🏈 This weekends "other games thread." AU hosting UGA catches my attention starting off...

[TerryP]

Here's a game where I have no positive feelings. I can't root for one team over another and can't say I'd rather one lose this game versus the other. But, with its tradition, it's a game I do my best to catch every year.

The phrase that catches my attention this morning is "Dream Team." When you think about it what comes to mind? Your first thought?

Is it the Olympic basketball team?

What about OJ Simpson's defense team?

Or perhaps is it the recruiting class that UGA pulled in a few years ago where they tried to proclaim "this is our dream team—best class in history."

It was a mixture of two with me. One, UGA's class and two, OJ Simpson's defense team.

You know what? There's a common element there that Chris Low pointed out in the SEC blog over on ESPN.com.

The members of Georgia's 2011 “Dream Team” recruiting class still maintain a close bond, even if circumstances have taken some members of the class to other places.

That bond between players will face an unusual test on Saturday when former Dream Teamer Nick Marshall – now Auburn's starting quarterback after Bulldogs coach Mark Richt dismissed him, Sanford Seay and Chris Sanders following the 2011 season after getting caught stealing from teammates – will stand on the opposite sideline from his former classmates.
​

Just to add, if you've forgotten, that dream team of UGA's also included Isaiah Crowell. Yes, that Isaiah Crowell.

So now we sit three classes removed from their arrival in Athens and right at half of "UGA's Dream Team" has needed Simpson's dream team.

Ironic a fair word here?

---

It's a bit disappointing that the UGA vs AU game is in the same time slot as Miami vs Duke. I'm NO fan of Cut, but the dislike for Miami trumps the table.

Houston at Louisville -16 catches my eye. As tightly as Houston played UCF, the same UCF the Cardinals lost to, makes that number look too big.

It's easy to be a Cardinal fan during any week but playing the Trojans? I'm a tree-hugger.

The Utes taking on Oregon seems to be one of those games they'll put the Ducks on upset alert only to see them roll over the Utah team.

 

[jdpas29]

i think uga has the upper hand in this game. i don't think, in my mind, it would really be an upset for them to beat the barn.

they are evenly matched IMO. i see whoever is sloppy losing. fumbles, snap problems, crappy punts and the like..

 

[BamaFisher]

Auburn is Auburn - some how they'll pull out the win and we'll all have to listen to them for 2 weeks.

 

[PhillyGirl]

All games of note (IMO):


I think #25 Georgia will upset #7 Auburn in OT. Auburn is gonna get caught looking ahead. But it won't really matter. This season only really has one purpose: to try to defeat Alabama/crush our hopes and dreams.

Duke beats #23 Miami. I hate both teams so this is a lose-lose for me haha.

Washington at #13 UCLA tonight should be a good game as well .. Washington is a fun team to watch. UCLA will sneak by.

I have a hunch that Illinois will hang with #3 Ohio State for at least the first half. Illinois sucks this year, but it's a home game and it IS November ..

#2 FSU at home versus Syracuse should be a blowout, but again, November magic ..

#16 Michigan State at Nebraska should be a good game as well. MSU is 8-1 and Nebraska is 7-2. Spartans win in a high scoring affair.

#6 Oregon wallops Utah, feels depressed about destroying a 4-5 team that beat the team that whooped the Ducks' butts/crushed their hopes and dreams last week.

Big 12 action with #12 Oklahoma State at #24 Texas. Texas wins by a late field goal.

7-2 Houston and 8-1 #20 Louisville is indeed intriguing. Bridgewater could increase his draft stock with a big game (though I think he is already considered the top quarterback pick at this point).

#5 Baylor is still undefeated, and facing a Texas Tech team that is better than its record (7-3) would have you think. Close game.

Florida at #10 South Carolina .. Could this be Will's last chance? Can he lead a beleaguered, battered, and demoralized Gators team to victory in Columbia? My guess is .. no.

#4 Stanford at USC .. Stanford eats 'em for dinner.

 

[MunchyOs]

The barn is still chest thumping over what they call a "curb stomping" 4 point win at Texas A&M. Ever since that game, they haven't thought about anything but Bama. They were fortunate that all they had was Florida Atlantic, Arkansas, and tennessee these last few weeks. Florida Atlantic was of course, a gimme. Arkansas and tennessee are fundamentally bad. However, looking past Georgia will get them beat.

 

[TerryP]

All games of note (IMO):

#16 Michigan State at Nebraska should be a good game as well. MSU is 8-1 and Nebraska is 7-2. Spartans win in a high scoring affair.

.

I've got an opinion on several of the games you mentioned but this is the one I'll start off with today. :icon_lol:

I don't see this as a high scoring affair at all. 24-14 going Sparty's way...I definitely don't see the O/U exceeding 45. In fact, I wouldn't be the least surprised if Nebraska doesn't make it to 14.

 

[PhillyGirl]

I've got an opinion on several of the games you mentioned but this is the one I'll start off with today. :icon_lol:

I don't see this as a high scoring affair at all. 24-14 going Sparty's way...I definitely don't see the O/U exceeding 45. In fact, I wouldn't be the least surprised if Nebraska doesn't make it to 14.

I guess I should have clarified: high scoring for me is anything over 30! :icon_lol: I can see this going to 31-35 on Sparty's end. However, Nebraska is averaging 36 points a game so far this season, alongside Michigan State's 30 points a game. Past 3 weeks on Nebraska's schedule have been a blah-fest, though.

 

[TerryP]

I guess I should have clarified: high scoring for me is anything over 30! :icon_lol: I can see this going to 31-35 on Sparty's end. However, Nebraska is averaging 36 points a game so far this season, alongside Michigan State's 30 points a game. Past 3 weeks on Nebraska's schedule have been a blah-fest, though.

What I believe you are over-looking is MSU's defense.

 

[PhillyGirl]

What I believe you are over-looking is MSU's defense.

Not overlooking, just looking at the overall picture. Their defense is really good, no doubt. They rank only behind Louisville and 'Bama in points allowed per game (11.6). They also lead the country in yards given up/game and rush D. The only real offensive challenge they have faced, however, was Indiana, who put up 28 on them. Heck, even Youngstown State got 17. Nebraska should (in my opinion) put up at least 17.

On the other side of the field, Nebraska's new QB is 5-0 so far. I imagine he will be throwing a lot tomorrow. It's a big Legends match-up, so it kind of has a playoff feel to it. Plus, it's in Lincoln: Huskers are 4 for 5 versus ranked opponents at home.

I don't think it will be an Oregon/Baylor type score, but I do think Nebraska will try to crack the MSU code, and succeed (at least for a bit). I think it will be somewhere in the 31-24 range, Spartans on top.

 

[planomateo]

With regards to Texas...maybe their new found confidence will get them through their remaining games. Talent wise, they shouldn't lose these games...but Mack Brown is at the helm.

Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, @ Baylor

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>The six Big 12 opponents Texas has faced are a combined 23-33.

Longhorns next three remaining opponents are 23-4. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23OKSTvsTEX&amp;src=hash">#OKSTvsTEX</a></p>&mdash; College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollegeGameDay/statuses/401399407603879936">November 15, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><iframe id="rufous-sandbox" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="display: none;"></iframe>

 

[Bamaman37]

I'll throw in my two cents on the Nebraska/Mich St game. Since my wife is a big-time Cornhusker, I've had the "pleasure" of watching all the Nebraska games this year. Nebraska is just not very good. It is a miracle that they are 7-2 at this point in the season (it took a hail marry to beat Northwestern, in Lincoln). Their defense is horrible, especially against the run. As for the offense, sure they can score points, but against the Mich St defense, I just don't see them moving the ball much. Michigan's defense held them in check last week, so imagine what the Spartans D can do. I think if Nebraska can score 14+ it'll be a miracle. As for their QB play, their redshirt freshman is 5-0, but he hasn't faced a defense like what the Spartans have. He has been prone to throw INTs, against poor defenses...I can't imagine what a really good D will do to him. Now, he does have some help with the Nebraska run game. I think Abdullah is the most underrated RB in the country. However, Mich St will stack the box and force Armstrong to throw, and I just don't see that ending well. The game being in Lincoln will help, but I don't think it'll make a much of a difference in the end. Remember, UCLA embarrassed them at home a few weeks ago.

Looking at some stats:

Nebraska ranks 15th in the country in rushing offense, averaging 246 yards per game. On the other side of the ball, MSU ranks 1st in the country in rush defense, giving up 43 yards per game. Passing offense, Nebraska is 92nd in the country averaging 199 yards per game. MSU ranks 3rd in the country, giving up 166 yards per game. Nebraska is not very good passing the ball. What that means is MSU can lineup to stop the run, forcing Nebraska to pass. A bad passing team forced to throw the ball against a good pass D is not a good mix...

On the Nebraska defensive side, Nebraska ranks 63rd in the country in rush defense, giving up 160 rushing yards per game. Mich St offense, on the other hand, averages 190 rushing yards per game. Nebraska has allowed teams to rush for more than 190 yards rushing in 6 of their 9 games, including 383 rushing yards to Wyoming, and 227 to South Dakota St. Something tells me that MSU is going to be able to lineup against the Huskers and run the ball down their throat.

Lastly, Nebraska is coached by Bo Pelini....Pelini couldn't outcoach a mentally disabled monkey, so Mark Dantonio is a major advantage for MSU in this game.

Obviously, I hope I am wrong because I would prefer a happy wife this weekend, but I think the Spartans win, with a score close to 38-10.

 

[bama alum]

Lastly, Nebraska is coached by Bo Pelini....Pelini couldn't outcoach a mentally disabled monkey, so Mark Dantonio is a major advantage for MSU in this game.

True. I still wonder whose seat is hotter, Brown or Pelini's. I think both will be gone. Then we can have Saban to Nebraska rumors! :lance:

 

[Bamaman37]

True. I still wonder whose seat is hotter, Brown or Pelini's. I think both will be gone. Then we can have Saban to Nebraska rumors! :lance:

LOL! My wife keeps saying that maybe Nebraska will get Saban...I just laugh and shake my head.

 

[PhillyGirl]

Pelini couldn't outcoach a mentally disabled monkey

:rofl:

That is definitely something going (among several things) going against Nebraska heading into that game!!

 

[TerryP]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Lee Corso has never lost a headgear pick involving USC. He’s 15-0 when picking USC to win, 5-0 when picking against USC. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FallicaFacts&amp;src=hash">#FallicaFacts</a></p>&mdash; College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollegeGameDay/statuses/401752617678036993">November 16, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Picked USC today...

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Vandy clinging to a 9-6 lead over Kentucky. An odd score to have had no field goals in the game.

RTR,

Tim

 

[rick4bama]

A block extra point and it ran back will do that. Vandy needs this win to be able to go bowling. It looks to me that Vandy is trying to keep Kentucky in the game.

 

[RollTideRandy]

After that opening drive, Grantham must be thinking...

[video=youtube;iBkZO6WQ278]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBkZO6WQ278[/video]

 

[RollTideinGA]

Gawd, the Dawgs are terrible! How were they rated this year:icon_scratch:

 

[RollTideRandy]

UGA does not look like a team that wants to play a football game today. Especially their RT who just refuses to block #30 for AU.