In Week 3, fans were treated to elite match-ups between ranked teams, exciting upsets, and much more. Here at Pacific Playbook Sports Talk, I have been making predictions for every game of the season. Thus far, I am 219-38, with a record of 61-14 in Week 3. A bit of a dip this week, but over 80% correct can be deemed successful. My biggest misses include Florida, Kentucky, and West Virginia. My most accurate picks were Clemson, Ole Miss, and Texas Tech. With all the action that happened this past weekend, there is no better time to look back and recap what happened.
The Most Impressive
Kentucky
In a shocking outcome, the Wildcats pulled off the upset against top-10-ranked Texas A&M. Both teams started slowly, as it was tied 7-7 at halftime. However, Kentucky put on a show in the third quarter as they scored three touchdowns, extending their lead to 28-7 heading into the fourth. Their quarterback had only four incompletions on his way to over 250 passing yards and two touchdowns. The defense was stellar, as they forced one of the best offenses in the country to throw two interceptions and predominantly target one receiver. In doing so, they threw Texas A&M out of whack and gave the underdog Wildcats the momentum needed to get the win. This is a big win for first-year head coach, and the future looks bright.
Ole Miss
With all the drama and outside noise, the Rebels were able to get revenge against their former coach. This week, Ole Miss demonstrated the kind of poise and mental fortitude needed to compete and win tough games. This will pay big dividends later in the year, as they still have some heavy hitters left on their schedule. Offensively, they have stars that they can rely on to consistently make big plays when they matter most. In addition, their defense has been stout and made key plays to help get the victory. Pete Golding is showing fans that the playoff success last year was not a fluke, but rather a testament to his team and staff. Keep an eye on the Rebels, as they seem to be a force to be reckoned with.
West Virginia
The Mountaineers put together an excellent performance against ranked Virginia. They were able to control the line of scrimmage and assert dominance on both sides of the ball. Michael Hawkins and Cam Cook are performing at an incredibly high level this season and making me reminisce about Rich Rodriguez’s first stint in West Virginia. Against Virginia, the duo rushed for 123 yards each, with Hawkins responsible for five total touchdowns. Defensively, they were able to limit what has been an explosive Cavalier offense. Virginia gained fewer yards than they had averaged on the year, and West Virginia forced three sacks as well. This Mountaineer team could be in store for a huge remainder of the season if they can continue dominating the line of scrimmage.
The Most Disappointing
Oklahoma
Though the Sooners came away with the win, it was anything but pretty. This is now back-to-back weeks of poor football played by Oklahoma. First, Michigan, and this past weekend against New Mexico. The defense did what they were expected to, but I cannot keep making excuses for this offensive group. John Mateer has failed to live up to the expectations he had coming into the year. The talent gap between them and New Mexico is greater than a seven-point home victory. If they continue this level of play against stronger SEC opponents, the Sooners will not win many games.
NC State
In what seemed like a game that the Wolfpack had under control, it ended up becoming a loss after a costly turnover late. NC State relies heavily on their quarterback, CJ Bailey, but maybe they are putting too much on his plate. He played well in the first half, but a third-quarter interception and a fumble in the final seconds cost the Wolfpack. They were up 24-7 midway through the third before their collapse. Aside from forcing multiple turnovers, their defense allowed too many long plays that resulted in crucial first downs and touchdowns. If the Wolfpack cannot figure out their issues, NC State is going to struggle and have a poor year.
North Texas
The Mean Green were coming off a beat down of UNLV, and the optimism was running high until they played the Texas State Bobcats. They struggled early and, throughout the game, were playing catch-up. North Texas allowed over 600 total yards, and over 330 of them came on the ground. No matter how well a team plays on offense, if they cannot stop someone, they will not win. Hopefully for Mean Green fans, this is not the final recipe, and tweaks will be made. They still have time to turn it around with conference play just around the corner. However, this type of performance does not give me much confidence about North Texas’s chances to replicate last year’s success.
The Best Games
Houston at Texas Tech
This Big 12 matchup had everything a fan would want in a football game. Two ranked teams went head-to-head and finished in nail-biting fashion. Both teams executed effectively on offense, as each team put up over 400 total yards. Each defense was able to apply pressure in different ways. The Cougar defense forced two interceptions on the night, while the Red Raiders got three sacks. In a back-and-forth affair, Houston scored in the final minute and then failed a two-point conversion that was inches away from being successful. This was an enjoyable game that anyone could appreciate. Unfortunately, many might have missed it due to it happening on Friday.
Temple at Toledo
If you love defensive battles, this was not the game for you. The final score of the game was 49-48 in favor of Toledo. The Rockets came back from being down 14 in the fourth quarter to send it to overtime. They scored with 1:11 on the clock, followed it up by recovering an onside kick, and scored again with :58 on the clock to tie it up. Both offenses were humming on all cylinders, as the Temple Owls had over 250 rushing yards while Toledo’s quarterback had over 400 passing yards. In a game where defense seemed meaningless, Temple failed to convert a two-point conversion in overtime to close it out. It is always fun to see two teams light up the scoreboard and exchange heavy blows. This did that and more.
LSU at Ole Miss
Talk about an exciting matchup with a story Hollywood could not make up. All week, news outlets were talking about Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford, and boy, did it deliver. Ole Miss came away with a 32-24 victory led by the efforts of Trinidad Chambliss. He showcased why he is one of the nation’s best, as he was able to dominate through the air and on the ground. LSU did their best to complete the comeback from 24-7 at halftime but could not get over the hump. Sam Leavitt had a rushing and a passing touchdown in the third quarter, bringing his team to within three. Unfortunately for Tiger fans, he threw an interception in the end zone with a minute left to seal the deal and give Ole Miss the home win. It was a game that fans will talk about all season and definitely lived up to the pregame hype.
Watch Out For
Week 4 game predictions will be released Thursday morning, before the first game of the week kicks off.
