2021 College Football Discussion and Pick'em Thread

[Terry the Fat Shark]

Week 3

Friday, September 17th

UCF @ Louisville 7:30 PM EDT ESPN

Maryland @ Illinois 9 PM EDT FS1

Saturday, September 18th

Nebraska @ #3 Oklahoma

#8 Cincinnati @ Indiana Noon EDT ESPN

#15 Virginia Tech @ West Virginia Noon EDT FS1

Michigan State @ #24 Miami (FL) Noon EDT ABC

Minnesota @ Colorado 1 PM EDT PAC12N

Nevada @ Kansas State 2:05 PM EDT ESPN+

Purdue @ #12 Notre Dame 2:30 PM EDT NBC

#1 Alabama @ #11 Florida 3:30 PM EDT CBS

Florida State @ Wake Forest 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

USC @ Washington State 3:30 PM EDT FOX

Mississippi State @ Memphis 4 PM EDT ESPN2

Northwestern @ Duke 4 PM EDT ACCN

Ball State @ Wyoming 4 PM EDT

Charlotte @ Georgia State 7 PM EDT ESPN+

Utah @ San Diego State 7 PM EDT CBSSN

#22 Auburn @ #10 Penn State 7:30 PM EDT ABC

Virginia @ #21 North Carolina 7:30 PM EDT ACCN

Utah State @ Air Force 7:30 PM EDT FS2

Tulane @ #17 Ole Miss 8 PM EDT ESPN2

Oklahoma State @ Boise State 9 PM EDT FS1

#19 Arizona State @ #23 BYU 10:15 PM EDT ESPN

Fresno State @ #13 UCLA 10:45 PM EDT PAC12N

San Jose State @ Hawaii 12:30 AM EDT FS1

[DINGO Joe]

Guess I'll have to put my perfect 2-0 record on the line and make some picks this week.

[NewYorkExpress]

UCF
Maryland

Oklahoma
Cincinnati
Virginia Tech
Michigan State (My first upset pick of the day. Through two games, Miami (FL) has not looked good at all)
Minnesota
Kansas State
Notre Dame
Alabama (I really want to pick the upset, but I just can't bring myself to do it)
Wake Forest (Florida State has looked awful this season. I wouldn't be shocked if Mike Norvell got fired by the end of the season, especially if Florida State can raise the money to do it. They only question is who they can hire)
USC
Mississippi State
Northwestern
Wyoming
Georgia State
Utah
Auburn (Picking the upset, largely based on the SEC's reputation alone)
North Carolina
Air Force
Ole Miss
Boise State (playing on the blue turf in Boise is a massive advantage for the Broncos. Very hard to pick against them there)
Arizona State
UCLA
Hawaii

[Illiniwek]

Can't forget again this week...

Week 3

Friday, September 17th

UCF @ Louisville 7:30 PM EDT ESPN

Maryland @ Illinois 9 PM EDT FS1 (Terrible matchup for Illinois. Will probably get ugly.)

Saturday, September 18th

Nebraska @ #3 Oklahoma

#8 Cincinnati @ Indiana Noon EDT ESPN

#15 Virginia Tech @ West Virginia Noon EDT FS1

Michigan State @ #24 Miami (FL) Noon EDT ABC

Minnesota @ Colorado 1 PM EDT PAC12N

Nevada @ Kansas State 2:05 PM EDT ESPN+

Purdue @ #12 Notre Dame 2:30 PM EDT NBC

#1 Alabama @ #11 Florida 3:30 PM EDT CBS

Florida State @ Wake Forest 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

USC @ Washington State 3:30 PM EDT FOX

Mississippi State @ Memphis 4 PM EDT ESPN2

Northwestern @ Duke 4 PM EDT ACCN

Ball State @ Wyoming 4 PM EDT

Charlotte @ Georgia State 7 PM EDT ESPN+

Utah @ San Diego State 7 PM EDT CBSSN

#22 Auburn @ #10 Penn State 7:30 PM EDT ABC

Virginia @ #21 North Carolina 7:30 PM EDT ACCN

Utah State @ Air Force 7:30 PM EDT FS2

Tulane @ #17 Ole Miss 8 PM EDT ESPN2

Oklahoma State @ Boise State 9 PM EDT FS1

#19 Arizona State @ #23 BYU 10:15 PM EDT ESPN

Fresno State @ #13 UCLA 10:45 PM EDT PAC12N

San Jose State @ Hawaii 12:30 AM EDT FS1

[GeorgiaModerate]

There are some tricky games to pick this week.

[Donerail]

Week 3

Friday, September 17th

UCF @ Louisville
Maryland @ Illinois

Saturday, September 18th

Nebraska @ #3 Oklahoma
#8 Cincinnati @ Indiana
#15 Virginia Tech @ West Virginia
Michigan State @ #24 Miami (FL)
Minnesota @ Colorado
Nevada @ Kansas State
Purdue @ #12 Notre Dame
#1 Alabama @ #11 Florida
Florida State @ Wake Forest
USC @ Washington State
Mississippi State @ Memphis
Northwestern @ Duke
Ball State @ Wyoming
Charlotte @ Georgia State
Utah @ San Diego State
#22 Auburn @ #10 Penn State
Virginia @ #21 North Carolina
Utah State @ Air Force
Tulane @ #17 Ole Miss
Oklahoma State @ Boise State
#19 Arizona State @ #23 BYU
Fresno State @ #13 UCLA
San José State @ Hawaii

[Dereich]

Friday, September 17th

UCF @ Louisville 7:30 PM EDT ESPN

Maryland @ Illinois 9 PM EDT FS1

Saturday, September 18th

Nebraska @ #3 Oklahoma

#8 Cincinnati @ Indiana Noon EDT ESPN

#15 Virginia Tech @ West Virginia Noon EDT FS1

Michigan State @ #24 Miami (FL) Noon EDT ABC

Minnesota @ Colorado 1 PM EDT PAC12N

Nevada @ Kansas State 2:05 PM EDT ESPN+

Purdue @ #12 Notre Dame 2:30 PM EDT NBC Someone is going to trip up and embarrass  ND...I just don't think it comes quite yet

#1 Alabama @ #11 Florida 3:30 PM EDT CBS I'll be at this game since I was offered free tickets. The FL offense will be an absolute mess; I'm guessing a minimum of two interceptions from Emory Jones. And the FL defense is still being run by Third-and-Grantham so no hope there. I'm predicting 31-17 Bama with one of those FL TDs coming in garbage time.

Florida State @ Wake Forest 3:30 PM EDT ESPN Call it copium if you want, but Wake isn't very good and maybe the shock of last week will have FSU look like it did against ND. And it would be an absolute shock if they managed to fire Norvell no matter HOW this season went. FSU is still paying Willie Taggert $3.5 million every year until 2024! With a much smaller booster pool than other top tier programs!

USC @ Washington State 3:30 PM EDT FOX

Mississippi State @ Memphis 4 PM EDT ESPN2

Northwestern @ Duke 4 PM EDT ACCN low key the worst game of the year

Ball State @ Wyoming 4 PM EDT

Charlotte @ Georgia State 7 PM EDT ESPN+

Utah @ San Diego State 7 PM EDT CBSSN

#22 Auburn @ #10 Penn State 7:30 PM EDT ABC

Virginia @ #21 North Carolina 7:30 PM EDT ACCN

Utah State @ Air Force 7:30 PM EDT FS2

Tulane @ #17 Ole Miss 8 PM EDT ESPN2 This sounds like a super fun game

Oklahoma State @ Boise State 9 PM EDT FS1

#19 Arizona State @ #23 BYU 10:15 PM EDT ESPN

Fresno State @ #13 UCLA 10:45 PM EDT PAC12N

San Jose State @ Hawaii 12:30 AM EDT FS1

[GeorgiaModerate]

UCF @ Louisville
Maryland @ Illinois

Nebraska @ #3 Oklahoma
#8 Cincinnati @ Indiana     Trap game for Cincinnati.
#15 Virginia Tech @ West Virginia   Tech is overrated.
Michigan State @ #24 Miami (FL)    So is Miami.
Minnesota @ Colorado
Nevada @ Kansas State
Purdue @ #12 Notre Dame    I agree the Irish are riding for a fall, but not yet.    
#1 Alabama @ #11 Florida
Florida State @ Wake Forest
USC @ Washington State
Mississippi State @ Memphis   Tough to pick.
Northwestern @ Duke            Ditto.
Ball State @ Wyoming
Charlotte @ Georgia State   Interesting game.  
Utah @ San Diego State      Ditto.
#22 Auburn @ #10 Penn State   Auburn is also overrated.
Virginia @ #21 North Carolina
Utah State @ Air Force
Tulane @ #17 Ole Miss  An upset here wouldn't shock me.
Oklahoma State @ Boise State
#19 Arizona State @ #23 BYU   Yet another tough one.
Fresno State @ #13 UCLA
San Jose State @ Hawaii

[GeorgiaModerate]

USC coach Clay Helton has been fired.

[NewYorkExpress]

Trying to think of who USC might hire to replace Helton.

For some reason, I'm thinking Oregon Head Coach Mario Cristobal and Oklahoma Head Coach Lincoln Riley should top their wish list.

[Donerail]

Why stop at Riley? Why not include Saban, if we're including people who have zero interest in this opening? Not even sure that Cristobal would leave a comfortably humming program to go try to muck out Heritage Hall. He's at least a reasonable target, but another well-resourced and historically great program has already tried to pry away Cristobal and failed.

Realistic names here, besides Cristobal, are James Franklin, if they can pry him away from Penn State, and Luke Fickell. USC's new AD is the ex-AD at Cincinnati and hired Fickell, so the relationship is there already.

[NewYorkExpress]

Why stop at Riley? Why not include Saban, if we're including people who have zero interest in this opening? Not even sure that Cristobal would leave a comfortably humming program to go try to muck out Heritage Hall. He's at least a reasonable target, but another well-resourced and historically great program has already tried to pry away Cristobal and failed.

Realistic names here, besides Cristobal, are James Franklin, if they can pry him away from Penn State, and Luke Fickell. USC's new AD is the ex-AD at Cincinnati and hired Fickell, so the relationship is there already.

Saban's more of a Defensive oriented head coach and that wouldn't be a good fit at Quarterback U (USC).

[Never Made it to Graceland]

Why stop at Riley? Why not include Saban, if we're including people who have zero interest in this opening? Not even sure that Cristobal would leave a comfortably humming program to go try to muck out Heritage Hall. He's at least a reasonable target, but another well-resourced and historically great program has already tried to pry away Cristobal and failed.

Realistic names here, besides Cristobal, are James Franklin, if they can pry him away from Penn State, and Luke Fickell. USC's new AD is the ex-AD at Cincinnati and hired Fickell, so the relationship is there already.

James Franklin will never leave, he loves the cult and its vast potential of covering up crimes when he needs them to.

[Хahar 🤔]

Realistic names here, besides Cristobal, are James Franklin, if they can pry him away from Penn State, and Luke Fickell. USC's new AD is the ex-AD at Cincinnati and hired Fickell, so the relationship is there already.

I don't think it'll be a matter of having to pry away Franklin; there's probably a reason his name has been associated with the USC job for half a decade, and my guess is that it's because his agent has been letting people know that he's interested. If USC is willing to fork over the cash I think they'll have him, but that'd be an uninspiring choice.

Now that Lynn Swann and Pat Haden are out of the athletic director's office, I think the chance that the next head coach comes from the Trojan family are lower than ever. Historically, USC has tended to make offbeat hiring decisions for head football coach. I think an interesting name might be Kalen DeBoer at Fresno State. He hasn't been coaching at this level for very long, and a lot is riding on the idea that the Oregon game a week and a half ago was real, but he would fit with some of the unexpected choices USC has made in the past and the logic of hiring a local guy would be obvious. Obviously Fickell is a real possibility based on his existing connections, particularly since it doesn't seem like Ohio State is opening up any time soon.

A fun name to think about is P. J. Fleck. He's recruited very well everywhere he's gone, and with Southern California's resources he could repeat his strategy at Western Michigan of winning by having more talent than everyone else. He doesn't have any ties to the West Coast, but I think there's less reason to think that he's regionally limited than there would be for someone like Fickell, and I have to believe he'd be interested in the Trojans. For USC, it seems to me that one of the biggest issues with the Helton era has been fan apathy, and Fleck has a big enough personality to get fans interested again and to draw attention to the program even in a crowded market.

[NewYorkExpress]

Why stop at Riley? Why not include Saban, if we're including people who have zero interest in this opening? Not even sure that Cristobal would leave a comfortably humming program to go try to muck out Heritage Hall. He's at least a reasonable target, but another well-resourced and historically great program has already tried to pry away Cristobal and failed.

Realistic names here, besides Cristobal, are James Franklin, if they can pry him away from Penn State, and Luke Fickell. USC's new AD is the ex-AD at Cincinnati and hired Fickell, so the relationship is there already.

James Franklin will never leave, he loves the cult and its vast potential of covering up crimes when he needs them to.

You mean to tell me that any school that had a Sandusky situation wouldn't have done what Penn State did?

If you're saying that, you're dead wrong.

[Never Made it to Graceland]

Why stop at Riley? Why not include Saban, if we're including people who have zero interest in this opening? Not even sure that Cristobal would leave a comfortably humming program to go try to muck out Heritage Hall. He's at least a reasonable target, but another well-resourced and historically great program has already tried to pry away Cristobal and failed.

Realistic names here, besides Cristobal, are James Franklin, if they can pry him away from Penn State, and Luke Fickell. USC's new AD is the ex-AD at Cincinnati and hired Fickell, so the relationship is there already.

James Franklin will never leave, he loves the cult and its vast potential of covering up crimes when he needs them to.

You mean to tell me that any school that had a Sandusky situation wouldn't have done what Penn State did?

If you're saying that, you're dead wrong.

Yes, there are many schools that would fire a serial pedophile and report him to the law, especially one who wasn't particularly important to the football program.
Penn State is almost unique among prominent football programs for the combination of its geographic isolation and the complete devotion of the entire area to the university. Similar cases have emerged in recent years, notably Nasser at Michigan State (although this was arguably more on USA Gymnastics than on MSU) and Strauss at Ohio State, but Penn State was unique in how it accomodated Sandusky and now the administration and local law enforcement were totally hostile to dealing with it, until the sh**t hit the fan.
Franklin himself was involved in covering up rape at Vanderbilt. That would have been a turnoff for most schools. But not Penn State.

[Orwell]

Why stop at Riley? Why not include Saban, if we're including people who have zero interest in this opening? Not even sure that Cristobal would leave a comfortably humming program to go try to muck out Heritage Hall. He's at least a reasonable target, but another well-resourced and historically great program has already tried to pry away Cristobal and failed.

Realistic names here, besides Cristobal, are James Franklin, if they can pry him away from Penn State, and Luke Fickell. USC's new AD is the ex-AD at Cincinnati and hired Fickell, so the relationship is there already.

James Franklin will never leave, he loves the cult and its vast potential of covering up crimes when he needs them to.

You mean to tell me that any school that had a Sandusky situation wouldn't have done what Penn State did?

If you're saying that, you're dead wrong.

Yes, there are many schools that would fire a serial pedophile and report him to the law, especially one who wasn't particularly important to the football program.
Penn State is almost unique among prominent football programs for the combination of its geographic isolation and the complete devotion of the entire area to the university. Similar cases have emerged in recent years, notably Nasser at Michigan State (although this was arguably more on USA Gymnastics than on MSU) and Strauss at Ohio State, but Penn State was unique in how it accomodated Sandusky and now the administration and local law enforcement were totally hostile to dealing with it, until the sh**t hit the fan.
Franklin himself was involved in covering up rape at Vanderbilt. That would have been a turnoff for most schools. But not Penn State.

Yea I have a major problem with your view here, Jerry Sandusky was EXTREMELY important to the PSU program. He was their DC for 20 years and also coached Linebackers, he was responsible for Penn State becoming known as "Linebacker U" most notably producing Lavar Arrington.

[7,052,770]

Why stop at Riley? Why not include Saban, if we're including people who have zero interest in this opening? Not even sure that Cristobal would leave a comfortably humming program to go try to muck out Heritage Hall. He's at least a reasonable target, but another well-resourced and historically great program has already tried to pry away Cristobal and failed.

Realistic names here, besides Cristobal, are James Franklin, if they can pry him away from Penn State, and Luke Fickell. USC's new AD is the ex-AD at Cincinnati and hired Fickell, so the relationship is there already.

James Franklin will never leave, he loves the cult and its vast potential of covering up crimes when he needs them to.

You mean to tell me that any school that had a Sandusky situation wouldn't have done what Penn State did?

If you're saying that, you're dead wrong.

There are fewer than 10 Power 5 schools that would have covered up the Sandusky situation like Penn State did. Not 0, but most of them wouldn't have. Most of them don't have an active coaching legend to protect.

[JGibson]

Week 3

Friday, September 17th

UCF @ Louisville 7:30 PM EDT ESPN

Maryland @ Illinois 9 PM EDT FS1

Saturday, September 18th

Nebraska @ #3 Oklahoma

#8 Cincinnati @ Indiana Noon EDT ESPN

#15 Virginia Tech @ West Virginia Noon EDT FS1

Michigan State @ #24 Miami (FL) Noon EDT ABC

Minnesota @ Colorado 1 PM EDT PAC12N

Nevada @ Kansas State 2:05 PM EDT ESPN+

Purdue @ #12 Notre Dame 2:30 PM EDT NBC

#1 Alabama @ #11 Florida 3:30 PM EDT CBS

Florida State @ Wake Forest 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

USC @ Washington State 3:30 PM EDT FOX

Mississippi State @ Memphis 4 PM EDT ESPN2

Northwestern @ Duke 4 PM EDT ACCN

Ball State @ Wyoming 4 PM EDT

Charlotte @ Georgia State 7 PM EDT ESPN+

Utah @ San Diego State 7 PM EDT CBSSN

#22 Auburn @ #10 Penn State 7:30 PM EDT ABC

Virginia @ #21 North Carolina 7:30 PM EDT ACCN

Utah State @ Air Force 7:30 PM EDT FS2

Tulane @ #17 Ole Miss 8 PM EDT ESPN2

Oklahoma State @ Boise State 9 PM EDT FS1

#19 Arizona State @ #23 BYU 10:15 PM EDT ESPN

Fresno State @ #13 UCLA 10:45 PM EDT PAC12N

San Jose State @ Hawaii 12:30 AM EDT FS1

[Terry the Fat Shark]

https://twitter.com/colecubelic/status/1437590362990723073

[DINGO Joe]

Louisville
Maryland
OU
Cincy
VaTech
Mich St
Colorado
Nevada
Purdue
Bama
FSU
USC
Memphis
Northwestern
Wyoming
Ga St
SD St.
Penn St,
UNC
Air Force
Ole Miss
Boise St
ASU
UCLA
Hawaii

[Terry the Fat Shark]

Week 3

Friday, September 17th

UCF @ Louisville 7:30 PM EDT ESPN

Maryland @ Illinois 9 PM EDT FS1

Saturday, September 18th

Nebraska @ #3 Oklahoma

#8 Cincinnati @ Indiana Noon EDT ESPN

#15 Virginia Tech @ West Virginia Noon EDT FS1

Michigan State @ #24 Miami (FL) Noon EDT ABC

Minnesota @ Colorado 1 PM EDT PAC12N

Nevada @ Kansas State 2:05 PM EDT ESPN+

Purdue @ #12 Notre Dame 2:30 PM EDT NBC

#1 Alabama @ #11 Florida 3:30 PM EDT CBS

Florida State @ Wake Forest 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

USC @ Washington State 3:30 PM EDT FOX

Mississippi State @ Memphis 4 PM EDT ESPN2

Northwestern @ Duke 4 PM EDT ACCN

Ball State @ Wyoming 4 PM EDT

Charlotte @ Georgia State 7 PM EDT ESPN+

Utah @ San Diego State 7 PM EDT CBSSN

#22 Auburn @ #10 Penn State 7:30 PM EDT ABC

Virginia @ #21 North Carolina 7:30 PM EDT ACCN

Utah State @ Air Force 7:30 PM EDT FS2

Tulane @ #17 Ole Miss 8 PM EDT ESPN2

Oklahoma State @ Boise State 9 PM EDT FS1

#19 Arizona State @ #23 BYU 10:15 PM EDT ESPN

Fresno State @ #13 UCLA 10:45 PM EDT PAC12N

San Jose State @ Hawaii 12:30 AM EDT FS1

[7,052,770]

Surprised by how many people are picking Memphis. I hope I don't have to eat those words tomorrow.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Surprised by how many people are picking Memphis. I hope I don't have to eat those words tomorrow.

That was the toughest pick for me.  I went back and forth on it and finally took the home field as the deciding factor.

[NewYorkExpress]

Upset Alert!

Louisville leads UCF 21-14 at the half.

UCF came into this road game as 7 point favorites.