We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

[Knickerbocker91]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Definitely not the season anyone was expecting, but beating Houston and ending the season on a high note with a bowl win is still doable. Glad to see Rutgers got bowl eligible as well, looks like Kyle Flood isn't in as much trouble as he is in real life (unless I missed Flood leave Rutgers 3 seasons ago).

[whughes]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Hopefully the committee will be nice and you'll still get a good bowl game.


I don't understand what's going on in Mount Pleasant. We play really well against elite level teams, we beat a 7 win Northern Illinios team, but we lose to a 2 win Eastern Michigan squad. I just don't get it

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Seniors --- We Say Thanks

RB Ron Johnson: Never quite found his footing as the star I had labeled him to be at the end of his sophomore season, but was an extremely productive red zone threat for a long time and was very consistent.

WR Jon Haden: Arizona transfer was a phenomenal leader and a little man who played like he was 6'3.

RB Arkeel Newsome: Return God, perpetrator of The Return at the Rent, and late this year, star running back. Pop a top my man!

LB Vontae Diggs: Forever known as the man who cemented UConn's National Title by recovering that fumble in the fourth.

CB Travis Lumpkin: This dude gave me a headache. I had high hopes on the JUCO transfer, but was still a solid #1 this year, showing big signs of improvement over last year.

RB Brice McAllister: I feel real bad for the kid. He could've been just as good as 'Keel or Johnson, but was caged in his entire career. Here's hoping he sticks in the CFL or something.

TE Alec Bloom: Just as underrated as every other tight end has been so far in the Diaco era.

OG/C Ryan Crozier: Anchor of our terrible line this year and (I believe) a 3-year starter. His experience will be missed.

CB Anthony Watkins: 4 year reserve who finally got to start year 5. Had his moments early on in the year.

G Daniel Oak: I could never tell if he was to blame for our line problems. That is not a bad thing.

DE James Atkins: #95; THE SACK KING!

LB Luke Carrezola: Dude is crazy. He has been everywhere the past 3 seasons.

TE/C Steve Hashemi: Took 4 years to figure this guy out, but he's done a lot in a lot of capacities this season.

S Rick Stewart: JUCO guy who never played.

S Jabari Wright: Ctrl-C the above.


RoundingThird: That UConn game today was the ugliest game I've seen since the infamous 3-0 game between VA Tech and Wake last year. And it confirmed what I've known since the beginning: Diaco is a freaking madman. But a defensive wizard. Very nice game out of the Huskies defense today.

Definitely not the season anyone was expecting, but beating Houston and ending the season on a high note with a bowl win is still doable. Glad to see Rutgers got bowl eligible as well, looks like Kyle Flood isn't in as much trouble as he is in real life (unless I missed Flood leave Rutgers 3 seasons ago).

No doubt it's been rough, but as I've said a bunch of times through the course of the year, replacing a lot was going to be a tough task, and we have some more impact players to replace next year too. Of course, having TDL with experience under his belt will be huge next year.

As for Flood, he was gone at Rutgers after 2016 I believe. He went to New Mexico St., pulled a 10-win season out of his hat there and I believe he's at Western Kentucky right now. Rutgers' coach right now is Steve Spurrier Jr.

Before next season I plan on making a list of current head coaches (and where they started the dynasty) so we can cut out any confusion there.

Hopefully the committee will be nice and you'll still get a good bowl game.


I don't understand what's going on in Mount Pleasant. We play really well against elite level teams, we beat a 7 win Northern Illinios team, but we lose to a 2 win Eastern Michigan squad. I just don't get it

I don't even care about a good bowl game, I just want a team that will provide a challenge. We've struggled against a few good teams this year (Miami-FL, West Virginia, TCU, Boise St.), so a strong showing would provide some positive momentum heading into 2019.

As for CMU, I don't really know what's happening. This is so far beyond me....

You guys are recruiting really well, you have just as much skill and talent as these top MAC teams (like NIU, Ohio, Akron, Western Michigan), it's just not coming all together for some reason. Maybe it's a defensive problem, maybe it's the head coach Doug Martin, or even you.

I have a feeling with it being Martin's second year, everyone will be retained. But I have to think that if you guys finish 4-8, 5-7 again next year, you'll be gone. Funny because we've been thinking you were going to be fired for the past three years haha.

Thanks to both of you for the continued support!

[RoundingThird]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

You stole the thanking the seniors thing from me.

That's four tough losses total today, if you count the real BG and UConn teams as well as those in your game. I'm not going to get over that one for a while, until I'm sitting at the Rent next Saturday watching them beat Navy.

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

On a high note

TDL, 'Keel have huge days as UConn pulls away from Houston

For all the turmoil, uncertainty and growing pains the 2018 UConn Huskies have had to endure, that had to have felt good.

With a big 45-20 win on senior day over the Houston Cougars, UConn has salvaged a 9-3 record in the regular season, and will now await their bowl opponent and destination with lots of newfound confidence.

Houston made it interesting for the first half. Mike Estapante tacked on a field goal at the start of the game for the Cougs, and Bear Fenimore's 12 yard pass to Kenvaz Streeterman made it a quick 10-0.

UConn kept in the game with an absolute bomb from Tanner Dean-Lowry to Jon Haden. Haden absolutely torched his defender on a play action stretch play and just outran everyone else for a 51 yard TD to cut the lead to 3.

Houston made some headway on their next drive with first down passses to Latrell Martin and Romello Brooker, but Travis Lumpkin thwarted the drive at the UConn 20 with a nice leaping interception.

He was able to return the ball to the Houston 31, setting UConn up in great position to attack. Two plays later, TDL hit Jeff Matthews for a quick WR screen that went for 6.

Houston would take the lead 35 seconds into the second frame when Fenimore showed his muscle and hustle, stiff-arming Ross Sinclair at the goalline to cap a 6 yard TD run and an 8 play drive.

That would be the last time Houston held the lead (17-14 at this point). On Houston's next drive, Derek Robinson made a perfect read and defended the right side of the flats perfectly. Fenimore's pass went right to a charging Robinson, and he was gone. 57 yards later, D-Rob gave UConn a 21-17 advantage.

After another Estapante field goal (and a Mike Miller miss) to make it 21-20 UConn at the half, TDL kicked the offense into second gear. Orchestrating a 10 play, 76 yard TD drive, TDL and Arkeel Newsome showed some moxie as they methodically moved downfield. Led by Newsome's 22 yard run on a counter play, TDL fired a laser to Matthews on a slant route that went for a 17 yard TD.

After a short Houston drive interrupted by Luke Carrezola bull rushing the Houston O-Line, TDL hit Alec Bloom for a 41 yard completion and two plays later Rodney Reid for a 29 yard TD in the right hand corner of the end zone. UConn was pulling away.

Anthony Watkins picked off Fenimore (Fenimore's third INT) and Newsome capitalized with a 1 yard TD plunge to safely put the game out of reach early in the fourth.

'Twas a good day. Newsome finally got his chance to shine, racking up 162 yards, and TDL fired a career-high 4 TD's. Though it wasn't dominant, UConn was extremely efficient, and that's been the difference during a lot of Coach Diaco's tenure.

Carrezola tallied 3 sacks and Sam Rourke added a pair.

Best part is, we're 5-0 against Houston since 2014.

One more game and we can put the wraps on 2018. Hasn't been the best year, but hasn't been a total failure either.

Here's hoping we can build some more momentum toward 2019. Seniors, god bless. As for the Property, we'll see you next year. A new streak begins!

Houston Cougars at Connecticut Huskies
Nov 1, 2018	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Houston Cougars (8-4, 6-2)	10	10	0	0	20
#20 Connecticut Huskies (9-3, 5-3)	14	7	14	10	45

Team Stats Comparison
	HOU	CONN
Total Offense	343	470
Rushing Yards	-5	246
Passing Yards	348	224
First Downs	18	20
Punt Return Yards	0	25
Kick Return Yards	123	58
Total Yards	466	553
Turnovers	3	1
3rd Down Converstion	1-10 (10%)	6-11 (54%)
4th Down Conversion	0-1	0-1
2-Point Conversion	0-0	0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	4-2-1 (75%)	3-2-1 (100%)
Penalties	0-0	1-15
Posession Time	13:14	18:46

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		HOU	CONN
3:26	(HOU) Estapante 38 FG	3	0
2:50	(HOU) Fenimore 12 pass Streeterman (Estapante kick)	10	0
1:48	(CONN) Dean-Lowry 51 pass Haden (Miller kick)	10	7
:34	(CONN) Dean-Lowry 30 pass Matthews (Miller kick)	10	14
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		HOU	CONN
7:25	(HOU) Fenimore 6 run (Estapante kick)	17	14
6:15	(CONN) Robinson 57 INT return (Miller kick)	17	21
:23	(HOU) Estapante 29 FG	20	21
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		HOU	CONN
4:07	(CONN) Dean-Lowry 17 pass Matthews (Miller kick)	20	28
1:43	(CONN) Dean-Lowry 29 pass Reid (Miller kick)	20	35
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		HOU	CONN
7:32	(CONN) Newsome 1 run (Miller kick)	20	42
1:43	(CONN) Miller 31 FG	20	45

Houston Cougars PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Bear Fenimore 31-47 348 1 3 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Juan Day 3 4 1.3 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Romello Brooker 10 146 14.6 0 Kenvaz Streeterman 9 85 9.4 1 Elton Dyer 3 41 13.6 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Sam Joseph 8 1 0 0 Josh Johnson 6 0 0 0 Zach Vaughan 4 1 0 0

Connecticut Huskies PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Tanner Dean-Lowry 12-22 224 4 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Arkeel Newsome 21 166 7.9 1 Ron Johnson 13 47 3.6 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Jeff Matthews 5 69 13.8 2 Jon Haden 3 68 22.6 1 Rodney Reid 1 29 29.0 1 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Sam Rourke 6 2 0 0 Luke Carrezola 5 3 0 0 Derek Robinson 5 1 1 1

You stole the thanking the seniors thing from me.

That's four tough losses total today, if you count the real BG and UConn teams as well as those in your game. I'm not going to get over that one for a while, until I'm sitting at the Rent next Saturday watching them beat Navy.

I don't know if I did anymore. I've been using this format since February, I can't possibly remember. If I did, I hope you're not too offended. Besides, I'm looking to completely revamp my layout for next season anyhow, so this might be the last time you see it.

No matter how good your defense is, good luck stopping Keenan Reynolds.

[BookWork123]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

9-3! Not too bad! I mean, if you were Saban at Alabama, you'd be gone after this year, but still, not a bad year at all!

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

9-3! Not too bad! I mean, if you were Saban at Alabama, you'd be gone after this year, but still, not a bad year at all!

9-3 is never a bad season, but coming off a national title a year ago, a six win difference is a little tough to swallow.

But again, replacing all that we did from last year's team, I'll gladly take it. We've had lots of inconsistency on offense, the defense was a lot weaker than last year.

We'll be back next year though, no doubt. We'll have a little more experience and some new guys joining the fold to help us out. Jeff McNeal will find a home on as full-time tailback, TDL has a year under his belt, the wideouts get a bit better. We could be in good shape. As long as we don't lose Coach Diaco.

Thanks for checking in bud. Your CAC as well as the others will be created in-game (finally) at some point this weekend and I hope to be starting 2019 the first full week of October.

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

[CENTER]

Author's Note: As usual, I merge Weeks 14 and 15 to speed things up a bit. I have headlines from Week 15, results from both, Top 25 and Heisman from Week 15, POTW from both, CAC from Weeks 14 and 15, and full conference standings from after Week 15. It's a little confusing but you'll figure out what's what quickly.

And, uh, Florida lost. Coach Shea and USC are playoff hunting.

Week 14 - Rivalry Week

FIU 48, FAU 45
Old Dominion 49, W. Kentucky 35
Buffalo 56, Kent St. 3
Western Michigan 42, Toledo 14
Boise St. 39, Nevada 38
New Mexico 34, Air Force 17
Fresno St. 38, San Jose St. 31
Arizona 35, Arizona St. 21
Oregon 35, Oregon St. 14
USC 45, UCLA 10
Washington 48, Washington St. 7
Auburn 35, Alabama 21
Kentucky 35, Tennessee 18
Arkansas 26, LSU 17
Missouri 31, Texas A&M 28
Mississippi St. 41, Ole Miss 38
ULL 49, ULM 32
Virginia Tech 31, Virginia 24
Duke 28, UNC 21
Syracuse 49, Boston College 45
NC St. 24, Wake Forest 22
Ohio St. 49, Michigan 42
Illinois 31, Northwestern 26
Iowa 41, Nebraska 34
Minnesota 35, Purdue 32
Wisconsin 44, Maryland 38
TCU 42, Oklahoma St. 24
UCF 38, USF 31
Marshall 31, Mavy 27
Florida St. 41, Florida 38
Georgia Tech 28, Georgia 9
Clemson 38, South Carolina 14
Notre Dame 34, Stanford 29

Week 15

Arkansas St. 34, ULL 3
Georgia St. 41, South Alabama 28
ULM 28, Troy 23
Idaho 24, NMSU 21

NCAA Players of the Week (14 & 15)

UConn ST coordinator/assistant offensive and defensive coordinator Bob Trebell (DrGravyBoat) and his Huskies defeated Houston on senior day. The 9-3 Huskies await their bowl matchup after championship week.

Other CAC Results

Sam Freday (OC, Bowling Green, RoundingThird)

L (6-6, 4-5) 20-34 vs. Akron (8-4, 7-2)

C. Williams: 11-24, 163 yds
J. Haley: 23 rush, 125 yds, TD
W. McNeal: 6 rec, 109 yds

Week 15: BYE


Tyrone Coley (OC, Rutgers, Knickerbocker91)

L (6-6, 3-6) 24-31 vs. Michigan St. (7-5, 5-4)

L. Wilson: 12-28, 151 yds, 2 TD
J. Hicks: 18 rush, 103 yds
T. Wilson: 11 rush, 123 yds, TD
C. Scarff: 2 rec TD

Week 15: BYE


Brennan Smith (DC, Purdue, bryan3169)

L (8-4, 6-3), 32-35 vs. Minnesota (9-3, 7-2)

J. Weaver: 8 tckl (2 TFL)
T. Todd: 7 tckl (2 TFL), .5 sck
B. Roberts: 7 tckl (TFL), sck

Week 15: BYE



Kaelyn Willingham (HC, Washington St., kswgrad2012)

L (3-9, 2-7), 7-48 vs. Washington (6-6, 3-6)

C. Hill: 8-32, 118 yds, 3 INT
D. DeLuca: 6 rush, 28 yds, TD
S. Reyes: 3 rec, 67 yds

Week 15: BYE



J.J. Mac (OC, UTEP, RedRaider10)

L (2-10, 2-7) 42-45 vs. UTEP (7-5, 5-4)

C. Samples: 17-34, 177 yds, 3 TD, 4 INT, 21 rush, 143 yds, 2 TD
T. Irby: 18 rush, 121 yds, TD
T. Rodgers: 8 rec, 68 yds, TD

Week 15: BYE



Max Crenshaw (OC, Central Michigan, whughes)

L (4-8, 3-4) 31-35 vs. Ball St. (4-8, 3-6)

D. Wood: 19-33, 234 yds, 2 TD, 24 rush, 99 yds, TD
D. Spalding: 11 rush, 68 yds
M. Johnson: 4 rush, 60 yds, 2 TD

Week 15:BYE

Week 15 CAC

Dale Miller (OC, UL Lafayette, glunsford)

L (3-9, 3-4) 3-34 vs. Arkansas St. (9-3, 7-0)

J. Davis: 7-16, 113 yds
B. Williams: 10 rush, 38 yds
D. Reese: 5 rec, 102 yds


Brian Grant (OC, New Mexico St., LadiesAndEdelman)

L (5-7, 4-3) 21-24 vs. Idaho (2-10, 2-5)

N. Jeanty: 25-41, 331 total yds, 3 total TD
S. Davis: 8 rec, 84 yds
T. Potts: 7 rec, 61 yds, TD

Full Conference Standings

ATLANTIC:
Syracuse (7-5, 6-3)
Florida St. (7-5, 5-4)
Wake Forest (7-5, 4-5)
Boston College (5-7, 4-5)
Louisville (5-7, 3-6)
Clemson (5-7, 3-6)
NC St. (4-8, 3-6)

COASTAL:
Georgia Tech (10-2, 9-0)
Miami-FL (8-4, 7-2)
Virginia (6-6, 5-4)
North Carolina (7-5, 5-4)
Virginia Tech (6-6, 4-5)
Duke (6-6, 3-6)
Pitt (5-7, 2-7)

EAST:
UCF (10-1, 8-1)
Temple (10-2, 7-2)
USF (5-7, 4-5)
Army West Point (5-7, 4-5)
Cincinnati (5-7, 3-6)
ECU (1-11, 0-8)

WEST:
Marshall (9-3, 8-1)
Tulsa (10-2, 7-2)
Memphis (7-5, 6-3)
Tulane (3-9, 2-7)
Navy (3-9, 2-7)
SMU (2-10, 2-7)

EAST:
Houston (8-4, 6-2)
UConn (9-3, 5-3)
Iowa St. (5-7, 4-4)
Kansas (3-9, 3-5)
West Virginia (6-6, 3-5)
Kansas St. (3-9, 2-6)

WEST:
Texas (7-5, 6-2)
TCU (10-2, 6-2)
Oklahoma (8-4, 5-3)
Baylor (7-5, 4-4)
Oklahoma St. (5-7, 2-6)
Texas Tech (6-6, 2-6)

EAST:
Penn St. (10-2, 8-1)
Ohio St. (7-5, 6-3)
Michigan St. (7-5, 5-4)
Rutgers (6-6, 3-6)
Maryland (3-9, 2-7)
Michigan (5-7, 2-7)
Indiana (0-12, 0-9)

WEST:
Iowa (9-3, 7-2)
Minnesota (9-3, 7-2)
Purdue (8-4, 6-3)
Wisconsin (6-6, 5-4)
Illinois (8-4, 5-4)
Nebraska (7-5, 4-5)
Northwestern (4-8, 3-6)

EAST:
Old Dominion (9-3, 7-2)
Florida Atlantic (9-3, 6-3)
Western Kentucky (9-3, 6-3)
FIU (5-6, 4-5)
Louisiana Tech (5-7, 4-5)
Middle Tennessee St. (5-7, 3-6)

WEST:
Southern Miss (9-3, 7-2)
North Texas (8-4, 5-4)
UTSA (7-5, 5-4)
Texas St. (5-7, 3-6)
Rice (4-8, 2-7)
UTEP (2-10, 2-7)

INDEPENDENTS

Notre Dame (7-5)
BYU (6-5)
UMass (2-10)
UAB (2-10)

EAST:
Akron (8-4, 7-2)
Kent St. (8-3, 6-3)
Ohio (7-5, 6-3)
Buffalo (6-6, 5-4)
Bowling Green (6-6, 4-4)
Miami-OH (4-8, 2-7)

WEST:
Western Michigan (9-3, 6-3)
Northern Illinois (8-4, 6-3)
Toledo (4-8, 3-6)
Eastern Michigan (4-8, 3-6)
Ball St. (4-8, 3-6)
Central Michigan (4-8, 3-6)

MOUNTAIN:
Wyoming (8-4, 6-2)
Colorado St. (5-7, 5-3)
Boise St. (5-7, 4-4)
New Mexico (6-6, 4-4)
Air Force (6-6, 3-5)
Utah St. (3-9, 1-7)

WEST:
Fresno St. (11-1, 8-0)
San Diego St. (11-1, 7-1)
San Jose St. (5-7, 4-4)
Hawai'i (4-8, 3-5)
Nevada (4-8, 3-5)
UNLV (2-10, 0-8)

NORTH:
Oregon (9-3, 7-2)
Stanford (6-6, 5-4)
Washington (6-6, 3-6)
Oregon St. (5-7, 2-7)
Washington St. (3-9, 2-7)
Cal (4-8, 2-7)

SOUTH:
USC (12-0, 9-0)
UCLA (8-3, 7-2)
Colorado (9-3, 6-3)
Arizona (7-5, 5-4)
Utah (5-7, 4-5)
Arizona St. (4-8, 2-7)

EAST:
Florida (11-1, 8-0)
Missouri (7-5, 4-4)
Georgia (5-7, 4-4)
Tennessee (5-7, 4-4)
South Carolina (5-7, 3-5)
Kentucky (4-7, 1-6)
Vanderbilt (2-9, 0-7)

WEST:
Auburn (10-2, 7-1)
Arkansas (9-3, 6-2)
Ole Miss (9-3, 5-3)
Alabama (8-4, 5-3)
LSU (5-7, 3-5)
Mississippi St. (5-7, 3-5)
Texas A&M (5-7, 2-6)

Arkansas St. (9-3, 7-0)
Georgia St. (9-3, 5-2)
New Mexico St. (5-7, 4-3)
ULM (7-5, 4-3)
UL-Lafayette (3-9, 3-4)
South Alabama (5-7, 2-5)
Idaho (2-10, 2-5)
Troy (2-9, 1-6)

[whughes]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

We finished at the bottom of the MAC, again. *sigh*

Can we get a D-Ham update?

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Championship Week Preview

Syracuse (7-5) vs. #2 Georgia Tech (10-2) Playoff Watch

Georgia Tech is among the win and in contingent. The 10-2 Jackets face the 7-5 Orange, led by the ever-effervescent Skip Holtz and former college QB Laurence Gilbert at offensive coordinator. The Orange used a late-season run to take the Atlantic division and erase all memories of their early season struggles, in which they lost to UMass. Seriously. Brian Ward and Obi Love form a formidable QB-RB duo for GT, and if their defense can stop 'Cuse's throw early and often offense, GT can advance into the Playoffs.

#8 UCF (10-1) vs. #23 Marshall (10-2) Playoff Watch

For the second consecutive year, the AAC could be fielding a playoff team. A year after UConn ran the conference into the ground and won the national title, 1st year coach Marty English (ironically UConn's defensive coordinator last year) has UCF in a position to sneak into the Top 4. They just have to get past a perennially tough Marshall team who was a game away from winning the Natty in 2016. This is going to be a fun one.

Houston (8-4) vs. Texas (7-5)

How about this for parity. UConn and TCU, your conference's best teams, both get the shaft in the Big 12 CCG Reboot in Jerry World in Dallas. Instead, Houston, projected to finish as low as 5th in their first round in the Big 12 East, quietly emerged and won the division in their first year. 7-5 Texas topped #5 TCU and that was the difference. As a result, TCU gets to sit home and watch their playoff hopes dangle out of their hands and these two middling teams play for a conference title. At least we can see a rising superstar in Texas RB Briyce Forrestal.

Iowa (9-3) vs. #12 Penn St. (10-2)

Oddly, there are no CFP implications here, as Penn St. is just too far out to make a serious claim. However, they go for their first Big 10 Championship (I believe) since JoePa was roaming the sidelines in 2008. Kirk Ferentz has contemplated retirement in recent years, and if he does go, how sweet would it be to go off with a conference title in your back pocket?

#22 Old Dominion (9-3) vs. #17 Southern Miss (9-3)

Two ranked teams go at it in the first C-USA Conference Title Game without Marshall in a couple years. ODU and USM both have very high octane offenses led by the conference's top two QB's (Drew Barker of ODU and Gunner Roach of USM). ODU WR Quintin Reynolds is on pace for an NCAA record 2,000 receiving yards, and can top that this weekend. It's all on someone's defense to step up and make a big play. The team that does should emerge victorious.

Western Michigan (9-3) vs. Akron (8-4)

Western Michigan took a step back this year after a magical 2017, and face perennial power Akron again in the MAC Championship Game. No major bowl game implications here, but expect a hard-fought game nonetheless.

Wyoming (8-4) vs. #3 Fresno St. (11-1) Playoff Watch

Fresno St. is in the top four, and therefore one of the teams who can simply win and get into the College Football Playoff. They emerged in a showdown with San Diego St. and look strong. But Wyoming would love nothing more than to spoil a massive payday for the conference.

#1 USC (12-0) vs. #11 Oregon (9-3) Playoff Watch

USC has had a phenomenal year in the second season of the Quinn Shea regime. The 28-year old has rejuvenated the Trojan fanbase, has the team playing their best ball in over 10 years, have a two headed monster in tailbacks Dontrell Marshall and Lamar Holycross, and now sit one win away from the College Football Playoff. Though they are very safe to clinch an at-large CFP bid if they lose, Oregon was in this same situation a year ago when they upset two-time defending champs UCLA in OT. They jumped from #9 to #4. There's no reason not to believe they'd do the same with a win and maybe squeeze SC out of the playoffs.

#4 Auburn (10-2) vs. #7 Florida (11-1) Playoff Watch

This is the biggest game on tap this weekend for obvious reasons: Both teams are CFP Contenders. For both teams, it is essentially win and in. Florida looks a little worse with their Week 14 loss to Florida St., but will easily have the case to leapfrog the trio of teams ahead of them in the polls. Look for QB's Will Grier (Florida) and Sean White (Auburn) to have a classic duel.

Playoff Picture

LOCKED IN:

None

Win & In:

#1 USC (12-0)
#2 Georgia Tech (10-2)
#3 Fresno St. (11-1)
#4 Auburn (10-2)
#7 Florida (11-1)

Need help:

#5 TCU (10-2)
#8 UCF (10-1)

Need lots of help:
#11 Oregon (9-3)
#12 Penn St. (10-2)

If all else fails...

#6 San Diego St. (11-1)
#9 Arkansas (9-3)
#10 UCLA (8-3)

We finished at the bottom of the MAC, again. *sigh*

Can we get a D-Ham update?

Absolutely! I have one planned for the next post.

Technically, you tied for 3rd, so it's not so bad.

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Hamilton arrested for DUI; booted off team

Well that ended nicely.

Sophomore QB David Hamilton, 19, was arrested last night just outside of Hartford, CT for DUI and underage drinking just after his car was involved in a collision with another car going the wrong way on I-44. The crash took place at around 1 A.M., EST. Hamilton was not at fault, but failed a sobriety test and was promptly arrested.

Hamilton's 2006 Toyota Camry was totaled, and the 2015 Honda Civic the other was driving had repairable damage. The driver of the Civic, who remained unnamed, was arrested for negligent driving and a DUI as well, as his BAC was 3 times over the legal limit.

Hamilton had minor cuts and bruises, but was otherwise unharmed, as was the Civic driver.

Coach Diaco acted swiftly this morning, promptly kicking Hamilton off the team for his second offense of underage drinking. He received a warning and a first half suspension for the opening game of UConn's season against Boise State in August.

Hamilton was lost for the season with a shoulder injury in October. He had successful surgery on October 19 and was on track to rejoin the team for spring practice in February 2019.

I feel bad I have to do this, as I believe Dave has lots of potential, but we can't have him setting a bad example for the rest of the team. We wish him the best wherever he goes.

For next season, UConn now has only three QB's: rising sophomore Tanner Dean-Lowry, redshirt sophomore Isaac Jackson and senior Jarrett Rivero. Dean-Lowry will likely get the starting nod with Jackson the backup.

It is unknown where Hamilton will go, be it another FBS school or an FCS school.

[whughes]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Knew that kid was a bust. I called it from the beginning

[RoundingThird]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Good season... Not so good for BG, but at least we're going bowling....

Tomorrow is the big day. UConn-Navy. I wish UConn was 3-0 right now, but hey, what else can you ask for? I want to see us beat our 2014 win total.

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Just a heads up, I made a mistake in the AAC Title Game Preview. I accidentally placed Tulsa in there instead of Marshall. This has been corrected.

Guess that's what I get for going really early in the morning!

Knew that kid was a bust. I called it from the beginning

It's really too bad. We had such high praise for him at the outset, and he gets hurt, overtaken and in trouble. At least we have other options. This does, however, mean I badly need to get another freshman or JUCO patch guy in here for 2020. So if anything happens to TDL or I-Jax....

Good season... Not so good for BG, but at least we're going bowling....

Tomorrow is the big day. UConn-Navy. I wish UConn was 3-0 right now, but hey, what else can you ask for? I want to see us beat our 2014 win total.

As I said last page, 9-3 isn't so bad with the team we had this year. BG just kind of collapsed in the last 6-7 weeks. Things were going really well for you guys until that point. You guys, as you'll see in a few minutes, have a very interesting bowl matchup.

I've actually seen all three of UConn's games this season, and I'd love to see them do well going forward. They look a lot better than they have the past few years. I'll be out of town tomorrow (thus I miss both the BC game and the UConn game), but best of luck. At least your loss was to an SEC team and out of conference.

[thesportsguru11]

Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)

Florida tops Auburn, Wyoming stuns Fresno

USC, Georgia Tech win, headed to CFP

C-USA: #22 Old Dominion def. #17 Southern Miss 62-55 (4OT)
AAC #8 UCF def. #23 Marshall 41-23
SEC: #7 Florida def. #4 Auburn 27-24
MWC: Wyoming def. #3 Fresno St. 42-35
PAC-12: #1 USC def. #11 Oregon 34-20
ACC: #2 Georgia Tech def. Syracuse 42-35
B1G: #12 Penn St. def. Iowa 42-37
Big 12: Houston def. Texas 49-42
MAC: Akron def. Western Michigan 38-10

Grier wins Heisman

Florida makes it two straight Heisman winners as senior QB Will Grier won the Heisman on Saturday. Grier won by 400 points, following his former Florida teammate and #1 draft pick Treon Harris, who won last year.

Ole Miss' senior QB Kendrick Doss, who was the Heisman frontrunner early in the year, finished second, followed by Tulsa QB Jabe Burgess.

USC's Dontrell Marshall jumped into 4th place, followed by Fresno St. QB Kilton Anderson, San Diego St. QB Drew Anderson, Rice QB Jeremy Jones, West Virginia QB William Crest and Auburn QB Sean White with TCU RB Shaun Nixon rounding out the Top 10.

-------------------

James Atkins sweeps national lineman awards, Marcus Bradford takes Butkus

UConn DE James Atkins, following his predecessor Cam Stapleton a year ago, clean swept the National Awards banquet, winning the Bednarik, Nagurski and Lombardi Awards. His school record 20 sacks and 32 TFL's on the season both topped the previous UConn marks by a fair margin and figure to hang for a while.

UCLA transfer linebacker Marcus Bradford has also won the Butkus Award, presented to the Nation's best linebacker. Bradford, who recorded 67 tackles, a sack, 11 tackles for loss and 3 INT's (1 returned for a TD), Bradford becomes UConn's first Butkus winner (according to my records, that might be false as I believe Graham Stewart won in 2015).