What are the Must See OOC College Football Games of 2011?

[Zeldar]

@notfrommensa

Dang, you are keeping me busy.

It’s just because you seem to be having as much fun with it as I am. Toying with numbers. Besides, I like the “research” to form my own opinion about such stuff instead of just swallowing the opinions of “experts” whose lack of bias is a bit suspect at best.

Do you have a good idea of how to pull all these conference figures together meaningfully?

One thought I had was to do them by month with the NFM scores attached to a by-week summary. That would at least point toward the doggies if not setting the “must see” group apart convincingly.

[Zeldar]

@notfrommensa

I think something is amiss in the PAC-?? conference. If 11 teams are playing 9 games and 1 team is playing 10 games, that adds up to (119 + 101) = 109 games. Dividing by two means that there are 54.5 conference games. Something is wrong.

Here may be part of the answer:

Pacific-10

North 

California     12
Oregon         12     
Oregon St.     12
Stanford       12
Washington     12 
Washington St. 12

South 

Arizona        12
Arizona St.    12 

Colorado       13 

  Sat, Sep 3 at Hawaii          OOC
  Sat, Sep 10 California 
  Sat, Sep 17 Colorado State    OOC
  Sat, Sep 24 at Ohio State     OOC
  Sat, Oct 1 Washington State 
  Sat, Oct 8 at Stanford  
  Sat, Oct 15 at Washington  
  Sat, Oct 22 Oregon 
  Sat, Oct 29 at Arizona State  
  Fri, Nov 4 USC  
  Sat, Nov 12 Arizona  
  Sat, Nov 19 at UCLA  
  Fri, Nov 25 at Utah  

UCLA           12
USC            12
Utah           12 

Nothing like, “Hey, Welcome to the conference, boys!”

[notfrommensa]

so Colorado is also playing 10 conference games, OK, that makes sense. (plus 3 OOC) games. they get an extra game because of playing @Hawaii? It looks like the Pac-12 SOP is to play your five division opponents, plus 4 teams from the other division. Cal and Col are 4 teams from the other division.

[Zeldar]

A major point concerning the fusing of all these by-conference gradings is that we’ve been using the NFM scale to evaluate a school’s OOC quality for the season. That has less to do with the quality of an individual game and more to do with an SOS value.

When it comes to individual games, we need another measure, don’t you think?

Another question to take into account is that the game’s “Must See” index needs to be based on more than some past-oriented score for the two schools involved. One may be on the rise and the other on the sink. That could get very weird and subjective.

What are some thoughts on these issues before we start a week-by-week display of the “Must see” and “Let slide” games?

[bump]

@Zeldar

10-4, Bubba!

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I’d think that Texas A&M vs. Arkansas is a more interesting and more important game than Texas vs. BYU, based on last year’s results.

[Zeldar]

@bump

I’d think that Texas A&M vs. Arkansas is a more interesting and more important game than Texas vs. BYU, based on last year’s results.

Your point is one that I’m hoping to find some way to anticipate. Past performances can only be guides to what may happen this year. Pinning your hopes on pre-season rankings and that sort of scoring system, even the odds that get put on games, can often lead to missing a really good game from an excitement and entertainment point of view.

No doubt whatever guess we may make on which games are “must see” and which are “might as well skip” will wind up going wrong any number of times. I’d just like to minimize the really bad games I watch this year. Wouldn’t we all?

[notfrommensa]

I like the TAM vs ARK game more than the TEX-BYU game. Because it is two power conferences clashing.

[Lamar_Mundane]

The Colorado-California game is an OOC game. It was scheduled a few years ago before Colorado changed conferences. Cal would not have been on CO’s schedule otherwise.

[Zeldar]

Okay, here’s the first week’s OOC schedule by conference for the Big Six FBS conferences. Those games between schools in these six conferences will appear twice:

=== Sep 1-4, 2011

SEC OOC 2011

EAST

Florida           Sat, Sep 3 Florida Atlantic 
Georgia           Sat, Sep 3 Boise State 
Kentucky          Thu, Sep 1 at Western Kentucky 
South Carolina    Sat, Sep 3 at East Carolina 
Tennessee         Sat, Sep 3 Montana 
Vanderbilt        Sat, Sep 3 Elon 

WEST

Alabama           Sat, Sep 3 Kent State 
Arkansas          Sat, Sep 3 Missouri State 
Auburn            Sat, Sep 3 Utah State 
LSU               Sat, Sep 3 at Oregon 
Mississippi       Sat, Sep 3 Brigham Young 
Mississippi State Thu, Sep 1 at Memphis 

================================

Big Ten (12) OOC 2011

Leaders 

Illinois          Sat, Sep 3 Arkansas State 
Indiana           Sat, Sep 3 at Ball State 
Ohio St.          Sat, Sep 3 Akron 
Penn St.          Sat, Sep 3 Indiana State 
Purdue            Sat, Sep 3 Middle Tennessee 
Wisconsin         Thu, Sep 1 UNLV 

Legends 

Iowa              Sat, Sep 3 Tennessee Tech 
Michigan          Sat, Sep 3 Western Michigan 
Michigan St.      Fri, Sep 2 Youngstown State
Minnesota         Sat, Sep 3 at USC 
Nebraska          Sat, Sep 3 Chattanooga 
Northwestern      Sat, Sep 3 at Boston College 

================================

ACC OOC 2011

Atlantic 

Boston Coll.      Sat, Sep 3 Northwestern 
Clemson           Sat, Sep 3 Troy 
Florida St.       Sat, Sep 3 Louisiana-Monroe 
N.C. State        Sat, Sep 3 Liberty 
Wake Forest       Thu, Sep 1 at Syracuse 

Coastal 

Duke              Sat, Sep 3 Richmond 
Georgia Tech      Thu, Sep 1 Western Carolina 
North Carolina    Sat, Sep 3 James Madison 
Virginia          Sat, Sep 3 William & Mary 
Virginia Tech     Sat, Sep 3 Appalachian State 
 
================================

Big East 2011 OOC 

Cincinnati        Thu, Sep 1 Austin Peay 
Connecticut       Thu, Sep 1 Fordham 
Louisville        Thu, Sep 1 Murray State 
Pittsburgh        Sat, Sep 3 Buffalo 
Rutgers           Thu, Sep 1 North Carolina Central 
South Florida     Sat, Sep 3 at Notre Dame 
Syracuse          Thu, Sep 1 Wake Forest 
West Virginia     Sun, Sep 4 Marshall 

====================== 

Pacific-10 (12) 2011 OOC 

North 

California        Sat, Sep 3 Fresno State 
Oregon            Sat, Sep 3 LSU 
Oregon St.        Sat, Sep 3 Sacramento State 
Stanford          Sat, Sep 3 San Jose State 
Washington        Sat, Sep 3 Eastern Washington 
Washington St.    Sat, Sep 3 Idaho State 

South 

Arizona           Sat, Sep 3 Northern Arizona 
Arizona St.       Thu, Sep 1 UC Davis 
Colorado          Sat, Sep 3 at Hawaii 
UCLA              Sat, Sep 3 at Houston 
USC               Sat, Sep 3 Minnesota 
Utah              Thu, Sep 1 Montana State 

================================ 

Big 12 (10) 2011 OOC schedule:

North 

Iowa St.          Sat, Sep 3 Northern Iowa  
Kansas            Sat, Sep 3 McNeese State  
Kansas St.        Sat, Sep 3 Eastern Kentucky 
Missouri          Sat, Sep 3 Miami (OH) 

South 

Baylor            Fri, Sep 2 TCU 
Oklahoma          Sat, Sep 3 Tulsa 
Oklahoma St.      Sat, Sep 3 Louisiana-Lafayette      
Texas             Sat, Sep 3 Rice 
Texas A&M         Sun, Sep 4 Southern Methodist 
Texas Tech        Sat, Sep 3 Texas State 

[Zeldar]

And here are those Week 1 games, dupes removed, by date and in alpha order. Seems too much for a poll, but maybe we can do the same sort of narrowing down to the truly “must see” games in this thread. If somebody else wants to do a poll, please feel free to do so.

Keep in mind that these are only the OOC games for the teams in the Big Six FBS schools.

Which of these are you going to make any effort to see? Where do you see any potential upsets?

=== Sep 1-4, 2011

Arizona St.       Thu, Sep 1 UC Davis 
Cincinnati        Thu, Sep 1 Austin Peay 
Connecticut       Thu, Sep 1 Fordham 
Georgia Tech      Thu, Sep 1 Western Carolina 
Kentucky          Thu, Sep 1 at Western Kentucky 

Louisville        Thu, Sep 1 Murray State 
Mississippi State Thu, Sep 1 at Memphis 
Rutgers           Thu, Sep 1 North Carolina Central 
Syracuse          Thu, Sep 1 Wake Forest 
Utah              Thu, Sep 1 Montana State 

Wisconsin         Thu, Sep 1 UNLV 

Baylor            Fri, Sep 2 TCU 
Michigan St.      Fri, Sep 2 Youngstown State

Alabama           Sat, Sep 3 Kent State 
Arizona           Sat, Sep 3 Northern Arizona 
Arkansas          Sat, Sep 3 Missouri State 
Auburn            Sat, Sep 3 Utah State 
Boston Coll.      Sat, Sep 3 Northwestern 

California        Sat, Sep 3 Fresno State 
Clemson           Sat, Sep 3 Troy 
Colorado          Sat, Sep 3 at Hawaii 
Duke              Sat, Sep 3 Richmond 
Florida           Sat, Sep 3 Florida Atlantic 

Florida St.       Sat, Sep 3 Louisiana-Monroe 
Georgia           Sat, Sep 3 Boise State 
Illinois          Sat, Sep 3 Arkansas State 
Indiana           Sat, Sep 3 at Ball State 
Iowa              Sat, Sep 3 Tennessee Tech 

Iowa St.          Sat, Sep 3 Northern Iowa  
Kansas            Sat, Sep 3 McNeese State  
Kansas St.        Sat, Sep 3 Eastern Kentucky 
LSU               Sat, Sep 3 at Oregon 
Michigan          Sat, Sep 3 Western Michigan 

Minnesota         Sat, Sep 3 at USC 
Mississippi       Sat, Sep 3 Brigham Young 
Missouri          Sat, Sep 3 Miami (OH) 
Nebraska          Sat, Sep 3 Chattanooga 
North Carolina    Sat, Sep 3 James Madison 

N.C. State        Sat, Sep 3 Liberty 
Ohio St.          Sat, Sep 3 Akron 
Oklahoma          Sat, Sep 3 Tulsa 
Oklahoma St.      Sat, Sep 3 Louisiana-Lafayette     
Oregon St.        Sat, Sep 3 Sacramento State 

Penn St.          Sat, Sep 3 Indiana State 
Pittsburgh        Sat, Sep 3 Buffalo 
Purdue            Sat, Sep 3 Middle Tennessee 
South Carolina    Sat, Sep 3 at East Carolina 
South Florida     Sat, Sep 3 at Notre Dame 

Stanford          Sat, Sep 3 San Jose State 
Tennessee         Sat, Sep 3 Montana 
Texas             Sat, Sep 3 Rice 
Texas Tech        Sat, Sep 3 Texas State
UCLA              Sat, Sep 3 at Houston 

Vanderbilt        Sat, Sep 3 Elon 
Virginia          Sat, Sep 3 William & Mary 
Virginia Tech     Sat, Sep 3 Appalachian State 
Washington        Sat, Sep 3 Eastern Washington 
Washington St.    Sat, Sep 3 Idaho State 
 
Texas A&M         Sun, Sep 4 Southern Methodist 
West Virginia     Sun, Sep 4 Marshall 

[Zeldar]

@Zeldar

A major point concerning the fusing of all these by-conference gradings is that we’ve been using the NFM scale to evaluate a school’s OOC quality for the season. That has less to do with the quality of an individual game and more to do with an SOS value.

When it comes to individual games, we need another measure, don’t you think?

Another question to take into account is that the game’s “Must See” index needs to be based on more than some past-oriented score for the two schools involved. One may be on the rise and the other on the sink. That could get very weird and subjective.

What are some thoughts on these issues before we start a week-by-week display of the “Must see” and “Let slide” games?

The more I think on this issue the more dependent on preseason rankings I become. Knowing so little about the overall picture, even the teams that I care most about (SEC!), I have to rely on somebody else’s opinion(s) about which teams are worthy of early interest, especially in terms of which games I should try to see.

I did have this thought that I’d like some feedback on: what if we use one of the all-120 team rankings to grade the OOC games on the highest ranked teams being played by the Big Six schools? As we get closer to the AP and Coaches’ Polls, we could upgrade those borderline games to “must see” once the two teams are closer to Top 25 status.

Counterpoints?

[Zeldar]

Okay, then. Here are some raw materials in case anybody else wants to pursue the project of using the rankings (from January Sagarin) and Week 1’s schedule to sort down to the best bets for “must see” games.

Sources:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt10.htm

Rivals.com

 Thursday September 1, 2011 
 
  Murray St.           6:00 pm 156   
  Louisville                   51 
 
  S. Carolina St.      7:00 pm 192 
  Cent. Michigan               134 
 
  Villanova            7:00 pm 57  
  Temple                       66    
 
  North Texas          7:00 pm 150   
  Florida Intl.                88 
 
  New Hampshire        7:00 pm 81  
  Toledo                       92 
 
  N.C. Central         7:30 pm 240  
  Rutgers                      90         
 
  Fordham              7:30 pm 201  
  Connecticut                  56        
  
  Western Carolina     7:30 pm 193  
  Georgia Tech                 70
 
  Montana St.          8:00 pm 109 
  Utah                         26 
 
  UNLV                 8:00 pm 131  
  Wisconsin                    12 
 
  Mississippi St.      8:00 pm 15  
  Memphis                      173 
 
  Wake Forest          8:00 pm 102   
  Syracuse                     48
 
  Bowling Green        9:00 pm 163  
  Idaho                        89                 
 
  Kentucky             9:15 pm 74  
  West. Kentucky               165
 
  UC Davis            10:00 pm 151  
  Arizona St.                  23 
 
 Friday September 2, 2011 
 
  Youngstown St.       7:30 pm 159  
  Michigan St.                 31 
 
  TCU                  8:00 pm 4  
  Baylor                       61            
 
 Saturday September 3, 2011 
 
  South Carolina               25
  East Carolina                85
 
  Utah St.            12:00 pm 114  
  Auburn                       1            
 
  Northwestern        12:00 pm 71  
  Boston Coll.                 49   
 
  Middle Tenn. St.    12:00 pm 138 
  Purdue                       96                 
 
  Montana                      125 
  Tennessee                    63            
 
  Tennessee Tech      12:00 pm 182  
  Iowa                         21       
 
  Indiana St.         12:00 pm 148  
  Penn St.                     50
 
  Miami (OH)          12:00 pm 77  
  Missouri                     17
 
  Akron               12:00 pm 206  
  Ohio St.                     7
 
  Florida Atlantic             155 
  Florida                      24
 
  Kent St.            12:20 pm 120  
  Alabama                      5
 
  Appalachian St.     12:30 pm 75  
  Virginia Tech                13              
 
  Elon                         110
  Vanderbilt                   126                
 
  Texas St.                    195 
  Texas Tech                   43
 
  Missouri St.                 136
  Arkansas                     9
 
  LA Lafayette                 162                
  Oklahoma St.                 11 
 
  South Dakota         2:00 pm 171  
  Air Force                    37 
 
  Sacramento St.               100              
  Oregon St.                   29
 
  Northern Arizona             105  
  Arizona                      30 
 
  James Madison        3:30 pm 97   
  North Carolina               41 
 
  W. Michigan          3:30 pm 99   
  Michigan                     60
 
  LA Monroe            3:30 pm 140  
  Florida St.                  14    
 
  Chattanooga          3:30 pm 103  
  Nebraska                     27      
 
  South Florida        3:30 pm 44  
  Notre Dame                   19
 
  Arkansas St.         3:30 pm 117  
  Illinois                     39       
 
  UCLA                 3:30 pm 62  
  Houston                      82     
 
  Delaware             3:30 pm 52  
  Navy                         55 
 
  Troy                 3:30 pm 80  
  Clemson                      53
 
  Minnesota            3:30 pm 93  
  USC                          22
 
  SE Louisiana         3:30 pm 205   
  Tulane                       135
 
  BYU                  4:45 pm 45  
  Mississippi                  84 
 
  Idaho St.            5:00 pm 211  
  Washington St.               79
 
  San Jose St.         5:00 pm 161  
  Stanford                     2   
 
  Buffalo              6:00 pm 185  
  Pittsburgh                   32  
 
  Colorado St.         6:00 pm 130  
  New Mexico                   170                
 
  William & Mary       6:00 pm 76  
  Virginia                     87
 
  Liberty              6:00 pm 153  
  N.C. State                   18         
 
  McNeese St.          7:00 pm 141  
  Kansas                       119 
 
  Howard               7:00 pm 244  
  East. Michigan               183 
 
  Austin Peay          7:00 pm 221  
  Cincinnati                   67
 
  Eastern Wash.        7:00 pm 58  
  Washington                   28
 
  Rice                 7:00 pm 127  
  Texas                        64 
 
  Northern Iowa        7:00 pm 124  
  Iowa St.                     65 
 
  Indiana              7:00 pm 98  
  Ball St.                     160 
 
  Richmond             7:00 pm 115  
  Duke                         95 
 
  Fresno St.           7:00 pm 78  
  California                   33
 
  Charleston Sou.      7:00 pm 230  
  UCF                          42
 
  Army                 7:00 pm 73  
  Northern Illinois            46 
 
  Eastern Kentucky     7:00 pm 149 
  Kansas St.                   59  
 
  Ohio                 8:00 pm 104  
  New Mexico St.               172 
 
  Tulsa                8:00 pm 35  
  Oklahoma                     10
 
  LSU                  8:00 pm 8  
  Oregon                       3
 
  Boise St.            8:00 pm 6  
  Georgia                      54
 
  Weber St.            9:00 pm 129  
  Wyoming                      108
 
  Stony Brook          9:00 pm 180  
  UTEP                         121        
 
  Cal Poly            10:00 pm 147  
  San Diego St.                34               
 
  Louisiana Tech      10:00 pm 91  
  Southern Miss                69 
 
  Colorado            10:15 pm 68  
  Hawaii                       47                 
 
 Sunday September 4, 2011 
 
  Marshall             3:30 pm 113 
  West Virginia                36 
 
  SMU                  7:30 pm 83  
  Texas A&M                    20
 
 Monday September 5, 2011 
 
  Miami (FL)           8:00 pm 40  
  Maryland                     38 

[Zeldar]

Keeping in mind that some of these games may not be totally OOC (I haven’t checked for that), here’s how Week 1 breaks down by day with the order, top to bottom, being determined by the Sagarin January ranking figure for the “weaker” team. From my point of view the game can only be as “must see” as the strength of the “weaker” team. I can understand some tweaking of the precise order for various reasons, and if you want to present a slate of “must see” games based on other criteria, I’d love to see it.

As it stands, based on the responses so far, this is my last word on the issue.

 Thursday September 1, 2011 

  Villanova            7:00 pm 57  
  Temple                       66  
 
  New Hampshire        7:00 pm 81  
  Toledo                       92 

  Wake Forest          8:00 pm 102   
  Syracuse                     48

  Montana St.          8:00 pm 109 
  Utah                         26 

  UNLV                 8:00 pm 131  
  Wisconsin                    12 

  North Texas          7:00 pm 150   
  Florida Intl.                88 

  UC Davis            10:00 pm 151  
  Arizona St.                  23  
 
  Murray St.           6:00 pm 156   
  Louisville                   51 

  Bowling Green        9:00 pm 163  
  Idaho                        89   

  Kentucky             9:15 pm 74  
  West. Kentucky               165    

  Mississippi St.      8:00 pm 15  
  Memphis                      173 
 
  S. Carolina St.      7:00 pm 192 
  Cent. Michigan               134 

  Western Carolina     7:30 pm 193  
  Georgia Tech                 70

  Fordham              7:30 pm 201  
  Connecticut                  56    
 
  N.C. Central         7:30 pm 240  
  Rutgers                      90  

 Friday September 2, 2011 

  TCU                  8:00 pm 4  
  Baylor                       61   

  Youngstown St.       7:30 pm 159  
  Michigan St.                 31 
 
 Saturday September 3, 2011 

  LSU                  8:00 pm 8  
  Oregon                       3

  Tulsa                8:00 pm 35  
  Oklahoma                     10

  South Florida        3:30 pm 44  
  Notre Dame                   19
 
  Boise St.            8:00 pm 6  
  Georgia                      54

  Delaware             3:30 pm 52  
  Navy                         55 

  Eastern Wash.        7:00 pm 58  
  Washington                   28

  Colorado            10:15 pm 68  
  Hawaii                       47         

  Northwestern        12:00 pm 71  
  Boston Coll.                 49  

  Army                 7:00 pm 73  
  Northern Illinois            46 

  Appalachian St.     12:30 pm 75  
  Virginia Tech                13       

  Miami (OH)          12:00 pm 77  
  Missouri                     17 

  Fresno St.           7:00 pm 78  
  California                   33

  Troy                 3:30 pm 80  
  Clemson                      53

  UCLA                 3:30 pm 62  
  Houston                      82 

  BYU                  4:45 pm 45  
  Mississippi                  84 
 
  South Carolina               25
  East Carolina                85

  William & Mary       6:00 pm 76  
  Virginia                     87

  Louisiana Tech      10:00 pm 91  
  Southern Miss                69 

  Minnesota            3:30 pm 93  
  USC                          22

  James Madison        3:30 pm 97   
  North Carolina               41 

  W. Michigan          3:30 pm 99   
  Michigan                     60

  Sacramento St.               100 
  Oregon St.                   29

  Chattanooga          3:30 pm 103  
  Nebraska                     27   

  Northern Arizona             105  
  Arizona                      30 

  Utah St.            12:00 pm 114  
  Auburn                       1   

  Richmond             7:00 pm 115  
  Duke                         95  

  Arkansas St.         3:30 pm 117  
  Illinois                     39     

  Kent St.            12:20 pm 120  
  Alabama                      5

  Northern Iowa        7:00 pm 124  
  Iowa St.                     65 

  Montana                      125 
  Tennessee                    63  

  Elon                         110
  Vanderbilt                   126  

  Rice                 7:00 pm 127  
  Texas                        64 

  Weber St.            9:00 pm 129  
  Wyoming                      108

  Missouri St.                 136
  Arkansas                     9

  Middle Tenn. St.    12:00 pm 138 
  Purdue                       96  

  LA Monroe            3:30 pm 140  
  Florida St.                  14   

  McNeese St.          7:00 pm 141  
  Kansas                       119 

  Cal Poly            10:00 pm 147  
  San Diego St.                34               
         
  Indiana St.         12:00 pm 148  
  Penn St.                     50

  Eastern Kentucky     7:00 pm 149 
  Kansas St.                   59 

  Liberty              6:00 pm 153  
  N.C. State                   18      

  Florida Atlantic             155 
  Florida                      24

  Indiana              7:00 pm 98  
  Ball St.                     160 

  San Jose St.         5:00 pm 161  
  Stanford                     2   

  LA Lafayette                 162  
  Oklahoma St.                 11 

  Colorado St.         6:00 pm 130  
  New Mexico                   170  

  South Dakota         2:00 pm 171  
  Air Force                    37 

  Ohio                 8:00 pm 104  
  New Mexico St.               172 

  Stony Brook          9:00 pm 180  
  UTEP                         121   
 
  Tennessee Tech      12:00 pm 182  
  Iowa                         21  

  Buffalo              6:00 pm 185  
  Pittsburgh                   32  
 
  Texas St.                    195 
  Texas Tech                   43

  SE Louisiana         3:30 pm 205   
  Tulane                       135

  Akron               12:00 pm 206  
  Ohio St.                     7  
 
  Idaho St.            5:00 pm 211  
  Washington St.               79

  Austin Peay          7:00 pm 221  
  Cincinnati                   67

  Charleston Sou.      7:00 pm 230  
  UCF                          42
 
  Howard               7:00 pm 244  
  East. Michigan               183         
 
 Sunday September 4, 2011 

  SMU                  7:30 pm 83  
  Texas A&M                    20
 
  Marshall             3:30 pm 113 
  West Virginia                36 
 
 Monday September 5, 2011 
 
  Miami (FL)           8:00 pm 40  
  Maryland                     38 

[Zeldar]

Unable to leave well enough alone, I have streamlined the slate of Week 1 games down to just the games between teams with Rivals 120 Preseason Rankings. See http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1233107 for further details of those numbers. Since that ranking project is still in progress until August 18, the Top 14 teams are still no better defined than Top 14 (T14) at this moment.

By Week 1 day, the games are in descending order of the Rivals Ranking of the “weaker” team, making the games at the top of each day the ones more likely (from a ranking standpoint) to produce interesting games. The likelihood of upsets nearer the top of the list should be considered as a by-product of what those with closer rankings will produce. Of course, all that will be determined at game time and is anybody’s guess.

Anyway, if you want to be guided by the numbers, here they are:

 
 Thursday September 1, 2011  

  Wake Forest       87
  Syracuse          59  
   
  North Texas       98
  Florida Intl.     79 

  UNLV             103
  Wisconsin        T14

  Kentucky          63
  West. Kentucky   112

  Bowling Green    108  
  Idaho            114 
 
  Mississippi St.   31
  Memphis          119
 
 Saturday September 3, 2011 

  LSU              T14
  Oregon           T14

  Boise St.        T14
  Georgia           27        

  South Florida     43
  Notre Dame       T14 

  Tulsa             47
  Oklahoma         T14    

  Northwestern      48 
  Boston Coll.      41

  BYU               25
  Mississippi       54

  Fresno St.        62
  California        60

  Colorado          67 
  Hawaii            55

  UCLA              68
  Houston           46

  South Carolina    17
  East Carolina     70
 
  Miami (OH)        71 
  Missouri          34

  Troy              76
  Clemson           40  

  Louisiana Tech    78
  Southern Miss     53

  Army              84
  Northern Illinois 57  

  W. Michigan       85
  Michigan          36

  LA Monroe         94
  Florida St.      T14  

  Florida Atlantic  96
  Florida           21

  Arkansas St.      99
  Illinois          56

  Minnesota        102
  USC               19

  Utah St.         104
  Auburn            30

  Kent St.         105
  Alabama          T14

  Rice             106
  Texas             22

  Middle Tenn. St. 107 
  Purdue            74

  Colorado St.      90
  New Mexico       110 

  San Jose St.     111
  Stanford         T14

  Buffalo          113
  Pittsburgh        35

  Indiana           89
  Ball St.         116

  LA Lafayette     117
  Oklahoma St.     T14
 
  Akron            118
  Ohio St.          16  
 
  Ohio              83 
  New Mexico St.   120

 
 Sunday September 4, 2011 

  SMU               39
  Texas A&M        T14

  Marshall          97 
  West Virginia     24
 
 Monday September 5, 2011 
 
  Miami (FL)        28
  Maryland          44 

[Zeldar]

Okay, Week 1 is behind us. What are the important OOC games for Week 2?

[Zeldar]

Just thought I’d give this a bump to see if we can get a new one going for 2012 as soon as schedules are firmed up.

Did any of the predictions work out for you? What game stands out as the best OOC game of the 2011 season?

What criteria make the best sense for determing OOC Game quality?