(#1)
#6 LSU (7-1) – 17 vs. #4 Auburn (8-0) – 24
Vs. 
How it all went down…In most circumstances, defense wins championships. That is, unless you have Cameron Newton leading your team. Then of course the saying goes, Newton wins championships. The LSU defense had been one of college football’s most powerful units but gave up 526 total yards to Auburn Saturday. LSU did its best to keep it close with a 10 all halftime score and a fourth quarter 17 all matchup. Auburn running back Onterio McCalebb dashed 70 yards in the fourth for the go-ahead touchdown.
The fat lady started singing when…LSU quarterback Jerrett Lee rushed for three yards on fourth and seven with just over seven minutes to go. The Auburn defense held when they needed to most.
Where do we go from here coach...? For LSU, it’s hoping losing doesn’t turn into a spiraling effect. The Tigers have yet to face Alabama, Ole Miss and Arkansas, three very good offenses. It’s time to figure out the quarterback situation as well. Either have Jarrett Lee or Jordan Jefferson take the reins. Or, maybe go with running back Spencer Ware, since he’s the only one who threw a touchdown Saturday. For Auburn, it’s keeping on doing what you’re doing. As long as Newton is leading the offense and defensive tackle Nick Fairley is eating offensive lineman like pork chops, the team will continue to roll. That is if they don’t become the fourth straight No. 1 team to lose this week against Ole Miss.
It’s a numbers game… 27 – Newton has a combined 27 rushing and passing touchdowns on the season. His 1,077 total rushing yards are an SEC quarterback record and 217 rushing yards Saturday are an Auburn record. A 49 yard touchdown scamper by Newton in the third quarter marks as one of the most stunning plays of the year.
Player of the game…Cameron Newton, Auburn, QB – 10-16 passing, 84 yds – 28 rush, 217 yds, 2 TD
(#2)
#13 Wisconsin (7-1) – 31 vs. #15 Iowa (5-2) – 30
Vs.
How it all went down…The Badgers, who beat No. 1 ranked Ohio State the week prior, were trying to not suffer the same fate South Carolina found following their No. 1 upset, in a loss on the road the next week. The Badgers came out lucky they didn’t. If not for a horrendous use of the clock and a set of timeouts, the circumstances for Wisconsin could have been drastically different. The two programs were nearly set as clones as one another and as it turns out, put nearly the same stats in the box score and nearly the same points on the board. The Badgers tied the game on an eight yard Monte Ball touchdown run with just over a minute to go. A blocked extra point by Wisconsin after Iowa’s first score would determine the game, as Badger kicker Philip Welch made it a 31-30 game following Ball’s run.
The fat lady started singing when…Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi completed a four yard pass to running back Adam Robinson to the Wisconsin 35 yard line. Time expired as Robinson failed to get out of bounds. The Hawkeyes, who picked up a first down the play before with 12 seconds remaining, wasted a timeout on the play instead of spiking the ball.
Where do we go from here coach..? For Wisconsin, it’s continuing to play their game. The Badgers still have a shot at the Big Ten title, with hopes that Iowa beats Michigan State next week. The rest of the Badgers schedule should be wins if they don’t stumble along the way. For Iowa, it’s practicing their two minute offense. Against Arizona the Hawkeyes had a chance to win it late, but were sacked four straight plays. Against Wisconsin Saturday, clock management and pour play selection became the factor. They may need their hurry-up offense next week against Michigan State.
It’s a numbers game….. 2 – The Badgers their second game of the season because of a missed extra point. Saturday defensive end J.J. Watt split the Hawkeyes extra point team getting a hand on the kick. The other was against Arizona State in which the Badgers won 20-19.
Player of the game…J.J. Watt, Wisconsin, DE – 5 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, 1 blocked kick
(#3)
Syracuse (5-2) – 19 vs. #20 West Virginia (5-2) – 14
Vs.
How it all went down…The Orange were outgained, scored just one touchdown, passed for just 63 yards and converted on just four of 14 third down conversions, and won the game. Proof that playing decent football beats playing bad football any day. The Mountaineers 12 game home win streak came to an end following their nine penalty and three turnover performance. Neither team was able to find the endzone following halftime, but Syracuse kicker Ross Krautman converted on three second quarter field goals to give the Orange the 19-14 lead, which would stay.
The fat lady started singing when…West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith was sacked by Syracuse’s Shamarko Thomas on fourth down on the Mountaineers last minute comeback attempt.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Syracuse, it’s controlling their own destiny. The Orange have won more than one game in the Big East for the first time since 2004. It’s a tough road of Big East play ahead but a win against the conference favorite on the road is a nice place to start. For West Virginia, it’s figuring out how to play consistent football. Last week the Mountaineers pounded South Florida only to lose a week later to an under the radar ‘Cuse team. Figure out what kind of team you want to be, Coach Stewart.
It’s a numbers game… 4 – The Orange is halfway to their total of four wins in the last five seasons, with two conference wins thus far.
Player of the game…Ross Krautman, Syracuse, K – 4-4 field goals, 1-1 extra point
Photo Credit: Frank Ordonez – The Post-Standard
(#4)
#1 Oklahoma (6-1) – 27 vs. #11 Missouri (7-0) – 36
Vs.
How it all went down…I had stated in the past how I wasn’t a believer in the Tigers as a national contender. Dumb mistake on my part. The Missouri defense forced three turnovers and held running back Demarco Murray to just 49 yards on the ground. The Tigers took a lesson from Wisconsin the week before, returning the opening kickoff on the Sooners for a touchdown. Missouri notched a 17-14 lead on a field goal into halftime as time expired. It was the fourth quarter, however, that would define the game for the Tigers and Sooners. The Tigers scored 17 unanswered points, taking a 36-21 lead. Sooner running back Trey Millard would make it interesting after a two yard touchdown run late in the fourth, but it proved to be too little too late against the disruptive defense of Missouri.
The fat lady started singing when…Oklahoma kicker Tress Way’s onside kick was recovered by the Tigers with just over six minutes to play.
Where do we go from here coach..? For Oklahoma, it’s hoping for a rematch. The Sooners can see the Tigers again in the Big 12 championship game later in the year, but need to stay perfect through a tough Big 12 South before they can hope for a rematch. For Missouri, it’s not dropping their guard on the road next week. All the excitement of beating Oklahoma and talk of turning the page for the Missouri program can be burned next week with a loss to Nebraska in Lincoln. A loss will surely hurt their chances of a Big 12 championship game appearance as well.
It’s a numbers game… 50 – The last time three No. 1 teams lost in three consecutive weeks was 1960. The teams that lost were Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri. It was the Tigers then first time being ranked No. 1.
Player of the game…Blaine Gabbert, Missouri, QB – 30-42 passing, 308 yds, 1 TD – 8 rush, 26 yds
(#5)
Iowa State (4-4) – 28 vs. #19 Texas (4-3) – 21
Vs.
How it all went down…The home loss for the Longhorns against UCLA was a fluke, there was no way Texas would drop another home game against a lesser opponent this season. Texas was 18-1 the last three years at home. Or, maybe the Nebraska game was a fluke? It seems impossible to figure out which Longhorns team is going to show up from week to week. Saturday’s matchup was a game of questions about responding from previous games for both programs. How would the Cyclones respond from the torrential downpour of points placed on them in a 52-0 beat down from Oklahoma the week before and how would Texas respond from the impossible upset of Nebraska the week prior. I suppose, we now have those answers and a bit more.
The fat lady started singing when…Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert was sacked then threw three incomplete passes on the Longhorns final drive to tie the game with a minute left to play.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Iowa State, it may be the Cyclones second straight bowl game. With games such as Nebraska and Missouri left, it may seem slim, but Kansas and Colorado may make it possible. If Paul Rhoads was proud to be the Cyclones head coach last season following their Nebraska win, what does that make him now? For Texas, it’s a season with a possible five or six losses. The Longhorns have won at least 10 games for the past nine years, a streak that may also be in jeopardy. Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert needs to become a more consistent thrower. His eight interceptions to just six touchdowns is far from something typical of a Longhorns quarterback.
It’s a numbers game… 4 – The Longhorns turned the ball over four times, including on three Gilbert interceptions.
Player of the game…Alexander Robinson, Iowa State, RB – 24 rush, 120 yds, 2 TD – 2 rec. 23 yds
(#6)
#7 Michigan State (8-0) – 35 vs. Northwestern (5-2) – 23
Vs.
How it all went down…It seems Michigan State Head Coach Mark Dantonio has taken a new approach to coaching following a mild heart attack earlier this year. Dantonio calmly walked the Spartans sidelines Saturday, watching as his team struggled in the first half of play and then told to a reporter at halftime that MSU would be fine in the second half. He was right. His team, though, has taken a new approach to winning. For the second week in a row, the Spartans trailed at halftime, down 17-7 Saturday. Michigan State would climb back in the second half, taking the lead from the Wildcats on a nine yard acrobatic touchdown catch by wideout B.J. Cunningham with two minutes left in the game.
The fat lady started singing when…Michigan State running back Edwin Baker rushed 25 yards for a score with just over a minute to play. The Spartans could have run out the clock following the first down, but try to tell Baker not to score in that situation.
Where do we go from here coach..? For Michigan State, try starting out with the lead, rather than climbing back for the lead. Things might not be so easy next week at Iowa if the Spartans find themselves in a hole at halftime. The ground game needs to find the spark it showed early in the year as well. After averaging 207 yards on the ground in their first six games, the Spartans have averaged just 99 yards the past two weeks. For Northwestern, it’s riding quarterback Dan Persa, who leads the team with 16 combined touchdowns, to a respectable season. The Wildcats have won five games on the year and may be on the verge of an eight win outing.
It’s a numbers game… 100 – Michigan State punter Aaron Bates is 100 percent passing on the season. Bates, who threw the game winning touchdown pass on a fake field goal against Notre Dame, converted on a fake punt against Northwestern Saturday. Bates is now 2-for-2 passing with 50 yards and a touchdown. Good for a QB rating of 475. Watch out Cousins.
Player of the game…Kirk Cousins, Michigan State, QB – 29-43 passing, 329 yds, 3 TD
Photo Credit: Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images
(#7)
UAB (2-5) – 24 vs. #24 Mississippi State (6-2) – 29
Vs.
How it all went down…The Blazers have been a thorn in the side to the SEC this season. UAB took Tennessee to overtime earlier this season and nearly gave Mississippi State a loss one week after the Bulldogs welcomed a BCS ranking. If not for the leg of Bulldogs kicker Derek DePasquale, the Blazer may very well have won. Tied 10 all at halftime, DePasquale went on to kick four second half field goals, including the go ahead with just under seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter.
The fat lady started singing when…UAB return man Pat Shed fumbled the kickoff following a DePasquale field goal with a minute and forty seconds remaining. The ball would be recovered by the Bulldogs.
Where do we go from here coach...? For UAB, it may be a rough road ahead. The Blazers have struggled in Conference USA play this season and with Southern Miss and East Carolina to go, things won’t get any easier. For Mississippi State, it could be their first bowl game since the 2007 season. The Bulldogs are bowl eligible for the first time since ’07 and will be looking to add to their win total with games against Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi.
It’s a numbers game… 5 – The Bulldogs have won five straight games for the first time since 1999. Mississippi State started the ’99 season 8-0, finishing 10-2
Player of the game…Derek DePasquale, Mississippi State, K – 5-5 field goals, 2-2 extra points
(#8)
#22 Kansas State (5-2) – 42 vs. Baylor (6-2) – 47
Vs.
How it all went down…There’s something about the Baylor Bears this season that attacks a shootout game from opponents. It could be a Texas thing. Remarkably, led by the quick draw of quarterback Robert Griffin III, the Bears are bowl eligible for the first time since 1994 with their win over Kansas State Saturday. Griffin, just a sophomore, has brought a new belief to the Baylor program, where the Bears have yet to back down easily from any Big 12 opponent this season. Saturday, the Bears placed a 47-28 lead on the Wildcats, before a 14 point surge by Kansas State late in the fourth.
The fat lady started singing when…Kansas State quarterback Carson Coffman scored on a one yard touchdown with seven seconds remaining, making it a 47-42 game. The damage had already been done, however.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Kansas State, it’s time to find a consistent defense. In the Wildcats two losses they’ve given up 96 points. In their five wins, they’ve given up just a combined 86 points. Games against Oklahoma State and Missouri may not make those stats look any better. For Baylor, it’s time to pull off a signature upset to go along with that bowl party. With the only games remaining on the Bears schedule against Texas, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, the Bears need to bring in one or two wins. A win against A&M may not be too hard but the Bears need to set the tone with a win against a struggling Texas team next week.
It’s a numbers game…1,090 – The two teams combined to bring in over 1,000 yards of total offense. Baylor alone brought in 683 yards.
Player of the game…Jay Finley, Baylor, RB – 26 rush, 250 yds, 2 TD
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