Week Five of Can’t Miss College Football
College football should be as exciting as ever this fall. Here is a look at the top college games for the fifth week of 2009.
AP Photo
Week 5
LSU@Georgia
Saturday, October 3, 3:30pm, Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia, CBS Sports
Head Coach Les Miles has yet to beat the Georgia Bulldogs in his five years at LSU. The No. 4 ranked team in the country is not dominating in the numbers column. The Tigers are last in the Southeastern Conference in offense at 310.0 yards per game and their defense ranks 10th giving up 333.5 yards per game. WR Brandon LaFell has caught 5 TD’s in 4 weeks to lead the offense. On defense, LSU needs DE Rahim Alem to put some pressure on Georgia QB Joe Cox to win Saturday.
With a -9 turnover ratio in four games, it is hard to believe the Bulldogs are 3 and 1. Quarterback Joe Cox has thrown 5 picks(2 returned for TD’s) and the team has fumbled 7 times. Cox has 9 touchdowns and 980 yards passing to boost his offense. His favorite target is AJ Green, who has 25 catches for 428 yards and 4 scores. Sophomore DE Justin Houston was tabbed the SEC Defensive Lineman of the week with 2 tfl’s and a sack.
LSU@Georgia
Sooners Coach Bob Stoops has a good problem as junior reigning Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford is set to return to his lineup. Fill-in QB Landry Jones is ready to take the starting nod if Stoops wants him to. Jones has been a stellar replacement for Bradford completing 43 of 69 passes for 673 yards and 9 touchdowns. Jones tied a National record for a freshman with 6 TD tosses against Tulsa. Coach Stoops does not want to rush Bradford. The Sooners have won their last two contests 109-0. Oklahoma’s run defense is ranked No.1 in the country giving up a mere 40 yards per contest.
The Hurricanes are not favored after a bruising 31-7 loss to Virginia Tech. QB Jacory Harris was held to a 9-25 passing day for only 150 yards. Miami Coach Randy Shannon’s running game is not helping Harris at all. The Canes are 93rd in the country on the ground. LB Colin McCarthy leads the defense with 8 tackles per game, but his team could be in trouble against Oklahoma as they rank 86th against the run. Miami looks to be headed to their 2nd straight loss.
Week Three of Can’t Miss College Football 2009
College football should be as exciting as ever this fall. Here is a look at the top college games for the third week of 2009.
photo Dave Weaver AP
Week 3
Georgia Tech @ Miami (Fla.)
Thursday, September 17, 7:30pm, Land Shark Stadium, Miami, Florida
Georgia Tech Preview
The Yellow Jackets have won four straight against the Hurricanes but don’t be so sure they will win number five. To claim a victory, DE Derrick Morgan(5 sacks) will need some help from his teammates to get to the Canes QB. Defensive Coordinator Dave Wommack will be orchestrating some blitz packages to slow down the potent passing game of Miami. The offense will look for a repeat performance from Anthony Allen, who ran for 127 yards on only 5 carries including an 82 yard burst for a TD against Clemson.
Miami will have had ten days to prepare for the running game of the Yellow Jackets that blistered them for 472 yards a year ago. 6’ 210 pound Senior Safety Randy Phillips had a pick against FSU in Miami’s win. The whole team had two interceptions in 2008. Jacory Harris completed 62% of his passes against the Seminoles. His favorite target, Travis Benjamin, caught 4 passes for 128 yards and 1 score. The home field advantage for the Canes could be large in this clash.
Nebraska @ Virginia Tech
Saturday, September 19, 3:30pm, Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia
Nebraska Preview
Former Youngstown Cardinal Mooney and Ohio State Buckeye player now Head Coach Bo Pelini will lead his Cornhuskers into Blacksburg for the first time. Stopping Tyrod Taylor will be the number one assignment in this game as Taylor used his feet and his arm to beat Nebraska in Lincoln last year. QB Zac Lee is lighting it up through the air completing almost 74% of his tosses for 553 yards and 6 scores. The huge offensive line of the Cornhuskers will have to battle hard in the trenches to win.
QB Tyrod Taylor will try to repeat his 250 yard plus performance against the Huskers he had last year. Taylor is off to a slow start averaging only 126 yards through the air 16 yards per game on the ground so far this season. DT Cordarrow “Taco” Thompson must help the defensive line shut down Zac Lee by applying bigtime pressure on the QB.
Week Two of Can’t Miss College Football 2009
College football should be as exciting as ever this fall. Here is a look at the top college game for the second week of 2009.
AP photo
Week 2
USC Trojans @ Ohio State Buckeyes
Saturday, September 12, 8pm, The Shoe, Columbus, Ohio
USC Preview
True Freshman QB Matt Barkley guided the Trojans to a 56-3 trouncing of San Jose State in Week 1 of the season. Barkley’s numbers were impressive 15/19 for 233 yards through the air and one touchdown. Joe McKnight scored 2 TD’s on his way to picking up 145 yards on the ground. McKnight had a 54 yard burst for a score in the 3rd Quarter.
USC will have to stick to their game plan which will include keeping Terrelle Pryor from using his feet to bail his Buckeye’s out.
Offensively, the Trojans will try to exploit their opponent with speed.
Ohio State Preview
After last years embarrassing loss to the Trojans, the Buckeyes will look to their leader Sophomore QB Terrelle Pryor, to perform better than he did in Week 1.
Pryor threw for only 174 yards on a 14/21 day that also saw him throw a pick. He ran for 30 yards and another score which will concern the Trojan defense.
RB Boom Herron added 72 yards and 1 score on the ground for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes defense will be the difference for their team if Ohio State pulls out a victory.
Week One of Can’t Miss College Football 2009
College football should be as exciting as ever this fall. Here is a look at the Top college games for the first week of 2009.
Tyrod Taylor, AP Photo
Week 1
Oregon Ducks @ Boise State Broncos
Thursday, September 3, 10:15pm, Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho
Oregon Preview
LeGarrette Blount ran for over 1000 yards in 2008 for the Ducks and will try to do the same in 2009. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli accounted for almost 2500 yards and 23 touchdowns to lead Oregon. On defense they return secondary standouts Walter Thurmond III, and a jacked-up style hitter in T.J. Ward.
Boise State Preview
The Smurf turf or Blue Turf should be kind to the Bronco offense and QB Kellen Moore. With three key returning players to a defense that was No. 3 in pass efficiency in 2008, Boise State will look to make some BCS noise. DE Ryan Winterswyk and CB Kyle Wilson are legit All-America candidates.
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
Saturday, September 5, 8pm, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Alabama Preview
And the defense shall lead you. This will be the philosophy of the 2009 version of the Crimson Tide. DT Terrence Cody will lead the Alabama defense as they return nine starters. Good luck trying to run on this group! Keep moving the chains and throwing the ball to WR Julio Jones will be the focus of the Bama offense for 2009.
Va Tech Preview
Free Safety Kam Chancellor, OLB Cam Martin and DE Jason Worilds will be the key to defensive success for Va Tech as the Hokies return 7 starters. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor will be a threat to run and pass the football. Thousand yard rusher Darren Evans will provide Taylor with a partner to punish opposing teams.
look good