EVENTUAL 2021-2022 NATIONAL CHAMPION MICHIGAN STATE 35, Purducken 13
Words cannot express how much this game worries me. Purducken is a classic trap game, or would be if Maryland, yankguy possessive Maryland, was not also interposing between big games. They are just good enough to be a serious problem if we get caught looking, well, behind. My guess is Tuck keeps us on task. Even with Nailor iffy for the game with a bad hand, I think we can score often against a decent defense. Seriously, I Mean It This Year, Eventual 2021 Heisman Trophy Winner III probably will not hit for five touchdowns again, but I think we get the Peyton Thorne of the second half of Saturdays game, so a couple TD tosses to Reed get worked in. We remain highly vulnerable to the air, but that is not the shot and beer team strength. As an aside, I missed swathes of the game Saturday, and only now realized just where we had Meatchickens band sit. That is some Grade A Petty Ass Expert trolling right there.
Georgia 27, Misery 3
Somewhere along the line, Georgia is going to need its offense to score points. That is the thing about saying defense wins championships; there is a reason Iowa is setting in the west; you still have to score. So far Georgia has a competent offense which has been enough, but there should be a reckoning some time when the offense needs to step up. Granted, the Georgia defense is historically epic, but I would sooner trust Stetson Bennet IV to probate a will than lead a drive with the game on the line. I do not think there is any way that matters this week. Or next. Or, well, until they play I assume Alabama in the Goody apostrophe s Headache Powder God apostrophe s Conference Championship Game.
Woke Forrest 35, North Carolina 31
Fun fact. This game has zero impact on the South Atlantic League standings. It is officially Out of Conference, the teams agreed to play an OOC game every year when the SAL split them into different divisions. I think WF is a nice story, especially considering who is NOT running the ball for them, and Hartman will be the best QB on the field Saturday. They have a loss or two coming somewhere this year, but I am done picking UNC, under any circumstance.
the 49, Nebraska 17
Bo Pelini is not looking so bad, is he? Scott Frost is nearing the top of the Most Fired charts. But to paraphrase what I told my Meatchicken friends this week, Tom Osborn is not walking through that door. And neither are the relative level of recruits he used to get. The has players who are bigger, faster, stronger and better. Nebraska is at home, and they have played some tough games there, but the should handle them with ease.
Meatchicken 27, Indiana 7
Maryland spoiled the IU narrative last week but still, this will be the sixth team IU played who was ranked when they played them. They are also on a true freshman starting quarterback, against a really good defense that is likely to be angrier than a burlap bagful of wolverines that have been beaten with clubs by Lacedaemons.
the Pennsylvania State University 24, Maryland 13
PSU had a six quarters offensive nap when Clifford went out. He appears healthier now, and they did move the ball against the. They also have a really good red zone defense that kept the possessive scores down to field goals. I think with Clifford they are a decent offensive team with a stellar defense. I think Maryland is OK, maybe the fifth best team in the Big However Many East. But the gap between them and the top 4 looks pretty broad.
Our Lady of the Perpetual Tie 35, Navy 14
This has often been a troublesome game for OLotPT, but not this year. Metaphorically Navy is about as seaworthy as the CSS H. L. Hunley. I am not sure why OLotPT has dropped so much in the playoff talks. Everyone seems to assume that they will not be in the picture, but their only loss is a pretty good one, and the Committee does look at how teams are playing NOW, rather than how they snuck through some games early in the year. It pains me to say it, but it would only take a mild amount of chaos, say a loss in the league championship game by the Big However Many East and a second Oregon loss, for them to be a serious contender.
ClemSIN 20, Louisville 13
Has anyone heard from jbott? He did not even surface when the lost to Oregon. I hope he did not load up on Nati Lights and roll the moped into a swamp somewhere.
Texas A and M 31, Auburn 20
Again, the Road Bo Nix is the Bad Bo Nix. This looks like the best game of the year on paper, and it could be, but somehow I am thinking TAMU strolls away with it early and Auburn makes the score respectable late.
Alabama 45, Playing out the String U 17
Boy, for years this was such a circle the calendar and make plans to make no plans kind of game, and for years it mostly lived up to expectations. Thanks, Ogeron! Not only are we going to have to double our coach possessive salary the CFB world is deprived of what should be a great game. Anyway, if anyone thinks Satan is going to take the foot off the gas just because LSU is coasting to the end, they do not know Satan.
Arizona State 27, University of Southern California 20
Winzawin, yes, but USC beat one of the worst Power 5 schools by only 7 points. 7. A lot of my ASU fan friends are bailing on Herm Edwards, especially after last week. The team seems unprepared and uninspired for important games, and it would not surprise me to see him gone by the end of the year, especially if there are any legs to the NCAA investigation. Still, USC is sleepwalking through this nightmare of a season and losing London for the year is a nail in a coffin for them.
Wisconsin 23, Rutgers 13
Wisconsin is winning the Big However Many West, despite starting the season 1 and 3 and having no offense to speak of, and they are definitely a threat to the East Champ. Just thought you should know.
West Virginia 31, Oklahoma State 24
Oklahoma State is not winning the Pure Prairie League, despite starting 6 and 0 and having a good defense. Just thought you should know.
Minnesota 23, Illinois 10
No team with that bad of an OOC schedule and who loses to a bad MAC team should be relevant this late in the year, but here we are. Minnesota is currently the leader of the Big However Many West. Granted, their last two games are Wisconsin and Iowa, which will resolve their issue one way or the other, but for now, they need to be taken seriously despite not being particularly good.
Iowa State 31, Texas 27
If games were only three quarters, Texas would be in the playoff picture. Wonder how big a 4th quarter lead they will hack up this week.
Oregon 31, Washington 13
The Ducks may have the best win of the playoff contenders, for now, but they also have the wurst loss and that will not get the sausage made. Washington has no offense to speak of.
Cincinnati 42, Tulsa 17
It is all about style points for the Three Ways now. See? they will say. WE ARE THREE POINTS BETTER THAN THE!
Bates 14, Bowdoin 10
Bates has one win this year, over Tufts. Tufts beat Bowdoin by 12. Bowdoin has one win this year, over Amherst. The Belles beat Bates by 8. That makes Bates 4 points better than Bowdoin, by my math. Those are my only two data points. Fun fact, in the first of the BBC games, played last week, Bates lost to Colby 10 to 2, which was totally worth sitting outdoors in the late October Maine weather to watch.
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