Curator’s Game of the Week WLOCP in Jacksonville The annual World’s Largest Cocktail Party is here! I talked about the cultural event at the blog. Now it’s time to talk about the game itself. The Gators come into this game down, but not out. Dan Mullen’s squad has three losses: Alabama, Kentucky, and LSU. They need a win to salvage anything from this season. They’re going to have to play the best on defense that they’ve played all year. This will require avoiding “3rd and Grantham.” If you give up 49 to LSU you spen two weeks trying to hatch ways to stop Stetson Bennett and the boys. They cannot let Georgia score at will because, let’s face it, Florida isn’t going to score much this week. Georgia comes in riding high. Ranked #1 in the nation, they have beaten a ranked opponent four times this year. Florida gave up 49 points in their last game. Georgia has given up 46 point this season. Now that’s some numbers that would make Coach Erk Russell proud. “If we score we might win but if they don’t score, we can’t lose” was his quote. That’s Georgia’s key to the game. Shut down the Gator offense and set Bennett and the Dawgs’ offense on cruise control. That assessment sounds pretty bleak for Florida. But if you dig in the archives, you’ll find several examples of a team riding high into Jacksonville against an unranked opponent only to have their season derailed. This rivalry is personal. It’s emotional. These two schools fight over recruits. So many of these kids know each other. They’ve played each other for years. Some even played together. I have friends and family on both sides of this divide. I’ve lived this rivalry. The atmosphere of the game the history of the rivalry, the emotions, it all gels at kickoff and you can throw the records out the window. This is the game to watch this weekend. Coach’s Game of the Week Michigan @ Michigan State In 113 matchups dating back to 1898, only 1 time has this rivalry seen a showdown of top 10 teams. This year, it means a little more to take the Paul Bunyan Trophy home with you. The trophy, a 5 foot tall statue of the folk hero himself, isn’t much of a looker. It lacks the flash and sophistication of todays game. However, it perfectly represents the true people of the state of Michigan. It’s rugged, rustic, tough….and ugly. In 1999, Michigan Head Coach Lloyd Carr stated “it’s the ugliest trophy in college football, but when you don’t have him, you miss him.” This matchup always brings a little heat to the Michigan fall but with playoff hopes of 2 undefeated teams in the balance, expect the fire to be stoked. These 2 teams are about as evenly matched as you can get. Both averaging around 5 TD’s a game, allowing just over 2. One team leaning on 250+ yards a game rushing, with the other finding that chunk through the air. 2 coaches who played in the Big 10, coached in the Big 10, found their ways to the NFL and back again to their home conference. This one has star power and meaningful ness that the Big 10 has been missing in recent years. The pick wasn’t easy, but I think it will come down to Sparty’s defense. While the 3 offenses are so evenly matched, The Michigan State defense is allowing over 400 yards a game, 285 through the air. If Wolverine QB Cade McNamera can continue to take care of the football (1 lone interception through 7 games) and move it efficiently, I think a big day could be ahead for Michigan’s offense. Can Sparty’s big passing offense match? When you think of big time Big 10 matchups you think of a game won between the tackles. That won’t be the case here. Let ‘er rip! Curator’s Upset Alert Penn State @ Ohio State It’s gonna happen eventually. You know it and I know it. Ohio State is going to choke. They always do. The trick is knowing when. Penn State is coming off two losses, including a pretty embarrassing upset by Illinois. James Franklin has been mentioned as a candidate for the LSU job for a reason. He’s going to get his team prepared. The idea of the Nittany Lions losing three in a row is almost unthinkable. The Buckeyes have been on a tear since that early loss to Oregon.but let’s face it, most teams could have gone on a tear against that schedule. I’m still not impressed with Ohio State. This is a beatable team and Penn State can do it. Find a way to contain TreVeyon Henderson and win the game. Period. Coach’s Upset Alert Florida State @ Clemson The anticipation of this season for Nole fans was only heightened by their opening week overtime thriller with Notre Dame. This was the year that this fantastic Florida State coaching staff finally turned the corner and returned the Noles to their legendary greatness! Then they started 0-4. It’s hard to win in college football. It’s harder when you’re taking over a team that hasn’t done much of it. Florida State needs one more year of recruiting and development before they’re ready to jump back in the conversation. Make no mistake, they may have the best coaching staff in America, and they WILL be there. There isn’t a doubt in my mind. They’ve rebounded and won 3 in a row, including an impressive win on the road at North Carolina, they just need one BIG win to push them over the hump mentally. Meanwhile, Dabo and his bunch are in the midst of a full season-saving mission and a QB controversy. Life after Trevor Lawrence hasn’t been easy (as should be expected) and they are working hard to find themselves offensively. Averaging just 20 points a game, they are a far cry from recent years and need in the worst way to find their groove fast. Their name still carries so much weight, deservedly so, and this is definitely still a game America would expect them to win. Don’t forget to add a little animosity over the COVID debacle last year when Clemson traveled to Florida and stayed the night in a hotel spending hundreds of thousands of dollars only to find out that Florida State had cancelled the game the morning of over COVID testing protocols and the back and forth exchange of words between Norvel and Swinney that followed. You’ve got a team who is just starting to come into their own against a team who is reaching for answers. Smells like upset. This should come down to the end in less than 40 total points. Exciting, but I think the Noles may just find a way to get this one done. Curator’s Picks (23-17) Georgia over Florida Ohio State over Penn State Ole Miss over Auburn Michigan State over Michigan Kentucky over Mississippi State Coach’s Picks (22-18)
Georgia over Florida Ohio State over Penn State Ole Miss over Auburn Michigan over Michigan State Kentucky over Mississippi State
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