Saturday Early Games Open Thread
Noon Big Ten Games:
Nebraska: Arkansas State (ESPN/2/U)
Ohio: vs Cal (ABC)
Illinois: vs Charleston Southern (BTN) Please Illinois, do NOT lose this game
Purdue: vs EMU (BTN)
Minnesota: vs WMU (BTN)
Just saw a tremendous sign on ESPN Gameday:
Will Muschamp listens to Nickelback
September 15th, 2012 at 10:27 AM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 10:40 AM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 10:44 AM ^
I might drop in on OSU v Cal ... but my interest level is somewhat low.
For me, UM-UMass is *the* game, followed by MSU-ND, then Florida-Tennessee. A few weeks ago I had my sights set on Alabama-Arkansas, but some of the shine is off that game.
Re: UM-UMass ... I want me some Bellomy in 2nd half.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:27 PM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 10:50 AM ^
Soo...how many games does the B1G lose this week?
September 15th, 2012 at 11:09 AM ^
I would set the over/under at 2.5.
I don't see any sure losses, but:
Sparty has a challenging game.
Penn State is reeling.
Northwestern may have trouble with BC.
Minnesota and Indiana face low tier foes... but they are still Minnesota and Indiana.
In conclusion, aside from Sparty, the B1G SHOULD win every other game...
September 15th, 2012 at 11:18 AM ^
I so wish PSU was stuck with Air Force this week instead of Navy. Navy's defense is horrific, and their triple option is not as fearsome as it has once been (I still chose Navy in my Pick em, because seriously, fuck Penn State).
I think AF would probably drub PSU by two or three scores.
September 15th, 2012 at 11:20 AM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 11:33 AM ^
The Big Ten went 10-2 the first week, and 6-6 the second week. Fairly significant drop, to be sure.
That being noted, I would take a tentative over on the 2.5 mentioned. The only games where I think there is a significant chance that the Big Ten might lose are MSU / ND, which will be a tough game for both teams, and Northwestern / Boston College, because it always seems like Northwestern is one of those rare teams that could win or lose on a given day simply because they are what they are. I am not sure what to make of Penn State - I have a feeling that even Navy might give them problems despite being a very budget version of Air Force.
I would guess that the conference goes 9-3 or 10-2 this week.
September 15th, 2012 at 11:48 AM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 11:13 AM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 11:15 AM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 11:26 AM ^
Not exactly the greatest slate of games today.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:13 PM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 11:39 AM ^
BEAT PURDUE!
September 15th, 2012 at 11:53 AM ^
was simply the head of John Stamos from his Uncle Jesse years peering over the shoulder of Herbstreit.
September 15th, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
Dozens of people just watched the Purdue band do their pre-game show, but many of the fans appear to be in the line to get painted jet black, so perhaps they'll be in their seats soon.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:01 PM ^
Wow, I feel like a moron. Woke up and was getting myself psyched for a 11:00 CST start and then I come to find out the game doesn't start until 2:30! Why are we playing such a shitty opponent in that time slot??
September 15th, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^
I am also annoyed, but then again I have to leave for the airport at 5.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:10 PM ^
I would like to nominate "Vincenzo D'Amato" as the PK Name Of The Week. It was fun to hear Spielman take great care in pronouncing that name for some reason.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^
A relative perhaps? Hmmm.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:11 PM ^
I like neither, but c'mon, Cal is obviously less evil. However, the fan base annoys me with their delusions of grandeur.
Missing Michigan's game to go drink fine beer on a battleship that's floating on the SF Bay.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:13 PM ^
come on Cal beat ohio
September 15th, 2012 at 12:19 PM ^
Wow....Cal is bad. This might be the end of Tedford. With Kiffin recruiting like a machine and Stanford picking up guys as well Cal is left out to dry.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:22 PM ^
That's true, but I do admire Zach Maynard for doing the honorable thing and sacking himself because his OL cannot give him more than a few seconds to read the field, and apparently, they don't speak "blitz" either.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:35 PM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 3:04 PM ^
With Lupoi, but 2012 cratered post-Lupoi and 2013 has almost nothing. If Tedford doesn't turn it around this year the entire program enters lame-duck status.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
California is a country-sized state. You should be able to play third fiddle there and still pick up some talent.
September 15th, 2012 at 2:11 PM ^
Obviously UCLA has struggled in recent years, but they have a new coach and are obviously recruiting California as well.
September 15th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
To consider Stanford a part of a "state." For Stanford's purposes, "in-state recruiting" is basically "academic kids." Sometimes they're in California (which, great!) and sometimes they're around. So Stanford sometimes fights USC, Cal, UCLA, but they're really fishing in different pools.
Stanford vs. Notre Dame is probably the most common recruiting battle.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:26 PM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 1:47 PM ^
Just heard an interesting stat- if ULM beats Auburn (14-14 at half) they will be 2-0 in the SEC West this year.
September 15th, 2012 at 2:10 PM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 12:29 PM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 1:01 PM ^
Picked Wake Forest to upset FSU today. It's a bit of a long shot, but I like WFs better coaching over FSUs better recruiting. It's weird to see a few thousand empty seats at FSU. Don't their fans know they're ranked #5?
EDIT: well it looks like today isn't going to be that day when FSU lays its annual giant turd. I thought at home versus WF would be the perfect time for them to go all supercat on everybody.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:32 PM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 12:49 PM ^
I really don't think any students get to games on time. At least not snacky-cake games which I assume is how they think of Wake even if it is in conference. Because beer, man, 20-year-olds love that shit.
September 15th, 2012 at 1:58 PM ^
You do know that WF beat them last year, right? So, throw the "opponent" theory out the window.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:33 PM ^
ULM up 7-0 on Auburn.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:34 PM ^
Im really hoping Cal can give them a game. Just watched Miller go 55 yards for a score. That guy really needs to work on ball security. he carries the ball like it's a handbag.
BTW did anyone hear Jerry Dinardo say Braxton Miller is a better passer than Denard Ronbinson? I mean, neither is going to be confused for Peyton manning, but this is just further evidence that Dinardo is a raging moron
September 15th, 2012 at 12:37 PM ^
every network has idiots that make stupid useless comments....Dinardo, Palmer, Holtz, Rob Smith.
It's the fact that all these guys were waiting for years to take pot shots at everything michigan and when the winning keeps going they will shut up.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:34 PM ^
I cant imagine a noon start will be a good thing for Florida kids on saturday morning....I'd bet that it will up by at least halftime.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:38 PM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 12:38 PM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^
What's up with FSU's fans? A TON of empty seats. Is that normal?
EDIT:Seems like that's not unusual. How are they getting recruits? What shitty fans.
September 15th, 2012 at 1:29 PM ^
I always wondered that about FSU as well as Miami, USC, and UCLA. It's not at all uncommon to see their stadiums below capacity during regular season games. Spoiled fans? Bandwagon fans? Bad fans?...probably just bad bandwagon fans
EDIT: Holy crap just saw the stadium pan-out view. There's probably 5,000-10,000 empty seats for a home game for their #5 seminoles. Come on
September 15th, 2012 at 12:40 PM ^
The Ohio defense helped Cal quite a bit and sort of made this look easy by tackling everyone except the guy with the ball on one play and watching short passes zip by their heads to open Cal receivers. 7-6 Golden Bears.
September 15th, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 12:43 PM ^
Pitt looking world beating today.