College Football 2017-2018

Got a Thurs game w/ranked opponents, so let's go:

#17 Louisville at #24 NC State. This should be an interesting game. @jumpkutz The Cards could put a smile on their fans faces w/a good road win. The Pack were a sleeper team many picked to have a huge year, but lost their first game. They've righted the ship and I'll pick them to eek one out at home, but it could either way late into the 4th.

The Rest:

Michigan State at #7 Michigan; Don't expect Sparty to pull off the miracle win like last time they were in Ann Arbor:


Okay I admit it, posted this only because I wanted to see Harbaugh's face again.

Games of the Week;

#1 Alabama at Texas A&M. This would be getting much more hype if the Aggies hadn't brain cramped against Ucla. The Aggies put that (and all the noise) behind them and have won 4 straight. Bama is rolling so they're the obvious pick, but Kyle Field will be rockin' and I got a feeling the Aggies will be playing w/a chip on their shoulder. @AggieMatt, any chance you'll be there?

#23 West Virginia at #8 TCU. Both teams are coming off their bye, so it should be a good one. It's always interesting to see how teams react after going from under the radar to talked about contenders like TCU has after their big road win. WVU must hit a couple big plays to have a chance, but I'll take the home team.

Upset Alert:

Oregon would've beaten #11 Washington State had the Ducks great QB Justin Herbert hadn't gotten hurt last week (the Quackers will likely come up short).

#13 Miami at Florida State; The Canes made look foolish last week, so I hesitate to pick against them again, but don't see any other upset possibilities. The Noles got off the schnide last week and have the talent to win.

 

Louisville @ NC State - the Wolfpack are much improved but can they play the disciplined defense necessary to confuse and stop Jackson? They were nowhere close last year, so I doubt they’ve made big enough strides to slow him down enough tonight. Besides, I’ve gotta show Jumpy I’m not a total hater. Cards win.

Michigan St @ Michigan - Forget Harbaugh, my favorite part of that video is one of the better surrender cobras. Looks like Speight is out, which is a good thing for the Wolverines. The offense got on track in the 2nd half against Purdue with O’Korn at the helm and I think that continues. Meatchicken wins.

Alabama @ Texas A&M - I’ll be watching this one from the comfort of home, where I can change the channel if it comes to that. FPI gives us a 6.6% chance and I think that’s too high. Bama has run at will on everyone and their D has been lights out. Honestly, if we can hold them under 40 and score 20, I’ll be pretty happy. That 26.5 pt spread in our house is embarrassing and I really hold we beat it.

W Virginia @ TCU - Defense travels, offense not so much. I’ll take the Frogs at home.

Upset - I was looking forward to taking a 2 loss unranked Stanford at #20 unbeaten Utah, but alas, Vegas foiled my plans by wisely favoring the Cardinal.

So I’ll take SMU laying 6.5 @ Houston. Chad Morris has got the Mustangs playing a lot better this year and former Ag qb Kyle Allen has struggled for Cougar High (4 td - 4 int).

You’re right Joe, the upset pickings look pretty lean this week (FSU’s oline has no shot). So this will probably be a week where at least 2 teams inexplicably lose out of nowhere. Such is the nature of kids playing football.

 

This just in...Louisville is not as good as they were last season. Unless something drastic changes, they're wasting their final season with a truly special talent.

 

I'm going to channel my inner @dtowndough ....

Upset Special;

Iowa State a 4 td underdog will go into Norman and beat the Landthieves

The Cyclones starting QB took a leave of absence, but their back up was great. Special shout out to Joel Lanning, who was last season's starting QB, but was switched to middle linebacker. Today he played BOTH ways. Lanning recorded a sack and a fumble recovery on D. He also helped at QB by completing 2 of 3 passes and rushed it 9 times for 35 yards as well.

Yep Matt, when it looks like a routine week, crazy upsets happen.

EDIT:

Sparty went in to Ann Arbor and took out Meatchicken.

FSU had Miami beat (in other words the Canes were down 3 and in field goal range, with the next chapter of 'Wide Right' already being written), but a beautiful back shoulder throw w/seconds left bailed out Miami with their kicker the most relieved person in college football.

@FulhamDC Only caught the last 7 or 8 minutes, but your WVU team were on the recieving end of 3 of the worst calls I've seen all year. The late hit flag that was somehow waved off (didn't hurt them), the overturned interception call (that really hurt them), and the horrible offensive pass interference call on a long completion where the TCU player was pulling on the jersey the whole time (that finished them)

**Wait..some good news about Arizona?? Congrats to Khalil Tate,who set the new D-1 record for rushing for a QB with 327 yards (4 tds) in a win over Colorado. The kid also added 11 of 12 passing w/a TD.

 

So happy I got to go to a wedding Saturday night and not going to see a record breaking performance from an 18 yr old freshman! oops.

 

I got most of what I wanted from the A&M v Bama game. We beat the spread easily, held them under 40 and held them to around 360 yds (they’d been averaging close to 600). They hadn’t been turned over since last year’s Iron Bowl (36 qtrs) until we forced a fumble in the 3rd qtr. They also hadn’t given up a td in regular season SEC play since our game against them last year. Ironically, it was Christian Kirk td receptions that bookended that streak. I’m not one for moral victories but this one is an exception and is encouraging. We’ll see if and how that translates Saturday night in the Swamp.

Speaking of, awesome tribute (last weekend v LSU) by Gator Nation to the hometown boy.

 

This gives me chills. Horrendous.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/20973366/florida-unveils-new-gator-inspired-uniforms

 

Agreed

 

Agreed on the Gators. It couldn't happen during a better week because the word to describe this these matchups is U G L Y.

No Game of the Week, but for the playoff contenders, can't afford to slip on the 'banana peel'.

ACC:
#2 Clemson at Syracuse; The Dome will be rocking IF the Orange can get a foothold into the game. However the other team in orange won't let it happen.

Big 10:
Purdue at #7 Wisconsin; Whisky has been slow starting, but great in the second half. Boilers are greatly improved, but it won't be enough.

Big 12:
Red River Rivalry
#12 Oklahoma v Texas; Words are hard to come by in describing how bad the OU pass defense is playing. Baker Mayfield can lead the Sooners to the playoff, but will have to run the table. They should get by the Shorthorns.

Pac 12
Utah at #13 USC; Utes coming off their first loss, but do matchup w/SC. The Trojans are way overrated, but get by Utah (and they will) and the season isn't off track.

SEC
#10 Auburn at LSU; Stidham is rounding into shape for Auburn, and they are quietly going about their business. LSU's offense has been offensive to watch.

Upset Alert;
None, but strange things have been known to happen in Manhattan Kansas. #6 TCU could be the next victim for KState if everything falls into place for the Cats.

 

Jason Lives! Man, Friday the 13th laid havoc to some teams, from #2 Clemson getting their qb knocked out cold on the field to #8 (and c’mon, way overrated) Wazzu turning it over on half their possessions and getting smoked by Cal. There may not be anymore upsets left for today. But I’ll go ahead and take...

Florida St (-7) @ Duke - early start, struggling Noles team against a Blue Devil team capable of putting up some points. There aren’t a lot of options with all of the close (3-4 pt) lines out there.

I’m too late for the Clemson game, but I would have taken them...and been wrong.

Purdue @ Wisconsin - Badgers with relative ease.

Oklahoma v Texas - if Stoops was still there I’d take the Sooners. He was 8-0 in games after they’d been upset. But he’s gone and they’ve got a young rookie hc. The Landthieves d is a mess and I like the matchup for Texas. But I just can’t see OU dropping 2 in a row. Sooners in a close one.

Utah @ USC - the Utes have struggled on the ground and being one dimensional v USC, on the road, is a good way to get beat. Darnold will probably keep them in it for 3 qtrs but the Trojans will come away with the win.

Auburn @ LSU - this is the kind of game Auburn loses and LSU wins and it’s a bit of a rivalry game. But I’m not taking that Bengal offense against that defense. War Eagle.

Texas A&M @ Florida - Were you trying to let me off the hook and not jinx my Ags, Joe? I should take that gift but I can’t help myself. The Gators have lost to Michigan and LSU, who both play a similar cover 1, blitzing lb defense as we do. We’re susceptible to getting burned over the top in the passing game and I expect Florida to get us a couple of times, but I think we’ve got enough offense to pull the mild upset in the Swamp.

Joe, Ertz is out for KSU today. I wouldn’t expect any Purple Wizard magic as a result.

 

Man. Couldn't believe that Syracuse game and then WSU. what a night.

I don't think Wisconsin has a problem and wins easily.

Texas has improved every week. OU coming off the embarrassment week. This will be a good one. I'm taking Texas with the upset

USC over the Utes without much work.

I would not be shocked to see LSU come out strong against Auburn and keep it close. I hope I'm wrong and Auburn wins easily.

I'm with Matt on this Ken and think the Aggies pull it off.

 

Have to get this in early:

FUSA Specials:

Iowa at Northwestern @LaxAttack, @tim; Northwestern coming off a nice win, Iowa is coming off a bye. Have to pick a good coach with 2 weeks to prepare. Hawkeyes in a close one.

Louisville at Florida State @jumpkutz, @MicahMan; Before the season this had the makings of a huge game. Tough times for all parties involved, but will go with the home team.

Games of the Week;

#19 Michigan at #2 Penn State; Love Penn State in this one coming off their bye. Hard to imagine Jim Harbaugh not getting good QB play, but the Wolverines have struggled at that position all year.

#11 USC at #13 Notre Dame; SC squeaked by Utah on a missed 2 point conversion, and just seem to be sputtering along. Who knew a Golden Domer team could fly under the radar? The Irish lost by a point to Georgia, but have been quietly going about their business and a win on Sat. and people will have to take notice.

Upset Alert;

#20 UCF at Navy; The Middies lost for the first time last week, while UCF (headed by the next Nebraska Head Coach Scott Frost) is undefeated and in control of a New Year's Day bowl bid.

 

Some good matchups this week and think I agree with you down the line.

Penn St is gonna be too much I think for Michigan. Harbaugh will have them ready to play physical, but Penn St too much in the end.

First time ever - I'm taking the Domers. Dang that hurts

UCF over Navy and unfortunately losing their 2nd straight. Great prediction on the coaching front.

 

My Ags are on a bye week after a big win at the Swamp. These come from behind wins are nerve wracking but far preferable to blowing a big lead in a loss.

Iowa @ Northwestern - Hawkeyes. This NW team doesn’t have that same gritty, upset minded feel of other recent Cats teams.

Louisville @ Florida St - The Noles will be looking for payback at home after last year’s embarrassment. This is the Ville’s 8th straight game. Adding fatigue to an already bad defense isn’t a winning recipe. The Cards are just the thing for the struggling FSU offense to get on track.

USC @ Notre Dame - SC has been playing with fire for weeks now and have only been burned once. They’re on the road and far too careless with the football, so make it twice this week. I hate picking the Domers, btw.

Upset - Michigan @ Penn State (-9) - Teams have been able to bottle up Barkley on the ground in recent weeks and this Wolverine defense is outstanding against the run. So McSorley will have to beat them through the air, except Michigan blitzes as much as anyone and he’s been terrible under pressure. I have no clue how Michigan finds enough offense to win, but they’ve been able to scrounge up enough points most weeks somehow. They’ll do it again tonight.

I also considered Texas over Okie Lite, Ole Miss over LSU and Joe’s pick, Navy over UCF. With 8 unbeatens left, it’s a good bet at least one goes down, and UCF and Penn St seem most likely.

 

"@FulhamDC Only caught the last 7 or 8 minutes, but your WVU team were on the recieving end of 3 of the worst calls I've seen all year. The late hit flag that was somehow waved off (didn't hurt them), the overturned interception call (that really hurt them), and the horrible offensive pass interference call on a long completion where the TCU player was pulling on the jersey the whole time (that finished them"

@SoCalJoe That's life as the red headed stepchild of the Big 12. Almost every week it's 18 v 11. Watched that game in a sports bar in Miami, in between the huge USMNT win in Orlando and the beat down in Trinidad. Not my best week.

After TCU, WV pulled off their second biggest comeback in the history of their stadium, against Texas Tech, and then hung on against some more dirty refs to beat Baylor. This week, Okie State heads to Morgantown for a little late October weather - about 49 and rainy at game time. Doesn't change my prediction though, take the over, even if it's 100 and the last team with the ball wins.

 

A whole mess of great games:

FUSA Special:
Minnesota at Iowa: @encorespanish @LaxAttack; Who is going to claim Floyd of Rosedale? I'll go w/the Hawkeyes

Other Good Ones:
Mississippi State at Texas A&M; A couple of 5-2 teams square off w/the winner getting back into the Top 25. I can see this one going OT. The Aggies have rallied behind Sumlin, I think it continues.

#4 TCU at #25 Iowa State; How long will it be before Iowa State's Matt Campbell starts getting mentioned in SEC coach searching circles? Going w/TCU, but this could get dicey in Ames.

#3 Georgia v Florida (Jacksonville); Strange doings in Gainesville, and Georgia will heap more pressure on McElwain. However, just as Washington State 'Coogs It', Georgia has been known to "Dawg It' in times of prosperity.

#11 Oklahoma State at #22 West Virginia; @FulhamDC WVU obviously had their minds on this week, but still snuck out the W against Baylor. OU Lite w/a huge road win last week. Hope your team does it DC.

#14 NC State at #9 Notre Dame; The Wolfpack will go into South Bend and give them a real game unlike USC last week. Slight nod to the Irish, but very slight.

GAME of the WEEK;
#2 Penn State at #6 Ohio State; What a biggie in Columbus. Hard to think the Buckeyes coming off their BYE won't get revenge from last year's loss, but it should be fun to watch.

Upset Alert;
#15 Washington State at Arizona; Why am I doing this?? Hope I didn't give my team the SCJ Kiss of Death. Khalil Tate is RichRod's fastest QB since Pat White back at WVU. Tate can take it to the house on any play (every start he's had at least 1 td run over 70 yards). If they can turnover Luke Falk, they'll win.

#16 Michigan State at Northwestern; First team to 17 points wins.

 

great weekend for games, all in the afternoon though!

I'm gonna go with A&M. I agree, rallying behind Sumlin and I'm still not a huge believer in MSU.

I'm becoming a big believer in TCU though and I see them continuing to make a push for the playoffs. But this will be a huge game for ISU though, hoping the cyclones show up and continue their improvement and make this a game.

I'm gonna go with WVU in this one. Simply because they are at home.

I'm going with NC State in my upset. ND played a great game last week and I'm not sure they can continue that into this week. NC State is the real deal.

GOW - I really have no clue on this one. I'm not sure how Franklin has done what he's done at Penn St. Ohio St at home. boy oh boy. I'll go Penn St and watch them slip up in November somewhere.

 

I'll go with the Hawkeyes too. No way we're rolling into Kinnick for a night game and walking out of there with a pig. We've been way to inconsistent this year.

 

I got so many wrong last week that I was feeling presidential. Hopefully I can reverse that trend this weekend, because orange isn’t my color.

Minnesota @ Iowa - I whiffed with the Hawkeyes last weekend but they’re at home and at night so I’ll stick with them.

Miss St @ Texas A&M - whoever can get their running game going probably wins this, but I expect both to struggle. I’ve got a bad feeling about this one but we’ve won a bunch of close games and they haven’t played any, we’re at home and they struggle on the road, and we’re coming off a bye. So I’m nervously taking my boys.

TCU @ Iowa St - the Cyclones are dangerous but that ranking and their OU win won’t let them sneak up on the Frogs. TCU gave up just 21 total yds of offense in their shutout win over Kansas last week. That’s impressive no matter who you’re playing.

Florida v Georgia - Joe, this team seems different under Smart than it was with the “let’s celebrate our first td as a team” version under Richt. I think the Dawgs take care of business.

NC State @ Notre Dame - I like the Wolf Pack but they’re on the road in their first taste of cold weather. I think the Irish get it done.

Upset
Oklahoma St @ W Virginia (+7.5) - Early start, cold inclement weather, rowdy couch burners, and a really good qb/r combo lead me to think the Mountaineers pull it off. The tackling from their defense does worry me though.

I forgot Florida St @ BC was tonight so too late for that one. I also like your Cats over Wazzu Joe (double kiss of death?). The Coogs d is good when they can line up and look at the opponents formation but struggles against teams that run tempo. I also like that other school in Arizona hosting USC. The Sun Devils seem to have found something on d these past few weeks.