2020 College Football Discussion and Pick 'Em Thread

[Donerail]

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.)

Liberty doesn't have all that much of a shot at finishing unbeaten, though — Virginia Tech is a legitimately good team that should be able to handle them easily, and both NC State and Coastal are better teams than they've played all season so far. Pretty easy to get to 6-0 when the best team you play is a 2-5 WKU.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

Just noticed I put all the CFB times at EDT...I know it's est now, just roll with it

[Never Made it to Graceland]

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.

BYU's schedule has been unbelievably bad. Zach Wilson was never an elite quarterback but he looks great against the second rate programs they scrounged up to fill up this season. I expect BSU to handle them, it's a classic trap game.

[Dereich]

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)

Don't sleep on Michigan State. While they did lose to Rutgers, they did so while outgaining them by 100 yards and giving up 7 turnovers plus 2 more turnover on downs.

[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.

BYU's schedule has been unbelievably bad. Zach Wilson was never an elite quarterback but he looks great against the second rate programs they scrounged up to fill up this season. I expect BSU to handle them, it's a classic trap game.

No doubt about how bad it is. Certainly wouldn't be surprised if Boise beats them (though even last year BYU handled them pretty easily with Romney at QB - neither team had their start - and despite bad 4Q).

However, they are still fifth in resume-adjusted strength of victory as Connelly noted in the headline article this morning so it's not like they aren't deserving though Cincinnati has been clearly better. Of course, they would get killed by Alabama or Ohio State in a semifinal, but so would just about every team, except perhaps Clemson. I certainly don't buy that Notre Dame is better. Or Oregon. Maaaaaybe Wisconsin.

[Donerail]

Week 10:

Friday, November 6th
#11 Miami @ NC State
#9 BYU @ #21 Boise State

Saturday, November 7th
#23 Michigan @ #13 Indiana
Arizona State @ #20 Southern Cal
West Virginia @ #22 Texas
#25 Liberty @ Virginia Tech
Nebraska @ Northwestern
Michigan State @ Iowa
#8 Florida vs #5 Georgia
Houston @ #6 Cincinnati
Purdue @ #10 Wisconsin
Maryland @ Penn State
Minnesota @ Illinois
Texas Tech @ TCU
#14 Oklahoma State @ Kansas State
Arizona @ Utah
Vanderbilt @ Mississippi State
Baylor @ #17 Iowa State
UCLA @ Colorado
#1 Clemson @ #4 Notre Dame
STANFORD @ #12 Oregon
Tennessee @ Arkansas
Louisville @ Virginia
Washington State @ Oregon State
Washington @ Cal

[DINGO Joe]

Well, I hope the kids learn a valuable lesson, when a hurricane is coming, get your picks in early.

[Dereich]

Friday, November 6th
#11 Miami @ NC State
#9 BYU @ #21 Boise State

Saturday, November 7th
#23 Michigan @ #13 Indiana
Arizona State @ #20 Southern Cal
West Virginia @ #22 Texas
#25 Liberty @ Virginia Tech
Nebraska @ Northwestern
Michigan State @ Iowa
#8 Florida vs #5 Georgia
Houston @ #6 Cincinnati
Purdue @ #10 Wisconsin
Maryland @ Penn State
Minnesota @ Illinois
Texas Tech @ TCU
#14 Oklahoma State @ Kansas State
Arizona @ Utah
Vanderbilt @ Mississippi State
Baylor @ #17 Iowa State
UCLA @ Colorado
#1 Clemson @ #4 Notre Dame
STANFORD @ #12 Oregon
Tennessee @ Arkansas
Louisville @ Virginia
Washington State @ Oregon State
Washington @ Cal

[JGibson]

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

Purdue @ #10 Wisconsin 3:30 PM EDT ABC

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

Louisville @ Virginia 8 PM EDT ACCN

Washington State @ Oregon State 10:30 PM EDT FS1

Washington @ California 10:30 PM EDT ESPN

[NewYorkExpress]

Wiconsin/Purdue has been canceled due to the ongoing COVID outbreak in the Wisconsin program.

[NewYorkExpress]

Louisville/Virginia has been postponed. The game will be played on November 14.

[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]

Washington/Cal canceled because of positive COVID case in Cal's football program.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

Washington/Cal canceled because of positive COVID case in Cal's football program.

lol, good thing neither of those are playoff contenders

[GeorgiaModerate]

#11 Miami @ NC State
#9 BYU @ #21 Boise State

#23 Michigan @ #13 Indiana
Arizona State @ #20 Southern Cal
West Virginia @ #22 Texas
#25 Liberty @ Virginia Tech
Nebraska @ Northwestern
Michigan State @ Iowa
#8 Florida vs #5 Georgia
Houston @ #6 Cincinnati
Purdue @ #10 Wisconsin
Maryland @ Penn State
Minnesota @ Illinois
Texas Tech @ TCU
#14 Oklahoma State @ Kansas State
Arizona @ Utah
Vanderbilt @ Mississippi State
Baylor @ #17 Iowa State
UCLA @ Colorado
#1 Clemson @ #4 Notre Dame
Stanford @ #12 Oregon
Tennessee @ Arkansas
Louisville @ Virginia
Washington State @ Oregon State
Washington @ Cal

[Orwell]

#11 Miami @ NC State
#9 BYU @ #21 Boise State

#23 Michigan @ #13 Indiana
Arizona State @ #20 Southern Cal
West Virginia @ #22 Texas
#25 Liberty @ Virginia Tech
Nebraska @ Northwestern
Michigan State @ Iowa
#8 Florida vs #5 Georgia
Houston @ #6 Cincinnati
Purdue @ #10 Wisconsin
Maryland @ Penn State
Minnesota @ Illinois
Texas Tech @ TCU
#14 Oklahoma State @ Kansas State
Arizona @ Utah
Vanderbilt @ Mississippi State
Baylor @ #17 Iowa State
UCLA @ Colorado
#1 Clemson @ #4 Notre Dame
Stanford @ #12 Oregon
Tennessee @ Arkansas
Washington State @ Oregon State
Washington @ Cal

[100% pro-life no matter what]

#11 Miami @ NC State
#9 BYU @ #21 Boise State

#23 Michigan @ #13 Indiana
Arizona State @ #20 Southern Cal
West Virginia @ #22 Texas
#25 Liberty @ Virginia Tech
Nebraska @ Northwestern
Michigan State @ Iowa
#8 Florida vs #5 Georgia
Houston @ #6 Cincinnati
Purdue @ #10 Wisconsin
Maryland @ Penn State
Minnesota @ Illinois
Texas Tech @ TCU
#14 Oklahoma State @ Kansas State
Arizona @ Utah
Vanderbilt @ Mississippi State
Baylor @ #17 Iowa State
UCLA @ Colorado
#1 Clemson @ #4 Notre Dame
Stanford @ #12 Oregon
Tennessee @ Arkansas
Louisville @ Virginia
Washington State @ Oregon State
Washington @ Cal

[Donerail]

Week 10:

Purdue @ #10 Wisconsin
Arizona @ Utah
Louisville @ Virginia
Washington @ Cal

Rough week so far

[Illiniwek]

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 would've picked UF but ayyyyyyyyyyy 2020!

Houston @ #6 Cincinnati 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

Maryland @ Penn State 3:30 PM EDT BTN

Minnesota @ Illinois 3:30 PM EDT BTN Its probably dumb, but this may be my only realistic opportunity to pick the alma mater for the rest of this season.

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

[Never Made it to Graceland]

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.

BYU's schedule has been unbelievably bad. Zach Wilson was never an elite quarterback but he looks great against the second rate programs they scrounged up to fill up this season. I expect BSU to handle them, it's a classic trap game.

No doubt about how bad it is. Certainly wouldn't be surprised if Boise beats them (though even last year BYU handled them pretty easily with Romney at QB - neither team had their start - and despite bad 4Q).

However, they are still fifth in resume-adjusted strength of victory as Connelly noted in the headline article this morning so it's not like they aren't deserving though Cincinnati has been clearly better. Of course, they would get killed by Alabama or Ohio State in a semifinal, but so would just about every team, except perhaps Clemson. I certainly don't buy that Notre Dame is better. Or Oregon. Maaaaaybe Wisconsin.

I'm a big dumb dummy. BYU might be legit.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=401249005

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Heh, Boise is down a lot of players, don't feel too bad!

I think both BYU and Cincinnati are slightly better than Frost's UCF teams. And they aren't programs that came out of nowhere, they've been here for a century and have regularly had competitive seasons. Still fear the ND/Clem split, but it's not hard to see these elite teams being real top 5 contenders.

[NewYorkExpress]

Heh, Boise is down a lot of players, don't feel too bad!

I think both BYU and Cincinnati are slightly better than Frost's UCF teams. And they aren't programs that came out of nowhere, they've been here for a century and have regularly had competitive seasons. Still fear the ND/Clem split, but it's not hard to see these elite teams being real top 5 contenders.

If BYU and Cincinnati both finish unbeaten, they should BOTH make the playoff ahead of the PAC-12 champion/Big Twelve Champion/A second SEC/ACC team.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

WE DID IT! WE DID IT, FOLKS! WE MADE JIM HARBAUGH A LAME DUCK COACH!

Let's make his last two months memorable!

[NewYorkExpress]

WE DID IT! WE DID IT, FOLKS! WE MADE JIM HARBAUGH A LAME DUCK COACH!

Let's make his last two months memorable!

Umm... it's only halftime.

While I admit it's going to be difficult for Michigan to come back, let's wait until they lose (and lose against Ohio State) before stating Harbaugh will be fired.

[NewYorkExpress]

First coach firing of the year. Utah State fires Head Coach Gary Andersen.

Any theories on who might replace Andersen, or who would be a good hire to replace Andersen?