Charlie Strong got to wear the Gold Hat this week Week 6 brought lots of surprises and unexpected turns to the 2015 football season.
None bigger than, with their backs to the wall, Texas unleashed its best game yet in throttling Oklahoma. Longhorn fans had already buried HC Charlie Strong. They were writing down the tail numbers of their favorite replacement coach’s private jet.
And then Charlie pulled out a whooper of an upset. Texas running game was fantastic and so was the defense in a 24-17 win.
The Coaching Carousel gets started earlier every year. But this is getting out of control. Four got added this week.
Randy Edsall was fired at Maryland after getting beat by Ohio State 49-28. To be fair, they did get the cover. What are you thinking Maryland?
North Texas has been atrocious this year. The set a new low in getting destroyed by Div 1AA Portland State 66-7. It was the worst beating by a Div 1A team by a Div 1AA team ever. Immediately after the game, head coach Dan McCarney was fired.
By the way, Portland State beat Washington State at the beginning of the year 24-17. And Washington State beat Oregon this weekend. So is Portland State the best team in Oregon?
While the GO JUMBO gang is known to hit the bottle with quite a bit of enthusiasm, we do know when to put it down. Not so with USC’s Steve Sarkisian. Reports were that he failed to show up to practice Sunday and was "not healthy" when AD Pat Haden called. Sarkisian reportedly showed up less-than-sober to a special teams meeting that morning as well. Haden “instructed him” to take a leave of absence. On Monday, he was let go.
.Five coaches gone already and we're not even half way through the season.
None bigger than, with their backs to the wall, Texas unleashed its best game yet in throttling Oklahoma. Longhorn fans had already buried HC Charlie Strong. They were writing down the tail numbers of their favorite replacement coach’s private jet.
And then Charlie pulled out a whooper of an upset. Texas running game was fantastic and so was the defense in a 24-17 win.
The Coaching Carousel gets started earlier every year. But this is getting out of control. Four got added this week.
Randy Edsall was fired at Maryland after getting beat by Ohio State 49-28. To be fair, they did get the cover. What are you thinking Maryland?
North Texas has been atrocious this year. The set a new low in getting destroyed by Div 1AA Portland State 66-7. It was the worst beating by a Div 1A team by a Div 1AA team ever. Immediately after the game, head coach Dan McCarney was fired.
By the way, Portland State beat Washington State at the beginning of the year 24-17. And Washington State beat Oregon this weekend. So is Portland State the best team in Oregon?
While the GO JUMBO gang is known to hit the bottle with quite a bit of enthusiasm, we do know when to put it down. Not so with USC’s Steve Sarkisian. Reports were that he failed to show up to practice Sunday and was "not healthy" when AD Pat Haden called. Sarkisian reportedly showed up less-than-sober to a special teams meeting that morning as well. Haden “instructed him” to take a leave of absence. On Monday, he was let go.
.Five coaches gone already and we're not even half way through the season.
Arnett puts State up 24-14 And while those guys may not have had the best of weekends, the Doofus had another great one.
Once again, the Spartans won while making it a lot harder than it needs to be. This time it was even more hair raising (or for a lot of the GO JUMBO team – scalp raising). And it played out a lot differently.
Coming into the game, State had only trailed in a game for a total of 68 seconds. They would get the lead and then hang on baby…..
This time State got it’s usual lead – Cook hit Macgarrett Kings for a nice 8 yrd TD pass. But Rutgers countered quickly on a four play drive. TD - were tied at 7.
State punted, Rutgers got the ball and this time only needed two plays to get the TD. Just like that – State was playing from behind – down 14-7.
OK State – get that one back.
They did - kind of. MSU drove to the Rutgers 13 but went nowhere in 3 plays. They get the FG to cut the lead to 14-10. For the first time all year State scored but was still behind.
And they stayed behind for the rest of the first half as it ended at that same score 14-10 Knights.
I’m not sure what was said in the locker room. But it had to be a strange feeling. MSU was trailing.
Whatever was said it worked. State had deferred to the 2nd half. They got the ball and went on a nice 11 play 78 yard TD drive. Beautiful piece of work. State leads again 17-14.
The defense took its turn next. Rutgers first drive of the 2nd half goes minus 14 yards. They punt.
State then goes 51 yards in 5 plays to go up 24-14. That’s the way you do it!
Once again, the Spartans won while making it a lot harder than it needs to be. This time it was even more hair raising (or for a lot of the GO JUMBO team – scalp raising). And it played out a lot differently.
Coming into the game, State had only trailed in a game for a total of 68 seconds. They would get the lead and then hang on baby…..
This time State got it’s usual lead – Cook hit Macgarrett Kings for a nice 8 yrd TD pass. But Rutgers countered quickly on a four play drive. TD - were tied at 7.
State punted, Rutgers got the ball and this time only needed two plays to get the TD. Just like that – State was playing from behind – down 14-7.
OK State – get that one back.
They did - kind of. MSU drove to the Rutgers 13 but went nowhere in 3 plays. They get the FG to cut the lead to 14-10. For the first time all year State scored but was still behind.
And they stayed behind for the rest of the first half as it ended at that same score 14-10 Knights.
I’m not sure what was said in the locker room. But it had to be a strange feeling. MSU was trailing.
Whatever was said it worked. State had deferred to the 2nd half. They got the ball and went on a nice 11 play 78 yard TD drive. Beautiful piece of work. State leads again 17-14.
The defense took its turn next. Rutgers first drive of the 2nd half goes minus 14 yards. They punt.
State then goes 51 yards in 5 plays to go up 24-14. That’s the way you do it!
Colquhoun snuffs Carroo to keep it tied But it wouldn’t be a State game without a dumpster load of drama. WR Leonte Carroo, playing his first game since being suspended after the Washington State game in week 2 (nice timing that), caught his third TD pass of the game to cut the lead to 24-21 to end the 3rd quarter.
The drama only increases. Rutgers gets the ball and drives to the Spartan 9 first and goal. Two runs later its third and goal at the 4. A fade pass to Carroo and broken up! Nice play by Arjen Calquhoun.
Rutgers kicks a FG and with just over 4 minutes left in the game we are tied.
The drama only increases. Rutgers gets the ball and drives to the Spartan 9 first and goal. Two runs later its third and goal at the 4. A fade pass to Carroo and broken up! Nice play by Arjen Calquhoun.
Rutgers kicks a FG and with just over 4 minutes left in the game we are tied.
LJ sweeps right for the winning TD! In prior weeks, State would rely on the defense to keep a lead late. They did their part. Now it would be up to the offense to win a game late.
LJ Scott came into the game in the second half. Much like half the team, he was playing injured. Dantonio had hoped to keep him rested for next week but when his back up Madre London went down, Scott was put back in.
State fed him the rock on the most important drive of the game. State gets the ball at their 24. Four minutes left. On a 10 play drive he got it six times. On third and 1 at the Rutgers 19 he swept around end for 16. First and goal at the three.
They give it to him again and TD! With less than a minute to go State is up 31-24. For once – the offense comes through.
And then in a series that must make Dobby proud, with no time outs left, Rutgers gets the ball to their 40...4th and 10.....3 seconds left. Time for a Hail Mary and …
LJ Scott came into the game in the second half. Much like half the team, he was playing injured. Dantonio had hoped to keep him rested for next week but when his back up Madre London went down, Scott was put back in.
State fed him the rock on the most important drive of the game. State gets the ball at their 24. Four minutes left. On a 10 play drive he got it six times. On third and 1 at the Rutgers 19 he swept around end for 16. First and goal at the three.
They give it to him again and TD! With less than a minute to go State is up 31-24. For once – the offense comes through.
And then in a series that must make Dobby proud, with no time outs left, Rutgers gets the ball to their 40...4th and 10.....3 seconds left. Time for a Hail Mary and …
Oops. Laviano spikes to ball to end the game. Malik McDowell had crushed him on a sack the play before. Seems as though he might not have been thinking straight after the hit.
With the win State goes 6-0 straight up and 0-6 against the spread.
With the win State goes 6-0 straight up and 0-6 against the spread.
Earlier in the day I had gone to Casa Bruce to watch the Wildcats take on Michigan in a Mini Mega bet. I’m glad I didn’t Mega Bet the game. The game was over almost from the very start.
Bruce was just handing me a vodka tonic when looked to the screen only to see Michigan take the opening kickoff 96 yards to the house. 7-0 Wolvies and we had barely gotten to our seats. scUM scored TDs on their next two drives to open a 21-0 lead. A nifty pick six late in the 2nd quarter put the game away. It was a miserable beat down. Final score scUM 38 Cats 0 LOSS
We were doing live look-ins to the Georgia Tech game but that one fared no better as Clemson clobbered the Jackets 43-24. Tech was able to get only 79 yards rushing – it’s lowest total since Paul Johnson’s first year in 2008. The Sax Man was last seen sitting in a dark room burbling incoherently. Mrs Bruce went off to walk the dogs and has not been seen since.
Bruce was just handing me a vodka tonic when looked to the screen only to see Michigan take the opening kickoff 96 yards to the house. 7-0 Wolvies and we had barely gotten to our seats. scUM scored TDs on their next two drives to open a 21-0 lead. A nifty pick six late in the 2nd quarter put the game away. It was a miserable beat down. Final score scUM 38 Cats 0 LOSS
We were doing live look-ins to the Georgia Tech game but that one fared no better as Clemson clobbered the Jackets 43-24. Tech was able to get only 79 yards rushing – it’s lowest total since Paul Johnson’s first year in 2008. The Sax Man was last seen sitting in a dark room burbling incoherently. Mrs Bruce went off to walk the dogs and has not been seen since.
But while those games were butt ugly, the Doofus had another great week with his picks. The Big Book of Guesses was a random 27-28-0 against the spread and 2-1 on the over/unders in the college games. In the NFL it went an awful 4-9-1.
But it's not how you pick 'em it's how you bet 'em and the Doofus had another winning week with the Mega bets going 2-1 with:
Georgia -3.0 @ Tennessee - You can try to pin the blame on the loss of Nick Chubb. But he went down on the very first offensive play. It didn't seem to phase the Dawgs as they were up 24-3 with 3 minutes left in the first half. I was counting this one as a win.
But unlike prior weeks when Tennessee blew double digit leads, in a total reversal, the Vols rallied. Tennesse scored a TD and then Georgia muffed the kickoff and Tennessee recovered. With 27 seconds left the scored again. All of a sudden a blow out was a tight game 24-17.
The Vols kept going in the scoring 14 points in the 3rd quarter to take the lead 31-24.
The teams traded TDs in the 4th quarter setting up a dramatic finish. With 1:48 left, Tennessee pinned Georgia down on their 1. Georgia marched down to the Vol 22 with 6 seconds left. Time for one more play into the end zone ...
But it's not how you pick 'em it's how you bet 'em and the Doofus had another winning week with the Mega bets going 2-1 with:
Georgia -3.0 @ Tennessee - You can try to pin the blame on the loss of Nick Chubb. But he went down on the very first offensive play. It didn't seem to phase the Dawgs as they were up 24-3 with 3 minutes left in the first half. I was counting this one as a win.
But unlike prior weeks when Tennessee blew double digit leads, in a total reversal, the Vols rallied. Tennesse scored a TD and then Georgia muffed the kickoff and Tennessee recovered. With 27 seconds left the scored again. All of a sudden a blow out was a tight game 24-17.
The Vols kept going in the scoring 14 points in the 3rd quarter to take the lead 31-24.
The teams traded TDs in the 4th quarter setting up a dramatic finish. With 1:48 left, Tennessee pinned Georgia down on their 1. Georgia marched down to the Vol 22 with 6 seconds left. Time for one more play into the end zone ...
Back to back doinks for Gaglianone Tennessee swats it away to preserve the win. Final score Tennessee 38 Georgia 31 LOSS
Wisconsin +1.0 @ Nebraska - This was a tough hard fought game. Both teams were playing with their backs to the wall.
With 3:38 left Nebraska FB Andy Janovich broke a tackle up the middle and sprinted 55 yards for a TD. The Huskers take the lead 21-20.
Wisconsin drives to the Nebraska 21 and on 4th and 4 goes for the FG. Rafael Gaglianone kicks it and ...doink.. hits the right upright square in the middle. The ball bounces back to the 10. No good!
Now under the GO JUMBO proposed rules that would have been worth a point and the game would be tied. But the NCAA does not recognize the GO JUMBO rules so Wisconsin is still down 1.
Nebraska punts on their next drive and Wisconsin gets the ball back at their 30. They drive again getting to the Nebraska 30. 4 seconds left
The go for the FG again and... doink. It hits the right upright again but this time it deflects in. Badgers win 23-21. It's the fourth game that Nebraska has lost on the last play of the game WIN
Rollins had a pick six and the game ending pick Green Bay -9.0 vs St Louis - It wasn't Aaron Rodgers that beat the Rams, it was the defense. Rodger's streak of not throwing INTs at home came to a crashing halt as the Rams picked him off not once but twice.
The Pack defense did one (well two) better by picking Nick Foles off four times, including a pick six to push the lead to 14-0 in the first quarter.
The Rams cut the lead to 14-10 in the second quarter.
Rodgers hit James Jones to open the second half and a fourth quarter FG bumped the lead to 24-10 with 1 minute to go in the game.
The Rams get the ball back with one last chance to get a back door cover. A Foles bomb gets it to the Pack 7 with 34 seconds left. Crap, this can't be happening
Foles spikes the ball. Second and goal
And then PICK. Quenten Rollins, who had the pick six gets the game ending pick too
Final score Pack 24 Rams 10 WIN
The Pack defense did one (well two) better by picking Nick Foles off four times, including a pick six to push the lead to 14-0 in the first quarter.
The Rams cut the lead to 14-10 in the second quarter.
Rodgers hit James Jones to open the second half and a fourth quarter FG bumped the lead to 24-10 with 1 minute to go in the game.
The Rams get the ball back with one last chance to get a back door cover. A Foles bomb gets it to the Pack 7 with 34 seconds left. Crap, this can't be happening
Foles spikes the ball. Second and goal
And then PICK. Quenten Rollins, who had the pick six gets the game ending pick too
Final score Pack 24 Rams 10 WIN
UConn destroyed UCF The Mini Megas went 2-1 with
Central Michigan +7.5 @ Western Michigan – In the best game you didn't see, CMU rallied from a 34-16 deficit, cutting the lead to 41-39 with 8 minutes left. WMU was able to use the rest of the clock getting the ball to the CMU 1 and then taking two kneel downs to close the game. Final score WMU 41 CMU 39 Lucky WIN
UConn +2.5 @ Central Florida – The beer is still free at the Basement bar. UConn destroyed UCF 40-13. Apparently Big Al is OK betting on UConn during non GO JUMBO weekends.WIN
Central Michigan +7.5 @ Western Michigan – In the best game you didn't see, CMU rallied from a 34-16 deficit, cutting the lead to 41-39 with 8 minutes left. WMU was able to use the rest of the clock getting the ball to the CMU 1 and then taking two kneel downs to close the game. Final score WMU 41 CMU 39 Lucky WIN
UConn +2.5 @ Central Florida – The beer is still free at the Basement bar. UConn destroyed UCF 40-13. Apparently Big Al is OK betting on UConn during non GO JUMBO weekends.WIN
And finally, after several neat misses - a Point Whore Parlay clean sweep.
Arkansas +16.0 @ Alabama - The Hogs scored a TD with 1:27 left to get the back door cover Final score - Bama 27 Arkansas 14 WIN
Wyoming +23.5 @ Air Force - Wyoming scored a TD with a minute to go. I didn't need it. I already had the cover. Final score Air Force 31 Wyoming 17 WIN
Maryland +33.0 @ Ohio State - The Bucknuts never had the lead big enough to get the cover. Their biggest lead was 28 with 5 minutes left. Maryland scored a TD with 1 minute left to make the final OSU 49 Maryland 28 WIN
Remember - the 2015 GO JUMBO trip is Nov 7th at the Westgate Resort
Arkansas +16.0 @ Alabama - The Hogs scored a TD with 1:27 left to get the back door cover Final score - Bama 27 Arkansas 14 WIN
Wyoming +23.5 @ Air Force - Wyoming scored a TD with a minute to go. I didn't need it. I already had the cover. Final score Air Force 31 Wyoming 17 WIN
Maryland +33.0 @ Ohio State - The Bucknuts never had the lead big enough to get the cover. Their biggest lead was 28 with 5 minutes left. Maryland scored a TD with 1 minute left to make the final OSU 49 Maryland 28 WIN
Remember - the 2015 GO JUMBO trip is Nov 7th at the Westgate Resort
