College Football 2018-19

I think Dan Mullen made a poor choice to leave State prior to this season. Mullen had it made at MSU and would have never had the pressure he will at Florida. With that being said I think MSU will continue to impress and win a tight game this weekend.

Wisconsin. BIG

I still haven't figured out the Pac12 and the dynamics of that league. I think Stanford should win that game, but that doesn't mean anything. So, I'll go with the Ducks.

I agree with you on ND. I do know that Vandy's defense has been getting some big props from the analysts, so perhaps that game was real. I do like ND to win against Wake though. Too early in the season for Kelly to ruin it.

I realize Bama/A&M is the game of the week, but I'm not sure Bama can be stopped yet. At home.

Upset - IF Martinez is back for Nebraska, I think they could give Michigan trouble. Nebraska will improve each week and Frost will keep the team motivated.

 

Bama week is always an exciting one since it’s a yardstick game. I’m excited to see how we stack up and if we can pull the upset again, but it’s also mixed with the dread of a blowout and the possibility that the game derails our season as it has at times in the past.

Miss St @ KY - State has the better d, is better in both trenches and has the better qb, although the Cats qb is a gamer. Big win for Kentucky over the Gators that ended the drought and has to boost confidence , but the Belldogs are a far better team than Florida and will win.

K St @ WV - this isn’t your typical Bill Snyder team of the past. The defense isn’t there, and after watching them play Miss St, the usual grit looks to be missing as well. I think Grier and the Mountaineers roll in this one.

Wiscy @ Iowa - the Badgers are averaging 285 ypg on the ground and the Hawkeyes are only allowing an impressive 42 ypg. Something has to give. I’ll take Iowa as the home dog under the lights.

Tree @ Duck - I wanted to go with the hometown kid playing qb for the team he grew up watching in the stands. But then I saw Brice Love is back and he averages 10 yds per carry v Oregon. Can’t pick against that.

ND @ Wake - different test this week for the Irish. They’ve scraped by against some very good defenses but Wake’s d is a sieve. Where they are dangerous is with their explosive offense. I was thinking this is a good matchup for the Irish to get their offense right and win a bit of a shootout. Kelly going with 2 qb’s makes me question that, but I’ll stick with ND.

Ags @ Bammer - yikes! After watching that Tide offense in 2 games, I’m just hoping we don’t get our doors blown off. Hopefully they choose this week to be overconfident and complacent.

Upset
Give me Indiana as a home dog over #24 Mich St. The Hoosiers won the last matchup in Bloomington in ot and lost a one score game against them last year. Sparty is struggling to run the ball and Indiana has been among the best in the nation against the pass.

 

I've been quiet about the pigskin so far because a) we're in hoops country and b) none of the teams I cover were supposed to contend for anything important. But...
I covered the Kentucky win against my alma mater, Murray State, in Lexington last weekend. It was only 17-3 UK at the half on a glorious day at Commonewealth Sta...er...Kroger Field. But they took care of business in the second half to romp against an FCS school. Could have reasonably expected a flat performance coming off snapping a 31 year losing streak at The Swamp. Given the program's history, you would have also expected them to find a way to lose in the rain last night to 14th ranked Mississippi State, even though they were back at home. Except they didn't. Instead of folding like a cheap beach chair after being tied 7-7 at the half, they scored 21 unanswered to go 2-0 in the SEC for the first time since 1977. Are they a flash in the pan? They host South Carolina Saturday night, whom they've beaten four in a row. If they win that one, conference road games at Texas A&M, Mizzou and Tennessee would be tricky, but not impossible. They won't have to play Alabama in the regular season, but Georgia comes to Lexington on Nov. 3rd. And the season finale Nov. 24th here in Louisville looks like a cinch W. The Cards are pitiful. Bobby Petrino's seat is heating up quickly, and he may not last the season. It's possible that the gridiron Cats may actually stunt preseason basketball talk for much longer than normal this season. That would be news.

 

Turnovers are a motherf**ker.

 

Some Good Ones:

#12 West Virgnia at #25 Texas Tech. Needless to say this is going to be a shootout. Very impressive win by Tech at OK Lite last week, but liking WVU to go into @AggieMatt favorite Texas vacation spot of Lubbock and get a win.

#20 BYU at #11 Washington. Should be a very physical game, but thinking the Dawgs will wear the Cougs down.

#7 Stanford at #8 Notre Dame. This should be a fun albeit tough game to pick. No way Stanford should've won last week in Eugene, but they'll take it. Going w/Notre Dame not because they are better, but because catching Stanford after such an emotional high is perfect timing.

#19 Oregon at #24 California. There is a reason teams have gone to the 'Victory Formation' ever since the NY Giants ran the ball, fumbled and Herm Edwards (the same 63 year old ASU Head Coach) scooped it for the Eagles. That is until Oregon decided to ran the ball instead of kneeling against Stanford. The Ducks fumbled and ended losing in OT. And that was only the 2nd craziest sequence of the game! Not sure if they can get over it this week against a stingy Cal defense, but will say the Ducks' Justin Herbert will throw the ball for a needed bounce back.

Game of the Day.
#4 Ohio State at #9 Penn State. Happy Valley will be rocking, and the Buckeyes superstar NIck Bosa won't be playing. Pulling for Penn State, but don't think their D is good enough.

Upset Alert:
Forget to pick Purdue (the game had already started) last week, but nothing will top Old Dominion beating #13 VA Tech as a 29 point underdog.

I'll go @astroevan (sorry for the Kiss of Death) and his Coastal Carolina going into Troy's house and grabbing first in their division.

 

"There is a reason teams have gone to the 'Victory Formation' ever since the NY Giants ran the ball, fumbled and Herm Edwards (the same 63 year old ASU Head Coach) scooped it for the Eagles. "

I grew up in NYC and have been a lifelong Giants fan, like my father and his father. My father always wore his college ring, a big hulking thing from the City College of New York. As Herm Edwards crossed that goal line, my father turned and punched the wall - and that ring created a quarter sized hole that he never repaired, a testament to an awful decade of Giants football.

Also, Let's Go Mountaineers!

 

All these great games on tap for Saturday, and Princeton's on ESPNU this afternoon! I just hope I'm still excited after the game's over.

 

I hope you're right! After 12 straight days of travel though, the team returned to the area on Sunday but have only been able to return to their facilities today (though they're probably already on their way to Alabama) as campus has been closed all week. I'm not sure where they've been working out, practicing, or holding meetings. I'm also not sure about the starting QB. He ended last week's game on the sideline, leaning on crutches.

Bottom line: Due to the above, this being a 3rd straight away game, and a 14 point spread, I'm not optimistic.

 

Last week was crazy with upsets so there probably won’t be many this week. Speaking of, I had the right state last week, just the wrong school.

Looking forward to my Ags getting back to winning v Pig in DFW this weekend. Despite playing both Bama and Clemson, we have the #7 offense in the nation.

WV @ Taco Tech- ever been to Lubbock Joe? Feel like I’m going against common sense here, but I’ve been surprised by Tech since the Ole Miss game. I’ll go with the Red Raiders.

BYU @ Wash - ‘Snarlin’s, easy. Not buying BYU despite that Wiscy win.

Stanford @ ND - agree with Joe here. Add the “west coast traveling east” factor as well, even though the Tree are 2-2 at ND in the last 4. I’m also not sure I trust ND found the answer on offense, that Wake d is brutal. But I’ll take the Irish for their d.

Oregon @ Cal - the Ducks have been poor on the road in recent years and I think Cal is just tough enough to hold off an Oregon team that should be highly motivated to correct last week’s result.

Ohio St @ Penn St - not really sure about either team but the Nuts have the bigger win and look like they’ve got the more dynamic qb. Plus I suspect they’re playing this season with a chip on their shoulder after the Meyer suspension.

Upset - was tempted to take Iowa St (+10.5) @ TCU who has 9 turnovers in their last 3. But picking the Frogs to lose a 3rd straight, at home, feels like a bridge too far. So I’ll go with...
Texas & K St (+8) - I hadn’t planned on picking K St this year because their defense hasn’t been good and I don’t see those underrated good players that Snyder usually has. But the Longhorns will be feeling good after 2 home wins over then ranked opponents and entitled Texas hasn’t handled success well this decade. Won’t surprise me at all to see them lay an egg on the road so I’ll go with the Purple Wizard, one more time.

 

Thanks for the kiss of death @SoCalJoe

 

Lol, I knew I was in trouble Evan when you described the trials & tribulations the team was going through.

Have to travel so must get this week’s games early;

FUSA Special; #13 Kentucky at Texas A&M; UK has to be biggest surprise thus far, and must get that running game going early. Going w/Matt’s school at home. If Aggies start fast I’m skeptical that the Cats can throw the ball.

#19 Texas vs #7 Oklahoma. Red River Rivalry renewed. Herman seems to have Horns on track, Sooners game versus Army was a head scratcher. Tough call, but going w/the burnt orange and the mild upset.

#5 LSU at #22 Florida. Anyone buying LSU at 5? I’m not and going w/Gators in The Swamp.

Indiana at #3 Ohio State. @BarryWhite The Hoosiers have been built into respectability. Ohio State escaped w/help of Penn State’s inexplicable play call on 4th down. Buckeyes win, but IU covers.

#6 Notre Dame at #24 Virginia Tech. I put ND in same category w/LSU, but I trust Va Tech less. Irish win

Upset Alert
Utah at Stanford. Utes lost a heartbreaker in Pullman, but Stanford have had 2 tough road games in a row. What do they have left in the tank?

 

I'm still not a believer in Kentucky and see A&M pulling this one out. I'm not a big Jimbo fan, but he seems to have his team playing well. They'll be ready and tough to win in College Station.

Don't understand the Army game, but think Oklahoma wins this one.

I'm not a believer or LSU at 5, but I am a believer that they are better than anyone thought they would be and I'm not a believer in Mullens. So I'm going Coach O on the road.

Ohio State is on one big mission and I feel sorry for a lot of teams in the way.

My upset pick is on the last game. Brian Kelly can't win em all. So, I'm taking the Hokies.

 

Several good matchups this week pairing teams that are trying to stake a claim to legitimacy.

Kentucky @ Texas A&M - last time we met was in 53 and Bear Bryant was the UK coach. The Aggies won that day 7-6 and the next year Bear was coaching in College Station. 6.5 yards per attempt is the cutoff line fr being considered a competent passing offense. UK has only faced one team over that mark (USCe last week). A&M is 13th nationally in total offense. Think this is a bad matchup for UK, plus it’s at Kyle at night. Ags win.

Texas v Oklahoma - the Landthieves have struggled stopping the run but can Texas keep pace with their aerial assault? The Horns have had a lot of success in recent years as the underdog in this matchup. However, I think Army gave the Sooners the scare they needed to not come in overconfident.

LSU @ Florida - the last 4 matchups between these 2 cross divisional rivals have been decided by a td or less. Both hang their hat on defense, but remember that competent passing game stat? Florida falls short of it. Being one dimensional is not a good way to be against the Tigers. I don’t know if LSU is a legit top 5 team but they have a legit top 5 defense and they’ll win today.

Indiana @ Ohio St - Penn St exposed a weakness in Ohio St last week but still couldn’t get the W (nice 4th down call, James). I don’t know if Indiana can pressure Haskins that way but I’m guessing they can’t and the Buckeyes will roll at home.

Notre Dame @ VA Tech - the Hokies bounced back well last week v Duke and are tough at home in a night game. But the Irish look like a different team with Book. Plus the Hokies are without their top pass rusher and starting qb (although I think most Hokies would say the backup has been better). VT will give a spirited effort but it won’t be enough.

Upset - I’ve missed the last few weeks on straight upsets, even though my dogs have covered. The trend seems to be newly ranked teams turning around and getting beat the next week. Florida and VT play favorites so that leaves Colorado, NC St & Okie Lite. The Buffs are essentially a pick em, so I’ll take both. Iowa State (+9.5 @ OK St) is due and the Pokes have some weak spots a balanced team can take advantage of. And BC (+6.5 @ NC St) looked good outside of that upset loss @ Purdue (the week after they’d entered the rankings). NC State hasn’t played anyone with a pulse yet.

 

RIP John Gaglardi, legendary coach (just don’t call him coach; just John), most wins in college football history (489), 4 National Titles, and he won with ‘No’s’ among the 100 No’s:

-No tackling or blocking sleds at practice
-No long practices
-No cuts (sometimes his teams were 200 deep)
-No grading film
-No captains (all seniors were captains)
-No whistles
-No rules (except going to class/graduating), but the Golden Rule.

 

The Sacramento schools aren't making much noise, per usual, but there are a couple of Sacramento-area kids who are making a lot of noise -- Ian Book at Notre Dame and Jake Browning, the 4-year starter at Washington. Don't know a lot about Book yet, but Browning graduated just up the road at Folsom High School (Johnny Cash's favorite).

Folsom is about 20 miles east of downtown Sacramento. If you're ever in the area, and are in the mood for a "unique" experience, visit the Folsom History museum. There's a jail cell around the door to the restroom, and then, when you open the door ... "Hi, I'm Johnny Cash ...", then he sings Folsom Prison Blues while you're in the restroom. Definitely a one-of-a-kind experience.

 

Some make or break games:

#15 Wisconsin at #12 Michigan; Referendum on Harbaugh w/teeth of the schedule looming. One big play or turnover likely the difference, but will go Meatchicken.

#2 Georgia at #13 LSU; Joe Burrow is following in a long line of LSU QBs that are mediocre. LSU is a traditional power in spite of having horrible play under center. This would be a blowout if it wasn’t in Death Valley. Dawgs win.

#7 Washington at #17 Oregon; For many fans of these schools, this a bigger game then their in-state rival matchups: The Ducks are at home w/an extra week to prepare. UDub has been playing to their opponents ability for most of the season (good & bad). Going with the Quackers.

Upset Alert:
There will be a shocker somewhere, but nothing stands out. A couple that should be really good games;

#6 West Virginia at Iowa State; @FulhamDC, WVU better be ready to go. Iowa State is a lot better then their record and Mark Campbell is a great coach. I’m going with Will Grier over ISU’s true freshman QB, but this won’t be easy.

#19 Colorado at USC; @dtowndough, The Buffs are getting no love and are a TD underdog. McIntyre might be most underrated coach in country. While Clay Helton does less with more talent then almost any coach around. Big issue for CU is Trojans are coming off a bye.

 

So Iowa State played their best game of the year last week, and we played perhaps are worst, it was definitely Will Grier's worst. I spent too much time looking at this one, WVU has won three straight in Ames, WVU wins at night/in their all white uni's and a dozen other trivial facts, all of which have my head spinning. I won't make a prediction here, but I did see a "professional" handicapper giving WVU a 31-27 win, so I will say this - that might very well be the score, at halftime!

 

I don’t ever see myself getting to Folsom but that sounds awesome, Sac.

My Ags travel to South Carolina ahead of our bye week. We’ve won every game against the Cocks since joining the SEC (4-0). The last 2 have been close, but SC has the 13th ranked run d in the conference giving up just shy of 200 yds/g and we have the SEC’s leading rusher. I think we’ll be fine this week.

Wisconsin @ Michigan - I still haven’t seen the Badgers play this year. But the Wolverines lead FBS with a stingy 230 yds/g against defensively and they’re at home. I’ll take Michigan, even though Harbaugh’s record v ranked teams since coming to Ann Arbor is poor.

Georgia @ LSU - the Tigers will need a raucous crowd and to get some turnovers to have a shot. However I think the Dawgs have too many weapons and their defense is no joke either.

Washington @ Oregon - Autzen is alive again and the Ducks have an explosive offense. They’ll be fueled to avenge that 70 spot UW hung on them last time they met there. The Pups have the better defense however and have more speed than Stanford. I’ll go with UDub, admitting my PAC12 track record is subpar and no result here would surprise me.

Upset - that’s funny Joe, because the game you picked is the one that stood out to me the most. CU as a td dog at USC?!? The Buffs are better in just about every stat, but “USC has the better athletes.”

I’ll go with Memphis, at home, to finally end #10 UCF’s unbeaten run. They have an explosive offense of their own and the Knights run has to end some time, even with their weak schedule. Plus UCF has been a bit careless this year with turnovers and penalty yardage. That could prove costly if they’re ever in a close game, as I think they will be today.

 

Clearly, I have no idea what I'm talking about.

 

Missed the discussion Friday. Unfortunately I still don't think anyone knows if CU is any good. I thought the play-calling was poor and perhaps that's a reflection that they have no talent outside of Shenault.

Great gambling weekend for underdogs though overall!