2020 College Football Discussion and Pick 'Em Thread

[GeorgiaModerate]

No Trevor Lawrence (COVID) seems to equal some problems for Clemson.

Boston College leads 14-7 early in the first quarter.

BC just had a 97-yard fumble return for a TD and now leads 21-7.

[NewYorkExpress]

West Virginia currently up 17-3 on Kansas State.

Meanwhile, Clemson has narrowed the gap against Boston College, but Boston College is driving...

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

DO NOT let the media lie to you in two months and excuse this as a game without Trevor Lawrence. 222 yards passing in the first half without him. A couple errant throws (zero interceptions) did not cause this home blowout.

I don't say this a lot to BC (loath them with all my soul), but keep up the good work. Don't give an inch. This is only two scores.

[NewYorkExpress]

So, Boston College leads #1 Clemson 28-13 at the half.

Michigan State leads #13 Michigan 14-10 at the half.

West Virginia leads #16 Kansas State 24-10 at the half.

And in the "only one person even noticed it" department... Maryland got their first conference in forever yesterday, beating Minnesota 45-44 in overtime.

[NewYorkExpress]

Clemson just added another TD.

It's now 28-20 Boston College.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Georgia beats Kentucky 14-3.  That was one of the quickest games I've seen in a long time.

[NewYorkExpress]

Clemson has taken the lead, 32-28 against Boston College.

Meanwhile, West Virginia is pummeling Kansas State.

The Mountaineers lead 37-10 in the fourth quarter.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

With a bit under 9 mins left in the 2nd quarter, TCU is up 30-0 over Baylor.

[NewYorkExpress]

Another week, another embarrassing upset in the Big Twelve.

#16 Kansas State got slaughtered by West Virginia 37-10.

Meanwhile, in Big Ten play, #13 Michigan got shocked by Michigan State 27-24. I can't see how Jim Harbaugh survives as Head Coach, especially if Michigan also loses to Ohio State...maybe someone in the NFL will offer him a job...perhaps the Jets?

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Another week, another embarrassing upset in the Big Twelve.

#16 Kansas State got slaughtered by West Virginia 37-10.

Meanwhile, in Big Ten play, #13 Michigan got shocked by Michigan State 27-24. I can't see how Jim Harbaugh survives as Head Coach, especially if Michigan also loses to Ohio State...maybe someone in the NFL will offer him a job...perhaps the Jets?

West Virginia was actually pretty easily favored. By 6 in my sportsbook at kick-off, and per SP+, they should have been at least 7 point favorites. Kansas State was not in the top 70 of the computer rankings. Now Texas over OSU might be one worth witing home about. I think everyone knew OSU would love but I figured we may have to wait until Bedlam.

Totally on board with #FireHarbaugh as I have been for years. But this may be the year that UM finishs below .500.

[NewYorkExpress]

Another week, another embarrassing upset in the Big Twelve.

#16 Kansas State got slaughtered by West Virginia 37-10.

Meanwhile, in Big Ten play, #13 Michigan got shocked by Michigan State 27-24. I can't see how Jim Harbaugh survives as Head Coach, especially if Michigan also loses to Ohio State...maybe someone in the NFL will offer him a job...perhaps the Jets?

Totally on board with #FireHarbaugh as I have been for years. But this may be the year that UM finishs below .500.

The sad thing is if Jim Harbaugh went back to the NFL and became the Head Coach of the Jets, he'd still be an upgrade over Adam Gase.

[NewYorkExpress]

We're in OT in Stillwater.

Texas and #6 Oklahoma State tied at 34.

[GeorgiaModerate]

I am not having a good week in picks so far.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

I had a theory a couple election cycles ago that fans of teams who won right before the election would be happy and ever so slightly more likely to vote for the incumbent party.  I remember watching CFB on November 3, 2012 and rooting against every team who played in a swing state.  We're so polarized now, though, that, even if this effect is real, it would be so negligible now as to be non-existent.

[NewYorkExpress]

Oklahoma State goes down, and with it, the Big Twelve's playoff hopes.

So, who will get two teams in, the SEC (Georgia/Alabama/Texas A&M), the Big Ten (Ohio State/Wisconsin) or the ACC (Clemson/Notre Dame)?

[Never Made it to Graceland]

Oklahoma State goes down, and with it, the Big Twelve's playoff hopes.

So, who will get two teams in, the SEC (Georgia/Alabama/Texas A&M), the Big Ten (Ohio State/Wisconsin) or the ACC (Clemson/Notre Dame)?

You don't think Oregon has a shot?

[NewYorkExpress]

Oklahoma State goes down, and with it, the Big Twelve's playoff hopes.

So, who will get two teams in, the SEC (Georgia/Alabama/Texas A&M), the Big Ten (Ohio State/Wisconsin) or the ACC (Clemson/Notre Dame)?

You don't think Oregon has a shot?

I think Oregon has to finish unbeaten to have a serious chance at a playoff spot.

A one loss Oregon probably loses out to a one loss Georgia/Alabama/Texas A&M/Clemson/Notre Dame/Ohio State/Wisconsin in my opinion.


Speaking of, here are my playoff and New Year's six predictions after this week, given the results of today's games.

Orange Bowl: #10 Miami (FL) vs #11 Florida

Peach Bowl: #8 Oregon vs #5 Oklahoma State

Cotton Bowl: #6 Texas A&M vs #9 Wisconsin

Fiesta Bowl: #7 Liberty vs #12 USC

Rose Bowl (Semifinal) #1 Alabama vs #4 Notre Dame

Sugar Bowl (Semifinal) #2 Ohio State vs #3 Clemson

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

The ACC is the only one with a serious chance, and it requires Notre Dame winning next week and losing the rematch. I have a hard time seeing Georgia get it together to compete with Alabama (if they beat Florida). I am really uncertain if Wisconsin will have enough games to make up for a loss.

Cincinnati vs. BYU needs to be the debate we have. If Clemson wins next week, I think we will start having that discussion. Prefer BYU, but I think Cincinnati has the better case.

[NewYorkExpress]

The ACC is the only one with a serious chance, and it requires Notre Dame winning next week and losing the rematch. I have a hard time seeing Georgia get it together to compete with Alabama (if they beat Florida). I am really uncertain if Wisconsin will have enough games to make up for a loss.

Cincinnati vs. BYU needs to be the debate we have. If Clemson wins next week, I think we will start having that discussion. Prefer BYU, but I think Cincinnati has the better case.

Still think Liberty has a decent shot (assuming they finish unbeaten and BYU, Boise State and Cincinnati all lose at least once the rest of the way.)

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Liberty has a 0.0 percent chance, and I like Liberty probably more than anyone. Major kudos if they somehow upset Virginia Tech, NC State and Coastal Carolina, but the other 129 teams all detest them, they are bad for the image of football and have zero historical prestige as a national football brand name program like BYU offers. They also have zero talent, and Alabama would beat them by triple digits, if they so desired.

It's insane to speak about hypotheticals like that when they have three games left as an underdog while BYU and Cincinnati each have but one 'toss-up' that they really ought to win.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

In the era of online College and no word on when College Basketball, I don't watch College Football

It's safe there aren't any good athletes out there or Kobe's we have to deal with 2nd rate athletes in a Covid Environment

[GeorgiaModerate]

WEEK 9 RESULTS

There was a big jam this week with three people tied for first at 16-7 and everyone within three games overall.  Wisconsin-Nebraska and North Texas-UTEP were postponed.  Full results:

16 Dereich, Donerail, NY Express
15 dfw, ExtremeRepublican, JGibson
14 Illiniwek
13 GeorgiaModerate

There were 7 unanimous picks:

Georgia-Kentucky
Michigan-Michigan State (wrong)
Ole Miss-Vanderbilt
Ohio State-Penn State
Texas A&M-Arkansas
Florida-Missouri
SMU-Navy

And 9 games with a single dissenter:

Cincinnati-Memphis
Coastal Carolina-Georgia State
Arkansas State-Troy (dissenter was right)
Indiana-Rutgers
UAB-La. Tech (dissenter was right)
Okla. State-Texas (dissenter was right)
Louisville-Virginia Tech (dissenter was right)
Oklahoma-Texas Tech
San Diego State-Utah State

Overall, Donerail is starting to gain some separation from the pack.  Year to date standings (177 games):

127 Donerail
123 dfw
122 ExtremeRepublican
121 Dereich
118 GeorgiaModerate
111 Illiniwek, NY Express
109 JGibson
108 DINGO Joe

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Auburn is #24, and Liberty is #25. My goodness. Trump willed this into existence for this last AP Poll as a non-lame duck president. A year ahead of his expected schedule too.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

Week 10 games:

Friday, November 6th

#11 Miami @ NC State 7:30 PM EDT ESPN

#9 BYU @ #21 Boise State 9:45 PM EDT FS1

Saturday, November 7th

#23 Michigan @ #13 Indiana Noon EDT FS1

Arizona State @ #20 USC Noon EDT FOX

West Virginia @ #22 Texas Noon EDT ABC

#25 Liberty @ Virginia Tech Noon EDT ACCN

Nebraska @ Northwestern Noon EDT BTN

Michigan State @ Iowa Noon EDT ESPN

#8 Florida vs #5 Georgia 3:30 PM EDT CBS

Houston @ #6 Cincinnati 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

Maryland @ Penn State 3:30 PM EDT BTN

Minnesota @ Illinois 3:30 PM EDT BTN

Texas Tech @ TCU 3:30 PM EDT FS1

#14 Oklahoma State @ Kansas State 4 PM EDT FOX

Arizona @ Utah 4 PM EDT ESPNU

Vanderbilt @ Mississippi State 4 PM EDT SECN

Baylor @ #17 Iowa State 7 PM EDT FS1

UCLA @ Colorado 7 PM EDT ESPN2

#1 Clemson @ #4 Notre Dame 7:30 PM EDT NBC

Stanford @ #12 Oregon 7:30 PM EDT ABC

Tennessee @ Arkansas 7:30 PM EDT SECN

Washington State @ Oregon State 10:30 PM EDT FS1

Washington @ California 10:30 PM EDT ESPN

[NewYorkExpress]

Miami (FL) (As much as I think NC State has had a good season, the Hurricanes are still alive for a spot in the ACC Title Game, and really need this win)

Boise State (Upset pick #1. The Broncos have been winning big games like this since the 2007 Fiesta Bowl almost every year. They'll be ready for BYU)


Indiana (Michigan's seemed kind of bipolar this year, whipping a ranked Minnesota team, and losing to a bad Michigan State team. Meanwhile Indiana barely beat a ranked Penn State and easily beat Rutgers)

USC (Frankly, if Clay Helton can't navigate this PAC-12 Schedule (no Oregon) he should be fired. USC has a good shot at going into the PAC-12 Championship game unbeaten, where presumably, Oregon would await.)

Texas (Look, the Mountaineers looked great blasting Kansas State, but they aren't good enough to defeat a ranked Texas team at home.)

Liberty (Upset pick #2. Yeah, Liberty's the ranked team here, but the only notable opponent they've played is a Syracuse squad missing most of their best players due to COVID opt outs. Virginia Tech is a huge step up in terms of talent...but Liberty has that "team of destiny feel" of an outsider who can crash the BCS/New Year's Six Party, like the 2007 Hawaii team that made the Sugar Bowl, or the 2012 Northern Illinois team which earned a trip to the Orange Bowl.)

Northwestern (Even before their game against Wisconsin got canceled, Nebraska looked horrible against Ohio State)

Michigan State (Iowa's going to be too distracted by the drama surrounding their head coach to win this one)
'
Georgia (It kind of pains me to say this, since the bulldogs didn't look good against Kentucky, but Georgia is still the favorite in the SEC East, and until a Florida or a Tennessee beats them that will remain the case.)

Cincinnati (This won't be particularly close)

Wisconsin (Given there's still an ongoing COVID outbreak within the Wisconsin program, I'm rather confident in saying this game won't be played. If it is, I'll take the Badgers to win, however.)

Penn State (The Beavers get back on track with an easy victory. It helps that the game is in Happy Valley)

Illinois (Upset pick #3, based solely on Minnesota's loss to Maryland last week, and the fact Illinois will be at home this week)

TCU (Should be a high scoring game, as the Big Twelve usually can't play defense worth a damn)

Oklahoma State (If you asked me last week, I would have picked the Wildcats, but they got embarrassed by West Virginia, while the Cowboys looked okay against Texas)

Utah (I admit to being unsure about who will win this one.)

Mississippi State (Both Mississippi State and Vanderbilt have played horribly this season, but I'm pretty sure Vanderbilt is one of the worst teams in the country)

Iowa State (Iowa State, for the most part has played well this year. Baylor has played poorly. You do the math)

UCLA (UCLA should win this. They're also the unfortunate souls in the PAC-12 South who have to deal with Oregon this season)

Notre Dame (Trevor Lawrence will miss this game with COVID. While that wasn't a big problem against Boston College, it will be a massive problem against the Fighting Irish. Hence, this is Upset Pick #4 (if you can even call it an upset).

Oregon (This should be an easy win, just like everything else on the Ducks schedule until the PAC-12 title game, where presumably USC awaits)

Tennessee (The Volunteers have dramatically underperformed. They still should win this game, though)

Virginia (That win over North Carolina is going to light a huge fire for the Cavaliers)

Oregon State (This might be the two worst teams in the PAC-12 squaring off against each other)

California (I don't think I've ever been able to say the Golden Bears are the fourth best team in the PAC-12 (after Oregon, USC and Utah).