NCAA GDT: Week 5: The Mega Powers Explode

[GKJ]

Fox's new Friday College Football package was a hit last week, as much as Nebraska apparently hates it (since they think they're an A+ program like Michigan and Ohio State), but it will be put to the test this week because they don't have any ranked teams like they have. In name, they do have the defending national runner ups, Washington, even in name only, make the cross-country trip to their new Big Ten rival in Rutgers, who are 3-0. Washington beat Northwestern 24-5, and make the trip on the short week. Rutgers -2.

ESPN does have the ranked team for Friday, and it's an old Big East/ACC rivalry that's been on hard times because neither Virgnia Tech nor #7 Miami have been very good at the same time recently. Miami is at home, and Brent Fry is on the clock for the Hokies having had lost to Vanderbilt and Rutgers, two perennial bottom dwellers in their conferences. It's the ACC opener for both teams.

There's one ranked matchup in the noon window, and it is in the Big 12 on ESPN, two schools who are always fighting to see who can be #2 in the conference, but never #1, it's #20 Oklahoma State at #23 Kansas State, with K-State as the 5-point favorite. Both teams are coming off a loss, so the loser will go from top 15 to unranked in 2 weeks. Cowboys lost a close one to Utah, while K-State was blown out by BYU.

Speaking of BYU, they are now ranked, at #22, and are 4-0. They get the trip and early start at Baylor, who absolutely should've won last week in Colorado, and they are the favorites here at -3, on FS1.

Fox is not sending the BNK crew to their Big Noon game, but they are sending Gus and Joel back to Ann Arbor. #12 Michigan were the beneficiaries of USC coughing up what should've been an easy win. TTUN hosts Minnesota, Alex Orji remains at QB despite an uninspired offense.

Don't think I've mentioned #6 Ole Miss yet this season, because they have been shitkicking high school teams to start the season. The points they've given up so far read as: 0, 3, 6, and 13. They're hosting Kentucky, who are not likely to score many points, but they did take Georgia to the limit to weeks ago, and did beat up a MAC team. Rebels have the difficulty slider turned up for a lot of the rest of this season.

Big Noon Kickoff made the business decision to make a trip to Orlando this week for their mid-afternoon game, Central Florida gets pulled into the spotlight that gets cast on to Coach Prime and those Colorado Buffaloes, who pulled one out of their asses last week vs. Baylor, almost definitely not going to be as lucky. the BNK crew wants to get this in before the wheels fall off. UCF started at 11.5-point favorites, a line that is now up to 14. Colorado games have landed in the top 5 highest rated college games each week this season. .

#15 Oklahoma was able to keep the score down against Tennessee, but still lost 25-15 at home, in their first ever SEC game. This week, they make their first SEC road trip to Auburn, and they're favored by just 1 point right now. We might be seeing both teams make a quarterback change, OU has already announced a switch from Jackson Arnold to Michael Hawkins, Jr, while Auburn has not committed to either Payton Thorne or Hank Brown. The Sooners lead the nation in forcing turnovers, and Auburn is 131st in turnover margin.

CBS will be airing #13 USC again, who are now hosting a Big Ten game for the first time. It's Wisconsin who is making the trip, off of their bye having lost their quarterback early in a blowout loss to Alabama. Braedyn Locke has had the extra week to prepare, but USC is still a moderate 15.5-point favorite.

If you're feeling up to pulling up Peacock, that's where you're find the ranked matchup of #15 Louisville visiting #16 Notre Dame. Louisville upset Notre Dame on their field last year, and have had a soft schedule to start the season, so they'll have to be sharp. ND is -7.

#1 Texas, as the #1 team, has to get the shout out, you can find them on SEC Network this week with a 4:15 start against Mississippi State, as it is Texas' first ever SEC game. Quinn Ewers is questionable, so I'm expecting Arch Manning to start again. Longhorns are -37.5

Peacock also has #3 Ohio State in a prime time slot, and in something of a rivalry game, making the trip to East Lansing to play Michigan State, who got stung by BC on the road last week, otherwise they might be ranked, but OSU is 23.5-point favorites after shaking off a sleepy first half against Marshall last week.

Two big ranked matchups in prime time, and the top of the marquee this week is a Top-4, Mega Power, absolutely A+ programs from the SEC. #2 Georgia and #4 Alabama are not in the same division, but they sure feel like annual rivals, that even as Georgia has finally made to a point where they've surpassed Alabama, they can't shake them on the field. They've met in the post-season 6 times since 2012, but this is only the third regular season meeting since 2008, and Georgia has not beaten Alabama in the regular season since Mike Patrick was openly opining about Britney Spears' life choices during overtime in their 2007 game. Has anyone ever confirmed whether or not she's a college football fan?



By the way, that's Matthew Stafford who is about to deliver a tear drop to Mikey Henderson to walk that one off on that upcoming play.

Georgia is 1-8 against Alabama since then, with the win in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship. Of course, Alabama's win last year put them into the 2024 College Football Playoff and sent Georgia from #1 to #6, and out of it. Jaden Milroe and Carson Beck gonna run it back. Alabama has over 80 recruits in town. Of course College GameDay is in Tuscaloosa, and the game airs on ABC.

Significantly less billing gets the ranked teams who are decidedly not the A or A+ programs. Over on NBC we'll get #19 Illinois making the trip to #9 Penn State. Illinois has come up with upset wins over Kansas and Nebraska, and also played Penn State into the 4th quarter last year, but no one's expecting Penn State to look ahead, they are 19.5-point favorites, and James Franklin sure had the faculty and letterman at the ready last week beating up Kent State 56-0.

The After Dark lineup has a newly ranked #25 Boise State, which I'm not terribly sure why having looked at their schedule, the AP must be more impressed with the 56-14 win over Portland State than their previous loss to Oregon or having had 45 put on them by Georgia Southern would suggest, but they are favored by 6.5 to a 4-0 undefeated and undeterred Washington State, who beat the same Portland State team 70-30, but pulled off upsets against Texas Tech and Washington in the Apple Cup, and went to double overtime in a 54-52 win over San Jose State.

Also After Dark, it's an 8:15 local start for Arizona at #10 Utah, with a 9-point line to the home team, on ESPN.

And finally, we have our first Big Ten After Dark on Fox. UCLA has looked like shit, understandably given their off-season and weirdness with the new coaching staff. #8 Oregon visits the Rose Bowl as 25.5-point favorites, and leave the light on, because it's another 8pm local state, 11pm EDT for the night owls.

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[End of Line]

Having Ohio State/Sparty, UGA/Bama, and Illinois/Penn St on all at the same time sucks. But, feels like a James Franklin special in the making in Crappy Valley.

 

[Unholy Diver]

Is there any potential issues with the hurricane and any of the games in Florida or the surrounding areas? Could the Lord intervene on Coach Prime's behalf?

 

[GKJ]

Is there any potential issues with the hurricane and any of the games in Florida or the surrounding areas? Could the Lord intervene on Coach Prime's behalf?

No. Not any important ones. I think Florida A&M moved their game, but they were in the line of fire.

 

[John Price]

 

[John Price]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839784271227285863

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Gross

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Opening drive fumble by Miami gives VT a short field which they promptly capitalize on. 7-0 Hokies

 

[Nogatco Rd]

miss the old Frank Beamer days. Haven’t really had a parallel in terms of a program able to hang their hat on consistently outstanding special teams play

 

[End of Line]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839784271227285863

Graphic in question

 

[End of Line]

2 targeting reviews already in Huskies/Sopranos

 

[Nogatco Rd]

2 targeting reviews already in Huskies/Sopranos

i thought the 2nd one should've been spearing. wasn't targeting but you can't have guys dropping their head like that to tackle, gotta protect players from themselves

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Miami QB can really spin it. Didn't realize it's the same guy who started for Wazzu last year, Cam Ward. Interested to see where he goes in the draft

lol aaand brutal pick just after i post that

 

[Nogatco Rd]

14 point swing in Miami.

Miami TD pass negated by a holding call, Ward throws an INT the next play. Long TD run for the hokies and instead of 21-7 Canes it's now 14-14

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Awesome job blocking by QB Drones to seal the edge. 21-14 Hokies

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839831347407299069

 

[GKJ]

Virginia Tech looking like they want to be serious

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Is there any potential issues with the hurricane and any of the games in Florida or the surrounding areas? Could the Lord intervene on Coach Prime's behalf?

App state vs Liberty cancelled.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839710296778387925

 

[Nogatco Rd]

What a kick!! 58 yard FG w 20 seconds in the half

24-14 VT

… and a nice rebuttal by Miami. 56 yd FG makes it 24-17 at the half

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Back to back to back 50+ yd field goals, don’t see that often in the college game. 27-17 VT

Rushing yards:
Va Tech 158
Miami 32

 

[Nogatco Rd]

2nd INT thrown by Ward near the goal line. 80 yard return for VT.

Miami’s defense holds and then the special teams stuffs the Hokies fake FG attempt.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Cam Ward scrambles in from 20 yards out, cuts the lead to 27-24 VT.

Hokies then respond with a 70 yard TD run that's wiped out by a very questionable holding call. Defensive PI on the next play gives VT a first down

End of the 3rd Q

 

[GKJ]

Wow, Drones pulls a touchdown out of his ass

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Both QB’s have made some very impressive throws. Didn’t realize they were cousins, I’m surprised that storyline wasn't given more run

 

[Tony Romo]

Most Mario game ever

Quinn seriously could’ve won the heisman this year if he didn’t get hurt

 

[Tony Romo]

Uhm.. run the ball???