Standings:
1.) Hoying 15-5 (1-4 upset)
2.) Schweinfurth 14-6 (0-5 upset)
3.) Draper 13-7 (1-4 upset)
4.) Seeberg 12-8 (2-3 upset)
Today we take a tour across the college football landscape as pivotal matchups in each of the Power 4 conferences (OK, one maybe not so much) will cement a few more key pieces into the Playoff puzzle
Vanderbilt Commodores @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: An epic showdown in Tuscaloosa as David leaves the friendly confines of Nashville to confront Goliath. If we don't remember Diego Pavia leading the Commodores to a monumental upset last year, I'm SURE that ESPN won't let you forget it during gameday. What they'll also say is that Vandy might actually be...good? While this may be the case, the Dores are going up against a fully armed and operational battle station. Bama was shockingly mid last year (for them), but they've taken control ever since the loss to FSU. I don't see Vandy keeping this one close. The Tide will seek revenge and the always collect their debts. Ty Simpson and Co. win big. Vandy: 17--Bama: 40
Hoying: Congratulations to the Dores on their first 5-0 start since 2008, coming off of their first winning season since James Franklin (yes, that James Franklin) was calling the shots. Fun fact about Vanderbilt: after the whirlwind tours that Indiana and Iowa State took last season, Vandy is the only Power 4 team to never have a double-digit win season. And it’s not going to get any easier this year, with a brutal 6 road games on the schedule. Of course, Vanderbilt already handled two of those (VT and South Carolina) with aplomb, but the Tide are a bit of a step up in difficulty, and they are angry. I don’t care how passably good Vanderbilt was last season; losing to them as Alabama is like losing to Minnesota as Ohio State: it just isn’t done (spoilers). The thing is, this year’s Vanderbilt team is actually pretty good, with one of the more potent offenses in the country helmed by Heisman candidate (!) Diego Pavia. And unlike Bama’s woefully one-dimensional offense, the Dores can actually run the ball, too. That being said, the Tide couldn’t run a lick against Georgia and it didn’t slow them down any, as they lit the Dawgs up through the air and stymied Gunner Stockton all game in return. Vanderbilt is good enough to do this again, not from an upset alert perspective but strength-on-strength. I just think the talent in the Alabama passing game will be a bit too much for Vandy to overcome. You can still take one more loss and get to 10 wins, Dores. Vandy: 20--Bama: 27
Schweinfurth: Vandy is a great story to this point and it would be funny to see Diego Pavia catch lightning in a bottle two years in a row. I don't see that happening. The Tide are out for revenge. Vandy: 28--Bama: 38
Seeberg: In 2025 this is a competitive game. Insanity. Vandy may have caught a down Tide squad last year, but there’s no surprises this time around. Bama isn’t letting Diego continue to yap nonsense. Roll Tide. Vandy: 20–Bama: 34
Draper: An epic showdown in Tuscaloosa as David leaves the friendly confines of Nashville to confront Goliath. If we don't remember Diego Pavia leading the Commodores to a monumental upset last year, I'm SURE that ESPN won't let you forget it during gameday. What they'll also say is that Vandy might actually be...good? While this may be the case, the Dores are going up against a fully armed and operational battle station. Bama was shockingly mid last year (for them), but they've taken control ever since the loss to FSU. I don't see Vandy keeping this one close. The Tide will seek revenge and the always collect their debts. Ty Simpson and Co. win big. Vandy: 17--Bama: 40
Hoying: Congratulations to the Dores on their first 5-0 start since 2008, coming off of their first winning season since James Franklin (yes, that James Franklin) was calling the shots. Fun fact about Vanderbilt: after the whirlwind tours that Indiana and Iowa State took last season, Vandy is the only Power 4 team to never have a double-digit win season. And it’s not going to get any easier this year, with a brutal 6 road games on the schedule. Of course, Vanderbilt already handled two of those (VT and South Carolina) with aplomb, but the Tide are a bit of a step up in difficulty, and they are angry. I don’t care how passably good Vanderbilt was last season; losing to them as Alabama is like losing to Minnesota as Ohio State: it just isn’t done (spoilers). The thing is, this year’s Vanderbilt team is actually pretty good, with one of the more potent offenses in the country helmed by Heisman candidate (!) Diego Pavia. And unlike Bama’s woefully one-dimensional offense, the Dores can actually run the ball, too. That being said, the Tide couldn’t run a lick against Georgia and it didn’t slow them down any, as they lit the Dawgs up through the air and stymied Gunner Stockton all game in return. Vanderbilt is good enough to do this again, not from an upset alert perspective but strength-on-strength. I just think the talent in the Alabama passing game will be a bit too much for Vandy to overcome. You can still take one more loss and get to 10 wins, Dores. Vandy: 20--Bama: 27
Schweinfurth: Vandy is a great story to this point and it would be funny to see Diego Pavia catch lightning in a bottle two years in a row. I don't see that happening. The Tide are out for revenge. Vandy: 28--Bama: 38
Seeberg: In 2025 this is a competitive game. Insanity. Vandy may have caught a down Tide squad last year, but there’s no surprises this time around. Bama isn’t letting Diego continue to yap nonsense. Roll Tide. Vandy: 20–Bama: 34
Texas Tech Red Raiders @ Houston Cougars
Draper: Houston is certainly sneaking around the chicken coop with that Holgo offense, but the schedule leaves much to the imagination. The Red Raiders have the win over Utah which is solid as a road win (although the score is a bit more lopsided than what happened. Regardless, I have more faith in a highly paid and talented roster from Lubbock over the recent Big12 additions. Tech defense shined against Utah in a tough road environment. Expect more of the same here. TT: 30--UH: 17
Hoying: Remember what I said a couple weeks ago about fast starts for the Red Raiders? Yeah, they only went up 10-0 on Utah to start that game but they still never trailed. In fact, TTU is one of three teams this season that hasn’t trailed at all (stupid failed 4th-and-1 against Washington). Houston, meanwhile, is putting up a measly 31 points per game against world-beaters like Stephen F. Austin, Rice, and Oregon State. Yeah, the Cougs have been playing decent defense against those teams but so could you and I. Stick with the hot hand. TTU: 34—Hou: 17
Schweinfurth: I'll go back to what I said last week. Texas Tech's D is legit. That should be enough to slow the Cougs down. TT: 35--UH: 21
Seeberg: I expect the Cougar crowd to be up for this one and that should keep things competitive for a half or so, but TTU’s suddenly pricy roster should be stocked enough to pull away from a pesky Houston team. This isn’t basketball after all. TT: 38—UH: 17
Draper: Houston is certainly sneaking around the chicken coop with that Holgo offense, but the schedule leaves much to the imagination. The Red Raiders have the win over Utah which is solid as a road win (although the score is a bit more lopsided than what happened. Regardless, I have more faith in a highly paid and talented roster from Lubbock over the recent Big12 additions. Tech defense shined against Utah in a tough road environment. Expect more of the same here. TT: 30--UH: 17
Hoying: Remember what I said a couple weeks ago about fast starts for the Red Raiders? Yeah, they only went up 10-0 on Utah to start that game but they still never trailed. In fact, TTU is one of three teams this season that hasn’t trailed at all (stupid failed 4th-and-1 against Washington). Houston, meanwhile, is putting up a measly 31 points per game against world-beaters like Stephen F. Austin, Rice, and Oregon State. Yeah, the Cougs have been playing decent defense against those teams but so could you and I. Stick with the hot hand. TTU: 34—Hou: 17
Schweinfurth: I'll go back to what I said last week. Texas Tech's D is legit. That should be enough to slow the Cougs down. TT: 35--UH: 21
Seeberg: I expect the Cougar crowd to be up for this one and that should keep things competitive for a half or so, but TTU’s suddenly pricy roster should be stocked enough to pull away from a pesky Houston team. This isn’t basketball after all. TT: 38—UH: 17
Miami Hurricanes @ Florida State Seminoles
Draper: Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. The Noles look to rebound after a clunker in Charlottesville against a decent to good UVA team. This game provides the path to redemption. Miami has been fantastic all year, but this FSU team will be the first offense it's faced (yes, yes, Notre Dame is looking good, but that was a freshman QB's first start). Castellanos should be able to get loose and make the ball hawking Canes defense feel some pain after seeing what Carr did on the ground. Honestly, this FSU team appears to be very Jekyll and Hyde. Here's hoping we get the good one here. Let's not forget this is the Canes first game outside of Hard Rock this season. Beck shouldn't be bothered by the road noise, but it will be difficult for the rest of the team. You know I'm not picking them. FMFFM. UM: 27--FSU:34
Hoying: Well, this was ALMOST as exciting as the heavyweight battles in the 80’s and 90’s (nice faceplant, FSU), but it still has serious implications for the ACC and Playoff races. Tommy Castellanos has been a nice novelty act for the Noles (Bama had NO idea what to do with him), but unfortunately he’s not facing the 2024 Miami defense. This year’s team has brought the swagger back to south Florida, and while no one will be mistaking them for the Silver Bullets anytime soon, they’re playing well enough to challenge for the national title when paired with the dangerous Miami offense. Carson Beck isn’t quite the gunslinger that Cam Ward was, but again, the pieces are all in place to make a deep push in the Playoff. This might be the last major obstacle that the Canes face until the ACC Championship, and if Florida State loses here to start 0-2 in conference, you can kiss any hope of a rematch goodbye. The wheels aren’t falling off in Tallahassee, but a return to the Playoff might need to wait another year. UM: 31—FSU: 26
Schweinfurth: Sorry Chief, Miami is hot right now. I'm just not sure if the Noles can hang. UM: 42--FSU: 38
Seeberg: The sunshine state is resurgent! (Gators notwithstanding). FSU’s win looks better over Bama each week, regardless of how ESECPN tries to spin it. The U, meanwhile, look like the closest thing to a challenger that Oregon and OSU have in the country. Beck is a couple notches above serviceable again, and the Hurricanes D-line sets the table for their back 7. Neither team has elite playmakers on offense, so I’m going with the better defense in this game. Sorry Chief. UM: 27— FSU: 20
Draper: Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. The Noles look to rebound after a clunker in Charlottesville against a decent to good UVA team. This game provides the path to redemption. Miami has been fantastic all year, but this FSU team will be the first offense it's faced (yes, yes, Notre Dame is looking good, but that was a freshman QB's first start). Castellanos should be able to get loose and make the ball hawking Canes defense feel some pain after seeing what Carr did on the ground. Honestly, this FSU team appears to be very Jekyll and Hyde. Here's hoping we get the good one here. Let's not forget this is the Canes first game outside of Hard Rock this season. Beck shouldn't be bothered by the road noise, but it will be difficult for the rest of the team. You know I'm not picking them. FMFFM. UM: 27--FSU:34
Hoying: Well, this was ALMOST as exciting as the heavyweight battles in the 80’s and 90’s (nice faceplant, FSU), but it still has serious implications for the ACC and Playoff races. Tommy Castellanos has been a nice novelty act for the Noles (Bama had NO idea what to do with him), but unfortunately he’s not facing the 2024 Miami defense. This year’s team has brought the swagger back to south Florida, and while no one will be mistaking them for the Silver Bullets anytime soon, they’re playing well enough to challenge for the national title when paired with the dangerous Miami offense. Carson Beck isn’t quite the gunslinger that Cam Ward was, but again, the pieces are all in place to make a deep push in the Playoff. This might be the last major obstacle that the Canes face until the ACC Championship, and if Florida State loses here to start 0-2 in conference, you can kiss any hope of a rematch goodbye. The wheels aren’t falling off in Tallahassee, but a return to the Playoff might need to wait another year. UM: 31—FSU: 26
Schweinfurth: Sorry Chief, Miami is hot right now. I'm just not sure if the Noles can hang. UM: 42--FSU: 38
Seeberg: The sunshine state is resurgent! (Gators notwithstanding). FSU’s win looks better over Bama each week, regardless of how ESECPN tries to spin it. The U, meanwhile, look like the closest thing to a challenger that Oregon and OSU have in the country. Beck is a couple notches above serviceable again, and the Hurricanes D-line sets the table for their back 7. Neither team has elite playmakers on offense, so I’m going with the better defense in this game. Sorry Chief. UM: 27— FSU: 20
Minnesota Golden Gophers @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: There's always a lot of energy on the Gopher sideline with Coach Fleck, but I don't think his offense is going to have much pep in their step going up against the Bullets at night in the Shoe. The Gophers best win is...checks notes... over Rutgers at home....by 3. This could get ugly quick. Minnesota isn't Grambling, but they're a far cry from Texas (or even Washington). I think the Ohio game is a nice comp, but I think Day will have the Buckeyes playing a little more aggressively on offense. Sayin has gone on the road and brought home a dub so it's time to try different techniques. While I'd love a game that is over by halftime (I miss last year's Rose Bowl), the Buckeyes seem to be playing with their food while rope-a-doping the competition. This is the game where we work some downfield shots and show that Tate is a great receiver as well. Another ho-hum victory on Homecoming. UM: 10 (booooooo double digits)--OSU: 48
Hoying: What am I supposed to say at this point? The Buckeye defense looks incredible again, and they’re about to lay the hammer against another hopelessly outmatched opponent. I suppose weeks like this are when Day gets to tinker and plant some seeds that will hopefully bear fruit later this season while he otherwise puts the other team to sleep with 50 offensive plays or so. What I would like to see is whether this team can get a yard when they absolutely need it. Short yardage situations were the Buckeyes’ Achilles heel from 2021-23 (remember that awful Egbuka end around that just about lost the Notre Dame game?) but Chip Kelly seemed to have turned a corner last season. Then CJ Donaldson got stonewalled on 4th and 1 from the Washington 5 and the Buckeyes ended up trailing for the first time all season. I’m not saying we have to prove what a tough hard-nosed running team we are (throwing the ball to CJ worked just fine at the end of the game), but the red zone failures are going to cost us at some point if we find ourselves in a game like last year’s Cotton Bowl (or, you know, the other one). It’s not going to make a difference against Minnesota, but let’s see some progress in that department. Then again, if we don’t face a third and short all day, that’s fine too. OSU: 45—Minn: 3
Schweinfurth: The Silver Bullets look legit. Minnesota's QB already has issues moving the ball and now they have to see this monster. It's Homecoming, so it makes sense we get a blowout. OSU: 48--Minn: 6
Seeberg: Ah yes, the night game we all wanted(?) The Gophers come calling to a subdued OSU offense. Get used to it people, Day has his formula for these way-too-long-but-rich-people-needed-even-more-money college football seasons. Slow the pace, limit the reps to keep everyone healthy, then let it rip come December. Worked last year, who’s to argue? I do wish some young guys on both sides of the ball could get a few extra reps, but I get not messing with success. Might not be a flashy “bottom line” score, but Ws are always welcome. Fleck looked to have his best team up there since he took over…until they got beat by a true freshman QB leading ACC power Cal (weird to even type that). Keep everyone healthy, keep the D rolling, and onto the next. Minn: 10—OSU: 38
Hoying: What am I supposed to say at this point? The Buckeye defense looks incredible again, and they’re about to lay the hammer against another hopelessly outmatched opponent. I suppose weeks like this are when Day gets to tinker and plant some seeds that will hopefully bear fruit later this season while he otherwise puts the other team to sleep with 50 offensive plays or so. What I would like to see is whether this team can get a yard when they absolutely need it. Short yardage situations were the Buckeyes’ Achilles heel from 2021-23 (remember that awful Egbuka end around that just about lost the Notre Dame game?) but Chip Kelly seemed to have turned a corner last season. Then CJ Donaldson got stonewalled on 4th and 1 from the Washington 5 and the Buckeyes ended up trailing for the first time all season. I’m not saying we have to prove what a tough hard-nosed running team we are (throwing the ball to CJ worked just fine at the end of the game), but the red zone failures are going to cost us at some point if we find ourselves in a game like last year’s Cotton Bowl (or, you know, the other one). It’s not going to make a difference against Minnesota, but let’s see some progress in that department. Then again, if we don’t face a third and short all day, that’s fine too. OSU: 45—Minn: 3
Schweinfurth: The Silver Bullets look legit. Minnesota's QB already has issues moving the ball and now they have to see this monster. It's Homecoming, so it makes sense we get a blowout. OSU: 48--Minn: 6
Seeberg: Ah yes, the night game we all wanted(?) The Gophers come calling to a subdued OSU offense. Get used to it people, Day has his formula for these way-too-long-but-rich-people-needed-even-more-money college football seasons. Slow the pace, limit the reps to keep everyone healthy, then let it rip come December. Worked last year, who’s to argue? I do wish some young guys on both sides of the ball could get a few extra reps, but I get not messing with success. Might not be a flashy “bottom line” score, but Ws are always welcome. Fleck looked to have his best team up there since he took over…until they got beat by a true freshman QB leading ACC power Cal (weird to even type that). Keep everyone healthy, keep the D rolling, and onto the next. Minn: 10—OSU: 38
Upset Special
Draper: Virginia over Louisville
Hoying: Mississippi State over Texas A&M
Schweinfurth: Kentucky over Georgia
Seeberg: North Carolina over Clemson
Hoying: Mississippi State over Texas A&M
Schweinfurth: Kentucky over Georgia
Seeberg: North Carolina over Clemson
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