SnoTap College Try Week 4

Yes, enjoy the cupcake. This was truly a boring week of college football.  A good Saturday to get some stuff around the house, maybe attend a wedding, go apple picking with your significant other and it might be the last Saturday where we have such a weak schedule. Next Saturday gets better and it is only the beginning for college football.

Stanford bullies Arizona State - The Cardinal made sure people realized they are for real and here to play this season. They punished Arizona State in a convincing win on Saturday night winning 42-28.   The game looks a lot closer than it truly was as the Sun Devils had three garbage time touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Goofy Tree led the game 39-7 at the end of the third quarter. Stanford rushed for 248 yards on the ground with a combination of Tyler Gaffney, Anthony Wilkerson and Kevin Hogan. Hogan also had 150 yards through the air. Arizona State continues their gauntlet start heading to USC next weekend while Stanford heads to the always dangerous Pullman, Washington.

Just how good is Michigan? - I truly have no idea at this point. The Wolverines looked great against Notre Dame and then the next two games were for a lack of a better word, horseshit. They did not play well whatsoever against UConn, a team who lost to Towson. Towson!  Michigan had four turnovers with one turning into a return touchdown for the Huskies. If there is a bright spot for the Wolverines, they get a week off to figure out what the hell is going on.  Beating Akron and Uconn by a combined seven points is a concern for team who looked poise to take the next step just a short two weeks ago. They could be playing down to their opponent, but that is still something you do not want to see heading into conference play.

Worth talking about Utah? - Let's take a look at the Utes. Dennis Erickson known offensive mastermind comes to Salt Lake City and the Utes find they have an offensive concept after all. In their first four games of the season, the Utes have averaged 42 points this season and beat the crosstown rivals, Utah State and BYU. There are currently 0-1 in the Pac-12 falling in overtime to Oregon State, but that does not mean this team is not lethal with a tough home environment facing almost all their toughest competition at home this year minus a field trip to Eugene, Oregon in mid-November. It starts Thursday with playing UCLA at home before hosting Stanford the following week.  Travis Wilson is flourishing under Erickson's system already passing for 1118 yards with eleven touchdowns and three interceptions which all came in one game against Oregon State.

Baylor drops another 70 point bomb - In their first four games of the season, Baylor's point total... 69, 70, 70.  But hey, let's not talk about them that much because they are ranked below the top 15. The Big 12 is weak this year and Baylor might be the team everyone is talking about in November.

USC and Virginia Tech survive - Both teams could have suffered bad home losses on Saturday as USC beat Utah State with a field goal in the fourth quarter and tough defense. Virginia Tech had one of the derpiest overtime sessions you will ever see in college football.  No shame in Ethan Keyserling's game missing a 50 yard field goal in the first overtime, but a lot shame in choking a 32-yarder in the second when the Hokies defense forced a fumble. Marshall also missed a field goal in the overtime period. Logan Thomas and a pass interference call ensured the Hokies would not lose at Lane Stadium getting a touchdown in the third overtime period.

APU gains stream - In Saturday's game, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Northwestern players wore things that had the hasthag #APU. For those unfamiliar, this would be the athletic players union. It is an interesting concept that could gain some major steam before the season is over. I am not saying I agree with it, but it would be one way to steer the direction of trying to figure out what to do about paying college athletes. At the end of the day, something needs to change but in my honest opinion, it is one big grey area. There is causation for reasons to do it and reasons not do it.  The biggest part of the problem is the other sports like tennis, hockey, soccer, etc. Those players will expect to get paid too and informing them they will receive much less than the regular college athlete creates a massive domino effect. The NCAA as a whole is treading water as an institution in my opinion.

-Charlie.