Next week's games
I'm getting chills looking at the slate for Week 3:
Houston at Cincy (Thursday)
FSU at Louisville
Alabama at Ole Miss
Oregon at Nebraska
MSU at ND
OSU at Oklahoma
Bunch of other good ones, but those stuck out to me immediately. I know week 1 was the best opening weekend in CFB memory, but this is shaping up to be an incredibly fun Saturday. And another reason why CFB >>>>>> NFL.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:28 AM ^
Fair or not, Week 3 is probably going to probably define the perception of the B1G this year. OSU-Oklahoma, MSU-ND, Oregon-Nebraska, & Colorado-Michigan all scheduled for this week.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:29 AM ^
That game will only play any role in national perception of the conference if we lose.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:31 AM ^
I don't think it is on the level of the other games, but Colorado is our only Power 5 opponent this year. A loss would be extremely damaging to the B1G.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:32 AM ^
Since all of our B1G opponents are Power 5.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:36 AM ^
I hope I didn't have to spell that out that the B1G is a Power 5 conference. The point I was trying to make is that outside of LSU-Wisconsin, almost all of the B1G's marquee nonconference games were scheduled this week.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^
September 12th, 2016 at 10:45 AM ^
Northwestern may be able to salvage some respect with a home game against Duke this week. Glad they are not on our schedule this year.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^
And I hope I didn't have to spell out that I don't find Colorado to be a marquee nonconference game. They're unfortunately the best we've got this year, but it's hardly a marquee game.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:54 AM ^
I wouldn't dump on Colorado just yet. With how the Pac-12 South has looked so far, Colorado may actuallly be competitive in their division.
And the B1G nonconference slate of games is not very good this year. Colorado-Michigan may end up being in the top 5 of B1G nonconference games.
1. LSU-Wisconsin
2. OSU-Oklahoma
3. MSU-ND
4. PSU-Pitt
5. ??? Oregon-Nebraska? Colorado-Michigan? Rutgers-Washington? Duke-Northwestern? UNC-Illinois?
September 12th, 2016 at 10:59 AM ^
I certainly hope our team isn't looking ahead to conference play. They need to take car of business on Saturday.
But I would be surprised if many people outside of the fan bases for the two programs tune in.
September 12th, 2016 at 11:04 AM ^
September 12th, 2016 at 11:28 AM ^
Indiana has a power offense, and a POWDER defense.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^
September 12th, 2016 at 11:22 AM ^
Who cares, I hope everyone except us loses
September 12th, 2016 at 1:37 PM ^
September 12th, 2016 at 12:40 PM ^
How about Western Michigan at Illinois? That should be a good game even if it looks like Northwestern is a bit of a tire fire and the Bronco victory is a bit tarnished.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:28 AM ^
My sister picked a bad day to get married.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^
Better than any of the remaining weeks on the schedule with the exception of the Bye and Rutgers.
September 12th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^
September 12th, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
My fiance's friend's wedding is this weekend and I didn't realize what I would be missing until now. Selfish assholes.
September 12th, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^
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September 12th, 2016 at 10:30 AM ^
September 12th, 2016 at 10:33 AM ^
Virtually all of the predictive sites I've seen so far - at least the ones that have updated their rankings and stats - have Ohio State as what I would term a "weak favorite" in their game in Norman, with only Massey going with a more decisive 68% estimated probability of a win for the Buckeyes. I won't speak about high-level stats too much, but that Houston game makes Oklahoma's numbers look kind of ugly, as you might imagine.
September 12th, 2016 at 12:17 PM ^
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September 12th, 2016 at 10:47 AM ^
so I'm pulling for MSU to beat ND and then Wisconsin to beat MSU so we can lockdown gameday for our game with them. I'm taking some neutral observers who I must convert to our ideology and a top 10 matchup would certainly help
September 12th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^
Taking my brother (UW grad) to that game for his first experience in the Big House. Looking forward to it.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:56 AM ^
ESPN is wishing that Michigan would move this game to a night game in order to get gameday. Only other real candidate that weekend is Lousiville-Clemson, and ESPN doesn't have a primetime game on the schedule yet.
September 12th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
The dust collecting on top of the big house lights will remain.
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September 12th, 2016 at 1:22 PM ^
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September 12th, 2016 at 2:32 PM ^
It's just noon that doesn't work because then everyone leaves Gameday before they even get to the picks. Especially when they have it up by the League
September 12th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^
That made me laugh. I've got Wiscy tickets too, hoping it's our best home game this year!
September 12th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^
Alabama, FSU, and OSU all lose this weekend (unlikely I know), we'll be the #1 team in the country.
Which is awesome.
September 12th, 2016 at 11:09 AM ^
September 12th, 2016 at 11:22 AM ^
Louisville from 10 to 1? I'm not so sure about that. Top 4 yes, but not #1.
September 12th, 2016 at 11:11 AM ^
until we beat MSU and OSU? That would be a pretty wild weekend if it broke down that way. I'd rather move up to #1 on the strength of our wins, but #1 by any means would be sweet.
September 12th, 2016 at 11:21 AM ^
until we beat MSU and OSU, but the polls fucked that up so we might as well be #1.
September 12th, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^
already had a thread or two on this topic. it's Monday. what's the over/under on how many more threads we'll see this week about games that someone is excited about?
September 12th, 2016 at 12:07 PM ^
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September 12th, 2016 at 11:58 AM ^
Bottom line, we need to take care of our business. But there could be happiness if any of OSU, FSU and/or Alabama lose!
GO BLUE!!
September 12th, 2016 at 1:01 PM ^
how far Michigan could technically move up after next week. OSU, FSU, and Alabama all have tough games in which a couple of them could lose.
September 12th, 2016 at 1:18 PM ^
September 12th, 2016 at 1:29 PM ^
Ton of great games on the docket this week, and one way or another, there's going to be a LOT of flux in the polls by Sunday afternoon. Even got some pretty underrated games like Temple-PSU. If Franklin loses that one, he may be gone by the end of the year. And then NDSU-Iowa. I do think Iowa wins, but it'll be close. NDSU is going to come in and expect to win.
FSU - Louisville - I am taking FSU for now, but it wouldn't shock me to see Louisville eek that one out. Petrino is an offensive mastermind, and its at home, so it could happen.
Oregon - Nebraska - I think this is a bit of a turning point for Mike Riley, they'll win a close one, and sneak into the polls around 23-25. Granted, Oregon isn't what it was 2-3 years ago, but its still a talented team. And Riley's squad is long overdue.
Alabama - Ole Miss - if Ole Miss beats Saban three years in a row, the universe will collapse in on itself and everything as we know it will cease to exist. Seriously, that stuff just doesn't happen. I have to take Alabama because I just refuse to believe Saban lets Freeze gets the best of him again. But I'll be rooting like hell for Ole Miss. Because Alabama losing means we move up, assuming we take care of our business.
MSU - ND - ND is at home, more talented, and more tested. And MSU's offense is probably very limited right now. But MSU's defense will keep them in this game, and it wouldn't shock me in the slightest to see MSU weasel its way into winning this game. But I will take ND by a late field goal for now.
OSU - Oklahoma - I want to believe Oklahoma can do this. I really do. If they'd beaten Houston I'd say they win this game. But Houston made Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma in general look bad. Relative to expectations. And even though this game is in Norman, they're going up against a better coach and better talent than what they saw against Houston. I'm hoping Oklahoma will surprise me, but I don't think it happens. OSU by a TD.
USC - Stanford - Stanford will grind USC to a fine powder in this game. I'm thinking they lose by 3 TDs.
September 12th, 2016 at 2:22 PM ^
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September 12th, 2016 at 6:24 PM ^
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