College Football pick'em 2017- Gameplay and scoring thread

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Good pick with Ohio over Toedo, NYE! Toledo had been playing great (well, for a MAC team) all year.

The crux of my argument was that Ohio's win over Kansas was better than any win Toledo had.

??
Kansas is the second worst FBS team that Ohio has beaten all season. It would also rank as the second worst FBS victory for Toledo. (Kent State and Ball State, respectively though Nevada is close).

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

https://www.masseyratings.com/cf/compare.htm

Here are 110 different rating systems that all put Kansas in the bottom 20 teams in FBS. Last I checked, even in the best case scenario, there are more than 20 P5 teams and in fact, if you want to say 'majority' of P5, there are more than 40 P5 teams!!

Can you please stop trolling and ruining everything I love about football?

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

For all the hoopla over possibilities, it is now (shockingly!) down to the SEC Champion (Bama / Dawgs / Auburn], ACC Champion [Clemson / Miami], Big Ten Champion [Ohio State / Wisconsin] and Big 12 Champion [Oklahoma / TCU]. Sorry to say dfw, TCU could spoil that with a win over Oklahoma if a bigger name with a gigantic fanbase like USC wins the Pac-12 (though hard to rationalize to Notre Dame). But Washington State would likely not be notable enough should they win the Apple Cup and defeat USC again. [Washington State would potentially have 4 ranked wins if they win the last two to USC's potential 3 or TCU's potential 3, but I still don't see it. Oklahoma should just make this easy.]

Michigan could also play spoiler to Ohio State. WVU, SC, and GT are not really potential spoilers. GT could force Bama > UGa, but that's about it. The other 2 would be fine 2-loss champs.

Oklahoma has to be considered the favourite for the title imho though a very longshot favourite at that (4-1). Alabama has an extra de facto playoff game against a top 5 team for the division before getting a likely top 5 team in the championship. That's a lot of intense games in a row with already far too many injuries. Clemson actually has an argument for second best odds though Miami has proven to be quite the scary threat. Still, Clemson's only loss is down a QB, and the skill position talent is undeniable. I stick with Oklahoma in the driver's seat even with a lesser defensive front because the experience a few yards behind center is beyond compare plus what I saw from the running game tonight - the offensive line manhandled a supposedly great defense.

Oklahoma 4-1
Clemson 5-1
Alabama 11-2
Miami 6-1
Georgia 11-1
Auburn 13-1
Wisconsin 18-1
Ohio State 22-1
TCU 35-1

USC 45-1

Washington State 100-1
Oklahoma State 140-1
Penn State 150-1
UCF 250-1
Washington 250-1

Nate Silver has considerably more hope for the Big Ten and Alabama.

ROLL TIDE!

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

November 14

Ohio at Akron

November 15

Western Michigan at Northern Illinois

November 17

Middle Tennessee at Western Kentucky

UNLV at New Mexico

November 18

TCU at Texas Tech

Michigan at Wisconsin

UCLA at USC

Maryland at Michigan State

Nebraska at Penn State

Kansas State at Oklahoma State

Mississippi State at Arkansas

Purdue at Iowa

Minnesota at Northwestern

Texas A&M at Mississippi

Texas at West Virginia

Arizona at Oregon

California at Stanford

Rutgers at Indiana

UCF at Temple

SMU at Memphis

Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech

Fresno State at Wyoming

Kentucky at Georgia

Navy at Notre Dame

Georgia Tech at Duke

Syracuse at Louisville

UAB at Florida

Army at North Texas

LSU at Tennessee

Florida International at Florida Atlantic

Marshall at Texas San Antonio

NC State at Wake Forest

Missouri at Vanderbilt

Air Force at Boise State

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

I don't know where they teach this level of cognitive dissonance. I'm dumbfounded.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

I don't know where they teach this level of cognitive dissonance. I'm dumbfounded.

What, suggesting a UCF team that remains unbeaten should be in the playoff? That's a credible argument to me.

Smilo is a big FCS/G5 person. I assume he was referring to Alabama_Indy.

I see... I would have liked it if he specified who he was replying to...I don't like replying to comments that have nothing to do with me.

The cognitive dissonance is related to your stance in the last argument. I don't find UCF to be worthy (probably a 10-15 ranking is accurate), but it's an acceptable stance. So long as the same person does not hold a view that G5 are inherently weaker than the worst P5 teams bar a few. In that case, even if UCF were better, their resume would have literally a dozen wins against the bottom half of FBS.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

The point is that they still wouldn't have the necessary wins under such a set of circumstances, but ok

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Why does this thread get worse every single page?

The only wrong thing Baker Mayfield did was apologize. All he did was get back at people attacking and disrespecting him. Very shameful that OU stripped the only logical Heisman contender of his Senior Day chance to shine.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Kinda tuned out these last two weeks. Rough to watch when your school gets eliminated earlier than ever before
Roll Tide

November 23

Mississippi at Mississippi State

November 24

Northern Illinois at Central Michigan

Western Michigan at Toledo

Miami(FL) at Pittsburgh - I believe but I won't pick it

Navy at Houston

Ohio at Buffalo

South Florida at UCF

Iowa at Nebraska

Virginia Tech at Virginia

Texas Tech at Texas

November 25

Alabama at Auburn

West Virginia at Oklahoma

Wisconsin at Minnesota

Georgia at Georgia Tech

Notre Dame at Stanford

Penn State at Maryland

Washington State at Washington - I believe!

Michigan State at Rutgers

Northwestern at Illinois

Arizona at Arizona State

Colorado at Utah

Iowa State at Kansas State

Tulane at SMU

Ohio State at Michigan

Indiana at Purdue

Louisville at Kentucky

Florida State at Florida

Boston College at Syracuse #NeverBC

Duke at Wake Forest

Appalachian State at Georgia State

Southern Mississippi at Marshall

Old Dominion at Middle Tennessee - poor ODU

Arkansas State at Louisiana Monroe

North Carolina at NC State

Boise State at Fresno State

Vanderbilt at Tennessee

Oregon State at Oregon - holding out hope for OSU but not worth it

Clemson at South Carolina

Texas A&M at LSU

UT San Antonio at Louisiana Tech

BYU at Hawaii

Air Force at Utah State


Shocked Cal @ UCLA for a bowl slot is not on the slate. Go Cal, but Bruins undefeated at home...

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

I mean, we can keep pretending Florida is the best job, but in reality land, it won't be the best job for another 5 years when Saban's Reign finally ends, and he would be completely ill-suited for it. I would be shocked if UCLA doesn't get better because Rosen leaves. The guy is an absolute cancer who brings out the worst in everyone.

The Pac-12 south may be the easiest division to make a breakthrough in in college football for a team with limited tradition (and UCLA has tradition, they play in the freaking Rose Bowl). Plus the North is about to take a steep dive as the Washington schools both regress.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Trump has failed us. Roy Moore better lose for this. These monsters will pay dearly

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

This is like some terrible nightmare where I have to cheer for TCU to ensure a team I like is in the ship

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Dan Mullen...completely tragic 😔

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

USC
UCF
Fau
Oklahoma
Auburn
Fresno State
Clemson
Wisconsin
Army

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

8-team playoff makes no sense. There are never 8 teams who could legitimately be considered in contention for being the best team in the country. Often, there aren't even 4 teams who meet that description.

I agree. Additionally, this year an 8 team playoff would probably mean that Clemson, Auburn, and Oklahoma would be in the playoff even if they lost their championship game. What is the point of the championships if that would be the case?

Also, even with eight teams undefeated UCF would still be nowhere near a playoff berth. Life is unfair for the G5.

If you flipflop Miami and Penn State  (as Massey ranks the top 8), any of the top 8 teams could be relatively evenly matched this year - quite the rarity! But agree on the point of championship weekend - at least under the current format. Unless we switch to an FCS format with representation across the leagues, which hasn't really proven to have many upsets a lower seeded teams making a claim to titles

Since 2008 seeding format, Richmond is the only champion ranked outside the top 5 and would be comparable to Mississippi State or LSU being crowned after a massive string of upsets.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

I can give bonuses. Just tell me the rules.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Jimbo is so woke. Lose an African American body at the helm of one semi-major power causing him to give up his spot so an African American body could take over at an even more major power. Peak!

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Hot take: even with a win today, Miami cannot stake a claim to being the best team in the country and should not be invited to the College Football Playoff. Sadly, they almost certainly would be.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Roll Tide, Dereich. Roll Tide. We expanded the playoff to give us leeway in case of a slip up.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=400876108

Spreading the wealth / geography does not work. I certainly didn't watch last year.

Roll Tide

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

If Ohio State gets in, it will be affirmative action for stupid dying Midwesterners who can't bear to see their once mighty conference dip into irrelevancy. Hopefully that doesn't repeat for basketball season where the quality is even more pathetic!

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Hoping for Bama. They are the better team.

Thank you. You are one of the good ones. Roll Tide

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Exactly! Injuries matter! FSU is an elite team with Francois. And Mississippi States last game clearly doesn't count with the loss of Fitzgerald. That is still an elite team inT15 with full health.

On the other hand, not sure Bosa accounts for 5 scores!

THERE IS NO TEAM MORE DISRESPECTED THAN ALABAMA!

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Nobody wants an old washed up coach who failed. They want young blood that is exciting to recruits and players. 0% Shannon goes there with the intention of sticking.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Extremely racist that the Celebration Bowl is not on this list.
North Carolina A+T will defeat Grambling State to kick off the bowl season to get the MEAC revenge for the last year.

December 16

New Orleans Bowl (in New Orleans)
Troy at North Texas

Las Vegas Bowl (in Las Vegas)
Boise State at Oregon

Colorado State will take it against Marshall in one of the underrated QB battles and Arkansas State narrowly escapes vs Middle Tennessee. Bad start for C-USA! WKU will take care of Georgia State however.

December 19

Boca Raton Bowl (in Boca Raton, Florida)
Akron at Florida Atlantic

December 20

Frisco Bowl (in Frisco, Texas)
Louisiana Tech at SMU

December 21

Gasparilla Bowl (in Saint Petersburg, Florida)
Temple at Florida International

December 22

[Bahamas Bowl (in Nassau, Bahamas)
UAB at Ohio

Wyoming takes the Potato Bowl.

December 23

Birmingham Bowl (In Birmingham, Alabama)
Texas Tech at South Florida

Armed Forces Bowl (in Fort Worth)
San Diego State at Army - this one is tough to pick as they get

Dollar General Bowl
Appalachian State at Toledo

December 24

Hawaii Bowl
Fresno State at Houston

December 26

Heart of Dallas Bowl (in Dallas)
Utah at West Virginia
Cactus Bowl (in Phoenix)
Kansas State at UCLA

Duke-NIU - who care! NIU

December 27

Independence Bowl (in Shreveport)
Southern Mississippi at Florida State

Pinstripe Bowl (in New York City)
Iowa at Boston College

Foster Farms Bowl
Arizona at Purdue

Texas Bowl
Texas at Missouri

December 28

Military Bowl (in Annapolis)
Virginia at Navy

Camping World Bowl (in Orlando)
Virginia Tech at Oklahoma State

Alamo Bowl (in San Antonio)
Stanford at TCU

Holiday Bowl (in San Diego)
Washington State at Michigan State

December 29

Belk Bowl (in Charlotte)
Wake Forest at Texas A&M

Sun Bowl (in El Paso)
NC State at Arizona State

Music City Bowl (in Nashville)
Kentucky at Northwestern - this pick is homerism, I fear

Cotton Bowl
Ohio State at USC

Utah State will defeat NMSU on this late December date that no one will care for.

December 30

Taxslayer Bowl (in Jacksonville)
Louisville at Mississippi State - this is the game Lamar became Heisman

Liberty Bowl (in Memphis)
Iowa State at Memphis - poor ISU

Fiesta Bowl (in Glendale, Arizona)
Washington at Penn State

Orange Bowl (in Miami)
Wisconsin at Miami(FL)

January 1

Outback Bowl (in Tampa)
Michigan at South Carolina

Peach Bowl (in Atlanta)
UCF at Auburn - I changed my thoughts on this one over the past couple weeks.

Citrus Bowl (in Orlando)
Notre Dame at LSU

College Football Playoff-Rose Bowl (in Pasadena, California)
Georgia at Oklahoma

College Football Playoff-Sugar Bowl (in New Orleans)
Clemson at Alabama

College Football Playoff National Championship Game (in Atlanta)
Oklahoma over Alabama

Bonus:
D3 National Championship: Mount Union gets back on top to stop the Mary Hardin Baylor repeat
D2 National Championship: Texas A&M Commerce defeats West Florida in the most bizarre national title match-up of all-time - sadly haven't caught much from Commerce and minimal from UWF.

FCS Semifinal: North Dakota State over Sam Houston and James Madison over South Dakota State
FCS Championship: NDSU over JMU - vengeance.