2021 College Football Discussion and Pick'em Thread

[Dereich]

Now that the Big XII is on borrowed time I wonder if it'll even last all the way to 2025; any schools that can find a lifeboat to escape on have every reason to announce so ASAP. I doubt the media companies would care too much about cutting the contract a few years early if it looks like the decaying husk of the Big XII won't be very profitable.

[Dereich]

Well, the Big 12 is now claiming the AAC is trying to absorb all 8 of its remaining members after Texas and Oklahoma leave.  This seems far-fetched to me; it would effectively amount to a Big 12-AAC merger, and if that were to happen it would make a lot more sense to keep the Big 12 name and standing as an autonomy conference. 

The resulting conference would also have 19 football members, which would be unwieldy unless they plan to kick out the AAC bottom-feeders.

Yeah that merger plan only really works in a world where the Big 10 invites Iowa State and Kansas and the ACC invites West Virginia (+ Cincinnati?) and gets the numbers down a little.

As I said before, the only way the ACC expands is if for some odd reason Notre Dame decides it doesn't want to resume being a football independent once COVID no longer wreaks havoc with the schedules, and then they'll add one team, most likely Cincinnati IMHO. Given the length of the college football season, and only a single-level conference championship game allowed, a 14-team football conference is the largest practical size. The ACC already has 14, not counting Notre Dame.  Going past 14 to 16 marginally makes sense if you're adding extremely heavy hitters financially, such as Texas, Oklahoma, or Notre Dame. Adding WVU, Cincinnati, or UConn to the ACC makes sense only if Notre Dame permanently stays in ACC football past the 2021 season. (Notre Dame is currently planning on resuming being an independent this year, but the COVID resurgence could change things.)

Now if the NCAA were to allow the college football season to add a game or two, then yes, the ACC would certainly expand to 16 football members. But that's unlikely to happen.

Beyond ND the ACC’s biggest target for a while has been to poach Penn State from the Big 10. Overcoming Big 10 money has always made that difficult but if the ACC were to add two that’s who they’d be looking at and those names would make a 16 team ACC more viable.

[Dereich]

Saturday, August 28th

Nebraska @ Illinois 1 PM EDT FOX

UTEP @ New Mexico State 9:30 PM EDT

Thursday, September 2nd

Boise State @ UCF 7 PM EDT ESPN

East Carolina @ Appalachian State 7:30 PM EDT ESPNU

#4 Ohio State @ Minnesota 8 PM EDT FOX

Friday, September 3rd

#10 North Carolina @ Virginia Tech 6 PM EDT ESPN

Michigan State @ Northwestern 9 PM EDT ESPN

Saturday, September 4th

#19 Penn State @ #12 Wisconsin Noon EDT FOX

Stanford vs Kansas State at AT&T Stadium Noon EDT FS1

Army @ Georgia State Noon EDT ESPNU

#1 Alabama vs #14 Miami (FL) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium 3:30 PM EDT ABC

#17 Indiana @ #18 Iowa 3:30 PM EDT BTN

Marshall @ Navy 3:30 PM EDT CBSSN

West Virginia @ Maryland 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

Northern Iowa @ #7 Iowa State 4:30 PM EDT ESPN+

#23 Louisiana @ #21 Texas 4:30 PM EDT FOX

Syracuse @ Ohio 7 PM EDT CBSSN

Oregon State @ Purdue 7 PM EDT CBSSN

Texas Tech @ Houston 7 PM EDT ESPN

#5 Georgia @ #3 Clemson 7:30 PM EDT ABC

UTSA @ Illinois 7:30 PM EDT BTN

#16 LSU @ UCLA 8:30 PM EDT FOX

Nevada @ California 10:30 PM EDT FS1

Sunday, September 5th

#9 Notre Dame @ Florida State 7:30 PM EDT ABC

Monday, September 6th

Louisville vs Ole Miss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium 8 PM EDT ESPN

[Dereich]

lol Miami

[Dereich]

That was a very good game. It is hard for me to write about now but I was expecting FSU to get beat by 17. I was expecting us to win 4 games this year; maybe we make a bowl.

[Dereich]

Saturday, September 11th

Illinois @ Virginia 11 AM EST ACCN

Western Kentucky @ Army 11:30 AM EST CBSSN

#11 Oregon @ #4 Ohio State Noon EST FOX

Pittsburgh @ Tennessee Noon EST ESPN

Tulsa @ Oklahoma State Noon EST FS1

Rutgers @ Syracuse 2 PM EST ACCN

Toledo @ #9 Notre Dame 2:30 PM EST Peacock Streaming App

#6 Texas A&M @ Colorado 3:30 PM EST FOX

Georgia Southern @ FAU 3:30 PM EST

Buffalo @ Nebraska 3:30 PM EST BTN

California @ TCU 3:30 PM EST ESPNU

Air Force @ Navy 3:30 PM EST CBS

#18 Iowa @ #7 Iowa State 4:30 PM EST ABC

Houston @ Rice 6:30 PM EST CBSSN

Appalachian State @ #14 Miami (FL) 7 PM EST ESPNU  FMFFM

#21 Texas @ Arkansas 7 PM EST ESPN

NC State @ Mississippi State 7 PM EST ESPN2

North Texas @ SMU 7 PM EST ESPN+

Missouri @ Kentucky 7:30 PM EST SECN  This is low-key the best game of the weekend

#20 Washington @ Michigan 8 PM EST ABC

Vanderbilt @ Colorado State 10 PM EST CBSSN

San Diego State @ Arizona 10 PM EST PAC12

#24 Utah @ BYU 10:15 PM EST ESPN

Stanford @ #15 USC 10:30 PM EST FOX

Hawai'i @ Oregon State 11 PM EST FS1

[Dereich]

Just love to see that this is not going to be an Ohio State year. AND it serves as a reminder that the PAC 12 actually exists.

[Dereich]

Sigh. My expectations for the year were low and yet I'm still being disappointed.

[Dereich]

Friday, September 17th

UCF @ Louisville 7:30 PM EDT ESPN

Maryland @ Illinois 9 PM EDT FS1

Saturday, September 18th

Nebraska @ #3 Oklahoma

#8 Cincinnati @ Indiana Noon EDT ESPN

#15 Virginia Tech @ West Virginia Noon EDT FS1

Michigan State @ #24 Miami (FL) Noon EDT ABC

Minnesota @ Colorado 1 PM EDT PAC12N

Nevada @ Kansas State 2:05 PM EDT ESPN+

Purdue @ #12 Notre Dame 2:30 PM EDT NBC Someone is going to trip up and embarrass  ND...I just don't think it comes quite yet

#1 Alabama @ #11 Florida 3:30 PM EDT CBS I'll be at this game since I was offered free tickets. The FL offense will be an absolute mess; I'm guessing a minimum of two interceptions from Emory Jones. And the FL defense is still being run by Third-and-Grantham so no hope there. I'm predicting 31-17 Bama with one of those FL TDs coming in garbage time.

Florida State @ Wake Forest 3:30 PM EDT ESPN Call it copium if you want, but Wake isn't very good and maybe the shock of last week will have FSU look like it did against ND. And it would be an absolute shock if they managed to fire Norvell no matter HOW this season went. FSU is still paying Willie Taggert $3.5 million every year until 2024! With a much smaller booster pool than other top tier programs!

USC @ Washington State 3:30 PM EDT FOX

Mississippi State @ Memphis 4 PM EDT ESPN2

Northwestern @ Duke 4 PM EDT ACCN low key the worst game of the year

Ball State @ Wyoming 4 PM EDT

Charlotte @ Georgia State 7 PM EDT ESPN+

Utah @ San Diego State 7 PM EDT CBSSN

#22 Auburn @ #10 Penn State 7:30 PM EDT ABC

Virginia @ #21 North Carolina 7:30 PM EDT ACCN

Utah State @ Air Force 7:30 PM EDT FS2

Tulane @ #17 Ole Miss 8 PM EDT ESPN2 This sounds like a super fun game

Oklahoma State @ Boise State 9 PM EDT FS1

#19 Arizona State @ #23 BYU 10:15 PM EDT ESPN

Fresno State @ #13 UCLA 10:45 PM EDT PAC12N

San Jose State @ Hawaii 12:30 AM EDT FS1

[Dereich]

Here at Bama-UF the feeling among Florida fans is something like “grim determination.” I’ve only met one person who thinks UF has a chance and the general atmosphere is hoping it’s still a game at the half.

[Dereich]

This was the second big game for one of my teams in which my team outperformed but lost in a heartbreaker. Bad!

[Dereich]

Getting it in at the last possible minute. Too much PAC-12 on this list, bleh.

Friday, September 24th

Wake Forest @ Virginia 7 PM EDT ESPN

Liberty @ Syracuse 8 PM EDT ACCN

Saturday, September 25th

#12 Notre Dame vs #18 Wisconsin Noon EDT FOX

LSU @ Mississippi State Noon EDT ESPN

Missouri @ Boston College Noon EDT ESPN2

SMU @ TCU Noon EDT FS1

Texas Tech @ Texas Noon EDT ABC

Boise State @ Utah State Noon EDT CBS

San Jose State @ Western Michigan 2 PM EDT ESPN+

Toledo @ Ball State 2 PM EDT ESPN+

Washington State @ Utah 2:30 PM EDT PAC12N

#7 Texas A&M vs #16 Arkansas at AT&T Stadium 3:30 PM EDT CBS

#9 Clemson @ NC State 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

#14 Iowa State @ Baylor 3:30 PM EDT FOX

Rutgers @ #19 Michigan 3:30 PM EDT ABC

UTSA @ Memphis 3:30 PM EDT ESPNU

#24 UCLA @ Stanford 6 PM EDT PAC12

#25 Kansas State @ Oklahoma State 7 PM EDT ESPN+

Kentucky @ South Carolina 7 PM EDT ESPN2

West Virginia @ #4 Oklahoma 7:30 PM EDT ABC

UAB @ Tulane 8 PM EDT ESPN+

New Mexico @ UTEP 9 PM EDT ESPN+

California @ Washington 9:30 PM EDT PAC12

Oregon State @ USC 10:30 PM EDT FS1

Colorado @ Arizona State 10:30 PM EDT ESPNU

[Dereich]

BC-Mizzou has been surprisingly good; now going to OT after a last second 54 yard Mizzou FG to tie.

[Dereich]

Friday, October 1st

Houston @ Tulsa 7:30 PM EDT ESPN
#5 Iowa @ Maryland 8 PM EDT FS1

Saturday, October 2nd

#8 Arkansas @ #2 Georgia Noon EDT ESPN I want to believe. Go hogs
#14 Michigan @ Wisconsin Noon EDT FOX
Tennessee @ Missouri Noon EDT SECN
Pittsburgh @ Georgia Tech Noon EDT ACCN Georgia Tech could win by 30 or lose by 50 and I would not be surprised. The Coastal is pure chaos this year
Minnesota @ Purdue Noon EDT BTN
Texas @ TCU Noon EDT ABC
Western Michigan @ Buffalo Noon EDT CBSSN
#7 Cincinnati @ #9 Notre Dame 2:30 PM EDT NBC
Eastern Michigan @ Northern Illinois 2:30 PM EDT ESPN+
#12 Ole Miss @ #1 Alabama 3:30 PM EDT CBS I want to see the upset purely to see how mad Saban gets at losing to Lane Kiffin
#3 Oregon @ Stanford 3:30 PM EDT ABC
#6 Oklahoma @ Kansas State 3:30 PM EDT FOX
Syracuse @ Florida State 3 PM EDT ACCN I need to believe
Texas Tech @ West Virginia 3:30 PM EDT ESPN2
Tulane @ East Carolina 3:30 PM EDT ESPN+
Central Michigan @ Miami (OH) 3:30 PM EDT ESPN+
#10 Florida @ Kentucky 6 PM EDT ESPN
#21 Baylor @ #19 Oklahoma State 7 PM EDT ESPN2
Liberty @ UAB 7 PM EDT CBSSN
Boston College @ #25 Clemson 7:30 PM EDT ACCN
#22 Auburn @ LSU 9 PM EDT ESPN
Washington @ Oregon State 9 PM EDT PAC12
Arizona State @ #20 UCLA 10:30 PM EDT FS1

[Dereich]

Whoops. Edited.

[Dereich]

FSU does not go winless and I can finally stop holding my breath.

[Dereich]

Very excited to see how the committee twists itself around to keep Cincinnati out of the playoff.

[Dereich]

Down goes the PAC-12!

[Dereich]

The opening betting line was Michigan by 1. Nebraska playing like a top 25 team quite clearly.

That's a fair point. I like making fun of Nebraska as much as the next person, but looking at their games every one of them a one score loss or a blowout win. Michigan's offense has at times (especially against Rutgers) looked very questionable and they don't feel like a top 10 team. Nebraska is a few lucky breaks (and a really bad game 1) from being undefeated. It should be a good game and actually tell us something about both teams.

[Dereich]

Week 6

Friday, October 8th

Stanford @ #22 Arizona State 10:30 PM EDT ESPN

Saturday, October 9th

#6 Oklahoma vs #21 Texas at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX Noon EDT ABC

Maryland @ #7 Ohio State Noon EDT FOX

#11 Michigan State @ Rutgers Noon EDT BTN

#13 Arkansas @ #17 Ole Miss Noon EDT ESPN

South Carolina @ Tennessee Noon EDT ESPN2

West Virginia @ Baylor Noon EDT FS1

Northern Illinois @ Toledo Noon EDT CBSSN

Virginia @ Louisville 3 PM EDT ACCN

#2 Georgia @ #18 Auburn 3:30 PM EDT CBS

Boise State @ #10 BYU 3:30 PM EDT ABC

#19 Wake Forest @ Syracuse 3:30 PM EDT ESPN2

#24 SMU @ Navy 3:30 PM EDT CBSSN

Florida Atlantic @ UAB 3:30 PM EDT

Florida State @ North Carolina 3:30 PM EDT ESPN  I'm going to assume this is on the list just because you want to see me suffer more

Wisconsin @ Illinois 3:30 PM EDT BTN

UConn @ UMass 3:30 PM EDT Vandy-UConn was good, actually

#4 Penn State @ #3 Iowa 4 PM EDT FOX I refuse to believe Kirk Ferentz teams are capable of anything more than being slightly above mediocre

East Carolina @ UCF 6 PM EDT ESPN+

TCU @ Texas Tech 7 PM EDT ESPN

Buffalo @ Kent State 7 PM EDT ESPNU

Wyoming @ Air Force 7 PM EDT CBSSN

#9 Michigan @ Nebraska 7:30 PM EDT ABC

LSU @ #16 Kentucky 7:30 PM EDT SECN

Utah @ USC 8 PM EDT FOX

[Dereich]

I have zero idea what to make of my team. We're playing great on game we're supposed to lose in blowouts and then losing games we're supposed to win easily.

[Dereich]

Is the curse really about to be broken? By JIMBO of all people?

[Dereich]

Is the curse really about to be broken? By JIMBO of all people?

Yes it is. It feels gross that this is looking like a Georgia year

[Dereich]

The Crimson Tide hasn’t lost to an unranked team since falling to Auburn 17-10 on Nov. 24, 2007.

Almost 14 f***ing years.

That was Saban’s first year. The consistency that he and he alone has been able to maintain in this sport is nothing short of miraculous.

[Dereich]

Calling it now Bama's at #2 tomorrow. They're not gonna put Iowa above them after the sh**tshow vs. State where they woulda lost if Cliff/Lambert/Mustipher played the whole game. Cincy deserves to be above them but AP has nowhere near the cajones to do so.

Give the committee a few weeks and they’ll find a way to move Cincy down to #6 and never move them again no matter who above them loses.