NCAA Football 2008-09 Season

[SabresRule]

Anyone care to make another case for Texas Tech not being legit?

Everyone hates on the Red Raiders (or, as mccoy called them, the PaRaiders), but they keep winning.

Even if they lose to Texas or Oklahoma, that's a less embarassing loss than USC.

Losing to one of the top teams in the country or an unranked team? What's worse?

USC is ranked TOO HIGH!

 

[Jimbo]

But to date, PSU is undefeated and tOSU is not. And PSU has looked better overall -- even against correspondingly weak opponents and against the common opponents -- than tOSU has. What that means about this weekend's game, I dunno.

Doesn't matter how you look beating a team, it come down to your final record.

If you have 3-4 losses but looked great beating the rest, what does that get you ?
Last I checked, Ohio State had 1 loss to the #1 ranked team in the nation at the time.
If OSU beats PSU, according to your standards, Ohio States loss will be better than your, because we are inferiour to you, according to you.

How many times has PSU beat OSU in the last 10 years ?

 

[Jimbo]

Oh, incidentally, the computer rankings used for the BCS explicitely cannot use margin of victory by rule. While this is a nice effort to prevent running up the score, it also makes the computer polls less accurate in terms of actual measuiring team strength and predicting future results. If you look at Sagarin, for example, his "real" rankings, which use margin of victory and are considered a more accurate evaluation of team strength, have PSU at #3 and tOSU at #9.

Sagarin's "predictor" ratings have PSU favored by ~8 points this weekend FWIW.

So your saying if we win our games 55 - 7 that will look better in the polls ?
I hope not, I would be ashamed to run up the score like that on a regular basis.

Jimbo

 

[Jimbo]

Bad hip. Tried to do the sidelines last week but couldn't. Says he will try to be on the sidelines for this one. Doesn't want to have the surgery. Might actually be what makes him retire before he wants to.

Joe Pa said he will have doctors look at it next week while PSU is on a BYE WEEK, gee, must be so they can recooperate.

Jimbo

 

[SideshowBob]

Doesn't matter how you look beating a team, it come down to your final record.

Absolutely.

If you have 3-4 losses but looked great beating the rest, what does that get you ?

Nothing. Did anyone say it got you something? Huh?

Last I checked, Ohio State had 1 loss to the #1 ranked team in the nation at the time.

True. And looked bad doing it. And that "#1 team" subsequently lost to a team that PSU killed. Now, transitive property means absolutely nothing, so I don't think those results mean anything in terms of PSU-tOSU. But I also don't see what is the accomplishment in getting clobbered by a great team. Kudos to tOSU for scheduling USC, but the result of that game tells us little about tOSU and having that loss on the schedule, even with USC being great, isn't a positive thing for tOSU. If anything, it shows that tOSU is vulnerable against a team with the right talent and gameplan (which may or may not be PSU, I guess we'll see).

If OSU beats PSU, according to your standards, Ohio States loss will be better than your, because we are inferiour to you, according to you.

Are you talking to me? Where have I said that tOSU is "inferior" to PSU? Hell, I expect PSU to lose this game, though it should be close enough to go either way. And I think that were the game in Happy Valley, that PSU would be much more likely to win. I do think PSU will fair better than in recent previous trips to the Horseshoe -- but will it be enough? I'm skeptical.

At this point, it's not really clear who is the better team. PSU has look more dominating against a less rigorous schedule. tOSU has looked beatable against some mediocre teams, but has also excelled at times. A great team in USC clobbered tOSU. In their two common opponents to date (Purdue and Wisconsin), PSU looked better [namely against the Badgers]. tOSU has a big edge playing at home, especially given the history there since PSU has joined the Big Ten.

Hopefully, it will be an interesting and fun game.
​

 

[SideshowBob]

So your saying if we win our games 55 - 7 that will look better in the polls ?
I hope not, I would be ashamed to run up the score like that on a regular basis.

No, I'm saying that the "normal" Sagarin ratings that take into account margin of victory are more accurate at predicting future results than the ELO-CHESS ones that they use for the BCS (which do not account for MOV). Of course, Sagarin or any other rankings aren't perfect and anything can happen on any given Sunday. But someone brought up the computer rankings to compare PSU and tOSU, so I pointing out that if you are going to do that, you might as well use one that has been proven over many years to be much more accurate.

That all said, I think that MOV is generally given a "diminishing return" value. IOW, it's a big difference to win a game by 7 versus winning by 1. But it's not really any different to win a game by 28 versus 21. There's not really any value in running up the score once a team is comfortable ahead.

 

[Jimbo]

Absolutely.



Nothing. Did anyone say it got you something? Huh?

True. And looked bad doing it. And that "#1 team" subsequently lost to a team that PSU killed. Now, transitive property means absolutely nothing, so I don't think those results mean anything in terms of PSU-tOSU. But I also don't see what is the accomplishment in getting clobbered by a great team. Kudos to tOSU for scheduling USC, but the result of that game tells us little about tOSU and having that loss on the schedule, even with USC being great, isn't a positive thing for tOSU. If anything, it shows that tOSU is vulnerable against a team with the right talent and gameplan (which may or may not be PSU, I guess we'll see).

Are you talking to me? Where have I said that tOSU is "inferior" to PSU? Hell, I expect PSU to lose this game, though it should be close enough to go either way. And I think that were the game in Happy Valley, that PSU would be much more likely to win. I do think PSU will fair better than in recent previous trips to the Horseshoe -- but will it be enough? I'm skeptical.

At this point, it's not really clear who is the better team. PSU has look more dominating against a less rigorous schedule. tOSU has looked beatable against some mediocre teams, but has also excelled at times. A great team in USC clobbered tOSU. In their two common opponents to date (Purdue and Wisconsin), PSU looked better [namely against the Badgers]. tOSU has a big edge playing at home, especially given the history there since PSU has joined the Big Ten.

Hopefully, it will be an interesting and fun game.
​

Ya, ya, and Bowling Green beat Pittsburgh and Pitt beat WV and WV beat Oklahoma so that MUST mean that BG can beat Oklahoma, right ???

 

[SabresRule]

West Virginia plays Auburn on Thursday.

You all know how Sam and David feel about their beloved leastleftovers, and you know my scathing thoughts on the Auburn offense.

Who'll win?

 

[Jimbo]

Are you talking to me? Where have I said that tOSU is "inferior" to PSU? Hell, I expect PSU to lose this game, though it should be close enough to go either way. And I think that were the game in Happy Valley, that PSU would be much more likely to win. I do think PSU will fair better than in recent previous trips to the Horseshoe -- but will it be enough? I'm skeptical.

At this point, it's not really clear who is the better team. PSU has look more dominating against a less rigorous schedule. tOSU has looked beatable against some mediocre teams, but has also excelled at times. A great team in USC clobbered tOSU. In their two common opponents to date (Purdue and Wisconsin), PSU looked better [namely against the Badgers]. tOSU has a big edge playing at home, especially given the history there since PSU has joined the Big Ten.

Hopefully, it will be an interesting and fun game.
​

Ya I'm talking to you,
All night you've ran sh*t down our throat about how great PSU is, kinda got the impression that your calling for a blow out ... Gee you average about 40 points a game ... thats how it has sounded all night ...
Now you say you don't even expect to win ?

Jimbo

 

[BillD1984]

West Virginia plays Auburn on Thursday.

You all know how Sam and David feel about their beloved leastleftovers, and you know my scathing thoughts on the Auburn offense.

Who'll win?

West Virginia.

I could be wrong, but I think Auburn is headed for a Wisconsin-like freefall!!

 

[Jimbo]

I know Jimbo, you haven'y boasted about the game....cause......

You know damn well your boys are toast!!

Don't want to hear about the schedules, like anyone has any control of that 10 years ago. I know you guys played some real toughies like Troy and Ohio, damn lucky to get by them too.

Ya, you guy played that ultra tough schedule too, you complain about playing Troy and Ohio.
You've got a real tough out of conference schedule there ....

Coastal Carolina, Syracuse and Temple that told us alot about PSU now didn't it

You complained about us against Purdue ???
OSU won 16-3 ....
PSU won 20-6, boy you really kicked their a**.

So in essence, we've played a tough top 5 team (USC and lost) PSU has NOT played a top 5 team.

The Oregon State game that you keep holding out as a great win, well if I take a quick look at the rankings, are no longer ranked at all, so that must not have been al, that great of a win afterall.
That tough Oregon State team is an impressive 4-3 so far this year.

So, does beating Oregon State really say that much about PSU ?

Jimbo

 

[Jimbo]

West Virginia.

I could be wrong, but I think Auburn is headed for a Wisconsin-like freefall!!

Bill,
I think that Auburn is WAY worse than Wisconsin this year.

Jimbo

 

[SideshowBob]

Ya I'm talking to you,
All night you've ran sh*t down our throat about how great PSU is, kinda got the impression that your calling for a blow out ... Gee you average about 40 points a game ... thats how it has sounded all night ...
Now you say you don't even expect to win ?

I really don't know if you have even been reading my posts. I don't think I'm remotely making the claims that you are suggesting. Most of my posts all I've done if try to correct some odd statements by Buckeye fans (like suggesting tOSU beating Wisconsin is more significant than PSU beating Wisconsin because Wisconsin was only ranked in the earlier game).

PSU has looked more impressive overall this year than tOSU. tOSU has played a tougher schedule to date. tOSU did lose to the toughest opponent they have faced. PSU and tOSU have played two common opponents and PSU performed better against those teams. tOSU has historically dominated PSU at the Horseshoe since PSU joined the Big Ten. PSU of late has been awful on the road, but has been better this season. I believe these are all pretty reasonable statements and reflect certain thinks that point to both PSU and tOSU having some advantages. But there is no clear cut favorite, at least to me.

With this game in the Horseshoe, at night, I think it will be difficult for PSU to win. If PSU plays the way they have all year with an open offensive gameplan and solid defense, they can win. I'm skeptical that they will do that, but I think it's possible. The only prediction I have made is that I think PSU will finally score more than 10 points in Columbus. But will it be enough? Dunno.

 

[SabresRule]

I think Auburn is headed for a Wisconsin-like freefall!!

God, I hope so!

It would be vindication for me, for I had been saying Auburn was overrated since the season started (Who in the world thought they were better than Texas or Texas Tech?).

Given my history of making big guarantees (picking Cleveland to beat the Giants two months prior), I want to prove I am capable of big predictions.

If Auburn loses their Homecoming game to Tennessee-Martin, that would be sweeter than anything- even if Texas Tech annihilated Texas, that wouldn't be as great!

 

[BillD1984]

Bill,
I think that Auburn is WAY worse than Wisconsin this year.

Jimbo

Jimbo,
I agree, at least the Badgers can score.

But what happened to them over the last month?

 

[Jimbo]

I really don't know if you have even been reading my posts. I don't think I'm remotely making the claims that you are suggesting. Most of my posts all I've done if try to correct some odd statements by Buckeye fans (like suggesting tOSU beating Wisconsin is more significant than PSU beating Wisconsin because Wisconsin was only ranked in the earlier game).

PSU has looked more impressive overall this year than tOSU. tOSU has played a tougher schedule to date. tOSU did lose to the toughest opponent they have faced. PSU and tOSU have played two common opponents and PSU performed better against those teams. tOSU has historically dominated PSU at the Horseshoe since PSU joined the Big Ten. PSU of late has been awful on the road, but has been better this season. I believe these are all pretty reasonable statements and reflect certain thinks that point to both PSU and tOSU having some advantages. But there is no clear cut favorite, at least to me.

With this game in the Horseshoe, at night, I think it will be difficult for PSU to win. If PSU plays the way they have all year with an open offensive gameplan and solid defense, they can win. I'm skeptical that they will do that, but I think it's possible. The only prediction I have made is that I think PSU will finally score more than 10 points in Columbus. But will it be enough? Dunno.

I thought earlier that you were saying that they would WIN by 10 or more, my mistake ...

 

[SabresRule]

But what happened to them over the last month?

It reminds me of something the Sports Guy once said- in his level of losing, he had something called "Dead Man Walking." (your team remains "alive," but they just suffered a loss so catastrophic and so harrowing that there's no possible way they can bounce back. ...)

 

[Jimbo]

I'm expecting it to be about a 28-24 or 24-21 something like that.

Jimbo

 

[SideshowBob]

I agree, at least the Badgers can score.

But what happened to them over the last month?

They just had the life sucked out from them:

1. Way ahead against a bad Michigan team, then gave the game away
then
2. Up late in a tough game against the Buckeyes and then lost in a heartbreaker
then
3. Got blown out by Penn State

That's a tough 3 weeks, so it's no surprise they just were not up for Iowa.

 

[SabresRule]

Given Auburn's poor offense, and with Pat White cleared to play, I wouldn't be stunned if it's a blowout:

49-17.