12/03 College Football

[Flames24Rulz]

NU-UCLA would be a real fun game to watch.

[TruffleShuffle]

I think FSU will beat the Nits soundly.

 

I think you drank way too much before you made this post.

 

Seriously, I was just thinking about this, and what possible reason could you have for thinking this? Free Shoes U has 4 losses, including a home loss to a mediocre NC St. team and a road loss to a decent Clemson, whereas Penn State had only 1 loss. How is it going to be a "sound" beating by Florida State? Penn State didn't get run over by any offense this year, and PSU's defense is ranked in the top 10 in football. F$U's offense is not particularly good this year. So, it seems to me like that one way that it could be a blowout seems highly unlikely.

 

The other way a game can turn into a blowout is by one team turning the ball over a lot and their opposition taking good care of the ball. PSU was +4 in turnovers, and of PSU's 20 turnovers, 13 came in the first 4 games. After the near-loss in Evanston, Paterno stressed the need to take better care of the ball, and Penn State turned it over only 7 times in 7 games against better opposition (Minnesota, O$U, Michigan, Wisconsin). Florida State was a -7 in turnovers, including 18 interceptions thrown by their freshman QB. So, it also seems unlikely that Florida State will be a +3 or +4 in turnover ratio, thus leading to an easy win for them.

 

I guess the third possibility is that you are a fan of a Penn State rival, and simply want Penn State to lose to the Criminoles. This seems a little more plausible to me.

[Jon]

What did happen to "our" offense late in the season, jon? I didn't watch much after michigan state.

The young offensive line started to struggle a bit. The receivers dropped way too many passes against Michigan, Basanez had probably his worst game of the year against Iowa, and Ohio State...well, they're Ohio State. Dunbar has had two philosophies this season. For the first half, it was run first to set up the pass. For the second half of the season, it was pass first to maybe set up the run. As long as Tyrell Sutton hangs onto the ball, he has to be the primary weapon in the first quarter. They can't afford third and longs early on. Nor can they afford to punt the ball much considering UCLA's tendency to turn it on in the second half and Northwestern's tendency to blow leads.

[TruffleShuffle]

A lot of people around here have been saying "what if..." about the Michigan loss, but I am actually kind of glad everything turned out the way it did. Even if Penn State had held on to win the Michigan game, I think it's pretty clear to everyone that USC and Texas are the two best teams in the country. I would not have liked a scenario in which PSU makes the Rose Bowl and either Texas or USC, and seeing as how the computers did seem to like Penn State this year (strength of schedule), I don't think it's impossible that PSU could have been ranked third in the human polls and still leaped over one of the other two teams.

 

If PSU wins the Orange Bowl they'll be pretty much widely acknowledged as the third best team in college football, which is a lot more than myself or almost anyone could have expected from a team that went 4-7 last year. In some other years, this PSU team would have been good enough to play for the title, but this year there are two teams that really stand out above any others, and there's no shame in missing out on a title shot to such great teams.

[adamb0719]

Free Shoes U has 4 losses, including a home loss to a mediocre NC St. team and a road loss to a decent Clemson, whereas Penn State had only 1 loss

 

You did a very good job of summarizing why PSU will win, but I don't agree with this. FSU has 4 losses and VT had one loss and look what happened. Win/loss record is not the most telling stat, IMO. I also think it is important to note that the Clemson and Florida games took place after FSU has already clinched their spot in the ACC Championship game. Now I think PSU will win, but it will not be because PSU has one loss and FSU has four. Everything else you said summed it up pretty well.

[adamb0719]

I am not sure if this has already been discussed or not, but the coaches votes will be made public for the first time this year. I am real interested to see how each coach votes. Anyone thing they are extrememly biased in their voting? Will they vote against their rivals, teams they hate? I think it will also show if they really pay attention or just pick teams based on the scores. I have heard many coaches are so busy that they don't pay attention and just have an assistant fill it in for them. Should be interesting to see. Here is the link

[Andy]

I am not sure if this has already been discussed or not, but the coaches votes will be made public for the first time this year. I am real interested to see how each coach votes. Anyone thing they are extrememly biased in their voting? Will they vote against their rivals, teams they hate? I think it will also show if they really pay attention or just pick teams based on the scores. I have heard many coaches are so busy that they don't pay attention and just have an assistant fill it in for them. Should be interesting to see. Here is the link

Any poll that has Oregon as a top-5 team has to be biased or wrong in some form or fashion. Their 10-1 record is no more impressive to me than West Virginia's 10-1 record and the Mountaineers are nowhere near top-5.

[CuseCubFan69]

A lot of people around here have been saying "what if..." about the Michigan loss, but I am actually kind of glad everything turned out the way it did. Even if Penn State had held on to win the Michigan game, I think it's pretty clear to everyone that USC and Texas are the two best teams in the country. I would not have liked a scenario in which PSU makes the Rose Bowl and either Texas or USC, and seeing as how the computers did seem to like Penn State this year (strength of schedule), I don't think it's impossible that PSU could have been ranked third in the human polls and still leaped over one of the other two teams.

 

If PSU wins the Orange Bowl they'll be pretty much widely acknowledged as the third best team in college football, which is a lot more than myself or almost anyone could have expected from a team that went 4-7 last year. In some other years, this PSU team would have been good enough to play for the title, but this year there are two teams that really stand out above any others, and there's no shame in missing out on a title shot to such great teams.

 

I'd really enjoy these teams being matched up in a playoff though.

[CuseCubFan69]

I am not sure if this has already been discussed or not, but the coaches votes will be made public for the first time this year. I am real interested to see how each coach votes. Anyone thing they are extrememly biased in their voting? Will they vote against their rivals, teams they hate? I think it will also show if they really pay attention or just pick teams based on the scores. I have heard many coaches are so busy that they don't pay attention and just have an assistant fill it in for them. Should be interesting to see. Here is the link

Any poll that has Oregon as a top-5 team has to be biased or wrong in some form or fashion. Their 10-1 record is no more impressive to me than West Virginia's 10-1 record and the Mountaineers are nowhere near top-5.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing the Big East play in the bowls. WV playing the SEC champ and Louisville playing the team in the ACC championship game ought to show how good we are.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Your Sun Bowl looks about right, Derwood. Bring it on, Jon?

I guess. That should be the matchup. If Ohio State were to be left out, it sounds like Iowa would most likely fall to the Music City Bowl with Minnesota going to Detroit.

 

These teams look quite similar. But there are several factors that are going to get UCLA favored by a significant margin.

 

1) Our offense hasn't really done much since October 22nd. They did nothing against Michigan, Iowa (minus the last three minutes), or Ohio State. And the 38 they put up on Illinois is nothing to write home about.

 

2) The defense depends on turnovers but Olson isn't the guy who's going to give up many.

 

3) Special teams. UCLA's return game is good. Northwestern's return coverage doesn't...tackle...at all. If we have to punt more than 4 times, it's not going to be pretty, especially since neither punter is any good in terms of yardage, hangtime, and kicking towards the sideline. Also, expect pooch kicks like USC did. We've done that a couple of games already and the results have been pretty meh. Some good kicks, some bad ones. Either way, UCLA will likely get good field position all game long.

 

With that said, it could be a really good game. I'm not sure if UCLA is getting any defensive starters back, but Heinz will play his first game of the year in the secondary for Northwestern. Hopefully he'll boost the unit up from to . And OC Mike Dunbar, who could be making me swear for the last time if he accepts a position elsewhere for next season, absolutely has to run the ball. The running game needs to set up the passing game, unlike what's been done the past 4 or 5 games.

 

CBS is going to really be able to market a Basanez/Olson matchup.

 

Given the reaction of the players after the game yesterday, I actually expect UCLA's offense to come out really strong.

 

Justin London will probably be healthy for the game, rather than limp around for 1/3 of the game. Even with a healthy London, I expect Sutton to get 200 yards easily.

[adamb0719]

Why in the world did the BCS acknowledge that USC was going for a three-peat? That has to piss LSU off, plus makes the BCS look even more ridiculous than it already does.

[Jon]

Why in the world did the BCS acknowledge that USC was going for a three-peat? That has to piss LSU off, plus makes the BCS look even more ridiculous than it already does.

No, 'cause all they're supposed to do is match up the #1 and #2 teams. So kudos to the BCS!

[Derwood]

Why in the world did the BCS acknowledge that USC was going for a three-peat? That has to piss LSU off, plus makes the BCS look even more ridiculous than it already does.

 

Because it sells. Just because they had no trophy two years ago doesn't mean we can't all pretend for the sake of ratings.

 

The words "co" and "National Chamos" should never be in the same sentence.

[Andy]

Why in the world did the BCS acknowledge that USC was going for a three-peat? That has to piss LSU off, plus makes the BCS look even more ridiculous than it already does.

 

Because it sells. Just because they had no trophy two years ago doesn't mean we can't all pretend for the sake of ratings.

 

The words "co" and "National Chamos" should never be in the same sentence.

The new AP poll has USC, Texas, PSU, OSU, ND, and Oregon as their top 6.

[adamb0719]

Why in the world did the BCS acknowledge that USC was going for a three-peat? That has to piss LSU off, plus makes the BCS look even more ridiculous than it already does.

No, 'cause all they're supposed to do is match up the #1 and #2 teams. So kudos to the BCS!

 

Kudos to the BCS for saying USC was going for a 3peat, when LSU won the BCS championship two years ago?

[Chris]

Penn State vs FSU in the Orange Bowl

[Chris]

Ohio State vs Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl

[Jon]

Why in the world did the BCS acknowledge that USC was going for a three-peat? That has to piss LSU off, plus makes the BCS look even more ridiculous than it already does.

No, 'cause all they're supposed to do is match up the #1 and #2 teams. So kudos to the BCS!

 

Kudos to the BCS for saying USC was going for a 3peat, when LSU won the BCS championship two years ago?

That was sarcastic, going back to what was said at the beginning of the show.

[adamb0719]

Why in the world did the BCS acknowledge that USC was going for a three-peat? That has to piss LSU off, plus makes the BCS look even more ridiculous than it already does.

No, 'cause all they're supposed to do is match up the #1 and #2 teams. So kudos to the BCS!

 

Kudos to the BCS for saying USC was going for a 3peat, when LSU won the BCS championship two years ago?

That was sarcastic, going back to what was said at the beginning of the show.

 

Sorry. I didn't pick that up. :oops:

[Andy]

I think we can take Ohio State to be honest. It will be a good game for sure but I am not near as worried about it as most Irish fans seem to be. Definitely the 2nd-best bowl matchup behind SC/Texas.

[Jon]

The Northwestern/UCLA matchup in El Paso is official.

[Andy]

The Northwestern/UCLA matchup in El Paso is official.

That should be a good one, let's hope you and Raisin don't kill each other. We'd need another mod. :wink:

[Jon]

The Northwestern/UCLA matchup in El Paso is official.

That should be a good one, let's hope you and Raisin don't kill each other. We'd need another mod. :wink:

I'm taller, so I should win.

 

Other matchups according to CFN:

 

Capital One - Wisconsin vs. Auburn

Toyota Gator - Virginia Tech vs. Louisville

SBC Cotton - Texas Tech vs. Alabama

EV1. Net Houston - Iowa State vs. TCU

Autozone Liberty - Tulsa vs. Fresno State

 

Iowa is headed to the Outback.

[Derwood]

Besides the BCS and the Alamo, my predictions aren't so hot :cry:

[Jon]

Alamo - Michigan vs. Nebraska

Holiday - Oregon vs. Oklahoma

Independence - South Carolina vs. Missouri

Champs Sports - Clemson vs. Colorado

 

No surprises there.