College Football 20-21’

Here we go;

Appalachian State at #15 Coastal Carolina; @astroevan, what a bummer that the biggest game in school history (Div 1) won’t have fans, that would be a sellout. App St is a great program and they’ve only lost to Marshall this year. You’ll be happy that I’m giving the SCJ kiss of death and picking App St.

#10 Wisconsin at #19 Northwestern. Tim (our NW grad) can be found on a couple of the FB pages, his boys are well coached, but Whisky appears to be its usual physical self, albeit in only 2 games. Going Badgers.

#14 Oklahoma State at #18 Oklahoma; Bedlam in Norman. The Land Thieves rounding into shape, OU Lite wins with defense (shockedly), but their offense is mediocre by their standards, Boomer Sooner.

Game of the Day
#9 Indiana at #3 Ohio State; Hoosiers will be helped that the Horseshoe isn’t packed, can IU create a few turnovers and/or big splash plays to hang in? @BarryWhite Would absolutely love for
the Hoosiers to pull off a shocker, but you’ll be happy to know that I’m going Buckeyes to pull away late.

Upset Alert;
#7 Cincinnati at UCF; Have been so close the last couple weeks, at least I would won in LV, but no point spreads allowed and going UCF to dash Cincy’s undefeated hopes.

 

I'm hoping IU can keep it close until the end Joe. If they do the fight and scrap in the team will give them a chance but I think Ohio State is a class above everyone else in the Big 10 including IU.

 

This is definitely the biggest game of the year, though watch Coastal win this one and then lose to their old FCS rival Liberty. App St is always the team to beat in the Sun Belt. They are consistent and often upset bigger programs. I also feel a bit like CCU has been modeling its program after App St’s. So a win today, especially considering Coastal’s record and national ranking, would cement this season as one of the best in Chanticleer history.

With regards to attendance, I’m guessing the reduced capacity will actually benefit Coastal. If the stadium were full, there’d probably be more yellow in the crowd than teal. I haven’t gotten the feeling that the athletic programs have garnered the amount of attention that the board had hoped. This season could change that though.

 

Thanks Barry, I’d missed that qb shakeup early at IU last year. By the time I watched them Ramsey was playing. I can see how he lost the job, though. Penix is a difference maker.

Covid beats my Ags once again. Sadly, I’m not remotely surprised.

Coastal over App St - you don’t come onto the teal turf and...I don’t know. But I agree with Evan, they probably win a close one here and lose next week.

Wisconsin over Northwestern - great start by the Cats but I don’t think they’ve got enough firepower or beef on the line to beat the Badgers.

Oklahoma over Okie St - the Sooners own this series and usually only lose this game when they overlook the Pokes. With 2 losses, I don’t see that happening. The Sooners should be able to outscore them, provided they don’t revert back to being their own worst enemy with turnovers.

Ohio St over Indiana - I’d love to see the upset but, in a year where everything in the B10 is upside down, the Buckeyes are still the class of the conference.

Good upset pick by Joe. I’ll try to make it 2 in a row by going with...
Arizona over Washington - The Cats should have pulled the upset last week, only to be betrayed by their defense late. Meanwhile, the Huskies ground out an ugly win in their opener v the lowly Beavers. Fun fact, I was in the stands 21 years ago and witnessed the greatest game winning td I’ve ever seen in person as Jenkins led Zona past UDub. So in honor of that and based on the above, I’ll take the Cats to beat the 11.5 pt home favorite and give Joe a potential scapegoat.

 

Well, IU made a game of it at least.

 

Missed a few of the best games yesterday (Notre Dame, Iowa State w/big wins) including my upset special (really liked Oregon State to finally get by #15 Oregon who is overrated). Finally my sister (OSU grad) has bragging rights over my brother (UO).

Maryland at #12 Indiana; @BarryWhite Hoosiers did more then just make a game of it Barry. Really well coach and gave the Buckeyes all they wanted, the one big mistake (pick 6) was the difference. Will they bounce back against a Terps team that hasn’t played in 3 weeks?

Miss State at Ole Miss; @dtowndough loves him some Rebels ...unfortunately the CowBells haven’t been ringing that much after the opening day. Ole Miss to win the Egg Bowl

LSU at #5 Texas A&M @AggieMatt I’m Matt isn’t as confident the Aggies will win as I am, and LSU does have a loaded roster that is finally getting the game experience needed to improve, but it won’t be enough.

#22 Auburn at #1 Alabama; Iron Bowl and Bama should get over their cross state rivals fairly easily

Upset Alert
Penn State at Michigan aka The Misery Bowl. Before you say how can Michigan losing be seen as an upset? Point taken, but Penn State is 0-5 and is technically an underdog...

 

Maryland @ Indiana - both teams’ offensive strength is the other’s defensive weakness so it could be an interesting game. The Hoosiers have been stringing together good performances while the Terps have been sidelined 2 weeks due to covid. Hoosiers should outgun them at home.

LSU @ A&M - concerned about 3 weeks of rust but the Tiger d under Bo Pelini is wretched. Think we’ll avenge last years 50-7 embarrassment.

Auburn @ Bama - the Iron Bowl usually isn’t easy and no Saban should help Auburn. But I think the Tide offense is too much for them.

Upset - Miss St @ Ole Miss (-9.5) - I’ll take the Bulldogs for the upset. State is starting to put it together on O with Rogers and they put up 24 on the UGA D last week. Ole Miss is giving up a league worst 536 yds/g on defense so that should keep the Dogs in the game and give them a chance.

 

Okay, so even with an undefeated record, the ranking has been unexpected. But this. This is still beyond comprehension.

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/s...es-first-time-host-school-for-saturdays-show/

I guess I picked the wrong time to move away.

Edit: Liberty is in the midst of a COVID outbreak and has cancelled all football activities. So enter the ESPN influence and now Coastal will face BYU. This will be a tougher matchup for the Chanticleers. I’m going to have to figure out how to watch this one.

https://www.espn.com/college-footba...flames-coastal-carolina-chanticleers-opponent

 

What a long strange trip this has been;

#5 Texas A&M at Auburn; @AggieMatt Good timing me thinks w/Tigers just getting smoked by Bama. Aggies stay in the playoff hunt

#12 Indiana at #16 Wisconsin; @BarryWhite Brutal that the excellent QB Penix is lost for the season, the backup is capable, but will go with Whisky.

#1 Alabama at LSU; Only putting this not because there is any question who’ll win the game, but can LSU cover the 29.5 pt spread. That’s right the defending National Champs are 4 TD+ dogs at home. Would have to take the points and hope it doesn’t get too ugly to early.

Game of the Day:
#13 BYU at #18 Coastal Carolina; Liberty had to cancel and give credit to both these schools for playing this. @astroevan This game has huge ramifications on a potential New Years Day Bowl, the winner most certainly has the inside track on being the top ranked non Power 5 team. Evan you’ll be happy that the SCJ Kiss of Death goes to BYU and their tremendous QB Zach Wilson.

Upset Alert;
UCLA is a slight dog against Arizona State, but certainly not an upset of note. Let’s try #15 Oklahoma State at TCU, with the Frogs handing The Mullet a loss.

 

Texas A&M @ Auburn - the Aggie offense struggled with 3 weeks between games under covid restrictions. They should be much better this week and have enough to see off Auburn, who typically struggle mightily the week after the Iron Bowl.

Indiana @ Wisconsin - Badgers have to overcome rust again but no Penix, no problem.

Bama @ LSU - the Tiger offense has actually regressed as the season has gone along. They like playing tight man coverage with their corners and they had success with that against A&M’s young R corps. They’ll get burned doing that v the Bama receivers. Think the Tide not only win, but probably cover.

Upset - I’ll take Coastal. They’re home and they overcame a battle against a (comparably) strong App St team. BYU has a win over Boise but in the 4 weeks since, they’ve played once, blasting a N Alabama team that isn’t even in season. They’re an FCS side playing the odd cancellation game where they can get it. Counting on rust and that hideous turf to give the Chanticleers the edge.

 

IU vs Wisconsin, you should lean Wisconsin. It is my understanding that IU's starter today was heavily recruited by Wisconsin so it will be interesting to see how Tuttle does against them.

 

Thank you @SoCalJoe ! Your kiss of death was on the money once again.

 

IU’s defense was dominant against Wisconsin and they got an efficient performance from Tuttle which was enough to give IU the win. You gotta love Tom Allen if you’re a Hoosier fan!

 

@astroevan My pleasure Evan, didn’t see the final play until the next day, and I did immediately think of the Rams-Titans Super Bowl. Who says the art of tackling is dead? Hats off, that was an amazing ending, where you running around the house?

 

I didn't have time to run around the house because I was too busy cursing the prevent defense that allowed BYU to have that last shot at the end zone. There was more relief at the end of that play than excitement.

 

When your school loses to your arch-rival at home 70-7 (not a typo), hard to jump on this thread and talk about games;

#9 Georgia at #25 Missouri; Haven’t seen a single snap of Mizzou, but the Dawgs have been up and down. Will go with Uga, but should be a good game.

#13 Coastal Carolina at Troy; Very interesting game, @astroevan one of the biggest challenges facing college teams is coming back after an emotional season defining win. Hope your boys keep it going and will give the SCJ Kiss of Death and pick Troy in the upset.

#15 USC at UCLA; SC has snuck in some lucky wins, while the Bruins are having their best season under Chip Kelly. If the Teddy Bears RB Felton plays I’ll go w/them, if he doesn’t will say SC

Upset; Will go w/Utah beating #21 Colorado in Boulder.

**A couple other games of note, but frankly I’m still so pissed off at that national tv humiliation that I’m done for now.

 

Games;

#5 Texas A&M at Tennessee @AggieMatt Aggies need to focus on the task at hand (good that it’s the early game) and hope other results go there way. Not sure what would work best for them to get into the Final 4, Mateo??

#10 Oklahoma v #6 Iowa State; This will be a great game, will take the Sooners at Jerry World

#14 Northwestern v #4 Ohio State @BarryWhite what are the odds that the Big 10 would’ve changed the rules if Indiana had been in the Buckeyes shoes? Doesn’t matter now, Ohio St crushes NW and goes to the playoffs.

#2 Notre Dame vs #3 Clemson; Lawrence and Co will win, but the Irish getting no respect, which makes them dangerous. If this is a close Clemson win, both teams might get in.

#1 Alabama v #7 Florida Bama should put a 50 Spot on the Gators.

Upset
Would’ve picked Oregon over the overrated Trojans, but since that indeed happened before this post I’ll go w/Ole Miss surprising LSU in Death Valley.

 

Have to admit, I lost interest in this as we lost more and more big games along the way. Fitting end to the P12 season with a 2 loss division runner up winning the conf championship.

As for A&M, while making the playoff sounds cool and probably helps recruiting, I don’t think we’re a top 4 team and don’t really want to go play Bama again. I’d rather go have a good chance at winning the Cotton Bowl. As for making it, I’m not sure. Probably a Clemson loss but I think the committee looking at a rematch with Bama doesn’t help our cause.

Picks - quick and easy, Bama, Ohio St, Clemson and Oklahoma. Upset, I’ll take the Beavers giving 7 at home v Joe’s beloved Sun Devils.

 

@SoCalJoe - The Big 10 would not have even voted if the roles had been reversed and IU was 5-0 and Ohio State was 6-1 but I understand why. The vote was all about getting a Big 10 team in the college football playoffs and I don't believe a 7-0 IU would have gotten a sniff even if they had beaten Ohio State.

I have to say, I think giving Ohio State the chance is the right thing to do since they beat IU head to head. No complaints from me as long as IU gets into a top bowl game.

Of course I'll be rooting for former IU QB Peyton Ramsey and the Northwestern Wildcats to pull off the upset and throw everything into chaos.

 

I take it back, after watching these games and looking at the body of work, I think we are a top 4 team this year. I also don’t think it matters because Bama and Clemson are clearly the top 2. I can’t see them omitting an undefeated B10 Champ, regardless of the 6 game schedule, the weakness of that schedule or their poor play against the teams with winning records. And I can’t see them passing up Notre Dame. Last night showed they should be a 2 loss team, but they’ll get credit for that Clemson win and get in.

I’d love to see A&M play Ohio State or Notre Dame but that won’t happen obviously. Figure we’ll get OU in the Cotton Bowl unless we get one of these group of 5 matchups. Coastal is more deserving than Cincy, imo, but Cincy will probably get it. Although, with all of these teams opting out of bowls, maybe they both get into a major bowl? Hopefully the committee doesn’t cop out and match them against each other if that happens.

Disagree with Barry on the Hoosiers. The committee loves the B10 and an undefeated IU with a victory over the Buckeyes would definitely get in, imo. The only hang up would be IF the qb was injured (since we’re playing hypotheticals). 7-0 but no Penix could be enough of an excuse to hold them out. With him, I think they’d overlook the 7 game schedule.

Ohio St and the NW d gave them every chance to pull the upset but they just couldn’t take advantage of it.