College football

[billy.pilgrim]

Not so amazing that every college doesn’t practice offense and defense on this exact play. QB passes above the defender at the back of the end zone.

It is amazing in that it has about a 10 to 20% chance of working.
I’ll remain amazed that we only rushed 2 and that we didn’t tackle the receiver before he could catch the ball.
And 3, that today, freeze is claiming it was the right defense.

Just what you need, the play has a name. Scroll to the end of the article, "Gravedigger".
https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... len-milroe

Could be it won't catch on, but Bama fans may be razzing y'all with this one word shorthand for years.

Or it could be (have been) called offensive pass interference

[Vrede too]

Or it could be (have been) called offensive pass interference

If so I would not have objected, but I've also seen worse.

Did Alabama WR Isaiah Bond push off on game-winning touchdown vs. Auburn in Iron Bowl?

Another name for the play:



Lotta blame to go around:
The muffed punt
The defensive play call
The lack of a double team on a WR
The alleged OPI
Auburn's final inability to get within FG range
And of course, a perfect throw and great catch.

[billy.pilgrim]

Or it could be (have been) called offensive pass interference

If so I would not have objected, but I've also seen worse.

Did Alabama WR Isaiah Bond push off on game-winning touchdown vs. Auburn in Iron Bowl?

Another name for the play:



Lotta blame to go around:
The muffed punt
The defensive play call
The lack of a double team on a WR
The alleged OPI
And of course, a perfect throw and great catch.

Agree with all but the last two and a half
Coverage should have been behind the receiver but one was enough without the interference
There was no alleged
No on would be talking about the great throw and catch without the pass interference

And of course there were others
The no call near decapitation of the punt returner
The overturned call for targeting
The no call late hit on the quarterback
The no call late hit out of bounds

I admit that the refs did call holding at least once of the many

It was a typical sec west officiated Alabama game

[Vrede too]

Lotta blame to go around:
The muffed punt
The defensive play call
The lack of a double team on a WR
The alleged OPI
And of course, a perfect throw and great catch.

Agree with all but the last two and a half
Coverage should have been behind the receiver but one was enough without the interference
There was no alleged
No one would be talking about the great throw and catch without the pass interference

And of course there were others
The no call near decapitation of the punt returner
The overturned call for targeting
The no call late hit on the quarterback
The no call late hit out of bounds

I admit that the refs did call holding at least once of the many

It was a typical sec west officiated Alabama game

8 defenders, 5 eligible receivers - the WRs should have been doubled.
The defender was handsy before the pushoff. Fta:

There's contact from both Bond and James, as seen in replay of the eventual game-winner

If it's both ways can just one be called for PI?

I'm not opining on the rest, but the article says:

There was no flag on the play, a trend in the game on both sides.

It links to:

Look: Alabama punter gets walloped by Auburn defender behind play without drawing flag

... In the fourth quarter, punter James Burnip was coming off the field after a punt. Auburn's Micah Riley took him down hard well behind the play, and laid on top of him afterwards.

There was an official right on the sideline with a direct view of the play, but there was no call on the play. The CBS broadcast crew showed a replay and called out that the hit was "away from the play" but surprisingly Burnip got up and went to the sideline without a call on the play.

Ouch.

The call was one of a number of decisions by the officials that earned scrutiny from fans and coaches, including an incompletion on what appeared to be a first down catch from Jermaine Burton and a review for an illegal forward pass from Jalen Milroe....

I can believe that the refs are biased, or that they just suck.

[billy.pilgrim]

Lotta blame to go around:
The muffed punt
The defensive play call
The lack of a double team on a WR
The alleged OPI
And of course, a perfect throw and great catch.

Agree with all but the last two and a half
Coverage should have been behind the receiver but one was enough without the interference
There was no alleged
No one would be talking about the great throw and catch without the pass interference

And of course there were others
The no call near decapitation of the punt returner
The overturned call for targeting
The no call late hit on the quarterback
The no call late hit out of bounds

I admit that the refs did call holding at least once of the many

It was a typical sec west officiated Alabama game

8 defenders, 5 eligible receivers - the WRs should have been doubled.
The defender was handsy before the pushoff. Fta:

There's contact from both Bond and James, as seen in replay of the eventual game-winner

If it's both ways can just one be called for PI?

I'm not opining on the rest, but the article says:

There was no flag on the play, a trend in the game on both sides.

It links to:

Look: Alabama punter gets walloped by Auburn defender behind play without drawing flag

... In the fourth quarter, punter James Burnip was coming off the field after a punt. Auburn's Micah Riley took him down hard well behind the play, and laid on top of him afterwards.

There was an official right on the sideline with a direct view of the play, but there was no call on the play. The CBS broadcast crew showed a replay and called out that the hit was "away from the play" but surprisingly Burnip got up and went to the sideline without a call on the play.

Ouch.

The call was one of a number of decisions by the officials that earned scrutiny from fans and coaches, including an incompletion on what appeared to be a first down catch from Jermaine Burton and a review for an illegal forward pass from Jalen Milroe....

I can believe that the refs are biased, or that they just suck.

Or you are falling for bama bullshit by a bama writer?
I don’t remember the incompletion, but milroe crossed the line twice as is clearly shown on replay.

Have you ever seen a kicker make a tackle?
After they kick, they become tacklers and must be blocked. Everyone does this, including bama.

[Vrede too]

Or you are falling for bama bullshit by a bama writer?

USA TODAY NETWORK is "a bama writer"?
Gabriela Carroll, a graduate of Northwestern, is "a bama writer"?

X: Gabriela Carroll

@phillysport. tries hard, loves the game. new yorker. @medillschool.

FanDuel Sportsbook is "a bama writer"?

Paranoia much?

I don’t remember the incompletion, but milroe crossed the line twice as is clearly shown on replay.

The review said it was an illegal forward pass. That penalty along with the botched snap made it fourth-and-goal from the 31-yard line with 43 seconds left. What are you complaining about?

Have you ever seen a kicker make a tackle?
After they kick, they become tacklers and must be blocked. Everyone does this, including bama.

It was far away from the play, the kicker was headed towards the sideline, and the cowardly blocker waited until what would have been a frontside block became a blindside block.

[billy.pilgrim]

Or you are falling for bama bullshit by a bama writer?

USA TODAY NETWORK is "a bama writer"?
Gabriela Carroll, a graduate of Northwestern, is "a bama writer"?

X: Gabriela Carroll

@phillysport. tries hard, loves the game. new yorker. @medillschool.

FanDuel Sportsbook is "a bama writer"?

Paranoia much?

I don’t remember the incompletion, but milroe crossed the line twice as is clearly shown on replay.

The review said it was an illegal forward pass. That penalty along with the botched snap made it fourth-and-goal from the 31-yard line with 43 seconds left. What are you complaining about?

Have you ever seen a kicker make a tackle?
After they kick, they become tacklers and must be blocked. Everyone does this, including bama.

It was far away from the play, the kicker was headed towards the sideline, and the cowardly blocker waited until what would have been a frontside block became a blindside block.

I saw that she had written several bama articles. Most bama fans never went there. Most have never been to Tuscaloosa

Yeah, crossing the line of scrimmage before passing is called an illegal forward pass. He did it twice. Both were easy to see. No controversy there, unless you want to be wrong.

A blindside block would have been a penalty, but the block was clean. Headed to the sideline? Really? I’ll look again, but I don’t think so.

[billy.pilgrim]

If she wasn’t a bama fan, then why would she use this kind of language to describe a very obvious illegal forward pass?

The call was one of (one of) a number of decisions (decisions) by the officials that earned scrutiny (scrutiny) from fans and coaches, including an incompletion on what appeared to be a first down catch from Jermaine Burton and a review for an illegal forward pass from Jalen Milroe....

She takes a paragraph to misstate a legitimate play and to further imply that there were others against bama. Of course she’s a bama fan.

[Vrede too]

I saw that she had written several bama articles. Most bama fans never went there. Most have never been to Tuscaloosa

Look at the links. She covers the Big Ten and SEC for USA Today. Of course there are bama articles. Plus, it's her article that raises the OPI issue. She could have just not written it if she's biased.

Yeah, crossing the line of scrimmage before passing is called an illegal forward pass. He did it twice. Both were easy to see. No controversy there, unless you want to be wrong.

It's something the refs missed on the field. That is the "controversy". Look again, she is not saying that the penalty against AL is wrong. It got fixed on review, no official bias about that.

A blindside block would have been a penalty, but the block was clean. Headed to the sideline? Really? I’ll look again, but I don’t think so.

You are reaching so hard! It was clearly a dirty play that the ref didn't call. How often is this really about your WDE blinders?

[Vrede too]

Saban wants SEC team in CFP regardless of Bama-Georgia result

Should Alabama upset No. 1 Georgia on Saturday in the SEC championship game, the conference could be on the outside looking in when the four College Football Playoff teams are selected Sunday.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said Thursday that it would "be a disrespect to the SEC if there isn't an SEC representation in the [CFP]." ...

Don't be such a preemptive crybaby. There's a bigger risk that both of you would qualify

[Vrede too]

7:00 PM CBSSN
Conference USA Championship, Lynchburg, VA (unfair!)
GO New Mexico State (10-3) > @24 Liberty (12-0, -11.0)
I would make that bet in a heartbeat. New Mexico State struggled early, including losing to @Liberty 17-33, but it's won its last 8, including beating @Auburn 31-10, while RW xtian Liberty hasn't even played a Power 5 team.

8:00 PM ABC
Pac-12 Championship, Las Vegas
5 Oregon (11-1, -10.0 ) vs 3 Washington (12-0)
Game of the week! The size of the spread surprises me, I would take Washington plus the points. Anyhow
I slightly favor the Huskies (Go O Reallys Go);
If the Huskies win they're in the Playoffs;
If the Ducks win both might get in the Playoffs, which would be excellent, both might get knocked out of the Playoffs, which would be a tragedy, or just the Ducks (probably) would get in, which would be fine with me.
Go football.

[Vrede too]

7:00 PM CBSSN
Conference USA Championship, Lynchburg, VA (unfair!)
GO New Mexico State (10-3) > @24 Liberty (12-0, -11.0)
I would make that bet in a heartbeat. New Mexico State struggled early, including losing to @Liberty 17-33, but it's won its last 8, including beating @Auburn 31-10, while RW xtian Liberty hasn't even played a Power 5 team.
New Mexico State 14, Liberty 14, 5:38 - 2nd. I believe!
Grrr, NMSU kept it even at 35 through 3, but couldn't keep up in the 4th. 35-49, I would have made a bad bet, barely

8:00 PM ABC
Pac-12 Championship, Las Vegas
5 Oregon (11-1, -10.0 ) vs 3 Washington (12-0)
Game of the week! The size of the spread surprises me, I would take Washington plus the points. Anyhow
I slightly favor the Huskies (Go O Reallys Go);
If the Huskies win they're in the Playoffs;
If the Ducks win both might get in the Playoffs, which would be excellent, both might get knocked out of the Playoffs, which would be a tragedy, or just the Ducks (probably) would get in, which would be fine with me.
Go football.
Not making a prediction, but this could be the National Championship game.
That was fun. Oregon 31, Washington 34, winning by 3 a second time Congrats, O Reallys. Washington is in Oregon is out Uncertainty cancelled. Give the Huskies the #1 seed!

(MVP) Michael Penix Jr: 27/39 319 YDS 8.2 AVG, 1 TD, 1 INT
(injured) Dillon Johnson: 28 CAR 152 YDS 5.4 AVG, 2 TD 18 LONG
Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze both over 100 yards receiving

Bo Nix: 21/34 239 YDS 7.0 AVG, 3 TD 1 INT
6 CAR 69 YDS 11.5 AVG, 44 LONG

(2nd string) FSU QB Tate Rodemaker game-day decision for ACC title game

GoCardinalsGo!!!

Dead longhorn found at Oklahoma St. frat before Big 12 title game

That's nasty. Lock them up!

No. 1 WR Cameron Coleman flips from Texas A&M to Auburn

Five-star wide receiver Cameron Coleman flipped his commitment from Texas A&M to Auburn on Friday, and is now the Tigers' highest-ranked commitment in the 2024 class.

Coleman had been committed to Texas A&M since June, but head coach Jimbo Fisher was recently fired and former Aggies offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino now holds the same position at Arkansas. Coleman is the No. 6 prospect overall in the 2024 class and No. 1 receiver, according to ESPN....

Auburn has two ESPN 300 receivers in the 2024 class: Coleman and Perry Thompson, from Foley, Alabama. Coleman is the Tigers' second five-star commitment, joining Jamonta Waller, the No. 4 defensive end and No. 18 recruit overall, per ESPN's rankings.

Coleman is the second highly sought receiver to switch to Hugh Freeze and his staff, after they were able to flip Thompson from Alabama in July.

Congrats.

[Vrede too]

2023 Division I FCS Football
Official Bracket

Saturday

Delaware @2-seed Montana at 7:00 PM MST, brrr. Hah! If the Griz win they get another likely even colder home game

Perennial champion North Dakota St @6-seed Montana St. The Bobcats will need Sacramento St > @3-seed South Dakota in order to get a subsequent home game.

I want the unseeded teams to win the other 5 games in order to clear the best path for @Montana > Montana St in the Semi and Montana to win the Championship.

FCS Championship - Second Round
Most important games (2 points):

2:00 PM ESPN+
Sacramento State (8-4) > @3 South Dakota (9-2, -3.5)

3:00 PM ESPN+
@6 Montana State (8-3, -2.5) > North Dakota State (9-3)
44F degrees but ND is just as cold, no advantage.

Tight spreads, so far.

9:00 PM ESPN+
@2 Montana (10-1, -18.5 ) > Delaware (9-3). 37F degrees, hah!

Less important games (1 point):

12:00 PM

ESPN+
Richmond (9-3) > @5 UAlbany (9-3, -7.0). 34F degrees

ESPN+
Youngstown State (8-4) > @8 Villanova (9-2, -5.5)

1:00 PM ESPN+
Chattanooga (8-4) > @7 Furman (9-2, -6.5)
Winner loses @Missoula next week.

2:00 PM ESPN+
Mercer (9-3, Macon) > @1 South Dakota State (11-0, -32.5 )
38F degrees. I would bet on Mercer, PLUS the points

10:00 PM ESPN2 ESPN+
Southern Illinois (8-4) vs @4 Idaho (8-3, -6.0)
No pick, I like Moscow. Go football.

[Vrede too]

FBS

3:00 PM Mountain West Championship, FOX
Boise State (7-5, -2.5) vs @UNLV (9-3)
Could be a good game, go football!

Go:

12:00 PM, Big 12 Championship, ABC
@7 Texas (11-1, -15.0) > 18 Oklahoma State (9-3)
With OR out of the way Texas still has a shot, especially if AL and FSU lose. I've always heard great thing about Austin. Hook 'em, 'Horns!

4:00 PM

SEC Championship, CBS
(holding nose) @1 Georgia (12-0, -5.0) > 8 Alabama (11-1)
Saban's whiny paranoia notwithstanding, I think an SEC team will be in the Playoffs and the greater risk is seeing 2 SEC teams qualify. So, I want AL booted with a 2nd loss.

American Athletic Championship, ABC
@22 Tulane (11-1, -3.0) > SMU (10-2)
New Orleans hedonism > TX xtians! Break that 20-ranking barrier for the Group of 5.

Sun Belt Championship, ESPN
Appalachian State (8-4) > @Troy (10-2, -5.0). GoHominiesGo!

8:00 PM

Big Ten Championship, FOX
16 Iowa (10-2) > 2 Cheatin' Michigan (12-0, -22.0 )
I won't count a loss in my tally. I would make this bet on Iowa +22.

ACC Championship, ABC
14 Louisville (10-2) > 4 Florida State (12-0, -1.5). GoLouisvilleGo, upend the CFP!

[Vrede too]

FCS Championship - Second Round
Most important games (2 points):

2:00 PM ESPN+
Sacramento State (8-4) > @3 South Dakota (9-2, -3.5)
24-34. Montana State won't get a home game next week

3:00 PM ESPN+
@6 Montana State (8-3, -2.5) > North Dakota State (9-3)
44F degrees but ND is just as cold, no advantage. Oh NOOO! Montana State PAT blocked in OT1, 34-35

Tight spreads, so far.

9:00 PM ESPN+
@2 Montana (10-1, -18.5 ) > Delaware (9-3). 37F degrees, hah!

Less important games (1 point):

12:00 PM

ESPN+
Richmond (9-3) > @5 UAlbany (9-3, -7.0). 34F degrees. 13-41

ESPN+
Youngstown State (8-4) > @8 Villanova (9-2, -5.5). 28-45

1:00 PM ESPN+
Chattanooga (8-4) > @7 Furman (9-2, -6.5)
Winner loses @Missoula next week. 7-26 Oh well, good for uncaring Whack9.

2:00 PM ESPN+
Mercer (9-3, Macon) > @1 South Dakota State (11-0, -32.5 )
38F degrees. I would bet on Mercer, PLUS the points I would lose that bet 0-41, that's why they're #1.

10:00 PM ESPN2 ESPN+
Southern Illinois (8-4) vs @4 Idaho (8-3, -6.0)
No pick, I like Moscow. Go football.

[Vrede too]

FBS

3:00 PM Mountain West Championship, FOX
Boise State (7-5, -2.5) vs @UNLV (9-3)
Could be a good game, go football! Nope, a rout. 44-20 Blufield, billy.pilgrim's favorite team is the Champ.

Go:

12:00 PM, Big 12 Championship, ABC
@7 Texas (11-1, -15.0) > 18 Oklahoma State (9-3)
With OR out of the way Texas still has a shot, especially if AL and FSU lose. I've always heard great thing about Austin. Hook 'em, 'Horns!
49-21 Bye-bye Big 12.

4:00 PM

SEC Championship, CBS
(holding nose) @1 Georgia (12-0, -5.0) > 8 Alabama (11-1)
Saban's whiny paranoia notwithstanding, I think an SEC team will be in the Playoffs and the greater risk is seeing 2 SEC teams qualify. So, I want AL booted with a 2nd loss. 24-27 It would be hilarious if the SEC gets snubbed due to Saban's paranoid whining, but ain't gonna happen. Bama is in. Georgia after its 29-game win streak ends?

American Athletic Championship, ABC
@22 Tulane (11-1, -3.0) > SMU (10-2)
New Orleans hedonism > TX xtians! Break that 20-ranking barrier for the Group of 5.
14-26 Pundits say that there is a debate whether SMU or Liberty gets a New Years 6 game. Go SMU, the less RW xtians.

Sun Belt Championship, ESPN
Appalachian State (8-4) > @Troy (10-2, -5.0). GoHominiesGo!
23-49

8:00 PM

Big Ten Championship, Indianapolis, FOX
16 Iowa (10-2) > 2 Cheatin' Michigan (12-0, -22.0 )
I won't count a loss in my tally. I would make this bet on Iowa +22.
0-10 with the sole TD coming after an 87-yard punt return to the Iowa 5. I still believe. FYI, "I believe" seems to be a jinx

ACC Championship, Charlotte, ABC
14 Louisville (10-2) > 4 Florida State (12-0, -1.5). GoLouisvilleGo, upend the CFP!
Who allowed all of those FSU fans across our border? Why is the stadium tolerating that obnoxious chant? Expel and deport them!
0-3, lowest scoring ACC Championship 1st half ever Just 10 total first downs, 11 total punts

[billy.pilgrim]

No review on pass to set up bammer’s 2nd quarter touchdown? Weird.

[O Really]

Georgia loss to Bammer - a pox on both their asses.

[Vrede too]

No review on pass to set up bammer’s 2nd quarter touchdown? Weird.

I was watching Appalachian State get beaten If you come across a video please share. It could have decided the game.

[billy.pilgrim]

No review on pass to set up bammer’s 2nd quarter touchdown? Weird.

I was watching Appalachian State get beaten If you come across a video please share. It could have decided the game.

Who did they play?

It wasn’t so much how it was called as it was that it wasn’t reviewed. 99 times out of a hundred a similar reception would have been reviewed; the lone non-review would have been in favor of Alabama.

I saw the ball touch the ground and change direction.

World’s biggest bammer fans, Brad and Gary didn’t
And I imagine the bammer loving reporter you quoted last week agreed with them