The Rest of College Football

[Cody_Russell]

Of all the college games I've seen today, I only remember watching 3 teams that run a pro offense.
Michigan, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

EDIT: there is also Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Stanford, Arkansas, and Florida State.

Just sad to me that there is so much spread offense.

[Pasadena Blue]

People will go with what works. The spread works in college, as long as that is the case, things won't change.

[Jeff Buchanan]

People will go with what works. The spread works in college, as long as that is the case, things won't change.

I don't disagree with that. CFB is about getting match-ups that favor your offense and playing great D.

I can't argue that spready teams that can challenge every part of the field have an advantage. But that kind of offense is high variance and if some part of that offense isn't working (see the Ducks in 2015), its bust instead of boom. osu may be another example of that with Jones basically sucking. You have to get the chunk plays and if you can't and your defense is suspect, you're in trouble.

Which brings me back to the point that in the question of Power v. Spread, it still comes down to Jimmy and Joes and coaching. I like where M is right now in that respect. The talent seems to be there but their is no doubting HARBAUGH!!! and his coaching staff.

[Da Geezer]

I just got finished watching ND at Clemson. ND had 4 turnovers in the second half, and still had a chance to tie on a two point conversion. They made a furious comeback that began the moment Clemson decided to work on the clock with about 9:00 left in the 4th quarter.

These teams that play "with pace" are absolutely screwed when they try to finish games by milking the clock. This was shades of RR. ND should have scored 21-28 points easily after Clemson went into its shell. Clemson's defense was so gassed that they let Kizer just sit in the pocket for 4-5 seconds and pick the receiver he wanted. This is the single biggest failing I see in the way some coaches use the spread, or "air raid", offense. If you adopt it, by gosh you had better go 100% full speed until the final gun, like Baylor and TCU do. Hey, the spread is a great offense, but it is a terrible defense.

[WingsFan]

Heartbreaking loss for ND. I thought they would win this game while watching the second half, couldn't get the 2 pointer at the end. Nice to see Kelly losing it multiple times ! He knew the season playoff dream is now over for the Domers.

[Mike]

I had Clemson winning that game. Time for the Domers' annual fall to reality.

So who the hell are the best teams this year?? #s 1 & 2 just looked like shit. #s 3, 6, 7, & 8 all lost yesterday, most of them blown out. I have no respect for the Big 12 flag football conference. #9 LSU was in a one score game with EMU in the 4th quarter.

I guess the big movers this week will be Clemson, Utah, NW, LSU, and Bama. I have no idea what you do with the FF poll.

[Cody_Russell]

Florida has to make a huge jump too in the polls.
I saw them dominate Ole Miss... Florida is a very well rounded team.
Problem for them is their schedule. No way they finish with one loss or better.

[iam416]

It's a crazy season. I've never seen so many teams with a legitimate shot to play for a national title.

We know OSU is awful. MSU is crippled and playing like it. At least they have an excuse. TCU is a week removed from a MIRACLE win against Texas Tech. Baylor, as per usual, remains entirely unproven, though they at least look good doing it. LSU has no QB, but one hell of a RB and a really good defense. Alabama will rue the home loss to Ole Miss in a game that went completely sideways for them. Clemson just got dominated by ND but managed to survive. FSU has no offense. No one can actually take Utah or NW seriously. And the P12 South will likely destroy itself.

Right now, I'd say the B12 champ is IN. If TCU heals up a bit on defense (and I have no idea how badly they're hurt), I think it's them. I think the P12 champ has 2 losses. I think the B10 champ will have 1 loss. I think the SEC West champ will have at least 1 loss and I'm leaning toward 2. And I think the ACC champ will have 1 loss. Oh, and Notre Dame is still very much alive. If they beat USC and Stanford and finish 11-1, they're IN.

So right now you have to figure out a top 4 when there's really only 6-10 type teams out there.

[iam416]

I saw them dominate Ole Miss... Florida is a very well rounded team.

Florida is a game removed from getting assrailed by Tennessee at home for 55 minutes and surviving only on a miraculous 4th and 14 TD pass. And then they even let UT go get a FG attempt in.

Florida looked good yesterday, but no. I could easily see them losing to Mizzou next week.

[Cody_Russell]

Florida is a game removed from getting assrailed by Tennessee at home for 55 minutes and surviving only on a miraculous 4th and 14 TD pass. And then they even let UT go get a FG attempt in.

Florida looked good yesterday, but no. I could easily see them losing to Mizzou next week.

Yes, they aren't a perfect team. At 5-0, their current 25th ranking is way off though.
Florida's defense is one of the most talented in the country. That comes from Muschamp's great defensive recruiting.
With their new coaching staff, their offense is playing smart this year.

Put Florida in the B10 west, they go undefeated. With their schedule, 9-3 or 8-4 seems like a reasonable finish... Probably ranking 16-21 to end the year.

[iam416]

I don't think Florida would go undefeated in any P5 conference. And the SEC East certainly isn't some sort of gauntlet.

[Ghengis Jon]

Big Ten was poised for an "I-sweep". Iowa and Illinauseous did their part, Indiana gave a valiant effort. Somebody make sure Ent doesn't hurt himself and will somebody PLEASE give Wiz a razor blade.

Notre Dame? Ha ha. I hope they suffer the Penn State pox. "Now that we're in the conference, we'll dominate and secure 50 gazillion straight championships". Eat it, ND.

MSU and osu? Lots of chinks in those armors. I like our chances better and better if our defense remains dominant.

Glad UM won, but Harbaugh has some serious coaching to do this week if we expect a good showing against NW. (I can't believe I actually wrote that!)

[Pasadena Blue]

as of now my FF prediction is: Bama, O-state, TCU, and Notre Dame (vs Clemson).

TCU got by the "one scare" any champ contender faces
'Bama has a serviceable QB and is rounding into form after the early hiccup
ND really showed me something in their comeback at Clemson. There is a small chance that Clemson goes undefeated in which case their victory over ND will get them in
O-state --- simply the most talented team in the country. Can't imagine Urbz won't get them straightened out by year's end. Their current, struggles despite Talent's sandbagging, are irrelevant.


In the end, think Saban gets his revenge on Urbz and annoying SEC fans will once again proclaim their dominance.

[iam416]

Red zone offense, turnover margin and 3rd down conversion rate all need to change significantly if OSU is going to make the CFP. They are currently 121st in RZ TD PCT. 121st. And they've converted something like 15% of their 3rd downs the last two games. A far cry from last year's CFP when they basically shit gold every 3rd down. Man, those were the days!

[Jeff Buchanan]

as of now my FF prediction is: Bama, O-state, TCU, and Notre Dame (vs Clemson)..........

Agree with Bama, TCU and either ND or Clemson.

Clemson has a road trip to LSU. If they win that one, their in. If they lose to LSU or Missouri or, somehow, Richt recovers from his usual fail with UGA and beats Clemson, it's ND.

I don't think anyone is going to keep TCU out of the playoff this year and Gary Patterson is going to see to that by whacking every opponent he faces..

Bama has the toughest schedule but ........ The Nick.

Speaking from the perspective of an M homer, I don't see osu making it on the back of eze Elliot. They'll need better QB play to contend and it looks like its an, "it is what it is" situation at that position for them but ....... urban.

The questions are then who from the B10 is going to get a place at the table and is there going to be an undefeated or one loss team from the Pac12. I don't think a one loss P5 team is going to be excluded ..... a two loss team will and I'd say the best chance for that to happen is going to be in the Pac12.

Strangely, of Northwestern and Iowa, one of those teams is going to win the West. With Iowa traveling to Evanston, I'm picking the Wildcats as of week 5 though things could change. If M prevails next week against Northwestern and beats MSU and osu in AA, all of those things entirely possible, M will win the East barring some amazing work by Hackenberg and that is also entirely possible.

For the B10, there is just a lot of games left and I don't think the picture is anywhere near clear in any P5 conference. We'll have to see how things play out and for an M homer it's nothing more than beat Northwestern.