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College Football Week 9

tapeANaspirin2it

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Starting to get into the meat of the schedules. Some big games on tap this weekend. As usual we start with the game America clamors for


6 Penn State at Michigan State 3:30 ABC
MSU is having a disappointing season and Penn State is coming off an emotional win in the whiteout. Could there be a letdown this week? Penn State has played very flat against MSU the last few years coming off big games.

MSU QB Lewerke has had some of his best games vs Penn State. This Penn State defense is much faster and has more playmakers than in years past.

The Penn State offense still sputters at times because no #2 WR has stepped up and with the rotation of 4 RBs, they don't seem to have a rhythm in the run game.



13 Wisconsin at 3 Ohio State 12:00 on Fox
Probably would have been a meeting of top 5 teams if Wisconsin hadn't laid an egg vs Illinois. Illinois had a gameplan the exploited some things on the Wisky defense. Could that prove to be a good thing?

The instinct is to think OSU blows them out and maybe they will, but this is really OSU's first real game of the year. They have not been challenged even a little bit yet. Wisky was in the same boat last week vs Illinois and we saw how that turned out.



9 Auburn at 2 LSU 3:30 on CBS
LSu has been dominant. Auburn has been good but Bo Nix is a freshman and I don't think he can win this one. The good news for Auburn is that it's a days game because LSU at night is another level.



8 Notre Dame at 19 Michigan 7:30 on ABC
Huge game for both teams. MIch is ND's last ranked opponent on the schedule. If they win this game, they have a shot at a playoff.

But if ND beats Michigan and MIch also loses to Ohio State, Mich might end up unranked at the end. That would mean ND has zero wins vs ranked teams and their best win would actually be a loss to Georgia where they didn't get beat by as much as people thought.

Is that enough for ND to get in the playoffs over a conference champ with better wins? The selection committee is a sham so you better believe it could happen cuz $$$


Could this be a program killer for Michigan? That seems an overstatement. It probably is, but it's not that far off either. This is year 5 for Harbaugh and he's yet to even win the East and play in the Champ game.

Michigan has tons of talent and they have each year under Harbaugh but they are underachieving. I don't even think that's debatable. You are seeing more and more talking heads calling out Harbaugh and the program.

Recruiting is fickle. If they lose to ND and then lose badly to Ohio State to finish with 4 losses, it could really hurt recruiting. Teams will no doubt start negative recruiting by saying Harbaugh won't be there for their careers.

I'm torn on this game. My gut is that Michigan may have found some confidence in the second half vs Penn State where they seemed to finally find some offensive rhythm.

The problem is ND has a good OL that can pick up pressure and the have a bunch of big WRs that can make plays downfield. Penn State had lots of deep opportunities and only hit a few of them. If ND connects on more of them this game could get ugly.

I just don't believe in ND that much though. This is a desperation game for Michigan and I think they pull this one out.
 
This is a game Penn State definitely should win but, damn, MSU always seems to have our number. Hopefully, we can get this win and not have a let down. Tough road game for sure, though.
 
I am impressed with LSU's QB, ( Joe Burrow ) and their new ( 2018 ) OC Ensminger

Burrow is completing 79.4% of his passes...which is unheard of, and doing it in the SEC. I have not seen how good his arm and release is, but it would not surprise me if he's the first overall pick, with the caveat that he has an NFL arm.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/joe-burrow-1.html
 
I had an opportunity to attend the MSU/PSU game, but it's supposed to start raining around 3pm and continue on for the next 15-18 hours or so. If it comes to fruition, those are pretty miserable conditions to withstand for someone with no allegiance to either team.
 
Penn State relies on speed. A sloppy field is a big advantage for Mich State
 
Its a long shot getting two Big Ten schools in the playoffs let alone one, but KSU all over #5 OKLA right now.... I don't think #9Auburn can hang with #2LSU. Mich needs to beat ND as well.

But if PSU can implement a strong and successful running game vs. MSU that could be the keys to moving into the top 5 or greater. Keep MSU off the field and keep the clock rolling. Can Hamler get a break from being 'THE' game plan?



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LSU has to be #1 in the next poll.

Solid win for Penn State in the slop. Now they have a bye then Minnesota. Minn also has a bye so that will be a battle of unbeatens. Penn State is sure to go up to 5 at least after the Oklahoma loss. Minn is currently 17 and will likely move up a spot or 2 just due to teams in front of them losing this week and next.
 
Good win for PSU against a team that usually gives them fits. Freiermuth is turning into a monster TE...might he even be better than Gesicki? Not a fan of the running back by committee and still no #2 WR.
 
MSU seems to have fallen on hard times. That would have been a miserable game to attend. My buddy with tickets didn’t even go.
 
LSU has to be #1 in the next poll.

Agree, but no way it happens. They have been great against a pretty tough schedule that had 3 top 10 teams and a 4th with Bama November 9th. Alabama is gonna destroy Arkansas, and a comparison of the final scores will keep Alabama #1.
 
The Irish Catholics are in big trouble in the pouring rain
 
Michigan looks completely dominant right now.
 
This game shows why Penn State took so many deep shots vs Michigan. You have to. They have everybody in the box and bringing pressure. You aren't going to run effectively unless you back them off.

Notre Dame has to throw some deep balls or they're dead. Book looks rattled.
 
Bama is up 48-0 and Nick Saban is screaming like crazy in some players face, lol

Has Tomlin EVER screamed in a players face?
 
Bama is up 48-0 and Nick Saban is screaming like crazy in some players face, lol

Has Tomlin EVER screamed in a players face?

To me, that’s why they are #1 every year. The coaching doesn’t change whether you are playing a 7-0 team or a 1-6 team. The standard is the standard, and apparently Alabama’s standard is pretty high.
 
That, and they have better players.
 
That must have been the makeup call. It was equally horrible.
 
To me, that’s why they are #1 every year. The coaching doesn’t change whether you are playing a 7-0 team or a 1-6 team. The standard is the standard, and apparently Alabama’s standard is pretty high.

LOL...that and the fact that almost 99% of their players are 4 or 5 star recruits. I give them credit for building that culture but c'mon....they should never lose to a 1-6 team. Based on the link below, the only 3 star recruit they put on the team is a kicker....all others are 4-5 star. They play the Western Carolina Catamounts on 23 Nov.....think they have a chance?

https://247sports.com/college/alabama/Season/2019-Football/Commits/
 
Last night I told one of my friends who is an Auburn fan exactly what was going to happen in that game today. She just hoped they would be competitive. I told her that Auburn's defense is going to challenge LSU's O like they haven't been challenged all season. I also said Auburn could win it but likely would come up just short and LSU would have their biggest scare of the season.

Surprised that Mac Wilson played as well as he did stepping in for Tua, but then again he faced ZERO pressure. Arkansas looked like they rented a Big 12 defense too.
 
I still think Michigan will get smashed by Ohio State.

Ohio State DE Chase Young is the best player in college and should win the heisman.
 
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