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College Football Mondays
Frank Coyle – Weekly Blog Column

LSU and Boise St Win Big Opening Games

Baylor’s Robert Griffin Wins Player of the Week Honors

Photo – QB Robert Griffin - Baylor

The opening weekend of college football provided a few key matchups in an abbreviated schedule. The LSU vs Oregon and Boise St. vs Georgia were games that would have national and SEC implications. The SEC has won five straight BCS titles and features a few clubs, LSU and Alabama that will be strong contenders again for the national championship. On Saturday night, LSU made a statement with an impressive 40-27 overall performance at Oregon where they controlled the line of scrimmage, displaying fine team speed and power. The Tigers improved their non-conference regular season winning streak to a national best 34 straight games and clearly outmatched the Ducks physically.

The Tigers did this without their starting QB Jordan Jefferson, in addition to playing without wide receiver Russell Shepard who is suspended for violating NCAA rules. Jefferson was supposed to be the starter for the third straight year but he and linebacker Josh Johns were both suspended indefinitely and are facing battery charges in connection wit a bar fight last month.

The biggest upset of the opening week was Baylor shocking TCU. Baylor junior QB Robert Griffin passed for 327 yards (21-of-27) and a career-high 5 TDs as the Bears defeated 14th-ranked TCU, 50-48. Griffin added 38 yards rushing and had a 15-yard reception. It was Baylor’s first win over a ranked opponent since October 30, 2004.

TCU has led the nation in defense the prior three seasons. Last season, TCU allowed only 229 yards per game with the most allowed in the regular season was 361 yards to SMU. The Bears had 360 at halftime and finished with 564. Robert Griffin threw for 359 yards and a career-best 5 TDs.

It was the most yards and points allowed by the Horned Frogs since Sept. 24, 2005, in their 51-50 overtime victory over BYU, which had 614 yards. Starting linebackers Tank Carder, the Rose Bowl defensive MVP and Tanner Brock are top defenders in its 4-2-5 scheme, but there are two new starters up front and some inexperience in the secondary.

Baylor was 0-4 against Top 25 teams last season, when the Bears finished 7-6 with a bowl appearance for the first time since 1994. Their last win over a ranked team was a double-overtime victory over No. 16 Texas A&M in 2004

QB Kellen Moore and highly rated Boise St made a strong statement with a 35-21 season opening win over #19 Georgia at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Moore completed 28-of-34 passes for 261 yards and 3 TDs against one interception for the Broncos. It was Boise St’s first win over a SEC school. Boise St. finished 12-1 as the toast of the WAC a season ago,

Last year’s BCS champion Auburn dodged a bullet with a comeback victory vs Utah St. They were behind most of the second half as they found what life is without Cam Newton. They will be hard pressed to repeat in the talent SEC and face a very tough midseason schedule that should limit them to an 8-4 record at best with a possible .500 record by the end of November.

The Draft Insiders’ poll had TCU in the top spot last season in the BCS at the end of the regular season. The BCS title was still debated after TCU beat a tough Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl that creates an imaginary game with the Auburn after they beat Oregon. The BCS snub of the Horned Frogs was the main reason TCU joined the Big East. As a Big East member the conference receives an automatic BCS bid that gives teams a chance at the national title annually.

The Numbers

Offensive Player of the Week
QB Robert Griffin – Jr. Baylor
Baylor junior quarterback Robert Griffin passed for 327 yards (21-of-27) and a career-high 5 TDs as the Bears defeated 14th-ranked TCU, 50-48. Griffin added 38 yards rushing and had a 15-yard reception. It was Baylor’s first win over a ranked opponent since October 30, 2004. TCU has lead the nation in defense the prior three seasons.

Defensive Player of the Week
LB Brandon Herron – Sr. Michigan
Michigan senior linebacker Brandon Herron become the first player in school history to post two defensive scores as the Wolverines defeated Western Michigan, 34-10. Herron posted a career-best eight tackles, and returned an interception 94 yards for a TD and added another score on a 29 yard fumble recovery.

There were two runners in the nation who topped the 200 yards rushing last week. Tailback Ray Graham of Pittsburgh rushed 29 times of 201 yards for an impressive 6.9 yards per carry and 3 TDs. Malcolm Agnew of Oregon St. rushed 33 times for 223 yards for a 6.8 average and 3TDs. But Oregon St. lost to Sacramento St when the Hornets went for the two-point conversion for a 29-28 upset win over the Beavers on Saturday.

New Weekly Top 25 Posted every Tuesday

Frank Coyle writes ‘College Football Monday’ weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He is also a member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for weekly Team and Player Awards