Notre Dame rises to #3 in BCS rankings after win at Oklahoma

Saturday night was a night that Notre Dame football answered a lot of questions throughout the country. Before they even got to Oklahoma, a good majority of television, radio, sportswriters, bloggers and any other sort of media outlet that wasn't associated with the University of Notre Dame, were writing off the Irish and already tagging them with their first loss.

The Fighting Irish went into their highly touted matchup with the Sooners as confident as they have been thus far in the 2012 season. It's a good thing they played as confident as they did or the host Sooners could have eaten them alive on primetime television with much of the country watching.

Notre Dame moved up in the latest BCS (Bowl Championship Series) Standings to #3 after sitting at the #5 spot in those computer polls. They leap-frogged over the high-powered offense of the now-#4 Oregon Ducks. The Collin Klein-led Kansas State Wildcats jumped up into the #2 BCS ranking with now-#7 Florida losing to Georgia, who moved up to #6 in the BCS this week.

As much as critics of Notre Dame are convinced that the Irish shouldn't be as high in the BCS as they are, they're more than likely changing their tune after last nights stellar performance on the road at then-#8 Oklahoma. It makes good sense that there are some out there that are especially critical of Brian Kelly's offense and how it performs week-by-week.

My concern this week was whether Irish quarterback Everett Golson would finally play a complete game. He was forced to sit out one play, because he was hit pretty hard by a Sooner defender as he scrambled for yardage. Golson was relieved by former starter and current backup Tommy Rees, who completed a pass on his one play of action for 11 yards and a first down to TE Tyler Eifert.

When word got out Saturday morning that sophomore running back/kick returner George Atkinson III would not be making the trip to Norman because he was ill from flu-like symptoms, depth at running back and the return game was a little in question. Both situations fixed, because of depth. Tailbacks Theo Riddick (74 yards, TD) and Cierre Wood (74 yards, TD), along with QB Golson (64 yards, TD), managed just fine without the services of GAIII, but wouldn't have minded having him there.

Cam McDaniel did a pretty nice job in the kick return game with four returns for a total of 77 yards (19.3 avg.). Atkinson III will be back next Saturday, as Notre Dame will host Pittsburgh at Notre Dame Stadium.

Defense is something that head coach Brian Kelly, along with defensive coodinator Bob Diaco haven't really had too much to worry about this season. Going into Saturday night's game at Oklahoma, the Irish D was allowing just 9.4 points per game. With Manti Te'o leading the defense, all is well. With Kapron Lewis-Moore, Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt holding up the D-line duties, they make things a little easier for linebackers Te'o, Dan Fox, Carlo Calabrese, Danny Spond and Prince Shembo. The defensive backfield was the biggest concern when the season started, but that tension has eased with each game. Led by Right CB Bennett Jackson and Safety Zeke Motta, they're taking youngsters Elijah Shumate, Matthias Farley and KeiVarae Russell under their upperclass wings and they've turned out better than they ever imagined.

I'm not assuming that Notre Dame will easily waltz through the final four regular season games without any challenge. Pittsburgh is no slouch by any means. Tailback Ray Graham is having a great season through 8 games for the Panthers. He has 622 rushing yards on 134 carries (4.6 avg.) with 7 TDs and has chipped in with 22 receptions for 244 yards and 2 TDs. Pitt also has a couple good receivers, one in particular that they've had trouble with the past couple seasons. Mike Shanahan has been a thorn in the side of the Irish's D during his time at Pittsburgh. This season, he's caught 37 passes for 637 yards and 3 TDs. Devin Street leads the team with 50 grabs for 695 yards and 4 TDs.

The Irish head to Boston College on November 10, host Wake Forest on November 17 and finish up the regular season with a trip to Los Angeles to face the USC Trojans on Thanksgiving weekend.

It'll be interesting how Notre Dame responds at home this Saturday vs. Pittsburgh. I think it will definitely be good to come home following a big road victory at Oklahoma.

GO IRISH!

Sectional titles, World Series, NFL, College football quick hits...

There are times of the year that we really don't mind if they're flying by as fast as they are and that time is now. We're approaching Sectional Championship week here in the state of Indiana (see below). Baseball is winding down with the World Series drawing major attention. Week 8 of the NFL season has begun with Tampa Bay winning at Minnesota, 36-17. College football has captured all of us with #3 K-State hosting #14 Texas Tech and #5 Notre Dame hitting the road for a tough game at #8 Oklahoma.

The World Series is taking our televisions by storm as the San Francisco Giants have taken a commanding 2-0 series lead on the Detroit Tigers as they head to Comerica Park in Detroit for games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary).  Pablo Sandoval and Marco Scutaro have carried the weight for the Giants at the plate, but they've been real comfortable with their clutch pitching from Barry Zito (Game 1) and Madison Bumgarner (Game 2) to give them two home wins and a two game lead in the best-of-seven World Series.

The NFL is in Week 8. The NY Giants have a 2 game lead in the NFC East at 5-2. The Chicago Bears (5-1) are surprising some people with only one loss, despite QB Jay Cutler's somewhat subpar play under center. The Atlanta Falcons remain as the only undefeated (6-0) team left in the National Football League. Matt Ryan and crew will be tested Sunday on the road when they go to Philadelphia for a key NFC matchup. The 49ers (5-2) hold just a one game lead on both Arizona (4-3) and Seattle (4-3), so the NFC West might be a tighter fight than originally thought to be. New England isn't sitting as pretty as they normally are in the AFC East. The Pats are just 4-3 and have a 1/2 game lead on Miami, only one game in the loss column and are being tested by opponents on a weekly basis. The Houston Texans (6-1) sit comfortable with a 2.5 game lead over the Indianapolis Colts (3-3) in the AFC South. Baltimore (5-2) is up two games in the AFC North on the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3), which has shocked some, but the Steelers aren't as young as they used to be. The AFC West has the Denver Broncos (3-3) and the San Diego Chargers (3-3) tied for the division lead, but I've got a feeling that Peyton Manning will eventually lead Denver to the division title.

College football is really hitting its stride with numerous Top 25 matchups on today's slate. The #2 Florida Gators (7-0) meet up with the #10 Georgia Bulldogs in Jacksonville at the "world's largest outdoor cocktail party" at 3:30. #14 Texas Tech (6-1) heads to the "Little Apple" to face #3 Kansas State (7-0) in a Big XII tilt. #5 Notre Dame (7-0) faces a huge road test tonight at 8pm when they battle with #8 Oklahoma (5-1) in Norman. The other big game on college football's agenda tonight is when the #11 Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-0) clash in Tuscaloosa is the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0).

It's not surprising to some as to which high school football teams are still alive in the 40th Annual Indiana High School State Tournament Playoffs. After last night's sectional semifinals, we do know that we'll have two brand new teams for the Class 5A state championship this Thanksgiving weekend. Defending state champion Carmel lost last week in the first round of 5A Sectional 5 to Warren Central in three overtimes, 31-24. Last night in the sectional semifinals, defending 5A state runner-up Penn was upset by Carroll (Allen) at home, 14-13.

Heading into the sectionals, defending 4A runner-up South Bend Washington (3-8) had just one victory, but has now won two in a row and will host the Mishawaka Cavemen (8-3) at School Field in South Bend. Mount Vernon (Fortville) (10-1) is making its presence known amongst the 4A stalwalts out there. Winning 4A Sectional 13 would get the Marauders a Regional game vs. either Indianapolis Roncalli or Indianapolis Cathedral. Don't forget about #1 Columbus East and #2 Jasper coming out of Sectionals 15 and 16, respectively.

There are classic matchups across the board in Class 3A in this week's Sectional Championships. It's always been a toss-up with Mishawaka Marian (8-3) visiting South Bend St. Joe's. The Indians also hosted and beat the Knights in Week 6, 35-21. #1 Jimtown (11-0) faces a tough opponent on the road in #8 Heritage (9-2). The Jimmies have pretty much been unstoppable thus far in 2012, so what can stop them now? One of the more intriguing games for a 3A Sectional crown is Sectional 20, when (9-1) #5 Western Boone heads up to #4 Hamilton Heights (10-1). WeBo had a little trouble at Southmont on Friday, but escaped with a 12-8 victory, while the Huskies are on a roll with a 38-0 blanking of Twin Lakes. This may also be the week that we find out how "real" #3 Charlestown (11-0) is when they travel to Brownstown Central (10-1).

2A #5 Fort Wayne Bishop Luers continues its quest for a 4th consecutive 2A State Championship. If they complete this feat, they will be moving up to 3A next season. Trying not to jump-the-gun, they host a real grind-it-out team in #9 Churubusco (10-1). This will be #6 Heritage Christian's (9-2) second trip to Shenandoah (8-3). They had no trouble dominating the Raiders 51-20 in Week 5, but this is the playoffs and it's anybody's ball game. The other 2A game that grabs my attention is #10 Lawrenceburg (10-1) at #12 Paoli (9-2). Both teams are playing great football right now, but Lawrenceburg is too hot to not advance out of Sectional 31.

#8 West Central (10-1) surprised me by knocking previously unbeaten Whiting (10-1) out of the playoffs and will play at home against Winamac (8-3) in Sectional 33. #2 Lafayette Central Catholic (10-1) is in the same boat as Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, trying to win a 4th straight state title in its respective class. LCC has to advance past #4 Pioneer (10-1) to continue on that path, but playing at home will help the Knights.

I hope that #5 Notre Dame can pull off the huge upset of #8 Oklahoma tonight in Norman, Oklahoma! I also would like to see the San Francisco Giants steal Game 3 of the World Series tonight, but it'll be tough now that Detroit is at home for possibly three games.

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World Series, Game 1: Sandoval, Zito, Giants keep hot momentum

Prior to the start of Game 1 of the World Series, it was almost assumed that Justin Verlander starting for the Detroit Tigers would bring a victory for the boys from the Motor City. The reigning AL MVP and Cy Young awards winning pitcher was taken completely off his game when the Giants came to bat.

For the first five outs, it felt like it was going to be a pitchers dual between Verlander and Giants hurler Barry Zito. With two outs, Pablo Sandoval sent a JV fastball 421 feet over the right-center wall for a home run, igniting the home crowd at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

NLCS MVP Marco Scutaro continued his hot hitting with a single to center, driving in Angel Pagan. Sandoval was primed for his second trip to the plate. This time, Pablo drove a two-run shot to left (379 feet) for a three-run Giant 3rd and a 4-0 lead.

The defense was pretty stellar as well. Gregor Blanco had two tremendous diving catches out in left. Barry Zito was more focused on the mound than anyone gave the 2002 AL Cy Young award winner credit for. Zito was the starter in San Francisco's Game 5 victory at St. Louis in the NLCS that advanced the series onto Games 6 and 7, propelling the Giants into the World Series.

Zito helped his own cause with his bat. With Brandon Belt aboard, BZ dropped a single into left field, scoring Belt for a 5-0 lead.

Al Alburquerque replaced Justin Verlander in the bottom of the 5th. Verlander had one of his worst outings in quite a while. He threw 98 pitches in four innings, gave up six hits, five runs (all earned), 4 strikeouts, one walk and two mammouth home runs given up to the Kung Fu Panda, Pablo Sandoval.

Pablo made history during his third at-bat. He took a one-out Alburquerque pitch to deep center (435 feet) for his third home run of the night. He joined some pretty good company in doing so. Babe Ruth (1926 and 1928), Reggie Jackson (1977) and Albert Pujols in 2011 are the three previous to perform this feat in a World Series game, Pujols joined Ruth and Jackson during last year's Fall Classic vs. the Texas Rangers.

Sandoval is the first of the four to hit his three home runs in his first three plate appearances. Jackson walked, followed by three straight home runs in 1977. In 1926, Babe Ruth hit a home run, home run, walked and homered in his final at-bat (courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau).

Detroit finally got itself on the scoreboard in the 6th. Triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera singled and was driven home on an Austin Jackson single, bringing the Tigers' deficit to 6-1.

The Giants added on their finishing touches to Game 1 in the 7th. Pagan singled and Scutaro drove him in. Catcher Buster Posey singled and drove Scutaro home for an 8-1 cushion.

The Tigers gave it one last effort in the top of the 9th with a Jhonny Peralta two-run home run, but Detroit fell hard in Game 1, 8-3.

Game 2 is tonight at 8pm with Doug Fister (Detroit) facing Madison Bumgarner (San Francisco) at AT&T Park.

IHSAA Football: First Round preview and picks

We've had a lot of surprises during the 2012 Indiana high school football season. Some teams have lived up to expectations, while other teams' seasons haven't been what they thought they would in August. 315 teams throughout classes 5A to 1A have worked extremely hard to get to where they are. With the first round of the 40th Annual IHSAA State Football Tournament starting tomorrow night, all regular seasons can honestly be thrown out the window and everyone starts with a clean slate!

Below I'm making my picks for the first round of Sectionals 1 through 40. After each class, I'm going to go ahead and make my State Finals predictions.

CLASS 5A
SECTIONAL 1:
Crown Point (6-3) over Valpo (3-6)
#13 Lake Central (7-2) over Portage (3-6)
Merrillville (7-2) over Munster (2-7)
#10 Chesterton (8-1) over Michigan City (2-7)

SECTIONAL 2:
Elkhart Central (5-4) over Elkhart Memorial (1-8)
South Bend Adams (5-4) over Goshen (2-7)
Carroll (Allen) (7-2) over LaPorte (1-8)
#7 Penn (8-1) over Warsaw (6-3)

SECTIONAL 3:
#15 Fort Wayne North (7-2) over Fort Wayne Northrop (4-5)
Huntington North (5-4) over Fort Wayne South (3-6)
Kokomo (6-3) over Fort Wayne Wayne (1-8)
#2 Fort Wayne Snider (9-0) over #8 Homestead (9-0)

SECTIONAL 4:
McCutcheon (1-8) over Harrison (West Lafayette) (0-9)
Noblesville (4-5) over Westfield (3-6)
Fishers (3-6) over Anderson (4-5)
#14 Hamilton Southeastern (7-2) over Lafayette Jeff (3-6)

SECTIONAL 5:
#1 Lawrence Central (9-0) over Southport (5-4)
#4 Carmel (8-1) over #11 Warren Central (4-5)
Indianapolis Tech (5-3) over Perry Meridian (5-4)
North Central (Indianapolis) (2-7) over Lawrence North (0-9)

SECTIONAL 6:
#3 Ben Davis (8-1) over Pike (6-3)
#6 Brownsburg (9-0) over #12 Zionsville (7-2)
Avon (5-4) over Decatur Central (4-5)
Terre Haute North (5-4) over Terre Haute South (3-6)

SECTIONAL 7:
Franklin Central (4-5) over Bloomington South (1-8)
Whiteland (6-3) over Columbus North (4-5)
#5 Center Grove (8-1) over Martinsville (7-2)
Franklin (3-6) over Bloomington North (2-7)

SECTIONAL 8:
Jeffersonville (6-3) over New Albany (5-4)
#9 Castle (9-0) over Floyd Central (2-7)
Bedford North Lawrence (4-5) over Jennings County (1-8)

5A STATE FINALS: #4 CARMEL OVER #2 FORT WAYNE SNIDER

CLASS 4A
SECTIONAL 9:
Hammon Morton (4-5) over Hammond Clark (1-8)
#13 East Chicago Central (8-1) over Hammond (6-2)
Griffith (3-6) over Highland (1-8)
Gary West (5-4) over Gary Roosevelt (3-6)

SECTIONAL 10:
#10 Kankakee Valley (8-1) over #16 Hobart (7-2)
Lowell (5-4) over Mishawaka (6-3)
#7 New Prairie (8-1) over South Bend Clay (5-4)
South Bend Washington (1-8) over South Bend Riley (1-8)

SECTIONAL 11:
#11 Plymouth (7-2) over Northwood (4-5)
Wawasee (5-4) over DeKalb (2-7)
Angola (3-6) over Northridge (1-8)
#15 Concord (7-2) over #9 East Noble (7-2)

SECTIONAL 12:
Fort Wayne Dwenger (3-6) over Jay County (3-6)
#12 Leo (7-1) over Columbia City (4-5)
Logansport (1-8) over Norwell (0-9)
New Haven (7-2) over Marion (4-5)

SECTIONAL 13:
Muncie Central (3-6) over Greenfield-Central (3-6)
Delta (6-3) over Frankfort (3-6)
#14 Pendleton Heights (7-2) over Muncie South (6-2)
#5 Mount Vernon (Fortville) (8-1) over New Palestine (3-6)

SECTIONAL 14:
#4 Indianapolis Roncalli (7-2) over Plainfield (5-4)
#8 Greenwood (8-1) over Owen Valley (5-4)
#3 Indianapolis Cathedral (4-5) over Northview (3-6)
Lebanon (5-4) over Mooresville (1-8)

SECTIONAL 15:
Richmond (7-2) over Shelbyville (4-5)
Franklin County (4-5) over New Castle (1-8)
#1 Columbus East (9-0) over #6 East Central (7-2)
Connersville (6-3) over South Dearborn (0-9)

SECTIONAL 16:
Evansville Reitz (6-3) over Madison (2-7)
Seymour (4-5) over Evansville Harrison (1-8)
#2 Jasper (9-0) over Boonville (3-6)

4A STATE FINALS: #15 CONCORD OVER #5 MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE)
I'll admit it. I went with my alma mater (Concord) and one of the hotter 4A teams in the state, because the Class 4A field is pretty wide open.

CLASS 3A
SECTIONAL 17:
South Bend St. Joe's (5-4) over Knox (2-7)
Hammond Gavit (3-6) over Calumet (0-9)
#11 Culver Academy (7-2) over John Glenn (4-5)
#12 Mishawaka Marian (6-3) over Gary Wallace (2-5)

SECTIONAL 18:
Garrett (7-2) over Whitko (3-6)
#1 Jimtown (9-0) over Fort Wayne Concordia (2-7)
Tippecanoe Valley (7-2) over West Noble (1-8)
#8 Heritage (7-2) over #10 Lakeland (8-1)

SECTIONAL 19:
Eastbrook (6-3) over Peru (3-6)
Bellmont (4-5) over Yorktown (4-5)
Mississinewa (6-3) over Blackford (0-9)
Western (4-5) over Maconaquak (3-6)

SECTIONAL 20:
Southmont (3-6) over Crawfordsville (1-8)
#4 Hamilton Heights (8-1) over West Lafayette (6-3)
North Montgomery (6-3) over Twin Lakes (3-6)

SECTIONAL 21:
#13 Tri-West (7-2) over Indianapolis Arlington (0-7)
#6 Greencastle (9-0) over West Vigo (6-3)
#2 Indianapolis Chatard (7-2) over #14 Danville (7-2)
#7 Brebeuf Jesuit (7-2) over Indianapolis Northwest (1-8)

SECTIONAL 22:
Batesville (4-5) over Edgewood (2-7)
#16 Greensburg (7-2) over Brown County (2-7)
Beech Grove (4-5) over Indianapolis Howe (2-4)
Indian Creek (7-2) over Rushville (1-8)

SECTIONAL 23:
Salem (3-6) over North Harrison (2-7)
#15 Brownstown Central (8-1) over Heritage Hills (5-4)
#17 Corydon Central (7-2) over Silver Creek (3-6)
#3 Charlestown (9-0) over Mitchell (2-7)

SECTIONAL 24:
Vincennes Lincoln (7-2) over Evansville Bosse (0-9)
Gibson Southern (7-2) over Mount Vernon (Posey) (2-7)
Washington (3-6) over Pike Central (2-7)
Princeton (4-5) over Evansville Memorial (2-7)

3A STATE FINALS: #1 JIMTOWN OVER #2 INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD

CLASS 2A
SECTIONAL 25:
Bowman Academy (5-4) over River Forest (3-6)
Rensselaer Central (4-5) over North Newton (4-5)
Boone Grove (6-3) over Lake Station (2-7)
#4 Andrean (7-2) over Wheeler (6-3)

SECTIONAL 26:
#8 Lewis Cass (8-1) over Bremen (6-3)
Fairfield (6-3) over Prairie Heights (3-6)
Rochester (6-3) over Wabash (0-9)
Manchester (4-5) over North Judson (3-6)

SECTIONAL 27:
Elwood (7-2) over Madison-Grant (4-5)
#9 Churubusco (8-1) over Oak Hill (8-1)
#5 Fort Wayne Luers (6-3) over Woodlan (3-6)
Eastside (5-4) over Bluffton (5-4)

SECTIONAL 28:
#7 Tipton (8-1) over Seeger (4-5)
#13 Northwestern (7-2) over Taylor (0-9)
#11 Fountain Central (8-1) over Benton Central (3-6)
Delphi (3-6) over Eastern (Greentown) (1-8)

SECTIONAL 29:
Guerin Catholic (2-7) over Centerville (2-7)
#6 Heritage Christian (7-2) over Alexandria (3-6)
Winchester (5-4) over Frankton (5-4)
Shenandoah (6-3) over Union County (1-8)

SECTIONAL 30:
Speedway (6-3) over North Putnam (3-6)
#1 Indianapolis Ritter (9-0) over South Vermillion (2-7)
Cascade (3-6) over Park Tudor (1-8)
South Putnam (7-2) over Indianapolis Broad Ripple (6-3)

SECTIONAL 31:
Clarksville (5-4) over Eastern (Pekin) (1-8)
#10 Lawrenceburg (8-1) over Crawford County (0-8)
Triton Central (6-3) over Monrovia (4-5)
#12 Paoli (7-2) over Providence (3-6)

SECTIONAL 32:
Sullivan (6-3) over South Spencer (3-6)
#2 Evansville Mater Dei (7-2) over Southridge (6-3)
#2 North Posey (9-0) over Tell City (4-5)

2A STATE FINALS: #1 INDIANAPOLIS RITTER OVER #5 FORT WAYNE LUERS

CLASS 1A
SECTIONAL 33:
Hammond Noll (4-5) over South Newton (3-6)
Winamac (6-3) over Tri-County (1-8)
#8 West Central (8-1) over Culver (3-6)
#3 Whiting (9-0) over #12 South Central (Union Mills) (7-2)

SECTIONAL 34:
Carroll (Flora) (5-4) over Clinton Prairie (2-7)
#4 Pioneer (8-1) over Frontier (0-9)
#2 Lafayette Central Catholic (8-1) over North White (4-5)
#13 Caston (7-2) over Clinton Central  (2-7)

SECTIONAL 35:
Fremont (4-5) over Southwood (2-7)
Adams Central (5-4) over Triton (1-8)
Northfield (3-6) over Central Noble (0-9)
North Miami (6-3) over LaVille (1-8)

SECTIONAL 36:
#10 Tri-Central (8-1) over Wes-Del (1-7)
South Adams (2-7) over Lapel (1-8)
#9 Sheridan (5-4) over Southern Wells (2-7)
Union City (6-3) over Monroe Central (1-8)

SECTIONAL 37:
#6 Indianapolis Scecina (6-3) over Cambridge City Lincoln (6-3)
Knightstown (6-3) over Indiana Deaf (1-8)
#7 Hagerstown (9-0) over Eastern Hancock (4-5)
Northeastern (5-4) over Tri (0-9)

SECTIONAL 38:
#5 North Vermillion (9-0) over Covington (2-7)
North Central (Farmersburg) (7-2) over Turkey Run (3-6)
Riverton Parke (0-9) over Cloverdale (0-9)
#14 Attica (6-3) over Rockville (4-5)

SECTIONAL 39:
West Washington (6-3) over Indianapolis Lutheran (4-5)
#11 Milan (6-3) over Edinburgh (4-5)
North Decatur (6-3) over Springs Valley (4-5)

SECTIONAL 40:
North Daviess (3-6) over Union (Dugger) (2-7)
Tecumseh (5-4) over Wood Memorial (1-8)
#1 Linton-Stockton (9-0) over North Knox (4-5)
Perry Central (6-3) over Eastern Green (4-5)

1A STATE FINALS: #2 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC OVER #1 LINTON-STOCKTON

I can't wait until the games kickoff tomorrow night at 7pm!! It starts six weeks full of great Indiana High School football!