[ColoradoTree]

This has turned into a fun open thread for discussion of the other college football games on the slate, so let's keep that going.  Here are the games of the week (this time with game times and TV channel included)

Pac-12 Games

Friday, September 23

SC @ #24 Utah (-1.5) (6:00pm PT on FS1)

Saturday, September 24

Boise State (-13) @ Oregon State (12:30pm PT on FS1)
Colorado @ Oregon (-7.5) (2:30pm PT on Pac-12 Network).  Crazy line.  Not too long ago, this could have been a 40-point line, but Colorado is surprisingly decent.  You could argue that we want Oregon to win so that they might be ranked when we play them, and if Oregon were undefeated like Washington, I'd probably say Oregon winning this is a net positive for us. But I want to win the North, and Oregon's stock is falling, so let's let them take a loss here. 
#7 Stanford (-3, change from +1) @ UCLA (5:00pm PT on ABC).  I hope our team saw the opening line and got offended.
C.al @ Arizona State (-4, down from -6.5) (7:00pm PT on ESPN2). An interesting line, but all I'm certain of in this matchup is that it'll be a basketball score.  R
#9 Washington (-9) @ Arizona (7:30pm PT on Pac-12 Network).  We want as much attention on our Washington matchup as possible, I think, so I'd like the Huskies to win handily but reveal some flaws while doing so. 

Other Top 25 Games

Thursday, September 22

#5 Clemson (-9) @ Georgia Tech (4:30 PT on ESPN)

Saturday, September 24

#12 Georgia @ #23 Ole Miss (-7, big move from -2) (9:00am PT on ESPN). Ole Miss.  Let chaos rule.
#11 Wisconsin @ #8 Michigan State (-6) (9:00am PT on Big Ten Network).  A tough one. Both teams have a good non-conference win (LSU and ND), but
#19 Florida @ #14 Tennessee (-7, move from -10) (12:30pm PT on CBS).  This is where Gameday will be.  Neither team seems very good, but Tennessee seems more likely to take a loss later, so Florida is the pick here.
Penn State @ #4 Michigan (-19) (12:30pm PT on ABC). A pipe dream, but a PSU win would be nice.
#18 LSU (-3.5) @ Auburn (3:00pm PT on ESPN). More chaos. War Eagle!
#20 Nebraska (-7) @ Northwestern (4:30pm PT on Big Ten Network).  Man, the Wildcats sure could use a break.
Oklahoma State @ #16 Baylor (-9.5) (4:30pm PT on FOX). Rooting for ranked Big 12 teams to lose has gone well so far, so let's keep it up.
#17 Arkansas @ #10 Texas A&M (6:00pm PT on ESPN).  The good ol' transitive property calls for us to want A&M (with would make UCLA's loss look better) to beat Arkansas (which would make TCU's loss look worse). 

Opponent Watch

Duke @ N.D. (-21.5) (12:30pm PT on NBC).
North Texas @ Rice (-7.5) (3:00pm PT, no TV available).  Rice is favored!!!
Missouri State @ Kansas State (no line) (4:10pm PT, no TV available)

[ColoradoTree]

This has turned into a fun open thread for discussion of the other college football games on the slate, so let's keep that going.  Here are the games of the week (this time with game times and TV channel included)

Pac-12 Games

Friday, September 23

SC @ #24 Utah (-1.5) (6:00pm PT on FS1)

Saturday, September 24

Boise State (-13) @ Oregon State (12:30pm PT on FS1)
Colorado @ Oregon (-7.5) (2:30pm PT on Pac-12 Network).  Crazy line.  Not too long ago, this could have been a 40-point line, but Colorado is surprisingly decent.  You could argue that we want Oregon to win so that they might be ranked when we play them, and if Oregon were undefeated like Washington, I'd probably say Oregon winning this is a net positive for us. But I want to win the North, and Oregon's stock is falling, so let's let them take a loss here. 
#7 Stanford (-3, change from +1) @ UCLA (5:00pm PT on ABC).  I hope our team saw the opening line and got offended.
C.al @ Arizona State (-4, down from -6.5) (7:00pm PT on ESPN2). An interesting line, but all I'm certain of in this matchup is that it'll be a basketball score.  R
#9 Washington (-9) @ Arizona (7:30pm PT on Pac-12 Network).  We want as much attention on our Washington matchup as possible, I think, so I'd like the Huskies to win handily but reveal some flaws while doing so. 

Other Top 25 Games

Thursday, September 22

#5 Clemson (-9) @ Georgia Tech (4:30 PT on ESPN)

Saturday, September 24

#12 Georgia @ #23 Ole Miss (-7, big move from -2) (9:00am PT on ESPN). Ole Miss.  Let chaos rule.
#11 Wisconsin @ #8 Michigan State (-6) (9:00am PT on Big Ten Network).  A tough one. Both teams have a good non-conference win (LSU and ND), but
#19 Florida @ #14 Tennessee (-7, move from -10) (12:30pm PT on CBS).  This is where Gameday will be.  Neither team seems very good, but Tennessee seems more likely to take a loss later, so Florida is the pick here.
Penn State @ #4 Michigan (-19) (12:30pm PT on ABC). A pipe dream, but a PSU win would be nice.
#18 LSU (-3.5) @ Auburn (3:00pm PT on ESPN). More chaos. War Eagle!
#20 Nebraska (-7) @ Northwestern (4:30pm PT on Big Ten Network).  Man, the Wildcats sure could use a break.
Oklahoma State @ #16 Baylor (-9.5) (4:30pm PT on FOX). Rooting for ranked Big 12 teams to lose has gone well so far, so let's keep it up.
#17 Arkansas @ #10 Texas A&M (6:00pm PT on ESPN).  The good ol' transitive property calls for us to want A&M (with would make UCLA's loss look better) to beat Arkansas (which would make TCU's loss look worse). 

Opponent Watch

Duke @ N.D. (-21.5) (12:30pm PT on NBC).
North Texas @ Rice (-7.5) (3:00pm PT, no TV available).  Rice is favored!!!
Missouri State @ Kansas State (no line) (4:10pm PT, no TV available)

[BostonCard]

Wondering why GameDay is at Tennessee and not Michigan State.  Both Wisconsin and Michigan State are more highly ranked than Tennessee and Florida, and neither game is on an ABC/ESPN property.  I'm going to call #SECBias right now.

BC

[BostonCard]

Wondering why GameDay is at Tennessee and not Michigan State.  Both Wisconsin and Michigan State are more highly ranked than Tennessee and Florida, and neither game is on an ABC/ESPN property.  I'm going to call #SECBias right now.

BC

[washingtonismoney]

Wondering why GameDay is at Tennessee and not Michigan State.  Both Wisconsin and Michigan State are more highly ranked than Tennessee and Florida, and neither game is on an ABC/ESPN property.  I'm going to call #SECBias right now.

BC

Also weird because both Florida and Tennessee have been mediocre and GameDay's already been at a Tennessee game.

[washingtonismoney]

Wondering why GameDay is at Tennessee and not Michigan State.  Both Wisconsin and Michigan State are more highly ranked than Tennessee and Florida, and neither game is on an ABC/ESPN property.  I'm going to call #SECBias right now.

BC

Also weird because both Florida and Tennessee have been mediocre and GameDay's already been at a Tennessee game.

[ColoradoTree]

Wondering why GameDay is at Tennessee and not Michigan State.  Both Wisconsin and Michigan State are more highly ranked than Tennessee and Florida, and neither game is on an ABC/ESPN property.  I'm going to call #SECBias right now.

BC

I'm sure that's a big part of it.  I also wonder if Gameday folks are looking ahead a bit.  In Week 9, MSU hosts Michigan in a potential battle of unbeatens with last year's punt block win as backdrop, while the other Top 25 matchups don't quite measure up.  The other big game is Clemson @ FSU, but Louisville sure took a lot of shine off FSU's rose last weekend.  (Florida @ Georgia is interesting, as both teams are currently ranked, but I don't think both of those teams will get to Week 9 without taking a loss or two.  Washington @ Utah just doesn't rate with MSU-Michigan.  Baylor-Texas?  Meh.)  Plus, Wisconsin already got the Gameday treatment (in Week 1, beating LSU in Lambeau), though so did Tennessee (in Week 2's "Battle at Bristol"). 

Could be some MSU fatigue, too.  Michigan State featured in 4 Gameday appearances last year (Week 2 vs. Oregon; Week 7 @ Michigan; Week 12 @ Ohio State; and Week 14 at the Big Ten title game).  Then they barely showed up against Alabama.  So, there might not be a burning desire to feature them so heavily again this year. 

[ColoradoTree]

Wondering why GameDay is at Tennessee and not Michigan State.  Both Wisconsin and Michigan State are more highly ranked than Tennessee and Florida, and neither game is on an ABC/ESPN property.  I'm going to call #SECBias right now.

BC

I'm sure that's a big part of it.  I also wonder if Gameday folks are looking ahead a bit.  In Week 9, MSU hosts Michigan in a potential battle of unbeatens with last year's punt block win as backdrop, while the other Top 25 matchups don't quite measure up.  The other big game is Clemson @ FSU, but Louisville sure took a lot of shine off FSU's rose last weekend.  (Florida @ Georgia is interesting, as both teams are currently ranked, but I don't think both of those teams will get to Week 9 without taking a loss or two.  Washington @ Utah just doesn't rate with MSU-Michigan.  Baylor-Texas?  Meh.)  Plus, Wisconsin already got the Gameday treatment (in Week 1, beating LSU in Lambeau), though so did Tennessee (in Week 2's "Battle at Bristol"). 

Could be some MSU fatigue, too.  Michigan State featured in 4 Gameday appearances last year (Week 2 vs. Oregon; Week 7 @ Michigan; Week 12 @ Ohio State; and Week 14 at the Big Ten title game).  Then they barely showed up against Alabama.  So, there might not be a burning desire to feature them so heavily again this year. 

[BostonCard]

Only thing I can think of is that they are thinking ahead to Michigan/Wisconsin next week if Wisconsin wins.  Next week would be tailor made for Stanford/Washington, except we are playing on Friday.

BC

[BostonCard]

Only thing I can think of is that they are thinking ahead to Michigan/Wisconsin next week if Wisconsin wins.  Next week would be tailor made for Stanford/Washington, except we are playing on Friday.

BC

[DC 86]

I think the explanation is that ESPN is looking ahead at both teams' schedules.

Right now Tennessee and Florida are both undefeated, so the game is meaningful even though both teams have been lackluster so far. Tennessee's immediate upcoming games are road trips to Georgia and Texas A&M, followed by a home game vs Alabama. So the game vs Alabama could be a marquee matchup except that Tennessee is unlikely to be undefeated and could have two or even three losses going in.

Meanwhile Michigan State has marquee matchups at home vs Michigan and Ohio State late in the season with a fairly soft schedule leading until then (this weeks matchup vs Wisconsin being the exception).

So given that GameDay prefers not to repeat venues, this is probably the only chance to visit Tennessee with a compelling matchup, whereas MSU has a good chance of hosting either of two very compelling possible matchups later.

Of course ESPN has a financial interest in the SEC and an accompanying bias, but I think the choice of Tennessee this week is logical.

[DC 86]

I think the explanation is that ESPN is looking ahead at both teams' schedules.

Right now Tennessee and Florida are both undefeated, so the game is meaningful even though both teams have been lackluster so far. Tennessee's immediate upcoming games are road trips to Georgia and Texas A&M, followed by a home game vs Alabama. So the game vs Alabama could be a marquee matchup except that Tennessee is unlikely to be undefeated and could have two or even three losses going in.

Meanwhile Michigan State has marquee matchups at home vs Michigan and Ohio State late in the season with a fairly soft schedule leading until then (this weeks matchup vs Wisconsin being the exception).

So given that GameDay prefers not to repeat venues, this is probably the only chance to visit Tennessee with a compelling matchup, whereas MSU has a good chance of hosting either of two very compelling possible matchups later.

Of course ESPN has a financial interest in the SEC and an accompanying bias, but I think the choice of Tennessee this week is logical.

[CrazedZooChimp]

Only thing I can think of is that they are thinking ahead to Michigan/Wisconsin next week if Wisconsin wins.  Next week would be tailor made for Stanford/Washington, except we are playing on Friday.

BC

It is unfortunate that game's on a Friday. Really, UCLA should still be ranked and gameday should be at the Rose Bowl this week.

I think the only other chance of a Stanford game day would be ND, really. Maybe Oregon? Or CU or Cal if they somehow manage to keep winning, but pretty sure that's not happening...

[CrazedZooChimp]

Only thing I can think of is that they are thinking ahead to Michigan/Wisconsin next week if Wisconsin wins.  Next week would be tailor made for Stanford/Washington, except we are playing on Friday.

BC

It is unfortunate that game's on a Friday. Really, UCLA should still be ranked and gameday should be at the Rose Bowl this week.

I think the only other chance of a Stanford game day would be ND, really. Maybe Oregon? Or CU or Cal if they somehow manage to keep winning, but pretty sure that's not happening...

[ColoradoTree]

It's tough to predict future Gameday sites, since we don't know how teams will play in the games in between.  But I think it's a fair bet that Week 5 will be at Clemson for the Louisville game.  A couple of other good matchups are there (like Wisconsin @ Michigan or Tennessee @ Georgia), but a Top 5 matchup (assuming both teams take care of business this weekend, with Louisville at Marshall and Clemson at Georgia Tech) always wins. 

If both Stanford and UW are still undefeated, I would hope that ESPN would have its Gameday crew in Seattle next Friday for a "Gameday-like" experience before having the "real" Gameday at Clemson the next day. 

Hard to see a Gameday experience on Stanford's future schedule, even if Stanford manages to win out:

* Week 7 @ N.D. has lost some luster after how N.D. has played so far this year, but that's a relatively light week in terms of top matchups, so if N.D. can win its next few and get back into the Top 25, maybe there's a shot there. 

* Week 11 @ Oregon?  If Oregon rebounds from the Nebraska loss and is 8-1 at that point, then another battle for the Pac-12 North would be pretty attractive.  Maybe Michigan-Iowa if Iowa's only loss at that point is to NDSU.

* Week 12 @ C.al?  If Stanford is still undefeated or has just one loss at this point, and C.al is ranked, then maybe.  It's the week no one in the SEC plays anyone, so we have a shot.  We'd have to compete with Ohio State @ Michigan State, though.

All road games, though.  That's to be expected given that our home slate doesn't have opponents that would draw some national eyeballs.  According to Wikipedia, Stanford has been featured on Gameday nine times, but only once at Stanford. 

[ColoradoTree]

It's tough to predict future Gameday sites, since we don't know how teams will play in the games in between.  But I think it's a fair bet that Week 5 will be at Clemson for the Louisville game.  A couple of other good matchups are there (like Wisconsin @ Michigan or Tennessee @ Georgia), but a Top 5 matchup (assuming both teams take care of business this weekend, with Louisville at Marshall and Clemson at Georgia Tech) always wins. 

If both Stanford and UW are still undefeated, I would hope that ESPN would have its Gameday crew in Seattle next Friday for a "Gameday-like" experience before having the "real" Gameday at Clemson the next day. 

Hard to see a Gameday experience on Stanford's future schedule, even if Stanford manages to win out:

* Week 7 @ N.D. has lost some luster after how N.D. has played so far this year, but that's a relatively light week in terms of top matchups, so if N.D. can win its next few and get back into the Top 25, maybe there's a shot there. 

* Week 11 @ Oregon?  If Oregon rebounds from the Nebraska loss and is 8-1 at that point, then another battle for the Pac-12 North would be pretty attractive.  Maybe Michigan-Iowa if Iowa's only loss at that point is to NDSU.

* Week 12 @ C.al?  If Stanford is still undefeated or has just one loss at this point, and C.al is ranked, then maybe.  It's the week no one in the SEC plays anyone, so we have a shot.  We'd have to compete with Ohio State @ Michigan State, though.

All road games, though.  That's to be expected given that our home slate doesn't have opponents that would draw some national eyeballs.  According to Wikipedia, Stanford has been featured on Gameday nine times, but only once at Stanford. 

[CowboyIndian]

How in the name of all that is sane can Georgia be #12 in the country? Did no one watch their game against Nicholls? Just another example of $EC ******** (act that is illegal in several southern states).

[CowboyIndian]

How in the name of all that is sane can Georgia be #12 in the country? Did no one watch their game against Nicholls? Just another example of $EC ******** (act that is illegal in several southern states).

[ColoradoTree]

How in the name of all that is sane can Georgia be #12 in the country? Did no one watch their game against Nicholls? Just another example of $EC ******** (act that is illegal in several southern states).

I think you forgot that when SEC teams barely survive FCS or non-Power 5 foes, it's because: (1) SEC teams always get the other team's best shot; (2) SEC teams show a lot of grit in finding ways to win even when they're not at their best, because that's what championship teams do; (3) by the end of the year, every team had to get lucky and survive at least once, so you can't hold that against any particular SEC team; (4) bad turnover luck that shouldn't be held against the team in question; (5) bad injury luck that shouldn't be held against the team in question; or (6) that [insert FCS/non-P5 team here] team is pretty darn good, and could knock off most teams outside the SEC, frankly. 

Can't wait for the Georgia-Tennessee matchup in Week 5, since both teams seem significantly over-ranked.  Tennessee barely beat Appalachian State at home (lucky to win by 7 as a 21.5-point favorite) and beat a bad Ohio team by 9 (as a 27-point favorite), with its only credible win against Virginia Tech. 

And Georgia's questionable bona fides aren't limited to the Nicholls State game, since they needed a last-minute drive to beat Mizzou by 1 and trailed North Carolina with 5:30 left in the 4th quarter. 

Heck, most of the SEC is over-ranked.  Alabama at #1 is fine, but to have 7 teams ranked between #9 and #23?  That's nuts. 

[ColoradoTree]

How in the name of all that is sane can Georgia be #12 in the country? Did no one watch their game against Nicholls? Just another example of $EC ******** (act that is illegal in several southern states).

I think you forgot that when SEC teams barely survive FCS or non-Power 5 foes, it's because: (1) SEC teams always get the other team's best shot; (2) SEC teams show a lot of grit in finding ways to win even when they're not at their best, because that's what championship teams do; (3) by the end of the year, every team had to get lucky and survive at least once, so you can't hold that against any particular SEC team; (4) bad turnover luck that shouldn't be held against the team in question; (5) bad injury luck that shouldn't be held against the team in question; or (6) that [insert FCS/non-P5 team here] team is pretty darn good, and could knock off most teams outside the SEC, frankly. 

Can't wait for the Georgia-Tennessee matchup in Week 5, since both teams seem significantly over-ranked.  Tennessee barely beat Appalachian State at home (lucky to win by 7 as a 21.5-point favorite) and beat a bad Ohio team by 9 (as a 27-point favorite), with its only credible win against Virginia Tech. 

And Georgia's questionable bona fides aren't limited to the Nicholls State game, since they needed a last-minute drive to beat Mizzou by 1 and trailed North Carolina with 5:30 left in the 4th quarter. 

Heck, most of the SEC is over-ranked.  Alabama at #1 is fine, but to have 7 teams ranked between #9 and #23?  That's nuts. 

[OutsiderFan]

The game that stands out to me is Wisconsin at Michigan State.

Wisconsin is the most overrated team in the Top 10.  The only reason they are there is because they beat an LSU team that played them with their QB who has since been benched.  Sparty absolutely crushes Bucky.

And I just can't understand Southern Cal being underdog to Utah.  They are too talented to be 1-3, even if all three losses would be to Top 25 teams away from home.  Their D isn't terrible and their O is better than Utah's.  Anyway, take the under.

[OutsiderFan]

The game that stands out to me is Wisconsin at Michigan State.

Wisconsin is the most overrated team in the Top 10.  The only reason they are there is because they beat an LSU team that played them with their QB who has since been benched.  Sparty absolutely crushes Bucky.

And I just can't understand Southern Cal being underdog to Utah.  They are too talented to be 1-3, even if all three losses would be to Top 25 teams away from home.  Their D isn't terrible and their O is better than Utah's.  Anyway, take the under.

[CrazedZooChimp]

The game that stands out to me is Wisconsin at Michigan State.

Wisconsin is the most overrated team in the Top 10.  The only reason they are there is because they 59er an LSU team that played them with their QB who has since been benched.  Sparty absolutely crushes Bucky.

And I just can't understand Southern ןɐɔ being underdog to Utah.  They are too talented to be 1-3, even if all three losses would be to Top 25 teams away from home.  Their D isn't terrible and their O is better than Utah's.  Anyway, take the under.

Their O might be better than Utah's, but the Utes D is (like always) pretty dang good. Maybe $C will score 13 this time, and maybe that will be enough to win, but I'm not sure I'd bet on it.

[CrazedZooChimp]

The game that stands out to me is Wisconsin at Michigan State.

Wisconsin is the most overrated team in the Top 10.  The only reason they are there is because they 59er an LSU team that played them with their QB who has since been benched.  Sparty absolutely crushes Bucky.

And I just can't understand Southern ןɐɔ being underdog to Utah.  They are too talented to be 1-3, even if all three losses would be to Top 25 teams away from home.  Their D isn't terrible and their O is better than Utah's.  Anyway, take the under.

Their O might be better than Utah's, but the Utes D is (like always) pretty dang good. Maybe $C will score 13 this time, and maybe that will be enough to win, but I'm not sure I'd bet on it.

[fullmetal]

Tennessee barely beat Appalachian State at home (lucky to win by 7 as a 21.5-point favorite) and beat a bad Ohio team by 9 (as a 27-point favorite), with its only credible win against Virginia Tech. 

That's a bad Va Tech team too.  I saw part of the game--mistakes on both sides, etc.

[fullmetal]

Tennessee barely beat Appalachian State at home (lucky to win by 7 as a 21.5-point favorite) and beat a bad Ohio team by 9 (as a 27-point favorite), with its only credible win against Virginia Tech. 

That's a bad Va Tech team too.  I saw part of the game--mistakes on both sides, etc.

[BostonCard]

Over under on the Cal/ASU game is 80.5, which seems a bit low.  I could easily see it hit 80 by the end of the third quarter.

BC

[BostonCard]

Over under on the Cal/ASU game is 80.5, which seems a bit low.  I could easily see it hit 80 by the end of the third quarter.

BC

[BostonCard]

From the annals of Today in Grade Inflation:

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegespor...qus_thread

Cal gets an "A" for beating Texas?  Did Mr. Wilner forget that defense is at least part of the equation, and the Bears didn't really have one?  But congrats nonetheless to the Bears for beating Texas.

BC

[BostonCard]

From the annals of Today in Grade Inflation:

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegespor...qus_thread

Cal gets an "A" for beating Texas?  Did Mr. Wilner forget that defense is at least part of the equation, and the Bears didn't really have one?  But congrats nonetheless to the Bears for beating Texas.

BC

[washingtonismoney]

Well, Wilner gave us an A- for beating SC, and a B for beating Kansas State, so the more likely explanation is Wilner's charity towards teams with low expectations.

[washingtonismoney]

Well, Wilner gave us an A- for beating SC, and a B for beating Kansas State, so the more likely explanation is Wilner's charity towards teams with low expectations.

[CTcard]

Well, Wilner gave us an A- for beating SC, and a B for beating Kansas State, so the more likely explanation is Wilner's charity towards teams with low expectations.

Wilner explicitly states that his grades are versus his own expectations for the team and the game. As such, these relative grades for cal and Stanford are a notable compliment towards our team ... sort of.

[CTcard]

Well, Wilner gave us an A- for beating SC, and a B for beating Kansas State, so the more likely explanation is Wilner's charity towards teams with low expectations.

Wilner explicitly states that his grades are versus his own expectations for the team and the game. As such, these relative grades for cal and Stanford are a notable compliment towards our team ... sort of.

[Mick]

Wilner explicitly states that his grades are versus his own expectations for the team and the game. As such, these relative grades for ןɐɔ and Stanford are a notable compliment towards our team ... sort of.

Always hated that comment.  Made no sense to me in any context.

[Mick]

Wilner explicitly states that his grades are versus his own expectations for the team and the game. As such, these relative grades for ןɐɔ and Stanford are a notable compliment towards our team ... sort of.

Always hated that comment.  Made no sense to me in any context.

[Ratmandoo]

And I just can't understand Southern ןɐɔ being underdog to Utah.  They are too talented to be 1-3, even if all three losses would be to Top 25 teams away from home.  Their D isn't terrible and their O is better than Utah's.  Anyway, take the under.

Really? The Trojans were physically dominated by Stanford this week, have very little depth on either lines, and now has to go play the most physical team in the Pac-12 South on a short week in Rice-Eccles. If USC gets down 10 in this game, they will fold.

Would you bet on U$C right now?

And for all the Game Day location decisions, you have to remember ESPN really doesn't like to come to the west coast at all. The extremely early morning start usually means smaller crowds and the travel makes it a more expensive trip for the TV production (especially if they have east coast games the week before and the week after). So unless a Pac-12 game is an absolute no brainer (like the Oregon at Stanford game in 2011), ESPN won't come west.

[Ratmandoo]

And I just can't understand Southern ןɐɔ being underdog to Utah.  They are too talented to be 1-3, even if all three losses would be to Top 25 teams away from home.  Their D isn't terrible and their O is better than Utah's.  Anyway, take the under.

Really? The Trojans were physically dominated by Stanford this week, have very little depth on either lines, and now has to go play the most physical team in the Pac-12 South on a short week in Rice-Eccles. If USC gets down 10 in this game, they will fold.

Would you bet on U$C right now?

And for all the Game Day location decisions, you have to remember ESPN really doesn't like to come to the west coast at all. The extremely early morning start usually means smaller crowds and the travel makes it a more expensive trip for the TV production (especially if they have east coast games the week before and the week after). So unless a Pac-12 game is an absolute no brainer (like the Oregon at Stanford game in 2011), ESPN won't come west.

[ColoradoTree]

And for all the Game Day location decisions, you have to remember ESPN really doesn't like to come to the west coast at all. The extremely early morning start usually means smaller crowds and the travel makes it a more expensive trip for the TV production (especially if they have east coast games the week before and the week after). So unless a Pac-12 game is an absolute no brainer (like the Oregon at Stanford game in 2011), ESPN won't come west.

This definitely plays a role, I think.  And with a smaller student body than most of our opponents, Stanford likely won't provide the same crowd that some of our larger conference-mates would.  Had UCLA beaten Texas A&M, the Bruins might be a Top 10 team right now, and this weekend might have been big enough to host.  Gameday at the Rose Bowl has an appeal to the folks at ESPN, I should think (with the Friday setup being somewhere on campus).

Oh, well.  Maybe next year. 

[ColoradoTree]

And for all the Game Day location decisions, you have to remember ESPN really doesn't like to come to the west coast at all. The extremely early morning start usually means smaller crowds and the travel makes it a more expensive trip for the TV production (especially if they have east coast games the week before and the week after). So unless a Pac-12 game is an absolute no brainer (like the Oregon at Stanford game in 2011), ESPN won't come west.

This definitely plays a role, I think.  And with a smaller student body than most of our opponents, Stanford likely won't provide the same crowd that some of our larger conference-mates would.  Had UCLA beaten Texas A&M, the Bruins might be a Top 10 team right now, and this weekend might have been big enough to host.  Gameday at the Rose Bowl has an appeal to the folks at ESPN, I should think (with the Friday setup being somewhere on campus).

Oh, well.  Maybe next year.