Top 5 Games Week 3 Breakdown
#3 LSU at Mississippi State (Thursday)
Mississippi State came inches short of possibly beating Auburn and making this ESPN prime-time matchup an even bigger deal than it already is. When quarterback Chris Relf was stopped short as time expired, it was only the last frustrating moment in an exasperating day for the Bulldogs. MSU dominated statistically, outgaining the Tigers by 150 yards, but untimely penalties and an interception run back for a score conspired to keep the Bulldogs from toppling the defending national champs.
Mississippi State will have to get over the sting of this loss quickly with powerful LSU coming to Starkville on a short week. The Tigers tuned up for its SEC West showdown by blasting Northwestern State 49-3 and holding the Demons to just 95 yards of offense. Jarrett Lee continued to manage the offense well in place of suspended starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson. Having a steady hand behind center could be key at a charged-up Davis Wade Stadium, where the cowbells will be clanging early and often. The LSU defense should be able to control a Bulldog offense that is smarting on the line from two big injuries. Center Quentin Saulsberry is expected to play with a sprained knee, but left tackle James Carmon might be out after injuring his leg. LSU has owned the series and should return home with its 12th straight victory in this rivalry. Score: LSU 31, Mississippi State 21
#18 West Virginia at #20 Maryland
As the sports world breathlessly waits to see what uniform Maryland dons for its second game, the real focus should be on the high-octane offenses that the Mountaineers and Terrapins are bringing to College Park. Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien threw for 348 yards in his team’s 32-24 Labor Day night win over Miami, while counterpart Geno Smith has taken to new Head Coach Dana Holgorsen’s wide-open scheme in throwing for 620 yards and six touchdowns in two games.
What Coach Holgorsen has not been able to figure out is how to unleash an effective running attack. The Mountaineers are averaging a pathetic 2.4 yards per carry and they rank 109th in the nation with 72 yards per game on the ground. Offensive line woes are nothing new in Morgantown and this year has been no exception. Starting guard Josh Jenkins was lost for the year with an injury shortly before the opener and West Virginia has been scrambling to field a competent unit. This weakness should make a big difference against Maryland. Score: Maryland 36, West Virginia 31
#13 Ohio State at Miami
Go ahead and get all of your scandal/probation jokes out of the way because when kickoff rolls around the focus will be on the field. Miami welcomes back five players, including starting quarterback Jacory Harris, who were suspended for the season opener for accepting improper benefits. Perhaps no Hurricane is more motivated by the memory of last year’s 36-24 loss to Ohio State than Harris. His long afternoon included four interceptions. If not for two kick returns for touchdowns, the final score would have been much uglier.
Can Harris finally overcome his knack for playing his worst in the biggest games? It will not be easy against a Buckeyes defense that is among the best in the country, although they did not look like it last week in a 27-22 win over Toledo. The Rockets threw for 292 yards, but Miami’s offensive strength is its running game (172 yards against Maryland). Stopping the run is something Ohio State does well, so the ‘Canes likely need Harris to produce some big plays with his arm. And that is a scary prospect for “The U.” Score: Ohio State 27, Miami 18
#2 Oklahoma at #7 Florida State
Oklahoma worked over Florida State when the teams met in Norman in the second game last season. Landry Jones shredded the Seminoles defense for 380 yards and four touchdowns through the air as the Sooners built a 34-7 halftime lead before cruising to a 47-17 win. The Seminoles allowed only 155 passing yards in its first two games against overmatched foes. Heisman Trophy candidate Jones, however, provides the ultimate test.
Jones has already shown what he can do against Florida State. His counterpart, EJ Manuel, is a bit of a mystery. In limited action against Oklahoma last year he threw for 109 yards and a score. Manuel has had some impressive games in the past, but FSU fans still fear that his penchant for turning the ball over will creep up at the worst possible time. Whichever team’s quarterback runs his offense the most efficiently and does the best job at avoiding mistakes will probably leave Doak Campbell Stadium as the winner.
The Florida State program, once great under the legendary Bobby Bowden, became merely good in recent years. Jimbo Fisher started to turn things around in his first season as head coach in 2010, and now expectations are as high as they were during Bowden’s glory days. The key for Fisher will be to keep his ‘Noles from getting so amped up that they let the big-game anticipation become a distraction. The veteran Sooners are used to huge matchups. These young Seminoles? Not so much. Score: Oklahoma 29, Florida State 24
#9 Stanford at Arizona
Football lovers on the East Coast will fight hard to stay awake for this opportunity to see arguably the best quarterback in the land. Stanford’s Andrew Luck brings his Heisman Trophy candidacy to the desert for the Pac-12 opener. While he has not lit up the stat sheets so far in 2011, Luck has guided the Cardinal’s balanced attack expertly in two easy victories.
Arizona should present a tougher challenge. While the Wildcats proved to be no match for Oklahoma State in their last game, they still possess a weapon that could make it a long night for Stanford. Quarterback Nick Foles has been outstanding in completing 71 of 93 passes for 810 yards and six touchdowns. Adding to Stanford’s worry is that the Cardinal’s inexperienced secondary has had growing pains – Stanford ranks 86th in the country in pass defense. It would be a relief for the Cardinal if Juron Criner has to miss the game. The Arizona star receiver sat out the Oklahoma State contest after undergoing an appendectomy and his status for the Stanford game will not be known until later in the week. Even if Criner gets the green light, the Wildcats’ mediocre defense and lack of a running game – not to mention that Luck fellow – should combine to keep the upset out of reach. Score: Stanford 41, Arizona 28
Football Week 3 Breakdown Page
