Tag Archives: CFB Playoffs

Pride Trophy Week

College Football, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Rivalries. Trophy games. Championship participants. These are what will be on the line when toe meets leather this week.

Ohio St continues to find a way, but this week brings a hot Michigan team to the Horseshoe. West Virginia and Oklahoma will decide the Big 12 championship. The winner is in and will play Texas if the Longhorns take care of Kansas. Vandy meets Tennessee in a loser go home match. One of them is going bowling. Cal/Stanford moved to Dec 1 due to the horrific fires in the region. And the triple option proved too much to contain as The Citadel gave Bama half a game.

I look for Washington St to take the Apple Cup. I’ve been in attendance at the Holy War and like that time I think Utah prevails. Notre Dame will finish the job and send Clay Helton back to coordinator jobs. Texas A&M and LSU should be a great game. The sneaky good game calls for you to stay up late and watch Boise St take on Utah St to decide their division. Another to watch earlier is Troy v Appalachian St. I’m just hoping that my guys can bring home the ODK Foy Trophy back to the Capstone.

Vegas 5 went 3-2 last week. 29-28-3 is now where I sit. I got it handed to me again in Top 25/SEC going 12-15. I’m at 135-132 there.

I’m going with the Over (52.5) again when Auburn visits Bama. But I’ll go Under (64.5) when Purdue plays Indiana. I like Maryland (+13) against Penn St. I’m willing to give a bunch of points in Temple (-29) against U Conn. Lastly, UCLA (+7) stays hot against Stanford.

Who’d you pick?

Advertisement

Status Quo Week

College Football, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This week the good matchups are fewer and further between. This is especially true in the two conferences that have yet to expand to nine game schedules. That needs to be fixed soon.

Last week’s Ohio State hero was the punter. Let that sink in. Troy took the lead in the FunBelt, my sneaky good game was just that, and Ok State’s 2-point play call left a lot to be desired. Bama’s D is doing their version of No Score November to support defensive awareness.

This week the marquee matchup is Notre Dame v Syracuse in Yankee Stadium. I don’t know if they’ll win, but the Orange will give them a good game. Cincinnati and UCF should be interesting. UCF can score but can’t stop anyone. Wonder if the Big 12 is giving them a look? USC plays UCLA and both teams have been wearing the home colors lately for the matchup. The Game between Cal and Stanford usually provides quality entertainment. I guess a game between ranked teams isn’t a sneaky good one, but Iowa St at Texas will go a long way to decide the Big 12 CG. And San Diego St and Fresno St try to decide their division.

Last week my mediocrity continued. I have been living at .500. The Vegas 5 went 2-2-1 again and moved to 26-26-3 on the season. Top 25/SEC went 11-9 to go to 123-117.

This week the Vegas 5 starts like last week. I want the Over (62) in The Citadel/Bama game. UAB (+16.5) keeps it close with some solid defense. UMass (+41.5) against Georgia because that’s a lot of points and Kirby will put in backups to the backups late. Texas Tech (-6.5) should cover against Kansas St. And I like the Over (57) in the Missouri/Tennesee game.

Who’s your picks?

The Picture Begins to Reveal

College Football, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

After last weekend our playoff contenders have come into view. I agree with the CFP Committee on their top 6. Looks like the next few weeks will go a long way to seeing the finished product. But I highly doubt everyone keeps winning.

We found out the Bama defense was tired of hearing about the O and how they weren’t as good as years past. Clemson seems to be on cruise control, but BC should give them a game, especially in that weather. Notre Dame and Michigan look good enough to run the table, but some tricky spots could trip them up.

Three of the Power 5 conference  title games will involve teams that are barely over .500. The SEC and Big 12 seem to have the proper balance, but the others not so much this season.  This Saturday, the Miss St defense looks to prove itself against the juggernaut of the Bama O. While Georgia got their revenge last year against Auburn, I think they still want a little more. Troy meets Georgia Southern in a monster Sun Belt game. I like Troy’s chances. Bedlam happens this weekend, but Oklahoma should be too string for the Pokes.  Friday noght Fresno St @ Boise St in what could be a very good match up. The sneaky good game of the week should be UCLA @ Arizona St. The Pac 12 remains the most entertaining conference.

Last week was good for the Vegas 5. I went 4-1 to move to 24-24-2. Top25/SEC tally slipped again at 10-12 and 112-108 total.

This week I like the Over (52.5) when Miss St visits Bama. I’ll take Boston College (+20) against Clemson. Weather will be a factor in that one. Kentucky (-6) will rebound at Tennessee. It’s hard to imagine Bedlam is low scoring, so I have the Over (80) in Oklahoma St @ Oklahoma. And give me Pitt (-3) when Va Tech comes to town.

Who’s your locks?

Separation Saturday

College Football, , , , , , , , , ,

I enjoyed a fun Saturday of football with our friends in the Delta last week. Tunica’s books are open for business. It’s be nice if the Horseshoe added some TVs at the tables.

Iowa threw an ill-timed pick at the 5 that destroyed their chances in Happy Valley. Georgia took the Cocktail Party on to find that UK has some magic left in that old silk hat they found. And Oregon St had the stunner last weekend coming from 31-3 to find a way to win in OT.

This week we find out the truth in several division. The headliner, as it has been for a while, is Bama @ LSU. Is the Tide O for real? This will be the best D Bama has seen this year and best by far in the regular season. While it’s a night game in Baton Rouge, Bama has had good success in those situations. Georgia goes to Kentucky with the winner taking the East and likely playing the winner of our headliner. Michigan looks to continue its revenge tour against Penn St. I think ND and Northwestern will play a sneaky good one.

The Big 12 gets clearer this weekend. WVU @ Texas and Oklahoma @ Texas Tech will go a long way to decide that conference. The Pac 12 is still the most entertaining conference. And, with all the MACtion during the week, are any MAC teams playing Saturday? Asking for a friend.

Last week the hook killed me at times in Tunica on a few games. I went 2-2-1 in the Vegas 5 moving me to 20-23-2. My top 25/SEC was brutal again at 8-9 and 102-96 on the season.

This week The Vegas 5 starts with the Over (61) in the Louisville/Clemson game. I like Northwestern (+9) hosting Notre Dame. I have Georgia Tech (-4.5) against North Carolina. The Over (58) when West Virginia goes to Texas. And Illinois (+9) against Minnesota.

Who’d you take?

Bye Week

College Football, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s bye week here at The Blog. That means a full day of watching whatever game strikes me at the time.

I thought the Ohio St/Purdue game would be good. I was kinda wrong as it was a blowout. I felt Purdue had a shot and took them in my picks section and they sure delivered. Michigan has established themselves as a true contender while LSU exposed Miss St as overly one-dimensional. Washington St just may take the PAC 12. Clemson absolutely destroyed NC St. The question there is whether that means the Tigers have awoken or if the Wolfpack were overrated.

This week brings fewer marquee match ups, yet no shortage of great action. The Cocktail Party sees two Top 10 teams for the first time in a decade. I’m a Georgia lean on that one, but I think Florida could sneak out with the win if the Dawgs let them hang around. Iowa travels to Penn St. I think the Hawkeyes are legit contenders for the Big 10 West. Washington St will take the next step if they can handle Stanford.

Last week’s Vegas 5 could’ve gone better. I hit 2-3 to move to 18-21-1. Top 25/SEC went 11-7 moving me to 94-87 for the year. I’m gonna need to start hitting quick if I want to make a move.

This week’s Vegas 5 starts for me with Syracuse (+2.5) hosting NC St. I like the Over (64.5) in the Kansas St/Oklahoma game. I’ll go with the Under (70.5) in the Bama opponent Sun Belt game between Arkansas St and Louisiana. UNLV (+3) is my pick against San Jose St. Lastly, I’ll take Iowa (+6) against Penn St.

Who’s your pick?

Homecoming

College Football, , , , , , , , , , , ,

I’m fresh back from Vegas and ready for homecoming weekend.

Bama’s secondary took quite the dent as one of the starting CBs is out for the year. The Tide D is already young and showing it. Florida was the surprise for me last week. Their line played very well in the win over LSU. Miss St handled business against a confusing Auburn squad. And, Missouri suffered from being in a torrential downpour and delay that fueled South Carolina to victory and ended the Tigers SEC East dreams. UGA meanwhile travels to Death Valley for a Louisiana afternoon game.

Texas kept hope alive and Oklahoma St continued its drop. The PAC 12 North gets clearer this weekend when Washington visits the Ducks, while the South does the same Colorado goes to USC. Can Michigan defend the Big House against Wisconsin?  The one certainty this year is it has been difficult to predict, but the traditional powers still look to be in prime position.

My Top 25/SEC continues to struggle. 8-14 last week dropping me to 78-68. Ugh.

My Vegas 5 however came through well. I went 4-1 for the week bringing my season total to 13-16-1. This week I have a true Vegas 5 courtesy of the fine people at Bally’s. It’s a great book with stadium seating, nice bar at the top, and a food court right there beside it.

I’m taking the Over (55.5) in the Hawaii/BYU game. I also like the Over (54.5) in the Georgia Tech/Duke game. I just feel all four teams can score on each other. I haven’t seen anything to believe in from Nebraska and am taking Northwestern (-3.5). I have Purdue (-10.5) against Illinois. Lastly, I believe the Hogs have found their QB and I took Arkansas (+6.5) against Ole Miss despite the fact the game is in Little Rock.

Where’s your action?

Bold College Football Predictions

Uncategorized, , , , , ,

Paul Cochran stopped by to muse upon the upcoming season and talk about the Power 5 conferences. This year looks as wide open in some areas as any, but early season favorites narrow the projected field to around eight or nine squads. Click on The Football link to hazard a listen to what two college football fans feel is how the season could shakeout and who will sit on top at the end.