Official College Football Week 9 Thread

[cartman]

This week's games kick off tonight with a Sun Belt matchup between Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette. Here are the games between two Top 25 teams (based on the BCS rankings) this weekend:

Mississippi State at Alabama
Florida vs. Georgia (World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville)
Texas Tech at Kansas State
Notre Dame at Oklahoma

[Butter]

Bill Snyder working the magic at K-State again. It's pretty impressive.

Anxious to finally see Notre Dame lose. Their run has been all quaint and stuff, but they're WAY overrated right now.

[Matthean]

Michigan at Nebraska for what could be the chance to play Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. If Michigan wins, they could still lose to OSU and get in. I've watched enough MSU football that if Iowa has a worse QB, I like Michigan's odds of beating them.

[General Mike]

Tuesday Night Sun Belt action on ESPN2 as ULaLa hosts Arkansas State Red Wolves.

Could be interesting as both head coaches could be in line for bigger things in the near future.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

Bill Snyder working the magic at K-State again. It's pretty impressive.

Anxious to finally see Notre Dame lose. Their run has been all quaint and stuff, but they're WAY overrated right now.

Agreed on all points.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

Bill Snyder working the magic at K-State again. It's pretty impressive.

I can't think of a better job coaching in the last 30 years than Bill Snyder.

SI

[Chief Rum]

UCLA travels to ASU in a Pac12 matchup of 5-2 teams. This is a huge game for new coaches in both programs.

UCLA has underwhelmed since Nebraska and need a quality road win to show they're aren't the same ole Bruins. ASU needs to show they're not as bad as Oregon made them look last week.

Adding to the spice of it is that UCLA's star freshman QB Brett Hundley is from the Phoenix area, and UCLA is actively recruiting ASU's backyard and bringing out players.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I can't think of a better job coaching in the last 30 years than Bill Snyder.

SI

Agreed. Just amazing.

[MacroGuru]

BYU @ GT - Let's see if the Cougars can right the ship. We had ND on the ropes and then we couldn't stop the run in the 2nd half.....oh and our QB missed a wide open receiver by at least 10 yards, not down the field...but to his right and behind him.....

[Butter]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I can't think of a better job coaching in the last 30 years than Bill Snyder.

SI

I don't know if people realized just how good it was until he left for a few years. Now, it's like he never left... except now they can win the big games occasionally. I remember in the '90's, they could never seem to beat Nebraska.

[I. J. Reilly]

Looks like Mannion will be back under center for Oregon State this week at UW. Two weeks removed from knee surgery and he’s back; modern medical science never ceases to amaze.

As for the game, it feels like OSU just has to worry about OSU. If they just execute their base stuff it should be enough for a win. That’s kind of been the formula all year; don’t make any mistakes and let Wheaton and Cooks make the big play when it’s there. What’s your take Lathum and Dawgfan?

[Chief Rum]

Not Lathum or dawgfan, but my opinion... I think it's going to be a tough battle, and who wants it more will get it. UDub is tough at home.

[Cap Ologist]

Glad to see A&M has an 'easy' game this week, if there is such a thing in the SEC. Hoping for wins against Auburn, Miss St and Mizzou to finish the year, don't want to get too greedy and hope for a win against Bama.

[panerd]

Mizzou takes on Kentucky for the battle of the worst of the SEC.

Hate to say it because I will always be a big time homer and hoped they could compete but not liking this move at all from the Big 12. I find myself watching KSU and OU games when Mizzou isn't on. SEC football just isn't that interesting. It's kind of like the AFC and NFC in the 90's or the AL and NL in baseball. The NFC and AL may have had better quality but I just couldn't ever get into the stlye of play.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by I. J. Reilly

Looks like Mannion will be back under center for Oregon State this week at UW. Two weeks removed from knee surgery and he’s back; modern medical science never ceases to amaze.

As for the game, it feels like OSU just has to worry about OSU. If they just execute their base stuff it should be enough for a win. That’s kind of been the formula all year; don’t make any mistakes and let Wheaton and Cooks make the big play when it’s there. What’s your take Lathum and Dawgfan?

Man, I just don't know anymore. This feels like a really important game for this team and their psyche. There seems to be cracks developing in the relationship between Keith Price and Sark, and obviously Sark needs to fix that or risk losing the team and seeing his seat get scalding hot heading into next year.

On paper, I think this ought to be a close game. This is probably a better match-up for UW's defense than Arizona was. The Beaver run game appears to be pretty bad - just 108 ypg and 3.1 ypc, and it doesn't look like it's weighed down too much by sacks.

UW has really struggled against the run, with the exception of the Stanford game where they could afford to totally sell-out to stop the run. They can't do that vs. Oregon State. If they can get away with not playing their jumbo defense while keeping Woods and Agnew from hurting them, they have a chance. Trufant is playing well enough that he should be able to limit either Wheaton or Cooks; the question will be the other CB, Marcus Peters. As well, can the UW defense get any pressure on Mannion. If the Huskies can get away with keeping the Beaver run game in check while having rush end Josh Shirley on the field, they can get some heat on Mannion.

Offensively, the Huskies are a mess. Their pass-blocking is terrible, which is bad news with Crichton coming to town. Price has happy feet and a real lack of confidence. What was really frustrating against Arizona was Sark's insistence on passing so much early in the game. Our running game actually isn't that bad, and Arizona was worse against the run than the pass. If Sark commits to the run game and continues to dial up a lot of horizontal pass plays and quick-hitters to protect Price from getting sacked, they might find some success.

The wildcard is the team psyche. They definitely play better at home, but they've also had a problem with slow starts all season. After the debacle last weekend, I wonder if this team will be able to circle the wagons and come out fired-up for themselves and their coach looking to make a statement, or if their confidence is so fragile that they will fold at the first sign of adversity and get blown out again.

[Dr. Sak]

Ohio State at Penn State has the chance to be a good game. The Buckeyes have looked vulnerable on defense and Penn State seems to be getting better every week.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

Ohio State at Penn State has the chance to be a good game. The Buckeyes have looked vulnerable on defense and Penn State seems to be getting better every week.

Even if the Big Ten is down this year, I would be stunned if OSU went through without a defeat. They are like the Irish in how they just feel like they have a loss coming.

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

Bill Snyder working the magic at K-State again. It's pretty impressive.

Anxious to finally see Notre Dame lose. Their run has been all quaint and stuff, but they're WAY overrated right now.

I agree as well.

Iowa gets Northwestern. This should be as exciting as watching grass grow. Or maybe paint dry.
But I will be watching and hoping our QB gets his act together.

Go Hawks!

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

Bill Snyder working the magic at K-State again. It's pretty impressive.

Anxious to finally see Notre Dame lose. Their run has been all quaint and stuff, but they're WAY overrated right now.

Talked about too much by ESPN etc, sure, but I don't think ND is that overrated right now. They're coming off two narrow home wins and they're 10 point underdogs this week - that seems about right. Maybe they should be around 10, not 5 in the polls, but its CFB - you can't throw the 1-loss teams ahead of them, and none of the other undefeated ones deserve a top 5 spot yet either. Defensively, the front 7 is one of the tops in the country, and while the secondary remains untested it hasn't looked consistently bad yet. (i.e. they'll have one or two big breakdowns a game letting receivers get wide open deep, but show an ability to cover people/make plays most of the time, unlike the Patriots or a Texas Tech.) Offensively, while Golson is no Collin Klein, they have shown a pretty good power running game when they commit to it, although that seems to happen all too infrequently. Overall, follow the K-State gameplan (power running, keep OU off the field, hope OU doesn't hit any home run plays or jump out to an early lead, hopefully win the turnover battle) and I think ND has a decent chance, but I can also see OU jumping out to an early lead at home and running away with it.

Speaking of the other undefeated teams, I liked this line about Mississippi State

Originally Posted by Football Outsiders

16. Mississippi State (7-0). Bulldogs have yet to beat another team with a winning record, but back-to-back-to-back dates with Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU over the next three weeks are a ... uh, golden opportunity?

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Matthean

Even if the Big Ten is down this year, I would be stunned if OSU went through without a defeat. They are like the Irish in how they just feel like they have a loss coming.

I have the same feeling about PSU. They are not going to run the conference table.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

I have the same feeling about PSU. They are not going to run the conference table.

I don't see them surviving OSU, @Nebraska, and Wisconsin. There's definitely a loss there as well. The toughest Big Ten team they have faced is Northwestern.

[Matthean]

OSU and Oregon to play a each other 2020-2021.

Oregon Ducks, Ohio State Buckeyes to play home-and-home series in 2020-21 - ESPN

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Matthean

OSU and Oregon to play a each other 2020-2021.

Oregon Ducks, Ohio State Buckeyes to play home-and-home series in 2020-21 - ESPN

2020-21? Sheesh... what are the chances either Kelly or Meyer will still be there at that point. Kelly will be in the NFL, and Meyer will probably work himself to death before then.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

2020-21? Sheesh... what are the chances either Kelly or Meyer will still be there at that point. Kelly will be in the NFL, and Meyer will probably work himself to death before then.

I think it's low that either are there.

[Butter]

Ohio St. and Texas announced a similar series for 2022 and 2023 a few weeks ago. I thought the same thing then.

[Lathum]

amazing how some guys really just don't get it

Tyrann Mathieu, former LSU Tigers cornerback, arrested on drug charges -- report - ESPN

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by Lathum

amazing how some guys really just don't get it

Tyrann Mathieu, former LSU Tigers cornerback, arrested on drug charges -- report - ESPN

After Mathieu, 20, gave the police his consent to search the apartment...

WHAT? Why isn't someone teaching these kids to just say no?

[cschex]

The best part is that the police were alerted because Jordan Jefferson, beloved LSU alumnus, was trying to force his way into the apartment complex security gate.

At least no current players were involved. See ya HB

[Tigercat]

Two most dominant LSU players I have ever seen: Badger and Cecil Collins. Neither could get their head on straight to stay on the college field. Such a shame. Unlike Collins, I think Mathieu has what it takes to get his life in order eventually to make an impact in the NFL.

[Matthean]

He's costing himself millions due to what his stock is going to be like when he goes pro.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Proof once again that, yes, that shit will make you stupid.

[Easy Mac]

If Mizzou loses this game, technically Mizzou B-ball fan will be right.

2012 College Football Offseason - Only two more weeks left of this thread! - Page 14 - Front Office Football Central

[Ben E Lou]

This dude nailed GA-FL.

This Game Has National Championship Implications? | Run Lindsay Run

This Game Has National Championship Implications?
Posted on October 26, 2012 by Spence

Georgia sits at 6-1, will control its own destiny in winning the SEC, and will undoubtedly have a chance to play for a national title if it emerges from the SEC the champion.

Why do those facts not matter to me in the slightest?

Here is what I know: I miss my team. The team from the early 2000s that could whip LSU’s ass or beat a meaningful Auburn or Tennessee team. The one that I saw in 2002 that I knew could have won the national championship if the chips had fallen differently. DJ’s 2005 team. Hell, even the 2007 team from the end of the season.

All I want to see this weekend is my team show up. The debacles and bed-wettings that have gone on for the past four years have drained Dawg fans of hope, but it’s something more than that. While we can write up on paper why UGA can win on Saturday, nobody thinks it can happen. If someone offered me 100 to 1 odds for a UGA victory but said I had to empty my life-savings to make the bet, I would never take it.

Florida’s offense is not so good that they should score much more than 20 points. Georgia’s defense should be good enough to limit them to less. Georgia’s offense is not so bad that it should score less than 20 points. It should be good enough to score more than 25 points against any defense.

But here is where our old friends special teams, turnovers, and defensive short fields sit in the back of the room, smoking cheap cigars, farting without regard for the women-folk, smiling at you. They’re here. We can’t ignore them. We know they’re going to cause trouble sooner or later. What’s so goddamn hard as a modern-day Georgia fan, and as someone who knows what this stupid game does to our team, is that there is no way we play a clean enough game to avoid our old friends crashing the party.

But it’s even more than that. We just hope to see a team that’s testicles have descended. And we’re constantly disappointed.

Here’s all I want – I want to not give up a kickoff return past midfield. I want to return a punt. I want to be able to get 3 yards on a 3rd and 2. I want Shawn Williams to not be declared an honorary member of the Gators after the game for his shit-talking and antics. I want to see Aaron Murray remember he’s had sex with a girl before. I just want our team to show up and play like I know they can. For once (no, Vandy does not count).

If Florida has in one season gone from a 6-5 team to a National Championship contender, so be it. But I don’t buy it. Maybe they’re more talented than us this year (because we lost Ben Jones, Bean, Boykin, and Boling? Ever notice how many B’s there are in there?) but I don’t buy it. Maybe Muschamp is a really great coach, but I don’t buy it.

I don’t care about playing in the SEC championship game. I’m not going to pretend we will beat Bama or that we’ll play for the title if we win in Jacksonville. Just please don’t let Florida have reclaimed their spot on the perch, and please don’t prove to me that we are the world’s most underachieving “elite” program in history. For some reason I feel like I, and every Georgia fan out there, are just waiting to see that happen.

Georgia needs to play not like an SEC championship or national title is on the line. What’s on the line is our manhood, plain and simple. Nothing else matters.

Shawn Williams is a loud-mouth that needs to learn when to shut up and when to speak his mind. But everything he said is right. We are soft, lazy, and mentally unfocused. I’m watching this game to find out if some other team will finally take the field and reclaim what we’ve lost. The collective sigh of disappointment after the South Carolina game was because it was a lost chance. This is our last chance.

Go Dawgs. Please.

[Matthean]

I don't see Georgia winning this since it is on the road and they are the anti-Florida in terms of toughness. We'll find out about Florida once they play @FSU and possibly 'Bama in the SEC title game.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by tarcone

I agree as well.

Iowa gets Northwestern. This should be as exciting as watching grass grow. Or maybe paint dry.
But I will be watching and hoping our QB gets his act together.

Go Hawks!

May be boring, but I'd still rather watch it instead of Ohio State/Penn State, since it might be meaningful for the Big Ten Championship Game.

[Wolfpack]

It's that time again. Time for portions of the State marching band to hitch a ride to Chapel Hill and utterly ruin an evening of studying by playing State songs over and over again. Time to see just how balanced the crowd at Kenan Stadium will be between red and light blue (and gleaming aluminum). Time to hoist signs in Kenan trolling the "flagship" university for all their student-athletes' achievements (up to and including plagiarizing the work of 11-year-olds by a member of this year's football team). Time for Tom O'Brien to continue to hang his coaching reputation hat on the one game that he's always won.

It's time for...

GO TO HELL, CAROLINA! GO STATE!

[Leroy Veritas]

Who told Missouri it was okay to put on jerseys that look like Wyoming's slow, unadoptable cousin?

[mauchow]

Feel free to lose to Kansas, Texas. And then feel free to blame it on the Longhorn Network.

[mauchow]

Oh, shit, Lattimore just took a shot to the knee. He was already getting brought down by a linebacker then the DB comes in and takes his knees out. Jesus. I hate to see that. C'mon, man..

[JonInMiddleGA]

Lattimore carted off, looks very bad for the knee.

But I don't think I've ever seen a reaction quite like the one this got. Both benches emptied & players from both teams surrounding the cart to pay their respect, wish him well, etc.

One of the most special running backs I've watched at that level in quite a while, I've got nothing but good wishes & prayers for the kid.

[mauchow]

Unbelievable bad luck to be in the absolute wrong spot at wrong time, twice..

[miami_fan]

Man oh man! This sickness in the pit of my stomach is reminiscent of the McGahee injury.

[MizzouCowboy]

Yep, that is right up their with McGahee and Theismann.

And the video is already on deadspin.

[Matthean]

It is on ESPN as well. They seemed to get good at not showing the gruesome stuff, but I watched the clip and went, "I hope what I was wasn't what I think I saw."

[cuervo72]

I think I'd like these UNC helmets better with their usual light blue unis.

I don't think I want to see the Lattimore clip.

[Crapshoot]

This is why the NCAA is a fucking cartel - kid gets hurt, his career and paycheck may be over. I hope he's ok.

[Leroy Veritas]

Lattimore is starting to follow the career path of Marcus Dupree. That wasn't pretty at all. Hope the kid gets healthy enough to get a few NFL paychecks to help with the medical issues down the line.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

This is why the NCAA is a fucking cartel - kid gets hurt, his career and paycheck may be over. I hope he's ok.

You mean NFL paycheck. Yes, he might miss out of NFL sized paychecks but nothing really prevents him from getting a regular job.

[Matthean]

Brown likely saved himself from being asked to step down at the end of the year. He clearly needs to retire at this point but at least there will be less heat this week.

[cartman]

Texas doesn't seem to like the 11am kickoffs. The other one they had this season was the OU game, and they didn't really start to do anything until the 4th quarter of this game.