AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2006 > September > 21
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Five critical games to watch
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last weekend was one of the best ever in college football when it comes to great matchups, controversial plays, and just general talk about the game. This weekend? Not so much. Still there are questions that have to be answered. For example:
1) Will Xavier Lee see action at quarterback when Florida State hosts Rice? Bobby Bowden said this week that if the offense, which is near the bottom of Division I-A in rushing, doesn’t come around soon, he is “going to have to do some soul-searching.” Rather than searching his soul, Coach Bowden might search and find some offensive linemen who know how to run block against a quality defense. Florida State needs some kind of identity, some kind of energy, in its offense. Maybe Lee, the athletic quarterback, can give them that.
2) Has Alabama figured things out? There hasn’t been a whole lot to get excited about in wins over Hawaii, Vanderbilt and Louisiana-Monroe. The offense has sputtered and the rebuilt defense has had some tackling problems. But Alabama has been pointing to its SEC opener with Arkansas all summer as the time when all facets of its team must come together. To me, it’s pretty basic. If Ken Darby gets 100 yards, the Tide wins.
3) Will Michigan suffer a letdown against Wisconsin? The Wolverines’ win at Notre Dame was one of the biggest of the Lloyd Carr era, perhaps the biggest since the national championship of 1997. Wisconsin is 3-0 but hasn’t beaten anybody. Carr really likes this team but believes it is just as hard to handle success as it is adversity. Michigan wants desperately to be undefeated when it goes to Ohio State on Nov. 18.
4) Could Notre Dame go down again? Everybody knows the book on Notre Dame now. If you have a good quarterback and some fast receivers then you can beat the Irish defense. Drew Stanton lit up Notre Dame last season in winning 44-41 at South Bend. After the game the Michigan State players went a little crazy and planted the school flag on the field at Notre Dame Stadium. Coach Charlie Weis and the Irish players haven’t forgotten.
5) Is Louisville vulnerable at Kansas State? You bet your Papa John they are. The Cardinals are coming off one of the biggest wins in school history (31-7 over Miami) and will be without quarterback Brian Brohm, who injured a thumb and is out 3-6 weeks. Heck, just getting to Manhattan, Kan., will be a culture shock for some of these guys. Louisville has better players but this is a letdown game if ever I’ve seen one. Should be interesting.
