BG College Football Pick Em / College Football Thread

[Akiyama]

Agreed. Florida is reeeeally good, even though South Carolina handed them 21 early on. Florida could have easily piled it on even more, but didn't. :/

[Gregorio]

Even though LSU came back...I'll still say LOLsu. Took a monumental 4th quarter collapse to come back at home vs a sunbelt team.

Florida looks damn good...I'm almost kinda glad Penn State lost to Iowa. I don't wanna play them in the NCG this year.

[melbufrauma]

i gotta root for FSU just because the QB came from my Highschool lol, Christian Ponder, but in other news, hopefully TX can pull it out somehow..

[Lordender]

Agreed. Florida is reeeeally good, even though South Carolina handed them 21 early on. Florida could have easily piled it on even more, but didn't. :/

I'm predicting florida to be the national champ.

[Bregor]

Alabama might just have a better than average shot at taking Florida.

I'm predicting florida to be the national champ.

I can't wait until the SEC Championship game, Bama can be #1 in every damn poll and be four or five point dogs. I guess people won't buy it until they're 14-0.

[octopus]

I can't wait until the SEC Championship game, Bama can be #1 in every damn poll and be four or five point dogs. I guess people won't buy it until they're 14-0.

That's because we actually watch the games and have a mind of our own, so we think one team is better than another.

But yeah, if they're 14-0, they're deserving for sure. They just reminded me a bit of Michigan in the year Ohio State and Michigan were 1-2 leading to the final game of the season...

[Kirin]

Even my distaste for Meyer and Florida as a whole aside, theyre a HOT team. In comparison, look at Georgia last year to right now. Georgia was unstoppable last year, and outside of the defensive star injuries we've had to start the season its the same team sitting at 9-2 that UGA is right now.

Florida is hot, and they've destroyed their opponents. I don't take that away from anyone, but college football is momentum, and if Florida had any of these games be any closer than they were the past few weeks, people would not be saying the same things they are now. Florida is HOT, but they're not THAT good.

After watching Alabama play again today, and then watching Florida take it to South Carolina, Alabama plays SEC football, Florida is playing Big XII football. Alabama does not make mistakes, while Florida capitalizes on special teams mistakes that opponents make. I don't really see it as homerism when I think Florida is not a complete team and Alabama is. Florida has just gotten all the coin flips to go their way while Alabama hasn't needed nearly as many coin flips period.

[octopus]

Alabama does not make mistakes, while Florida capitalizes on special teams mistakes that opponents make.

I don't necessary disagree with you, but I don't think Alabama's game yesterday is proving your point because of all the special team plays they made ;o

And I think Florida's defense is better than the typical Big XII team.

[Kaali]

Dunno if you saw the Lsu Bama game Kirin but Bama is prone to making stupid mistakes from time to time and our kicking game is not very good to say the least.

[Drex]

I just hope FSU doesn't come out and play as shit as they did against BC for the UF/FSU game. That game's supposed to be exciting, and I was bored as hell watching them hand BC the game.

[Akiyama]

I don't necessary disagree with you, but I don't think Alabama's game yesterday is proving your point because of all the special team plays they made ;o

And I think Florida's defense is better than the typical Big XII team.

Correct. At least I think so. Texas Tech's defense is surprisingly good this year, but I think Florida's defense + special teams is better, which means it's obviously better than the other ones. Also, Mississippi State was really getting worn down at the end when Arenas made those huge plays. He's a good returner. Smart teams kick it away (so it lands out of bounds), not down the middle of the field.

Dunno if you saw the Lsu Bama game Kirin but Bama is prone to making stupid mistakes from time to time and our kicking game is not very good to say the least.

Yeah. While I believe they are 2nd in the SEC for the least amount of penalties (Florida is first?), which shows good coaching, Alabama will still make errors because after all, they have 15 freshman playing important positions. Their kicking game was pretty good last year with Tiffin. He's really struggling this year, much like Wes Byrum at AU.

Also, it was stated that if Alabama and Florida played, Florida would be 8.5 point favorites. That was BEFORE the destruction Florida gave South Carolina.

[Koyuki]

Spurrier needs to do something to his team. He keeps getting solid recruiting classes, finally creeps into the top 25 in a late season poll and then this happens. Florida might be hot, but they're not THAT good.

Please tell me you're actually not this stupid. Spurrier can't recruit worth shit considering everyone wants to go to Meyer. Gamecocks are not good at all we shouldn't have even been in the top 25 to begin with. Like I've said all season our offense is absolutely putrid.

Florida IS that good they curb stomped your dogs and they've effectively curb stomped everyone in the SEC east, stop being ignorant.

[Bregor]

That's because we actually watch the games and have a mind of our own, so we think one team is better than another.

The people voting in the polls have minds of their own too. Before Texas Tech beat Okie State and Penn State lost, there were two first-place votes for one-loss teams (one for Florida and one for Oklahoma) in the major polls. And I'm sure even more of them had one-loss teams ahead of the some of the undefeated teams at number 2 or 3 in those polls. It just happens that for the last three weeks, more people think Alabama is the best team in the country, and no one here wants to admit it here. But Florida has become the sexy NC pick, like always. Like I said, I can't wait to actually watch the SEC Championship, it'll be a great game because I think that Florida and Bama are the two of the three most solid teams in the country.

As I write this, Florida again has received a first-place vote in the new USA Today poll (Alabama has 45, TTech 15) and two in the AP (Alabama 42, TTech 21.)

Also Kirin, I love the "SEC style" argument, which I remember Terry Bowden describing as, "on offense, they're gonna take that ball and run it at the defense." As obvious as that may sound, Bama exemplifies it this season, but Florida is pretty much playing the SEC style. They run all over you and take care of the ball, and play great defense. It just looks weird because they have a fullback taking the snaps out of the shotgun. I'm actually surprised (and somewhat pissed) that Meyer's system has thrived so well in the SEC, but you can't deny that the end result is very similar to Bama's.

As for Spurrier, he actually can still recruit. As of right now, Rivals has South Carolina as the 11th best class for 2009, just ahead of Tennessee, Michigan and Oklahoma. Their 2007 class was even stronger on paper, with a five-star and 14 four-stars, but it hasn't panned out yet. So maybe the Ol' Ballcoach just can't coach anymore, because he has good talent on the sideline.

[Kyo]

Please tell me you're actually not this stupid. Spurrier can't recruit worth shit considering everyone wants to go to Meyer. Gamecocks are not good at all we shouldn't have even been in the top 25 to begin with. Like I've said all season our offense is absolutely putrid.

Florida IS that good they curb stomped your dogs and they've effectively curb stomped everyone in the SEC east, stop being ignorant.

Thank you.

[Plow]

Correct. At least I think so. Texas Tech's defense is surprisingly good this year, but I think Florida's defense + special teams is better, which means it's obviously better than the other ones.

I don't think Tech is the best defense in the big 12.


They got lucky to beat Texas (remember when Texas ran their final touchdown play with 20+ seconds on the play clock? yeah Tech loses that game if Texas uses common sense instead of being scared the weren't going to score and trying to leave time for another chance)

And OSU just had a bad, bad day against them.


Going by the numbers alone I'm pretty sure Texas just smashes their numbers, and going by watching the games, OSU is considerably better everwhere other than the line, outside their one shitty game.


Honestly at this point if you put Nebraska in the SEC their defense would look as good as Florida's, the only even respectable offense down there other than FLA is Georgia, and if there's one thing Big 12 teams can do it's stop the run.

[Akiyama]

I don't think Tech is the best defense in the big 12.


They got lucky to beat Texas (remember when Texas ran their final touchdown play with 20+ seconds on the play clock? yeah Tech loses that game if Texas uses common sense instead of being scared the weren't going to score and trying to leave time for another chance)

And OSU just had a bad, bad day against them.


Going by the numbers alone I'm pretty sure Texas just smashes their numbers, and going by watching the games, OSU is considerably better everwhere other than the line, outside their one shitty game.


Honestly at this point if you put Nebraska in the SEC their defense would look as good as Florida's, the only even respectable offense down there other than FLA is Georgia, and if there's one thing Big 12 teams can do it's stop the run.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Mizzou absolutely smoked Nebraska, didn't they? That same Mizzou that got shut down by both Texas and OSU? So by that logic, you'd say Texas and Oklahoma State's defenses would look just as good as Florida or Bama defense-wise?

I think UF's defense is really good, but it's good to the ball. It's not going to shut down a power offense all game long, but it's going to give their own offense a chance to explode and win. They haven't trailed in a game in a long time (the Ole Miss game), so they only know how to play from the front right now. I think, just like Alabama, they need to face adversity. If I had to say so, I'd say Alabama has a better all-around defense than Florida. What would you say? Is Nebraska's D as good as Bama's? Or Texas's? While Nebraska has been impressive lately, they haven't been impressive against a good team (except Texas Tech, where it went to overtime.) That game was real odd though. I still dont' know how they stayed close to them, yet were destroyed by Missouri.

And I wish you'd say the Big 12 can stop the run. Texas Tech is the only team other than Oklahoma that has a real run game. KU's was doing well lately, but that's because Reesing has had issues getting the ball to the right guy.Texas was out front, and while not dominating the first half, they came out and exploded in the second. I watched the game on FSN before you say "You probably didn't see it how I did." Trust me, I did. :/ Texas Tech has a nice run-game to compliment their pass, and Oklahoma does stuff with their run game too. I don't think it's the same level of run game that Florida or Alabama have right now.So when you say "They can stop the run".. technically they can, but they aren't stopping a team centered around run then pass. They are centered around teams that pass first, then run to switch things up sometimes. Wouldn't you agree?

Also, I'm blind. Are you saying Alabama doesn't have an even respectable offense..? I guess the fact that they have a Top 15ish Run-game means absolutely nothing since their pass game is only around 100th since they don't NEED it. It's not like I sit here and say a team in the Big 12 has a respectable offense while the rest of the teams don't since they don't run the ball a lot.

[Byrd]

This week's BCS rankings:

1. Alabama 11-0
2. Texas Tech 10-0
3. Texas 10-1
4. Florida 9-1
5. Oklahoma 9-1
6. USC 9-1
7. Utah 11-0
8. Penn State 10-1
9. Boise State 10-0
10. Ohio State 9-2
11. Georgia 9-2
12. Oklahoma State 9-2
13. Missouri 9-2
14. BYU 10-1
15. Michigan State 9-2
16. TCU 9-2
17. Ball State 10-0
18. LSU 7-3
19. Cincinnati 8-2
20. Pitt 7-2
21. Oregon State 7-3
22. North Carolina 7-3
23. Miami 7-3
24. Oregon 8-3
25. Maryland 7-3

This might have been the least eventful November weekend of college football in recent memory.

[Akiyama]

Agreed. Big Upsets...what are those?

[Plow]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Mizzou absolutely smoked Nebraska, didn't they? That same Mizzou that got shut down by both Texas and OSU? So by that logic, you'd say Texas and Oklahoma State's defenses would look just as good as Florida or Bama defense-wise?

Yeah, Mizzou rocked Nebraska. So did Oklahoma. Outside of those 2, their only losses are a 5 pointer early to VaTech (which was the intense close game that set them up for the mizzou ass whuppin) and overtime to Tech.

I think UF's defense is really good, but it's good to the ball. It's not going to shut down a power offense all game long, but it's going to give their own offense a chance to explode and win.

I think Florida and OU's defenses are damn near identical. They're both extremely fast, and therefore obviously explosive, but they're not that "good." By "good" I mean disciplined, understanding, raw skill. They just make up for it with raw speed.

Unfortunately for the Big 12, while OU goes through 4 of the toughest offenses you'll ever see in college football, Florida is romping through teams that would have a hard time scoring on some of the best Florida or Texas high school teams. (yes that's an exaggeration, no I don't think Georgia would lose to a high school team)

They haven't trailed in a game in a long time (the Ole Miss game), so they only know how to play from the front right now. I think, just like Alabama, they need to face adversity. If I had to say so, I'd say Alabama has a better all-around defense than Florida. What would you say? Is Nebraska's D as good as Bama's? Or Texas's? While Nebraska has been impressive lately, they haven't been impressive against a good team (except Texas Tech, where it went to overtime.) That game was real odd though. I still dont' know how they stayed close to them, yet were destroyed by Missouri.

On a good day, maybe. But I don't think Florida, the comparison I made, has as good a defense as Bama, or Oklahoma State, or Texas, or Tech. I wouldn't include Tech on that list for any other reason, but my lord that line is sick.

And I wish you'd say the Big 12 can stop the run.

I just did, silly ;p

Texas Tech is the only team other than Oklahoma that has a real run game. KU's was doing well lately, but that's because Reesing has had issues getting the ball to the right guy.Texas was out front, and while not dominating the first half, they came out and exploded in the second. I watched the game on FSN before you say "You probably didn't see it how I did." Trust me, I did. :/ Texas Tech has a nice run-game to compliment their pass, and Oklahoma does stuff with their run game too. I don't think it's the same level of run game that Florida or Alabama have right now.So when you say "They can stop the run".. technically they can, but they aren't stopping a team centered around run then pass. They are centered around teams that pass first, then run to switch things up sometimes. Wouldn't you agree?

Oklahoma State in 2007 had the *exact* same amount of yards rushing as passing (literally, not 1 yard difference, exactly the same), and they're on pace to do damn near the same this year. There's no question they have the best run game in the league, arguably in the nation.

What you have to realize is that this is the Big 12. We're known for Colorado's, Nebraska's and K-State's options, Texas's massive line and power run, Oklahoma and Tech are the only teams that have become passing oriented outside this year, and Oklahoma has had a pretty damn good runner or 2 even recently you might remember.

The problem is you can't keep up with these guys by running the ball. I can pretty much promise you that if you give any of these coaches the choice between Adrian Peterson and the QB's they have right now, they'd take AD in a heartbeat-- unfortunately, they'd still just get stomped when their defense has an off day like Oklahoma State against Tech. I mean, ok, Tech may be better than OSU... but 5 touchdowns better? Uh... if they're really that good they're going to make whoever they play outside the Big 12 look like middle schoolers.

Also, I'm blind. Are you saying Alabama doesn't have an even respectable offense..? I guess the fact that they have a Top 15ish Run-game means absolutely nothing since their pass game is only around 100th since they don't NEED it. It's not like I sit here and say a team in the Big 12 has a respectable offense while the rest of the teams don't since they don't run the ball a lot.

Pretty much, yeah. The fact of the matter is this is the worst the SEC has been since like... I honestly don't even remember them being this weak, maybe the year Tennessee won it all? They weren't even remotely challenged all year that I can remember, of course I was focused on the bullshit with K-State being #1 in both polls and #3 in the bcs.

Sure, they're winning... but they haven't put up points like a Big 12 team since Georgia, and they're playing teams any of 4-6 Big 12 teams could drop 50 on any given day.


and I just got involved in a longass discussion somewhere else about the elections and lost my train of thought here >.>


Anyway yeah, Alabama's offense is probably better than I'm giving credit here, it really depends how good the rest of the SEC's defense really is, which is hard to judge at this point. I'm just not convinced that any of at least the top 3, and possibly 4 or 5 big 12 teams couldn't do the same thing there all season that Florida's doing lately, without being upset by some scrub.

I mean all the losses between the top 5 big 12 teams except tech/osu look extremely similar to Florida's 1 loss-- but every single loss between the 5 teams is to a team that's currently top 11.

Even Nebraska only has 1 loss outside the current top 12.


Oh, yeah, one other point about the Big 12: KU had the #3 or 4 defense in the nation last year.

They lost 2 starters on defense, and no coaches or anything.

Look at that defense now...

[Akiyama]

Yeah. This is the first time I can agree with a lot of what you said, except the Bama thing. I don't think their offense is you know.. Florida/Big 12 level, but it's not complete garbage.

Also, I think I left Oklahoma State out as far as run games go, and if I did, then my bad seriously. I COMPLETELY forgot about them. They are an easy team to forget, honestly with Texas/Texas Tech/Oklahoma and all. D: My bad.

and I meant " And I wish you'd stop saying the Big 12 can stop the run." as I'm sure you know. =P

And yeah, I agree that TT isn't 5 TDs better than OSU. OSU is the best 2 loss team in the country, but really.. is that saying something? Ya know, I've never understood the concept of "the best 2/3/4 loss team in the country." Sort of like the Saints being the best 5 loss team in the NFL. Who really cares since you have that many losses D: Haha.

I'm extremely surprised that I don't want to argue with you tooth and nail about certain things. These are the types of stats and such I could see going both ways in terms of arguments. Good show, Plow! You didn't piss me off today.

One quick thing; I agree about the VT/Nebraska thing. The thing is, no one knows how good VT or anyone in the ACC for that matter is. VT rocks Maryland, who in turn beats UNC this past weekend who had a good record, who beat so and so. The ACC isn't horrible in my opinion, it's just extremely average where everyone in the division just about can win it.