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Notes From the Margins: ACC, Big 12 and Big East
By Jason Roberts | November 14, 2008
Week Twelve and most college fantasy football leagues are either entering their final week of game play or preparing for the first round of their league’s respective playoffs.
With big names like Graham Harrell, Michael Crabtree, and Sam Bradford off on bye-weeks in this third weekend of November, some team owners might be left feeling that the usual thrill of the game is approaching nothing more than an anti-climatic three-day span of non-critical conference and non-conference matchups. Think again. For as this week’s first half of “Notes From The Margin” explains, there’s still plenty to be marveled (and left dumbfounded) by both on and off the playing field, with some newsworthy items suggestive of interesting challenges to be faced by fantasy owners heading into Saturday afternoon and evening.
Check out as NFTM searches for answers to the questions of whether an injured Jermaine Thomas of Florida State will continue an impressive start to his collegiate career against Boston College, what the potential results of a large brawl involving Florida State football players in the school’s Student Union on Wednesday might entail, whether or not N.C. State’s Russell Wilson is currently doing his best to imitate Baylor’s Robert Griffin, the possibility of TAMU benefiting from a fully (re)loaded wide receiver corps this weekend, whether or not Louisville’s Hunter Caldwell should start under center this weekend versus Cincinnati, and what was the silver lining to the dark cloud suffered by West Virginia this past weekend in a heartbreaking loss to Cincinnati.
Topics: ACC, Big 12, Big East, College Football, Jason Roberts, Notes From the Margins | Comments Off
Power I: I’m Late…I’m Late
By Drew Smith | November 14, 2008
Sorry to get this to you late folks…I have many excuses but none matter at this point. Lets get to the meat of the details.
It is playoff time in the world of fantasy college football with some leagues actually moving onto the second round. There are some top backs that are on bye week, meaning owners who rode the likes of Javon Ringer, LeSean McCoy and even Collin Mooney are looking to their bench for starters. This article is going to focus more on players that should be started or sat for reasons that might not be as obvious.
Jahvid Best - California: Best has seen his rushing totals three weeks in a row since losing the coach’s confidence with some fumblitis. This week some owners might be tempted to start Best against an Oregon State team that a lot of people assume is a weak defensive team. However the Beavers have been solid and sport the 27th ranked rush defense. All this adds up to a player that I would avoid starting if you have a solid alternative.
Topics: College Football, Drew Smith, Power I, Running Back | Comments Off
Expert League: Eight is Enough
By John Huss | November 14, 2008
Unlike the comedy-drama from the late 70’s, we lack any female representation in our Expert League. However, I can see Jeff Erickson from Rotowire.com as David, Jason Collette from Fanball as Tommy and our own Drew Smith as Nick. Let’s just hope that FCBs playoff run doesn’t go the way of Adam Rich after TV was over.
Here are our 2008 Finalist:
#1 Seed: Rotowire.com
#2 Seed: Fantasycollegeblitz.com
#3 Seed: Athlon/PFS
#4 Seed: Mockdraft Central
#5 Seed: CFFInsider
#6 Seed: Rivals.com
#7 Seed: CBSSportsline
#8 Seed: Fanball
No bye weeks in the first round. Someone has to win 3 games to hold up the trophy. Next week, we’ll break down how the matchups went. Early line on returning champ Rotowire.com winning it all again - 8 to 5.
Here’s a little rewind to times past. This will serve as a reminder that we actually have it pretty good these days because we don’t have to subject ourselves to this type of bubblegum:
Topics: College Football, Expert League, John Huss | Comments Off
Going Deep: The Replacement Vince
By Drew Smith | November 12, 2008
This weeks edition of Going Deep is brought to you by me, Drew Smith. I’m the guy who spends his days buried in running back data and information. With Vince off exploring the Continental Divide, I am pulling double duty and will throw out some of my thoughts on the WR position. I admit it will be coming at you a bit differently than the normal weekly article.
As a reminder, running backs are much more predictable because we have an idea of the quality of the rushing offense, the talent of the back, the talent of the defense the back is going against and most importantly number of carries we can expect. Add in the number of points the offense of the back is expected to score and now we have a somewhat predictable number of TDs the RB has a chance to get. The WR carries a lot of the same predictable traits with the exception being the number of receptions and potential TDs. So how can we make lineup decisions for the receivers that goes beyond just random luck?
Topics: College Football, Drew Smith, Going Deep, Wide Receiver | Comments Off
Head2Head Tips: Beware Big 12 Byes
By Vince Mullins | November 11, 2008
The Head2Head College Salary Cap Game is nearing its end, and our Forum’s own resident H2H analyst Topher Dean breaks down his Efficiency Rating’s top ten through week 10 of the H2H season:
10) Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers (6.5M, 70.25 efficiency rating)
The Big East’s top receiver finally nudges into the top ten after several weeks of consistent play. Britt (right, Rivals.com) hauled in 9 passes for 107 yards and a score against Syracuse this past Saturday earning him 25 H2H points. The junior is averaging over 20 points per game and has a salary below 7.0M, which should warrant an immediate plug into the lineup. The trouble is he’s the fourth receiver on this list this week so someone has to be the odd man out unless you’re flexing. Britt faces the conference’s top defense in South Florida this week which should test his staying power on this list.
9) Jordan Shipley, WR, Texas (6.9M, 76.36 efficiency rating)
I asked for 30 and he gave me 20. Not bad, but with what appears to be a now healthy Quan Cosby, Shipley’s numbers could take a hit. Don’t get off this wagon yet because he remains Colt McCoy’s most reliable target. This week Kansas and the Big 12’s worst pass defense stroll into Austin and Shipley could still be looking at a career day.
Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State (12.9M, 81.35 efficiency rating)
This is quite a fall from grace from what could be the NFL prospect among collegiate quarterbacks. Nobody has been more disappointed in Freeman last two performances than me but it seems his lack of supporting cast at wide receiver (you can only get so much out of water-bug Brandon Banks) is catching up with him. It may be time to jump off the ship but I’m giving him one more week against Nebraska at home to redeem himself. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, College Football, Pac 10, Preview, SEC | Comments Off
BlitzIndex Defense Rankings - Trojans still on top
By Vince Mullins | November 11, 2008
The USC Trojans continue their dominance over all college football offenses by crushing Cal 17-3 this weekend, and they continue to lead the nation in all the categories that make up our exclusive BlitzIndex defense rankings (Yards per play, Yards per point and points per game).
This weeks version is different for three reasons:
- I am at 12,000 feet above sea level at Keystone Lodge in Colorado for my first ski vacation (this should illustrate my dedication to readers that I am doing this at 730am MST)
- I am using Mrs. Mullins work laptop which contains more Microsoft software than I am comfortable with. But Excel did allow me to…
- round the BlitzIndex variables to one decimal place which I have always thought would be more useful anyway.
Rankings after the jump…
Topics: College Football, Defense, Vince Mullins | Comments Off
MAC Notes: More From the MAC
By Nick Gerogosian | November 10, 2008
#14 Ball State (9-0, 5-0 MAC) at Miami (2-7, 1-4 MAC) - 7:00
SITE: Yager Stadium (24,286/Field Turf) - Oxford, Ohio
TELEVISION: ESPN2/ESPN2 HD (Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard)
SERIES RECORD: Miami leads 15-10-1 … the visiting team has won the last six meetings…Miami won last year, 14-13 in Muncie … the Cardinals won 20-17 in 2006 in Oxford … BSU has won three of the last four meetings at Yager Stadium.
COACHES: BSU-Brady Hoke (31-37, sixth season); MIA-Shane Montgomery (17-28, fourth season).
GAME NOTES:
Ball State won its 11th consecutive regular season game with a 45-14 triumph over Northern Illinois last week (Wed., Nov. 5) … the Cardinals’ potent offense put up almost as many points (45) as the Huskies had allowed in its previous six games (49) … Nate Davis riddled the NIU defense for 300 yards and four TDs passing, completing 18-of-22 attempts … MiQuale Lewis rushed for 119 yards and has gained 112-plus yards in seven of nine games this season … BSU leads the MAC in scoring offense (38.3 ppg), scoring defense (15.3 ppg allowed), total offense (458.4 ypg), net punting (39.1), pass efficiency (167.6), pass efficiency defense (104.3), and fewest sacks allowed (8) … the RedHawks have dropped five of their last six games … in his three games as a starter, RB J.R. Taylor has rushed for 309 yards on 54 carries, an average of 5.7 ypc … also a freshman, since inserted into the starting lineup three games ago, QB Clay Belton has passed for 478 yards and two TDs, although Belton will not play due to an injury suffered in the Buffalo game (Nov. 4) … junior Daniel Raudabaugh (121-of-214 attempts, 4 TDs, 5 int., 1,252 yards in 8 games this season) will reclaim the starting role … Miami is 0-2 in conference home games this season … BSU has won its last seven MAC road games dating back to the 2006 season.
Nick’s Pick: Ball State 35 - Miami 14
Comment: Ball State is currently ranked #14 in the latest BCS ranking and is carrying the load of the MAC to become the league’s first ever participant. If BSU beats Miami, and then finishes off two very tough divisional foes (Western & Central Michigan) followed by win in the MACC, it’s a very real possibility that the Cardinals will play in a major bowl. Miami is trying to get through another tumultuous season under Shane Montgomery, likely his last in Oxford. Historically these are very close contests but Ball State has far too much to lose to play around with the RedHawks this season.
Topics: College Football, MAC, Nick Gerogosian | Comments Off
FROM THE SHOTGUN…Week Twelve QB Prime-Time/Pine-Time
By Daniel Freer | November 10, 2008
Tomorrow (November 11th) is Veterans Day…
A day we salute those who have served our country…those who gave up all and everything to protect this nation from our enemies. If it was not for our veterans, we would not be here today…able to enjoy many freedoms…able to enjoy…fantasy football.
And, as a veteran of the United States Army, it is a very special day for me, too…
Meanwhile, there seems, every season, that there are a few college players who have been around for a long time…longer than their four seasons of eligibility. The players that make you say: “Uh, gee, I thought he was in the NFL”.
Some of those college football “veterans” are making an impact…in their fifth, eighth, twenty-first…uh, OK, many seasons.
One of those “vets”, Utah QB Brian Johnson (pictured, thanks IconSMI), is a great play this week…as his Utes face woeful San Diego State… Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Daniel Freer | Comments Off
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