College news!
Uniforms provided by the Pittsburgh Steelers Charity Foundation. Source: AP/Charlie Niebergall.
Excuse Me While I Come Out of Nowhere: In a Big East showdown at Heinz Field, UConn lead by 15 points as the third quarter dwindled to its end. Dejected Pitt, however, struck back with a breakout run and breakout pass play to put seven on the board. Another seven plus a deuce conversion tied it in the fourth quarter. UConn punted, and the Panthers plowed down the field to nail the coffin shut with an extra point-sized field goal - and 18 unanswered points. Fun Fact: Pitt had one of its most ridiculous comebacks last season, as a field goal finally put away pesky Notre Dame, at Notre Dame, in quadruple overtime. Those watching at home promptly needed a quadruple bypass.
Truly Special Special Teams: Mizzou (24)/Nebraska (21) was one messy game. In nearly four quarters of intense, driving rain, there were five turnovers and numerous other fumbles recovered by the fumblees. The score was 2-0, Mizzou, at the half. Someone later remarked to Second and One, "That's like a baseball score. Or, worse yet, soccer!" The two points came when Nebraska punter Alex Henry, pinned up against his own goalpost, caught a bad snap. Facing heavy pressure from defenders and slipping on the frictionless turf, Henry simply tossed the soggy football out the back of the end zone, for fear of being smeared from sideline to sideline. D'oh! Despite the extremely slow start, Nebraska rallied to win by 15. Confucius says: those who lose to Cornhuskers say "Aw, shucks!"
Safety is more important than safeties during the Missouri Monsoon Bowl. Source: L. G. Patterson, A.P.
Another one Bites the Dust: #17 Auburn was drop-kicked into next Tuesday by the unranked Arkansas Razorbacks. Petrino and company won by 21, while Auburn head coach Gene Chizik removed his headset and stood hopelessly on the sidelines. Ouch.
Hook, Line, and Stinker: In addition to talking about the Cinderella stories and amazing upsets, we here at Second and One also like to talk about teams that are setting a new futility record! Purdue continues its mortifying collapse into the depths of fail, blowing another early lead (10 points) to lose to Minnesota by 15. (What is with everyone and 15 points this week?) After the first quarter, the Football Gods decided that mocking the Boilermakers was way too much fun to pass up, and after the easy ten points promptly served up the following terribly poisonous menu: Punt, Interception, Field Goal, Shanked Punt that Only Went Seven Yards, Fumbled Kickoff Return, Blocked Field Goal for a Touchdown, Turnover on Downs, Touchdown (the Proverbial Too Little Too Late), Turnover on Downs, Interception. Jeeeeez, is there any worse sequence of events than that? Whilst the football gods are it it, they might as well send lightning strikes, broken fingers, and jock itch! Fun Fact: Purdue now leads the country in turnovers. In second place is Miami of Ohio.
In honor of their football team, Purdue's School of Culinary Arts bakes up a big box of turnovers. Source (and a very good recipe!)
Amusing Announcing: During the MSU/Illinois skirmish, announcers were talking about MSU tight end Garrett Celek, stating "His dad plays for the Philadelphia Eagles." Um...whilst there is a Celek who plays for the Eagles (TE Brent Celek, whom I've mentioned numerous times in my fantasy football analysis), there is no way he can be Garrett Celek's father unless there's some serious time-traveling*: Brent Celek is 24-years old, and their father (according to the Eagles' website) is some kind of businessman who never played for anyone). Please, announcers: Be sure brain is engaged before mouth is opened!
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Now, my NFL picks for the week:
Pittsburgh @ Detroit: Normally I would say that since the Steelers, sans Polamalu, have been less-than-stellar on the road and lost to Cincinnati, and the Lions looked surprisingly competent against Washington (and in the first half of the Bears game), that we might be entering rarefied upset territory. However, there is a good chance that Matthew Stafford will not start, and I expect the Steeler D to have their way with the slower Daunte Culpepper. Roethlisberger (and the O-line) have had problems allowing sacks, but the Lions' pass defense is ranked 25th. Pittsburgh, but maybe by a lower margin than one might expect.
Cincinnati @ Baltimore: Cincy has won three of its last four games, dropping one to Denver. Baltimore has won three of its last four games, dropping one to New England. Gosh, this is a toughie. Both teams have some bad psychology (Cincy's cowardly "punt-for-the-tie" business vs. Baltimore's "The refs are out to get us" rap). Both Palmer and Flacco can have very good days and very bad days. However, where as Cincinnati has not won by more than seven points, Baltimore looks more convincing, beating KC by 14 and the hapless Browns by 31. Also: the Bengals are 11th in rushing, and everyone knows you don't run on Baltimore. It's going to be a long day for both teams, but I'll pick the Ravens.
Indianapolis @ Tennessee: Is there any team in greater disarray than the Tennessee Titans? Fans, coaches, and sportswriters alike are clamoring for Kerry Collins to be benched (as if Vince Young could save the day) - and this chemistry is NOT good, folks! The Sinking Titanics floundered against anemic Jacksonville, whereas Peyton Manning and company, energized with power and raw intensity, are dismembering everyone they play. If the Titans can keep it close, big guys like LenDale white could have a breakout day against a Colt rush defense that is average at best. But with Manning, who leads the league in pass yards, galloping in**, I expect the Colts to force Collins to throw more; Collins does not do well under this sort of pressure. Indianapolis.
Washington @ Carolina: Here's the Pooper Bowl of the week. Both teams are essentially last in their division*** Neither team can get any offense started. Carolina's Jake Delhomme leads the league in turnovers. I think, and I'm too lazy to look it up. Jason Campbell has yet to get the party started in DC. Washington lost to Detroit. I think Jim Zorn is trying to get himself canned at this point. Carolina had an absolutely abysmal performance in Dallas. Nonetheless, Carolina seems to be good at the two-minute drill, and if they can return to the run game and hold onto the football, they've got a shot here. On the other side of the ball, they also seem to have worked out a decent pass defense scheme. However, nobody knows which way the 'Skins' offensive balance is going to swing on any given day, and if we see a lot of Clinton Portis, it's lights out for the Big Black Cats. As I'm out of time, I think I'll actually take Carolina this week, and probably regret it.
Remember kids: Sometimes on 4th down you should kick, otherwise, you might toss a pick.
*Not to mention inappropriate family relationships that would make both Oedipus and VC Andrews blush.
**Cue the William Tell Overture, baby!
***I say "essentially" last because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost four. Carolina has lost three. They are both 0.00.
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