Sully's Big Blog! Commentary on College Football, Weekly Games, And Strange Statistics!

Sully’s Six Pack of Winners Week 3

Western Kentucky 1-1 @ Kentucky 1-1: Sully’s CFP has picked Kentucky in each of the past two weeks…. and with 1-1 results… We like them again… an SEC team giving a Sun Belt team only 7 points… That said… Louisiana Monroe (Sun Belt) did beat Arkansas (SEC) a week ago … If anything…. that should help the Wildcats focus on the task at hand. Kentucky handled Kent State this past week-end 47-14 while the Hilltoppers were taking one on the chin from Bama, 35-0. In this in-state battle the Wildcats have had their way with WKU, 41-7 in 08, 63-28 in 2010 and 14-3 last year. Take Kentucky to win and cover!

Boston College 1-1 @ Northwestern 2-0: The Wildcats are giving BC 4 points and are coming off an impressive win against Vanderbilt 23-13… This is the same Vandy Team that took South Carolina to task …. before falling short 17-13. BC scored 32 on a weak Miami of Florida before losing 41-32 and then hammered an FCS opponent, Maine, 34-3. Northwestern is taking on three BCS opponents (Syracuse, Vanderbilt & now… BC) to start the season. NU beat a good Syracuse (based on how the Orange played USC 29-42 ) 42-41, as mentioned… they beat the Commodores and will handle BC. Take Northwestern win and cover.

Northern Illinois 1-1 @ Army 0-1: NIU is giving Army 2.5 to 3 points in a game being played on Army’s home turf … Michie Stadium. Last year the Huskies beat the Black Knights 49-24  in DeKalb out gaining the Cadets 509 to 409… NIU also was an amazing 11 of 13 on 3rd down conversions.This year Army returns 15 starters… 7 on offense and 8 on defense .. including their QB. Northern returns only 12 starters…  4 on offense and 8 on defense… but not the QB. This year Army was hammered by San Diego State 42-7… while NIU has played well ….. losing to Iowa 18-17 and then stomping a FCS team …. Tennessee Martin 35-7 … NIU will win and cover!

Western Michigan 1-1 @ Minnesota 2-0: These teams have met 3 times… with the Golden Gophers winning all three… two were shutouts…. the last meeting …. however…. was in 1977… Minnesota’s Coach Jerry Kill is 2-2 against Western in his recent time spent coaching Southern & Northern Illinois… winning the last two games. He is at home with at least…. arguably…… better talent in a Big Ten school. Minnesota survived in Las Vegas against a weak UNLV team…. 30-27  in OT and then hammered New Hampshire, an FCS team, 44-7, The Leathernecks were pounded by the Illini 24-7 in Urbana-Champaign and then hammered a Eastern Illinois, an FCS team 52-21. Take the Gophers @ home and give the 2.5 to 3 points.  

Navy 0-1 @ Penn State 0-2:  The Nittany Lions are at home against a weak Navy team (50-10 loss to the Irish in Ireland) and giving 5.5 to 6 points… How the mighty have fallen! This is the 38th meeting between these programs… but they have not played since 1974. PSU has won 25 straight non conference games against non BCS opponents … by an average  score of 41-9! PSU was a missed field goal at the end of regulation (in fact … they missed four) of beating Virginia last week …. a 17-16 loss. Look for a massively supportive crowd at Beaver Stadium (in excess of 100,000) and the lions to get their 1st win under Bill O’Brien. Penn State wins and covers!

Kansas @ TCU: This will mark TCU’s first game back in the big time (from a conference perspective…pretty sure the Rose Bowl counts as the big time)…. for the first time…since its Southwest Conference days! The folks in Fort Worth have wanted a shot @ the big boys … on a week-in … week-out basis…… for a long time and it begins on Saturday. The Kansas Jayhawks come-a-calling and they do so…. without a defense to speak of…. No D Charlie is at it again… In their two games against South Dakota State (31-17 win) and Rice (25-24 loss)  “The Birds” surrendered over 400 yards of total offense in both games. SDS ran for over 200 yards and Rice rushed for 167…. think about the physical play of TCU compared to Rice and South Dakota State. TCU is giving 20.5 to 21 points… a lot of points to be sure… but given the nature & significance of the game for TCU …… coupled with Kansas’ Defense… Take TCU to win and cover!

Heading into week three….. Sully’s CFP has picked 11 games…. correct in 7 of the predictions while faltering in 4 of the assessments.

Please note: these picks are intended as a test of Sully’s CFP insight…. for entertainment purposes only! 

Posted in #4 Sully's CFP Six Pack of Winners, Big 12, Big Ten, Boston College, Kentucky, MAC, Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio, San Diego State, SEC, Sun Belt, Virginia |

SEC: Best & Worst of Week 3

Best: Florida 2-0  @ Tennessee 2-0… This game will go along way in determining who finishes in the upper part of the SEC’s East Division! Florida has had its way recently with the Vols…. winning the last five … including the last three in Knoxville. The team that wins the rushing battle has won nine straight and 21 of the last 22 contests. Both teams have speed everywhere and Tennessee’s newcomer , a JC transfer, Cordarrelle Patterson will have to step up if Volunteers are going to step up.. This is a huge game for both coaches (Florida’s Will Muschamp & Tennessee’s Derek Dooley), as they try to move their respective programs back to the top of the SEC East!

Worst: Presbyterian @ Vanderbilt… Last week the Blue Hose (Presbyterian’s Spirit name … not sure why…& pretty to real  sure… I don’t want to know why) were hosed by Georgia Tech 59-3 ….. holding the Rambling Wreck to 712 yards of total offense…. Last year…..the boys from Clinton, South Carolina took on the PAC 12’s California…with not real stellar results….. a 63 to 12 pounding ….. while limiting the Bear offense to…. a scant…. 512 yards! Vandy is 0-2… oops….make that … 1-2!

Posted in Florida, Presbyterian, SEC, Tennessee, Vanderbilt |

Big Ten: Best & Worst of Week 3

Best: Notre Dame 2-0 @ Michigan State 2-0…Last year the Irish had their way with the Spartans in South Bend … 31-13. The Leprechaun sprinkled his magic charms on MSU’s running game and it simply faded away…. 29 total yards rushing a year ago. I do not believe that LeVeon Bell is a believer in magic charms or will be deterred by the Trickster’s flakes. State is averaging 193 rushing yards coming into this game while ND has stopped Navy & Purdue running games (149 & 90 Yards rushing respectively)…something is going to change on Saturday! Last week, Purdue stopped the Irish ground attack… 52 total yards rushing (ND countered by passing for 324 yards). ND gets star RB, Cierre Wood, back from suspension… should be fun to see who prevails @ the line of scrimmage…. as it will go a long way in determining who wins this battle in East Lansing.

Worst: Charleston Southern @ Illinois 1-1 … CSU, a team from the Big South… and  not a very good one….did I say a terrible one…I meant to… The Buccaneers were 0-11 last year.. and true to form…. are… you got….. 0-2 this year.  Losing to The Citadel, 49-14 & Jacksonville 31-10…   Then the mind thrust in the CSU athletic department had a meeting and concluded …. we got it…lets go play a Big Ten team… good idea boys…somebody…please …wake me when it’s over!

Posted in Big Ten, Charleston Southern, Illinois, Michigan State, Notre Dame |

SEC Best & Worst Games of Week 2

Best Game: Florida @ Texas A&M… how does it get any better …. when a very good team from Florida takes on a very good team from Texas …… Two of the best states  (if not the best….. Sorry … California & Ohio) in the union when it comes to high school football! This is the initial SEC game for A&M and what a way to start … The Gators! Meanwhile…. Florida gets to represent the “old guard” …. defense… first, middle & last of the SEC vs the newcomers from the offensive minded… “score & score often baby” …. Big 12! Florida won but struggled last week against Bowling Green…  27-14 win. Texas A&M opener was postponed due to weather…so this is their first game of the 2012 season…  Kyle Field (83,000 … Grass Field) will be absolutely rocking… a 4 quarter Wisconsin “Jump Around” … This may be the most exciting college environment of the day! Apparently the Game Day Folks agree… as they are there for tomorrows night clash!

Worst Game: The Georgia State @ Tennessee game will not be pretty…. A year ago my almamater, University of Saint Francis, an NAIA school beat Georgia State 30-27 in overtime (my brother Pat … was given the game ball). While the Saints are a good NAIA club… they are no where near Tennessee in talent or skill levels. The Volunteers are coming off a big win against NC State and the entire country is talking about them being a player in the SEC East. Tennessee will be focused on a Panther team that was handled, 33-6, last week by South Carolina State! That said, Tennessee has Florida next week… perhaps a ray of hope for Georgia State…. if the Vols are looking down the road?

Posted in SEC, Tennessee |

PAC 12’s Best & Worst Games of Week 2

Best Game: Wisconsin @ Oregon State is a huge game for Mike Riley and the Beavers, OSU has not had a winning season since going 8-5 in 2009… 5-7 in 2010 and last year, a dismal 3-9! O-State did not play last week due to weather and are left to face the Mighty Badgers without their FCS tuneup against Nicholas State (Southland Conference). Wisconsinites beware…The Beavers have been talking all year about trapping Badgers on their home turf. If they can win this game… it will jump start their 2012 season and get them well down the road to a winning season and to a Bowl Game Berth! Huge Game for Oregon State!!! This better be a business trip for the Badgers … Mike Riley…. is really well thought of and his players understand that his job is in jeopardy …..  they will bring it…come Saturday! This should be a very entertaining contest!

Worst Game: Southern Utah @ Cal… Southern Utah (Big Sky Conference) is coming off a loss to Utah State (34-3) while rushing for the grand total of 56 yards. The Thunderbird’s made matters worse by giving up 581 yards of total offense to the Aggies. Meanwhile… Cal was losing to Nevada, 31-24 …. surrendering 550 yards of total offense (220 rushing & 230 passing). Cal travels to Ohio State next week… Good luck…. with this… helping… with that!!

Posted in Big Sky, Big Ten, California, Oregon State, PAC 12, Southern Utah, Wisconsin |

Sully’s CFP Six Pack Of Winner’s in Week 2

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati: Pitt is getting 2.5 to 4.5 and coming off a terrible loss to Youngstown State, 31-17, a Missouri Valley Conference …. FCS Team. While I look for The Panthers to play better (how could they not) it will not be enough!  Cincy will beat Pitt at home and cover! … Cincinnati 24 Pitt 14

North Carolina State @ Connecticut: State is still feeling the effects of their failure in Atlanta against a very good Tennessee Team. Look for them to get it going Against U-Conn! NC State is giving 4 to 5 on The Vegas Hot Sheets…give the points and take the Wolfpack! NC State 35 U-Conn 14

Kent State @ Kentucky: Kentucky looked bad against Louisville… real bad. That said this team plays against SEC competition and should be able to cover the 7 points that they are giving the Golden Flashes (A MAC Team), who beat up a FCS team, Towson, 41-21 last week.  Kentucky 31 Kent State 17

Nebraska @ UCLA: The Huskers are giving the Bruins 4.5 to 6 points out in the land of the sun. Usually the Big Ten stooges up when it heads west… not this time. Take Nebraska and give the points! Nebraska 42 UCLA 24 

Air Force @ Michigan: Michigan will win this game but the 21.5 points they are giving the Falcons are to many.  Look for the Fly Boys to make this interesting into the 4th quarter. Michigan stumbled against Bama last week, 41-14 while Air Force took to the skies against an FCS opponent, Idaho State, 49-21  Michigan 38 Air Force 20 

Georgia @ Missouri: The Welcome Wagon will not be out in Colombia, Missouri for the Georgia “Dawgs” and that is OK with them! The “Show Me” State in gearing up for its initial SEC tilt ….  has loosed the Tigers! Meanwhile….Georgia…. showing typical southern hospitality…. is giving MU 2 to 3.5 points! It ain’t enough!! Look for Aaron Murray and the Dawgs to round up the Tigers & put them back in their cages. Georgia 28 Missouri 21 

Posted in #4 Sully's CFP Six Pack of Winners, Big Ten, Cincinnati, Kent State, MAC, Michigan, NC State, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, UCLA |

Big Ten Best & Worst Games of Week 2

Best Game: Central Florida @ Ohio State is one of many interesting games this week in the Big Ten ….. Wisconsin @ Oregon State, Illinois @ Arizona State, Iowa State @ Iowa, Vanderbilt @ Northwestern, Air Force @ Michigan, Nebraska @ UCLA, Penn State @ Virginia, & Purdue @ ND. The Big Ten is taking on 7 BCS teams and two very good FBS clubs. I have surprised myself by identifying the best game as involving a team (Central Florida from C-USA)  which does not represent an AQ Conference. OSU is 3-7 against teams from Florida and has lost these 7 games by an average of 15 points. Last week the Buckeyes hammered a MAC team, Miami of Ohio, 56-10, had over 500 yards of total offense, and held Miami to -1 yard rushing. Meanwhile UCF was pouncing another MAC team, Akron, 56-14 and forcing 4 turnovers. Urban Meyer is well aware of UCF’s talent level and that the Knights are picked to win both C-USA East Division and the league championship Game on December 1!

Worst Game: Minnesota is taking on New Hampshire and I have no idea why the Golden Gophers keep scheduling FCS teams ….. here is a brief history: 1) 2007 lost to North Dakota State 27-21, 2) in 08 beat Montana State 35-23, 3) in 09 beat South Dakota 16-13, 4) in 2010 Lost to South Dakota 41-38, and 5) 2011 Lost to North Dakota State 37-24. You got it … Minnesota is 2-3 vs FCS teams… These are the teams you give a check inexchange for a win…..  Not Minnesota… they should schedule 85 scholarship teams from the WAC, MAC, C-USA… but not FCS programs… These results are humbling and do not assist the growth of the program ….. it is bad enough when you struggle to win ….  let alone get beat! These games are the ulitmate in the everything to lose and nothing to gain scernio. I am fearful for Minnesota and their Coach Jerry Kill re: the potential result of this game with a CAA power …. New Hampshire

Posted in Air Force, Arizona, Arizona State, Big Ten, Illinois, Iowa, MAC, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, SWAC, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin |

Big East Best and Worst Games of Week 2

Best Game: USC @ Syracuse…I know & I know… this game on paper is bad …all bad for the Big East! The Men of Troy will not be deceived by the Trojan Horse Play or any other East Coast misdirect. Yet… however small the chances…. it is a giant opportunity for the Big East to draw positive attention to the Conference and to say… HEY … We belong in the Big Boy Fold!  The SC beach boys pounded sand on the tails of the beach boys from Honolulu 49-10….  last week….with their QB, Matt Barkley, passing for just short of 400 yards! Meanwhile, Syracuse fought back from a big deficit (35-13) only to give up a last minute (0:44 seconds left in the game) score and fall to the Big Ten’s …. Northwestern…. 42-41!  The Orange Offense was just short of 600 total yards and passed for 470 yards against the Wildcat secondary. I know & I know it’s the beach boy secondary this week…. Coppertone & Sea & Ski and all that slick stuff…  but with those numbers…. however slight… A Hope! ……. (P.S. I was tempted to go with the (Best Game) South Florida @ Nevada … as the Wolf Pack beat … Cal 31-24 last week)

Worst Game: Howard University @ Rutgers, a FCS team from the MEAC and not a very good one (2009: 2-9, 2010: 1-10, 2011: 5-6) comes to New Brunswick, New Jersey for a tail whippin and a check… or… a check and a tail whippin…. Facts are solid… you pick the order! While it is absolutely true that Howard U is undefeated… its lone victory was a nail-biter against Morehouse College… 30-29… that’s right… Morehouse College (Not Morehead State… Morehouse College… from Atlanta, GA… Not Morehead State … from Morehead, KY )! That said…. Morehouse is a real good DII school… but a DII school… none-the-less! So how good Howard U may be this year… is in my view… no longer a serious question… They are taking on an 85 scholarship program from an AQ Conference ….. by surviving… barely…. a very good DII Program. Rutgers has this game as a tune up before their conference showdown in and with South Florida… Good luck with this …helping with that!!! Who in Hades schedules these games?


Posted in AAC, Howard University, South Florida, Syracuse, USC |

Big 12: Best and Worst Games of Week 2

Best Game: Oklahoma State @ Arizona is a very interesting game …Big 12 vs PAC 12…. These teams met a year ago and the Cowboys pounded the Wildcats in Stillwater, 37-14. That said, Brandon Weeden & Justin Blackmon are gone and the Savannah State game (84-0) will be of little help as a prep for what awaits them in Tucson! Mike Gundy became a little testy when repeatedly asked it he thought thought the Savannah game would hurt or help them this week! Gundy basically said he was done talking about the merits of the Savannah game and was focused on Arizona! He is right… what’s done is done… and the bottom line is… it’s a win! Move on! Arizona beat a Mid-American team… Toledo..  last week…24-17… in Rich Rodriguez’s debut as the Cats Head Coach! No question, Arizona is a better fit for what Rich Rod wants to do offensively than Michigan! This past week … they had 624 yards in total offense and surrendered 328 yards of O to the Rockets (Toledo)! One thing to keep an eye on… is turnovers… Arizona turned it 3 times last week… to forcing one! Giving the ball to a Big 12 offense will (not could) be costly!

Worst Game: Oklahoma played Florida State in the second game of the season the past two years… winning both times …. in Norman, 47-17 & 23-13 last year @ FSU! OU’s AD must have got mailing addresses messed up and sent the game contract to the wrong location in Tallahassee… because Florida A&M not Florida State is flying into Norman for Saturday’s kickoff! The Rattlers (A team from the MEAC) are a solid FCS team going 8-3 in 09 & 010 & 7-4 last year. They have played BCS conference teams the past three years… not very well… I may as well add! Last year they lost to South Florida 70-14 and 45-0 to Miami in 2010! A&M opened the 2012 campaign against the Ohio Valley’s, Tennessee State with a 17-14 loss! The Sooners beat UTEP last week in an underwhelming performance, 24-7 and have a bye week after Florida A&M ….. before Kansas State comes a-callin in an early Big 12 Conference showdown!

Posted in Arizona, Florida A&M, MEAC, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State |

ACC: Best & Worst Games of the Week 2

Best Game: Miami (1-0) @ Kansas State (1-0)…. Miami opened against Boston College and outlasted a weak BC team 41-32. And worse….. the Hurricane D gave up 537 yards of total offense …. of which 441 yards were through the air. Meanwhile, Kansas State pounded a FCS opponent, Missouri State (Missouri Valley Conference), 51-9 in a cake walk. The Wildcats rushed for 324 yards and passed for another 169 yards. No doubt, K-State is aware of what the Eagles (BC) did in their passing game against Miami’s secondary. The Wildcat’s won last years tilt in Miami, 28-24 ….in that game…. the Cats rushed for 265 and passed for another 133 yards. K-State can pass ….last year ran for 2400 yards…. but did throw for over 1900 yards. This should be an entertaining game… Look for the Wildcats to put the ball in the air early….. to counter a stout Miami run D!

Worst Game: Savannah State @ Florida State…… C’mom…. Last week Savannah got hammered by Oklahoma State 84-0… that’s right 84 to zipp! The Cowboys racked up over 600 yards and according to Savannah State Coach, Steve Devenport… Okey State took it easy on them… starters did not finish the 1st quarter! FSU opened with an FCS opponent, Murray State and pounded them 69-3! Savannah has won three games since 2009… So why are they playing OSU and FSU on back to back weekends? But the better question may be…. why are OSU and FSU scheduling them? And why are the Seminoles scheduling two FCS opponets (only one can count toward the needed 6 wins to be bowl eligible). These games may help Savannah State pay some bills…. but I do not see how they serve the players on any of the teams!

Posted in ACC, Big 12, Florida State, Oklahoma State |