Episode 21: Halloween Is Going to be WEIRD
Ep 2⃣1⃣
– CFB Saturday falls on a Halloween? Things will be WEIRD
– Michigan > Penn State?
– Nebraska/Big Ten conspiracy theories?
– Can Oklahoma somehow sneak into the Big 12 Title?
– Should Justin Fields be the Heisman front runner?Listen & Enjoy! https://t.co/ozyGEeJliv
— Verbally Committed Podcast (@PodVerbalCommit) October 29, 2020
Welcome folks to the spooky season of college football. Halloween falls on a Saturday this year which should produce some horror type results for a few teams.
Granted, the last time Halloween was on a Saturday was 2015 and only one ranked team (#22 Duke) lost. But hey, 2015 was a completely normal and fine year for the world, 2020 has already been a horror show in its own right so let’s double down on the trauma.
As you can imagine with the Big Ten season one week in the books, plus Wisconsin-Nebraska being canceled we have plenty to talk about this week.
Corner Three
With the college basketball season seemingly around the corner, Gilli starts to get your feet wet with some basketball talk.
It mostly hangs around Rhode Island basketball, featuring why is Providence College ducking their in state rival URI?
Thoughts on PC being predicted to finish third in the Big East this year.
And ESPN’s bubble tournament cancelled.
Hail To The Victors > We Are
Last week we discussed the potential of Penn State being the team Ohio State should fear the most on their Big Ten schedule.
A week later, an improbable win by Indiana over the Nittany Lions and Michigan looking dangerous against a ranked Golden Gopher team on the road, has us rethinking that stance.
Is Michigan actually the team to beat in the Big Ten for the Buckeyes?
Oklahoma State, Can They Be Trusted?
A huge win for the Pokes this past weekend. Knocking off a ranked Iowa State team who already took down Oklahoma this year.
But once again Oklahoma State a team who was a sleeper playoff pick for some didn’t look like a playoff team. Squeaking out a 24-21 victory at home against the Cyclones.
With Texas looming this week and Bedlam against a waken up slumbering giant on the horizon, how do we feel about Mike Gundy’s squad’s chances?
And is there a backdoor path for Oklahoma to sneak back into Big 12 title contention?
Justin Fields is a Heisman Favorite
If you didn’t watch the Nebraska-Ohio State game this past weekend let me spell out what happened for you. Justin Fields looked like a He1sman trophy favorite. Not just a candidate.
He not only dissected an improved Husker defense, but made throws that should have erased any questions any NFL scouts may have about him.
Trevor Lawrence seems to be the run away favorite right now. Mac Jones has at least earned himself an invite. But where does Justin Fields fit into the picture, because he is definitely in it.
Conspiracy Theories
People who live outside the area or don’t clap along to the song “Hail Varsity” don’t pay the thought any mind. But for those of us who use the phrase “Go Big Red” more as a greeting than a cheer certainly have our tin hats on.
We already knew thanks to their open rebellion, that Nebraska and the Big Ten’s relationship is on “check Facebook daily to see if they’re broken up yet” stage. But could it be worse than that?
Is the Big Ten out to conspire against Nebraska? Very questionable and iffy calls went against the Huskers in the Ohio State game. And while it was 0.0% of the reason that they lost to the Buckeyes it certainly raised some eyebrows.
Now Wisconsin has their star quarterback, Graham Mertz, out due to COVID. And with a rising number of cases that equals out to six players and six coaches in Madison, the game against Nebraska has been canceled.
Nebraska just Thursday morning attempted to reschedule with a non-conference opponent. Only for the Big Ten to vote no, and kill that idea in its cradle.
Is there a conspiracy going on with the Big Ten trying to thwart anything good from happening to Nebraska? Or are we just paranoid? Maybe it’s both…
Halloween Week Preview
We look ahead to this weeks slate of games. Some interesting matchups in the Big 12 and SEC this week. As well as some rivalry games in the Big Ten like Michigan-Michigan State and Ohio State-Penn State.
We of course dish out our locks of the week, one favorite and one underdog and break down some of the other betting lines from around college football.
Throw us a Follow
We are on both instagram and twitter, and you can listen to us on both Apple podcasts and Spotify. Thanks for tuning in. Have a fun and safe Halloween, remember to turn your clocks back and all that.
Mike Gilligan (@BigGilli)
Connor Ryan (@connoryan68)