GSE Football Final

    

  What we learned.........Notre Dame's home field advantage once again was instrumental in pulling the Irish out of the fire, Oregon's defense is not all that great, but probably good enough to get the Ducks to the National Championship game, and the LSU talent still wasn't  good enough to make up for Les Miles' coaching gaffes!!

 

   Notre Dame escaped another close call in South Bend in a game where the Pitt Panthers executed a perfect game plan, but couldn't overcome a phantom pass interference call and a high snap on a FG try in OT.  Pitt moved the ball effectively all day but could not deliver the decisive blow when it mattered most.  Notre Dame again found a way win against an inferior opponent at home as their magical season remained intact.  The Irish continue to play a duel QB system, while rushing effectively, the offense continues to struggle.  On the other side of the ball Manti Teo and company had issues slowing down a very balanced Pitt attack with Graham rushing well over a 100 yds and Sunseri completing big plays in the passing game.   In the end ND won, but with the understanding there will be no HFA in LA at the end of the year!

 

   The Ducks are who we thought they were!  In a season where we thought Oregon dressed out a defense to go along with their explosive offense.... after a 62-51 victory in LA we discovered the Ducks are all about just outscoring the opponent.  With Cal, Standford, Oregon St, and a home PAC 12 Championship game left it looks as if the Ducks will score their way to Miami.

 

   On Saturday night in Death Valley it looked as if the Bengal Bayou Tigers where well on their way to REDEMPTION....but poor ole Les outcoached his talent again!  LSU dominated 3 qtrs of this game controlling the time of possession by QB Mettenberger delivering deadly accurate passes on 3rd down....over and over!  At times it looked as if Alabama offense could do as it wished, but due to the LSU 3rd down efficiency on offense.. AJ McCarron and Bama "O" could not establish any rhythm.  Meanwhile Mettenberger and the LSU bunch were gassing Saban's "D" by executing a game plan that seemed to be the right formula to pull the upset.  But with a 2 turnover edge, a 400+ yd offensive performance,  Mettenberger's perfect QB play, the Bayou Tigers could not overcome a botched FG fake, a failed onside kick attempt, 2 missed FGs, and a stuffed 4th and 1 attempt...and of course AJ McCarron!

 

 

GSE Picks of the Week

Upset Special

     Ok - you got me...I have no anaylytical reason to support my pick.  Pitt hasn't provided any proof they are capable of pulling off the upset.  However I do believe that Notre Dame is not as good as projected and their schedule not as tough as advertised.  As far as their win in Norman, nowadays lots of team win in Norman!  The Irish have had close calls at home against Michigan, Purdue, Stanford, and BYU.  Pitt will not be intimidated and the QB of Pitt & brother of the Alabama Safety (Sunseri) lead his team to the unthinkable upset!

Pitt - 20

ND  - 19

Big 12 Shootout of the Week

     Another game in which the Cats are very capable of losing if they get behind early.  The issue is OSU's defense, the fact that K-State is really the only Big 12 team that fields a defensive squad to go along with their offensive prowess really makes it hard for me to see a way the Cowboys can pull of the upset.  K-State is the best team in the Big 12 this year and they'll once again dispatch a typical one dimensional threat from their conference foes.

K-State - 49

OSU      - 24



Oregon Blowout of the Week

     First...as a friend of mine would say.."don't get it twisted"...the Ducks are the second best team in the country!!  Notre Dame wouldn't make it to halftime and K-State could not keep up with the hectic paced Quack Attack.  On the otherside of the coin.....I warned everyone of the overrated USC team lead by an overrated Lame Kitten!  Botton line Oregon is a well diciplined efficient team...USC isn't!

Ducks - 48

USC    - 24

Game of the Week

     

     The game that will determine whether Bama get's a shot at winning back-to-back championships.  Alabama holds a 24-9-2 edge in Baton Rouge, including a 28 year run where Bama was unbeaten in "Death Valley" (71'-99')!!  Since Nick Saban's arrival @ Bama in 07'  The Tide and Tigers have split the 6 game series with both winning and losing at home equally.  With the exception of the 21-0 National Championship blowout all of the games have come down to the 4th quarter or overtime with a 3.8 point differential.  The point being these are even teams that result in games that come down to 1-2 key plays.  This year both defenses are carbon copies and the special teams equal.  The difference seems to be in the growth and evolution of one offense and the decline of another!  LSU has a new QB in Mettenburger who has not experienced what he will see Saturday noght in terms of defense.  Alabama's AJ McCarron has seen and performed twice against the same defense.  LSU is struggling on the O-Line, Bama has the best O-Line in the country!  LSU has Les Miles..Bama Has Nick Saban....Any Questions???  Only thing that keeps this game close is Bama Turnovers!

Bama - 31

LSU   - 10