Former Foes, Week 7

Kent State Golden Flashes (2-4)

Beat Buffalo 44-20

After losing a close game against Akron last week, the Flashes took care of business this weekend against the Buffalo Bulls. Quarterback Nick Holley threw for just 89 yards, but ran for 224 yards and four touchdowns on the day. Running back Justin Rankin led the team in receiving with 40 yards. I think someone needs to go over job titles with the Flashes. KSU improves to 1-1 in the MAC, and visits lowly Miami (OH) this coming week.

Up Next: Miami (OH) RedHawks (0-6)

Pitt Panthers (4-2)

Beat Georgia Tech 37-34

If Pitt fans are hoping for their team to come out and shut down their opponents for easy wins, they’re going to be waiting awhile. It seems as if the Panthers are unable to win (or lose) any contests early in the game. After a 21-point win over FCS Villanova, their wins have come by 3, 16, and 3 points, while their losses have been by 7 and 1 point. By the way, 13 of those 16 points came in the last 1:04 of the game against Marshall. This team doesn’t win big, but doesn’t lose big either, causing much agita for the fanbase. In this game, Georgia Tech was up by 7 with 5:22 to go in the game before a 74-yard touchdown pass tied the game, and a Chris Blewitt field goal bounced off the uprights and in to win the game. Pitt looks to pad their win total with Virginia coming to town.

Up Next: Virginia Cavaliers (2-3)

Temple Owls (3-3)

Lost to Memphis 34-27

Temple took a 13-3 lead into halftime, but couldn’t contain the Tigers in the second half, as Memphis scored 24 unanswered points to put away the Owls. Statistically, Temple dominated, with 531 total yards (to Memphis’ 323), 27 first downs (15), and 38:15 in time of possession. But 3 turnovers - including a pick-six – as well as a kickoff returned for a touchdown doomed the team to a loss. The schedule doesn’t get any easier, as secretly decent UCF comes to town this weekend.

Up Next: Central Florida Knights (3-2)

#4 Michigan Wolverines (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten)

Beat Rutgers 78-0

Oh my goodness. Where to begin? The Wolverines so thoroughly beat the Knights that the second string was playing in the third quarter – and the third string was playing in the fourth quarter. Michigan only passed the ball 16 times, and only 8 of those were completions. With a more-or-less running clock, Michigan rushed 56 times for 481 yards and nine touchdowns. Michigan held Rutgers to 39 total yards and two first downs. Rutgers has now been outscored 136-0 in its last two games. Oh, Rutgers.

Up Next: Bye

Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-2, 0-2)

Lost to Iowa 14-7

So, for those Penn State fans that enjoy old school, smashmouth football, I sure hope you tuned in on Saturday to watch the Hawkeyes take on the Golden Gophers. The score was 3-0 at the half, and 7-6 entering the fourth quarter. Mitch Leidner didn’t have the best day, going 13 of 33 through the air for 166 yards and two interceptions. Against an Iowa defense that is not very stout against the rush, Minnesota opted to pass more than run, and that decision cost them. Minnesota has suffered two straight B1G losses, and takes on feisty Maryland next.

Up Next: Maryland Terrapins (4-1, 1-1)

Maryland Terrapins (4-1, 1-1)

GOT BURNT

I said it in the BSD MVP article, but this weekend you finally got to see what Joe Moorhead’s offense can look like. And that was in conditions that were less than optimal, to say the least. On a fairly dry day, expect to see even more run-pass options, with receivers getting involved even more. If everyone will recall, there was a play that ended up with an illegal forward pass after Trace McSorley tried to dump the ball off to a receiver, but was about a yard past the line of scrimmage – on that play, Trace faked the hand off to Barkley as the defensive line crashed on the running back, and rolled out of the pocket. He had a sizeable lane to run in, but saw that his receiver had just single coverage, and that the defensive back was peeling off to try to tackle him. Had he still been behind the line of scrimmage, it would have been a monstrous gain for the offense. As it was, it was a penalty and a loss of down, but if the execution can get cleaned up going forward, plays like that will gouge even the best defenses in the league. I, for one, am very excited.

Up Next: Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-2, 0-2)