Real Kato Blog: 2011 November

It's that time again... Michigan plays Ohio State Saturday. N.C. State plays for a bowl bid against Maryland.

Games to Watch on Friday
Ok, the best games of the day are already underway. Iowa is losing to #21 Nebraska on ABC late in the game, 20-0, so I guess you can skip the rest of that one. #8 Houston is up 26-17 on Tulsa; that game is not televised nationally. #1 LSU vs. #3 Arkansas is underway on CBS, and that's this week's Game of the Week. It's 0-0 in the first quarter. If Arkansas wins this one, BCS chaos will ensue.

Games to Watch on Saturday
#15 Michigan plays Ohio State at noon on ABC. That's obviously the Other Game of the Week for us Michigan fans. #13 Georgia plays #23 Georgia Tech on ESPN. At 12:30 N.C. State plays Maryland on ESPN3.com.

At 3:30 #2 Alabama plays #24 Auburn in another big SEC game, on CBS. #5 Virginia Tech plays Virginia on ABC/ESPN2, in another game with potential national title implications. #19 Penn State plays #16 Wisconsin on ESPN to determine the Big Ten Leaders division winner.

At 7:00 Florida State plays Florida in the State of Disappointment bowl, on ESPN2. At 7:45 #17 Clemson plays #12 South Carolina on ESPN. #22 Notre Dame takes on #6 Stanford at 8:00 on ABC.

Michigan Game Prediction: Michigan 27, Ohio State 17. I think this will be a conservatively-played game with running plays outnumbering passing plays by at least two to one. I think that Ohio State goes about 20% on third down conversions, but gets some cheap big-yardage opportunities with Braxton Miller scrambling on busted plays. It'll be uncomfortably close until late in the fourth quarter.

N.C. State Game Prediction: N.C. State 34, Maryland 13. This is an atrocious 2-9 Maryland team, one that lost to Temple 38-7. They somehow scored an upset against Miami FL and managed to keep it close against Clemson, but whatever they did in those games did not prove to be sustainable. I think the Terrapins will struggle to move the ball against the revitalized Wolfpack defense.

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Posted by Ken in: sports

College Football Recap: Week 12

Monday, 2011 November 21 - 11:38 pm

Michigan and N.C. State both win over ranked opponents; there are other stunning upsets all across the country.

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Posted by Ken in: sports

College Football Week 12 Games to Watch

Saturday, 2011 November 19 - 10:20 am

#2 Oklahoma State already lost to Iowa State on Friday night. What other upsets are in store?

Games to Watch this Saturday

#18 Michigan plays #16 Nebraska at noon on ESPN. Though Michigan State still controls its own destiny in the Legends division, this game is still important in determining bowl placement for both teams. #17 Wisconsin plays slumping but still dangerous Illinois on ESPN2. BTN2 has Iowa vs. Purdue.

At 3:30, N.C. State plays Clemson on ABC/ESPN. State will need a huge upset to keep its bowl hopes alive. Meanwhile #21 Penn State plays Ohio State on ESPN/ABC in the Scandal Bowl. At 4:00 Notre Dame plays Boston College on NBC in the old rivalry game.

At 7:30 Virginia plays #25 Florida State on ESPN2. Virginia still has a shot of making it to the ACC title game and Florida State does not; but Florida State will be a stiff test for the Cavaliers. At 8:00, ABC is showing either #5 Oklahoma vs. #22 Baylor, or this week's Game of the Week, USC vs #4 Oregon. Oregon is back in the championship hunt after Oklahoma State's loss, and a win over USC would go a long way towards convincing people they're deserving of a rematch against LSU. Meanwhile USC, though ineligible for post-season play due to NCAA sanctions, is quietly having a pretty good year.

Your nightcap game is Cal vs. #9 Stanford on ESPN, and you can expect many replays of that game where Cal scored the winning touchdown as the Stanford marching band was on the field.

Michigan game prediction: Michigan 35, Nebraska 24. Can Michigan put together back-to-back solid games on both sides of the ball? My hope is that Al Borges is done tweaking and has found what works with Michigan's offense. On defense I'm not as concerned, as there has been steady improvement under Greg Mattison. I still think we'll see a few ARGH TACKLE HIM moments and Nebraska will find ways to score, but the Illinois game has given me renewed faith.

N.C. State game prediction: N.C. State 17, Clemson 42. I'm just not seeing a lot to be hopeful about in this game. Clemson's high-powered passing attack will be too much for the Wolfpack defense.

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Posted by Ken in: sports

College Football Recap: Week 11

Sunday, 2011 November 13 - 1:43 pm

I go 0-2 in my predictions this week as Michigan wins and N.C. State loses.

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Posted by Ken in: sports

College Football Week 11 Games to Watch

Saturday, 2011 November 12 - 12:21 pm

Games to Watch this Saturday

At noon #19 Nebraska plays at #12 Penn State on ESPN in the Awkward Bowl. If this were an away game for Penn State, the signs in the stands would be brutal. This is the first game for Penn State without Paterno, who has been forced out due to the scandal. Other notable games: #17 Michigan State vs. Iowa on ESPN2, Florida vs. #13 South Carolina on CBS, and #2 Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech on ABC. Each of these teams should be on upset alert today.

At 12:30 N.C. State plays Boston College on ESPN3.com.

At 3:30, #24 Michigan plays Illinois on ESPN/ABC. I'm nervous about this game. Texas A&M plays #14 Kansas State on ABC; TCU plays #5 Boise State on VS, #20 Auburn plays #15 Georgia on CBS, and Miami (FL) plays Florida State on ABC/ESPN.

At 7:45, #3 Alabama plays Mississippi State on ESPN. This is a decent Bulldogs team and Alabama is coming off their LSU hangover, so it might be an interesting game. At 8:00, we've got this week's clear Game of the Week, #7 Oregon vs. #4 Stanford on ABC. Stanford is trying to keep their championship hopes alive, but this game will be a stiff test. I think it'll be a shootout, and that Oregon will come out the winner.

Michigan game prediction: Michigan 10, Illinois 13. I'm concerned about Michigan's ability to move the ball on a legitimately good defense. While Zook will be Zook and will make an inexplicable decision that results in Michigan points, I'm just not confident in Michigan's ability to win on the road here. That being said, I think Michigan's defense will play well... it should be a close game. Of course I'm hoping I'm wrong about the outcome.

N.C. State game prediction: N.C. State 31, Boston College 7. This is a woeful BC offense and N.C. State should jump all over them.

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Posted by Ken in: sports

College Football Recap: Week 10

Monday, 2011 November 7 - 4:08 pm

Michigan loses to Iowa; N.C. State shuts out UNC.

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Posted by Ken in: sports

College Football Week 10 Games to Watch

Saturday, 2011 November 5 - 4:56 am

Games to Watch this Saturday

#15 Michigan plays Iowa at noon on ESPN. N.C. State plays UNC at 12:30 on ESPN3.com.

At 3:30 we get #6 Oklahoma against Texas A&M on ABC and #10 Nebraska against Northwestern on BTN.

At 7:15 #7 Arkansas plays #9 South Carolina on ESPN. But the Game of the Week is obviously #1 LSU vs. #2 Alabama on CBS at 8:00. ABC has regional coverage of either #3 Oklahoma State vs. #14 Kansas State or Notre Dame vs. Wake Forest.

Michigan game prediction: Michigan 28, Iowa 17 thanks to two Michigan interceptions and a run-heavy game on both sides of the ball.

N.C. State game prediction: State 23, UNC 17. It will be a day full of surprises.

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Posted by Ken in: sports

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