GT@Miami (YTM) Open Thread
September 17th, 2009 at 7:10 PM ^
Nesbitt goes to show you that not all high rated QBs can throw.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:17 PM ^
I've got Miami in another shootout. That, or the game will randomly be a defensive struggle. Either way Miami 34-28 or 14-10.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:20 PM ^
So what you're saying is, it'll either be a high scoring game, or a low scoring game? Genius!
September 17th, 2009 at 10:14 PM ^
Thanks for the neg. I couldn't decide which way to go, so I posted both scores.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:18 PM ^
Georgia Tech needs to win.... (for us that is)
September 17th, 2009 at 7:38 PM ^
I don't see why GT has to win anymore than Miami for our help. Personally i'd rather play Miami than GT simply because that option offense is REALLY hard to stop.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:06 PM ^
GT (#14) is ranked higher than Miami (#20). If GT wins, Miami will drop in the polls and Michigan will move up. If GT loses, Miami will rise in the polls and GT will fall, but not so far that Michigan could displace them.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:35 PM ^
If Michigan wins this weekend, it's almost guaranteed to move up in the ranking because several teams in the top 25 will lose and drop out.
At any rate, why do we care about ranking right now?
September 17th, 2009 at 9:08 PM ^
Even if Michigan is sure to move up in the polls this weekend with a win, a Miami loss to GT tonight means Michigan will move up even more than they otherwise would have.
This matters, in theory, because higher rankings bring increased media coverage; increased media coverage, in turn, makes a school more attractive to recruits.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:14 PM ^
Michigan is always on national TV; every game is televised. Doesn't matter what our rankings are; just rack up the wins and showcase our team on national TV every week.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:42 PM ^
Notre Dame plays on national TV every week. Michigan does not; BTN is not national TV.
That aside, it only seems logical that in-season rankings matter. If higher rankings lead to increased media coverage, and increased media coverage results in more opportunities for high school players to hear and learn about a school, then why would this not matter? Moreover, the coverage received by an unranked Michigan team last year is entirely different from the coverage a ranked Michigan team is receiving this year. Last year, much of the coverage portrayed Michigan as a team in turmoil; not so this year, where all we seem to hear about is Michigan's resurgence. How Michigan is portrayed matters because perception matters. Recruits are much more likely to give serious consideration to a program they perceive to be relevant and on the rise, than one they perceive to be past its prime and spiraling downward.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:03 PM ^
Wrong. Michigan could be #1 team in the nation all year long, and there will be 2-3 games on the Big 10 no mater what. The Big Ten didn't create a sports channel to not have Michigan playing on it. Michigan brings audience and advertising bucks. Michigan has an agreement with ESPN in that almost every game is either shown on ABC or ESPN/ESPN2; the BTN gets 2-3 games. This will not change according to our rankings. Even with last year's disaster, we were still on ESPN2 quite a bit. Rankings have no bearing on Michigan's TV coverage for recruits to watch.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:27 PM ^
1. You wrote that Michigan plays on national TV "every week." They don't, so I corrected you by pointing out that they sometimes play on BTN, which is not a national TV network.
2. Your points about the creation of the BTN, advertising dollars, and the scheduling of Michigan games on BTN are all non sequiturs. I never said that a higher ranking would change that station on which Michigan football was broadcast. Re-read what I wrote and then reconsider your reply.
3. Your understanding of "MEDIA coverage" is clearly lacking, as your construction of that term seems only to encompass "television coverage of a Michigan football game." The theory I posited--that a high ranking leads to increased MEDIA coverage--supposes that a higher ranking results in more newspaper and magazine articles about a team, more radio coverage, and more discussion on shows like College Gameday. Thus, while the higher ranking clearly won't change the stations on which Michigan football games are broadcast, it will change how many newspapers and magazines cover the team, how many disc jockeys talk about the team, and how many sportscasters devote time to analyzing the team.
4. Having learned that "media coverage" of a sports team means more than just TV coverage of its games, you can now understand my previous posts and correct your negbangs.
5. Thank you.
September 18th, 2009 at 6:32 PM ^
.. does not depend on ranking, it depends on winning games.
Math? Math!
Not winning games = no top 25 = no or negative coverage.
Win two games = top 25 = positive coverage
September 18th, 2009 at 9:08 PM ^
Ranked teams receive more media coverage and, often, more favorable media coverage.
End of story? End of story!
September 17th, 2009 at 7:19 PM ^
I got Tech +4.5.
I have a small writeup on my blog, but in summary, here are the key numbers;
GT Coach Paul Johnson 17-5 ATS as a road dog
Miami Coach Randy Shannon 3-9 as a home favorite.
Georgia Tech 12-3-1 ATS as a road dog
Miami 12-28 ATS as a home favorite.....since they won the national title.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:43 PM ^
Posted in the wrong place.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:21 PM ^
I've got Miami at -4 and the over of 52.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:29 PM ^
Is it just me or does Mark May hate Coach Lou?
Even Lou's colleagues dislike the guy.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:40 PM ^
Bro sometimes I swear they're gonna drop the gloves lol. No but seriously they dislike eachother like O'Brien and Rivera lol
September 17th, 2009 at 7:34 PM ^
After that FSU game, I can't underestimate da U, or its potential to put on an offensive clinic.
Also, the way Shannon's been recruiting, and from the look of it at FSU, he'll have much faster (if smaller) linebackers and D-backs than Clemson fielded last week. Better pursuit options, fewer big plays.
(also, GT had 14 fluke points 4 minutes into the game. They scored 3 total points in the second half, right? Not sure this offense is THAT terrifying)
Da U, GT doesn't cover.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:34 PM ^
Love to watch their offense, I think Miami makes some mental errors and Dwyer and Co take advantage. GaTech in a shootout, to win.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:43 PM ^
Nesbitt, Dwyer and Thomas vs. Harris and Benjamin...that match-up goes to GT. Neither defense has looked particularly good, giving up an average of 30 points in the last two weeks. If Nesbitt can get some balance through the air to support GT's filthy run-game, Miami's dead in the water. Miami has to establish a run-game early or they'll have a long ugly night. James and Cooper are yet to prove themselves (not saying one or both of them won't).
When Tech doubles up on Benjamin and sits contain over the middle of the field, what is Miami's answer?
September 17th, 2009 at 7:43 PM ^
If there's one thing I noticed in the ACC last year, it's that the favorite is never the favorite. ACC Roulette to use DocSaturday's terms, a Totally random set of outcomes. I could easily see GT coming out on fire in this game and blowing Miami out of the water. I could also very easily see chalk and Miami play solid for an entire 4 quarters.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:50 PM ^
ACC Roulette is such an appropriate term. Miami has some good veteran leadership on defense, but their hands are way full with GT's ground-game-breakers. If Demaryus Thomas gets into the game Miami has to climb Everest.
And holy cow look at Allen. So many weapons.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:04 PM ^
I loved the term ACC Roulette and loved that on going series Doc Sat wrote.
Anyway, over the years the ACC has become my favorite league because I love to play underdogs and, as pointed out, it's a very anti favorite league.
It's a fun league and with the Divisional format, the topsy-turviness has created a pennant race like chase the last couple of Novembers. I think its great collegiate theater, even if the BCS Title or bust pundits and bloggers mock it.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:51 PM ^
See, this is a better drive than GT had all game last week.
What's really stunning about this team isn't so much the scheming, as it is the coaching. Really incredible execution; crisp blocking, great choreography, smart timing on the pitch. Johnson is a hell of a teacher; I'm glad we've got a guy at this program who (based entirely on WVU's last couple years under his control) is a similarly excellent teacher.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:55 PM ^
is going to be so key. GT gets big chunks of yardage moving down the field, but they have to convert in the red-zone. Miami might have the stronger red-zone offense?
September 17th, 2009 at 7:55 PM ^
Yes, they have the most fertile recruiting ground locally in the country.....and they have palm trees, beaches and girls to sell to recruits.....but who the hell would go to Miami to play football?
Their stadium has empty seats and just looks so cookie cutter - there doesn't seem to be any college atmosphere there at all.
Does anyone agree with me?
Granted, like I said, I know why they are successful (or have been), but the atmosphere sounds so drab!
Makes me feel great about the Big House's effect on recruits, esp. after the last two weeks
September 17th, 2009 at 8:02 PM ^
They're also one of 8 or so stadiums that serves beer. So at least they got that going for them.
Touchdown.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:03 PM ^
I feel kind of sorry for them. They used to play in a total crapper of a stadium that had more personality than all other stadiums in DI put together, but now they're playing in a stupid NFL stadium super far away from the old place in Coral Gables. Also, their program has fallen apart because the administration didn't have any faith in continuity.
Not feeling too sorry for them; they've got TALENT and what looks like a firecracker at quarterback. They'll be back.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
college football like white line chalk on dirt infield. Old school! Nesbitt turns the 6-4-3 double pla ... no, wait.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:46 PM ^
They used to play in a total crapper of a stadium that had more personality than all other stadiums in DI put together
Say what?
September 17th, 2009 at 10:51 PM ^
Yeah, that's an overstatement. But you know what I mean, right? The old place was rickety, and stinky, and probably unsafe. But it had legendary plays ingrained in every fiber of gross, obsolete turf.
September 18th, 2009 at 8:17 AM ^
Yes, but this could be said of many college football stadiums, including ours. And we actually hosted meaningful regular-season games before the 1980s.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:30 PM ^
Yeah, the attendance at the game is atrocious. If that was a Michigan home game I'd be completely embarrassed for myself.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:07 PM ^
when you can torch the opponent's secondary. Hankerson is a very good route-runner, and Byrd seems to find the end-zone pretty good. GT has to get Thomas into the game now.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:28 PM ^
A quick 14-3 lead and the game looking like a blowout grinds this Open Thread to a halt?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are you the Canes can go 3-1 to 4-0 in these first four killer games? (at VT, host Sooners next 2 games).
How has that number changed since August? Go.
(no need to reply to actual comment.....put it wherever in the thread)
September 17th, 2009 at 8:34 PM ^
ACC Roulette man, ACC roulette... Canes are a legit team playing in an unpredictable conference.
GT has to stay out of 3rd and long. Penalties and big plays are the theme of this game right now for Tech.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:39 PM ^
I finally got my internet working again (note to self: don't use twhirl for twitter).
I'd rate it at 4. I think they've got everything going right in this game, but the next two are too tough to call. Bradford might be back for the OU game. If he plays at 80%, I'm not sure Miami has a chance. Playing at VT is never easy, especially if it ends up at night (I don't think it's settled yet).
September 17th, 2009 at 8:35 PM ^
I seriously feel like Miami is the MSU of the south over the last few years, except with better athletes. Sparty no moments, stupid penalties to kill great defensive stands. It fits the M.O.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:44 PM ^
Like the analogy. Though Sparty No! play in EL seems to have become institutionalized. Miami shall overcome the Coker malaise.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:40 PM ^
They've really done a good job so far, but there's a lot of game left.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:40 PM ^
I'm watching the ridiculous array of rushing plays Tech throws out there and it's impressive and staggering...but if you have a quick D-line that can run sideline to sideline, it seems surprisingly easy to contain right now.
Johnson is an innovative coach, but if you take the sidelines away, his short passing game seems very predictable.
I think of RR's spread option, and I like how our run-game compares. RR's QB has more of a pocket-presence, and we look to create stronger mismatches in the rungame, i.e., by not forcing the entire play to one side of the field or another.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:45 PM ^
is phenom right now; Harris has all day. Kudos to Miami's RBs for some very good blocking.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:45 PM ^
Um...do we know why ESPN's overhead camera cable is so often in view? Kind of annoying, no?
September 17th, 2009 at 8:53 PM ^
Miami has been playing lights out. Great job on assignment football on shutting down GT's offense. Miami's new OC hire is looking really, really good right now.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:02 PM ^
Killer penalties to end the half, and making no mismatches through the air.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:06 PM ^
That holding call was worth that block. That was a hit.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:50 PM ^
So GT pulls it a little closer. Needs another 10 to cover the spread, no? I've missed the last little bit. I'm supposed to talk with a guy from the BTN tomorrow. If you guys have any questions ideas, leave me a comment at my site. I think I've got a pretty good start, but I'm definitely looking to get as much input from people as I can.