Allen Bored
Here is the countdown of the top five upsets of Week 2 where the MAC takes center stage. Upset ranking is based on the point spread (per Covers.com) and I use the Sagarin Predictor spread to break ties.
#5
Kentucky 26, South Carolina 22
Spread: South Carolina -7
Let the Steve Spurrier retirement rumors commence! Kentucky hadn’t won a road game since 2009 (22 games) which was also the last season that they finished with more than two wins in conference play. This game looked like it might get out of hand early as Kentucky staked a 24-7 halftime lead by the running back tandem of Boom Williams and Jojo Kemp who combined to finish the game with 178 yards rushing on 27 attempts. The offense hit a wall in the second half though and didn’t manage to get a first down until there was under eight minutes left in the 4th quarter. This opened the door for a South Carolina comeback, pulling within two points in the 4th after a touchdown reception by Jerrell Adams. They went for two to tie the game on a run out of the Wildcat by star receiver Pharoh Cooper but he would fumble and the ball was picked up by Kentucky linebacker Denzil Ware and returned 98 yards for the rare defensive two point play, the only points they would score in the second half.
#4
Bowling Green 48, Maryland 27
Spread: Maryland -7
This is one of those games that probably won’t look like an upset by season’s end. This was a battle of two opposing offensive styles with the up tempo Bowling Green spread (averaged 78 plays per game last season, 16th in the nation) contrasting against the more methodical Maryland offense (66, 111th). Number of plays run in a game is not necessarily a good indicator of the outcome but in this one it made a difference to say the least. Bowling Green ran an obscene 105 plays to Maryland’s 59. I don’t know if there are records kept for number of plays differential in a game but that has to be up there. Unsurprisingly with a pace like that being run the opposing defense is going to wear out eventually. Maryland actually lead this game 20-13 midway through the 3rd quarter and was still tied entering the 4th. But the seams of the defense started to come apart during 17 play, 99 yard drive by BGSU that gave them the lead early in the 4th. Maryland’s offense answered with a touchdown to tie the game but the Maryland defense was spent at that point and gave up the lead for good soon after. The game turned into a blowout when Maryland’s next three possessions all ended in interceptions, one by starter Perry Hills that ended up getting him benched and then the next two by back up Caleb Rowe who finished the game 1 of 3 with those two picks. BGSU quarterback Matt Johnson had a much better day than his counterparts. He threw for 491 yards and six touchdowns with Roger Lewis being the main benefactor (15 catches, 200 yards, 2 TD).
#3
Eastern Michigan 48, Wyoming 29
Spread: Wyoming -13
The good news for Wyoming is if they appear in this article again this year they will certainly be on the winning side of things. After being beaten convincingly in their opener against Big Sky bottom tier team North Dakota and this humiliating loss against what has been hands down the worst program in FBS of the last two decades, it would seem extremely unlikely Wyoming will be favored again this year. To understand why a team who looked as bad Wyoming did last week could still be a double digit favorite I’ll point you to the fact that Eastern Michigan hadn’t won a non-conference road game in 27 years. But rather than point out their moribund history any further let’s celebrate their domination in this game. After spotting Wyoming an early 7-0 lead, EMU torched Wyoming’s defense for 38 consecutive points before the first half was over and were able to cruise the rest of the way. The manly named EMU quarterback Brogan Roback was the model of efficiency completing 17 of 24 passes for 330 yards and 3 TDs that added up to a near perfect 99 QBR for the game. Running back Shaq Vann chipped in with 129 on the ground, 74 coming on a touchdown run during the first half onslaught. On the other end Wyoming running back had as unsatisfying a 242 yard rushing day that you could ever have given the circumstances.
#2
Houston 34, Louisville 31
Spread: Louisville -13.5
This is a very encouraging start for the much heralded former Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman who is now the head coach of Houston. On the other side this is the second straight week Louisville has to feel they handed a game to the opposition as they are now 0-2 for the first time since 1998. They outpaced Houston 5.6 to 5 yards per play in the game but turned the ball over four times, all by freshman quarterback Lamar Jackson (2 interceptions, 2 fumbles) who was benched in the 3rd quarter. Houston quarterback Greg Ward might be a name to remember, on the day he threw for 236 yards and 3 TD and ran for 109 yards (sack yards removed). This had been a relatively low scoring affair as Louisville lead 14-10 with under five minutes left in the 3rd before point floodgates opened and the wild 4th quarter would feature five lead changes. Louisville had a chance to tie the game in the final minute when kicker John Wallace tried to attempt career long 53 yard field goal but the kick was partially blocked.
#1
Toledo 16, Arkansas 12
Spread: Arkansas -22.5
“I spent a lot of time in that other conference (Big Ten). Ohio State’s ranked No. 1 and they have one game remaining on their schedule that has anybody ranked right now — Michigan State. We’re going to play eight straight opponents that are ranked.” – Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema, 9/8/15
We all love coaches who aren’t afraid to speak their mind to the media but quotes like this are why you also understand the more guarded approach of the Jim Harbaugh’s of the coaching world. While it’s still without a question that the SEC West is the divisional king of college football, all 7 teams were ranked going into Week 2, but the teams aren’t above getting bit on the ass by a potential MAC conference champion. Arkansas came into the season as a very trendy upstart pick to land in a major bowl game, if not necessarily reaching the heights of the College Football Playoff, but their hype train was derailed in a big way here. Their final four possessions of the game told the story. While trailing a 9-7, a 43 yard punt return by Jared Cornelius set them up at the Toledo 26 but it ended in an interception in the end zone. After Toledo marched for a touchdown to push the lead to 16-7, Arkansas embarked on a mammoth 21 play, 73 yard drive that ate up ten and a half minutes of game time in which they had a 1st and Goal at the 3. They settled for a field goal. The following possession would end on a turnover on downs after having 1st and Goal at the 4. And finally while having to work with only a minute on the clock and no timeouts they were able to march inside the Toledo 20 but ran out of time as a Brandon Allen pass sailed harmlessly out of the back of the end zone. Toledo held the much vaunted Arkansas rushing attack to just 3.4 yard per carry on the day with star running back Alex Collins gaining just 54 yards on 20 carries.
