Virginia 31, Duke 21
It wasn't necessarily easy, but the Cavaliers snapped a three-game losing streak to the Blue Devils on Saturday in Charlottesville. The team played pretty well overall and did what it needed to to win. Duke was very chippy and seemed like they wanted to start fights and Duke coach David Cutcliffe actually got into yelling matches with UVa cornerback Chase Minnifield for some reason (Minnifield is known for his mouth so who knows what he said, too). Several calls seemed to go against the Hoos as well, most notably of which was a ghost pass interference call on Corey Mosley in the second quarter. The play before, Minnifield appeared to hold a Duke receiver and no flag was thrown. On the next play, which was fourth down, Mosley seemed to make a terrific play but drew a flag, prompting boos from the Scott Stadium crowd who viewed it as a make-up call.
Minnifield is one of the main reasons Virginia won. The senior had an interception return for a touchdown and had another interception called back for a questionable pass interference call.
Matt Conrath led the defense in tackles with nine and also blocked a Duke field goal in the first quarter. It was the fifth block of his career and third this season. The Cavaliers have become quite adept at blocking field goals. Perhaps that could end up being a factor in the last two games as Virginia finishes its season against highly-touted teams Florida State and Virginia Tech.
Running back Perry Jones led the offensive attack with 74 yards rushing, one touchdown and 30 yards receiving. Running back Kevin Parks also had 78 yards rushing. Quarterback Michael Rocco was not incredibly accurate but was efficient, as he completed 15 of 29 passes for 191 yards and two TDs. Kris Burd caught only one pass, but it was a 38-yard touchdown catch, his first of the season, and he had to tip toe down the sideline to get it and survive a video review by officials.
The way everything breaks down now is pretty simple for UVa. If the Hoos win their last two games, they go to the ACC title game and play Clemson. If Virginia Tech beats UNC on Thursday, Virginia must beat FSU to make the Virginia-Virginia Tech game an informal Coastal Division title game. If the Hokies slip up and lose to the Heels, Virginia can afford to lose to FSU and still play the Hokies for the Coastal crown. If the Hokies lose to UNC and Virginia beats FSU, it doesn't matter, the Cavs still must beat the Hokies for the right to go to the championship game.
BOWL POSSIBILITIES
It is not too early to talk about bowl games as Virginia has the necessary six wins and then some. No jinxing here. Virginia can only help its standing by winning now and losing its last two games will only make it fall to a lower-tier bowl.
The ACC has eight bowl tie-ins (in selection order):
1. BCS Orange Bowl (ACC Champion) -Miami
2. Chick-fil-A Bowl - Atlanta
3. Champs Sports Bowl -Orlando
4. Sun Bowl - El Paso
5. Belk Bowl - Charlotte
6. Music City Bowl - Nashville
7. Independence Bowl - Shreveport, Louisiana
8. Military Bowl - Washington, D.C.
Also, the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco will pick an ACC team if Army or the Pac-12 can't fill their spots in that game.
If Virginia was to win out and win the ACC title game, it would obviously be headed to the Orange Bowl. If the Wahoos were to beat FSU and Virginia Tech but then lose to Clemson in the ACC title game, they would go to either the Chick-fil-A Bowl, Champs Sports Bowl, or Sun Bowl. There is a guarantee that the loser of the ACC title game will drop no lower than the Sun Bowl.
Looking at the ACC right now, I think the most likely possibility is that Virginia Tech will beat Clemson in the championship game and get the Orange Bowl berth and then Florida State and Clemson will go to either the Chick-Fil-A Bowl or Champs Sports Bowl.
Right now, the ACC has six bowl eligible teams and Wake Forest, N.C. State, and Miami are all one win away and I think all have great chances to become bowl eligible (Wake Forest vs. Maryland on Saturday, N.C. State vs. Maryland next week, and Miami vs. Boston College next week). If none or maybe just one of those teams becomes bowl eligible, I think UVa could stand a good chance of getting into the Sun Bowl. If all three of those schools reach six wins, and Virginia ends up 7-5, I could see the Cavaliers falling to the Belk or Music City Bowls. I think UVa has done enough at this point to avoid the Independence and Military Bowls. If Virginia can beat either FSU or Va. Tech, I think the Sun Bowl is where the Hoos will end up. You never know, though, Virginia has been screwed in the bowl selection process before. In 2002, Virginia was 8-5 and 6-2 in the ACC and eligible for the Gator Bowl, the bowl reserved for the No. 2 team in the ACC but ended up in the Continental Tire Bowl (now Belk Bowl).
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Cowboys 44, Bills 7
The Cowboys completely beat down the Bills on Sunday to move to 5-4. The Giants, meanwhile, lost a tough game to the 49ers and are now 6-3, just one game up on the Cowboys in the NFC East. The Redskins and Eagles lost again to fall to 3-6 and are almost certainly eliminated from playoff contention with one more loss.
Dallas QB Tony Romo, praised one week and criticized the next, had his best game of the season and looked as healthy as he ever has since fracturing two ribs against the 49ers in Week 2. Romo had the same number of TD passes -- three -- as incompletions as he went 23 for 26 for 270 yards. Two TDs were to Laurent Robinson, who has emerged as quite a receiving threat for the Cowboys as they have dealt with injuries to their receiving corps. He has 27 catches for 441 yards and four touchdowns. Dez Bryant had the first touchdown, and it was a spectacular grab as he outjumped a Buffalo cornerback and reached over his shoulders.
DeMarco Murray had another great game as he rushed for 135 yards and one touchdown and 36 yards receiving. He continues to show that he is for real and not a flash in the pan. His continued success takes pressure off Romo. This was the first game where both he and Romo had great games and the result was 44 points for the Cowboys, the most since Sept. 9, 2007 and the most lopsided win for Big D since Oct. 22, 2000. If this continues, watch out NFL.
On the defensive side of the ball, Terence Newman had two inteceptions, taking one back for a touchdown as defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's defense looked solid for the second straight week since allowing 34 points to the Eagles two weeks ago. Frank Walker also had an interception. DeMarcus Ware had two tackles for loss and a sack on the first play of the game. Keith Brooking led the team in tackles with four while Sean Lee, with a huge cast on a hurt wrist, made his return and had four tackles.
So far, so good for these five winnable games that Dallas might need to win to get into the playoffs. The Cowboys are 2-0 in the stretch. Next up is the Redskins on the road Sunday at 1 p.m. The Redskins have been struggling mightily (0, 11, and 9 points scored their past three games) but this game is always one the Cowboys can lose.
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| UVa cornerback Chase Minnifield Virginiasports.com |
Minnifield is one of the main reasons Virginia won. The senior had an interception return for a touchdown and had another interception called back for a questionable pass interference call.
Matt Conrath led the defense in tackles with nine and also blocked a Duke field goal in the first quarter. It was the fifth block of his career and third this season. The Cavaliers have become quite adept at blocking field goals. Perhaps that could end up being a factor in the last two games as Virginia finishes its season against highly-touted teams Florida State and Virginia Tech.
Running back Perry Jones led the offensive attack with 74 yards rushing, one touchdown and 30 yards receiving. Running back Kevin Parks also had 78 yards rushing. Quarterback Michael Rocco was not incredibly accurate but was efficient, as he completed 15 of 29 passes for 191 yards and two TDs. Kris Burd caught only one pass, but it was a 38-yard touchdown catch, his first of the season, and he had to tip toe down the sideline to get it and survive a video review by officials.
The way everything breaks down now is pretty simple for UVa. If the Hoos win their last two games, they go to the ACC title game and play Clemson. If Virginia Tech beats UNC on Thursday, Virginia must beat FSU to make the Virginia-Virginia Tech game an informal Coastal Division title game. If the Hokies slip up and lose to the Heels, Virginia can afford to lose to FSU and still play the Hokies for the Coastal crown. If the Hokies lose to UNC and Virginia beats FSU, it doesn't matter, the Cavs still must beat the Hokies for the right to go to the championship game.
BOWL POSSIBILITIES
It is not too early to talk about bowl games as Virginia has the necessary six wins and then some. No jinxing here. Virginia can only help its standing by winning now and losing its last two games will only make it fall to a lower-tier bowl.
The ACC has eight bowl tie-ins (in selection order):
1. BCS Orange Bowl (ACC Champion) -Miami
2. Chick-fil-A Bowl - Atlanta
3. Champs Sports Bowl -Orlando
4. Sun Bowl - El Paso
5. Belk Bowl - Charlotte
6. Music City Bowl - Nashville
7. Independence Bowl - Shreveport, Louisiana
8. Military Bowl - Washington, D.C.
Also, the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco will pick an ACC team if Army or the Pac-12 can't fill their spots in that game.
If Virginia was to win out and win the ACC title game, it would obviously be headed to the Orange Bowl. If the Wahoos were to beat FSU and Virginia Tech but then lose to Clemson in the ACC title game, they would go to either the Chick-fil-A Bowl, Champs Sports Bowl, or Sun Bowl. There is a guarantee that the loser of the ACC title game will drop no lower than the Sun Bowl.
Looking at the ACC right now, I think the most likely possibility is that Virginia Tech will beat Clemson in the championship game and get the Orange Bowl berth and then Florida State and Clemson will go to either the Chick-Fil-A Bowl or Champs Sports Bowl.
Right now, the ACC has six bowl eligible teams and Wake Forest, N.C. State, and Miami are all one win away and I think all have great chances to become bowl eligible (Wake Forest vs. Maryland on Saturday, N.C. State vs. Maryland next week, and Miami vs. Boston College next week). If none or maybe just one of those teams becomes bowl eligible, I think UVa could stand a good chance of getting into the Sun Bowl. If all three of those schools reach six wins, and Virginia ends up 7-5, I could see the Cavaliers falling to the Belk or Music City Bowls. I think UVa has done enough at this point to avoid the Independence and Military Bowls. If Virginia can beat either FSU or Va. Tech, I think the Sun Bowl is where the Hoos will end up. You never know, though, Virginia has been screwed in the bowl selection process before. In 2002, Virginia was 8-5 and 6-2 in the ACC and eligible for the Gator Bowl, the bowl reserved for the No. 2 team in the ACC but ended up in the Continental Tire Bowl (now Belk Bowl).
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Cowboys 44, Bills 7
The Cowboys completely beat down the Bills on Sunday to move to 5-4. The Giants, meanwhile, lost a tough game to the 49ers and are now 6-3, just one game up on the Cowboys in the NFC East. The Redskins and Eagles lost again to fall to 3-6 and are almost certainly eliminated from playoff contention with one more loss.
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| Dallas WR Laurent Robinson dallascowboys.com |
DeMarco Murray had another great game as he rushed for 135 yards and one touchdown and 36 yards receiving. He continues to show that he is for real and not a flash in the pan. His continued success takes pressure off Romo. This was the first game where both he and Romo had great games and the result was 44 points for the Cowboys, the most since Sept. 9, 2007 and the most lopsided win for Big D since Oct. 22, 2000. If this continues, watch out NFL.
On the defensive side of the ball, Terence Newman had two inteceptions, taking one back for a touchdown as defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's defense looked solid for the second straight week since allowing 34 points to the Eagles two weeks ago. Frank Walker also had an interception. DeMarcus Ware had two tackles for loss and a sack on the first play of the game. Keith Brooking led the team in tackles with four while Sean Lee, with a huge cast on a hurt wrist, made his return and had four tackles.
So far, so good for these five winnable games that Dallas might need to win to get into the playoffs. The Cowboys are 2-0 in the stretch. Next up is the Redskins on the road Sunday at 1 p.m. The Redskins have been struggling mightily (0, 11, and 9 points scored their past three games) but this game is always one the Cowboys can lose.
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