| 13 November 2009
But what about the UCLA football team? Will the cold really matter to their warm bones? Or is the weather completely overrated, and combined with a STRUGGA-LING WSU football team, they will steamroll the Cougs? Let's take a look-see....
SeanHawk Sez:
When we hit the bye week, it was clear that it would be a struggle to win another game the rest of the season. But I was sure of two things: 1) We are improving, and 2) we WILL find a win over the last half of the season. How do I feel about that today? Well, first I'm not sold that we are improving. The second half of the season has seen even more injuries, so that's part of the problem. But there has been, quite frankly, some awfully disappointing performances, giving up 40 or more points to Cal, Notre Dame and Arizona while having fits trying to score more than a TD or two per contest. And the worst part is that all three games have seen, once again, huge first-half deficits. Meaning that when it's still a "game", when the opponent has run with their one's out there, it's been blowout ciy. Since the bye week, the closest we've been to anything remotely competitive was the first half vs. Cal, but that was just 35-17 at the half. 18 points is the closest we've been at halftime!? Yeesh.
But all that aside.....I gotta feeling. I know, I know, UCLA's defense is loaded with seniors, plus a super-high end talent like defensive tackle Brian Price, a tackle-for-loss whirlwind inside (leads the Pac-10 with 13.5 TFL's!). There was one play last week vs. UW where he tackled Jake Locker before he could hand off the ball on a running play, Cortez Kennedy/Warren Sapp style! That's how explosive he is. Couple his awesomeness with a still-developing offensive line, and Marshall Lobbestael's lack of mobility? It could be ugly. Needless to say, the yards and points will be at a premium.
But again....I gotta feeling. Something weird is going to happen here. The cold weather, the Dad's weekend crowd, the Cougs are at home for the first time in over a month, the recent string of losses in Pullman for UCLA, etc. And weird stuff always seems to happen in November! I still recall the 2007 UCLA-WSU game in Pullman, where UCLA bitched all week about how much they hate Pullman, then barely got off the bus in the 27-7 loss. I was in the stands that day, and saw a flat, uninterested Bruins team that couldn't wait to get out of town. I know times have changed, WSU was considerably better that year going 5-7, and UCLA was on the tail-end of the Karl Dorrell experiment. But still.
Now it won't be pretty, in fact it will be downright ugly at times. And I know UCLA's been throwing the ball much better in recent weeks, over 300 yards in the air the last two games alone. But in 33-degree weather, honestly, do you see them throwing the ball all over the yard? I don't.
If this thing was played in Pasadena, I'd give UCLA the nod by at least 21 points, maybe closer to 28 (31-7?). But you know what? It's not. COUGS SHOCK THE BRUINS, 19-16! (And there goes any credibility I had left....) And for old times sake? Be sure to throw a bottle at Rick Neuheisel as he runs off the field! :)
Others:
Stanford 30, USC 21. In a normal year, this would be an easy pick. But right now it's clear that both of these teams are headed in opposite directions. Stanford hung 51 POINTS on Oregon last week? I can't pick against them, not right now.
Beavers 42, UW 23. OSU owns UW lately, winning the last five in the series and doing it in pretty convincing fashion. They are bigger, faster, more physical, and it's in Corvallis. The Beavs are hot, and this is absolutely not the time of year you want to play them (and we'll find out just how much next week!).
Arizona 34, Cal 24. Cal was whooped by the Beavs last week, at home, while Arizona is clicking. Cal will put up a fight, but with no Best in this one, Cal may not have enough O to hang in it. The Mildcats take a big step forward in this one.
Oregon 28, ASU 7. Devils D keeps it close for a while, but not nearly enough tools in the shed for ASU's offense.
Nat'l Game: Ohio State 21, Iowa 17. Shoulder shrugs in this one. I guess the Buckeyes are better? But neither team is all that impressive. Whoever wins is going to get drilled in the Rose Bowl.
GO COUGS!
SUTRA SEZ:
Hello Followers. Hope you’ve had a great week. Well, since I reviewed our schedule for the first time early last summer, this was the game that I knew we would win. And for that reason, I had the audacity to double up on my bet with Ted Miller that we would escape the cellar once again.
Unfortunately for me and for us, that prediction is no longer valid. In the past few weeks, UCLA has recovered from the loss of Mr. Walker and now has a defense that rivals Arizona State for overall effectiveness and scheme. In addition, their offense now has much more of a flow and punch then Arizona State. So, for this game, expect to see the same type of game that we saw against ASU. Only this time, take our 6 takeaways off the board.
They score, we won’t move the ball, and the crowd at Dad’s day will experience a chilly atmosphere and outcome. Ruins 38 Cougs 9.
Elsewhere:
Stanford 38 USC 37. Shootout central as Toby Terrific throws himself back into the conversation for possible invitees to NY.
OSU 48 UW 24. Lots of scoring for the Beavs. Another game where UW fans need to hold their breath re: Locker’s health.
AZ 38 CAL 10. No Best, No problem for Mr. Angry and the no-longer-Mild-cats.
Oregon 51 ASU 10. Be afraid, Dennis Erickson, be very afraid.
Sutra’s National Game:
Ohio State 31 Iowa 13. Yuckeyes make their way toward another blow-out loss to the Pac-10 chump in the Rose Bowl.
Lets hope the Cougs have another SMU rabbit to pull out of the hat!!!!
LONGBALL SEZ:
Hello Coug Fans,
It's another Football Friday and finally the Cougs get to sample some home cookin. Not only are our Cougs one of the worst teams in all the land, but they also have the 2nd toughest schedule (according to Sagarin) and just played 5 of their last 6 contests on the road. We've seen the results and they haven't been pretty, or watchable for that matter. This weekend I look forward to donning about 15 layers of Gortex, filling my pockets with airplane bottles of schnaaps and heading up to a frigid Martin Stadium where, along with about 10,000 fellow Cougs we will witness the last realistic chance at a victory this season. I promise, I haven't started drinking yet, but I am going out on a limb here and picking the COUGS! I don't know how, so don't even ask.
Cougs 24, frozen Bruins 21
Also on tap...
UW @ OSU - Beavs 35, Dawgs 33
I think the Dawgs keep things close in Corvalis.
AZ @ Cal - Cats 42, Hippies 24
That is how much better I think Zona is. Plus, no Jahvid Best.
ASU @ Oregon - Ducks 40, Devils 14
This one looks like the perfect recipe for a blowout to me. Or, do the Ducks fold after being a lock for the BCS championship just a week ago?
Stanford @ USC - Trees 28, Trojans 24
USC's reign of terror officially ends. For one season, at least.
Idaho @ Boise St. - Donkeys 48, Vandals 35
I think Akey's army puts up a good fight in the Potato bowl, but not enough. Another unspectacular win over unspectacular competition for Boise St.
Game 'O the Week:
Utah @ TCU - Horney Toads 33, Utes 28
TCU is this year's BCS party crasher.
Enjoy the games, everyone!
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
