2018 Atlas CFB Pick Em Contest

[NewYorkExpress]

I'm in, and I've already submitted my picks.

I strongly encrouage anyone else who enjoys college football to get a Yahoo account, and play.

[NewYorkExpress]

Ummmmmm who is USC4CFBPLAYOFF, just wondering

I doubt everyone who reads the page is actually a member of the forum.

[NewYorkExpress]

Make sure to edit your settings to NOT allow the commissioner to edit your picks, otherwise DFW will cheat his way to victory.

And why would he do that, when he's pretty damn at picking games himself?

[NewYorkExpress]

Make sure to edit your settings to NOT allow the commissioner to edit your picks, otherwise DFW will cheat his way to victory.

And why would he do that, when he's pretty damn at picking games himself?

DFW does whatever it takes to get ahead.

I'm just going to assume you two have an Atlasia history that I don't know about...

[NewYorkExpress]

Does anyone else have Michigan over Notre Dame?

[NewYorkExpress]

I made my picks a while ago, but here's my reasoning behind them.

1. Duke has the superior overall talent to Army, and while the Black Knights should keep this interesting, I think the Blue Devils will win a close one. Army 30, Duke 23.

2. I'm actually surprised Stanford isn't favored by more than the current 14.5 points, honestly. Stanford 40, San Diego State 17.

3. Colorado isn't going to do well this year, but I'll be surprised if they lose to their instate rivals. Colorado 30, Colorado State 24

4. I know a lot of people got burned by Maryland beating Texas last year, but this is a stronger Texas team. Plus, Maryland is missing their head coach, who is on administrative leave following a scandal involving the death of a player from heatstroke. This should be an easy win for the Longhorns. Texas 45, Maryland 14.

5. James Madison is one the top teams in FCS football, so they have the potential to surprise the Wolfpack. However, like most FCS teams, I don't quite think they have the talent to seal the deal. Still, expect this game to be relatively close. North Carolina State 30, James Madison 27

6. I know Ole Miss is supposedly a better team, but it's an open question of how motivated they'll be without the promise of a bowl game. Texas Tech 20, Ole Miss 19.

7. Appalachian State is probably the favorite in the Sun Belt, but Penn State will blow them out of the water. Expect a blowout. Penn State 42, Appalachian State 3

8. The Wildcats were a pleasant surprise in the SEC East and while I don't expect them to repeat that this season, they should be able to easily handle Central Michigan. Kentucky 33, Central Michigan 7

9. Jeremy Pruitt will be a good Head Coach. That said, I can't trust Tennessee until they prove the aren't the cluster**** that last year's team was. West Virginia 24, Tennessee 14

10. In an evenly matched game, pick the better conference. Since the SEC is better than the PAC-12, I believe Auburn will narrowly defeat Washington. Auburn 14, Washington 13

11. I'm a little surprised the spread in this one is only 1 1/2 points. I would think Wazzu would win by more. Washington State 37, Wyoming 20

12. I can't remember how many people got burned by the Cal/North Carolina game last time, but I think that while North Carolina has improved, so has Cal. Plus the Golden Bears are playing at home. Cal 21, North Carolina 17

13. I don't know why Boise State isn't favored by more. Troy isn't very good.  Boise State 35, Troy 10.

14. I know everyone's excited about Chip Kelly's debut as UCLA head coach, but I think the real test of his skill with these players comes next week at Oklahoma. He should win against Cincinnati easily. UCLA 34, Cincinnati 27

15. While I wouldn't be surprised if the Hoosiers lost, they are favored... Indiana 20, Florida International 10

16. Since I have Michigan going to the Playoff, logically, I must have Michigan beating Notre Dame, but it'll be close.  Michigan 20, Notre Dame 17 (OT)

17. Iowa State should win, but don't count out an upset. Iowa State 26, South Dakota State 14

18. One of the contenders for biggest rout of the day, but it might have been bigger if Chip Kelly were still Oregon Head Coach. Oregon 44, Bowling Green 12

19. If Louisville still had Lamar Jackson they might have had a shot, but he's in the NFL. Without him, they've got no chance at Alabama. Alabama 40, Louisville 21

20. Akron is my "upset" special. Nebraska isn't very good (in fact they're probably the worst team in the Big Ten), while the Zips, while not great, are by no means awful, and almost won the MAC last year.  Akron 21, Nebraska 18 (OT)

21. Arizona State should easily win Herm Edwards's debut. Arizona State 34, UTSA 9

22. Arizona should win, but a BYU upset isn't impossible to comprehend. Arizona 20, BYU 17

23. Hawaii's already lost a shootout, and this game with Navy promises another shootout, and probably another loss. Navy 56, Hawaii 49

24. I would pick the SEC team here, but LSU is a perennial underachiever, and needs to prove themselves to me first. Miami (FL) will win this game, but it'll be close...in fact if Les Miles were still coaching at LSU, he might have won.  Miami(FL) 17, LSU 14

25 .Florida State should rebound and contend for a title this season, and as such I believe they'll beat Virginia Tech in their opener. Florida State 24, Virginia Tech 20


Other

UCF @ UConn (August 30)  I have UCF in the playoff, as if they go undefeated again, it would be really hard to ignore them two years in a row. First however, they need to win this game, and they will.  UCF 34, UConn 7

Oregon State @ Ohio State  Another "upset special". I don't think the Buckeyes will react very well to not having Urban Meyer, and while the Beavers aren't particularly good, they are good enough to give the Buckeyes a scare, at a minimum. I'd also expect a loss against TCU, the final game of Meyer's suspension.  Oregon State 20, Ohio State 17 (OT)

[NewYorkExpress]

Yeeesssss! I will cement my soon-to-be annual tradition of irrational exuberance towards the Indiana Hoosiers Illinois Fighting Illini Football Team which leads me into a bottom 20% finish!

Still pumped, though!

This year has to be the year, right?

And after removing my homer glasses, I would not be at all surprised if Illinois compiles more wins than Indiana. B1G East is more of a gauntlet and Lovie has been recruiting some really good talent out of St. Louis, while Indiana has been losing talent to a resurgent(ish) Purdue

I think we really might see some improvement from the team this year. Sounds like we are getting closer to having a B1G offensive line (which we just have not had in a long time), and we have a QB that fits our offensive system. These have been our greatest weaknesses, so improvement here should go a long way.

I would be satisfied with an Illinois season with wins including: Kent State, Western Illinois, Rutgers, Minnesota, and maybe one of USF, Purdue or Maryland. If we see that success, as well as simple competence when playing in the B1G, then I think we making great progress and are on track to being a bowl team next year.

P.s. I love how much attention Illinois gets on this forum lol.

Those first four, plus Purdue and Maryland should be doable (especially if Maryland is forced to fire their Head Coach following their scandal involving a player dying from heatstroke).

[NewYorkExpress]

1. Duke has the superior overall talent to Army, and while the Black Knights should keep this interesting, I think the Blue Devils will win a close one. Army 30, Duke 23.

Your reasoning doesn't seem to match the prediction.

Sorry, reverse that. Duke 30, Army 23.

[NewYorkExpress]

Not on the schedule, but there's a good game going between #11 Michigan State and Utah State.

Michigan State leads 30-24. with about 6 minutes left but Utah State has the ball in Michigan State territory...

Upset alert?

[NewYorkExpress]

Anybody pick any big upsets today?

I picked Troy over Boise State.

I have Akron over Nebraska.

[NewYorkExpress]

How bad is Illinois?

Really bad if they're losing to Kent State...but give Lovie another year.

[NewYorkExpress]

Never pick Texas in OOC play apparently....

It's only the second quarter and they are only down ten.

It's still quite possible Texas can comeback...and they better, given I picked them too.

[NewYorkExpress]

So, Texas took the lead from Maryland...Ole Miss is beating up on Texas Tech... and in a game that's off the radar but sure to be of interest to forumites, Illinois has taken the lead from Kent State.

[NewYorkExpress]

Maryland still beating #23 Texas 34-29 with less than two minutes in the fourth quarter.

EDIT... It's over. Maryland just won it.

[NewYorkExpress]

Maryland still beating #23 Texas 34-29 with less than two minutes in the fourth quarter.

A couple people on Gameday this morning said Texas would win by like 30+

I had Texas, but I'm pretty sure I didn't have them by thirty...

Also, I admit to being wrong about Ohio State losing.

The Buckeyes just flattened Oregon State 77-31.

[NewYorkExpress]

Washington/Auburn is turning into a good one... Auburn leads 15-13 at the moment.

[NewYorkExpress]

The Georgia-Austin Peay game is playing a shortened 4th quarter (10 minutes) because of Georgia's huge lead.  When did this become a rule?

I imagine it isn't actually a rule, and is just something the Georgia and Austin Peay coaching staffs agreed to on the spot.

[NewYorkExpress]

The Georgia-Austin Peay game is playing a shortened 4th quarter (10 minutes) because of Georgia's huge lead.  When did this become a rule?

I imagine it isn't actually a rule, and is just something the Georgia and Austin Peay coaching staffs agreed to on the spot.

Um, no... there is a mercy rule in most NCAA sports.

Okay, but what exactly is the standard for applying said mercy rule?

Also, if this teaches SEC teams to stop scheduling cupcakes for non-conference opponents, good for them.

[NewYorkExpress]

The Georgia-Austin Peay game is playing a shortened 4th quarter (10 minutes) because of Georgia's huge lead.  When did this become a rule?

I imagine it isn't actually a rule, and is just something the Georgia and Austin Peay coaching staffs agreed to on the spot.

Um, no... there is a mercy rule in most NCAA sports. The idea that you think coaching staff can just change the rules on the spot in an official game shows that you are a moron.

You're lucky I'm a nice guy, or I'd report that as "personal attack".

[NewYorkExpress]

Auburn continues to be the luckiest team on Earth. Every calls goes their way.

I've been convinced since 2013 that Auburn had a deal with the Devil.

I'd argue that deal's been going since Auburn beat Alabama in 2010.

[NewYorkExpress]

On the 10-minute 4th quarter in the Georgia game, from the ESPN game story:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Well, I learned something new today.

So, technically I was both right and wrong at the same time.

[NewYorkExpress]

We now officially have proof the SEC is better than the PAC-12.

Auburn defeats Washington 21-16.

[NewYorkExpress]

On the 10-minute 4th quarter in the Georgia game, from the ESPN game story:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Well, I learned something new today.

So, technically I was both right and wrong at the same time.

Are you Schrödinger's cat? 😹

I could be...or I could not be.

[NewYorkExpress]

UCLA lost to Cincinnati, everyone picked UCLA.

Well, that's embarrassing.

[NewYorkExpress]

Nebraska and Iowa State games both cancelled, not sure when Nebraska will be played, Iowa State says they don't know when they are going to reschedule as of now.

That probably saves me one loss...as I had Akron.

As both games are non-conference, there's no guarantee they'll be rescheduled in the first place.