FROM THE SHOTGUN…Week Three Prime-Time/Pine-Time
September 8th, 2008 by Daniel Freer
Thank you, Matt Grothe, for making me look like a fool…
South Florida QB Matt Grothe (pictured, thanks IconSMI ) again humbles your QB prognosticator. Not only did the Bulls QB find a way to beat this writer’s alma-mater, again…he proved me doubly wrong by throwing for 350+ yards and a couple of TDs in the Bulls 31-24 overtime win at UCF.
So much for not playing Grothe last week…oh well.
Hopefully Mr. Grothe does not make me look foolish this week, for I am telling everyone to play him this week when the Bulls host Todd Reesing (play him, too) and the Kansas Jayhawks in an interesting inter-sectional match-up this Friday night.
PRIME-TIME THIS WEEK (No Foolin’)
CHASE CLEMENT (Rice) vs CHRIS NICKSON (Vanderbilt): Both teams are a surprising 2-0, and a win could really help the bowl prospects of the victor…bowl games not a regular feature of these programs. Clement has been totally unstoppable in his first two games (vs SMU, at Memphis), while Nickson has two W’s against teams with good defenses (MiamiOH, South Carolina).
JUICE WILLIAMS (Illinois) vs MICHAEL DESORMEAUX (UL-Lafayette): Illini will be big favorites, but I like both QBs because they both can run…and Desormeaux actually may be the better rusher of the two. The Illini defense can be a little porous at times, keeping this from being a big blowout.
CHASE DANIEL (Missouri) vs COLIN KAEPERNICK (Nevada): Yes, Daniel is a PermaStarter, but Kaepernick actually outplayed Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell last weekend, probably the worst game of Harrell’s career. Credit Wolf Pack coach Chris Ault for playing the top BCS offenses in non-conference action, as his Pistol offense (now often copied) and his Pack defense gets good workouts before the challenging WAC schedule.
COLT McCOY (Texas) vs Arkansas: McCoy has had two good outings vs Florida Atlantic and UTEP, and may get an easier matchup vs Arkansas this week…a team that has struggled in their two wins over much weaker opposition.
ROBERT GRIFFIN (Baylor) vs Washington State: The true freshman had a nice game vs FCS Northwestern State (LA) last weekend, and could face an easier opponent in the struggling Cougars, who were skewered 66-3 at home by Cal last week.
JOE GANZ (Nebraska) vs CHASE HOLBROOK (New Mexico State): Finally, the Aggies play a game, having the first two weeks off (last week’s game vs Nicholls State was axed due to Hurricane Hanna). Chase Holbrook, Chris Williams, and Company may get a shootout with Ganz and the Huskers…although the Huskers will be big favorites in this game.
CURTIS PAINTER (Purdue) vs JUSTIN ROPER (Oregon): This should be a wide-open matchup, with both teams looking for a good non-conference win. Expect both QBs to throw…especially if Purdue gets a sizeable lead early.
KELLEN MOORE (Boise State) vs Bowling Green: Moore had nice numbers in his starting debut two weeks ago vs Idaho State, and should put up more nice numbers on the Falcons this week, especially with WR Jeremy Childs returning from suspension.
OTHER PRIME-TIME QBs THIS WEEK: ADAM WEBER, Minnesota; GRAHAM HARRELL, Texas Tech; ZAC ROBINSON, Oklahoma State; BRIAN JOHNSON, Utah; CASE KEENUM, Houston; JAMIE HAMPTON, Troy; JONATHAN CROMPTON, Tennessee; KEVIN RILEY, Cal; TIM HILLER, Western Michigan
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ON THE FENCE (Could Fool You):
MARK SANCHEZ (USC) vs TODD BOECKMAN (Ohio State): Yes, Sanchez looked great in the opener vs Virginia…but UVA could be the worst of a slumping ACC. Boeckman’s Buckeyes may have faced a better opponent in Ohio University…who put a scare into the Bucks last weekend. Look for a close game with RBs being more of an emphasis.
MAX HALL (BYU) vs UCLA: This could be Hall’s only appearance on this part of the list, as the Bruins do have a decent defense. The Y will win this one, but I do not see Hall getting near the 400+ yards per game he has averaged so far this season. Be careful with Hall this week.
SAM BRADFORD (Oklahoma) vs Washington: Bradford is here not because he will stumble at Washington…but because this game could be over early, and the Sooners may opt to run the ball more with their deep backfield.
JOSEPH WEBB (UAB) vs Tennessee: Webb, unlike Grothe, made me look good, as I suggested to play him at FAU last week. This week, I just do not overly like Webb and the Blazers offense at Rocky Top. Give Webb the week off, and play him when CUSA schedule kicks in.
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PINE-TIME THIS WEEK (Fool If You Play Them):
GIOVANNI VIZZA (North Texas) at LSU: UNT Mean Green will be fine once they get into Sun Belt play…they just do not have the horses to keep up with their non-conference foes.
TYLER SHEEHAN (Bowling Green) at Boise State: Except for Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick last season, a visiting QB in Boise, no matter how good, struggles on the Blue Turf. Also, Boise has been the #1 home team in college football this decade, having lost only one regular-season home game at Bronco Stadium since 2000.
JAKE LOCKER (Washington): Locker nearly won the game vs BYU last week, only to get gigged on a celebration penalty after scoring the potential game-tying TD. The Sooners may be the toughest defense he faces this season…fortunately the Husky schedule will get more friendlier for Locker as the season progresses.
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NOTABLES OFF THIS WEEK (You’d Really Be A Fool If You Play Them)
TIM TEBOW, Florida; KELLEN LEWIS, Indiana; JOSH FREEMAN, Kansas State; PAT WHITE, West Virginia; DAVID JOHNSON, Tulsa; TREVOR VITTATOE, UTEP.
Related posts:
- FROM THE SHOTGUN…Week Two QB Prime Time/Pine Time
- FROM THE SHOTGUN…Week Four QB Prime-Time/Pine-Time
- FROM THE SHOTGUN…Week Ten QB Prime-Time/Pine-Time
- FROM THE SHOTGUN…Week Nine QB Prime-Time/Pine-Time
- FROM THE SHOTGUN…Week Seven Prime-Time/Pine-Time (And Mid-Season Review)
Tags: Fools, Matt Grothe, Prime-Time, QBs
