4-Down Territory: Big Twelve Showdown, Big Ten, SEC & Pac 12 Showdowns & More College Footba
1st Down: Big Ten Tri-Bill: #8 Minnesota at #20 Iowa: Last week Minnesota Quarterback Tanner Morgan completed 90% of his passes (a record for any PSU opponent). Iowa’s secondary and pass rush must provide a stiffer test to have a chance. Iowa's inconsistent run game will need to be very good to avoid throwing into a Gopher secondary that has picked off 14 passes. Safety Antoine Winfield, Jr has 7 for the season…… Indiana at #9 Penn State: Indiana’s patient offense, accurate short passing game and receiving corps could be a problem for the PSU secondary and linebackers. Penn State’s pass rush has been inconsistent and given how quickly IU will get the ball out they could be hard pressed to get to the QB. Attitude will be key here. Indiana senses this could be a program-defining moment and in the last few games they've shown great confidence. If PSU is still mentally hungover from last week this could be a long afternoon.
2nd Down: Pac-12 Favorites: The Pac 12 is just a few weeks from getting a really good/ playoff caliber-conference title game.....Arizona at #6 Oregon: Oregon WR Juwan Johnson is finally healthy and with his breakout 7 catch/3 TD game versus USC he presents another serious target for the Ducks. With their offense and defense really playing at a high level, the Ducks are a legitimate playoff contender…….UCLA at #7 Utah: After a disastrous start UCLA has gotten a lot better. Part of that has been the emergence of the running game. In UCLA’s 3-game win streak RB Joshua Kelley has racked up 466 yards rushing and 7 TDs. But the experienced Utah defense is the #1 run defense in the country allowing just 56 yards per game.
3rd Down: Military Appreciation Week Continues: #23 Navy at #16 Notre Dame: Unless you're a Notre Dame fan (or have money on the game) it's hard not to root for Navy. Notre Dame’s run defense allows 156 yards a game (#63 in the country). Navy is the nation's #1 rushing offense at 357.9 yards per game. That unique ground attack and ball control philosophy could mean Notre Dame QB Ian Book spends a lot of time on the sidelines while the Midshipmen control the clock.
4th Down: The Big Showdowns: #4 Georgia at #12 Auburn: The Tigers may be out of the playoff picture but they could have a say about who gets in when they play both Georgia and Alabama this month. A Tigers sweep would wreck the 2-team SEC playoff dream. Auburn’s pass rush will absolutely need to get to Georgia QB Jake Fromm. Florida couldn’t get to him and he methodically picked them apart –particularly on third down. Auburn’s ability or inability to get to him could be the hinge that swings the game one way or another……#10 Oklahoma at #13 Baylor: The Bears keep winning the close ones with QB Charlie Brewer proving to be a clutch performer week after week. The challenge will be for the Baylor defense to keep them close and give them a chance to work more 4th-quarter/overtime magic. Oklahoma’s defense has taken some steps backwards yielding 89 points in a loss to K-State and a near miss against Iowa State. The Bears faithful will be primed and ready to go. If you doubt the power of a home crowd and the energy they can infuse just look at how Minnesota’s fans helped them upset Penn State last week.
College Football 150 Relic: 1949 NCAA Football Official Guide: This is the 1949 NCAA Rule Book and Football preview, long before the years of dozens of preseason football magazines. Check out the gallery:
Picture 1: SMU's Doak Walker
Picture 2: UNC's Charlie Choo-Choo Justice
Picture 3: 1948 Penn St vs Michigan St
Picture 4: 1948 Ohio State vs Iowa
Picture 5: 1948 Alabama vs Tennessee
Picture 6: 1948 Southern vs Xavier
Picture 7: 1948 Western (Big 9) Standings
Picture 8: 1948 Notre Dame Team
Picture 9: 1948 Northwestern Rose Bowl Team
Picture 10: 1948 Michigan Team
