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The big takeaway from last week was the nation getting their first real look at the new OT rules where it comes down to single 2 point conversions to determine the winner. After much consideration.
It's awful. You play a whole game and then it comes down to single plays. That's not how football works. And to make matters worse, they kept switching sides of the field. The teams probably walked a mile just switching endzones back and forth. At the very least, play the whole thing into 1 endzone. It's called homefield advantage.
It seems the theme for this week is games that looked awesome months ago but now not so much
20 Penn State at 5 Ohio State 7:30 ABC OSU - 19.5 O/U 61
Just a few weeks ago, this looked like one of the games of the year, but then Penn State lost their 2 most important players. QB Sean Clifford and DT PJ Mustipher. Mustipher was their main run stuffer and was having a dominant season until he was lost for the year at Iowa (and the Iowa fans were nice enough to Boo him while he was down). Without Mustipher, PSU is small on the DL and that's why Illinois used 7 OL as their main formation and Penn State had trouble with it but still gave up only 10 points.
Clifford was clearly not himself. It was obvious he could not go deep and Illinois just squeezed everything short. Is Clifford healthier a week later? I guess we'll find out. If he's not then the Penn State offense is in for a long day again.
On paper this one looks like it could get ugly, but styles make fights. Penn State has recruited and built themselves to beat Ohio State. The DL is based on speed and defending the pass. Will Ohio State look at what Illinois did and change their gameplan to run more power formations? That would be changing what they do best.
There's one more thing. Ohio State hasn't played anybody. We they did play 1 team, Oregon and they lost at home. They haven't played any other ranked team. So they've looked good but they should look good against that schedule.
Penn State's defense could cause trouble for freshman QB CJ Stroud. But if Penn State's offense plays like **** again, it won't matter because no matter how good a defense is, if you keep sending them out there in bad situations with little rest, they will crack eventually.
The crazy thing is that on paper, Penn State is still very much alive for the playoffs. If Penn State somehow beats Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State in the coming month, they are likely in the playoff. Will it happen? I doubt it. I'm just hoping to beat Michigan and ruin their season.
6 Michigan at 8 Michigan State 12:00 FOX Michigan -4 O/U 50.5
I feel like i write the same thing about MIchigan every week. That's because it's true every week. They just haven't played anybody yet. MSU is their first ranked opponent. Michigan's defense has looked good against bad offenses. Their run game has been all they've needed to win. Their passing game is still unknown. I'm not sold that Michigan State is a top 10 team but they're at least pretty good and clearly the best team Michigan has faced so far. MIchigan State hasn't played a very tough schedule yet either but they did at least win in Miami. Miami is underachieving but they have some talent.
We should learn a lot about both teams in this one. Apparently residents of Michigan think MSU will win. According to draftkings sportsbook, moneyline bets (IE picking the winner without points) are running 9 to 1 Michigan State for residents of Michigan.
I wish you could do a prop bet on the number of times they will show Harbaughs whiny face after a call doesn't go Michigan's way. I'd bet the over.
9 Iowa at Wisconsin 12:00 ESPN Wisc -3 O/U 36.5
Texas at 16 Baylor 12:00 ABC Baylor -2.5 O/U 61.5
Taking these both together, games that looked great a month ago but not so much anymore.
Miami at 17 Pitt 12: 00 ACCN Pitt -9 O/U 61.5
It's a problem for the ACC that their best game of the week only rates coverage on ACC Network. Continuing the theme, this game looked great a few weeks ago.
1 Georgia vs Florida Neutral site Jacksonville 3:30 CBS UGA -14 O/U 51
World's largest outdoor cocktail party. Georgia ranked #1, Atlanta Braves in the World Series and Herschel Walked running for Senate. Lots for Georgia to party about.
Florida gave Bama a game but they've been up and down other than that. Last year Florida blew out Georgia. Neither team has announced the starting QB. Georgia's Stetson Bennett couldn't handle Florida last year. This year the defense has been so good that Bennett hasn't had to do much. He may have to do more vs Florida.
10 Ole Miss at 18 Auburn 7:00 ESPN Auburn -3 O/U 66.5
the winner is still alive to challenge Bama for the SEC West title and a spot in the SEC champ. Ole Miss QB Matt Corral is having a big year but struggled vs Bama. Auburn's defense is good. Bo Nix has been playing well for Auburn. He has a lot of talent but was stiffled in Gus malzahn's high school offense. Is he starting to emerge as a passer?
19 SMU at Houston 7:00 ESPN2 Pick Em O/U 62
Hey SMU is undefeated. Nobody cares. Both teams are actually pretty good on defense with UH allowing only 17 per game
North Carolina at 11 Notre Dame 7:30 NBC ND -3.5 O/U 62.5
once again, a game that seemed great a month ago. Now both teams have been disappointing. ND still raanked 11 with just 1 loss but they haven't looked good this year. It's not a surprise for a team that relies so much on OL to struggle when replacing all of them. UNC is one of the most disappointing teams this year.
Virginia at 25 BYU 10:15 ESPN2 BYU -2.5 O/U 66
The nation wonders if Virginia will go blue or not.

It's awful. You play a whole game and then it comes down to single plays. That's not how football works. And to make matters worse, they kept switching sides of the field. The teams probably walked a mile just switching endzones back and forth. At the very least, play the whole thing into 1 endzone. It's called homefield advantage.
It seems the theme for this week is games that looked awesome months ago but now not so much
20 Penn State at 5 Ohio State 7:30 ABC OSU - 19.5 O/U 61
Just a few weeks ago, this looked like one of the games of the year, but then Penn State lost their 2 most important players. QB Sean Clifford and DT PJ Mustipher. Mustipher was their main run stuffer and was having a dominant season until he was lost for the year at Iowa (and the Iowa fans were nice enough to Boo him while he was down). Without Mustipher, PSU is small on the DL and that's why Illinois used 7 OL as their main formation and Penn State had trouble with it but still gave up only 10 points.
Clifford was clearly not himself. It was obvious he could not go deep and Illinois just squeezed everything short. Is Clifford healthier a week later? I guess we'll find out. If he's not then the Penn State offense is in for a long day again.
On paper this one looks like it could get ugly, but styles make fights. Penn State has recruited and built themselves to beat Ohio State. The DL is based on speed and defending the pass. Will Ohio State look at what Illinois did and change their gameplan to run more power formations? That would be changing what they do best.
There's one more thing. Ohio State hasn't played anybody. We they did play 1 team, Oregon and they lost at home. They haven't played any other ranked team. So they've looked good but they should look good against that schedule.
Penn State's defense could cause trouble for freshman QB CJ Stroud. But if Penn State's offense plays like **** again, it won't matter because no matter how good a defense is, if you keep sending them out there in bad situations with little rest, they will crack eventually.
The crazy thing is that on paper, Penn State is still very much alive for the playoffs. If Penn State somehow beats Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State in the coming month, they are likely in the playoff. Will it happen? I doubt it. I'm just hoping to beat Michigan and ruin their season.
6 Michigan at 8 Michigan State 12:00 FOX Michigan -4 O/U 50.5
I feel like i write the same thing about MIchigan every week. That's because it's true every week. They just haven't played anybody yet. MSU is their first ranked opponent. Michigan's defense has looked good against bad offenses. Their run game has been all they've needed to win. Their passing game is still unknown. I'm not sold that Michigan State is a top 10 team but they're at least pretty good and clearly the best team Michigan has faced so far. MIchigan State hasn't played a very tough schedule yet either but they did at least win in Miami. Miami is underachieving but they have some talent.
We should learn a lot about both teams in this one. Apparently residents of Michigan think MSU will win. According to draftkings sportsbook, moneyline bets (IE picking the winner without points) are running 9 to 1 Michigan State for residents of Michigan.
I wish you could do a prop bet on the number of times they will show Harbaughs whiny face after a call doesn't go Michigan's way. I'd bet the over.
9 Iowa at Wisconsin 12:00 ESPN Wisc -3 O/U 36.5
Texas at 16 Baylor 12:00 ABC Baylor -2.5 O/U 61.5
Taking these both together, games that looked great a month ago but not so much anymore.
Miami at 17 Pitt 12: 00 ACCN Pitt -9 O/U 61.5
It's a problem for the ACC that their best game of the week only rates coverage on ACC Network. Continuing the theme, this game looked great a few weeks ago.
1 Georgia vs Florida Neutral site Jacksonville 3:30 CBS UGA -14 O/U 51
World's largest outdoor cocktail party. Georgia ranked #1, Atlanta Braves in the World Series and Herschel Walked running for Senate. Lots for Georgia to party about.
Florida gave Bama a game but they've been up and down other than that. Last year Florida blew out Georgia. Neither team has announced the starting QB. Georgia's Stetson Bennett couldn't handle Florida last year. This year the defense has been so good that Bennett hasn't had to do much. He may have to do more vs Florida.
10 Ole Miss at 18 Auburn 7:00 ESPN Auburn -3 O/U 66.5
the winner is still alive to challenge Bama for the SEC West title and a spot in the SEC champ. Ole Miss QB Matt Corral is having a big year but struggled vs Bama. Auburn's defense is good. Bo Nix has been playing well for Auburn. He has a lot of talent but was stiffled in Gus malzahn's high school offense. Is he starting to emerge as a passer?
19 SMU at Houston 7:00 ESPN2 Pick Em O/U 62
Hey SMU is undefeated. Nobody cares. Both teams are actually pretty good on defense with UH allowing only 17 per game
North Carolina at 11 Notre Dame 7:30 NBC ND -3.5 O/U 62.5
once again, a game that seemed great a month ago. Now both teams have been disappointing. ND still raanked 11 with just 1 loss but they haven't looked good this year. It's not a surprise for a team that relies so much on OL to struggle when replacing all of them. UNC is one of the most disappointing teams this year.
Virginia at 25 BYU 10:15 ESPN2 BYU -2.5 O/U 66
The nation wonders if Virginia will go blue or not.