College Football Week 1

[Andy]

Well, since Derwood, who started these threads last year, is off to Europe for a week (godspeed), I'll take the liberty of starting the opening college football thread of the season. All times Eastern. Games with a * are on ESPN GamePlan for those of you who are completely obsessed.

 

Matchups between Top 25 teams

---------------------------------------

(9) California at (23) Tennessee (5:30 pm, ESPN)

(11) Florida State at (12) Miami (8 pm on Monday night, ESPN)

 

"Good" Top 25 Games

--------------------------

(2) Notre Dame at Georgia Tech (8 pm, ABC)

(6) USC at Arkansas (8:45 PM, ESPN)

Stanford at (21) Oregon (3:30 pm, ABC)

(22) TCU at Baylor (5:30 pm on Sunday)

 

Top 25 Mismatches

----------------------

N. Illinois at (1) Ohio State (3:30 pm, ABC)

N. Texas at (3) Texas (12 pm)

Washington State at (4) Auburn (7:45 pm, ESPN2)

Marshall at (5) West Virginia (3:30 pm)*

Southern Miss at (7) Florida (6 pm)*

UL Lafayette at (8) LSU (8 pm)*

UAB at (10) Oklahoma (7 pm, TBS)

Kentucky at (13) Louisville (8 pm on Sunday night, ESPN)

Vanderbilt at (14) Michigan (12 pm, ESPN)

W. Kentucky at (15) Georgia (12:30 pm)*

Montana at (16) Iowa (12 pm, ESPNU)

Northeastern at (17) Va Tech (1:30 pm)

FL Atlantic at (18) Clemson (3:30 pm, ESPNU)

Akron at (19) Penn State (3:30 pm, ESPN2)

Louisiana Tech at (20) Nebraska (3:30 pm)

N. Arizona at (24) Arizona State (10 pm on Thursday night)

SMU at (25) Texas Tech (7 pm)

 

Other Games of interest to NSBB#

----------------------------------------------------

E. Michigan at Ball State (7:30 pm on Thursday night)

Northwestern at Miami (OH) (7:30 pm on Thursday night, ESPNU)

S. Carolina at Mississippi State (8 pm on Thursday night, ESPN)

Idaho at Michigan State (12 pm, ESPN Plus)

Indiana State at Purdue (1 pm)

W. Michigan at Indiana (6 pm)

Syracuse at Wake Forest (6:30 pm, ESPN360)

Utah at UCLA (7 pm)

NW State at Kansas (7 pm)

Murray State at Missouri (7 pm)

E. Illinois at Illinois (7 pm)

Illinois State at Kansas State (7 pm)

Memphis at Ole Miss (4:30 pm on Sunday, ESPN)

 

Lock Haven at S. Illinois (8 pm on Thursday night)

UC Davis at N. Colorado (3:35 pm)

 

# - games involving non-Top 25 teams that I know for a fact at least one NSBB poster roots for. If you want your team on here and they're not let me know.

Edited August 28, 2006 by Andy

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Murray State is the only game on the schedule that doesn't scare the ever loving crap out of me. Saturday night should be fun.

[Jon]

The injuries are already starting up for Northwestern. Both Thompson (foot) and Ngene (knee injury, no idea how long he'll be out) will miss the opener.

 

But mostly I'm just pissed at ESPN for putting the game on ESPNU, which is unavailable to just about everyone.

 

Kafka will get the start at QB, which is a good choice. Brewer will likely see some time in the slot. He's one heck of a runner, but Kafka is no slouch, either.

[Slugger_16]

But mostly I'm just pissed at ESPN for putting the game on ESPNU, which is unavailable to just about everyone.

 

ESPN is just giving the public what they want. :D

[soccer10k]

UC Davis at Northern Colorado at 12:35 PT

[Flames24Rulz]

Lock Haven (no clue who these guys are) @ #17 Southern Illinois, Thursday at 7 central

 

As for the real football, hopefully NIU can give tO$U all they can handle. Wolfe could be a challenge for a young Ohio St. defense. I think it's going to be a closer game than what people are indicating.

 

If Illinois loses to Eastern, it's going to be an embarassment to the entire state of Illinois.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Geaux Tigers!

 

Go GT Yellowjackets!

[Transmogrified Tiger]

But mostly I'm just pissed at ESPN for putting the game on ESPNU, which is unavailable to just about everyone.

 

It's overrated for the most part, except for times like this, and watching replays of the kU bball game at one in the morning.

[Jon]

But mostly I'm just pissed at ESPN for putting the game on ESPNU, which is unavailable to just about everyone.

 

ESPN is just giving the public what they want. :D

Yeah, who'd want to watch a game with an actual storyline.

 

Ugh. Apparently Thompson is going to be out 4-6 weeks now. These were both very recent injuries.

 

And would it kill ESPN Classic to replay the game in the middle of the night instead of the ones that are being show on ESPN and ESPN2?

[Andy]

Go GT Yellowjackets!

It's people like you that make me question the state of the world. :wink:

 

In all honesty, I'm not worried about Tech very much, or Michigan. I'm worried about Penn State since it falls in between those two games and since, on paper anyway, they are the weakest of the three teams, but are still very good. And I am worried about MSU because they seem to acquire special powers against ND.

 

As for BSU, anything less than a two-TD win is unacceptable. EMU is a very weak team. Nate Davis, rated the #1 recruit in the MAC this year as a QB, will play according to coach Brady Hoke, though it's unclear how much (Joey Lynch is still the starter).

[stitchface]

UC Davis at Northern Colorado at 12:35 PT

 

go Aggies! UNC is usually pretty darn good though.

[TruffleShuffle]

Lock Haven (no clue who these guys are) @ #17 Southern Illinois, Thursday at 7 central

 

I actually had to look this up to see if it was the Lock Haven that I'm familiar with. It is.

 

Lock Haven is a small Division II school about 30 minutes north of State College, PA. Not only are they D-II, but they're a bad D-II... 2-9 last year, averaging 8 points per game and 39 points against per game. Southern Illinois should win by more than 50 points.

[cubweiser03]

As for the real football, hopefully NIU can give tO$U all they can handle. Wolfe could be a challenge for a young Ohio St. defense. I think it's going to be a closer game than what people are indicating.

 

My memory of NIU vs Michigan is a bit shady, but i was rather impressed with NIU's offense. That has the potential to do some damage to OSU's inexperienced defense in this first week. I also seem to remember that NIU's defense was rather small, especially up front. I dont think they can pose any defensive threat against OSU's stout offense, especially if they are undersized. Michigans Oline really pushed them around and i see the same with OSU doing it this year.

 

Could be an entertaining game.

[Jon]

The NCAA will allow coaches to make one challenge per game this season. If the ruling is upheld, a timeout will be charged.

[NCCubFan]

Go GT Yellowjackets!

It's people like you that make me question the state of the world. :wink:

 

In all honesty, I'm not worried about Tech very much, or Michigan. I'm worried about Penn State since it falls in between those two games and since, on paper anyway, they are the weakest of the three teams, but are still very good. And I am worried about MSU because they seem to acquire special powers against ND.

 

As for BSU, anything less than a two-TD win is unacceptable. EMU is a very weak team. Nate Davis, rated the #1 recruit in the MAC this year as a QB, will play according to coach Brady Hoke, though it's unclear how much (Joey Lynch is still the starter).

Hoke was on the team (defense, but I forget specifically which position) during my freshman year, when they went undefeated in the MAC and 10-1 overall. His brother, Jon Hoke, was also on the team. They had at least one other set of brothers (Archie and Ken Currin) on that team. Archie was the starting tailback; I believe Ken was primarily a kick or punt returner.

[soccer10k]

UC Davis at Northern Colorado at 12:35 PT

 

go Aggies! UNC is usually pretty darn good though.

 

We always seem to pick it up and play well against the better teams while suffering letdowns against the teams that aren't as good (with the exception of Sac State). Hopefully I will be able to attend all 5 home games this year.

[cubweiser03]

The NCAA will allow coaches to make one challenge per game this season. If the ruling is upheld, a timeout will be charged.

 

Isnt this in addtion to what is in effect? Booth review will go on as it did last year but if a play isnt being reviewed the coach can request it. Many times last year a coach would have to call a timeout to get a play reviewed and if it waw overturned they still lost the TO.

[Jon]

The NCAA will allow coaches to make one challenge per game this season. If the ruling is upheld, a timeout will be charged.

 

Isnt this in addtion to what is in effect? Booth review will go on as it did last year but if a play isnt being reviewed the coach can request it. Many times last year a coach would have to call a timeout to get a play reviewed and if it waw overturned they still lost the TO.

Yeah, last year's booth challenge system will remain in effect.

 

It may be hard to use the challenge effectively this year, though, because of the clock changes. With the clock starting immediately after a turnover, they may not have enough time to see a replay upstairs and tell the coach to throw the flag.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Murray State is the only game on the schedule that doesn't scare the ever loving crap out of me. Saturday night should be fun.

 

I'm actually pretty confident in our team this year. This, however, will undoubtedly lead to our demise.

[hawkeyecub]

But mostly I'm just pissed at ESPN for putting the game on ESPNU, which is unavailable to just about everyone.

 

The Iowa game is on ESPNU also, although that shouldn't be as competitive as NU's game.

 

They're trying to force cable companies to add it and most companies aren't budging yet. This is what ESPN2 did when they were in the early stages and eventually it worked. They had nothing but billiards and extreme sports on, then started adding some ordinary college football and basketball games until it eventually moved to marquee games (Duke/UNC basketball). Hopefully ESPNU doesn't move that far.

 

I'm strongly considering a switch to dish to get ESPNU and the NFL Network.

[NCCubFan]

I'm strongly considering a switch to dish to get ESPNU and the NFL Network.

I don't know about Dish Network, but on DirecTV NFL Network is included in the regular programming package, but ESPNU is part of the Sports Pack subscription ($12 per month).

[stitchface]

UC Davis at Northern Colorado at 12:35 PT

 

go Aggies! UNC is usually pretty darn good though.

 

We always seem to pick it up and play well against the better teams while suffering letdowns against the teams that aren't as good (with the exception of Sac State). Hopefully I will be able to attend all 5 home games this year.

 

is there much tailgating? :D

[dew1679666265]

(9) California at (23) Tennessee (5:30 pm, ESPN)

 

Just 5 days until the Vols' redemption! This is truly the best time of the year.

[stitchface]

(9) California at (23) Tennessee (5:30 pm, ESPN)

 

Just 5 days until the Vols' redemption! This is truly the best time of the year.

 

go Bears!

[dew1679666265]

(9) California at (23) Tennessee (5:30 pm, ESPN)

 

Just 5 days until the Vols' redemption! This is truly the best time of the year.

 

go Bears!

 

I've heard many good things about Marshawn Lynch. Luckily we have a stout d-line and very solid, though young, linebackers. It should be fun to watch if nothing else. Just remember, we're still mad from last year, gotta knock that chip off our shoulder. 8)