Tailback T.J. Yeldon (4) rushed for 133 yards and two TDs in Alabama s win over LSU. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Snap Judgments from the Week 11 late slate. For more coverage check out our early and midday Snaps.
No. 1 Alabama 38 No. 10 LSU 17 For about a half this year s edition of LSU Alabama seemed like it was headed to a weird and classic place. But that s when the Crimson Tide s physicality took over and Bama ground LSU into the dust with its size speed and technique.
College football fans get caught up trying to predict which team can slay Alabama but until someone finally does it speculating seems like a fruitless exercise. Nick Saban s team is precise and calculative. It plays with its prey like a deft cat pawing and shifting until it finally decides to kill and move on.
At this point in the season it seems almost comical to consider how nonchalant and dismissive Saban was of his team earlier this year. The Tide are loaded at every position. They re singularly focused and play with the discipline of a robot army. Watching Alabama is like watching an episode of CSI the who what when where and why change but the end result is always the same.
In this week s episode the Tigers were undone by early mistakes LSU fullback J.C. Copeland fumbled a would be first quarter touchdown at the goal line and quarterback Zach Mettenberger mixed some signals leading to a botched snap and a team like Alabama pounces on missed opportunities. The second half featured a heavy dose of running back T.J. Yeldon (25 carries 133 rushing yards two touchdowns) and the Tide defense cracked down taking away running back Jeremy Hill and receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The clock began to tick away and everything wrapped up neat and tidy on CBS the home to conveniently packaged doses of expected results.
Alabama is undefeated. Alabama is still number one. For at least another week there will be no spoilers. RECAP l BOX
Virginia Tech 42 No. 14 Miami 24 The Hokies entered Saturday s game at Miami having just endured back to back losses to Duke and Boston College. But with its ACC Coastal chances hanging in the balance Virginia Tech came through in a big way. Thanks to four rushing touchdowns from freshman tailback Trey Edmunds the Hokies improved to 7 3 (4 2) and handed the Hurricanes their second consecutive conference defeat.
The Canes who lost running back Duke Johnson to a broken ankle last week against Florida State relied more heavily on quarterback Stephen Morris and the senior went 16 of 29 for 324 yards with two touchdowns. But Miami had trouble sustaining long drives and keeping its offense on the field and the Canes defense eventually wore down in the second half.
With four teams with two ACC loses the Coastal has now become some kind of crazy football bumper cars. Do you miss your childhood I know I do. RECAP l BOX
Texas 47 West Virginia 40 (OT) The Longhorns improved to 6 0 in Big 12 play after edging the Mountaineers in overtime. In a year in which Mack Brown was on the hot seat for doing less with more Texas continues to respond in the face of adversity. For a slightly longer recap of this game take a stroll over here. RECAP l BOX
No. 19 UCF 19 Houston 14 The Knights didn t get the type of high scoring production they re used to receiving this season but they were still able to manufacture enough offense to beat Houston and remain in control of the American Athletic Conference. UCF got a combined 201 rushing yards and two touchdowns from backs Storm Johnson and William Stanback and it overcame arguably quarterback Blake Bortles worst performance of the year (17 of 24 210 passing yards one interception).
The Knights remain unbeaten in league play while Houston which was held to its lowest point total of the season dropped to 7 2 (4 1). UCF will play Temple (Nov. 16) Rutgers (Nov. 21) South Florida (Nov. 29) and SMU (Dec. 7) as it looks to lock up a BCS bowl berth. RECAP l BOX
Pittsburgh 28 No. 24 Notre Dame 21 The Fighting Irish had been able to dodge dip duck dive and dodge their way through a few close calls this season. But after steadily creeping up the rankings they got pelted in by the Panthers on Saturday. Campus Union s Zac Ellis has more over here. RECAP l BOX
No. 16 UCLA 31 Arizona 26 After Arizona State s come from behind victory over Utah on Saturday it was doubly important that UCLA win to keep pace in Pac 12 South. With running back Jordon James out Steven Manfro injured and the bulk of the carries falling to Paul Perkins coach Jim Mora opted to open things up a bit working freshman linebacker Myles Jack into the ground game. Jack finished with 120 rushing yards and a touchdown proving he s a modern day renaissance man capable of just about anything. RECAP l BOX
No. 17 Fresno State 48 Wyoming 10 The Bulldogs stayed unbeaten in another late night special and they used the formula that s fueled much of their 9 0 start Let Derek Carr throw a lot. The senior quarterback went 31 of 44 for 347 yards with four touchdowns. With Northern Illinois entering the make or break portion of its schedule each team will continue to jockey for BCS position. Let s get their fans together for an ice cream social and do some trust falls soon. RECAP l BOX
{ 0 comments... Views All / Send Comment! }
Post a Comment