College Football - Week of 8/30

[Andy]

With the release of the AP poll, we are officially less than 2 weeks away from the college football season beginning. Time for the week 1 thread!

 

This year, I've decided to get rid of the good/mismatch designation and just put all the top 25 games in one tab. Also, all nationally televised games that don't involve a team of interest have their own tab.

 

And, as the Joker would say...here...we...go.

 

Top 25 games

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

Georgia Southern at (1) Georgia (12:30 pm)

Youngstown State at (2) Ohio State (12 pm, Big Ten - Regional)

(3) USC at Virginia (3:30 pm, ABC – Regional)

Chattanooga at (4) Oklahoma (7 pm)

Hawaii at (5) Florida (12:30 pm)

(20) Illinois vs (6) Missouri – in St. Louis (8:30 pm, ESPN)

Appalachian State at (7) LSU (11 am, ESPN Classic)

Villanova at (8) West Virginia (3:30 pm)

(24) Alabama vs (9) Clemson - in Atlanta (8 pm, ABC - Regional)

UL Monroe at (10) Auburn (7 pm)

Florida Atlantic at (11) Texas (7 pm)

Eastern Washington at (12) Texas Tech (7 pm)

Akron at (13) Wisconsin (12 pm, Big Ten – Regional)

Florida International at (14) Kansas (7 pm)

Northern Arizona at (15) Arizona State (10 pm)

Northern Iowa at (16) BYU (6 pm, The Mountain)

(17) Virginia Tech at East Carolina (12 pm, ESPN)

(18) Tennessee at UCLA (8 pm Monday, ESPN)

UT-Martin at (19) South Florida (7 pm)

Washington at (21) Oregon (10 pm, Comcast SportsNet)

Coastal Carolina at (22) Penn State (12 pm, Big Ten - Regional)

(23) Wake Forest at Baylor (8 pm Thursday, Comcast SportsNet)

Bowling Green at (25) Pittsburgh (12 pm, ESPNU)

 

Other games of interest

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

Northeastern at Ball State (7 pm Thursday)

South Dakota State at Iowa State (8 pm Thursday)

NC State at South Carolina (8 pm Thursday, ESPN)

Syracuse at Northwestern (12 pm, ESPN2)

Western Kentucky at Indiana (12 pm, Big Ten - Regional)

Maine at Iowa (12 pm, Big Ten - Regional)

Utah at Michigan (3:30 pm, ABC - Regional)

Memphis at Ole Miss (6 pm)

James Madison at Duke (7 pm)

North Texas at Kansas State (7 pm)

Western Illinois at Arkansas (7 pm)

Northern Illinois at Minnesota (7 pm, Big Ten)

UC Davis at San Jose State (8 pm)

Michigan State at California (8 pm, ABC - Regional)

Kentucky at Louisville (3:30 pm Sunday, ESPN)

 

Other nationally televised games

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

Vanderbilt at Miami (OH) (7:30 pm Thursday, ESPNU)

Oregon State at Stanford (9 pm Thursday, ESPN2)

Temple at Army (7 pm Friday, ESPN Classic)

SMU at Rice (8 pm Friday, ESPN)

Oklahoma State at Washington State (3:30 pm, Comcast SportsNet)

Delaware at Maryland (3:45 pm, ESPN)

TCU at New Mexico (6:30 pm, Versus)

Mississippi State at Louisiana Tech (6:45 pm, ESPN2)

Boston College at Kent State (7:30 pm, ESPNU)

Colorado State at Colorado (7:30 pm Sunday, Comcast SportsNet)

Fresno State at Rutgers (4:30 pm Monday, ESPN)

Edited August 31, 2008 by Andy

[Derwood]

that Coastal Carolina vs. Penn State game should be free to the public. PSU ought to be ashamed to be charging $40/ticket for that joke of a game

[dew1679666265]

:yahoo: Finally, the best time of the year is upon us my friends!

 

I'm excited to see the offense under Dave Clawson (OC) and Jonathon Crompton (QB). It'll likely be rocky early - thus letting UCLA remain in the game for a while - but I think it'll be very solid.

 

I'm definitely excited for this year.

[dew1679666265]

that Coastal Carolina vs. Penn State game should be free to the public. PSU ought to be ashamed to be charging $40/ticket for that joke of a game

 

The question is, who's going to win the game? :wink:

[Andy]

Ball State's run for an unbeaten regular season (@Central Michigan and @Indiana are really the only two games that the Cards should legitimately have a good chance of losing) begins with I-AA Northeastern. The fact that I graduated before this season, I have a feeling, will be eating at me down the line.

[dougdescenzo]

Ball State's run for an unbeaten regular season (@Central Michigan and @Indiana are really the only two games that the Cards should legitimately have a good chance of losing) begins with I-AA Northeastern. The fact that I graduated before this season, I have a feeling, will be eating at me down the line.

 

Jason Whitlock thinks it will happen http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8449654?MSNHPHMA (see #2).

[rawaction]

Illinois beats Missouri and Washington wins at Oregon to open the season with a couple upsets.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I can't wait for the Arch Rivalry, it should be awesome. I think Mizzou is going to be too much for U of I.

[Mark_R]

I can't wait for the Arch Rivalry, it should be awesome. I think Mizzou is going to be too much for U of I.

 

I'm so pissed that I could not get tickets for this game...

[Hosak8]

:yahoo: Finally, the best time of the year is upon us my friends!

 

I'm excited to see the offense under Dave Clawson (OC) and Jonathon Crompton (QB). It'll likely be rocky early - thus letting UCLA remain in the game for a while - but I think it'll be very solid.

 

I'm definitely excited for this year.

 

As am I, dew. I'm really looking forward to seeing what Berry, Morley, Willingham, and Vinson do against UCLA's 3rd stringer.

 

27-13, UT. (One score is on defense or special teams.)

[dew1679666265]

:yahoo: Finally, the best time of the year is upon us my friends!

 

I'm excited to see the offense under Dave Clawson (OC) and Jonathon Crompton (QB). It'll likely be rocky early - thus letting UCLA remain in the game for a while - but I think it'll be very solid.

 

I'm definitely excited for this year.

 

As am I, dew. I'm really looking forward to seeing what Berry, Morley, Willingham, and Vinson do against UCLA's 3rd stringer.

 

27-13, UT. (One score is on defense or special teams.)

 

Eric Berry may come close to Peyton Manning and Al Wilson as my favorite Vols of all time the way he's going.

 

I think the score will be a bit larger, probably closer to 35-14. It'll be close at the half, but UCLA's D will tire out because of no offensive help.

[Magnetic Curses]

I can't wait for the Arch Rivalry, it should be awesome. I think Mizzou is going to be too much for U of I.

 

of course you do.

 

but seriously, i think mizzou wins in a close one again.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I can't wait for the Arch Rivalry, it should be awesome. I think Mizzou is going to be too much for U of I.

 

of course you do.

 

but seriously, i think mizzou wins in a close one again.

 

I think it's going to be a back and forth shoot out this year, with one team getting a late score to win by 14 or so to make it look not as close as it really was -- unlike last year, which was all Mizzou until the 4th when Illinois made a frantic comeback. It should be a great game. I can't wait.

[Mizzou]

I'm of course biased, but I think Mizzou wins easily. They're poised to be a great team this year. Should be a fun first week!

[imb]

i just want to see chase daniels cry some more

[Magnetic Curses]

I'm of course biased, but I think Mizzou wins easily. They're poised to be a great team this year. Should be a fun first week!

 

i think you really really underrate illinois, or you just don't know much about them.

 

i wouldn't be totally surprised if one team won big, but i think it's going to be very close.

[Magnetic Curses]

I can't wait for the Arch Rivalry, it should be awesome. I think Mizzou is going to be too much for U of I.

 

of course you do.

 

but seriously, i think mizzou wins in a close one again.

 

I think it's going to be a back and forth shoot out this year, with one team getting a late score to win by 14 or so to make it look not as close as it really was -- unlike last year, which was all Mizzou until the 4th when Illinois made a frantic comeback. It should be a great game. I can't wait.

 

take into account that their starting qb was out for most of the game, and the offense is largely based on what juice does, i think the illini win last year's game. but it's conjecture. i'd like to see the illini fly under the radar again this year, it will just make it that much sweeter when we win.

[Warpticon]

This is..probably not going to be a lot of fun.

[TruffleShuffle]

that Coastal Carolina vs. Penn State game should be free to the public. PSU ought to be ashamed to be charging $40/ticket for that joke of a game

 

the same could be said for like 10 of the top 25 games.

[Derwood]

that Coastal Carolina vs. Penn State game should be free to the public. PSU ought to be ashamed to be charging $40/ticket for that joke of a game

 

the same could be said for like 10 of the top 25 games.

 

with an even # of 1-A teams now (120) they should more or less banish 1-A teams from every playing 1-AA teams again. It's ludicrous (more so that it doesn't effect your SOS)

[TruffleShuffle]

joke games:

Georgia Southern at (1) Georgia (12:30 pm)

Youngstown State at (2) Ohio State (12 pm, Big Ten - Regional)

Chattanooga at (4) Oklahoma (7 pm)

Villanova at (8) West Virginia (3:30 pm)

UL Monroe at (10) Auburn (7 pm)

Florida Atlantic at (11) Texas (7 pm)

Eastern Washington at (12) Texas Tech (7 pm)

Florida International at (14) Kansas (7 pm)

Northern Arizona at (15) Arizona State (10 pm)

Northern Iowa at (16) BYU (6 pm, The Mountain)

UT-Martin at (19) South Florida (7 pm)

Coastal Carolina at (22) Penn State (12 pm, Big Ten - Regional)

[Guest]

:yahoo: Finally, the best time of the year is upon us my friends!

 

I'm excited to see the offense under Dave Clawson (OC) and Jonathon Crompton (QB). It'll likely be rocky early - thus letting UCLA remain in the game for a while - but I think it'll be very solid.

 

I'm definitely excited for this year.

 

As am I, dew. I'm really looking forward to seeing what Berry, Morley, Willingham, and Vinson do against UCLA's 3rd stringer.

 

27-13, UT. (One score is on defense or special teams.)

 

Eric Berry may come close to Peyton Manning and Al Wilson as my favorite Vols of all time the way he's going.

 

I think the score will be a bit larger, probably closer to 35-14. It'll be close at the half, but UCLA's D will tire out because of no offensive help.

 

Plz go easy on us.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I can't wait for the Arch Rivalry, it should be awesome. I think Mizzou is going to be too much for U of I.

 

of course you do.

 

but seriously, i think mizzou wins in a close one again.

 

I think it's going to be a back and forth shoot out this year, with one team getting a late score to win by 14 or so to make it look not as close as it really was -- unlike last year, which was all Mizzou until the 4th when Illinois made a frantic comeback. It should be a great game. I can't wait.

 

take into account that their starting qb was out for most of the game, and the offense is largely based on what juice does, i think the illini win last year's game. but it's conjecture. i'd like to see the illini fly under the radar again this year, it will just make it that much sweeter when we win.

 

I don't think Juice makes some of the throws that McGee made in that game. He may not have fumbled the ball away for a TD at the 1, but overall I don't think the end result would've been terribly different.

 

When it comes to this year's game, especially as an opener, I think Mizzou returns more than Illinois, and they were a better team last year as well. Illinois lost their best player on both sides of the ball, and as such I think it's fair to be unsure of their ability to return to last year's levels(especially offensively where Mendenhall took a ton of pressure off Juice). To contrast, Mizzou returns 10 starters on defense, and the most vital pieces to their offense. The biggest concern for me is the O-Line playing together as it is for the first time against the Illini D-Line, but that's mitigated by the fact that Williams tore his ACL, Mizzou runs a lot of quick hitters, and they're deeper in the gun to begin with(your favorite Sulley). I guess it boils down to the fact that I like Daniel running the show with what he's got(or doesn't have) against the U of I defense a lot more than Juice running the who with what he's got(or doesn't have) against the Mizzou defense.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Geaux Tigers!

 

Go Warhawks!

[Mizzou]

So with the top 5 all playing unranked teams, I wonder how high Mizzou can move up if/when they beat Illinois.