Chaos Theory: Week 9

Two undefeateds went down last week, but four teams are on a bye this week.

Ohio State, Baylor, LSU, Michigan State are on a bye, so they officially survived the first two months.

Starting this week, I am adding in the Group of 5 undefeated teams, because they are proving to have some staying power.

West Virginia over TCU
NC State over Clemson

Maryland over Iowa

Texas Tech over Oklahoma State
Notre Dame over Temple
Vanderbilt over Houston
Tulane over Memphis
NIU over Toledo

12 teams right now, how many will make it to November?

Since there can only be one undefeated team in each conference at the end of the season, we know that 2 B1G teams, 2 Big 12 teams, and 2 American teams will all be knocked off the list by December.  At most, we'll have six teams at the end of the season.

Games to Watch: Week 9

This is Halloween, this is Halloween.

I think we're at an interesting point of the season.  Many teams either have a bye (often in preparation for one of their bigger games of the season), or perhaps have a non-conference game for homecoming.  Then, it seems like the key matchups for conference races still aren't happening.  We're seeing very few games where both teams are obvious contenders.  We've got some non-contenders playing each other, or contenders playing non-contenders, or a few middle of the road teams playing each other where we don't know where they'll end up.

Thursday, October 29
7 PM
UNC at Pitt, ESPN.  This is possibly the most key game of the ACC Coastal season thus far.  If Pitt wins, they would force VT and GT out of the Coastal race (not that either team has much of a chance).  If UNC wins, it keeps all of the teams in contention, and also makes the top of the division more interesting.

Saturday, October 31
12:30 PM
Virginia Tech at Boston College, ACC Network.  For most of the season, VT can either get the offense or the defense to show up.  BC has a heck of a defense, but no offense.  This game could go either way, but don't look for a lot of points.

3:30 PM
Georgia vs. Florida, CBS.  A nice rivalry game that offers the lead of the SEC East to the winner.

8 PM
Notre Dame at Temple, ABC.  Talk about surprising.  Temple was once so bad they got kicked out of the Big East.  Now they are undefeated, and hosting a 1 loss ND (missing several starters) in prime time.

Updating the season predictions

We're at the end of the second month of the college football season, and I'm doing my first look back/look ahead, see what I got wrong post.

It's always difficult to do this at the end of September, with so many non-conference games.  Even waiting a couple of weeks for the midpoint can be difficult.  Even now it's the best time, since it's almost too far in.

Anyway, it's safe to say that I missed a lot back in August.

Week 8 wrap up

They said on Gameday that the weeks that look the weakest on paper, and when Gameday goes to FCS schools, are the weeks that things tend to break open.

We already have multiple teams officially out of contention in the conference races.

Chaos Theory week 8

Two undefeated teams went down last week, leaving us with 10 in the Power 5.  Iowa and TCU both have a bye, so they get to survive one more week.

That gives us 8 games of potential chaos.

Rutgers over Ohio State
Iowa State over Baylor
USC over Utah
Western Kentucky over LSU
Miami over Clemson

Indiana over Michigan State

Georgia Tech over Florida State
Kansas over Oklahoma State


I have a feeling, though, that we're going to have to start tracking the Group of 5 conferences as well.  They have some decent teams quietly rising the ranks.

Games to Watch -- Week 8

There is a reason that Gameday is going to an FCS school this week.

Saturday, October 24
Noon
Clemson at Miami, ABC/ESPN2.  A cross divisional game that will play a pivotal role in the conference race.

3:30 PM
Tennessee at Alabama, CBS.  If the Vols win, this could be epic.

Duke at Virginia Tech, ESPNU.  I miss the days when this was a gimme for VT.

7 PM
Texas A&M at Ole Miss, ESPN.    Both teams are on the rebound, trying to stay on track for a divisional title.

8 PM
Ohio State at Rutgers, ABC.  How in the hell did this game get the prime time slot?  Seriously, ESPN?   I know there's not a lot of decent match ups this week, and the SEC was off limits.  Was this just to fulfill a Big Ten obligation?

Week 7 wrap up

Yesterday was kind of intense.  Condolences to Michigan on such a soul crushing loss.  Most conference races are just as muddled as they were going into the weekend.

Chaos Theory - week 7

We're at the point of the year where we can start looking at the unbeatens, and see who they are playing, to see what would put the postseason landscape into total chaos if no one is undefeated.

Right now, we have 12 Power 5 teams with no losses.

Two of those teams are guaranteed to survive this week.  Oklahoma State is on a bye, and the winner of LSU/Florida will remain undefeated.  Which also means that we know one team will fall from these ranks.

For the other nine, here's who to root for, if you like chaos in the polls.

Louisville over Florida State
Boston College over Clemson
Iowa State over TCU
West Virginia over Baylor
Michigan over Michigan State
Penn State over Ohio State
Northwestern over Iowa
Arizona State over Utah
Alabama over Texas A&M

Games to Watch -- week 7

Here's where we start getting into full swing for conference races.  This weekend seems largely concentrated around the 3:30 time slot on Saturday.

Week 6 wrap up

Finally, the season is starting to take shape as some teams are bowl eligible, and others learn if they still have a chance for anything.

Ohio State became the first team to attain bowl eligibility for 2015, but several other teams soon joined them.

And say what you want about the SEC's questionable scheduling tactics, but the East division has the most well defined conference race in all of college football after week 6.  They already have a team facing elimination next week.

Games to Watch -- week 6

Hard to believe we're already approaching the midpoint of the season.  Well, it's a combo of this week and next week, I suppose.

Understanding the ACC TV rights -- including "RSN"

The ACC one of the more straightforward TV deals in the NCAA.  Basically, ESPN owns them all.  However, there are still more games available than timeslots on the various ESPN channels, so the Worldwide Leader in Sports shares some of the games.

Week 5 wrap up

Well, this season is finally getting some spice added.  We're also far enough into the season to see where bowl eligibility comes into play.  Eight Power 5 teams have the chance to become bowl eligible next week.

Saturday OTAs: Week 5

Sorry for missing last week, as I got a little busy.

Noon
ABC:  Texas at TCU

12:30 PM
ACC Network:  Louisville at NC State

3:30 PM
ABC:  Ohio State at Indiana OR Texas Tech at Baylor
CBS:  Alabama at Georgia

7:30 PM
FOX:  Arizona State at UCLA

8 PM
ABC:  Notre Dame at Clemson

Games to Watch -- Week 5

Hey, folks, stay safe and dry this weekend.  Hopefully the approaching storm won't affect too much viewing, other than making for some truly awesome games like the Texas A&M at Virginia Tech Thursday night matchup in 2003, played as the final remnants of a hurricane passed over Virginia.

Thursday, October 1
7:30 PM
Miami at Cincinnati, ESPN.  Always an intriguing nonconference game.

Saturday, October 3
Noon
Pitt at Virginia Tech, RSN.  I hate Pitt.  I hate that they joined the ACC.  That being said, the only time I've seen VT beat them was in Lane Stadium two years ago.  So, the Hokies have that going for them.  MIG

South Carolina at Missouri, SEC Network.  This game was usually pretty telling for the SEC East in years past, but this year, could be a toilet bowl.  MIG

Iowa State at Kansas, Fox Sports Net.  From our season preview:  "The Cyclones have nowhere to go but up, and Kansas could be their best shot at a conference win.  The Jayhawks only have a little room to fall, but they can at least hold steady by winning this one."  MIG

West Virginia at Oklahoma, FS1.  This game has been quietly building up to be a key chapter in the Big 12 saga this year.

Texas at TCU, ABC.  Another chance for Longhorn fans to get pitchforks against the officials.

12:30 PM
Louisville at NC State, ACC Network.  Louisville needs to start turning their season around, but NC State could still use this game to make a statement in the conference.

3:30 PM
Texas Tech at Baylor, ABC/ESPN2.  I expect a lot of points.

Alabama at Georgia, CBS.  A possible preview of the SEC Championship?

7 PM
Ole Miss at Florida, ESPN.  A win would be a statement for both teams.

8 PM
Notre Dame at Clemson, ABC.  I think we'll get a good look at both teams here, and find out if either one is a true contender.