Who to root for (and against) this weekend.

[Cougatron]

I've talked about it a little in other threads, but now since the CFP rankings are out with the cougs being #8 Here's a list of the CFP playoffs for this week and who we should be rooting for and against.

A quick before in the Pac.

Stanford @ UW: Obviously, we should all be rooting for Stanford to beat UW. Not only does it make it nearly impossible for us to lose the North title if this happens, but also it will end UWs home streak making ours the sole longest streak in the Pac. So go Cardinal.

On to the CFP

#1 Alabama @ LSU - Who we should root for. Alabama in this case. LSU is ranked above us as at #3 a loss will give them 2 Ls. The bigger Alabama beats them the better.

#2 Louisville @ Clemson - Who we should root for. Louisville in this case. Louisville is not that good this year and a loss for Clemson will be their first and late in the season this hurts them quite a bit. It's a long shot, but a Louisville loss helps the Cougs.

#3 LSU @ Alabama - See above.

#4 Notre Dame @ Northwestern - Who we should root for. Northwestern Northwestern is not a bad team at 5-3. They just last week beat Wisconsin decisively, and Notre Dame may have some trouble here. A Northwestern win is great for the Cougs and will make Notre Dame's "we don't have to win a conference" argument much much weaker.

#5 Penn State @ - Michigan - Who we should root for. Penn State A Penn State victory here will really help the cougs as Michigan will have 2 losses and Penn State already has 2 losses. James Franklin's wife is a Coug so hopefully she's in his ear trying to help.

#6 - Georgia @ Kentucky - This is a tough one. If Kentucky wins they may jump us, but Georgia is already ahead of us. Since both teams are in the SEC East they will have to face an SEC west team in the championship. Either way someone close to the Cougs will lose, I think I will root for Kentucky in this case and a loss @Tenn next week. Tough game to really help us, but a 2 loss Georgia will be eliminated if they lose. I don't think Kentucky runs the table. So Kentucky winning seems better.

#7 - Oklahoma @ Texas Tech - Going to go with Leach's old stomping grounds in Texas Tech this week. Oklahoma losing to a Texas Tech team that has had some loses will do them in for the playoffs.

#8 Cal @ Cougs - C O U G S. Kings of the North.

#9 Kentucky vs Georgia - See Above

#10 - Ohio State @ Nebraska - If ever there was a chance for Bill Moos to help the Cougs after leaving slaying Ohio State in another upset this year would do it. If Nebraska wins it will be Ohio State's second loss making the playoffs very difficult to reach. Cougs should be all about Go Big Red.

#11 Florida vs Mizzou - Mizzou just to keep Florida back (they really aren't a threat with 2 losses now. BUt still knocking them back helps us. So go Mizzou.

#12 - UCF vs Temple. - Going to go with Temple here to quiet the cinderella mid major story.

So to some up who to cheer for this week.

Alabama
Louisville
Northwestern
Nebraska
Penn State
Kentucky...or Georgia
Texas Tech
Mizzou
Temple

And of course Stanford.

 

[CougInSpain]

I've talked about it a little in other threads, but now since the CFP rankings are out with the cougs being #8 Here's a list of the CFP playoffs for this week and who we should be rooting for and against.

A quick before in the Pac.

Stanford @ UW: Obviously, we should all be rooting for Stanford to beat UW. Not only does it make it nearly impossible for us to lose the North title if this happens, but also it will end UWs home streak making ours the sole longest streak in the Pac. So go Cardinal.

On to the CFP

#1 Alabama @ LSU - Who we should root for. Alabama in this case. LSU is ranked above us as at #3 a loss will give them 2 Ls. The bigger Alabama beats them the better.

#2 Louisville @ Clemson - Who we should root for. Louisville in this case. Louisville is not that good this year and a loss for Clemson will be their first and late in the season this hurts them quite a bit. It's a long shot, but a Louisville loss helps the Cougs.

#3 LSU @ Alabama - See above.

#4 Notre Dame @ Northwestern - Who we should root for. Northwestern Northwestern is not a bad team at 5-3. They just last week beat Wisconsin decisively, and Notre Dame may have some trouble here. A Northwestern win is great for the Cougs and will make Notre Dame's "we don't have to win a conference" argument much much weaker.

#5 Penn State @ - Michigan - Who we should root for. Penn State A Penn State victory here will really help the cougs as Michigan will have 2 losses and Penn State already has 2 losses. James Franklin's wife is a Coug so hopefully she's in his ear trying to help.

#6 - Georgia @ Kentucky - This is a tough one. If Kentucky wins they may jump us, but Georgia is already ahead of us. Since both teams are in the SEC East they will have to face an SEC west team in the championship. Either way someone close to the Cougs will lose, I think I will root for Kentucky in this case and a loss @Tenn next week. Tough game to really help us, but a 2 loss Georgia will be eliminated if they lose. I don't think Kentucky runs the table. So Kentucky winning seems better.

#7 - Oklahoma @ Texas Tech - Going to go with Leach's old stomping grounds in Texas Tech this week. Oklahoma losing to a Texas Tech team that has had some loses will do them in for the playoffs.

#8 Cal @ Cougs - C O U G S. Kings of the North.

#9 Kentucky vs Georgia - See Above

#10 - Ohio State @ Nebraska - If ever there was a chance for Bill Moos to help the Cougs after leaving slaying Ohio State in another upset this year would do it. If Nebraska wins it will be Ohio State's second loss making the playoffs very difficult to reach. Cougs should be all about Go Big Red.

#11 Florida vs Mizzou - Mizzou just to keep Florida back (they really aren't a threat with 2 losses now. BUt still knocking them back helps us. So go Mizzou.

#12 - UCF vs Temple. - Going to go with Temple here to quiet the cinderella mid major story.

So to some up who to cheer for this week.

Alabama
Louisville
Northwestern
Nebraska
Penn State
Kentucky...or Georgia
Texas Tech
Mizzou
Temple

And of course Stanford.

The good thing here is that Michigan and OSU still have to play each other and not only that, they have to play in the B1G Champ game, which if it were today, they would play Northwestern. Oklahoma still has a difficult stretch of games to play as well, WVU being one of those games. ND still has to play a tough Syracuse team and travel to USC. I strongly believe the 1 and 2 spots will be locked up by Alabama and Clemson respectively with all others playing for that 3 and 4 spots. What it boils down to is that there is still a lot of football left to be played and we need to handle our business from here on out.

 

[FnuLnu]

I've talked about it a little in other threads, but now since the CFP rankings are out with the cougs being #8 Here's a list of the CFP playoffs for this week and who we should be rooting for and against.

A quick before in the Pac.

Stanford @ UW: Obviously, we should all be rooting for Stanford to beat UW. Not only does it make it nearly impossible for us to lose the North title if this happens, but also it will end UWs home streak making ours the sole longest streak in the Pac. So go Cardinal.

On to the CFP

#11 Florida vs Mizzou - Mizzou just to keep Florida back (they really aren't a threat with 2 losses now. BUt still knocking them back helps us. So go Mizzou.

And of course Stanford.

You want to Florida to win to hasten the chance that Jim Sterk will have to conduct another football coaching search. He previously bought Michael and Jontay Porter's dad for the Missouri hoops team - thud.

He can grab Todd Sturdy (3-6 at MidAmerica Nazerene just 120 miles away) or go for the staff at 13th ranked Sacramento State.

Or outsource the search to a former coach.

 

[Cougatron]

Here is the TV schedule in Pacific Time for the games mentioned above in order.

Thursday 11/1 - 4:30 PM - ESPN
UCF vs Temple - Cheering for Temple

Saturday 11/3 - 9:00 AM - ABC
Clemson vs Louisville - Cheering for Louisville

9:00 AM Fox
Nebraska vs Ohio State - Cheering for Nebraska

12:30 PM - CBS
Kentucky vs Georgia - Anybody really.

12:45 PM - ESPN
Penn state vs Michigan - Penn State

4:15 PM - ESPN
Notre Dame vs Northwestern - Northwestern

5:00 PM - CBS
Alabama vs LSU - Alabama

5:00 PM - ABC
Oklahoma vs Texas Tech - Texas Tech

6:00 PM - Pac 12 Network
Stanford vs UW - Stanford

7:45 PM - ESPN
Cougs vs Cal - C o u g s


Basically al the important games in order for people to track this week.

 

[kougkurt]

Here is the TV schedule in Pacific Time for the games mentioned above in order.

Thursday 11/1 - 4:30 PM - ESPN
UCF vs Temple - Cheering for Temple

Saturday 11/3 - 9:00 AM - ABC
Clemson vs Louisville - Cheering for Louisville

9:00 AM Fox
Nebraska vs Ohio State - Cheering for Nebraska

12:30 PM - CBS
Kentucky vs Georgia - Anybody really.

12:45 PM - ESPN
Penn state vs Michigan - Penn State

4:15 PM - ESPN
Notre Dame vs Northwestern - Northwestern

5:00 PM - CBS
Alabama vs LSU - Alabama

5:00 PM - ABC
Oklahoma vs Texas Tech - Texas Tech

6:00 PM - Pac 12 Network
Stanford vs UW - Stanford

7:45 PM - ESPN
Cougs vs Cal - C o u g s


Basically al the important games in order for people to track this week.

Thanks

 

[Cougatron]

1st Game - UCF won.

 

[95coug]

I've talked about it a little in other threads, but now since the CFP rankings are out with the cougs being #8 Here's a list of the CFP playoffs for this week and who we should be rooting for and against.

A quick before in the Pac.

Stanford @ UW: Obviously, we should all be rooting for Stanford to beat UW. Not only does it make it nearly impossible for us to lose the North title if this happens, but also it will end UWs home streak making ours the sole longest streak in the Pac. So go Cardinal.

On to the CFP

#1 Alabama @ LSU - Who we should root for. Alabama in this case. LSU is ranked above us as at #3 a loss will give them 2 Ls. The bigger Alabama beats them the better.

#2 Louisville @ Clemson - Who we should root for. Louisville in this case. Louisville is not that good this year and a loss for Clemson will be their first and late in the season this hurts them quite a bit. It's a long shot, but a Louisville loss helps the Cougs.

#3 LSU @ Alabama - See above.

#4 Notre Dame @ Northwestern - Who we should root for. Northwestern Northwestern is not a bad team at 5-3. They just last week beat Wisconsin decisively, and Notre Dame may have some trouble here. A Northwestern win is great for the Cougs and will make Notre Dame's "we don't have to win a conference" argument much much weaker.

#5 Penn State @ - Michigan - Who we should root for. Penn State A Penn State victory here will really help the cougs as Michigan will have 2 losses and Penn State already has 2 losses. James Franklin's wife is a Coug so hopefully she's in his ear trying to help.

#6 - Georgia @ Kentucky - This is a tough one. If Kentucky wins they may jump us, but Georgia is already ahead of us. Since both teams are in the SEC East they will have to face an SEC west team in the championship. Either way someone close to the Cougs will lose, I think I will root for Kentucky in this case and a loss @Tenn next week. Tough game to really help us, but a 2 loss Georgia will be eliminated if they lose. I don't think Kentucky runs the table. So Kentucky winning seems better.

#7 - Oklahoma @ Texas Tech - Going to go with Leach's old stomping grounds in Texas Tech this week. Oklahoma losing to a Texas Tech team that has had some loses will do them in for the playoffs.

#8 Cal @ Cougs - C O U G S. Kings of the North.

#9 Kentucky vs Georgia - See Above

#10 - Ohio State @ Nebraska - If ever there was a chance for Bill Moos to help the Cougs after leaving slaying Ohio State in another upset this year would do it. If Nebraska wins it will be Ohio State's second loss making the playoffs very difficult to reach. Cougs should be all about Go Big Red.

#11 Florida vs Mizzou - Mizzou just to keep Florida back (they really aren't a threat with 2 losses now. BUt still knocking them back helps us. So go Mizzou.

#12 - UCF vs Temple. - Going to go with Temple here to quiet the cinderella mid major story.

So to some up who to cheer for this week.

Alabama
Louisville
Northwestern
Nebraska
Penn State
Kentucky...or Georgia
Texas Tech
Mizzou
Temple

And of course Stanford.

I don't see anything I disagree with, but some additional factors:

1. Alabama losing to LSU will not punish the Tide very much. I suspect with that loss, Bama would stay in the top 5, and would be back in the playoff by the end of the season. An LSU loss would be their 2nd, and barring about 147 upsets in the next 3 weeks, would eliminate them from the playoff.
2. Sure, a Louisville win would be nice, but I don't see it. Clemson goes to Boston College next week, that seems the more likely loss. But the Tigers last 4 is Louisville, @BC, Duke, and S. Carolina. They should probably be expected to survive that. Even with a loss, I'm not sure they fall far enough to be eliminated. It probably needs to be conceded that ALabama and Clemson are likely to get 2 of the available spots.
4. Notre Dame probably does get eliminated with a single loss. Sure, they're 8-0, but who is actually impressed with their schedule? They beat Michigan way back at the beginning of the season, but none of their other wins are against a team that is currently ranked. If they're not undefeated, they don't even deserve consideration.
5. Michigan has a pretty favorable schedule for the rest of the season. Penn State, @ Rutgers, Indiana, and @ Ohio State. If they get by PSU, they roll into Columbus at 10-1, ranked in the top 4. They need to lose this week, and maybe also to Ohio State.
6. Kentucky/Georgia winner clinches the SEC East and a date with the LSU/Alabama winner...which most likely means that neither Kentucky or Georgia is getting into the playoff. I don't think this game produces a net change for us this week - winner gets ahead of us, loser falls behind.
7. Oklahoma has a tough finish - @Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas, and @West Virginia. I wouldn't really be surprised to see them lose twice. But them and Notre Dame are the only two teams ahead of us that don't have to play a conference championship also.
10. Ohio State has a tough finish too. Nebraska, @ Michigan State, @ Maryland, and Michigan. Not sure I see them getting through that unscathed. I like MSU over them more than Nebraska, but someone needs to beat them before the Michigan game.
11. Florida lost to Kentucky and Georgia, so can't win their division unless both of them collapse. Not sure I see another loss on their schedule, but also don't see anyone that's going to give them a boost. I don't think they are a contender...at least, not without a lot of help. One more loss would be the final nail, but I don't think it's really necessary either.
12. UCF hasn't played anyone all season and doesn't deserve to be #12. They have Navy, Cincinnati, and USF remaining, and I think they'll lose one...and based on their schedule, 1 is enough.

The SEC alone must account for 2 losses ahead of us (Alabama-LSU, the winner of Kentucky/Georgia will be ahead of us, and then one of those 4 teams will lose in the SEC title game). I don't think Oklahoma or Notre Dame will win out. We take care of our own business, and that puts us at #4...barring some kind of screwy polling. But we can only control our own business, so hopefully the team is more focused on this week than most of us are.

 

[cr8zyncalif]

Thanks, Tron. Good summary. I agree with your picks but think Kentucky is an easy pick. As you said, they are unlikely to run the table, so I want them to win this one.

 

[Coug90]

1st Game - UCF won.

Temple did enough. Nobody’s putting that dreadful UCF defense in a playoff or NY6 game for that matter.

 

[95coug]

Thanks, Tron. Good summary. I agree with your picks but think Kentucky is an easy pick. As you said, they are unlikely to run the table, so I want them to win this one.

I’m not so sure. Neither Kentucky or Georgia has a tough last 3. Kentucky has @Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, @Louisville. Georgia has Auburn, UMass, and Georgia Tech. Neither is grueling, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see either or both win all 3. I don’t think either has hope against Alabama, not much more against LSU.

Still, worst case is a Georgia win, since they’re already ahead of us and would gain more cushion beating Kentucky. Plus, it’s more likely Georgia with 2 losses (after the SEC title game) stays ahead of us. A 2 loss Kentucky team falls out of contention.

 

[rity]

1st Game - UCF won.

With a lot of help from the refs, that is.

 

[Cougatron]

Game 1 - UCF won - not what we needed
Game 2 - Clemson destroyed Louisville - doesn't help us.
Game 3 - Nebraska is only 9 points away from Ohio State in the 4th quarter So there is still a chance.

 

[Loyal Coug]

Game 1 - UCF won - not what we needed
Game 2 - Clemson destroyed Louisville - doesn't help us.
Game 3 - Nebraska is only 9 points away from Ohio State in the 4th quarter So there is still a chance.

Well crap. A Nebraska win would have shaken things up. Thanks again Moosey-Moos.

 

[Cougatron]

Well crap. A Nebraska win would have shaken things up. Thanks again Moosey-Moos.

He had 1 job....

 

[95coug]

Really not getting any of the help we needed this week. Michigan dominating Penn state, Ohio state struggling with Nebraska (which suggests UM can throttle tOSU). Georgia handling Kentucky. Texas might beat West Virginia, Florida might go down, but those were just insurance games anyway.

The other interesting note - ASU is up 2 scores on Utah in the 4th. That’ll throw the south into even more doubt - 5 teams all with 3 conference losses.

 

[Cougatron]

Well Michigan seems to be smashing Penn State.

Georgia seems to be in control vs Kentucky so there is will be no chance Kentucky passes us if Georgia wins.

Texas is Leading West Virginia so that’s another 1 loss team with no chance of passing us if Texas holds on.

 

[Cougatron]

Really not getting any of the help we needed this week. Michigan dominating Penn state, Ohio state struggling with Nebraska (which suggests UM can throttle tOSU). Georgia handling Kentucky. Texas might beat West Virginia, Florida might go down, but those were just insurance games anyway.

The other interesting note - ASU is up 2 scores on Utah in the 4th. That’ll throw the south into even more doubt - 5 teams all with 3 conference losses.

Yeah Utah doing well sort of helped us but that’s in the past. Now that the rankings are out people are focused on what we do. The SOS will come into play if it is decision time later.

We gotta hope Northwestern and Texas Tech give us a boost slaying Notre Dame and Oklahoma.

Not much help so far...just some losses to teams on our heals

 

[95coug]

Yeah Utah doing well sort of helped us but that’s in the past. Now that the rankings are out people are focused on what we do. The SOS will come into play if it is decision time later.

We gotta hope Northwestern and Texas Tech give us a boost slaying Notre Dame and Oklahoma.

Not much help so far...just some losses to teams on our heals

And now West Virginia pulls it out against Texas with a ballsy finish.

Our SOS is what it is, I don’t think Utah matters much. I think the bigger story is that the winner of the south will have at least 3 conference losses- and it could still be anyone.

 

[Cougatron]

And now West Virginia pulls it out against Texas with a ballsy finish.

Our SOS is what it is, I don’t think Utah matters much. I think the bigger story is that the winner of the south will have at least 3 conference losses- and it could still be anyone.

Yeah I agree. That West Virginia 2 point conversion call was ballsy. West Virginia plays Oklahoma so someone will have 2 losses there.

 

[Cougatron]

2 teams ahead of us that are currently losing.

LSU #3 is down 16 to Alabama.
Oklahoma #7 is down by 3 to Texas Tech at half

 

[chipdouglas]

2 teams ahead of us that are currently losing.

LSU #3 is down 16 to Alabama.
Oklahoma #7 is down by 3 to Texas Tech at half

Bama @ LSU is pretty much over. It has been a shellacking from whistle to whistle. Hopefully the committee considers a 2-loss (now) team getting blown out at home - and possibly being held scoreless - as reason to drop LSU significantly. Bama's QB also appears to be injured... hard to tell how serious.

 

[Cougatron]

Bama @ LSU is pretty much over. It has been a shellacking from whistle to whistle. Hopefully the committee considers a 2-loss (now) team getting blown out at home - and possibly being held scoreless - as reason to drop LSU significantly. Bama's QB also appears to be injured... hard to tell how serious.

I think we are good against 2 loss teams especially those that aren’t winning their conference if we win out.

We need Georgia to go down and Notre Dame.

Oklahoma to lose to Texas Tech and beat West Virginia.

Michigan/Ohio State to beat each other up.

We keep winning and teams beat each other up in conference and we will slowly climb

 

[Coug1990]

2 teams ahead of us that are currently losing.

LSU #3 is down 16 to Alabama.
Oklahoma #7 is down by 3 to Texas Tech at half

The Sooners are up now 35-31

 

[COCoug]

Other than the WSU win, and the shut-out of LSU, it definitely wan't a dream weekend for the Coug's slim playoff hopes. Plus, no help from Stanford to getting us into the PAC12 championship. Probably move to 7, or at least a more solid hold on 8. Still lots of football to play, but the SEC has figured out how to work these rankings perfectly so they tend not to knock each other out with late season losses.

 

[Cougatron]

Other than the WSU win, and the shut-out of LSU, it definitely wan't a dream weekend for the Coug's slim playoff hopes. Plus, no help from Stanford to getting us into the PAC12 championship. Probably move to 7, or at least a more solid hold on 8. Still lots of football to play, but the SEC has figured out how to work these rankings perfectly so they tend not to knock each other out with late season losses.

Yup i’ll Post a new thread with next weeks matchups, but I will it say it is fun watching the national games and knowing their outcome is relative to us on a national scale. Not a bad position to be in.

 

[chipdouglas]

Other than the WSU win, and the shut-out of LSU, it definitely wan't a dream weekend for the Coug's slim playoff hopes. Plus, no help from Stanford to getting us into the PAC12 championship. Probably move to 7, or at least a more solid hold on 8. Still lots of football to play, but the SEC has figured out how to work these rankings perfectly so they tend not to knock each other out with late season losses.

We have to jump LSU I would think. Nobody else in the Top 10 currently has 2 losses, and their loss tonight was as ugly as it gets: not only routed, but BLANKED on their home field. #7 minimum is a lock for WSU, with an outside chance of jumping Oklahoma for #6. Everyone else pretty much dominated.

 

[Cougatron]

We have to jump LSU I would think. Nobody else in the Top 10 currently has 2 losses, and their loss tonight was as ugly as it gets: not only routed, but BLANKED on their home field. #7 minimum is a lock for WSU, with an outside chance of jumping Oklahoma (but I doubt it).

I agree i don’t care who they are or what conference they play in 2 losses is 2 losses.

 

[random soul]

Northwestern almost did us a favor. They're a scrappy group. I could totally see them winning the Big 10 championship game and ruining Michigan's chances

 

[OrangeGravy]

In "MY" perfect world, we would win out, make it into the top 4 and then decline the CFP invite ( I could see Leach wanting to do this by the way ) opting for the Rose Bowl and thereby blowing up the system for ever.

I would however, settle for us winning out and getting to the semi-final game. The exposure alone would be worth the potential beating if we happen to get hooked up with Alabama and you just never know what can happen in one game. I think we'd have a shot just do to how amazing the story line would be with Gardner going against them after considering a roster spot there. For some reason those crazy 1 and a million odds have a tendency to surprise if you can make it all the way to that point.

 

[95coug]

Don’t discount the possibility of West Virginia passing us. Their win was by a thin margin, but it was over a ranked team. We struggled to beat an unranked team in the last minute, and WV is already ahead of us in one poll. I think it’s just as likely they’ll leapfrog us as it is that’s LSU will fall behind us.

I kind of expect we stay at 8

 

[Cougatron]

Don’t discount the possibility of West Virginia passing us. Their win was by a thin margin, but it was over a ranked team. We struggled to beat an unranked team in the last minute, and WV is already ahead of us in one poll. I think it’s just as likely they’ll leapfrog us as it is that’s LSU will fall behind us.

Well they lost to Iowa State pretty badly (30-14) where as we lost to Dixon/Refs/USC barely.

 

[OrangeGravy]

I think the SEC rep + Alabama rep will keep LSU from dropping that far even getting shutout at home.

 

[random soul]

The top 6 are entrenched and will be until they lose. We sit at number 7 at best, and have to win out to stay there

 

[cr8zyncalif]

Random, I agree with you 100%. We need to focus on winning and until someone ahead of us drops a game, we will stay where we are.