Gameday and early games open thread
College Gameday is at Evanston today for Northwestern v. Ohio State at 8 PM on ABC tonight
It looks like the Northwestern crowd is up and into this game, which should lead to a great atmosphere tonight.
Some highlight-ish games for the noon slate:
MSU v. Iowa - 12 PM on Espn 2
- Iowa looks to be vastly improved from last year and their defense should be enough to stall the MSU offense. The question is whether Rudock can have time in the pocket to find his tight ends.
Maryland (25) v. FSU (8) on Espn
- Is Jameis Winston for real? Maryland has not yet played a good team and could be used to wipe the floor. On the other hand, Florida State is seemingly slow to start and struggled defensively against Boston College and Nevada to start that game.
Illinois v. Nebraska on Espn U
- Nebraska's defense always seems to turn a corner midseason... is this the game where they do that? If not, it's going to be a long day for the Huskers as Scheelhasse in Cubit's offense seems to have found a groove and the Illinois defense can probably do enough to stall the Huskers.
October 5th, 2013 at 10:37 AM ^
Best sign.
October 5th, 2013 at 11:01 AM ^
is also really good
October 5th, 2013 at 11:59 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 2:35 PM ^
That Urban sign is lame and unoriginal considering we saw that sign featured in the Game Day signs segment last week. Obviously it was for another coach though...I think the Florida coach.
October 5th, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^
I think they'll hang around in the first half but end up losing by a bunch. 40-20 or something
October 5th, 2013 at 10:41 AM ^
I dislike Paul Finebaum.
October 5th, 2013 at 10:41 AM ^
I hate Paul Finebaum.
October 5th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 10:49 AM ^
"I couldn't find parking. Thanks Obama"
October 5th, 2013 at 10:50 AM ^
Everyone seems to be living in the last year... West Virginia without Geno Smith is like Breaking Bad without Bryan Cranston. I highly doubt WV scores more than 14 in the game against Baylor today.
October 5th, 2013 at 10:59 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 10:54 AM ^
I like Fitz's new chompers. very ah, equine
October 5th, 2013 at 10:55 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 10:56 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 11:00 AM ^
Does Sparty have a QB?
October 5th, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 11:12 AM ^
I haven't watched Iowa play too much, but I think Rudock is as game-managery of a game-manager Iowa QB that you can get. But, like Iowa always does, their system is so ingrained that the QB is at least passable. In those cases it comes down to the WR and TE playmakers and I feel that Iowa has those in Fiedorowicz and Martin-Manley.
Keep in mind that one of Iowa's backup QBs that was converted to TE transferred to Arkansas and is now the starting QB there.
October 5th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
FWIW, TeamRankings is going with Michigan State-Iowa being an effective toss-up, right down to a projected score of 20-18 in favor of Iowa. I guess that is the most Big Ten projection out there tight now. What would be a reasonable O/U on failed 3rd down conversions in this game?
October 5th, 2013 at 11:01 AM ^
MSU 7-6. State scores a defensive TD and holds Iowa to two field goals.
October 5th, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
Iowa 28, Michigan State 21.
All touchdowns are off of fumbles, interceptions, and blocked 2-point tries.
October 5th, 2013 at 11:01 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 11:07 AM ^
She's the actress in Suits - a Northwestern graduate
October 5th, 2013 at 11:08 AM ^
Meghan Markle, Northwestern alum and actress who plays Rachel on the USA show 'Suits' She is scalding hot.
October 5th, 2013 at 11:48 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 12:16 PM ^
so all these years I could have been scoring chicks?!
October 5th, 2013 at 11:21 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^
Really impressed with how strong NU is bringing it this morning. Looks like just about every student is out there.
Though kind of hilarious ESPN just showed UChicago in that Evanston commercial feature.
And speaking of UChicago, they're 4-0 going into today's game, too.
October 5th, 2013 at 11:40 AM ^
I'm still trying to decide if this Randy Edsall segment is just a gigantic farce or if ESPN is actually serious.
October 5th, 2013 at 11:43 AM ^
This is a guy who left UConn for his "dream job" at Maryland.
Maryland.
October 5th, 2013 at 11:45 AM ^
"URBAN LIAR" sign? Northwestern is new at this exchange of witty GameDay signs, so there are some growing pains, I suppose.
October 5th, 2013 at 11:45 AM ^
I never knew that Musberger was shaped like a pear.
October 5th, 2013 at 11:52 AM ^
I was face-to-face with him a few times almost a decade ago, and he looked more like a cadaver than a pear. The camera takes off about two decades...
October 5th, 2013 at 11:47 AM ^
October 5th, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
There will be no defense in Nebraska by either team and with Nebraska backup QB in, should be a very interesting game.
First one to 17 wins in Iowa.
October 5th, 2013 at 12:05 PM ^
Run, run, then a 5-yard pass on 3rd and 7. Gotta love the Iowa offense.
October 5th, 2013 at 12:09 PM ^
7-0 Nebraska... first to 50 wins
October 5th, 2013 at 12:13 PM ^
Small sample size for this game, but damn, Iowa's O is so boring and predictable.
October 5th, 2013 at 12:13 PM ^
For the Iowa offense, one of the many keys to the game will be the ability to get the ball back to the line of scrimmage in an attempt to set up a 2nd down and long.
Also, not dropping back three miles to pass would help.
October 5th, 2013 at 12:14 PM ^
Small sample size for this game, but damn, MSU's O is so boring and predictable.
October 5th, 2013 at 12:18 PM ^
Its a horrid offense but with that defense you just try to win the field position game - they also have one of the best punters in the country. Try to get a 40-50 yard field and hope for some plays to get field goals. And maybe one mistake by other team to get 1 TD a week. The one thing they do "well" is not turn the ball over on offense.
October 5th, 2013 at 12:19 PM ^
MSU = not tough guys
October 5th, 2013 at 12:20 PM ^
Connor Cook is developing those dropback skills certainly.....and it took everything to only lose three on that play. Yikes.
That timeout also gives Dantonio time to sort out the apparent existential angst that comes with 4th and 1 scenarios in East Lansing.
October 5th, 2013 at 12:22 PM ^
And the first SpartyNOOOO of the game
October 5th, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
I sooo hope MSU loses by 2 pts.
October 5th, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
In a game that might end 13-10 you take the points
October 5th, 2013 at 12:24 PM ^
Holy awful pass Iowa QB. That was in the air for about 18 seconds
October 5th, 2013 at 12:25 PM ^
Ugly pass by Rudock - thought MSU was going to get their defensive TD there