CFW Week O Forecast – Break out your Irish whiskey
‘Forget all your troubles,
forget all your cares’
“And watch football”
And you can start watching it this weekend.
“When you’re alone and life is making you lonely
You can always watch… football”
No, this isn’t the big weekend. That’s next weekend. This is Week 0. This is the week that whets your appetite for the following weekend.
“When you’ve got worries, all the noise and the hurry
seems to help, I know…football”
There are three games to get your appetite honed. The first of the three games begins at 12 noon ET on ESPN – Florida State vs. Georgia Tech from Dublin, Ireland. With a mid-day start and with the game being played in Dublin, what better to have than a lunch of fish and chips while you are watching the game. And what better to go with the fish and chips than a Guinness or two. Maybe three. Florida State enters the game a Top 10 team, but Georgia Tech will be stinging for an upset.
(30-minute nap)
The second game is a 4 pm ET start on FS1 – Montana State at New Mexico from Albuquerque. Being a late afternoon-early evening game and being played in New Mexico, what better to have than a dinner of green chile cheeseburgers while you are watching the game. If you haven’t had a green chile cheeseburger, you don’t know what you are missing. It is New Mexico’s state sandwich. And what better to go with green chile cheeseburgers than a Modelo Especial or two. Maybe three. Note: You can substitute the Especial with a Modelo Negra. Year end and year out, Montana State is one of the better FCS teams in the country. This year, the Bobcats are ranked 4th in the preseason FCS Coaches Poll. That spells trouble for New Mexico. Year end and year out, the Lobos are one of the worst FBS teams in the country. But there is always hope in Albuquerque.
(30-minute nap)
The third game is an 8 pm ET start on CBSSN – SMU at Nevada. Being a late-night game and being played in Reno, what better to have than some Basque food for a late-night snack while you are watching the game. Reno, Nevada, has a substantial and vibrant Basque population. While watching the SMU-Nevada game, you should feast on Pintxos (pronounced pinchos). Pintxos are a small snack typically eaten in the Basque country of Spain. The Basque equivalent of tapas. They are called pinchos (Spanish for spike) because they are spiked with a toothpick or skewer through them attached to a piece of bread. Tapas are not spiked with a toothpick or skewer. Therein lies the difference. And what better to go with pintxos than Picon Punch, a popular drink of Basque Americans. It consists of Amer Picon liqueur, grenadine, brandy and sparkling water, garnished with a lemon peel. Maybe you better not have two or three of these. There are high expectations for SMU this year. Conversely, there are low expectations for
Nevada this year. But the Wolf Pack will put up a fight.
Now, if the games don’t whet your appetite, surely the fish and chips, green chile cheeseburgers and Pintxos will. And surely the Guiness, Modelo and Picon Punch will keep you hydrated.
(10-hour nap)
There is a fourth game Saturday, involving an FBS team – Hawaii hosts Delaware State.
“Just listen to the music of the bands in the stands
Linger on the sidelines where the play-call signs are pretty
How can you lose?”
Oh, by the way, next year’s season-opening game in Dublin will be Kansas State vs. Iowa State on August 23, 2025.
“The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles
Forget all your cares and watch football,”
My friend and CFW reader Tim Muth is in Ireland for the Florida State-Georgia Tech game. Tim is a graduate of FSU. If you are watching the game and see a guy in the stands with a shot of Jameson in one hand and a Guinness in the other, that’s Tim.
Speaking of Florida State, last week ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum said he thinks Florida State is overrated, coming into the 2024 season. Further, Finebaum said the Noles would not be in the Top 10 at the end of the regular season. He predicts at least three and possibly four losses for Florida State during the season. Stay tuned!
Things will be great when you’re watching football
No finer game for sure…football
Everything’s waiting for you”
“I changed my mind and will not be coming.” That was former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh speaking to current Michigan coach Sherrone Moore. The Wolverines had invited Harbaugh to Michigan’s home opener against Fresno State on August 31 to serve as the team’s honorary captain. Initially, Harbaugh accepted the invite. However, a few days ago, he backed out of the invite. Maybe Harbaugh had second thoughts, fearing the NCAA would arrest him if he stepped onto the field at Michigan Stadium.
“Don’t hang around and let your problems surround you
There are lots of games to watch.
Maybe you know some little places to go
Where they never close…to watch football”
CFW reader and Kentucky fan Tony Windsor sent me a message after last Friday’s report on the best running backs, wide receivers, etc. Tony was disappointed, and rightfully so, that I had not included Kentucky player Barion Brown. Brown, a wide receiver for the Wildcats, is known for his all-purpose running and as a return specialist. He’s one of the best in that category.
I have been remiss leaving out the all-purpose runners/return specialists in my best player lists. So here for the first time, and thanks to Tony Windsor, are this season’s best in that category. Notre Dame senior Jayden Harrison (5-10, 198); Colorado junior Travis Hunter (6-1, 185); USC sophomore Zachariah Branch (5-10, 175); Kentucky junior Barion Brown (6-1, 174); Virginia Tech senior Bhayshul Tuten (5-11, 209); Texas State junior Ismail Mahdi (5-9, 180); UNLV senior Jacob de Jesus (5-7, 175) and Baylor junior Richard Reese (5-9, 183).
“Just listen to the rhythm of a student section chant
You’ll be cheering with them too before the night is over
Happy again”
I also got a message from my friend, CFW reader and South Carolina graduate Chris Burnette. Chris was giving a shout-out to Gamecocks senior running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders (6-2, 225), who I did not list among the best in the SEC. Sanders transferred to South Carolina from Arkansas during the offseason. Sanders was up-and-down at Arkansas, but injuries often hampered his performance. When he was good, he was really, really good.
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
And watch football”
There were four deaths of note last week. All-American and NBA All-Star Frank Selvy died on August 13. Selvy played college basketball for Furman (1951-1954). He is best-known for scoring the most points – 100 – in a Division I college basketball game. Over a span of 10 years (1954-1964), Selvy played for 5 different NBA teams. He played in the NBA All-Star game in 1955 and 1962. A native of Corbin, Kentucky, Franklin Delano Selvy was 91.
Actress Gena Rowlands died on August 14. Her career in film, stage and television spanned nearly seven decades. Rowlands won four Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. She was twice an Oscar nominee for Best Actress. Some of her movies included “Lonely Are the Brave” (1962), “Tony Rome” (1967), “Faces” (1968), “A Woman Under the Influence” (1974), “Gloria” (1980, “Another Woman” (1988), “Hope Floats” (1998) and “The Notebook” (2004) among others. A native of Cambria, Wisconsin, Virginia Cathryn Rowlands was 94.
Entertainment personality Peter Marshall died on August 15. Marshall was a game show host, television-radio personality, singer and actor. He was the original host of the game show The Hollywood Squares from 1966 to 1981. His sister was the actress, Joanne Dru. During World War II, Marshall was in the U.S. Army stationed in Italy (1944-1966). A native of Huntington, West Virginia, Ralph Pierre LaCock was 98.
And finally, “Oh, won’t you stay, just a little bit longer. Please let me hear you say that you will. Say you will…” Maurice Williams, of Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, died. Williams was the writer and singer of the 1960s hit song “Stay.” A No. 1 hit, “Stay” entered Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in October 1960, and reached No. 1 the following month. The song was on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 18 weeks until February 1961. In later years, “Stay” was recorded by the Hollies, the Four Seasons, Jackson Browne, Cyndi Lauper and others. Williams wrote the song in 1953 when he was 15 years old. He also wrote “Little Darlin,’” which was a 1957 hit by the Diamonds. Unfortunately for Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, “Stay” was their only song to reach Billboard’s Top 40. As a result, the band is considered a one-hit wonder. A native of Lancaster, South Carolina, Maurice Williams was 86. “Now your daddy don’t mind. And your mommy don’t mind if we have another dance, yeah. Just one more, one more time…”
Speaking of another dance, Rockledge Gator and Bootsie went to a dance Friday night where they were elected and crowned the Prom King and Queen. It was a senior prom – very senior. Word has it that Rockledge Gator is handling royalty very well.
And speaking of royalty, Princess Gator and Gator Babe were in Jacksonville over the weekend where they met and chatted with Tim and Demi Tebow. They also met Chunk – Tim and Demi’s dog. Chunk is a Bernese Mountain dog.
The next CFW will be posted Monday morning, August 26, with the results of Week 0.
“Where the games are exciting, watching football
Waiting for you tonight… football
You’re gonna be alright, watching football”
Touchdown Tom
August 19, 2024
https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
“Downtown” is a song written by English composer Tony Hatch and recorded by British singer Petula Clark. “Downtown” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in late January 1965 and remained in the No. 1 spot for two weeks. It entered the chart in mid-December 1964 and remained on Billboard’s Hot 100 fir 15 weeks, until early April 1965. One of the guitarists on the recording of “Downtown” was Jimmy Page. “Downtown” was recorded four years prior to the formation of Led Zeppelin. My apologies to Tony Hatch and Petula Clark for editing some of the lyrics.
Touchdown Tom’s Predictions for
Week 0’s Two Biggest and Most Intriguing Games…..and then none
Florida State vs. Georgia Tech – (ACC vs. ACC) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ESPN – Florida State and Georgia Tech don’t play each other every year, having been in different divisions in the ACC. But Georgia Tech has won four of the last seven meetings between the two schools, going back to 2008. So, the Yellow Jackets aren’t exactly afraid of the Noles. Key to Florida State may be the play of new quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei has the experience, having played for both Clemson and Oregon State. But he has been up and down at both schools. Tech has a former Texas A&M quarterback in Haynes King. This is King’s second season for the Yellow Jackets. He’s a threat passing and running. Florida State is comfortably favored but look for Tech to give the Noles a scare. Buzz chases Jameson with Guinness and gets a buzz on, while Chief Osceola eats his corned beef and cabbage – Florida State 27, Georgia Tech 19.
SMU at Nevada – (ACC vs. MWC) – 8 pm ET, Saturday, CBSSN – SMU enters the game looking to have a prosperous season – their first in the ACC. Most preseason polls have the Mustangs ranked 25-30 nationally and picked to finish 7th in the 17-team ACC. SMU has a strong quarterback in junior Preston Stone and Stone has a good backup in sophomore Kevin Jennings. Meanwhile, Nevada has been going through some tough times lately. The Wolf Pack aren’t expected to improve much, if any, this year. They are picked to finish last in the 12-team Mountain West Conference. So SMU is heavily favored. But it’s the first game of the season and a home game for Nevada. SMU should score lots of points. Nevada should score a lot too and could keep the game fairly close. The Ponies sack the Pack – SMU 30, Nevada 22.
Elsewhere Around Florida
Norfolk State at Florida A&M – (MEAC vs. SWAC) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC….
Quote of the Week
“Why is Georgia football ranked No. 1 and not Ohio State? Because of Carson Beck.” USA Today sportswriter Chandler Hoefle.
The Teams – 2024 (Touchdown Tom’s Consensus Top 40)
Every year, it never fails, I gather up all the legitimate preseason polls I can find. Then I take the content from those polls and blend everything together. My exercise results in a consensus preseason Top 40 – Touchdown Tom’s Consensus Top 40.
My research this year uncovered 13 preseason polls – AP, Coaches, Athlon, Lindy’s, CBS Sports, Phil Steele, College Football News (CFN), etc. etc. The combined results of those 13 polls produced my consensus Top 40 for 2024.
It should come as no surprise that the SEC and Big Ten were battling it out for the top spots in the poll. Sitting atop my consensus Top 40 is – drum roll please – (1) Georgia. The Dawgs were No. 1 in 11 of the 13 polls. They were No. 2 in the other two polls. That’s pretty close to unanimous.
Hot on the heels of Georgia was (2) Ohio State. The Buckeyes were No. 2 in 10 of the 13 polls. They were No. 1 in two of the polls. Fighting it out for the third and fourth spots in my poll are (3) Oregon and (4) Texas. Only three points separated the Ducks and the Longhorns from their positions in the poll. Rounding out the Top 5 is a familiar face – (5) Alabama.
The remainder of the Top 10 are (6) Ole Miss, (7) Notre Dame, (8) Penn State, (9) Michigan and (10) Florida State. Only one point separated Ole Miss and Notre Dame. If you are keeping count, that’s four SEC teams and four Big Ten teams in the Top 10.
The second 10 is headed up by (11) Missouri. The Tigers are followed by (12) Utah. Two teams are tied for the next spot – (13) Clemson and (13) LSU. The Top 15 is complete with (15) Oklahoma. The remainder of the Top 20 consists of (16) Miami (Florida), (17) Tennessee, (18) Oklahoma State, (19) Kansas State and (20) Texas A&M. That makes nine SEC teams in the Top 20. The Big Ten remains at four teams, while the ACC and Big 12 jump in with three teams each in the Top 20.
The Top 25 is complete with (21) USC, (22) Arizona, (23) Iowa, (24) Kansas and (25) Louisville. One point separated Kansas and Louisville. No gains for the SEC. The Top 25 has nine SEC teams, six Big Ten teams, five Big 12 teams and four teams from the ACC.
The Top 30 finishes out with (26) NC State, (27) Virginia Tech, (28) SMU, (29) Iowa State and (30) Wisconsin. No gains for the SEC but the ACC added three teams. The Big Ten and Big 12 added one each.
We’re near the end – only 10 teams to go. The next five teams in the Top 40 are (31) West Virginia, (32) Boise State, (33) Florida, (34) Kentucky and (35) Memphis. The first two Group of Five teams – Boise State (MWC) and Memphis (AAC) – make their appearance in the poll. The SEC adds two more and the Big 12 gains another one.
Finally, the last five teams in my consensus Top 40 are (36) Auburn, (37) Washington, (38) Nebraska, (39) North Carolina and (40) Liberty. A third Group of Five team – Liberty (C-USA) – joins the prestigious group. The final tally: SEC with12 teams, Big Ten with nine teams, ACC with eight teams, Big 12 with seven teams, Group of Five with three teams and Independents (Notre Dame) with one team.
In case you are wondering, (41) South Carolina and (42) UCF just missed the Top 40. And only one point separated South Carolina from UCF.
Only two conferences failed to place a team in the Top 40 – the Sun Belt and Mid-American. The highest ranked Sun Belt team is (50) Appalachian State and the highest ranked MAC team is (75) Miami (Ohio).
And there you have it – Touchdown Tom’s Consensus Top 40 for 2024.
If my Consensus Top 40 is reflective of how the season ends, then the 12-team playoff will consist of Georgia, Texas, Alabama and Ole Miss from the SEC, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Michigan from the Big Ten, Florida State from the ACC, Utah from the Big 12, Boise State from the MWC and Independent Notre Dame. Stay tuned!
“Happy again!”
Touchdown Tom
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