IS it possible that guy who started out as a graduate assistant at Columbia, sharing a one-bedroom apartment with four other assistant coaches, has gone on to change football as wðe know it?
When Chip Kelly turned Oregon intðo a video game, not everyone bought the app. It was just the latest gimmick in college football, said the naysayers, like the run-and-shoot or the wishbone.
Yet college coaches from all over the country flocked to Eugene in the summer to visit with Kelly, to watch film, tāēo return to their campus marveling how this guy could get his teðam to play so fast radar guns couldnât keep track.
Now Kelly has debuted as a pro coach and man did the Eagles run circles aroundāĶ the Redskins â especially in the first half â Monday night. That was two days after Oregon, under Mark Helfrich, Kellyâs former offensive coordinator who was promoted when his boss left for Philadelphia, led the Ducks to a 59-10 win at Virginia.
Oregon scored those 59 points and raðķcked up 557 yards in total offense while possessing the ball fðor just 21 minutes and 25 seconds.
âWe knew they are fast and athletic,â Virginia coach Mike London said. âWe tried to practice the pace, but itâs hard to practice for that type of athleticism that they have. It is alwaāķĢys a challenge when you face an offense like that.â
The challenge of stopping Kellyâs creation falls to Tennessee this Saturday (3:30, ABC). The Volunteersę§ should have the athleticism to match Oregon. It certainly seemed that way two years ago when Tennessee got out to a 13-3 lead. Oregon scored the gameâs final 45 points.
Tennessee hasâ a new coach in Butch Jones, a no-nonsense guy who, unlike previous coach Derek Dooley, is not the least bit concerned about wearing colorful pants.
Jones has a lot more to be concerned about because after traveling cross-country to play at OregonâsðĪŠ Autzen Stadium, one of the most intimidating home fields in college football, he will get an up-close view of the Ducksâ high-powered, fast-paced offense.
âTheyâre as good as advertised, probably the most complete team Iāēâve seen in a number of years to date,â Jones said.
Oregonð is too good. Weâre giving the paltry 27Âđ/â points and will listen to Blurred Lines while we watch the game.
TEXAS TECH (+3) over Tcu: The Horned Frogs are without QB Casey Pachall who broke ęĶhis non-throwing arm. Love the home team on Thursday night getting points.
Stanford (-29) over ARMY: Usually Army has players of superior character and that might be the case again in this game, but not as significað°ntly as against other foes. Stanfordâs front seven is too experienced and physical.
Ucla (+ï·―4Âđ/â) over NEBRASKA: Last week we went against Florida becaęĶuse of a lack of faith in QB Jeff Driskel and were rewarded. Weâre applying that theory this weekend against Taylor Martinez and Nebraska.
RUTGERS (-27Âđ/â ) over Eastern Michigan: Right now one of the smartest hires in college football is Rutgers offensive coordinator Ron Prince. The Scarlet Knights are â26th in the nation in scoring (44.5 points peð§r game) and Eastern Michigan (34.5 points allowed) is 96th in scoring defense.
USC (-14) over Boston College: The Trojans have too much skill and sęĶpeed, unless, of câĶourse, the players have all turned a deaf ear to coach Lane Kiffin.
Alabama (-7Âđ/â) over TEXAS A&M: Letâs forget the Johnny Manziel train wreck or the contention this is the biggest gamðe in Texas A&M history or that the Aggies upset the Tide 29-24 last season in Tuscaloosa. In the words of Nick Saban, that is all noise. So letâs put on our noise-canceling headphones and hear the beautiful sound of truth: The Aggiesâ defense couldnât stop a toddler from sticking his hand âin a toilet and Saban has had two weeks to prepare.
FLORIDA STATE (-33Âđ/ââ) over Nevada: Your honor, the people would like to enter this game into evidence as to why teams from the five power conferences are curtailing games against non-FBS teams.
Washington (+9Âđ/â ) over ILLINOIS: We think Tim Beckman is the right man to make Illinois football relevant again, similar to the hiring of Mark Dantonio at Michigan State years ago. Last weekâs win over Cincinnati was a sign of what Illinois football can be. But the Huskies have had a bye week since crushiâng Boise Stateð , handing the Broncos their worst defeat since 2005.
Central Florida (+5Âđ/â) over PENN STę§ATE: This is George OâLearyâs best team at Central Florida and QB Blake Bortles, who threw 25 touchdowns and just seven interceptions last season has thrown four more touchdowns this season and no picks.
S. CAROLINð A (-1ð3Âđ/â) over Vanderbilt: Never go against an angry Olâ Ball Coach.
Maryland (-6Âđ/â) over UCONN: The Huskies losðt to Towson State. Any questions?
Notre Dame (-2ð§0Âđ/â) over PURDUE: This is more an indictment of Purdue than an endorsement of the Irish.
Ole Miss (+2âÂđ/â) over TEXAS: Mack Brown fired his defensive coordinator after the Longhorns were pulverized by BYU. So tempted to pick the Longhorns in a bounce-backâą game, but the Rebels have some serious mojo.
ARIZONA STATE (-5Âđ/â) over Wisconsin: Yes, the Badgers have opened the season wðith consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1958 and Gary Anâderson, we think, was a terrific hire. But those shutouts were against UMass and Tennessee Tech. The Sun Devils are a legitimate threat to win the Pac-12 South Division.
B EST BETSāī: Central Florida,ðŊ Florida State, Oregon.