Sunday, September 7, 2014

College Football Week Two Pass/Fail Report

Let us take a look at the week two that was as we hand out our biggest Pass/Fail grades. The week that was, in my book, largely earned a FAIL, as there was a general dearth of interesting matchups and overall games. The schedule was largely weak outside of about four r maybe five games, leaving us with a week that left me with a bit of a "meh" feeling. Here's hoping that week three proves to be a lot more interesting...

Thursday
Arizona went into San Antonio and the Alamo Dome to take on a charged up UTSA squad. While the Wildcats were largely lucky to escape from the Alamo with their win, I still stamp Arizona with a PASS, as they fought hard in a game I really thought that they could lose anyway. In the loss, I also give the Roadrunners themselves a PASS for hanging tough and never quitting on national TV. However, this is a split grade, as I give both the UTSA run game, QB Tucker Carter, and the half empty stadium a large FAIL. The run game never really showed up when it mattered, Carter threw some terrible balls in clutch situations, and that empty upper deck gave the TV audience a feel as if hardly anyone in San Antonio really cared outside of the university community.

Friday
Here's a huge PASS to what could be Pittsburgh's best power run game in years after a 30-20 win over Boston College. James Conner rushed for 214 yards and looked like the modern version of John Riggins with his effort. He didn't run around people, he ran right through them. BC largely earned a FAIL, especially for their lack of tackling, and for Tyler Murphy's amazingly bad QBR of 44.5.
Nevada earns a PASS for beating their third PAC-12 opponent in ten years, as they defensively frustrated Washington State in a 24-13 win. The Cougars are going to have to learn that they need more than Conner Halliday to carry them, as WSU earns a huge FAIL for once again failing to live up to expectations. Cody Fajardo joins Colin Kaepernick as QBs at Nevada who have totaled 10,000 total yards in the win.

Saturday

PASS
Georgia Tech...Bad week was followed up by rousing 38-21 win at Tulane. Paul Johnson needed that.
Clemson...Bounced back by posting 73 on SC State. Of course, they should have.
Louisville...Ironed out week one issues by putting up 66 on Murray State.
Miami...Nothing says bounce back like hammering FCS cupcake. Duke Johnson has 2 scores.
Duke...Now 2-0 after coming back to beat Troy 34-17.
North Carolina...Trailed San Diego State most of the game. Never quit in a trap game and won.
Virginia Tech...Beating Ohio State in Columbus is bigger than anyone knows for Frank Beamer.
Houston...Bounced back from UTSA drubbing against cupcake in Grambling. Win is a win.
Memphis...Even in losing, made UCLA look like those preseason projections were crap.
Oklahoma...The Sooners dismantled Tulsa on the road, Sterling Shepherd had a huge day.
West Virginia...Clint Trickett passes for 348 yds, 2 TDs in 54-0 rout of Towson.
Baylor...No Bryce Petty, no prob in 70-6 blowout win over NW State. Seth Russell tosses 5 TDs.
Penn State...D is dominant in 21-3 win over Akron. Offense, not so much.
Wisconsin...37-3 win over W. Illinois is solid, but sloppy at times.
Minnesota...Gophers cruised early, but held onlate in 35-24 win over MTSU.
North Texas...Jumped out to 23-0 lead, rush SMU 43-6. Big win.
FIU...Avoided 2 week sweep at hands of FCS schools in 34-3 win over Wagner.
Louisiana Tech...48-20 win over UL-Lafayette was one of the shocks of the day. Dixon runs wild!
Marshall...Herd recovers from sloppy week one effort to crush Rhode Island 48-7.
Army...Cadets jump out to 21-3 lead over Buffalo, win 47-39 in Monken's 1st game.
Navy...Middies didn't implode after emotional week 1 loss, beat Temple 31-24.
BYU...Cougars look to be one of nations best teams, defense giving up just 8.5 points per game.
Notre Dame...Irish end 42 game series with Wolverines with dominant 31-0 shutout win.
Central Michigan...Dan Enos gets much needed win on the road against Purdue. CMU never trailed.
Northern Illinois...Huskies win in state battle against Northwestern, not missing a beat in 2014.
Bowling Green...Need a bounce back win, schedule VMI. Worked for the Falcons yesterday.
Nevada...Wolfpack D got serious. Let Wash. State have their passing game, but little else.
Utah State...Let Idaho State hang on too long. But needed a bounce back win, and got one.
Wyoming...Cowboy D is playing big early, giving up just 12.5 points per game, and got MWC win.
Boise State...Survived trap game at home with Colorado State, and got early conference win.
Utah...Showed Fresno State who was boss, put up 59 on the Bulldogs. Utes now 2-0.
California...Showed they were ready for upset minded Sac. State in 55-14 drubbing. Now 2-0.
USC...Not a lot was good about the overall performance, but a win in conference play is huge here.
Oregon...Ducks beat up on Michigan State, is coast clear for 12-0 now?
Arizona State...Another creampuff, another easy win for sun Devils. Beat New Mexico by 35 on road
Oregon State...Despite 4th quarter collapse, Beavers looked strong in 38-30 win over hapless Hawaii.
Alabama...No issues against horrible FAU. Both Sims and Coker have strong appearances at QB.
Missouri...After slow start, Tigers blow by Toledo on road. Maty Mauk had a solid showing.
Tennessee...Challenged early, Vols overcame and pulled away. Now off to 2-0 start.
Kentucky...Weak schedule so far, but D is glaringly improved. Giving up just 10 points per game.
Florida...Gators got rained out last week, finally open in style in 65-0 romp over E. Michigan.
Arkansas...So many struggled against FCS teams yesterday. Not the Hogs, as they roll 73-7.
Ole Miss...Rebels looked much stronger than last week, played solidly in 41-3 rout of Vandy.
South Carolina...Came off loss and into trap game, but manage ECU in 33-23 win at home.
Auburn...Tigers should crush San Jose State like they did. AU handling business right now.
LSU...Sam Houston is no slouch, but LSU made them look that way in 56-0 win.
Texas A&M...Kenny Hill now has nine TDs this season after 70 point romp of lowly Lamar.
New Mexico State...Aggies have to take wins where they can, and 34-31 win over Ga. State was solid
South Alabama...Jags open on the road with a win over reeling Kent State.
Georgia Southern...Even the Eagles destroy Savannah State, 83-9. Why does SSU play football?
Appalachian State...Mountaineers get back to familiar FCS territory, get 66-0 win over Campbell.
UL-Monroe...It wasn't pretty, but War Hawks get solid conference win over Idaho.

FAIL
Tulane...Green Wave drops to 0-2 after 17 point home loss to Ga. Tech. Same old, same old.
NC State...Pack has largely struggled against former FCS programs so far. No D yesterday at all.
Wake Forest...When you can only put 23 up on Gardner-Webb, you have huge issues.
Troy...Larry Blakeney needs to just pack it up. Troy has fallen hard after 17 point loss to Duke.
Florida State...Could have blown Citadel out of building. Never fired all the rockets.
San Diego State...Had UNC on the ropes, let them off the hook. Defeat from jaws of victory.
U Conn...Really should have lost to Stony Brook. Barely walk away with 19-16 win.
SMU...Mustangs are averaging 3 points per game total. Horrible.
Tulsa...No energy after beating Tulane last week. Falls to Oklahoma by 45.
Temple...No good vibes coming off of Vandy win. Bad 3rd quarter dooms in loss to Navy.
USF...Bulls had a shot at a win, but let it get away against Maryland in 24-17 loss.
East Carolina...Had their chance against South Carolina, but failed to capitalize.
Kansas State...Should the Wildcats have had to fight so hard for a win over Iowa State?
Iowa State...Had one of their best shots at a win this season, and let it slip away.
Oklahoma State...Let the pedal up in second half against a below par Missouri State club.
Kansas...KU always loves a yearly loss to FCS team, and barely got by South Dakota State.
Texas...Wheels really came off the wagon against BYU in 41-7 loss. UCLA up next.
Texas Tech...Red Raiders have been pushed hard b FCS team and UTEP. Big 12 play will be rough.
Western Kentucky...Defense really let team down, as Toppers should have beaten Illinois.
Illinois...Struggled big time against WKU. Big Ten should never do that.
Nebraska...Did Pelini shit himself on the sideline, or what? Huskers lucky to survive FCS scare.
Purdue...Boilers fall to lower tier MAC team. It really can't get much worse.
Rutgers...Seriously, Akron did a better job against Howard. FREAKING AKRON!!!!
Northwestern...Maybe rather than union books, Wildcat players should read playbooks.
M. Tennessee...Raiders fell by 28-0 score at half to Minnesota. Comeback was much too late.
Iowa...Hawkeyes have largely struggled to beat N. Iowa and Ball State. Could be long season.
Maryland...Terps realized USF is one of worst programs in FBS, right?
Michigan State...Looked largely outclassed in second half at Oregon, may be out of playoff race.
Michigan...UM had never been shutout in 42 years against Irish. Way to wrap up series.
Ohio State...Buckeyes exposed by largely average Hokie team at home.
FAU...I know it was against Nebraska and Bama, but Owls now averaging 3.5 points per game.
UAB...Played with Miss. State for a half, but you must play two to win.
Old Dominion...Had chance at signature win, but let NC State slip away.
UL-Lafayette...Second best team in Louisiana was supposed to be Cajuns, not Tech.
Southern Miss...Beat Alcorn State by a six points. Braves are a SWAC team you idiots.
UTEP...If you are going to play Texas Tech that close, why not get a win?
Buffalo...Found themselves down 21-3 to Army at half, and THEN woke up.
Akron...The Zips were supposed to push Penn State. The D did a bit, but offense was a  no show.
Toledo...At times the Rockets showed life against Mizzou, but in the end, it wasn't enough.
Kent State...Flashes are now 0-2, and are showing no signs of life. Lost season already?
Colorado...Buffaloes struggled against U Mass. So much for me thinking they might be a bowl team.
U Mass...Minutemen had Colorado ready to fall, but defense sank the boat.
Miami (Ohio)...How do you challenge Marshall one week, then fall to FCS E. Kentucky the next?
Ohio...The Bobcats are really struggling on offense, averaging just 10 points per game.
Ball State...Had Iowa on the ground, but didn't finish them off. Lost opportunity.
Eastern Michigan...Just another day for EMU, as they fall 65-0 to Florida.
Fresno State...Bulldogs have no defense, giving up 55.5 points per game.
New Mexico...Another losing program continues to lose, and big.
San Jose State...Did we really think that the Spartans could challenge Auburn on the road?
UNLV...After a 45 point loss last week, they only score 13 on N. Colorado. Ridiculous.
Air Force...Falcons lose 1st MWC game, and it could spell the end for Troy Calhoun.
Colorado State...Win at Boise would have gone far, but alas, an opportunity lost once again.
Hawaii...Norm Chow is now 4-22. Can we just call time of firing?
Washington...I expected Huskies to lose to FCS E. Washington. They gave up 52, but still won.
Stanford...Cardinal came out very flat at home and lost. Stanford slips in 2014.
UCLA...Back to back weeks of being favored by 3 scores, and they barely get by both.
Mississippi State...Bulldogs let UAB hang around much too long, and that's dangerous moving on.
Vanderbilt...Derek Mason starts out 0-2. This start has been just disastrous.
Arkansas State...Go big or go home. Loss to Vols means they go home.
Georgia State...Panthers lost a rare opportunity for a win, especially in conference play.
Idaho...Vandals may be a bit better in 2014, but lost a chance at UL-Monroe in 38-31 loss.

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