I was derelict x2 regarding the Louisville Cardinals’ magnificent upset over the U last weekend.
First, in my game story, I forgot to give credit due for what was arguably the moment of the game. Or one of them. What is called by those studio panels of 14 ex- players and coaches on the telly, a “four point play.” When a team in Red Zone scoring range is held to a FG.
So yeah, better late than never, a Game Ball to DB Tayon Holloway. Who late in the 2d Q raced down Miami star Malachi Toney after a catch and gridiron consuming streak toward paydirt. Holloway pulled him down at the Cardinal 9 yard line. U of L’s D held, forcing a Hurricane FG.
Four point advantage to Cards. Difference in game, U of L won by 3.
Then there’s this, says he, now an official member of the Oh Ye Of Little Faith Club. Having seen nothing previously that indicated Louisville was up to the task, I broke my tradition and picked Miami.
Plus I forgot that Mario Cristobal will always make a game losing decision or two in the close ones.
Rarely am I so deliriously pleased to be very wrong.
As for the totality of last week’s picks.
4-2.
At one point Saturday I was looking at an ofer. Cards had already proven me wrong Friday night.
I knew I was in trouble with my Blue Devil prediction, when Duke kept driving the field early but couldn’t score. Georgia Tech is simply better. And sits atop the ACC standings.
Iowa trailed Penn State but pulled it out. Same can be said for UCLA over Maryland in extras. Indiana actually trailed early on before dismantling Michigan State.
Then there was my choice Texas. The Longhorns kept saying to Kentucky, “Here’s a gift, take the game.”
The Cats, as they are wont to do said, “No, thanks anyway.”
UK’s ball to open OT. 1st and Goal at the 3. Dowdell up the middle for no gain. Boley up the middle for two yards. 3d & Goal at the 1. Dowdell up the middle for no gain. 4th & Goal at the 1. Dowdell up the middle for no gain.
No feints. No fakes. Nothing innovative. Four straight cracks at one of the best DLs in the land. No nothing.
No score. Texas which actually lost yards on their possession, kicked the winning FG.
So, yeah, 4 up 2 down. 31-19 for the year.
One more bit of snicker before we forge ahead. In the Bottom Ten PFOTWOTY when Sam Houston We Have A Problem fell to UTEPid, 17-35, the stands were jammed officially with 671 Bearkat faithful.
OK, now, this weekend’s winners:
Missouri @ Vanderbilt. Of all the college attendance decisions I didn’t make, Vandy was the most reasonable one I should have made. My brother went there. My best pal was there. I had a GF, such as she was, at Peabody. I was accepted. But I chose unwisely, and when I tried to transfer as a sophomore, my frosh grades were so mediocre I didn’t get in. Despite a recommendation letter from the national alumni chairman. Just another of many woeful life decisions I landed on through the decades. Will I make another with this pick? The Tigers have won five of these in a row, ten of the last dozen. And Mizzou is damn good again. But their QB, Beau Pribula, a Nittany Lion TP guy, falters somewhat against the upper echelon teams. Which #10 Vandy is believed to be. This is a tough one. But I love the ‘Dores. Heart over head. Vandy.
Brigham Young @ Iowa State. Deep Pockets Report. Jason McGowan : BYU :: Cody Campbell : Texas Tech. Moneybagged McGowan paid the $50Large Provo owed the Big12 after last weekend’s field storm upon the occasion of beating the Utes. He’s the Crumbl Cookies mogul. (Should you be inclined to indulge, having heard how delicious they are, know this. This week’s special, Dubai Chocolate Brownie weighs in at 1010 calories. The Banana Bread cookie is a relative diet offering at only 750 calories.) The Cougars, always mature given that Mormon two year mission thing, are undefeated under the coaching of Kalani Sitake, the first native Tongan to direct a school’s squad. I’ve been a Cyclone guy since the beginning of the Matt Campbell resurgence. But, after starting strong, State has dropped two in a row, at Cincy and at Colorado. Head over heart. BYU.
UCLA @ Indiana. Another W last Saturday — 3d in a row — over the Terps and the dudes from Westwood with their surfer boy blonde play caller remain the Flavor of the Month. Unfortunately the Bruins are traveling time zones eastward this Saturday to the newest hotbed of college pigskin, Bloomington, Indiana. Has the globe turned on its axis, he inquires? The Hoosiers themselves were last campaign’s Flavor of the Year, and here they are again, actually #1 by some rating systems. Coming back to earth, the Bruins get Cignettied. IU.
Tennessee @ Kentucky. Rocky Top is pretty good, sorta. They’ve beaten similarly situated schools — Arkansas, Cowbell State — and lost to Georgia (close) and Bama (by a lot). Josh Heupel is another coach who is reasonably competent, but makes some odd in game decisions. The Vols are Top 20, but far from a juggernaut. This used to be an end of the season rivalry “battle.” Between 1985 and 2010, Orange won every time. Kentucky has only prevailed three times since, and not since 2020. As truly not good as the Wildcats have been, there’s a nagging voice advising me they’re the team that ends up Krogering. But. I. Just. Can’t. Go. There. Rocky Top.
Boston College @ Louisville. Let’s be clear. This is a game U of L must not lose. Can’t even let BC get close. Because the visitors lost last week to woeful UConn. #10 Bah-stan Cawledge is a Bottom Ten Dweller. The Cardinals cannot let down. They won’t.
— c d kaplan