Athlon Sports News
2009 CFB Weekend On Tap: Week 5
Mitch Light predicts the outcome of 10 of the week's biggest games in the Week 5 edition of his 2009 Weekend on Tap column.Michigan (-2) at Michigan State
In Athlon Sports’ Big Ten edition, we ran a feature asking if the balance of power was shifting in the state of Michigan. The answer? Apparently not. After hitting rock bottom with a 3–9 record in 2009, Michigan has jumped out of the gate with a 4–0 mark on the strength of a dramatically improved offense. Sure, the Wolverines have not played the most grueling slate (and have not left Ann Arbor), but it’s clear that this is a much-improved team that is playing with a tremendous amount of confidence. Michigan State, meanwhile, entered the season with high expectations but has stumbled to a 1–3 record, including a sobering 38–30 loss at Wisconsin last week in the Big Ten opener. The Spartans’ running game, so strong last year with Javon Ringer, has been an issue (10th in the Big Ten), and the defense, usually a staple of a Mark Dantonio team, has given up an average of 33.3 points in its three games vs. FBS opponents.
Michigan 34, Michigan State 27
UCLA (+6) at Stanford
Stanford is 2–0 in the Pac-10 for the first time since 2001 after its impressive 34–14 win over Washington. The Cardinal are leaning on senior tailback Toby Gerhart, and the two-sport star is delivering. He has rushed for at least 100 yards in three of the four games, highlighted by a 27-carry, 200-yard effort against the Huskies. UCLA is quietly 3–0, with wins over two BCS conference foes (Tennessee and Kansas State). Kevin Craft, who struggled so much last season, was solid in relief of injured starter Kevin Prince in the win over K-State two weeks ago, throwing for 186 yards and one touchdown. The key to this game will be the UCLA run defense against the Stanford rushing attack. The Bruins are allowing just under 75 yards per game and have faced some quality tailbacks in Kansas State’s Daniel Thomas and Tennessee’s Montario Hardesty. Gerhart will have to earn every yard he gets this week.
Stanford 20, UCLA 10
LSU (+2.5) at Georgia
Credit LSU for winning all four of its games, including two on the road vs. BCS conference foes, but the Tigers clearly are not playing like a top 5 team. If you had to grade each performance, you’d be hard-pressed to give LSU anything higher than a B- for its wins over Washington, Vanderbilt, Louisiana-Lafayette and Mississippi State. But the bottom line is winning games, and LSU has won them all. Georgia is 3–1 overall (2–0 in the SEC), but Mark Richt’s club isn’t exactly playing vintage Bulldog football. These stats are a bit skewed because Georgia, unlike any other team in the league, has played four BCS opponents, but the Dawgs rank 11th in the SEC in rushing and 11th in scoring defense and total defense. Flip a coin with this one.
Georgia 21, LSU 17
Florida State (-5) at Boston College
If this showdown is good enough for College GameDay, then I guess it needs to be among the 10 games in this column. In a season that has been nearly impossible to get a handle on, Florida State has been arguably the most difficult team to understand. The Seminoles have been all over the board; they’ve played well in defeat (Miami), played poorly in a win (Jacksonville State), played great in a win (BYU) and played poorly in a loss (South Florida). Clearly, this team is not playing up to its potential — an alarming trend that has been plaguing this program for most of this decade. Boston College is 3–1, but this is a team that will struggle to score points against quality competition. Dave Shinskie, a 25-year old former minor leaguer, has stabilized the quarterback situation, and the Eagles do boast a nice duo at tailback in Josh Haden and Montel Harris, but I think Florida State — if the good Seminoles are on display — will have too much on both sides of the ball.
Florida State 30, Boston College 13
Penn State (-6.5) at Illinois
After winning its first three games at home against inferior competition, we were eager to learn more about the 2009 Penn State Nittany Lions. In a 21–10 loss to Iowa, we learned that the Lions could have trouble scoring points against some of the better teams in the league. Quarterback Darryll Clark struggled, completing only 12-of-32 passes for 198 yards with three interceptions, and nearly 60 percent of those yards came on two plays, a 79-yard touchdown toss to Chaz Powell and a 39-yard completion to Derek Moye. Illinois has plenty of its own problems. The Illini are 1–2 overall, with the lone win coming against FCS foe Illinois State. In two games against FBS competition, Illinois has averaged under 250 yards and has scored a total of one touchdown. This is surely not the type of senior season Juice Williams envisioned.
Penn State 24, Illinois 9
Georgia Tech (-4.5) at Mississippi State
Georgia Tech has been a tough team for me to figure out this season. I am 0–3 against the spread and 1–2 outright in the Jackets’ three games against FBS opponents. This week, Tech takes on a rejuvenated Mississippi State program that came a few inches away from upsetting LSU in Starkville last weekend. Last season, Georgia Tech played one if its best games of the season against MSU, rolling up an incredible 438 yards rushing en route to a 38–7 win in Atlanta. The ’09 Bulldogs were gashed for 390 rushing yards in a Week 2 loss at Auburn but have played much better in recent weeks, allowing a total of 63 yards rushing against Vanderbilt and LSU. Stopping the option, however, will be far more difficult. Georgia Tech has struggled at times this year, but Paul Johnson had his offense on track last week; the Jackets rushed for 317 yards in a 24–7 win over North Carolina. Mississippi State should be far more competitive than a year ago, but Georgia Tech is simply a better team.
Georgia Tech 27, Mississippi State 17
Arkansas (-1) vs. Texas A&M (in Arlington)
This is an intriguing neutral site match-up between two old Southwest Conference rivals. Texas A&M has been very impressive offensively in its three wins, all at home, over New Mexico, Utah State and UAB. In fact, the Aggies lead the nation in total offense, averaging 574.3 yards per game, but that stat doesn’t carry much weight considering the level of competition this team has faced. Still, it’s a sign of progress, and that is what this program needed after last season’s 4–8 (2–6 Big 12) debacle. Arkansas is also explosive on the offensive end, though the Hogs were held in check last week by an outstanding Alabama defense. Against mediocre to bad competition, the Razorbacks are capable of scoring a ton of points. This one should be entertaining.
Texas A&M 44, Arkansas 37
Auburn (+1.5) at Tennessee
Auburn’s offensive improvement under first-year coordinator Gus Malzahn has been remarkable. The Tigers are averaging 45.3 points per game, up from 17.3 during last season’s 5–7 debacle. Quarterback Chris Todd has been a revelation, and the running attack, led by senior Ben Tate and freshman Onterio McCalebb, has been among the best in the nation. Tennessee, too, can run the ball — which is a good thing since the Vols’ coaching staff has absolutely no confidence in quarterback Jonathan Crompton. Tennessee was a bit lethargic in its 34–23 win over Ohio last Saturday night. It has to be a bit troubling that Ohio’s Theo Scott threw for 319 yards on 30 completions.
Auburn 24, Tennessee 17
Oklahoma (-7) at Miami
One thing we have learned about Miami is that Jacory Harris needs to have a big game for this team to win. So it was no surprise that the Canes lost to Virginia Tech when Harris completed only 9-of-25 attempts for 150 yards. Graig Cooper and Javarris James combined for 90 yards on 25 carries, not nearly enough production to carry the offense when the passing game is struggling. The Canes had trouble stopping the Tech running game, giving up 272 yards on 55 carries. Sam Bradford returned to practice for Oklahoma, but Landry Jones will get the start. It shouldn’t matter. The OU ground game and defense should be enough.
Oklahoma 28, Miami 20
USC (-5) at Cal
Perhaps no score during the first month of the 2009 season was as shocking as Cal’s 42–3 loss at Oregon. It was no great surprise that the Bears lost at Oregon, but the thoroughness of the beat down was shocking. The Bears entered the game with a 3–0 mark and were playing with a swagger that suggested that this could be the year that they pose a serious threat to USC’s dominance in the Pac-10. But when Jahvid Best rushes for only 55 yards and the passing attack musters just 130, Cal is going to have a tough time beating good teams. USC is obviously a good team, but we’re not sure this is a great team. The Trojans obviously have a ton of talent, but things aren’t quite clicking on offense. They scored only 27 points against Washington State, and for the season this team is averaging 28.5 points per game, down from 37.5 last season. Does this mean USC is ripe for upset No. 2? Could be, but I’m going to be boring and stick with the Trojans.
USC 27, Cal 14
Last week — 2–8 overall (2–7–1 against the spread)
Season — 23–17 overall (15–24–1 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.