2022 College Football Discussion & Pick'em Thread

[ultraviolet]

I hate to say it but I really don't see a way Utah wins this week. It's hard to beat a team twice in a season, and it's even harder when that team has taken huge steps since the last meeting. Caleb and the offense have too much confidence to lose. I would say it won't be close but their piss poor defense has made like all of their games close.

I do think if play Georgia it'll be a bad matchup for USC and they might get beat down. But this week looks to be all Caleb Williams.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Week 14/15

Friday, December 2nd

Akron @ Buffalo 1 PM EST

Conference USA Championship Game

North Texas @ UTSA 7:30 PM EST CBSSN

Pac 12 Conference Championship Game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV

#14 Utah vs #6 USC 8 PM EST FOX

Big 12 Conference Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX

#12 Kansas State vs #4 TCU Noon EST ABC

MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit, MI

Toledo vs Ohio Noon EST ESPN

Sun Belt Conference Championship Game

Coastal Carolina @ Troy 3:30 PM EST ESPN

SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA

#5 LSU vs #1 Georgia 4 PM EST CBS

AAC Championship Game

#22 UCF @ #19 Tulane 4 PM EST ABC

Mountain West Conference Championship Game

Fresno State @ Boise State 4 PM EST FOX

Big Ten Conference Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN

Purdue vs #3 Michigan 8 PM EST FOX

ACC Championship Game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC

#8 Clemson vs #17 North Carolina 8 PM EST

Saturday, December 10th

Army vs Navy at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA 3 PM EST CBS

[NewYorkExpress]

It looks like Georgia Tech will hire their interim Head Coach, Brent Key.

Given how well the Yellow Jackets played after Goeff Collins was fired, this is a good hire.

[Illiniwek]

Week 14/15

Friday, December 2nd

Akron @ Buffalo 1 PM EST

Conference USA Championship Game

North Texas @ UTSA 7:30 PM EST CBSSN

Pac 12 Conference Championship Game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV

#14 Utah vs #6 USC 8 PM EST FOX

Big 12 Conference Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX

#12 Kansas State vs #4 TCU Noon EST ABC

MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit, MI

Toledo vs Ohio Noon EST ESPN

Sun Belt Conference Championship Game

Coastal Carolina @ Troy 3:30 PM EST ESPN

SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA

#5 LSU vs #1 Georgia 4 PM EST CBS

AAC Championship Game

#22 UCF @ #19 Tulane 4 PM EST ABC

Mountain West Conference Championship Game

Fresno State @ Boise State 4 PM EST FOX

Big Ten Conference Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN

Purdue vs #3 Michigan 8 PM EST FOX

ACC Championship Game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC

#8 Clemson vs #17 North Carolina 8 PM EST

Saturday, December 10th

Army vs Navy at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA 3 PM EST CBS

[NewYorkExpress]

New Playoff Rankings in:

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. TCU
4. USC
5. Ohio State
6. Alabama
7. Tennessee
8. Penn State
9. Clemson
10. Kansas State
11. Utah
12. Washington
13. Florida State
14. LSU
15. Oregon State
16. Oregon
17. UCLA
18. Tulane
19. South Carolina
20. Texas
21. Notre Dame
22. UCF
23. North Carolina
24. Mississippi State
25. NC State

[GeorgiaModerate]

Well, that simplifies things.  Georgia and Michigan are in the playoff win or lose.  TCU and USC are in with wins.  If one of those two loses, they're out and Ohio State is in.  If both lose, then Ohio State and one of (TCU, USC, Alabama) are in, probably depending on how close TCU's and USC's losses are.

[Del Tachi]

Assuming no shake-ups this weekend in the Top 4, it's Alabama to the Sugar and Tennessee to the Orange.  Citrus then gets a remaining SEC team of its choice (LSU or South Carolina?)  There's then a pool of six bowls that then get selected cooperatively between the conference, the bowls and the schools.  That probably looks like this: 

Outback:  LSU or South Carolina
Gator:  Mississippi State
Music City:  Ole Miss 
Liberty:  Kentucky
Texas:  Florida
Las Vegas:  Arkansas 

[NewYorkExpress]

Assuming no shake-ups this weekend in the Top 4, it's Alabama to the Sugar and Tennessee to the Orange.  Citrus then gets a remaining SEC team of its choice (LSU or South Carolina?)  There's then a pool of six bowls that then get selected cooperatively between the conference, the bowls and the schools.  That probably looks like this:  

Outback:  LSU or South Carolina
Gator:  Mississippi State
Music City:  Ole Miss  
Liberty:  Kentucky
Texas:  Florida
Las Vegas:  Arkansas  

I feel like Penn State should go to the Orange instead of Tennessee (I assume the Orange bowl, in a non-playoff year, can choose between an SEC team, Big Ten Team and Notre Dame, assuming all three are ranked by the committee. I could be wrong of course. The Orange Bowl is confusing.)

[Del Tachi]

Assuming no shake-ups this weekend in the Top 4, it's Alabama to the Sugar and Tennessee to the Orange.  Citrus then gets a remaining SEC team of its choice (LSU or South Carolina?)  There's then a pool of six bowls that then get selected cooperatively between the conference, the bowls and the schools.  That probably looks like this: 

Outback:  LSU or South Carolina
Gator:  Mississippi State
Music City:  Ole Miss 
Liberty:  Kentucky
Texas:  Florida
Las Vegas:  Arkansas 

I feel like Penn State should go to the Orange instead of Tennessee (I assume the Orange bowl, in a non-playoff year, can choose between an SEC team, Big Ten Team and Notre Dame, assuming all three are ranked by the committee. I could be wrong of course. The Orange Bowl is confusing.)

The Orange Bowl is confusing, but I think it has to take the highest-ranked team available among SEC and Big Ten non-champions or Notre Dame.  The committee showed Tennessee #7 and Penn State #8 tonight, so presumably the Vols are going unless Alabama gets into the playoff.

There are contractual limits on how many times the SEC or Big Ten can appear in the Orange Bowl over an 8-year period of time (each conference must be represented at least 3 times) but I don't know if those are relevant this year.

Embrace the orange vs orange Orange Bowl!

[NewYorkExpress]

Assuming no shake-ups this weekend in the Top 4, it's Alabama to the Sugar and Tennessee to the Orange.  Citrus then gets a remaining SEC team of its choice (LSU or South Carolina?)  There's then a pool of six bowls that then get selected cooperatively between the conference, the bowls and the schools.  That probably looks like this: 

Outback:  LSU or South Carolina
Gator:  Mississippi State
Music City:  Ole Miss 
Liberty:  Kentucky
Texas:  Florida
Las Vegas:  Arkansas 

I feel like Penn State should go to the Orange instead of Tennessee (I assume the Orange bowl, in a non-playoff year, can choose between an SEC team, Big Ten Team and Notre Dame, assuming all three are ranked by the committee. I could be wrong of course. The Orange Bowl is confusing.)

The Orange Bowl is confusing, but I think it has to take the highest-ranked team available among SEC and Big Ten non-champions or Notre Dame.  The committee showed Tennessee #7 and Penn State #8 tonight, so presumably the Vols are going unless Alabama gets into the playoff.

There are contractual limits on how many times the SEC or Big Ten can appear in the Orange Bowl over an 8-year period of time (each conference must be represented at least 3 times) but I don't know if those are relevant this year.

Embrace the orange vs orange Orange Bowl!

Assuming 2018 and 2021 count (both were playoff years for the Orange Bowl), the SEC has been represented four years in a row, while the Big Ten was represented last year (a playoff year), and in 2016 and 2017.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

The selection committee leans in a different way than I do (my only criteria is who would be favored at a neutral site), but I think the playoff should be Georgia, Michigan, Alabama, and Ohio State.

[Dereich]

The selection committee leans in a different way than I do (my only criteria is who would be favored at a neutral site), but I think the playoff should be Georgia, Michigan, Alabama, and Ohio State.

What is even the point of playing the games then? If Tennessee had not lost to Carolina would you have still put Bama in over them since Bama would be favored in a rematch? Apparently, Ohio State would currently be favored by 2.5 over Michigan if they played again. Should Ohio State get the higher seed?

[100% pro-life no matter what]

The selection committee leans in a different way than I do (my only criteria is who would be favored at a neutral site), but I think the playoff should be Georgia, Michigan, Alabama, and Ohio State.

What is even the point of playing the games then? If Tennessee had not lost to Carolina would you have still put Bama in over them since Bama would be favored in a rematch? Apparently, Ohio State would currently be favored by 2.5 over Michigan if they played again. Should Ohio State get the higher seed?

Maybe a committee can't rely 100% on who is really the better team, but I don't think it should be a situation where they make straight resume decisions either.  Maybe their two biggest controversies were picking Ohio State over TCU and Baylor in 2014 and picking Alabama over Ohio State in 2017.  In both cases, I think the committee felt that the team they put in was flat out better, regardless of resume.  And, both of them won it all.

I do think expanding to 12 will mitigate it somewhat, but not completely.  The issue would be a situation where one conference is far and away the best in the country.  For example, an 8-4 SEC team is probably better than a 10-2 ACC or Pac-12 team most years.  But, they're always going to put in the latter.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

Week 14/15

Friday, December 2nd

Akron @ Buffalo 1 PM EST

Conference USA Championship Game

North Texas @ UTSA 7:30 PM EST CBSSN

Pac 12 Conference Championship Game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV

#14 Utah vs #6 USC 8 PM EST FOX

Big 12 Conference Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX

#12 Kansas State vs #4 TCU Noon EST ABC

MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit, MI

Toledo vs Ohio Noon EST ESPN

Sun Belt Conference Championship Game

Coastal Carolina @ Troy 3:30 PM EST ESPN

SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA

#5 LSU vs #1 Georgia 4 PM EST CBS

AAC Championship Game

#22 UCF @ #19 Tulane 4 PM EST ABC

Mountain West Conference Championship Game

Fresno State @ Boise State 4 PM EST FOX

Big Ten Conference Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN

Purdue vs #3 Michigan 8 PM EST FOX

ACC Championship Game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC

#8 Clemson vs #17 North Carolina 8 PM EST

Saturday, December 10th

Army vs Navy at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA 3 PM EST CBS

[NewYorkExpress]

UAB is hiring former NFL Quarterback Trent Dilfer as their new Head Coach.

I think it's interesting that the Blazers went with Dilfer and not Deion Sanders, but like Deion, Trent's past NFL career (including a Super Bowl Ring), probably has recruiting potential.

UAB probably is in a more difficult position though, moving from Conference USA to the AAC.

[GeorgiaModerate]

UAB is hiring former NFL Quarterback Trent Dilfer as their new Head Coach.

I think it's interesting that the Blazers went with Dilfer and not Deion Sanders, but like Deion, Trent's past NFL career (including a Super Bowl Ring), probably has recruiting potential.

UAB probably is in a more difficult position though, moving from Conference USA to the AAC.

Deion can get a much better job than UAB.  There are some rumors floating around that he's going to announce where he's going by Sunday, with the leading contenders being Colorado, Cincinnati, and South Florida.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Akron @ Buffalo
North Texas @ UTSA
#14 Utah vs #6 USC

#12 Kansas State vs #4 TCU - Just a hunch about this one.
Toledo vs Ohio
Coastal Carolina @ Troy
#5 LSU vs #1 Georgia
#22 UCF @ #19 Tulane
Fresno State @ Boise State
Purdue vs #3 Michigan
#8 Clemson vs #17 North Carolina

Army vs Navy

[Terry the Fat Shark]

12 team playoff is confirmed for 2024!!!

Also, do we want to pick the Christmas and after bowls again or all of them?

[GeorgiaModerate]

12 team playoff is confirmed for 2024!!!

Also, do we want to pick the Christmas and after bowls again or all of them?

Let's do like last year - one "week" for the pre-Christmas bowls and another for the rest.

[NewYorkExpress]

12 team playoff is confirmed for 2024!!!

Also, do we want to pick the Christmas and after bowls again or all of them?

Let's do like last year - one "week" for the pre-Christmas bowls and another for the rest.

Seconding this.

[Dereich]

Akron @ Buffalo
North Texas @ UTSA
#14 Utah vs #6 USC

#12 Kansas State vs #4 TCU - USC and TCU losing is the most depressing scenario and possibly lets Bama and Ohio State both in to the playoff. Its the most terrible outcome so of course its going to happen.
Toledo vs Ohio
Coastal Carolina @ Troy
#5 LSU vs #1 Georgia
#22 UCF @ #19 Tulane
Fresno State @ Boise State
Purdue vs #3 Michigan   Just a reminder that Purdue now has Michigan right where they want them.
#8 Clemson vs #17 North Carolina

Army vs Navy

[NewYorkExpress]

Florida Atlantic hiring former Texas Head Coach Tom Herman to fill their head coaching vacancy.

This is a very good hire for Florida Atlantic, as Herman brings an impressive record of success from both Houston and Florida, including two NY6 Bowl wins (the 2015 Peach Bowl and the 2019 Sugar Bowl).

The one concern for Florida Atlantic is that Herman has never coached in Florida, and that could cost him in recruiting battles, but overall this is an excellent hire.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Florida Atlantic hiring former Texas Head Coach Tom Herman to fill their head coaching vacancy.

This is a very good hire for Florida Atlantic, as Herman brings an impressive record of success from both Houston and Florida, including two NY6 Bowl wins (the 2015 Peach Bowl and the 2019 Sugar Bowl).

The one concern for Florida Atlantic is that Herman has never coached in Florida, and that could cost him in recruiting battles, but overall this is an excellent hire.

[NewYorkExpress]

Florida Atlantic hiring former Texas Head Coach Tom Herman to fill their head coaching vacancy.

This is a very good hire for Florida Atlantic, as Herman brings an impressive record of success from both Houston and Florida, including two NY6 Bowl wins (the 2015 Peach Bowl and the 2019 Sugar Bowl).

The one concern for Florida Atlantic is that Herman has never coached in Florida, and that could cost him in recruiting battles, but overall this is an excellent hire.

That's a typo. He coached at Texas, not a Florida school (though I suspect he would have been a better hire than Dan Mullen).

[GeorgiaModerate]

Florida Atlantic hiring former Texas Head Coach Tom Herman to fill their head coaching vacancy.

This is a very good hire for Florida Atlantic, as Herman brings an impressive record of success from both Houston and Florida, including two NY6 Bowl wins (the 2015 Peach Bowl and the 2019 Sugar Bowl).

The one concern for Florida Atlantic is that Herman has never coached in Florida, and that could cost him in recruiting battles, but overall this is an excellent hire.

That's a typo. He coached at Texas, not a Florida school (though I suspect he would have been a better hire than Dan Mullen).

Yes, I knew that but thought the juxtaposition was amusing.