Cigar Butts Week 7
Cigar Butts Week 7
Weird, spooky, unusual and macabre things happen during the month of October. Maybe it’s the ghouls and spirts awakening early and getting ready for All Hallows Eve, I’m not sure of the reason, but October is strange because college football games are serious affairs, now. Big paychecks to take a tumble against ranked teams are almost all gone, almost, still a couple of patsies here and there. It’ll probably get stranger and stranger. Which, of course, means we love it.
South Carolina 20, Georgia 17 – in a game in which everyone, including CSF, thought the Bulldogs would run away and hide, the Gamecocks had other ideas. Can you imagine a chicken scrapping with a bulldog? UGA was a heavy favorite, ranked number three, or thereabouts, in the country, but they didn’t play like it. Sure-shot QB Jake Fromm turned the ball over four times, that’s right, four (4), and three of them were interceptions. His first INT was in the second quarter where DB Israel Mukuamu turned it into a pick-six. From that moment on the Dawgs spent the rest of the game playing catch-up. In the fourth quarter they managed to tie it up in regulation. Carolina had been reduced to using their third-string quarterback when Hilinski was taken out with a second MCL-straining hit to the left knee. With Hilinski out went any threat of a passing attack, and we know, knew, how impenetrable the Bulldog defense is (was). In the first OT, South Carolina intercepted another Jake Fromm pass and then missed a game-winning field goal. Second overtime, Gamecocks managed a field goal. USC-South held and forced Georgia into a field goal attempt. Rodrigo Blankenship, aka Hot Rod, is one of the most sure-footed kickers in college football. Inexplicably, he pushed the ball to the left and missed. South Carolina hadn’t upset a top ten team since 2014 – when they beat 6th ranked Georgia. Muschamp replaced his asbestos underwear in the drawer.
Temple 30, Memphis 28 – The 23rd ranked Memphis Tigers came into this game like all their others this season, favored to win, but the October spirits had other ideas. Memphis turned the ball over four times, which allowed the Owls to maintain their lead they’d been presented throughout. Even while turning the ball over repeatedly, UM was able to produce a lot of offensive firepower. The Tigers battled back, and, in the fourth quarter, with 1:50 left to play, on a fourth and ten, receiver Joey Magnifico made a diving catch to keep the drive alive. After further review it was ruled an incomplete pass, and the ball was turned over on downs, ending the game. This makes the second ranked team in a row that Temple has upset, the first one being Maryland.
Wisconsin 38, Michigan State 0 – Speaking of scary things, has anyone else noticed the Wisconsin Defense? After playing six games, the Badgers have posted four shutouts. Against the Spartans, they held their rivals to a total of 149 yards. It doesn’t take a mathematical genius to figure out that’s hardly enough to win a game. MSU was determined to stop Heisman hopeful Running Back Jonathan Taylor, and they nearly did. The Spartans held him to 80 yards, his first game this season where he failed to reach 100. The problem with the Michigan State strategy was that they forgot about stopping anyone else. The Script “W’s” did operated at will, but their real story is the defense. These guys are playing lights out, and they’re getting better. Next week, they encounter Illinois, then they play Ohio State in Columbus. Stay tuned, and keep an eye on the Badgers.
Tennessee 20, Mississippi State 10 – While not even close to being mentioned in the same breath as Wisconsin’s defense, the Volunteer defense finally had a game where they put it all together. They forced three (3) interceptions and made seven (7) sacks. The Vols stopped the SEC leading rusher, Kylin Hill, defanging the Bulldogs and propelling Tennessee to victory. UT was on a 6-game skid against Division I opponents, but that ended Saturday. The how and why the Volunteers were finally able to put together such a complete game remains a mystery. But mysteries are what October is all about, right? Tennessee’s next game is against Alabama, and it’s time for the Vols’ mysterious resurgence to end. It’s the beginning of “Hate Tennessee Week” in Tuscaloosa, but, to be honest, it’s really an all year thing.
Short Butts:
Alabama handled Texas A&M, 47 to 28. Tide’s offense is on fire, the defense gives up way too much.
LSU had their hands full most of the game against Florida. It was a back and forth affair until the Tigers pulled away with two late touchdowns, 42-28. This game was probably an accurate gauge of the difference between the SEC-West and the SEC-East.
Arkansas almost got the upset against Kentucky. Almost, as in horseshoes, hand grenades, and atomic bombs. Hogs lost, 24-20. CSF is still waiting to see something from Chad Morris besides close losses.
Ole Miss allowed Missouri to score 23 points in the third quarter, which was too much to overcome. Tigers won, 38-27.
Clemson 45, Florida State 14 – Oh the shock of it all. There’s that sarcasm again.
Louisville and Wake Forest piled on the points, with the Cardinals amassing the most, 62-59.
Virginia Tech 34, Rhode Island 17 – no one get’s fired on the Hokie staff. However, really? Rhode Island? C’mon.
Duke had little to no trouble against Georgia Tech, winning, 41-23. Tech held a brief lead early.
In the Red River Rivalry, Texas failed to show up and play until after halftime. Oklahoma played the whole game, andwon 34-27. Gimmee TD at the end made it look respectable for the Horns.
Baylor remains undefeated, downing upset-minded Texas Tech, 33-30 in three overtimes. Or two, maybe it was two overtimes. It was a long game.
Iowa State ran all over West Virginia, 38-14. Nothing else needs be said.
There was nothing flashy about Penn State beating Iowa, 17-12, nothing at all.
Michigan beat Illinois 42-25, but it was 28-25 in the fourth. Closer than the score indicates.
Rutgers got shut out again, losing to Indiana, 35-0. When will they score again? Oh, that’s right, they scored last week. Once.
Purdue kicked Maryland around like a rented mule, 40-14.
Minnesota overwhelmed Nebraska, 34-7. Row the boat, Gophers!
Notre Dame almost let USC snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, but the Irish held on, 30-27. Dang nabit!
Army let Tulane beat them twice, falling to Western Kentucky, 17-8
Utah scored at will against Oregon State, winning 52-7
Arizona State scored in the last 34 seconds to down Washington State, 38-34
Oregon beat Colorado 45 -3. Colorado was going to shine against the Ducks and Kellen Mond is the best Quarterback in the SEC. Right, on both counts. (Sarcasm).
Washington walked, ran, pitched and caught all over Arizona, 51-27.