College Football Central

NEWS

With the final rankings released, we now know who is in and who is out of the inaugural College Football Playoff. Alabama, Oregon, Florida State, and Ohio State, respectively, make up the top 4 teams in the country. Left out were TCU and Baylor, two 11-1 Big-12 teams who made convincing statements last week as to why they should be included in the new playoff. Ultimately, I believe Ohio State got the nod over those two teams for two reasons: (1) Ohio State is a much more popular and marketable team nationwide, and (2) by including Ohio State, only one conference feels left out (the Big-12), whereas if Ohio State were left out both the Big-10 and Big-12 would have had deserving teams left out of the playoff. In the end, I believe the Big-12’s lack of a conference championship game hurt them the most, as Ohio State’s demolition of Wisconsin helped out their cause immensely, and they did so with a 3rd-string quarterback. Personally, I think the committee got it right, and I am excited to see how this new playoff system works out in its inaugural year.

[2014’s final rankings as decided by the selection committee (collegefootballplayoff.com)]

BOWL SEASON PREVIEW

Rose Bowl | Pasadena, California | #2 Oregon vs #3 Florida State

This year’s Rose Bowl matches up two of college’s football’s premier quarterbacks: Marcus Mariota (Oregon) and Jameis Winston (FSU). The two Heisman winners will square off New Year’s day, and I believe it will be the quarterback who makes the most mistakes will find his team advancing to the next round of the playoffs. This season, that quarterback has been Mariota, but you can’t argue with Winston’s record as a starter (a perfect 27-0). Florida State will be coming all the way across the country to play in this game, and that could play a factor if FSU is to come out slow. However, if FSU finds itself down early, don’t count them out just yet. They have proven time and time again that they can come back from any deficit and still find ways to win.

My Prediction: Oregon 31, FSU 34

Sugar Bowl | New Orleans, Louisiana | #1 Alabama vs #4 Ohio State

Alabama and Ohio State is the more intriguing of two games in my opinion because you don’t know what you’re going to get out of either team and honestly anything could happen. Coming off a 55-0 win against a tough Wisconsin team, OSU finds itself rolling on all cylinders despite the loss of record-breaking QB J.T. Barrett 2 weeks ago. Sophomore Cardale Jones filled in admirably last week, but can he do the same against the #1 team in the country come January 1st? As for Alabama, WR Amari Cooper had a record-breaking season of his own, and QB Blake Sims has had a surprisingly strong season despite somewhat low expectations. The Crimson Tide were expected to be a run-heavy team this season, and have played like that in some games, but in other games they have relied heavily on the pass. The unpredictability of the Alabama offense and the ability to rely on both the run or pass if need be has been one of the reasons why they have been so effective this year. It is tough to gameplan against a team like this, and Ohio State has definitely got their work cut out for them. I think with a 3rd string quarterback playing in only his second career game, it’ll be tough for Ohio State to pull the upset come New Year’s day.

My Prediction: Alabama 42, Ohio State 27

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[From left to right: QBs Blake Sims (Alabama), Marcus Mariota (Oregon), Jameis Winston (FSU), and Cardale Jones (OSU) look to lead their teams to victory in the inaugural College Football Playoff. (image from csnphilly.com)]

NEWS

Redeeming their week 6 loss, #2 Oregon stomped on #7 Arizona in the PAC-12 Championship game on Friday night, 51-13. Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota may have solidified himself as the Heisman frontrunner with a 346 yard, 5 TD performance against the Wildcats. The Ducks’ signal caller has been spectacular this year, accumulating 4,458 total yards and 52 total touchdowns on the season. Mariota did this all with only 2 interceptions on the year. Pretty impressive, and now his Ducks are likely headed to the first ever college football playoff. Depending on the results of this weekend’s games, the selection committee could have a tough decision on their hands.

[Oregon’s Mariota (8) celebrates after scoring 1 of his 5 touchdowns (bleacherreport.com)]

GAME OF THE WEEK

#4 Florida State vs #11 Georgia Tech

The undefeated Florida State Seminoles come in ranked #4 in the country behind one-loss Alabama, Oregon, and TCU. Despite not having lost a game, the selection committee seems to have lost confidence is this FSU team with several close calls in what should have been easily games (See Boston College, Miami, and Florida). However, you can’t argue with Florida State’s track record, and they have still won 28 straight games. I think with a win against Georgia Tech, it will be impossible to keep them out of the first College Football Playoff, and although Jameis Winston is not having the year that everyone expected, he is still one of the best quarterbacks in the country who knows how to win games. Winning will not be easy, however, as Georgia Tech’s run heavy offense could create problems for Florida State’s subpar run defense. If The defense holds, Florida State should have no problem defeating the Yellow Jackets and advancing to the playoffs.

My Prediction:

Florida State 42, Georgia Tech 35

[Georgia Tech’s QB Justin Thomas could play a pivotal role against Winston and the Florida State Seminoles (theatlantavoice.com)]

NEWS

As we enter, the college football rankings become more an more important. In the inaugural season of the 4-team college football playoff, the rankings of the top 4 teams are of the utmost importance. Entering week 14, Alabama, Oregon, Florida State, and Mississippi State make up the top 4 teams in the country as ranked by the new selection committee. Interestingly, Mississippi State cracked the top 4 despite not having a chance to win their conference championship. By including a non-conference-champion, two “Power 5” conference champions – the champions from the Big 10 and Big 12 – would not be included. Potential champions, such as Ohio State, TCU, and Baylor, who all have the same record as Mississippi State, would be left out. Personally, I believe that you should have to win the championship to qualify for the 4-team playoff, but ideally there should be an 8-team playoff to allow all “Power 5” conference winners and three other non-winners. Although it is not a possibility this year, I would like to see this implemented in the coming years. This would definitely eliminate some of the controversy as to who’s in/who’s out for the next college football playoff.

[Current college football playoff situation (www.breakingnews.com)]

GAME OF THE WEEK

#15 Auburn vs #1 Alabama

If this years Iron Bowl is anything like last years, we are in for quite a show. In last year’s matchup, tied 28-28 with seconds to go, Alabama kicker Adam Griffiths’ 57-yard field goal attempt fell just short and was returned 109 yards by Auburn’s Chris Davis for a touchdown as time expired to go ahead and win 34-28 over Alabama. With the win, Auburn clinched the SEC West and eventually played in the National Championship game. The 2013 Iron Bowl left a sour taste in the players, coaches, and fans of Alabama, and the 2014 game should be equally excited. Alabama once again comes in ranked #1 in the country, and a loss to Auburn could leave their spot in the playoff in jeopardy. Although Auburn has no chance to play in the conference championship, a win over their in-state rival would be a definite moral booster going into bowl season. At home in 2014, I expect Auburn to pull out the win in another close game that comes down to the final possession.

My Prediction: Auburn 47, Alabama 41

[Auburn’s Chris Davis’ game winning field goal return in 2013 (nypost.com)]

NEWS

Recap: #12 Kansas State 26, West Virginia 20

[Kansas State players celebrate after a touchdown on Thursday night (saturdayblitz.com)]

On Thursday, the Wildcats and the Mountaineers met up at Milan Puskar Park in Morgantown. It was a pretty important game for a Thursday night matchup, and K-State took home the win behind the arm of Jake Waters, who threw for 400 yards and a touchdown. A little late game excitement occurred towards the end of regulation, after a WVU field goal cut the Kansas State lead to just 6 points with under a minute to go. Fortunately for K-State, the Wildcats recovered the onside kick, effectively ending WVU’s chances of winning. This game would have been of greater importance had Kansas State won either of the 2 games against Auburn or TCU. With 2 losses it’ll be tough for Kansas State to win the BIG 12, but a late season win against Baylor could result in a 3-way tie at the top. It will definitely be an interesting race to watch as the regular season comes to a close.

GAME OF THE WEEK

(Week 13)

#19 USC vs #9 UCLA

[UCLA’s Hundley attempts to outrun USC defenders (losangeles.cbslocal.com)]

The game of the week features the two top teams from the Los Angeles area, and two teams who, with a win on Saturday, will likely get the opportunity to play in the PAC 12 championship game against Oregon. UCLA is led by quarterback Brett Hundley (24 total TDs, 4 INTs), a potential first round draft pick if he declares this after the season. An early season Heisman favorite, Hundley has been the subject of some criticism this season, but his effort has played no factor in UCLA’s two midseason losses to Utah and Oregon. On the other side, a red-hot Cody Kessler leads USC against the Bruins. Kessler has played outstanding in his last 4 games (18 TDs, 2 INTs), and looks to continue the same this Saturday against UCLA. I think this game comes down to the defenses. USC’s defense has played much better than UCLA’s for most of the season, and with how well Kessler has played, USC will be tough to beat.

My Prediction: USC 32, UCLA 24

NEWS

With all that has gone on thus far, it seems only fitting that Jameis Winston is making national news again. This time, Winston is being accused of point shaving, a serious accusation that could have the Florida State quarterback suspended indefinitely by the NCAA. According to a report from TMZ, Chris Rabb, a defensive end for the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a close high school friend of Winston, has been making $5,000 bets the past few weeks that FSU will be losing at halftime. Interestingly enough, Winston has played terribly in the first half as of late, specifically the FSU-Louisville game, but the Seminoles have come back and won each time. Obviously, the NCAA is in the early parts of the investigation so nothing is confirmed, but with all the drama surrounding Winston, you can’t help but think that it is hurting his draft stock. Once viewed as a #1 overall pick in the upcoming draft, many reports have said that he has fallen far from his original projection because GMs are less likely to take a risk on him with all the trouble he’s gotten himself into. Jameis has certainly dug himself in a whole before, but can he keep continuously digging himself out?

[Jameis Winston evading a Louisville defender in FSU’s last game (grantland.com)]

GAME OF THE WEEK

(Week 12)

#5 Alabama vs #1 Mississippi State

[Alabama running back TJ Yeldon against Mississippi State in 2013 (usatoday.com)]

This is unquestionably the most important game of the season for both teams. The winner will likely retain the #1 spot in the college football rankings for the remainder of the season if they win out and secure a spot in the SEC championship game and the 4-team playoff. The loser could be considered for a spot in the 4-team playoff, but with the way the top teams in the Big 12 (TCU, Baylor), the Big 10 (Ohio State), the PAC 12 (Oregon), and the ACC (Florida State), it will be very difficult for them to earn a spot in the inaugural year of the new playoff system. Alabama is a much different team than they were 6 weeks ago when they played Ole Miss, and the group of voters have taken note of that. Blake Sims has been playing out of his mind of late (11 TDs, no turnovers in last 4 games) and the Alabama defense has been outstanding against top SEC teams. The Crimson Tide are coming off of a big overtime win against LSU, and the team chemistry is at an all time high. Alabama is favored to win this one, so don’t be surprised to see the #1 team in the country handed it’s first loss of the season.

My Prediction: Alabama 25, Mississippi State 20

NEWS

[Graphic displaying all 14 teams in the SEC (www.mizzou.com)]

No big news this week coming out of the NCAA, but I find the SEC/college football playoff situation to be very interesting. As we enter the final few weeks of the college football regular season, currently 8 of the 14 teams are mathematically still alive and could play in the SEC conference championship. Three of the top five ranked teams in the country (Mississippi State, Auburn, and Alabama) play in the SEC. Come regular seasons end, the champions of the five “power” conferences (the SEC, Big 12, Big 10, ACC, and PAC 12) will all be vying for a spot in the 4-team playoff. It is a very realistic possibility that 2 SEC teams make the playoff, leaving 2 conference champions out. Add in independent program like Notre Dame, and you’ve got a real problem as to who’s in and who’s out. Personally, I would have liked to have seen an 8-team playoff. I think the flaw with the 4-team playoff, as was the problem before, is that some legitimate teams get left out of the major bowl game(s). Already in it’s inaugural year, this 4-team playoff already is showing some of its glaring issues. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

GAME OF THE WEEK

#14 Ohio State vs #8 Michigan State

[MSU’s Jeremy Langford attempts to outrun an Ohio State defender during last year’s B1G Championship. (sportsusamedia.com)]

This Saturday, the Buckeyes will travel to East Lansing, Michigan to take on the Spartans of Michigan State in a rematch of the 2013 B1G Championship. Each team comes in at 7-1 overall. The winner of this matchup will likely get a chance to play in the B1G Championship and possibly secure one of the four spots for the new College Football Playoff. The loser will more than likely be knocked out of major post-season play. Come Saturday, this game could go either way. The way I see it, these two teams mirror each other in that they both have good defenses and efficient offenses. Gone to the NFL are studs Max Bullough, Denicos Allen, and Darqueze Dennard, but Michigan State’s defense has still been excellent thus far in 2014. Future first-round-lock, defensive tackle Shilique Calhoun, and the rest of the Spartan defense have held opponents to just 20.3 points per game. This has been more than enough for their offense, led by junior quarterback Connor Cook (17 TDs, 5 INTs), who together have averaged to score 45.5 points per contest. For OSU, J.T. Barrett (29 total TDs) has filled in admirably for injured Braxton Miller. He and Ohio State have been rolling since their Week 2 loss to Virginia Tech. Barrett, who has only thrown 2 interceptions in the last 5 games, could be the x-factor for the Buckeyes. If he remains calm in a hostile environment, Ohio State could very easily come out on top.

My Prediction:

Ohio State 28, Michigan State 24

NEWS

The official BCS college football rankings were released this week, and to no one’s surprise they were the subject to some controversy. I, like everybody else, have my own opinions.

[Dak Prescott (pictured) and MSU come in ranked #1 in the new polls. (Picture from saturdayblitz.com)]

With this year’s new playoff system, the top four teams will move on to a short playoff to determine the national champion. With the release of the first rankings, Mississippi State, Florida State, Auburn, and Ole Miss round out the top four. Personally, I would have liked to have seen a bit more variety in the selection of the top 4 teams. I don’t like how, if the season ended today, 3 of the 4 slots for the playoff would go to SEC teams. Oregon and TCU, I believe, deserve a shot if they win their respective conference championships. Also, Notre Dame, who’s only loss this season has come at the hands of #2 Florida State, should be higher in this ranking. In my mind, they are a top 6 team. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how the closing weeks of the season play out, and I am more than excited to what the first year of this new system. Although I am a bit skeptical, I think that this playoff system just might work. Only time will tell.

GAME OF THE WEEK

#3 Ole Miss vs #4 Auburn

[Auburn’s Nick Marshall shakes off a would-be Ole Miss defender (al.com)]

This game is crucial for both teams. The winner stays alive and likely stays in the hunt for a spot in the new college football playoff. The loser will add a second loss to their record; likely putting themselves out of contention for one of the four final spots. For Auburn, the key to the game will be to get Nick Marshall going early. When the dual-threat senior is clicking on all cylinders, Auburn’s offense is tough to stop. For Ole Miss, it all comes down to their defense. The Rebels’ defense has allowed 10.5 points per game: Good for 1st in the country. In the SEC, that’s no small feat. The match up between Marshall (1684 total yards, 18 total touchdowns) and the rest of the Auburn offense against this Ole Miss defense will be fun to watch.

My prediction:

Auburn 17, Ole Miss 14

NEWS

Recap of last night’s highlight game between Connecticut and the #18 East Carolina Pirates.

[ECU quarterback Shane Carden evades a UCONN defender. (cbslocal.com)]

East Carolina held off the Huskies, 31-21, for their fifth straight win and their elevation into national prominence continued. Currently ranked #18 in the country with a record of 6-1, the Pirates look like this year’s version of the 2013 UCF team. Just as Blake Bortles had a breakout year for the Knights last season, this year Shane Carden has led the way for the Pirates. Through 7 games, Carden already has accounted for 21 total touchdowns to just 5 interceptions. He has been very efficient, and the wide receiver tandem of Justin Hardy and Isaiah Jones has been a nightmare for opposing defenses. Carden, Hardy, and Jones have been key contributors in an offense that ranks 3rd in passing yards and 13th in points scored. Sadly, even if the Pirates win out, voters of the new 4-team playoff will be less likely to vote East Carolina in. Still, the national exposure is certain to help out with recruiting for a burgeoning program on the rise in the FBS.

GAME OF THE WEEK

#13 Ohio State at Penn State

[OSU receiver Evan Spencer tries to stiff-arm PSU’s Jordan Lucas in 2013 (foxnews.com)]

I try not to be biased in these blog posts, but I have never been more excited for a football game than the one this Saturday at Beaver Stadium. It will be my first time attending an Ohio State-Penn State game; something I’ve dreamed about doing for years. Although in the past few years, Ohio State has beaten Penn State pretty handily, I believe that this year will be different. Penn State is coming off a bye week and has only played one game in the last three weeks. Hopefully with the added preparation, the coaching staff was able to work out the kinks that led to PSU’s two consecutive losses that followed their 4-0 start. It can be expected that James Franklin’s squad will be well rested and hyped up to take on the Buckeyes in front of their home crowd. Penn State will be organizing their usual “White Out” for this game, and a sellout crowd is a guarantee. If Hackenberg can play to his potential (and the offensive line can give him enough time in the pocket for once), expect an exciting game. I think the key to this game will come down to Penn State’s defense. Ranked #1 in the nation in terms of rush yards allowed, Mike Hull and the Penn State defense will have a tough test ahead of them against dual threat freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett. Needless to say, I am excited for the weekend ahead.

My (Hopeful) Prediction: #13 Ohio State – 24, Penn State – 27

NEWS

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston seems to always be in the spotlight.

[Winston throwing in the ACC Championship last year (foxsports.com)]

One week after Georgia running back Todd Gurley was suspended indefinitely for signed memorabilia, reigning Heisman trophy winner Jameis Winston was found to have signed authenticated pieces of memorabilia for an authentication company; an NCAA violation. The authentication company, James Spence Authentication, refuses to comment or reveal the number of autheticated items, but one source told ESPN that the number tops 2,000 items. Winston, who has already been suspended for one game this year, could face a greater suspension similar to Gurley’s, but it has not yet been confirmed that Winston profited off of the memorabilia. An NCAA suspension could come as early as friday, but it is highly unlikely.

GAME OF THE WEEK

(Week 8)

#5 Notre Dame vs #2 Florida State

[Florida State against Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl (blueoil.wordpress.com)]

Notre Dame will travel to Tallahassee to take on the Seminoles of Florida State this saturday at 8:00 pm. Notre Dame (6-0) has been much improved this year, and the team’s talent is often compared to that of the 2012 BCS national title game team. The offense, led by senior quarterback Everette Golson, is a good game manager who can beat teams with his legs and his arm. The defense, 8th best in the country with just 17.2 points allowed per game, is what makes Notre Dame so good. When Golson makes all the right reads, and the defense plays like its capable, Notre Dame is tough to beat.

With all the distractions surrounding Winston not only this week but all season, it is remarkable that Florida State has been able to sustain it’s undefeated streak and remain one of the top programs in college football. Winston’s play on gameday will be key in determining the outcome of the game. Although “Famous Jameis” hasn’t followed up his stellar freshman season like many had predicted, a big win over Notre Dame could put him back into the Heisman conversation.

My prediction:

Notre Dame 41, Florida State 31

NEWS

Big news this week coming out of Athens, Georgia.

[Todd Gurley carrying the ball against Clemson earlier this season (www.foxsports.com)]

University of Georgia’s star tailback, Todd Gurley, was suspended indefinitely on Thursday amid an NCAA rules investigation. The NCAA has accused Gurley of receiving excess benefits from memorabilia sales. Gurley has been very productive thus far, rushing for 773 yards and 8 touchdowns, good for 6th in the nation and 1st in the SEC. The suspension, if it goes longer than this weekend against Missouri, could drastically hurt Gurley’s chances of winning the Heisman trophy. Georgia (4-1) will likely turn to true freshman running back Nick Chubb, who has 224 yards and 2 touchdowns thus far this season. However, for now Georgia’s focus is on Missouri and Missouri only. Just as coach Mark Richt said in a recent interview, “the important thing for our team is to turn all our attention toward preparation for Missouri.” It should be interesting to see how the team responds this weekend.

GAME OF THE WEEK

(Week 7)

#9 TCU vs #5 Baylor

[TCU against Baylor in 2013 (talking12.com)]

In a clash of Big 12 powers, the Horned Frogs of TCU will travel to Waco, Texas to take on the Bears of Baylor. TCU (4-0) is lead by quarterback Trevone Boykin, who is the teams leading passer and rusher. Thus far, Boykin has 1,176 yards through the air to go along with 260 yards on the ground. His 10-2 touchdown to interception ratio is impressive and Boykin has also ran for 3 touchdowns this year. Look for him to have a big game. For Baylor, the offense revolves around Bryce Petty. The senior quarterback has missed some time this year, but is still in the conversation for the Heisman trophy. Petty led Baylor to a Big 12 championship and a Fiesta Bowl victory last season, and he has his Bears in a similar spot. The winner of this game could decided who goes to the Big 12 championship this year.

My prediction:

TCU 45, Baylor 51

NEWS

Arizona came to play on Thursday night.

[Oregon’s Marcus Mariota carries the ball against Arizona (foxnews.com)]

Thursday night, the undefeated Arizona Wildcats traveled to Eugene, Oregon to take on the Ducks and what a game it was. Tied at 24 a piece with 2:58 left to go in the game, Arizona quarterback Anu Soloman handed the ball to Terris Jones-Grigsby for a touchdown from a yard out. Up 31-24, all Arizona had to do was play defense and keep Marcus Mariota and the high-octnane Oregon offense out of the end zone for the final minutes. With 2:15 to go, Arizona’s Scooby Wright stripped the ball out of the hands of Mariota and the Wildcats took over and crushed Oregon’s hopes of a comeback. Oregon, ranked #2 in the country coming in to the game, will likely fall significantly in the standings. Their chances of making the four-team college playoff seems unlikely. Meanwhile, the 5-0 Arizona Wildcats will likely crack the top-25 for the first time this season and currently sit atop the standings in the Pac-12 South. In was has turned out to be a very competitive conference, the meeting between the Wildcats and the Bruins of UCLA on November 1st could decide the conference winner.

GAME OF THE WEEK

(Week 6)

#6 Texas A&M at #12 Mississippi State

[MSU’s Dak Prescott rushes for a first down against Texas A&M in 2013 (woodtv.com)]

Entering the second week of conference play, five of the seven teams in the SEC West remain unbeaten. Two of those teams, Texas A&M and Mississippi State, meet up Saturday at Davis Wade Field in Starkville, Mississippi. Coming in, both teams have been somewhat of a surprise. Sophomore sensation Kenny Hill of A&M has been better than advertised: A 17-2 touchdown to interception ratio has made it easy for Aggie fans to move on from the Johnny Manziel era. Hill, in combination with the 2-headed rushing attack of Trey Williams and Tra Carson, have rocket the Aggies to an SEC best 51.2 points per game. Can the Bulldogs keep up with the offensive firepower of A&M?

Coming off a big win over then-#8 LSU, junior quarterback Dak Prescott and the Mississippi State Bulldogs look to continue their success against Texas A&M. The Bulldogs love to run the football, and both Prescott and running back Josh Robinson are on pace to surpass 1,000 yards this season on the ground. The running game could be key for the Bulldogs against and athletic Texas A&M defense. If the Bulldogs are able to pull of the upset, Prescott must be efficient with the football and keep the Kenny Hill off the field as much as possible.

Prediction: Texas A&M 48, Mississippi State 42

NEWS

Michi-gone?

Off to a 2-2 start, Michigan has been the subject of a lot of scrutiny in the college football world. With big losses coming early to Notre Dame and Utah, some question whether head coach Brady Hoke will still be there come season’s end. Hoke is 3-7 in his last 10 games, and at a program as proud as Michigan, that just isn’t going to cut it. In a recent press conference, Hoke was hammered with questions surrounding his job security, the state of the team, and where they go from here. When asked about how is players are reacting to all the negativity from students, alumni, and fans, Hoke said, “it’s out there, but it’s what you choose and what you believe.We’ve got great belief in our locker room.” For the sake of his job, Hoke better hope he can right the ship – and fast.

[Michigan’s Brady Hoke coaching in a game earlier this season (espn.com)]

GAME OF THE WEEK

(Week 5)

#11 UCLA at #15 Arizona State

[Arizona State’s DJ Foster carries the ball against UCLA in 2013 (heatwaved.com)]

In a battle of the unbeatens, Heisman-hopeful Brent Hundley and the UCLA Bruins will travel to Tempe, Arizona to take on the Sun Devils of Arizona State. The heavily favored Bruins may be in for a surprise come Saturday. Although the Sun Devils are without 3rd-year starter Taylor Kelly at quarterback, Arizona State’s offense may be potent enough to overcome the high powered UCLA attack. Junior running back DJ Foster has been impressive thus far, averaging a remarkable 9.44 yards per carry. Look for him to have a big day if the Sun Devils are able to keep it close. As for UCLA, the offensive juggernaut of Hundley and running back Paul Perkins looks to come out firing on all cylinders  against a suspect Arizona State defense. Perkins has seen the ball more and more as the weeks have gone on, and a reliable running game was something that was missing for the Bruins last season. This could be the year that the Bruins take over the top spot in the Pac-12 South.

Prediction: UCLA 49, Arizona State 30

NEWS

In a week that was dominated by NFL reports, from players being suspended for domestic violence charges to new league policies, Jameis Winston’s story seemed to go fairly unnoticed. The reigning Heisman winner was reported by students to have shouted an obscene internet “meme” that was nothing short of inappropriate. This comes just a few months after the Florida State quarterback was arrested for stealing crab legs and roughly 10 months since Winston was accused of rape by a student. In response, Florida State’ athletic department has decided to punish Winston; suspending his for the first half of their game against rival Clemson.

FSU’s Winston stiff-arms an Auburn defender (cbssports.com)

Personally, I don’t necessarily agree with the actions taken by Florida State. An apology in Winston’s next press conference would have been more than enough. I can pretty much guarantee that a large portion of Florida State’s male student body has said it once before,  but the university would laugh at the thought of putting any form of punishment on those students. And if the goal of the university is to undermine Winston and show the student body who still rules the school, imagine this very possible scenario: Against Clemson, FSU’s back-up quarterback struggles in the first half and puts Clemson in position to knock off the No. 1 team in the country. Trotting onto the field to a standing ovation in the second half, Winston brings FSU back and shows everyone why he is the best player in college football. This will only further solidify his power over the university and the university’s athletic department is left in worse position politically than before. It should be interesting to see how this all plays out.

GAME OF THE WEEK

(Week 4)

#4 Oklahoma (3-0) at West Virginia (2-1)

West Virginia and Oklahoma in 2012 (bleacherreport.com)

In what could be one of the bigger upsets of the weekend, Bob Stoop’s Sooners will travel to Morgantown to take on the Mountaineers of West Virginia in a game that has huge implications on the Big 12 and the rest of college football. For Oklahoma, the key will be to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers early and often to silence the likely sellout crowd in Milan Puskar Stadium. Sterling Shepard (335 receiving yards) and Keith Ford (5 rushing touchdowns) need to have big games to keep WVU out of it. “Big-Game Bob” and his renounced defense need be ready for the Mountaineers. West Virginia is a good team with their only loss coming to #2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa in Week 1. Senior quarterback Clint Trickett has been very consistent thus far; posting a 75% completion percentage and a 7-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Mountaineers like to sling it all over the field, so look for star wide receiver Kevin White to have a big game. If the offense plays how it’s capable, we could have an upset that would certainly shake up the college football world.

Prediction: Oklahoma 41, West Virginia 38

Hello College Football Fans!

Welcome to the first rendition of College Football Central. As a student at Penn State, it is easy to get caught up in the roller coaster of events that exists within the college football season. From the tailgating that goes on many hours before the game to watching your favorite team pull off the upset against your biggest rival, there’s a lot to get excited about with college football.

The main point of this blog, which will be posted at least 24 hours prior to Saturday’s games, is to look ahead to the upcoming week in college football. Any national news, game recaps, etc., will be highlighted and discussed on this blog. Also, I will provide a preview to what I will determine to be the upcoming “Game of the Week.” In that, I will briefly discuss the implications of the highlighted game and offer my predictions. With that in mind, let’s get started with Week 3.

NEWS

The biggest news in college football this week was what happened in Happy Valley.

(PSU fans rejoice following Monday’s news – John Beale/Associated Press)

As I’m sure you’ve already heard, gone are the sanctions placed upon the Penn State Nittany Lions football team from back in 2012 as a part of the backlash by the NCAA in response to the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal. Penn State is now eligible to play in a bowl game this season and will have a full 85 scholarship-players allowed for the 2015-2016 school year. Senator George J. Mitchell, who was hired by the NCAA to watch over the university in the aftermath of the case, recommended that the NCAA remove the punishment after he concluded that Penn State had made astounding progress. He also found that the current football players and staff “bear no personal responsibility” for the events of the past (NY Times). Excellent news for the Penn State football team and community.

GAME OF THE WEEK

(Week 3)

#6 Georgia at #24 South Carolina

(South Carolina RB Mike Davis attempts to stiff-arm a UGA defender – Google Images)

In the only matchup this weekend between 2 top-25 teams, Georgia (1-0) comes in as not only one of the best teams in the SEC, but in the entire country. Early Heisman-hopefully Todd Gurley powered the Georiga offense in their season opener against Clemson, rushing for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns. He could be the key for them as they take on a very good South Carolina defense. Georgia’s defense, however, may be even better. After a mediocre first half, UGA held Clemson to just 15 total second-half yards. Biggest question for Georgia: Which defense will show up this weekend?

South Carolina (1-1) rebounded last week after a tough inter-conference loss to Texas A&M in Week 1. Quarterback Dylan Thompson played well in last week’s victory against East Carolina, and the two-headed monster of Mike Davis and Brandon Wilds in the backfield give SC plenty of firepower on the offensive side of the ball. The key for South Carolina will be their defense. If the Gamecocks can get pressure on first-year starter Hutson Mason, South Carolina could find themselves pulling off one of the bigger upsets of the weekend.

Prediction: Georgia 38, South Carolina 24