Week 9 Saturday Six-Pack: Legends in Lincoln; Cocktails All Around; Keenum The Record Killer

In the late innings of the most wild World Series game since 2002 Game 7, the top Twitter trending topic from the sports world was Case Keenum. That’s because Keenum threw nine touchdown passes in a 73-34 dismantling of Conference USA rival Rice. Let me re-type that:

CASE KEENUM THREW NINE TOUCHDOWN PASSES.

The Houston quarterback is giving defensive backs nightmares, coordinators headaches, and smashing every NCAA passing record in his path. ESPN pundits past around Keenum’s name like a hot potato, basically everyone giving his opinion. General consensus seemed to be that while his astronomic statistics were notable, Keenum was no Heisman Trophy contender.

Media perception goes a long way toward a Heisman candidacy, so there’s absolute validity to Furthermore, the plethora of outstanding individual performers this season makes for a crowded pool. But at this juncture, Keenum is

No one is going to challenge Keenum’s absurd Week 9 numbers. Typically, it would be open-and-shut to write off a touchdown mark just two shy of the single game record — not coincidentally, held by another UH quarterback, David Klinger — but keep in mind that Kellen Moore has yet to see New Mexico.

On to this week’s slate.

Michigan State at Nebraska

Sparty took a Rocket into Lincoln, and now controls its fate for reaching the inaugural Big Ten Championship game. However, Nebraska also controls its fate, and the Cornhuskers’ road map includes beating MSU.

Nebraska seemed to fall off the national radar a bit when it lost soundly at Wisconsin, but the Cornhuskers rebounded with a potential season-shifting rally against Ohio State. Taylor Martinez threw a couple of touchdowns and rushed for another against the Buckeyes, the best an individual has played against the OSU defense. He has to be magic against the stingy and ferocious MSU defense.

William Gholston is back from a one-game suspension after giving Denard Robinson an action film neckbreaker-type movie. Gholston is a monster and will be chasing down Martinez the same way he did Robinson. Nebraska must utilize Rex Burkhead effectively early to give Martinez room to work in the option.

Defensively, the Huskers are tasked with slowing a suddenly resurgent Sparty offense. Kirk Cousins had his best outing of 2011 last week and comes in with a wave of confidence. The run game has also steadily progressed, and La’Veon Bell gives defenses a difficult target to contain.

RATING: 6 Brews

Amazing how quickly two weeks can change a team’s perception. Sparty was a middling, uninteresting team after Notre Dame depantsed it midway through September, but after dominating Michigan and beating Wisconsin on the most improbable of plays, MSU is on the radar as a dark horse BCS championship contender. Getting up for Nebraska and the program’s first conference trip to Lincoln should be no issue for Mark Dantonio’s troops. Thus, The Letdown Game effect is unlikely to be in hall.

However, matching Nebraska’s emotion will be a challenge: big home game, division possibly at stake, and the Cornhuskers coming off a much less draining contest after its rout of Minnesota.

Wisconsin at Ohio State

The shocking end to Wisconsin’s undefeated season could result in one of two reactions. Either it’s a wicked gut punch that sends the Badgers staggering into the ropes, or serves as the necessary poke UW needs to maximize its potential en route to another Rose Bowl. Ohio State is a pretty stiff test to draw for its first measuring stick.

The Buckeyes’ offensive struggles are well known, as is their unimpressive 4-3 record. Not getting much buzz though is this OSU team ranks No. 12 defensively in points allowed. The Buckeyes still have a BCS-level defense between dangerous interception machine Bradley Roby, ball-hawking Jonathan Hankins and backfield pursuer John Simon.

OSU poses a similar challenge to UW on that side of the ball to what MSU brought — and even at that, UW did manage 31 points last week. The Badgers are too multifaceted to key on one element, thus completely shutting them down isn’t really a viable option. Given OSU is the No. 88 scoring team in college football, the Buckeyes have an arduous task in matching UW. Luke Fickell’s best option is using rusher Carlos Hyde to deflate the ball. Control the clock, and the Buckeyes can tip the scales ever-so-slightly into their favor.

RATING: 4 Brews

A classic Big Ten slobberknocker could be on tap in Columbus. However, given the Badgers’ potential explosiveness and Ohio State’s lack thereof, a UW win is likely to be lopsided.

Oklahoma at Kansas State

Here we are, the final weekend of October, and Bill Snyder’s Wildcats are still unbeaten. No one could have guessed before the season the team entering Manhattan with a loss would be Oklahoma. A losing streak? Inconceivable!

So befuddling is the thought, Las Vegas has the Sooners a two-touchdown favorite. That said, K-State has defied logic with its ball controlling style. The Wildcats took some of the wind out of Texas Tech’s sails in their Lubbock victory, something OU could not do against the Red Raiders last week. It isn’t exactly the Wishbone. Quarterback Collin Klein is a capable passer, and the Wildcats put up significant points. However, K-State leads the nation in time of possession by a wide margin, and that’s the entire reason this team’s successful.

K-State hasn’t been particularly great defensively, . Thus, Landry Jones should be able to move the Sooners and get points with relative ease. The trick is going to be not scoring too fast so as to avoid KSU dictating the tempo — unless of course, OU’s defense bucks up to the level it had been performing prior to Tech’s visit of Norman.

RATING: 6 Brews

Shocking as it may be, Kansas State’s perfect start has been exciting. That’s because the Wildcats’ combined margin of victory through seven games is 96 points, meaning when K-State takes the field, a close game is likely to ensue. Folks expecting OU to come in and rout the Wildcats, but the style Snyder employs isn’t apt to facilitate that. OU should win, but in a tighter contest than perhaps most expect.

West Virginia at Rutgers

While West Virginia’s impending departure from the Big East might be the prevailing sub-plot of the Mountaineers’ conference tilt, something far more noteworthy is taking place in Piscataway. Eric LeGrand will lead his Scarlet Knights onto the field before joining the ESPN announcing team in the booth. There couldn’t be a more inspirational intro to a critical conference match-up then having Whether emotions translate to on-field production will dictate Rutgers’ afternoon.

The Scarlet Knights have one of the top FBS passing defenses to counter Dana Holgorsen’s air raid offense and silently uber-productive quarterback Geno Smith. Smith has thrown only five interceptions to 18 interceptions, but must tread lightly with RU star defensive back Duron Harmon patrolling the secondary.

RU continues to have quarterback issues. Tom Savage was replaced last year by Chas Dodd, which sent Savage packing his bags for Arizona. Dodd was replaced this year by Gary Nova, but Nova’s struggled. Expect the Mountaineer defense to put a ton of pressure on Nova, playing behind a line that has struggled mightily. Greg Schiano’s best bet is to focus the offense around Mohamed Sanu, both on slant patterns and carrying the ball out of the Jet formation. And perhaps this is the week to get fullback Joe Martinek cracking — the converted halfback has the chops for rushing through tackle.

RATING: 3 Brews

The winner has a very strong shot at winning the Big East, so this could probably rate higher. Thus far though, RU has been wildly erratic because of its line play and quarterback changes. Rutgers needs to follow the blueprint Syracuse set forth to beat the Mountaineers and slow the air raid offense. The RU defense is capable of just that, but the offense must find ways to sustain the D.

Georgia vs. Florida

The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party finds Georgia rolling in from a five-game win streak, hitting its stride and with its SEC East title hopes burning bright. The Dawgs’ goal of

being the sacrificial lamb to Alabama or LSU

playing in the SEC title game certainly got a boost from the recent downslide Florida’s been on. The young Gators have suffered three straight defeats to Alabama, LSU and Auburn by a combined 96-27. Obviously, jumpstarting its offense has been a problem for UF while rotating quarterbacks and facing two of the nation’s absolute best defenses. However, the Gators’ six points against AU, which had been porous coming into the Week 7 match-up were a new low point.

But Charlie Weis gets no reprieve via Georgia. The Dawgs are allowing only 20.4 points per game, which in itself is a bit inflated given South Carolina scored 45 with a pair of defensive touchdowns. Since that loss, no opponent has managed more than 13 on the UGa defense.

Jacoby Brissett is the definitive starter, and like Jeff Driskell before him faces a daunting task. UGa safety Bacarri Rambo is one of the nation’s interception leaders and will be licking his chops with the unproven freshman behind center. Expect defensive coordinator Todd Grantham to dial up a lot of blitzes with Cornelius Washington and Jarvis Jones, two of the SEC’s most talented linebackers.

Florida’s chances hinge on slowing UGa’s offense, namely freshman phenom Isaiah Crowell. The first-year star has provided a complement to Aaron Murray. As for Murray, his numbers are slightly down from a season ago but he’s done an admirable job spreading the ball around: four different receivers have multiple touchdowns.

RATING: 4 Brews

It’s a rivalry game, so anything can happen as the old adage goes. The Cocktail Party has certainly had its share of historic moments, like UGa’s entire team hitting the field to celebrate its first touchdown in 2007:

A Florida upset would right the ship for Will Muschamp and keep UF’s fading SEC East title hopes alive, with South Carolina still ahead on the schedule.

Baylor at Oklahoma State

Two of the nation’s most prolific offenses tussle in the Big 12. OK, so that isn’t exactly noteworthy given the conference is home to five of the nation’s top 20 scoring offenses. But Oklahoma State is ranked second at 48.6 PPG and Baylor No. 6 at 44.3. Logic would dictate a shootout in Stillwater. Brandon Weeden and Robert Griffin III are two of the best quarterbacks in the nation, and each has at his disposal one of the nation’s best receivers: Weeden Justin Blackmon, and Griffin Kendall Wright.

Defense has been BU’s undoing in losses at K-State and Texas A&M. Even in victories, BU has been shaky in that regard — remember, TCU scored three fourth quarter touchdowns to nearly upend the Bears in Week 1. Don’t expect Weeden’s production to slow against Baylor, but the same can be true for the Cowboys against the Bear offense.

The X-factor in what would be dubbed a track meet is, fittingly, the run. OSU has a really underrated rushing game, with Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith combining for 19 touchdowns over 1100 yards on the season. Few backfields can boast a duo so dynamic, and none with a passing game as explosive to match.

RATING: 4 Brews

Enthusiasts of defensive football, avert your eyes. Points will be scored. RG3 is as good as the very best college football has to offer, but the question of if he and Wright can go stride-for-stride with the Pokes is difficult to answer yes. OSU’s deep running game gives it a decided advantage.

For readers wondering why no inclusion of the Pac-12 showdown pitting USC against Stanford in the Six-Pack, you can read a preview here. The Halloween-GameDay caveat was too perfect to not receive its own feature.

Admiral Ackbar’s Trap of the Week

Southern Miss sent a resounding message against SMU last weekend, dominating the Mustangs 27-3. SMU hadn’t scored fewer than 28 since Week 1 prior to the Golden Eagle defense flexing on it. USM is a force defensively obviously, but Larry Fedora’s offense is also putting up 37 points per game. Quarterback Austin Davis is a handful as a dual threat player, and backs Kendrick Hardy and Jamal Woodyard combine for over 130 yards a night.

Indeed, UTEP has a challenge on its hands. But if there’s anything to understand about Conference USA, it’s that strange things occur there. The Miners snapped Houston’s unbeaten start in the 2009 season — while USM has a loss, the Golden Eagles are coming in a big target with a five-game win streak and designs on the C-USA crown. UTEP is seeking a second straight season of bowl eligibility with Mike Price’s typically high scoring offense (over 29 PPG). Unlike other recent successful Miners, this year’s are flourishing with the run.

UTEP has become a largely rushing offense. Joe Banyard, Vernon Frazier and Leilon Myers have been good for nearly 150 combined rushing yards per game, and 12 touchdowns. Banyard, Frazier and Nathan Jeffrey are all going for more than 7 yards per carry, as well. A run-based offense allows UTEP to sit on the ball to the northern side of the 30-minute mark, a facet of its game that should prove beneficial against the explosive Golden Eagles. Limiting Davis is crucial — it’s how Marshall upset USM in Week 2, and it is the likely gameplan for the Miners come Saturday.

FCS Double Shot

Punctuating the Championship Subdivision’s run down the home stretch toward the playoffs are two true heavyweight bouts. In the Missouri Valley Football Conference, Northern Iowa has been king for quite some time. This year’s Panthers are no exception behind explosive quarterback Tirrell Rennie. His 75 yards rushing per game complement 1200-plus yards passing and 10 aerial scores with zero interceptions. Rennie’s putting together an undeniably strong Walter Payton Award resume, making him one of two potential award winners in the Panther backfield. Running back David Johnson has six touchdowns and 83 yards rushing per game, making him a frontrunner for the inaugural Jerry Rice Award, given to the nation’s top freshman.

Of course, defense wins championships and UNI is better in that regard than virtually every team in the Championship Subdivision. Tackle Ben Boothby and linebacker LJ Fort are each Buck Buchanan Award nominees and power a Panther defense allowing just 13.3 points per game. Now that “virtually” qualifier added to UNI’s description as better than the FCS competition is because on defense boasts a lower PPG allowed average than the Panthers. That defense is North Dakota State’s, UNI’s opponent Saturday.

The Bison have allowed just 11.6 points an outing, yet have no nominees on the Buchanan Award watch list. While no one Bison is gobbling up statistics, NDSU is as stingy a defense as there exists. It has allowed opponents just 106.7 rushing yards, which with UNI’s primarily ground-based offense means something must give. Two run offenses facing two of the most stout rushing defenses may force increased passing. Either should be comfortable going to the air, as quarterback Brock Jensen has developed into a very reliable passer (73.2 percent completions, nine touchdowns to one interceptions), but ultimately the offense that can kickstart its run game is going to thrive.

Down South, top ranked Georgia Southern travels to the most daunting of Southern Conference locations, Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, N.C. and home to the Appalachian State Mountaineers. There was a time when Ga. Southern was the preeminent Division I-AA program, but after Paul Johnson left for Navy and I-AA became FCS, ASU supplanted the Eagles. A second straight victory over ASU goes a long way to not only solidifying GSU as the team to beat in the FCS, but as the new boss (same as the old boss) of the SoCon.

GSU runs the triple option with astounding efficiency, not simply rolling up 370 rushing yards per contest, but gaining over six yards each attempt. The Eagles have myriad ways in which to attack defenses: quarterback Jaybo Shaw (224 yards, seven touchdowns); Robert Brown (687 yards, five touchdowns); Jerick McKinnon (382 yards, seven touchdowns); J.J. Wilcox (355 yards, four touchdowns); Ezayi Youyoute (284 yards, three touchdowns).

The Eagles’ ability to run the ball will be the deciding factor of this game, with ASU coming in allowing over 177 yards per game on the ground. Conversley, GSU is one of the top FCS defenses defending the rush. ASU is a team with multiple ball carrying options to attempt and counter the 3-4 formation.

Travaris Cadet, Cedric Baker Boney and Steven Miller have combined for 10 touchdowns and over a 1000 yards rushing. Jamal Jackson has assumed quarterback duties for DeAndre Presley and kept the Mountaineers moving along. The winner is likely to claim the SoCon, and perhaps homefield advantage all the way to Frisco, so the implications are tremendous.

SATURDAY’S SIX-PACK: Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

Halloween is upon us, the perfect holiday to ring in with a glass of pumpkin ale. Dogfish Head Brewery’s Punkin Ale is the best of the bunch, not exactly a revelation for any consumer of other Dogfish Head products.

This one has the spicy little kick typical of a pumpkin ale, reminiscent of the zing from a pumpkin baked good. However, at 7 percent ABV it packs a surprising punch. And unlike other pumpkin ales, it remains truer to the “ale” than the “pumpkin,” not going too sweeet.

November means colder weather, and thus a heavier beer. I suggest giving this one a go while the season is still conducive to the flavor.