College Football - Live Thread - Week Four

ESPN.com Scoreboard ^ | Thursday September 21st to Saturday September 23rd 2006

[MikefromOhio]

Week Four – College Football

Week Three was dubbed “Separation Saturday” by all of the big media outlets, but, sadly, only really three of the games lived up to the billing. Oklahoma-Oregon, Tennessee-Florida and especially LSU Auburn were the exceptions to this. As has been the norm for the past few years, a few of these games were not without their controversy and blown calls. Thankfully another week of college football is upon us. The Big Ten, Big East and Big XII conference schedules begins this week, while some of the SEC heavyweights take a week from conference competition.

As always, all rankings are from the ESPN.com Scoreboard page. The betting lines (used sorely for the basis of predictions) are from Yahoo.com. I will list any games of interest (FReepmail me if you want your team included and I will include them from here on out) and any other games listed in my Yahoo league. I have a new feature this week. In each game that I do not have any confidence, or any game that I think a team could have an unexpected struggle, I will post a picture of a landmine for illustration.

GAME of the WEEK

Saturday, September 23rd, 2006 – 3:30 PM on FSN (Subject to change)

(20) Arizona St. at (22) Cal (-7.5)

This happens to be a make or break game for Cal. For a team that was a sleeper pick to be in the national title game, having 2 losses coming out of September would be a major disappointment. Now for Arizona St, this is a yardstick game. They will be able to see where they stand with one of the supposed elites of the Pac-10. Look for Cal to try to stop the passing attack of ASU and look for ASU to try to hit Cal as much as possible, which is exactly what Tennessee did. The betting line just doesn’t look quite right to me. It will be closer than a TD.

Cal 33 – ASU 30

Thursday September 21st, 2006 (ESPN Thursday Night Game)

Virginia at Georgia Tech (-17)

Virginia is a major disappointment this year. Georgia Tech had a shot to beat Notre Dame and be easily in the top 15 had they done so (given that they would be 3-0 at this point).

Georgia Tech 35 – Virginia 10


Saturday September 23rd 2006 (in ranking order)

(24) Penn State at (1) Ohio State (-16.5)

Ohio State 27 – Penn State 7

Buffalo at (2) Auburn (-42)

Auburn 58 – Buffalo 3

(3) USC (-21.5) at Arizona

USC 44 – Arizona 13

(4) West Virginia (-21) at East Carolina

West Virginia 47 – ECU 16

Kentucky at (5) Florida (-24)

Florida 34 – Kentucky 7

Wisconsin at (6) Michigan (-14)

Michigan 23 – Wisconsin 13

Iowa St at (7) Texas (-24.5)

Texas 43 – Iowa St. 10

(8) Louisville (-14) at Kansas State

Louisville 38 – K-State 10

Colorado at (9) UGA (-27)

UGA 28 – Colorado 7

Tulane at (10) LSU (-36)

LSU 45 – Tulane 6

Cincinnati at (11) Virginia Tech (-26.5)

VT 38 – Cincy 8

(12) Notre Dame (-3.5) at Michigan St

Michigan St. 34 – Notre Dame 27

(14) Iowa (-21) at Illinois

Iowa 34 – Illinois 3

Marshall at (15) Tennessee (-22)

Tennessee 42 – Marshall 9

Middle Tennessee St. at (17) Oklahoma (-28.5)

Oklahoma 48 – Middle Tenn. St. 14

Rice at (18) Florida State (-30.5)

FSU 41 – Rice 7

North Carolina at (19) Clemson (-16.5)

Clemson 24 – North Carolina 7

(20) Boston College (-7) at NC State

BC 26 – NC State 6

Troy at (23) Nebraska (-23.5)

Nebraska 28 – Troy 7

Hawaii at (25) Boise State (-14.5)

Boise St. 52 – Hawaii 27

52-8 Straight UP
40-19-1 Against the Spread

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Unbelievable. Biggest choke I've seen since the Yankees against the Red Sox two years ago in the ALCS...

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I'm so glad I didn't miss the last 10 minutes of the ND game.... not that I'm partial to either team but that was an incredible comeback!

[Nasher]

What team other than MSU can pull off such a choke?

Way to abandon the run (which was unstoppable) midway through the 4th quarter. I also like how they manage their timeouts.

[scott says]

I am completely dumbfounded...un- effing- believable.
Damn...I'm gonna cheer myself up now by listening to that Benson cd ..damn!
Headphones on- I'm out!

[Nasher]

Herbie mentioned that the Buckeyes had better watch out for the Spartans on their trip to East Lansing. I figure the Bucks have nothing to worry about as long as we're down by less than 35 going into the 4th, lol.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

What's really sad is that the bandwagon sportswriters will all be back aboard tomorrow and singing the praises of a mediocre quarterback who shouldn't be within 100 miles of the Heisman.

[letsgonova19087]

Incredible. WAY TO GO IRISH!!!

[MikefromOhio]

WOO WOO!!!!
* * * * UPSET ALERT! * * * *
COACHLESS PENN STATE 3
FORMERLY #1 OSU 0

Really??? LOL!!!!!!!

Last time I checked it was

OHIO STATE 28

Nittany Kitties 6

On a more serious note, I think JoePa sounded pretty chipper in the post game interviews....

[Nasher]

Why wait until tomorrow?

I bring you the wisdom of Lou Holtz (Within the past 15 minutes): "Don't be surprised if you see Notre Dame playing in the championship game." No lie!!!

Hey Lou, what game were you watching? Last weeks complete beatdown or this weeks team that was outrushed something like 250 yards to 50?

All I know is that Weis should send John L some great presents his way this Christmas. (Still won't come close to the huge gift he just received this evening)

[Nasher]

" On a more serious note, I think JoePa sounded pretty chipper in the post game interviews...."

Yeah, he was just informed that an emergency appropriation has just been approved and tomorrow morning work begins on installing port-a-potties down on the PSU sidelines, lol.

Seriously, glad that it sounds like he's doing OK.

[GRRRRR]

I am awake now and the Irish still win!~

Great comeback, the power of prayer! LOL.

They need to get their act together now and win out for the season.

[mainepatsfan]

Well you were close. /s

[mainepatsfan]

My buddies and I turned the ND game back on just a the 4th quarter started just to see how bad it was. Unfreaking believable. I didn't know that Andy Reid also coached the Spartans.

[mainepatsfan]

I knew Michigan St. was doomed when the analysts started saying "watch out for the Spartans."

[MikefromOhio]

Happens every single year.

So hopefully the Spartans will resurrect Troy Smith's Heisman candidacy in a couple weeks too :)

[mainepatsfan]

Just spot them a three score lead so Smith can orchestrate his own dramatic comeback. Of course if it's against the Spartans not many folks would consider it that dramatic.

[MikefromOhio]

yeah....

The game yesterday wasn't as great a surprise as some are taking it too be.

Ohio State and Penn State almost always play tough games against each other. Add to that the weather was absolutely nasty yesterday in Columbus...

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

As I said, the worst choke since the Yankees against the Red Sox in the ALCS in 2004, though in honesty, that was the all-time most beautiful choke. ;^)

[mainepatsfan]

Yup. PSU needed to create some points off turnovers or special teams in order to get that one.

[dc27]

I didn't know that Andy Reid also coached the Spartans.

Good one. The Prevent Win offense works everytime.