Hungover Like it's 1997

It's Sunday once again, and that means I should be overwhelmed by the intense amount of college football that has been coursing through my veins over the last 24 hours. But for all the trials and tribulations of the gridiron, it is a baseball that leaves me as dumbfounded as I've ever been in my professional sports writing career.

The Baltimore Orioles have won their 16th consecutive extra innings game, as of yesterday's 12-inning 9-6 win up in Fenway. Yes, my Orioles. The ones that haven't been relevant when the leaves start changing in 15 years. But hey, who am I to stand in the way of greatness? Go get em O's.

I can't explain how a team with a terrible run differential is going to finish the regular season with 90 wins. Is this coincidence? Maybe. Either way, where's Michael Lewis when you need him? This has best-seller written all over it.

The Yankees and Orioles are in a deadlocked race to the finish. Neither team loses ever, which makes the fast-paced, crazy nature of this pennant race even wilder. Since beginning a series with Toronto on August 24, the Orioles have lost seven games. I don't know this for sure, but that's gotta be a league-low mark. The Yankees are nearly equaling that mark, having lost seven games since the beginning of September. The Pinstripes are currently on a 7-game win streak; Baltimore has a six-game streak of their own. Oh, and the Orioles win streak? It's covered a span of 68 innings (14 additional innings). I'm beginning to think they're letting games get tied late on purpose, just so they can show off. Or hey, maybe it's just coincidence.

And by the time you start reading this, Baltimore will begin the final game of a series in Boston (first pitch, 1:35PM). The Red Sox are last place in the AL East-- behind even Toronto-- and have assured themselves their first losing season since 1997.

The Orioles last winning season and playoff appearance? 1997.

And that's not coincidence.


#6 JMU 32, Rhode Island 7

I'm not paying $10 to watch a shitty video package that I could do three weeks into my HTML coding class. Sorry Rhode Island, your shh-don't-tell-anyone NEC football budget does not sway my wallet one bit. So I didn't get to see any of this game.

Here's what I do know. There must have been something in the Virginia water supply, because Thorpe threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns. Nice play calling by Mickey, who decided to go to the passing game to take the focus away from a beat up run-game. Thorpe finished with two touchdowns and two picks, and since he's not a Heisman contender, I could care less about his interceptions here (though his decision-making often bothers me a great deal).

One of the best aspects of this game from an offensive position were the no-namers getting into the end zone for JMU. With Scott injured and Coble/Brown out for the year for their own respective reasons, it's good to see further depth at the skill position that will continue to keep the end zones busy.

Enjoy the week off Dukes, because the champs come a-callin in 13 days.


Maryland 21, #8 West Virginia 31

God forbid West Virginia play a game where they don't score 60-some points. The way announcers and commentators were talking about this game, you'd think the Mountaineers lost by 30.

Edsall and his staff knows our playbook pretty well, and dialed up a fair amount of pressure and nice play-calling to keep our offense in check. Bad news for Terps fans: "keeping our offense in check" still means Geno throws for 300+ yards and three touchdowns, and still no picks. Oh, and Tavon Austin had over 175 yards receiving and all three touchdowns. Darn, too bad we didn't play well. With 30 mile an hour gusts out on the mountain.

Oh wait.


#15 K-State 24, #6 Oklahoma 19

Okay, just let me get this out of my system really quick.

I TOLD YOU, I TOLD YOU, I TOLD YOU.

Oklahoma is always overrated. It's like a law of physics. When Sir Isaac Newton felt the wrath of the Apple Tree, dropping tender fruit upon his head, he was quoted as immediately saying "Oh! Gravity! And boy is that Oklahoma team overrated."

Even still, this is definitely a noteworthy upset. Kansas State hasn't won in Norman since... wait, what? 1997. Well this is awkward. Look, nice job Bill Snyder, but let's keep the focus on the Orioles, okay?

The Sooners are on the outside looking in as far as the Big 12 Title Race is concerned, and that's exactly how I envisioned it in the preseason. Don't expect them not to contend, but don't label them frontrunners either.

If you need a reminder of my remaining Big 12 predictions-- a race I'm obviously very invested in and attuned too-- recall that I have picked Texas and West Virginia to beat Kansas State, TCU to beat Texas and Oklahoma, and I half-way expect (though refuse to officially predict) West Virginia to drop a game to a team they probably shouldn't lose too (ie, Texas Tech/Iowa State). Texas in Austin is the biggest challenge of the year, though. Don't get confused.


#18 Michigan 6, #11 Notre Dame 13

The Notre Dame defense is going to get a ton of credit here, and frankly, it's undeserved. But why, Chase? They held explosive Michigan to just six points!

Easy, baby birds. I'll feed you.

I got to see a lot of the tape from this game, and Denard Robinson did not look like Denard Robinson. For some unimaginable reason, Brady Hoke & Co's game plan to score points was to turn D-Rob into a pocket passer. I know, because it worked so well against Alabama, right? Let's do it again!

As it turns out, doing the same thing and expecting different results actually is the definition of insanity. Meeeechigan's quarterback was so great that he actually oversaw an offense that committed SIX turnovers. Five were his! And we're not talking great plays on the ball by Notre Dame backs, either, we're talking throws straight to linebackers dropped into coverage. Six turnovers, and all BK and the boys can manage is 13 points?

These teams are exactly what I thought they were: above average, not great, and unable to compete with the really elite teams. When Notre Dame plays somebody that's legit- USC, maybe Oklahoma or Miami- they're going to get a rude awakening.


#10 Clemson 37, #4 Florida State 49

You win Seminoles. You finally have earned my respect. I refused to pick FSU until they stopped choking away their perennial hype every September. Fine, you made a statement. I have to acknowledge that.

But let's not slide FSU into the national championship game just yet. Road games at NC State, suddenly upset-prone Miami, always dangerous Virginia Tech (at home), and defense-minded Maryland. Oh, and the showdown with Florida, as well. Clemson might have exposed the Sems a little bit, even in the loss. They are definitely beatable, even by a lot of the mediocre talent in the ACC.


CAA Action

New Hampshire 61, Old Dominion 64

The fact that ODU scored over 60 points and still needed a game-winning field goal to win makes me think JMU is going to kick their ass.

The fact that ODU quarterback Taylor Heinicke accumulated a D-1 record 730 passing yards makes me think they're gonna kick ours.


Albany 30, Maine 20

Albany is an NEC school, so this loss doesn't count against Maine in conference. Still, they lost to an NEC school. That might be even worse.


Delaware 51, William and Mary 21

The Blue Hens look like they might be the best challenger to JMU for the CAA crown.


Other Notable Scores


Florida Atlantic 7, #1 Alabama 40

I love that we criticize Oregon, West Virginia, and Florida State for not playing anyone til week 4 yet Alabama already has the National title sewn up beating up on Western Kentucky, Florida Atlantic, and two schools that weren't even close to 100%. Call me when they've beaten someone. And no, Ole Miss does not count as "someone" either.


#2 LSU 12, Auburn 10

Sometimes, I'd rather be good than deep.


#22 Arizona 0, #3 Oregon 49

I'm becoming more and more convinced that Oregon is a National Championship frontrunner. If they can get past USC.


Oregon State 27, #19 UCLA 20

Jonathan Franklin is good. UCLA is not.

The Civil War is becoming increasingly interesting each week, and not in a Robert E. Lee kind of way, either.


Bowling Green 0, Virginia Tech 37

Nothing to see here folks, move along. Bowling Green's Rush Defense ranks somewhere around 135 with me. Yeah-- I could probably name a dozen FCS schools who'd defend the run better (JMU is definitely one of them). This is what I expected Tech to do, so they deserve some praise for coming out and executing, and not letting Pitt beat them twice. But don't get mistaken and think this is more than it is.


Miami 32, Georgia Tech 26

The ACC is starting to look more and more like the Big East... and I mean that as a compliment. Anything could happen.

Florida State, you're on watch.


South Florida 27, Ball State 31

...But the Sems aren't on watch just yet, because South Florida, once again, seems to not possess the fortitude to be a major threat to anyone of consequence.


Rutgers 35, Arkansas 26

I'm not making a big deal out of this because I think Rutgers is a better team than Arkansas. ESPN's not-so-SECret love affair can continue, but Arkansas just isn't that great of a team.



That's it for the hangover this week. I'm off radio next weekend as Tony will be out of town and JMU is on bye, so keep it on the blog for all things college football. Other than that, see you next weekend, where the orange-and-black clan will probably be dangerously close to partying like it's 1997.

Cameron Starke, shoutout! Hope Tosh was good.