I'm ready for College Football.

[dalej42]

Today being one of the few days with no major sporting events, I was reading up on the upcoming college football season. I"m looking forward to it. There are three teams who are in serious contention for the national title: Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma. Three QBs with Heisman chances in Bradford, Tebow, and McCoy.

Texas and Oklahoma will play each other in what should be the most anticipated game of the year. I'm also eager to see USC at Ohio State. Ohio State was seriously embarrassed last year and now USC has to play at the horseshoe.

I'm sure we will hear lots about Tennessee and Florida. Florida will probably run up the score on the Vols. Too bad Florida doesn't place Ole Miss this year. Still, there is always the Florida/Georgia game which has been..interesting..the past 2 years.

The Pac 10 has a lot to prove this year. Wow, last year was a seriously bad year for the conference. While I think Orrin Hatch needs to shut up, the Pac 10 did lose too many games to the Mountain West last year.

Will Notre Dame continue to be as bad as they were last year? Will Michigan be an embarrassment? Will Florida State or Miami return to dominate the ACC?

I can't wait until August! Of course, ESPN will probably ruin it for me by spending hours whining about the BCS and ignoring what actually happens on the field.

[MadTheSwine]

Michigan comes back,baby! GO BLUE!

[Oakminster]

The SEC always has a few surprises. Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss may be a step ahead of everybody else this year. Miss State has a new coach, and rumor is may be planning to run a Florida style offense. That's gonna be hard to do without Florida level talent.

[satoridt]

I can’t wait to get in the gophers new stadium! I drive by it once a week and it’s beautiful. Got my season tickets and I'm ready for the gophers to dominate! (Really, they will. C'mon, don’t ruin this for me.)

[gonzomax]

Michigan comes back,baby! GO BLUE!

You wish. Whos going to throw the ball/ Of course a Coach Rod offense does cut back on a QBs significance. They are still in transition.

[BobLibDem]

I'm ready for my Spartans to take it to the next level. Looking forward to beating Michigan for the second straight year. And no Buckeyes on the schedule! Woot!

[Really Not All That Bright]

I'm ready for the NFL season.

[gonzomax]

I'm ready for my Spartans to take it to the next level. Looking forward to beating Michigan for the second straight year. And no Buckeyes on the schedule! Woot!

Spartans best chance for a good year is to avoid all decent competition. They should avoid Ohio State permanently and schedule Northwestern 4 or 5 times a year.
Do you really not want to prove yourself against the good teams?

[Munch]

Do you really not want to prove yourself against the good teams?

Why? It doesn't affect the idiot voters' results. Team A and B are ranked #9 and #10. Team A beats the crap out of Rice, Team B barely squeaks by USC. Team A is going to move up higher.

[Labrador Deceiver]

Why? It doesn't affect the idiot voters' results. Team A and B are ranked #9 and #10. Team A beats the crap out of Rice, Team B barely squeaks by USC. Team A is going to move up higher.

No way. Teams who beat great opponents in big games are rewarded for it. Had you said "Team B barely loses to USC", then you'd have a point.

[zamboniracer]

Will Notre Dame continue to be as bad as they were last year?


Whadya mean, bad?!?!? My Irish dominated Hawaii in the bowl game and finished 7-6. We weren't bad! We were solidly mediocre! ;)

[LonghornDave]

Oklahoma State has a decent chance of being a surprise team this year. They play Georgia at home to start the year. A big win there could provide them with significant momentum. They also play Texas at home. Oklahoma on the road in the last game of the season will be their toughest test. I could seriously see them ranked number 1 going into that game.

[notfrommensa]

As much as I hate to admit, the PAC-10 had an outstanding bowl season last year.

Look for USC to manhandle the Buckeyes once again. The Big-10 [sic] is in a deep abyss and I don't see them coming out of it. The Big-10 [sic] has not had a really big non-conference win in several years.

On another board I frequent, a delusional Notre Dame fan is adamantly predicting a 10-2 season. They better hope they don't play a 3-8 Syracuse at home again this year, on Senior Day. LMAO

I look for the SEC to be dominant once again. Florida will be the class of the conference and I think Tebow will get his 2nd Heisman.

My alma mater, Ga Tech, is getting a lot of respect in pre-season polls. Woo hoo.

[furt]

I'm ready for the NFL season.As a UCF fan, I agree.

[Darth Sensitive]

Last chance to jump on the Oklahoma State Bandwagon! :D

Starting off against Georgia in the finished BPS, then 3 more non-con games, building towards playing Texas on Halloween at home and at OU over Thanksgiving to finish out the season.

Bryant-Hunter-Robinson = beastly!

[Really Not All That Bright]

As a UCF fan, I agree.
I was going to post that I was ready for the NFL season and glad that UCF had cancelled its football season. :D

[Soul]

Come on, Georgia! We finally got rid of Stafford (I will never understand the love for that guy), we can do anything now!

[dalej42]

Last chance to jump on the Oklahoma State Bandwagon! :D

Starting off against Georgia in the finished BPS, then 3 more non-con games, building towards playing Texas on Halloween at home and at OU over Thanksgiving to finish out the season.

Bryant-Hunter-Robinson = beastly!

Oklahoma State will make the Big 12 very interesting this year. They'll get Texas at home and Texas will be coming off Oklahoma two weeks prior and a trip to Missouri the week before. Can OSU be this year's Texas Tech?

[BabaBooey]

Can't overlook my Tigers. The talent was there on defense last season, but the co-DCs were atrocious. One team player said there were multiple times in the season where one DC called in one play and the other DC called a different one. Chavis should really turn things around considering how he did at UT with less overall talent.

Jordan Jefferson looks to be a significant improve over Jarrett Lee, and he'll have an excellent line, WR corps, and running game to help him out . If things don't work out with JJ, Russell Shepard should come in and be at least comparable to what Pryor was for OSU last year.

[Carmady]

The first few weeks are going to be brutal for Oregon.

Two of their first three games are against preseason top ten OOC opponents (Boise State and Utah). Season opens on the road against Boise.

On the one hand, I'm proud they don't schedule cupcakes. On the other hand... what are they thinking?

On the bright side, USC comes to Eugene this year where we have had success against them.

[Munch]

. On another board I frequent, a delusional Notre Dame fan is adamantly predicting a 10-2 season. They better hope they don't play a 3-8 Syracuse at home again this year, on Senior Day. LMAO For all the ND haters out there - ther is absolutely no upside in holding Irish expectations to anything less than 9 wins. Look at the schedule.

[wmulax93]

I'm ready for my Spartans to take it to the next level. Looking forward to beating Michigan for the second straight year. And no Buckeyes on the schedule! Woot!

Ahem...

GO GREEN!

[notfrommensa]

Can't overlook my Tigers. The talent was there on defense last season, but the co-DCs were atrocious. One team player said there were multiple times in the season where one DC called in one play and the other DC called a different one. Chavis should really turn things around considering how he did at UT with less overall talent.

Jordan Jefferson looks to be a significant improve over Jarrett Lee, and he'll have an excellent line, WR corps, and running game to help him out . If things don't work out with JJ, Russell Shepard should come in and be at least comparable to what Pryor was for OSU last year.

Tigers? LSU, Auburn, Missouri, Clemson, or Grambling...or something else?

UT? Texas or Tennessee

OSU? Ohio St, Oklahoma St, or Oregon St?

Not being a smartass, but I don't remember the names well enough to associate players with teams.

[notfrommensa]

For all the ND haters out there - ther is absolutely no upside in holding Irish expectations to anything less than 9 wins. Look at the schedule.

Well, at least Notre Dame did take Syracuse off the schedule. :p

USC is a loaded landmine even at South Bend, (At) Michigan has to got to be better (they can't be much worse), and Michigan State will be tough. Boston College seems to have Notre Dame's number lately. (At) Pitt is ranked in the top 25 in at least one preseason poll

I think Charlie Weis will be run out of town and onto the next season of "The Biggest Loser" on NBC.

[notfrommensa]

***courtesy bump***

Preseason Coaches Poll (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankings?pollId=2&seasonYear=2009) has been released.

5 SEC teams in the top 13.

[Darth Sensitive]

3 Big XII south teams in top 11.

[dalej42]

Virginia Tech will be the first to fall as they're ranked way too high. Alabama will embarrass them. I think Ole Miss should be ranked ahead of both Alabama and LSU, but there's plenty of time in the season to let the SEC West sort itself out. Oklahoma State seems right at #11. Could be a very interesting year in the Big 12. I'm not buying Georgia Tech ahead of Florida State at all. GA Tech was a fluke last year.

[Cyberhwk]

Go cougs!
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:(

[notfrommensa]

I'm not buying Georgia Tech ahead of Florida State at all. GA Tech was a fluke last year.


As a GT alumnus, that is hitting way below the belt. Go Jackets!

Caution, don't underestimate the ACC.

[Oakminster]

Virginia Tech will be the first to fall as they're ranked way too high. Alabama will embarrass them. I think Ole Miss should be ranked ahead of both Alabama and LSU, but there's plenty of time in the season to let the SEC West sort itself out. Oklahoma State seems right at #11. Could be a very interesting year in the Big 12. I'm not buying Georgia Tech ahead of Florida State at all. GA Tech was a fluke last year.

I think LSU has a real chance to get embarrassed in week 1, on the road at Washington.

Ole Miss may have a shot at the BCS title. They've got a great schedule, with all their toughest games at home. Toughest road games look to be SC and Vanderbilt.

The SEC is looking to produce its fourth consecutive BCS champion. I'll cop to being a diehard SEC fan, and I expect the SEC champ to be in the BCS game. Wonder if a non-BCS conference team might get in the game this year. After Utah destroyed Bama in the Sugar Bowl last year, it's hard to just write those teams off anymore.

[notfrommensa]

I think LSU has a real chance to get embarrassed in week 1, on the road at Washington.


Do you mean the same Washington team that was 0-12 last year?

[Really Not All That Bright]

Feh. Barring a shock loss by Florida, everyone is playing for next year.

[Khadaji]

I used to be a huge PSU fan, but as I've gotten older I've drifted more towards the NFL. I'll still root for them when I think to, but I don't watch so much any more. As much as I've loved Old Joe over the years, I do think it may be time for him to step down.

[Cyberhwk]

I think LSU has a real chance to get embarrassed in week 1, on the road at Washington. Wait...WHAT?!?!? :eek:

It was distinctly possible that Division II Eastern Washington was the best college football team in the state of Washington last year. Unless by "embarrassed" you mean, "winning by less than 4 TDs by halftime."

[Oakminster]

I just have a hunch...first game of the season, on the road, against a team they may not take seriously...could be an upset in the making.

[Gatopescado]

Jonesing Trojon here! (Hey, that would be a good Username!)

Looking forward to hitting TWO home games this year (Hey, I only live 500 miles away!) at seasons end. Hope they will count for something by then. I figure they will....

Can't wait to watch Boise State. BCS Buster! Can't wait to watch Notre Dame disgrace themselves. They have an entire network devoted to self-abasement. Maybe they should just schedual High-schools next season? Can't wait to WHIP the Buckeyes at home. Can't wait to cook horrid chicken wings and drink too much beer before Noon Pacific.

But moreover, can't wait for cool late-summer Thursday evenings, a huge slab of dead cow (or pig) on the BBQ, cold homebrew on the armrest of the Adorandak chair watching 2 teams I've barely even heard of vie for national attention as I sit on the deck. Oh, wait! Boise and Oregon? Hell, I've heard of them! ;)

[BobLibDem]

Spartans best chance for a good year is to avoid all decent competition. They should avoid Ohio State permanently and schedule Northwestern 4 or 5 times a year.
Do you really not want to prove yourself against the good teams?


Hey, how many teams play a really tough schedule? Look at Florida: Charleston Southern, Troy, and Florida International? Plus they skip Alabama? If MSU gets a couple of Buckeye-free years, great. Personally, I'd like to see the Big 10 do what the Pac 10 does- every team plays every other, every year. But think of how these three teams have done over the past 20 years: Michigan, Penn State, and Notre Dame. How many schools could go 3-0 against them? Except for a 2 year hiatus coming up with ND, Michigan State plays all three every single year.

[notfrommensa]

Hey, how many teams play a really tough schedule? Look at Florida: Charleston Southern, Troy, and Florida International? Plus they skip Alabama? If MSU gets a couple of Buckeye-free years, great. Personally, I'd like to see the Big 10 do what the Pac 10 does- every team plays every other, every year. But think of how these three teams have done over the past 20 years: Michigan, Penn State, and Notre Dame. How many schools could go 3-0 against them? Except for a 2 year hiatus coming up with ND, Michigan State plays all three every single year.


And Florida plays UGA, UTenn, and FSU every year. And then throw in LSU most years, and/or Bama in the other years, and/or Auburn.

Nearly every team has cupcakes in their schedule. And all top notch teams play at least 2 big games against conference teams every year. There are 12 games on the schedule, I think there should be a legitimate chance at 4 losses in those games.

[gonzomax]

Michigan's program has been down for a couple years now. I thought staying down for a major university was not a fear until Noter Dame proved it can happen. ND and Michigan have had recruiting advantages for decades. ND has not recovered. I hope U of M is just an aberration.

[Really Not All That Bright]

Jonesing Trojon here! (Hey, that would be a good Username!)
You should probably spell it Trojan when you apply for that username change.
Hey, how many teams play a really tough schedule? Look at Florida: Charleston Southern, Troy, and Florida International? Plus they skip Alabama?
Alabama is in the SEC West. Florida plays Alabama next year (plus USF and FSU). Last year they played Hawaii and Miami (FL)- and that game was scheduled 5 years ago when Miami was still a top-3 program. In 2005 they played Iowa on a neutral site.

Florida doesn't go out of state/conference much because it doesn't have to. The SEC is unquestionably the best conference, and Florida is, if not the best football state, certainly among the top three.

[Gatopescado]

:smack:

[Darth Sensitive]

Unquestionably doesn't mean what you think it does.

[BobLibDem]

Florida doesn't go out of state/conference much because it doesn't have to. The SEC is unquestionably the best conference, and Florida is, if not the best football state, certainly among the top three.

Meh. The SEC has some good teams all right but there's some dead wood too. I would take more stock in the SEC if it scheduled more competitive non conference games and showed some willingness to travel. Ohio State has done home and home with Texas. Who has Georgia done home and home with? If I'm not mistaken, the last time that Georgia played a non-conference game in the north was during the LBJ administration.

[LonghornDave]

Meh. The SEC has some good teams all right but there's some dead wood too. I would take more stock in the SEC if it scheduled more competitive non conference games and showed some willingness to travel. Ohio State has done home and home with Texas. Who has Georgia done home and home with? If I'm not mistaken, the last time that Georgia played a non-conference game in the north was during the LBJ administration.

Georgia plays Georgia Tech every year. Also, they play the following non-conference games in the next few seasons: Oklahoma State, Colorado, Louisville, Clemson, and Oregon.

[Really Not All That Bright]

Unquestionably doesn't mean what you think it does.
Unquestionably in the sense that it's only questioned by stupid people and homers.

[wolfman]

Michigan's program has been down for a couple years now. I thought staying down for a major university was not a fear until Noter Dame proved it can happen. ND and Michigan have had recruiting advantages for decades. ND has not recovered. I hope U of M is just an aberration.

I'm pretty sure it was an aberration. Sheridan is just not a good quarterback, there are a good number of high school teams he wouldn't be starting for , let alone a major college program. And Threet is a decent QB, but was just not right for running the offense. And the O-line was totally inexperienced. Add in a ridiculous number of bad fumbles(how many times did they just put the ball on the ground untouched?) and an Underachieving D.

They should be much better this year. As long as Rod doesn't expect Forcier to be Pat White, and keys the offense around Minor and the line can get him some holes opened at speed I have some hope. The new D-coordinator should get a better effort out of the talent this year(he certainly can't get less then last year)

They certainly arn't ready to challenge for the national title, but 6-7 wins should be expected, (as long as Rod kicks enough ass to convince them losing to the jobbers they bring in isn't acceptable anymore) and 8 possibly would be a really good season.


Western Michigan,Eastern Michigan, Delaware state, should all be wins.

Indiana, Purdue are good chance to win

Wisconsin, Illinois about 50/50

Notre Dame, Michigan state, Iowa= Some chance to win, hopefully take one of them

Penn State, Ohio State = There is always next year ;)

[MOIDALIZE]

Terrelle Pryor ran a 4.33 40 in the spring (http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2009/08/ohio_state_quarterback_terrell_1.html).
:eek:

[MOIDALIZE]

Also, the Buckeyes projected starting OLB may be out for the season after suffering a head injury during a family trip to Florida. It's rumored that some upstanding member of the community found out he played for OSU and sucker punched him.

http://buckeyextra.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/08/10/osu_fb10.ART_ART_08-10-09_C1_23ENNB9.html?sid=101

[LonghornDave]

Terrelle Pryor ran a 4.33 40 in the spring (http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2009/08/ohio_state_quarterback_terrell_1.html).
:eek:

Pryor is just an unreal athlete. I was extremely impressed with his raw athletic ability in the Fiesta Bowl. He obviously needs to improve his passing though. I think he'll have an up and down year in '09 and be ready to help compete for a national title in '10.

[RaftPeople]

Terrelle Pryor ran a 4.33 40 in the spring (http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2009/08/ohio_state_quarterback_terrell_1.html).
:eek:

I'm sure he's fast and athletic, but I will believe his time when I see it from the NFL combine. (Our QB logged a 4.39 40 this spring and I don't believe it either).

[BobLibDem]

Georgia plays Georgia Tech every year. Also, they play the following non-conference games in the next few seasons: Oklahoma State, Colorado, Louisville, Clemson, and Oregon.

They are getting a little better. And Alabama has a home and home with Michigan State in a few years (I can't wait for the chance to boo Nick Satan). But there are far too many games in all the conferences against non-Division I teams. What I'd really like to see is this: there are 11 FBS division conferences. Make every conference schedule at least one home game and one road game against each other FBS conference. So for the Big Ten as an example, there are 44 non conference games (4 per team) each year. Set aside 20 of those for home and home with each other conference. That still leaves 24 games free to throw a few more in with the MAC, CUSA, or a few non-FBS teams. This idea that every school in the major conferences gets 4 cupcake home games every year has to stop.

[notfrommensa]

BobLibDem, For each BCS conference, I look at their non-conference games against other BCS conferences (& Notre Dame) every year. On a per team basis, the Big 10 typically plays fewer games against BCS opponents than the other conferences.

[notfrommensa]

This sitehttp://www.colleyrankings.com/curconf.html details how conferences do against other conferences.

[RaftPeople]

This sitehttp://www.colleyrankings.com/curconf.html details how conferences do against other conferences.


BIG 12 ACC BIG EAST MWC BIG 10 PAC-10 WAC
2-1 6-6 1-1 0-2 1-1 1-1 1-1


If you eliminate the CUSA and 1-AA, etc., SEC looks pretty average.

Note: I have looked at the stats that show the SEC places more people in the pro's on average per team than the other conferences (with ND and Miami as exceptions), so they clearly have talent. But claiming to be a better conference requires a better record against other conferences on the field (not 1-AA), pretty tough to make claims based on in conference play.

[Oakminster]

But claiming to be a better conference requires a better record against other conferences on the field (not 1-AA), pretty tough to make claims based on in conference play.

Well, there is that whole three straight BCS Championships thing, with a fourth expected.

[Munch]

Well, there is that whole three straight BCS Championships thing, with a fourth expected.
I don't consider this a valid argument. The argument is that cupcake schedules are there to makeup for their inability to compete with other BCS conferences on a more regular basis, in order to improve their chances of making it to the title game. I'm sure someone might argue that 3 straight BCS titles is an argument against the SEC's conference strength (but I won't).

[RaftPeople]

Well, there is that whole three straight BCS Championships thing, with a fourth expected.

C'mon, you beat Oklahoma last year, everyone beats Oklahoma. :)

[Labrador Deceiver]

Meh. The SEC has some good teams all right but there's some dead wood too. I would take more stock in the SEC if it scheduled more competitive non conference games and showed some willingness to travel. Ohio State has done home and home with Texas. Who has Georgia done home and home with? If I'm not mistaken, the last time that Georgia played a non-conference game in the north was during the LBJ administration.

Uh, you don't watch much football do you. I'm specifically thinking about UGA playing ASU in Tempe last season, and the fact that they open vs. OSU in Stillwater this year.

[ElvisL1ves]

I-AA fan checking in: It's a rebuilding year for my UMass Minutemen, but it's one for the rest of the Colonial too, so just maybe ... Aw, hell, I can only name half a dozen kids still on the team. But the New Hampshire game is at Amherst this year, so look for a raucous good time in the stands.

Next year the Minutemen go the Big House, where they'll actually have a plausible chance to take out the shriveled remains of Michigan. Pleasepleaseplease let that be on the telly!

[Munch]

Uh, you don't watch much football do you. I'm specifically thinking about UGA playing ASU in Tempe last season, and the fact that they open vs. OSU in Stillwater this year.

I dunno. I certainly wouldn't classify Stillwater or Tempe as the south, but I sure as hell wouldn't classify them as the north. (Nor do I know why "watching much football" has now become the new prelude to a disagreement.)

[notfrommensa]

Uh, you don't watch much football do you. I'm specifically thinking about UGA playing ASU in Tempe last season, and the fact that they open vs. OSU in Stillwater this year.

The SEC/ACC has three state rivalries so that is three big games each year. UGA/GT, UF/FSU, USC/Clemson. There is also another instate rivalry game between UK/Louisville.

Nearly all the In-state rivalry games are conference games for the PAC-10, Big XII and Big 10. the only exception I can think of is Iowa/Iowa St.

But my point is the SEC has conference rivalries plus it has 4 in-state out of conference rivalry games.

Nearly every week, the SEC has a big game that will impact the National Rankings. the Big XII came close late last year with the TTU, UT, OSU, OU battling it out in the South Division.

[furt]

BIG 12 ACC BIG EAST MWC BIG 10 PAC-10 WAC
2-1 6-6 1-1 0-2 1-1 1-1 1-1


If you eliminate the CUSA and 1-AA, etc., SEC looks pretty average.I like how you cut out the part that showed that, in fact, the SEC had the best out-of-conference record. That was ... clever ... of you.

[Munch]

I like how you cut out the part that showed that, in fact, the SEC had the best out-of-conference record. That was ... clever ... of you.

I can see cutting out 1-AA (though losses should be noted - I'm looking at you Michigan...), but why would someone cut out C-USA? You might as well cut out Big Sky, Sun Belt, Big East (yeah, I said it) and the MAC.

[Ogre]

ROLL TIDE

I'm dying to watch some college football.

[RaftPeople]

I like how you cut out the part that showed that, in fact, the SEC had the best out-of-conference record. That was ... clever ... of you.

Not sure if you are joking or not, but that was the point of my post. Do you consider games against those conferences to be quality opponents? I don't, whether it's your team playing or my team playing.

[notfrommensa]

Not sure if you are joking or not, but that was the point of my post. Do you consider games against those conferences to be quality opponents? I don't, whether it's your team playing or my team playing.

FTR...Every conference plays cupcakes and creme puffs.

Anyone can cherry picks stats to support whatever conference they think is the toughest.

For instance, the PAC-10 had an incredible bowl season last year. But if you take away the post season, the PAC-10 had an overall losing record against non-conference teams.

As an ACC alumnus, it kills me to admit that the SEC is the toughest conference. UTenn, UGA, Aub, Bama, LSU, and UF have all had a legit chance for a national Championship in the last 10-12 years. This year, Ole Miss might be the 7th team to make a run.

[RaftPeople]

FTR...Every conference plays cupcakes and creme puffs.

Anyone can cherry picks stats to support whatever conference they think is the toughest.

I just think that including the games from the weaker conferences skews the analysis. I think a realistic analysis is comparing just the big 6 inter-conference games, so I did that with the cfbdatawarehouse and here are the results:



Conf Wins Losses %
ACC 648 614 .51
B10 1090 726 .60
B12 617 685 .47
BE 546 827 .40
P10 522 571 .48
SEC 1496 1269 .54


This includes all games back to the beginning of man so that's a bit of a problem also. I think it would be nice to see this kind of analysis from the last 30 years.

By the way, B10 is the only conference to have a winning percentage against all of the other big 6 conferences (my team is in the P10 so don't think I'm trying to pump my own conference here).

[BobLibDem]

I did some checking of the schedules on ESPN's site and subject to any errors in counting I may have made or any errors on the ESPN site, I added up the number of games each conference plays against non-FBS teams.

The best conference for not scheduling non-FBS teams was the Pac 10. In order by non-FBS games per team, here are my figures:

Pacific 10: 4 games, 0.40 per team
Sun Belt: 4 games, 0.44 per team
Big Ten: 7 games, 0.64 per team
Big Twelve: 8 games, 0.67 per team
Mountain West: 6 games, 0.67 per team
Mid American: 9 games, 0.69 per team
Conference USA: 9 games, 0.75 per team
Western: 7 games, 0.78 per team
Southeast: 10 games, 0.83 per team
Big East: 9 games, 1.13 per team
Atlantic Coast: 14 games, 1.17 per team


It really seems to me that there shouldn't be any of these games. The problem is everybody wants home non-conference games and there is no shortage of small schools willing to let themselves get beat up to get a paycheck.

Clucking about national titles is great, but there is a basic disparity in who gets to play for the title. There is a caste system in college football. The Sun Belt, Mountain West, Mid American, Conference USA, and WAC are all FBS conferences in theory, but there isn't a one of their teams that would get in the title game even at 12-0. For most of the ACC, Big 12, Big 10, and Pac 10, you can get in if you go 12-0 and there isn't a privileged team with less than 2 losses. For some (Florida State, Miami (FL), Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Southern Cal, UCLA, Notre Dame, and most of the SEC 1 loss doesn't automatically exclude you from the championship game. And for a very few (Alabama, Florida, and LSU plus maybe a couple more), you think you belong in the title game with two losses.

[notfrommensa]

I just think that including the games from the weaker conferences skews the analysis. I think a realistic analysis is comparing just the big 6 inter-conference games, so I did that with the cfbdatawarehouse and here are the results:



Conf Wins Losses %
ACC 648 614 .51
B10 1090 726 .60
B12 617 685 .47
BE 546 827 .40
P10 522 571 .48
SEC 1496 1269 .54


This includes all games back to the beginning of man so that's a bit of a problem also. I think it would be nice to see this kind of analysis from the last 30 years.

By the way, B10 is the only conference to have a winning percentage against all of the other big 6 conferences (my team is in the P10 so don't think I'm trying to pump my own conference here).

Where did you get those stats?

[Munch]

Where did you get those stats?

From the post you quoted:

so I did that with the cfbdatawarehouse

[Labrador Deceiver]

The SEC/ACC has three state rivalries so that is three big games each year. UGA/GT, UF/FSU, USC/Clemson. There is also another instate rivalry game between UK/Louisville.

Nearly all the In-state rivalry games are conference games for the PAC-10, Big XII and Big 10. the only exception I can think of is Iowa/Iowa St.

But my point is the SEC has conference rivalries plus it has 4 in-state out of conference rivalry games.

Nearly every week, the SEC has a big game that will impact the National Rankings. the Big XII came close late last year with the TTU, UT, OSU, OU battling it out in the South Division.

I agree. On top of that, UF & UGA are locked into a neutral site game, which completely ties their hands when it came to scheduling an additional home-and-home series in an 11-game season.

[notfrommensa]

to be fair: I thought of another annual in-state rivalry game amongst BCS schools. Notre Dame/Purdue.

There are opportunities for an annual game between Ohio State/Cincinnati and Penn State/Pitt.

Penn St is too busy playing non-con games against Temple, Syracuse, E. Illinois and Akron to be bothered.

Ohio State likes to pick on in-state non BCS schools like Akron, Youngstown, Ohio U, Kent St and Toledo.

[Munch]

to be fair: I thought of another annual in-state rivalry game amongst BCS schools. Notre Dame/Purdue.
That's not a rivalry game, and I don't think either team would consider each other rivals. ND has two rivals - Michigan and USC.

[notfrommensa]

Purdue and Notre Dame have played each other 80 times including every year since 1946.

Notre Dame/Michigan have played each other only 36 times, every year since 1978.

BTW, The AP Writers poll was released over the week. More of the same for the Forida Gators as they were nearly a unanimous pick for number 1, getting 58 out of 60 first place votes.

[Sigmagirl]

Ohio State likes to pick on in-state non BCS schools like Akron, Youngstown, Ohio U, Kent St and Toledo.

Those schools aren't too sorry to be "picked on" in their home fields; it's a guaranteed sellout. Everybody in Akron wants a ticket to see Ohio State, and if it fills Infocision Stadium :rolleyes: the Zips will happily lose to the Buckeyes.

[notfrommensa]

Those schools aren't too sorry to be "picked on" in their home fields; it's a guaranteed sellout. Everybody in Akron wants a ticket to see Ohio State, and if it fills Infocision Stadium :rolleyes: the Zips will happily lose to the Buckeyes.

No doubt, it is all money. But it is so typical of premier schools. Most of them play 8 conference games and at least 3 cupcakes or cremepuffs.

I was reading on another board about Florida State 1997 football schedule. They played 8 ACC conference games and three non conference games. The non-conference games were University of Southern California, University of Florida, and University of Miami (Florida). Maimi was a Big East school at the time. Their only losss was to UF and then went on to beat Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl.

Would a top tiered school ever schedule three non-conference games like that again? I don't think It would be nice.

[Munch]

Purdue and Notre Dame have played each other 80 times including every year since 1946.

Notre Dame/Michigan have played each other only 36 times, every year since 1978
Number of games against is meaningless. Notre Dame's first collegiate game was in 1887, against Michigan. Every time they play, there's something at stake. Both campuses are absolutely geared up when this game comes around.

No one on Notre Dame's campus could care less about the Purdue game (other than the players and coaches, who have to care). That's not a rivalry - it's just a nice little tradition. If number of games is the difference maker, why not mention Navy? ND's played them 82 times. Why? Because that's a tradition with no animosity between the teams, not a rivalry. (And oddy enough, ND has the exact same record against Purdue as they do against Michigan State - another non-rivalry, but strong tradition opponent.)

[ElvisL1ves]

Notre Dame's first collegiate game was in 1887, against Michigan. Every time they play, there's something at stake. Lately, not so much. ;)

[Zakalwe]

Lately, not so much. ;)I disagree. I find it absolutely fascinating to watch a game in which I want neither team to win. ;)

[Zakalwe]

I think it would be nice to see this kind of analysis from the last 30 years.How did you gather the data? Did you just cut and paste from the pages? If so, did you retain the raw data? If you did and you want to send it to me, I'll be glad to strip it down to 30 years and run some numbers for you.

[notfrommensa]

Number of games against is meaningless. Notre Dame's first collegiate game was in 1887, against Michigan. Every time they play, there's something at stake. Both campuses are absolutely geared up when this game comes around.

No one on Notre Dame's campus could care less about the Purdue game (other than the players and coaches, who have to care). That's not a rivalry - it's just a nice little tradition. If number of games is the difference maker, why not mention Navy? ND's played them 82 times. Why? Because that's a tradition with no animosity between the teams, not a rivalry. (And oddy enough, ND has the exact same record against Purdue as they do against Michigan State - another non-rivalry, but strong tradition opponent.)


My whole point in bringing up the Notre Dame/Purdue series was to identify intra-state non-conference games against BCS opponents.

The SEC has 4 big games intra-state rivalries with BCS opponents that are non conference games to go along with their SEC schedule.

The Big 10 [sic] has two opportunites for such rivalries that are not exploited. Penn St does not play Pitt every year and Ohio St does not play Cincinnati. I also postulated that Ohio St prefers to play non BCS in state school like Youngstown State, games which don't get much National attention.

[RaftPeople]

How did you gather the data? Did you just cut and paste from the pages? If so, did you retain the raw data? If you did and you want to send it to me, I'll be glad to strip it down to 30 years and run some numbers for you.

I just cut and pasted the conference to conference results (into excel and then gave the summary per conf), not sure how to get at conf to conf within a specific date range.

[fiddlesticks]

The Pac-10 numbers may be helped by the fact that they only play 3 non-conference games instead of the usual 4 for most conferences.

[RaftPeople]

The Pac-10 numbers may be helped by the fact that they only play 3 non-conference games instead of the usual 4 for most conferences.

How do you think that would help a conference? Are you thinking that fewer games against other big 6 conf means higher probability of playing a bottom feeder of that conference?

[fiddlesticks]

How do you think that would help a conference? Are you thinking that fewer games against other big 6 conf means higher probability of playing a bottom feeder of that conference?

Would believe I misread that darn chart? Heh.

[RancidYakButterTeaParty]

The Big 10 [sic] has two opportunites for such rivalries that are not exploited. Penn St does not play Pitt every year and Ohio St does not play Cincinnati. I also postulated that Ohio St prefers to play non BCS in state school like Youngstown State, games which don't get much National attention.

Going back to the mid 90's, Ohio State has scheduled home at home or neutral game sites with Notre Dame (played in the mid 90's, scheduled when ND was a powerhouse), Miami, West Virginia, Missouri, UCLA, Arizona, Washington (when they were ranked), Pitt, Texas, and USC. Virginia Tech is up next, I believe.

I don't think you could find many schools willing to schedule as many tough out of conferences opponents as OSU has in recent years. Yes they play a few cupcakes every year--everyone does--but they have stepped up to the plate as well as or better than everyone else in college football.

[RancidYakButterTeaParty]

Ohio State upcoming opponents:

Miami, Cal, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, Tenn.

[treis]

Yeah, you can knock a lot of teams but my Buckeyes definitely have stepped up to the plate in scheduling out of conference opponents.

The biggest problem I have with OSU's schedule is that it ends towards the end of November. They need to push back the Michigan game to early/mid december, come up with a Big 10 championship game, or schedule a tough OOC opponent. A month and a half between games is way too much time for rust to form.

[wolfman]

Last weekend without college football. :)

Man it is getting hard to wait. :(

[jsc1953]

Should we do like baseball, and start a monthly (eg, "College Football September") thread?

Just so we can all laugh & point...Lou Holtz picked ND to be in the BCS Championship Game. He did pick them to lose, however...which shows he's clinging to a few threads of reality.

I will reluctantly concede the point that the SEC is currently the best conference, by a slight margin. They only embarrass themselves with their reluctance to play good teams on the road, though. And we should also mention: Auburn 3, So Miss 2. Just because that never gets old.

Go Bears!

[Gatopescado]

Just so we can all laugh & point...Lou Holtz picked ND to be in the BCS Championship Game. He did pick them to lose, however...which shows he's clinging to a few threads of reality.



Perhaps he meant they could buy tickets if they acted promptly?

As a Trojan living in Nevada, I'm really hoping The Wolfpack can go out and whip them! That would make my week!

The Thursday Night game in Boise should be a kicker to watch also. Never know whats gonna happen on the blue turf. Oregon might not leave happy.

Just a couple days left to wait! :cool:

[Labrador Deceiver]

I will reluctantly concede the point that the SEC is currently the best conference, by a slight margin. They only embarrass themselves with their reluctance to play good teams on the road, though. And we should also mention: Auburn 3, So Miss 2. Just because that never gets old.

Go Bears!

SEC schedules are much better now than they were 10 years ago. Most have at least one solid home-and-home scheduled this year and several have 2. Someone truly ignorant was giving UGA a hard time earlier in the thread despite the fact that we have @Oklahoma State (#9), Arizona State, and @Georgia Tech (#15) on the schedule this year.

[notfrommensa]

Going back to the mid 90's, Ohio State has scheduled home at home or neutral game sites with Notre Dame (played in the mid 90's, scheduled when ND was a powerhouse), Miami, West Virginia, Missouri, UCLA, Arizona, Washington (when they were ranked), Pitt, Texas, and USC. Virginia Tech is up next, I believe.

I don't think you could find many schools willing to schedule as many tough out of conferences opponents as OSU has in recent years. Yes they play a few cupcakes every year--everyone does--but they have stepped up to the plate as well as or better than everyone else in college football.

In 1997, Florida State's non-con schedule was Miami, Florida and USC.

When OSU scheduled Washington, they might have been ranked, but they were 6-6 and 4-9 in the two years that played OSU.

Missouri has only recently become a very good football team.

Ohio State does try to schedule one out of four Non-con games, but 5 of 6 their other non-con games have been against in-state cupcakes in the last two years:

2007: Youngstown, Akron, Kent
2008: Youngstown, Ohio U, (Troy St was the other game)

[RancidYakButterTeaParty]

In 1997, Florida State's non-con schedule was Miami, Florida and USC.

When OSU scheduled Washington, they might have been ranked, but they were 6-6 and 4-9 in the two years that played OSU.

Missouri has only recently become a very good football team.

Ohio State does try to schedule one out of four Non-con games, but 5 of 6 their other non-con games have been against in-state cupcakes in the last two years:

2007: Youngstown, Akron, Kent
2008: Youngstown, Ohio U, (Troy St was the other game)

I admitted, in the post you quoted yourself, that OSU plays cupcakes in the non-conference every year. Everyone does so. My point is that OSU makes a habit of scheduling at least 1 very tough opponent every year, and not many teams do even that.

OSU can't help that Washington wasn't as solid as expected when they played them. The date you schedule a team says more about your program than their record when you finally face them.

Are you using Florida State's one tough year as proof that they are on par with OSU's type of scheduling?

As I said, OSU schedules as tough or tougher than any other marquee program in the nation.

[jsc1953]

I can see where this discussion is headed (it always does), so let's just all memorize this flowchart:

http://bbs.buccaneers.com/showthread.php?t=163989

[Labrador Deceiver]

I admitted, in the post you quoted yourself, that OSU plays cupcakes in the non-conference every year. Everyone does so. My point is that OSU makes a habit of scheduling at least 1 very tough opponent every year, and not many teams do even that.

OSU can't help that Washington wasn't as solid as expected when they played them. The date you schedule a team says more about your program than their record when you finally face them.

Are you using Florida State's one tough year as proof that they are on par with OSU's type of scheduling?

As I said, OSU schedules as tough or tougher than any other marquee program in the nation.

FSU plays Florida and Miami OOC every year. That probably beats your 1 solid OOC team most seasons.

Just about every decent SEC school has a tough OOC opponent. Auburn plays WVU, Bama plays VT, SC plays Clemson & NCState, Georgia has 3 tough OOC teams (& GT every year), LSU is going to Washington, Tennnessee always steps up for 1 game (UCLA this year), Florida has FSU every year, etc. Even the lesser teams like Ole Miss & UK such go home and home with Memphis & Louisville every year.

[Labrador Deceiver]

I can see where this discussion is headed (it always does), so let's just all memorize this flowchart:

http://bbs.buccaneers.com/showthread.php?t=163989

Classic. I love that chart & religiously follow the rules.

[RancidYakButterTeaParty]

FSU plays Florida and Miami OOC every year. That probably beats your 1 solid OOC team most seasons.

Just about every decent SEC school has a tough OOC opponent. Auburn plays WVU, Bama plays VT, SC plays Clemson & NCState, Georgia has 3 tough OOC teams (& GT every year), LSU is going to Washington, Tennnessee always steps up for 1 game (UCLA this year), Florida has FSU every year, etc. Even the lesser teams like Ole Miss & UK such go home and home with Memphis & Louisville every year.

Sounds good to me. As I said, OSU schedules as tough or tougher than most marquee programs. I don't see that we are arguing here.

I would prefer OSU to keep scheduling like they did in the mid 90's, 2 or 3 tough opponents almost every single year--but the advent of the BCS has caused them to go away from this, along with everyone else.

If FSU didn't have so much wrapped up in playing Miami and Florida every year, I guarantee you they would jump right out of those games and into 2 cupcakes.

[BobLibDem]

Let's look at the non-conference games in the SEC and Big Ten. First the Superest Ever Conference.

The Good
Georgia @ Oklahoma State
Arizona State @ Georgia
Georgia @ Georgia Tech
Kentucky @ Miami (OH)
Louisville @ Kentucky
South Carolina @ North Carolina State
South Carolina @ Clemson
UCLA @ Tennessee
Vanderbilt @ Rice
Georgia Tech @ Vanderbilt
Virginia Tech @ Alabama
West Virginia @ Auburn
LSU @ Washington
Mississippi @ Memphis
Alabama Birmingham @ Mississippi
Georgia Tech @ Mississippi State
Houston @ Mississippi State
Florida State @ Florida
Vanderbilt @ Army
Arkansas v Texas A&M

The Bad
Tennessee Tech @ Georgia
Troy @ Florida
Florida International @ Florida
Louisiana Monroe @ Kentucky
Florida Atlantic @ South Carolina
Western Kentucky @ Tennessee
Ohio @ Tennessee
Memphis @ Tennessee
Western Carolina @ Vanderbilt
Florida International @ Alabama
North Texas @ Alabama
Louisiana Tech @ Auburn
Ball State @ Auburn
Louisiana Lafayette @ LSU
Tulane @ LSU
Louisiana Tech @ LSU
Mississippi State @ Middle Tennessee State
Eastern Michigan @ Arkansas
Troy @ Arkansas


The Ugly
Charleston Southern @ Florida
Chattanooga @ Alabama
Eastern Kentucky @ Kentucky
South Carolina State @ South Carolina
Furman @ Auburn
Southeastern Louisiana @ Mississippi
Northern Arizona @ Mississippi
Jackson State @ Mississippi State
Missouri State @ Arkansas


Now for the much-maligned Big Ten:

The Good
Illinois v Missouri
Illinois @ Cincinnati
Indiana @ Akron
Indiana @ Virginia
Iowa @ Iowa State
Arizona @ Iowa
Notre Dame @ Michigan
Michigan State @ Notre Dame
Minnesota @ Syracuse
Air Force @ Minnesota
California @ Minnesota
Northwestern @ Syracuse
USC @ Ohio State
Ohio State @ Toledo
Syracuse @ Penn State
Purdue @ Oregon
Notre Dame @ Purdue
Wisconsin @ Hawaii

The Bad
Fresno State @ Illinois
Western Michigan @ Indiana
Western Michigan @ Michigan
Eastern Michigan @ Michigan
Central Michigan @ Michigan State
Western Michigan @ Michigan State
Eastern Michigan @ Northwestern
Miami (OH) @ Northwestern
Navy @ Ohio State
New Mexico State @ Ohio State
Akron @ Penn State
Temple @ Penn State
Toledo @ Purdue
Northern Illinois @ Purdue
Northern Illinois @ Wisconsin
Fresno State @ Wisconsin


The Ugly
Illinois State @ Illinois
Eastern Kentucky @ Indiana
Northern Iowa @ Iowa
Arkansas State @ Iowa
Delaware State @ Michigan
Montana State @ Michigan State
South Dakota State @ Minnesota
Eastern Illinois @ Penn State
Towson @ Northwestern
Wofford @ Wisconsin

To be honest, I don't see a lot of difference. Some good games and some stinkers and some in between. Three Big Ten teams play Notre Dame, although not good recently are a perennial power. Ohio State has USC coming in. Some good ones are sprinkled in the SEC- Georgia-Oklahoma State, UCLA-Tennessee, and Arkansas-Texas A&M are good matchups. Some of the stinkers are real stinkers- Charleston Southern @ Florida and Wofford @ Wisconsin stand out. I think if you did this for every conference, you'd find much the same story except for the Pac 10, which seems to do better than most in avoiding stinkers.

[notfrommensa]

FTR, Miami is no longer a non-conference game for the Seminoles.

But Florida is, and they play them every year, every year.

As someone pointed out up thread, UGA is playing three major universities in non-con games this year. (two fo them on the road)

My alma mater, Georgia Tech, is playing 3 SEC schools for non-con games.

Two yrs ago, USC had three non-con games, Notre Dame, Arkansas and Virginia.

Most marquis schools play one difficult non-con game, so OSU playing USC or Texas or Va Tech is not all that remarkable. it is when schools play two or three major schools OOC is a schedule worth bragging about.

[RancidYakButterTeaParty]

Now, just because I'm bored at work--here are some stats to look at:

OSU out of conference opponents since '95 ( I left out cupcakes):

BC, Washington, Pitt, Notre Dame
Pitt, Notre Dame
Arizona, Missou
WVU, Missou (both ranked)
Miami, UCLA
Arizona
UCLA
Washington State (#10)
Washington, NC State (both ranked)
NC State, Marshall, Cincy
Miami, Texas
Texas, Cincy
Washington ( I honestly didn't realize we played them so many times)
USC
Navy, USC (this year's opponents)

Of those 26 games that were played, OSU lost 4 of them. UCLA in '01, Texas in '05 by 3 (Texas goes on to win the trophy), Miami in '99, and of course the slaughterhouse by USC last season.

They also won the '97 Rose bowl, '99 Sugar, '03 National Title, '04 Fiesta, '05 Alamo, and '06 Fiesta.

Since they '06 Fiesta, the only major out of conference win they have had is against Texas the following fall. I have a bad feeling that won't change when they play USC in 2 weeks--but I certainly hope it will.

[jsc1953]

I think it all boils down to:

1. You should get credit for scheduling an OOC game against any member of a BCS conference. You can't predict 3 years in advance whether they'll be a pushover or not.

2. But there's no excuse for scheduling Troy, Furman, or (full disclosure) Eastern Washington. And triple demerits for playing your designated patsy at home...you could at least go on the road and fill their stadium.

[RancidYakButterTeaParty]

FTR, Miami is no longer a non-conference game for the Seminoles.

But Florida is, and they play them every year, every year.

As someone pointed out up thread, UGA is playing three major universities in non-con games this year. (two fo them on the road)

My alma mater, Georgia Tech, is playing 3 SEC schools for non-con games.

Two yrs ago, USC had three non-con games, Notre Dame, Arkansas and Virginia.

Most marquis schools play one difficult non-con game, so OSU playing USC or Texas or Va Tech is not all that remarkable. it is when schools play two or three major schools OOC is a schedule worth bragging about.

Thanks for the ACC correction--still can't get used to that change.

Tech seems to always play a decent schedule, definitely don't find fault with them.

Georgia is stepping it up this year, but if we go back to '95 I can only find a handful of games out of conference that are worth mentioning (not including Tech):
Clemson x 2
Boise State
Colorado in '06?
Oklahoma State
Arizona State

USC will play anyone, anywhere. Even though they have owned the Buckeyes for awhile now, I give them huge props for their schedule.

[Labrador Deceiver]

Sounds good to me. As I said, OSU schedules as tough or tougher than most marquee programs. I don't see that we are arguing here.

I would prefer OSU to keep scheduling like they did in the mid 90's, 2 or 3 tough opponents almost every single year--but the advent of the BCS has caused them to go away from this, along with everyone else.

If FSU didn't have so much wrapped up in playing Miami and Florida every year, I guarantee you they would jump right out of those games and into 2 cupcakes.

I wasn't trying to bring down OSU, by any means. I generally think they do a good job of scheduling at least one interesting opponent per season

[notfrommensa]

To be honest, I don't see a lot of difference. Some good games and some stinkers and some in between. Three Big Ten teams play Notre Dame, although not good recently are a perennial power. Ohio State has USC coming in. Some good ones are sprinkled in the SEC- Georgia-Oklahoma State, UCLA-Tennessee, and Arkansas-Texas A&M are good matchups. Some of the stinkers are real stinkers- Charleston Southern @ Florida and Wofford @ Wisconsin stand out. I think if you did this for every conference, you'd find much the same story except for the Pac 10, which seems to do better than most in avoiding stinkers.

thanks for the summary, It looks like 14 BCS non-con BCS games (incl Notre Dame) for each conference:

Lets look at the top 4 marquis (IMO) non conference matchups.

SEC:

Virginia Tech @ Alabama
Georgia @ Oklahoma State
Georgia @ Georgia Tech
Florida State @ Florida

Big 10:
USC @ Ohio State
Notre Dame @ Michigan
Michigan State @ Notre Dame
Illinois v Missouri


The SEC games are all probable top 20 matches according to preseason polls

USC/OSU matches up with any big game of the year, but that is the only game that has national poll implications for both teams.

[Labrador Deceiver]

Thanks for the ACC correction--still can't get used to that change.

Tech seems to always play a decent schedule, definitely don't find fault with them.

Georgia is stepping it up this year, but if we go back to '95 I can only find a handful of games out of conference that are worth mentioning (not including Tech):
Clemson x 2
Boise State
Colorado in '06?
Oklahoma State
Arizona State

USC will play anyone, anywhere. Even though they have owned the Buckeyes for awhile now, I give them huge props for their schedule.

Why would you not include Tech? If you're locked into an OOC game with a rival, that influences how you set up the rest of your schedule. The fact that we play them every year should be a plus, not something to be dismissed.

[Labrador Deceiver]

I think it all boils down to:

1. You should get credit for scheduling an OOC game against any member of a BCS conference. You can't predict 3 years in advance whether they'll be a pushover or not.

2. But there's no excuse for scheduling Troy, Furman, or (full disclosure) Eastern Washington. And triple demerits for playing your designated patsy at home...you could at least go on the road and fill their stadium.

Furman, Ap State & Georgia Southern may be I-AA, but they're better than a bunch of I-A teams. WHen youre talking about the bottom of the barrel, Louisiana Monroe isn't any better than one of those three. It's really not even worth arguing about.

[RancidYakButterTeaParty]

Why would you not include Tech? If you're locked into an OOC game with a rival, that influences how you set up the rest of your schedule. The fact that we play them every year should be a plus, not something to be dismissed.

Not included so I didn't have to type it out, as we know that game is there each year. In other words, I was conceding that point.

[RancidYakButterTeaParty]

thanks for the summary, It looks like 14 BCS non-con BCS games (incl Notre Dame) for each conference:

Lets look at the top 4 marquis (IMO) non conference matchups.

SEC:

Virginia Tech @ Alabama
Georgia @ Oklahoma State
Georgia @ Georgia Tech
Florida State @ Florida

Big 10:
USC @ Ohio State
Notre Dame @ Michigan
Michigan State @ Notre Dame
Illinois v Missouri


The SEC games are all probable top 20 matches according to preseason polls

USC/OSU matches up with any big game of the year, but that is the only game that has national poll implications for both teams.


I don't consider Florida State/Florida or Georgia/Tech to be huge games this season.

[Munch]

Alright - I think we can generally agree that Notre Dame, with their current schedule, is going to win 8+ games (like it or not). It's not inconceivable that they will enter the USC game 5-0. There are some extremely terrible teams in that record (Purdue, Washington, Michigan). Using your crystal ball, what should a team that is 5-0 be ranked at that point?

If ND loses to USC and then runs the table to 11-1 (still within the realm of possibilities), what is a reasonable rank for such a weak schedule?

[jsc1953]

Just because I like to get analytic about things, I came up with a Schedule Pussiness Rating Factor. You get 3 points for scheduling a road game with a BCS team; 2 points at home. 2 points for a mid-major on the road; 1 point at home. -1 point for a I-AA team. Divide by the number of OOC games.

I did it for one team from each BCS conference, just for fun...

Ohio State: Navy (1) USC (2); @Toledo (2); NMSU (1) = 1.5
Texas: La-Monroe (1); @Wyoming (2); UTEP (1); UCF (1) = 1.1
Florida: Charleston Southern (-1); Troy (1); Fla Intl (1); FSU (2) = 0.75
Cal: Maryland (2); @Minnesota (3); Eastern Wash (-1) = 1.3
Ga Tech: Jax State (-1); @MissSt (3); @Vandy (3); Georgia (2) = 1.75

[Labrador Deceiver]

Not included so I didn't have to type it out, as we know that game is there each year. In other words, I was conceding that point.

I gotcha. Sorry about that.

I don't consider Florida State/Florida or Georgia/Tech to be huge games this season.

They're certainly bigger than any game involving Notre Dame or the Illinois/Missouri Matchup. Georgia is #13, Tech is #15, and FSU is #17 preseason.

Notre Dame is #23, MSU is unranked, Michigan is unranked, Illinois is unranked and Missouri is unranked.

[notfrommensa]

I gotcha. Sorry about that.



They're certainly bigger than any game involving Notre Dame or the Illinois/Missouri Matchup. Georgia is #13, Tech is #15, and FSU is #17 preseason.

Notre Dame is #23, MSU is unranked, Michigan is unranked, Illinois is unranked and Missouri is unranked.


I totally agree, the Big 10 [sic] has only one marquis game out of conference. Its been that way for a couple of years. And it shows in bowl games. And remind, just how did the Big 10 [sic] do in bowl games last year?

psssst, it was 1-6.

[RancidYakButterTeaParty]

I totally agree, the Big 10 [sic] has only one marquis game out of conference. Its been that way for a couple of years. And it shows in bowl games. And remind, just how did the Big 10 [sic] do in bowl games last year?

psssst, it was 1-6.


This tends to happen when most of the conference isn't very good/highly ranked. Of course we can't have many marquee games involving the Big Ten--because our conference is not very good overall. If PSU had a better OOC opponent this year, that would look better for the big ten. If Michigan was the Michigan of old--then that makes the ND game much bigger, etc...

The Pac-10 has the same issue most years.

The SEC is without a doubt the best conference--I have never claimed otherwise and I'm not trying to open that debate now, my points have all been in reference to scheduling.

[Labrador Deceiver]

This tends to happen when most of the conference isn't very good/highly ranked. Of course we can't have many marquee games involving the Big Ten--because our conference is not very good overall. If PSU had a better OOC opponent this year, that would look better for the big ten. If Michigan was the Michigan of old--then that makes the ND game much bigger, etc...



That's a good point. The Big-10 seems to be a conference in transition right now. A bunch of teams have recently replaced coaches (past 3 or 4 years), and I think that may have a lot to do with it.

[Munch]

Big 10 [sic]
I really hate the Big 10, but this is annoying. Why are college football threads filled with these trite little digs at a target that, when it comes down to it, just poison the well?

[ElvisL1ves]

That's part of the fun, Munch!

[Munch]

Maybe. But I can't help but think how I just don't take someone's post or contribution seriously when they offer some insight or analysis, but then throw in the always original "Notre Lame" or "scUM". It just undermines the message to me. YMMV, of course.

[notfrommensa]

Would you prefer Big 10 + 1?

Sorry, if it irritates you, but just my way to point out the absurdity of the name of the conference. Pac-8 became the Pac-10 when Arizona and Arizona St joined the conference.

The Big 8 became the Big 12.

Why didn't the Big 10 become the Big 11?

[Munch]

Why didn't the Big 10 become the Big 11?
Because "Big Ten" is an incredibly successful and identifiable brand. The Pac-8 and Big 8 changed their names because they sucked and needed a reinvigoration of marketing cache. (They were also praying they'd get Notre Dame to join as well, and you can't have two Big 12 conferences...)

[BobLibDem]

What do you want? It says 11 right there. (http://rushthecourt.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/big-10-logo.jpg) So it's ten and eleven at once. Sort of like Jesus being 100% human and 100% divine. When you're the premier conference, academically and athletically, you get to think past the limitations of conventional logic.

[Labrador Deceiver]

It's gameday. Finally.

My life has meaning again.

[zamboniracer]

Just because I like to get analytic about things, I came up with a Schedule Pussiness Rating Factor. You get 3 points for scheduling a road game with a BCS team; 2 points at home. 2 points for a mid-major on the road; 1 point at home. -1 point for a I-AA team. Divide by the number of OOC games.

I did it for one team from each BCS conference, just for fun...

Ohio State: Navy (1) USC (2); @Toledo (2); NMSU (1) = 1.5


The OSU/ Toledo game isn't really in Toledo, it is at a supposedly neutral field in Cleveland. Ninety percent of the crowd will be Buckeye fans. My brother in law in Cleveland is a Toledo grad who refused to buy tickets, saying, "Why should I pay $65 to see the Rockets get killed?"

[treis]

A disappointing start. SCar and NC State was a snoozefest, and Oregon just looks awful against Boise.

I have to say, I like the interconference matchups, but no way they should be the first game of the season. These teams aren't anywhere close to top form. Everyone bashes cupcake scheduling, but they basically act as preseason for college teams.

[jsc1953]

The last thing the Pac-10 needs is to stink up the joint on national TV against a mid-major opponent. Thanks, Ducks.

[Darth Sensitive]

Why didn't that Oregon team show up to the Holiday Bowl? Hmmph

[Munch]

If ND loses to USC and then runs the table to 11-1 (still within the realm of possibilities), what is a reasonable rank for such a weak schedule?

No one, huh? I'll say it - if the Irish finish 11-1, they'll have to be ranked in the top 10. If they make the top 8, they get a BCS bid.

[jsc1953]

Why didn't that Oregon team show up to the Holiday Bowl? Hmmph

The prognosticators (like SI, who put Oregon on their cover) seemed to think it didn't matter that Oregon turned over both lines since the Holiday Bowl. "But...Masoli ran over that safety!...They gotta be ranked!!" Whatever.

[brianjedi]

What do you want? It says 11 right there. (http://rushthecourt.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/big-10-logo.jpg) So it's ten and eleven at once. Sort of like Jesus being 100% human and 100% divine. When you're the premier conference, academically and athletically, you get to think past the limitations of conventional logic.

(emphasis mine)

I think you forgot about the SEC there.

[Darth Sensitive]

And the Big 12. And the Big East, ACC, Pac 10, and the WAC too...

[Munch]

So is anyone going to any games tomorrow? Got any big tailgating or other traditional plans? I'll be driving up to South Bend tonight with a group of friends. I'm pretty excited for the day. The weather is going to be perfect (76 degrees at kickoff, partly cloudy), I'm meeting up with quite a few old classmates, and the game should be a good one. Will be a very interesting matchup. ND's run defense was extremely poor last year, and Nevada's pass defense was atrocious. Nevada's running game is downright scary, and ND is returning all 11 offensive starters. Will Nevada burn the clock long enough to keep Clausen, Tate, Floyd and Armando out of the endzone?

[brianjedi]

And the Big 12. And the Big East, ACC, Pac 10, and the WAC too...

In football, the Big East has no business in that conversation. (To be honest, neither does the ACC.) I'm fairly confident Vandy could win the Big East title most years, and my Kentucky Wildcats would be an ACC championship contender.

Speaking of the Wildcats, I think a fourth-straight bowl appearance is possible. We should win Saturday in Cincy against Miami (OH), then beat Loserville, EKU, UL-Monroe, Mississippi State and Vandy, with a decent shot to take at least one of these three: Tennessee, Auburn or South Carolina. I'd prefer knocking off the Vols for the first time in my lifetime, but beating The Visor would also be nice.

[jsc1953]

So is anyone going to any games tomorrow? Got any big tailgating or other traditional plans?

I'll be in Berkeley for Cal - Maryland (7 PM....nobody on the East Coast will be awake). No big plans, other than the usual first-game restocking of logowear.

[RaftPeople]

What do you want? It says 11 right there. So it's ten and eleven at once. Sort of like Jesus being 100% human and 100% divine. When you're the premier conference, academically and athletically, you get to think past the limitations of conventional logic.

As of year 2001:

Pac 10 National Championships (all sports): 311

Nearest other conference: Big 10 with 185

[wolfman]

(emphasis mine)

I think you forgot about the SEC there.


No, he said academically.

[brianjedi]

No, he said academically.

Hey, I'm not saying Auburn's "coloring inside the lines 101" classes don't bring the average down, but Vandy's actually a difficult school, and speaking as a UK grad, it's not all sunshine and rainbows in Lexington.

[jsc1953]

I think we can stipulate that every conference has at least one decent academic school, and every conference has an Arizona State.

[Oakminster]

As of year 2001:

Pac 10 National Championships (all sports): 311

Nearest other conference: Big 10 with 185

I'm sure that's very impressive for people that give a damn about field hockey. The important stat to consider is:

BCS Championships since 2006:

SEC = 3
Everybody else = 0


:D

[wolfman]

Woohoo less than 24 hours till I get my real fix. Thursdays games were only like finding an old baggie and scraping a bit together for a little hitter but only makes you jones more. The new full stash shows up tomorrow. :)

[Darth Sensitive]

College Gameday is starting!

Can't believe they picked a neutral site game though.

[wolfman]

Wow. Ohio state is not looking like a championship contender so far. The D is a sieve.

[treis]

Man what the hell is going on in this OSU-Navy game. How freaking crazy.

I agree that OSU O-Line and defense has been very lacking today. The defense can be blamed on Navy's crazy offense, but the O-line is very very troubling.

Navy looks really good. Their quarterback has a pretty good arm. With their rushing attack that makes them a little more dangerous.

[Wolverine]

I don't have anything insightful to say about the games so far. I'm just glad Michigan came out and took control from the beginning. A bowl game looks possible. GO BLUE!

[wolfman]

Yay Michigan didn't suck :)
There is an odd feeling in my heart. The crushing despair after the first game is strangely absent. I feel no reason to make excuses. I have an odd sense of positivity toward the future, I Think there is a word for that, but I can't remember things from that long ago.

I have to say I am looking forward to Pryor trying that straight-arm next week and Taylor Mays just grabbing it and ripping it completely off.

The Big Ten in general looked like shit again, and that only helps the Blue.

[gonzomax]

In the Big 10, only Illinois lost. They played Missouri out of the starting blocks. No easy task.

[Darth Sensitive]

SEC homers:

24 - 10. That is all.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

I don't have anything insightful to say about the games so far. I'm just glad Michigan came out and took control from the beginning. A bowl game looks possible. GO BLUE!

Amazing what one game can do for us, huh?

[gonzomax]

Amazing what one game can do for us, huh?

The offense really looked good. They had speed and knew how to use it. It was not normal Michigan football.

[wolfman]

And Choke-lahoma bites it a bit earlier than usual.

[Darth Sensitive]

And Choke-lahoma bites it a bit earlier than usual.

I'm only sorry that Bradford didn't stay in all game. Now the Land Run Cheaters will be making excuses all season.

[Hippy Hollow]

Really torn tonight, because my 'Horns needed the Gooners to be ranked high when we play them at the Red River (Rivalry? Shootout?). If Bradford is out for a few weeks (luckily they play some lightweights, but they play at Miami in a month) they will tank, and if one of the BCS buster teams runs the table, they'll be bitching about our strength-of-sked.

On the other hand, watching Stoops at a losing presser is always great to watch!

Kudos to Ok State for dispatching Georgia. Texas plays at Stillwater on Halloween. That's a trap game if I ever saw one.

Damn it Navy, you almost had it!!!

[Ogre]

Roll Tide!

[Darth Sensitive]

Kudos to Ok State for dispatching Georgia. Texas plays at Stillwater on Halloween. That's a trap game if I ever saw one.

How do two undefeated teams on College Gameday make for a trap game?

(Other than the fact that you always beat us. No matter how much we're up by at half. In fact, you should focus on that.)

Also - how did Malcolm Williams fare this game?

[divemaster]

SEC homers:

24 - 10. That is all.

That's the only loss the SEC took today. Maybe some other conference can say the same thing, but maybe not.

On the other hand, the ACC only won 1 game against 1-A competition. That's worse than pathetic.

[Piker]

That's the only loss the SEC took today. Maybe some other conference can say the same thing, but maybe not.

Spending twenty seconds with this newfangled internet device, it appears that the Big XII could also say the same thing.

[wolfman]

Spending twenty seconds with this newfangled internet device, it appears that the Big XII could also say the same thing.

Big 10 too. Next week things will get a real test though.

[notfrommensa]

ACC gets a "F" for its start this year.

Big 10 can't be too proud its 09 debut either. Iowa barely gets by N. Iowa. OSU nipping Navy, Illinois getting blown out by a Missouri team that lost everyone on offense last year. Minn eeking out a win against Syracuse. The Big 10 did have a few blowouts against cremepuffs. Next week should be telling as Ohio St plays USC and we will see just how good Michigan is after playing the Irish. Or it good be that they are both bad again.

The SEC lost a big game with the UGA/OKSU game. But came up big beating Virginia tech. LSU did dispatch a Washington team, that was 0-11 last year. And they had their share of blowouts.

Big XII lost a big game and won a big game and a couple of mid-tier teams beat Illinois and Wake Forest, plus they beat all the cupcakes that they are supposed to beat.

For the PAC-10, nothing real surprising, Oregon is obviously not all that is was quacked up to be.

[groan]

[jsc1953]

At a conference level, I'd say nobody was particularly impressive.

Pac-10: demerits for Oregon; brownie points for Cal crushing Maryland in a game nobody saw.
ACC: all bad.
SEC: beat who they were supposed to, no big upsets unless you count Washington - LSU as practically a loss, and I do.
Big XII: A shame about Bradford.
Big 10: probably the 3 worst victories of the day (OSU, Minn, Iowa).

Did the Big East play?

Probably the conferences that came out ahead were the WAC and the Mountain West.

[wolfman]

I feel sorry for Boise State. Unless they can jump into the top 8 this week(which I just don't see happening regardless) they won't make the championship game again. And I doubt they will be able to schedule any serious competition in the near future because everybody is going to be scared to play them.

[BobLibDem]

Let's see now, the SEC goes 10-1 and that's proof of their incredible awesomeness. The Big Ten goes 10-1 and that's proof that they suck verily. Right.

[FoieGrasIsEvil]

Let's see now, the SEC goes 10-1 and that's proof of their incredible awesomeness. The Big Ten goes 10-1 and that's proof that they suck verily. Right.

I think that you can look deeper into that assertion in recent years to qualify the SEC as the superior conference over the Big Ten, in terms of championship wins, bowl appearances as well as the general decline of once-powerhouse teams like Michigan.

Yeah, that's the ticket, it's all Michigan's fault!

:D

[Carmady]

The Mountain West looks good again.

Not surprising after Utah won the national championship last year with an undefeated season and demolishing Alabama in the title game.

Would have liked to see them beat Florida instead, but Florida lost earlier and didn't make the game.

[notfrommensa]

The Mountain West looks good again.

Not surprising after Utah won the national championship last year with an undefeated season and demolishing Alabama in the title game.

Would have liked to see them beat Florida instead, but Florida lost earlier and didn't make the game.

Perhaps you forgot that Bama was 0-2 after Dec 1, 2008.

[Carmady]

Perhaps you forgot that Bama was 0-2 after Dec 1, 2008.

Eh. Both Florida and Alabama had one loss, and Alabama beat the team that beat Florida.

I would have put Florida in the title game, but the voters disagreed.

Anyway, Utah went undefeated, dominated the championship game, and is on an amazing 15 game winning streak including their 2008 title.

[BobLibDem]

I think that you can look deeper into that assertion in recent years to qualify the SEC as the superior conference over the Big Ten, in terms of championship wins, bowl appearances as well as the general decline of once-powerhouse teams like Michigan.

Yeah, that's the ticket, it's all Michigan's fault!

:D

Meh. The SEC has a built in advantage in that the pollsters are in their corner. Remember last year Penn State losing to Iowa? Right away, it was assumed that Penn State was out of the title game. Why? Because they're from the Big Ten. Big Ten teams need to go unbeaten to make it to the big show. If you're Alabama and lose a game, you drop maybe 3 spots and get them back the next week. So now on the evidence of going 10-1 in opening week, it's open season on the Big Ten again. We may be the leaders and best, but it's too much to ask for perfection.

[zamboniracer]

Meh. The SEC has a built in advantage in that the pollsters are in their corner. Remember last year Penn State losing to Iowa? Right away, it was assumed that Penn State was out of the title game. Why? Because they're from the Big Ten. Big Ten teams need to go unbeaten to make it to the big show. If you're Alabama and lose a game, you drop maybe 3 spots and get them back the next week. So now on the evidence of going 10-1 in opening week, it's open season on the Big Ten again. We may be the leaders and best, but it's too much to ask for perfection.

That's all true, but there's more than that. The SEC's advantage is that it hardly ever goes out of its territory to play, even for bowl games (Georgia's recent trip to Okla State and LSU's to Washington being two rare exceptions). The Big 10 needs to have some BCS games played in northern domes like in Minnesota or Indianapolis.

[wolfman]

That's all true, but there's more than that. The SEC's advantage is that it hardly ever goes out of its territory to play,

That's because they are maintaining their proud legacy of never leaving the south, because it used to be when you headed north or east them teams actually played negroes and beat you.

[FoieGrasIsEvil]

Meh. The SEC has a built in advantage in that the pollsters are in their corner. Remember last year Penn State losing to Iowa? Right away, it was assumed that Penn State was out of the title game. Why? Because they're from the Big Ten. Big Ten teams need to go unbeaten to make it to the big show. If you're Alabama and lose a game, you drop maybe 3 spots and get them back the next week. So now on the evidence of going 10-1 in opening week, it's open season on the Big Ten again. We may be the leaders and best, but it's too much to ask for perfection.

I think in your example it had more to do with Penn State sucking in recent previous years than them being in the Big Ten so the expectation of them having a good team was shakier and therefore the early fall was greater with a first game loss. The polls are opinions.

That's because they are maintaining their proud legacy of never leaving the south, because it used to be when you headed north or east them teams actually played negroes and beat you.

Please. The SEC doesn't need to expand much scheduling outside their base because there's so much quality competition from within.

[jsc1953]

To give credit where credit is due, Tennessee has played home-and-home with 2 Pac-10 teams recently (the fact that they lost both road games may mean we'll never see that happen again, of course...) and Georgia did just go to Oklahoma State and Arizona State. But yes, they are the exceptions that prove the rule.

[Hippy Hollow]

How do two undefeated teams on College Gameday make for a trap game?

(Other than the fact that you always beat us. No matter how much we're up by at half. In fact, you should focus on that.)

Also - how did Malcolm Williams fare this game?

Yeah, but it's the same scenario as us vs. Texas Tech last year. We beat o.u., just needed to win out... Tech promised to be a challenge but a game we should be able to win. It was a night game in Lubbock, a couple of weird injuries, and Texas came out flat... they got it together, and it came down to the last play, but honestly, Texas was underwhelming for the first two and a half quarters.

Last year in Austin, we kind of played Ok State the same way. They were in it until the third quarter. It was almost as if Texas didn't take them that seriously. I doubt that mistake will be made again, but who knows?

Much respect for your appreciation of the Cowpokes, but I think Texas can (and should) beat them 9 times out of 10... and it would be great to get that "let 'em get ahead by 28, then come back in the 4th for the victory" gameplan out of the rotation. Mike Gundy is a goon but I kind of feel for the guy after these losses. He may be a man and he may be 40, but that kind of stress will age you quick. :)

Mal Williams had a decent game but the real story was Jordan Shipley - had about 185 yards receiving, one on a 78 yard bomb. John Chiles and Dan Buckner had nice catches as well. We even saw Marquise Goodwin, who apparently holds some junior world record for the high jump... a real burner. Texas has no tight end but an embarrassment of riches in the receiving corps. I'm most excited about D.J. Monroe, who returned a punt for a TD and might be the solution to our running back issue at the moment...

[Frosted Glass]

I am having a lot of trouble stomaching this game between Cincinnati and Rutgers but I am glad that the season has started anyway.

Rutgers actually looks like they have some surprisingly decent offensive talent. Their O-line is great at making space for the running game. Several running plays that should have been blown up in the backfield ended up as 8+ yd gains for first downs. They also gave 5th yr Sr Natale plenty of room to hang himself. I am happy that the true freshman QB Savage, put together a nice drive. It seems as if he will settle in nicely and I am perfectly content watching a solid player evolve and improve the program overall.

There were a lot of great games this weekend and now I expect to see a lot out of BYU, Boise St. and Navy throughout the year in addition to the teams I already knew to look out for.

[FoieGrasIsEvil]

I am having a lot of trouble stomaching this game between Cincinnati and Rutgers but I am glad that the season has started anyway.

Rutgers actually looks like they have some surprisingly decent offensive talent. Their O-line is great at making space for the running game. Several running plays that should have been blown up in the backfield ended up as 8+ yd gains for first downs. They also gave 5th yr Sr Natale plenty of room to hang himself. I am happy that the true freshman QB Savage, put together a nice drive. It seems as if he will settle in nicely and I am perfectly content watching a solid player evolve and improve the program overall.

There were a lot of great games this weekend and now I expect to see a lot out of BYU, Boise St. and Navy throughout the year in addition to the teams I already knew to look out for.

Why are you having "trouble stomaching the game"? UC destroyed Rutgers, and (I am not a UC fan but live around Cincy) UC is a program on the rise. Why is it so surprising?

It's the same situation as when Kentucky obliterated Miami of Ohio, pretty much, except that Rutgers is "supposed" to be "better than that".

The Cincy tristate football programs that were once rollover wins are now gaining prominence. Out with the old, in with the new. Shit, UC went to the Orange Bowl last year and UK, once the whipping boy of the SEC has been to four straight bowl games! Again, why are you having trouble swallowing the outcome?

[jsc1953]

Miami - Florida State. One of those "maybe a meteor will hit the stadium" games, like USC - Stanford.

No offense, of course.

[FoieGrasIsEvil]

Miami - Florida State. One of those "maybe a meteor will hit the stadium" games, like USC - Stanford.

No offense, of course.

Neither of which play in the SEC so therefore, blech.

;)

[Darth Sensitive]

Yeah, but it's the same scenario as us vs. Texas Tech last year. We beat o.u., just needed to win out... Tech promised to be a challenge but a game we should be able to win. It was a night game in Lubbock, a couple of weird injuries, and Texas came out flat... they got it together, and it came down to the last play, but honestly, Texas was underwhelming for the first two and a half quarters.

Last year in Austin, we kind of played Ok State the same way. They were in it until the third quarter. It was almost as if Texas didn't take them that seriously. I doubt that mistake will be made again, but who knows?

Much respect for your appreciation of the Cowpokes, but I think Texas can (and should) beat them 9 times out of 10... and it would be great to get that "let 'em get ahead by 28, then come back in the 4th for the victory" gameplan out of the rotation. Mike Gundy is a goon but I kind of feel for the guy after these losses. He may be a man and he may be 40, but that kind of stress will age you quick. :)

Mal Williams had a decent game but the real story was Jordan Shipley - had about 185 yards receiving, one on a 78 yard bomb. John Chiles and Dan Buckner had nice catches as well. We even saw Marquise Goodwin, who apparently holds some junior world record for the high jump... a real burner. Texas has no tight end but an embarrassment of riches in the receiving corps. I'm most excited about D.J. Monroe, who returned a punt for a TD and might be the solution to our running back issue at the moment...

Williams went to my high school and has rather impressed me in the few games I've seen him in. I think that if we're leading at halftime come Halloween, the players should just take a seat in the endzone and do their gatorade there.

(Though Gundy turned 42 a few weeks ago) :D

[treis]

Wow this UM FSU game is incredible

[treis]

Sad to see it end that way. That guy is going to be kicking himself for years for not catching that.

[Frosted Glass]

Why are you having "trouble stomaching the game"? UC destroyed Rutgers, and (I am not a UC fan but live around Cincy) UC is a program on the rise. Why is it so surprising?

I wouldn't necessarily say that the game was particularly surprising but, being a fan of Rutgers, it was not easy to sit through a game that more closely resembled Rutgers football before Schiano came to Piscataway.

I am glad that I got to watch the entire Miami-Fl State game. That was insane and a great way to finish a great weekend of football. Now I can't wait for USC-OSU this weekend.

[Labrador Deceiver]

To give credit where credit is due, Tennessee has played home-and-home with 2 Pac-10 teams recently (the fact that they lost both road games may mean we'll never see that happen again, of course...) and Georgia did just go to Oklahoma State and Arizona State. But yes, they are the exceptions that prove the rule.

And Auburn went to USC, and Arkansas went to Texas, and Tennessee went to Notre Dame, and Alabama went to Oklahoma, and Ole Miss went to Missouri, and... wait, what were we talking about again?

[mkecane]

It's great to be a Miami Hurricane!

What a game by Jacory Harris! FSU was a lot better than I expected. I knew the Canes were going to a have a great offense this year, but didn't expect as much from the Noles. Man, I'm on such a high. This is the first time since 2000 where both teams played well. There have been a lot of close games since then, but not that weren't sloppy by one of or both the teams. 10 days to rest and get ready for GT and the triple option. I love cfb!

[zamboniracer]

And Auburn went to USC, and Arkansas went to Texas, and Tennessee went to Notre Dame, and Alabama went to Oklahoma, and Ole Miss went to Missouri, and... wait, what were we talking about again?

We were talking about how insulated the SEC has historically been, except for a very few exceptions already mentioned here. Florida played at UCLA in 1958 too, but that's the last time they ventured out of their territory and that's too long ago.

[jsc1953]

We were talking about how insulated the SEC has historically been, except for a very few exceptions already mentioned here. Florida played at UCLA in 1958 too, but that's the last time they ventured out of their territory and that's too long ago.

Yeah, if you can count on both hands the number of BCS-level road games a team has played in the past 50 years....we may have an issue.

On the other hand, Cal went to Tennessee in 2006, Maryland in 2008, and goes to Minnesota next week.

[notfrommensa]

Florida played at UCLA in 1958 too, but that's the last time they ventured out of their territory and that's too long ago.




FTR, UF had a home/home with USC in 1982/1983.

Florida has two big time out of conference rivals that it plays frequently. They play FSU every year and they have played Miami 3 times this century int he regular season.

Teams that don't have natural in-state out of conference rivals have an easier time scheduling National games than teams that do.

[Labrador Deceiver]

We were talking about how insulated the SEC has historically been, except for a very few exceptions already mentioned here. Florida played at UCLA in 1958 too, but that's the last time they ventured out of their territory and that's too long ago.

You'd actually have a point if I wasn't talking about the last couple of years.

[notfrommensa]

Doing some more research, Florida played at Syracuse in September, 1991 and played at Houston in September 1979, At Georgia Tech in 1978 and 1980,

[RancidYakButterTeaParty]

As a life-long Ohio State fan, it pains me to say that I think USC is going to destroy us. Our offensive line is horrible, and that will be the key to the game. As talented as Pryor is, he can't do everything on his own.

I also don't see much hope for stopping USC's running game--which I think is often overlooked. Joe McKnight is probably the best back in college football, and you never hear him get much play in the national media.

OSU's only chance to win is to stop McKnight and protect Pryor.

[divemaster]

You'd actually have a point if I wasn't talking about the last couple of years.

No kidding. Someone up thread actually mentioned teams playing against "negroes." We're not in the 60s folks. The old canard about "the SEC doesn't travel" is just that--old.

Sure, no SEC team can play a traveling road show like a Notre Dame or a mid-major can--there's just too much brutal conference play. But most SEC teams are making a non-conference effort within the past 5 years.

Originally Posted by Labrador Deceiver
And Auburn went to USC, and Arkansas went to Texas, and Tennessee went to Notre Dame, and Alabama went to Oklahoma, and Ole Miss went to Missouri, and... wait, what were we talking about again?

And LSU went to Arizona to play Arizona. And to Arizona to play Arizona St. And to Washington to play Washington.

In fact, LSU's record against the PAC-10 last 10 games? 10-0. Overall non-conference record the last 20 games? 20-0. And that includes bowl game smash-downs against Notre Dame, Miami, Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, and Ohio State.

[jsc1953]

Sure, no SEC team can play a traveling road show like a Notre Dame or a mid-major can--there's just too much brutal conference play. But most SEC teams are making a non-conference effort within the past 5 years.


I really don't want to derail this wonderful thread into a conference pissing match, so I'll just get in the last word, then we'll move on: ;)

There is some circular logic in the SEC rationale.

1. We can't play good teams OOC because we're so powerful
2. We're so powerful because so many of our teams are highly ranked
3. We're so highly ranked because of our great OOC W-L record
Go to #1 and repeat.

If you play 4 cupcakes, + Vandy, Miss St and Kentucky...it's not hard to get to a bowl game.

But I will acknowledge that there is some recent movement towards decent OOC matchups involving SEC teams, wandering more than one zip code away from home.

[zamboniracer]

Here's an interesting article dated 9/5/09 by David Whitley re Florida's reluctance to venture out of the Swamp:

Florida's cupcake diet should make Gators' fans sick (http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/06/floridas-cupcake-diet-should-make-gators-fans-sick/)

I liked this passage:

Since World War II (the Gators) have played 10 -- yes 10 -- road games against non-conference teams. And it's not as if the home schedule has been laden with Michigans and Penn States . Though there have been plenty of Eastern Michigans and New Mexico States .

All this comes with one qualifier. We're excluding Florida State, simply because the Gators have to play the Seminoles. Even then, it took a threat from the state legislature for Florida to start playing FSU in 1958.

If the Gators could get out of that one now, they would. Just as they ducked out of their series with Miami in the early 1980s.

That earned Florida the nickname "Chicken Gators." I don't think Florida's scared to play anybody. It's just more, shall we say, risk-averse than most big-time schools.

[Munch]

Since some in here are doing some research, is there any chance you could look up what the most recent SDMB college football thread was that didn't devolve into an SEC/Big 10 bitch fest? :)

[jsc1953]

Since some in here are doing some research, is there any chance you could look up what the most recent SDMB college football thread was that didn't devolve into an SEC/Big 10 bitch fest? :)

Yeah, let's nip this in the bud.

My headlines for the weekend:

SI Cover Jinx Strikes Oregon
Michigan, Notre Dame Don't Suck as Much as Last Year
BYU? Really?
Best Team in the ACC Loses (note: it's debatable as to whether VT or GT is better...that's why we play the games)
Ohio State, Iowa and Minnesota Hang on to the last Shreds of Big 10 Dignity
SEC Teams other than bama Beat Up Crippled Kids and Take Their Lunch Money

[notfrommensa]

10 games? since 1945?

Its probably not very many but I think it is more than 10 games.

As I pointed out previously:

GT in 1978, 1980
USC in 1983
Syra in 1991
NC State 1947, 1966, 1975
UNC in 1946 and 1968
UCLA in 1958
Miami about 20 times

[jsc1953]

10 games? since 1945?

Its probably not very many but I think it is more than 10 games.

As I pointed out previously:

GT in 1978, 1980
USC in 1983
Syra in 1991
NC State 1947, 1966, 1975
UNC in 1946 and 1968
UCLA in 1958
Miami about 20 times

Maybe he only included games outside the South? If nobody can confirm this online, I've got a CFB Encyclopedia at home that'll have the facts.

[notfrommensa]

Maybe he only included games outside the South? If nobody can confirm this online, I've got a CFB Encyclopedia at home that'll have the facts.

The article excluded Florida State only. There has been 22 UF/Miami games in Miami since 1945.

They also played @Tulane in 1967 and 1982, after Tulane left the SEC.

[Cyberhwk]

Since some in here are doing some research, is there any chance you could look up what the most recent SDMB college football thread was that didn't devolve into an SEC/Big 10 bitch fest? :)

The following errors occurred with your search:

1. Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms.

;)

[Labrador Deceiver]

If you play 4 cupcakes, + Vandy, Miss St and Kentucky...it's not hard to get to a bowl game.



I'd be pleased if you could point out a team & season where this was the case. 4 OOC cupcakes, plus Vandy, Miss St, & UK (2 of which were bowl eligible last year, by the way). After that, you could point to several more, since you are implying that it is common.

Anyway, that's a damn fine looking strawman you've got with you in the stands. Damn fine.

[jsc1953]

Every conference has 3 teams that won't be bowl eligible. If you beat those 3, plus you schedule 3 guaranteed-beatable OOC games....ta da. Instant winning record.

[Labrador Deceiver]

Every conference has 3 teams that won't be bowl eligible. If you beat those 3, plus you schedule 3 guaranteed-beatable OOC games....ta da. Instant winning record.

UGA played Arizona State & Georgia Tech OOC last year, and only 2 teams that were not bowl eligible within the conference. That is 3 fewer easy wins than you listed in your original scenario. The same can be said for several other SEC teams last year.

Fact is, none of the top SEC teams from the past several years were playing 4 OOC cupcakes. You can keep saying it, and saying it, and saying it, but it will continue to be wrong.

[LonghornDave]

Mal Williams had a decent game but the real story was Jordan Shipley - had about 185 yards receiving, one on a 78 yard bomb. John Chiles and Dan Buckner had nice catches as well. We even saw Marquise Goodwin, who apparently holds some junior world record for the high jump... a real burner. Texas has no tight end but an embarrassment of riches in the receiving corps. I'm most excited about D.J. Monroe, who returned a punt for a TD and might be the solution to our running back issue at the moment...

Malcom Williams basically no-showed. He had one catch in the game to continue his under achieving ways. It's sad that someone as talented as him is such a non-factor in almost every game. You must have confused him with someone else (maybe Buckner) when you said he had a decent game.

Also, Monroe returned a kickoff not a punt. He apparently has trouble fielding punts so don't expect to see him doing so this year.

[jsc1953]

UGA played Arizona State & Georgia Tech OOC last year, and only 2 teams that were not bowl eligible within the conference. That is 3 fewer easy wins than you listed in your original scenario. The same can be said for several other SEC teams last year.

Fact is, none of the top SEC teams from the past several years were playing 4 OOC cupcakes. You can keep saying it, and saying it, and saying it, but it will continue to be wrong.

OK, here's what I'm talking about, and then let's let it go.

Florida's 2009 schedule:

OOC: Charleston Southern, Troy, Florida Int'l, Florida State. That's 3 cupcakes, and a bran muffin.

Conference schedule includes 2 teams that were 6-6 last year and 3 teams that were below .500. The "tough games" on their slate are Georgia (9-3) and LSU and So Carolina (both 7-5).

But so I'm not just picking on the SEC, here's the same deal with Penn State:

OOC: Akron, Syracuse, Temple, Eastern Illinois. Give me a break.

Conference schedule: 3 sub-.500 teams from last year (Illinois, Mich, Indiana). The best teams on their schedule this year are Ohio State (10-2), Northwestern?? (9-3) and Iowa (8-4).

[BobLibDem]

Conference schedule: 3 sub-.500 teams from last year (Illinois, Mich, Indiana). The best teams on their schedule this year are Ohio State (10-2), Northwestern?? (9-3) and Iowa (8-4).


Hey, now! You're forgetting my Michigan State Spartans at 9-4 in 2008!

[jsc1953]

Purely an oversight. Go Sparty.

[BobLibDem]

Purely an oversight. Go Sparty.

Thanks. Though one of those losses was in the Bay area last year. A winnable game against a decent Cal team.

[jsc1953]

I was there. You guys never had a prayer. ;)

[Labrador Deceiver]

OK, here's what I'm talking about, and then let's let it go.

Florida's 2009 schedule:

OOC: Charleston Southern, Troy, Florida Int'l, Florida State. That's 3 cupcakes, and a bran muffin.

Conference schedule includes 2 teams that were 6-6 last year and 3 teams that were below .500. The "tough games" on their slate are Georgia (9-3) and LSU and So Carolina (both 7-5).

But so I'm not just picking on the SEC, here's the same deal with Penn State:

OOC: Akron, Syracuse, Temple, Eastern Illinois. Give me a break.

Conference schedule: 3 sub-.500 teams from last year (Illinois, Mich, Indiana). The best teams on their schedule this year are Ohio State (10-2), Northwestern?? (9-3) and Iowa (8-4).

Florida is an excellent example from your perspective, to be sure. That being said, they & the SEC in general aren't scheduling any more cupcakes than any other conference. That is my point - not that their OOC scheduling is tougher.

[notfrommensa]

Every conference has 3 teams that won't be bowl eligible. If you beat those 3, plus you schedule 3 guaranteed-beatable OOC games....ta da. Instant winning record.


That is wrong in three ways.

(1) 3 + 3 = 6 and they play 12 games. That is a guaranteed .500 record, but not a winning record.

(2) ACC had 10 out of 12 bowl eligible teams last year and would have had 11 if Virginia had beaten Va Tech in the last regular season game. (there was a lot of parity in the ACC last year)

(3) And just because there might be 3 non-bowl eligible teams in your conference, does not mean that your team will play them all. The three major 12 team conferences (Big XII, SEC, ACC) all play 8 conference games so there are three teams within the conference that a team will not play. It would be an anomaly in the schedule to play all three teams.

[jsc1953]

You can go to a bowl game with a 6-6 record.

And that "anomaly" is exactly what happened to Florida this year. Thanks to the split conference, they get 3 sub-500 teams, and miss Ole Miss and Bama. No wonder they're a unanimous pick to go to the BCSNCG -- their second string could go 11-1.

But conference scheduling is what it is; no one can blame a team for how their conference schedule works out (although I will take this opportunity to trumpet the Pac-10's round robin. Everybody plays everybody, so this conversation does not happen.)

But you can fault a team for their OOC schedule.

[notfrommensa]

Yes, A 6-6 record is bowl eligible but it is not a winning record.


and miss Ole Miss and Bama.

The SEC Champioship game may take care of that: Chances are if Florida runs the table, they will either play Bama, or Ole Miss in the SEC championship game or play LSU a second time.

You need to trumpet the Big East conference as well they play a round robin too.

As I indicated in above post, Florida's OOC is somewhat hampered by the fact they play a home/home series with FSU every year. And they play Miami in a home and home fairly often.

Teams that have natural rivalries with in-state OOC opponents do not have as many opportunties to play a national game.

[jsc1953]

OK...here's Florida's OOC road games from 1946 - 2004, not counting Miami.

The amazing thing is that for most of these years, Florida played 8 or 9 homes games.

Note: Georgia Tech was in the SEC from 1933 to 1973, so they don't count as an OOC road game.

1946: North Carolina
1947: NC State
1948: Furman
1949: Tulsa
1950: none
1951: Loyola-Marymount
1952: none
1953: Rice
1954: Rice
1955: none
1956: none
1957: none
1958: UCLA (whoa!)
1959: Rice
1960: none
1961: Rice
1962: none
1963: none
1964: Florida State
1965: Northwestern
1966: Florida State, NC State
1967: none
1968: Florida State, North Carolina
1969: none
1970: Florida State
1971: none
1972: Florida State
1973: none
1974: Florida State
1975: NC State
1976: Florida State
1977: Rice
1978: Georgia Tech, Florida State
1979: Houston
1980: Georgia Tech, Florida State
1981: none
1982: Tulane
1983: USC (whoa!)
1984: Florida State
1985: none
1986: Florida State
1987: none
1988: Florida State
1989: Memphis
1990: Florida State
1991: Syracuse
1992: Florida State
1993: none
1994: Florida State
1995: none
1996: Florida State
1997: none
1998: Florida State
1999: none
2000: Florida State
2001: none
2002: Florida State
2003: none
2004: Florida State

So in 59 years, they've ventured out of state 22 times. They've ventured out of the South 6 times (and that's counting Tulsa).

[notfrommensa]

FTR, Ga Tech became Independent in 1964.

what happened in years 2005-2008?

And why did you leave out Miami? There are 22 road games with Miami.

Most of those years they played 8 or 9 home games? Are you counting the neutral field of Jacksonville Gator Bowl (vs UGA) a home game? I can assure you, it is not a home game.

[notfrommensa]

Since 1990, UF played at the most 7 games in Gainesville

Michigan, on the other hand, has played as many as 8 games in Ann Arbor.

[jsc1953]

FTR, Ga Tech became Independent in 1964.

what happened in years 2005-2008?

And why did you leave out Miami? There are 22 road games with Miami.

Most of those years they played 8 or 9 home games? Are you counting the neutral field of Jacksonville Gator Bowl (vs UGA) a home game? I can assure you, it is not a home game.

My encyclopedia stops at 2004.

I left out Miami because the author of the original article blasting Florida also left out Miami, and came up with 10 road games. I wanted to see if that was right, and it wasn't.

The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party may not be a home game for Florida, but it's not a home game for Georgia, either.

And just for comparison purposes: in the same time span Cal went out of state OOC 64 times. (yes, Cal has an additional opportunity because they don't have a traditional OOC rival. But that's precisely the point. Florida has wrapped themselves in a very comfortable cocoon of Florida State, Miami, and one visitor.)

[ReuvenB]

This may sound strange, but does anyone have a recording of the Ga Tech - Clemson game? Me and my roommate got hit by the game winning field goal, and I was hoping someone had a screencap, maybe from the ESPN HD coverage.

[wolfman]

Since 1990, UF played at the most 7 games in Gainesville

Michigan, on the other hand, has played as many as 8 games in Ann Arbor.

Yeah, and as Michigan fan it makes me sad. Due to the economy the football team has pretty much been told they are going to fund the entire athletic department. They were looking for an opener next year for the stadium grand reopening. The school budget is based on an 8 home game season now. They were trying to find a top opponent who wouldn't require a return game. They screwed around so long negotiating they ended up with UConn. Technically a big six school, but a weak ass one, and they still have to play the return game.

[notfrommensa]

My encyclopedia stops at 2004.

I left out Miami because the author of the original article blasting Florida also left out Miami, and came up with 10 road games. I wanted to see if that was right, and it wasn't.

The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party may not be a home game for Florida, but it's not a home game for Georgia, either.

And just for comparison purposes: in the same time span Cal went out of state OOC 64 times. (yes, Cal has an additional opportunity because they don't have a traditional OOC rival. But that's precisely the point. Florida has wrapped themselves in a very comfortable cocoon of Florida State, Miami, and one visitor.)


I think the original article excluded FSU, not Miami.

West Coast teams are going to have to go out of their 500 mile radius simply because there are not as many teams out West as there are in the East. There are 11 BCS schools in west of the Kansas/Colorado Border. Colorado + the PAC10. I figure that there are 18 BCS schools within 500 miles of Atlanta (GT, UGA, UF, FSU, Aub, Bama, Miss St, Ole Miss, Vandy, TN, UK, Va Tech, Wake, Duke, UNC, NC State, Clemson, USCarolina. Virginia might be within 500 miles and LSU is definitely within 600 miles.

[wolfman]

Ohhh yeah, suck it ND bitches The game that wasn't against USC that you thought you could never lose. :) Go Blue, Haill the the victors baby, I said HAIL!

A Little bit drunk, and between parties, I will return with more incredible insights later.

[notfrommensa]

Will Charlie Weis get fired before the end of the season?

I thought he did a terrible job in this game. Clausen was spot on with passes and Weis keeps calling low percentage bombs down the sidelines.

Time management on Notre Dame last possession was terrible (next to last if you want to get technical).

[BobLibDem]

Damn. My Spartans will not make the title game this year. They're from the caste in which they'd have to be 12-0 to get in, and then only if fairer-haired teams have at least 2 losses. At least they lost to an NFL quarterback.

Kudos to Michigan for knocking off the Irish. Also to Houston for beating Okie State. Still pulling for Big Ten to go 10-1 again.

[kidchameleon]

The ND linebackers were calling UM stupid for starting a freshman QB. Who's the stupid one now? Forcier had his way with them.

[gonzomax]

Yeah, and as Michigan fan it makes me sad. Due to the economy the football team has pretty much been told they are going to fund the entire athletic department. They were looking for an opener next year for the stadium grand reopening. The school budget is based on an 8 home game season now. They were trying to find a top opponent who wouldn't require a return game. They screwed around so long negotiating they ended up with UConn. Technically a big six school, but a weak ass one, and they still have to play the return game.

A lot of the lesser opponents Michigan schedules make more a lot of money playing in the bighouse., more than they would if Mich. played them away.
Mussberger is doing the USC v Ohio State game. He could make a meth freak nod off.

[Darth Sensitive]

Poke choke :(

[FoieGrasIsEvil]

UK Wildcats are finally a legit football team. Yay.

Maybe we can no longer be called the "basketball team playing in a football conference".

[wolfman]

A lot of the lesser opponents Michigan schedules make more a lot of money playing in the bighouse., more than they would if Mich. played them away.
Mussberger is doing the USC v Ohio State game. He could make a meth freak nod off.

Yeah, it is a pure decision on both sides, they make a lot more on the buy-out and Michigan makes way more that they would have in an away game, but they do end up with an absurd number of home games because of the directives of the regents and the legislature.

As the worlds biggest Michigan fan I can't try to hide dismiss away that factor behind their record.

[Ogre]

Roll Tide.

[jsc1953]

The cover story on Sports Illustrated's CFB Preview issue was teams that could surprise everyone and make their way into a BCS bowl. They put out regional covers, and the 3 teams they put on the cover were (I think...): Oregon, Oklahoma State and Georgia Tech.

2 jinxed teams down, 1 to go....

[TheFifthYear]

Amazing day of football. Hard to get up for the NFL...it just can't compete (still looking forward to Chicago-GB tonight, though).

My Badgers pulled out a great win against a tough Fresno squad. After a week of battling Swine Flu and with a few key players still feeling the effects, they showed a lot of character to come back from being down two TDs early. Good sign for a young team.

Really looking forward to seeing Fresno and Boise State this Friday. I was pretty impressed by Fresno. They're almost always solid, and they have some really good skill players and a great DE. If their QB learns when to put some zip on the ball and stops under throwing people, they could give anyone fits.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

Amazing day of football. Hard to get up for the NFL...it just can't compete (still looking forward to Chicago-GB tonight, though).

My Badgers pulled out a great win against a tough Fresno squad. After a week of battling Swine Flu and with a few key players still feeling the effects, they showed a lot of character to come back from being down two TDs early. Good sign for a young team.

Really looking forward to seeing Fresno and Boise State this Friday. I was pretty impressed by Fresno. They're almost always solid, and they have some really good skill players and a great DE. If their QB learns when to put some zip on the ball and stops under throwing people, they could give anyone fits.


"Hard to get up for the NFL"? That's just crazy talk.

[jsc1953]

"Hard to get up for the NFL"? That's just crazy talk.

I dunno...on my college message board we took an informal poll, and there were darn few people excited about the NFL -- overwhelming preference for CFB (of course the sample was extremely skewed, but still you'd think you'd get some overlap). It probably doesn't help that the local NFL teams are the 49ers and the Raiders, though. :)

[TheFifthYear]

I like the NFL--I like all football--but the NFL is a distant second to college in terms of my interest. There were at least three games yesterday that I was more excited for than the biggest NFL game today (go Bears).

[notfrommensa]

The cover story on Sports Illustrated's CFB Preview issue was teams that could surprise everyone and make their way into a BCS bowl. They put out regional covers, and the 3 teams they put on the cover were (I think...): Oregon, Oklahoma State and Georgia Tech.

2 jinxed teams down, 1 to go....

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. That's my alma mater you are talking about. If Tech is is any good at all, they should have no problem with the ACC this year. That conference looks to be awful this year. Except maybe for Va Tech.

Ga Tech joined the ACC back in the early 80's. Since then, FSU, Va Tech, Miami, and Boston College have joined the conference. These are all typically the class football teams of the conference.

[RaftPeople]

I like the NFL--I like all football--but the NFL is a distant second to college in terms of my interest. There were at least three games yesterday that I was more excited for than the biggest NFL game today (go Bears).

I feel the same way. To me, it seems like there is too much talent in the NFL (I know that sounds weird). In college there is a pretty wide variety of talent and matchups in each game that makes for a lot of unexpected play, big plays, etc. The NFL feels more conservative and predictable.

[gonzomax]

"Hard to get up for the NFL"? That's just crazy talk.

Two words....Detroit Lions.

[jsc1953]

I guess it's too early to tell who's good, who's surprising, who could make a run. All we know so far is that Florida, Texas and Cal can thump inferior competition; and that Notre Dame, tOSU and Oklahoma State aren't going undefeated.

Oh, I guess we know that USC is good, but I think we already knew that. Or at least they're good enough to overcome having a true frosh QB.

[jsc1953]

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. That's my alma mater you are talking about.

Not to worry, nfm -- my recollection was faulty, and Georgia Tech is off the hook. The 4 (not 3) regional covers on SI, were Oregon, Oklahoma State, Penn State and Ole Miss. So you're safe from the jinx.

[Labrador Deceiver]

It isn't unusual for the football team to fund the rest of the Athletic Department.

UGA has been the most profitable departments in the country over multiple years, and we usually have six home games, sometimes seven.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

I dunno...on my college message board we took an informal poll, and there were darn few people excited about the NFL -- overwhelming preference for CFB (of course the sample was extremely skewed, but still you'd think you'd get some overlap). It probably doesn't help that the local NFL teams are the 49ers and the Raiders, though. :)

I still don't get it. I greatly prefer pro football.

[Labrador Deceiver]

I still don't get it. I greatly prefer pro football.

Oh Lord. That is another train wreck for another thread.

[gonzomax]

Oh Lord. That is another train wreck for another thread.

As high school football relates to college football, so college relates to pro. Every step up is a better game, better athletes and fewer mistakes. The game gets more complicated and interesting as you elevate. I am sure someone likes pee wee football. It is not me.
Why go watch a world series game when a good T-ball game is at the park,

[RaftPeople]

As high school football relates to college football, so college relates to pro. Every step up is a better game, better athletes and fewer mistakes. The game gets more complicated and interesting as you elevate. I am sure someone likes pee wee football. It is not me.


It's true that pro is better as in fewer mistakes, more talent etc. but that doesn't necessarily translate into more entertaining. For example, I enjoy watching dual threat quarterbacks but they just aren't effective in the nfl (aside from the fact that they don't want their qb running). At the college level there are a lot of fun quarterbacks to watch, makes for exciting games and exciting plays.

[ElvisL1ves]

Michigan..screwed around so long negotiating they ended up with UConn. Technically a big six school, but a weak ass one, and they still have to play the return game.
UConn has gone to bowls the last couple of years. It won't be that easy. Neither will Bowling Green later on.

UMass has looked surprisingly good so far, nearly taking out K-State in this year's guarantee game (3 CAA teams won theirs, and 2 more came close). The new just-transferred-in QB, Kyle Havens, is making us forget Liam Coen already, and he'll be around next year too. Point being, it could be App State all over again in the Big House on 9/19/10.

Plus, the UMass marching band is a better than Michigan's, and they're going to be there too (That's not just the pride of the daddy of their trombone section leader talking, either). So the Wolverines are looking at losing halftime too, not just the game. ;)

[BobLibDem]

Well, here in Spartyland we're getting pumped for the Notre Dame game. MSU hasn't lost in South Bend since 1993. Big question: If the Irish lose Saturday, will this be the beginning of the end for coach Jackie Gleason- I mean Charlie Weiss? They gave away a winnable game in Ann Arbor by mismanaging the clock, will Irish fans and alums sit by and watch Charlie continue to run the team into the ground?

[jsc1953]

Given the billboard in South Bend referring to Weiss' 5 year apprenticeship...I'd say there's some grumbling going on amongst the faithful. Conventional wisdom was that ND had such a manageable schedule this year, they could stumble into a BCS bowl. Any more losses and that's out the window (and you have to think there's no way they beat USC).

How long have Mich State and ND been playing each other?

[BobLibDem]

How long have Mich State and ND been playing each other?

The series has been pretty regular:
1897-99, 1902-03, 1905-06, 1909-10, 1916-21, 1948-52, 1954-57, 1959-94, 1997-2009. There will be another two year break again, then another long stretch of playing each other.

[gonzomax]

UConn has gone to bowls the last couple of years. It won't be that easy. Neither will Bowling Green later on.

UMass has looked surprisingly good so far, nearly taking out K-State in this year's guarantee game (3 CAA teams won theirs, and 2 more came close). The new just-transferred-in QB, Kyle Havens, is making us forget Liam Coen already, and he'll be around next year too. Point being, it could be App State all over again in the Big House on 9/19/10.

Plus, the UMass marching band is a better than Michigan's, and they're going to be there too (That's not just the pride of the daddy of their trombone section leader talking, either). So the Wolverines are looking at losing halftime too, not just the game. ;)

Someone better go check and see what is in the water in Conn and Mass. .
Everybody else has already forgotten Liam Coen ,whoever that was.

[ElvisL1ves]

Everybody else has already forgotten Liam Coen ,whoever that was.
There's an entire world of football outside the BCS, my friend.

[ElvisL1ves]

will Irish fans and alums sit by and watch Charlie continue to run the team into the ground? It was funny as hell to see him fawned over for doing about as well with Tyrone Willingham's recruits as Willingham had. With his own guys? Not so much. But Weis, well, "fits the Notre Dame image" better, knowhamean?

[Munch]

It was funny as hell to see him fawned over for doing about as well with Tyrone Willingham's recruits as Willingham had. With his own guys? Not so much. But Weis, well, "fits the Notre Dame image" better, knowhamean?

With his own guys, Weis went 7-6 last year and won ND's first bowl game since 1993. With the final remnants of Ty's final class (which contained zero offensive linemen), he was stuck at 3-9. This year, he should go at least 9-3. That's well below the Irish faithful's standards, but it's a whole hell of a lot better than Tyrone Willingham did on his own. Add in Ty's complete and total inability to recruit a full football team, and your subtle charges of racism on Notre Dame's part are utter crap.

[notfrommensa]

It was funny as hell to see him fawned over for doing about as well with Tyrone Willingham's recruits as Willingham had. With his own guys? Not so much. But Weis, well, "fits the Notre Dame image" better, knowhamean?

Is there any truth to the rumor of NBC having a special celebrity edition of its flagship reality series "The Biggest Loser" with special guest contestant Charlie Weis?

[BobLibDem]

It was funny as hell to see him fawned over for doing about as well with Tyrone Willingham's recruits as Willingham had. With his own guys? Not so much. But Weis, well, "fits the Notre Dame image" better, knowhamean?

I still think Willingham was a good coach. I was really hoping MSU would have hired him after he left ND.

Irish 9-3? Maybe. But I don't think they'll roll by MSU, Purdue may give them fits, Stanford may beat them and USC will. This team could go 9-3, it could go 7-5.

[Munch]

I still think Willingham was a good coach. I was really hoping MSU would have hired him after he left ND.
Willingham is arguably the worst DI college football coach in the last 15 years. His record at Washington speaks for itself. It's going to take a while for that program to recover from his tenure. He's a wonderful guy (when he's not throwing his own players under the bus), and brings a lot of class whereever he goes (usually the golf course), but he can't coach. Or recruit. Or manage the clock. Or putt (but he works hard at it).

Irish 9-3? Maybe. But I don't think they'll roll by MSU, Purdue may give them fits, Stanford may beat them and USC will. This team could go 9-3, it could go 7-5.
The MSU game is going to be tough, because it always is. I didn't watch that Central Michigan game - how did they lose that? Was it a fluke? Because the Hoosiers beat them last week...

In other news, the rest of the Big East officiating team agreed that they never should have reversed that first quarter Irish TD. Doesn't make up for a shite job of clock management and ignoring your dominating running game when you need to burn the clock, but it still stings.