Hello guys. It's been a busy week for me and the 'Hoos. I am starting a new job in Arlington (Northern Virginia) on Monday. I'll be a copy editor for Circa.com, a website focusing on news, entertainment, politics, food, technology, etc. It does not cover sports, so that will be an adjustment, though it is something in which it has shown interest. I enjoyed my time at the Richmond Times-Dispatch and newspapers in general over the past eight years, and 12 if you count my time at The Cavalier Daily while I was a student at UVa. It was bittersweet when I left the paper for the last time Wednesday. I've made lots of friends and had lots of fun, but I'm ready for the new challenge and chance to hone my editing skills outside of the sports world and also get experience in the digital realm.
Virginia basketball tipped off its season Tuesday with a 73-42 win at home over Towson, a team that wears yellow and black like UMBC and is also from the Baltimore area. But there was no upset this time. I have been busy this week and unable to compile a UVa season preview but would still like to do so. For now, the key points are: Alabama transfer Braxton Key was deemed eligible for this season a few weeks ago and made an immediate impact in the season-opening victory, contributing seven points and nine rebounds. He started the game along with Jack Salt, De'Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome, and Kyle Guy. Jerome made 6 of 9 shots from beyond the arc and scored 20 points to lead the Cavaliers. Center Francisco Caffaro is likely to redshirt this season, and forward Francesco Badocchi, who redshirted last season, is currently away from the team with an illness. Virginia hosts George Washington on Sunday at 2 p.m. in its next game.
In other news, Kadin Shedrick, a 6-foot-11, 200-pound four-star center from North Carolina, committed to Virginia in late August and will arrive next fall. Carson McCorkle, a Class of 2021 shooting guard, committed to the Wahoos in late September. McCorkle is from Raleigh and is a high three-star recruit who is 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds.
All right, now that the housekeeping and basketball updates are over for now, let's get to some quick picks for some of this weekend's college football games.
Last week: 8-3 Season: 81-37
No. 10 Ohio State (8-1) at No. 18 Michigan State (6-3), Noon Fox
Michigan State 24, Ohio State 23
North Carolina (1-7) at Duke (6-3), 12:20 p.m. ACC Network
Duke 38, North Carolina 28
No. 16 Mississippi State (6-3) at No. 1 Alabama (9-0), 3:30 p.m. CBS
Alabama 38, Mississippi State 13
Bedlam
Oklahoma State (5-4) at No. 6 Oklahoma (8-1), 3:30 p.m. ABC
Oklahoma 42, Oklahoma State 32
Virginia Tech (4-4) at Pittsburgh (5-4), 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
Pittsburgh 30, Virginia Tech 27
Deep South's Oldest Rivalry
No. 24 Auburn (6-3) at No. 5 Georgia (8-1), 7 p.m. ESPN
Georgia 31, Auburn 21
Miami (5-4) at Georgia Tech (5-4), 7 p.m. ESPN2
Georgia Tech 28, Miami 27
Florida State (4-5) at No. 3 Notre Dame (9-0), 7:30 p.m. NBC
Notre Dame 38, Florida State 17
National game of the week
No. 2 Clemson (9-0) at No. 17 Boston College (7-2), 8 p.m. ABC
Clemson is absolutely decimating opponents while BC is the surprise of the ACC, along with Syracuse. The Eagles have "College GameDay" in town, and the stadium should be hyped, but I don't think they have enough firepower to stay with the Tigers, who are doing their best imitation of Alabama lately.
Clemson 34, Boston College 17
Liberty (4-4) at Virginia (6-3), 3 p.m. NBC Sports Washington
The Cavaliers were beaten physically by Pittsburgh last Friday to the tune of 229 yards and three touchdowns by Panthers running back Darrin Hall. But Virginia was not only beaten in the trenches, but also literally. Virginia lost defensive end Mandy Alonso and safeties Juan Thornhill, Joey Blount, and Brenton Nelson to injuries. Alonso is out for the season while the others have a chance to play Saturday in UVa's final home game of the season. Additionally, linebacker Malcolm Cook, who has been playing through a sports hernia injury, decided to retire from the game and undergo surgery. The sixth-year player from Richmond fought through several injuries in his career, including a heart ailment that could've cost him his life. He's to be commended for his perseverance in coming back to the sport time and time again. He played significant roles this season and in 2017.
After slugging through ACC play for six straight weeks, Virginia gets a reprieve before finishing up
with games at Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. But the Flames aren't a really nice reprieve. In their first year as a full FBS member, Liberty has some firepower at QB with Stephen "Buckshot" Calvert, the school record holder in several categories, and wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden. Liberty puts up 37 points and 477 yards per game, with Calvert completing 55.9 percent of his passes for 2,528 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Gandy-Golden has 51 catches for 884 yards and nine scores. Running back Frankie Hickson has piled up 678 yards (4.6 ypc) and eight TDs.
Liberty's defense is bad, though, giving up 38.3 points and 523.8 yards per game. The Flames have beaten Old Dominion (52-10), New Mexico (52-43), Troy (22-16), and Idaho State (48-41). They've lost to Army (38-14), North Texas (47-7), New Mexico State (49-41), and Massachusetts (62-59 in triple overtime). They are trying to become bowl eligible in the first possible year they can go to the postseason and have a chance. Next week, Liberty faces Auburn and will suffer a likely loss. But in their final two weeks, the Flames play New Mexico State (yes, the teams actually have a home-and-home series this season -- such is the life of an FBS Independent) and Norfolk State. So even if LU loses to UVa and Auburn to fall to 4-6, it has a good shot to get to six wins in the final two weeks of the season.
Hopefully, this is a get right and get healthy game for the Cavaliers. Perhaps some hurting players can play only a little bit as UVa coasts to a win. But Liberty is going to come out fired up, wanting to knock off a bigger school in the same state. It is no longer an FCS team, but rather an FBS team with an offense capable of putting up points. But ultimately, with nice sunny weather (rain and mud seem to slow down the Wahoos), UVa should find room to pass and throw on offense. So the 'Hoos need to be careful and ready, but if they play a solid game, they should have no problem getting the victory.
Virginia 38, Liberty 21
Virginia basketball tipped off its season Tuesday with a 73-42 win at home over Towson, a team that wears yellow and black like UMBC and is also from the Baltimore area. But there was no upset this time. I have been busy this week and unable to compile a UVa season preview but would still like to do so. For now, the key points are: Alabama transfer Braxton Key was deemed eligible for this season a few weeks ago and made an immediate impact in the season-opening victory, contributing seven points and nine rebounds. He started the game along with Jack Salt, De'Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome, and Kyle Guy. Jerome made 6 of 9 shots from beyond the arc and scored 20 points to lead the Cavaliers. Center Francisco Caffaro is likely to redshirt this season, and forward Francesco Badocchi, who redshirted last season, is currently away from the team with an illness. Virginia hosts George Washington on Sunday at 2 p.m. in its next game.
In other news, Kadin Shedrick, a 6-foot-11, 200-pound four-star center from North Carolina, committed to Virginia in late August and will arrive next fall. Carson McCorkle, a Class of 2021 shooting guard, committed to the Wahoos in late September. McCorkle is from Raleigh and is a high three-star recruit who is 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds.
All right, now that the housekeeping and basketball updates are over for now, let's get to some quick picks for some of this weekend's college football games.
Last week: 8-3 Season: 81-37
No. 10 Ohio State (8-1) at No. 18 Michigan State (6-3), Noon Fox
Michigan State 24, Ohio State 23
North Carolina (1-7) at Duke (6-3), 12:20 p.m. ACC Network
Duke 38, North Carolina 28
No. 16 Mississippi State (6-3) at No. 1 Alabama (9-0), 3:30 p.m. CBS
Alabama 38, Mississippi State 13
Bedlam
Oklahoma State (5-4) at No. 6 Oklahoma (8-1), 3:30 p.m. ABC
Oklahoma 42, Oklahoma State 32
Virginia Tech (4-4) at Pittsburgh (5-4), 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
Pittsburgh 30, Virginia Tech 27
Deep South's Oldest Rivalry
No. 24 Auburn (6-3) at No. 5 Georgia (8-1), 7 p.m. ESPN
Georgia 31, Auburn 21
Miami (5-4) at Georgia Tech (5-4), 7 p.m. ESPN2
Georgia Tech 28, Miami 27
Florida State (4-5) at No. 3 Notre Dame (9-0), 7:30 p.m. NBC
Notre Dame 38, Florida State 17
National game of the week
No. 2 Clemson (9-0) at No. 17 Boston College (7-2), 8 p.m. ABC
Clemson is absolutely decimating opponents while BC is the surprise of the ACC, along with Syracuse. The Eagles have "College GameDay" in town, and the stadium should be hyped, but I don't think they have enough firepower to stay with the Tigers, who are doing their best imitation of Alabama lately.
Clemson 34, Boston College 17
Liberty (4-4) at Virginia (6-3), 3 p.m. NBC Sports Washington
The Cavaliers were beaten physically by Pittsburgh last Friday to the tune of 229 yards and three touchdowns by Panthers running back Darrin Hall. But Virginia was not only beaten in the trenches, but also literally. Virginia lost defensive end Mandy Alonso and safeties Juan Thornhill, Joey Blount, and Brenton Nelson to injuries. Alonso is out for the season while the others have a chance to play Saturday in UVa's final home game of the season. Additionally, linebacker Malcolm Cook, who has been playing through a sports hernia injury, decided to retire from the game and undergo surgery. The sixth-year player from Richmond fought through several injuries in his career, including a heart ailment that could've cost him his life. He's to be commended for his perseverance in coming back to the sport time and time again. He played significant roles this season and in 2017.
After slugging through ACC play for six straight weeks, Virginia gets a reprieve before finishing up
Liberty's defense is bad, though, giving up 38.3 points and 523.8 yards per game. The Flames have beaten Old Dominion (52-10), New Mexico (52-43), Troy (22-16), and Idaho State (48-41). They've lost to Army (38-14), North Texas (47-7), New Mexico State (49-41), and Massachusetts (62-59 in triple overtime). They are trying to become bowl eligible in the first possible year they can go to the postseason and have a chance. Next week, Liberty faces Auburn and will suffer a likely loss. But in their final two weeks, the Flames play New Mexico State (yes, the teams actually have a home-and-home series this season -- such is the life of an FBS Independent) and Norfolk State. So even if LU loses to UVa and Auburn to fall to 4-6, it has a good shot to get to six wins in the final two weeks of the season.
Hopefully, this is a get right and get healthy game for the Cavaliers. Perhaps some hurting players can play only a little bit as UVa coasts to a win. But Liberty is going to come out fired up, wanting to knock off a bigger school in the same state. It is no longer an FCS team, but rather an FBS team with an offense capable of putting up points. But ultimately, with nice sunny weather (rain and mud seem to slow down the Wahoos), UVa should find room to pass and throw on offense. So the 'Hoos need to be careful and ready, but if they play a solid game, they should have no problem getting the victory.
Virginia 38, Liberty 21
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