Happy Football Friday Cougar Nation. Can you believe we are already heading into the third week of the season? Holy crap, time flies when you’re having fun. That’s something we haven’t done in a while as a collective fan base, but it sure feels good. Wazzu is sitting at 2-0 and rolls into a Whale’s you-know-what as 5.5 point underdogs for tomorrow’s game.
We are a top team in many offensive and defensive categories, and while some will point to our weak opponents, you can only beat the team’s on your schedule. Do you think Florida State is apologizing for their #4 ranking because they beat Charleston Southern and Louisiana-Monroe? Do VaTech fans care their wins came over ECU and Appalachian St? Arkansas is 2-0 with their wins coming over New Mexico and Missouri St or what about a ranked Florida squad at 2-0 having taken out UAB and Florida Atlantic?
This week is a big measuring stick for our young Cougs, but based on what I’ve seen out of other Pac 12 teams so far this season, we could be in for one helluva treat in 2012! Before we jump into our picks for Week 3, I have got to apologize for goofing up our second league and not making it based off confidence points, like the first league is. Click the jump for an update in standings and our picks!
Alirght guys, like i said above the jump, here is a quick look at the standings in our Pick Em League.
League One
The General 93 Pts 17-2
St. Pete Cougs 92 Pts 18-1
Cougar Country Fry Sauce 92 Pts 16-3
League Two
WAZZUPike 15-4
WazzuDude 14-5
Wazzu29 14-5
Lucas Likes:
Colorado 38 – Colorado St 17: This should mark the first win of the Jon Embree era in Boulder as these two in-state rivals square off at Invesco Field in Denver. A few years ago, this game may have been a coin toss, but I think the Buffs have way too many offensive weapons to get slowed down by the Fort Collins Rams. Tyler Hansen is developing some excellent rapport with Paul Richardson, who clearly has some big-play ability. One thing that has surprised me about the Buffs is RB Rodney Stewart is only averaging 2.97 ypc on 42 touches so far this season. Was his breakout year in 2010 more a product of the environment (see two OL drafted in 2011) than actual talent?
Nebraska 42 – UW 31: Just like the Thrilla in Manilla, the better fighter will win this rubber match. As you may recall, the Thrilla was the third and final match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Nebraska = Ali, UW = Frazier. Ali won the fight, because it was stopped when Frazier was unable to answer the bell for the 15th and final round as his eyes were swollen shut.
Oregon 73 – Missouri St 0: What’s the point of even trying to analyze this?
Texas 34 – UCLA 14: Did you happen to catch that turd the Bruins laid last week against San Jose St? If you saw that, do you truly believe the University of Texas is going to lose to UCLA in back-to-back seasons?
California 73 – Presbyterian 7: According to their official website, Presbyterian even has uniforms!
ASU 30 – Illinois 21: This match-up in Champagne, IL has Letdown City written all over it for the Devils after an emotional, OT, victory last Friday against a ranked Missouri squad. The Illini are a team that I am not too familiar with, but it looks as though they are off ot a decent start this season. I am picking this one on nothing more than name recognition, sorry Illinois.
USC 20 – Syracuse 17: Do the Trojans not even want to play this season? It seems as though they have been sleepwalking their way through their first two opponents, averaging on 21 PPG. Cuse has a come from behind win over Wake Forest and a seven point win last weekend over Rhode Island. It’s had to imagine the Orange will be able to give it their all after flying thousands of miles from up-state New York. Gosh, who would want to live in up-state New York?
Utah 24 – BYU 21: Without looking it up, I could tell you very little about these two teams. I know Utah slipped by Montana State and just lost to USC, while BYU is Mormon, Jake Heaps is their QB, and they beat Ole Miss in Week One. Utah baby, dumb-dumb, dumb-dumb, dumb-dumb, dumb.
Stanford 42 – Arizona 21: Suddenly, I am bummed that Zona isn’t on our schedule. It could be a long season in Tucson folks.
Wazzu 38 – SDSU 21: Call me a homer all you want, but I am confident going into a game for the first time since the GW Bush Administration. I think we have way too many offensive weapons for the Aztecs to slow us down. The only reason the Aztecs won last week is because Army put the ball on the ground an astonishing eight times! This season we have valued the ball like a Dick Bennett coached basketball team! SDSU QB Ryan Lindley has yet to develop favorites amongst his receivers, which means they will be incredibly one dimensional. Stop Ronnie Hillman, you win this game running away!
SeanHawk Sez:
Happy Football Friday Cougs. As usual, here’s hoping for the very best for you and yours. Pleasantries out of the way? Check. So let’s look at the games for this week:
Colorado 27, Colorado St 23: Tough rivalry game, but it always seems weird they play this one so early? Same with Utah-BYU this year? But the Buffs showed enough vs. Cal last week that they are already improving, and they will have enough here to hold off the feisty Rams.
Nebraska 31, UW 30: UW fights like hell in this one, but their youth will get the better of them late. Nebraska eeks out the series, 2-1.
Oregon 63, Missouri St 3: Next.
Texas 28, UCLA 10: Both teams ain’t what they used to be, and Texas has major QB issues. Still, the powder-blue softness of UCLA will be their undoing as Bevo revs up the ground game, and gets revenge from last year’s humiliation in Austin.
California 48, Presbyterian 9: No. Clue. About. Presbyterian. I think they have a satellite campus nearby? Or was that just a church? No idea.
ASU 24, Illinois 14: ASU D plus improving Osweiler will get the job done on the road.
USC 34, Syracuse 20: Matt Barkley gets things rolling as the SC offense finally starts to click.
BYU 33, Utah 26: Heaps is the real deal as BYU beats the Utes. Wouldn’t you love to hear John Sterling of the NY Yankees broadcast fame at the end of this one, screaming "The MORMONS WIN!! THUUUUUUUUUU MORMONS WINNNNN!!!!!!" That’d be cool.
AZ 28, Stanford 23: Not sure about either of these teams to be honest. I know Zona has struggled, but is Stanford really that good? Outside of the great one at QB, their O-line and their D don’t look all that great. Meanwhile AZ looks to bounce back after their Oklahoma St humiliation, and a couple of extra days to prepare at that. Upset alert!?
Finally, the Cougs. I have to admit, I’ve done a 180 on this game. Early in the week, I was convinced that SDSU would be a team we could handle. But then I started to think about it, watched some highlights of the Aztecs, and it hit me – they are pretty damn talented. And I guess in the process, I’ve talked myself out of the we’re so good! camp, and I’ve fallen into the well, I’m still not sure camp.
Don’t get me wrong, I can’t imagine a better start to the season…..other than losing the best player on the team, but still…..123-28 is REDUNKULOUS. And while I love what I’ve seen of Marshall, that’s been against two opponents that just don’t have the athletes to stay with our improving skill positions or bigger, stronger, improved line play. For the first time since Portland State 2008, we had a big advantage in athletes over our first two opponents, and the fifth-year senior executed to perfection (read: throw it to your bigger, faster, stronger guys by just getting the ball in their area code and don’t try to do too much!).
While there is no doubt we are a much better team than at any point the last three years, and we will definitely flirt with a bowl game this year, I keep coming back to Rocky Long’s crazy defensive schemes vs. our O-line and, ultimately, Marshall. If this game were in Pullman or even a neutral field, I would go with the Cougs in a close one. However, we’re on the road for the first time, and folks, the Aztecs are going to bring the heat vs. "the Ginger". And while there will be opportunities down the field, will he get the ball to the right guy at the right time? Or does the uptick in defensive speed and increased pressure for the first time this year lead us to see the OLD Marshall, where we just aren’t sure what’s coming next as he starts locking on to his primary receiver and/or forces the action when it just isn’t there!? I hate to be a downer, but Marshall is a nice, 5th year senior backup QB. That’s great for a couple of home games against lesser opponents, but when you have to go on the road against a bowl-winning team, a team with a lot of speed and will bring the pressure? It just doesn’t have a good feel, I guess.
Call me an anti-homer all you want, and deservedly so, but I am not so confident heading into this one. I think they will establish Hillman early, and in turn the entire SDSU offense will open up behind Lindley’s accurate arm and senior savvy. Watch for their tight ends to take advantage of our improving-yet-young linebackers as we bite on play action, again, and again, and again, and soft spots open up down the field. And pay particularly close attention to how Marshall handles the blitzes and pressure that he will see, as the speed and intensity gets turned up 10-fold compared to what we’ve seen the last few weeks. In the end, the Aztecs pump the brakes on the Coug Rose Bowl Express, and hang a L on our heads for the first time in ’11. SDSU 34, WSU 27.
Enjoy the games, and of course, GO COUGS!
Tim’s Takes:
Did I just use this here blog as a shameless way to show off how stinkin’ handsome my son is? You’re darn right I did! If my skills as a prognosticator diminish, don’t be surprised if I start asking him to make the picks. If at any point, my prediction is that some team will beat some other team, “one hundred fifty-seven hundred to nothing”, you’ll know why. On to my picks for the week!
Colorado 30 – Colorado State 10 The Buffs showed some signs of life last week and I think it’ll carry over into their first win this week.
Nebraska 35 – Washington 14 Motivation shouldn’t be an issue for the Huskers after the Holiday Bowl debacle. I think this one will be close early, but Nebraska will pull away late to get the cover. Just too tough an environment for the still inexperienced Keith Price to walk into and win in my opinion. The Husky defense has done little to show me they’ll be able to get enough stops and a shoot-out against the Nebraska D just doesn’t seem likely.
Oregon 77 – Missouri State 3 That duck is going to do a lot of freaking push-ups.
Texas 24 – UCLA 17 After watching UCLA struggle with San Jose State last week, I really don’t like their chances with this one. Case McCoy and David Ash have seemingly combined to upgrade the quality of play from the QB position for the Longhorns, but how can a team from Texas not have a definitive QB1? Where is Matt Saracen when you need him?
California 66 – Presbyterian 7 Presbyterian’s nickname is the Blue Hose and I think that’s funny.
Arizona State 38 – Illinois 27 Do I think Arizona State will suffer a letdown after their high profile win last week? I do not. Would I be surprised if it happened? I would not.
USC 28 – Syracuse 10 USC has found ways to win in the first two weeks in spite of not looking terribly impressive. I think they’ll win a little more convincingly this week.
BYU 27 – Utah 21 Pretty tough slate for the Utes. If this game was in Salt Lake City, I’d pick them, but winning in Provo is a pretty tall order. I like the Cougars in a game that goes down to the wire.
Stanford 31 – Arizona 21 Future Seahawks quarterback Andrew Luck outduels Nick Foles in front of a marginally enthusiastic home crowd.
Last, but certainly not least, WSU at San Diego State. I was hanging out with a buddy last night who went to SDSU and he’s of the belief that the Cougs will lose by at least three touchdowns. Funny enough in our friendly wager, he refused to give me any points so I don’t think he’s as confident as he’s letting on. He doesn’t follow the Cougs very closely and is familiar only with their battered reputation. I asked him if he’d heard of Rickey Galvin or Marquess Wilson. His answer was no on both fronts. I told him not to worry and that come Saturday, he’ll know them well. In the preseason, I predicted that the Aztecs would win this by 15. A lot has happened in a short amount of time since then. This game still worries me and I’m trying not too get carried away with the "Wow, we’re really really good because we beat the crap out of two awful teams" narrative , but I no longer see this one going in the loss column. I won’t be needing the points in my friendly wager. I like the Cougs to win this one straight up, 38 – 28. Lobstermania will ensue.
Longball’s locks
Here we are, week three and the Cougs title hopes are alive and well. While we are still a dark horse, you better believe that sports fans from Las Vegas to Pocatello are now well aware of the mighty Crimson Juggernaut. At this point, basically, there is just one thing left to be settled in college football this year… who will face our Cougs in the National Championship Game? Here is how some of the teams vying for that honor will fare this week:
Colorado 28 – Colorado State 24 Colorado was close last week against Cal and they are our next opponent after our bye week. Coug fans should keep a close eye on this game because as much hand wringing as there is about how important the SDSU game is, I think our Colorado game is much bigger. Mostly because I plan to be at it, but I digress… Rams always seem to get up for this game, but I think the Buffs hold serve and earn a tough win.
Nebraska 30 – Washington 21 I dont believe that revenge is a reliable or effective motivator in College football. More often than not, I find it may even put too much pressure on the team seeking the vengeance. We all hope that Nebraska is motivated to go off on the Dawgs so we can all once again bask in the glory of the Dawgman posters and Husky Honks eating their own young. Unfortunately, Bo Pelini’s Nebraska teams have proven to have the emotional fortitude of a pregnant Pomeranian after 3 glasses of wine. First they blew it in their hugely anticipated matchup with a crappy Texas team last year. Then there was the Holiday Bowl. In the history of epic failures despite overwhelming advantages in resources, the Huskers’ Holiday Bowl failure was right up there with New Coke and Operation Market Garden. A repeat of that IN LINCOLN would have unimaginable consequences for anyone who lives along the I-5 corridor and is allergic to loud arrogant a-holes. Lets all pray they get their act together and dispatch the Dawgs with aplomb like they should.
Oregon 109 – Missouri State 14 Missouri State sounds like one of those made up colleges for TV show/movie like “Coach”, or Necessary Roughness.
Texas 17 – UCLA 10 I am not inspired by either teams offense.
California 55 – Presbyterian 17 Presbe-wha? I don’t feel so bad about Idaho State now. Thanks, Cal!
Arizona State 45 – Illinois 21 Oz is gonna carve up the Illini.
USC 35 – Syracuse 17 I would not be surprised to see the Cuse sneak up on USC here. However, my head says to go with the vast talent disparity.
Utah 38 – BYU 24 Intra-state smack down! I think Amieable and I have to go to Salt Lake to find a decent sports bar to watch the Cougs at, so we should run smack dab into the teeth of this rivalry. I expect to hear a lot of very clearly innunciated, pointed, but curse-free smack talk.
Stanford 40 – Arizona 33 The Cats are going to have the whole world on upset alert until Luck leads the Card to a thrilling game winning TD drive.
Finally…
Aztecs 38 – Cougs 35 Chalk me up as having the same gut feeling as Hawkins about this one. The only other time in the last 3 years that I have had this combination of confidence that we could win, but knowing that we won’t, was last years Apple Cup. I think this could be a whale of a game and I expect the Cougs to move the ball, but I also expect the Aztecs to dominate time of possession with Hillman, and I expect a lot of the mistakes the Cougs are still working to clean up to really bite them against an opponent with a pulse and a big home crowd. And dont get me wrong, I am rooting for Lobs and he has been awesome so far, but sooner or later he is going to come crashing back down to earth and I suspect it is going to be sooner. However, if there is such a thing, I expect this to be an "important loss". This game is excellent preparation for the start of Pac-12 play where the Cougs will have two very winnable conference games on the road right away.
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