NCAA Week 1 - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
By Tony George
While Sunday and Monday are still up for debate as I write this, Thursday through Saturday proved to be an eyebrow raising experience, especially for those who bought into media hype and bought into laying big chalk for the most part. I did lay some heavy chalk on Nebraska and Ohio St, and a video free play on USC, and all cashed, but many of the popular teams out there with media hype failed to cover and struggled to win.
While the picture is not 100% clear and it is a long season and teams will improve, some fog was lifted as teams clearly did not meet expectations while a few others exceeded expectations. I though I would share my opinions as the season opened up. One thing is for sure after watching Alabama and Florida St struggle against good teams, not great teams, but good teams, that either one is beatable and by no means just going walk all over everyone.
THE GOOD
Texas AM - Johnny who? QB Kenny Hill went for 511 yds in an ass kicking of the Gamecocks. Summlin can coach people! Texas AM is no easy out for any SEC team and their defense is much improved.
Nebraska - Along with Georgia the best ground game in the NCAA, Abdullah is off the charts, OL looked good and QB Armstrong has matured which was the big question mark, and WR's Bell and Westerkamp are one of the better 1-2 punches at WR in the Big 10 as well. While it was only Florida Atlantic, the defense showed marked improvement but could have lost stud Gregory to a knee injury. Huskers will have best offense in Big 10.
Auburn - Defense looked solid and they whipped a well coached and improved Arkansas team. Interested to see them in mid September against K State on the road.
Virginia - Did everything but win the game, their DL dominated UCLA and their pass rush was solid. Under rated in the ACC in terms of giving good teams fits, and well coached as well. They made a hyped up UCLA look bad, and it was not all UCLA's fault, the Cavs played a good brand of ball.
USC - Dominated Fresno State as expected, but looked sharp and the new coaching change will help them contend for a division title this year. QB Kessler the real deal.
Oregon - Blowout win against no one, but that offense is unstoppable. It's another year and Oregon is right in the thick of it again.
Georgia - Along with Nebraska one of the top 2 teams at the RB position and can dominate up front, and the defense improved greatly. and the QB position is in good hands. No pushover in the SEC.
North Dakota St - You have to hand it to the Bison, they love beating up teams in the Big 12 and getting paid for it. Iowa St yesterday and K State last year. Powerhouse Division II school. David beating up Goliath is always a feel good story. Damn good football team.
THE BAD
Missouri - Struggled against South Dakota State and their defense is scary bad against the run, linebacker position in trouble. Bad second half on offense, lots of work to do to get to 8 wins this season, QB Mauk needs to throw for 250+ yards a game to hang in games.
South Carolina - The secondary is deplorable, and Spurrier, the Ol Ball coach just got his ass coached off on national TV. Losing Clowney and Shaw at QB hurts.
Iowa - Let little sister Northern Iowa push them to the limit, and this Hawkeye team was many sports writers dark horse this season. Cannot stretch the field vertically with any success.
Washington - The good news is they beat Hawaii, the bad new is it was by 1 point and the QB position looked terrible. Chris Petersen's era begins very shaky and the PAC 12 is loaded this year, going to be a rough start to his tenure.
THE UGLY
Bowling Green - Getting waxed by Western Kentucky was a woodshed beating and QN Johnson looked average. This team is suppose to contend for a MAC title, and apparently decided they did not need defense to do it.
UCLA - Outscored 20-7 on offense and looked lost, and the OL was deplorable. Supposed to win an PAC 12 Crown? Much improvement needed because USC and Oregon came out firing. Mora did a piss poor job of coaching his team up for the opener, time change or not, miserable performance.
Vandy - WOW, an SEC team just does not lose to teams like Temple (who won 2 games last year), especially in a blowout at home. Vandy will be lucky to see 4 wins this year, a serious fade team if the number is manageable.
LAST CHANCE - I turned a profit in the NCAA this week, your fee play cashed on Penn State. Check out ,my discounted and slashed packages on my Pro Capper here at Pregame and get in on my action this season.