College Football - Week of Sept. 5th

[Andy]

Ladies and gentlemen, it's the best time of the year. College football is back, the AP poll is out, and everyone's favorite threads are back on NSBB. Follow your favorite team's games and everyone else's through these handy TV schedules that I lift from the fine folks at LSUfootball.net each week. If you don't see your team in the "Games of interest" section and would like to, send me a PM. All times listed are Eastern.

 

Top 25 games

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

Charleston Southern at (1) Florida (7 pm, Fox Sports South)

UL Monroe at (2) Texas (7 pm, FSN PPV)

(20) BYU vs (3) Oklahoma – in Arlington, TX (7 pm, ESPN)

San Jose State at (4) USC (3:30 pm, FSN/CSN)

(5) Alabama vs (7) Virginia Tech – in Atlanta (8 pm, ABC)

Navy at (6) Ohio State (12 pm, ESPN)

(8) Ole Miss at Memphis (3:30 pm Sunday, ESPN)

Akron at (9) Penn State (12 pm, BTN - Regional)

(13) Georgia at (9) Oklahoma State (3:30 pm, ABC – Regional)

(11) LSU at Washington (10:30 pm, ESPN)

Maryland at (12) California (10 pm, ESPN2)

(16) Oregon at (14) Boise State (10:15 pm Thursday, ESPN)

Jacksonville State at (15) Georgia Tech (1 pm, ESPN 360)

Miami at (18) Florida State (8 pm Monday, ESPN)

Utah State at (19) Utah (9 pm, The Mountain)

The Citadel at (21) North Carolina (6 pm, ESPN 360)

Northern Iowa at (22) Iowa (12 pm, BTN - Regional)

Nevada at (23) Notre Dame (3:30 pm, NBC)

Florida Atlantic at (24) Nebraska (7 pm, FSN PPV)

Northern Colorado at (25) Kansas (7 pm, FCS Central)

 

Games of interest

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

South Carolina at NC State (7 pm Thursday, ESPN)

North Texas at Ball State (7:30 pm Thursday, ESPNU)

Eastern Kentucky at Indiana (8 pm Thursday, BTN)

North Dakota State at Iowa State (8 pm Thursday)

Liberty at West Virginia (12 pm)

Toledo at Purdue (12 pm, BTN – Regional)

Towson at Northwestern (12 pm, BTN – Regional)

Montana State at Michigan State (12 pm, BTN - Regional)

Kentucky vs Miami (OH) – in Cincinnati (12 pm, ESPNU)

Minnesota at Syracuse (12 pm, ESPN2)

Western Kentucky at Tennessee (12 pm, SEC Network)

Baylor at Wake Forest (3:30 pm, ABC - Regional)

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

Illinois vs Missouri – in St. Louis (3:30 pm, ESPN)

Southern Illinois at Marshall (4:30 pm)

Missouri State at Arkansas (7 pm)

Northern Illinois at Wisconsin (7 pm, BTN)

Richmond at Duke (7 pm)

Louisiana Tech at Auburn (7 pm, ESPNU)

Indiana State at Louisville (7:30 pm)

San Diego State at UCLA (7:30 pm, Fox Sports West)

UC Davis at Fresno State (10 pm)

 

Non I-A game of interest

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

Georgetown at Holy Cross (1 pm)

 

Other nationally available games

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

Tulsa at Tulane (8 pm Friday, ESPN)

Northeastern at Boston College (2 pm, ESPN 360)

Jackson State at Mississippi State (3:30 pm, ESPNU)

William & Mary at Virginia (6 pm, ESPN 360)

Middle Tennessee at Clemson (6 pm, ESPN 360)

UConn at Ohio (7 pm, ESPN 360)

Buffalo at UTEP (9 pm, CBS College)

Colorado State at Colorado (7 pm Sunday, FSN/CSN)

Cincinnati at Rutgers (4 pm Monday, ESPN)

 

Nationally available games outside I-A

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

Central Washington at Minnesota-Duluth (8 pm Thursday, CBS College)

Grambling vs South Carolina State – in Orlando (2 pm Sunday, ESPN2)

Edited August 23, 2009 by Andy

[CubbieBum]

That No. 23 next to Notre Dame is an absolute joke but Andy and I have already argued about that on facebook.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I won't be making the trek to St. Louis, but I'm still excited for the Arch Rivalry. Should be a real interesting game. If Mizzou can run on U of I like they did last year it'll take a lot of heat off Gabbert, and Mizzou can put up points. I'm curious to see how the U of I offense plays the full 48 because for most of the last two years they've been trying to make up a large deficit in the 2nd half, which obviously impacts the play calling. I'm full of training camp optimism right now so I'll say Mizzou gets out with another win, although I'll be happy as long is the game is competitive and Mizzou doesn't shoot itself in the foot a bunch of times.

[shnsajax]

I'll be in Austin on Sept. 5th.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I won't be making the trek to St. Louis, but I'm still excited for the Arch Rivalry. Should be a real interesting game. If Mizzou can run on U of I like they did last year it'll take a lot of heat off Gabbert, and Mizzou can put up points. I'm curious to see how the U of I offense plays the full 48 because for most of the last two years they've been trying to make up a large deficit in the 2nd half, which obviously impacts the play calling. I'm full of training camp optimism right now so I'll say Mizzou gets out with another win, although I'll be happy as long is the game is competitive and Mizzou doesn't shoot itself in the foot a bunch of times.

 

I think I'm heading down for the game. Honestly, I'm so pumped about Mizzou football. I'm not expecting a great team, and I'm expecting lots of frustration, but damn we have a lot of young talent on this team. Can't wait for the 5th.

[Derwood]

I'll be driving to Delaware during the PSU/Akron game.

[dougdescenzo]

That No. 23 next to Notre Dame is an absolute joke but Andy and I have already argued about that on facebook.

 

You can't find 23 teams with more talent than Notre Dame. Since preseason polls should merely be a judge of talent, I don't get the joke.

[CubbieBum]

That No. 23 next to Notre Dame is an absolute joke but Andy and I have already argued about that on facebook.

 

You can't find 23 teams with more talent than Notre Dame. Since preseason polls should merely be a judge of talent, I don't get the joke.

 

Uhh yeah there are more than 23 teams with more talent than a 7-6 team that played an easy schedule last year. Sure Notre Dame has great recruiting classes but until those players prove out on the field they deserved to be so highly touted they are still mediocre players. Recruiting is like the MLB draft. You get a whole bunch of players and hope a couple turn out to be good. Sometimes that doesn't happen. Sometimes all that talent isn't coached right which very well be the case in Notre Dame. No matter how you cut it Notre Dame has done nothing in the past couple years to deserve a preseason ranking.

[hotshot13422]

Go Sooners!

[Vanilla Ice]

Go Duke!

[shnsajax]

That No. 23 next to Notre Dame is an absolute joke but Andy and I have already argued about that on facebook.

 

You can't find 23 teams with more talent than Notre Dame. Since preseason polls should merely be a judge of talent, I don't get the joke.

 

Uhh yeah there are more than 23 teams with more talent than a 7-6 team that played an easy schedule last year. Sure Notre Dame has great recruiting classes but until those players prove out on the field they deserved to be so highly touted they are still mediocre players. Recruiting is like the MLB draft. You get a whole bunch of players and hope a couple turn out to be good. Sometimes that doesn't happen. Sometimes all that talent isn't coached right which very well be the case in Notre Dame. No matter how you cut it Notre Dame has done nothing in the past couple years to deserve a preseason ranking.

 

I think its more a matter of their talent being overhyped which every team has to some degree. Their schedule is easier this year than last, its probably one of the softest schedules in all of CFB. So sadly they could very well finish in the top 15 or higher.

[dougdescenzo]

That No. 23 next to Notre Dame is an absolute joke but Andy and I have already argued about that on facebook.

 

You can't find 23 teams with more talent than Notre Dame. Since preseason polls should merely be a judge of talent, I don't get the joke.

 

Uhh yeah there are more than 23 teams with more talent than a 7-6 team that played an easy schedule last year. Sure Notre Dame has great recruiting classes but until those players prove out on the field they deserved to be so highly touted they are still mediocre players. Recruiting is like the MLB draft. You get a whole bunch of players and hope a couple turn out to be good. Sometimes that doesn't happen. Sometimes all that talent isn't coached right which very well be the case in Notre Dame. No matter how you cut it Notre Dame has done nothing in the past couple years to deserve a preseason ranking.

 

I guess there's no sense in arguing now. One of us will be proven right as the season goes on.

[rawaction]

Yeah, I don't understand people being upset about NDs ranking. They have some talent, including like 9 starters back on offense. They have a very weak schedule. If Claussen can cut down on the TOs, ND can be really good. They won't be one of the elite teams, but I could easily see them being a top 10-15 team when the season is over.

[CubbieBum]

That easy schedule shouldn't help them in the rankings it should hurt them. With that schedule they should have to go 11-1 or 12-0 to get a BCS bowl. They should be treated as a Utah, Boise, TCU essentially but they won't be. Because they are Notre Dame if they finish 10-2 they will make a BCS bowl and if they go 9-3 they will get a post New Year's bowl. That doesn't mean they deserve it though thus why I have a problem with the rankings. They aren't a top 25 team this year based on what has happened in the past but they will probably finished ranked because they have an easy schedule and the voters won't hold it against them let they do the non-BCS schools.

[rawaction]

That easy schedule shouldn't help them in the rankings it should hurt them. With that schedule they should have to go 11-1 or 12-0 to get a BCS bowl. They should be treated as a Utah, Boise, TCU essentially but they won't be. Because they are Notre Dame if they finish 10-2 they will make a BCS bowl and if they go 9-3 they will get a post New Year's bowl. That doesn't mean they deserve it though thus why I have a problem with the rankings. They aren't a top 25 team this year based on what has happened in the past but they will probably finished ranked because they have an easy schedule and the voters won't hold it against them let they do the non-BCS schools.

 

Did you say the same thing about Ohio St. being ranked so high last year? Or Penn State making it all the way to #2, only having played Ohio St? They shouldn't be treated like those other teams because they are playing BCS schools in all but 1 game. It just so happens all those schools lost a lot of talent last year and should be down this year.

 

Oh, and I am not a Notre Dame fan. Being in South Bend most of my life, I learned to hate them. It's not as bad now that I'm not there, but the only thing worse than an ND fan is the blind hatred people have for them.

[Monco]

I'm an ND fan who thinks 23 is about right.They have alot of returning players and a very soft schedule.Their talent is at wide receiver. The rest of the positions have players returning who have a ways to go. They came to ND highly rated, but haven't produced to their supposed talent level.

 

Of course Coach Lou has predicted a Florida/ND title game...

[CubbieBum]

That easy schedule shouldn't help them in the rankings it should hurt them. With that schedule they should have to go 11-1 or 12-0 to get a BCS bowl. They should be treated as a Utah, Boise, TCU essentially but they won't be. Because they are Notre Dame if they finish 10-2 they will make a BCS bowl and if they go 9-3 they will get a post New Year's bowl. That doesn't mean they deserve it though thus why I have a problem with the rankings. They aren't a top 25 team this year based on what has happened in the past but they will probably finished ranked because they have an easy schedule and the voters won't hold it against them let they do the non-BCS schools.

 

Did you say the same thing about Ohio St. being ranked so high last year? Or Penn State making it all the way to #2, only having played Ohio St? They shouldn't be treated like those other teams because they are playing BCS schools in all but 1 game. It just so happens all those schools lost a lot of talent last year and should be down this year.

 

Oh, and I am not a Notre Dame fan. Being in South Bend most of my life, I learned to hate them. It's not as bad now that I'm not there, but the only thing worse than an ND fan is the blind hatred people have for them.

 

Strength of schedule is strength of schedule. It doesn't matter what conferences the crappy teams you play come from they are still crappy teams.

 

And yes if a team hasn't beaten anybody great but rise up to a real high ranking I won't think its right regardless of what conference they come from.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Geaux Tigers!

 

Go Warhawks!

[shnsajax]

I'm an ND fan who thinks 23 is about right.They have alot of returning players and a very soft schedule.Their talent is at wide receiver. The rest of the positions have players returning who have a ways to go. They came to ND highly rated, but haven't produced to their supposed talent level.

 

Of course Coach Lou has predicted a Florida/ND title game...

 

I saw that, it was funny and typical of something he would say. If ND did manage to go undefeated I still think a 1 loss, Texas, OU, OSU, Florida, Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Penn State, or USC would go in ahead of ND. Hell if BYU goes undefeated they will go ahead of ND too.

[dougdescenzo]

I'm an ND fan who thinks 23 is about right.They have alot of returning players and a very soft schedule.Their talent is at wide receiver. The rest of the positions have players returning who have a ways to go. They came to ND highly rated, but haven't produced to their supposed talent level.

 

Of course Coach Lou has predicted a Florida/ND title game...

 

I saw that, it was funny and typical of something he would say. If ND did manage to go undefeated I still think a 1 loss, Texas, OU, OSU, Florida, Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Penn State, or USC would go in ahead of ND. Hell if BYU goes undefeated they will go ahead of ND too.

 

Phil Steele's 2009 strength of schedule ratings of the teams you mentioned in order:

3. Oklahoma

14. Oklahoma State

17. USC

21. LSU

34. Florida

36. Notre Dame

39. Ohio State

40. Texas

68. Alabama

71. BYU

72. Penn State

[TruffleShuffle]

holy cross hosts georgetown at 1 pm. c'mon andy if you are going to list uc-davis i expect holy cross up there too!

 

plus we're picked first in the patriot league, have the two-time PL offensive player of the year returning (he was granted a medical redshirt for his 2005 season - everyone thought he was done after last year) and are ranked #22 in the preseason FCS. i'm going to see them play at bucknell this year, since it's only an hour east of where i'm living now.

[Andy]

holy cross hosts georgetown at 1 pm. c'mon andy if you are going to list uc-davis i expect holy cross up there too!

 

plus we're picked first in the patriot league, have the two-time PL offensive player of the year returning (he was granted a medical redshirt for his 2005 season - everyone thought he was done after last year) and are ranked #22 in the preseason FCS. i'm going to see them play at bucknell this year, since it's only an hour east of where i'm living now.

Much apologies for the omission, sir. Southern Illinois (Flames's school) was also unintentionally omitted, I'm inserting their game as well.

[Keener98]

Mizzou is going down!

[Guest]

Go Broncos!

 

This is the year WMU beats U of M.

 

Book it!

[Guest]

It's not as bad now that I'm not there, but the only thing worse than an ND fan is the blind hatred people have for them.

The hate feels so good you don't need to see.