This is as good a space as any to share my thoughts on last week’s ASU-UofA game. Quite simply the Wildcats dominated for three quarters before suffering a meltdown of epic proportions. Was I surprised by it? Mildly at best. The playcalling got extremely predictable and the two 4th quarter turnovers deep in their own territory buried Arizona.
The fact remains that it was 40-21 Arizona to start the 4th quarter. Forty to freaking twenty-one! It was a nightmarish quarter that unfortunately most of us who were there or watching will never forget. The Wildcats blew a three possession lead before settling for a 45 yard field goal from a kicker who honestly wasn’t terribly consistent throughout his career. Someone on the coaching staff’s head needs to roll for this one…and it likely will be defensive coordinator Marcel Yates…though truthfully I thought he did a fantastic job scheming against ASU’s offense for three quarters.
In a game like this, there will always be a lot of ‘almost’ and ‘if that happened then…’ plays. I won’t go into those here. It’s a loss that I will probably never get over just like 2010’s PAT debacle with Alex Zendejas.
So with that, congratulations ASU fans (including Wesley)…your team was better throughout the season and unfortunately for me, they showed that with a fourth quarter comeback for the ages on Saturday.
As to what happens to UofA now…I expect Yates to be fired here soon…Khalil Tate to transfer, and UofA to struggle with a significantly more difficult schedule, to achieve bowl eligibility next season. Hope I’m wrong on most of that…
Fanatic Guest Picker Standings:
Week 1 – Chris Schubert: 8-2 SU, 7-3 ATS
Week 2 – Wesley Franco: 7-3 SU, 6-4 ATS
Week 3 – Shawn Crespin: 5-5 SU, 5-5 ATS
Week 4 – Jeff Hoodzow: 9-1 SU, 6-4 ATS
Week 5 – Mike Bauer: 8-2 SU, 6-4 ATS
Week 6 – George Sarafin: 5-5 SU, 3-7 ATS
Week 7 – Mike Muraco: 5-5 SU, 4-6 ATS
Week 8 – Randy White: 5-5 SU, 5-5 ATS
Week 9 – Wesley Franco: 6-4 SU, 6-4 ATS
Week 10 – Wesley Franco: 6-4 SU, 3-7 ATS
Week 11 – Wesley Franco: 9-1 SU, 5-5 ATS
Week 12 – Wesley Franco: 5-4 SU, 6-3 ATS
Week 13 – Wesley Franco: 9-2 SU, 5-6 ATS
So it all comes down to the final week to determine our straight up and against the spread champions! “Bear Down Steve” leads the SU picks by one over the guest picks, 2 over me, and 3 over Shane. Can he hold on with a few risky picks below?
I’m in fairly good shape against the spread barring a Week 14 meltdown. And here’s something else to point out…no one has gone undefeated in a 10 game week this season. Can one of our experts be the first??
| Eric Cohen | Jon Bell | Shane Dale | Steve Malina | (Fanatic Staff Guest Picker) Wesley Franco |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
@eacohen83 |
@koshercoach |
@shanedaleabc15 |
@beardownsteven |
@ProducerWes |
|
| Last Week (SU) | 6-5 | 7-4 | 7-4 | 7-4 | 9-2 |
| Last Week (ATS) | 4-7 | 5-6 | 7-4 | 6-5 | 5-6 |
| Season (SU) | 86-44 | 80-50 | 85-45 | 88-42 | 87-44 |
| Season (ATS) | 69-61 | 63-67 | 65-65 | 64-66 | 67-63 |
| Northern Illinois vs. Buffalo (-4.5) | BUF 30-20 | BUF 39-17 | NILL 34-31 | NILL 35-24 | BUF 38-35 |
| Utah vs. Washington (-4.5) | WASH 27-17 | UTAH 23-20 | UTAH 28-21 | WASH 27-17 | WASH 27-21 |
| Texas vs. Oklahoma (-7.5) | OK 37-31 | OK 41-34 | TEX 41-38 | OK 41-38 | OK 38-35 |
| UAB at Middle Tennessee (-2.5) | UAB 30-27 | UAB 38-20 | MTSU 24-19 | MTSU 24-21 | UAB 24-17 |
| Stanford (-2.5) at Cal | CAL 27-24 | STAN 17-14 | CAL 31-27 | CAL 24-20 | STAN 42-38 |
| Memphis at UCF (-3.5) | UCF 41-35 | MEM 41-38 | MEM 35-31 | UCF 31-27 | MEM 30-27 |
| Georgia vs. Alabama (-13.5) | ALA 27-21 | ALA 31-13 | ALA 28-17 | ALA 37-20 | ALA 42-24 |
| Fresno State at Boise State (-2.5) | FSU 31-28 | FSU 28-20 | FSU 28-27 | BOISE 27-20 | FSU 30-27 |
| Pittsburgh vs. Clemson (-26.5) | CLEM 38-17 | CLEM 38-20 | CLEM 31-17 | CLEM 34-14 | CLEM 45-7 |
| Northwestern vs. Ohio State (-14.5) | OSU 52-20 | OSU 31-21 | OSU 34-24 | OSU 48-20 | OSU 42-27 |
This Week’s Bold Prediction:
EC: Last upset pick of the regular season. Virginia Tech scheduled Marshall just so that they could potentially keep their long bowl streak alive. Well guess what – it’s not happening Hokies! The Thundering Herd pull the upset…31-26.
JB: For a change, I won’t be batting 1.000 with my picks this week. There will be a major upset that will shake up the college football playoff race. Looking mainly at Pittsburgh and Northwestern. Both keep their respective games close and one will come away with the stunning victory.
SD: Memphis will deny UCF back-to-back “national championships” as former ASU QB Brady White has the best game of his college career.
SM: Style points matter this week as Oklahoma and Ohio State compete to get the final spot in the CFP. Oklahoma takes a lead and tries to run up the score to impress the committee but the aggressive nature of the Oklahoma staff allows Texas to come back and nearly beat the Sooners. This allows Ohio State to jump up to #4 after a convincing win by Alabama leading many to question if this Crimson Tide team is among the best college football teams of all-time.
WF:On the cusp of bowl season, can’t tell you how important this season is?
The extra practices, the growth of young talent, and the benefit it gives especially for first year coaches to further grow their mantra and instill confidence for the STATE of a fanbase. So important…very important. NOW Memphis, behind a former Arizona State QB in Brady White gets revenge on UCF in this AAC Championship rematch. Coach Mike Norvell sneaks out the win. So much, Arizona State winning in this prediction.
(Eric’s response: Ugh…too soon, Wes.)
Cohen’s Weekly College Football Playoff Bowl Forecast:
(Changes from last week in blue)
Peach: Penn State vs. LSU
Fiesta: Florida vs. Central Florida
Rose: Michigan vs. Washington
Sugar: Oklahoma vs. Georgia
Cotton (semifinal): Alabama vs. Ohio State
Orange (semifinal): Clemson vs. Notre Dame
National Championship Game Prediction: Alabama over Clemson
I’m assuming that Ohio State’s big win earns them enough style points to jump Oklahoma, whose defense is atrocious.
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