Road to Redemption: Coach Jeff Callahan and the Colorado Buffaloes (NCAA 14/XBOX 360)

[RoyHahn]

FIRST BCS RANKINGS RELEASED
ALABAMA ON TOP

It's that time of the season. The first BCS rankings of 2013 have been released, and the computer disagrees with the coaches as far as the No. 1 team in the country. BCS sides with the AP Poll, which has the Alabama Crimson Tide at the very top, followed by Ohio State. Boise State is No. 3 in all major polls, and No. 4 Notre Dame is well-positioned to capitalize if/when any of the three undefeated teams falls.

Here are the full rankings:

NCAA Football Rankings - BCS Rankings - Updated: Oct 21, 2013
RK	LW	TEAM (VOTES)	W	L	POINTS
1	--	Alabama	7	0	0.997
2	--	Ohio State	6	0	0.997
3	--	Boise State	7	0	0.989
4	--	Notre Dame	6	1	0.984
5	--	LSU	7	1	0.979
6	--	Georgia	6	1	0.974
7	--	Oklahoma	4	2	0.960
8	--	Kansas State	5	1	0.958
9	--	Michigan	5	1	0.958
10	--	Miami FL	5	1	0.942
11	--	Oregon	5	2	0.939
12	--	North Carolina	4	2	0.937
13	--	UCLA	5	1	0.928
14	--	Georgia Tech	5	1	0.921
15	--	Texas A&M	5	2	0.909
16	--	Nebraska	5	2	0.902
17	--	TCU	5	2	0.902
18	--	Arizona State	4	2	0.882
19	--	Mississippi State	5	1	0.880
20	--	Louisville	3	3	0.870
21	--	Texas	3	3	0.863
22	--	Arizona	5	1	0.856
23	--	Utah	5	2	0.855
24	--	Ole Miss	5	3	0.855
25	--	Washington	4	3	0.820

[RoyHahn]

RECRUITING UPDATE

The Colorado Buffaloes have added to their 2014 recruiting class. Three-star DE Nick Logan from Roswell, New Mexico has signed with the Buffs. Logan is a well-regarded run stopper and has a 70 OVR rating.

With 9 total recruits (4 three-star, 3 two-star and 2 one-star), Colorado's class currently sits at No. 31 nationally and 8th in the Pac-12.

[RoyHahn]

[RoyHahn]

GAME PREVIEW

Matchup Preview *|* October 26, 2013
	@
#23 Arizona Wildcats (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12)		Colorado Buffaloes (3-3, 0-3 Pac-12)
Offensive Stats Comparison 32.3 (#19) Points Per Game 27.8 (#44) 391.2 (#45) Total Offensive Yards 409.5 (#33) 163.2 (#48) Rushing Yards 132.5 (#85) 228.0 (#58) Passing Yards 277.0 (#13) Defensive Stats Comparison 333.2 (#32) Total Yards Allowed 427.7 (#114) 138.2 (#56) Rushing Yards Allowed 181.3 (#117) 195.0 (#39) Passing Yards Allowed 246.3 (#101) Injury Report HB L. Jenkins SEA ROLB J. Thurman 3W Game Notes TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Arizona: 7 (#12) Colorado: 5 (#20)

Arizona Wildcats
Overall: 86
Offense: 86
Defense: 88

Colorado Buffaloes
Overall: 79
Offense: 81
Defense: 78

Predicted Winner: Arizona
Predicted Score: 45–27


Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez

The 23 Arizona Wildcats travel to Boulder this Saturday to face the Colorado Buffaloes in a battle between two head coaches widely renown as offensive masterminds. The difference is that Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez has had a full season already to work with his team. His hire made an immediate impact last season as the Wildcats went 8–5. Now, his squad sits at 5–1 and visits a team that has, so far, gone winless in Pac-12 play.

As you would expect when a team hires the creator of the spread offense, the Arizona offense is balanced and effective. The Wildcats don’t kick a lot of field goals, preferring instead to run it into the end zone with star HB D.J. Haley, the team’s most talented player. Behind center is junior QB Terry Whitworth, who has thrown 11 touchdowns this season and only 4 interceptions. His total yardage is below that of Colorado QB Danny Roberts, who exploded last game against Arizona State, but he is a far more accurate passer. Haley has the benefit of throwing to reliable targets such as WR Mike Smith.

Defensively, the loaded Wildcats are likely to be the toughest team other than Oregon that Colorado has had to face. The secondary, anchored by fifth-year senior MLB Charlie Fields is rock solid, and the line is loaded with talented players such as LE Derek Clark and DT Tyler Parker. The Wildcats have held opponents, on average, to less than 200 passing yards per game. And while Colorado’s Roberts had a career day two weeks ago, he is still a redshirt freshman and a tough pass defense may be too much for him to handle. That is supported by the turnover differential; Arizona is one of the relatively few teams who exceed Colorado in this metric. With a quarterback in Roberts who has only one more touchdown pass than he does an interception, that is troubling news.

Games aren’t played on paper, but there are often key indicators on the stat sheet that tell us how games are likely to go. In this case, the difference between points per game and total offense is very important. The Buffaloes have actually outgained the Wildcats on a per game basis, with almost 410 yards per game compared to just over 390. However, Arizona has scored 32.3 points per game compared to Colorado’s 27.8. That shows that they capitalize on opportunities. They are the more experienced and effective team, a benefit of the coaching staff having had a year to work with the players. That time will make the difference. While we expect Colorado to remain competitive throughout most of the game, expect Arizona to pull away late and become bowl eligible by beating the Buffs.

[RoyHahn]

COLORADO SCORES THE UPSET
BUFFS BEAT WILDCATS 29–20 FOR CALLAHAN’S FIRST PAC-12 WIN

Arizona Wildcats at Colorado Buffaloes
Oct 26, 2013	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
#23 Arizona Wildcats (5-2)	0	7	7	6	20
Colorado Buffaloes (4-3)	10	9	10	0	29

Team Stats Comparison
	ARIZ	COLO
Total Offense	415	460
Rushing Yards	111	173
Passing Yards	304	287
First Downs	23	21
Punt Return Yards	37	60
Kick Return Yards	203	76
Total Yards	655	596
Turnovers	2	0
3rd Down Conversion	4-16 (25%)	5-19 (26%)
4th Down Conversion	1-2 (50%)	1-2 (50%)
2-Point Conversion	0-1 (0%)	0-1 (0%)
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	4-3-0 (75%)	3-2-1 (100%)
Penalties	2-10	2-9
Possession Time	15:48	24:12

HB Robert Duncan stepped up after starter David Robinson was injured

The Colorado Buffaloes have earned their first conference win under first-year head coach Jeff Callahan. Their 29–20 defeat over the No. 23 Arizona Wildcats also gives Callahan the first Top 25 win of his tenure. The Buffs defied expectations by playing gritty, determined football and – more so than in any game this season – having their offense and defense click at the same time.

Arizona QB Terry Whitworth faced stiff pressure all night

The teams began by trading a pair of three-and-outs. Arizona went first as Colorado won the toss and opted to defer. When the Buffs came out on offense for the first time, HB David Robinson remained on the ground after the second play of the drive. His collarbone had been broken, and unfortunately for Colorado, he will be out for the remainder of the season. There is on doubt that the Buffs will miss Robinson, but backup HB Robert Duncan stepped up beautifully, starting on Colorado’s second drive when he ran it in for a 3-yard touchdown, the first time Colorado has struck first in Pac-12 play. Before the end of the first quarter, Colorado had gone up 10–0 by virtue of a 52-yard kick by Kevin McKeon, a career long – just one example of every member of this team upping their game for this win.

The second quarter didn’t start much better for the Wildcats, with Colorado CB Fred Jamison picking off Arizona QB Terry Whitworth just after the quarter began. However, the Buffs were not able to capitalize, with McKeon missing a 43-yard field goal. Arizona then marched the ball down the field and scored via an 8-yard pass from Whitworth to WR Lawrence Jones which put Arizona within a field goal at 10–7. For a moment, it appeared that the Wildcats had regained control of the game and were poised to take the lead. That feeling was reinforced when the Arizona defense stopped Colorado, but Colorado’s defense returned the favor. On the next drive, McKeon nailed a short field goal to put Colorado up 13–7, but they weren’t done yet. With the defense firing on all cylinders, the offense made the most of the ball, moving effectively through the air and on the ground. With 9 seconds left in the first half, third-string HB Nick Singleton rushed the ball 2 yards for another touchdown. The Buffs weren’t able to convert on the 2-point conversion, but still went into halftime with a 19–7 lead.

WR Justin Maynard catches a 33-yard touchdown pass

Colorado came out strong to start the second half, marching the ball down the field to allow McKeon to register another long kick, this time a 48-yarder that put the Buffs up 22–7. Yet, Arizona’s next drive was also very effective, with backup HB Derrick Cooley rushing it in 4 yards to make it a one score game at 22–14. The game became a stalemate for much of the third quarter, with a missed 54-yard field goal by Arizona the only scoring attempt until near the end of the quarter. At that point, Colorado QB Danny Roberts decided he wanted in on the scoring as well and tossed a 33-yard beauty to freshman WR Justin Maynard which put the Buffs up 29–14 going into the fourth quarter.

Heading into the final stanza, the pressure was very much on the Arizona Wildcats. Not only did the team have to score two touchdowns; they also had to convert a two-point attempt to tie the game and force overtime. Early on in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats threatened to score, reaching Colorado’s 8-yard line. However, HB D.J. Haley fumbled the ball, only for it to be scooped up by Colorado CB Charles Hall. Colorado had a three-and-out immediately after, but the momentum was crushing for Arizona. Haley did redeem himself on the next drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. Yet, the team’s failure to convert two points off a Whitworth pass after the score were crushing. It remained a two-score game, and the Colorado defense held on and prevented another Arizona score.

Overall, the team played exceptionally well. They forced two turnovers while yielding none. Roberts threw for 19 completions out of 38 attempts for a total of 287 yards and a touchdown. Duncan, stepping in for Robinson, registered 27 rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown of his own. His 4.2 yards per carry needs to improve for the Buffs to really gash opposing defenses, but he was effective when he needed to be.

This was not the most dominant win, but for the Colorado program, it represents a tremendous step forward. A win over a Top 25 conference opponent is a sign of progress, especially coming a week after nearly upsetting another Top 25 conference opponent in Arizona State. This win also dramatically increases the potential for the Buffs to reach bowl eligibility. Now, they only need two wins to go bowling. The Buffs will not be favored in most of their remaining games, but after a victory like this, it will be difficult to count this team out completely.

Players of the Game
Arizona Offense: QB Terry Whitworth
Arizona Defense: FS Charles Berg
Colorado Offense: QB Danny Roberts
Colorado Defense: MLB Sam Reed

[RoyHahn]

SCORES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WEEK 9, 2013


1 Ohio State defeats Penn State
38–17


2 Alabama defeats Tennessee
24–0


3 Boise State defeats BYU
48–20


4 Notre Dame defeats Air Force
35–14


5 LSU defeats Furman
24–10


UPSET ALERT!
West Virginia defeats 7 Kansas State
31–24


8 Oklahoma defeats Texas Tech
44–34


9 Oregon defeats 12 UCLA
35–21


10 Michigan defeats Maryland
31–12


UPSET ALERT!
Boston College defeats 11 Miami FL
28–21


13 Texas A&M defeats Vanderbilt
38–10


14 Georgia Tech defeats Virginia
24–21


21 Texas defeats 15 TCU
48–14


19 Arizona State defeats 16 North Carolina
24–19


17 Nebraska defeats Minnesota
42–7


18 Mississippi State defeats Kentucky
23–6


20 Louisville defeats Syracuse
23–20


UPSET ALERT!
USC defeats 22 Utah
26–14


24 Ole Miss defeats SE Missouri State
34–16


25 Oregon State defeats Stanford
34–31


Washington defeats California
37–20

[RoyHahn]

ESPN College Football Weekly
Week 10, 2013


Coaches Poll – Week 10

NCAA Football Rankings - Coaches Poll - Updated: Oct 27, 2013
RK	LW	TEAM (VOTES)	W	L	POINTS
1	1	Ohio State (33)	7	0	1497
2	2	Alabama (22)	8	0	1427
3	3	Boise State (6)	8	0	1325
4	4	Notre Dame	7	1	1169
5	5	LSU	8	1	1123
6	6	Georgia	6	1	1084
7	8	Oklahoma	5	2	1000
8	9	Oregon	6	2	988
9	10	Michigan	6	1	936
10	13	Texas A&M	6	2	815
11	14	Georgia Tech	6	1	796
12	7	Kansas State	5	2	676
13	17	Nebraska	6	2	672
14	19	Arizona State	5	2	647
15	18	Mississippi State	6	1	629
16	12	UCLA	5	2	625
17	21	Texas	4	3	621
18	20	Louisville	4	3	540
19	11	Miami FL	5	2	517
20	--	West Virginia	6	2	393
21	24	Ole Miss	6	3	374
22	16	North Carolina	4	3	348
23	25	Oregon State	6	2	340
24	15	TCU	5	3	337
25	--	Missouri	7	1	309

Others Receiving Votes: Illinois (227), Washington (164), Boston College (162), UL Lafayette (68)

Dropped Out: Utah (#22), Arizona (#23)

Pac-12 Conference Standings

Pac-12 North Conference Standings - Updated: Oct 27, 2013
TEAM	REC	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	DIV
No. 8 Oregon	6-2	0.750	4-1	254	182	2-1
Washington State	5-3	0.620	3-2	231	230	3-1
No. 23 Oregon State	6-2	0.750	3-2	243	152	2-1
Washington	5-3	0.620	3-2	257	171	2-1
California	3-5	0.370	1-4	169	188	1-3
Stanford	3-5	0.370	1-5	183	189	0-3

Pac-12 South Conference Standings - Updated: Oct 27, 2013
TEAM	REC	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	DIV
No. 14 Arizona State	5-2	0.710	3-1	204	185	2-0
USC	4-3	0.570	3-1	224	147	2-1
Arizona	5-2	0.710	2-2	214	155	1-2
No. 16 UCLA	5-2	0.710	2-2	182	131	1-0
Utah	5-3	0.620	2-3	197	137	0-3
Colorado	4-3	0.570	1-3	196	230	1-1

Heisman Watch – Week 10



QB Mike Booker
Texas A&M – Sophomore (RS)

QB Scott Franklin
Ohio State – Junior

QB Mario Johnson
Boise State – Senior (RS)

HB Eric Morrow
Georgia Tech – Junior (RS)

QB Cameron Hurd
Nebraska – Senior (RS)

Note: Candidates are colored orange if their position has not changed, green if they have moved up and red if they have moved down.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

NCAA Players of the Week
Offense: QB Cameron Hurd, SR (RS), Nebraska
Defense: CB Marcus Hall, SO (RS), Northwestern

Pac-12 Players of the Week
Offense: WR Shannon Morgan, SR, Oregon
Defense: ROLB Kenny Stegall, JR (RS), Oregon


COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP STORIES


Boise State head coach Chris Petersen

BRONCOS MAKE THEIR CASE

The Boise State Broncos, one of college football’s elite mid-majors, have quietly accumulated an 8–0 record which has made them the consensus No. 3 team in the country. The Broncos started the season by beating a solid Washington team by two touchdowns, and this past week week, they destroyed BYU 48–20. The best part for the Broncos is that the rest of the schedule doesn’t present many roadblocks. Wyoming and New Mexico both have 4–3 records, but Colorado State and San Diego State have been abysmal. Of Boise State’s potential Mountain West title game opponents, they have already beaten Nevada and match-up well against Fresno State, the two teams leading the West Division. The two teams above the Broncos in the BCS rankings – Alabama and Ohio State – have many challenging games left to play before the BCS National Championship Game berths are assigned. The Broncos could easily exploit a loss by the Tide or the Buckeyes and gallop their way into the title game, a historic opportunity for the men from Boise.

OTHER UPCOMING GAMES
Purdue at 1 Ohio State
3 Boise State at Colorado State
Navy at 4 Notre Dame
Florida vs. 6 Georgia
Duke at 7 Oklahoma
Michigan State at 9 Michigan
UTEP at 10 Texas A&M
Pittsburgh at 11 Georgia Tech
Iowa State at 12 Kansas State
13 Nebraska at Northwestern
14 Arizona State at Washington State
15 Mississippi State at South Carolina
Colorado at 16 UCLA
Kansas at 17 Texas
18 Louisville at Virginia
Florida State at 19 Miami FL
20 West Virginia at 24 TCU
NC State at 22 North Carolina
USC at 23 Oregon State
Tennessee at 25 Missouri
Arizona at California

[RoyHahn]

BREAKING:

BCS RANKINGS RELEASED

The second BCS rankings of the season have been released, and the pecking order at the very top has not changed. The top seven teams remain as they were ranked, with defending national champion Alabama at No. 1. Ohio State and Boise State, the two other undefeated teams remaining, follow at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. Other observations:
- Arizona State (5–2) is ranked No. 14 in the Coaches Poll but No. 11 in BCS, the biggest disparity between the two polls.
- Illinois (7–1) and Washington (5–3) are ranked Nos. 24 and 25, respectively, in the BCS, but remain unranked in the Coaches Poll.

Note: The Coaches Poll is the dominant poll in the game, and will be used in this dynasty unless otherwise noted.

Here are the full rankings:

NCAA Football Rankings - BCS Rankings - Updated: Oct 28, 2013
RK	LW	TEAM (VOTES)	W	L	POINTS
1	1	Alabama	8	0	0.997
2	2	Ohio State	7	0	0.997
3	3	Boise State	8	0	0.989
4	4	Notre Dame	7	1	0.984
5	5	LSU	8	1	0.979
6	6	Georgia	6	1	0.974
7	7	Oklahoma	5	2	0.966
8	9	Michigan	6	1	0.963
9	11	Oregon	6	2	0.956
10	14	Georgia Tech	6	1	0.942
11	18	Arizona State	5	2	0.940
12	15	Texas A&M	6	2	0.933
13	16	Nebraska	6	2	0.929
14	8	Kansas State	5	2	0.917
15	21	Texas	4	3	0.912
16	19	Mississippi State	6	1	0.905
17	13	UCLA	5	2	0.905
18	20	Louisville	4	3	0.890
19	10	Miami FL	5	2	0.883
20	12	North Carolina	4	3	0.878
21	24	Ole Miss	6	3	0.866
22	--	West Virginia	6	2	0.852
23	17	TCU	5	3	0.834
24	--	Illinois	7	1	0.833
25	25	Washington	5	3	0.832