College Football Column - Scott Grandrino

Here is Scott Grandrino's, (our guest this past week on RSW) college football column he wrote for the The Penn.

College Football Column #12

#25 South Carolina Gamecocks (7-3, 4-3 SEC) @ #4 Florida Gators (8-1, 6-1 SEC)

Steve Spurrier hopes to give his former team their second loss of the season, and the loss that may cost the Gators from going to the national title game.
Last week Florida clinched the SEC East division, their second title in three years, and will play Alabama on December 6 for the SEC championship game. If the Crimson Tide remain undefeated and Florida wins out their three remaining regular season games, that SEC showdown could decide the team that will play in the national title game.
The Gamecocks hope to ruin Florida’s dreams by beating them, something they were so close to doing two years ago when Florida won the national championship game. South Carolina needed a last second field goal to win, but Florida’s defense blocked it and won the game 17-16.
Both teams are on a roll, with South Carolina winning six out of its last seven games and with Florida winning five in a row.
Florida’s winning streak has been impressive by outscoring their opponents 243 to 57 including a 39 point win over then ranked sixth Georgia and a 30 point win over the defending champs LSU.
South Carolina has not been blowing out their competition, because their offense is not as explosive as Florida’s. Instead the Gamecocks have been winning by their tough defense, ranked first in the SEC and third overall in the country. They are also tenth in scoring defense.
Florida’s offense may be on a roll, but they will be in for a tough contest with South Carolina’s defense.

Prediction: Florida 26 - South Carolina 17

#3 Texas Longhorns (9-1, 5-1 Big 12) @ Kansas Jayhawks (6-4, 3-3 Big 12)

The last second touchdown by Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree, cost the Longhorns an undefeated season, but their hopes are still alive for either a Big 12 championship berth, a national title championship birth or a BCS bowl game birth.
To still keep their hopes alive, Texas needs to win out versus their last two opponents, both unranked. Kansas, a team the Longhorns have beaten since 1938, is up this week.
The Jayhawks, last year’s Orange Bowl winners, have dropped three of their last four games, giving up 45 points or more in those games.
Kansas’s offense has had no problem scoring this year. Quarterback Todd Reesing has thrown for almost 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns. Running back Jake Sharp has 737 yards on the ground with 10 scores and wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe is closing in on a 1,000 yard receiving year and has caught 11 touchdown passes.
It is the Jayhawks defense that has been costing them games. In the last four games Kansas has surrendered 174 points.
This is good news for Texas, as Colt McCoy has been putting up some of the nation’s best numbers. The junior leads the nation in completion percentage with 78.0 percent and has thrown for 28 scores.

Prediction: Texas 49 - Kansas 34

Boston College Eagles (6-3, 2-3ACC) @ #19 Florida St Seminoles (7-2, 4-2 ACC)

The ACC is more talked about in college basketball, but this year the conference is more competitive amongst themselves with nine of the 12 teams having a record of .500 or better.
Florida State is tied with Wake Forest in the Atlantic Division with a record of 4-2. Wake Forest has the advantage by beating the Seminoles earlier this year.
Florida State has won five in the last six games and has scored 30 or more points in all but three games this year. Much of their offensive success has from their ground attack.
The Seminoles have improved a run game that averaged only 122.1 yards per game over the last five years to averaging 205.2 yards this year, which is second in the conference.
Antone Smith leads the team with 632 yards and has found the end zone 13 times. The Seminoles have three other backs that have over 200 rushing yards and combine for seven scores.
The ‘Noles running attack will be in for a test as they play a defense that has held opponents to 101.8 yards rushing per game, best in the ACC.
Last week the Eagles ended a two game slide, where they were outscored 72-45, by beating Notre Dame 17-0.
After Florida State, Boston College plays Wake Forest, another ranked ACC opponent. If the Eagles want to go back to the ACC championship they need these wins.

Prediction: Florida State 31 - Boston College 17