This week we get some interesting conference matchups in CFB and a Super Bowl rematch.
- Florida at Alabama. Will Muschamp isn’t Florida material. 4-11 vs Top 25 teams. And his defense has to be nearly perfect. Muschamp is just 4-11 vs top 25 teams, 2-4 vs top 10 teams. In 2012 Florida was 11-2 under Muschamp. Defense gave up 13 points a game to BCS opponents. Went 4-2 vs top 25. In 2013, defense gave up 22 points per game. 30 to Kentucky in a triple OT game at home. The defense has to be elite because the offense has been wildly inconsistent since Muschamp arrived.
- Clemson at FSU – FSU is mean at home. They’ve won their last 9 home games by an average of 45 points. How do (get close) to beating them? (last lost, Nov – 2012 to Florida) You have to run the football well and contain Jameis Winston. FSU is doing that on their own by keeping him from playing in the first half. The two closet games they’ve played since 2013 were against Oklahoma State and Auburn. Ok St Rushes for 161 yards. – Held Winston to his 3rd lowest rated passing game of college career. Lost 37-31. Auburn Rushes for 232 yards. – Held Winston to 2nd lowest rated passing game of college career. Lost 34-31
- Denver at Seattle. Calling Russell Wilson a bus driver is silly. The offense continues to expand under his leadership. Wilson is averaging 27 passes a game so far, a career high. The team has typically kept him to 25 per game for his career. The difference is that Wilson is playing the best football of his career. His 114 QB rating is a jump from his 101 last season and 100 his rookie year. He’s completing 68% of his passes, also a career high. Percy Harvin is the difference. He’s averaging…14 yards per rush.
- Steelers at Panthers. The loss of receivers in Carolina was greatly exaggerated. Kelvin Benjamin is averaging 17 yards a catch. That’s Antonio Brown – Jeremy Maclin territory. Last year Ted Ginn averaged 15 yards a catch as the Panthers home run hitter. Cam Newton continues to throw passes to TE Greg Olson and lean on his run game. Carolina is 2nd in the NFL, giving up 10 points per game. Their front 7, even without Greg Hardy is formidable. For all the talk about the Cowboys, the Steelers are 8-8 over the past two seasons. They’re middle of the road in almost every major category so far this season. They go to 1-2 Sunday Night.