miss that’s averaging a SEC-leading 40.7 points per game.

The Tigers are 61-0 when they rush for 100 and hold an opponent to under 100.

Les Miles has never lost three in a row at LSU.

Projected winner: LSU.

 

Now, some Quick Headlines…

 

Dreamland or Archibald’s?  #2 Alabama hosts Charleston Southern.

 

Two 9 and 1 teams will battle on the Bryant-Denny Stadium turf on Saturday. 

With a week to go before the Iron Bowl, look for Bama to dispatch its FCS opponent fairly early, rest the starters and then head down to Jerusalem Heights or across the river to Northport for some Q.

 

Projected winner:  Alabama.

 

 

“I’m shipping up to Boston…”-The Dropkick Murphys.  #4 Notre Dame vs. Boston College at Fenway Park in Boston.

 

Saturday will mark just 11 days shy of 60 years since a college football game has been played at Fenway.

 

The Irish have a Final Four slot on the line as they play 3-7 B.C.

 

Two Catholic schools will play on the hallowed field and gaze at the Green Monster. 

The Irish will set the tone early and allow the fans plenty of time to contemplate the complex sociological meaning of the Murphys’ tune and its intensely personal and politically relevant lyrics.

 

Projected winner: Notre Dame.

 

 

“Hey!  Is this heaven?  No, it’s Iowa.”-From Field of Dreams.  #5 Iowa hosts Purdue.

 

A band of engineers will depart Indiana for the Hawkeye state to see if they can have any success at the real-life version of the game Angry Birds.

 

Not since the 1963 Hitchcock thriller, The Birds, when thousands of highly agitated foul visited Bodega Bay, has there been a horror like the one that will beset Purdue on Saturday when the Boilermakers visit Iowa City to play the undefeated Hawkeyes. 

 

Projected winner:  Iowa

 

 

Have a great CFB weekend.  Watch for the weekly Sunday Afternoon Tailback, with nuggets from Saturday’s games.

 

For your CFB TV watching pleasure, the quintessential, easy-to-read guide: http://www.lsufootball.net/tvschedule.htm

 

 

Sources: ncaa.com; collegefootballplayoff.com; the Associated Press; ok.gov; biography.com; IMDB.com. Columbus.gov.

 

 

1 comment:

  1. So esteemed are the ACC Eagles, that on the Fenway turf you will not spot the letters B or C anywhere. The Irish drive the Catholic football bus in the Hub of the Universe.

    ReplyDelete