Post by phil on Nov 26, 2021 8:38:20 GMT -5
It's still early in the season, but despite the fact that there are 75 games on the docket today, only six are matchups between undefeated teams. Whenever two undefeated teams meet one another, each has a little something on the line over and above the actual win, so this has the potential of good drama, but it's hard to get overly excited about some of these games. The first game is
UCLA versus Kent
One team is an active participant in postseason success, while the last time Kent State Made the NCAA tournament was before some of the players on the current roster were born. UCLA favored by double digits.
The next game:
Elon versus South Carolina
is even less likely to be dramatic, unless you can get some gambling action on whether the winning point will be scored before the half
This game:
Notre Dame versus Georgia
Will mainly be helpful to answer some questions. Massey has Notre Dame as the number 10 team in the country, while the pollsters have Notre Dame just outside the top 25. The AP voters have Georgia ahead of Notre Dame, and the coaches have Georgia ranked. Has Notre Dame risen from the dead? Does Notre Dame's blowout win over Syracuse mean that Notre Dame is that good or that Syracuse is that flawed? Does Georgia deserve to be ranked on the basis of the schedule whose toughest games so far is number 150 Mercer?
Both teams have something to prove as this will be their first opponent who is a legitimate NCAA bound team.
I have trouble getting excited about:
Ball St versus Texas Tech
Texas Tech was a postseason force last century, while Ball State had a brief claim to fame by beating Tennessee in the 2009 tournament but had done nothing before and has done nothing since. Texas Tech is the favorite but anything could happen.
The next game:
Tennessee versus Kansas
holds more interest. Tennessee is ranked in the top 10 coaches poll and just outside at number 11 in the AP poll while Kansas doesn't even get votes. Kansas also hasn't played much of anybody with number 159 St. Louis being the toughest opponent t0 date. I think Kansas may make it interesting for a while but they are likely to wilt in the second half.
The final game:
Oregon State versus Michigan
Has the potential to be the most interesting one. Michigan is more highly ranked, as high as 9 in the coaches poll, but Massey has Oregon State as the favorite. Oregon State may have a small chip on their shoulder. I've written about the fact that they are undefeated yet dropping in the rankings. While there may be good reasons for those drops, I'm sure the players are thinking that a win over Michigan will get them some respect.
UCLA versus Kent
One team is an active participant in postseason success, while the last time Kent State Made the NCAA tournament was before some of the players on the current roster were born. UCLA favored by double digits.
The next game:
Elon versus South Carolina
is even less likely to be dramatic, unless you can get some gambling action on whether the winning point will be scored before the half
This game:
Notre Dame versus Georgia
Will mainly be helpful to answer some questions. Massey has Notre Dame as the number 10 team in the country, while the pollsters have Notre Dame just outside the top 25. The AP voters have Georgia ahead of Notre Dame, and the coaches have Georgia ranked. Has Notre Dame risen from the dead? Does Notre Dame's blowout win over Syracuse mean that Notre Dame is that good or that Syracuse is that flawed? Does Georgia deserve to be ranked on the basis of the schedule whose toughest games so far is number 150 Mercer?
Both teams have something to prove as this will be their first opponent who is a legitimate NCAA bound team.
I have trouble getting excited about:
Ball St versus Texas Tech
Texas Tech was a postseason force last century, while Ball State had a brief claim to fame by beating Tennessee in the 2009 tournament but had done nothing before and has done nothing since. Texas Tech is the favorite but anything could happen.
The next game:
Tennessee versus Kansas
holds more interest. Tennessee is ranked in the top 10 coaches poll and just outside at number 11 in the AP poll while Kansas doesn't even get votes. Kansas also hasn't played much of anybody with number 159 St. Louis being the toughest opponent t0 date. I think Kansas may make it interesting for a while but they are likely to wilt in the second half.
The final game:
Oregon State versus Michigan
Has the potential to be the most interesting one. Michigan is more highly ranked, as high as 9 in the coaches poll, but Massey has Oregon State as the favorite. Oregon State may have a small chip on their shoulder. I've written about the fact that they are undefeated yet dropping in the rankings. While there may be good reasons for those drops, I'm sure the players are thinking that a win over Michigan will get them some respect.