Our Week Eight: Houston (3-3,1-1) at Navy (2-4, 2-2)

     For the eighth and final time as American Athletic foes, Houston and Navy clash at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at noon on Saturday.  The Cougars lead the series, 5-2, but many battles resulted in high-scoring affairs. As in the past, a competitive game will depend on Navy’s ability to move the ball on the ground.  With QBs Keenan Reynolds and Mason Perry leading the Mids effectively in a 46-40 win in 2016 and 56-41 in 2019, the Mids will be looking for the same effectiveness from Tai Lavatai. 

    Navy seemed to be on track again two weeks ago in their trouncing of Tulsa 53-21 thanks to a big game by Frosh FB Daba Fofana with 158 yards and three TDs.  Navy fell to SMU last week as they caught up late in their 40-34 loss.  They ran for 372 versus the Mustangs and scored three times in the final period after trailing 33-14.  On the other side, Pony QB Tanner Mordecai threw for 336 yards and three TDs.

All indicators – too close to call

    Houston, who was supposed to challenge Cincinnati for the AAC crown this year, depends on the passing of QB Clayton Tune.  He comes into this game with a total of 1,567 yards and 12 TDs.   Offensively, the Cougars average 31 ppg.  Their defense yields the same.  Five of their six games have been settled by seven point or less.  They are 1-2 in OT.  Navy averages 23 ppg and allows 24 ppg.

  Any key to a Navy win here rests on their capability to sustain drives and to control the clock.  Their demise is their inability to defend against a strong-passing team.  The key to this particular game will be determined on how quickly Navy can generate ball control and score with their triple option.  If Houston takes a significant lead early, with their passing attack, the game will go in their favor. In either case, this game will be close. With the Brigade in attendance, Navy 38-35.

Saban says his players are “soft”, what did he expect?

 In an online story on “The Comeback” by Stacey Mickles entitled,” Nick Saban calls his team ‘Soft’ after Tennessee loss”, as we’ve harped on all along, we’ll use the phrase, “You are what you eat.” According to the article, fans question two things after the 52-49 loss at Tennessee: “the referees and the play calling by Alabama”.  We’ll look the other way regarding that first issue.  We’ve seen plenty of times including bad calls and no calls that went in Bama’s favor. In the 2017 CFP 26-23 win over Georgia, we still question about five plays. Even the opening Notre Dame drive in the BCS we attended in 2012 began with questionable calls that set that Alabama win their way.

     Let’s start with the play-calling.  Mickles poses Alabama fans’ question,” With seconds left in the game and Alabama with the football, rather than running the ball and taking time off the clock, the Crimson Tide opted to throw three straight times.”  Bama missed a field goal and Tennessee responded with two Herndon Hooker passes that resulted in that great, knuckle ball field goal that launched the Neyland goal post into the Tennessee River. 

Saban hates challenges

     Nick Saban has few instances where he’s had the pressure to win a regular season game in its final minutes.  Scheduling the Utah State game (55-0) we attended and ULM (63-7), while the SEC threw him the Vanderbilt bone (55-3), gives him non-conference wins he typically schedules.  They only boost this successful record.  Unchallenged does not hone his nor his staffs’ game-coaching capabilities.  The games are generally finished, all played at home, by halftime.  The win on the road over Texas, 20-19, his first quality non-con on the road in 11 years, could have been a catastrophe if not for starting Longhorn starting QB Quinn Evers going down early. 

     Mickles also wrote, “Head coach Nick Saban even called out his team for playing soft Saturday.”  Again, that makes sense due to his soft scheduling strategy we highlighted in last week’s Salvos.  With No. 18 pass-happy Mississippi State (5-2) under Mike Leach coming to town in Week Eight, followed by road games at No. 23 LSU (5-2) and at No. 6 Ole Miss (7-0), there’s light at the end of this tunnel.  Things should get back into Saban’s “comfort zone” when his five-star players will play hard when FCS Austin Peay pays them a visit.  Maybe the pollsters will see a lopsided win over the Govs as beneficial to overcome any close calls or Bama losses against any of these three SEC units.

 Top teams on our 2022 schedule from Week Seven to Week Eight

     With a long trip to start our travels on Wednesday, we will update more for the upcoming weekend on Thursday night.  Meeting with tailgate revelers on Friday and an early morning tailgate on Saturday to prep for, we’ll have limited time to update.  For the 12-noon kickoff on week Eight we look forward to meeting with many friends in Annapolis to share “Tales from the Tailgate!”

Our Top 25 teams in 2022 in Week Eight

    Entering Week Eight, here’s where teams on our 2022 schedule now stand: No.  1 Georgia plowed Vanderbilt last week 55-0 and rest on their laurels this week with bye. No. 2 Ohio State host Iowa (3-3) this weekend before they venture to No. 16 Penn State the following Saturday when we’ll be there. Hopefully, James Franklin will have the Lions better prepared for this battle in Happy Valley more than they were prepped for Michigan. The still have to contend with Minnesota (4-2) at home, this Saturday night. The Golden Gophers lost their last two games. This week they face the magical, mystical atmosphere of the PSU “white-out”! No. 5 Clemson comes off a 34-28 victory over Florida State. They’ll host surprising, undefeated No. 14 Syracuse. The Orange (6-0) aren’t being taken too seriously it seems. They have good wins at home over Purdue and NC State (24-9). Only one road gamed played thus far – at lowly UConn. HC Dino Babers seems to have the QB now that he’s needed in JR QB Garrett Schrader (1,434 yards and 12 TD passes). Big challenge here for them. If the Orange can surprise, their date at Wake Forest November 19 may have some implications on the ACC Atlantic Division.

No. 6 Alabama (6-1) and Nick Saban will be steaming after their lone loss to Tennessee last week. However, they play another potent offense in No. 24 Mississippi State averaging 35.4 ppg. QB Will Rogers impresses with 2,324 passing yards and 23 TDs. In games against SEC teams on the road though, the Bulldogs only scored 16 and 17 respectively against LSU and Kentucky. Will Mike Leach’s team be able to generate more points at Bryant-Denny? Their defense allows 21.4 ppg. Their offense or defense has to perform better to defeat The Tide in Week Eight. Speaking of No 13 Wake Forest, they come off a bye week to play struggling Boston College (2-4).

Rounding out our best of the best

After defeating Mississippi State, No. 19 Kentucky (5-2) has two weeks to get ready to challenge No. 3 Tennessee in Knoxville. Surging No. 20 Texas (5-2), winners of three straight, travels to No. 11 Oklahoma State (5-1) coming off their first loss to TCU, 43-40. This will go down to the wire for a Big Twelve title. The Longhorn defense seems to be improving, but their lone loss was at Texas Tech, their only game in a hostile environment. State lost on the road as well. We’ll look for the Cowboys to win here in a close one.

Others receiving votes battling to move back up:

South Carolina (4-2) entertains Texas A&M (3-3) after both coming off bye weeks. We saw the Gamecocks defeat Kentucky without their starting QB Will Levis that weekend. A&M lost to Bama, 24-20 on the road at the wire. Look for A&M to defeat the home team as USC’s wins are not as impressive as the Aggies wins at this point. James Madison (5-1) lost their first game a week ago to Georgia Southern, 45-38. They host Marshall (3-3). Except for the Thundering Herd’s big upset over Notre Dame, their two other wins came over FCS programs. Look for JMU to win big here.

 

Other results of interest in Week Seven

Among other teams on our 2022 slate, seven of nine won, and in a head-to-head game, Troy (5-2) edged Texas State, 17-14. We’ll see the TSU Bobcats host Louisiana on November 26. The Ragin Cajuns defeated aforementioned Marshall, 23-13. The day before this game in San Marcos, we plan to be in Austin to see Baylor (3-3) visit Texas. The Baylor Bears fell to West Virginia last Saturday, 43-40. Another Texas team, UTSA (5-2), won its fourth in a row over FIU, 30-10. Navy archrival, Army (2-4), got in the win column over FCS Colgate (1-54). The Cadets other win came over Villanova.

No. 9 Ole Miss beat Auburn (3-4) , 48-34. How long can Bruce Harsin avoid an in-season firing? He’s got five competitive games ahead to win to salvage his current job. Ball State (4-3) defeated UConn, 25-21. We plan to see them in a Tuesday night clash at home in November when they host 4-3 Ohio U. The Bobcats defeated Western Michigan last week, 33-14. This looks to be a good MAC meeting in the making. Utah State (3-4) edged Colorado State (1-5). 17-13. Purdue (5-2) won its fourth straight defeating Nebraska, 43-37.

Keeping an eye on these games in Week Eight

Let’s stick to these Purdue Boilermakers. They are 3-1 in the Big Ten with four straight Big Ten West foes coming up starting at 3-4 Wisconsin Saturday. Two weeks later, they play surprising No. 18 Illinois (6-1). The Illini play host to Nebraska this weekend and then play No. 4 Michigan in three weeks at The Big House. The Boilers and Illini vie against one another for the Big Ten West title. UTSA and North Texas both sit atop Conference USA at 3-0 and will meet this week for first place. No. 9 UCLA (6-0) travels to No. 10 Oregon (5-1). Fun game, we like UCLA to make its move here in the PAC-12 since they defeated 5-2 Washington and 5-2 Utah the last two games. Oregon , though at home, hasn’t beaten anybody as good yet.

No. 25 Tulane (6-1) hosts 4-3 Memphis. The Green Wave had a good road win earlier at No. 17 Kansas State (5-1). However, Memphis hungers for a win at Tulane where the home team fell to Southern Miss, 27-24. The Tigers fell by one to Houston two weeks go and by two to East Carolina last week. Teams seem to be having difficulty hanging in at No. 25. We think the Tigers will come out on top here. Regarding No. 9 Ole Miss at LSU, we see Lane Kiffin outcoaching Brian Kelly in this one here.

Please buy our book and submit a review. Thanks!

Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: from the fan who’s seen ‘em all!  Please link on the Title or picture of our cover on the top right sidebar on this or any other page you may peruse to buy your copy and submit a review.  Thanks!