This week had many surprises! Some pleasant some not as appreciated.
Let’s get into it.
#1.
Alabama 48 – Arkansas 7. The 32 point spread was covered.
After having surgery for a high ankle sprain quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was out for the week to recuperate. Stepping up to the plate is Alabama’s #2 quarterback Mack Jones. We, the fans have been told since last Spring that Mack is ready to take over the offense and he proved himself this past Saturday against the Hogs from Arkansas. Mack passed for 235 yards and 3 touchdowns with 0 interceptions. I would say he was ready for the job.
Alabama’s defense, on the other hand, was another story. Don’t get me wrong, they caused 3 fumbles and had a pic-six, so what am I complaining about? The fact that Arkansas was able to move the ball up and down the field without trouble. They basically put the Tide defensive line wherever they wanted them on the field. The Tide continued to commit the same silly penalties and gave away 60 yards because of them.
Alabama has this week off and needs it to heal some bumps and bruised and prepare for a showdown with LSU in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama moved to #2 in this week’s AP Poll.
Alabama will enjoy a bye week. They will take on the #1 Tigers of LSU on November 9th. No spread to report until next week.
#2.
LSU 23 – Auburn 20. The 10.5 point spread was not covered.
Welcome to CFB the way it is supposed to be played. Two teams fighting and scratching with the better team coming out on top.
Even though the score is very close, the statistics show a different ballgame.
LSU was able to move the ball on Auburn's defense with relative ease, well, if you take away the interception, the fumble and the 118 yards in penalties. Ouch.
Auburn came after LSU with all they had and played toe to toe with them the entire game. Joe Burrow and company had to work for every inch they got and what they got was 508 total yards of offense! They were amazing.
LSU moves to #1 in this week’s AP Poll
LSU will enjoy a Bye week before traveling to Alabama on November 9th.
#3.
Ohio State 38 – Wisconsin 7. The 14 point spread was covered.
The Buckeyes proved why they are being called the most complete team in CFB with a beat-down of the Badgers.
Ohio State’s offense moved the ball over 400 yards and held the Badger’s to less than 200. They also played a very clean game, with only 15 yards of penalties and no turnovers.
This game was said to be Ohio State’s biggest and best competition so far this season. If that is true they passed without any difficulty. Even though Buckeye’s QB Justin Fields was sacked 5 times, he was still able to pass for 167 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another TD.
Ohio State moved to the #3 position in this week’s AP Poll.
Ohio State has Bye weeks coming up before hosting Maryland on November 9th.
#4.
Clemson 59 – Boston College 7. The 33.5 point spread was covered.
I believe I have said and will now say again the ACC is terrible with the exception of Clemson. The Tigers showed how good they can be against the Eagles of Boston College.
With running back Travis Etienne rushing for more than 100 yards and quarterback Trevor Lawrence passing for 275 they accounted for 6 touchdowns between them. The Tiger defense held the Eagles to 177 yards of offense.
Like Ohio State, Clemson played a very clean game with only 20 yards of penalties and no turnovers. It always makes for a proficient game when a team makes as few errors as possible.
Clemson held their #4 position in this week’s AP Poll.
Clemson welcomes Wofford on November 2nd. The spread is “off” for this game as of now.
#5
Oklahoma 41 – Kansas State 48. The 23.5 point spread was not covered.
Not what anyone expected. Nothing about this game was as predicted.
Even after Jalen Hurts passed for 395 yards with one touchdown and rushed for another 96 yards and three more touchdowns, it wasn’t enough to move ahead of the Wildcats of Kansas State.
The Sooners couldn’t get passed penalties and turnovers at the exact wrong time for them, but the exact right time for the Wildcats.
Oklahoma could still be a playoff contender if they win out their season and win the Big12 championship game, also several current 8-0 teams would and will have to lose.
Oklahoma dropped to the # 10 position in this week’s AP Poll.
Oklahoma will enjoy a bye week before hosting Iowa on November 9th.
#6.
Penn State 28 – Michigan State 7. The 6.5 point spread was covered.
Another statistically close game. Both teams moved the ball about 300 yards. The difference in this game was four turnovers committed by the Spartans. A fumbled punt here and a couple of fumbles there and you’ve lost the game. This is what happened to the Spartans. The Nittany Lions had lost five of six of their last games to the Spartans, not the case for this year.
Penn State attempted to help the Spartans along giving up 104 yards of penalties and one player ejected for poor sportsmanship. James Franklin's teams tend to behave as their coach, on emotion. This game just happened to be good emotions for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State moved up to the #5 position in this weeks AP Poll.
Penn State will enjoy a bye week before traveling to 8-0 Minnesota on November 9th.
#7.
Florida enjoyed a Bye week.
Florida moved up to the #6 position in this week’s AP Poll
Florida will meet Georgia on November 2nd as a 3.5 point underdog.
#8.
Notre Dame 14 – Michigan 45. The 1.0 spread was covered as Michigan was predicted to win.
Another shocking surprise for many. Remember me picking Michigan to be in the playoffs before the season began. That isn’t going to happen but Michigan proved what kind of team they really have in this game.
Notre Dame simply lined up and got beat by a much better team. They were held to only 180 yards of total offense while allowing the Wolverines to march up and down the field for 437 yards.
In the pouring rain the Fighting Irish lost all hope of a playoff billet this season. The Irish fumbled the wet ball twice and allowed the Wolverines to hold the ball 9 minutes longer in this game.
This was the Michigan team that I saw on paper before the season began. I don’t know what happened to them in other games but they came ready to play and win in this game.
Notre Dame dropped out of the top ten all the way to the 16th position in this week's AP Poll.
Notre Dame hosts Virginia Tech on November 2nd as a 17. 5 point favorite.
#9.
Auburn 20 – LSU 23. The 10.5 spread was not covered by LSU.
Stats from this game as this game was discussed under #2 LSU.
Auburn dropped out of the top ten to the 11th position in this week’s AP Poll.
Auburn will host Ole Miss on November 2nd as an 18.5 point favorite.
#10.
Georgia enjoyed a Bye week.
Georgia moved up to the #8 position in this week’s AP Poll.
Georgia will meet Florida on November 2nd as a 3.5 point favorite.
Next week will see many top ten teams taking a week off but there will also be some very interesting games.
Until next week,
Mama
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