South
Alabama (1-1) at NC State (1-1)
Both teams records are at (1-1) and both teams are coming off defensive games. South Alabama Jaguars first appeared before the NC State Wolfpacks last season as their first ever FBS game and was defeated by 22 points. But the South Alabama defense held the Wolfpacks to only 35 points, better than what many had expected.
This season both teams are looking to showcase a
improved team on Saturday, while South Alabama is looking to get some get back
from a year ago.
Can South Alabama upset NC State….maybe? As I look at
the NC State offense they are struggling in areas, especially when I watched
them play against Tennessee and then in week 2, they only manage to put up 10
points to get a three point lead over UConn.
I believe South Alabama defense has made some
corrections to fix the mistakes they were making to stop NC State offense from
scoring or putting up so many points. However, I still have doubt in the
Jaguars QB C.J. Bennett, they have made to many wrong decisions on the field, I
believe that South Alabama should give No.2 Ross Methany more playing time in
the game to help the offense.
The
Jaguars are allowing 102.5 yards per game on the ground and 258 overall after
two games.
The
Jags are averaging just under 300 yards per game of offense through two outings
this fall. Demetre Baker and Kendall Houston have done the bulk of the
work on the ground with 52 of the 58 rushing attempts by running backs, with
Baker leading the team in both games after gaining 75 yards on 20 attempts
against the Colonels last time out.
I do put this game in my watch column.
UL-Lafayette
(2-0) vs. Oklahoma State (1-1)
UL
Puts 2-0 Record On The Line At Oklahoma State and the Ragin’
Cajuns Will Attempt To Improve To 3-0 For First Time Since 1988.
Louisiana’s
Ragin’ Cajuns football team remains on the road for the second straight week,
traveling to Stillwater, Okla. to face Oklahoma State on Saturday, Sept.
15 beginning at 11:00 a.m. CDT in Boone Pickens Stadium, the game will be
televised live on Fox Sports Network with Joel Meyers, Brian Baldinger and Jim
Knox providing the commentary. . . the Ragin’ Cajuns are 2-0 for the first time
since 2009 and just the second since 1990 after winning at Troy, 37-24, last
week.
Alonzo
Harris rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown to spark the UL offense while
kicker Brett Baer made three field goals to break the Sun Belt
Conference record for consecutive fields goals made. . . Baer, who has made 18
straight kicks going back to last season, leads the nation with seven field
goals in two games. . . senior wide receiver Javone Lawson made three
receptions at Troy to become the 10th player in UL history to catch 100 passes
in a career. . . Lawson begins the week ranking 10th in career catches (100)
and eighth in receiving yards (1,542). . . the UL defense allowed just 60 yards
rushing at Troy and begins the week ranking sixth nationally in rushing defense
(49.0 ypg). . . Oklahoma State (1-1) was ranked as high as 16th in the
national polls last week before dropping out of both after suffering a 59-38 decision
at Arizona last week. . . the Cowboys own an 8-0 lead in the all-time series,
including wins in each of the last two years.
Where
do I place the Ragin Cajuns, I placed them on my watch list as well. The Ragin
Cajuns have a chance to go to Stillwater and upset the Cowboys this season with
all the talent they have at UL-Lafayette and the great style of game they been
playing.
Through
the first two games, the UL offense has scored on all 11 trips to the red zone.
The Cajuns scored on all five possessions vs. Lamar and all six at Troy,
totalling seven touchdowns and four field goals over that span. Last
year, UL was successful on 38 of its 41 red zone trips (.927), scoring 27
touchdowns.
Western Kentucky
(1-1) vs. Kentucky (0-1)
Hilltoppers
Head To Lexington To Battle Kentucky on Saturday.
Western Kentucky will be looking to get a upset win
over SEC non-conference foe Kentucky this weekend. Western Kentucky has proven
over the last season they have improved and now a competitive team. A upset in
this match up will be huge for the Hilltoppers.
Despite
a 35-0 loss last week to top-ranked Alabama, the WKU defense was able to hold
its own statistically against the Crimson Tide. The Hilltoppers held
Alabama to just 103 rushing yards on 31 attempts - an average of just 3.3 yards
per carry. Overall, the Tide managed 328 yards of total offense, which
was 103 fewer than they put up a week earlier in a 41-14 win over
nationally-ranked Michigan.
For
the second straight game in 2012, and fifth consecutive game dating back to
last season, senior tight end Jack Doyle led the Hilltopper attack
through the air. Doyle hauled in seven catches for 45 yards against
Alabama, on the heels of a five-catch, 76-yard effort in the opener against
Austin Peay. Even with two standout efforts this season, and leading the
Toppers in receiving last year, the end zone had alluded Doyle for quite some
time. In fact, he has caught 67 passes since last catching a
touchdown. That last scoring catch came on Oct. 9, 2010 at Florida
International. Doyle played in just two more games that season before
being sidelined with an injury, then hauled in a team-best 52 catches for 614
yards last season without a score.
Western
Kentucky defense must stop Kentucky offensive plays and Western Kentucky
offense line will have to step up to help QB Jakes pass or run the ball. There
is a possible upset here, it will take dedication from WKU.
UL-Monroe (1-0) vs.
Auburn (0-2)
ULM
pulled off the biggest upset of the team's FBS-era with a come-from-behind win
over then-No. 8 Arkansas in Little Rock (Sept. 8). ULM found itself down
by 21 points (28-7) with 9:42 to play in the third quarter. The Warhawks
then began the comeback attempt as Jyruss Edwards scored from three yards out
(3rd; 5:41) and Kolton Browning connected with Kevin Steed on 4th-and-1 to close
the gap to seven (28-21) with 14:08 to play.
Late
in the fourth quarter, Kolton Browning hit Brent Leonard for a 23-yard
touchdown with just 47 seconds to play.
In
the extra session, ULM deflected three consecutive passes in the endzone and
Arkansas was forced to settle for the field goal. Trailing 31-28 and
facing 4th-and-1 at the 16, Kolton Browning picked up the first down and more
as he dove inside the right pylon to lift ULM to the 34-31 win.
ULM
finished 6-for-7 on 4th down and the squads final three touchdowns of the game
were scored on 4th down.
The
victory over Arkansas was the first-ever win over the Razorbacks and it was the
first win over a ranked opponent by the Warhawks.
It
was also the first-ever win over a top-10 team by a member of the Sun Belt
Conference and ULM becomes just the second Sun Belt team to defeat a ranked foe
(Troy def. Missouri, 2004).
Kolton
Browning was the easy choice as ESPN's Player of the Game in the upset victory
over then-No. 8 Arkansas. The junior set new career highs in attempts
(67), completions (42), passing yards (412) and total offense (481).
Coach
Berry and QB Browning is looking to take that upset win at Arkansas to Auburn
Saturday. Auburn offense has been playing terrible, their QB is distracted and
this could be another possible upset for the Warhawks on Saturday and move the
Warhawks to the top 25 next week.
Mississippi State
(2-0) vs. Troy (1-1)
Troy
opened the season with a ten point win over UAB in week 1 and then lost at home
to conference foe UL-Lafayette. Troy is looking to bounce back, but seems to be
having a little trouble doing so.
On Troy's 21-9 win
over Mississippi State in 2001
Troy
head coach had this to say at his recent press conference on the Mississippi
State game. “It's hard to forget about that game because there are pictures
hanging all over the halls. It was a great day. I think they are a much better
SEC program than they were then. We're a different team trying to find
ourselves, but the impact of that win has resonated with our people through the
years. It was great day for Troy. It will be harder now because I think both programs
are different, but I'm looking forward to it.”
Troy
face that same team on Saturday in Troy, for the first time. I will put this on
my watch list, but Troy will have to step its game to win…it’s possible.
Mississippi
State dominated Jackson State and Auburn, but Troy is looking to stop their
domination game.
