Week 10: This Saturday's Slate of Eight
With the return of the In The Bleachers Podcast this morning things are starting to move a little more smoothly here at ITB and as yours truly gets a grip on the scheduling we'll continue to add more features to the website. To go with The Eliminator and our One Sentence Predictions we've now launched a two part weekly installment, This Saturday's Slate of Eight.
The Eight Slate will take the most intriguing, significant and crucial games from Saturday's buffet and reveal the true reasons that the One Sentence Predictions we made. So without further ado let's take a look at the first four games on tap for this week:
Florida State @ Clemson
Kansas @ Kansas State
South Carolina @ Arkansas
Oregon State @ California
The evening edition kicks off with flavor from all over the country as the ACC, SEC, Big XII and Pac 10 all join the party. While only one ranked team, #20 California, appears on this first grouping these games are as crucial as any in the case for conference supremacy. Clemson and K-State both have divisional titles within their grasps while South Carolina, Arkansas, Oregon State and Cal are all jockeying for bowl positioning.
Florida State @ Clemson
ESPN, 7:45pm- Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Erin Andrews
Clemson -8.5
Both teams enter with modest win streaks; Clemson working on a three gamer while the 'Noles are looking to build on their two game streak. This series has been on of the ACC's most fun get-togethers as former Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden took on his old man the legend Bobby Bowden. While the "house divided" label is removed much to the chagrin of Anne Bowden's clan this match up does have serious ACC Atlantic Title implications. Clemson is in control of their own destiny and a win here would all but solidify their first ever Atlantic Division Title
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Entering this game the Seminoles are, yet again, awash in turmoil as this week their long time defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews announced his plans to retire at the end of the season. Add this controversy to the "will Bobby retire", "should Bobby retire" and Jimbo Fisher "who's in charge" controversies and their is, again, plenty swarming around to distract the 'Noles off the field.
On the field they've got their own problems with a defense ranking 101st against the run, 97th against the pass, 93rd in scoring and 109th in total defense. Andrews' reign of terror in the ACC is over and it is most evident; not through the low defensive rankings across the board but rather in FSU's inability to sack the quarterback. After a string of soul crushing defensive ends Andrews' squad has only been able to muster 17 sacks on the season; good for 50th in the nation.Read More for the first half of the Saturday Slate of Eight
CJ Spiller and Jacoby Ford will be looking to get off against this pitiful Florida State defense and with Kyle Parker's confidence soaring expect big games from the Tigers best weapons. Defensively Kevin Steele's unit will have their hands full but Ponder is dinged up and a one dimensional FSU attack should have Ricky Sapp, Kevin Alexander and safety DeAndre McDaniel foaming at the mouth.
Clemson seems to be hitting their stride and with all the disfunction swirling around Tallahassee both on and off the field this should be a straight forward Clemson win. Here is where Dabo Swinney proves his worth; in the past Tommy Bowden did his best to lose these games and keep the program feeding on heavy doses of mediocrity. If Dabo can elevate his squad to win this critical game in the Atlantic division he'll have a trip to Tampa on his racket, something Tommy never truly had.
Clemson 45 Florida State 31
Kansas @ Kansas State
Versus, 12:30pm- Ron Thulin, Kelly Stouffer, Lewis Johnson
Kansas -2.5
Nowhere in preseason prediction land did people project the Manhattan Wildcats to be sitting atop the Big XII North with just four weeks left in the season. Never did anyone expect Bill Snyder's impact to be felt to quickly and so strongly. Behold the everlasting cliche "that's why they play the game" as K-State has returned to make a case to be the North's best team.
Kansas on the other hand has been a media darling over the last two seasons since their Orange Bowl appearance and 12-1 2007 campaign. Todd Reesing, the tiny gun slinger, has endeared himself to the national media but at this point he's performed below the video game-esque standard that he's set during his three year starting career.
The Jayhawk defense ranks 14th against the rush although the statistic is misleading given they've played heavily loaded with "pass first" offenses. In other words Kansas State will be their first test against a truly run heavy team. Daniel Thomas is one of the nation's unsung heroes as he's amassed 902 yards through nine games and is averaging a robust 10.8 yards per carry. Look for the Wildcats, running Bill Snyder's tried and true power back sets, to try to beat up the fighting Mangino's.
Todd Reesing is definitely going to have to get on track for the Jayhawks to make a play for the Big XII North Title and with Kansas State's porous pass defense there will be plenty of opportunities to throw the football. Dezmon Briscoe is the nation's best kept secret at wide receiver and look for the big bodied junior to be the difference in a game that is a lot more significant than any of us thought it would be in July.
Kansas 31 Kansas State 24
South Carolina @ Arkansas
SEC Network, Noon- Dave Neal, Andre Ware, Cara Capuano
Steve Spurrier's team is coming off of an absolute beat down suffered at the hands of Lane Kiffin's Tennessee Volunteers and it was quite a humbling affair. Not only did the Ol' Ball Coach and squad not better their case for a good bowl but they didn't defend South Carolina's honor with regards to the "gas pumping situation" initiated by Kiffin.
After seeming to get their offense going early in the season against Georgia (37) and Kentucky (28) the Gamecocks have come down to earth recently only averaging 11 points over their last three games. Sure Bama and the Vols defenses are nasty but only being able to muster 14 points against Vanderbilt, in Columbia, is the most telling sign that Spurrier's offense isn't blooming under Stephen Garcia.
The Cocks giving up 31 points to the less than potent Tennessee offense has to have Bobby Petrino and Ryan Mallett salivating at the thought of carving up a weary and depleted S. Carolina defense. Using their Eastern Michigan date to get the wheels turning again the Hogs look to return to that explosive force they were before being snatched back to earth by Florida.
Outside of the 7 point effort against Alabama the Razorbacks have topped 17 in every loss and 44 in every win; a 27 point differential. Petrino's boys will have to get their horses ready to bang against the South Carolina defensive front to give Mallett time and the wildcard should be the Hogs ability to spread the football around to different targets.
Arkansas 27 South Carolina 17
Oregon State @ California
FSN, 7pm- Steve Physioc, Mike Pawlawski, Drea Avent
Mike Riley's team had the perfect rebound game after their heart breaker against the Trojans two weeks ago. Beating up on UCLA was just the recipe for Sean Canfield and Rodgers brothers to get back on the winning side. The dynamic duo is pacing the Beavers not only in rushing but in receiving as well and truly are the entire basis of Riley's offense.
The Bears have ripped off three wins and find themselves back in the Top 20 after a brief hiatus. Jahvid Best is quickly approaching another 1,000 yard season and all Kevin Riley has to do is get the ball to his playmakers for his team to have a shot at winning.
Heading into this game the number one question lies on the defensive side of the ball as neither teams unit has been stellar.
Both the Beavers and the Bears have struggled to keep opponents out of the end zone and which ever defense decides to get some third down stops, force punts, hold teams to field goals and force turnovers will have the upperhand.
California looks to be hitting their stride, and while the USC common opponent theory would give Oregon State the upper hand the Golden Bears are more explosive, have more weapons and are an overall more talented team. Look for Jahvid Best to out duel the Rodgers brothers enroute to the win.
California 37 Oregon 30
For the second part of the weekly installment we'll get to the big time games:
Southern Cal @ Arizona State
Oklahoma @ Nebraska
Ohio State @ Penn State
LSU @ Alabama
