Disappointment week. Is this the week that fans of a lot of schools realize that their high hopes for the year are done and the season isn’t going to result in a positive outcome. Will we see more in-season firings of coaches? Good chance that schools sense more urgency to make changes. Meanwhile the week starts and ends with two teams that give new meaning to horrible. There is always next year.
Also have multiple teams whose playoff hopes will be ended with a loss.
Some coaches and schools whose games I don’t mention but who could use a little asbestos padding in their pants because their seats are hot enough that any loss could be the trigger to end them. Among these to look for are Dave Aranda at Baylor, Mike Locksley at Maryland plus a few G5 guys.
Tuesday night the week opens with a couple of MAC schools trying for bowl eligibility.
Miami (OH) 5-3 at Ohio (5-3) are two hot teams. Ohio coming off a tough OOC schedule has won 4 of their last 5. Not to be outdone, the Redhawks of Miami have won 5 straight. With all of the higher profile coaching openings could this game be an audition for these two coaches?
No promotions for the coaches of the other Tuesday game. Akron still has faint hope to qualify for a bowl and this week should get them a little closer. Akron (3-6) hosts the Ugly Mess that is UMass (0-8.) Not only are the Minutemen winless but they haven’t come close to beating another FBS level team. Who has an argument for being worse?
Wednesday Northern Illinois (2-6) is at Toledo (4-4) who needs a solid finish to earn a bowl visit.
The other game looks bad with Kent State (3-5) at Ball State (3-5.) In a positive development for the Golden Flashes, Kent has won 2 of their last 3 which is one more win than their combined total for the last two seasons.
Thursday’s best game looks to be UTSA (4-4) at South Florida (6-2). USF’s only losses are to ranked teams.
Friday night has a couple of ranked teams in action
Tulane (6-2) at (22)Memphis (8-1) with Memphis working for the G5 spot in the playoff. Tulane is not as good as their record but a win here would be huge for them.
Outside of the top few teams the Big 10 is mostly mediocre at best. Illustration Northwestern (5-3) at (20)Southern Cal (6-2.) Mildcats have piled up wins against bad teams and lost their last game to Nebraska?. Southern Cal is 2-2 in their last 4 including a win last week against the Cornhuskers.
Saturday morning starts with one of those disappointed or better described shocked fanbases. (2)Indiana (8-0) is at Penn State (3-5.) Not much hope again this week for the Pedos against the team some consider the best in the country. If this one is close at the end of the first quarter it will be a shock.
Much better match than that is a game for Big 12 supremacy. (8)BYU (8-0) at (9)Texas Tech (8-1.) Tech looks to be for real, are the Cougars?
Some important games mid-day. (6)Oregon (7-1) at Iowa (6-2) has playoff implications. Very unlike prior seasons the Hawkeyes are scoring points this year, enough that their only losses are an early one to Iowa State and one to the #2 Indiana team that also gave the Ducks their only loss.
(3)Texas A&M (8-0) is at (19)Missouri (6-2). Aggies think they finally have a team that won’t choke away a shot at the national championship like they have before. Tigers hoping to stay ranked after losing 2 of their last 3. Watch out for slippery field conditions or some other attempt to steal a win.
Likely no playoff implications but Auburn (4-5) is at (15)Vanderbilt (7-2.) Vandy dreams were shattered by losing 2 of their last 4 to ranked teams. Meanwhile Auburn has been a disaster losing 5 of their last 6. Tigers will be coming in without Hugh Freeze as their coach.
Early evening lacks the top 25 matchups we have seen in recent weeks. Instead we have a game that in many years would have been an important contest. Florida State (4-4) is at Clemson (3-5.) Seminoles have lost 4 of 5, Tigers 3 of 5. Dabo’s job is probably still safe, FSU is certainly working on how to pay for Norvell’s $53 million+ buyout.
On a more positive note Wake Forest (5-3) is at (12) Virginia (8-1.) Virginia has overcome an ugly early loss to rise through the rankings and have a path to the ACC championship.
Navy (7-1) is at (12)Notre Dame (6-2) Navy keeps winning if not impressively. The Irish need this game to keep their playoff hopes alive. Well Navy it’s been a nice season anyways.
Also have a couple of games with teams that have already fired their coaches.
LSU (5-3) may be looking for the dead cat bounce against (4)Alabama (7-1.) They are more likely to end up with road kill tread marks.
Florida (3-5) is at Kentucky (3-5.) Hard to understand the Gators not being better with their resources but since Urban left they haven’t found it. Trivia note: Florida Interim Head Coach Billy Gonzales is a Colorado guy having played high school ball at Thornton and college at CSU.
We started the weekly schedule with a horrible team, we almost finish it with the same.
Sam Houston State (0-8) at Oregon State (2-6) which is another team that fired a coach. B is for bad and these two illustrate that. The Bearcats and Beavers are Bad with a capital B. This has to be the garbage game of the week.
The only later game is a good one with San Diego State (7-1) at Hawaii (6-3.)
Locally Air Force (2-6) is at San Jose State (3-5.) Falcons lost a last minute game to Army but have been much improved.
New Mexico and Wyoming both have the week off. The Sheep probably wish they were off as well. CSU (2-6) plays host to UNLV (6-2.) Rebels have lost their last two, the Sheep in firing their coach have lost all hope for this year. Plenty of good seats available, just about anywhere in the stadium you want.
Northern Colorado has faced a tough schedule run with two top 5 teams in a row. This week is tough but more realistic for them. Northern Colorado (3-6) is at Northern Arizona (5-4.)
For the local small schools last weekend was the big game with Pueblo taking control of the league by beating Western Colorado. If things go as expected that will settle the league.
Pueblo isn’t completely clear though. They and Chadron State are currently both 7-0 but Chadron has a much tougher path to win out.
This week’s big game has unranked Chadron State (7-2,7-0) hosting (11)Western Colorado (8-1,6-1)
Not getting out easy (6)CSU Pueblo (8-1,7-0) is at Colorado Mines (6-3, 4-3) who is still a formidable team.
If both Pueblo and Chadron make it through this week they meet next week in Pueblo to determine who wins the league.
Out of the race before it even started, Fort Lewis (2-7,1-6) could grab another win at New Mexico highlands (5-4, 3-4.)
South Dakota Mines (2-7,2-5) is in Grand Junction for Mesa State (5-4,4-3.)
Fans of bad football have their opportunity. So far nobody is as bad as Adams State but Black Hills State is trying. Black Hills State (1-8,1-6) goes to Alamosa for the pillow fight with Adams State (0-9,0-7.)
Also have multiple teams whose playoff hopes will be ended with a loss.
Some coaches and schools whose games I don’t mention but who could use a little asbestos padding in their pants because their seats are hot enough that any loss could be the trigger to end them. Among these to look for are Dave Aranda at Baylor, Mike Locksley at Maryland plus a few G5 guys.
Tuesday night the week opens with a couple of MAC schools trying for bowl eligibility.
Miami (OH) 5-3 at Ohio (5-3) are two hot teams. Ohio coming off a tough OOC schedule has won 4 of their last 5. Not to be outdone, the Redhawks of Miami have won 5 straight. With all of the higher profile coaching openings could this game be an audition for these two coaches?
No promotions for the coaches of the other Tuesday game. Akron still has faint hope to qualify for a bowl and this week should get them a little closer. Akron (3-6) hosts the Ugly Mess that is UMass (0-8.) Not only are the Minutemen winless but they haven’t come close to beating another FBS level team. Who has an argument for being worse?
Wednesday Northern Illinois (2-6) is at Toledo (4-4) who needs a solid finish to earn a bowl visit.
The other game looks bad with Kent State (3-5) at Ball State (3-5.) In a positive development for the Golden Flashes, Kent has won 2 of their last 3 which is one more win than their combined total for the last two seasons.
Thursday’s best game looks to be UTSA (4-4) at South Florida (6-2). USF’s only losses are to ranked teams.
Friday night has a couple of ranked teams in action
Tulane (6-2) at (22)Memphis (8-1) with Memphis working for the G5 spot in the playoff. Tulane is not as good as their record but a win here would be huge for them.
Outside of the top few teams the Big 10 is mostly mediocre at best. Illustration Northwestern (5-3) at (20)Southern Cal (6-2.) Mildcats have piled up wins against bad teams and lost their last game to Nebraska?. Southern Cal is 2-2 in their last 4 including a win last week against the Cornhuskers.
Saturday morning starts with one of those disappointed or better described shocked fanbases. (2)Indiana (8-0) is at Penn State (3-5.) Not much hope again this week for the Pedos against the team some consider the best in the country. If this one is close at the end of the first quarter it will be a shock.
Much better match than that is a game for Big 12 supremacy. (8)BYU (8-0) at (9)Texas Tech (8-1.) Tech looks to be for real, are the Cougars?
Some important games mid-day. (6)Oregon (7-1) at Iowa (6-2) has playoff implications. Very unlike prior seasons the Hawkeyes are scoring points this year, enough that their only losses are an early one to Iowa State and one to the #2 Indiana team that also gave the Ducks their only loss.
(3)Texas A&M (8-0) is at (19)Missouri (6-2). Aggies think they finally have a team that won’t choke away a shot at the national championship like they have before. Tigers hoping to stay ranked after losing 2 of their last 3. Watch out for slippery field conditions or some other attempt to steal a win.
Likely no playoff implications but Auburn (4-5) is at (15)Vanderbilt (7-2.) Vandy dreams were shattered by losing 2 of their last 4 to ranked teams. Meanwhile Auburn has been a disaster losing 5 of their last 6. Tigers will be coming in without Hugh Freeze as their coach.
Early evening lacks the top 25 matchups we have seen in recent weeks. Instead we have a game that in many years would have been an important contest. Florida State (4-4) is at Clemson (3-5.) Seminoles have lost 4 of 5, Tigers 3 of 5. Dabo’s job is probably still safe, FSU is certainly working on how to pay for Norvell’s $53 million+ buyout.
On a more positive note Wake Forest (5-3) is at (12) Virginia (8-1.) Virginia has overcome an ugly early loss to rise through the rankings and have a path to the ACC championship.
Navy (7-1) is at (12)Notre Dame (6-2) Navy keeps winning if not impressively. The Irish need this game to keep their playoff hopes alive. Well Navy it’s been a nice season anyways.
Also have a couple of games with teams that have already fired their coaches.
LSU (5-3) may be looking for the dead cat bounce against (4)Alabama (7-1.) They are more likely to end up with road kill tread marks.
Florida (3-5) is at Kentucky (3-5.) Hard to understand the Gators not being better with their resources but since Urban left they haven’t found it. Trivia note: Florida Interim Head Coach Billy Gonzales is a Colorado guy having played high school ball at Thornton and college at CSU.
We started the weekly schedule with a horrible team, we almost finish it with the same.
Sam Houston State (0-8) at Oregon State (2-6) which is another team that fired a coach. B is for bad and these two illustrate that. The Bearcats and Beavers are Bad with a capital B. This has to be the garbage game of the week.
The only later game is a good one with San Diego State (7-1) at Hawaii (6-3.)
Locally Air Force (2-6) is at San Jose State (3-5.) Falcons lost a last minute game to Army but have been much improved.
New Mexico and Wyoming both have the week off. The Sheep probably wish they were off as well. CSU (2-6) plays host to UNLV (6-2.) Rebels have lost their last two, the Sheep in firing their coach have lost all hope for this year. Plenty of good seats available, just about anywhere in the stadium you want.
Northern Colorado has faced a tough schedule run with two top 5 teams in a row. This week is tough but more realistic for them. Northern Colorado (3-6) is at Northern Arizona (5-4.)
For the local small schools last weekend was the big game with Pueblo taking control of the league by beating Western Colorado. If things go as expected that will settle the league.
Pueblo isn’t completely clear though. They and Chadron State are currently both 7-0 but Chadron has a much tougher path to win out.
This week’s big game has unranked Chadron State (7-2,7-0) hosting (11)Western Colorado (8-1,6-1)
Not getting out easy (6)CSU Pueblo (8-1,7-0) is at Colorado Mines (6-3, 4-3) who is still a formidable team.
If both Pueblo and Chadron make it through this week they meet next week in Pueblo to determine who wins the league.
Out of the race before it even started, Fort Lewis (2-7,1-6) could grab another win at New Mexico highlands (5-4, 3-4.)
South Dakota Mines (2-7,2-5) is in Grand Junction for Mesa State (5-4,4-3.)
Fans of bad football have their opportunity. So far nobody is as bad as Adams State but Black Hills State is trying. Black Hills State (1-8,1-6) goes to Alamosa for the pillow fight with Adams State (0-9,0-7.)
