Saturday College Football Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 07:08:06 AM EST
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While the Big 3 (Florida, Alabama, Texas) won't be tested today, there are plenty of interesting games on the slate. Let's start with the Oregon Ducks traveling to Arizona. Both Oregon and Zona can win the Pac 10 by winning out. If neither win out, it becomes a free for all. Oregon is a 6 point favorite. I like Zona (+6).

In the Big Ten, Rose bowl bound Ohio State travels to Ann Arbor to face Michigan. Michigan spit the bit on this season a month ago. For all the talk about Rodriguez not having talent (which is true), the indictment I would make against him is his team quit on him. I think they quit for good. I like the Buckeyes (-12.5). More . . .

The Big Game is in Stanford this year. Stanford is undefeated at home. I like the Cardinal (-8) big over Cal.

Ole Miss host LSU in Oxford today. Houston Nutt seems to have finally realized that giving the ball to Dexter McCluster is a pretty good strategy. I like the Rebels (-4).

Michigan State is a home dog to Penn State. rdandrea has told me all year that Penn State is not good at all this year. I finally believe. I like the Spartans (+3).

Notre Dame hosts UConn. I think Weis is a goner no matter what. But a loss to UConn really seals the deal. I like the Domers (-6.5).

For the season, I am 41-29 (.586) after going 5-4 last week. I still have a decent shot at hitting 60% for the year.

This is an Open Thread.

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Saturday College Football Open Thread | 22 comments (22 topical)

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If the rest of the season (none / 0) (#1)
by CoralGables on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 09:26:46 AM EST

plays out as expected, it could produce two teams from the non BCS conferences playing in the BCS games.

Along with TCU advancing and likely playing in the Fiesta, Boise fans may find themselves in New Orleans for a matchup against the loser of the Alabama/Florida SEC Title Game. Even with the Sugar Bowl having the last selection this year, they may find themselves with the most anticipated game other than the BCS Championship Game.

The Rose will be locked in with Big 10 and Pac 10 winners.

The Orange Bowl which picks first this year would never pick Boise. They are stuck with the ACC winner and then nearly always choose the team with the largest group of traveling fans.

The Fiesta will nab an undefeated and highly ranked TCU and then tap a major conference for the other slot rather than two minor conference teams.

Leaving the Sugar Bowl to choose, and the Broncos sitting pretty.

I don't know if I prefer the (none / 0) (#2)
by brodie on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 10:31:50 AM EST

old system to the current BCS one, but at least back then in a more wide-open system you had a good chance for 2 or 3 of the big bowl games being relevant as to which team would come out as #1. Plenty of unresolved controversy, of course, but it did make for some heightened interest in more than one game.

Today however we have the BCS Championship Game -- perhaps a marginal improvement -- preceded by a bunch of secondary bowl games which, except for one unusual circumstance a few yrs back with a split championship, have more of the flavor of mostly meaningless consolation games. Outside of the contending bowl teams, who really cares whether TCU or Boisé State gets to claim they're #3 in the land?


I would agree (none / 0) (#6)
by CoralGables on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 12:57:39 PM EST

that the other games lose most of their relevance for the fans. In some cases I think they lose a lot of their relevance for players too. I suspect the loser of the Florida/Alabama game won't be all that inspired for their bowl game.

I don't think they lose their watchability though. I used to always look forward to the Holiday Bowl (usually with BYU) and the Hawaii Bowl (almost always with Hawaii).

With all the emphasis on the Championship game it will be tough to get excited about watching Georgia Tech against either Pittsburgh or Cincinnati, but there are always a couple games that should stand out.


Please explain "spread." I read Wiki (none / 0) (#7)
by oculus on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 01:00:03 PM EST

and learned about income tax benefits but am otherwise still confused. Thanks. (You may be a "teabagger," but I respect your knowledge of sports!)


Ha Ha (none / 0) (#8)
by CoralGables on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 01:18:19 PM EST

it's the line placed on a game by bookies.

For example, just before kickoff today the Gators were 47 point (-47) favorites against FIU. That is...the spread was 47 points. If you bet on the Gators, you need to win the game by more than 47 points to win your bet. Bet on FIU and all you have to do is lose by less than 47.

Another way to look at it is FIU gets 47 free points, and is winning 47-0 at the start of the game.

For the record, the Gators lead at halftime 35-3. Add in the spread and the Gators are currently losing the game 50-35.

Now I'm off to grab a glass of Lipton :)


Currently OSU 23, U of M 10. (none / 0) (#10)
by oculus on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 01:26:25 PM EST

So -12.5 means BTD is winning?

P.S. Whoever heard of OSU/U of M game staring in Ann Arbor at 11 a.m.? Crazy. And it isn't cold, freezing rain, etc.


Oops. 21-10. (none / 0) (#12)
by oculus on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 01:28:22 PM EST

PS I am a tea drinker. Why pick on us?


Those Coffee Drinkers (none / 0) (#13)
by CoralGables on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 01:41:02 PM EST

they have superiority complex.

And yes, if BTD takes OSU at -12.5 he would currently be losing 22.5 to 21. With bookie shopping though he could have had OSU this morning at -11 making it a tie.

If you want to know what happens with a push (a tie) you'll need kdog. I don't know if you get all your money back with a tie or if you lose the vig.


: Oh, the bookies have that covered. (none / 0) (#14)
by oculus on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 01:48:36 PM EST

See Wiki. "spread."

OK Now I'm interested. What does (none / 0) (#3)
by oculus on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 11:07:39 AM EST

this mean?

I like the Buckeyes (-12.5).

Surely OSU will smush U of M by more than 12-13 points, no?

Also, why was Rodriguez successful in his former gig but not at U of M?

Not Necessarily (none / 0) (#9)
by rdandrea on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 01:25:52 PM EST

All things being equal, probably. But this is a "rivaly" game--a traditional rivalry between the two schools that goes back a long time.

"Rivalry" games are difficult to bet, because emotions often play a bigger part than skill.


: Tell me about it. Used to go to the games (none / 0) (#11)
by oculus on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 01:27:36 PM EST

when they were in Ann Arbor. Too bad Michigan can't seem to stop the OSU ball carrier or protect their own.

L a la la. KUSC FM: all Benjamin (none / 0) (#4)
by oculus on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 11:56:05 AM EST

Britten this a.m. Opera and songs. Delightful.

Ingrate! (none / 0) (#5)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 12:40:19 PM EST

You wouldn't be anywhere close to 60% this year without the Hawkeyes and now you can't be arsed to pick them.

Oh right, I forgot--Gator fans will be Gator fans.

Just spoke with biking bro, who is (none / 0) (#15)
by oculus on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 03:36:18 PM EST

now in Joy, Kentucky. Sun's out. Way behind schedule re projected arrival date.

It's a tough call (none / 0) (#16)
by CoralGables on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 06:20:18 PM EST

as to who was more brain dead in the last minute of today's LSU/Miss game...the LSU coaching staff or the LSU QB. Could be a dead heat.

I'd guess the head coach. (none / 0) (#17)
by brodie on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 06:25:38 PM EST

He was the one who just a few moments before the final stupid play, allowed 17 secs to run off the clock, for no good reason, before calling a timeout with only 9 secs left in the game. Huh?

The coach's post-game explanation for not having the field goal players ready to go immediately amounted to a non-response response.

Congrats to underdog Olé Miss in an entertaining game that kept me from watching the sausage being made for hours over on C-Span2 ...


: Given that years of experience (none / 0) (#18)
by CoralGables on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 06:33:10 PM EST

should have been an advantage. Yes, I'd agree the coach takes the most blame for the debacle.
That said, who spikes the ball when there is only 1 second on the clock? Memories of Chris Webber, but without the ability to say he forgot. It was a mental meltdown.

For starters. (none / 0) (#21)
by CoralGables on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 07:47:41 PM EST

if you have one second, you throw the ball into the endzone. You don't spike it.

I'd say the QB made two huge blunders in the end. He let himself get sacked which took them out of field goal range, and on the last play where his spiking was conceding the loss.

The coach's indecision led to the last play disaster but the QB showed no ability to know what was happening.


Ducks win 44-41 (none / 0) (#24)
by caseyOR on Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 11:42:27 PM EST

But it took them a double OT to finish off Arizona. I'm going to have to double up on the blood pressure meds tonight.

Now all that stands between Oregon and the Rose Bowl is Oregon State, and all that stands between Oregon State and the Rose Bowl is Oregon. That game, the Civil War, will be played on Dec.3. The Beavers beat Washington State today, although, really I think a team composed only of Cream City, oculus and me could beat the Cougs this year.

That said, Oregon State is a much better team now than it was in Sept. And the Civil War is insanely intense pitting mother against daughter, brother against brother, friend against friend.

: Although I remain (none / 0) (#25)
by CoralGables on Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 12:16:46 AM EST

a Go Pre Duck fan, the fact that the Beavers haven't sniffed a rose since the OSU players' parents were in diapers would make it difficult to be upset should the Beavers win at Autzen.
But,
Go Ducks

There were lots of sombreros in the stands (none / 0) (#26)
by Banzel on Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 12:33:19 AM EST

at Kinnick today, but the Orange Bowl rep. huggedKirk Ferentz after the game.