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A few words about this thread. It's pretty simple. I look at the top 25 and pick out the games that are important (ranked vs ranked) or are interesting for some other reason (rivalry, possible entertaining matchup, draft prospects).
Am i biased against the SEC? No. I just don't pimp them like most of the college football coverage does so rational criticism seems like hate. I do hate Michigan though.
Why do i not mention many SEC games? Because so many of them suck. Case in point Georgia vs Missouri this week. What's intersting about that game at all? Same with Bama. How many games per year do they play that are competitive?
One last point. You are allowed to type anything you want in here. If there's a game that interests you that i didn't highlight, you are free to discuss it all you like.
On to the thread
The first college playoff rankings were released and it's no surprise that ESPN, I mean the committee, does not want Cincinnati invited to the party.
1 Georgia
2 Alabama
3 Michigan State
4 Oregon
5 Ohio State
6 Cincy
7 Michigan
8 Oklahoma
9 Wake Forest
10 Notre Dame
What a joke. Georgia is 1 obviously, but there is no possible justification for Alabama at 2. None. Alabama has a loss and they do not have a single win vs a ranked team. So how do you justify them being #2?
There are 2 schools of thought for rankings and having Bama at 2 goes against both.
1. You are going by your opinion of overall talent, guessing on how good they are and not going by actual results thus far. If that's your philosophy then how is Ohio State 5? They have a shitload of talent and their only loss is to #4 Oregon. How is Oklahoma 8? Again, if you are going by talent level, how can they be 8 and undefeated?
2. You are going by actual results on the field. You are not guessing. You are not assuming future wins. By this measure should Bama even be in the top 10? They have a loss and 0 ranked wins. By this measure why would MIchigan be 7? They have a loss and no good wins either. How can unbeaten Oklahoma be 8?
It's clear that ESPN, i mean the committe, is rigging the rankings toward the teams they think will be a draw. That's why they have Mich State so high too, because putting them up there makes it easier to screw Cincy.
Having said all that, Bama may end up deserving of a playoff spot by the end. But what's the point of having these weekly rankings if you are going to ignore what happens on the field?
Now the games
22 Penn State at Maryland 3:30 FS1 PSU -10 O/U 56
Penn State came up short vs Ohio State but they had a real shot to win. Clifford was close to healthy and the difference was night and day. The PSU defense is legit. They may have the best overall secondary in the nation this year.
This is a huge game for Maryland. They view PSU as a must win for recruiting. It's important for PSU for the same reason. The Maryland DC area has talent.
last year Penn State's defense gave up a bunch of big plays due to miscommunication and blown coverages. They have that fixed this year and it could be a long day. Maryland has offensive weapons but they also committ a lot of turnovers. Their run defense stinks. Penn State may actually be able to run the ball this week.
5 Ohio State at Nebraska 12:00 FOX OSU -14.5 O/U 67.5
If Nebraska gets blow out could this be the end for Scott Frost? They hired his pal Trev Alberts as AD and it seemed that might buy Frost at least another year but they are 3-6 with OSU, @Wisconsin and Iowa left. They could be looking at 3-9. Nebraska did get up to give Oklahoma a game. OSU just has to avoid the letdown after beating Penn State.
9 Wake Forest at North Carolina 12:00 ABC UNC -2.5 O/U 77
NC's offense last year went through their 2 great RBs Javonte Williams and Michael Carter. Without them it's not the same. QB Sam Howell is still seen as a potential franchise QB. That may be because it's a weak class.
Liberty at 16 Ole Miss 12:00 SEC Network Miss -9.5 O/U 67
This game is all about QBs and the draft. Matt Corral at Ole Miss and Malik Willis at Liberty are 2 of teh top prospects. Most eyes will be on Willis as this is the only game he will play vs a ranked opponent unless Liberty lands a good bowl.
3 Michigan State at Purdue 3:30 ABC MSU -3 O/U 53.5
this could be a classic letdown game for MSU after coming off their big win vs Michigan and getting love from the playoff committee, they could be looking past Purdue. Purdue coach Jeff Brohm has done an amazing job. I wonder if he will get some offers this year. Purdue has a great DE who could be a first rounder George Karlaft. He may force some turnovers. But MSU may be able to just run to victory.
Tulsa at 6 Cincinnati 3:30 ESPN2 Cin -22.5 O/U 55
apparently Cincy has to try to blow out every opponent by 80 to get respect. That's the spirit of college athletics that the playoff committe endorses.
13 Auburn at 14 Texas A&M 3:30 TAM -4.5 O/U 49.5
The only matchup of 2 ranked teams this week. After an early season loss to superior Big 10 talent, Auburn has done well playing their soft conference schedule. The game will feature 2 of the best RBs Bigsby for Auburn and Spiller for TAM. If the steelers were in need of a RB, i'd consider watching some of this during the commercials of the PSU game
LSU at 2 Alabama 7:00 ESPN Bama -28.5 O/U
the wheels have come off at LSU. Their coach is already fired. There is talent on the team but who knows if they're motivated to play.
Indiana at 7 Michigan 7:30 FOX Mich -20.5 O/U 51
everything broke right for Indiana last year. This year is the opposite with bad bounces and injuries. Indiana's run defense has been decent. Can they play a complete game? Probably not.
Am i biased against the SEC? No. I just don't pimp them like most of the college football coverage does so rational criticism seems like hate. I do hate Michigan though.
Why do i not mention many SEC games? Because so many of them suck. Case in point Georgia vs Missouri this week. What's intersting about that game at all? Same with Bama. How many games per year do they play that are competitive?
One last point. You are allowed to type anything you want in here. If there's a game that interests you that i didn't highlight, you are free to discuss it all you like.
On to the thread
The first college playoff rankings were released and it's no surprise that ESPN, I mean the committee, does not want Cincinnati invited to the party.
1 Georgia
2 Alabama
3 Michigan State
4 Oregon
5 Ohio State
6 Cincy
7 Michigan
8 Oklahoma
9 Wake Forest
10 Notre Dame
What a joke. Georgia is 1 obviously, but there is no possible justification for Alabama at 2. None. Alabama has a loss and they do not have a single win vs a ranked team. So how do you justify them being #2?
There are 2 schools of thought for rankings and having Bama at 2 goes against both.
1. You are going by your opinion of overall talent, guessing on how good they are and not going by actual results thus far. If that's your philosophy then how is Ohio State 5? They have a shitload of talent and their only loss is to #4 Oregon. How is Oklahoma 8? Again, if you are going by talent level, how can they be 8 and undefeated?
2. You are going by actual results on the field. You are not guessing. You are not assuming future wins. By this measure should Bama even be in the top 10? They have a loss and 0 ranked wins. By this measure why would MIchigan be 7? They have a loss and no good wins either. How can unbeaten Oklahoma be 8?
It's clear that ESPN, i mean the committe, is rigging the rankings toward the teams they think will be a draw. That's why they have Mich State so high too, because putting them up there makes it easier to screw Cincy.
Having said all that, Bama may end up deserving of a playoff spot by the end. But what's the point of having these weekly rankings if you are going to ignore what happens on the field?
Now the games
22 Penn State at Maryland 3:30 FS1 PSU -10 O/U 56
Penn State came up short vs Ohio State but they had a real shot to win. Clifford was close to healthy and the difference was night and day. The PSU defense is legit. They may have the best overall secondary in the nation this year.
This is a huge game for Maryland. They view PSU as a must win for recruiting. It's important for PSU for the same reason. The Maryland DC area has talent.
last year Penn State's defense gave up a bunch of big plays due to miscommunication and blown coverages. They have that fixed this year and it could be a long day. Maryland has offensive weapons but they also committ a lot of turnovers. Their run defense stinks. Penn State may actually be able to run the ball this week.
5 Ohio State at Nebraska 12:00 FOX OSU -14.5 O/U 67.5
If Nebraska gets blow out could this be the end for Scott Frost? They hired his pal Trev Alberts as AD and it seemed that might buy Frost at least another year but they are 3-6 with OSU, @Wisconsin and Iowa left. They could be looking at 3-9. Nebraska did get up to give Oklahoma a game. OSU just has to avoid the letdown after beating Penn State.
9 Wake Forest at North Carolina 12:00 ABC UNC -2.5 O/U 77
NC's offense last year went through their 2 great RBs Javonte Williams and Michael Carter. Without them it's not the same. QB Sam Howell is still seen as a potential franchise QB. That may be because it's a weak class.
Liberty at 16 Ole Miss 12:00 SEC Network Miss -9.5 O/U 67
This game is all about QBs and the draft. Matt Corral at Ole Miss and Malik Willis at Liberty are 2 of teh top prospects. Most eyes will be on Willis as this is the only game he will play vs a ranked opponent unless Liberty lands a good bowl.
3 Michigan State at Purdue 3:30 ABC MSU -3 O/U 53.5
this could be a classic letdown game for MSU after coming off their big win vs Michigan and getting love from the playoff committee, they could be looking past Purdue. Purdue coach Jeff Brohm has done an amazing job. I wonder if he will get some offers this year. Purdue has a great DE who could be a first rounder George Karlaft. He may force some turnovers. But MSU may be able to just run to victory.
Tulsa at 6 Cincinnati 3:30 ESPN2 Cin -22.5 O/U 55
apparently Cincy has to try to blow out every opponent by 80 to get respect. That's the spirit of college athletics that the playoff committe endorses.
13 Auburn at 14 Texas A&M 3:30 TAM -4.5 O/U 49.5
The only matchup of 2 ranked teams this week. After an early season loss to superior Big 10 talent, Auburn has done well playing their soft conference schedule. The game will feature 2 of the best RBs Bigsby for Auburn and Spiller for TAM. If the steelers were in need of a RB, i'd consider watching some of this during the commercials of the PSU game
LSU at 2 Alabama 7:00 ESPN Bama -28.5 O/U
the wheels have come off at LSU. Their coach is already fired. There is talent on the team but who knows if they're motivated to play.
Indiana at 7 Michigan 7:30 FOX Mich -20.5 O/U 51
everything broke right for Indiana last year. This year is the opposite with bad bounces and injuries. Indiana's run defense has been decent. Can they play a complete game? Probably not.
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