# * 8 Football 2021

 

Georgia is dominant. They beat down previously undefeated Kentucky, the Bulldog defense proving stout and strong, about as good as can be played, as many have observed this far into the season. A bye weekend of rest will do them well and they will reload against Florida, who was ranked until just being upset by LSU in a high scoring game this weekend. I sat next to a Georgia fan who was watching the UF v. LSU game live as it transpired. He wanted the Tigers to put the Gators further behind the Dawgs, and they did. Georgia is looking primed to make the run to the SEC championship, a likely rematch with the Tide.

#1 Georgia’s next: bye, October 23, 2021

Notre Dame can reset and hopefully beat the Trojans, who are struggling to win. Again, I am not a big UCLA fan after doing graduate work there, but I learned to hate those cross town rivals. Go Irish! They have the right youthful talent to get things done, despite some key injuries. Take down the Trojans, as the Utah Utes and others have already done. More than luck of the Irish, just give it the power required.

This is one of the best rivalries in not only the game of NCAA college football, but in all of sports. Get ‘er done.

#13 Notre Dame’s (#13, 5-1) at Southern Cal (3-3):

The Auburn Tigers proved impressive to beat the then ranked Arkansas Razorbacks, at their home. Bo Nix is breaking records at the QB position, the defense is doing enough to carry the day. I watched the whole game live as it was available to me in the desert. I was impressed by the receivers and most aspects of their game. Again, based on their schedule and the way they have played, it would not surprise me at all if the Tigers were a top 15, or possibly top 10 team.

Side note of worth —#2 Iowa proved that they were not that good, losing to the Purdue boys, final score 7 – 24. What a stinker “number two”! Yeah, that was fake news, Hawkeyes fans. Cincinnati now is super highly ranked, but I think their status is over-rated as well. Indiana, mentioned in a minute, could have beaten them with the right bounces.

#23 Auburn: bye

Speaking of Tigers, congrats to the Clemson variety for winning again, two in a row over good teams, and getting back into the rankings.  They squeaked by those pesky Orange 17 -14, and now look to be in control of a decent season despite the close loss to the Wolfpack, and the more than respectable opening loss to Georgia. The Steel City college is playing pretty well, so this should be a good test of character to get by the Panthers.

#24 Clemson (4-2): at Pitt (#23, 5-1)

              Alas, my Cougars could not recuperate from the turnover laden loss to Boise State, and they got over-ran by a mean running game by the home town Baylor Bears. (In Waco, my sister-in-law, her husband, and oldest son went there from three hours away to see the match up. Their oldest girl is a freshman in Provo. Both California raised, neither parent had ever lived in Utah or Idaho). Apart from the lack of ground control, Baylor passes and special teams hurt my reeling Cougars, too. The offense was kept off balance, especially the BYU running game; now the Cougars of Provo will battle the Cougars of Pullman. I hope that the Y Cougs can maintain their dominance against the PAC-12, 3-0 so far. Some polls have Brigham Young ranked still, like CBS Sports, but the Kilane Sitake-led team has to show me more for that. It should be interesting this Saturday, against a squad that just lost their coach to not being vaccinated for COVID-19. Weird world we live in.

#30 Brigham Young (5-2): Washington State (4-3)

              Indiana! My Hoosiers played some really good defense against an undefeated Michigan State team. The first TD for Sparty was a pick six, and another Touch Down came from a possession from another interception by the back-up QB, Jack Tuttle. IU settled for too many Field Goals after moving the ball pretty well, and lost 15 – 20. Ugh. We should have and could have re-won the Brass Spittoon, which my Hoosiers owned from last year’s better 6-2 Indiana team. The future looks tough for the rest of the season, but perhaps IU can muster some wins against the lesser Big-10 teams? Purdue looks pretty good now. Hard to see that upset happening with the Buckeyes, but that is why we play the game. Could we get a bunch of TOs to steal this one? Could the running game wake up a bit more? Strap your chin guards on tight, boys. 6 more games to go, and all of them will be a challenge.

#45 Indiana (2-4): Ohio State (#5, 5-1)

              Tough results for the Hurricanes. A close loss where the Miami team had a hard time stopping the Tar Heels from scoring, even though the ‘Canes themselves wound up with 42 points. I saw the score progressing as I watched the Auburn-Arkansas match, and it seems that the Miami defense coul not get it done. Like my Cougars against Baylor. I think Miami will rebound, we know they have the talent. Perhaps my Hoosiers will come back to victories, too.

#50 Miami (2-4): hosting #18 N.C. State (5-1)

              That is about all I got, except…

              Air Force is 6-1 and plays undefeated San Diego State (6-0). Army, newly off a loss and 4-2, will face the undefeated 6-0 Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Navy (1-5) continues with a tough season and takes on the unblemished #2 (6-0) Cincinnati Bearcats. What a time to be in the military academies! There are 11 unscathed teams left in FBS football, and our brothers in arms play three of them.

              Go, fight, win! Come home with honor.

              See you soon. Well, maybe. Yours truly has some further desert duties upcoming, so we shall see how and when the next report may come. Peace and well wishes.