The good news from Saturday was, the wedding went great, I had perhaps the most fun day of my life, my picks against the spread went 3-1, and my overall record for the season improved to 8-7. The bad news is, well, you probably already know…
TOLEDO 35, PITTSBURGH 31: Last week, I said that Paul Rhoades, Pitt’s Defensive Coordinator, had a “crapload of work” to do before we faced “the likes of Virginia Tech and Miami.” I was right in saying that he had a lot of work to do. However, my timeframe was a little off.
Pittsburgh native, Pitt reject, and Toledo quarterback Bruce Gradkowski lit up the Panthers defense for 461 yards through the air with a spread offense that apparently Paul Rhoades never saw coming. On offense, we had literally no running game whatsoever. Although Rod Rutherford was able to pick apart Toledo’s defense to the tune of 315 yards, he also threw two key interceptions that put the Rockets back in the game.
I think that the better team on this particular night probably won, and I give the University of Toledo (as well as fellow MAC members Marshall, Northern Illinois, and Bowling Green) credit for showing that they belong in a BCS conference (perhaps the new Big East Football Conference should invite in Toledo and Marshall in addition to Louisville and Cincinnati?). But I can’t help but express my extreme disappointment in Paul Rhoades. Somebody didn’t take either the Toledo Rockets or the spread offense seriously enough.
MIAMI 33, BOSTON COLLEGE 14: I didn’t think that BC could stay with the Hurricanes for four quarters, and I was right. What more needs to be said about this debacle?
MARYLAND 34, WEST VIRGINIA 7: I said right up front that I was least sure of my pick for this game, and cripes, was I off… Before yesterday, Maryland just never looked all that impressive to me, while the Mountaineers often did. Well, the wheels have fallen off of the WVU bandwagon for me.
What a terrible day for the loyal members of the Big East. We got kicked around by both the ACC (ouch!) and the MAC (whimper). Maybe we don’t belong in the BCS after 2005.
OHIO STATE 24, BOWLING GREEN 17: Bowling Green, which is clearly in the top echelon of the MAC (with Toledo and Marshall) this year, did not disappoint me in this game. Meanwhile, Ohio State let its second opponent in a row come back from a 24-7 deficit (where’s the killer instinct?). But, BG receiver Craig Jarrett dropped a sure touchdown, Will Allen saved the day yet again with an interception, and Ohio State escaped its own stadium.
Ohio State’s defense slowed (although by no means stopped) the nation’s most prolific offense. And the Buckeyes running game was, for a change, respectable. Scott McMullen did an OK job at backup quarterback. Still, I can’t help but think that the defending national champions and their 18 game winning streak are, at this point, a lame horse, hobbling along, painful to watch, almost begging to be put out of its misery.
Tressel, overhaul this team now.
Incidentally, it was nice to see the previously invincible Michigan Wolverines go down in flames (it always is, and they always do). But it was awesome to see one of Kansas State’s regularly scheduled patsies finally rise up and punk the Wildcats.
Hail to Toledo, Marshall, Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, Oregon (bad uniforms and all), Will Allen, and a good, swift asskicking for Paul Rhoades. And Hail to Pitt Sports Blather contributors Chas (and his family), John (and his family), Patrick, and especially my best man Shawn for driving all the way to Altoona to spend yesterday with Jen and I. We both genuinely appreciated it. I’m sorry that I couldn’t spend more time with the gang.
