(#1)
#12LSU (6-0) – 33 vs. #14 Florida (3-2) – 29
Vs. 
How it all went down…Sometimes, the ball just bounces your way. That was the case of LSU kicker Josh Jasper Saturday against Florida when his Tigers attempted and converted on a fake field goal attempt to set up a game winning score. Jasper took a pitch that bounced off the ground and into his hands for a five yard gain and a first down. The offense would complete the rest of the heroics from there.
The fat lady started singing when… Quarterback Jarrett Lee found wideout Terrence Toliver for the game winning touchdown in the back of the endzone with six seconds remaining.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Florida, it’s finding out how to win big games now. The Gators have lost their last two, only the second time head coach Urban Meyer has lost two in a row at Florida. The Gators seemed to get used to winning big games in the past, this season, however, the spark isn’t there. For LSU, it’s wondering how much longer this can really go on. Can they really continue to win with the improbable quarterback rotation of Jarrett Lee and Jordon Jefferson?
It’s a numbers game… 243 – The Florida offense was horrendous for the second straight week, bringing in just 243 total yards. Brantley passed for just 154 yards as the leading rusher for the Gators – Trey Burton – brought in just 35 yards.
Player of the game…Drake Nevis, LSU, DT – 7 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble
(#2)
USC (4-2) – 35 vs. #16 Stanford (5-1) – 37
Vs.
How it all went down…Being on the wrong end of a last second game winning field goal can really diminish the resiliency of a team. Losing two straight weeks to last second game winning field goals can crush the spirit of a team. For the second week in a row the Trojans fell to a last second kick splitting the uprights as time ran free. The Trojans and Cardinal traded points throughout the night, but in the end, three was all that mattered.
The fat lady started singing when…Stanford Kicker Nate Whitaker connected on a 30 yard attempt as time expired, giving Stanford the win.
Where do we go from here coach..? For USC, it’s keeping their sanity. Two tough losses in a row can drown a team, but they need to keep their Southern Cal swagger in order to keep an upset happening next week against rival California. For Stanford, its congratulations on finishing the game. The Cardinal let a big win slip from them against Oregon, but Harbaugh has to feel more confident heading into a bye week with a resilient win under his belt.
It’s a numbers game….. 33 – One week after allowing Oregon running back LaMichael James gain yards at will on their rush defense, the Cardinal held USC leading rusher Allen Bradford to just 33 yards and a 2.5 yards per carry. Bradford was coming off a 200 yard performance and averaging nearly 10 yards a carry.
Player of the game…Andrew Luck, Stanford, QB – 20-24 passing, 285 yds, 3 TD – 6 rush, 40 yds
(#3)
#8 Auburn (6-0) – 37 vs. Kentucky (3-3) – 34
Vs. 
How it all went down…If there is one thing to take from the first half of the SEC season, it’s that a lead is never safe. The Tigers had a once 31-14 lead on the home Wildcats, and a 31-17 halftime lead. Then Kentucky’s Randall Cobb took over the game. A once 17 point lead for Auburn was all tied up at 34 all in the fourth. Three points would decide the outcome from there.
The fat lady started singing when…Auburn kicker Wes Byrum connected on a 24 yard field goal as time expired. The game winner was Byrum’s second of the year.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Auburn, it’s another week of an untouched loss column. Any week the Tigers win and the Tide loses feels better than Christmas around Auburn. With Cam Newton leading the way, the wins can keep piling up; they may want to tighten up their D a little, however. For Kentucky, it’s a valiant effort of playing the spoiler. After wideout Randall Cobb piled up 207 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns, the Wildcats need to draw up more ways to get the ball into Cobb’s hands.
It’s a numbers game… 8 – Of the games nine combined touchdowns, two players – Newton and Cobb – combined for eight of the scores, four a piece.
Player of the game…Cameron Newton, Auburn, QB – 13-21 passing, 210, 1 INT – 28 rush, 198 yds, 4 TD
Photo Credit: Andy Lyons / Getty Images
(#4)
#1 Alabama (5-1) – 21 vs. #19 South Carolina (4-1) – 35
Vs. 
How it all went down…There was something different about this Alabama team compared to last years. The 2009 Tide team felt unbeatable, and they were. This year’s team felt beatable, somehow and at sometime. The how was the Tides weaknesses this season – the offensive line. The time was Saturday. The Gamecocks held Alabama rushers Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson to a combined 64 rushing yards and sacked Tide quarterback Greg McElroy seven times en route to a complete offensive and defensive game.
The fat lady started singing when…South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia and wideout Alshon Jeffery completed a 45 yard pass and catch down to the Alabama six yard line. Midway through the fourth with the Gamecocks already up 28-21, the pass set up the game’s final touchdown and took the life out of ‘Bama.
Where do we go from here coach..? For Alabama, it’s shaking off the unfamiliar feeling before it hangs around. Some of the Alabama players had never lost a collegiate game before. In the SEC, though, losses need to be placed in the back of the mind before they happen again the following week. Shoring up the offensive line problems and getting Ingram room to run is a must for the Tide. For South Carolina, maybe it’s their first SEC title ever. With Steve Spurier leading the way for the Gamecocks, and a weak East division, this might not be the last time the Tide and ‘SC face off this season.
It’s a numbers game…205 – The difference in yards from last year to this year in Alabama running back Mark Ingram’s games against South Carolina. Last season Ingram brought in 246 yards against the Gamecocks, compared to just 41 Saturday.
Player of the game…Stephen Garcia, South Carolina, QB – 17-20 passing, 201 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
(#5)
Connecticut (3-3) – 24 vs. Rutgers (3-2) – 27
Vs.
How it all went down… A Friday night slug-out in Piscataway, Rutgers delivered to the home crowd in dramatic fashion. The Scarlet Knights piled up a 17-7 lead on the Huskies before UConn took the games lead at half, making it a 24-17 game. A stout Rutgers defense and the heroics of freshman quarterback Chas Dodd took the game late after a scoreless third quarter. The Knights brought in 10 points in the final four minutes of play to win the Big East showdown.
The fat lady started singing when…Rutgers kicker San San Te made good on a 24 yard attempt with 13 seconds remaining in the game. Giving Rutgers the 27-24 win.
Where do we go from here coach...? For UConn, it’s finding a quarterback. The season’s starter, Nick Frazier, was benched because of bad play. In came Cody Endres, who failed to impress Friday. Running back Jordan Todman is carrying the offense thus far, but that can only last so long. For Rutgers, is it a quarterback competition now? Original starter Tom Savage was sitting with an injury, while the true freshman Dodd turned in a fantastic performance against a favorite in the Big East.
It’s a numbers game… 818 – The teams combined to convert on just 6-of-29 third down attempts. The games two punters then combined for 19 punts and 818 yards. Sore legs may have followed.
Player of the game…Chas Dodd, Rutgers, QB – 18-29 passing, 322 yds, 2 TD
(#6)
Oregon State (3-2) – 29 vs. #9 Arizona (4-1) – 27
Vs.
How it all went down…There was no bigger fan of the Beavers Saturday than Boise State and TCU. Oregon State’s only two losses of the year came against the nation’s highest ranked non-A.Q. teams and with a win over No. 9 Arizona Saturday, the Beavers just gave Boise and TCU a little bit more street-cred. Arizona, on the other hand, looked far from a team that had beaten Iowa just weeks before. Perhaps the two OSU losses were a bit tougher games than originally thought.
The fat lady started singing when…With less than two minutes to go in the game, Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers picked up a first down on second and one. The Beavers would punt to Arizona a few plays later, but the clock was too low for anything to happen.
Where do we go from here coach..? For Oregon State, it’s a trip to Washington and perhaps their third straight PAC-10 win. Things could be looking good for the Beavers if quarterback Ryan Katz continues to improve. For Arizona, it’s placing the pieces together. Before PAC-10 play the Wildcats looked like a Top-10 team. After both Cal and Oregon State, they look like a middle of the road PAC-10 team. Find that early season fire again. Against Washington State next week may be the place to locate it.
It’s a numbers game…3 – The number of failed PAT attempts. Oregon State kicker Justin Kahut missed two, while Arizona kicker Alex Zendejas had one blocked.
Player of the game…Ryan Katz, Oregon State, QB – 30-42 passing, 393 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT – 1 rush TD
(#7)
#11 Arkansas (4-1) – 24 vs. Texas A&M (3-2) – 17
Vs.
How it all went down…A lot of points were expected. A modest amount were delivered. Two prolific passers were expected to impress. Only one prevailed. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett threw for 310 yards and three scores early, before offenses stumbled and what was expected to be an offensive fight turned into a defensive battle.
The fat lady started singing when…Texas A&M quarterback Jarrod Johnson’s hail marry attempt went intercepted in the endzone as time expired.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Arkansas, it’s another close performance that ends with a win. The Razorbacks will need all the heroics they can get next week when they take on Auburn. Mallett may need a lot of help from the defense facing Cam Newton. For A&M, it’s figuring out what’s got Johnson playing pour the last two weeks. The offense lacks a run game, which may be part of the problem. If Christian Michael can get yards against Missouri next week, the offense will have far better success.
It’s a numbers game… 23 – The teams combined for 23 penalties. The penalties and six total turnovers all contributed to a sloppy second half of football on both parts.
Player of the game…Ryan Mallett, Arkansas, QB – 27-38 passing, 310 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Photo Credit: Mike Fuentes/ AP
(#8)
Baylor (4-2) – 38 vs. Texas Tech (3-2) – 45
Vs.
How it all went down…Everyone knew heading into the Texas battle of offenses that there were going to be an instructional video amount of points and yards placed on the board and 63 points proved that. But a combined total of 63 was just the halftime total. The Bears and Red Raiders traded touchdowns throughout, until Tech took a 45-28 lead in the third quarter. It was all catch-up from there for Baylor and if you’re playing catch-up, Tech might be the last team you want to be playing.
The fat lady started singing when…Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III completed a 16 yard pass to wideout Josh Gordon down to the Texas Tech 31 yard line as time ran out on the Bears.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Baylor, it’s not packing the season in just yet. A talented Bears team, led by Griffin III is still capable of doing big things in the Big 12. With wins against Colorado and Kansas State in the following weeks, they may be right back in the driver’s seat. A win over Texas late in the year would make the season. For Texas Tech, it’s back to winning football under Tuberville. A loss last week to Iowa State was pathetic, now hopefully they can keep the points coming.
It’s a numbers game… 1,142 – Total number of yards the two teams placed up and down the field Saturday. The Red Raiders accounted for 635 of the yards.
Player of the game…Taylor Potts, Texas Tech, QB – 42-59 passing, 462 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
(#9)
New Mexico (0-5) – 14 vs. New Mexico State (1-4) – 16
Vs.
How it all went down… Someone had to win the battle for New Mexico, whether it was going to be the Aggies or Lobo’s, someone was walking away with their first win. The two teams rank nearly dead last in the county in every major team statistical category this season, so a lot of nothing was expected. New Mexico State’s and New Mexico’s scoring defense rank No. 114 and No. 120 out of 120 FBS schools respectively. Their Scoring offense's rank No. 117 and No. 118 respectively. So, New Mexico State clearly had the upper hand.
The fat lady started singing when…New Mexico State kicker Tyler Stampler connected on a 22 yard attempt to put the Aggies up 16-14 with 1:49 remaining in the game.
Where do we go from here coach...? For New Mexico, it’s calling up Brian Urlacher and asking if he has any years of eligibility left. Things really can’t get any worse for the Lobos. Except loses to their next six opponent which include San Diego State, Air Force and TCU. For New Mexico State, maybe it’s the start of something special and a win next week at Fresno State. Or maybe it was just a win over a 0-5 team.
It’s a numbers game… 6 – Total number of passing yards by New Mexico State starting quarterback Tanner Rust. His five completions for six yards were good for a 0.6 yard average.
Player of the game…Tyler Stampler, New Mexico State, K – 3-3 field goals, 1-1 extra points
(#10)
Pittsburgh (2-3) – 17 vs. Notre Dame (3-3) – 23
Vs.
How it all went down… With a 20-3 lead on the board the Irish looked like they finally had things figured out at Notre Dame Stadium. Then once again, their defense nearly spoiled the party. The 17 point lead by the Irish was cut to six late in the fourth following a 56 yard pass and catch Pittsburgh touchdown by quarterback Tino Sunseri and wideout Jonathan Baldwin. Then, miraculously, the Notre Dame defense showed its face to presurve the lead.
The fat lady started singing when… Sunseri’s pass to Baldwin was broken up with just over a minute to go in the game. A last attempt to win the game for Pittsburgh failed.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Pitt, there’s nowhere to go but up. A season that started with the Panthers ranked in the Top 15 in the country, has now come to competing to save their Big East reputation. For Notre Dame, it’s one game at a time. The panic button was almost pushed in Notre Dame but with two straight wins and a possible three more in the next three weeks. Those golden helmets are starting to shine a bit brighter.
It’s a numbers game… 6 – The Irish have lost the time of possession battle in all six of their games this season. Could it be the reason why their leads often slip and their defense has been struggling?
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