College football is getting more like the NFL

[Crusty]

Someone on Sports Reporters said it this morning. I was thinking the same thing. It seems as if anybody (except the B1G) can beat anybody - unranked teams beating top ten teams, FCS beating FBS, cats and dogs living together.

Take a look at these scores. Upsets and games far closer than expected. Just underscores that coaching and emotions really matter over a long season.

BC 37 - USC 31 (Addazio is a good coach, USC letdown game, BC pure emotion)
ND 30 - Purdue 14 (Purdue - really?)
East Car 28 - VT 21 (letdown week for the angry turkeys)
UVA 23 - UL 21 (L'ville probably was overrated - but UVA?)
GTU 42 - Ga So 38 (GTU not that good ether)
Vandy 34 - UMass 31 (Vandy does not belong in the SEC - period)
NCS 49 - USF 17 (is USF that bad)
PSU 13 -Rutgirls 10 (PSU that weak? RU that good?)

Except for the 2011 season where late season injuries caused a losing streak, we have invariably been a slow starter and have improved greatly over the course of the season. One reason is probably that we haven't been very deep in the past and every year we have had to start players that needed some experience and development. I am pleased to see that HCSS is playing so many newbies. This will not only help later this year but next as well. It should also help recruit players who want a real chance to play early.

Regardless of what happens this season, I like what I am seeing.

 

[SmilinBob]

Matchups and bringing your A game every week. Rutgers vs PSU was a match up thing. Specials RU. PSU can't run the ball so RU press/blitz but Nova likes to throw the ball to all involved. PSU made just enough decent plays to get by.

Look at SU. Face a stationary qb and they can do lots of thing defensively. Face the GT wishbone or a good run and pass qb and yikes.

 

[Stern]

You see MORE upsets in September these days because of the lack of hitting prior to the start of the season. With the extra emphasis on concussions and with so many preventative measures now to monitor that stuff these teams do very little hitting prior to their first game and in practices. And with so little hitting how teams react in early September games is evident. How they rebound after their first "real" game and the effects of a full game of contact is big. How teams come out in their first game and adjust to playing a full game with contact.

A month from now you will see fewer upsets than what we are seeing now. Once teams get their feet under them and get used to the hitting

 

[Crusty]

You see MORE upsets in September these days because of the lack of hitting prior to the start of the season. With the extra emphasis on concussions and with so many preventative measures now to monitor that stuff these teams do very little hitting prior to their first game and in practices. And with so little hitting how teams react in early September games is evident. How they rebound after their first "real" game and the effects of a full game of contact is big. How teams come out in their first game and adjust to playing a full game with contact.

A month from now you will see fewer upsets than what we are seeing now. Once teams get their feet under them and get used to the hitting

Interesting take. I should think that by week 4 that effect would go away. If so, MD and ND games will tell us what we really have this year.

 

[FAL]

Interesting take. I should think that by week 4 that effect would go away. If so, MD and ND games will tell us what we really have this year.

Fingers crossed!

 

[Quazzum69]

A month from now you will see fewer upsets than what we are seeing now. Once teams get their feet under them and get used to the hitting

Or teams are over/underestimated during July and August.

Teams like Ohio State are pumped up during the summer as title contenders so when they lose to VT in week 2, it's considered a huge upset. There are less upsets after 6 weeks because teams are in conference play and we have more accurate rankings.

Also, Power 5 schools (especially historically good/profitable ones like Penn State, Michigan) are automatically rewarded some amount of legacy credit just on name alone, no matter the current state of its team.

Penn State was not ranked, scored just 26 against UCF and 21 against Akron - why is anyone surprised they struggled with Rutgers?