College Football Week 7 Recap

Game of the Week: Baylor 61, TCU 58

            This game was thrilling from start to finish with two high-powered Big 12 teams, in-state rivals going blow for blow, with a chance to go to the playoff on the line.  But to say Baylor was “on the ropes” was an understatement, as they were down 21 in the fourth quarter. After Bryce Petty threw the pick six to Marcus Mallet, it appeared that the Bears playoff hopes were all but dashed, but Baylor, behind their all-American quarterback would just not go away scoring 24 points in just over 10 minutes time. This may not have been just the “Game of the Week” but “Game of the Year” thus far.

             

Player of the Week: Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor (28-55, 510 yards, 6 TDs)  

             Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston? Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota? Despite what games have been played this year, or the scandals that have taken pace, when discussing the two best quarterbacks in college football the conversation begins and ends with Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston. But after Saturday’s thrilling affair, Bryce Petty may have just entered the conversation. While Petty lacks the true athletic ability that Mariota and Winston possess, Petty excels in his throwing ability, ability to read defenses, and he can make all the throws. But what Petty convinced America on Saturday was his ability to carry his team to overcome adversity. Yes, he threw for 510 yards, and yes he threw for 6 touchdowns, but what the stats did not show was Petty poise and decisiveness down 21 in the 4^th. When NFL teams evaluate this year’s crop of quarterbacks the intangibles will be the hardest to judge and evaluate. It was fairly easy to evaluate Petty’s on Saturday.

Disappointment of the Week: UCLA

            UCLA may just be the “Disappointment of the Year” following Saturday’s humiliating loss to Oregon. UCLA season, so hopeful for a championship run, saw that run end to Oregon. Perhaps expectations were too high for this Bruins program, that resurrected back to life two years ago. Perhaps they were not as ready for the big time, as we thought. Perhaps they were not ready to challenge the Oregons’, Stanfords’, or over take the Trojans as we thought. Perhaps they are not just as good as we thought.

Game to Watch: No. 6 Notre Dame @ No.1 Florida State, 8:00 pm, ABC

            Like UCLA/Oregon a week ago, Notre Dame/Florida State will prove to be another elimination game for our new playoff system in college football. Notre Dame whose talents are buoyed by the talents of Everett Golson, who helped stave off North Carolina in a 50-45 win on Saturday. While the college football “experts” all have Florida State securing a home victory against the Irish, this may have upset written all over this one. Florida State has yet to play against a team of this caliber, and a quarterback of this magnitude. Not that Golson is the second coming of Joe Montana, but certainly more formidable that Florida State has faced since Nick Marshall of Auburn in last year’s National Championship game. And being a top 5 team is not it is all cracked up to be this year, just ask Auburn, Oregon, Alabama, and Oklahoma.

Coach on the Hot Seat: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern

            Brady Hoke’s Michigan squad defeated a bland Penn State this weekend so I will stay off of him for the time being. But Northwestern can’t seem to figure out how to get out of the funk they have been in for the past two seasons. The offseason and mid season ruckus of a year ago seems to have completely derailed whatever momentum Northwestern and Pat Fitzgerald had in 2012. If Northwestern truly wants to move forward, or a different direction than the pro-Union direction the players seemed to be focused on a year ago, perhaps they need to start anew…without Pat Fitzgerald. 

           

Playoff Prediction:

1. Florida State

2. Oregon

3. Mississippi State

4. Baylor

             

1. Florida State: Once again Florida State, for another week, is the best team in the country. A big home test against Notre Dame could change that, but expect the Seminoles to shine the brightness in this week’s “Game of the Week”.

2. Oregon: Well they certainly answered the bell this past week at the Rose Bowl against UCLA. Oregon’s offense found their stride against one of the best defenses in the country. Their last big test should be their home game against Stanford, but it is not unreasonable to assume that Oregon will win out the rest of their games. If they do they are a slam-dunk to make the playoff.

3. Mississippi State: ‘All they do is win win win no matter what!’ It just doesn’t seem to matter whom Mississippi State plays they do just about anything they please. What is just so impressive that in every game they have played they manage to establish their tone, despite whom their opponent is. They are more than just a Cinderella team; they are the best team in the country, period.

4. Baylor: Baylor still has three tough games left, but the one that will attract the most attention is their date at Norman against the Sooners on November 8^th. If Baylor wins out, they may be the only undefeated team in the playoff. Not exactly unfathomable after their big win against the Horned Frogs.

Don’t Count Them Out Yet: Alabama & Ohio State

            They are still quietly there, waiting in the wings. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

           

2015 NFL Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Player	College	Position
1	Oakland	Marcus Mariota	Oregon	QB
2	Jacksonville	Randy Gregory	Nebraska	DE/OLB
3	St. Louis	Jameis Winston	Florida State	QB
4	New York J	Bryce Petty	Baylor	QB
5	Tampa Bay	Andrus Peat	Stanford	OT
6	Minnesota	Cedric Ogbuhei	Texas A&M	OT
7	Cleveland (from Buffalo)	Amari Cooper	Alabama	WR
8	Houston	Landon Collins	Alabama	S
9	Cleveland	Shilique Calhoun	Michigan State	DE
10	Tennessee	Todd Gurley	Georgia	RB
11	Miami	Leonard Williams	USC	DE
12	Washington	P.J. Williams	Florida State	CB
13	Pittsburgh	Shawn Oakman	Baylor	DT/DE
14	New Orleans	Vic Beasley	Clemson	DE/OLB
15	Carolina	Melvin Gordon	Wisconsin	RB