CFB Week 8 Thread

[Dawg83]

Off week for OM but fairly interesting game in Starkville and some huge games around the SEC.

 

A&M -16.5 at State - State has looked improved in their last two games, that much we can agree on. Improved enough to win a game like this? I’m skeptical. A&M has put themselves in a really nice spot to make the Playoff if you look at remaining schedule. They’ll likely be favored in every game until the season finale against Texas. I am a big fan of Mike Elko as a coach and I think the spread is about right on this one. I have A&M winning something like 41-24. Similar vibes to the last two games for State.

 

Georgia at Texas -5 - I am torn on this one. Everything we’ve seen so far tells me Texas is better and should win. They’ve looked great, while Georgia has underwhelmed in SEC play. Yet for some reason…. I trust UGA more than I trust Texas. I’m going UGA in the slight upset here, 27-21.

 

Bama at Tennessee - I don’t know what either of these two teams are. But I think I’m taking the Vols at home. Bama has not looked right since halftime of the Georgia game.

 

LSU -2.5 at Arkansas - I feel like this game is like Charlie Brown kicking the football every year. You think it’s gonna happen for Arkansas and then they find ways to mess it up. I trust Kelly more than I do Pittman. LSU 24, Arkansas 20.

 

SC at Oklahoma -1.5 - SC came up short last week and against LSU, I think they finally finish the job this time and steal a W. And thus begins the Venables hot seat watch.

 

Kentucky -1.5 at Florida - there was a time where UK couldn’t beat Florida no matter what they tried…. Now I think they’ve won something like 4 of the last 6. And I like their chances to make it 5 of 7. UK by a touchdown.

 

Auburn at Mizzou -4 - Auburn stinks, Mizzou wins, and Hugh finds a way to throw the actual bus driver under the bus this time.

 

Edited October 17, 2024 by Dawg83

[Dawg83]

State is wearing the Croom style W/M/M uniforms…. I’m changing my pick. A&M by 30 now.

[Bulldogs4]

Don’t have a good feeling about State. A&M appears to be legit this year. I think we will play hard but they are possibly better than TX & GA.

I hate and absolutely abhor the maroon jersey and maroon pants combo. It is horrible. Last Saturday’s uniform’s were terrible. I like basic M/W for H and W/W for A uniforms. One special uniform a season is fine but that should be it. 
A&M 45, State 24

 

Georgia 27, TX 10. TX not really battle tested but GA is.

 

Arkansas eeks out a win over LSU. 30-28

 

Tennessee wins an ugly game over Bama 35-31.

 

SC 26, OK 17

 

Missouri 42, Auburn 23

 

KY 17, FL 12. 
 

It is shame that there is no weekend with all 16 SEC teams playing each other. 8 games all SEC. This weekend has 7 Conference games which is the most this year. Ole Miss is off and Vandy is playing Ball State. Next weekend is 6 games. 
Would be really cool to have that happen at least one Saturday. 
Oh well…Still should be a fun Saturday…

[maroontide06]

17 hours ago, Dawg83 said:

State is wearing the Croom style W/M/M uniforms…. I’m changing my pick. A&M by 30 now.

It's an awful uniform to begin with.  A&M will be able to pick their points playing against that atrocity and they can conveniently pick up their A&M gear at the local Starkville Wal-Mart.

[BrickCity]

15 hours ago, Bulldogs4 said:

Don’t have a good feeling about State. A&M appears to be legit this year. I think we will play hard but they are possibly better than TX & GA.

I hate and absolutely abhor the maroon jersey and maroon pants combo. It is horrible. Last Saturday’s uniform’s were terrible. I like basic M/W for H and W/W for A uniforms. One special uniform a season is fine but that should be it. 
A&M 45, State 24

 

Georgia 27, TX 10. TX not really battle tested but GA is.

 

Arkansas eeks out a win over LSU. 30-28

 

Tennessee wins an ugly game over Bama 35-31.

 

SC 26, OK 17

 

Missouri 42, Auburn 23

 

KY 17, FL 12. 
 

It is shame that there is no weekend with all 16 SEC teams playing each other. 8 games all SEC. This weekend has 7 Conference games which is the most this year. Ole Miss is off and Vandy is playing Ball State. Next weekend is 6 games. 
Would be really cool to have that happen at least one Saturday. 
Oh well…Still should be a fun Saturday…

Im calling an upset this Saturday. 

[Dawg83]

2 hours ago, maroontide06 said:

It's an awful uniform to begin with.  A&M will be able to pick their points playing against that atrocity and they can conveniently pick up their A&M gear at the local Starkville Wal-Mart.

It’s the most reviled uniform combo in school history in my opinion. I don’t know a single State fan that likes it. We’ve all still got PTSD from the Croom era I guess.

[maroontide06]

11 minutes ago, Dawg83 said:

It’s the most reviled uniform combo in school history in my opinion. I don’t know a single State fan that likes it. We’ve all still got PTSD from the Croom era I guess.

From that to s***showtime, how much worse can it get?  The whole athletic marketing department whiffed big time.

[Bulldogs4]

I don’t have PTSD about Coach Croom but the uniforms during that era were worst and worster (and yes I know worster is not a word). 
He did a lot of good things to set the program up for success. While he had his weaknesses, he is the last coach to lead us to a victory over Alabama (two in fact). 
Since 2014 team is being recognized why not wear one of their uniform combos if they are insisting on a throw back uniform. 

[Dawg83]

3 hours ago, Bulldogs4 said:

I don’t have PTSD about Coach Croom but the uniforms during that era were worst and worster (and yes I know worster is not a word). 
He did a lot of good things to set the program up for success. While he had his weaknesses, he is the last coach to lead us to a victory over Alabama (two in fact). 

I dunno man. I realize he left Mullen some guys that would end up being program cornerstones in the beginning of State’s resurgence. But for most people I think the Maine’s, the 3-2’s, the LA Tech’s, the 45-0 Egg Bowl’s, just greatly stick out more than anything else about Croom. He (and by extension Larry Templeton) represent a very small minded era of State’s history where it didn’t feel like the people in charge even believed the program could succeed.

 

Side tangent but was there a Croom documentary that came out 10-12 years ago (SEC storied I think?) that tried to paint Croom as a hero and a victim and I found it to be really insulting to State fans’ intelligence. It still airs on SEC Network or ESPNU at random times.

Edited October 18, 2024 by Dawg83

[rebmus]

On 10/17/2024 at 11:10 AM, Dawg83 said:

Off week for OM but fairly interesting game in Starkville and some huge games around the SEC.

 

A&M -16.5 at State - State has looked improved in their last two games, that much we can agree on. Improved enough to win a game like this? I’m skeptical. A&M has put themselves in a really nice spot to make the Playoff if you look at remaining schedule. They’ll likely be favored in every game until the season finale against Texas. I am a big fan of Mike Elko as a coach and I think the spread is about right on this one. I have A&M winning something like 41-24. Similar vibes to the last two games for State.

 

Georgia at Texas -5 - I am torn on this one. Everything we’ve seen so far tells me Texas is better and should win. They’ve looked great, while Georgia has underwhelmed in SEC play. Yet for some reason…. I trust UGA more than I trust Texas. I’m going UGA in the slight upset here, 27-21.

 

Bama at Tennessee - I don’t know what either of these two teams are. But I think I’m taking the Vols at home. Bama has not looked right since halftime of the Georgia game.

 

LSU -2.5 at Arkansas - I feel like this game is like Charlie Brown kicking the football every year. You think it’s gonna happen for Arkansas and then they find ways to mess it up. I trust Kelly more than I do Pittman. LSU 24, Arkansas 20.

 

SC at Oklahoma -1.5 - SC came up short last week and against LSU, I think they finally finish the job this time and steal a W. And thus begins the Venables hot seat watch.

 

Kentucky -1.5 at Florida - there was a time where UK couldn’t beat Florida no matter what they tried…. Now I think they’ve won something like 4 of the last 6. And I like their chances to make it 5 of 7. UK by a touchdown.

 

Auburn at Mizzou -4 - Auburn stinks, Mizzou wins, and Hugh finds a way to throw the actual bus driver under the bus this time.

 

Odd season so far, I'll guess but never bet. 

State covers, A&M wins. 

Texas/UGA is the huge game this weekend. It should be really close and I want to pick UGA, I'll pick Texas since they host. 

UT since they host. 

LSU should win easily, they won't win easily but should win. 

Oklahoma, again going with the host. 

Florida? I guess? Heck, who knows. Florida seams to be a tad better lately while Kentucky looks worse AND Florida hosts.

We should see some surprise this weekend, I'll go with Auburn over Mizzou. 

 

Pretty good matchups this weekend for hopefully close and great games to watch. 

 

 

[Bulldogs4]

15 hours ago, Dawg83 said:

I dunno man. I realize he left Mullen some guys that would end up being program cornerstones in the beginning of State’s resurgence. But for most people I think the Maine’s, the 3-2’s, the LA Tech’s, the 45-0 Egg Bowl’s, just greatly stick out more than anything else about Croom. He (and by extension Larry Templeton) represent a very small minded era of State’s history where it didn’t feel like the people in charge even believed the program could succeed.

 

Side tangent but was there a Croom documentary that came out 10-12 years ago (SEC storied I think?) that tried to paint Croom as a hero and a victim and I found it to be really insulting to State fans’ intelligence. It still airs on SEC Network or ESPNU at random times.

Oh I am not excusing those games. This year’s Toledo game mirrors the Maine game. And yes the 2008 season was ugly. He was not a hero but he did walk into a complete dumpster fire. As much as I like Coach Sherrill and greatly appreciate what he did for State throughout the 1990’s, the last three years were awful especially 2002-2003. Croom then had to purge about 20 talented but malcontents off the team. I do think his recruiting (sans QB) was good and he improved the team greatly over 5 years. All that to say, a change was appropriate after 2008. 
I do agree about painting him as a victim. I think the overwhelming majority of State fans did not have an issue with him being black but there are always going to be a few knuckleheads. With any coach, regardless of skin color, wins and losses ultimately will tell the tale. Though in his case the 21-38 record has to be looked at in context. At least from a historical perspective. 

[Dawg83]

I don’t like to pat myself on the back often, but…. When Arnett was let go my preferred choice was Curt Cignetti. State didn’t go that route but Indiana did…. And currently stomping Nebraska en route to a 7-0 start. And nobody has played them within two touchdowns yet.

[Bulldogs4]

Auburn finds another way to lose a game. 

[Dawg83]

Similar story for State this week. Another “moral victory” kind of day. State’s offense did a lot in the first half but I thought A&M made some good halftime adjustments. There was also a weird fake punt call that blew up in State’s face but I’m not willing to say State deserved to win.

 

I do feel like State can have a chance to win in at least 2 remaining SEC games. They may lose both but I think they’ll have a chance to win against both Arkansas and Missouri.

Edited October 20, 2024 by Dawg83

[Dawg83]

Tennessee beats Bama. Georgia currently smoking Texas.

[Bulldogs4]

Not surprised that Georgia beat Texas. TX is not as good as they think they should be. I called it 27-10 and I was pretty close.

Missed badly on LSU and FL, pegged UT though and I did get State’s score correct though A&M was much less than predicted. SC blowing out OK was a surprise. 
State now needs to win of these games after knocking on the door the last three games….

[s1nglewing]

Altmeyer... or how ever you spell it, made a good choice. He'd have still been riding the bench at Ole Miss 

[Dawg83]

9 hours ago, Bulldogs4 said:

Not surprised that Georgia beat Texas. TX is not as good as they think they should be. I called it 27-10 and I was pretty close.

Missed badly on LSU and FL, pegged UT though and I did get State’s score correct though A&M was much less than predicted. SC blowing out OK was a surprise. 
State now needs to win of these games after knocking on the door the last three games….

No better time than the present. I think State’s best chance for an SEC win is Arkansas next week.

[Bulldogs4]

And Illinois put nail in Michigan’s coffin. Any day they lose is a good day. Altmeyer’s dad is one of State’s orthopedic doctors. It was a bit ironic that ended up at Ole Miss. He did make a wise decision to head N and the Illini are playing good football this year. Definitely good for him.

 

Even though Washington is not having a great year, Rogers is playing well and they do have a win over Michigan as well. 

[rebmus]

The SEC has no (overall) undefeated teams left. The two undefeated (in league play) face off next week- LSU and A&M. 

 

[Bulldogs4]

Quite possible that no team finishes league play with less than two league losses. A&M & LSU are both good teams and one will have a loss after next week. But neither is invincible either. 

[Bulldogs4]

Would be really funny if 4-5 teams all end up 6-2.

Good luck on figuring out that tie breaker….

[Dawg83]

I could be wrong but I think the SECCG ends up being:

 

11-1 Georgia vs the winner of Texas/Texas A&M

 

However do not underestimate LSU’s chances in this. The game in College Station next week is huge. I’ve seen some say it’s the most meaningful LSU vs A&M game since A&M joined the league. Thinking back on it, hard to disagree.

[s1nglewing]

Will Hall has been fired

[Dawg83]

22 minutes ago, s1nglewing said:

Will Hall has been fired

Hardly a surprise. No idea where USM goes from here. I felt like Hall was the kind coach that could succeed and he simply did not.