Week 14 College Football Game Thread

[Fred in Lynn]

In that TCU/Baylor discussion on Gameday, it was very convenient that no one mentioned Baylor's loss to WVU. It's like it didn't happen. For me that's the difference between these two teams. If Baylor's loss was to a better team, like Oklahoma or KSU, it would be close, but WVU is 7-5. WVU lost to every team better than them on their schedule (Bama, TCU, KState, Texas, Oklahoma), except for Baylor.
 
As long as TCU blows out a very bad Iowa St team, they are in for me. 

We're in a strange land when the head-to-head result means so little. The NCAA has managed to replace the result of competition with the result of an algorithm somewhat based on the results of competition (as one, example, I have no idea why the health of the players on a team should factor into a decision to include a team in the final tournament). The NCAA champion can now say it has a lot in common with ice skating champions. Don't piss off the Russian judge.

I this is the wrong thread for my reply.

 

[mascho]

FCS Updates
 
* UNH up 14-0 on Fordham after a quarter.
 
* Chattanooga leads 14-0 over Indiana State, 3:00 left Q1
 
* Richmond & Coastal Carolina scoreless, 4:00 left Q1

The Schofield Curse rolls on....

 

[mabrowndog]

Div II Update
 
* Concord holding serve over Bloomsburg 23-9, half
 
* West Georgia winning the intrastate battle over Gulf South rival Valdosta 21-17, 12:48 left Q3
 
* Another in-state, intraconference duel has Minnesota State-Mankato (winners of the Northern Sun's South division) leading Minnesota-Duluth (winners of the North division) 10-3, 6:25 left Q2
 
* In a non-tournament game, Sioux Falls is blowing out Central Oklahoma 28-3, and they just started the 2nd quarter of the Mineral Water Bowl.
 
Div III Update
 
* Wesley leads unbeaten Hobart 17-6, half
 
* Linfield hammering unbeaten Widener 28-7, half
 
* Mount Union winning a slugfest with conference rival John Carroll 28-21, half
 
* Wartburg leads WI-Whitewater in a battle of unbeatens 13-6, end Q1

 

[riboflav]

UNH ain't going to get to Texas if they keep turning the ball over at an alarming rate. Now, have 8 turnovers in the last 5.5 quarters.

 

[tims4wins]

We're in a strange land when the head-to-head result means so little. The NCAA has managed to replace the result of competition with the result of an algorithm somewhat based on the results of competition (as one, example, I have no idea why the health of the players on a team should factor into a decision to include a team in the final tournament). The NCAA champion can now say it has a lot in common with ice skating champions. Don't piss off the Russian judge.

I this is the wrong thread for my reply.

But it was a 3 point margin, at home. Does that tell you anything about which team is better? That is why I called that game basically a tie in the top ten thread. To me I am looking at thr rest of their resumes and throwing out that game since the teams were even on that day.

 

[Infield Infidel]

We're in a strange land when the head-to-head result means so little. The NCAA has managed to replace the result of competition with the result of an algorithm somewhat based on the results of competition (as one, example, I have no idea why the health of the players on a team should factor into a decision to include a team in the final tournament). The NCAA champion can now say it has a lot in common with ice skating champions. Don't piss off the Russian judge.

I this is the wrong thread for my reply.

 
 the NCAA champion is the FCS champion, they don't run the FBS championship. 

 

[riboflav]

In a game that should be 28-0, UNH leads 14-9 after Fordham runs for 92 yards and misses the two-point conversion (a failed lateral play to their OT).

 

[mabrowndog]

NAIA Update
 
* In a rematch of the 2012 National Championship game (won by Marian [IN] for its first-ever title), host Morningside [IA] seeks revenge and leads the Knights 21-14 in Sioux Falls. Marian just scored a TD with :38 left in the first half to get back within 7.
 
* Southern Oregon just drew first blood on Saint Xavier in the first minute of the game, and the Raiders lead the Cougars 7-0 in Chicago.

 

[mabrowndog]

The Schofield Curse rolls on....

 
Fear not. The Hoosiers scored in the opening minute of the 2nd quarter -- a 75-yard TD pass by Perish -- to make it 14-7.
 
EDIT - And for those wondering why Schofield and I even give a shit about the 24th-seeded team in the 24-team FCS tournament, here you go.

 

[Infield Infidel]

Pete Volk (SBN)
2:05 PM

Updated playoff rankings: 1) Oregon 2) Alabama 3) NJIT 4) TCU

 

[Fred in Lynn]

But it was a 3 point margin, at home. Does that tell you anything about which team is better? That is why I called that game basically a tie in the top ten thread. To me I am looking at thr rest of their resumes and throwing out that game since the teams were even on that day.

Does it tell you anything about how screwed up the system is? A person could make up any justification for their selection, even to go so far as disregard head-to-head results in a head-to-head sport.

To be clear, I don't have a problem with you, Infidel, or anyone else's opinion because you're just working with the reality of NCAA football in 2014. Doesn't make it logical or the best way to run a competition.

(To answer your question, the style points don't matter that much to me and it's puzzling to me why they matter so much to others when one team or another will come out ahead in a game. Two teams, equal records, one beat the other. The style points would only matter if they hadn't played each other. They should have an 8-team playoff with the winner of the five majors, the Mt West, and maybe two at-larges - whatever. Just something that focuses more on the players on the field rather than all the other ancillary factors.)

 

[Fred in Lynn]

 
 the NCAA champion is the FCS champion, they don't run the FBS championship. 

I will correct that for the final version. So you do have a response other than your editorial comment?

 

[Infield Infidel]

I will correct that for the final version. So you do have a response other than your editorial comment?

 
My thinking is similar to tim4wins. In a game with 119 points, 3 points don't mean much. A three-point win at home is basically a draw. Plus there was a controversial DPI on the drive that led to the game-winning FG.
 
Head-to-head doesn't mean you get to ignore everything else. The season isn't one game. That WVU/Baylor game means just as much as the TCU/Baylor game. Each is 1/12 of the season, or at least 1/9 of the conference schedule. TCU had a bad quarter against Baylor; Baylor had a bad game against WVU. Which is worse?
 
I'm not 100% with this system, I'd rather have 8, with 5 access conference champs, 1 G5 team, and 2 at-large teams. It would be considerably less subjective. I think people are fine with subjectivity with seedings but not as much with selections. If there were 8 teams and TCU was seeded ahead of Baylor, but Baylor got in as an at-large, people wouldn't be arguing this nearly as much. 
 
The current system is fine though, and given the restrictions of the Nov/Dec/Jan calendar and the travel and preparations that bowl structure needs, it's not bad. There's a group of 12 people selecting the playoffs, so whatever justifications that are made in the committee are vetted by others. It is not unlike the NCAA basketball tournament it's just that there are far fewer teams. 

 

[tims4wins]

I think we all agree that we need at a minimum a 6 team playoff, maybe 8.
 
Also, TCU had a 21 point lead in that game. Yes, they lost, and yes, Baylor deserves credit, but I actually came away from that game thinking TCU was the better team despite the Baylor win. I don't think I am rationalizing anything by saying that.

 

[soxfan121]

Boykin gets pretty good touch on his balls.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Boykin gets pretty good touch on his balls.

Phrasing?

 

[soxfan121]

Does that guy have bling on his facemask? 

 

[BigMike]

In that TCU/Baylor discussion on Gameday, it was very convenient that no one mentioned Baylor's loss to WVU. It's like it didn't happen. For me that's the difference between these two teams. If Baylor's loss was to a better team, like Oklahoma or KSU, it would be close, but WVU is 7-5. WVU lost to every team better than them on their schedule (Bama, TCU, KState, Texas, Oklahoma), except for Baylor.
 
As long as TCU blows out a very bad Iowa St team, they are in for me. 

 
WVU is not that bad a team, and Morgantown is one of the truly nasty, Ugly places to play in College football.  Many better teams have had seasons spoiled n Morgantown over the year.
 
Face it, TCU was very fortunate to get out of town with a last second FG for the win, and needed to come from 9 points down.
 
I just don't think it is such a miserable loss. 
 
Suffice to say TCU has officially taken care of business today

 

[soxfan121]

Phrasing?

 
Intentional. 

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

 
Intentional. 

I figured.  But I miss Archer.

 

[Infield Infidel]

The thing about head-to-head is that, since that's how they decide it in the pros, people think that's the best way to decide it. But that's a choice they make, and any choice is subjective. Choosing head-to-head as the tie-breaking criteria is as subjective as choosing any other tie-breaker. 
 
When you have 128 teams, with vastly divergent schedules, even within conferences, of course it's subjective. 

 

[soxfan121]

#14 for Iowa State should go to the locker room or hide under the bench or something because that was shameful.

 

[soxfan121]

I figured.  But I miss Archer.

 
I read too much football stuff and I've got a list of those just waiting to explode into the right hole.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Looking at this as simplistically as possible...
Head to head is certainly one argument for breaking a tie.  But isn't is just as valid to go in the completely opposite direction and just look at the losses without attaching names?  Each team has one loss, one was to a highly ranked team, the other to an unranked team.

 

[soxfan121]

Iowa State is allowed and is using 11 players on defense, right?

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

One foot in for TCU.
 
If KSU can keep it under 20, TCU probably puts the second one in.
 
I don't see how FSU is a top 4 team, but you're not going to keep them out if they win in regulation, especially if 2 possessions. .

 

[Infield Infidel]

Marshall score to go up 26-23 with 1:50 to go agianst La Tech. 
 
Skip Holtz burned 2 consecutive TOs earlier try to decide to for 4th down

 

[OCST]

What a joke THE AMERICAN is. The Cincy-Houston and UConn-SMU games together had about eight people at them.

Because, you know, that Mustangs-Huskies rivalry cuts deep, it's like Michigan-Ohio State, fer chrissakes

 

[soxfan121]

What lab created Adam Zucker?

 

[Infield Infidel]

I've said it before, but Mack Brown is so good on TV. He was made for it. He'd make a great replacement for Corso

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

I've said it before, but Mack Brown is so good on TV. He was made for it. He'd make a great replacement for Corso

I like the bit about ESPN  giving the 'horns locker room material for 2006 so he wouldn't have to say anything, but he's a more boring, more cliched, more quiet, Corso, IMHO.
 
Corso is the closest thing ESPN has to Barkley/TNT, the problem is, there's no Shaq or Jet.
 
I hope he replaces Holtz instead.

 

[mabrowndog]

I've said it before, but Mack Brown is so good on TV. He was made for it. He'd make a great replacement for Corso

 
Agreed. Was just about to post similar plaudits.
 

I hope he replaces Holtz instead.

 
Agreed here as well. Between the spittle-soaked lisp and the lack of anything informative or insightful in his commentary, Holtz grates on me like no other.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

My daughter's Illinois State Redbirds,  up 34-7 against Northern Iowa, the only team to beat them this year.  They should be a tough out in the tournament, led by Indiana transfer Tre Robertson.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Oh, and I'll be surprised if Missouri can stay within 30 points of Alabama.

 

[axx]

Bama's no huddle is blowing CBS' mind.

 

[mabrowndog]

NAIA Update
 
* In a rematch of the 2012 National Championship game (won by Marian [IN] for its first-ever title), host Morningside [IA] seeks revenge and leads the Knights 21-14 in Sioux Falls. Marian just scored a TD with :38 left in the first half to get back within 7.

 
No revenge for Morningside. That Marian TD opened the floodgates, as the Knights added 27 more in the 2nd half while shutting out the Mustangs on the way to a 41-21 win. Hayden Northern completes 19-of-30 for 318 yards & 2 TDs (and runs 42 yards for another score), while the Marian defense picks Morningside QB Ryan Kasdorf 4 times.
 

 
* Southern Oregon just drew first blood on Saint Xavier in the first minute of the game, and the Ravens lead the Cougars 7-0 in Chicago.

 
SOU now up on SXU 41-24 with 4:29 left in Q3.
 
The winner faces Marian for the title in Daytona Beach on Friday 12/19 at 3 pm on ESPNU.

 

[mabrowndog]

This game is going to be a bloodbath.

 

[Dave Stapleton]

Who's producing this game, Kiffin's mother? It's like they're trying to get him his next HC gig.

 

[johnmd20]

 
I read too much football stuff and I've got a list of those just waiting to explode into the right hole.

 
Heh heh, mule.

 

[mabrowndog]

They're playing tennis in Norman, volleying TDs back and forth. The Cowboys just scored and Bedlam is knotted 14-14 with under 8:00 to play in the first half, but the Sooners are inside the OSU 10.
 
EDIT - TD Perine for OU and a 21-14 lead.

 

[BigMike]

I ran into on a BC board earlier in the week, where someone was saying TCU wasn't any good, and that their defense was a joke.
 
Despite giving up 61 to Baylor
TCU
finished 20 nationally in points allowed per game at 20.3
finished 14th nationally in rushing yards per game at 117
Not surprising a poor 87 in pass yards per game (242)
But of course since they play high tempo, and most of their opponents play high tempo clearly the yards per game are blown up when there are 15-20 more defensive snaps a week
The finish around #24 in terms of opponents yards per snap
 
More defensive stats
top 20 in Sacks
#3 in interceptions
#1 in takeaways per game
 
I'm pretty sure they were also top 10 in points scored by defense

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

Why can't Saban recruit a kid who can kid?

 

[Infield Infidel]

I ran into on a BC board earlier in the week, where someone was saying TCU wasn't any good, and that their defense was a joke.
 
Despite giving up 61 to Baylor
TCU
finished 20 nationally in points allowed per game at 20.3
finished 14th nationally in rushing yards per game at 117
Not surprising a poor 87 in pass yards per game (242)
But of course since they play high tempo, and most of their opponents play high tempo clearly the yards per game are blown up when there are 15-20 more defensive snaps a week
The finish around #24 in terms of opponents yards per snap
 
More defensive stats
top 20 in Sacks
#3 in interceptions
#1 in takeaways per game
 
I'm pretty sure they were also top 10 in points scored by defense

 
Yeah - For high pace teams, looking at counting stats is a bit like looking at RBIs. teams like Oregon or most Big 12 teams run so many plays and have so many possessions, that it skews the yards per game. Oregon had 94 plays last night. On the other extreme, Georgia Tech only gave Miami 3 possessions in the second half a couple weeks back.  
 
TCU is 27th in yards per play, which is pretty solid. Baylor isn't far behind at 32nd
 
edit- yards per play is different on a lot of sites. 

 

[johnmd20]

Why can't Saban recruit a kid who can kid?

 
There are plenty of kidders on the Crimson Tide. There are jokesters all over the place.

 

[axx]

I was just about to say that I don't know if Bama has any kind of quick strike offense.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Oh, that is a dirty hit.

 

[eddiew112]

Punk ass play right there

 

[Infield Infidel]

What a dumb hit by Shane Ray. Just lost one of their two awesome pass rushers.
 
Bama can just double Markus Golden if necessary. 

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

 
There are plenty of kidders on the Crimson Tide. There are jokesters all over the place.

Why didn't I ever learn who to type?

 

[mabrowndog]

Div II Update
 
* Concord holding serve over Bloomsburg 23-9, half
 
* West Georgia winning the intrastate battle over Gulf South rival Valdosta 21-17, 12:48 left Q3
 
* Another in-state, intraconference duel has Minnesota State-Mankato (winners of the Northern Sun's South division) leading Minnesota-Duluth (winners of the North division) 10-3, 6:25 left Q2
 
* In a non-tournament game, Sioux Falls is blowing out Central Oklahoma 28-3, and they just started the 2nd quarter of the Mineral Water Bowl.

 
* Sioux Falls takes the Mineral Water Bowl, 42-10.
 
* Despite a 17-6 quarter that drew Bloomsburg to within 29-26, Concord's D tightens up and adds a 4th-quarter for a 32-26 win.
 
* West Georgia shuts out Valdosta in the 2nd half and advances, 31-17.
 
* The Minnesota combatants headed to the locker rooms tied 10-10 at halftime, but Mankato outscored Duluth 34-7 after the break to remain unbeaten at 13-0.
 
* Host Colorado State-Pueblo hands Ohio Dominican its first loss, 31-28.
 
Next Saturday's D-II semifinals will have Mankato (MN) traveling to Concord (WV) while CSU Pueblo hosts West Georgia.