[BostonCard]

So, without a game of our own to watch, I went through the Pac-12 schedule (and select others) to line up my rooting interests:

Utah at Washington: Wasn't expecting UW to be a home dog, and I am not convinced that Utah has the horses, but I love Wittingham's teams and hope he gives the Huskies another loss.  Go Utes!
Oregon State at Arizona: Two teams we've beaten; both look unlikely to make the post-season.  Gotta root for the 6 point dogs (the Beavers) here.
Oregon at USC: Can I root for the sweet meteor of death?  Oregon, I'm afraid is poised for another prolonged upcycle, but I can't bring myself to root for the Trojans.  Plus, tactically, it helps if one of the Pac-12 teams makes it to the playoffs, as all other teams are moved up a bowl slot.  So, to the extent that the Pac-12 championship can be a battle between 1-loss Oregon and 1-loss Utah, that helps.
Colorado at UCLA: I hope this is a long, tiring game at 6 pm on a Saturday, preferrably a multi-overtime game that ends really late, so that Colorado is not well rested next week.  A UCLA win would give us more confidence about beating Colorado; I do worry a bit about UCLA's resurgence under Chip Kelly, and a loss might push them back.  In the end, I gotta go with the Buffs.

A few non-Pac-12 games:
Virginia Tech at Notre Dame: ND is favored by 17.5, which seems a bit excessive, especially for a team that looked very not good last week.  Hoping for the Hokies, but not expecting them to win.
Georgia at Florida: Battle of 1-loss SEC teams.  Should be the best game this week end.  Rooting for the bulldogs (much to the chagrin of jacketree).
Northwestern at Indiana: Yikes, didn't realize Northwestern was having that bad of a season, but they are 1-6 and 11 point dogs at Indiana.  Good luck!

BC

[BostonCard]

So, without a game of our own to watch, I went through the Pac-12 schedule (and select others) to line up my rooting interests:

Utah at Washington: Wasn't expecting UW to be a home dog, and I am not convinced that Utah has the horses, but I love Wittingham's teams and hope he gives the Huskies another loss.  Go Utes!
Oregon State at Arizona: Two teams we've beaten; both look unlikely to make the post-season.  Gotta root for the 6 point dogs (the Beavers) here.
Oregon at USC: Can I root for the sweet meteor of death?  Oregon, I'm afraid is poised for another prolonged upcycle, but I can't bring myself to root for the Trojans.  Plus, tactically, it helps if one of the Pac-12 teams makes it to the playoffs, as all other teams are moved up a bowl slot.  So, to the extent that the Pac-12 championship can be a battle between 1-loss Oregon and 1-loss Utah, that helps.
Colorado at UCLA: I hope this is a long, tiring game at 6 pm on a Saturday, preferrably a multi-overtime game that ends really late, so that Colorado is not well rested next week.  A UCLA win would give us more confidence about beating Colorado; I do worry a bit about UCLA's resurgence under Chip Kelly, and a loss might push them back.  In the end, I gotta go with the Buffs.

A few non-Pac-12 games:
Virginia Tech at Notre Dame: ND is favored by 17.5, which seems a bit excessive, especially for a team that looked very not good last week.  Hoping for the Hokies, but not expecting them to win.
Georgia at Florida: Battle of 1-loss SEC teams.  Should be the best game this week end.  Rooting for the bulldogs (much to the chagrin of jacketree).
Northwestern at Indiana: Yikes, didn't realize Northwestern was having that bad of a season, but they are 1-6 and 11 point dogs at Indiana.  Good luck!

BC

[qwerty49]

Yikes, didn't realize Northwestern was having that bad of a season, but they are 1-6 and 11 point dogs at Indiana.  

Ugh.  That, plus losing KJ to a head injury, and the fact that our game was 10-7 until that final sack play, says all you need to know about this season.

[qwerty49]

Yikes, didn't realize Northwestern was having that bad of a season, but they are 1-6 and 11 point dogs at Indiana.  

Ugh.  That, plus losing KJ to a head injury, and the fact that our game was 10-7 until that final sack play, says all you need to know about this season.

[Phogge]

Best game by far will be SMU vs Memphis. Wide open.

[Phogge]

Best game by far will be SMU vs Memphis. Wide open.

[SamuelMcF]

Yikes, didn't realize Northwestern was having that bad of a season, but they are 1-6 and 11 point dogs at Indiana.  

Ugh.  That, plus losing KJ to a head injury, and the fact that our game was 10-7 until that final sack play, says all you need to know about this season.

Yup. Northwestern has the worst scoring offense and #2 worst YPG offense in the entire FBS.

[SamuelMcF]

Yikes, didn't realize Northwestern was having that bad of a season, but they are 1-6 and 11 point dogs at Indiana.  

Ugh.  That, plus losing KJ to a head injury, and the fact that our game was 10-7 until that final sack play, says all you need to know about this season.

Yup. Northwestern has the worst scoring offense and #2 worst YPG offense in the entire FBS.

[CrazedZooChimp]

At this point I'm mostly rooting for Utah to magically make the playoffs, so go whoever is playing $C (not like that wouldn't be the case anyway). 

And if that won't happen, then I want Oregon State to manage to make the Rose Bowl in the greatest surprise possible. Mostly it requires Oregon to just lose one game to not the Beavs (certainly possible) and the Beavers to win out (very improbable).

[CrazedZooChimp]

At this point I'm mostly rooting for Utah to magically make the playoffs, so go whoever is playing $C (not like that wouldn't be the case anyway). 

And if that won't happen, then I want Oregon State to manage to make the Rose Bowl in the greatest surprise possible. Mostly it requires Oregon to just lose one game to not the Beavs (certainly possible) and the Beavers to win out (very improbable).

[OutsiderFan]

Everyone is on Oregon’s bandwagon right now and projecting a Oregon-Utah PAC-12 championship game with playoff implications. Not me.

The Ducks are certainly a good team, but they are not on the road, and USC is at home. Oregon has to beat USC in order for Utah to win the South, even if the Utes beat Washington in Seattle, which itself is a tall order.

I’m not confident either Oregon or Utah will win today, which makes the odds of both winning kinda small. This is why I see an Oregon-USC championship game in the making. I will root for Utah, but it’s real hard for me to ever want anything good to happen for Oregon or USC. The Ducks have the North locked up and though I’d rather see that Oregon-Utah championship game rather than another Oregon-USC one, a Trojan win keeps the Urban Meyer fever dream from happening. Helton can’t be fired for winning his division.

Florida is way better than I thought and Georgia not as good. If Florida wins they get inside track to SEC East. I’ll be rooting for Gators.

SMU at Memphis should be a wildly entertaining game. I’ll be rooting for the outcome that makes Cal fans realize Dykes wasn’t the problem they convinced themselves he was.

[OutsiderFan]

Everyone is on Oregon’s bandwagon right now and projecting a Oregon-Utah PAC-12 championship game with playoff implications. Not me.

The Ducks are certainly a good team, but they are not on the road, and USC is at home. Oregon has to beat USC in order for Utah to win the South, even if the Utes beat Washington in Seattle, which itself is a tall order.

I’m not confident either Oregon or Utah will win today, which makes the odds of both winning kinda small. This is why I see an Oregon-USC championship game in the making. I will root for Utah, but it’s real hard for me to ever want anything good to happen for Oregon or USC. The Ducks have the North locked up and though I’d rather see that Oregon-Utah championship game rather than another Oregon-USC one, a Trojan win keeps the Urban Meyer fever dream from happening. Helton can’t be fired for winning his division.

Florida is way better than I thought and Georgia not as good. If Florida wins they get inside track to SEC East. I’ll be rooting for Gators.

SMU at Memphis should be a wildly entertaining game. I’ll be rooting for the outcome that makes Cal fans realize Dykes wasn’t the problem they convinced themselves he was.

[Phogge]

I don’t care about the rest of the PAC 12. Three things to care about are Stanford, my second team Memphis and that Notre Dame is embarrassed as many times as possible.

[Phogge]

I don’t care about the rest of the PAC 12. Three things to care about are Stanford, my second team Memphis and that Notre Dame is embarrassed as many times as possible.

[French Rage]

To the extent I care, Utah and Oregon running the table and making the winner of the Pac-12 championship only have 1 loss is the best result for the conference image.  That said, that ensures it will not happen, and the extent I care about it is very little.

[French Rage]

To the extent I care, Utah and Oregon running the table and making the winner of the Pac-12 championship only have 1 loss is the best result for the conference image.  That said, that ensures it will not happen, and the extent I care about it is very little.

[lex24]

Why Memphis?

quote="Phogge" pid='259543' dateline='1572697354']
I don’t care about the rest of the PAC 12. Three things to care about are Stanford, my second team Memphis and that Notre Dame is embarrassed as many times as possible.
[/quote]

[lex24]

Why Memphis?

quote="Phogge" pid='259543' dateline='1572697354']
I don’t care about the rest of the PAC 12. Three things to care about are Stanford, my second team Memphis and that Notre Dame is embarrassed as many times as possible.
[/quote]

[donkey687]

I am rooting for Oregon to lose out to keep our faint Rose Bowl hopes alive. So you are saying there is a chance?

[donkey687]

I am rooting for Oregon to lose out to keep our faint Rose Bowl hopes alive. So you are saying there is a chance?

[lex24]

Is there such thing as Turtling on defense?  ND goes about 85 yards on a ton of plays to score winning TD with 25 seconds left. Virginia Tech rushes 3 every play.  Bud Foster has forgotten more about defense then I’ll ever know. But I found  that to be puzzling.

[lex24]

Is there such thing as Turtling on defense?  ND goes about 85 yards on a ton of plays to score winning TD with 25 seconds left. Virginia Tech rushes 3 every play.  Bud Foster has forgotten more about defense then I’ll ever know. But I found  that to be puzzling.

[Goose]

Is there such thing as Turtling on defense?  ND goes about 85 yards on a ton of plays to score winning TD with 25 seconds left. Virginia Tech rushes 3 every play.  Bud Foster has forgotten more about defense then I’ll ever know. But I found  that to be puzzling.

Yes, it is called "prevent defense". It prevents you from winning.

[Goose]

Is there such thing as Turtling on defense?  ND goes about 85 yards on a ton of plays to score winning TD with 25 seconds left. Virginia Tech rushes 3 every play.  Bud Foster has forgotten more about defense then I’ll ever know. But I found  that to be puzzling.

Yes, it is called "prevent defense". It prevents you from winning.

[d4cohn]

Are we sure Oregon State is not going to make a bowl? This will be three straight road wins (at UCLA, Cal and now UA).

I think Oregon State, with their offense, could definitely beat Washington and Arizona State at home, or even Wazzu on the road.

[d4cohn]

Are we sure Oregon State is not going to make a bowl? This will be three straight road wins (at UCLA, Cal and now UA).

I think Oregon State, with their offense, could definitely beat Washington and Arizona State at home, or even Wazzu on the road.

[lex24]

I hope so. It’s been a long time. 

Are we sure Oregon State is not going to make a bowl? This will be three straight road wins (at UCLA, Cal and now UA).

I think Oregon State, with their offense, could definitely beat Washington and Arizona State at home, or even Wazzu on the road.

---

Yeah.  He rushed 3 and dropped 8 most of the day. Still, mixing in a bliz OT two on that drive would have been nice. 

quote="Goose" pid='259580' dateline='1572735006']

Is there such thing as Turtling on defense?  ND goes about 85 yards on a ton of plays to score winning TD with 25 seconds left. Virginia Tech rushes 3 every play.  Bud Foster has forgotten more about defense then I’ll ever know. But I found  that to be puzzling.

Yes, it is called "prevent defense". It prevents you from winning.
[/quote]

[lex24]

I hope so. It’s been a long time. 

Are we sure Oregon State is not going to make a bowl? This will be three straight road wins (at UCLA, Cal and now UA).

I think Oregon State, with their offense, could definitely beat Washington and Arizona State at home, or even Wazzu on the road.

---

Yeah.  He rushed 3 and dropped 8 most of the day. Still, mixing in a bliz OT two on that drive would have been nice. 

quote="Goose" pid='259580' dateline='1572735006']

Is there such thing as Turtling on defense?  ND goes about 85 yards on a ton of plays to score winning TD with 25 seconds left. Virginia Tech rushes 3 every play.  Bud Foster has forgotten more about defense then I’ll ever know. But I found  that to be puzzling.

Yes, it is called "prevent defense". It prevents you from winning.
[/quote]

[d4cohn]

SC with so many costly mistakes in a game with Oregon that should be much closer. Terrible fumble on third down in red zone driving in,
a kick return for 6 with less 20 seconds left to go in the half (where in the world was the squib kick?), and a pick six among the lowlights
for the Trojans. This is the kind of performance, coupled with a very sparse crowd at the Coliseum, that gets a coach fired.

---

SC with so many costly mistakes in a game with Oregon that should be much closer. Terrible fumble on third down in red zone driving in,
a kick return for 6 with less 20 seconds left to go in the half (where in the world was the squib kick?), and a pick six among the lowlights
for the Trojans. This is the kind of performance, coupled with a very sparse crowd at the Coliseum, that gets a coach fired.

Well, add another INT to the mix for SC driving in Oregon territory. Four turnovers for the Trojans.

[d4cohn]

SC with so many costly mistakes in a game with Oregon that should be much closer. Terrible fumble on third down in red zone driving in,
a kick return for 6 with less 20 seconds left to go in the half (where in the world was the squib kick?), and a pick six among the lowlights
for the Trojans. This is the kind of performance, coupled with a very sparse crowd at the Coliseum, that gets a coach fired.

---

SC with so many costly mistakes in a game with Oregon that should be much closer. Terrible fumble on third down in red zone driving in,
a kick return for 6 with less 20 seconds left to go in the half (where in the world was the squib kick?), and a pick six among the lowlights
for the Trojans. This is the kind of performance, coupled with a very sparse crowd at the Coliseum, that gets a coach fired.

Well, add another INT to the mix for SC driving in Oregon territory. Four turnovers for the Trojans.

[chrisk]

Diverging fortunes.

Northwestern beat Utah in a bowl game last year.

This year, Utah is 8-1 and Northwestern is 1-7 after being trashed by Indiana 34-3, which gave Indiana its second winning season in 25 years.

[chrisk]

Diverging fortunes.

Northwestern beat Utah in a bowl game last year.

This year, Utah is 8-1 and Northwestern is 1-7 after being trashed by Indiana 34-3, which gave Indiana its second winning season in 25 years.

[OutsiderFan]

Man am I glad I was wrong about USC and Oregon, and for Utah winning. It’s gonna be super cool to have the PAC-12 championship game feature two 11-1 teams, and Oregon vs. Utah will make for a truly great matchup.

Alabama/LSU/Georgia, Ohio State/PSU/Minn, Oregon/Utah, and Clemson will be the playoff teams.

I don’t think the Big-12 gets in this year.

[OutsiderFan]

Man am I glad I was wrong about USC and Oregon, and for Utah winning. It’s gonna be super cool to have the PAC-12 championship game feature two 11-1 teams, and Oregon vs. Utah will make for a truly great matchup.

Alabama/LSU/Georgia, Ohio State/PSU/Minn, Oregon/Utah, and Clemson will be the playoff teams.

I don’t think the Big-12 gets in this year.

[Goose]

It’s gonna be super cool to have the PAC-12 championship game feature two 11-1 teams, and Oregon vs. Utah will make for a truly great matchup.

I hope you are correct, but it would be just like the PAC-12 for Oregon to get defeated. I don't think Utah is at risk, but Oregon State might, just might, sneak up on the Ducks. Shouldn't happen, but...

---

I don’t think the Big-12 gets in this year.

As of now, you are probably correct. Oklahoma is the highest ranked team in the Big-12, and they are below both Oregon and Utah. If the PAC-12 champion has one loss, they would therefore get in. However, if Baylor wins out, they will be selected because they have no losses and are a conference champion. If Oklahoma beats Baylor, they will have defeated a highly-ranked team and have only 1 loss.  The PAC-12 still looks better, because our conference championship should be between two highly-ranked teams with the winner having only 1 loss. So we really, really hope Baylor doesn't win out. They could, unfortunately.

[Goose]

It’s gonna be super cool to have the PAC-12 championship game feature two 11-1 teams, and Oregon vs. Utah will make for a truly great matchup.

I hope you are correct, but it would be just like the PAC-12 for Oregon to get defeated. I don't think Utah is at risk, but Oregon State might, just might, sneak up on the Ducks. Shouldn't happen, but...

---

I don’t think the Big-12 gets in this year.

As of now, you are probably correct. Oklahoma is the highest ranked team in the Big-12, and they are below both Oregon and Utah. If the PAC-12 champion has one loss, they would therefore get in. However, if Baylor wins out, they will be selected because they have no losses and are a conference champion. If Oklahoma beats Baylor, they will have defeated a highly-ranked team and have only 1 loss.  The PAC-12 still looks better, because our conference championship should be between two highly-ranked teams with the winner having only 1 loss. So we really, really hope Baylor doesn't win out. They could, unfortunately.

[lex24]

I can root for Utah getting in. But not Oregon.

---

Bye bye Helton. This one sealed his fate. I wouldn’t be surprised if UCLA beats them.

[lex24]

I can root for Utah getting in. But not Oregon.

---

Bye bye Helton. This one sealed his fate. I wouldn’t be surprised if UCLA beats them.

[ADPinWDC]

After getting PASTED in the Coliseum by the Ducks (56-24), is Helton DONE now at U$C?  They are now 5-4. 
They play @AZST, @KALSucks, and host UCLA to finish on Nov 23.  They could win all three, or... LOSE em. 
If Troy loses in the desert, that means a 7-5 Sarkesian style season... at best; Helton might get a phone call on the tarmac. 

Urban Meyer might wait for the Notre Dame job... Domer alums want Playoff spots.
Would James Franklin at Penn State take the post in Tinsel Town?  Get away from OHST, MICH, WISC. 
Go to a League where he could win a Championship again?  Maybe make the Playoffs.

[ADPinWDC]

After getting PASTED in the Coliseum by the Ducks (56-24), is Helton DONE now at U$C?  They are now 5-4. 
They play @AZST, @KALSucks, and host UCLA to finish on Nov 23.  They could win all three, or... LOSE em. 
If Troy loses in the desert, that means a 7-5 Sarkesian style season... at best; Helton might get a phone call on the tarmac. 

Urban Meyer might wait for the Notre Dame job... Domer alums want Playoff spots.
Would James Franklin at Penn State take the post in Tinsel Town?  Get away from OHST, MICH, WISC. 
Go to a League where he could win a Championship again?  Maybe make the Playoffs.