Happy Thanksgiving!

LSU at aTm tonight as well!

I'll be pulling for your Cats Bill vs LV. Could be interesting!

Happy Thanksgiving!

LSU at aTm tonight as well!

I'll be pulling for your Cats Bill vs LV. Could be interesting!

LSU should kill them. But who knows???

My God I hate Ohio State.

Yeah, I kept quiet, my whole family loves OSU, step-son is OSU grad. I bet Michigan plus 5 and ML. Feel kind of sick about the ML loss, but good net winner with the pts. You play them Lee?

Whoever lost that game was going to be really really tough to swallow. Lots of shoulda, coulda, woulda by both teams - mistakes, turnovers, missed FGs, penalties. Both teams would've kicked themself in the ass regardless of who won.

That Michigan D line nearly was enough to single handedly win the game. That and the field position punting by Allen.

Tough for all those seniors to lose to OSU again. My angle for betting Blue was how much those key seniors who came back this year needed and wanted that win. Plus I thought, while maybe a tad slow relatively speaking, Mich had the better D, definitely the tougher and more physical D. But what OSU does is turn teams over with their DB scheme and we saw that today.

Felt like the better team lost. But what is "better" really? Is Ohio St better than Penn St? Penn St beat them so the only tangible evidence we have is that Penn St is indeed better than Ohio St. And today, Ohio St was better than Michigan, atleast that is what the final score showed and we'll have to believe it.

Looks to me like nebish is picking all the upsets in the football pool - or doing like I said before - make all my picks, then reverse them..... 😛

That's me, always backing the dogs. I bet something like 20 games today, took 2 favorites and lost both of those. It's to the point pretty much that if I like a favorite I have to back the bet down or just not play it. I'm an underdog guy all the way. Love the upsets too. Love 'em.

I took Ohio State in my pool. It is straight up so I won the game. I think Michigan got screwed. I think it was obvious that on that fourth down play the guy didn't make it. If I were Harbaugh, I would have gone for two in overtime anyway.

Vegas didn't have the line on the board or I would have won that bet, Michigan +6.5.

Interesting that the two best Big Ten teams aren't in the Championship.

Yeah, that is the problem with large conferences, arbitrary divisions and a league title game...it doesn't crown a true champion despite promises to the contrary. It is about money the game generates. Just like everything else.

Hey we need some Big Blue love in here don't we! I think I got that whole blue thing right now. Where are our Kentucky fans! Upset as 28.5 pt underdogs!

The site we use for odds actually showed OSU closing at 3 pt favorite. On Wednesday it was 6 there, but you could tell the juice was pointing towards it going lower. Not sure if that was on rumors of Speight playing, or just alot of love for Michigan in that one. When I started to get bets together it was 4.5/5 and then best I could get was +4 about 10 minutes prior to kickoff. Had I just pushed that game, I would have been about as mad as I possibly could've been. Better team and control the game for 3.5 quarters. tOSU actually had the cover in hand with Mich facing that 4th down in OT1 before the great throw and catch to convert TD. Heart was in throat at that point.

Lee, how is it that we've had a pick'em league here for what, 8 years now, and you aren't in it?

Yeah, that is the problem with large conferences, arbitrary divisions and a league title game...it doesn't crown a true champion despite promises to the contrary. It is about money the game generates. Just like everything else.

Hey we need some Big Blue love in here don't we! I think I got that whole blue thing right now. Where are our Kentucky fans! Upset as 28.5 pt underdogs!

We did what we needed to do, kept Louisville off the field in the 3rd Qtr. UK had the ball 13:07 and UofL ran 6 offensive plays.

It was so sweet watching the look of disappointment on the face of their fans when I was leaving the stadium.

The site we use for odds actually showed OSU closing at 3 pt favorite. On Wednesday it was 6 there, but you could tell the juice was pointing towards it going lower. Not sure if that was on rumors of Speight playing, or just alot of love for Michigan in that one. When I started to get bets together it was 4.5/5 and then best I could get was +4 about 10 minutes prior to kickoff. Had I just pushed that game, I would have been about as mad as I possibly could've been. Better team and control the game for 3.5 quarters. tOSU actually had the cover in hand with Mich facing that 4th down in OT1 before the great throw and catch to convert TD. Heart was in throat at that point.

I thought the officiating was awful. The pass interference calls and no calls were something else. Having said that, Harbaugh should have known better than to get a personal foul called on him that simply hurt the team. Michigan is better than OSU but Michigan kind of gave them the game. Too many mistakes.

Lee, how is it that we've had a pick'em league here for what, 8 years now, and you aren't in it?

Good question. I am in two NFL pools and I guess I use too much energy kicking Sang's butt in the one. 😛

Next year I will get into the college pool here. I like ones that have something on the line besides bragging rights.

We did what we needed to do, kept Louisville off the field in the 3rd Qtr. UK had the ball 13:07 and UofL ran 6 offensive plays.

It was so sweet watching the look of disappointment on the face of their fans when I was leaving the stadium.

It is nice to see Kentucky actually have a relevent football program the last few years. I thought UK fans just looked forward to basketball season.

An amazing college football season. Alabama wins it all again, of course, but this season has been so much fun.

Interesting that the two best Big Ten teams aren't in the Championship.

Ever since the BIG 10 went to 37 teams, the competition has been diluted, especially with the divisions. The "East" retains PSU, OSU and UM during the regular season, but it seems like a waste any time Maryland or Rutgers pop up on a team's schedule. UW pretty much has the "West", unless Nebraska or Iowa make some noise. It was nice to see the Badgers play both OSU and Michigan this season, and now PSU in the Championship game, so you can't say they haven't been challenged (though they lost close games to UM and OSU already). I wish they got rid of the arbitrary divisions since it means there will never be a BIG 10 championship game between Michigan, OSU, or PSU.

When The Big Ten reconfigured, I couldn't believe how they did it. They put "mostly" all of the best programs on one side. Putting Michigan, Ohio St, Penn St and Michigan St on the same side. Really?

Being a Midwest guy, I have had this conversation with several guys and we all feel the same way. They shouldn't have put the teams they did in each division. One example is take a team like Michigan State. They are obviously having a bad year but that program has been turned around and they have to beat out Michigan and Ohio State every year?

When The Big Ten reconfigured, I couldn't believe how they did it. They put "mostly" all of the best programs on one side. Putting Michigan, Ohio St, Penn St and Michigan St on the same side. Really?

Being a Midwest guy, I have had this conversation with several guys and we all feel the same way. They shouldn't have put the teams they did in each division. One example is take a team like Michigan State. They are obviously having a bad year but that program has been turned around and they have to beat out Michigan and Ohio State every year?

I went to UW and grew up in Madison, and I hate that the "good" football programs are in the other conference. UW is typically a top 25 program, but you get psyched to play Michigan and OSU, not Northwestern or Purdue. I get that they have to divide the teams regionally, and not by the quality of the football program because they are schools first, but all the more reason they should ditch the divisions all together. Sure, Maryland and Rutgers want that "vs. OSU" TV air time, but it doesn't help the sport.

Then again, I'm sure if I was OSU, I'd rather be in the final 4 teams in January than the BIG 10 title game - if anything it spreads the wealth around the conference, and if every school feels like they are "winning", that's all that matters. But it's funny that even when the BIG 10 is having a great year (4 teams in the Top 10) they still can't get it right.

I understand what you are saying. UW has been quite successful over the years. BUT, you might think that maybe that works to their benefit. Better chance to win The Big Ten. And this Saturday we might understand what the "committee" thinks about winning a conference.

I doubt it will happen but Michigan and Ohio State could beat out The Big Ten winner to get into the final four. Penn State beat Ohio State. Michigan beat Wisconsin and destroyed Penn State. I guess you could spin it however you want.

Gonna be interesting!

Having conference championship games are stupid to begin with.

All you need is a league with enough teams that everyone can play everyone and w/l records and tie breakers if needed are used to get a "true champion".

If Ohio beats Western Michigan, is Ohio really the best team in the MAC?
If Florida beats Alabama, is Florida really the best team in the SEC?
If Virginia Tech beats Clemson, if Virginia Tech really the best team in the ACC?

It is all so stupid. Virginia Tech did not play FSU, Louisville or Clemson in the regular season. It could be said that Virginia Tech is in fact the 4th best team in the ACC this season. But if they win Saturday upsetting Clemson we are supposed to recognize them as ACC Champ? No.

We don't need to turn the clock back that far to where things used to make sense in terms of conference size and how conference titles are won. But we have what we have, not because it is good logic, or it makes the game better or for some competitive reasons. We have what we have because of money. That is why Rutgers and Maryland are in the Big Ten. That is why we have a 13th game, the conference title games so we get advertising dollars and more TV revenue.

Wisconsin lost to 2 of the top 3 teams in the East this year. Because of the system we have, if they go 33% vs the top East teams then they are Big Ten Champ. It is a laugh if you care about this kind of stuff.

Having conference championship games are stupid to begin with.

All you need is a league with enough teams that everyone can play everyone and w/l records and tie breakers if needed are used to get a "true champion".

If Ohio beats Western Michigan, is Ohio really the best team in the MAC?
If Florida beats Alabama, is Florida really the best team in the SEC?
If Virginia Tech beats Clemson, if Virginia Tech really the best team in the ACC?

It is all so stupid. Virginia Tech did not play FSU, Louisville or Clemson in the regular season. It could be said that Virginia Tech is in fact the 4th best team in the ACC this season. But if they win Saturday upsetting Clemson we are supposed to recognize them as ACC Champ? No.

We don't need to turn the clock back that far to where things used to make sense in terms of conference size and how conference titles are won. But we have what we have, not because it is good logic, or it makes the game better or for some competitive reasons. We have what we have because of money. That is why Rutgers and Maryland are in the Big Ten. That is why we have a 13th game, the conference title games so we get advertising dollars and more TV revenue.

Wisconsin lost to 2 of the top 3 teams in the East this year. Because of the system we have, if they go 33% vs the top East teams then they are Big Ten Champ. It is a laugh if you care about this kind of stuff.

Then there's the Big XII, which was a holdout on a championship game and has a round-robin conference schedule...everybody plays everybody anyway. The two best out of that have to play again starting next year. Eyeroll.

There's such an amazing amount of hype around the conference championship weekend, like if you don't have a game, you are forgotten. I'm a Sooner, but the Bedlam Game doesn't quite match up to a conference championship game.

You are making my point in some respect. Is the conference winner the best team? Who knows. We never had this when I was growing up. Probably just a way for the NCAA to make some $$$.

These kind of arguments have existed for a long time. Just not exactly the same thing but I highly doubt everybody will agree on things. This is so subjective on a few fronts.

Personally, I think USC could beat anyone. They have no chance of getting in.

[Edited on 11/28/2016 by Lee]

Ahh remember the good ole days when people would say - "if we only had a playoff system, it would solve everything." 😉

For years I held up the PAC 10 for how they did their conference. Then the Big XII. Both have succumbed to having a league title game now, like you said Big XII next year. The PAC 10/12 for expansion and financial reasons and the Big XII for national championship opportunity reasons (and I'm sure financial reasons as well).

But really, doing it like the Big XII is going to do it next year isn't any better, it may be worse. Taking the two best teams in the league and putting them in a season ending league title game means that the teams will have already played. It will just be a rematch.

Let's say this year is next year. Let's say that Bedlam was last week and Oklahoma won. Ok St would still have the tie breaker over WVU for 2nd, or they are going by highest ranked? In either event, it will create a rematch. Oklahoma would play either Ok St or WVU again. For what? It's not needed. There are already head-to-head results from those games in the books. You have a team ready to be crowned champ after the regular season, the extra game is unnecessary for deciding who the champ is.

It's stupid and I don't say too many things having to do with college football are stupid. What is the significance of the first game if you just rematch them at the end of the year? When people say that a college playoff system make the regular season games mean less, that is an example of how it happens.

Speaking to the significance of the regular season, one of the beauties of college football is that every game matters. Not the case in the NFL. A team can go 9-7 and still win The Super Bowl. Something along those lines would never happen in college.

Speaking to the significance of the regular season, one of the beauties of college football is that every game matters. Not the case in the NFL. A team can go 9-7 and still win The Super Bowl. Something along those lines would never happen in college.

Well, kind of.

Some people who want say 8 teams, a collection of some conference champions and some wild cards, you could have a 9-3 team...such as USC. USC is playing exceptional football down the stretch, but for decades upon decades teams have been evaluated and ranked according to their wins and losses, their accomplishments and failures - in total. So USC has too many warts in my opinion to be allowed access to a multi-team playoff model as a nonconference champ. However, some people, especially those wanting a 16 team playoff would have teams such as that, maybe even 4 loss teams get in. That to me is a travesty to the truly great teams that have been exceptionally good to very good all season long to allow average to simply good teams into the same pool competing for a national title.

I just really like a 4 team model of highest ranked conference champions only, where no league gets more than 1 team in. I'm fairly content with what we have now, I just strongly disagree with how conference champions are determined in most leagues these days and strongly object to the possibility of one conference getting more than 1 team into the 4. And I think the committee is stupid, I'd rather we just average 20 computer rankings than have people like Condi Rice telling me who she thinks the best teams are.

I could compromise on an 8 team model, again using conference champions only, but in doing it this way I think we would need to reclassify about 40 of the 128 teams to IAA / FCS and realign the conferences for the remaining 88 teams where we'd have 8 11 team leagues, everyone playing everyone within their league, no title game. Each league champion gets a seat at the table. No rankings needed at all.

Yahoo Pick'em update

This is the last week and we have a tight race! 3 points separate the top 3 (myself, dannyspell, fast43). Spots 4-7 are close too. Lots of spots could change this week. There are 16 games on the list, which is every lined game Friday - Saturday. Good luck!

Sun Belt and Big XII are the only leagues where all/most of the teams are in action. If you care to learn more about these teams / leagues to see what is going on this week:

http://sunbeltsports.org/documents/2016/11/28//Sun_Belt_Conference_Football_Weekly_News_and_Notes_Week_14.pdf

http://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/pdfs/football/weekly-release.pdf

I haven't heard of anyone crowing for a 16 team playoff.

Regarding two teams from the same conference, I don't see why that should be an issue. Why not? Especially now given the fact that they keep changing up the conferences and the teams that keep getting moved around.

And I agree with you about why the hell is Condolezza Rice helping to determine who could win The National Championship?

Ahh remember the good ole days when people would say - "if we only had a playoff system, it would solve everything." 😉

Exactly. There will never be a perfect system, especially with the amount of money bowl games bring in to schools.