I talk about Alabama the most because this is the game and team that I watch more closely since they are “my” team.
All the Top Ten played tough this week. They showed why they are still in the elite as they near the end of the season.
Some of the games were so dominated by the winning team, there just wasn't much to say.
The Top Ten
#1
Alabama 24 – Mississippi State 0 - The 24 point spread was a push
Regular SEC West Match-up
Let’s just get this out of the way right now. There were a couple of questionable calls. The first was a Damien Harris fumble where the officials said he was down before the ball came out. To me, the ball came out and then his knee hit the ground, should have been a fumble. Well, I don’t know? When was the whistle blown? Was he down? Mississippi State had ample opportunity to use their “challenge flag” but chose not to. I have heard that MSST head coach, Joe Moorhead spoke to his people upstairs and they said there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the ruling, so he did not challenge. The second questionable call was on what should have been an MSST touchdown. One of the Bulldogs was charged with a block in the back. Clearly, on instant replay, there was no block in the back.
NCAA Football Officials are human, they make mistakes. Would these two calls have changed the outcome of the game? No. It would not have been a shutout, but Alabama would have still won the game. So, let's move on.
The Tide defense was stellar again this week. They held the Bulldog offense to only 44 yards rushing!
Alabama’s offense started strong and put up 21 points quickly, but then stalled. Remember this, Mississippi State has the nation's top scoring defense. They have given up only 12.7 points per game until this one. Coming into this game they had allowed only 7 touchdowns over 6 games.
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was gimpy on his right knee at the end of this game. Coach Nick Saban stated that he could have gone back in, but they chose to hold him out.
Alabama welcomes The Citadel on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at 11:00 a.m.
#2
Clemson 27 – Boston College 7 - The 20 point spread was a push
Regular Season ACC Match-up
The Clemson Tigers remain undefeated and clinched the ACC Atlantic Division with the 27-7 win over the Boston College Eagles.
BC’s first-string quarterback, Anthony Brown was injured on their first offensive drive of the game and never returned. He was hospitalized with an internal injury.
After Brown went out, the Eagles offense just couldn’t hang with the mighty Clemson defense. BC was held to an abysmal 9 rushing yards and 113 yards total offense. In the meanwhile, the Clemson offense rung up 424 yards total offensive yards.
This game was over in the first quarter when the Eagles quarterback left the game.
Clemson welcomes Duke on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at 6:00 p.m.
#3
Notre Dame 42 – Florida State 13 - The 17.5 spread was covered
Regular Season Match-up
The Irish continue to impress! ND averaged 7.3 yards/rush in this game!
Backup quarterback, Brandon Wimbush started the game due to Ian Book being out with a rib injury. Irish Coach Brian Kelly said Book would be back when the doctors clear him to return.
One of the big stories in this game was the 27-degree temperature. This was among the coldest at Notre Dame stadium since 1980. The Seminoles had practiced last week in near Summertime weather.
The Seminoles helped to beat themselves with turnovers. Florida State’s normally stingy defense gave up 141 yards in the first half of the game.
The Irish dominated the Seminoles in this game.
Notre Dame welcomes Syracuse on Saturday, November 17 at 1:30 p.m.
#4
Michigan 42 – Rutgers 7 - The 39.0 spread was not covered
Regular Season Big10 East Match-up
There is no doubting the Michigan Wolverines have made themselves contenders for the College Football Playoff and try for the National Championship.
At the half, the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers had 0 (zero) yards passing! That is almost impossible to believe. While on the other side of the ball, the Wolverines threw for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Michigan is the only undefeated "in conference" team in the Big10. They are hoping to be the Big10 Champs for the first time since 2004.
Michigan dominated this game.
Michigan welcomes Indiana on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at 3:00 p.m.
#5
Georgia 27 – Auburn 10 - The 14.0 spread was covered
Regular Season SEC Match-up
One of the oldest rivalries in the South’s college football history.
D’Andre Swift says he is still dinged up from the LSU game. Auburn's defense surely couldn’t tell it on Saturday as Swift rung up 186 yards rushing! He definitely lives up to his “Swift” name.
Auburn scored only one touchdown in this game and that was by using the trick play of the Wildcat formation. The running back, JaTarvious Whitlow took the snap and threw for nine yards to the tight end, John Shenker for the six points.
There is no doubt Coach Gus Malzahn is on the hot seat and if you read lips, I’m sure you know that.
The good news for Georgia is they are back to two healthy running backs in the backfield with Swift and Elijah Holyfield.
Georgia was able to gain over 500 total offensive yards with 303 of that coming from rushing.
The Bulldogs only problems seem to be the penalties, 12 penalties for 85 lost yards.
They also turned the ball over once during this game.
Georgia welcomes UMass on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at 3:00 p.m.
#6
Oklahoma 48 – Oklahoma State 47 - The 20.0 spread was not covered
Regular Season Big 12 Match-up
Typical Big 12 shoot-out with little to no defense being played.
Huge rivalry. The game is called “Bedlam” and it lived up to that name.
Oklahoma State was able to gain 640 offensive yards on the Sooners defense. However, Oklahoma was able to gain 702 total yards! The Sooners averaged over 11 yards per pass. So in effect, they got a first down with every pass. Oklahoma was very well balanced on offense with 349 yards passing and 353 yards rushing.
The Cowboys of Oklahoma State had a chance to either tie or go ahead at the end of the game. They chose to go for the two-point conversion, missed the pass and lost the game by one point.
Everyone will question Coach Mike Gundy, should he have gone for the tie and overtime or was going for the win the right call?
Oklahoma welcomes Kansas on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at 6:30 p.m.
# 7
LSU 24 – Arkansas 17 - The 13.5 spread was not covered
Regular Season SEC West Match-up
The Tigers dominated the game until the end of the 4th quarter. It wasn’t a pretty finish, but it was a win. The Razorbacks got two touchdown passes in the 4th and had over 5 minutes remaining, but the Tigers got the ball back and controlled the game and the win.
LSU said they played LSU football, “mean and nasty”. Normal for LSU. Lol
The Tigers forced the Razorbacks to punt on their first six possessions. The Tigers held a 24-3 lead going into the 4th quarter.
LSU welcomes Rice on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at 6:30 p.m.
#8
Washington State 31 – Colorado 7 - The 6.0 spread was covered
Regular Season Pac-12 Match-up
Before this season began I thought it would be the University of Washington to be the team to beat in the Pac-12. I was very wrong, it has been the Washington State Cougars who have shown their strength.
Washington State went to Boulder, Colorado and literally blew them out! The Cougars were able to control the ball over 42 minutes, keeping the Colorado Buffaloes offense off the field.
The Cougars were able to force the Buffaloes into 3 turnovers.
Colorado’s defense did not have one single sack in this game for the first time this season. This allowed the Cougars QB Minshew to pass for 335 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Washington State welcomes Arizona on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at 9:30 p.m.
#9
West Virginia 47 – TCU 10 - The 12.0 spread was covered
Regular Season Big 12 Match-up
Another blowout game by one of our Top Ten.
The Mountaineers held the Horned Frogs of TCU to negative 7 yards rushing! The West Virginia offense was able to score 3 touchdowns in a little over a 3-minute time span in the 2nd quarter. That left the Horned Frogs reeling!
The Mountaineers were able to amass 535 yards of offense on a TCU team that is stricken with injuries.
West Virginia remains unbeaten this season at home.
West Virginia travels to Oklahoma State on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at 2:30 p.m.
#10
Ohio State 26 – Michigan State 6 - The 3.5 spread was covered
Regular Big10 East Match-up
Okay, let’s take the most embarrassing moment of the game first since it did happen on Ohio States first possession. The Buckeye punter had a 4-yard punt after the first possession. This would change after half-time to see the Ohio State punter, Drue Chrisman, make the Spartans begin drives at behind their own 6-yard line five different times.
Ohio State was able to force 3 Spartan turnovers. This helped to change the momentum of the game and keep it going the Buckeye way.
The Buckeye offense was able to control the ball and time clock for over 37 minutes thus keeping the Spartans offense off the field.
Ohio State welcomes Maryland on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at 11:00 a.m.
This sums up week 11 of the NCAA Football season
None of our Top Ten were upset this week. They should all stay pretty much in the order they are in going into next week.
Until next week,
Mama
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