OT: Week 2 clarity for some teams

[18IsTheMan]

Still mostly creampuff games this week. Though most will go untested this weekend, a few games of note that will give some clarity for certain teams:

1. CU at Nebraska: Somehow, the CU hype is at a fever pitch again after their 5-point home win over an FCS team. The game at Nebraska, facing Raiola, will offer a bit of clarity for both teams. Is Raiola for real? Is CU's defense still a major liability?

2. UT at NC State: UT's first game offered little insight to how good they'll be under Nico. NC State struggled at home with Western Carolina. The game should be a semi-decent challenge for UT, considering it's on the road. If NC State can hang tough (and their crowd is hyping an upset), it bodes well for them. If UT struggles to win (hopefully the case) that could dampen some of their hype train. UT fans are already driving me nuts, 1 week into the season.

3. Arkansas at Oklahoma State: In what is surely PIttman's hot seat year, they opened with a crushing win over Arkansas Pine Bluff to give at least one week of feel goods. What that means, though, is anyone's guess. Going on the road to Stillwater to face #16 OSU will be a reality check for them.

4. Of course, the UK game for us is a bellwether game. Lose this game and we can pack it in for this season.

 

[LonghornsGamecocks]

Still mostly creampuff games this week. Though most will go untested this weekend, a few games of note that will give some clarity for certain teams:

1. CU at Nebraska: Somehow, the CU hype is at a fever pitch again after their 5-point home win over an FCS team. The game at Nebraska, facing Raiola, will offer a bit of clarity for both teams. Is Raiola for real? Is CU's defense still a major liability?

2. UT at NC State: UT's first game offered little insight to how good they'll be under Nico. NC State struggled at home with Western Carolina. The game should be a semi-decent challenge for UT, considering it's on the road. If NC State can hang tough (and their crowd is hyping an upset), it bodes well for them. If UT struggles to win (hopefully the case) that could dampen some of their hype train. UT fans are already driving me nuts, 1 week into the season.

3. Arkansas at Oklahoma State: In what is surely PIttman's hot seat year, they opened with a crushing win over Arkansas Pine Bluff to give at least one week of feel goods. What that means, though, is anyone's guess. Going on the road to Stillwater to face #16 OSU will be a reality check for them.

4. Of course, the UK game for us is a bellwether game. Lose this game and we can pack it in for this season.

I think Oklahoma State might be underrated

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

OP completely failed to mention the biggest game this weekend.

Texas - Michigan.
We may find out if UM is not far off from last year, or if there is much work to do.

 

[18IsTheMan]

OP completely failed to mention the biggest game this weekend.

Texas - Michigan.
We may find out if UM is not far off from last year, or if there is much work to do.

No, I just don't see it as one of the games that'll be terribly revealing, short of a blowout win for one team or the other. Most expect that UM will have taken a bit of step back after last season, hence why the defending national champs are only ranked #10. Losing to the #3 team in the nation isn't an indictment. Of course, if they get blown out of the water, that's a different story, If UM wins, then Texas will have lost on the road to the defending national champions and #10 ranked team.

Of course it's the biggest game of the weekend but doesn't mean it will be terribly revealing. Obviously ANY game can be revealing, and I guess in some way all games are revealing. USF at Alabama could be revealing if Bama struggled to win or lost, but odds are it won't be revealing.

The games I mentioned are the ones that I think will necessarily be revealing.

 

[will110]

No, I just don't see it as one of the games that'll be terribly revealing, short of a blowout win for one team or the other. Most expect that UM will have taken a bit of step back after last season, hence why the defending national champs are only ranked #10. Losing to the #3 team in the nation isn't an indictment. Of course, if they get blown out of the water, that's a different story, If UM wins, then Texas will have lost on the road to the defending national champions and #10 ranked team.

Of course it's the biggest game of the weekend but doesn't mean it will be terribly revealing. Obviously ANY game can be revealing, and I guess in some way all games are revealing. USF at Alabama could be revealing if Bama struggled to win or lost, but odds are it won't be revealing.

The games I mentioned are the ones that I think will necessarily be revealing.

Interestingly enough, Bama DID struggle with USF last year after benching Jalen Milroe. And then Alabama was overtime away from playing for another national championship.

Ultimately week two can provide some clarity, but it's a long season with a lot of games left.

 

[will110]

Still mostly creampuff games this week. Though most will go untested this weekend, a few games of note that will give some clarity for certain teams:

1. CU at Nebraska: Somehow, the CU hype is at a fever pitch again after their 5-point home win over an FCS team. The game at Nebraska, facing Raiola, will offer a bit of clarity for both teams. Is Raiola for real? Is CU's defense still a major liability?

2. UT at NC State: UT's first game offered little insight to how good they'll be under Nico. NC State struggled at home with Western Carolina. The game should be a semi-decent challenge for UT, considering it's on the road. If NC State can hang tough (and their crowd is hyping an upset), it bodes well for them. If UT struggles to win (hopefully the case) that could dampen some of their hype train. UT fans are already driving me nuts, 1 week into the season.

3. Arkansas at Oklahoma State: In what is surely PIttman's hot seat year, they opened with a crushing win over Arkansas Pine Bluff to give at least one week of feel goods. What that means, though, is anyone's guess. Going on the road to Stillwater to face #16 OSU will be a reality check for them.

4. Of course, the UK game for us is a bellwether game. Lose this game and we can pack it in for this season.

I agree that these are all really interesting games and should give us an idea of what these teams can do moving forward. But, like I posted a minute ago about Alabama, it's a long season. Teams can change for better and worse as a season goes on.

1. Colorado/Nebraska - these teams played last year in week 2, with Colorado blowing Nebraska's doors off. Both teams finished with losing records, so that game ultimately wasn't very meaningful.
2. UT/NC State - If Tennessee struggles with NC State I think that probably says more about the Vols than the 'Pack.
3. Arkansas/OK State - You'd expect Oklahoma State to take care of business and win going away over a bad Arkansas team. This one, if it goes Arkansas' way, perhaps is the most meaningful of the trio, since Oklahoma State is (should be) a really good team.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I agree that these are all really interesting games and should give us an idea of what these teams can do moving forward. But, like I posted a minute ago about Alabama, it's a long season. Teams can change for better and worse as a season goes on.

1. Colorado/Nebraska - these teams played last year in week 2, with Colorado blowing Nebraska's doors off. Both teams finished with losing records, so that game ultimately wasn't very meaningful.
2. UT/NC State - If Tennessee struggles with NC State I think that probably says more about the Vols than the 'Pack.
3. Arkansas/OK State - You'd expect Oklahoma State to take care of business and win going away over a bad Arkansas team. This one, if it goes Arkansas' way, perhaps is the most meaningful of the trio, since Oklahoma State is (should be) a really good team.

A lot of variables, for sure.

As to the CU/Nebraska game last year, we all knew Nebraska wasn't very good, so sensible people took that win with a grain of salt. Where it adds clarity for CU this year is whether or not they have improved their dismal defense from last year. Their fans are stoked as all get out after their win over NDSU. Going up against wonderboy Raiola offers them the chance to show that it has. If Raiola lights them up, it portends another dismal season for CU. And, again, it goes back to the hype CU is getting.

Yes, if UT struggles to a win, I think it says more about them, which is the clarity I was referencing. Of course, maybe NC State is a legit top 25 team. If UT goes down and dominates and Nico looks like a Heisman candidate again, that portends good things for them.

And certainly I expect Arkansas to lose, but given the overwhelming nature of their Week 1 victory over a hapless FCS team, the Arky folks are nevertheless feeling a bit buoyed. If they win, that signals good things for them. If they lose badly, things could spiral.

And, as I noted in my OP, these games will provide "some" clarity. Not total clarity. We could theoretically lose to UK and finish the season 11-1. Though Bama did win against USF last year, we saw some things become apparent in that game that were struggles for them all season long.

 

[will110]

A lot of variables, for sure.

As to the CU/Nebraska game last year, we all knew Nebraska wasn't very good, so sensible people took that win with a grain of salt. Where it adds clarity for CU this year is whether or not they have improved their dismal defense from last year. Their fans are stoked as all get out after their win over NDSU. Going up against wonderboy Raiola offers them the chance to show that it has. If Raiola lights them up, it portends another dismal season for CU. And, again, it goes back to the hype CU is getting.

Yes, if UT struggles to a win, I think it says more about them, which is the clarity I was referencing. Of course, maybe NC State is a legit top 25 team. If UT goes down and dominates and Nico looks like a Heisman candidate again, that portends good things for them.

And certainly I expect Arkansas to lose, but given the overwhelming nature of their Week 1 victory over a hapless FCS team, the Arky folks are nevertheless feeling a bit buoyed. If they win, that signals good things for them. If they lose badly, things could spiral.

And, as I noted in my OP, these games will provide "some" clarity. Not total clarity. We could theoretically lose to UK and finish the season 11-1. Though Bama did win against USF last year, we saw some things become apparent in that game that were struggles for them all season long.

As the season gets longer and players grow accustomed to a mulligan with the expanded playoff, I wonder if we'll see more NFL-style upsets. For example, last year the Chiefs lost to both the Broncos and Raiders (both finished 8-9). The Eagles lost to the Cardinals (finished 4-13). Inexplicable poor performances in the midst of otherwise good/great seasons.

 

[18IsTheMan]

As the season gets longer and players grow accustomed to a mulligan with the expanded playoff, I wonder if we'll see more NFL-style upsets. For example, last year the Chiefs lost to both the Broncos and Raiders (both finished 8-9). The Eagles lost to the Cardinals (finished 4-13). Inexplicable poor performances in the midst of otherwise good/great seasons.

Good question.

In the not-too-distant past, the pressure on teams with championship aspirations was to go undefeated. As the game evolved, taking a single loss, particularly early in the season, became manageable. Now, with the expanded playoffs, some 2-loss teams will be feeling pretty confident.

In that sense the game has lost the pressure that you were playing for your season every single game.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

Still mostly creampuff games this week. Though most will go untested this weekend, a few games of note that will give some clarity for certain teams:

1. CU at Nebraska: Somehow, the CU hype is at a fever pitch again after their 5-point home win over an FCS team. The game at Nebraska, facing Raiola, will offer a bit of clarity for both teams. Is Raiola for real? Is CU's defense still a major liability?

2. UT at NC State: UT's first game offered little insight to how good they'll be under Nico. NC State struggled at home with Western Carolina. The game should be a semi-decent challenge for UT, considering it's on the road. If NC State can hang tough (and their crowd is hyping an upset), it bodes well for them. If UT struggles to win (hopefully the case) that could dampen some of their hype train. UT fans are already driving me nuts, 1 week into the season.

3. Arkansas at Oklahoma State: In what is surely PIttman's hot seat year, they opened with a crushing win over Arkansas Pine Bluff to give at least one week of feel goods. What that means, though, is anyone's guess. Going on the road to Stillwater to face #16 OSU will be a reality check for them.

4. Of course, the UK game for us is a bellwether game. Lose this game and we can pack it in for this season.

The big question - is the suitcase out of the closet yet?

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

No, I just don't see it as one of the games that'll be terribly revealing, short of a blowout win for one team or the other. Most expect that UM will have taken a bit of step back after last season, hence why the defending national champs are only ranked #10. Losing to the #3 team in the nation isn't an indictment. Of course, if they get blown out of the water, that's a different story, If UM wins, then Texas will have lost on the road to the defending national champions and #10 ranked team.

Of course it's the biggest game of the weekend but doesn't mean it will be terribly revealing. Obviously ANY game can be revealing, and I guess in some way all games are revealing. USF at Alabama could be revealing if Bama struggled to win or lost, but odds are it won't be revealing.

The games I mentioned are the ones that I think will necessarily be revealing.

Im going to respectfully disagree. These two schools are as we all know the blue bloods of CFB, and as you stated most expect UM to have taken a step back. What could be revealed is have they really taken a step back or is that just an expectation. On the other side, is Texas as good as many are predicating, will Texas show us if they are indeed to be taken as serious contenders for the SEC championship, or will both teams put on a heavy weight fight and show everyone they are schools to keep in the NC conversation.
I see this a much more revealing than a regional matchup of UT and NCSU, that at best either team can possibly make the expanded playoffs.

 

[Atlanta Cock]

Im going to respectfully disagree. These two schools are as we all know the blue bloods of CFB, and as you stated most expect UM to have taken a step back. What could be revealed is have they really taken a step back or is that just an expectation. On the other side, is Texas as good as many are predicating, will Texas show us if they are indeed to be taken as serious contenders for the SEC championship, or will both teams put on a heavy weight fight and show everyone they are schools to keep in the NC conversation.
I see this a much more revealing than a regional matchup of UT and NCSU, that at best either team can possibly make the expanded playoffs.

Here's an important point. Both schools are among the very best academically. It doesn't impact their athletics.