2008 College Football

[Paelos]

I think your Pitt pick is out of control.  Did you see Pitt play USF?

USF is streaky and the played poorly. Navy is on a 3 game winning streak against Rutgers, Wake Forest, and Air Force, all in games which they were largely underdogged. Pitt is averaging around 25 points a game, while Navy is averaging over 29. Navy is also #2 in rushing offense, and a stout rushing defense. In a battle of the running games, I give the edge to Navy.

[cmlancas]

Ya'll should do a little more reading about the Big East. Just because they lost to Fresno State doesn't make them less of a football team.  People still think USC is good...

[Nevermore]

I'm very well aware of the Big East.  What does that have to do with the fact that USF is a very emotional team, even more so than most college teams?  When they're up, they can be world beaters.  When they're down they can barely beat or lose to scrubs.  I'm not saying Pittsburgh is necessarily bad, I'm saying you can't use the USF game as a measuring stick.  USF looked *awful* that game.  As bad or worse than the second half of the Sun Bowl or first half of the Cincinnati game last year.

[cmlancas]

I think your Pitt pick is out of control.  Did you see Pitt play USF?

USF is streaky and the played poorly. Navy is on a 3 game winning streak against Rutgers, Wake Forest, and Air Force, all in games which they were largely underdogged. Pitt is averaging around 25 points a game, while Navy is averaging over 29. Navy is also #2 in rushing offense, and a stout rushing defense. In a battle of the running games, I give the edge to Navy.

Well done, Paelos. 

Edit: A little less snarky. I don't have to be ass :P

[SnakeCharmer]

Costly win for Alabama.  The Big Man, Terrance Cody went down in the early 3rd with what looks like a bad knee injury.  Tailback fell into it from the side, then he got pushed back with his foot still planted.  Wouldn't be surprised if every ligament in it popped.  Hope he's ok, regardless of how important he is to the defense.  He's a good kid.

[Paelos]

I think your Pitt pick is out of control.  Did you see Pitt play USF?

USF is streaky and the played poorly. Navy is on a 3 game winning streak against Rutgers, Wake Forest, and Air Force, all in games which they were largely underdogged. Pitt is averaging around 25 points a game, while Navy is averaging over 29. Navy is also #2 in rushing offense, and a stout rushing defense. In a battle of the running games, I give the edge to Navy.

Well done, Paelos. 

Edit: A little less snarky. I don't have to be ass :P

I didn't see the game, so I have no idea how it went down, but I make upset picks to be lit up.  Navy rushed for almost 200 yards, but they couldn't play D. Such is life on the edge. BTW, I still think the Big East is a better conference than the PAC-10 or the ACC, and that's why I focused on their games for my picks.

It also makes it tougher when there aren't any upsets. The favorites won every game except for Maryland over Wake, which I wouldn't pick because the ACC is useless. Also, Miss State is only down 3-6 against Tennessee, so that one may come to pass.

EDIT: I guess the short answer is, if I win one upset pick in the week, I'm ahead 

[Abagadro]

Serious ass-whooping going on in Austin tonight.

[Paelos]

Serious ass-whooping going on in Austin tonight.

35-3. Missou is getting owned in the dazzling spotlight that is national TV. I'm loving every second of Kirk trying to defend Chase Daniel as a Heisman candidate. Missouri runs into 2 teams that are actually worth a damn, and they can't hang.

[Nevermore]

Mizzou is demonstrating why I thought Oklahoma State jumping 9 spots for beating them was a bit of a stretch.

[Paelos]

Mizzou is demonstrating why I thought Oklahoma State jumping 9 spots for beating them was a bit of a stretch.

I'll still say it doesn't matter. They were 6-0 in the Big 12. Where do you put that? Behind Georgia, LSU, and Ohio State? That's where the craziness of the system comes into play. They are already behind two very questionable one loss teams.

[Triforcer]

Today's dismantling of Michigan State was good.  Who are the real Buckeyes- the team that scored 16 against Purdue (bottom ten or fifteen in football in defense?) or today's team?

Nonetheless, I am just as confident that OSU will demolish Penn State as I was that they'd be demolished by USC.  Penn State hasn't played anyone at the level of Michigan State or even Minnesota.  Happy Valley is pure death, but Penn State does not win at OSU.  They'll be exposed for the Big Ten pretenders they are by the best Big Ten pretender- us 

[Paelos]

Today's dismantling of Michigan State was good.  Who are the real Buckeyes- the team that scored 16 against Purdue (bottom ten or fifteen in football in defense?) or today's team?

Nonetheless, I am just as confident that OSU will demolish Penn State as I was that they'd be demolished by USC.  Penn State hasn't played anyone at the level of Michigan State or even Minnesota.  Happy Valley is pure death, but Penn State does not win at OSU.  They'll be exposed for the Big Ten pretenders they are by the best Big Ten pretender- us 

I'm going to agree with you on that one. Ohio State made a statement against Michigan State today. Penn State is the Missouri of the Big 10 atm. They are completely untested and will most likely meet a similar fate on the road.

[CmdrSlack]

Costly win for Alabama.  The Big Man, Terrance Cody went down in the early 3rd with what looks like a bad knee injury.  Tailback fell into it from the side, then he got pushed back with his foot still planted.  Wouldn't be surprised if every ligament in it popped.  Hope he's ok, regardless of how important he is to the defense.  He's a good kid.

Yeah, but come on!  A motherfucking fleaflicker!  That ruled!

Flea Flicker is like cruise control for win.

Cody being hurt reminds me of an injury vs. the Vols a few years back...at least that one was more obviously bad.

[SnakeCharmer]

Are you talking about the leg snap one of the Britt's had?  Yeah.  That was nasty.  Shaud Williams ran off to the sideline and puked.  They've had a couple bad leg injuries there; Tyone Prothro coming immediately to mind.  Complete snap of the tibia and fibia.  I about hurled when I saw that one.  I still can't watch it.

Anyhoot, word is (amazingly enough) is that it's a sprain similar to what Andre Smith suffered earlier in the year and was out a game.  Hope so, anyway.  You gotta love a 6-5 360 lb monster of a kid that sleeps on Batman bedsheets, loves Pokemon and Tom and Jerry.  And can do a 360 slam dunk of a basketball.  The play he lined up as a blocking fullback at the goal line was just all kinds of win.  Between him and Smith alone, there was 700+ lbs of mass moving in one direction.

[CmdrSlack]

Are you talking about the leg snap one of the Britt's had?  Yeah.  That was nasty.  Shaud Williams ran off to the sideline and puked.  They've had a couple bad leg injuries there; Tyone Prothro coming immediately to mind.  Complete snap of the tibia and fibia.  I about hurled when I saw that one.  I still can't watch it.

Anyhoot, word is (amazingly enough) is that it's a sprain similar to what Andre Smith suffered earlier in the year and was out a game.  Hope so, anyway.  You gotta love a 6-5 360 lb monster of a kid that sleeps on Batman bedsheets, loves Pokemon and Tom and Jerry.  And can do a 360 slam dunk of a basketball.  The play he lined up as a blocking fullback at the goal line was just all kinds of win.  Between him and Smith alone, there was 700+ lbs of mass moving in one direction.

I was talking about Prothro. I was with our alumn group watching that game. At least two people did actually go to the restroom to hurl after seeing the nth slo-mo replay.

[Montague]

Today's dismantling of Michigan State was good.  Who are the real Buckeyes- the team that scored 16 against Purdue (bottom ten or fifteen in football in defense?) or today's team?

Nonetheless, I am just as confident that OSU will demolish Penn State as I was that they'd be demolished by USC.  Penn State hasn't played anyone at the level of Michigan State or even Minnesota.  Happy Valley is pure death, but Penn State does not win at OSU.  They'll be exposed for the Big Ten pretenders they are by the best Big Ten pretender- us 

I think the Nits win by a touchdown. Daryll Clark is not Anthony Morelli, and Penn State has the line to take advantage of OSU's weak defensive line, unlike MSU. The question to me is whether they'll pee down their leg in a big game at a hostile environment.   

[WayAbvPar]

Wazzu got 69'ed by the Trojans. At least that was amusing.

[SnakeCharmer]

LSU vs SC.  Ref bodychecks the running back.  The fuck?

[Paelos]

Time for more upset picks for the week:

Wisconsin over Illinois
VA Tech over Florida State
Louisville over South Florida

and the big one - Tennessee over Alabama

[Nevermore]

Time for more upset picks for the week:

Wisconsin over Illinois
VA Tech over Florida State
Louisville over South Florida

and the big one - Tennessee over Alabama

I wouldn't really call Virginia Tech over FSU an upset even though the 'Nole are 4.5 point favorites.  They're two of the better teams in an unpredictable conference this year.

I'm thinking 0-3 on the rest of those picks.  Tennessee and Wisconsin are just terrible this year.  The most likely upset out of those 3 is the Louisville/USF game.  Louisville is a good running team this year and USF has a lot of trouble against tough inside running.  Plus South Florida has never won in Louisville.  I still think the Bulls will win, but I wouldn't be surprised if they lose.

[SnakeCharmer]

and the big one - Tennessee over Alabama

You DIE!!  YOU DIE NOW!!! STAY AWAY FROM MY PRECIOUS!!!!!!!

[Paelos]

I wouldn't really call Virginia Tech over FSU an upset even though the 'Nole are 4.5 point favorites.  They're two of the better teams in an unpredictable conference this year.

I'm thinking 0-3 on the rest of those picks.  Tennessee and Wisconsin are just terrible this year.  The most likely upset out of those 3 is the Louisville/USF game.  Louisville is a good running team this year and USF has a lot of trouble against tough inside running.  Plus South Florida has never won in Louisville.  I still think the Bulls will win, but I wouldn't be surprised if they lose.

FSU is ranked. VA Tech is not. FSU is favored. I disagree with your version of what would constitute an upset in that regard.

As for the rest: Wisconsin is a gut pick. It seems so unlikely that they could drop 5 in a row including a 3rd straight loss at home. There's nothing to back it up beyond feeling that at some point they have to look around and get pissed off. As for USF, you made my point for me with their record in Louisville.

The Tennessee pick is just to piss off the Alabama fans here!  Still, Alabama hasn't proved it can finish worth a damn yet. How many points did Alabama score in the 2nd half against Ole Miss and Kentucky? THREE. Combined. All Tennessee has to do is not completely fuck up in the first half, keep it close, and it's game over for Alabama.

[SnakeCharmer]

The 'lack of finishing' a game doesn't concern me too much in that all that matters to me is getting another mark in the win column.  It DOES give me some angsty heartburn at times however.  But I look at it in a positive light in two ways.  First, they're still winning despite taking an entire half of football off.  And second, woe is the team(s) that get hit by the Bama train when they DO put a full game together.

I swear they're only running about 5 or 6 different offensive plays over and over every game:  Coffee/Ingram run left, Upchurch run right, pass to Upchurch out of the backfield/screen, pass to the tight end in the flats, Maze/McCoy/Alexander on a fade route when Jones is double covered, and pass to Jones when he's in single coverage.

The loss of TC for the Tennessee is worriesome, though.  Chapman is going to have to step up big.

[Abagadro]

Looks like Penn State will be this year's sacrificial Big-10 patsy to be shellacked by an SEC or Big-12 team in the title game.

[Montague]

I think the Nits win by a touchdown.

 

[Abagadro]

Very niiiiice.

[Paelos]

Bama has some major issues in that Tennessee game, but Tennessee shot themselves in the foot so often that they couldn't put any points on the board at all. Bama still looks good for the SEC West title now that my DAWGS cleaned LSU's clock in a major shootout. If Georgia beats Florida, it's rematch time! I want it so bad I can taste it.

The Ohio State - Penn State game was painful to watch. Penn State's going to get a national title shot because they play in that fruity-ass conference and can't possibly lose. I'm guessing probably against Texas. I'd put Big 12 Champ vs. the SEC champ and call it a day, and that MAY happen, but I'm not sure Alabama can beat Georgia twice or Florida once, depending on the game next week.

2/4 on the Upset Picks. Not a bad week.

[SnakeCharmer]

Bama has some major issues in that Tennessee game, but Tennessee shot themselves in the foot so often that they couldn't put any points on the board at all.

Of course, Bama had nothing to do with that.   

Bama still looks good for the SEC West title now that my DAWGS cleaned LSU's clock in a major shootout. If Georgia beats Florida, it's rematch time! I want it so bad I can taste it.[/quote]

Do you REALLY want to see the Dawgs get drilled again?

The Ohio State - Penn State game was painful to watch. Penn State's going to get a national title shot because they play in that fruity-ass conference and can't possibly lose. I'm guessing probably against Texas. I'd put Big 12 Champ vs. the SEC champ and call it a day, and that MAY happen, but I'm not sure Alabama can beat Georgia twice or Florida once, depending on the game next week.

2/4 on the Upset Picks. Not a bad week.

I know it's tough for you, but give Bama some credit.  You don't get to a number 2 ranking, undefeated, and not tested by ANYBODY on your schedule (besides Ole Miss, yanno, that team that beat Florida) thus far without being pretty damn good. 

[EWSpider]

It will be a sad day for College Football if Penn State gets picked for the Title game over the SEC Champion.  After watching the Ohio State game I just can't see Penn State putting up a fight against a Big 12 Team.  I can only hope that we see something similar to what happened in 2004 where an undefeated Auburn got left out of the Title game due to a perceived weakness in scedule.  This year should Penn State finish undefeated I still think they should be left out of the Title game for the same reason.  The Big 12 Champ vs the SEC Champ would be a highly entertaining game.  Penn State in the Title game would be a snooze fest.

For the Georgia and Bama fans in here...Go Gators!

[Paelos]

I know it's tough for you, but give Bama some credit.  You don't get to a number 2 ranking, undefeated, and not tested by ANYBODY on your schedule (besides Ole Miss, yanno, that team that beat Florida) thus far without being pretty damn good. 

I think we've seen the best Alabama has to offer when they played Georgia. I don't think they can play better than that, and they consistently haven't in any of their other SEC games. I give them credit for stepping up and winning the big game that they had to win (Georgia). That's pretty much it though in terms of their opponents on a "national" scale. The SEC West is unquestionably weak this year with the exception of Alabama. LSU is slowly getting exposed as an overrated team. An inevitable loss to Alabama will probably knock them out of the top 20. Their young QB can't hang, and their defense crumbles against any decent offense. The rest of the West is unranked. Auburn is as bad as I've ever seen.

Anyway, Georgia/Florida will determine who wins the East. I'm a big DAWG fan, but we're going to have to do a lot to win that game. Florida is much faster and better defensively than Georgia, and they have a functioning offensive line. Winning that game would be a steal for the Dawgs. However, if Florida wins, I think they would beat Alabama. Outside of the total brain fart they had against Ole Miss, they have crushed everyone they've played. You can say that Bama beat Ole Miss, but you can also say Florida put 63 on a Kentucky team Alabama barely edged out. Florida is still obviously streaky and has to decide when they want to turn it on. When they have turned it on though, it's impressive.

I think Bama has done enough to win their games, but I'm not going to give Bama any credit unless they win the SEC. I'm not going to give Georgia any credit either. Hell, I'm not going give Florida any credit either because they lost to Ole Miss. Nobody is worth a damn in my eyes until they hoist the SEC championship trophy. The national title should always be a side-product of that.

In essence, win the SEC and I'll admit Bama is and awesome program this year. Win it undefeated and I'll admit they are the best program I've seen in 4 years. Do all that and win the national title game, and I'll admit that Bama is the best program I've ever seen.

[SnakeCharmer]

Fair enough.

Even if they win out, I don't agree with the 'best program I've ever seen', and that's coming from an obvious Bama homer.  I *do* believe that IF it does happen, it will be a testament to just how good Saban and the rest of the coaching staff is.  They've got an awfully young team (only 9 seniors on the whole team, about half that on the starting lineup) performing about as well as anybody in the country.  They play/start something like 16 freshmen that don't play like freshmen.  Blowing out Clemson at a neutral site, then going into Sanford Stadium and manhandling a really good UGA team, AND playing in equally hostile environments has matured those freshmen beyond their years.  Whatever Saban and Co. are putting in the water, whether it's the motivational speakers or other assorted head games, it's working.

As far as the UK / UF game, UK was without 4 or 5 of their starters.  Beyond that, I would seriously wonder if UF didn't peak in that game, also that UK did everything possible to give the game to UF.  I don't want to seem like I'm discounting what UF did - far from it - they took advantages of the (many) opportunities UK gave them, and good teams do that.  As far as LSU is concerned, all of Saban's talent has graduated and their defense hasn't been the same since their DC left for Nebraska.  To be honest, I'd rather face UF than UGA again - but I don't really think either one will be that tough of a game - or rather to say, they won't be any tougher than any other team Bama will have played at that point.

A desperate Tommy Tuberville scares me more than UF or UGA, as does a complete mental collapse against MSU.

[Paelos]

I've only been watching college football since I got to college in 1999. So my "best ever seen" is more limited than others. 1998 Tennessee would be a close comparison, but I never paid attention that year. Since the BCS started, discounting Tenn, I have never been really impressed by the national championship game because it's alway included someone from a completely worthless conference that year. I will say this though; of the 4 times the SEC champion was allowed to compete in the national championship game, they've won all 4.

[Abagadro]

Where's this week's upset specials?

[Abagadro]

Heh. "Stomp" on that one Georgia.

[Montague]

Florida is a halfway-decent looking football team.