Tuesday, September 03, 2019

Week 1 College Football Recap

Georgia beat SEC rival Vandy 30-6 on the road in Nashville, didn’t allow a touchdown, dominated the stat sheet, yet some fans were mad they didn’t score enough. The score could have easily been 40-6 but UGA passed on a field goal try to go for it, and later fumbled on the five yard line. While several UGA backs and return men broke free for decent yardage, there were no big plays: no long runs or returns for touchdowns, no interceptions for touchdowns or deep into Vandy territory.
 
Scores of Bulldog fans made the trip to Nashville for the game, outnumbering the Vandy faithful seemingly eight to two. Backs Swift, Herrien, Cook, and Zeus (above) all looked good, as did the new receiving corps (one may now miss the Notre Dame game due to injury). Lots of quick-hitting play calls from the new offensive coordinator. Stuck to a vanilla offense. Expect to stay vanilla until week four against the Irish.

QB Jake Fromm had his usual steady performance: 15-23 (65%) for 156 yards and a TD. No interceptions, a long of 38. The Dawgs dominated the stat sheet, rushing for 323 yards on 40 carries, outgaining Vandy 479-225. Senior kicker Ricardo Blankenship kicked three field goals and three extra points, including a 50 yard field goal. He was named SEC special teams player of the week.  
 
Ohio State / Fla Atlantic: sure Justin Fields had a big game. Florida Atlantic put up zero defense, especially in the secondary. Last year Florida Atlantic beat Bethune Cookman (twice), Middle Tennessee, Old Dominion, Florida International, Western Kentucky. They lost to Charlotte, North Texas, Marshall, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, and Navy. Let’s see how Mr. Fields performs against tougher opponents later this season.
 
Ga State / Tennessee: the Vols quit. Players walking off the field with their heads down – with plenty of time to win the game. The Vol QB was too indecisive, holding onto to the ball too long. I’d thought GSU had lost their momentum up 21-20 when the QB fumbled and Tenn took the lead 23-20, but the Panthers scored two 4th quarter TD’s to win going away. Funny when the two Volunteers were left laying there. Kinda typified the entire game.
 
NC / SC: I thought SC would bring more fans to Charlotte. SC QB Bentley looked far worse than he had last November against Clemson. Maybe it was a hurt foot. With the game on the line Bentley threw into triple coverage for an interception. Given a second chance Bentley fumbled.
  
Missouri lost to Wyoming in transfer QB Kelly Bryant’s debut. Not sure how Bryant’s interception factored in the loss. Experts had thought Mizzou would win their first 6 or 7 games. Wyoming led 34-17 going into the fourth quarter.
 
Auburn / Oregon: true freshman QB Nix threw the clutch game-winning TD pass.
 
Boise State / FSU: the Noles had a chance to win but failed to recover a fumble, allowing BSU to score the decisive TD.

Bama / Duke: easy win for Tua and the Tide.
 
Oklahoma also won big. Jalen Hurts had a big day both passing and running.
 
Ole Miss lost to Memphis.
 
Notre Dame / Louisville: the Cardinals drove the field in the first two possessions, tying the game at 14 and putting a scare into the Irish. Then the Cards reverted to their stumbling, bumbling selves, and the Irish went on to win. Hard to tell from that game how good Notre Dame is.  
 
Week One total QB rating:    
 
1. 96.7 Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma dual threat
3. 95.6 Joe Burrow LSU vs Georgia Southen
6. 94.9 Tua Tagovailoa Alabama vs Duke
8. 92.8 Justin Fields Ohio State vs Fla Intl
12. 88.5 Kellen Mond Texas A&M
16. 86.5 Jacob Eason Washington transfer
18. 84.4 Sam Ellinger Texas dual threat
27. 77.4 Ian Book Notre Dame vs Louisville
30. 76.2 Dan Ellington Georgia State dual threat
36. 71.1 Jake Fromm UGA junior
39. 69.6 Kelly Bryant Mizzou dual threat
42. 68.8 Khalil Tate Arizona dual threat
46. 67.5 Justin Herbert Oregon
51. 64.0 Trevor Lawrence Clemson
62. 58.2 Brandon Wimbush UCF transfer
63. 57.5 JT Daniels USC sophomore
64. 57.2 Bo Nix Auburn freshman
68. 56.3 Bryce Perkins UVA dual threat
70. 56.1 Jawon Pass Louisville dual threat
72. 55.2 Feleipe Franks Florida vs Miami
74. 50.4 Shea Patterson Michigan
86. 42.1 Jarrett Guarantano Tenn vs Ga State
88. 38.9 James Blackman FSU dual threat
90. 38.2 Jarren Williams Miami dual threat
97. 34.2 Jake Bentley SC (hurt) vs UNC
111. 26.5 Tobias Oliver GT
116. 20.1 Matt Corral Ole Miss

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