Faking Injuries and Week 7 Picks

Something that's becoming a real problem in college football the last few years is the faking of injuries by defensive players to slow down an up-tempo offense.  Stanford is the latest team to be accused of it after some iffy looking injuries in the 4th quarter of their game with Washington last week.  The Huskies were moving the ball and moving quickly and then a Cardinal player would fall to the ground and lay there while the trainers came out to look at them while the rest of the defense caught their breath, drank some water, Gatorade, whiskey (does anyone know for sure what's in those bottles?).  And then, one play later, the player who was so injured and needed help off the field is back in the game, running at full speed.

If the NCAA is really concerned about player safety - and I'm sure if they're not now, they will be once they have to settle a lawsuit like the NFL recently did - why not make it mandatory for the player to sit out the current drive?  Why not let the team doctors check the player out for more than the ninety seconds that an injury timeout and one play takes?  That doesn't seem unreasonable, especially when it's the player's health.  Plus, it makes you seem like you care about your student-athletes and their future well-being instead of quickly rushing them back into the game if they are truly injured.

The secondary benefit of having the player sit out the current drive is so that our football doesn't get compared to the rest of the world's football, as former Oregon Ducks Coach Chip Kelly pointed out a few years ago when they played Arizona State and the Sun Devils engaged in some of these shenanigans.  Some of these players are starting to look like soccer players who, when they get lightly bumped, fall to the ground like they were hit by a sniper round, roll around clutching their appendages with a look on their face like they just ate a two-month old tuna fish and ranch dressing sandwich, but then pop right back up once the other player has been given a yellow card.  Let's not have football become like soccer and basketball with their flopping.

And speaking of Cal faking injuries to slow down an up-tempo team, it was interesting to hear their new coach Sonny Dykes complaining about Northwestern pulling the same stunt to slow down his new offense in the first game of the season.  Probably should have looked at your own team's recent actions before making that statement, Coach.  True, you weren't the coach then, but it does seem a little hypocritical coming from the one school who actually suspended a coach for telling his players to fake injury.

Last week's picks went 3-2, bringing the season record to 15-8.

at LSU -7 Florida - The Gators are playing some pretty good defense and their offense came to life a bit last week.  Unfortunately for them, LSU's offense is rolling right now and Florida's offense won't be able to keep up.  A late afternoon start will allow the Death Valley faithful to be well-lubricated and loud as evening falls, helping the Tigers to remain in the chase for the SEC Championship.

Boise State -7 at Utah State - If Chuckie Keeton was playing for the Aggies, this line might be more in Utah State's favor.  But he is done for the year and the Broncos only having to cover a touchdown against one of the preseason Mountain West favorites seems like a gift.  Of course, the guys in the desert have given apparent gifts before only to have them never materialize.

Stanford -8 at Utah - Picking against another Utah team this week as Stanford got pressed a bit by Washington in their last game and need to make a statement this week to keep their BCS Championship hopes alive.  The Utes had some bad luck last week against UCLA with a number of tipped balls resulting in interceptions and Stanford's physical play will demoralize them by halftime.  The only fear on this number is that the Cardinal don't seem to purposely embarrass their opponents.

Oregon State +3 at Washington State - The Beavers had a bad loss to a Div-I AA school earlier this year and the Cougars are much improved in Mike Leach's second year.  But Oregon State will be too much for Washington State and won't only cover but win outright.

Oregon -12 at Washington - In another battle of Oregon school vs. Washington school, I'm taking the Oregon school.  This is the first time the Ducks have been under a two-touchdown favorite this year and I'm not buying it.  The Ducks have pounded the Huskies the last nine years and they'll make it an even ten on Saturday as they look to keep their BCS Championship hopes and Marcus Mariota's Heisman drive alive.

Oklahoma -11.5 Texas - Mack Brown isn't going to have an answer for the Sooners running game and the officials aren't going to be able to bail him out like they did last week against Iowa State.  Oklahoma rolls and the heat gets turned up a little more on the Texas head coach.