Well the winning streak came to a halt, but barely. I went 5-6 last week but I’m sure I will rally.
Before I get into football, college basketball has tipped off for the 2022-2023 season. Providence alum, Friar John, from our local watering hole had a trivia question - which seven Catholic schools that have won the NCAA basketball championship? And no, Gonzaga has not won a championship - answer below
Just when it looked like the Pac 12 was going to get someone into the playoffs, the best teams imploded.
Oregon took a 34-27 lead late in the 4th quarter and there was this wild finish
Before I get into football, college basketball has tipped off for the 2022-2023 season. Providence alum, Friar John, from our local watering hole had a trivia question - which seven Catholic schools that have won the NCAA basketball championship? And no, Gonzaga has not won a championship - answer below
Just when it looked like the Pac 12 was going to get someone into the playoffs, the best teams imploded.
Oregon took a 34-27 lead late in the 4th quarter and there was this wild finish
Washington HC Kalen Deboer brought in QB Michael Penix from Indiana and has revived the Husky offense. They are #25 overall, just beat rival Oregon for the first time on 5 years and have a shot for the Pac 12 Championship.
UCLA’s chances went down the toilet (and cost me a wager) with an outright loss to a bad Arizona team. Not sure when the last time two Top 10 teams lost at home on the same day.
The Pac 12’s chances at the CFP now rest with USC. They need a win over UCLA and the stars to align correctly to get in.
The Condoms piled it on Colorado 55-17 getting me a cover on Friday night helped by this two point coversion
TCU stuffed Texas 17-10 A punter doing a back flip? Sweet!
Has Lincoln Riley made USC into Oklahoma west? Plenty of offense, shaky defense, his team rolling but still needing help to get into the CFP.
Now, they must deal with an injury to star RB Travis Dye. Working in their favor is the Trojans play a pair of top-20 teams in UCLA and Notre Dame to close out the regular season. Win out, and the Trojans will be a big part of the College Football Playoff conversation.
They will have to jump TCU thought. TCU had a huge 17-10 win over Texas. I thought that the Toads luck streak would end when they stopped knocking out QBs but for all the talk about Sonny Dyke’s offense it was the defense that ruled the day. As Anthony pointed out, they held Bijon Robinson to 29 yards rushing. Win out and the Frogs are a lock.
Has Lincoln Riley made USC into Oklahoma west? Plenty of offense, shaky defense, his team rolling but still needing help to get into the CFP.
Now, they must deal with an injury to star RB Travis Dye. Working in their favor is the Trojans play a pair of top-20 teams in UCLA and Notre Dame to close out the regular season. Win out, and the Trojans will be a big part of the College Football Playoff conversation.
They will have to jump TCU thought. TCU had a huge 17-10 win over Texas. I thought that the Toads luck streak would end when they stopped knocking out QBs but for all the talk about Sonny Dyke’s offense it was the defense that ruled the day. As Anthony pointed out, they held Bijon Robinson to 29 yards rushing. Win out and the Frogs are a lock.
Georgia' defense was too much for the other MSU Bama was this close to losing their third game. Bama was leading 30-24 when Ole Miss carved up the Tide defense and got into the red zone with 2 minutes left. But a 4th down pass into the end zone was incomplete and Alabama escaped Oxford with a chance at a New Year Six game intact.
Their final chance at the CFP evaporated when LSU squeaked by Arkansas 13-10 (getting me the cover by the hook. Gary was doubtful about the hook, now he’s a believer). Along with Mississippi’s loss, LSU has clinched the SEC West.
Georgia clinched the SEC East by slaughtering Mississippi State (costing me a quatloo). I thought might sneak in a cover after the Starkville Bulldogs ran a punt return for a TD to get the game within five at the half, but the Athens Bulldogs shut down the other MSU in the second half for an easy 45-19 win.
And a shout out to Mrs Big Flippy. While the Sax Lady will likely have her alma mater in the playoffs, there is one team that is in the play offs. Wisconsin LaCrosse is in the NCAA Div III playoffs. They will face 9th ranked Wartburg. Go Eagles!
Clemson rebounded from their loss last week with a beat down over Louisville 31-10 helped by this TD run by Will Shipley.
Their final chance at the CFP evaporated when LSU squeaked by Arkansas 13-10 (getting me the cover by the hook. Gary was doubtful about the hook, now he’s a believer). Along with Mississippi’s loss, LSU has clinched the SEC West.
Georgia clinched the SEC East by slaughtering Mississippi State (costing me a quatloo). I thought might sneak in a cover after the Starkville Bulldogs ran a punt return for a TD to get the game within five at the half, but the Athens Bulldogs shut down the other MSU in the second half for an easy 45-19 win.
And a shout out to Mrs Big Flippy. While the Sax Lady will likely have her alma mater in the playoffs, there is one team that is in the play offs. Wisconsin LaCrosse is in the NCAA Div III playoffs. They will face 9th ranked Wartburg. Go Eagles!
Clemson rebounded from their loss last week with a beat down over Louisville 31-10 helped by this TD run by Will Shipley.
Hurdling never gets old.
Meanwhile, North Carolina beat Wake in an expected high scoring thriller (which still managed to hit the under) 36-34. The ACC championship is now locked in with UNC vs Clemson. As Mootsie points out – both teams lost to Notre Dame.
Mike was in awe of Jordan Jefferson’s catch against Buffalo but I’ll put this catch by Domer Brayden Lenzy up against that catch.
Meanwhile, North Carolina beat Wake in an expected high scoring thriller (which still managed to hit the under) 36-34. The ACC championship is now locked in with UNC vs Clemson. As Mootsie points out – both teams lost to Notre Dame.
Mike was in awe of Jordan Jefferson’s catch against Buffalo but I’ll put this catch by Domer Brayden Lenzy up against that catch.
Iowa with special teams and defense - not so much with offense Notre Dame led 35-13 at the half but were stuffed by the Anchor boys 19-0 in the second half and I a got an easy cover.
West Virginia has been terrible on the road but a tough out at home (4-1 ATS). On Saturday the Neers beat Oklahoma for the first time since joining the Big 12 23-20 on a walk off FG.
WVU's AD wasn't celebrating though - he was fired on Sunday.
The Big Ten West is a steaming pile of sheep manure. Purdue handed Illinois its second consecutive defeat which means everyone has at least three conference losses, and two of the four teams tied for first are 6-4. Iowa continues to win with no offense. They beat Wisconsin 24-10 despite gaining only 146 yards of offense (Wiscy had 227)
The Hawkeye’s scoring drives were a pick six, 17 yards after a blocked punt and 18 yards after a 41 yard punt return.
Ohio State went for the style points. After struggling to beat Northwestern, they destroyed Indiana 56-14.
Ohio State and Georgia in the top 10 in yards per play on offense and defense makes sense. Oddly, so is Florida State. The Noles humiliated Syracuse 38-3 on Saturday.
Bet on NC State at your own risk I lost another wager going against Gus Malzahn. UCF went into the Big Easy and put away the Green Brucies 38-31. There’s now a three-way tie atop the AAC, but the Knights have tie breakers over Cincinnati and Tulane. The league title game will likely be a rematch of the Knights and whoever wins the Nov. 25 game between the Bearcats and the Green. Should UCF win the title then Gus Malzahn will be the fourth straight UCF HC to take the Knights to a New Years six game.
I guess I should have seen Tulane's loss coming. it was their 61st straight loss to a ranked team.
Speaking of losing streaks, Boston College snapped their 26 game losing streak to ranked teams when they took down NC State 21-20. The Eagles had the 2nd longest among Power Five teams at 26. Rutgers owns the longest at 36. Fellow Big Ten team Nebraska takes over 2nd place at 21.
And it was another reminder to never bet on or against NC State. They can beat anyone and lose to anyone. Just do yourself a favor and stay away.
With Kansas stumbling down the stretch, there’s a new leader for Coach of the Year. UConn’s Jim Mora inherited a program that went 6-32 under Randy Edsall. In his first he’s going bowling after beating Liberty (a team that just beat Arkansas) 36-33 to go 6-5.
Trivia answer
Holy Cross - 1947
La Salle - 1954
San Francisco - 1955, 1956
Loyola (IL) - 1963
Marquette - 1977
Georgetown - 1984
Villanova - 1985, 2016, 2018
Remember, the 2023 GO JUMBO trip is Nov 11th at the Westgate SuperBook
I guess I should have seen Tulane's loss coming. it was their 61st straight loss to a ranked team.
Speaking of losing streaks, Boston College snapped their 26 game losing streak to ranked teams when they took down NC State 21-20. The Eagles had the 2nd longest among Power Five teams at 26. Rutgers owns the longest at 36. Fellow Big Ten team Nebraska takes over 2nd place at 21.
And it was another reminder to never bet on or against NC State. They can beat anyone and lose to anyone. Just do yourself a favor and stay away.
With Kansas stumbling down the stretch, there’s a new leader for Coach of the Year. UConn’s Jim Mora inherited a program that went 6-32 under Randy Edsall. In his first he’s going bowling after beating Liberty (a team that just beat Arkansas) 36-33 to go 6-5.
Trivia answer
Holy Cross - 1947
La Salle - 1954
San Francisco - 1955, 1956
Loyola (IL) - 1963
Marquette - 1977
Georgetown - 1984
Villanova - 1985, 2016, 2018
Remember, the 2023 GO JUMBO trip is Nov 11th at the Westgate SuperBook
