by Bryan Goers
What a way to open the 2016 football season! Thursday night brought us three games that won’t matter after Saturday when the real games get underway, but until then they finally give us something to talk about. Not that you realized this, but 17 games have already taken place ranging from a barn-burning 7-3 victory by Wake Forest over Tulane, to an absolute shellacking by Louisville over Charlotte.
A quick recap of games that were interesting: Louisville looked like they were going to put up 100 on poor little Charlotte, but stopped at 70 (Final: 70-14). Vandy looked like they were going to knock off South Carolina until late when SC put up 13 unanswered (Final 13-10). And finally Tennessee beat Appalachian State in a game that they wish they could forget. After trailing for the entire first half, they pulled out an OT victory. (Final: 20-13)
A quick recap of games that were interesting: Louisville looked like they were going to put up 100 on poor little Charlotte, but stopped at 70 (Final: 70-14). Vandy looked like they were going to knock off South Carolina until late when SC put up 13 unanswered (Final 13-10). And finally Tennessee beat Appalachian State in a game that they wish they could forget. After trailing for the entire first half, they pulled out an OT victory. (Final: 20-13)
So what does that all mean? Simple: the experts don’t actually know anything. South Carolina was supposed to be the bottom of the SEC, but they are 1-0 in the SEC (Granted Vandy isn’t supposed to be an SEC powerhouse, but they were supposed to beat SC). If you woke up on Thursday morning and looked at anything about Tennessee, you’d have expected them to be going to the national championship this year. However, when you woke up on Friday morning you’re now thinking “not so fast my friends,” as one ESPN Gameday host may say.
Like I said earlier, Thursday will be a distant dream after the real games start on Saturday. Oklahoma goes to Houston, Georgia battles North Carolina, and USC faces off against Alabama. And those are just games with Top-25 matchups. Other games to watch will be Texas A&M/ UCLA, LSU/Wisconsin, Clemson/Auburn, and of course Mizzou/West Virginia.
Fun note: Delaware State (Mizzou’s Sept 23rd match up) has already lost a game. To who? No idea. When you try to click on their team page on ESPN, they don’t exist. You have to go to their actual team website to find out they lost to Delaware.
Let the games begin!
Like I said earlier, Thursday will be a distant dream after the real games start on Saturday. Oklahoma goes to Houston, Georgia battles North Carolina, and USC faces off against Alabama. And those are just games with Top-25 matchups. Other games to watch will be Texas A&M/ UCLA, LSU/Wisconsin, Clemson/Auburn, and of course Mizzou/West Virginia.
Fun note: Delaware State (Mizzou’s Sept 23rd match up) has already lost a game. To who? No idea. When you try to click on their team page on ESPN, they don’t exist. You have to go to their actual team website to find out they lost to Delaware.
Let the games begin!
