College Football - Week 1 (Sept. 1)

[Andy]

4 weeks away? SCREW IT! I'm starting the thread!

 

This year's new quirks in the college football threads are these:

 

1 - I'm doing away with 'games of interest', for 2 reasons: 1) NSBB's membership is fluid enough that I can't keep track of what teams actually have interest here, and more importantly, 2) because just about all of the games under that tab are available on national TV or ESPN3 anyway. If you are interested in a non-TV game, I apologize and invite you to promote the hell out of it in this thread.

 

2 - So this year there will be a 'top 25 games' section and a 'other games on TV' section. Any game available on a reasonable tier of television nationwide will be included in the 'other games' section. This will include the Pac-12 Network even though it's not available everywhere yet because indications are it will be (I have no earthly idea how they're going to handle the 7-network thing, because I assume outside Pac-12 country, there will be only one channel). Games on ESPN3 will be included in the tab as well.

 

3 - It should be noted that Washington is playing all their home games at the Seattle Seahawks' home stadium this year. Since they're in the same city anyway I'm not going to note it each week, just thought I'd note it here to start off.

 

4 - We're leading with coaches' poll rankings for now, but as in past years, I'm going to use the ESPN template of AP until Week 8, then BCS thereafter. And as always, times are Eastern so adjust accordingly. Game on (in 4 weeks)!

 

Top 25 games

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

Hawaii at (1) USC (7:30 pm, FOX)

(2) Alabama vs (8) Michigan – in Arlington, TX (8 pm, ABC)

North Texas at (3) LSU (7 pm, ESPNU)

(4) Oklahoma at UTEP (10:30 pm, FSN/CSN)

Arkansas State at (5) Oregon (10:30 pm, ESPN)

Buffalo at (6) Georgia (12 pm, SEC Network/ESPN3)

Murray State at (7) Florida State (6 pm, ESPN3)

(9) South Carolina at Vanderbilt (7 pm Thursday, ESPN)

Jacksonville State at (10) Arkansas (7 pm, ESPN3)

Marshall at (11) West Virginia (12 pm, FX)

Northern Iowa at (12) Wisconsin (3:30 pm, BTN – Regional)

(24) Boise State at (13) Michigan State (8 pm Friday, ESPN)

Auburn vs (14) Clemson – in Atlanta (7 pm, ESPN)

Wyoming at (15) Texas (8 pm, Longhorn Network)

Georgia Tech at (16) Virginia Tech (8 pm Monday, ESPN)

Southern Miss at (17) Nebraska (3:30 pm, ABC/ESPN2)

Miami (OH) at (18) Ohio State (12 pm, BTN)

Savannah State at (19) Oklahoma State (7 pm, FCS Central)

San Jose State at (21) Stanford (10 pm Friday, Pac-12 Network)

Missouri State at (22) Kansas State (7 pm)

Bowling Green at (23) Florida (3:30 pm, ESPN)

Kentucky at (25) Louisville (3:30 pm Sunday, ESPN)

 

Other nationally available games

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

Central Florida at Akron (7 pm Thursday, ESPN3)

Eastern Michigan at Ball State (7 pm Thursday, ESPN3)

Towson at Kent State (7 pm Thursday, ESPN3)

Southeast Missouri State at Central Michigan (7 pm Thursday, ESPN3)

Northern Colorado at Utah (7:15 pm Thursday, Pac-12 Network)

UMass at UConn (7:30 pm Thursday, Big East Network/ESPN3)

UCLA at Rice (7:30 pm Thursday, CBS Sports)

McNeese State at Middle Tennessee (7:30 pm Thursday, ESPN3)

Sacramento State at New Mexico State (8 pm Thursday, ESPN3)

Washington State at BYU (10:15 pm Thursday, ESPN)

Northern Arizona at Arizona State (10:30 pm Thursday, Pac-12 Network)

Minnesota at UNLV (11 pm Thursday, CBS Sports)

 

Wagner at Florida Atlantic (7 pm Friday, ESPN3)

NC State vs Tennessee – in Atlanta (7:30 pm Friday, ESPNU)

Villanova at Temple (7:30 pm Friday, ESPN3)

 

Notre Dame vs Navy – in Dublin, Ireland (9 am, CBS)

Ohio at Penn State (12 pm, ESPN)

Northwestern at Syracuse (12 pm, ESPN2)

Western Michigan at Illinois (12 pm, ESPNU)

Appalachian State at East Carolina (12 pm, FSN/CSN)

Elon at North Carolina (12:30 pm, ACC Network/ESPN3)

UT San Antonio at South Alabama (2 pm, ESPN3)

Richmond at Virginia (3 pm, ESPN3)

William & Mary at Maryland (3 pm, ESPN3)

Nevada at California (3 pm, Pac-12 Network - Regional)

Miami at Boston College (3:30 pm, ABC/ESPN2)

Eastern Kentucky at Purdue (3:30 pm, BTN – Regional)

Iowa vs Northern Illinois – in Chicago (3:30 pm, ESPNU)

Colorado vs Colorado State – in Denver (4 pm, FX)

Youngstown State at Pittsburgh (6 pm, ESPN3)

Liberty at Wake Forest (6:30 pm, ESPN3)

Jackson State at Mississippi State (7 pm, FSN South/ESPN3)

Austin Peay at Western Kentucky (7 pm, ESPN3)

Lamar at UL Lafayette (7 pm, ESPN3)

UT Chattanooga at South Florida (7 pm, ESPN3)

Florida International at Duke (7 pm, ESPN3)

Central Arkansas at Ole Miss (7 pm, ESPN3)

SE Louisiana at Missouri (7 pm, ESPN3)

Indiana State at Indiana (8 pm, BTN)

Rutgers at Tulane (8 pm, CBS Sports)

Toledo at Arizona (10:30 pm, ESPNU)

San Diego State at Washington (10:30 pm, Pac-12 Network)

 

SMU at Baylor (6:30 pm Sunday, FSN/CSN)

Edited August 30, 2012 by Andy

[Tracer Bullet]

Two questions:

 

1 - can I start drinking at 7am local time if things are looking bleak in Dublin?

 

2 - how far does Michigan fall in the rankings for week 2?

[bcl412]

Anyone know anything about Northern Illinois?

[Andy]

Two questions:

 

1 - can I start drinking at 7am local time if things are looking bleak in Dublin?

 

2 - how far does Michigan fall in the rankings for week 2?

You can start drinking earlier than that if it comes down to it - I certainly would. ND has all sorts of problems if things look bleak at any point in Dublin.

 

To your second question - no lower than 14 unless they get absolutely destroyed. Michigan deserves (and I can't believe I'm saying this) some credit for actually attempting to have some semblance of an OOC schedule this year. When was the last time there were only 6 games in Ann Arbor??

[Derwood]

Touchbacks on kickoffs come out to the 25 yard line this season.

 

For no effing reason

[Andy]

Touchbacks on kickoffs come out to the 25 yard line this season.

 

For no effing reason

Kickoffs are from the 35 too. All in the name of safety. Guess you could call it the Eric LeGrand Rule.

[Derwood]

Touchbacks on kickoffs come out to the 25 yard line this season.

 

For no effing reason

Kickoffs are from the 35 too. All in the name of safety. Guess you could call it the Eric LeGrand Rule.

 

But touch backs on punts only come out to the 20. So weird

[Magnetic Curses]

please see board rules before you post about your faceless team in this thread.

[Derwood]

Oh man, I can't wait for Penn State to beat Illinois this year. The meltdown will be legendary

[Magnetic Curses]

please keep it in the sandusky thread

[Derwood]

no deal

[UMFan83]

how far does Michigan fall in the rankings for week 2?

 

Depends on how badly they lose. If they manage to keep it within 2 scores, I'd imagine they will fall to around the 10-13 range. If they get destroyed, probably somewhere around 18-20.

 

or maybe we can even win

[snoodmonger]

Anyone know anything about Northern Illinois?

 

They lost a lot of pieces fom last season, including their QB.

[NewUserName]

I like that MSU is playing Boise. I really like it that they are playing them when they are probably rebuilding. I still wish it was not the first game.

 

I think Michigan is going to play Alabama closer than most will expect.....under 10 or so. I actually think this a kind of a tough spot for Alabama. 7 new defensive players against Denard Robinson. I normally wouldn't like Denard against a quality/fast D, but this may be an exception.

[NewUserName]

Two questions:

 

1 - can I start drinking at 7am local time if things are looking bleak in Dublin?

 

2 - how far does Michigan fall in the rankings for week 2?

You can start drinking earlier than that if it comes down to it - I certainly would. ND has all sorts of problems if things look bleak at any point in Dublin.

 

To your second question - no lower than 14 unless they get absolutely destroyed. Michigan deserves (and I can't believe I'm saying this) some credit for actually attempting to have some semblance of an OOC schedule this year. When was the last time there were only 6 games in Ann Arbor??

 

I think Michigan is probably not even close to being the worst offender of big time programs who play weak schedules. They often play a harder schedule than MSU...which is not saying much of course.

[KingCubsFan]

This is the year Miami beats Ohio State and destroys the state of Ohio's spirit. Even Miami's campus will be crushed.

[Guest]

please see board rules before you post about your faceless team in this thread.

Go WMU Broncos!!!!!

[Old Style]

Keeping my eyes open for some free tickets to that Alabama-Michigan game. Should be a good one.

[bukie]

Due to eligibility issues, one of these four teams will play for the Big Ten title: Indiana, Illinois, Purdue or Wisconsin.

 

So...does Wisconsin even get any sort of odds here?

[Smack]

Due to eligibility issues, one of these four teams will play for the Big Ten title: Indiana, Illinois, Purdue or Wisconsin.

 

So...does Wisconsin even get any sort of odds here?

 

They're the clear favorite, but Montee Ball has a weird situation going on and they're on their 3rd QB in 3 years. It wouldn't shock me if they faltered. I'm going to Purdue's homecoming and it's against Wisconsin. I hope it's a good (and meaningful) game.

[SouthSideRyan]

Due to eligibility issues, one of these four teams will play for the Big Ten title: Indiana, Illinois, Purdue or Wisconsin.

 

So...does Wisconsin even get any sort of odds here?

 

I believe is -800 last I saw, with Illinois running 2nd at +500

[Exile on Waveland]

Due to eligibility issues, one of these four teams will play for the Big Ten title: Indiana, Illinois, Purdue or Wisconsin.

 

So...does Wisconsin even get any sort of odds here?

 

Obviously Wisconsin is the heavy favorite. Purdue should be pretty good though and it wouldn't shock me to see them competing to make the Big Ten title game. I wish this was the very rare year, like 2007, where IU was decent.

[Tracer Bullet]

Ruh roh honey badger

[Sosa21MVP]

Ruh roh honey badger

 

HONEY BADGER DON'T GIVE A [expletive].

[Old Style]

How many FCS coaches are trying to get in touch with him at the moment?