This Week in College Football 9/27 - 9/29

[Bored 0]

Television note for this week is after three straight weeks of Michigan being nationally televised at the 3:30/12:30 slot, ESABCPN has five regional games in that slot with USC/Washington getting national coverage in the primetime slot. This will be the second week of their "reverse mirror" coverage where one of the regional games will be available on ESPN. What is strange is that Cal/Oregon will not be one of the reverse mirror games even though it is the biggest game of the week, not that I want Cal to get more national coverage. The primary reverse mirror game will be Michigan State/Wisconsin while those of you who get that game on ABC will get Clemson/Georgia Tech on ESPN. So looks like if you don't live on the west coast you ain't getting Cal/Oregon. I'll post the coverage map when it is available.

 

With the Harris Poll out this week we're getting closer to the first BCS rankings. So far four of the six computer rankings are public with Anderson-Hester being released next week, then Wolfe being the last hold out until the BCS rankings are released on October 14th. So right now per collegebcs.com here is the BCS Top 14 with the four computer rankings and the two human polls. Note three of the four computer rankings have LSU #1 with only Sagarin ranking USC #1.

 

1) LSU 2) USC 3) Florida 4) Oklahoma 5) Ohio State 6) West Virginia 7) Texas 8) California 9) Wisconsin 10) Boston College 11) Oregon 12) Clemson 13) Rutgers 14) Kentucky

 

Network/Basic Cable Schedule

 

THURSDAY

Southern Miss at Boise State, 7:30/4:30 PM, ESPN

 

FRIDAY

#5 West Virginia at #18 South Florida, 8:00/5:00 PM, ESPN2

 

SATURDAY

Notre Dame at Purdue, Noon/9:00 AM, ESPN

#2 LSU at Tulane, Noon/9:00 AM, ESPN2

Baylor at Texas A&M, 12:30 PM/9:30 AM, Versus

#3 Oklahoma at Colorado, 1:30 PM/10:30 AM, FSN

 

Michigan State at #9 Wisconsin, 3:30/12:30 PM, ABC/ESPN*

#13 Clemson at Georgia Tech, 3:30/12:30 PM, ABC/ESPN*

#6 California at #11 Oregon, 3:30/12:30 PM, ABC*

Kansas State at #7 Texas, 3:30/12:30 PM, ABC*

Maryland at #10 Rutgers, 3:3/12:30 PM ABC*

Florida State vs. #22 Alabama, 5:00/2:00 PM, CBS

 

UCLA at Oregon State, 6:30/3:30 PM, FSN

#1 USC at Washington, 8:00/5:00 PM, ABC

Auburn at #4 Florida, 8:00/5:00 PM, ESPN

#8 Ohio State at Minnesota, 8:00/5:00 PM, ESPN2

 

#24 Cincinnati at San Diego State, 10:00/7:00 PM, Versus

 

Digital Cable/Satellite/Gameplan Schedule

 

SATURDAY

Temple at Army, Noon/9:00 AM, ESPNU

#21 Penn State at Illinois, Noon/9:00 AM, BTN*

Indiana at Iowa, Noon/9:00 AM, BTN*

Michigan at Northwestern, Noon/9:00 AM, BTN*

North Carolina at #17 Virgnia Tech, Noon/9:00 AM, LFS*/GP

Akron at Connecticut, Noon/9:00 AM, GP

Northern Illinois at Central Michigan, Noon/9:00 AM, GP

Mississippi State at #16 South Carolina, 12:30 PM/9:30 AM, LFS*/GP

Air Force at Navy, 1:00 PM/10:00 AM, CSTV

Florida Atlantic at #14 Kentucky, 1:00 PM/10:00 AM, GP

Utah State at Utah, 3:00 PM/Noon, Mtn.

Syracuse at Miami of Ohio, 3:00 PM/Noon, GP

Louisville at N.C. State 3:30/12:30 PM, ESPNU

UTEP at SMU, 4:30/1:30 PM, CSTV

#19 Hawaii at Idaho, 5:00/2:00 PM, GP

Pittsburgh at Virginia, 7:00/4:00 PM, ESPNU

Colorado State at TCU, 7:00/4:00 PM, Mtn.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff at New Mexico State, 8:00/5:00 PM, GP

BYU at New Mexico, 8:30/5:30 PM, CSTV

#23 Arizona State at Stanford, 10:00/7:00 PM, FCS Pacific

Washington State at Arizona, 10:00/7:00 PM, FCS Central

 

All Other Div I-A Games

 

THURSDAY

Memphis at Arkansas State

 

SATURDAY

Buffalo at Ball State

Duke at Miami

Mississippi at #15 Georgia

Massachusetts at #12 Boston College

Iowa State at #25 Nebraska

Kent State at Ohio

UC Davis at San Jose State

UNLV at Nevada

Western Kentucky at Bowling Green

Louisiana-Lafayette at UCF

North Texas at Arkansas

UAB at Tulsa

Eastern Michigan at Vanderbilt

East Carolina at Houston

FIU at Middle Tennessee State

Northwestern State at Texas Tech

Western Michigan at Toledo

Louisiana-Monroe at Troy

Sam Houston State at Oklahoma State

Louisana Tech at Fresno State

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Note three of the four computer rankings have LSU #1 with only Sagarin ranking USC #1.

 

How is that possible when you posted the Harris poll having USC at #1?

[Bored 0]

The Harris Poll is the human poll with "football people" who vote on it.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Oh right. Ok thanks.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

Note on Rankings: App. State fell to #5 and Montana takes over the #1 spot after last week for those curious. Wofford moved up from 13 to 8.

 

FCS Matchups of the Week! Lots of big matchups.

#5 Appalachian State vs. #24 Elon: QB Trey Elder may see some time (531 yards, 7 TD vs. 1 INT w/205 yards rushing and 1 TD) against QB Scott Riddle (940 yards, 8 TD vs. 3 INT) and WR Terrell Hudgins (453 yards, 6 TD)

#4 North Dakota State vs. #17 Western Illinois: RB Tyler Roehl (461 yards, 6 TD) goes up against RB Herb Donaldson (426 yards, 2 TD) and WR Carl Sims (201 yards, 1 TD)

#3 Northern Iowa vs. #16 Illinois State: RB Corey Lewis (442 yards, 5 TD with 299 yards receiving) goes up against RB Rafael Rice (405 yards, 5 TD) and WR Jason Horton (263 yards, 2 TD)

#11 New Hampshire vs. #25 Richmond: QB Ricky Santos (841 yards, 7 TD vs. 2 INT) goes up against RB Tim Hightower (614 yards, 9 TD).

#8 Wofford vs. #20 Furman: QB Ben Widmyer (317 yards, 4 TD vs. 0 INT) and WR Andy Strickland (216 yards, 4 TD) go up against QB Renaldo Gray (492 yards, 5 TD vs. 2 INT) and WR Patrick Sprague (231 yards, 1 TD) and WR R.J. Webb (195 yards, 1 TD)

 

As for FCS vs. FBS Matchups. Here are the notables/potential upsets.

UC Davis vs. San Jose State: Watch QB Tim Plough - 1136 yards, 8 TD vs. 3 INT and RB Joe Trombetta - 449 yards rushing, 5 TD with 242 yards receiving and 2 TD and WR Brandon Rice - 25 catches for 323 yards and 2 TD.

#15 Sam Houston State vs. Oklahoma State: Watch QB Rhett Bomar - 819 yards, 8 TD vs. 2 INT, and 149 yards rushing with 2 TD.

Ark-Pine Bluff vs. New Mexico State: Watch WR Jason Jones - 14 catches for 216 yards.

[Secret Agent 0]

Note on Rankings: App. State fell to #5 and Montana takes over the #1 spot after last week for those curious. Wofford moved up from 13 to 8.

 

FCS Matchups of the Week! Lots of big matchups.

#5 Appalachian State vs. #24 Elon: QB Trey Elder may see some time (531 yards, 7 TD vs. 1 INT w/205 yards rushing and 1 TD) against QB Scott Riddle (940 yards, 8 TD vs. 3 INT) and WR Terrell Hudgins (453 yards, 6 TD)

#4 North Dakota State vs. #17 Western Illinois: RB Tyler Roehl (461 yards, 6 TD) goes up against RB Herb Donaldson (426 yards, 2 TD) and WR Carl Sims (201 yards, 1 TD)

#3 Northern Iowa vs. #16 Illinois State: RB Corey Lewis (442 yards, 5 TD with 299 yards receiving) goes up against RB Rafael Rice (405 yards, 5 TD) and WR Jason Horton (263 yards, 2 TD)

#11 New Hampshire vs. #25 Richmond: QB Ricky Santos (841 yards, 7 TD vs. 2 INT) goes up against RB Tim Hightower (614 yards, 9 TD).

#8 Wofford vs. #20 Furman: QB Ben Widmyer (317 yards, 4 TD vs. 0 INT) and WR Andy Strickland (216 yards, 4 TD) go up against QB Renaldo Gray (492 yards, 5 TD vs. 2 INT) and WR Patrick Sprague (231 yards, 1 TD) and WR R.J. Webb (195 yards, 1 TD)

 

Hey now, where is Central Oklahoma on that list?

[HarleyQuinn 0]

Central Oklahoma came oh so close but missed by a smidge

 

It'd help if they weren't D2 and were at least ranked in the Top 10 there too.

[MFer 0]

Harley Quinn-

 

Regarding Grand Valley State University, I played (or more accurately, rode the pine) 1 year on a team in their conference and played against some of their players in high school so I'm pretty familar with them. As the most dominant team in D-II the past several years (and I'm reasonably sure you're familiar with them), how would you see them stacking up against FCS teams?

[HarleyQuinn 0]

D2 teams have been having success. I could see Grand Valley State matching up well with some of the Top 15-25 FCS teams (similar to Top 1-10 in FCS matching up well with FBS teams at times).

 

It's hard to tell how they'd fare against Top 5 or even Top 10 teams as I'm sure there would be some "surprise" victories ala App. State vs. Michigan but overall, I think Grand Valley State would lose most of the games against that level of competition.

 

They're currently riding a 31 game undefeated streak and while their offense and defense are very good, they've been susceptible to allowing opponents some big games at the same time and they've also had a lot more close, defensive battles than they have offensive shootouts. I think if challenged by a good, defensive FCS team that they'd struggle more offensively than if they went against a slightly weaker defensive FCS team where they could score 17-20 and let their defense win the game.

 

I think most of the top FCS teams could hold Grand Valley to 10-14 points and score 24-30 pretty easily depending on the school.

[teke184 0]

Sagarin's rankings only have USC with a slight lead over LSU.

 

USC has a 99.64 and LSU has a 98.32.

 

The next-closest team to LSU, Oklahoma, has a 93.18.

 

 

There's still a good chance LSU will regain the #1 spot in the Sagarin Rankings by the time the first BCS poll comes out, ESPECIALLY if they beat Florida on October 6.

 

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Really it shouldn't matter who is #1 and #2, since it's pretty much USC and LSU's to lose.

[Guest]

Yeah

 

As for Cal/Oregon, that's going to be some game.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

Here are some of the bigger in-conference games of the FCS Weekend (outside of the above "national interest" ones).

 

Big Sky: Portland State (1-3 with 1 conference win) [81 PF vs. 137 PA] @ 21 Eastern Washington (3-0 with 1 conference win) [127 PF vs. 51 PA]

Colonial Athletic: Villanova (3-1 with 1 conference win) [102 PF vs. 82 PA] @ 9 James Madison (3-1 with 1 conference win) [145 PF vs. 88 PA]

MEAC: Morgan State (1-3 with 2 conference losses) [102 PF vs. 78 PA] @ Bethune Cookman (2-2 with 2 conference losses) [120 PF vs. 92 PA]

Northeast: Sacred Heart (2-2) [128 PF vs. 98 PA] @ Wagner (2-1) [58 PF vs. 38 PA]

Pioneer: San Diego (3-0) [129 PF vs. 62 PA] @ Butler (4-0) [125 PF vs. 57 PA]

Pioneer: Valparaiso (3-1) [100 PF vs. 75 PA] @ Drake (3-1) [99 PF vs. 90 PA]

SWAC: Alabama State (4-0 with 3 conference wins) [85 PF vs. 64 PA] @ Southern (4-0 with 2 conference wins) [109 PF vs. 69 PA]

 

[iggymcfly 0]

Yeah, I might have to head to the sports bar if Oregon/Cal's not on. I really want to see that game. I'd actually rather watch that than Georgia Tech/Clemson, even as a Jackets fan.

[teke184 0]

Really it shouldn't matter who is #1 and #2, since it's pretty much USC and LSU's to lose.

You say that now...

 

If Oklahoma and West Virginia go 13-0 and 12-0, respectively, then being in the #1 spot makes it that much more likely NOT to get bumped by either of those teams.

 

(I don't think West Virginia makes it because their defense is sub-par, but Oklahoma could likely go 13-0 the way the Big 12 is this year.)

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

The problem is right now the Pac-10 and SEC gets more respect from voters and computers. Oklahoma's biggest test is against a team that's falling in the rankings, despite still being undefeated (Texas), and no one really buys Texas as a threat. USC has Cal, UCLA, Oregon, Arizona State, and so forth on the schedule not to mention a respected team (at the time) Nebraska. LSU had South Carolina already and they will play some of the other tough teams from the SEC like Florida, so if both teams go undefeated, I don't see how Oklahoma can jump either team, no matter what. Earlier I was worried about the rankings but I realized it really doesn't matter whether USC is #1 or #2, as long as they make the title game should they run the table.

[Bored 0]

It's unlikely USC, LSU, and Oklahoma will all go undefeated. We haven't had three undefeated/untied teams at the end of the regular season since 1993 and that year was just bizarre.

 

A note on Cal/Oregon not being a "reverse mirror" game, turns out even though ESPN as of this year has the rights to some Big XII and Pac-10 games the current deal does not allow them to use ABC regional games from those conferences as reverse mirror games on ESPN. This is going to piss off a lot people next week as Texas/Oklahoma will not be nationally televised believe it or not, which it usually has been in the past. It will be a regional game and only about half the country will be able see it.

[iggymcfly 0]

It's unlikely USC, LSU, and Oklahoma will all go undefeated. We haven't had three undefeated/untied teams at the end of the regular season since 1993 and that year was just bizarre.

 

Do you just have a permanent brain fart with all things Auburn? It was actually 2004 when USC and Oklahoma were both undefeated over the Tigers.

[Bored 0]

God dammit. I don't know why in my head I convinced myself everyone lost that year and then realized that was 2003.

 

Alright, but we aren't ending up with four undefeated teams...

[Guest Smues]

Weren't Boise St. and Utah also undefeated at the end of that regular season? Making it 5 teams?

[Bored 0]

They were but since they had no shot at the national title they don't count. But hey the regular season is a playoff!

 

Completely unrelated this what LSU is wearing on Saturday in New Orleans.

[teke184 0]

I saw the jerseys with the combo pelican / Fleur De Lis logo at the merchandising tent before the LSU-South Carolina game.

 

I know what it's meant to represent and everything, but that logo is still fuckin' ugly.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I'm going to head down to Eugene on Saturday to tailgate before the game and see if I can't scalp a ticket. Most weeks it's not that hard to grab a couple seats for $5-$10.

[Bored 0]

Coverage map for the ESABCPN 3:30/12:30 games.

[iggymcfly 0]

Thank Christ. Usually, we get stuck with the Big Ten or Big XII games in Missoula, even though Wazzu's only 270 miles away and it's at least 800 miles to any Big Ten school. I guess Oregon/Cal's a big enough game to get a little larger coverage though. It's weird how when I champion a team as underrated for a few weeks, they sort of become my surrogate second favorite team and I start to really care about how they perform, even if I could have given two shits less the previous season. Oregon's fitting that mold for me this season, much the way that LSU did in 2003 and 2006.

[J.B. Buzzkill 0]

Mike Gundy has an issue with his steak.

[teke184 0]

South Florida's up 14-0 on West Virginia in the 2nd right now.

 

That would be a major blow to the Big East's hopes of getting a team into the BCS Title Game, as I doubt an undefeated Rutgers or South Florida would be able to jump USC, LSU, Oklahoma, Florida, Ohio State, or Wisconsin without a lot of help.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Coverage map for the ESABCPN 3:30/12:30 games.

 

 

So what game is on prime time?

[teke184 0]

14-3 at the half because WVU blew a snap around the 3 yard line on 3rd down, forcing a FG on 4th down from about their 20.

 

Also, Pat White is out right now with a bruised thigh, but is expected to return.

[teke184 0]

21-3 USF at the start of the 3rd.

 

 

WVU's defense is being owned by USF QB Matt Grothe, who has been able to scramble at will for the first on several third downs now.