The 150th Edition of College Football - Discussion and Pick 'Em Thread

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Alabama is still the #2 team on SP+. They are miles ahead of the field. But I understand why the playoff committee ranks teams the way they do, and it is a fair process. You have to win games not just be better than teams that win games.

The longer this season goes on, the more resigned I am to the fact that I might have to cheer for Clemson in the championship over the vastly underrated Ohio State. It makes me very sick. LSU is just not good enough to compete with that pair.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

It's just like the ACC in basketball most years- an under .500 team from the best conference is probably better than teams with good records from most major conferences.

The ACC has not been the top rated basketball conference in over a decade in spite of having four - perhaps five - absolutely powerhouse teams. There are so many cupcakes that you better have a winning record. The Big 12 is consistently better with no weak teams, and the Big East and Big Ten rank higher in most years too. That divide is strongly holding up this year as the ACC is unlikely to have more than six teams in the tournament and one of those is very very bubbly.

I am with you on computer rankings agreeing with the SEC, but FPI is just about the worst one out there. It really struggles to get away from preseason biases. South Carolina at #48 in SP+ is much more reasonable, flawed as that may be with injuries, the anti-Clemson bias, etc.

Most football computer rankings are also biased by not having more than one meaningful interconference game per season which is not a good sample size and it takes years to see changes. The bowl season is useless.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Utah vs. Oregon

Baylor vs. Oklahoma
Louisiana vs. Appalachian State
Miami (OH) vs. Central Michigan
UAB at FAU ugh, painful
Cincinnati at Memphis
Georgia vs. LSU
Hawaii at Boise State
Virginia vs. Clemson
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin

Nicholls State at North Dakota State
Illinois State at Central Arkansas
Albany at Montana State
Austin Peay at Sacramento State
Kennesaw State at Weber State
Southeastern Louisiana at Montana
Northern Iowa at South Dakota State - the iffiest game! Go UNI
Monmouth at James Madison

[YE]

Utah
Baylor
Central Michigan
FAU
Memphis
LSU
Boise State
Clemson
Ohio State

North Dakota State
Central Arkansas
Albany
Sacramento State
SE Lousiana
South Dakota State
James Madison

[GeorgiaModerate]

Utah vs. Oregon
Baylor vs. Oklahoma
Louisiana vs. Appalachian State
Miami (OH) vs. Central Michigan
UAB @ Florida Atlantic
Cincinnati @ Memphis
Georgia vs. LSU     Yes, this is a homer pick.
Hawai’i @ Boise State
Virginia vs. Clemson
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin

Nicholls State @ North Dakota State
Illinois State @ Central Arkansas
Albany (NY) @ Montana State
Austin Peay @ Sacramento State
Kennesaw State @ Weber State
Southeastern Louisiana @ Montana
Northern Iowa @ South Dakota State
Monmouth @ James Madison

[JGibson]

Week 15 FBS/FCS matchups

Friday, December 6th

Pac 12 Championship Game

#5 Utah vs. #13 Oregon 8 PM EST ABC

Saturday, December 7th

Big 12 Championship Game

#8 Baylor vs. #6 Oklahoma Noon EST ABC

Sun Belt Championship Game

Louisiana vs. #20 Appalachian State Noon EST ESPN

MAC Championship Game

Miami (OH) vs. Central Michigan Noon EST ESPN2

Conference USA Championship Game

UAB @ Florida Atlantic 1:30 PM EST CBSSN

AAC Championship Game

#21 Cincinnati @ #16 Memphis 3:30 PM EST ABC

SEC Championship Game

#4 Georgia vs. #1 LSU 4 PM EST CBS

Mountain West Championship Game

Hawai’i @ #19 Boise State 4 PM EST ESPN

ACC Championship Game

#22 Virginia vs. #3 Clemson 7:30 PM EST ABC

Big Ten Championship Game

#2 Ohio State vs. #10 Wisconsin 8 PM EST FOX

FCS Playoff Round 2 (all games on ESPN app):

Nicholls State @ #1 North Dakota State 3:30 PM EST

Illinois State @ #8 Central Arkansas 3 PM EST

Albany (NY) @ #5 Montana State 3 PM EST

Austin Peay @ #4 Sacramento State 10 PM EST

Kennesaw State @ #3 Weber State 3 PM EST

Southeastern Louisiana @ #6 Montana 3 PM EST

Northern Iowa @ #7 South Dakota State 2 PM EST

Monmouth @ #2 James Madison 1 PM EST

[OSR stands with Israel]

I'm so angry at this committee's anti-SEC bias.  A motivated Auburn or Alabama team would wipe the floor with teams like Penn State, Baylor, Utah, and Wisconsin.  That they are ranked above those SEC teams shows that the committee still doesn't understand that the top half of the SEC is miles above any other conference.  SEC teams shouldn't be penalized for playing each other.  It's just like the ACC in basketball most years- an under .500 team from the best conference is probably better than teams with good records from most major conferences.

Also, hot take- Texas A&M should be in the top 15-20 based on the fact that they haven't lost to anyone outside the committee's top 12 (or reality's top 10- playing it conservatively) and have crushed everyone else.

Texas A&M barely beat Arkansas and Ole Miss....

you might be the only person in the country that think the committee is antiSEC. They have 2 teams in right now (and honestly Georgia doesn't deserve it considering they lost to a team that was just nuked by Clemson). Alabama has 2 losses and Auburn has 3, they deserve to be ranked below Baylor and Utah etc for sure. Also, Wisconsin is going to be big 10 championship game and has looked good as of late, no reason for them to be below Alabama and Auburn either.

Let's let the computers take a look: http://www.espn.com/college-football/statistics/teamratings

The SEC has 5 of the top 7, Texas A&M is indeed a top 20 team, and 10 SEC teams are in the top 33.  Virginia, the second best ACC team, would be 11th in the SEC.

The computers were the same ones that put Florida St over Miami in 2000, Nebraska over Oregon in 2001 , Oklahoma over USC in 2003 and if they were still used in 2014 would have had Florida St play Alabama in the National Title Game.

The SEC is also very overrated due to them playing weak nonconference schedule year in and year out . Also Auburn barely beat Oregon , and that took Oregon choking hard or Oregon wins that game handily. The idea their is an Anti-SEC bias is laughable. The idea they would wipe the floor with Utah is laughable, and the fact is Oregon when they are "on"(which they havent been all season) would "wipe the Floor" with the SEC this year whose defense this year is completely laughable but the fact is the choked huge in 2 games so they dont deserve to be in the playoffs.

[Donerail]

Also Auburn barely beat Oregon , and that took Oregon choking hard or Oregon wins that game handily. The idea their is an Anti-SEC bias is laughable. The idea they would wipe the floor with Utah is laughable, and the fact is Oregon when they are "on"(which they havent been all season) would "wipe the Floor" with the SEC this year whose defense this year is completely laughable but the fact is the choked huge in 2 games so they dont deserve to be in the playoffs.

Yeah, it's a shame that SEC teams keep playing weak out-of-conference opponents like Oregon, a team that would, at best, place fourth in the SEC West.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Also Auburn barely beat Oregon , and that took Oregon choking hard or Oregon wins that game handily. The idea their is an Anti-SEC bias is laughable. The idea they would wipe the floor with Utah is laughable, and the fact is Oregon when they are "on"(which they havent been all season) would "wipe the Floor" with the SEC this year whose defense this year is completely laughable but the fact is the choked huge in 2 games so they dont deserve to be in the playoffs.

Yeah, it's a shame that SEC teams keep playing weak out-of-conference opponents like Oregon, a team that would, at best, place fourth in the SEC West.

Lmao no , they would be 2nd behind LSU and if they played consistently number 1. The SEC this year is weak , just going off past glory and not much else .

[Gass3268]

I'm so angry at this committee's anti-SEC bias.  A motivated Auburn or Alabama team would wipe the floor with teams like Penn State, Baylor, Utah, and Wisconsin.  That they are ranked above those SEC teams shows that the committee still doesn't understand that the top half of the SEC is miles above any other conference.  SEC teams shouldn't be penalized for playing each other.  It's just like the ACC in basketball most years- an under .500 team from the best conference is probably better than teams with good records from most major conferences.

Also, hot take- Texas A&M should be in the top 15-20 based on the fact that they haven't lost to anyone outside the committee's top 12 (or reality's top 10- playing it conservatively) and have crushed everyone else.

Lol, anti-SEC bias, that's funny. Really it's been a bit of down year for the SEC. Alabama hasn't beaten any ranked team this year. Am I supposed to be impressed with them beating up on Arkansas, the Mississsippi schools and the other Little Sisters of the Poor? Auburn has three loses and almost lost to Ole Miss. Texas A&M has 5 loses and almost lost to Arkansas. LSU is extremely good and Georgia is solid, but after that the cliff drops off. Big Ten has clearly been the best conference this year during the regular season. More cnosistant play by their top teams. Wisconsin would spank Auburn like they always do when they play them in bowl games.

[Dereich]

For tonight:

Oregon vs Utah

[Green Line]

Friday, December 6th

Pac 12 Championship Game

#5 Utah vs. #13 Oregon 8 PM EST ABC

Saturday, December 7th

Big 12 Championship Game

#8 Baylor vs. #6 Oklahoma Noon EST ABC

Sun Belt Championship Game

Louisiana vs. #20 Appalachian State Noon EST ESPN

MAC Championship Game

Miami (OH) vs. Central Michigan Noon EST ESPN2

Conference USA Championship Game

UAB @ Florida Atlantic 1:30 PM EST CBSSN

AAC Championship Game

#21 Cincinnati @ #16 Memphis 3:30 PM EST ABC

SEC Championship Game

#4 Georgia vs. #1 LSU 4 PM EST CBS

Mountain West Championship Game

Hawai’i @ #19 Boise State 4 PM EST ESPN

ACC Championship Game

#22 Virginia vs. #3 Clemson 7:30 PM EST ABC - Hoping I'm wrong!

Big Ten Championship Game

#2 Ohio State vs. #10 Wisconsin 8 PM EST FOX

FCS Playoff Round 2 (all games on ESPN app):

Nicholls State @ #1 North Dakota State 3:30 PM EST

Illinois State @ #8 Central Arkansas 3 PM EST - Go Redbirds!!

Albany (NY) @ #5 Montana State 3 PM EST

Austin Peay @ #4 Sacramento State 10 PM EST

Kennesaw State @ #3 Weber State 3 PM EST

Southeastern Louisiana @ #6 Montana 3 PM EST

Northern Iowa @ #7 South Dakota State 2 PM EST

Monmouth @ #2 James Madison 1 PM EST

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Going with the Oregon upset tonight

[GeorgiaModerate]

Going with the Oregon upset tonight

This makes it a 50-50 pick so far (6 for each team).

[OSR stands with Israel]

Why the hell didnt Oregon play like this against Arizona St, if they did we would be in the playoffs.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

This is stupid, thanks for letting OU or Baylor into the playoff, Oregon. (unless Georgia upsets LSU)

[OSR stands with Israel]

This is stupid, thanks for letting OU or Baylor into the playoff, Oregon. (unless Georgia upsets LSU)

Yah them dropping the ball against AZ St caused OU , Baylor or Georgia to get in the playoffs

[Green Line]

This is stupid, thanks for letting OU or Baylor into the playoff, Oregon. (unless Georgia upsets LSU)

Yah them dropping the ball against AZ St caused OU , Baylor or Georgia to get in the playoffs

2/3 of them are without a doubt more deserving of a playoff spot than Oregon.  You can't discount bad losses just because they shouldn't have lost (according to you).  Oregon wasn't a good enough team this year.  They're Notre Dame-tier.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

Lane Kiffin to Ole Miss!

[OSR stands with Israel]

This is stupid, thanks for letting OU or Baylor into the playoff, Oregon. (unless Georgia upsets LSU)

Yah them dropping the ball against AZ St caused OU , Baylor or Georgia to get in the playoffs

2/3 of them are without a doubt more deserving of a playoff spot than Oregon.  You can't discount bad losses just because they shouldn't have lost (according to you).  Oregon wasn't a good enough team this year.  They're Notre Dame-tier.

Lol no Oregon would whoop any SEC Team this year when playing like this and yes I agree Oregon doesnt deserve the playoffs because they did choke two games which they shouldnt have choked.


SEC defenses this year are a joke and Oregon when playing like this would whoop them and we have evidence as they were whooping Auburn until they compeltely choked . Oregon is one of the two best teams when they play to their potential which they havent done this season so they dont deserve it.


But this season is probably one of the biggest what ifs along with what if there was a playoff in 2012(we win that year as well) , what if the refs didnt make two jaw droppingly bad calls in the BCS title game vs Auburn and what if Dixon didnt get injured in 2007

[Green Line]

This is stupid, thanks for letting OU or Baylor into the playoff, Oregon. (unless Georgia upsets LSU)

Yah them dropping the ball against AZ St caused OU , Baylor or Georgia to get in the playoffs

2/3 of them are without a doubt more deserving of a playoff spot than Oregon.  You can't discount bad losses just because they shouldn't have lost (according to you).  Oregon wasn't a good enough team this year.  They're Notre Dame-tier.

Lol no Oregon would whoop any SEC Team this year when playing like this and yes I agree Oregon doesnt deserve the playoffs because they did choke two games which they shouldnt have choked.


SEC defenses this year are a joke and Oregon when playing like this would whoop them and we have evidence as they were whooping Auburn until they compeltely choked . Oregon is one of the two best teams when they play to their potential which they havent done this season so they dont deserve it.


But this season is probably one of the biggest what ifs along with what if there was a playoff in 2012(we win that year as well) , what if the refs didnt make two jaw droppingly bad calls in the BCS title game vs Auburn and what if Dixon didnt get injured in 2007

Your definition of choke seems to be = "my team lost and that should never happen"

[OSR stands with Israel]

This is stupid, thanks for letting OU or Baylor into the playoff, Oregon. (unless Georgia upsets LSU)

Yah them dropping the ball against AZ St caused OU , Baylor or Georgia to get in the playoffs

2/3 of them are without a doubt more deserving of a playoff spot than Oregon.  You can't discount bad losses just because they shouldn't have lost (according to you).  Oregon wasn't a good enough team this year.  They're Notre Dame-tier.

Lol no Oregon would whoop any SEC Team this year when playing like this and yes I agree Oregon doesnt deserve the playoffs because they did choke two games which they shouldnt have choked.


SEC defenses this year are a joke and Oregon when playing like this would whoop them and we have evidence as they were whooping Auburn until they compeltely choked . Oregon is one of the two best teams when they play to their potential which they havent done this season so they dont deserve it.


But this season is probably one of the biggest what ifs along with what if there was a playoff in 2012(we win that year as well) , what if the refs didnt make two jaw droppingly bad calls in the BCS title game vs Auburn and what if Dixon didnt get injured in 2007

Your definition of choke seems to be = "my team lost and that should never happen"

Um no if you watched that Oregon vs Auburn , Oregon was clearly the better team but lost due to these 3-4 unforced errors:

- Making an Unforced Fumbe on 1st and goal (Fumble was returned to Oregon 10)

- Dropping an easy endzone catch

- Missing a less than 25 yard field goal

- Of course we still blew a 21-6 lead as well

Against AZ state:

- On 3rd and 16 we for some dumb reason went for sack which allowed AZ state to get a man wide open for a TD

- Stubbornly passing the ball despite that not working all night and running plays working

[ON Progressive]

This feels like a loss that's going to set our program back multiple years. I just can't see us having a team this talented any time soon.

[OSR stands with Israel]

This feels like a loss that's going to set our program back multiple years. I just can't see us having a team this talented any time soon.

You are a Utah Fan, I thought you would be a fan of Michigan or Michigan St

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Saturday, December 7th

Big 12 Championship Game

#8 Baylor vs. #6 Oklahoma Noon EST ABC

Sun Belt Championship Game

Louisiana vs. #20 Appalachian State Noon EST ESPN (my uncle's an App State grad, so I'm hoping they somehow get the NY6 G5 bid, but it will be the AAC Champ either way)

MAC Championship Game

Miami (OH) vs. Central Michigan Noon EST ESPN2

Conference USA Championship Game

UAB @ Florida Atlantic 1:30 PM EST CBSSN

AAC Championship Game

#21 Cincinnati @ #16 Memphis 3:30 PM EST ABC

SEC Championship Game

#4 Georgia vs. #1 LSU 4 PM EST CBS

Mountain West Championship Game

Hawai’i @ #19 Boise State 4 PM EST ESPN

ACC Championship Game

#22 Virginia vs. #3 Clemson 7:30 PM EST ABC

Big Ten Championship Game

#2 Ohio State vs. #10 Wisconsin 8 PM EST FOX

FCS Playoff Round 2 (all games on ESPN app):

Nicholls State @ #1 North Dakota State 3:30 PM EST

Illinois State @ #8 Central Arkansas 3 PM EST

Albany (NY) @ #5 Montana State 3 PM EST

Austin Peay @ #4 Sacramento State 10 PM EST

Kennesaw State @ #3 Weber State 3 PM EST

Southeastern Louisiana @ #6 Montana 3 PM EST

Northern Iowa @ #7 South Dakota State 2 PM EST

Monmouth @ #2 James Madison 1 PM EST