Psychology of the FB schedule

[blion72]

on ESPNU this week Rick Neuheisal was interviewing a guy who had written an article on the Psychology of the Schedule in CFB. Not just the who you play, but when you play, where you play and also the order you play. All the factors around these questions like player injuries, weather, etc come into play - all of which seems obvious, and what Vegas uses to set odds. What was a little different that this guy was saying (did not get his name) was also the order of the games and ultimately the psyche of the team. As fans we feel it when we are close to the team.

He gave a couple examples as Michigan and Illinois, who while they are good teams, were able to get easy starts and allowed them to build momentum. Illinois was predicted to be last in the BIG West, but they caught a break when Iowa and Wisconsin were way off normal, and their only challenge was at Indiana where they lost. UM was able to bring their new QB along an pretend (his words) that there was an evaluation of the two QBs. Harbaugh had the perfect scenario and build the momentum with his first away game being in October. He said what happens if UMich opened at Illinois? Would have impacted both teams in either direction. What would UMich look like today if say they had played UGA on opening day in Atlanta, like Oregon had the nuts to do?

I think this is where the incredible odds of Penn State opening on the road in the BIG comes into effect.

 

[LionJim]

That’s the truth, but hardly surprising.
This BS of first game always away needs to stop, it’s just not fair.

 

[BobPSU92]

Didn’t Franklin major in psychology?

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

NFL gets it right in scheduling , best outcome gets tougher schedule, Rams and Bengals having a tough time of it.
Big Ten has to keep status quo for 2023, after having all year to adjust, it is unbalanced.

 

[SouthHalls410]

Not only psychology but anatomy and physiology too. Tough games in the beginning tax your starters and reserves as well. Injuries mount and take their toll.

 

[LionJim]

NFL gets it right in scheduling , best outcome gets tougher schedule, Rams and Bengals having a tough time of it.
Big Ten has to keep status quo for 2023, after having all year to adjust, it is unbalanced.

Do you anticipate the schedule becoming better balanced across the board? (Surely it’s been discussed but I’m late to the conversation.)

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

Do you anticipate the schedule becoming better balanced across the board? (Surely it’s been discussed but I’m late to the conversation.)

There has been the 4 pod suggestion, set up geographically, and set up by power. The problem with the big 10 is the big 2. How does the last weekend set up ?

 

[Bison13]

on ESPNU this week Rick Neuheisal was interviewing a guy who had written an article on the Psychology of the Schedule in CFB. Not just the who you play, but when you play, where you play and also the order you play. All the factors around these questions like player injuries, weather, etc come into play - all of which seems obvious, and what Vegas uses to set odds. What was a little different that this guy was saying (did not get his name) was also the order of the games and ultimately the psyche of the team. As fans we feel it when we are close to the team.

He gave a couple examples as Michigan and Illinois, who while they are good teams, were able to get easy starts and allowed them to build momentum. Illinois was predicted to be last in the BIG West, but they caught a break when Iowa and Wisconsin were way off normal, and their only challenge was at Indiana where they lost. UM was able to bring their new QB along an pretend (his words) that there was an evaluation of the two QBs. Harbaugh had the perfect scenario and build the momentum with his first away game being in October. He said what happens if UMich opened at Illinois? Would have impacted both teams in either direction. What would UMich look like today if say they had played UGA on opening day in Atlanta, like Oregon had the nuts to do?

I think this is where the incredible odds of Penn State opening on the road in the BIG comes into effect.

Exactly. That’s why I believe the Indiana game actually cost us at least 1 more game after that one