College Football pick'em 2017- Gameplay and scoring thread

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

Week One
August 26
Oregon State @ Colorado State
Ohio State @ Indiana (This is hard coming from an Indiana alumnus)

September 1

Colorado State @ Colorado
Washington @ Rutgers (by at least 3 scores)

September 2

Wyoming @ Iowa
Maryland @ Texas
California @ North Carolina
North Carolina State @ South Carolina (in Charlotte)
Michigan @ Florida (in Arlington, Texas)
Nevada @ Northwestern
Florida State @ Alabama (in Atlanta)
BYU @ LSU (in Houston)

September 3

Texas A&M @ UCLA
West Virginia @ Virginia Tech (in Landover, Maryland)

September 4

Tennessee @ Georgia Tech

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

September 28
Texas

September 29
Miami(FL)
Nebraska
Wazzou

September 30

Penn State
Oklahoma State
California
Stanford
Iowa
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Florida
Houston
NC State
Georgia
Florida State
Kentucky
Notre Dame
Mississippi State
Cincinnati
Memphis
Texas A&M
Clemson
Alabama
San Diego State
UCLA

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

The disrespect toward beautiful, flawless Mike Leach is overwhelming in these predictions.

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

The disrespect toward beautiful, flawless Mike Leach is overwhelming in these predictions.

I detest WSU (bleed Husky purple here, proud alum) but I'll be damned if Leach isn't the most interest man in CFB.

USC is on serious upset alert. A lot of good teams have been shanked in a late, cold game in Pullman, including the Dawgs

SC has played bad against some mediocre teams. Plus, Leach is nearly always good for one major upset in a season. Although that sometimes means his team loses to an FCS team.

Not a Wazzu alum or anything, I'm just a yuge fan of Leach's particular brand of insanity.

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

WAZZU!!!

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

Louisville
Memphis
BYU
Washington
Wazzu
Clemson
Oklahoma
Penn St.
Georgia
Auburn
Toledo
Iowa
Duke
Middle Tennessee.
TCU
Miami
Florida
Noter Dame
AFA
Minnesota
OhSt
South Carolina
Colorado St
Houston
Texas
Bama
Michigan
Wisconsin
Colorado
UCF
Utah

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

Everybody through Alabama Indy is in, I will be updating games live as they end so the standings will automatically update through each game https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FpeynaJSSJRZ4kzJbI4IajmB9NSI2_lVd5bhz_0gvDY/edit?usp=sharing (in the data part) you can still post picks and all and I will update as they come in. I assume NYE will post standings on Sunday, if not I can.

Thank you for updating this btw.

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

October 13
Clemson at Syracuse
Washington State at California

October 14
Arkansas at Alabama
Auburn at LSU
Georgia Tech at Miami(FL)
Texas A&M at Florida
Florida State at Duke
Michigan at Indiana
TCU at Kansas State
Texas Tech at West Virginia
BYU at Mississippi State
South Carolina at Tennessee
Eastern Michigan at Army
Old Dominion at Marshall
Oklahoma at Texas
Purdue at Wisconsin
Virginia at North Carolina
Northwestern at Maryland
Vanderbilt at Mississippi
Toledo at Central Michigan
Navy at Memphis
Wyoming at Utah State
UT San Antonio at North Texas
Tulane at Florida International
Ohio State at Nebraska
Cincinnati at South Florida
Utah at USC
Michigan State at Minnesota
UCLA at Arizona
Boise State at San Diego State
Washington at Arizona State
Oregon at Stanford

Upset-ish picks in orange

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

Good win for Babers' program. Congrats to dfw. Good pick!

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

This is a silly weekend. Good games!

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

October 19
Louisiana-Lafayette at Arkansas State
Memphis at Houston

October 20
Marshall at Middle Tennessee
Colorado State at New Mexico

October 21
Oklahoma at Kansas State
Oklahoma State at Texas
South Florida at Tulane
Wake Forest at Georgia Tech
LSU at Mississippi
Maryland at Wisconsin
Iowa State at Texas Tech
Iowa at Northwestern
Temple at Army
Louisville at Florida State
Akron at Toledo
Boston College at Virginia
Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan
Tennessee at Alabama
Syracuse at Miami(FL)
Indiana at Michigan State
UCF at Navy
Illinois at Minnesota
Oregon at UCLA
Kentucky at Mississippi State
North Texas at Florida Atlantic
Michigan at Penn State
USC at Notre Dame Team Meteor, but really USC
Arizona at California
Wyoming at Boise State
Fresno State at San Diego State
Colorado at Washington State

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

^ I'm a little lost, but my pick is USC. Apologies for any confusion.

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

South Alabama at Georgia State
Stanford at Oregon State

October 27
Tulane at Memphis
Florida State at Boston College

October 28

Buffalo at Akron
Wisconsin at Illinois
Oklahoma State at West Virginia
Rutgers at Michigan
Arkansas at Mississippi
Louisville at Wake Forest
Virginia at Pittsburgh
California at Colorado
Florida International at Marshall
Kansas State at Kansas
Air Force at Colorado State
Penn State at Ohio State (Sad!)
Georgia at Florida (in Jacksonville)
TCU at Iowa State
UCLA at Washington
NC State at Notre Dame
Michigan State at Northwestern
Indiana at Maryland
Houston at South Florida
Vanderbilt at South Carolina
Florida Atlantic at Western Kentucky
Utah at Oregon
Minnesota at Iowa
UAB at Southern Mississippi
Mississippi State at Texas A&M
Duke at Virginia Tech
Nebraska at Purdue
New Mexico at Wyoming
Tennessee at Kentucky
Georgia Tech at Clemson
Texas Tech at Oklahoma
Washington State at Arizona
USC at Arizona State
San Diego State at Hawai'i

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

This game is an absolute nightmare. FSU isn't making a bowl.

What happened to FSU? Did losing Francois really hurt that much?

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

Cardiac cats finally pull one out! Great win for Pat Fitzgerald.

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

October 31
Miami(OH) at Ohio (Bobcats seem better this year)

November 1
Central Michigan at Western Michigan (WMU still has some good talent and Central is fairly meh)

November 2
Northern Illinois at Toledo (Toledo has been surprising this year, in a good way)
Navy at Temple (Navy's triple option will be too much for Temple)

November 3
Marshall at Florida Atlantic (Thundering Herd over Kiffin's squad)
UCLA at Utah (Utes are still better than UCLA even if they're in a bit of a down year)

November 4
Penn State at Michigan State (Spartans were exposed badly against a mediocre NWestern team
Ohio State at Iowa (Playing in Kinnick isn't easy, but the Bucks are for real and the Hawkeyes aren't)
Clemson at NC State (Tigers roll)
Virginia Tech at Miami(FL) (The U hasn't played anyone worthwhile this year, but I think they get their first big win of the Richt era and prove they're for real this year)
Oregon at Washington (pretty easy one. Taggert still has some building to do at Oregon before he can compete with a fully functional Washington team)
Stanford at Washington State (Wazzu got exposed twice in recent weeks and Stanford has improved.
South Florida at Connecticut (UConn is bad and USF isn't)
UCF at SMU (UCF is good and SMU isnt)
Arizona at USC (Rich Rod keeps his bounce back season rolling and USC isn't great)
Colorado at Arizona State (Colorado took a big step back from last year and ASU is pretty good)
Minnesota at Michigan (Brown Jug stays in AA. Brandon Peters brought some life to a listless Michigan offense, even if it was against Rutgers)
Wisconsin at Indiana (I'm going to keep picking Indiana until they finally pull one out. Wisconsin gets exposed in their toughest test to date)
Auburn at Texas A&M (Auburn rolls against a mediocre A&M team
Illinois at Purdue (Boilers pull one out in a battle of some of the B1G's worst teams)
Kansas State at Texas Tech (home field advantage proves decisive for the Red Raiders)
Western Kentucky at Vanderbilt (Toppers roll)
Baylor at Kansas (Baylor is atrocious this year. Kansas is simply awful)
Syracuse at Florida State (Babers gets another win over a marquee ACC team, even if the Noles are in a down year)
Georgia Tech at Virginia (UVA seems pretty decent this year)
Appalachian State at Louisiana-Monroe (Cajuns lose to a good App St team)
South Carolina at Georgia (Smart barrels over Muschamp)
Wake Forest at Notre Dame (ND is for real)
Iowa State at West Virginia (Cyclones are also for real)
Maryland at Rutgers (Rutgers may be better this year but they're still not better than Maryland)
Army at Air Force (tough one, but I think Army is better)
Northwestern at Nebraska (Pat Fitzgerald keeps the magic going against dead man walking and soon-to-be Scott Frost, Lincoln Riley)
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (Pokes take Bedlam)
Mississippi at Kentucky (Kentucky is okay and Ole Miss is a cluster this year)
Colorado State at Wyoming (Wyoming isn't good this year, even with a potential No. 1 pick at QB)
UT San Antonio at Florida International (I don't know much about either squad, but I think FIU is a bit better)
Texas at TCU (TCU takes out Herman's longhorns; Texas won't be the Big 12's laughing stock much longer though)
Southern Mississippi at Tennessee (Butch Jones is a joke and he finally loses the worst game of the year)
LSU at Alabama (LSU is better than a loss against Troy would suggest, but not good enough to take down the Tide)

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

Week Ten

Wisconsin at Indiana - big upset pick of the week, Indiana stuns at home

This is my favorite pick.

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

Week Ten

Wisconsin at Indiana - big upset pick of the week, Indiana stuns at home

This is my favorite pick.

It would be like Appalachian State defeating Michigan. Indiana has been basically an FCS team for a good two decades now at least.

#FakeNews. At least for the last 5 years, IU has been a mid-tier B1G team. Their statistical profile over the same time frame suggests a team in the 60th percentile of all FBS teams, or roughly top 50 (see http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa). rutger is a much worse team.

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

Week Ten

Wisconsin at Indiana - big upset pick of the week, Indiana stuns at home

This is my favorite pick.

It would be like Appalachian State defeating Michigan. Indiana has been basically an FCS team for a good two decades now at least.

#FakeNews. At least for the last 5 years, IU has been a mid-tier B1G team. Their statistical profile over the same time frame suggests a team in the 60th percentile of all FBS teams, or roughly top 50 (see http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa). rutger is a much worse team.

What's amusing about this statement is that Indiana is 1-2 against Rutgers.

Is this meant to suggest that Kansas is better than Texas? Or that Clemson is worse than Syracuse? Or that Iowa is better than Iowa State? Teams can lose and still overall be a better team.

Record is a pretty silly way to judge the quality of a team when we have detailed statistical profiles that beat the spread something like 55-60% of the time and predict the winner straight up in excess of 85% of the time. Those same profiles have Indiana much better than Rutgers.

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

I think it's virtually certain that, if Alabama and Georgia play at 12-0, both teams are in regardless of the result of the SEC Championship Game (maybe unless one team gets blown out).  I could even see the loser only dropping to #3.

Why would you ever assume that? This isn't the SEC of six or seven years ago; most of the East is so terrible that winning out won't be that impressive. It's very possible that less than half of the SEC East will have winning seasons. Assuming Georgia loses to Bama by 14 like the early Vegas line predicts, what about their resume makes them impressive? They'll have the one point win to ND and a good win over an 8 or 9 win Mississippi State team. Who would their next best win be after that? Unranked (after two losses) Auburn? Kentucky?

I have trouble seeing how the committee leaves ANY one loss champion out for the SEC loser. I even doubt they pick Georgia over one loss Notre Dame; they showed last year with Penn State/Ohio State that head-to-head isn't decisive and ND would have the more impressive list of wins.

Tough to directly compare the two, because Penn State had two bad losses last year - to 8-4 Pitt and a 39-point thrashing by Michigan. If UGA wins out and loses a close game to Alabama and ND wins out, the decision wouldn't be an easy one. Heck, I don't know who I'd choose if the #4 spot was between those two. ND might also be in a hard spot without the veneer of "conference champion," as 2014 Baylor and TCU can sadly attest to.

Aside, my biggest hope is for enough chaos to happen to allow UCF a shot. It's not like they can do much worse than the Big 10's representatives the last two years.

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

I kind of doubt UCF can get in since CFP Poll has them starting at #18

Which is a shame. They're one of the five best teams in CFB right now and if enough other teams stumble, they've earned their shot.

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

I kind of doubt UCF can get in since CFP Poll has them starting at #18

Which is a shame. They're one of the five best teams in CFB right now and if enough other teams stumble, they've earned their shot.

How have they earned it? By beating Navy and Memphis?

Please read the bolded portion. If UCF wins out, they'll have wins over USF, top-25 Memphis and whoever the AAC West champ is. And if other P-5 contenders stumble, then yes, UCF has earned it's shot.

Honestly, I'd take UCF over Clemson if they played tomorrow on a neutral field.

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

November 8

Toledo at Ohio
Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan

November 9

North Carolina at Pittsburgh

November 10

Temple at Cincinnati
Washington at Stanford

November 11

Georgia at Auburn
Alabama at Mississippi State
Florida State at Clemson
TCU at Oklahoma

Oklahoma State at Iowa State
Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech
NC State at Boston College
Washington State at Utah
Virginia at Louisville
Wake Forest at Syracuse
Arizona State at UCLA
Indiana at Illinois
Nebraska at Minnesota
Michigan State at Ohio State
Rutgers at Penn State
Arkansas at LSU
Louisiana-Lafayette at Mississippi
Duke at Army
Iowa at Wisconsin
Michigan at Maryland
West Virginia at Kansas State
SMU at Navy
USC at Colorado
Kentucky at Vanderbilt
Western Kentucky at Marshall
UAB at UTSA
Purdue at Northwestern
Tennessee at Missouri
Notre Dame at Miami(FL)
Boise State at Colorado State

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

Fun stat for y'all:

At TCU Coach P has won 11 games 9 times in the last 14 years, may be about to do it again. A&M has won 11 games 4 times in the last 100 yrs.

But yeah A&M is so superior

Top 10 cfb coach, easily. Very underrated!

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

Good pick with Ohio over Toedo, NYE! Toledo had been playing great (well, for a MAC team) all year.