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College Football: Bama wins again; now is the long dark of the offseason

ASimPersonASimPerson Cold...and hard.Registered User regular
edited January 2016 in Social Entropy++
Welcome back to perhaps American's strangest and most fun major sport: college football.

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There's some preseason polls and such but I believe most of them are hogwash. Also, if you would like team previews, you could do a lot worse than SB Nation's previews of every major college program.

The rest of this OP will be dedicated to explaining the rules of the PA Forums Pick 'Em.

To wit:
1. Picks will be due by the kickoff of the earliest game in the pick 'em. Because of this, I will generally avoid Thursday games. Regular players will be given sufficient notice (48 hours) if we select a Thursday game.
2. Nirya and I will pick the games for the pick 'em. I'll be using Google Forms/Sheets to track the stats and points over the course of the season.
3. There are three types of contests for our grand pick 'em. Generally, there will be 10 games to pick, with 5 games straight-up, 4 against the spread, and 1 GOTW.
Straight-up: If you correctly pick the winner, you get 1 point.
Against the spread: Each game will be listed with a point spread, like this:
Florida International @ Central Florida (-14)
This means Central Florida is favored by 14 points. If you pick Florida International, you are saying they will either win straight-up or lose by no more than 14 points. If you pick Central Florida, you are saying they will win by at least 14 points. Picking correctly nets you 1 point.
Game of the Week: The GOTW can be either straight-up or ATS. The main difference is that it is usually a marquee contest and will be worth 2 points.

This means, in general, there will be a maximum of 11 points in play each week.

ASimPerson on
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Posts

  • NiryaNirya Registered User regular
    edited September 2015
    Here are this week's matchups:

    Straight Up (spread in parenthesis courtesy of ESPN)
    Washington @ #23 Boise State (-12) – Chris Peterson returns to Boise State for the first time since leaving the program that he turned into a non-Power 5 juggernaut. Boise State has eyes on claiming an at-large bid in a New Year’s Six Bowl, and to do that, they’ll need a win here to get off on the right track. Washington is in a full rebuild, which probably helps matters.

    Virginia @ #13 UCLA (-19.5) – THE UCLA JUGGERNAUT TRAIN TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS NOW ALL WHO OPPOSE US WILL BE UTTERLY DESTROYED AND LAID WASTE TO…..I mean Virginia isn’t a good team and they’re going cross-country to face a team that is actually good. UCLA is breaking in a new true freshman QB though, which if this were an ATS game would give you pause.

    #15 Arizona State @ Texas A&M (-3) (NEUTRAL SITE GAME) – This one should be a barn burner, mostly because I don’t think either team is really all that interested in playing defense. ASU should make a run in the Pac 12 South, while A&M is looking to do the same in a suddenly wide-open SEC West. The question will be which of these two revamped defenses will step up first, as ASU is replacing 2 of its biggest playmakers, while A&M is rolling with new defensive coordinator John Chavis.

    South Dakota State @ Kansas (No line, woe to this game) – You know, when I was throwing games at ASimPerson for this week, I made a joke about picking this game in case Kansas pulled the upset. But then you realize that South Dakota State has more scholarship football players than Kansas and that becomes a depressingly accurate question to ask. Charlie Weis might secretly be the Pink Panther thief. I mean, he already has an impressive track record in grand larceny.

    Louisville @ #6 Auburn (-10.5) (NEUTRAL SITE GAME) – Now, this game should be interesting. Auburn is the trendy pick to win the SEC by virtue of……I’m not sure, really. I think the assumption is that Will Muschamp arriving will fix the defense, and that the offense will continue to be good just because Gus Malzahn has been throwing converted linebackers in the QB spot and having success. On the other hand, Louisville is a sleeper pick in the ACC, and Bobby Petrino is too good of a coach to go down easily. If the new offensive pieces get rolling in a hurry, Louisville could pull off the upset here.

    BYU @ Nebraska (-7) - Uncle Mike Reiley's first game as head coach at Nebraska, where he'll win 9 games and be declared an improvement over the previous coach who only won 9 games. BYU is always scary, and Taysum Hill is back to cause havok. Should be fun.

    Against the Spread (spread in parenthesis courtesy of ESPN)
    Louisiana-Monroe @ #9 Georgia (-35) – ULM isn’t necessarily a bad team, but they aren’t anywhere near Georgia’s talent level. That said, 35 points is a rather high spread, and this is a Mark Richt team breaking in a new QB and offensive coordina…wait. Is that Brian Schottenheimer? When Rams fans are celebrating losing a coordinator, you know you done fucked up. Nick Chubb’s gonna have to run for a zillion yards to make up for that level of stupidity (scary thing is he probably could).

    Texas @ #11 Notre Dame (-10) –Texas can’t score to save their lives, but they can play really good defense. Notre Dame brings back a lot of experience but we really don’t know how their QB will really go (yes Malik Zaire was good against LSU, but he was awful against USC, and this is only his third game as a starter). Notre Dame’s defense has a pulse, which means they should be able to stop Texas’s offense, which has yet to figure out how moving the ball forward works.

    #1 Ohio State (-11) @ Virginia Tech – THE REVENGE GAME. Can a young upstart Ohio State team come into Blacksburg and knock off perennial powerhouse Virginia Tech. Or, rather, should they succumb to superstition and throw this game as payment for another 13 game winning streak and National Title. VaTech will be better, but this will be an Ohio State team out for blood.

    #21 Stanford (-12) @ Northwestern – Northwestern is not good, but Stanford head coach David Shaw is innovating the way teams play offense with his “Punt inside the opponent’s 40 yard line” strategy. That and Stanford’s inability to play offense for prolonged stretches should keep this game relatively close.

    GAME OF THE WEEK (spread in parenthesis courtesy of ESPN)
    #20 Wisconsin @ #3 Alabama (-10.5) (NEUTRAL SITE GAME) – Wisconsin is on another head coach because apparently Barry Alvarez might be difficult to work with (new prop bet for this game: if Wisconsin is losing at the half, does Alvarez come down and coach the team in the second?). Alabama is Alabama, except with a new quarterback, which really didn’t seem to affect them last year, probably because Lane Kiffin is the best offensive coordinator of all time and Miami should really give him another shot at head coach when that position opens up at the end of the year. The big story will be if Wisconsin manages to win this game, which will put Saban on a 2 loss streak against the B1G and oh god can you imagine that.

    Go here to enter you choices: http://goo.gl/forms/e4kFsQxIfk

    Nirya on
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  • enlightenedbumenlightenedbum Registered User regular
    edited September 2015
    Strangest and most fun with no Harbaugh? For shame.

    EDIT: Also in the Google form, please make California, Los Angeles into UCLA. I initially read that as Berkeley hosting a neutral site game in LA, had to come read the write up to double check.

    enlightenedbum on
    Self-righteousness is incompatible with coalition building.
  • ASimPersonASimPerson Cold... and hard.Registered User regular
  • SyphyreSyphyre A Dangerous Pastime Registered User regular
    Excellent job!

  • SyphyreSyphyre A Dangerous Pastime Registered User regular
    I am so damn excited for this weekend to get here. OK, actually Thursday!

  • Randy ButternubbsRandy Butternubbs Registered User regular
    edited September 2015
    OK, well we have the google forms, but I always enjoy doing a little blurb every time for my own amusement to look back and see how wrong I was.

    Straight Up (spread in parenthesis courtesy of ESPN)
    Washington @ #23 Boise State (-12) – Tough to win at Boise, and Washington doesn't really have to much going on. Even harder winning with an unproven squad on the road in the first game of the year. Boise for sure.

    Virginia @ #13 UCLA (-19.5) – Virginia is a joke of a squad, flying out to the west coast for a first game of the year road contest against a team with a shot at a confrence title and outside shot at the playoff. UCLA infinity times.

    #15 Arizona State @ Texas A&M (-3) (NEUTRAL SITE GAME) – Neither team plays defense, but ASU knows who it is, has a lot to play for, and won't need any time to pick up from where they left off last year. I think A&M will need some time to get going. ASU.

    South Dakota State @ Kansas (No line, woe to this game) – South Dakota State because Kansas is just...so awful. I might be wrong, but I will never pick them.

    Louisville @ #6 Auburn (-10.5) (NEUTRAL SITE GAME) – I think Auburn gets a bit of a shock in this one, and Louisville lets everyone know it's not a down year. Louisville

    BYU @ Nebraska (-7) - BYU is dangerous and Nebraska has a new coach, but it's just plain tough to win at Nebraska. Nebraska

    Against the Spread (spread in parenthesis courtesy of ESPN)
    Louisiana-Monroe @ #9 Georgia (-35) – Trust in the Chubb. Hopefully they run up the score enough. Georgia

    Texas @ #11 Notre Dame (-10) – I'll take Texas in this one. I think they'll surprise some people, and 10 points is big enough for me to bite. Also I hate Notre Dame.

    #1 Ohio State (-11) @ Virginia Tech – THE REVENGE GAME. VT might be a fun team this year, but OSU is already tuned up, they need no time to come out of the gate blowing people out, and that's what this'll be. OSU

    #21 Stanford (-12) @ Northwestern – Northwestern is a tricky team, and without the parade of injuries they get in the middle of the season they might have a shot. They're not 'good', but at home they can put a scare into a lot of teams. Being that Stanford can't score ever, I'll take 12 points for Northwestern.

    GAME OF THE WEEK (spread in parenthesis courtesy of ESPN)
    #20 Wisconsin @ #3 Alabama (-10.5) (NEUTRAL SITE GAME) – Bama. Wisconsin is no OSU, and the Tide's run defense is a huge problem for a team that's been built off the power running game for years. If they win without even having home field I'd be completely floored.

    Randy Butternubbs on
  • Zombie HeroZombie Hero Registered User regular
    For reference, in case folks might find it useful:
    ASU at TAMU is in Houston
    Louisville at Auburn is in Atlanta
    Wisc at Bama is in Arlington

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  • OghulkOghulk Tinychat Janitor TinychatRegistered User regular
    Here's to hoping Texas surprises people.

    I think it'll all come down to the QB and offense actually moving forward and not fucking up, which hopefully last season + off season + fresh blood helps accomplish.

  • QanamilQanamil x Registered User regular
    I'm really hoping SCar don't make fools of themselves on Thursday. We usually have a... rocky start. Time for the quarterback roulette!

    And I guess I'll concede and refer to Carolina as SCar in here despite myself.

  • Fleur de AlysFleur de Alys Biohacker Registered User regular
    My picks:

    Boise State (over Washington) - Spread is questionable, but a win is expected.
    Kansas (over South Dakota State) - They might win one game this year, and it could be this one, but if so it still won't be pretty.
    BYU (over Nebraska) - This is a toss-up game. I don't want to blindly pick the new coach's team.
    UCLA (over Virginia) - How is this not ATS? Then again, that's a pretty hefty spread (which isn't going to get covered).
    Auburn (over Louisville) - Another game that begs for ATS. Auburn might start weak but they'll finish this one.
    Texas A&M (over Arizona State) - My pick for a game against the odds. A&M tends to win shootouts against weak defense teams.

    Louisiana-Monroe (Georgia fails to cover) - Georgia will win, probably by 28, but 35 makes me hesitate.
    Stanford (covers Northwestern) - A fallen team, but they can still take Northwestern by a pair of TDs.
    Notre Dame (covers Texas) - I will enjoy watching Notre Dame's eventual fall, but Texas won't have anything to do with it.
    Ohio State (covers Virginia Tech) - A fairly tame spread for a team with OSU's prowess.

    Alabama (over Wisconsin) - They'll cover the spread and then some. A straight win pick here is a no-brainer.

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  • HeartfinderHeartfinder Registered User regular
    Agreed 100% on the UL-M/Georgia spread. If it was say, 21 or so, I'd pick Georgia. But I just don't see 35 unless UL-M fails to show up at all.

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  • enlightenedbumenlightenedbum Registered User regular
    For the record on a game not on the schedule, I've got Utah straight up and Michigan against the spread. 20-17 Utah.

    Self-righteousness is incompatible with coalition building.
  • Randy ButternubbsRandy Butternubbs Registered User regular
    edited September 2015
    Trust in the Chubb
    For the record on a game not on the schedule, I've got Utah straight up and Michigan against the spread. 20-17 Utah.

    Also this should (hopefully) be fun to watch compared to most Thursday night games.

    Randy Butternubbs on
  • BobbleBobble Registered User regular
    Easy copy/paste list for anyone else posting their picks on the forums (my picks in bold):

    Straight Up (spread in parenthesis courtesy of ESPN)
    Washington @ #23 Boise State (-12)
    Virginia @ #13 UCLA (-19.5)
    #15 Arizona State @ Texas A&M (-3) (NEUTRAL SITE GAME)
    South Dakota State @ Kansas (No line, woe to this game)
    Louisville @ #6 Auburn (-10.5) (NEUTRAL SITE GAME)
    BYU @ Nebraska (-7)

    Against the Spread (spread in parenthesis courtesy of ESPN)
    Louisiana-Monroe @ #9 Georgia (-35)
    Texas @ #11 Notre Dame (-10)
    #1 Ohio State (-11) @ Virginia Tech
    #21 Stanford (-12) @ Northwestern

    GAME OF THE WEEK (spread in parenthesis courtesy of ESPN)
    #20 Wisconsin @ #3 Alabama (-10.5) (NEUTRAL SITE GAME)

  • NiryaNirya Registered User regular
    Do make sure you also fill out the Google form.

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  • DraevenDraeven Registered User regular
    Im game for a pick em ! submitted.

    Morskitter wrote "Spikes, choppas, tentacles, magic? Can't hold a candle to Sergeant Pimp here."

  • VeeveeVeevee WisconsinRegistered User regular
    Submitted, and I bet I'm the only one that went with Wisconsin.

    D'oh

  • SageinaRageSageinaRage Registered User regular
    I can't decide if I want to try to go to the Tech game against Alcorn tomorrow night.

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  • ASimPersonASimPerson Cold... and hard.Registered User regular
    I can't decide if I want to try to go to the Tech game against Alcorn tomorrow night.

    True facts: I am on a plane to Atlanta right now and going to that game is one of the reasons why. (I haven't seen Tech at home since I graduated back in 2006.)

  • GnizmoGnizmo Registered User regular
    Is there any way to change your picks or do you just completely resubmit? I am 99% certain I picked everything right, but I like to verify occasionally. Wish I could have helped more in the setting of this up, but I know so little about College football that I figured I would be more in the way. If there is ever a way I could help let me know though!

  • ASimPersonASimPerson Cold... and hard.Registered User regular
    I don't know of a way you can see your picks after you've submitted them without exposing my actual name (thanks Google). Let me see if I can add a confirmation step or something.

    These were your picks:
    Boise State
    Kansas
    Nebraska
    UCLA
    Auburn
    Texas A&M
    Georgia
    Stanford
    Texas
    Ohio State
    Alabama

  • Munkus BeaverMunkus Beaver You don't have to attend every argument you are invited to. Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    Veevee wrote: »
    Submitted, and I bet I'm the only one that went with Wisconsin.

    D'oh

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  • enlightenedbumenlightenedbum Registered User regular
    My team kicks off in 14 hours. EEEEEEEEE

    Self-righteousness is incompatible with coalition building.
  • Butler For Life #1Butler For Life #1 Twinning is WinningRegistered User regular
    HARBAUGH DAY

    Am I going to be wearing khakis for the game?

    Yes.

    (Not really)
    I might

  • Raijin QuickfootRaijin Quickfoot I'm your Huckleberry YOU'RE NO DAISYRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    How many losses before Michigan fans turn on Harbaugh?

    1?

  • DaMoonRulzDaMoonRulz Mare ImbriumRegistered User regular
    How many losses before Michigan fans turn on Harbaugh?

    1?

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    Seeing as how they think Michigan football is back on top without having even played a game?

    One bad quarter is all it would take.

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  • enlightenedbumenlightenedbum Registered User regular
    That is not the meaning of that title. It's the culture that's back.

    And we'll turn on Harbaugh if we're 7-5 next year.

    Self-righteousness is incompatible with coalition building.
  • QanamilQanamil x Registered User regular
    Little over 7 hours boy-os.

  • AssuranAssuran Is swinging on the Spiral Registered User regular
    Thanks for running this again.

    Now, do I root for TTUN or Utah tonight.

    I mean, it's fun to root against TTUN but conference pride...

  • enlightenedbumenlightenedbum Registered User regular
    Assuran wrote: »
    Thanks for running this again.

    Now, do I root for TTUN or Utah tonight.

    I mean, it's fun to root against TTUN but conference pride...

    Y'all need us to be good again. Just beating Sparty and whatever creampuff comes out of the West this year is not super impressive so if you randomly blow a game (likely since it's hard to win what, 28 in a row?) you might need that extra help to get in to the playoff. Plus The Game is more fun when we're both good.

    Self-righteousness is incompatible with coalition building.
  • AssuranAssuran Is swinging on the Spiral Registered User regular
    You're right, of course.

    Plus, it's a win/win from my seat. If TTUN wins, it's good for conference and The Game. If they lose, I get to make fun of them (again).

    Besides, I can't wait to see what Urban and Harbaugh do at the pregame handshake this year. Should be amusing.

  • The JudgeThe Judge The Terwilliger CurvesRegistered User regular
    Last pint: Turmoil CDA / Barley Brown's - Untappd: TheJudge_PDX
  • Randy ButternubbsRandy Butternubbs Registered User regular
    I just don't see it going well heading up in the mountains for game #1 without any positions set yet. If it was the last non-confrence game maybe, but I don't see it looking too good for the Fightin Harbaughs.

    -This has been a totally unbiased MSU fan's opnion

  • The JudgeThe Judge The Terwilliger CurvesRegistered User regular
    My khakis are pressed.

    Last pint: Turmoil CDA / Barley Brown's - Untappd: TheJudge_PDX
  • MaximumMaximum Registered User regular
    My Michigan fandom officially starts tonight.

  • QanamilQanamil x Registered User regular
    Maximum wrote: »
    My Michigan fandom officially starts tonight.

    The reason a move or a Harbaugh?

  • NiryaNirya Registered User regular
    Qanamil wrote: »
    Maximum wrote: »
    My Michigan fandom officially starts tonight.

    The reason a move or a Harbaugh?

    He's a 49ers fan.

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  • QanamilQanamil x Registered User regular
    That'll do it.

  • Romanian My EscutcheonRomanian My Escutcheon Two of Forks Registered User regular
    I'm not gonna make UCF's season opener because of other obligations, but I am looking forward to the beginning of our Best Season Ever.

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This discussion has been closed.