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Cigar Butts- Review of Week 2 of College Football

Cigar Butts Week 2

 

Maybe this weekend should have been called “Revenge Weekend”. Several teams avenged losses that last year cost them dearly later on in the season. Was it just revenge motivating Penn State, Oklahoma, USC, Army? We’ll see.

Pittsburgh vs Penn State– Penn State was on a mission, and it was obvious from the get-go. At the end of the 1st quarter, it was 14-0 and Pitt was having a most difficult time getting anything going. The Nittany Lions, however, were hitting on all cylinders;- ok, they didn’t score in the second quarter, but that was about the only thing that went wrong. According to Coach Franklin playing against Pitt was no different than playing Akron. Ouch!

Stanford vs USC– Sam Darnold went on a tear against Stanford, throwing for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns. Last week he struggled with Western Michigan, but against the Cardinal he did not struggle at all. Bryce Love took the handoff on Stanford’s first possession and ran 75 yards for a touchdown. This tied the score, 7-7, and it had the makings of a real slobberknocker. Then USC unlimbered its big guns and never looked back. The Men of Troy utilized all the pages in their playbook and Stanford didn’t have an answer for any of them. Southern Cal actually looked scary good. Look for them to move up in the rankings. Look for them to move up to second, maybe, even I dare say the top spot? Nah. Read on.

Auburn vs Clemson– In the Tiger spat, Auburn went to South Carolina to extract revenge on Clemson for last season’s loss in Alabama. Bless their hearts, that didn’t work out very well. Auburn had plenty of chances but the offense couldn’t keep the Clemson defense out of their own backfield. QB Stidham spent most the night running for his life. Eleven sacks. Eleven. Clemson sacked Stidham eleven times. Can you believe that? Auburn’s defense played pretty well, holding the Tigers, South Carolina variety, to only 14 points. Kelly Brant wasn’t quite as good DeShaun Watson, but he did run for two touchdowns after regaining his breath from taking a hard hit. Clemson played well, but at times it appeared the offense just wasn’t clicking, but that could have been the Auburn defense. There are plenty of reporters talking about Clemson taking the number two spot, but CSF was more impressed with USC.

TCU vs Arkansas TCU ran all over Arkansas last year, only to lose to the Hogs in double overtime. This time around the Horn Frogs went back playing defense, and that’s what they do best. They made their name playing defense and last season they didn’t live up to that reputation. Against Arkansas, they stifled everything that came their way. For example, last year QB Austin Allen accounted for four Razorback touchdowns. This year he only completed 9 of 23 for 138 yards. Things are not getting cooler on the hot seat under fifth year Coach Bret Bielema. Maybe coaching in the South is a tad harder than it was up north. Ya think? (It just means more.)

Buffalo vs Army– Army led until the fourth quarter last year, but allowed Buffalo to tie it up and the Black Knights lost in overtime. Saturday, Army West Point jumped out to 7-3 lead and looked to establish control, but inexplicably simply stopped. Stopped running. Stopped tackling. They didn’t stop passing because they never started. Buffs scored two touchdowns in the second quarter and held the lead until the fourth when Army came rolling back. With 4:53 left, fullback Darnell Woolfolk took the ball right up the middle and scored for the second time re-taking the lead, 21-17. But the best play was when Army had the ball with under two minutes left and had a fourth down,  Buffalo was expecting to get the ball and make run for the victory garland. Instead, in a completely unscripted, impromptu fashion, the Army punter faked the kick, took off running of course –  and preserved the win. Go, Army! The streak continues. Beat Navy!

Georgia vs Notre Dame– 1980 was the last time Notre Dame and Georgia played each other and that was in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. The Bulldogs had Herschel Walker, who ran all over everyone, including the Irish. ND has a long memory (so do I, as a matter of fact. I remember Tulane-Notre Dame, and Army “ Notre Dame, and, ), and was looking for revengeThirty-seven years is a long time to carry a grudge (I carry one much, much longer). Georgia freshman QB Jake Fromm was making his first start and it looked like he wasn’t going to be a hero like he’d been in the Little League World Series. Most of the game was back and forth in momentum. With 3:34 left, Dawgs Kicker Blankenship notched a 30 yard field goal, giving UGA a very tenuous 20-19 lead. The Irish have a history of snatching victory from defeat in the final seconds of a game. It was up to the Dawgs defense to hold, and they did. The Irish fell and I’m glad.  My editor is very glad. My Daughter is glad. The Heavenly Host is glad! (I’m pretty sure)

Iowa vs Iowa State– Don’t overlook Iowa State. Granted, that has been an easy thing to do in the past. But it appears that second year coach Matt Campbell is in the process of turning things around in Ames, Iowa. The teams swapped the lead back and forth for most of the game. With just 1:09, left Iowa contacted on a 46 yard touchdown pass that tied the game. Overtime! The Cyclones kicked a field goal, but only a field goal, and then surrendered the game winning TD to the Hawkeyes. The Cyclones lost, but I think Coach Campbell is in the process of doing something really good in Iowa. But not at the University of Iowa. Iowa State, like, not the University of Kansas. Kansas State.

Oklahoma vs Ohio State– In the late game, Ohio State hosted Oklahoma in what many thought would be a repeat of last year’s debacle in Norman. Oklahoma however, was motivate by revenge, like Penn State, and USC were. This mind set was particularly nettlesome with OU QB Baker Mayfield, who witnessed the Buckeyes staying out on the field in Norman last year and singing their Alma Mater. To Mayfield, this was disrespectful. So, after he had a stellar game in Columbus, throwing for 386 yards and three touchdowns, he ran around the gridiron with an OU flag, then planted the Oklahoma flag in the middle of the field, right in the center of the big “O”. It was dominant night for the Sooners. They were going to get beaten, and in the second half, the visitors pretty much streamrolled over the home team. All-Everything Ohio State QB JT Barrett id not living up to even his freshman year performance, much less being the clear-cut Heisman favorite. The offense is not able to implement the new scheme from new OC Kevin Wilson. The defense played pretty well in the first half but couldn’t keep up with Mayfield and his Sooners. In every Aspect of the game OU outplayed, and out-hustled Ohio State. The Sooners should be able to ride this cresting wave for the rest of the season. As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes can’t spend much time licking their wounds, cause undefeated Army comes to town this weekend.

Nebraska vs Oregon– CSF actually thought Nebraska was going to win this game but giving up 42 points in the first half was not the right way to do it. CSF knows there are a lot of different philosophies on how to win football games and each and every one usually has some merit, but we’re a little confused on the giving up 42 points in the first half method, especially to Oregon. It just seems to be a little counterproductive. If Coach Riley wants to defend this way of thinking, I’m listening. The Ducks rocked the Cornhuskers.

Oklahoma State had no trouble with South Alabama, 44-7

Alabama rolled all over Fresno State 41-10, the Tide still needs to fix the passing game. Are JT Barrett, of Ohio State, and Jalen Hurts, of Alabama, related? Great tailbacks;- lousy route readers and passers.

Michigan rocked Cincinnati, 36-14. And why wouldn’t they? At home, of course.

Wisconsin continued their powder puff schedule, beating Florida Atlantic, 31-14.

Louisville beat North Carolina 47-35 but the Cardinals defense needs to toughen up before Clemson.

Tennesseans are happy because they beat Indiana State, 42-7. They should have beaten Indiana State, so calm down, Rocky Top.

Duke walked all over Northwestern, 41-17. This surprised me;- not that the Blue Devils won, but that they won by such a margin. Duke wore grey, did they not? Hmmmmm.

West Virginia had no problems with East Carolina, 56-20

Ole Miss beat UT Martin, 45-23, but they should have beaten them by more.

Wake Forest beat Boston College and is now 2-0. Let me repeat that Wake Forest;- is now 2-0. Might need to say that one more time for it to stick. Wake Forest is 2-0.

Colorado stampeded Texas State, 37-3

Indiana beat Virginia, 34-17. Darn it.

Michigan State didn’t have near the trouble USC did with Western Michigan, winning, 28-14

UCLA rocked Hawaii’s, 56-23. Ok. Was anyone surprised?

And after three overtimes, Washington State leaped over Boise State, 47-44.

South Carolina gave Coach Boom his second win of the season by beating Missouri

The Daughter is happy because Texas A&M did not let Nicholls come from behind and win the game. A&M victory 24-14

UT San Antonio gave Baylor their second loss of the season 17-10. Let’s see, Baylor has lost to the Flames and the Roadrunners so far this year. Could be a long season, even without a bowl invite.

Minnesota rowed the boat over Oregon State, 48-14.

 

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