Finally, the college football season is underway.   It was an exciting weekend as always with some great games and plays including, quite possibly, the catch of the year.

That catch of the year came from Ohio State’s Devin Smith who made a leaping and twisting one handed grab in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.  The Buckeyes started off slow and looked like they were so anxious that they played uptight.  However, as soon as the second quarter came along the Buckeyes rolled.  Braxton Miller accounted for 368 of the Buckeyes 538 yards with 207 in the air and 161 on the ground along with three total touchdowns.

Fellow Big Ten school, Michigan State, barely got by Boise State and rode the back of Le’Veon Bell who rushed for 210 yards and two touchdowns and added six catches for 55 yards.

Sticking with the Big Ten, Michigan did not fare too well against the Crimson Tide of Alabama.  Michigan’s poor play was a big disappointment to many as they were expected to be very good this season. Denard Robinson was not only shut down by the Alabama defense, but he also played poorly by making some bad decisions.

However, Alabama rolled.  Their offensive line was dominant and opened up some major holes for their running backs to get through and out into space.  AJ McCarron controlled the game from the beginning and was mistake free.  The Alabama defense looked like they will have the best defense in the country, yet again.

Former number one in the polls, USC, took down Hawaii with ease but still lost their ranking to Alabama.  Heisman favorite Matt Barkley threw for 372 yards and 4 touchdowns including 2 to Robert Woods.  Marqise Lee added 10 catches for 197 yards and a touchdown as well.

Oklahoma did not play like fourth ranked team in the country as they looked bad against UTEP.  South Carolina squeaked by Vanderbilt.  Oregon was up huge at halftime and then stopped scoring and ended with a 57-34 victory over Arkansas State.

West Virginia took down Marshall 69-34 with Geno Smith accounting for 5 touchdowns.  LSU looked solid without the Honey Badger and Clemson took down Auburn behind Andre Ellington and his 228 rushing yards.  This weekend recap can’t go without mentioning the 84-0 victory Oklahoma State had over Savannah State. Finally, Virginia Tech defeated Georgia Tech by a field goal in overtime escaping another opening game loss.

This was a very exciting weekend of college football and the rest of the season should be no different.  Alabama should continue to roll, and USC should keep up the offense for the rest of the season, potentially creating a great matchup for the national title.

By: Chris Ruple

There have been a number of lower seeds knocking off higher seeds in the tournament so far. Here’s a rundown of the first round upsets and a couple teams that may be this years Cinderella.

14 Ohio defeats 3 Georgetown

Out of all the first round upsets, this was probably the most surprising. Not many people had Ohio beating Georgetown in their bracket. They did it just like most teams that have success in the tournament do, solid guard play. Ohio standout guard Armon Basset put up 32 on the Hoyas and led the way to this first round upset. The Bobcats couldn’t even manage a winning record in conference play but were able to knock off the Hoyas. Ohio will clash with Tennessee in the second round and while we shouldn’t count them out yet, it would be a stretch to say the Bobcats will defeat anyone besides the inconsistent Hoyas.

13 Murray State defeats 4 Vanderbilt

One of the more popular upset picks of the tournament lived up to the hype. Impressive guard play from Issac Miles, BJ Jenkins, and big time six man Issiah Cannon helped the Racers pull the upset. Danero Thomas’ buzzer beater for the win provided the best finish to a game thus far. Don’t be surprised if this Murray State team takes their next game against Butler and makes it to the Sweet 16.

7 BYU defeats 10 Florida

While their first victory wasn’t an upset, BYU may have a couple of upset victories in their future. It is very possible that one of the 2 seeds will go down at the hands of a 7-10 team in the second round. Florida knew guard Jimmer Fredette would be key to a Cougar victory, yet they couldn’t stop him. Fredette dropped 37 on the Gators, one of the most impressive performances of the first round, while wing man Michael Lloyd Jr. was 7 for 10 from the field and 26 points. BYU looked very good in their first tournament win since 1992. If they can get past Kansas State in the second round and Fredette stays hot, they could be a surprise Final Four team.

12 Cornell defeats 5 Temple

This was another popular upset and Cornell lived up to the expectations defeating the Owls 78-65. The Big Red lead most of the game thanks to big man Jeff Foote who went for 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. The Ivy League squad tallied its first NCAA tournament victory and will look to gain their second against the Wisconsin Badgers. This will be an interesting match up and don’t be surprised to see the Big Red challenging Kentucky for a spot in the Elite 8.

11 Washington defeats 6 Marquette

The Big East woes continued in San Jose as the Huskies defeated the Golden Eagles 80-78. The Huskies entered the Pac-10 tournament needing to make some noise and led by star forward Quincy Pondexter they swept the competition and won the tournament. Pondexter would also makes some noise in the Big Dance by putting up 18 against the Golden Eagles, including banking in a layup with 1.7 seconds left and claiming a berth in the second round. The rolling Huskies will face New Mexico in the second round, a very winnable game as the Lobos struggled in their opening round matchup against Montana.

10 Missouri defeats 7 Clemson

The battle of the Tigers ended with the boys from Missou advancing to the second round. With both teams running high press defenses, it appeared at first that Clemson’s sharpshooters might come out on top. Missouri struggled from the field in the first half but stuck around and were able to pull away in the second half. The Tigers “Fastest 40 minutes in Basketball” pressure defense may be the recipe for success to take down the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round.

11 Old Dominion defeats 6 Notre Dame

Not too many people thought the Monarchs would take down the Irish but a strong defensive effort help them do just that. Old Dominion held Notre Dame to 35% from the field and forward Frank Hassel accounted for 21 of the Monarchs 51 points. Carelton Scott had a chance to send the game into overtime for Notre Dame with a three pointer but instead the ball was tipped in for two and the Monarchs got the win. The Monarchs aren’t new to first round upsets, they pulled one of the biggest in tournament history in 1995 as they took down 3 Villanova as a 14 seed in a triple overtime thriller. The upset minded Monarchs will face the Baylor Bears in the second round with a chance to reach their first ever Sweet 16.

10 St Mary’s defeats 7 Richmond

The “Boys from Down Under” defeated the Spiders 80-71. The Gael’s roster contains 5 players from Australia but it was California native Omar Samhan who led the way for the Gaels with 29 points and 12 rebounds. The Gaels looked very good in their first round match shooting a cool 49% from the field and 42% from beyond the arc. With 2 seed Villanova struggling against Robert Morris in the first round, don’t be surprised to see the Gaels make the Sweet 16.

This year’s field is full of lower seeded teams that are capable of making deep runs and a couple higher seeded teams that are very venerable to upsets. This year truly shows no one really has a good method to their madness when filling out their bracket in March.

By Jay Ingles

The brackets have been unveiled, and its time for college basketball fans to pick their upsets, cinderellas, and national champion. Let’s take a look as what this year’s tournament offers.

Midwest Region:

Favorite: Kansas. The Jayhawks are the most complete team in college basketball. Sherron Collins is one of the best leaders in the game, and he has the supporting cast to make a national title run. Cole Aldrich is a solid post presence and, along with the Morris twins, gives Kansas a legitimate frontcourt. Xavier Henry is arguably the most skilled freshman in the country. Kansas is not only the favorite in this bracket, but probably the favorite to win the entire tournament.

Sleeper: Michigan State. Last year’s national runner-up has underachieved all year and is not receiving much attention heading into the tournament. But Michigan State is experienced, and Tom Izzo knows how to get it done in the tournament. The Spartans shouldn’t have much trouble getting to the Sweet 16, and they could give Kansas a run for their money if they meet. Kalin Lucas is an elite point guard, and Raymar Morgan, Durrell Summers, and Draymond Green are all dangerous players.

Upset Special: San Diego State over Tennessee. Most people don’t know much about San Diego State, but they might learn quickly. The Aztecs are fresh off a Mountain West Tournament title, while Tennessee’s last game was an embarrassing 29-point loss to Kentucky in the SEC Tournament semifinals. Tennessee managed to do well in the SEC after losing star swingman Tyler Smith earlier this year, but their lack of depth could be an issue in the tournament. Furthermore, San Diego State’s top three scorers reside in the post, where Tennessee can’t match up.

West Region:

Favorite: Syracuse. The Orange lost their first game in the Big East Tournament, but they still have all the pieces to make a run at the national title. Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson has been incredible in his first season of eligibility, and Andy Rautins is perhaps the best shooter in the nation. Sophomore Kris Joseph is a solid contributor, and Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuako have the size and ability inside to give other teams problems.

Sleeper: UTEP. The Miners got jobbed with a No. 12 seed. This team is good enough to make a Sweet 16 run. Louisville transfer Derrick Caracter has been a force in the paint this year and could be a tough task for Butler’s Matt Howard or Vanderbilt’s A.J. Ogilvy. Randy Culpepper is one of the best scoring guards in the country, and UTEP’s potential opponents don’t have have a defender capable of containing him.

Upset Special: Murray State over Vanderbilt. Murray State quietly posted 30 wins this year, and Vanderbilt has a history of losing to 13-seeds (see 2008). The Racers have the most balanced offense in the tournament field, sporting six players that average around ten points per game. In other words, there is no player that a defense can key on, which makes Murray State a tough matchup and thus a tough out. Vanderbilt is good, but they got a bad draw and I can see Murray State pulling the upset.

East Region:

Favorite: West Virginia. Kentucky is the No. 1 seed and has plenty of talent, but the lack of experience of their core will catch up to them eventually. West Virginia has both the talent and the experience to make it to the Final Four. Both teams are coming off conference tournament championships, but the Mountaineers effort was much more impressive. Desean Butler is a stud who performs in the clutch, and Devin Ebanks is a matchup nightmare. I expect these teams to meet in the Elite Eight and West Virginia to come away with the victory.

Sleeper: Marquette. The Golden Eagles flew under the radar in the Big East this season, but they are good enough to make a run in the tournament. Marquette lacks size, but they make up for it with skill. Lazar Hayward and Jimmy Butler are small for post players, but they combine for 33 points and 14 rebounds a game. Darius Johnson-Odom is an underrated guard who can score. Marquette has a pretty good draw, facing a streaky Washington team and potentially a New Mexico team with whom they match up well.

Upset Special: Cornell over Temple. This is an interesting matchup because both of these teams are good enough to make the Sweet 16. Cornell is undervalued as a No. 12 seed and has a big-time scorer in Ryan Wittman. Temple is a good team, but they may have trouble with a well-schooled Cornell squad. I like the winner of this game beating Wisconsin in the second round.

South Region:

Favorite: Villanova. Duke is not as good as their seed indicates, and Villanova will beat them in the Elite Eight if the Blue Devils get there. The Wildcats have struggled recently, winning just four of their last ten games, but they have enough talent to make their second straight Final Four. Scottie Reynolds may be the best point guard in the nation and has plenty of quality players around him. Coach Jay Wright has won in the tournament in the past, so expect him to do the same this year.

Sleeper: Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have really turned it on lately. They played well without star big man Luke Harangody, and now he has worked himself back into an effective role with the team. Mike Brey has his team firing on all cylinders and primed for an NCAA tournament run. Tim Abromaitis is a player to watch out for, and Tory Jackson and Ben Hansbrough make up a very good backcourt. I see Notre Dame making it to at least the Sweet 16.

Upset Special: Siena over Purdue. Purdue hasn’t been the same since it lost Robbie Hummel. Siena is a senior laden team that has won a game in the past two NCAA Tournaments. The Saints had three players on the All-MAAC first team, and have four players averaging over 13 points per game. Fran McCaffrey is a great coach, and he has got a group of players that are capable of winning games in the tournament.

Going forward into the final stretch of the regular season, many teams have found an identity as conference tournaments loom. Those teams that have found their identities and play well within themselves are the teams that will be very dangerous when the Big Dance rolls around. So let’s look at a few teams that may be overlooked next month.

Gonzaga
I wrote about them earlier in the season, and I still believe they are going to be overlooked come tourney time. They may be ranked #11, but every year people write them off as soon as they encounter an athletic team from a BCS conference. But this is one of the best teams Mark Few has ever put on the court, with physical players across the board and a great balance between shooters like Matt Bouldin, slashers like Stephen Gray, and big men like Robert Sacre.

Vanderbilt
I have always been a little sour on the Commodores, but their thrashing of Tennessee at home earlier in the week has me finally believing in them. They aren’t the most athletic team, but they gather a lot of offensive rebounds, have a tremendous leader in Jermaine Beal, and just play hard-nosed defense.

UNLV
Even though they just lost to conference rival New Mexico, the Runnin’ Rebels just seem to find ways to win games. Of their four losses this season, only Wednesday’s loss to New Mexico (10 points) and a loss to USC (11 points) have been by double digits. On a team laden with transfer students, this team plays with a chip on its shoulder, and I fully expect them to kick it up another notch in the coming month.

Other teams to look out for: Florida State, Cornell, Saint Mary’s

—Starkville, Miss. (THE HUMP)—
Two road losses this week has shown a two different sides of basketball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs (16-7, 4-4 SEC).

At times, these Dawgs have some real bite. They (It’s “they” when they lose, “we” when we win) create some great momentum, hitting several shots in a short span. Fast breaks come at will. They claw back from late deficits with hustle and determination. They can go long stretches with stingy D and wreaking havoc with steals. When they got the ‘mo’, they got the ‘mo’.

But when they ain’t got the ‘mo’…they just bark. Jarvis Varnado, the Defensive Player Of Last Year, routinely gets manhandled.

Baskets are harder to find than virgins in a sorority house. Despite that, they still shoot 3-pointers like they’re going out of style (24 a game for 18th in the nation).

And at clutch time the team makes critical mistakes time and time again.

This Jekyll and Hyde version of MSU basketball has cost the Bulldogs several losses throughout the season, especially as of late. That’s five L’s in five straight games (I count the LSU win as a moral loss).

Let’s go to Nashville where the Dawgs took on the 18th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores Wednesday night at the Memorial Gymnasium and their confusing benches (on ends, not on sides like most floors). There were significant portions of the game where the Dawgs played well, held down defensively, played smart offense with aggression. And then, a few stupid shots later there was a 14-point deficit. But, wait, the Dawgs clawed their way back into it by hitting critical threes and full-court pressing steals (props to Barry Stewart on both). Then wait a little longer and watch how they handle the last minute: missed shots, waiting until the shot clock runs down to foul and pathetic strategy on the free throws. Coach Rick Stansbury decided to try to make a free throw, when down three with just one second left. Anyone else would have clanked the ball of the rim hoping to catch and shoot a three. End result? A 75-72 loss.

A trip to Gainesville didn’t change anything. While there was overall improvement, there were some mistakes that are unforgivable. Varnado got manhandled by Vernon Macklin, a 6-10, 240-pound transfer out of Georgetown. Macklin shot 10-14 for 20 points leading the Gators to a 69-62 victory. Varnado basically had his worst game. He got scored on then missed his shot. Got scored on. Missed his shot. Got dunked on. Missed his lay-up. Even his fouls didn’t stop Macklin. He even had five turnovers!

Meanwhile Kodi Augustus was basically nonexistent, scoring only four points. Phil Turner missed his typical NBA range-in-the-NBA 3-point shots. And the whole team contributed to losing the lead. It’s not like Florida dominated the game. In fact, State had a two point lead with under six minutes to go.

This all spell trouble for the Bulldogs, a team has literally shown no signs of improving from last season. The Dawgs have three straight home games, which will be huge, HUGE games: Ole Miss, Auburn the KENTUCKY (gasp?!). If they can’t learn to put together a complete game and finish, they can expect a disappointing NIT invite this postseason.

Positives: Ravern Johnson was on fire at FLA with 20 points on 8-11 shooting, including two huge dunks…Jarvis Varnado swatted ten shots this week, now just 26 blocks away from breaking the NCAA career shot blocks record…Barry Stewart has been very clutch as of late, knocking down big-time threes…And, hey, I think John Reik got some minutes.

Negatives: Varnado’s stat line at FLA: 6-16 shooting, 4-8 FTs, 1 block and allowing Macklin to take over…Stansbury’s late-game strategy and clock management…LOSING! Read the full story