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ESPN's Finebaum / MadDog attack Big Ten and Penn State

Should we schedule mercer like Alabama?
There was a thought back in the days of 11 game schedules and 8 conference games that the 3 OOC games for PSU would be split as follows: 1 for a former eastern rival, 1 for a national rival, and 1 for a pay-to-play home game.

This is harder with a 12 game - 9 conference game schedule because every other year the conference only gives 4 home games, so I think Franklin is working toward 1 former eastern rival and 2 pay-to-play home games. When the "eastern rival" is Temple, this is weakness.

PSU used to be able to count on playing OSU and UM every year, plus either Wisconsin or Iowa who would be strong, but that's no longer the case as we are seeing this season. Hopefully Franklin will see the light and replace "eastern rival" with a tough national rival in the OOC schedule.

ESPN's Finebaum / MadDog attack Big Ten and Penn State

I think Cignetti will have them ready. I don't think it matters is Ohio State is ready.
We see Indiana differently which is fine. With their schedule we're all guessing. I got Ohio State at -12 and couldn't feel better about that.
While the media isn't respecting Indiana--the polls are.
I don't know how Indiana's defense will hold up against the OSU WRs. Rourke can play and they have some WRs. OSU will shut their run game down like Michigan did.
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ESPN's Finebaum / MadDog attack Big Ten and Penn State

In a 12 team playoff you must have 2 loss teams. This logic doesn't make sense. 11-2 Ohio State with 2 losses to #1 Oregon including by 1 on the should and will be the 5 seed
My favorite quote from Bill Connelly at ESPN: "Maybe the most important point to remember, though? If one of these four SEC teams is left out in two weeks, the snubbed team still will have lost twice. They could have saved themselves by not doing that."

I agree that there will be 2-loss teams getting at-large bids, and there will be 2-loss teams getting left out, but the latter have no right to complain, IMHO

Who to root for

I think we get the 6 seed if we win out regardless of what other teams do. The only exception is if OSU loses to Indy or Michigan.

I'm rooting for a ND loss to either Army or USC. That would improve our chances to still make the playoffs if we finish with 2 losses.
Yep, we need to just win out. Can't realistically get any higher than 6th but could slip to 7th if Indiana wins over OSU as you note.

It would be nice to see Florida beat Ole Miss and knock them out or Bama losing but that simply puts Tenn back in so does it really matter. What would be cool is both of them lose but I think Bama could still get in with 3 losses.

OT - Various OT topics

Sorry for the loss of your furry companion. Glad you found a place to replace her. Another option if in the mid-Atlantic is the Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue. Not puppies, but good dogs looking for their forever family.
Yep. We visited that place at their last open house before going up for the Whiteout game. Amazing place and awesome people running it. After our visit, we decided that we will, at some point, adopt a dog from there along with getting a puppy. Just not sure which will come first. Thanks for the recommendation!
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Who would you rather play in Beaver Stadium in the Playoff first round?

I think ND has hit their stride and are a dangerous team. Thir QB Riley Leonard is playing really well. While their shedule is rather weak they are putting teams away by very wide margins, they have a strong running game with speed at the WR position. Al Golden (DC) has built a solid defense. At this time they have remained healthy.
ND is basically the same team as PSU. On offense, they have a great couple of running backs (on par with PSU). Offensive line that has played better than expected (on par with PSU). Good stable of tight ends (edge PSU). Wide receiver is their big weakness on offense (would still give them a slight edge on PSU). And a big QB whose hype exceeds production to date (would give a slight edge to PSU). The main difference offensively is Leonard's mobility.

Both teams win primarily with defense, though. Their defense has suffered a number of injuries to really important players, but they've still managed to be very good on that side of the ball. PSU vs. ND is a coin flip.

Match Thread Black Knight Invitational - Sun, Nov 24

I’d rather have Davis pull another “Davis” than Davis pull a Spencer Lee. That whole spectacle was an embarrassment. Getting pinned wasn’t the issue, it was bailing on his teammates afterwards, his mom’s hatred for eyewear and his daddy doing interviews for him. 🤦‍♂️

Daddy doing an interview was a separate incident sir.

ESPN's Finebaum / MadDog attack Big Ten and Penn State

Indiana is pissed, though. Talk about no respect from anybody. Cignetti will have them ready, no doubt. He is not afraid of the moment, dude is tough and no bs. He is a better coach than Day. Heck, Day has made his career beating Franklin. Take that away and he ain't got much. I think OSU wins but Indiana will give them a game.
I think Cignetti will have them ready. I don't think it matters is Ohio State is ready.
We see Indiana differently which is fine. With their schedule we're all guessing. I got Ohio State at -12 and couldn't feel better about that.
While the media isn't respecting Indiana--the polls are.

Match Thread Black Knight Invitational - Sun, Nov 24

Gable coming back knocks you guys down a peg, thank god. and hopefully you'll go with Facundo at 157. Davis could pull a Davis again. Bartlett is taking 3rd. I'll cross my fingers that Lilledahl sucks on the mat.

I'm not saying it's certain. But there's a path to PSU taking second.

Jack Nicholson Yes GIF
I’d rather have Davis pull another “Davis” than Davis pull a Spencer Lee. That whole spectacle was an embarrassment. Getting pinned wasn’t the issue, it was bailing on his teammates afterwards, his mom’s hatred for eyewear and his daddy doing interviews for him. 🤦‍♂️

Who to root for

I think everyone has the right idea here. I think if PSU wins out we are in the playoffs and get a home game. If PSU loses another game, it's the bubble at best and probably SOL.
For SOS:
Illinois over Rutgers
MD over Iowa (we can always hope)
Wisconsin over Nebraska
OSU over Indiana (unless you're sentimental or you have a slim hope of PSU winning the conference)
Bowling Green over Ball State
West Virginia over UCF

To Keep B12 and ACC as 1-bid leagues
Kansas over Colorado
ASU over BYU
Wake Forest over Miami, Virginia over SMU (These two ACC games if we're really optimistic - but UM has a chance to lose next week vs the orange)

The Anti-Irish vote (ND currently takes up a bid, but another loss probably knocks them out.)
Army over ND

SEC Chaos is our friend
Oklahoma over Alabama
Florida over Ole Miss
Auburn over Texas A&M
Kentucky over Texas
(I'm assuming that Georgia and Tennessee will handle UMass and UTEP)
The ACC and Big XII are 1-bid leagues regardless. Absolutely not shot. Miami's the only one with an outside shot
I agree with "who to root for" just wouldn't worry about that group at all.
A&M is the team I want to lose the most other than ND because that hurts Texas and ND
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