If there is any doubt that college football surpasses the NFL in
the psyche of the American people, all doubt was set aside yesterday as CFB experienced it’s most exciting Saturday of the season.
4 of the top 25 teams fell to lesser opponents including 2 of the top 5 in Oregon and Baylor.
San Diego State
Long after the east coast was tucked in bed, the Aztecs prevailed against the perennial power Boise State Broncos for the second straight year.
SDSU’s defense dominated the first half. And I mean dominated. Boise State’s first 1st down came with 9 minutes left in the second quarter. If not for a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the score should have been 14-0 with Boise getting something like 50 yards in the first half. It was as dominating a performance as we’ve seen all year.
Later, in the 4th quarter, the Aztecs slipped up… in quick succession gave up a long TD run, then fumbled the ball on the kickoff, then watched Boise march down and score another touchdown to take a 21-14 lead.
That was at the 12 minute mark in the 4th quarter. At least 10,000 Aztec “fans” made for the parking lot. (Because people who go to games in San Diego aren’t fans, they just go to games for a while. Weirdest thing ever.)
Unlike the people buying tickets to the games, this year’s Aztec squad doesn’t leave early. Instead, a few minutes later their defense got a pick-6 to tie the game before eventually heading into overtime at 28-28.
In the first overtime, the Aztec defense came up huge and forced a field goal. Next, SDSU battled it down to the 10 yard line… then… in the little corner at the Q where no one can ever see what really happened, Colin Lockett nabbed the catch of his life to clinch it.
These Aztecs don’t quit. That’s their 4th overtime game of the year. Unreal.
Bowl prediction: San Diego State is staying home, again, for the Poinsettia Bowl. I’ll go begrudgingly. But I wish we could go to the Vegas Bowl for once.
Notre Dame
Earlier in the day, with a backdrop of snowflakes and driving wind at Notre Dame Stadium, the Irish pushed a gnawed on and beat up on old BYU. Seriously, BYU was never in that game. (Which makes this Aztecs fan happy. We do not care for the team from Provo.)
It was a nice, boring game to watch.
Bowl prediction: Rumor has it the Irish are headed to New York for the Pinstripe Bowl. But I think there are bowl commissioners, in this very moment, crafting a way to get a 9-3 or 8-4 Notre Dame team to a better bowl. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them play a bowl in Texas for recruiting purposes.
Elsewhere in CFB
Where to begin? Rich Rod got a career redeeming win against Oregon. They didn’t just beat Oregon, they slapped them around from the first snap. And the Cowboys of OK State proved to everyone that they are for real. (And a blast to watch.)
Another thing that is becoming more and more clear: The SEC just isn’t as far ahead of everyone as they think they are. Florida… I mean, what the heck? And lowly Vandy with 7-wins? The 2013 version of the SEC bears little resemblance to the 2011, 2012 conference dominance. While I fully expect Alabama to make it to the BCS championship game, I’m not sure they are better than Florida State. I think Ohio State or Florida State could beat them. (Stanford and Oregon won’t get the chance, but they’d beat them, too.) In other words, the SEC is “dominant” only insofar as scheduling is concerned.
Week 14 predictions
Notre Dame @ Stanford – Cardinal by a lot
SDSU at UNLV – Aztecs
WMU @ NIU – Western
Ole Miss @ Miss State – Miss State
Texas Tech @ Texas – TTU (Mack Brown replaced by Nick Saban?)
Iowa @ Nebraska – Huskers
Arkansas @ LSU – LSU
Fresno State @ San Jose State – Fresno State
Oregon State @ Oregon – Ducks
Florida State @ Florida – FSU by 140
Ohio State @ Michigan – Buckeyes (Hoke is out by Christmas… I’m telling ya)
Minnesota @ Michigan State – Sparty
Bama @ Auburn – Bama
Penn State @ Wisconsin – Badgers
Clemson @ South Carolina – Clemson
UCLA @ USC – USC
Arizona @ Arizona State – ASU
Leave a Reply