A look into the new normal (2024 CFB Regular Season thread)

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Football: Ohio gets massive win on the road against Toledo

A huge, defense-led second half for Ohio leads to a key win.

www.thepostathens.com

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Week 13- Top 10 Games

Once again, Tom Albin continues to shine as Ohio coach. And speaking of, let's see who will continue to shine as Rivalry Week fast approaches. That's right, it's time again for...

The Top 10 Games of College Football 2024 [Week 13]​

(All times are Eastern)
10. Texas A&M @ Auburn [7:30, ESPN] (I'm so sorry, Sam Houston @ Jacksonville State. I REALLY wanted to put your game in the Top 10, because it's a huge battle in Conference USA. But I have to put Texas A&M's trip to Auburn on the list. Why? Because A&M could lose their grip atop the SEC if they get upset by Auburn. And by the way: Vegas only has A&M as a 2.5 point favorite. You know what game last week had that same line? BYU vs. Kansas. And why happened to BYU? They lost! ...I rest my case.)

9. SMU @ Virginia [12:00, ESPN2] (SMU is in the same boat as Texas A&M this week; they're on the road and trying to keep their grip atop their conference. This is the very first time EVER that SMU is facing Virginia, and the Cavs still have a shot at a bowl game. Let's see if SMU keeps their cool, and if the Cavs learned anything from getting torched by Notre Dame last week.)

8. Wake Forest @ Miami [12:00, ESPN] (Miami is a 24-point favorite against 4-6 Wake Forest this week. So why is this game still on the list? Because Miami has no more margin-for-error; one more loss and Clemson will go to the ACC championship game instead of them. Will the bye week help Miami come up with ways to use players OTHER than Cameron Ward?)

7. Alabama @ Oklahoma [7:30, ABC] (When the SEC grabbed Oklahoma and Texas from the Big 12, they expected those 2 to give them marquee games just like this one. Well, here we are: Alabama is going to Norman for the first time since 2002. AND... Alabama is the only one ranked. Do the Sooners have any pride left? Will the home crowd lift Oklahoma to a upset win? Or is the Crimson Tide defense about to feast on the weak OU offense?)

6. Colorado @ Kansas [3:30, FOX] (Here's another game featuring your beloved Colorado Buffaloes! So why does THIS Colorado game feel different than the others? Go ask Kansas; they're not having the season they expected to have in 2024, but DAMMIT they're showing off a great amount of pride. Just ask BYU, who Kansas shocked last week. So can Sheduer Sanders outduel Jalon Daniels and keep the Buffalo hype-train rolling?
Oh, and just know this: Vegas has Colorado as only a 3-point favorite. Hmmm...)

5. Ole Miss @ Florida [12:00, ABC] (This is just about the Ole Miss Rebels, going to Florida to keep their own CFP hopes alive. But I am a little nervous about Florida rising up and beating LSU last week as DJ Lagway played well for the Gators. I guess it'll be up to the Rebels defense to win in a hostile environment like Gainesville.)

4. BYU @ Arizona State [3:30, ESPN] (Now we're on to the heavyweights for the week. Okay, I mentioned the misfortune that BYU suffered last week already. So let's see if they can bounce back against one of the best surprises of the 2024 season. Yep, it's Arizona State, led by their offensive stars [RB Cam Skattebo and QB Sam Leavitt] and a good defense! Oh, and BYU's QB Jake Retzlaff's stats have taken a dive over the last 2 games. Will he rebound? Or is BYU's dream season about to collapse on them?)

3. Penn State @ Minnesota [3:30, CBS] (I'll bet Penn State is loving this 12-team playoff idea now. Right now, they're not worrying about catching up to Oregon or Ohio State or Indiana. Nope, they can just focus on getting through their last 2 games and proving themselves in the playoff.
But wait a minute! Penn State is at Minnesota this week, and the Gophers are pretty good [just ask their QB Max Brosmer]. Oh, and remember 5 years ago [the last time Penn State went to Minnesota as a Top-5 team]? Yep, the Nittany Lions lost that game. This one could be a doozy.)

2. Notre Dame vs. Army {from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx} [7:00, NBC] (I'm kinda mad that "College Gameday" bypassed this game. Yes, I know that Ohio State/Indiana is a battle of Top 5 teams, but come on! The grandeur was right there! We got undefeated Army! We got a Notre Dame team still highly ranked! And we got the spectacle of Yankee Stadium to capture it all! It was right there for the taking! ...Well, at least NBC knows how big this game is, as they moved it to primetime.
Anyway, what will happen in this REALLY old-school contest? Will Notre Dame rise up again? Or is Army about to grab the victory that will catapult them to CFP consideration?)

1. Indiana @ Ohio State [12:00, FOX] (It's Kurtis Rourke vs. Will Howard. It's Curt Cignetti going up against Ryan Day and the Buckeyes for the first time. And the winner of this game will take the inside track to Indianapolis to face Oregon in 2 weeks. Nothing else to say except it's time to see if Indiana can truly be elite in 2024.)

Best "mid-major" game: North Dakota State @ South Dakota (Whoa. North Dakota State has one more challenger to their Missouri Valley title? I gotta see this!)
Game with the best chance to be a bust: Kentucky @ Texas (Texas A&M has a chance to get upset this week. The Longhorns of Texas? No chance; I got them winning this game with ease.)
Honorable mentions for the Top 10: Illinois @ Rutgers, Sam Houston @ Jacksonville State, UConn @ Syracuse, Marshall @ Old Dominion, and USC @ UCLA.

Wow. I mentioned 4 SEC games on this list? Great to see that ABC/ESPN isn't letting the SEC get lazy on the week before Rivalry Week (like it did in years past). My prediction segment is next!

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Week 13 Predictions

So let's see how many crazy things will happen on the week before Rivalry Week. Here are my picks for Week 13 (FBS vs. FCS games don't count):

Top 25:
(5)Indiana 24 @ (2)Ohio State 28
Kentucky 10 @ (3)Texas 42
(4)Penn State 30 @ Minnesota 20
(19)Army 16 vs. (6)Notre Dame 27
(7)Alabama 38 @ Oklahoma 17
Wake Forest 20 @ (8)Miami 37
(9)Ole Miss 30 @ Florida 34
UMass 7 @ (10)Georgia 52
UTEP 6 @ (11)Tennessee 54
(12)Boise State 43 @ Wyoming 10
(13)SMU 39 @ Virginia 21
(14)BYU 28 @ (21)Arizona State 35
(15)Texas A&M 24 @ Auburn 21
(16)Colorado 38 @ Kansas 37
(22)Iowa State 18 @ Utah 23
(23)Missouri 31 @ Mississippi State 18
(24)UNLV 40 @ San Jose State 27
(25)Illinois 22 @ Rutgers 24

Other big games:
USC 34 @ UCLA 31
Wisconsin 17 @ Nebraska 20
Stanford 23 @ California 26
Sam Houston 17 @ Jacksonville State 23

My time's up. You've been great. Enjoy "Gladiator 2".

 

[PIBuckeye]

Week 13- Top 10 Games

Once again, Tom Albin continues to shine as Ohio coach. And speaking of, let's see who will continue to shine as Rivalry Week fast approaches. That's right, it's time again for...

The Top 10 Games of College Football 2024 [Week 13]​

(All times are Eastern)
10. Texas A&M @ Auburn [7:30, ESPN] (I'm so sorry, Sam Houston @ Jacksonville State. I REALLY wanted to put your game in the Top 10, because it's a huge battle in Conference USA. But I have to put Texas A&M's trip to Auburn on the list. Why? Because A&M could lose their grip atop the SEC if they get upset by Auburn. And by the way: Vegas only has A&M as a 2.5 point favorite. You know what game last week had that same line? BYU vs. Kansas. And why happened to BYU? They lost! ...I rest my case.)

9. SMU @ Virginia [12:00, ESPN2] (SMU is in the same boat as Texas A&M this week; they're on the road and trying to keep their grip atop their conference. This is the very first time EVER that SMU is facing Virginia, and the Cavs still have a shot at a bowl game. Let's see if SMU keeps their cool, and if the Cavs learned anything from getting torched by Notre Dame last week.)

8. Wake Forest @ Miami [12:00, ESPN] (Miami is a 24-point favorite against 4-6 Wake Forest this week. So why is this game still on the list? Because Miami has no more margin-for-error; one more loss and Clemson will go to the ACC championship game instead of them. Will the bye week help Miami come up with ways to use players OTHER than Cameron Ward?)

7. Alabama @ Oklahoma [7:30, ABC] (When the SEC grabbed Oklahoma and Texas from the Big 12, they expected those 2 to give them marquee games just like this one. Well, here we are: Alabama is going to Norman for the first time since 2002. AND... Alabama is the only one ranked. Do the Sooners have any pride left? Will the home crowd lift Oklahoma to a upset win? Or is the Crimson Tide defense about to feast on the weak OU offense?)

6. Colorado @ Kansas [3:30, FOX] (Here's another game featuring your beloved Colorado Buffaloes! So why does THIS Colorado game feel different than the others? Go ask Kansas; they're not having the season they expected to have in 2024, but DAMMIT they're showing off a great amount of pride. Just ask BYU, who Kansas shocked last week. So can Sheduer Sanders outduel Jalon Daniels and keep the Buffalo hype-train rolling?
Oh, and just know this: Vegas has Colorado as only a 3-point favorite. Hmmm...)

5. Ole Miss @ Florida [12:00, ABC] (This is just about the Ole Miss Rebels, going to Florida to keep their own CFP hopes alive. But I am a little nervous about Florida rising up and beating LSU last week as DJ Lagway played well for the Gators. I guess it'll be up to the Rebels defense to win in a hostile environment like Gainesville.)

4. BYU @ Arizona State [3:30, ESPN] (Now we're on to the heavyweights for the week. Okay, I mentioned the misfortune that BYU suffered last week already. So let's see if they can bounce back against one of the best surprises of the 2024 season. Yep, it's Arizona State, led by their offensive stars [RB Cam Skattebo and QB Sam Leavitt] and a good defense! Oh, and BYU's QB Jake Retzlaff's stats have taken a dive over the last 2 games. Will he rebound? Or is BYU's dream season about to collapse on them?)

3. Penn State @ Minnesota [3:30, CBS] (I'll bet Penn State is loving this 12-team playoff idea now. Right now, they're not worrying about catching up to Oregon or Ohio State or Indiana. Nope, they can just focus on getting through their last 2 games and proving themselves in the playoff.
But wait a minute! Penn State is at Minnesota this week, and the Gophers are pretty good [just ask their QB Max Brosmer]. Oh, and remember 5 years ago [the last time Penn State went to Minnesota as a Top-5 team]? Yep, the Nittany Lions lost that game. This one could be a doozy.)

2. Notre Dame vs. Army {from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx} [7:00, NBC] (I'm kinda mad that "College Gameday" bypassed this game. Yes, I know that Ohio State/Indiana is a battle of Top 5 teams, but come on! The grandeur was right there! We got undefeated Army! We got a Notre Dame team still highly ranked! And we got the spectacle of Yankee Stadium to capture it all! It was right there for the taking! ...Well, at least NBC knows how big this game is, as they moved it to primetime.
Anyway, what will happen in this REALLY old-school contest? Will Notre Dame rise up again? Or is Army about to grab the victory that will catapult them to CFP consideration?)

1. Indiana @ Ohio State [12:00, FOX] (It's Kurtis Rourke vs. Will Howard. It's Curt Cignetti going up against Ryan Day and the Buckeyes for the first time. And the winner of this game will take the inside track to Indianapolis to face Oregon in 2 weeks. Nothing else to say except it's time to see if Indiana can truly be elite in 2024.)

Best "mid-major" game: North Dakota State @ South Dakota (Whoa. North Dakota State has one more challenger to their Missouri Valley title? I gotta see this!)
Game with the best chance to be a bust: Kentucky @ Texas (Texas A&M has a chance to get upset this week. The Longhorns of Texas? No chance; I got them winning this game with ease.)
Honorable mentions for the Top 10: Illinois @ Rutgers, Sam Houston @ Jacksonville State, UConn @ Syracuse, Marshall @ Old Dominion, and USC @ UCLA.

Wow. I mentioned 4 SEC games on this list? Great to see that ABC/ESPN isn't letting the SEC get lazy on the week before Rivalry Week (like it did in years past). My prediction segment is next!

some very good matchups this weekend, with some actual chances of upsets. hoping for a little chaos.