Standings:
1.) Hoying 28-10 (1-8 upset)
1.) Schweinfurth 28-10 (0-9 upset)
3.) Draper 24-14 (1-8 upset)
4.) Seeberg 23-15 (2-7 upset)
Before this season started, everybody marked down November 1st as the must-see college football date of the year. Penn State / Ohio State, Georgia / Florida, Miami / SMU, Oklahoma / Tennessee, Texas Tech / Kansas State, heck even Arizona State and Iowa State were both ranked preseason. As it stands, we're a Texas overtime win against Mississippi State away from this weekend turning out to be a total dud. There should be some competitive matches (hopefully far from home), but you'll have to seek your titanic clashes elsewhere.
Vanderbilt Commodores @ Texas Longhorns
Draper: Do I keep picking against the Dores to my peril? Pimp Vandy is still rockin' after a big home win over the Tigers, but we all just stare thinking...'Can they really keep getting away with it?'. Honestly, they're sound on both sides of the ball and have solid QB play. Pavia is the wildcard in the Heisman race, but having to face this Longhorn defense in Austin could be a tall task. Yeah, the defense wasn't spectacular against CLANGA, but this squad is still very solid. With a possible new signal caller, how can we call for the rankings dog to win? Well, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice.....sigh...Hook them. Vandy: 13--UT: 17
Hoying: OK, Texas, you've had your two months to screw around after squandering your preseason #1 ranking. Are you going to do anything this year or not? And no, kicking off Oklahoma's free fall doesn't count. The Horns' defense has been about as good as advertised, as long as you're not playing DJ Lagway or...Mississippi State apparently, but Arch continues to refuse to get out of second gear. Sure, UT put up 31 in the 4th quarter and overtime last week but that doesn't become necessary unless your offense putters around for the previous three quarters. At least Arch cleared concussion protocol, sparing Texas's fortunes from resting with former Trojan QB Matthew Caldwell. Not USC Trojan, Troy Trojan (also Gardner-Webb) (also Jacksonville State). Meanwhile, Vanderbilt showed last week against Missouri that it can win with defense, a week after providing a proof of concept for moving the ball against LSU (A&M thanks you for your service). Texas may be desperate and dangerous as their national title hopes hang by a thread, but somehow Vandy comes into this one with the better team. At this rate, the Buckeyes are going to have to wait until Thanksgiving for the opportunity to put a quality win on their schedule, but the Dore slams on what seemed like a promising season for UT. Vandy: 23--UT: 20
Hoying: OK, Texas, you've had your two months to screw around after squandering your preseason #1 ranking. Are you going to do anything this year or not? And no, kicking off Oklahoma's free fall doesn't count. The Horns' defense has been about as good as advertised, as long as you're not playing DJ Lagway or...Mississippi State apparently, but Arch continues to refuse to get out of second gear. Sure, UT put up 31 in the 4th quarter and overtime last week but that doesn't become necessary unless your offense putters around for the previous three quarters. At least Arch cleared concussion protocol, sparing Texas's fortunes from resting with former Trojan QB Matthew Caldwell. Not USC Trojan, Troy Trojan (also Gardner-Webb) (also Jacksonville State). Meanwhile, Vanderbilt showed last week against Missouri that it can win with defense, a week after providing a proof of concept for moving the ball against LSU (A&M thanks you for your service). Texas may be desperate and dangerous as their national title hopes hang by a thread, but somehow Vandy comes into this one with the better team. At this rate, the Buckeyes are going to have to wait until Thanksgiving for the opportunity to put a quality win on their schedule, but the Dore slams on what seemed like a promising season for UT. Vandy: 23--UT: 20
Schweinfurth: I'm still not sure how good either of these teams are. I do think Texas has a better defense. Arch needs to do just enough to keep Texas in it. Vandy: 21: UT: 24
Seeberg: Well, Vandy has proven they can beat a decent team at home…but how about on the road? Texas is no Bama (post-week-1 at least), but they still boast an excellent defense. Another low-scoring slog like theCommodes Commodores managed to win against Mizzou is likely in order. Anyone have Pavia as having the better odds for a Heisman of these two QBs?? No, no you didn’t. Regardless, both QBs will have no shot after this week. Longhorns try to salvage the best win for our Buckeyes for another week. Vandy: 13—UT: 20
Seeberg: Well, Vandy has proven they can beat a decent team at home…but how about on the road? Texas is no Bama (post-week-1 at least), but they still boast an excellent defense. Another low-scoring slog like the
Southern California Trojans @ Nebraska Cornhuskers
Draper: Hard to care about this game. USC has some juice then poops it away every time. And Nebraska is...Nebraska. The offensive talent from LA is superior. If they can handle the travel, I think they'll pull it out. I'm done thinking Nebraska/Raiola is going to ever amount to anything. USC: 31--Neb: 20
Hoying: After Penn State went into a tailspin (oh-ee-yeah), there was a slim chance that Big Noon Saturday might move out to Lincoln this week for a Big Ten game with actual Playoff implications. Then the Huskers got blasted by Minnesota on Friday night and FOX decided to stick with the big names for Big Noon. This game still matters, as the Trojans are good enough to potentially make some noise in the Playoff (and are still technically in the Big Ten title hunt), and Nebraska has a shockingly easy Big Ten schedule that manages to avoid Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon. The thing is, the Huskers just aren't that impressive. After a gutwrenching home loss against Michigan, the Huskers have spent the last month struggling to put away Michigan State, Maryland, and Northwestern, as well as the aforementioned Gopher debacle. USC is up and down but their blemishes have been getting stacked by a very good Notre Dame team in South Bend and coming up just short against a very good Illinois team. The Trojans are on the road again here but nothing Nebraska is doing inspires any confidence. Keep riding that Cincinnati win (while it still matters, see below). USC: 38--Neb: 24
Hoying: After Penn State went into a tailspin (oh-ee-yeah), there was a slim chance that Big Noon Saturday might move out to Lincoln this week for a Big Ten game with actual Playoff implications. Then the Huskers got blasted by Minnesota on Friday night and FOX decided to stick with the big names for Big Noon. This game still matters, as the Trojans are good enough to potentially make some noise in the Playoff (and are still technically in the Big Ten title hunt), and Nebraska has a shockingly easy Big Ten schedule that manages to avoid Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon. The thing is, the Huskers just aren't that impressive. After a gutwrenching home loss against Michigan, the Huskers have spent the last month struggling to put away Michigan State, Maryland, and Northwestern, as well as the aforementioned Gopher debacle. USC is up and down but their blemishes have been getting stacked by a very good Notre Dame team in South Bend and coming up just short against a very good Illinois team. The Trojans are on the road again here but nothing Nebraska is doing inspires any confidence. Keep riding that Cincinnati win (while it still matters, see below). USC: 38--Neb: 24
Schweinfurth: Nebraska is up and down more than a toilet seat. I don't trust either defense, but I know I really don't trust Wannabe Mahomes. USC: 35--Neb: 17
Seeberg: Nebraska has 6 wins and is playing a ranked team. Their only shot was playing this at 9 AM Pacific time to mess with the Trojans’ body clocks. No such luck. Don’t overthink this one. USC: 27—Neb: 17
Seeberg: Nebraska has 6 wins and is playing a ranked team. Their only shot was playing this at 9 AM Pacific time to mess with the Trojans’ body clocks. No such luck. Don’t overthink this one. USC: 27—Neb: 17
Oklahoma Sooners @ Tennessee Volunteers
Draper: What do we do with the Sooners? I really did (still do?) believe in Venables' defense which is nasty (yet undisciplined), but Mateer doesn't seem to have 'it'. This stretch run by the Sooners is brutal on paper and could be the same in reality. Tennessee looked like a cool fun story maintaining success until...they crashed like always. They're still very talented and could sneak into the playoffs, but not even the talking heads at ESPN would have these teams advancing far (I kid, I kid.....the talking heads would DEFINITELY pick these SEC teams to lap the field). Defense tells me take the Sooners, but home field and quarterback play favor the Vols. Smokey it is. OU: 17--UT: 27
Hoying: So I think I have Tennessee pegged. They beat their bad opponents and lose to the good ones (time to kick the Heupel tires, Penn State). But I'm not sure which category Oklahoma falls into. The myth of the Brent Venables defense was badly exposed by Ole Miss last week while the Vols were cruising past SEC-basement Kentucky. September Heisman nominee John Mateer has steered the Sooners to two losses in their last three games, and I'm tired of picking them and coming up empty (except against Michigan, whoops). True, Tennessee hasn't been stopping anybody this year, but the way the offense has been cooking both through the air and on the ground, it hasn't mattered. Just stay away from overtime and half-closing pick sixes. It's beginning to look a lot like last year... OU: 24--UT: 27
Hoying: So I think I have Tennessee pegged. They beat their bad opponents and lose to the good ones (time to kick the Heupel tires, Penn State). But I'm not sure which category Oklahoma falls into. The myth of the Brent Venables defense was badly exposed by Ole Miss last week while the Vols were cruising past SEC-basement Kentucky. September Heisman nominee John Mateer has steered the Sooners to two losses in their last three games, and I'm tired of picking them and coming up empty (except against Michigan, whoops). True, Tennessee hasn't been stopping anybody this year, but the way the offense has been cooking both through the air and on the ground, it hasn't mattered. Just stay away from overtime and half-closing pick sixes. It's beginning to look a lot like last year... OU: 24--UT: 27
Schweinfurth: I haven't watched either team all year. Going with my gut though. OU: 17--UT: 14
Seeberg: Yet another installment of “are either of these SEC teams actually good?” OU has a really good defense, but they were exposed somewhat last week by the Rebels, and Aguilar is a more accurate passer than Chambliss. On the flip side, the Vols’ best win is…an OT loss- at home- to Georgia? #qualityloss strikes again. I still think OU is the better team here, but I’m still not convinced Mateer is back to his pre-injury form. When in doubt, go with the home team. OU: 24—UT: 31
Seeberg: Yet another installment of “are either of these SEC teams actually good?” OU has a really good defense, but they were exposed somewhat last week by the Rebels, and Aguilar is a more accurate passer than Chambliss. On the flip side, the Vols’ best win is…an OT loss- at home- to Georgia? #qualityloss strikes again. I still think OU is the better team here, but I’m still not convinced Mateer is back to his pre-injury form. When in doubt, go with the home team. OU: 24—UT: 31
Cincinnati Bearcats @ Utah Utes
Draper: The Big 12 is about to get really spicy. UC and BYU are undefeated in conference with TT and Houston sneaking around with 1 loss....and Utah is poised just behind them. Utah has too steep of a hill to climb after losses to both BYU and Texas Tech, but they will definitely make a difference in the stretch run. Rice Eccles is a tough place to play and we continue to talk about the travel woes of these super conferences. Oh yeah, UC's schedule has been hot garbage outside of the moderately nice win over Iowa State. Gameday will be there for some reason (thanks, Penn State), and the Utes will make it tough for the Bearcats. UC: 17--Utah: 34
Hoying: Get your afternoon nap in, Bearcat fans, because you'll be up late watching this one. You might even get to experience the Daylight Saving Time fall back in real time before the clock hits zero. Welcome to life in the new look Big 12. Unfortunately, you'll be without the services of your top offensive weapon, the Buckeyes' erstwhile perennial deep in the depth chart mainstay Evan Pryor. Still a shame that he (and the rest of our running back room other than Tre) transferred, I would have loved to see him really get a chance to produce in the scarlet and gray. Now we won't even get a chance to see him produce in Cinci's biggest road game of the year. Utah QB Devon Dampier is banged up as well, but that's practically a prerequisite to start for the Utes these past few years. The 'Cats won't be as easy to crush as Deion's dopes were last week, but they'll be too far out of their element to hold serve in the Big 12 race for another week. UC: 20--Utah: 27
Schweinfurth: Cincy isn't what it was under Fickell. Utah is that team that just hangs around the top 25 every year. I have more faith in the Utes. Cin: 10--Utah: 21
Seeberg: Ah yes, the other ranked Ohio team. I guess the Bearcats are hanging their claws on that win against then-ranked Iowa State, but this team lost to Nebraska at home. Hard to fathom that team winning a midnight ET game at Utah. Cin: 17–Utah: 30
Seeberg: Ah yes, the other ranked Ohio team. I guess the Bearcats are hanging their claws on that win against then-ranked Iowa State, but this team lost to Nebraska at home. Hard to fathom that team winning a midnight ET game at Utah. Cin: 17–Utah: 30
Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: I have a weird feeling in my gut about this game that we'd better not eff around. Penn State is a shell of their former selves, but sometimes a cornered animal only has one thing left to keep them going. Back up QB's are always a wild card, but I do take solace in their lack of WR talent....again. The running backs for the Lions are quality seniors, but I have a hard time seeing them destroy the Bullets. On the defensive side of the ball, they still have some dudes, but no DUDES. Knowles' scheme takes time (and talented players) to hit and PSU doesn't have it down yet....but....the well oiled machine in Columbus is slightly due for a little hiccup. I have full faith that the coaches will be locked in and have the team prepared, but if there is a little adversity, we need to close ranks and fight. Knowles will have some wrinkles planned and will want this more than anything else. I think the OSU coaches are approaching this correctly and will be business as usual. If (when?) adversity strikes, if the Buckeyes stay locked in to their gameplan, no worries. An early turnover by Sayin and a surprising deficit scare the folks in black....at a black out...at a school whose colors DON'T include black...at noon (I hate this crap so much), but the brotherhood takes hold and the forces of good triumph. PSU: 10--OSU: 31
Hoying: Backup QBs and backup coaches create unpredictability, which is not ideal when you're the team with the decided advantage on a normal day. That being said, we did get a chance to see backup Penn State QB Ethan Grunkemeyer a couple of weeks ago and the results weren't great. 15 of 28 for 93 yards to be exact, and now he gets to face the nation's top pass defense in a blackout at...noon? Look, I get that we're getting into ridiculously early sunset season, but this game is on the last day of DST and it's kicking off when the sun is still at its 30 degrees above the horizon Ohio fall zenith. Thankfully, the team isn't wearing those awful black unis, but that makes the blackout make even less sense, as the Buckeye faithful cannot be bothered to adjust their clothing to fit whatever bright idea the athletics marketing team has rolled out. Remember the helmet stripe game against Ohio? As for the game, the defensive game plan for Ohio State should be business as usual, only with the added bonus of facing Grunkadelic instead of Checkdown Charlie supreme Drew Allar. The more interesting matchup will be on the other side of the ball, where we can find out just how far the Lions have advanced into the Knowles defense installation process. Interestingly, PSU has much better success defending the pass than the run this season, which creates interesting incentives for a Buckeye offense coming off of its best day throwing the ball so far this year. I expect the restraining bolts freshly removed from the RPO game to remain safely in the trash as Sayin is once again given the keys to the Cadillac to take whatever the defense gives him on land or in the sky. Maybe he can have a Heisman moment or two to go along with his gaudy yet somehow also boring stats. The game everyone circled during the preseason passes without much consternation, and Buckeye Nation refocuses its attention on THEM once again. PSU: 3--OSU: 27
Hoying: Backup QBs and backup coaches create unpredictability, which is not ideal when you're the team with the decided advantage on a normal day. That being said, we did get a chance to see backup Penn State QB Ethan Grunkemeyer a couple of weeks ago and the results weren't great. 15 of 28 for 93 yards to be exact, and now he gets to face the nation's top pass defense in a blackout at...noon? Look, I get that we're getting into ridiculously early sunset season, but this game is on the last day of DST and it's kicking off when the sun is still at its 30 degrees above the horizon Ohio fall zenith. Thankfully, the team isn't wearing those awful black unis, but that makes the blackout make even less sense, as the Buckeye faithful cannot be bothered to adjust their clothing to fit whatever bright idea the athletics marketing team has rolled out. Remember the helmet stripe game against Ohio? As for the game, the defensive game plan for Ohio State should be business as usual, only with the added bonus of facing Grunkadelic instead of Checkdown Charlie supreme Drew Allar. The more interesting matchup will be on the other side of the ball, where we can find out just how far the Lions have advanced into the Knowles defense installation process. Interestingly, PSU has much better success defending the pass than the run this season, which creates interesting incentives for a Buckeye offense coming off of its best day throwing the ball so far this year. I expect the restraining bolts freshly removed from the RPO game to remain safely in the trash as Sayin is once again given the keys to the Cadillac to take whatever the defense gives him on land or in the sky. Maybe he can have a Heisman moment or two to go along with his gaudy yet somehow also boring stats. The game everyone circled during the preseason passes without much consternation, and Buckeye Nation refocuses its attention on THEM once again. PSU: 3--OSU: 27
Schweinfurth: Penn State doesn't have a QB. This dude is making his second start. It's also in The Shoe. I like the Bucks' chances here. Yes, the kitties have pride to play for, but this Buckeye team just seems to be different. Time for Arvell Reese to eat. We all know evil Ryan Day will show up at some point. Why not now? PSU: 7--OSU: 42
Seeberg: Okay folks I’ll be honest. This one scares me. The Lions are in free fall mode but it’s not like their talent vanished overnight. This game could be characterized into their season. If Allar were healthy I’d be downright terrified. With Franklin gone, they have a markedly better chance to win an actual game of consequence. Kaytron Allen was properly utilized against Iowa, getting a career high in carries to the tune of nearly 150 yards against an excellent defense. If they can run it and stay on schedule, things could get dicey. I’m banking on Patricia to dial up enough good stuff to get them into obvious passing situations. Don’t be surprised if it’s competitive for a half. Of course Day will want to obliterate Jim Knowles who stubbornly won’t simplify his defense and it has clearly hamstrung a very talented unit (albeit missing their best LB). Execute in the red zone, keep Sayin clean, and just get out of the ‘Shoe with the W. PSU: 13—OSU: 27
Seeberg: Okay folks I’ll be honest. This one scares me. The Lions are in free fall mode but it’s not like their talent vanished overnight. This game could be characterized into their season. If Allar were healthy I’d be downright terrified. With Franklin gone, they have a markedly better chance to win an actual game of consequence. Kaytron Allen was properly utilized against Iowa, getting a career high in carries to the tune of nearly 150 yards against an excellent defense. If they can run it and stay on schedule, things could get dicey. I’m banking on Patricia to dial up enough good stuff to get them into obvious passing situations. Don’t be surprised if it’s competitive for a half. Of course Day will want to obliterate Jim Knowles who stubbornly won’t simplify his defense and it has clearly hamstrung a very talented unit (albeit missing their best LB). Execute in the red zone, keep Sayin clean, and just get out of the ‘Shoe with the W. PSU: 13—OSU: 27
Upset Special
Draper: Florida over Georgia
Hoying: Virginia Tech over Louisville
Schweinfurth: Cal over Virginia
Seeberg: Kansas State over Texas Tech
Hoying: Virginia Tech over Louisville
Schweinfurth: Cal over Virginia
Seeberg: Kansas State over Texas Tech
