Rivalry Weekend

Here are a couple of quick hits to get us going (not quite as quick as the Auburn offense, but the Wing Expert is changing up his plays a little more).

First down: Florida State rolled in an uneventful and rather dull rivalry game with Florida today. Jameis Winston threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns as the Seminoles beat the Gators, 37-7.

Second down: Ohio State held on to defeat Michigan in “The Game.” The Buckeyes are 12-0 this season, but not after a scare in Ann Arbor, as the Wolverines scored in the final minute, but couldn’t convert a 2-point conversion to take the lead.

Third down: Alabama versus Auburn, the Iron Bowl, was an absolute beast of a game that had me pacing back and forth and on my knees at the very end. Auburn shocked the world and won, but it was how they won that still has everybody perplexed. The Tigers out-rushed the Tide, 296-210, and of course the 100-yard missed field goal return didn’t take away from the game’s excitement.

Fourth down: It was a little close here and we needed a measurement to make sure we didn’t turn the ball over on downs, but Duke held on today to beat North Carolina and earn its first berth into the ACC Championship game, 25-23.

It’s rivalry weekend and it has been a wonderful one at that. Here are the games that did not disappoint.

Mississippi State pulled off a huge win over Mississippi at home on Thursday night. Scoring in the final minute to force overtime and eventually winning after a Bo Wallace fumble as he was trying to walk into the end zone. Dan Mullen is granted another season after the Egg Bowl victory.

I don’t know why I doubt this matchup, but the Battle for the Golden Boot is year-in and year-out one of the best matchups in college football. LSU was a three-touchdown favorite over the Hogs, but Arkansas had its back to the wall and nothing to lose. Zach Mettenberger had to be helped off the field in the fourth quarter and Arkansas pinned the Tigers on the one-yard line with a three-point lead. Freshman quarterback Anthony Jennings stood tall in the pocket and ran when he needed too, marching the Cardiac Cats down the field and connecting on a wide-open 49-yard touchdown pass to give the Tigers the lead. LSU retains the Golden Boot for another year.

Ohio State survived Michigan and This Wing Expert tips his hat to Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke, who attempted a 2-point conversion instead of kicking the point-after attempt to tie the game. It was a back and forth game all the way though, and Hoke made the right choice in my mind by going for the win and not the tie in what would’ve been an enormous win for the school. Devin Gardner’s pass however was intercepted and the Wolverines lost.

Injured Georgia prevailed in a game against Georgia Tech, after two overtimes, 41-34, getting 122 rushing yards and three touchdowns from running back Todd Gurley. Georgia Tech jumped out to a 20-7 lead before allowing 20 points in the second half and eventually falling.

Auburn pulled off another stunner at Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday, beating top-ranked Alabama, 34-28, after a 100-yard return following a missed field goal attempt with one second left. Auburn took an early lead over the Tide in the first quarter, but allowed 21-unanswered points in the second quarter. The Tigers looked broken and stunned, it happened so fast, how did they score so fast? The Tigers managed to put together a drive of 80 yards before the half to regain some confidence, trailing 21-14. Auburn added another touchdown in the third to tie the game and proceeded to pin it’s in-state rival on the one-yard line two straight times. Bama would march down and miss a field goal on the first and A.J. McCarron connected with Amari Cooper on the second for a 99-yard touchdown. Auburn fought back though, marching down the field in a rather quick fashion, until quarterback Nick Marshall connected with Sammie Coates for the game-tying touchdown. Alabama answered with two draws up the middle and after a booth review put one second back on the clock, the Tide stared down a 57-yard field goal for the win. Gus Malzahn called a timeout for Auburn and sent Chris Davis back to the goal post to set up the return that would shock the football world. If you haven’t seen it yet, watch it, because Auburn had this planned the whole time and Alabama watched as history wrote itself.

Auburn is now preparing for an SEC Championship and possibly a National Championship. I realize that I am an Alabama fan, but Auburn held their own against my beloved Crimson Tide and in the end, made the plays needed to win the game. Congrats Auburn, I hope to never say that again. Roll Tide.

Moving past my stunned view of Davis running the missed field goal back for a touchdown, Duke defeated North Carolina, earning the Blue Devils a trip to the ACC Championship against juggernaut Florida State. Duke has won 10 games in a season for the first time in school history, earned its first berth in the ACC Championship and is bowl eligible in consecutive seasons. Duke has won its last eight games and needs one more to set the longest winning streak in school history. Watch out Florida State, the Blue Devils are coming.

Keep an eye on David Cutcliffe for the open coaching positions this offseason. He may be 59 years old, but he gets the most out of his players.

Speaking of coaching vacancies, well they aren’t vacant yet, but these schools need to look at their selves and think about a little change in the future.

Florida is missing a bowl for the first time in more than 20 years and lost to an FCS team for the first time in school history. Let me make this clear, the Gators cannot miss a bowl game and lose to an FCS team, they’re too good and deep for that. Now I realize they have had injuries all over the field, but even the Gator second string should roll through some non-conference and SEC East opponents. It looks like Will Muschamp is getting to stick around, but he’ll need to re-energize his offense LSU-style next year. I’m not saying there is another Cam Cameron out there, but being one dimensional is never good.

Nebraska fell to Iowa on Friday, 38-17, and while this is no pushover Hawkeye club,  the Cornhuskers managed only 89 rushing yards and surrendered 24 points in the second half for their third home loss of the season. Nebraska is giving up 25.3 points per game, which is embarrassing compared to the old “Black Shirt” Husker days. Nebraska needs to get back to basics, line up, run the ball and stop the run on defense.

Texas and USC were on this list early in the year, but both have turned around their seasons and possibly found the future (or past) of their programs. Running the football has saved both teams. Texas has a stable of skilled running backs and some big offensive lineman that the Longhorns can bring in to overpower teams. USC has done the same, taking some of the pressures of a young quarterback, while both teams are keeping their defenses off the field and not allowing them to get worn out. I don’t think Ed Orgeron will get the USC job, but Mack Brown will retain his, I just hope both programs don’t try to get too cute.

This upcoming weekend features some unusual conference championship matchups.

Stanford is taking on Arizona State in the Pac-12 championship, with the Sun Devils hosting. Stop me if you thought ASU would be playing in the championship over USC and UCLA, let alone hosting the game over Stanford and Oregon. Todd Graham has the Sun Devils rolling and should get some solid considerations for head coaching vacancies next season, and with his history should jump at the chance for a couple.

Ohio State is playing Michigan State, with both teams coming into this game with 23 combined wins and just one loss. The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in offense, while the Spartans boast the conference’s top defense. These are the matchups I enjoy watching, hopefully Michigan State’s offense can stay on the field long enough to give the defense a breather.

Florida State is taking on Duke, yes I’m still talking football, in the ACC Championship. Florida State is led by Heisman front-runner Jameis Winston, and the Seminoles have rolled through opponents all season long. Duke has won its last two games despite scares in each. This may be the biggest mismatch in all the games next week, but the Blue Devils seem to find a way to win and I think Florida State is beatable, especially if Winston investigation heats up. Don't sleep on Duke.

Auburn takes on Missouri in the SEC Championship, which has to be the most shocking and least predicted matchup of the conference championships. Both teams combined for eight wins and 16 losses last season, but came through this year with 22 combined wins and only two losses. Auburn and Missouri both run fast spread out offenses, so this game will be very un-SEC like. The winner should play in the National Championship, each has deserved it and the conferences track-record has earned it.

All in all it’s been a great weekend and a wonderful way to finish up the best holiday and month of the year. I have a tee time tomorrow, but afterwards I think I'm going to work on a little something to give you three days in a row of reading material. It was a great day for college football and I'm still proud of my Alabama Crimson Tide.

-The Wing Expert