Curator & Coach - Week 10

Curator's Game of the Week
Auburn @ Texas A&M

This is going to be the biggest game of the week by far. The Aggies stirred up a bunch of hype with that big win over Alabama a few weeks ago. Auburn has caught a lot of flak this year but they still control their own destiny in the SEC East. If they win out, thy go to Atlanta for a rematch with Georgia. 

A&M showed us n that Alabama game that they can put a complete game together. That is exctly what Jimbo Fisher need to do this week if they want to come out on top against Auburn. They need to limit mistakes, especially turnovers. The more time they spend with possession, the less Auburn can hurt them. They will need a strong pass rush with effective containment. It will also help if that famous 12th Man has big game. That atmosphere in College Station is electric and has the power to sway this game.

For Auburn, the key is Bo Nix. The Tigers' quartrback is criticized as a bit of a loose cannon but the kid has a way of making plays, the kind of plays that can take that 12th Man out of the game. If Nix can make some big plays happen at the right times, the Aggies could be in for a long day. Auburn must focus on the game at hand. The Iron Bowl is coming soon enough, but it won't matter as much if they nlook past the Aggies. 

Coach's ​Game of the Week
Virginia Tech @ Boston College - Red Bandanna Game 


Friday night’s primetime contest in Chestnut Hill marks the annual Red Bandanna Game at BC. The yearly game honors the life and sacrifice of Boston College Lacrosse Alum Welles Crowther who perished in the September 11 Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. If you’ve never heard that story, Tom Rinaldi did a wonderful piece on it that you can find a link to at the bottom of the segment. Welles was known all his life for the Red Bandanna that he carried on him starting when he was just 6 years old. It was a gift from his father in hopes that he would use it to solve the typical 6 year old boy constant runny nose. It became his signature among his friends and family. Following his Lacrosse career, he began a career as an Equities Trader in an office on the 104th floor of the South tower. People who were in the 70th floor lobby awaiting an elevator for evacuation when the South tower was hit, along with many others from higher floors, report being assisted to safety by a man whose face was covered by a Red Bandanna before he returned to the stairs to climb higher to assist more people. 

College football is such a tremendous strand in the DNA of America. It brings people joy in times of sorrow, Excitement in times of stress and using the platform that it creates, we in our business have the opportunity to honor true heroes whose impact on this world goes far above catching a touchdown pass. Friday night will feature 2 .500 football teams. The football isn’t what will make this game one to watch. My favorite part of this game has nothing to do with the game. For me, it’s these moments, these events. It’s using our platform to honor true heroes like Welles. What a special night it will be. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S77KYbkmjwc

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Curator's Upset Alert
Florida @ South Carolina

I'm going out on a limb here. South Carolina is bad. I don't mean bad to the bone. I mean terrible. Under normal circumstances, I would never give this game a second thought. But these are not normal circumstances. 

The Gamecocks have nothing to lose in this game. Shane Beamer is trying to rebuild a program from scratch and I think he will. But it will take winning games like this one to do it. Pull out all the stops, don't hold anything back. All the cliches. Let it roll. This game is Carolina's season. 

Florida comes to Columbia a the end of a disastrous week. The Gators were embarrassed by Georgia at the World's Largest Outdoor Party. Then Dan Mullen made some unfortunate comments about recruiting. Mullen is also coming under fire about the performance of his assistants. This is all a potential psychological storm that can poison a locker room and set a team up for an upset. Football is a mental game and if Florida has a mental breakdown, Carolina is in a position to pull off an upset.

Keep an eye on this game. 

Coach's Upset Alert
Michigan State @ Purdue

Michigan State is fresh off an emotional, monumental win last Saturday against previously unbeaten Michigan. The win propelled them securely into the Playoff Rankings and assured that Paul Bunyan will spend another year in East Lansing. With that behind them, a showdown with Ohio State in 2 weeks and the Big 10 Championship game are the only rational things separating them from an opportunity to play for a National Title. Coming off that high and looking forward to that game makes 5-3 Purdue an afterthought. Treating the Boilermakers that way would be a big mistake…ask Iowa. Additionally, Sparty’s sure thing wins haven’t all exactly come easily this year (See: Nebraska by 3, Allowing 560 yards of offense to Western Kentucky and Indiana by 5). This is definitely one to keep an eye on! ​

 Curator's Picks (26-19)

Auburn over Texas A&M
Kentucky over Tennessee
Air Force over Army 
Arkansas over Mississippi State
Fresno over Boise

 Coach's Picks (24-21)

Texas A&M over Auburn
​Kentucky over Tennessee
Air Force over Army
Mississippi State over Arkansas
Fresno over Boise