2018 Week 9 Watch Party

[Irish YJ]

A bunch of interesting games, but no HUGE games. Better early week games.
What will be this week's upset?

Thursday, October 25th

Baylor (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) @ #13 West Virginia -13.5 (5-1, 3-1 Big 12) 7:00 PM ET FS1
-Can WV turn it on down the stretch?

Ball State (3-5, 2-2 MAC) @ Ohio -11 (4-3, 2-1 MAC) 7:00 PM ET CBSSN

Georgia Tech (3-4, 1-3 ACC) @ Virginia Tech -3 (4-2, 3-0 ACC) 7:30 PM ET ESPN
-Decent challenge for VT


Friday, October 26th

Indiana -2.5 (4-4, 1-4 Big Ten) @ Minnesota (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten) 8:00 PM ET FS1
-Can IU stay above .500 and keep Fleck "O"'fer in the BIG?

Miami -3.5 (5-2, 2-1 ACC) @ Boston College (5-2, 2-1 ACC) 7:00 PM ET ESPN
-Can Miami get it's O together?

Saturday, October 27th
Early Afternoon

#2 Clemson -17 (7-0, 4-0 ACC) @ Florida State (4-3, 2-3 ACC) 12:00 PM ET ABC
-Probably the best chance for a "big" upset

#20 Wisconsin -7 (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) @ Northwestern (4-3, 4-1 Big Ten) 12 PM ET FOX
-scUM's biggest win may not look so good if NW can pull this off.

Vanderbilt -1.5 (3-5, 0-4 SEC) @ Arkansas (2-6, 0-4 SEC) 12 PM ET SECN

Wake Forest (3-4, 0-3 ACC) @ Louisville -2.5 (2-5, 0-4 ACC) 12 PM ET ACCNE

Purdue (4-3, 3-1 Big Ten) @ Michigan State -1.5 (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) 12 PM ET ESPN
-Can PU keep their BIG roll going? Does MichSt continue to slide?

Mid Afternoon

#9 Florida (6-1, 4-1 SEC) @ #7 Georgia -6.5 (6-1, 4-1 SEC) 3:30 PM ET CBS
-Biggest game of the day. One loss SEC team elimination match up for the East.

#18 Iowa (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) @ #17 Penn State -6.5 (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) 3:30 PM ET ESPN
-Can Iowa keep their under-the-radar campaign going?

#21 South Florida (7-0, 3-0 American) @ Houston -7.5 (6-1, 3-0 American) 3:30 PM ET ABC/ESPN2
-Big American match up. Houston likely cracks the Top25 with a win.
-Can SF stay undefeated?

Arizona State (3-4, 1-3 Pac-12) @ USC -6.5 (4-3, 3-2 Pac-12) 3:30 PM ET ABC/ESPN2
-A loss here puts USC at .500

Duke (5-2, 1-2 ACC) @ Pittsburgh -2.5 (3-4, 2-1 ACC) 3:30 PM ET ACCNE

#12 Kentucky (6-1, 4-1 SEC) @ Missouri -7.5 (4-3, 0-3 SEC) 4:00 PM ET SECN
-Is KY truly overrated? Probably. More than a TD dawg at unranked Missouri.

Evening

#15 Washington -12 (6-2, 4-1 Pac-12) @ California (4-3, 1-3 Pac-12) 6:30 PM ET FS1

#14 Washington State (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) @ #24 Stanford -3 (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12) 7PM ET PAC12
-Can Stanford end WashSt's Cinderella run?

#16 Texas A&M (5-2, 3-1 SEC) @ Mississippi State -2 (4-3, 1-3 SEC) 7PM ET ESPN
-Battle of the overrated SEC
-A MissSt win and they'll likely join the Top25. A win by TAMU probably jumps them 5 places. SEC privilege

#22 NC State -2 (5-1, 2-1 ACC) @ Syracuse (5-2, 2-2 ACC) 7PM ET ESPN2
-Big chance for the Cuse to make a case for ranking.

#3 Notre Dame -24 (7-0) @ Navy (2-5) 8:00 PM ET CBS
-Can ND roll like they should, or just another game where ND plays down?
-Clark's first shot at triple option. Can our athletic DEs contain the edge?
-Can we get out of SD injury free?

#6 Texas -3.5 (6-1, 4-0 Big 12) @ Oklahoma State (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) 8PM ET ABC
-Big road test for TX. Are they for real, or will they stumble.


Late Night

#19 Oregon -9.5 (5-2, 2-2 Pac-12) @ Arizona (3-5, 2-3 Pac-12) 10:30 PM ET ESPN
-The only "maybe" decent late night game.

 

[DONTH8]

*Saturday 3:30 Cincinnati Bearcats (6-1) at SMU Mustangs +7.5 (3-4)*
- Can the bearcats bounce back?
- Possible future look at OSU's coach next season
- Cincinnati needs more fans than just Lion or the program won't last long

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I love CFB. Another good slate.

1. Hope Stanford can pull it off against against Washington St. and get back some national respect. People are really down on them this year, despite their two losses coming to a solid Utah team and ND, both on the road. I don't hate them as much after we beat them; I'll pull for them for SOS. Can't say the same for scUM; I'll never root for them, unless we have no other option and NEED them to pull something off for us.

2. Couple big ACC match ups on our schedule. I really hope FSU can shock the world and bolster that match-up in a couple of weeks, and 'Cuse winning would be big. I THINK we are tied with LSU for most ranked victories this season, so SU entering the top 25 could help with the resume in that regard. Take it for what it's worth. I think SU will have their hands full though with a solid NC St. team looking to bounce back after they got taken to the woodshed last week at Death Valley.

3. Hoping Penn State eliminates Iowa, and gains some confidence before their match up with scUM next week. If they go 2-0 in this stretch, the B1G is one step closer to being on the brink of missing out on the playoffs.

4. *uck the Skunkbears.

 

[Irish YJ]

Agree, on the ACC matchups. Some good stuff. Hoping they are not duds. I feel ya on scUM. It's very hard for me to cheer for our SoS when it comes to them.

for tonight....
Would love to see Baylor rise up and make it interesting tonight.

Also, big game for VT. Should be a fun one!

 

[Irish YJ]

For those who are triple option curious, GT is on right now vs VT on ESPN
Paul Johnson was one of Ken Niumatalolo's mentors.

 

[Bluto]

Notre Dame’s schedule is not looking so hot. Virginia Tech is getting blown out by Georgia Tech and Ball State got destroyed by Ohio.

 

[Irish YJ]

Notre Dame’s schedule is not looking so hot. Virginia Tech is getting blown out by Georgia Tech and Ball State got destroyed by Ohio.

VT getting run over by the triple O at home. Our win looking less good lol.
VT's chances of winning the Coastal taking a major hit.

 

[Bluto]

VT getting run over by the triple O at home. Our win looking less good lol.
VT's chances of winning the Coastal taking a major hit.

Watching Georgia Tech get 6-8 yards a carry on the fullback dive five times in a row against a “stacked box”. Lol.

 

[Irish YJ]

Watching Georgia Tech get 6-8 yards a carry on the fullback dive five times in a row against a “stacked box”. Lol.

That's exactly what we can't allow on first downs. We have a lot better talent than GT, so I'm optimistic, until I'm not... lol

 

[Bluto]

That's exactly what we can't allow on first downs. We have a lot better talent than GT, so I'm optimistic, until I'm not... lol

Yeah, I was thinking more along the lines of how ND O.C.’s tend to want to get a little too exotic with all the horizontal movement along the O line when here you have Georgia Tech simply lining up, firing straight off the ball and it’s a rugby scrum for five yards a pop.

 

[Irish YJ]

Yeah, I was thinking more along the lines of how ND O.C.’s tend to want to get a little too exotic with all the horizontal movement along the O line when here you have Georgia Tech simply lining up, firing straight off the ball and it’s a rugby scrum for five yards a pop.

But the triple option is anything but simply lining up. It's the most exotic rushing attack out there. VT couldn't handle the dive, and were screwing up exchanges all night. A few that I saw, they got caught with their pants down getting to much early penetration, and not minding the gaps.

 

[Bluto]

But the triple option is anything but simply lining up. It's the most exotic rushing attack out there. VT couldn't handle the dive, and were screwing up exchanges all night. A few that I saw, they got caught with their pants down getting to much early penetration, and not minding the gaps.

I would say the single wing is as “exotic” as the option but that’s just me. Anyhow, stopping the option isn’t that hard per se. Fullback, quarterback, pitch man. Crash the dive, hit the QB, chip the tight end and force the pitch. It’s more about staying disciplined than anything else. Anyhow, that’s what my coaches used to yell back in the day. Lol. With the athletes ND has its a bit shocking how often they have trouble dealing with this offense.

On a side note google the Yale beast formation if you want to see some cool/interesting offensive plays and formations.

 

[Irish YJ]

I would say the single wing is as “exotic” as the option but that’s just me. Anyhow, stopping the option isn’t that hard per we. Fullback, quarterback, pitch man. Crash the dive, hit the QB, chip the tight end and force the pitch. It’s more about staying disciplined than anything else. Anyhow, that’s what my coaches used to yell back in the day. Lol. With the athletes ND has its a bit shocking how often they have trouble dealing with this offense.

On a side note google the Yale beast formation if you want to see some cool/interesting offensive plays and formations.

discipline and reading/following the exchange are indeed the challenges.

i'm familiar with the beast. i think a few teams still employ it from time to time in goal line. to me, it's more about power, and better suited for teams that have strength/power (unlike Navy). Yale was about pure power/force with the wedge and sweep.

Our talent should have zero problem. SHOULD lol. curious if we'll stay in base D, or have a lot of different looks with different personnel. hope we have some good wrinkles, but not too cute.

 

[Irish YJ]

found this on beast. had forgotten a how unbalanced it was.

https://youthfootballonline.com/single-wing-beast-formation-zone-running/

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Jeeeeeeeez Va Tech stinks!


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[Some Irish Bloke]

Notre Dame’s schedule is not looking so hot. Virginia Tech is getting blown out by Georgia Tech and Ball State got destroyed by Ohio.

Ball State got beat up by the best team in OH, so what?

 

[Irish YJ]

I have a small soft spot for MN, but hope IU rolls tonight. They need to take 2 out of the next 4 to get bowl eligible.

Miami needs this game big time after the loss to VA, to keep in the hunt for the Coastal. Already down 7-0.

 

[Irish YJ]

surprised IU's O is not doing more.

Miami's O is starting to look like Miami's O... where's that Miami D?

 

[Irish YJ]

Miami's D didn't look so hot in the cold weather. Glad they are coming to ND next time....

Great outcome for VT. Puts them in control of their own destiny in the Coastal. I doubt they win all of the last 4 though...

 

[Irish YJ]

IU fighting back with 2 TDs, and now a 2pt conversion away from a tie ball game.

 

[Irish YJ]

Boom. Tie game with 3:57 left.

 

[KPENN]

Miami still sucks. 41-8. Smh

 

[Irish YJ]

and just like that, Indiana does Indiana and gives up a 67 yard TD toss....

THEY.DO.THIS.SHIT.TO.ME.EVERY.SINGLE.TIME

1:34 left. come Hoosiers, damn it. quit being a prick tease.

 

[Irish YJ]

A little more respect for MN tonight. Not because they won, but because I found out that 52% of their roster are Freshmen. Youngest team in CF.
2 more wins and they are bowling.

 

[Irish YJ]

UCLA's two game win streak getting crushed by Utah.
If Utah didn't have a much tougher road ahead, I'd give them the PAC South now.

 

[Irish YJ]

Good afternoon appetizers before ND!

UGA fans talking a lot of smack..... I just don't see -7.5
And saw a stat this week that UGA is last in the SEC in sacks and TFLs. Not sure who either team is at this point, which is strange this late in the season. Both need this game big time, and UF would have a nice SoR if they can pull it out....

Also, BIG day for the BIG10 West. All four co-leaders in must-win situations, 2 of the four playing each other.

#20 Wisconsin -7 (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) @ Northwestern (4-3, 4-1 Big Ten) 12 PM ET FOX

Purdue (4-3, 3-1 Big Ten) @ Michigan State -1.5 (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) 12 PM ET ESPN

#18 Iowa (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) @ #17 Penn State -6.5 (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) 3:30 PM ET ESPN

GO Purdue, GO Iowa, and GO NW

 

[Irish YJ]

And so it starts... PU already throwing an easy INT...

 

[MNIrishman]

Who are we rooting for in Clemson FSU?

 

[Irish YJ]

Who are we rooting for in Clemson FSU?

Was debating that with a buddy earlier this week. Here's where we kind of landed....

-really doesn't matter if ND wins out.
-if you think ND doesn't win out, then cheer for FSU for FSU SoS + Clemson being in the same 1 loss boat.
-if FSU does win, does that give them more confidence and get them on a roll leading up to the game with ND?
-if you think Bama will win out, ND wants either the 2 or 3 slot, so irrelevant IF ND wins out.

We went with cheering for FSU...

 

[MNIrishman]

Was debating that with a buddy earlier this week. Here's where we kind of landed....

-really doesn't matter if ND wins out.
-if you think ND doesn't win out, then cheer for FSU for FSU SoS + Clemson being in the same 1 loss boat.
-if FSU does win, does that give them more confidence and get them on a roll leading up to the game with ND?
-if you think Bama will win out, ND wants either the 2 or 3 slot, so irrelevant IF ND wins out.

We went with cheering for FSU...

That's kind of where I'm at too but wasn't sure if there was something I wasn't thinking about. I think either way, a close game would be good.