Athlon Sports News
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 11
Mitch Light predicts the outcome of 10 of the week's biggest games in the Week 11 edition of his 2009 Weekend on Tap column.West Virginia (+9.5) at Cincinnati (Fri)
It’s the first of two more hurdles Cincinnati must jump en route to a second straight Big East title and another trip to a BCS bowl. Last week, the Bearcats busted out to a big lead on UConn but had to hold on for a 47–45 win. The 45 points were, by far, the most UC has given up in 2009. Was this an aberration, or should Brian Kelly be concerned? We’ll find out, because the three remaining teams on the schedule (WVU, Illinois and Pitt) are all capable of scoring a bunch of points. Statistically, UC’s area of weakness is stopping the run, and that could be a concern with Noel Devine coming to town. The junior ranks 13th in the nation in rushing with an average of 112.2 yards per game. We could talk about the quarterback situation at Cincinnati — it looks as though Zach Collaros will be get the start — but does it really matter? Kelly seems to have the magic touch with his quarterbacks. They all produce.
Cincinnati 30, West Virginia 24
Tennessee (+4.5) at Ole Miss
Not too many expected these two teams to have the same SEC record (2–3) at this point of the season. It’s fair to say that Ole Miss has been one of the bigger disappointments in the nation. The defense has been solid, but the offense, which was so explosive late last season, has been rather ordinary. Tennessee has exceeded expectations under first-year coach Lane Kiffin. The Vols have won three of the past four games, with the only loss a 12–10 heartbreaker at Alabama. Tennessee is a slight underdog this weekend but will be heavily favored in the final two games against Vanderbilt and Kentucky, giving Kiffin a chance to finish his first regular season with an 8–4 record. But that is only if the Vols take care of business in Oxford. This should be an interesting game, but the guess here is that the Rebels’ defense steps up and delivers a much-needed win.
Ole Miss 20, Tennessee 14
Clemson (-7) at NC State
Last week, I picked Oregon State to beat Cal because that “was the type of game that Oregon State seems to win.” Well, this is the type of game Clemson seems to lose — as a heavy favorite with so much at stake. But I’m sticking with the Tigers, who control their own destiny in the ACC Atlantic. They are tied with Boston College with two losses, but Clemson beat BC earlier this season, giving it the advantage in a tie. NC State has been getting strong play from quarterback Russell Wilson, but the Pack’s defense has been horrible. It has given up 30 points or more in every ACC game, including 49 to Duke and 45 to Florida State. Clemson, which has lost three games by a total of 10 points, is the much better team and should be able to take care of business in Raleigh.
Clemson 34, NC State 20
Utah (+17) at TCU
How good has TCU been of late? Well in the battle of the two remaining undefeated teams in the Mountain West, the Horned Frogs are a 17-point favorite over Utah, which is 8–1 and ranked in every poll. TCU has won its five league games by an average of 31.2 points per game, and that includes a close call (20–17) at Air Force in early October. Gary Patterson’s team is playing very well on defense (as usual), but the offense has been the big story. This team leads the MWC and is ranked in the top 10 nationally in both total offense and scoring offense. Utah is also 5–0 in the league, but the Utes have been far less dominating; they have actually had two games decided by seven points.
TCU 37, Utah 21
Nebraska (-3.5) at Kansas
How crazy is this Big 12 season when Nebraska is only a 3.5-point favorite against a Kansas team that has lost four straight games the week after the Huskers beat Oklahoma? It’s just a sign of the times in college football, where it has become increasingly difficult for all but a few schools to sustain success at a high level. Nebraska has looked very good at times this season (at Missouri, vs. OU) and has looked bad other times (home losses to Texas Tech and Iowa State). This team is struggling to put points on the board, but the defense has been a constant. Texas Tech is the only team that has scored more than 16 points against Nebraska. That defense will be enough to beat the struggling Jayhawks.
Nebraska 20, Kansas 10
Arizona (+1) at California
Arizona is one of the most underrated teams in the nation. The Wildcats are 6–2 overall, with a 10-point loss at Iowa and a fluky 3-point loss at Washington as their only blemishes. They don’t exactly have a ton of quality wins, but they have beaten Central Michigan, Oregon State and Stanford. Cal can’t say the same thing. The Bears are 6–3 but have lost to the three best teams they have faced — Oregon, USC and Oregon State. Their best win? It’s debatable, but I’d probably have to say the Week 3 victory at Minnesota. That’s far from the most impressive resume. Arizona is the better team, even if Jahvid Best was healthy, which he’s not.
Arizona 30, Cal 17
Iowa (+17) at Ohio State
It’s the game that will likely decide which team represents the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl, but there is surprisingly little buzz. Maybe it’s because Iowa is no longer undefeated and the Hawkeyes will be without starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi. The Iowa offense struggled mightily with redshirt freshman James Vanderberg taking snaps, and there is no reason to believe things will be any different this weekend. The Ohio State defense, fresh off a masterful performance at Penn State, has allowed 14 points or less in all but one Big Ten game. The worst news for the Hawkeyes? Ohio State ranks third nationally against the run, allowing only 85.4 yards per game. Not good news for a team that will be leaning on its running game to mask its deficiencies in the passing game.
Ohio State 24, Iowa 10
Auburn (+4) at Georgia
This is at times one of the biggest games in the SEC. And other times — like this season — it’s just another game between two rivals. Both teams are 3–3 in the league, but these two programs appear to be trending in opposite directions. Georgia has been disappointing on both sides of the ball, ranking 10th in the league in total offense and seventh in total defense. Auburn has recovered from a midseason slump to win two straight games, most notably a 33–20 victory over Ole Miss in Auburn two weeks ago. With the season-finale vs. Alabama a long shot, this becomes a huge game for Auburn — the difference between an 8–4 and 7–5 regular-season record. Either way, the first season of the Gene Chizik era has been a success, but eight wins sure sounds better than seven. Georgia shut out Tennessee Tech last week, but the Dawgs have lost three of their last four vs. FBS teams. This is strictly a home team pick.
Georgia 23, Auburn 20
Texas Tech (+3.5) at Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State dropped from the national radar with a Week 2 loss to Houston, but the Cowboys are enjoying a very solid season — especially when you consider the injury/suspension issues this team has dealt with. The Pokes are 4–1 in the league, with the only loss to undefeated Texas. Zac Robinson has been effective at quarterback while Keith Toston has emerged as a force at tailback (three 100-yard games) with Kendall Hunter slowed with an injury. Texas Tech will turn to quarterback Taylor Potts, the opening day starter, though Steven Sheffield returned to practice this week. The Red Raider offense has continued to operate smoothly despite the frequent changes at quarterback. Tech has scored 30 points or more in five straight games, including 42 in a convincing win over Kansas last weekend.
Oklahoma State 37, Texas Tech 30
Miami (-3) at North Carolina
North Carolina didn’t emerge as a contender in the tough ACC Coastal division, but this team is still in position to have a solid season. If they win this weekend — which I think will happen — the Tar Heels likely will be favored in their final two games, at Boston College and at NC State. Victories in those two would give UNC an overall mark of 9–3 and a 5–3 record in the ACC. What leads me to believe that this team is capable of running the table? A defense that has been as good as — or better than — any in the ACC. North Carolina ranks fifth nationally in total defense and only once — in a 30–27 loss to Florida State — has this team allowed more than 24 points in any one game. This unit will be tested this week, however, against a Miami team that has scored 27 points or more in five straight games.
North Carolina 20, Miami 17
Last week — 6–4 overall (2–7–1 against the spread)
Season — 62–38 overall (40–57–3 against the spread)
HEADLINE ARCHIVE
2010 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 12009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 14
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 13
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 12
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 11
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 10
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 9
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 8
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 6
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 5
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 4
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 3
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 2
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 1
2009 Heisman Watch: Sam Bradford
"Wow, what a great honor it is to receive an award named after Johnny Unitas, one of the greatest football players ever,” McCoy said. “I had a chance to talk to John, Jr. and Raymond Berry last night when they told me I was this year's winner and I was pretty speechless.
“With all of the great quarterbacks around the country it’s definitely humbling to be picked as the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. But, like I told them last night, this is an honor I can't wait to share with my teammates and coaches. Without them I wouldn't be able to accomplish anything, so this is an award that reflects the success we've had as a team and is a tribute to all of them."
“With all of the great quarterbacks around the country it’s definitely humbling to be picked as the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. But, like I told them last night, this is an honor I can't wait to share with my teammates and coaches. Without them I wouldn't be able to accomplish anything, so this is an award that reflects the success we've had as a team and is a tribute to all of them."
Often times college football fans and the media become so enthralled with touchdown passes, elusive runs, ferocious tackles and quarterback sacks that we lose sight of other important matters of college athletics. The Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the top senior quarterback by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Foundation encapsulates all that is positive in college sports. The award acknowledges performance on the field for sure. But it goes beyond completion percentage and touchdown strikes. The award values character, citizenship, integrity and those who honor the game.
"The winner of the Golden Arm Award is recognized not only for his athletic accomplishments, but also for his character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership qualities, and athletic abilities," says John Unitas, Jr., President of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award bears the name of the man many refer to as the finest quarterback ever to play the game of football.
In addition to honoring a player with the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc., has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships to deserving scholar-athletes from local area high schools both in Maryland and Kentucky.
"Despite my Dad's outstanding accomplishments, he never forgot his humble beginnings, and this won him a permanent place in the hearts of all who ever knew him," notes Unitas, Jr. "Giving life to his commitment to 'give back,' the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. was established to promote football on all levels by providing financial aid to deserving young athletes."
GOLDEN ARM WATCH LIST
Jarrett Brown
West Virginia earned its 15th consecutive victory over Rutgers, holding on for a 24–21 win in New Jersey. Brown completed 10-of-20 passes for 116 yards, as the Mountaineers punched their ticket to the Gator Bowl, where they will face Florida State and former WVU coach Bobby Bowden in his final game.
Daryll Clark
Penn State rolled to a 42–14 win at Michigan State in the Big Ten season finale. Clark completed 19-of-27 passes for 310 yards, four scoring strikes and zero interceptions in the final regular season game of his Nittany Lion career.
Armanti Edwards
Appalachian State rallied for an impressive 35–31 win at defending FCS champion Richmond in the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Edwards completed 21-of-33 passes for 216 yards, one touchdown — a game-winning four-yarder to Matt Cline with 10 seconds remaining — and zero picks, while scrambling on 12 carries for 51 yards and two trips to the end zone.
Matt Grothe
South Florida lost 29–27 to Connecticut, but Grothe did not play due to a season-ending ACL injury suffered against Charleston Southern on Sept. 19.
Max Hall
BYU won the Holy War over Utah, with a 26–23 overtime thriller in Provo. Hall’s stats were not overly impressive, as the senior signal-caller completed just 12-of-32 passes for 134 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. But his 25-yard scoring strike to Andrew George clinched the victory in overtime after the Cougars defense held the Utes to a field goal.
Tim Hiller
Western Michigan was shocked by Ball State, 22–17, in Kalamazoo. Hiller struggled in defeat, completing 33-of-62 passes for 354 yards, one score and four picks.
Mike Kafka
Northwestern pulled off a season-ending upset of Wisconsin, 33–31. Kafka played mistake-free football, completing 26-of-40 passes for 326 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions in his final home game.
Dan LeFevour
Central Michigan rolled to a 20–10 win over Ohio in the MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit. LeFevour completed 28-of-39 passes for 255 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in CMU’s third MAC title in four seasons. In the process, LeFevour broke the FBS record for career total touchdowns (passing, rushing, receiving), previously shared by Hawaii’s Colt Brennan (2007) and Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell (2008), with 148 scores (101 passing, 46 rushing, 1 receiving).
Corey Leonard
Arkansas State won its season finale, 24–20, against Western Kentucky. Leonard, however, was unable to play due to a knee injury.
Thaddeus Lewis
Lewis became the 60th player in FBS history to pass for 10,000 career yards during his final game at Duke. Unfortunately, the Blue Devils could not defeat Wake Forest, suffering a 45–34 loss.
Colt McCoy
Texas found a way to outfight an aggressive Nebraska team led by defensive tackle Ndumakong Suh, winning 13–12 on a 46-yard field goal that went through the uprights as time expired — for a second time. One second was added to the clock following an incomplete McCoy pass that sailed out of bounds before the game-winning kick. Under pressure all night, McCoy completed 20-of-36 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns, but did secure the most important stat of all — a victory that capped a perfect regular season, Big 12 championship and a trip to Pasadena for the BCS title game against Alabama.
Tony Pike
Cincinnati pulled off an amazing 45–44 win in the snow at Pittsburgh in the de facto Big East title game. Pike completed 22-of-44 passes for 302 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Trailing 31–17 at halftime, Pike threw three second-half scoring strikes — a 68-yard bomb to star receiver Mardy Gilyard, an 8-yarder to D.J. Woods and a 29-yard over-the-shoulder spiral to Armon Binns to take a one-point lead the Bearcats would not relinquish with 33 seconds to play.
Patrick Pinkney
East Carolina knocked off Houston, 38–32, to clinch its second straight Conference USA title and a trip to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. Pinkney completed 21-of-34 passes for 262 yards, one touchdown and zero turnovers in a clutch win at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, N.C., where the Pirates have not lost since falling to the Cougars last year.
Todd Reesing
Kansas could not hold on to a late lead in the 117th Border War with Missouri. The Jayhawks lost 41–39 despite a career outing from Reesing, who completed 37-of-55 passes for a school-record 498 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
Zac Robinson
Oklahoma State lost out on a shot at a BCS berth by losing 27–0 at Oklahoma. Robinson fought through a shoulder injury to complete just 9-of-21 passes for 44 yards, no scores and one interception in the disappointing shutout loss to unranked OU.
Tyler Sheehan
Bowling Green took care of business against Toledo, winning 38–24 in the season finale. Sheehan completed 19-of-31 passes for 137 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions in victory.
Riley Skinner
Wake Forest cruised to a 45–34 win over Duke, as Skinner completed 28-of-38 passes for a career-high 372 yards, a school-record five touchdowns and zero interceptions. The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Demon Deacons.
Rusty Smith
Florida Atlantic held on to beat Florida International, 28–21, in Miami. Unfortunately, Smith did not play due to a season-ending shoulder injury suffered in a Halloween loss to Middle Tennessee.
Tim Tebow
Superman ran into Crimson kryptonite, as Florida fell to Alabama 32–13 in the SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. In a disappointing effort, Tebow completed 20-of-35 passes for 247 yards, one touchdown and one interception through the air, while tucking the ball on 10 carries for 63 yards. The Gators will not compete for their third national title in Tebow’s four seasons. Instead, UF will play Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Chris Turner
Maryland lost its seventh straight game, falling 19–17 to Boston College. After missing two weeks recovering from a knee injury, Turner completed 11-of-17 passes for 101 yards during his final college start.
Joe Webb
UAB’s one-man offense was not enough to avoid a 34–27 loss to UCF. Webb did all he could, completing 20-of-35 passes for 322 yards, three touchdowns and one interception through the air, while adding 18 carries for 137 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
Juice Williams
Illinois lost a heartbreaker to Fresno State in a 53–52 shootout in Champaign. Williams completed 8-of-16 passes for 211 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, but was unable to lead the Fighting Illini to victory, as Illinois was outscored 22–14 in the fourth quarter of a one-point loss on Senior Day.