# NCAAF - The College Football Thread for 2018 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 3, 2018, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685 "2018-09-03T13:03:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/121 "2018-10-16T01:01:57Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > See also 2016 Ohio State making the CFP without winning their division either. The difference is, when SEC teams make it to the playoff or to the BCS title game, they don’t get embarrassed in front of millions of fans – well, LSU got embarrassed in 2012, but by Alabama. The Tigers had dominated pretty much everyone else that year, including Oregon and West Virginia. Meanwhile, Ohio State squeaks into the playoff and gets murdered by Clemson. Point being, a #2 SEC team is usually going to be competitive with the #1 team from any other conference. ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/122 "2018-10-16T01:05:05Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Quick question, and I feel a little dumb for asking this. I casually follow college football–like I know how my team (Northwestern) is doing and have an idea of the AP 25 and all that. But this one is kind of odd to me: has it been usual to play out-of-conference opponents in mid-season? I was wondering that about Northwestern’s game against Purdue earlier this year, as well, as my recollection is that, at least in the Big 10, it’s usually been 4 out-of-conference games to start the season, and then the rest of the season was in-conference. So I was surprised when NU played Purdue to open the season. Is this just selective memory on my part, or have things changed a little? Things have changed only in terms of conference realignment. Nebraska joined the Big10 in 2011, and Rutgers and Maryland joined in 2014. The Big10 now has 14 teams divided into 7-team divisions (East and West). ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/123 "2018-10-16T01:10:39Z")
Here are my playoff predictions: 1. Alabama 2. Florida 3. Georgia 4. LSU ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/124 "2018-10-16T01:23:31Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Things have changed only in terms of conference realignment. Nebraska joined the Big10 in 2011, and Rutgers and Maryland joined in 2014. The Big10 now has 14 teams divided into 7-team divisions (East and West). OK, I’m not quite _that_ casual, ,I gueuss. That stuff I know all about, and I remember when the Big 12 exploded, and there was talk of Texas possibly coming to the Big Ten, and the perennial talk of Norte Dame, and all that kind of stuff. Anyhow, I’m looking back at the schedule, and it does look like once in every four or five years there is an out-of-conference game mid-season. I guess there were none when I was in school, but since then, it happened every once in a while. Playing in-conference this early seems a lot rarer. I see back in 2001, NU played MSU the third game of the season, but that’s the only game I could find going back to 1990 where an in-conference game was played within the first 3 games of the season. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/125 "2018-10-16T01:28:43Z")
In the case of Nebraska vs Bethune-Cookman, this was a late addition to the schedule after a Nebraska’s opener vs Akron was cancelled for weather. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/126 "2018-10-16T01:59:29Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > In the case of Nebraska vs Bethune-Cookman, this was a late addition to the schedule after a Nebraska’s opener vs Akron was cancelled for weather. Ah, okay. That makes some sense now. Seemed a bit out-of-place to me. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/127 "2018-10-16T02:04:45Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Ah, okay. That makes some sense now. Seemed a bit out-of-place to me. Yeah that would normally have been their Bye week. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/128 "2018-10-16T02:09:41Z")
Kept Nubb from even losing to Bye. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/129 "2018-10-16T17:41:51Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > LSU just punched Georgia in the mouth and took their lunch money. The Tigers strength is their lines - both defense and offense. When you play LSU, you’re gonna be gasping for air at the end of the game and nursing bruises all next week. Their skill players aren’t as good as Alabama - I agree. Alabama will probably win, but Alabama’s gonna get beat up badly when they go to Tiger stadium. They’re gonna feel pain. I did not see that one coming…LSU/Mississippi State (still not Ole Miss) ought to be a good one this week. Bama got banged up playing Missouri, but should be able to coast this week with Tennessee. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/130 "2018-10-21T02:41:22Z")
There is still time for things to go to hell, but for 48 minutes Purdue has been a much better team than Ohio. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/131 "2018-10-21T04:49:58Z")
Aannnnd down goes ‘THE Ohio State University’. LSU takes Miss. State in another crippling blow to offensive football. But, an ugly win still counts. Oregon further exposed. Penn State won but Indiana helped. Kentucky limped by Vandy. That’s what their games are going to look like. The rest of the top 25 games played to form. Good shutout for Iowa - dark horse for the Big Ten. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/132 "2018-10-21T05:05:20Z")
Damn Utah. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/133 "2018-10-21T12:11:31Z")
most out of conference games are in Sept. But the SEC usually has a weekend in Nov. where the SEC teams play some crap team and win 70-3. And also non conference games vs. rivals are often in Nov. such as Florida - FSU or Georgia - GT. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/134 "2018-10-21T13:57:18Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Aannnnd down goes ‘THE Ohio State University’. > > LSU takes Miss. State in another crippling blow to offensive football. But, an ugly win still counts. > > Oregon further exposed. > > Penn State won but Indiana helped. > > Kentucky limped by Vandy. That’s what their games are going to look like. > > The rest of the top 25 games played to form. Good shutout for Iowa - dark horse for the Big Ten. Purdue looked like a national championship team last night. Their running backs are speedy and have a low center of gravity, making them hard to bring down if people don’t line up correctly. It looked like the Buckeyes were just blown away by Purdue’s speed on offense. And as Herb pointed out, they’re one-dimensional on offense, which is unusual for an Ohio State team. LSU belly punched another opponent, but Alabama’s going to be a different challenge. I think LSU’s defense can slow Bama down, but the question is whether they can score enough points to keep up. I think the Tigers make it interesting but Bama pulls away late. The Tide are fortunate that they’ll have time to recover physically in preparation for the Iron Bowl. Bama will win but LSU always makes them pay a physical price, and vice versa of course. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/136 "2018-10-22T17:07:29Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > LSU belly punched another opponent, but Alabama’s going to be a different challenge. I think LSU’s defense can slow Bama down, but the question is whether they can score enough points to keep up. I think the Tigers make it interesting but Bama pulls away late. The Tide are fortunate that they’ll have time to recover physically in preparation for the Iron Bowl. Bama will win but LSU always makes them pay a physical price, and vice versa of course. Staying healthy is the key for Bama right now. LSU, Mississippi State (again, still not Ole Miss), Citadel, and Auburn. All three SEC games will be physical, smash mouth games. I don’t think any of those teams can score enough to beat Bama, as long as Tua can play. Somebody beat Notre Dame, please. Hate that team, don’t want them in the playoffs… ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/137 "2018-10-22T17:44:06Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Somebody beat Notre Dame, please. Hate that team, don’t want them in the playoffs… My Noles will shock the world! Calling it right now. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/138 "2018-10-22T18:36:32Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > My Noles will shock the world! Calling it right now. Speaking of shocking the world, Nebraska won their first game, beating Minnesota 53-28! It was a lot of fun watching Scott Frost in the press conference, he looks like a happy little kid. All I can say is I’m SOOO glad Frost’s first win won’t be I-AA Bethune Cookman. I’m sure Alabama is happy Nebraska had a slow start and won’t have to face us in the playoffs. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/139 "2018-10-22T22:29:01Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > My Noles will shock the world! Calling it right now. Biggest blowout of a Power 5 team by an Independent? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/140 "2018-10-23T00:15:17Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > My Noles will shock the world! Calling it right now. It’s possible, but I just don’t see it. Not because FSU is terrible or ND is that great, but ND is a better team, and they’re playing at home. More importantly, though, FSU has a tough few weeks between now and then. By comparison, ND has a lighter schedule. I don’t think FSU backs down but I don’t think ND overlooks the Noles. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/141 "2018-10-23T00:17:32Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I think Nebraska is going to start making some major gains toward the end of the year. Their win-loss record will be atrocious, but I hope that Huskers faithful give Frost a chance. I think he’s a lot like Tom Herman. It’s Riley who destroyed Husker football, not Frost. As I predicted, this happened. Nebraska will still have a bad year, but they’re going to be competitive and their focus will be on impressing recruits. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685.md?page=8)