ESPN's Chris Fowler gives his thoughts about the red-hot Florida Gators... "Meyer can see the prize (or prizes) ahead. He knows his Gators are peaking. They have achieved a rare chemistry that he said "borders on phenomenal." ...
- Over the last 3 years, in games in weeks 10-13, Dallas is 6-1 against the spread and 8-0 straight up - Over the last 3 years, in games in weeks 10-13, Washington is 2-5 against the spread and 1-7 straight up
What the experts say The Gold Sheet - Dallas 26-23 Pointwise - Dallas 26-23
Dallas Cowboys (5-4) - Head Coach Wade Phillips Tim MacMahon of the Dallas Morning News writes about Marion Barber's woes against the Skins... "Marion Barber has averaged 3.3 yards per carry against the Redskins during his career. He has 63 yards on 29 carries (2.2 ypc) against Washington with Garrett calling the plays." ...
Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News writes about the Cowboys underachieving season... "This team has dramatically underachieved, however, even with the injuries. At some point it has to be held accountable. But by whom? Phillips?" ...
Washington Redskins (6-3) - Head Coach Jim Zorn Dan Steinberg of the DC Sports Bog writes how Fred Smoot is encouragining kids to hate the Cowboys... ""This week we come back and play the Cowboys, so you know what time it is," Smoot told the elementary schoolers. "I'm gonna teach y'all at a young age to hate the Cowboys." ...
Matt Mosley of ESPN Blog Network writes how former Skins coach Joe Gibbs is cheering them on... "Gibbs said he's thoroughly enjoyed seeing his former players have success under Jim Zorn, but he thought it was important to distance himself from the organization for a while." ...
I came across this photo of country singer Randy Travis and his wife at yesterday's CMA red carpet gala....what in the world happened to his head???...he looks like freakin Beavis!!!!...he is all forehead!!!...
The Akron Rubber Bowl is closing down after tonight's game between Akron and Buffalo...the time has come for the old dingy stadium to be closed down...but there were some great memorable games played there - especially high school playoff games...
Everyone in the Youngstown-Warren area will never forget the 1973 football championship between Youngstown Cardinal Mooney and Warren Western Reserve...Mooney was coached by Don Bucci and their lone defeate came earlier in the year to the Raiders...the Raiders were coached by Joe Novak...I-76 from Youngstown to Akron was lined with cars heading to the rematch...in which Mooney won 14-3...
The very next year, I got my first taste of The Rubber Bowl...not even five-years-old yet, my dad came home after work and took my mother and me to see the championship game between Warren Harding and Upper Arlington...it was a driving snowstorm that day and the field was entirely covered in white...I can still remember my mom going to the concession stand for hot chocolate...Harding won the game 41-8...
Another game I remember going to with my dad was in 1994 when Massillon Washington took on Canton McKinley...the two teams played the week before in which was their 100th meeting...a total of 34,208 people packed the place for the rematch as Canton beat Massillon 27-20...
Check out the following articles that appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal...
Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal writes about the memories of The Rubber Bowl... "Frye has fond moments tucked away, too, like seeing his family sitting in the same spot by the tunnel. Or a rainy Saturday afternoon against Buffalo when the crowd was barely 1,000 and he could hear his mother, Sally, yelling when he was sacked and another man saying, ''Throw it away.'' ...
Rubber Bowl Fact The stadium once held two "home" games in 1952 for the NFL's franchise, the Dallas Texans. In the second game they hosted the Chicago Bears and won, 27-23, for the franchise's only win in history.
#6 USC @ Stanford Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 7:00 EST Stanford Stadium - Palo Alto, California USC -23
Summary These two teams first met in 1905 in which USC leads the all-time series 58-25-3...but last year's contest may have been the biggest upset of all the games as Stanford beat USC 24-23...the Cardinal were a 39 point underdog...five USC turnovers doomed the Trojans...USC passed for 364 yards while Stanford had a measly 149 yards...
This will mark Pete Carroll's 100th game as head coach of the Trojans...unbelievably he is 25-0 in November games as head coach of USC...QB Mark Sanchez has tossed 24 TDs and 7 INTs this year...their rushing attack is a 3-headed monster of C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson, and Joe McKnight...incredibly, McKnight does not have a rushing TD all year...
When accepting the job at Stanford, head coach Jim Harbaugh all but guaranteed a win over USC...Stanford has shown marked improvement this year...they have lost by 7 points or less in their last three losses (Notre Dame by 7), (UCLA by 3), (Oregon State by 7)...
Tavita Pritchard is the QB...he is consistent as he has thrown 9 TDs to go with 9 INTs...Toby Gerhart leads the rushing attack with 932 yards and 13 TDs...his stablemate Anthony Kimble has 650 yards and 5 TDs...
When looking at scoring by the quarter, Stanford has scored 107 points in the second quarter - the most of any quarter for them...however, the defense also allows the most points in any quarter with 92...
Quick Numbers Offensive Numbers USC - Rushing per game - 201 yards Stan - Rushing per game - 207 yards
USC - Passing per game - 253 yards Stan - Passing per game - 135 yards
- Over the last 3 years, USC is 3-2 against the spread when favored by 21.5 to 31 points - Over the last 3 years, USC is 1-2 straight up when favored by 21.5 to 31 points - When playing at home, Stanford is 4-4 against the spread vs. USC since 1992
What the experts say The Gold Sheet - USC 27-15 Pointwise - USC 40-10
USC Trojans (8-1) - Head Coach Pete Carroll Here are the USC game notes for the Stanford game...
Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times writes how USC QB Mark Sanchez is focused on throwing INTs... "Sarkisian, however, would like Sanchez's completion percentage to be near 70% by the time the Trojans finish the regular season. USC plays Stanford on Saturday and then has a bye before playing Notre Dame and UCLA." ...
Klein writes how RB Joe McKnight has had a series of setbacks throughout the year... "McKnight's season has been stunted from the beginning. During training camp in August, he was one of many Trojans stricken with what players and coaches described as "jock itch." He also suffered a broken finger when a teammate accidentally slammed a door on his hand, and a hyper-extended elbow during a scrimmage." ...
Michael Lev of the Orange County Register writes about USC's newest horse in the backfield... "D.J. Shoemate doesn't care what position he plays; he just wants to contribute to the USC football program in any way he can." ...
Michelle Smith of the San Francisco Chronicle writes how both teams are downplaying last year's huge upset... "Interested in talking about Stanford's 24-23 upset of USC in Los Angeles last season and the Trojans' desire to get some payback for the historic defeat? Go ahead. Just don't ask the teams involved to contribute to the discussion." ...
Smith writes how Stanford QB Tavita Pritchard has not progressed after last year's upset of USC... "Pritchard has found living up to his first college start an impossible task. He was a sophomore in October 2007, an emergency fill-in for injured T.C. Ostrander, when he led Stanford to an improbable and historic 24-23 upset of USC." ...
The latest Stiles Points Top 16+1 has changed to the Stiles Points Top 8 (games through 11/9/08)...I have seen enough football this season and are ranking the teams to who I feel are the best despite their record...these are the 8 teams that I would have in a playoff if the season ended right now...
1. Florida (8-1) - this team is buzzing everyone since their loss at home to Ole Miss...this is the team to beat... 2. Texas (9-1) - yes, I know they lost to T2 on the last play...but when the season is over, Texas will be the better team and have the better record... 3. Oklahoma (9-1) - like Florida, the Sooners are one pissed off bunch since losing to Texas... 4. Southern Cal (8-1) - the best defense in the country...I don't care what happened at Oregon State... 5. Texas Tech (10-0) - the Red Raiders are a solid football team, but both key wins came at home with the support of the home crow...this team has to win in Norman, Oklahoma before they get my vote... 6. Alabama (10-0) - great defense, solid running game...a win against Florida in the SEC title game catapults them to the top... 7. Penn State (9-1) - that was an ugly loss to Iowa....Iowa!?!?!?!!?... 8. Utah (10-0) - this is where the drop off begins...the Utes do not impress me...
Games of the Week Stiles Points will be previewing the following two games this week: USC @ Stanford - the Trojans have been waiting for redemption after last year's disasterour loss... NFL Special - NFC East - Dallas @ Washington - Sunday Night...it doesn't get any better than this...
