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Excitement and surprises marked Week 1 in the college football season, and here's my take on the AP Top 25 Poll reactions: 🏈 **Overrated Teams**: Michigan's 30-10 win over Fresno State was lackluster, spotlighting quarterback troubles—Davis Warren and Alex Orji combined for just 121 passing yards. How long can a defense and running game carry a top 10 team? Similarly, Georgia Tech's wins, including one against an underwhelming Florida State, don’t justify their hype. Agree/disagree? 🏈 **Underrated Teams**: Penn State's 34-12 domination over West Virginia showed a revitalized offense under Drew Allar and Harrison Wallace III. Yet, they saw no ranking bump. Texas A&M's defense shone even in a close loss to Notre Dame—a top 10 opponent—suggesting their drop might be premature. Should they climb in our rankings? 🔃 **Notable Movements**: - Oregon slid from No. 3 to No. 7 after a nail-biter against Idaho. Offense, anyone? - Miami and USC surged upward after besting Florida and LSU. What clicked for them? - Clemson's fall out of the top 25, thanks to a crushing loss to Georgia, reflects deeper systemic issues. Are their glory days behind them? The season’s young, and these rankings will keep evolving. What's your take on Week 1's shakeup? Is it justified, or do we need a closer look at some of these teams’ true strengths and weaknesses? #CollegeFootball #APTop25 #Michigan #PennState #TexasAM #BigTen #FootballRankings #Clemson

Top 5 Week 10 College Football Shocks. Week 10 College Football: Surprising Upsets and Intense Clashes Texas A&M Stunned by South Carolina Week 10 delivered unexpected drama. No. The loss disrupted the SEC standings. South Carolina’s offense was relentless, overwhelming the Aggies from start to finish. Texas A&M’s defense failed to contain the explosive plays. Top 5 Week 10 College Football Shocks For more information read here https://lnkd.in/dxr-Yp2y

Top 5 Cowboys Draft Picks in History The Dallas Cowboys have a long and storied history in the NFL, filled with iconic players who have shaped the franchise’s legacy. Through smart drafting, the Cowboys have acquired some of the greatest talents in the sport. This article takes a look at the top five draft picks in Cowboys history, players who not only stood out individually but also helped solidify the team’s standing as “America’s Team.” The Top Colleges for Dallas Recruits The Cowboys have often tapped into powerhouse college football programs to find their top players. Schools such as the University of Oklahoma, Florida, Miami, and USC ... Read more #DallasCowboys #EmmittSmith #LarryAllen #MichaelIrvin #RogerStaubach #TroyAikman

Ohio State's victory over Penn State was a pivotal moment in their season, showcasing both their growth and potential as a national championship contender. The game was marked by a dominant defensive performance that had been missing in their earlier outings. In the weeks leading up to this matchup, Ohio State faced criticism for their defensive lapses, particularly in games where they allowed substantial yardage and points, leading to questions about their ability to compete against top-tier teams. However, the Buckeyes' coaching staff made critical adjustments, focusing on key areas such as tackling, coverage schemes, and defensive line play. Against Penn State, the defense was tenacious, limiting the Nittany Lions' explosive offense. They managed to intercept the ball twice and recorded several sacks, showcasing their ability to disrupt the opposing team's rhythm. Notably, the defensive front was able to contain Penn State's running game, forcing them to rely heavily on the passing attack, which played into Ohio State's strengths. Offensively, Ohio State capitalized on their defensive success. The quarterback delivered a poised performance, utilizing a mix of short passes and deep throws to keep the Penn State defense guessing. The running game was also effective, with the Buckeyes establishing a strong ground presence that helped control the clock and keep their defense fresh. The victory not only served as a confidence booster for Ohio State but also as a statement to the rest of the college football landscape. It demonstrated their ability to bounce back from adversity and highlighted the resilience of the team. With their sights set on a potential playoff berth, the Buckeyes will look to build on this momentum in the coming weeks, as they aim to solidify their place among the elite teams in college football. As the season progresses, fans will be eager to see if Ohio State can maintain this level of performance and continue to evolve into a formidable contender for the national championship. #GoBucks #OhioStateFootball #BuckeyeNation #DefensiveDominance #CollegeFootball #Resilience #NationalChampionship #PennState #Victory #PlayoffPush

HOW MUCH WILL 12-TEAM COLLEGE PLAYOFFS DIMINISH RIVALRIES? By Stephen Means, cleveland . com The College Football Playoff has expanded to 12 teams so now the loser of The Game AND rivalries in other conferences don't need the right dominoes to fall to backdoor their way in. That’s a new world to live in for two fanbases that have spent their entire lives being trained to believe that the Ohio State-Michigan game at season's is a way of life that should be approached with a do-or-die attitude. Now it’s more like do-or-don’t worry about it because you’ll probably get to try again in a few weeks. It’s changed the stakes of rivalry games and it’s going to take some getting used to. Some may be more open to it thinking this was probably always the most logical approach. Others would rather lean into the tradition that’s always made the sport so great. Ohio State is trying to flip things back in its favor by reviving what the prior 20 years in the rivalry were like. Ryan Day isn’t on the hot seat entering Year 6, but there’s no question his nerves are at an all-time high. The results are a roster and program that seems to be all in on righting the wrongs of the past three years led by a group of former 2021 recruits who all returned motivated to write a better ending to their story. Those motivations might put this new reality on hold for another 12 months. For at least one more season, everything still rides on that game even if the tangible consequences don’t. Culture outweighs everything else thanks to the names affiliated with what’s coming on Nov. 30 inside Ohio Stadium. For some, that game comes at a time when it feels like Ohio State needs to right the ship. But that’s a short-term view of a long-term concept. A QUICK READER POLL: What Would YOU Chose? Win a national title, but lose to Michigan again OR beat Michigan, but no national title. In any given year, the national title got 65% of the vote emphasizing that most of this educated focus group cares more about the bigger picture. It doesn’t take away the hurt that a loss to a rival can cause, but a trophy can sometimes make up for temporary wounds. https://lnkd.in/ecXHR7AU

Here is an example of an article that uses the "after this, therefore because of this" philosophy and misses a key variable. Andy Staples of On3 is mentioned in this article suggesting that Clemson University's football program hasn't been anywhere near as successful as they were in the 2010 decade because of their unwillingness to play in the #marketingNIL portal games. The article posits that if Clemson was using the portal, their recent weakness would more closely match their previous successes. First off, 10+ win (and LY 9-4) seasons are incredibly strong. They finished the 2023 season ranked 18th in the country. Most importantly, the article (and Staples- unclear here if the article matches his thought process) ignores a critical point. During the 2014-2020 seasons, the Tigers only lost 10 games. However, during all but one of those years, their quarterbacks were Deshawn Watson and Trevor Lawrence. In fact, with Lawrence out for one of the two losses of the 2020 season, Lawrence had a 34-2 starting quarterback record over his career, one of the best winning percentages of any QB with over 30 starts since 1978. Oh. And Watson was a state record holder for high school for total yards, total touchdowns, career passing and career touchdowns. And his starting college record was 32-3. Both of these players spent their entire college career at Clemson. The theory is sound- before NIL Clemson was doing better than after NIL, and journeyman found through the portal could get them back to former glory. However, what this article ignores is how many programs ARE getting athletes through the portal every year and are finding no success whatsoever. Recruit great players. Teach them a system, train them, work with them and help them grow. NIL can be a benefit but "recruiting NIL" is rarely the solution. https://lnkd.in/gqv3rtQw

Over the 2016-2023 NFL drafts, 222 wide receivers were selected, with about two-thirds hailing from the dominant Power 5 Conferences. Meanwhile, only one-third of the drafted players emerged from the broader pool of "non-Power-5 Conferences," encompassing thousands of schools across FBS, FCS, Division II, and Division III levels. This trend has fostered a prevailing belief in some draft circles that it’s best to prioritize attention toward athletes from Power 5 Conferences in scouting skill positions, citing exposure to "elite" competition. However, history tells a different story. Consider legendary wide receivers like Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State), or Terrell Owens (Chattanooga), Randy Moss (Marshall), and Isaac Bruce (Memphis)—none hailing from Power 5 institutions. Despite ever-evolving NFL rules favoring passing, Jerry Rice's records for career receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns set over 20 years ago remain unbroken. Similarly, iconic running backs like Walter Payton (Jackson State), Eric Dickerson (Southern Methodist), Marshall Faulk (San Diego State), and Christian Okoye (Azusa Pacific), achieved greatness outside the Power 5 spotlight. Payton’s career rushing yards record stood for 18 years. These examples challenge the notion that it’s best for teams to prioritize attention toward Power 5 prospects. They prompt us to question whether scouts once possessed deeper insights and whether there's untapped talent in lesser-recognized schools. Are today's recruiting ranking systems, such as the ESPN 300, truly more accurate, or is there still hidden potential waiting to be discovered? What are your thoughts? #NFLDraft, #FootballAnalytics, #UntappedTalent #SmallSchoolProspects   ...oh & what's easier: finding Waldo or finding Jerry Rice in his "grainier than beach sand" college tape? 😂

CFW Week 16 Forecast – 72-year-old replaces 73-year-old Army-Navy, bowl game, Heisman, all in the same weekend The regular season ends with the annual Army-Navy game this weekend, while the bowl season begins with the Veterans Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama – Western Michigan vs. South Alabama. The Army-Navy game is at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. Then throw in the Heisman Trophy presentation for extra measure. It all makes for a busy weekend. The Army-Navy game no longer includes Heisman Trophy winners. It doesn’t include NIL and transfer portal players. The game doesn’t include players who will be playing in the NFL next season. The Army-Navy game includes players who are inspired by the desire to represent their school, their teammates and the men and women serving in uniform. The players are role models who aspire to heroism. Opt-outs and CFP are destroying fan interest in bowl games. North Carolina finds its new coach. We lost Rocky Colavito. https://lnkd.in/eG7AnqD

THESE 20 TEAMS HAVE LOST BUT ARE STILL ALIVE 11 undefeated teams remain in college football, and all or most are in great position to earn one of the 12 playoff spots, including Group of 5 teams like Army, Navy, Liberty and even one-loss Boise State. But our focus isn't on those programs... Lost, but still alive: There are plenty of one-loss, two-loss and even three-loss power conference teams that remain very much alive for a playoff bid — schools that, in a four-team playoff, would be left for dead. We picked the most legitimate 20 schools that, despite losses, are still in contention for a playoff berth. Still in it: Clemson (5-1), Ohio State (5-1), Notre Dame (5-1), Georgia (5-1), Texas A&M (5-1), Texas Tech (5-1), LSU (5-1), SMU (5-1) Still in it but may need help: Kansas State (5-1), Alabama (5-1), Missouri (5-1), Tennessee (5-1), Illinois (5-1), Arizona State (5-1), Nebraska (5-1) Crazier things have happened: Iowa (4-2), Ole Miss (4-2), Wisconsin (4-2), Colorado (4-2), Washington State (5-1) Something to keep in mind with 12 bids on the line… Over the previous 10 seasons, a whopping 78 teams (nearly eight per season) finished ranked inside the top 11 with at least one loss. Many of those teams had two losses (35) and seven had three losses. Projected bracket: Here's what the 12-team field looks like after Week 7  

🏀 Calling All Basketball Enthusiasts and Bettors! 🏀 Tonight's college basketball matchup between Winthrop and Virginia Tech promises to be an intense game! Both teams are off to a strong start, holding 2-0 records, and here's how they stack up across key stats: Key Stats Comparison: * Points Per Game: Winthrop leads with a high-scoring offense at 103.5 points, while Virginia Tech sits at 88.0. * Rebounds: Winthrop dominates the boards with an impressive 52 rebounds per game (21.0 offensive), compared to Virginia Tech's 34.0 rebounds (11.0 offensive). * Field Goal Percentage: Both teams are shooting similarly, with Winthrop at 48.3% and Virginia Tech at 48.7%. * Steals and Turnovers: Winthrop is aggressive on defense with 12.0 steals per game, causing 15.5 turnovers, giving them an edge over Virginia Tech's 4.5 steals and 10.5 turnovers. With these numbers, it's clear both teams bring unique strengths to the floor. Winthrop’s high-scoring offense and aggressive rebounding may give them an upper hand, while Virginia Tech's balanced scoring could keep them competitive. At Blunt Picks, we break down stats like these into meaningful insights to elevate your betting strategy. With advanced analytics, we help you make informed picks, maximizing your potential returns and enhancing your experience. 📊 Ready to elevate your game-day strategy?
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