2022 College Football Discussion & Pick'em Thread

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

It pains me to say it, but I've believed it since week 1. Ohio is the best team this year. Ohio-Alabama is the title finish we need.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

The committee has little choice to make Michigan #1 next week. Georgia can always leap them with a good win over LSU, but the risk of Ohio State finishing #3 (if both TCU/USC lose) is too high leading to an immediate rematch. With Clemson going down, the Tide's path to #4 looks good still!

Thank you Michigan! So happy I picked a 20 point game in the wrong direction!!

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

IF they have to dip down into 2-loss teams, Tennessee should be in front of LSU and Alabama in line, given their head-to-head wins over both.

Not without Hooker, they shouldn't be. Nor will they be. Hopefully Vanderbilt helps validate that today.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

IF they have to dip down into 2-loss teams, Tennessee should be in front of LSU and Alabama in line, given their head-to-head wins over both.

Not without Hooker, they shouldn't be. Nor will they be. Hopefully Vanderbilt helps validate that today.

Just like 2014 Ohio State without JT Barrett?

Cardale Jones beat the #11 team 59 to zero in a primetime championship game, and the team had an 11 game win streak. Even if Tennessee's final three drives were adequate, they have defensive liabilities that those Buckeyes did not have.

The Road win over LSU was impressive. The walkoff home win following a good old home cooking flag does not indicate a better team when comparing head to head with the Tide.

Frankly, 2 top 10 road losses by a combined 4 points (and 3 top 25 wins, 2 on the road) is more consistent than Ohio State's mid resume featuring a 22 point home loss to #2 and two top 15 wins (1 home). But I probably don't need to tell you that Mississippi State would finish 3rd in the Big Ten this year.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Cheering for the 1 percent chaos scenario where the highest ranked champion is Kansas State.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

I was a major Chris Klieman doubter at the time of hiring. I thought he was only continuing his success at NDSU off the laurels and recruiting of Craig Bohl. And I figured Kansas State is not a job that you can just rest on reputation and coast.

What a terrific job quietly making it work at a place where only one other man could. Lots of potential ahead to be a leader in the new look Big XII.

After seeing other coaches struggle to replace legends at big name schools by losing the big ones, I no longer believe that success at a blue blood can be taken for granted.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

lol, really sad how the haters are going to be 'told you so' on TCU because they lost to a top 10 team in an instant classic conference championship game in the highest rated conference (marginally better than the SEC and substantially better than the Big Ten) whose reputation suffered from history and depth of quality teams taking multiple losses.

Fortunately, they lost closely enough to still surely be in the CFP - and ahead of Ohio at that.

Michigan got ridiculously lucky against Ohio. We may finally have a competitive semifinal. And Michigan is probably my favorite of the four left standing.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Nate Silver's updated playoff odds:

TCU 54%
Ohio 45%
Kansas State 39%
Utah 24%
Clemson 22%
Alabama 15%
Tennessee 6%
LSU 5%

Got to be sweating like a dog over this latest iteration of probabilities for the opinions of the college football cabal based on brand value.

Think you're going to need to see Michigan lose by 30 to Purdue to see any of this.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Piece of garbage. Shameful that the media rewarded this. Harry has the right order 100% - Duggan earned it regardless - but I'd be tempted to drop Williams behind about four other slightly inferior seasons on the character clause.

https://twitter.com/TheBucknut/status/1601761744971448320

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Eat crow, Big Ten snobs! I never thought I'd cheer for TCU, but Max Duggan and the duopoly of haters has pushed me over the edge.

JJ McCarthy, may you find happiness some other year. Preferably sans Harbaugh. Great performance, young man.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Eat crow, Big Ten snobs! I never thought I'd cheer for TCU, but Max Duggan and the duopoly of haters has pushed me over the edge.

JJ McCarthy, may you find happiness some other year. Preferably sans Harbaugh. Great performance, young man.

Don't gloat just yet...

The fact is that fans of both conferences believe Big XII is an inferior product - a claim which never passed the sniff test. I called this 'the first competitive semifinal' a month ago and even a fourth quarter lead should be a good humbling to those who expected another thrashing. Michigan's year was every much a fluke as they claimed TCU's was (Illinois gift, Ohio State fluke).

Credit to Michigan on winning the yardage battle (despite two extra drives), but their third down conversion rate is producing expected results with the long yardage they have to go - very ugly!

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

What on earth was that galaxy brained clock strategy from Harbaugh?

I assume he didn't take a timeout on first down because of the momentary clock stop so only 30 seconds would run off whereas 40 seconds tick off on the later downs. I actually think that this was a great strategy that is too easy to criticize with hindsight. If TCU hadn't cut it to 3rd and 2, and it was more like 3rd and 6, you could take it after the first second down - but odds were that they would convert, and I think the gamble paid off.

If TCU went 3 and out, he had enough time anyway with timeouts in his pocket. Only became a necessity later.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

1. I wake up knowing Ohio State was truly the best team this season with so much talent on that offense, shredding the number one defense for three quarters until they were at a deficit at the skill positions. Georgia was never too far behind but the clear #2.

2. Michigan fans griping about the officiating are acting like clowns and of course the media has no problem amplifying their voices. The first TD called back arguably should have been 'Stands as Called' no matter what is called on the field but you have 1st and Goal inside the 1. Take care of business. This is too early in the game to blame for the loss and would not be egregious if spotted so on the field.

The last play was simply not targeting. The helmet clearly did not make forcible contact from an angle showing space despite the player leading with the crown. The ball carrier was already being spun by another player and primarily contacted by the hands of the tackling assist. You're final fourth down play was garbage and nowhere close. TCU had numerous personal fouls to keep you in the game. Clearly they needed one more because they weren't skilled enough as the 6th best team in the country.

3. My expectation is Georgia will probably win by two scores because the gap between #2 and #3/4 (Bama is probably #3) is maybe a bit too large to overcome. I won't pick a side of the spread but will hold out hope that TCU can fend off what Dereich long ago predicted would become our long national nightmare.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

I really didn't think they would cover. They've had spotty games where it takes time to get going. But they didn't bring their B game in this trip. Goodness gracious. There were two TDs after I turned it off.

Thank goodness Ohio State cratered. That would be a lot harder to deal with than an UGA repeat. But this Dawg Dynasty is not going to be much fun. Can still get better.