College Football Week 9: Luck of the Rees? and more

George | October 27, 2012 | 0 Comments

On Paper
#5 Notre Dame vs. #8 Oklahoma
8pm ABC

The Irish are coming in this game with bigger plans, but they can’t reach their goal without a victory against Oklahoma. Notre Dame has had some close calls this calls with 4 of their 7 victories by 7 points or less…but they’ve won. Their strength has been their defense and Manti Te’o. The ND defense hasn’t allowed a rushing TD all season and have only 5 passing touchdowns!

Oklahoma, on the other hand, will be leaning on their offense to put up some points against the staunch Irish defense. Landry Jones has thrown for 7 TD’s in the last 3 games with 880 yds. The Sooners one misstep has been against, what has become a national title contender, the Kansas State Wildcats. They have been on a roll since their loss by putting up huge numbers. The biggest issue for the Irish has been their QB play…and whose going to play that position! Tommy Rees may have lost the starting position to Everett Golson, but he has now become the closer. Rees has channelled his inner Tebow by leading Notre Dame to victories late in the game. History is not too big here with ND and OK only playing once since 1968…that one game, a victory in 1999 over Bob Stoops in his first season. This game for the Irish can make us finally consider this team legitimate, even with a shaky offense. For the Sooners this game can put them on track for a BCS game and keep their title hopes alive if they can win out. I think Notre Dame will perform but I just can’t see the Irish scoring enough to pull this one out and either does Vegas with OK -12.5!

StraitSportsG’s Pick
ND 12 OK 24

Upset Potential
#8 Ohio State vs. Penn State
5:30pm ESPN

The Buckeyes may not be bowl eligible but Urban Meyer is building a good start at what he hopes to do in The Shoe. At 8-0, he has his team believing in themselves and that will pay dividends in the next few years on the field and in the recruiting world. Braxton Miller is expected to return after his back up Kenny Guiton led the team to victory last week. Penn State, also just playing for pride after their well publicized issue, is being led from the darkness by head coach Bill O’Brien. O’Brien’s near future is not as bright as Meyer’s with heavy penalties looming over his recruiting abilities in the next few years. On the football field the Nittany Lions will not reach rock bottom until his 3rd year but they can show their grit and desire this year by winning their Big1G division. With the the two best teams ineligible to play in the conference championship Wisconsin is likely to be the default Leaders Division representative in the championship game but the league has stated the actual champion will be recognized. This is a dangerous matchup for the Buckeyes who have proven vulnerable on the road with their two road victories by a total of 3, including an OT win at Indiana. I see this being a good game, for a Big1G game, and expect the home team to pull this one out late.

@StraitSportsG’s Pick
OSU 35 PSU 36

Don’t Bother
Colorado vs #2 Oregon
3pm PAC12 Network

I know Oregon plays a lot of late games and if you want to just get a glimpse of what they are doing at Autzen Stadium, then tune in for a quarter…after that find something better to do! The game will be over by the first quarter and 3rd stringers will be in by the 3rd quarter. If you are an Oregon fan and don’t care to watch the SEC 3:30 matchup between Florida and Georgia then let me provide you some more exciting tv options.

Lidia’s Italy In America on WKPC (DirectTV Channel 15)
- Lidia prepares a lovely cauliflower soup and a chicken vesuvio.

Woodsmith Shop on WKMJ (DirectTV channel 68)
-Don Peschke shows how to make a modular wine server

How It’s Made on Science Channel (DirectTV channel 284)
-host Lynne Adams look as miniature furnture