College Football 2012-13

I disagree about the matchups, there are a lot of potential upsets and interesting games out there.

Potential Upsets:

#15 TCU @ SMU is a trap. SMU beat a ranked Horny Toads team in ot last year. They have a texas-ex qb in Gilbert who was very highly rated coming out of hs. Plus, the Ponies have had 2 weeks to prep for this rivalry game. It's a long shot though. SMU has looked pretty bad against Baylor and A&M.

#12 texas @ Okie Lite could be good as well. The Pokes have been giving the horns fits for 5-6 years now, either beating them or losing a close one. Explosive offense vs stud defense.

#18 Oregon St @ Zona. Not sure why Joe left this off unless he's afraid of jinxing things. The PAC is the wild west this year and it seems like anything can happen from one week to the next...except Oregon losing.

#17 Clemson @ BC. Shouldn't be an upset, but Clemp has been a terrible road team in recent years & this is just the type of game they either lose, or make much closer than you'd anticipate. Never trust the Tigers.

Interesting Matchups:

Going into the season, this looked like a big w/e for my Ags but Pig has rolled over and died under John L Smith. Hopefully we pop that sucker on a spit and put the apple in its mouth. Knowing A&M though, watch Arky pull their heads out and beat us. Either way, it'll be interesting to me no less.

Disagree on the Snarlin Pups of Montlake. UDub couldn't stop LSU's power offense and couldn't move the ball on their d. Stanford isn't LSU, but there are similarities and I think the Cardinal have shown they do have talent.

Baylor is overrated and should get hammered by WV. At least I hope so b/c I despise Baylor. One of the single most useless institutions in the country. I'm starting to think the B12 grind might expose WV a bit too, but not this game. Baylor lost too much from last year and the Couch-Burners are at home.

I'm tempted to pick Mich St over the Bucks, but everytime I pick against OSU, they win. So why not, OSU in a close one.

Louisville @ So Miss may be the execution of the week, but it won't be a game of the week. Their hc is in his first year. They lost Larry Fedora to UNC after the bowls.

Oh wait, Towson (of tackling the opponent who was running a punt back the wrong way fame a couple weeks ago) is @ LSU. There's your execution. At least So Miss will get a final meal, a cigarette and a blindfold.

 

Great stuff Matt, didn't realize that's where Gilbert landed.

Almost picked the Clemson game as my upset, because well, they are Clemson and always seem to turn in a head scratcher or two every year. However, Boston College have been going on a steady decline after O'Brien left for NC State.

Can't remember a team circling the drain like Arkansas has. He was a scumbag, but Bobby Petrino sure could coach. Aggies got the Granny Smith's ready Matt, no worries.

Stayed away from UofA vs Oregon State game because honestly have no clue how my team is going to react. OSU was very impressive against UCLA, and I've always thought Mike Riley is the most underrated coach this side of Bill Synder. Smart pick says Beavs, but hopefully the Cats will improve in the red zone.

Stanford loses, even though they looked in control after the pick 6. Washington shocked them by not letting the clock run out on the 4th and 1 at the end of the third quarter. Nunes isn't Andre Luck, but wasn't helped by his wr dropping a ball on the final drive that would have put the all inside the 20.

 

Wow, Stanford did themselves no favors in that game but credit to the Huskies for stepping up defensively and pulling the upset. And to Price for getting up and answering the bell time after time. He took an absolute beating in that game.

The Cats are at home and as we've seen so far in the PAC this year, that gives you a good chance. Agree on Riley though. The Beavers seem to rise up once every 4 years or so.

 

Great call on UW/Stanford. I didn't see that one coming.

I agree 100% on WVU. I think they will ROLL on Baylor. I do believe Baylor is better than they showed last Friday, however WVU will be rocking for this game.

I actually lean towards the Spartans on this one. Simply because they have it at home. OSU has struggled early in every game.

I appreciate you adding UofL and Southern Miss as a game of the week. However, it will be a massacre. There was a team meeting this week at USM with the Seniors and the AD. not the head coach, the AD! Players don't like the staff and are basically ready to throw in the towel. Ellis Johnson is in his first year. He's been a great Def Coordinator for many years, but he's older and hired an older staff as well. I think they are having a tough time motivating the younger guys and getting them to play. I expected a somewhat down year, but going into it I thought this game would be a matchup that would compete with historic UofL games. Fights, swearing, hate, blood. all the good stuff. Good news is Charlie Strong typically lets up. I hope he lets up tomorrow.

Matt - I don't think SMU has the talent this year. Combine that with the previous win and TCU i think wins this one easily.

Pac 12 - I agree. Who knows what will happen. I'll take Zona.

Surely Clemson comes out ready after last week. who knows.

Texas - okie state will score some points, but texas won't have a problem in this one.

 

^From your lips to God's ears.......


-Here's wishing Garrett Gilbert nothing but success. This Texas-Ex was sad to see him leave the 40 acres - Good luck, Garrett.

-Hoping current employer and adopted school Zona can rebound and put together a consistent performance. They blew early chances to score against UO - we knew that'd bite them in the Arse. That said, this is a winnable game - Rich Rod better have gotten his troops attention this week.

-Might be one of the few weeks I'm an Aggie fan - hate me some Pig Sooey. Gig 'em this week, boys.

-post-RGIII Baylor will get a wake-up call this weekend. Watch out for burning couches on the way out, Bears fans.

-Unlike the class move by Jimbo Fisher and FSU, OU welched on one of their star recruits (who was admittedly not yet signed). Still - not cool, Sooners.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... -condition

 

So Arkansas was either the most overrated team ever or the most emotional team ever. They're absolutely horrible.

LSU is also overrated. Only beating Towson by 16 at home? Give me a break, they aren't anywhere near a top 5 team.

And Geno Smith is the best college QB. I think this translates to the NFL. I love Barkley, but Smith makes things look so easy out there. He has everything that an NFL QB needs. He's going to be a top ten QB at the next level.

 

Looking at the gawdy numbers put up across the country, you'd think the colleges stayed home and some kid with an xbox played out this weekend's games.

Justin, with Arky, it's both. They had some pretty big losses to their wr corps as well as both lines from last year. If you can't win at the point of attack, you usually can't win games. But they've also quit at times. They looked beat before they ever took the field against Bama and they quit at halftime against A&M on Saturday.

LSU was up 31-9 before sending in the 2nd and 3rd teamers. Towson put up 13 pts in the final 9 minutes of the game. Towson is a ranked 1-AA team, so they aren't scrubs, and I wouldn't think a Meatchicken fan would need to be reminded of how salty a ranked 1-AA team can be. I don't know that LSU is or isn't a top 5 team tbh. It's still too early to tell who's what at this stage. A couple more weeks of conference play should make the picture clearer.

I also disagree on Smith. His completion % would suggest he probably is an NFL prospect and possibly as good of one as RG3. However, that Baylor game was a joke. First, Baylor's d sucks...as does WVU's. Second, his receivers were either open by miles or got behind the Baylor db's on the majority of those throws. If you have a strong enough arm, it's not that hard to throw it over everyone and let your guy run under it. Point is, he wouldn't have the opportunity to make 80% of the passes he made v Baylor b/c NFL teams rarely blow coverage that bad. texas will be a much better acid test for him.

I didn't get any of my potential upsets, but came close on several. Joe's (and SBG's) Cats almost pulled the upset. Not sure about those copper lids, but if they play like that in them, you'd be stupid to scrap them. I'm sure there's a story behind them but that game wasn't televised here so I don't know it. SMU kept it close as well. They were within one score and had a shot until Gilbert put up one of the worst attempts at a Hail Mary I can recall. And Ok St and texas didn't disappoint either. You can almost always count on those two shooting it out to the final gun. Unfortunately the wrong team won.

We all missed the call on SoMS. Playing in a pond in a driving rain is the great equaliser when you find yourself at a talent and speed disadvantage. They might have had them if not for that dismal punt late.

And A&M put my fears to rest and buried the Pig luau style instead. Manziel is something else. He missed some reads or it could have been much worse. It's a little scary what this offense of Sumlin & Kingsbury's has the potential of being. Of course, we haven't trotted it out against LSU or Bama yet either. But I'm gaining optimism.

 

LSU had trouble with a mediocre Auburn team as well. Great teams beat the crap out of division 1-AA teams, even if they are ranked. Obviously the 2007 Michigan team wasn't a great team.

Smith has been great for two years and was good in his Sophomore season. Obviously that offense allows you to put up big numbers, but he's thrown over 20 TD's with no interceptions. He's the real deal and somebody I've been following for awhile now. I think he's better than Logan Thomas and should be right up there with Barkley in the NFL prospect rankings. Think he's a better college QB than Barkley, but I'd probably take Barkley over him in the Draft.

 

Just glad what weekend is over. I think my wife is probably more happy though. She did not have fun watching the Southern Miss game with me.

Looking forward to the games of the week this week from SoCal. Looking like a great weekend for NCAA football

 

So...I have to say it.

How 'bout them Buckeyes?? :banana-dance:

 

Been waiting for this post.

Given the state of the Big Ten, no reason why they can't win it. Should be a great atmosphere w/Nebraska coming to town this week.

Lot of near misses in upsets this past weekend. One upset that did happen was Middle Tennessee beating Georgia Tech rather easily 49-28.

When did they start hoops in Sept.? 70-63 in the WVU-Baylor game?? Embarrassing.

Where is our Northwestern grad?? Tim, your Wildcats are undefeated and in the rankings.

As dtown said, the schedule is heating up and some key match ups upon us.

 

Judging qb's for the NFL is incredibly difficult, but I'd take Smith over Barkley...pretty easily. Neither comes from a system that has produced much in the way of quality NFL qb's. USC has had Palmer, Sanchez and Leinhart but with the exception of a couple of years for Palmer, none of them have been very good. With the changing of the rules in recent years benefitting qb's and r's, the spread qb's seem to be getting more of an opportunity, but they have less of a track record than SC qb's so far. The thing about Barkley that I don't like is that he comes up short more often than not in big games. Smith hasn't had that problem so far. There's still a lot more I'd like to see from Smith, but I'd bet he has the higher upside at this point. Plus, I don't think Barkley will amount to anything in the NFL. Just a gut feeling.

Ohio St hasn't looked very impressive, but they keep finding a way to win and that is impressive. In a fairly weak looking B1G, I'd say they look to be favorites at this point.

 

Good wins for the Horns on the road. Our coaches give lip service to a physical run game, but I saw way too many cutsie end-around type runs in the early parts of the game. When we ran the ball right down their throat late in the game - that was better. That's the team we need to be. Defense wasn't all that impressive for a bunch of guys that should have a number of future NFL picks.

Tough loss for the Cats - close but no cigar.

LSU doesn't play the XBOX style offense - they and Bama play defense and run the ball. They will still be a tough out in the BCS race.
Ask Michigan how playing a team like that works.....http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=322450333
(a team LSU would split with last year)

WVU/Baylor - barn burner. Exciting stuff.
Surely somebody who throws for 8 TDs against Baylor is a lock for NFL success, right Matt Leinart/Jason White/Troy Smith/etc?

The Aggies needed that kind of beat-down against a down Arkansas program. Ags need to remind the SEC-bound recruits from the state that they, not Ark (who mostly recruits Texas) - are a bigger program. One of the most enjoyable A&M games I've seen.

 

Schedule is loaded;

#4 LSU at #10 Florida. LSU have really missed the Honey Badger, Mathieu and his spark. I'll pick the Gators in the Swamp in a minor upset.

#5Georgia at #6 South Carolina. Gerogia lost their leading wr Bennett for the season, and gave up 44 to Tennessee in their win last week. I'll pick SC to win the turnover battle which will be the difference.

#8West Virginia at #11 Texas. This should be a really fun game to watch. Geno Smith will move the ball, but Texas has better overall talent. I like the Longhorns letting everyone know they are baaacckk. Shiner, did I understand that right that you work for the U of A?

Miami at #9 Notre Dame (in Chicago). Miami hasn't lost since getting waxed by K State. Notre Dame has been winning, which means they are overrated. Irish should win this handily, but they seem to do just enough to get by.

#21 Nebraska at #12 Ohio State. Really important game in the Big 10. Both teams have been sporadic at times, and this one is a tough call. I give Urban Meyer the edge over Bo Pelini so will go with OSU at home.

#23 Washington at #2 Oregon. These schools HATE each other, and for a lot of the fans this is as big a rivalry game as their in-state foe at the end of the year. Ducks offense will be too much for the Dawgs to handle.

Upset Alert: #17 Oklahoma at Texas Tech. Matt's favorite West Texas school :roll: have quietly gone 4-0, and there seems to be something missing in Norman.

Super Upset Special; #3 Florida State at NC State. Seminoles will probably win, but I would not fall off the chair to see the Wolfpack pull it off.

Underrated Game of the Week; Louisiana-Monroe at Middle Tennessee. Gotta throw the little guys a bone. ULM started Arkansas's demise, and took Auburn to OT the following week. MT just thrashed Georgia Tech in Atlanta by 3 tds. The big school schedule these guys as 'cupcakes' so great to see them beat those guys and take their checks.

Plenty of other games to talk about, so have at it people.

 

Heck of a rundown SCJ - much appreciated. Love talking college ball.

-LSU/UF - good game, gonna be tight....really a pick 'em. Like the LSU defense to make enough plays to win. Winning ugly and staying undefeated is what LSU excels at.

-USC/UGA - will admit to not seeing one iota of these teams this year - though I've seen them highly ranked before, only to flame out. How has Lattimore looked coming back from his knee surgery?

-WVa/Texas - Huge game. I like our talent, but we haven't put together a defensive game plan that seems to work. We continually get gashed by the big play - something Geno Smith & his guys specialize in. We would need a couple defensive/special teams scores to pull this one out (something we could actually do). I think, however, we'll eventually make too many mistakes and that our offense won't be able to keep up with WVa's ability to score. I hope I'm wrong, but I'd give the edge to WVa in this one.

-ND should kick Miami while they're down. Make it hurt, Irish.

-Love the Huskers - I think their fans are the best, very classy. I miss their presence in the Big 12/er 10/whatever - that was the biggest recent loss. Love the tradition, Black Shirts, all that stuff. However, they get found out this week - a beatdown in the shoe awaits.

-UW/UO - don't think UW has the horses yet, especially on defense. Could be ugly here.

-OU/TxTech - is it too much to ask for the starting OU offensive and defensive lines to all get two-week hamstring injuries during this game......? Nothing major, just a strain here or there.

-Zona/Stanford - the Pac12 is getting off to a rough start for the Cats. (SCJ - yes, I work for the UA Dept. of Pediatrics) Not gonna get any easier on the road against a physical and angry Stanford team. To win here would require discipline, winning the turnover battle, and some big plays on offense. What the heck - gotta pick one upset....Go Cats!

 

Shiner, the Uinversity Medical Center is a source of pride for Arizona Alumni, very cool you work in the pediatrics dept. Great call on Cats pulling the upset, and they had Stanford on the ropes, up 14 w/7 minutes to go. They don't have the ability to rush the passer, which in this league means losses. Biggest disappointment was RichRod playing for OT w/40 seconds to go and 2 timeouts left.

The Good; South Carolina, Florida, West Virginia, Notre Dame

The Bad; Florida State blowing a 16-0 lead to NC State. Miami getting whacked in Chicago

The Ugly; Georgia pathetic in a big game again. Mark Richt has got that John Cooper win 80% of your games, but being shown the door look. LSU's offense

 

No Michigan in the good category? I watched Gameday and Kirk Herbstreit said Purdue would win the Big Ten. We destroyed them in their house. Definitely got the offense rolling.

 

No way Herbstreit said Purdon't would win the Big Ten. What he probably said is that they possibly could win the Leaders division since Ohio State and Penn State are ineligible. Back to your question...Nope. :mrgreen: Keep in mind Marshall scored 41 on Purdon't last week.

 

He might have been joking, but he talked about Purdue in the Rose Bowl. The rest of the panel was pretty shocked.

 

Disappointing loss for Texas - especially when we had the opportunity to take the lead late in the 4th.
David Ash seems to have the Tony Romo-esque quality where you just know he won't make the clutch plays. Ah well, I'm sure he's a good kid and doing his best - there were many plays that contributed to that loss. The defense was once again, very poor. I know WVa has a good offense, but their RB doubled his rushing total for the season due to that one game. Poor.

Props to WVa coming into DKR and putting to my Horns.
They were the better team.

Zona also had a chance - Stanford showed some resiliancy (sp), and scj you're right - RichRod got timid late.

How 'bout the typical 14-6 UF/LSU game? I think the SEC is allergic to points. Still, both those teams will be tough to beat down the stretch with the defenses they can trot out. I'd forgotten that former Texas defensive coord Will Muschamp is coaching the Gators....good win for him.