Conference Championship Upsets?

[GreyWolf1129]

With one week remaining in the 2021 CFB season, this year has already been a year unlike anything seen since the advent of the forward pass. The NIL agreement; the transfer portal; coaching changes; conference realignment; GV finally found a woman. This year has been one for the books, and it's not over yet.

This weekend the conference championships are played, and four of those games can, may, and might have a big impact on who makes the Final Four. The Big-12, AAC, SEC, and Big Ten games...in that order...all will affect who makes the dance, and who ends up hanging out by the bar chugging cheap drinks with umbrellas in them.

I'm on record that I think it's UGA, Michigan, Oklahoma State, and Cincinnati, so obviously I think the status quo finally holds, and the favorites carry the day.

But what if I'm wrong, as I usually am? Who pulls off the upset? Who tumbles out of the Final Four, and who sneaks in?

So, here's your chance for a truckload of VN Internet Cred. Pick the upset(s) from the four games listed. One, two, or all four. Go for broke. Tell us who makes the dance, and who rides home on top of a pumpkin.

First prize is a week on Freak's yacht, the Harvey Volbanger. Entertainment provided nightly in the Sky Lounge by Luther and the Fruity Pebbles. Certain taxes and fees may apply. See website for details.

Have fun. Go Vols.

 

[volinbham]

Michigan and OSU most likely upsets

 

[VolPack22]

Wouldn’t it be hilarious if Notre Dame somehow sneaked in due to chaos this weekend and they win the National Championship in spite of Brian Kelly?

 

[Zues1]

Wouldn’t it be hilarious if Notre Dame somehow sneaked in due to chaos this weekend and they win the National Championship in spite of Brian Kelly?

As much as ND is undeserving that would be quite the twist.
ND allowed Kelly to stick around and break Knute Rockne's record. Something that was talked about / not talked about that was not allowed. Kelly bolts and some interim wins the national championship. Now that is Rudy worthy.

 

[GreyWolf1129]

Wouldn’t it be hilarious if Notre Dame somehow sneaked in due to chaos this weekend and they win the National Championship in spite of Brian Kelly?

Yes, but...

ND won't get in, and even if they do, they are toast when they play any of the top 2.

Go Vols.

 

[Volprofch05]

Yes, but...

ND won't get in, and even if they do, they are toast when they play any of the top 2.

Go Vols.

I don't know, all ND likely needs is 2 of the following to lose: Bama, Michigan, OSU, and maybe Cincy. Bama losing would not be an upset, so they only need one upset out of three games. Definitely possible and may even be probable?

 

[GreyWolf1129]

I don't know, all ND likely needs is 2 of the following to lose: Bama, Michigan, OSU, and maybe Cincy. Bama losing would not be an upset, so they only need one upset out of three games. Definitely possible and may even be probable?

So yeah, with ND at #6, and assuming a Bama loss, Michigan, Cincy, or OK State would need to lose. I think Baylor has the best shot at an upset, which just might be enough for ND to sneak in.

But for some reason, no...I think the favorites get it done this weekend. So Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, Georgia, and Michigan win. That's the order they play in. If an upset comes, it will be in Game 1 (OSU - Baylor).

I think UC and UGA are the safest bets. So if ND does get in, it would be at the #3 or #4 spot. Which means they would face UGA or UC. Against UC? Maybe. Against UGA? Deader than an Armadillo at Talladega.

Like I said, throw your nuts up on the table and call it.



Go Vols.

 

[Volprofch05]

So yeah, with ND at #6, and assuming a Bama loss, Michigan, Cincy, or OK State would need to lose. I think Baylor has the best shot at an upset, which just might be enough for ND to sneak in.

But for some reason, no...I think the favorites get it done this weekend. So Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, Georgia, and Michigan win. That's the order they play in. If an upset comes, it will be in Game 1 (OSU - Baylor).

I think UC and UGA are the safest bets. So if ND does get in, it would be at the #3 or #4 spot. Which means they would face UGA or UC. Against UC? Maybe. Against UGA? Deader than an Armadillo at Talladega.

Like I said, throw your nuts up on the table and call it.



Go Vols.

Just think that in college football, if something mind blowing could happen, it probably will. I’ll throw out Cincy losing. They’ve spent all year trying to get into the top four and now they gotta maintain. Would be the first group of 5 in the playoff. That’s a lot of pressure!!!

Plus, that would put both Cincy and ND with one loss and neither would have a conference championship. ND would probably get in, but they of course lost to Cincy! Would be a wild debate.

 

[TrueOrange]

 

[GreyWolf1129]

View attachment 416704

This year it'll be Bama. So, UGA, Michigan, Oklahoma State, and UC get in.

No way UGA drops out, even with a loss. In that event, OSU loses out, even with a win, to an undefeated UC team.

Either way, ND is on the outside looking in. As it should be. Until they join a competitive conference and play a conference schedule, they're nothing more than a spoiler. With conference realignments, ND gets farther and farther away from being a perennial championship contender. You wanna play with the big dogs? Get in the pen. You played two ranked teams all season. UT did that against 6 opponents, and in five consecutive weeks. Color me not impressed by Notre Dame football.

I don't agree with what Brian Kelly did, or how he did it. Nothing excuses his Mel Tucker act. But in jumping from ND to LSU, it was about more than the money. BK knew that if he was ever going to win the crystal football, his chances at LSU were much better than at Notre Dame.

Until the Fighting Irish learn how to fight in today's environment, their best days...and history...are behind them. Way behind them.

Go Vols.

 

[Volprofch05]

This year it'll be Bama. So, UGA, Michigan, Oklahoma State, and UC get in.

No way UGA drops out, even with a loss. In that event, OSU loses out, even with a win, to an undefeated UC team.

Either way, ND is on the outside looking in. As it should be. Until they join a competitive conference and play a conference schedule, they're nothing more than a spoiler. With conference realignments, ND gets farther and farther away from being a perennial championship contender. You wanna play with the big dogs? Get in the pen. You played two ranked teams all season. UT did that against 6 opponents, and in five consecutive weeks. Color me not impressed by Notre Dame football.

I don't agree with what Brian Kelly did, or how he did it. Nothing excuses his Mel Tucker act. But in jumping from ND to LSU, it was about more than the money. BK knew that if he was ever going to win the crystal football, his chances at LSU were much better than at Notre Dame.

Until the Fighting Irish learn how to fight in today's environment, their best days...and history...are behind them. Way behind them.

Go Vols.

Agreed, and nothing would annoy me more than the Irish sneaking in somehow. Some are talking about them being excluded since they lost their coach, but maybe they get sympathy votes since he only talked to the poor guys for 4 minutes to inform them, boo hoo

 

[TC 83]

Poke n choke

 

[peaygolf]

Ok St and GA lose........

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

View attachment 416704

This is fantastic.

 

[stolitonic]

I said it in another thread, but I would not be shocked if Houston took down Cincy this weekend.

Would be greatly amusing to me if Ok St, Michigan, and Bama all lost.

Talk about a bind from hell.

Sometimes watching the world burn can be fun when it really doesn't impact you much.

 

[DawgInterloper]

With one week remaining in the 2021 CFB season, this year has already been a year unlike anything seen since the advent of the forward pass. The NIL agreement; the transfer portal; coaching changes; conference realignment; GV finally found a woman. This year has been one for the books, and it's not over yet.

This weekend the conference championships are played, and four of those games can, may, and might have a big impact on who makes the Final Four. The Big-12, AAC, SEC, and Big Ten games...in that order...all will affect who makes the dance, and who ends up hanging out by the bar chugging cheap drinks with umbrellas in them.

I'm on record that I think it's UGA, Michigan, Oklahoma State, and Cincinnati, so obviously I think the status quo finally holds, and the favorites carry the day.

But what if I'm wrong, as I usually am? Who pulls off the upset? Who tumbles out of the Final Four, and who sneaks in?

So, here's your chance for a truckload of VN Internet Cred. Pick the upset(s) from the four games listed. One, two, or all four. Go for broke. Tell us who makes the dance, and who rides home on top of a pumpkin.

First prize is a week on Freak's yacht, the Harvey Volbanger. Entertainment provided nightly in the Sky Lounge by Luther and the Fruity Pebbles. Certain taxes and fees may apply. See website for details.

Have fun. Go Vols.

It looks like Salyer is out at left tackle for UGA and for some reason our right guard position has never recovered from the loss of Tate Ratledge. Stetson is a gamer and a "good" QB, but he's not a championship level QB who can take over the game against a team like Alabama, especially with Will Anderson breathing down his neck. Bama's offense, however, is good enough to pass for a lot of yards against Georgia's threadbare defensive secondary.

I think Houston will give Cincinnati a run for their money, so I'll say Alabama and Houston are the upset winners of the weekend.

 

[GreyWolf1129]

Good Lord, look at me here...a Vol fan arguing in favor of UGA.

At different points in this game, I think the defenses and offenses gain the momentum. It will matter how far that pendulum swings, and how fast. SBIV is more than a "gamer"; all he does is win. But don't be surprised if Kirby tries to outguess Bama on halftime adjustments, and trots out JD to start the 2nd half, and JD goes after the Bama secondary.

Bama has been beaten and almost beaten, and they haven't seen anything like UGA's defense. UGA has yet to be really tested. Will Bama do it? Yeah, probably. But if UGA is ever going to put Bama in their rearview mirror, this is the year. So for UGA it's next man up, and then man up.

I still like UGA by 10-14.

Yeah, I can see Houston upsetting UC. So if UC thinks they belong in the big leagues, then they'll have to prove it here. I think they do.

If I had to pick an upset, it's Baylor over OSU.

Go Vols.

 

[DawgInterloper]

Good Lord, look at me here...a Vol fan arguing in favor of UGA.

At different points in this game, I think the defenses and offenses gain the momentum. It will matter how far that pendulum swings, and how fast. SBIV is more than a "gamer"; all he does is win. But don't be surprised if Kirby tries to outguess Bama on halftime adjustments, and trots out JD to start the 2nd half, and JD goes after the Bama secondary.

Bama has been beaten and almost beaten, and they haven't seen anything like UGA's defense. UGA has yet to be really tested. Will Bama do it? Yeah, probably. But if UGA is ever going to put Bama in their rearview mirror, this is the year. So for UGA it's next man up, and then man up.

I still like UGA by 10-14.

Yeah, I can see Houston upsetting UC. So if UC thinks they belong in the big leagues, then they'll have to prove it here. I think they do.

If I had to pick an upset, it's Baylor over OSU.

Go Vols.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing Stetson. He's done a great job so far. But..., I've seen him struggle against the better defenses he's faced over the last two years. This season probably the fastest, most athletic defense we faced was Florida and he had some trouble there. Last year same against Florida and Alabama. I think he's similar to Jake Fromm, gets it done when we out talent people, struggles when we don't. The reasons are similar too; lack of height and arm strength, not great at seeing the field, but Fromm was a more accurate passer IMO. Stetson's accuracy is far from consistent.

Georgia has talent on the OL but the experience level is getting below where you'd like to be against a high talent defense. We'll see if next man up works. Bama's defense has been better than people seem to think this year. They've allowed over 400 total yds twice (UF and Arkansas), and over 300 yds twice (UT and TAMU). Everybody else they held under 300 total yds, and for the season they've allowed a lower rushing ypc than Georgia (2.42 ypc vs 2.49 ypc). Stetson may need to play his best game.

Don't want to give a blow by blow account of the UGA secondary attrition, but it's been a problem all year and still is. We'll probably be starting walk-on Dan Jackson again at safety and using several others who were career benchwarmers until they got promoted due to early nfl, transfers and injuries. They've been protected by a very good front 7 all season long. Losing Adam Anderson was a blow that has yet to be felt; he was important both in pass rush and dropping into coverage. Bryce Young is an efficient passer and he's become very good at handling pressure as the season progressed. It'll be an interesting matchup.

On the helpful side, we've gotten some receivers and maybe one RB back from injuries, so that should give the offense a boost. And Bama's starting center may be out, which could be a blow for their offense. Brian Robinson may also be injured, but I suspect he'll play. If not, they're really short handed at RB.