Hot Boudin, Cold Cous-Cous...

Aww, He's Worried About Arizona Like He Was Back in 2003: Week 2 Preview:

Arizona at LSU

Arizona has the ball:

First of all, I don't think people realize how much faster SEC defenses are over anyone from the West save USC. You saw it last week in the Tennessee-Cal game. And it's definitely to our advantage that this game's being played in Week 1 (offense traditionally takes a lot longer to 'mesh' on the field). Arizona has a weak running game (they netted under 2 yards per carry in three games last year) and RB Chris Henry doesn't exactly strike fear into me with Dorsey and Pittman up front. Willie Tuitama seems like the type of niche quarterback who could be dangerous against our defensive backfield. He won't go after the corners per se, and the safeties will be faster than anything Arizona's seen since USC least year, but I'm worried about those dump-off passes to tight ends and running backs when we send a linebacker or two in blitz. He could Rick Clausen it if we play soft on Steptoe early. I keep hearing about this Syndric Steptoe guy... I don't think he can beat Chevis or Zenon unless the ball's perfectly thrown. Even so, without another name reciever on the field, we can send a corner or safety to the quarterback just to rattle things early in the game.

LSU has the ball:

However, I think we'll struggle early. Stoops is a good enough coach to know that he'll have to focus on stopping the run and forcing JaMarcus to do something. If he gets creative with his blitz schemes and tempts Russell, we're likely to have an early interception. Then again, 'Zona allowed a whopping 4.59 yards per carry last year and has a more solid pass defense. I'd like to think one of our running backs will be on that night; hopefully Alley enters the game a little earlier this week. (By the way, this whole 'Alley having to earn his minutes while coming back from an injury' thing that Miles is pulling is one of his lamest stunts. Dude looked better than anyone save JR and Zenon last week. That should mean something.) If we don't call offensive plays from the Sega Bill Walsh '95 playbook, we should be able to give JaMarcus an opportunity or two to roll out and hit a reciever in stride. On the other hand, we're trying to save as much for the Auburn game as possible.

To me, it all comes down to how both our lines respond early-- this game could be a blowout if we get two first-quarter scores. It can also turn into Arkansas '05 if we play with no defensive concentration and make offensive mistakes.

Key Players, Zona: QB Tuitama, WR Steptoe, TE Wood, Stoops' defensive playcalling

Key Players, LSU: LB Sanders, DT Dorsey, QB Russell, the (mysterious) punt returner (I'd guess Daniel Francis-- it's his birthday).

Final: LSU 30 Arizona 13

Ohio State at Texas

There goes my streak of consecutive LSU plays watched. I'll be tailgating all day in Austin, trying my hardest to catch a glimpse of kickoff at a bar on Guadalupe (Gwadaloop around here). The game starts at 5:30, I'd pretty much have time for one series per team before I'd start walking toward Royal Memorial. It's not very often you see a 1 vs. 2.

Before I hit up the Party Barn, get paced, and taunt Ohio State fans (really, there's nothing I can say to you. Good program, keep up the good work? Our two teams tied the last time they played, in like 1972? Go sports?), I'll give a few thoughts on the best game of the season:

• Troy Smith hasn't proven he possesses any 'intangibles.' In fact, Craig Krenzel probably has them in spades. Troy, your two biggest wins were over Michigan, the perennial underachiever of the 00s. That being said, I was saying worse about Vince Young last September.
• Jamaal Charles is the best player on the field when Texas has the ball. And the sad thing is, Selvin Young's listed higher on the depth chart due to seniority. I'm actually relieved that this goes on at other big-time college programs. Let's just call it the Marcus Randall Axiom.
• Nine new defensive players is not the end of the world for Ohio State. Sure, no one's as uber as A.J. Hawk, and they miss Carpenter just as much, but they've got four top-five recruiting classes on the field. I think you'll manage. Garrett Wolfe's stock will go up even more after this week.
• Texas is nothing more than good recruiting, mediocre coaching (less Gene Chizik), 9-2s, and Holiday Bowls without Vince Young. Actually, theyll make it back to a BCS bowl because no one in the weak Big XII comes close this year. Texas loses the Ohio State and Oklahoma State games last year without Vince Young-- and I don't see any single player taking the lead this year on offense.
• You need incredible luck to win one national title, much less two. What makes Texas so worthy this year? I'm asking already because they'll coast through the conference this year if they win this game-- almost a scarily easy run back to the BCS title game.
  
• Texas gets its back-to-reality, post-title moment this weekend. It happens to every title winner (unless you're '94 Nebraska, or one of the WW Army teams): that moment when you realized you've already peaked as a program, contender, and fan, at least for the next ten years. Texas gets it this weekend.
• Final score: Ohio State 33 Texas 28

I'm already late for drankin'. I love this town.