No need to watch the game: 10 CBS 'experts' say we lose

[LandoComando]

Got a link to where Dodd said this?

Sure

The verdict: Penn State has a better roster and more talent, but Notre Dame is on a roll. It's been a while, but Irish magic will carry Notre Dame to a shot at the national championship. Pick: Notre Dame 26, Penn State 24

College Football Playoff games: Predictions, storylines for Orange, Cotton Bowl semifinal matchups

Notre Dame, Penn State, Ohio State and Texas are playing for a shot at the national title this week

www.cbssports.com

 

[PSUcup1]

Sure

The verdict: Penn State has a better roster and more talent, but Notre Dame is on a roll. It's been a while, but Irish magic will carry Notre Dame to a shot at the national championship. Pick: Notre Dame 26, Penn State 24

College Football Playoff games: Predictions, storylines for Orange, Cotton Bowl semifinal matchups

Notre Dame, Penn State, Ohio State and Texas are playing for a shot at the national title this week

www.cbssports.com

Thx!

 

[Jerry]

I love it. Frankly, we don't deserve better consideration because we've played poorly against OSU and Oregon. In both games, we were down early and couldn't catch up. I was out of the country and finally watched Boise. Frankly, we didn't play well. Very sloppy game with a major missed assignment and 100 yards in penalties plus a turnover. We were simply physically better than Boise and SMU. We will have to play better against ND. They are talented and well-coached.

Can we finally play a crisp, mistake-free game against a talented, blue-chip opponent? If we can, we'll win.

Well normally if you're looking at a 2-point betting line, you'd have a much more even split of "expert" (in their own minds) opinion.

But to be clear, I posted it here sheerly for entertainment value. It doesn't offend me...it amuses me. And one thing for sure: the opinion of "experts" will have no bearing on the outcome of the game.

I think if we play our A-game tomorrow night, we win. That didn't happen against Ohio State...at least on offense. As for Oregon, they were too good to let them sprint out to a commanding lead and then try to catch up. But at least our offense showed up. Of course, the great irony is that the loss worked out pretty well for us in the playoff draw.

Obli, as I read the fan commentary, the major dividing line seems to be between the camp that will be disappointed if we lose but still grateful for a great season...and the camp that will see a loss as vindicating their negative opinions about the coach while forgetting the 13 wins, CCG spot, and final-4 finish.

Personally, I'm in the first camp but might be tempted to reconsider if we blow a game we were in position to win or get totally humiliated on the field. I'm not expecting either of those things to happen though.

 

[LandoComando]

Thx!

Of course--I should have included it at the beginning

 

[ryoder1]

From the CBS Sports top 150 NFL draft prospects.

PSU with 6 but this includes Winston who will not play but does NOT include Allar.

ND with 5.

PSU
#8 Carter
#36 Warren
#57 Winston
#68 DDS
#75 Singleton
#118 Reed

ND
#17 Benjamin Morrison CB
#80 Howard Cross III. DL
#109 Riley Leonard QB
#111 Xavier Watts S
#130 Jack Kiser LB

This seems very equal especially considering Winston does not play and Carter is hurt and limited you would think.

Not sure what the underclassmen look like or if ND has anyone that would be in the top 150 like Allar but are not entering the draft.

On a separate note, Leonard is listed at 6'4" 216. We have to wrap him up. Allen said he is good at breaking tackles.

Georgia had 10 on the list but that included Beck at #55. That was a huge loss for them. That game was all about the turnovers.

 

[Obliviax]

Well normally if you're looking at a 2-point betting line, you'd have a much more even split of "expert" (in their own minds) opinion.

But to be clear, I posted it here sheerly for entertainment value. It doesn't offend me...it amuses me. And one thing for sure: the opinion of "experts" will have no bearing on the outcome of the game.

I think if we play our A-game tomorrow night, we win. That didn't happen against Ohio State...at least on offense. As for Oregon, they were too good to let them sprint out to a commanding lead and then try to catch up. But at least our offense showed up. Of course, the great irony is that the loss worked out pretty well for us in the playoff draw.

Obli, as I read the fan commentary, the major dividing line seems to be between the camp that will be disappointed if we lose but still grateful for a great season...and the camp that will see a loss as vindicating their negative opinions about the coach while forgetting the 13 wins, CCG spot, and final-4 finish.

Personally, I'm in the first camp but might be tempted to reconsider if we blow a game we were in position to win or get totally humiliated on the field. I'm not expecting either of those things to happen though.

I think ND has done a great job. They've got great coaching and players. They are in the tOSU and Oregon class of team and we know what we did against them. I am told ND has the best OL in the nation and with Carter hurt, that's a big problem. On the other side, ND has played nobody this year. TX A&M early and barely won but that was back in August. They played GA with GA's second-team QB.

Whoever can establish the run will win. I'd love to see us get over 200 yards rushing but don't think we'll be able to do that with ND's DL. If we do, we win.

If rushing is even, it comes down to Allar and our passing game. If we can get 225/250 yards passing with no INTs we win. But ND's secondary and pass rush is very good.

On the other side of the ball, with no or limited Carter, I think we struggle to contain their running game and they still get over 200 yards passing.

 

[ryoder1]

Well normally if you're looking at a 2-point betting line, you'd have a much more even split of "expert" (in their own minds) opinion.

But to be clear, I posted it here sheerly for entertainment value. It doesn't offend me...it amuses me. And one thing for sure: the opinion of "experts" will have no bearing on the outcome of the game.

I think if we play our A-game tomorrow night, we win. That didn't happen against Ohio State...at least on offense. As for Oregon, they were too good to let them sprint out to a commanding lead and then try to catch up. But at least our offense showed up. Of course, the great irony is that the loss worked out pretty well for us in the playoff draw.

Obli, as I read the fan commentary, the major dividing line seems to be between the camp that will be disappointed if we lose but still grateful for a great season...and the camp that will see a loss as vindicating their negative opinions about the coach while forgetting the 13 wins, CCG spot, and final-4 finish.

Personally, I'm in the first camp but might be tempted to reconsider if we blow a game we were in position to win or get totally humiliated on the field. I'm not expecting either of those things to happen though.

I want Franklin to beat this can't win the big one stigma. It is deserved at this point unfortunately but he can erase so many demons with a win. If we win we should all call the Paul Fineputz show! Of course we would never get through because Bubba from Alabama is hogging all the air time talking about the 3rd string safety for the Tide who just entered the portal.

 

[LandoComando]

From the CBS Sports top 150 NFL draft prospects.

PSU with 6 but this includes Winston who will not play but does NOT include Allar.

ND with 5.

PSU
#8 Carter
#36 Warren
#57 Winston
#68 DDS
#75 Singleton
#118 Reed

ND
#17 Benjamin Morrison CB
#80 Howard Cross III. DL
#109 Riley Leonard QB
#111 Xavier Watts S
#130 Jack Kiser LB

This seems very equal especially considering Winston does not play and Carter is hurt and limited you would think.

Not sure what the underclassmen look like or if ND has anyone that would be in the top 150 like Allar but are not entering the draft.

On a separate note, Leonard is listed at 6'4" 216. We have to wrap him up. Allen said he is good at breaking tackles.

Georgia had 10 on the list but that included Beck at #55. That was a huge loss for them. That game was all about the turnovers.

It's interesting as Warren seems to be a second round grade by most--maybe it plays out that way but I think someone gets a steal if he falls out of day 1. Kind of like Bowers fell way too far last year.

 

[GSPMax]

So Galway bay ?

Looking at their website and looks like they opened about 8 years after we left annapolis. Charlies, The Greeks, McGarveys, and Tavern on the Green were the most frequented in that order.

 

[ryoder1]

It's interesting as Warren seems to be a second round grade by most--maybe it plays out that way but I think someone gets a steal if he falls out of day 1. Kind of like Bowers fell way too far last year.

Loveland from Michigan at #21. Really surprising Warren is not projected to be the first TE taken.

Michigan with two in top 10.

OSU with 12. Eight in top 50. Howard at #131. That obviously does not include Smith their Fr WR and who knows how many other freshmen or sophomores starting for them that would be drafted if they were eligible.

 

[FightingIrish44]

It's interesting as Warren seems to be a second round grade by most--maybe it plays out that way but I think someone gets a steal if he falls out of day 1. Kind of like Bowers fell way too far last year.

It’s hard to imagine that he could fall out of Round 1. The only thing that I think could cause this is perhaps not being super athletic, but I’d imagine his size and catching ability offsets that.

@ryoder1 Jeremiah Love is top 150 and an underclassman. Backup running back is probably just outside of the top 150 but perhaps in it.

 

[ryoder1]

It’s hard to imagine that he could fall out of Round 1. The only thing that I think could cause this is perhaps not being super athletic, but I’d imagine his size and catching ability offsets that.

@ryoder1 Jeremiah Love is top 150 and an underclassman. Backup running back is probably just outside of the top 150 but perhaps in it.

What year is Love?

We have Zane Durant DT who should be top 200.

 

[FightingIrish44]

What year is Love?

We have Zane Durant DT who should be top 200.

True sophomore. He’s been banged up though since USC.

 

[LandoComando]

Loveland from Michigan at #21. Really surprising Warren is not projected to be the first TE taken.

Michigan with two in top 10.

OSU with 12. Eight in top 50. Howard at #131. That obviously does not include Smith their Fr WR and who knows how many other freshmen or sophomores starting for them that would be drafted if they were eligible.

Loveland is a more prototypical TE IMO
Warren is more of the Bowers type that you can do countless things with...he's just not quite as good as Bowers. No one is.

 

[ryoder1]

Loveland is a more prototypical TE IMO
Warren is more of the Bowers type that you can do countless things with...he's just not quite as good as Bowers. No one is.

I noticed just on Sunday what a great year Bowers had for the Raiders. 112 catches, 1200 yards with lousy quarterbacks.

 

[LandoComando]

I noticed just on Sunday what a great year Bowers had for the Raiders. 112 catches, 1200 yards with lousy quarterbacks.

Yeah he's special. Like generational special.

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

We could've beaten Oregon without those stupid penalties in the first half, 65 yards. You can't blame that on coaching that's the players.

Totally disagree. Penalties are about discipline, or the lack thereof. Coaches must instill discipline.

This is the one big difference that I see between JVP and Franklin. JVP was cerebral and disciplined his players. Franklin seems more emotional and flows with his players like one of their buddies.

In the end, this is what you get.

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

We are also witnessing a team that has won its 1st 2 playoff games convincingly and has made it to the college football playoff final four.

The discipline problem that you allude to is not unique to just our program. The new rules have given the players considerably more leverage in the process and we are still sorting through the ramifications as we hopefully achieve an equilibrium point that is good for the players, the team and the fans.

Try to enjoy the ride. Although we are certainly not the favorites, I definitely believe that we have a punchers chance....

I think you are correct about the leverage of players, which fuels an environment within which they never grow up. It becomes a house without parents.

Though universal across college football, I tend to see our problem as being a little worse than most other teams, and I correlate that with the nature of our head coach. Now he may believe that this is what it takes to graduate from where we were into becoming one of the "elite" teams, and he may be correct, but for me personally, I don't like the price.

I am very concerned about our society. When I watch a football game I love the entertainment and competition of the game, but then I see the side behaviors/penalties, and it reminds me of why we have been spiraling in the wrong direction. It reminds me of why we have so many young men living in their parent's basements, unable to take direction from a boss, unable/uninterested in homes and growing families.

This isn't going to end well, whether PSU wins a national championship or not.

 

[joeaubie21]

Experts... LMAO!!!

E-e-ee-e-ee-ee-e--e!!!!

 

[jbenedict]

Sure--Michigan has no problem beating them. Even without Harbaugh. Cristobal, Ferentz, Smart, Saban, Riley, Dabo, even Jeff Brohm have beat them since Franklin has. Would any f those coaches have lost 7 straight times to Ohio State with our talent level? Maybe--probably Ferentz and maybe Cristobal but it's hard not to understand the reputation.

And he can change it all on Thursday

I am hoping we play smart and tough football.

 

[bdgan]

I think you are correct about the leverage of players, which fuels an environment within which they never grow up. It becomes a house without parents.

Though universal across college football, I tend to see our problem as being a little worse than most other teams, and I correlate that with the nature of our head coach. Now he may believe that this is what it takes to graduate from where we were into becoming one of the "elite" teams, and he may be correct, but for me personally, I don't like the price.

I am very concerned about our society. When I watch a football game I love the entertainment and competition of the game, but then I see the side behaviors/penalties, and it reminds me of why we have been spiraling in the wrong direction. It reminds me of why we have so many young men living in their parent's basements, unable to take direction from a boss, unable/uninterested in homes and growing families.

This isn't going to end well, whether PSU wins a national championship or not.

The old days:

• Traveling to away games neatly groomed and wearing a suit.
• Penalties for showboating / excessive celebration.
• A greater emphasis of academics.
• Selling recruits on your school by promising discipline, a degree, and preparing them for adulthood along with a shot at turning pro.

Today:

• Telling recruits you can get you to the pros.
• Offer them lots of $$$ while they wait.
• If you don't like how it's going to can switch schools and try again.

 

[PSUcup1]

I think ND has done a great job. They've got great coaching and players. They are in the tOSU and Oregon class of team and we know what we did against them. I am told ND has the best OL in the nation and with Carter hurt, that's a big problem. On the other side, ND has played nobody this year. TX A&M early and barely won but that was back in August. They played GA with GA's second-team QB.

Whoever can establish the run will win. I'd love to see us get over 200 yards rushing but don't think we'll be able to do that with ND's DL. If we do, we win.

If rushing is even, it comes down to Allar and our passing game. If we can get 225/250 yards passing with no INTs we win. But ND's secondary and pass rush is very good.

On the other side of the ball, with no or limited Carter, I think we struggle to contain their running game and they still get over 200 yards passing.

Riley Leonard has thrown for 200 yards in only 5 of their 14 games this season. I’d be shocked if he hits that mark tomorrow night

 

[Obliviax]

Riley Leonard has thrown for 200 yards in only 5 of their 14 games this season. I’d be shocked if he hits that mark tomorrow night

you make a good point. But I recall the same being said about Boise's QB and he threw the ball well against us. ND is ND and they don't have crappy QBs. Although I understand that their WR corp isn't any better than ours.

 

[LandoComando]

The old days:

• Traveling to away games neatly groomed and wearing a suit.
• Penalties for showboating / excessive celebration.
• A greater emphasis of academics.
• Selling recruits on your school by promising discipline, a degree, and preparing them for adulthood along with a shot at turning pro.

Today:

• Telling recruits you can get you to the pros.
• Offer them lots of $$$ while they wait.
• If you don't like how it's going to can switch schools and try again.

The third bullet point for today is an improvement. And also why it's chaos now. It was always ridiculous kids couldn't transfer without restrictions.

 

[LandoComando]

Riley Leonard has thrown for 200 yards in only 5 of their 14 games this season. I’d be shocked if he hits that mark tomorrow night

I expect him to have a decent night because I think we take away the run and force him to beat us. See Boise State

 

[tboyer]

So CBS Sports employs 11 writers posing as "experts" -- just ask them -- on college football...and 10 of the 11 are picking Notre Dame on Thursday evening. (All 11 have Ohio State beating Texas...and all 11 have Ohio State winning

PSU has not played anything close to a 4 quarter game offensively all year (except Washington, Purdue and Maryland which don't count). They have flashed, they've been brilliant running and passing at times but they haven't done it for a whole game.

So the argument against PSU is that they haven't done it all year, they are what they are offensively, good but not great. The argument for PSU is that if they could really put together a relatively mistake-free game on offense, starting with Allar, they could shock ND.

Wouldn't it be storybook if the PSU wideouts had a great game? I think Omari Evans is ready, I think Wallace is ready, Wouldn't it be great if, instead of flashing brilliance for half a dozen plays a game, Allar played brilliantly for 10-15 plays? Wouldn't it be great if Coach K's bizarro stuff actually fooled Notre Dame and hit some home runs against a very well coached defense? Odds are against it, but still, one can hope....

 

[PennState_one]

Yep, I’m not watching the game. The 'experts' have spoken. What’s the point? We suck. 🥴

Notre Dame is the best team in the history of college football.

 

[bdroc]

PSU has not played anything close to a 4 quarter game offensively all year (except Washington, Purdue and Maryland which don't count). They have flashed, they've been brilliant running and passing at times but they haven't done it for a whole game.

So the argument against PSU is that they haven't done it all year, they are what they are offensively, good but not great. The argument for PSU is that if they could really put together a relatively mistake-free game on offense, starting with Allar, they could shock ND.

Wouldn't it be storybook if the PSU wideouts had a great game? I think Omari Evans is ready, I think Wallace is ready, Wouldn't it be great if, instead of flashing brilliance for half a dozen plays a game, Allar played brilliantly for 10-15 plays? Wouldn't it be great if Coach K's bizarro stuff actually fooled Notre Dame and hit some home runs against a very well coached defense? Odds are against it, but still, one can hope....

It would be great but I think the offense is what it is. It's pretty amazing to me that we talk about our 5* QB, best RBs, best TE, and much improved OL yet we still complain about the offense.

On one series vs Boise we had 3 catchable balls dropped - Evans, Wallace, and Warren. Evans & Wallace seldom hold onto passes like that. Warren usually does.

 

[KSLion]

Link below.

So CBS Sports employs 11 writers posing as "experts" -- just ask them -- on college football...and 10 of the 11 are picking Notre Dame on Thursday evening. (All 11 have Ohio State beating Texas...and all 11 have Ohio State winning it all.)

Icing on the cake: Paul Finebaum is picking...wait for it...Notre Dame as well. There's a surprise.

I hope Franklin is copying off this CBS piece for every member of the team. Great motivational material:

College Football Playoff predictions: Expert picks for semifinal games, 2025 national championship bracket

With the quarterfinals now complete, our CBS Sports experts pick the rest of the 2024-25 College Football Playoff

www.cbssports.com

If memory serves, Miami was a 6½-point favorite the going into the '87 Fiesta Bowl. What happened there?

Or, put another way, opinions are like a$$holes. Everybody's got one, most of 'em stink.

 

[Parkland Fan]

CBS sports is a shadow of what it was a decade ago. All the "experts" are wet farts .

Hopefully Coach Wannstedt picked Notre Dame. That would be a good sign for us.

 

[creamery freak]

Yep, I’m not watching the game. The 'experts' have spoken. What’s the point? We suck. 🥴

Notre Dame is the best team in the history of college football.

Well I'm not drinking the ND mystic kool-aid. People buy into the ND propaganda like the Germans did with Goebbels. We're the better team and we win by at least a td.

 

[PSU20]

God only knows, maybe we will shock the world and "throw a slant" once in a while. Coach K and his deep throws only work once in a while. Against Boise you could see a wide open field for 15-20 yards from behind Allar, yet he was throwing for 3-40 yards. You couldn't even see one player on the entire field for 15-20 yards, mind boggling why Coach K wants the big play time after time. Look at what happened to Oregon who we should have beaten.

 

[LandoComando]

God only knows, maybe we will shock the world and "throw a slant" once in a while. Coach K and his deep throws only work once in a while. Against Boise you could see a wide open field for 15-20 yards from behind Allar, yet he was throwing for 3-40 yards. You couldn't even see one player on the entire field for 15-20 yards, mind boggling why Coach K wants the big play time after time. Look at what happened to Oregon who we should have beaten.

I mean. That's his offense. Not changing now. I share your frustration but definitely won't change

 

[PSU20]

I mean. That's his offense. Not changing now. I share your frustration but definitely won't change

With Clifford in the slot, a slant should work, but K wants him to throw deep which will be a disaster against that ND secondary. As good as Allar is, he has a bad habit of trying to force it in against coverage, sometimes triple coverage!

 

[PennState_one]

Well I'm not drinking the ND mystic kool-aid. People buy into the ND propaganda like the Germans did with Goebbels. We're the better team and we win by at least a td.

Yeah, I barely take what the "experts" say with a pinch of salt. I’m pretty sure it’ll get settled on the field. They gotta have something to blab about.

 

[wilbury]

If memory serves, Miami was a 6½-point favorite the going into the '87 Fiesta Bowl. What happened there?

Or, put another way, opinions are like a$$holes. Everybody's got one, most of 'em stink.

That was 38 years ago.

 

[bourbon n blues]

Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

What we've been witnessing is a lack of discipline, followed by a lack of consequences, followed by a lack... It's the coaches who need to apply some consequences, like pulling the player out of the game.

Well, that's a little tricky these days. It's not Joe's era anymore. I'm sure it's addressed though.

 

[LandoComando]

Well, that's a little tricky these days. It's not Joe's era anymore. I'm sure it's addressed though.

If it has been addressed and it's continuing that's a problem because it's been an issue all year. Simply can't make those mistakes tonight. You get away with it against lesser teams but not comparable (or better if we play Ohio State again)

 

[KSLion]

.

That was 38 years ago.

What's time got to do with anything here? Some things never change. This is one of them.

 

[ryoder1]

I think you are correct about the leverage of players, which fuels an environment within which they never grow up. It becomes a house without parents.

Though universal across college football, I tend to see our problem as being a little worse than most other teams, and I correlate that with the nature of our head coach. Now he may believe that this is what it takes to graduate from where we were into becoming one of the "elite" teams, and he may be correct, but for me personally, I don't like the price.

I am very concerned about our society. When I watch a football game I love the entertainment and competition of the game, but then I see the side behaviors/penalties, and it reminds me of why we have been spiraling in the wrong direction. It reminds me of why we have so many young men living in their parent's basements, unable to take direction from a boss, unable/uninterested in homes and growing families.

This isn't going to end well, whether PSU wins a national championship or not.

ce

PSU has not played anything close to a 4 quarter game offensively all year (except Washington, Purdue and Maryland which don't count). They have flashed, they've been brilliant running and passing at times but they haven't done it for a whole game.

So the argument against PSU is that they haven't done it all year, they are what they are offensively, good but not great. The argument for PSU is that if they could really put together a relatively mistake-free game on offense, starting with Allar, they could shock ND.

Wouldn't it be storybook if the PSU wideouts had a great game? I think Omari Evans is ready, I think Wallace is ready, Wouldn't it be great if, instead of flashing brilliance for half a dozen plays a game, Allar played brilliantly for 10-15 plays? Wouldn't it be great if Coach K's bizarro stuff actually fooled Notre Dame and hit some home runs against a very well coached defense? Odds are against it, but still, one can hope....

Beating ND will not or should not shock anyone including ND.