2022 College Football Discussion & Pick'em Thread

[NewYorkExpress]

In last night's game, West Virginia blocked a Baylor PAT and returned it all the way for 2 points, or a net 3-point swing counting the failed PAT.  West Virginia ended up winning by...3 points.

Not that Dave Aranda's in any job danger, but Baylor's playing him out of a bunch of job openings (Nebraska, Wisconsin, probably Auburn, possibly Oklahoma if Venables gets canned at the end of the season.)

[NewYorkExpress]

My God, Illinois is going to win the Big Ten West. The Illini beat Minnesota today, 26-14.

[NewYorkExpress]

A really early look at what I think the playoff and New Year's Six games will look like after this week's games.

Orange: Syracuse vs Illinois

Sugar: Ole Miss vs Oklahoma State

Rose: Michigan vs USC

Cotton: Clemson vs Coastal Carolina

Peach: #1 Georgia vs #4 Alabama

Fiesta#2 Ohio State vs # 3 Tennessee

[NewYorkExpress]

Alabama just took the lead on Tennessee 35-34, late in the 3rd quarter.

Well, there goes the SEC (and my) dreams of having three teams in the playoff. (unless of course Ole Miss loses only against Alabama the rest of the way).

[NewYorkExpress]

Alabama just took the lead on Tennessee 35-34, late in the 3rd quarter.

Well, there goes the SEC (and my) dreams of having three teams in the playoff. (unless of course Ole Miss loses only against Alabama the rest of the way).

Tennessee is down 1 and it's not even the 4th quarter yet.  Please tell me you won't be like this on election night.

I won't be here on election night (or at least, I won't be on the election boards).

[NewYorkExpress]

Is there a scenario out there where the SEC gets all four playoff teams (Alabama, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Georgia)?

[NewYorkExpress]

New AP Poll out:

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Michigan
4. Tennessee
5. Clemson
6. Alabama
7. Ole Miss
8. TCU
9. Oregon'
10. UCLA
11. Oklahoma State
12. USC
13. Wake Forest
14. Syracuse
15. Utah
16. Penn State
17. Kansas State
18. Kentucky
19. Cincinnati
20. Illinois
21. Texas
22. North Carolina
23. NC State
24. Mississippi State
25. Tulane

[NewYorkExpress]

New AP Poll out:

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Michigan
4. Tennessee
5. Clemson
6. Alabama
7. Ole Miss
8. TCU
9. Oregon'
10. UCLA
11. Oklahoma State
12. USC
13. Wake Forest
14. Syracuse
15. Utah
16. Penn State
17. Kansas State
18. Kentucky
19. Cincinnati
20. Illinois
21. Texas
22. North Carolina
23. NC State
24. Mississippi State
25. Tulane

That's the coaches poll.  Michigan and Tennessee are swapped in the AP poll.

ESPN seems to only have the coaches poll listed on their site at the moment then.

[NewYorkExpress]

New AP Poll out:

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Michigan
4. Tennessee
5. Clemson
6. Alabama
7. Ole Miss
8. TCU
9. Oregon'
10. UCLA
11. Oklahoma State
12. USC
13. Wake Forest
14. Syracuse
15. Utah
16. Penn State
17. Kansas State
18. Kentucky
19. Cincinnati
20. Illinois
21. Texas
22. North Carolina
23. NC State
24. Mississippi State
25. Tulane

That's the coaches poll.  Michigan and Tennessee are swapped in the AP poll.

ESPN seems to only have the coaches poll listed on their site at the moment then.

Are you looking at https://www.espn.com/college-football/rankings ?  If so, try refreshing your browser.  I see both polls there.

Yes. Clearly ESPN put the AP poll up in the last half hour.

[NewYorkExpress]

Clemson (Syracuse is good, but not this good)
Cincinnati
Baylor
Indiana
Buffalo
Ball State
Ohio
Texas Tech
Louisiana Tech
UCLA
Texas (Is Texas back? This is the Longhorn's chance to prove it)
Tulane
BYU
Purdue
UTSA
Stanford
Mississippi State (Calling for a Mike Leach upset of a demoralized Crimson Tide team)
Boise State
Texas A&M
UCF
TCU
Wyoming

[NewYorkExpress]

Adding picks of Florida Atlantic and UTEP.

I can't figure out what the third missing game is. If you'd tell me, that would be appreciated.

[NewYorkExpress]

Okay, so my three picks are Ole Miss, UTEP, and Texas State.

[NewYorkExpress]

So, no real complaints about College GameDay picking UCLA/Oregon for their campus game this week, though I thought FOX might claim it for their Big Noon Kickoff instead (which would leave Gameday, presumably with one Texas/Oklahoma State, Mississippi State/Alabama or Kansas State/TCU).

Next week has a bunch of intriguing GameDay choices just at a glance. There's Oklahoma State/Kansas State, Cincinnati/UCF, Ohio State/Penn State (which almost certainly will be the FOX Big Noon Kickoff game, and thus not the GameDay game), Florida/Georgia (despite Florida's performance, big rivalry games are always favored destinations for GameDay), Kentucky/Tennessee (being a night game on ESPN might make it slightly more likely to be chosen), Michigan State/Michigan (again, despite Michigan State's struggles, it's a big rivalry game, plus it's a night game on ABC) and Pittsburgh/North Carolina.

If I were choosing, I'd go with one of Cincinnati/UCF, Florida/Georgia or Kentucky/Tennessee, frankly (Ohio State/Penn State only being out of the running by virtue of being the FOX Big Noon kickoff game).

[NewYorkExpress]

Next week has a bunch of intriguing GameDay choices just at a glance. There's Oklahoma State/Kansas State, Cincinnati/UCF, Ohio State/Penn State (which almost certainly will be the FOX Big Noon Kickoff game, and thus not the GameDay game), Florida/Georgia (despite Florida's performance, big rivalry games are always favored destinations for GameDay), Kentucky/Tennessee (being a night game on ESPN might make it slightly more likely to be chosen), Michigan State/Michigan (again, despite Michigan State's struggles, it's a big rivalry game, plus it's a night game on ABC) and Pittsburgh/North Carolina.

Most obvious destination is Notre Dame @ SYRACUSE

If GameDay didn't do Syracuse/Clemson this week, which would have been a very good choice for them (and possibly a better choice than UCLA/Oregon), then they aren't doing Notre Dame/Syracuse, especially since the Fighting Irish are having a down season.

[NewYorkExpress]

It looks like Kansas will not become bowl-eligible this year after all. Baylor is dominating them, 21-3 in the Second Quarter, and the schedule doesn't get easier for the Jayhawks, with games against Oklahoma State, Texas and Kansas State as certain losses, and a likely loss against Texas Tech left on the schedule.

[NewYorkExpress]

Upset Alert!!!

With just over four minutes to go in the first half, #14 Syracuse leads #5 Clemson 14-7.

[NewYorkExpress]

Looking at Syracuse's remaining Schedule, their toughest remaining game before the ACC Championship Game (assuming they beat Clemson this week) is @ Wake Forest on November 19.

Frankly, since they already beat NC State, and would have a win over Clemson by that point, Wake Forest shouldn't be a problem.

Assuming they win out and win the ACC Championship Game, where presumably they will face a ranked North Carolina squad, do you think that's enough for Syracuse to make the Playoff?

[NewYorkExpress]

Clemson has come all the way back and now leads 24-21 in the fourth quarter.

[NewYorkExpress]

Looks like Clemson is going to survive against Syracuse.

They lead 27-21, with less than two minutes to go.

[NewYorkExpress]

Clemson fans actually stormed the field beating Syracuse as double digit favorites.

https://twitter.com/Pickswise/status/1583907587107397632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ct...

[NewYorkExpress]

#21 Cincinnati survives a furious rally from SMU to turn back an upset bid, 29-27.

[NewYorkExpress]

#10 Oregon running away with things against #9 UCLA, leading 24-10 midway through the second quarter.

Bo Nix is having an excellent season so far, and Oregon is on the fringes of the playoff, and should make the Rose Bowl (unless they lose the PAC-12 title game to USC/UCLA/Utah). Is this Bo Nix's Heisman moment?

[NewYorkExpress]

The Weeks still in progress, but an early look at what I think the playoff and New Year's Six picture now looks like:

Orange Bowl: Syracuse vs Illinois

Sugar: TCU vs Alabama

Rose: Oregon vs Michigan

Cotton: Ole Miss vs Cincinnati

Peach: #1 Georgia vs #4 Tennessee

Fiesta#2 Ohio State vs #3 Clemson

[NewYorkExpress]

I think it's safe to say a pissed off Alabama team is pretty much unstoppable.

The Crimson Tide are dominating Mississippi State 24-0 as halftime approaches.

[NewYorkExpress]

Orange Bowl: Syracuse vs Illinois

Syracuse is prohibited from playing in the Orange Bowl due to the unfair advantage they would have over their opponents given that their mascot is an anthropomorphic orange. This is why their last appearance was in 1959 before they adopted Otto.

That's an actual thing?

That seems like one of the most ridiculous bowl requirements in College Football, and I would hope it's dealt with quickly, given how well Syracuse is doing this year.