Posted on 10/19/2006 3:09:52 PM PDT by MikefromOhio
Week Seven brought another major upset in the Big Ten and the SEC. Iowa lost to Indiana; Vanderbilt beat Georgia snapping a 53 game losing streak to ranked teams. While this season has been kind of odd in that here have not been very many major upsets, the past two weeks have provided their fair share. The Auburn – Florida game lived up to the hype and went down to the last minute with Auburn winning the game. It was not without controversy either, which is another long running story this year. This week features two games that should get top billing. Texas travels to face Nebraska while Clemson hosts Georgia Tech in a battle for ACC supremacy.
Saturday, October 21st, 2006 – 7:45 PM on ESPN
at 
(12) Clemson (-7.5) at (13) Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech has the best defense in the ACC. They shut down Notre Dame and have been dominant in each of their other games. Clemson has a chance to really take control of the ACC with a win. Clemson will win this game, but it will be closer than a Touchdown.
Clemson 24 – Georgia Tech 20
at 
Texas 34 – Nebraska 17
Ohio State 42 – Indiana 6
Iowa at (2) Michigan (-12.5)
Michigan 34 – Iowa 17
(3) USC BYE
(6) Louisville (-17) at Syracuse
Louisville 37 – Syracuse 13
Alabama at (7) Tennessee (-11)
Tennessee 31 – Alabama 17
Tulane at (8) Auburn (-31.5)
Auburn 45 – Tulane 10
(9) Florida BYE
UCLA at (10) Notre Dame (-13.5)
ND 43 – UCLA 22
Washington at (11) Cal (-23.5)
Cal 42 – Washington 17
Fresno St. at (14) LSU (-33)
LSU 48 – Fresno St. 10
Mississippi at (17) Arkansas (-21)
Arkansas 41 – Ole Miss 17
(16) Oregon (-3.5) at Washington State 
Oregon 33 – Washington St. 28
(18) Boise St. (-21) at Idaho
Boise St. 45 – Idaho 10
(19) Rutgers at Pittsburgh (-6.5)
Pittsburgh 23 – Rutgers 17
Colorado at (20) Oklahoma (-14)
Colorado 18 – Oklahoma 14
(21) Wisconsin (-6.5) at Purdue
Wisconsin 35 – Purdue 20
(22) Boston College at Florida St. (-6)
Boston College 33 – FSU 17
(23) Texas A&M at Oklahoma St. (-3.5)
Texas A&M 32 – Oklahoma St. 25
Kansas St. at (24) Missouri (-15)
Missouri 34 – K State 10
(25) Wake Forest BYE
(23) Texas A&M at Oklahoma St. (-3.5)
Texas A&M comes in after a big win for them against Missouri. The line indicates that people aren’t buying it quite yet. I’m a believer.
Texas A&M 32 – Oklahoma St. 25
Record for the year
I'll skip the sob story and just say that if I pick a game one way, you have a better than even chance of being right if you pick it the other way.
117-28 Straight UP
77-64-4 Against the Spread
Its Northwestern
Michigan State posts biggest comeback in Division I-A history
The Spartans pulled off the biggest comeback in Division I-A history with an improbable 41-38 over Northwestern.by rallying from a 35-point third-quarter deficit.
So Frank Reich is no longer responsible for the greatest comebacks in both College Football and NFL history (Maryland over Miami, and Buffalo over Houston).
Not any more but.... what are the odds of somebody doing that again??????
It wasn't a fair contest...rumor has it that Bowden couldn't get all his players released on weekend furlough.
"ND should play a tougher schedule consisting of traditional national powers...like Texas does."
Classic. But don't forget to toss Ohio State and Michigan into the cupcake group as well. It's amazing anyone with a straight face can complain about the West Virginia and Louisville schedules when you look at who Ohio State and Michigan play. Ohio State's only impressive opponent thus far was a solid team that was starting a freshman quarterback in his first career start. They play nobody else until Michigan. Michigan played one good club, Notre Dame, and they play nobody until Ohio State. Compare that to all the other top 15 teams. Big 10 teams usually schedule good non-conference opponents, but not this year. Really bad.
Probably almost as silent as on gameday, huh?
Also have to add that the Buckeyes had 3 TD passes thrown to TE's in yesterday's scrimmage.
Michigan's defense does look outstanding...however how are they going to scheme against a team that can beat you in so many different ways? And remember this, Tressel opens it up the later it gets into the season as oppossed to LLLLoyd who traditionally tightens up for the game.
I can't wait for this game!!!
You have got to be kidding, yes?
Michigan played Notre Dame, Ohio State played Texas. Both are top 10 teams (#2 at the time each was played), and both of them got waxed.
You don't think Wisconsin, Penn State, Iowa are great programs, with teams that can match with most on any given weekend?
Do you know anything about NCAA programs and strength of schedule?
Obviously not.
Oh, yeah....I've seen it both ways......and if you jog that Buckeye memory, perhaps you will too......
Name one. Just one.
Oh right......he must have forgotten to open that spigot of his.....
Jeff Sagarin disagrees with you. According to his strength of schedule rankings, the teams with the most difficult schedules are all within the Pac 10, SEC and Big Ten. OSU and Michigan's schedules are 26th and 8th, respectively (and will become more difficult since they play each other). Donna Shalala's ACC and the Big Least don't even come close in terms of SOS. To your Pac 10's credit, their teams are all ranked with difficult SOS so far.
Incidentally, by the end of this year the Big Ten will have three teams ranked in the Top 10. The winner of OSU/Michigan will play for the NC, and Wisconsin and the OSU/Michigan loser will each have one loss. Not too bad...
The fact that you can confidently predict that the Big 10 will have three teams in the Top 10 makes my point. Half the season remains and you see no chance for any upsets or challenges anywhere in that league.
I am no supporter of the Big East or either of the two programs you list, West Virginia and Louisville. But those teams are getting hammered for their schedules and yet nobody is saying anything about Ohio State and Michigan. The Big 10 is soft this year and Ohio State/Michigan played soft non-conference schedules.
Also, before you say WVA and Louisville are being "hammered" can you name one good team they (WVA, Louisville) play yet?
Just one........
*Looking at watch*
Winsconsin is still at Iowa and home against PSU, so I'm far from confident. However, at this point they should be favered in their remaining games, hence my comment.
That said, I noticed you ignored my statements about Sagarin's rankings. Among the 25 most difficult schedules so far, the breakdown is as follows:
Pac 10: 9 teams
Big Ten: 5
ACC: 3
SEC: 3
Big East: 1
Other: 4
Clearly Sagarin doesn't agree with your sentiment.
"You don't think that Wisconsin, Penn State, Iowa are great programs, with teams that can match with most on any given weekend?"
I don't think there is anything special about any of them this year. And you wouldn't either if any of those teams had played even a hint of a decent non-conference opponent this year, which would have tacked a couple more losses onto each teams' tab.
Wisconsin plays Bowling Green, Western Illinois, San Diego State and Buffalo for their 4 non-conference opponents. That is among the softest scheduling of any supposed top-50 program in the country.
Penn State plays Akron, Notre Dame (got routed 41-17), Youngstown State and Temple.
Iowa plays Montana, Syracuse, Iowa State, Northern Illinois.
Of your three 'powerhouses' one good opponent in 12 games, and it was a rout. But they rack up wins against these other programs (Western Illinois?, Buffalo?, Akron?, Youngstown State?, Temple?, Montana?, Norhern Illinois?) and maintain "Strength of Schedule" numbers for Ohio State and Michigan as a result? Gimme a break.
Michigan played Vanderbilt, waxed them. Vandy has played tough, beating Georgia, barely losing to Alabama and Arkansas. Central Michigan came very close to beating Boston College and is undefeated in the MAC, yet they waxed them.
Oh, yeah....they waxed Notre Dame at Notre Dame....the worst defeat in decades for them....at home.
It's pretty obvious to me, you only say things (and strange things at that), but can't back them up with facts, you just like to, um, er......talk.
As to the Big Ten being soft.....it is to laugh.
And just who is it you root for that has this ultima uber strong schedule?
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