2008 College Football In-Season Thread!

[AustinHoya03]

So I'm guessing BuffaloHoya is looking forward to this year's MAC Championship. Scout it out for us, Buff -- do Turner Gill's boys have any chance against the Ball State juggernaut?

____________________________________________________

Week 14 Picks for Games That Matter:

Thursday
Texas over Texas A&M in the Lone Star Showdown
Alabama State over Tuskegee in the Turkey Day Classic

Friday
Central Michigan over Eastern Michigan for the Michigan MAC Trophy
Pitt over West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl
Ohio over Miami in the Battle of the Bricks
Ole Miss over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl
Arkansas upsets LSU for the Golden Boot
BGSU over Toledo in the Battle of I-75 for the Peace Pipe
Nebraska big over Colorado
Boise State over Fresno State
Southern over Grambling State in the Bayou Classic

Saturday
Virginia upsets Virginia Tech for the Commonwealth Cup
Georgia Tech over UGA in the Clean, Old Fashioned Hate Game (Paul Johnson accomplishes what Chan Gailey never did -- the Ramblin' Wreck hasn't won this game since 2000.)
Clemson over S. Carolina
Mizzou over Kansas in the Border War Showdown for the Indian War Drum MU-KU Drum
Rice over Cougar High for the Bayou Bucket
Baylor upsets Texas Tech (seriously)
Florida over FSU
Duke over N. Carolina in Carlyle Cup play for the Victory Bell ('Heels continue to fade down the stretch)
Boston College over Maryland
Auburn over Alabama in the Iron Bowl
FAU over FIU in the Shula Bowl for the Shula Trophy
Kentucky over Tennessee
Oregon State over Oregon in the Civil War
Oklahoma over Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Game
SC huge over Notre Dame for the Jeweled Shillelagh

[HoyaFanNY]

former,

where in that article does it mention washington or wsu??? it doesn't. don't get mad at me because your boys that run nd gave charlie 4 chins a huge contract extension after one year after losing a close game to usc in '05 (it's sad that his biggest win was a loss to usc) and soon after when weis completely played the nd administration by floating the rumor that the giants were interested in him. the nd brass completely panicked and gave him what he wanted. the schedule is garbage and he still can't win 8 games. maybe next year with an even worse schedule and 34 year old junior to be jimmy clausen coming back to run his 'revolutionary' offense.


since you love weis so much, maybe you should buy his book...'The New Gold Standard: Charlie Weis and Notre Dame's Rise to Glory'

the title alone is laughable.

www.amazon.com/New-Gold-Standard-Charlie-Notre/dp/1933060204

[HoyaFanNY]

gill will be the coach of syracuse next year....IMO

[hifigator]

Austin, are you really picking Auburn to knock off Bama? You didn't even highlight it as an "upset." I wouldn't be totally shocked in any of the bigtime rivalry games being an upset, but I honestly don't see that one happening. I certainly don't want it to happen, as it could cause a potential 12-1 Florida team to get skipped in the chase for the title game. But in all honesty, I just don't think Auburn has the offense to get it done. Bama's defense has been very good and in my opinion, the clincher is the veteran quarterback play of John Parker Wilson. He's not the kind of guy to hurt his own team much. It wouldn't surprise me to see a fairly low-scoring, hard-faught contest, but I think Bama will get it done. Your Tech pick however, is quite possible. If that game was in Georgia, I would pick Tech for sure. I know it's only 60 or 70 miles down the road (78 and 278?), but I think the Bulldogs pull it out though.

Also, I heard just last night that the Ole Miss-Mississippi State game was originally for a "Golden Egg." I never knew that. It has just been the "Egg Bowl" as long as I can remember.

[FormerHoya]

Fanny,
You're still not adding anything to the conversation, plus you're making me argue ND on a GU board, so I'm stopping now.


Austin,

Nov 25, 2008 22:32:44 GMT -5 AustinHoya03 said:

Baylor upsets Texas Tech (seriously)

I know you do winners, not spreads, but you mean cover, not win, right? I'm totally with you on the cover (+21.5 depending on where), but outright? Even with the inevitable letdown game, just doesn't seem possible.

[hifigator]

Former, Austin calls winners -- right or wrong, he sticks to his guns. He's taking Auburn and Baylor to win outright. With a slate of some 20 rivalry games, there will almost certainly be a few upsets and those are a couple of the ones he's picking. I'm not sure I agree, but that's another story...

[hifigator]

I'm not sure which show it was on, but on Sporting News Radio, one of the guests did a parody, pretending the be the Preacher who is also the President of Notre Dame and basically he mockingly said that it's time to face reality. Notre Dame isn't the football power that it once was and never will be again. But that doesn't mean we can't still be competitive we just need to adjust our focus. We are a fine institution and we will continue to be one, but as for football some changes need to be made. He then went on, keeping a straight face for several minutes talking about potential directions that they could go. He did such a good job of it that for just a second you were left wondering if it was real or not, but then he got to the punch line and said that they were going to downsize their program and they were going to begin by downsizing their coach. So therefore we'd like to announce the hiring of Phil Fulmer as the new football coach at Notre Dame. I know my written rendition doesn't do it justice, but it was quite amusing.

[hifigator]

www.opensports.com/news/story/80b99c5d-888e-4cc3-a00c-f79e8649825f


I especially liked the part about the woman being turned over to her husband, while the guy was turned over to his girlfriend.

[AustinHoya03]

Nov 26, 2008 13:05:22 GMT -5 FormerHoya said:

Austin,

Nov 25, 2008 22:32:44 GMT -5 AustinHoya03 said:

Baylor upsets Texas Tech (seriously)

I know you do winners, not spreads, but you mean cover, not win, right? I'm totally with you on the cover (+21.5 depending on where), but outright? Even with the inevitable letdown game, just doesn't seem possible.

I'm picking Baylor. It's out there, but here's why:

1. Not only will this be an inevitable letdown game for Texas Tech, but Baylor (4-7) is going to treat this game as its bowl game. The motivation factor clearly favors Baylor.

2. At the beginning of the season, I watched Baylor play against Wake Forest -- the Bears were terrible. But towards the end of the season, the Green and Gold have played well. Baylor led Nebraska at the half in Lincoln, put a huge scare into Mizzou (the Tigers needed a timely INT and a late FG to win in Waco), and absolutely stomped Texas A&M.

3. What's the problem with all this? Well, the Bears' defense is still terrible, even though the offense has played well. Baylor doesn't have the athletes to go up against Tech's WR corps (expect a big game from Crabtree). And I'm not sure Art Briles will use the right strategy against the Red Raiders -- he needs to move the ball successfully on the ground with Robert Griffin and Jay Finley, eating into Tech's TOP (remember Nebraska did this in Lubbock and took Tech to OT).

So, am I saying Baylor is a lock to win this football game? No, not really. I am saying they've got a shot at winning, and a much better shot than the oddsmakers are giving them. I'll probably be wrong, but I try to make an upset pick or two every week, and this seemed like a good candidate to me.

hifi, I'm picking against 'Bama for the same reasons I picked against Tennesse to begin the season -- the Tide simply fails to impress me. Auburn stinks, but anything can happen in the Iron Bowl.

[HeartAttackHoya]

Nov 26, 2008 17:22:14 GMT -5 AustinHoya03 said:

Nov 26, 2008 13:05:22 GMT -5 FormerHoya said:

Austin,


I know you do winners, not spreads, but you mean cover, not win, right? I'm totally with you on the cover (+21.5 depending on where), but outright? Even with the inevitable letdown game, just doesn't seem possible.

I'm picking Baylor. It's out there, but here's why:

1. Not only will this be an inevitable letdown game for Texas Tech, but Baylor (4-7) is going to treat this game as its bowl game. The motivation factor clearly favors Baylor.

2. At the beginning of the season, I watched Baylor play against Wake Forest -- the Bears were terrible. But towards the end of the season, the Green and Gold have played well. Baylor led Nebraska at the half in Lincoln, put a huge scare into Mizzou (the Tigers needed a timely INT and a late FG to win in Waco), and absolutely stomped Texas A&M.

3. What's the problem with all this? Well, the Bears' defense is still terrible, even though the offense has played well. Baylor doesn't have the athletes to go up against Tech's WR corps (expect a big game from Crabtree). And I'm not sure Art Briles will use the right strategy against the Red Raiders -- he needs to move the ball successfully on the ground with Robert Griffin and Jay Finley, eating into Tech's TOP (remember Nebraska did this in Lubbock and took Tech to OT).

So, am I saying Baylor is a lock to win this football game? No, not really. I am saying they've got a shot at winning, and a much better shot than the oddsmakers are giving them. I'll probably be wrong, but I try to make an upset pick or two every week, and this seemed like a good candidate to me.

hifi, I'm picking against 'Bama for the same reasons I picked against Tennesse to begin the season -- the Tide simply fails to impress me. Auburn stinks, but anything can happen in the Iron Bowl.

I think you are the only person outside a couple of people in Waco who are making this pick. I like it. Hope you're right as it would do wonders in resolving BCS mess

[hoyarooter]

I'm not sure that TT will be so prone to a letdown. If I understood the tiebreakers correctly, a win by Oklahoma State over Oklahoma (which is definitely not beyond the realm of possibility) will put Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship game if they beat Baylor. This, along with wanting to beat the crap out of the next available opponent in order to put the OU debacle behind them, should be all the incentive they need. My hat will be off to Austin if he's right, but I think he's going to be wrong on this one.

[hifigator]

Nov 26, 2008 21:06:00 GMT -5 hoyarooter said:

I'm not sure that TT will be so prone to a letdown. If I understood the tiebreakers correctly, a win by Oklahoma State over Oklahoma (which is definitely not beyond the realm of possibility) will put Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship game if they beat Baylor. This, along with wanting to beat the crap out of the next available opponent in order to put the OU debacle behind them, should be all the incentive they need. My hat will be off to Austin if he's right, but I think he's going to be wrong on this one.

You are correct with regards to the tiebreakers, but in this particular case, it would be pretty much obvious. If (Big IF) Ok. St. beats the Sooners, then Tech wins the Division with a win. Texas can only win the south outright with a win over A&M coupled with losses by both Texas and Oklahoma. The only tiebreaking ambiguity comes with wins (or losses) by all three. In that case, the representative of the Big 12 South would be the highest BCS ranked team. Presuming losses by all would be out of the question ... (Penn. St. and USC fans might think otherwise) ... the likeliest scenario is one where Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma all win. That would put those 3 (of the 6) teams in the south with identical 11-1 (7-1) records. Then the mess would start. Given the impressive nature that the Sooners won last week, I agree with the pundits, and think that Oklahoma would play for the Big 12 Title.

In any case, it should make for an interesting, if not exciting, weekend.

[RDF]

No need to worry about BCS until the season ends--too many games left to play. Then we can all blast/praise it if it works. Just tired of the media bringing up the "possible rematch" of Big XII teams in Title game--remember last stupid talk of a "rematch" when everyone wanted to see Michigan-OSU play in Glendale--how did the bowl games for Big 10 work out there? Just because everything APPEARS to be the best league/best teams, doesn't make it the case.

[hifigator]

Nov 27, 2008 11:04:03 GMT -5 RDF said:

No need to worry about BCS until the season ends--too many games left to play. Then we can all blast/praise it if it works. Just tired of the media bringing up the "possible rematch" of Big XII teams in Title game--remember last stupid talk of a "rematch" when everyone wanted to see Michigan-OSU play in Glendale--how did the bowl games for Big 10 work out there? Just because everything APPEARS to be the best league/best teams, doesn't make it the case.

Very well said RDF.

Texas did its part yesterday, and in impressive fashion against a veastly outmanned A&M team. If Oklahoma holds serve, by winning tomorrow -- not as big of a presumption as I originally thought -- then I think they will get the birth, much to Texas' chagrin. For all of the "we have the same record and conference and division record, but we beat them" arguments, I think that people are smart enough to take it to the next level. IF Texas were to go, then Tech would have the exact same argument, presuming they beat Baylor. The "real" tiebreaker in this scenario would be the severity of the beating that Oklahoma gave Tech. But for all of the concessions that Oklahoma is getting as their win over Ok. St. being little more than a formality, think about one more thing: if you look at the Top of the Big 12, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Missouri have 5 conference losses between them. Only once has any of those four teams won a road game against any of the others. Obviously that means that only once has one of those four lost at home. Oklahoma certainly looks better, but I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that the Sooners win it.

Lastly, I heard a stat about Oklahoma. Over the past nearly 3 seasons, they are 17-0 at home but a somewhat pedestrian 14-6 away from Norman. Either way, this should make for a great day of watching football.

[hoyarooter]

Nov 28, 2008 12:27:45 GMT -5 hifigator said:

Nov 27, 2008 11:04:03 GMT -5 RDF said:

No need to worry about BCS until the season ends--too many games left to play. Then we can all blast/praise it if it works. Just tired of the media bringing up the "possible rematch" of Big XII teams in Title game--remember last stupid talk of a "rematch" when everyone wanted to see Michigan-OSU play in Glendale--how did the bowl games for Big 10 work out there? Just because everything APPEARS to be the best league/best teams, doesn't make it the case.

Very well said RDF.

Texas did its part yesterday, and in impressive fashion against a veastly outmanned A&M team. If Oklahoma holds serve, by winning tomorrow -- not as big of a presumption as I originally thought -- then I think they will get the birth, much to Texas' chagrin. For all of the "we have the same record and conference and division record, but we beat them" arguments, I think that people are smart enough to take it to the next level. IF Texas were to go, then Tech would have the exact same argument, presuming they beat Baylor. The "real" tiebreaker in this scenario would be the severity of the beating that Oklahoma gave Tech. But for all of the concessions that Oklahoma is getting as their win over Ok. St. being little more than a formality, think about one more thing: if you look at the Top of the Big 12, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Missouri have 5 conference losses between them. Only once has any of those four teams won a road game against any of the others. Obviously that means that only once has one of those four lost at home. Oklahoma certainly looks better, but I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that the Sooners win it.

Lastly, I heard a stat about Oklahoma. Over the past nearly 3 seasons, they are 17-0 at home but a somewhat pedestrian 14-6 away from Norman. Either way, this should make for a great day of watching football.

I don't buy this analysis. Texas worked Oklahoma handily on a neutral field (sort of). Tech beat Texas on a semi-miracle on the last play of the game in Lubbock. Texas was way more impressive in defeat than either Oklahoma or Texas Tech. If the three teams end up tied and I had a vote, barring an Oklahoma wipe out of OSU, which would indicate that Oklahoma is generally playing at a far superior level now than they were earlier in the year, my vote would definitely go to Texas.

[SFHoya99]

Texas is better than Oklahoma.

The computers -- even without Margin of Victory, which should absolutely be included -- see this. It's the human polls and their idiotic "lose, move down, even if it is by one on the road to a great team" logic that don't.

It's also telling the Sagarin MOV-based predictor ranking has Alabama at #8.

Really, does anyone think Alabama is the #1 team? I bet if you asked the people who voted, a majority of them would say Alabama is not the best team in the nation -- and a majority think they will lose to Florida.

But they would rank them #1 -- simply because they haven't lost. Someone tell me why we have them vote?

[RDF]

Alabama has 1 good win all year--against a good UGA team on the road--in a great half and they held on to win. Outside of that--their big "breakout win" was against an awful Clemson team.

Oklahoma winning 11 of 12 games by 1000 points doesn't matter--if you lose head to head--that should--especially when played on a neutral field. I will say OU is going to get a big benefit from Cincinnati winning Big East and TCU having a strong season as their non conference opponents--but hey--Texas mauled Arkansas who beat the "mighty" LSU Tigers.

Anyone see this scenario unfolding: Les Miles to Michigan after Rich Rod is canned next year and beating the soon to be firing that would be coming at LSU with his OWN players-which will get same crappy coaching Saban's kids did a year ago? Yes it was crappy coaching-that team lost 2 games and could've lost 4-5 simply due to the fact that Miles is a nutjob.

Go Cowboys tomorrow--tired of Stoops whining and Sooners ruining BCS Title Games.

[hifigator]

Nov 28, 2008 17:18:53 GMT -5 hoyarooter said:

Nov 28, 2008 12:27:45 GMT -5 hifigator said:

Very well said RDF.

Texas did its part yesterday, and in impressive fashion against a veastly outmanned A&M team. If Oklahoma holds serve, by winning tomorrow -- not as big of a presumption as I originally thought -- then I think they will get the birth, much to Texas' chagrin. For all of the "we have the same record and conference and division record, but we beat them" arguments, I think that people are smart enough to take it to the next level. IF Texas were to go, then Tech would have the exact same argument, presuming they beat Baylor. The "real" tiebreaker in this scenario would be the severity of the beating that Oklahoma gave Tech. But for all of the concessions that Oklahoma is getting as their win over Ok. St. being little more than a formality, think about one more thing: if you look at the Top of the Big 12, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Missouri have 5 conference losses between them. Only once has any of those four teams won a road game against any of the others. Obviously that means that only once has one of those four lost at home. Oklahoma certainly looks better, but I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that the Sooners win it.

Lastly, I heard a stat about Oklahoma. Over the past nearly 3 seasons, they are 17-0 at home but a somewhat pedestrian 14-6 away from Norman. Either way, this should make for a great day of watching football.

I don't buy this analysis. Texas worked Oklahoma handily on a neutral field (sort of). Tech beat Texas on a semi-miracle on the last play of the game in Lubbock. Texas was way more impressive in defeat than either Oklahoma or Texas Tech. If the three teams end up tied and I had a vote, barring an Oklahoma wipe out of OSU, which would indicate that Oklahoma is generally playing at a far superior level now than they were earlier in the year, my vote would definitely go to Texas.

I understand your point and that is certainly valid. I am just saying that the one thing everyone keeps saying is that it's unfair that Oklahoma should be ranked ahead of Texas since they have the same overall, division and conference records. If Tech and Ok. win today however, that exact same argument would be the same, regardless of which team ultimately gets the nod. In Texas' favor, they have a neutral field win and a road loss, while Texas has a home win and a neutral loss, and of course Tech has a road loss and a home win. That factor alone would give the nod to Texas as they had to win at a neutral site. If you take it one step further however, presuming it ends in the 3 way tie, then both Oklahoma and Tech would have a very quality win on the road, that being at Ok. State. Texas doesn't have a road win of that quality on their resume'. Edge to both Tech and Ok. There's no way that Tech will win the three way, because of the utterly embarrassing way that they lost just last week. So edge to Oklahoma. Finally, the out of conference wins for Oklahoma keep looking more and more impressive. OK, so UT-Chatanooga is pretty crappy, but their wins over TCU and Cincinnati are big pluses. As an unbiased observer, I do think that in a very tough situation, you would have to go with Oklahoma. But I don't blame Longhorn fans for being upset a bit. What they really need is a Baylor Bear shocker. It that game was in Waco, then I think they might have a shot. In Lubbock ... I seriously doubt it.

Time for football.

[GIGAFAN99]

The SEC officially announced itself as "as bad as all the rest" today. Florida and Alabama and then...um...hmmmm...Georgia beat Central Michigan!

For those of you scoring at home, that's Georgia Tech over Georgia and Wake Forest over Ole Miss. Yes, those are your two SEC divisional runners-up losing to the ACC.

No offense to hifi (but if he takes some, that's fine) a one-loss Gator team is not so far and away impressive for me that if they win that 'Bama game, I can say they're definitely better than the rest of the one-losers.

[RDF]

Nov 29, 2008 17:27:02 GMT -5 GIGAFAN99 said:

The SEC officially announced itself as "as bad as all the rest" today. Florida and Alabama and then...um...hmmmm...Georgia beat Central Michigan!

For those of you scoring at home, that's Georgia Tech over Georgia and Wake Forest over Ole Miss. Yes, those are your two SEC divisional runners-up losing to the ACC.

No offense to hifi (but if he takes some, that's fine) a one-loss Gator team is not so far and away impressive for me that if they win that 'Bama game, I can say they're definitely better than the rest of the one-losers.

Don't forget Clemson kicking the living dog feces out of the COCKS--and Spurrier please go away--you are irrelevant.