ELA 2018 Game by Game Predictions

[ELA]

rough week for pac12.

wash, usc, asu and ucla all going down to non-conf foes. putting all hopes on stanford again.

Washington's loss was to Utah, which now announced themselves as a player in the conference race.  They have trips to Pullman and Palo Alto the next two weeks.  Get through that, and the Utes become a real CFP contender.  Oregon, Cal, Arizona and Washington State are all still undefeated too, against meh schedules.

[rolltidefan]

Washington's loss was to Utah, which now announced themselves as a player in the conference race.  They have trips to Pullman and Palo Alto the next two weeks.  Get through that, and the Utes become a real CFP contender.  Oregon, Cal, Arizona and Washington State are all still undefeated too, against meh schedules.

doh, i'm an idiot.

[Cincydawg]

This kinda spoils the season for me.  It's as if I don't need to watch anything.  It's like watching 2017 games.

[ELA]

WEEK 4
Thursday, September 20

• Temple d. Tulsa

Friday, September 21

• #9 PENN STATE d. ILLINOIS

• Central Florida d. Florida Atlantic
• USC d. Washington State

Saturday, September 22
ESPN College Gameday, live from Morgantown, WV
#23 West Virginia 31, #22 Kansas State 30

• #1 Alabama d. Texas A&M
• #2 Clemson d. Georgia Tech
• #3 OHIO STATE d. Tulane
• #4 Oklahoma d. Army
• IOWA d. #5 WISCONSIN
• #6 Miami d. FIU
• #7 Auburn d. Arkansas
• #8 Notre Dame d. Wake Forest
• Oregon d. #10 Stanford
• #11 South Carolina d. Vanderbilt
• #12 Georgia d. Missouri
• #13 Florida State d. Northern Illinois
• #14 Texas d. #19 TCU
• #15 MICHIGAN d. NEBRASKA
• #16 MICHIGAN STATE d. INDIANA
• #17 Virginia Tech d. Old Dominion
• #20 Oklahoma State d. Texas Tech
• #21 NC State d. Marshall
• #24 Mississippi State d. Kentucky
• #25 Florida d. Tennessee

• Appalachian State d. Gardner-Webb
• Arizona d. Oregon State
• Arkansas State d. UNLV
• Ball State d. Western Kentucky
• Baylor d. Kansas
• Boston College d. PURDUE
• BYU d. McNeese State
• Central Michigan d. Maine
• Colorado State d. Illinois State
• Duke d. NC Central
• Hawaii d. Duquesne
• Houston d. Texas Southern
• Iowa State d. Akron
• Louisville d. Virginia
• LSU d. Louisiana Tech
• MARYLAND d. MINNESOTA
• Massachusetts d. Charlotte
• Memphis d. South Alabama
• Miami(Ohio) d. Bowling Green
• Navy d. SMU
• North Texas d. Liberty
• Ohio d. Cincinnati
• Ole Miss d. Kent State
• Pittsburgh d. North Carolina
• RUTGERS d. Buffalo
• San Diego State d. Eastern Michigan
• South Florida d. East Carolina
• Southern Miss d. Rice
• Syracuse d. Connecticut
• Toledo d. Nevada
• Troy d. UL Monroe
• UL Lafayette d. Coastal Carolina
• Utah State d. Air Force
• UTEP d. NM State
• UTSA d. Texas State
• Washington d. Arizona State
• Western Michigan d. Georgia State

[ELA]

ACC
ATLANTIC

• Florida State (2-0) 4-0
• Clemson (1-0) 4-0
• Wake Forest (1-0) 3-1
• Louisville (1-0) 3-1
• NC State (0-0) 4-0
• Boston College (0-1) 3-1
• Syracuse (0-1) 3-1

COASTAL

• Georgia Tech (1-1) 3-1
• Pittsburgh (1-1) 2-2
• Miami (0-0) 4-0
• Duke (0-0) 3-1
• Virginia Tech (0-1) 3-1
• Virginia (0-1) 2-2
• North Carolina (0-1) 0-4

BIG TEN
EAST

• Ohio State (1-0) 4-0
• Penn State (1-0) 4-0
• Maryland (1-0) 3-1
• Michigan (1-0) 3-1
• Michigan State (1-0) 2-1
• Indiana (0-1) 3-1
• Rutgers (0-1) 3-1

WEST

• Iowa (1-0) 4-0
• Purdue (1-0) 3-1
• Nebraska (0-1) 3-1
• Wisconsin (0-1) 3-1
• Northwestern (0-1) 2-1
• Illinois (0-1) 2-2
• Minnesota (0-1) 2-2

BIG XII

• Oklahoma (1-0) 4-0
• Oklahoma State (1-0) 4-0
• Texas (1-0) 4-0
• West Virginia (1-0) 3-1
• Baylor (1-0) 2-2
• Kansas State (0-1) 3-1
• Texas Tech (0-1) 3-1
• Iowa State (0-1) 2-2
• TCU (0-1) 2-2
• Kansas (0-1) 1-3

PAC 12
NORTH

• Oregon (1-0) 4-0
• Stanford (1-1) 3-1
• Washington (1-1) 2-2
• California (0-0) 3-0
• Washington State (0-1) 3-1
• Oregon State (0-1) 1-3

SOUTH

• Arizona (1-0) 4-0
• Utah (1-0) 3-0
• USC (1-1) 2-2
• Colorado (0-0) 2-1
• UCLA (0-0) 1-2
• Arizona State (0-1) 2-2

SEC
EAST

• Florida (2-0) 4-0
• South Carolina (2-0) 4-0
• Georgia (1-1) 3-1
• Missouri (0-1) 2-2
• Tennessee (0-1) 2-2
• Vanderbilt (0-1) 2-2
• Kentucky (0-2) 2-2

WEST

• Alabama (2-0) 4-0
• Auburn (2-0) 4-0
• Mississippi State (1-0) 3-1
• Arkansas (0-1) 3-1
• LSU (0-1) 2-2
• Ole Miss (0-1) 2-2
• Texas A&M (0-1) 2-2

AMERICAN
EAST

• Central Florida (1-0) 4-0
• South Florida (1-0) 3-1
• Temple (1-0) 3-1
• Cincinnati (0-0) 1-3
• East Carolina (0-1) 2-2
• Connecticut (0-1) 1-3

WEST

• Memphis (1-0) 4-0
• Navy (1-1) 3-1
• Houston (0-0) 2-2
• Tulane (0-0) 2-2
• Tulsa (0-1) 2-2
• SMU (0-1) 0-4

CONFERENCE USA
EAST

• Charlotte (1-0) 2-2
• Old Dominion (1-1) 1-3
• Florida Atlantic (0-0) 2-2
• Middle Tennessee (0-0) 1-2
• Marshall (0-0) 1-3
• Western Kentucky (0-0) 1-3
• FIU (0-1) 1-3

WEST

• Southern Miss (1-0) 3-1
• North Texas (0-0) 3-1
• UAB (0-0) 2-1
• UTEP (0-0) 2-2
• UTSA (0-0) 2-2
• Louisiana Tech (0-0) 1-2
• Rice (0-1) 1-3

MAC
EAST

• Miami(Ohio) (1-0) 3-1
• Buffalo (1-0) 2-2
• Ohio (0-0) 2-1
• Akron (0-0) 1-3
• Kent State (0-0) 1-3
• Bowling Green (0-1) 1-3

WEST

• Northern Illinois (1-0) 1-3
• Toledo (0-0) 2-1
• Ball State (0-0) 2-2
• Western Michigan (0-0) 2-2
• Central Michigan (0-1) 2-2
• Eastern Michigan (0-1) 1-3

MOUNTAIN WEST
MOUNTAIN

• Utah State (1-0) 3-1
• Colorado State (1-0) 2-3
• Boise State (0-0) 2-1
• Wyoming (0-0) 2-2
• New Mexico (0-0) 1-2
• Air Force (0-1) 1-2

WEST

• Fresno State (0-0) 3-0
• San Diego State (0-0) 3-1
• Nevada (0-0) 2-2
• UNLV (0-0) 2-2
• San Jose State (0-0) 1-2
• Hawaii (0-1) 2-3

SUN BELT
EAST

• Troy (1-0) 2-2
• Appalachian State (0-0) 3-1
• Georgia Southern (0-0) 2-1
• Georgia State (0-0) 1-3
• Coastal Carolina (0-1) 2-2

WEST

• UL Lafayette (1-0) 2-1
• South Alabama (1-0) 2-2
• Arkansas State (0-0) 2-1
• Texas State (0-1) 1-3
• UL Monroe (0-1) 1-3

INDEPENDENTS

• Notre Dame (4-0)
• Army (2-2)
• Liberty (2-2)
• Massachusetts (2-3)
• BYU (1-3)
• NM State (1-4)

[Entropy]

Ask LSU how easy it is to play Troy.   I could see an emotional win vs Colorado and a let down vs Troy, especially if UNL starts a freshman QB

[Entropy]

I also think Michigan will beat UNL, but I think this is the game people begin to see UNL as on the rise (not 2018, but going forward).   I expect they'll play well

[ELA]

Ask LSU how easy it is to play Troy.   I could see an emotional win vs Colorado and a let down vs Troy, especially if UNL starts a freshman QB

This Troy isn't nearly as good as last year's version.  They lost all of their starting skill positions players, and 6 starters from a defense that carried them, top 20 nationally in S&P+.  Somehow nobody hired Neal Brown, but that's about the only thing they have going for them going into 2018.  I think Nebraska is still trying to figure out enough stuff that maybe they make some mistakes.  But I still think HUskers win.

My off the cuff pick: Nebraska 31, Troy 23

I also think Michigan will beat UNL, but I think this is the game people begin to see UNL as on the rise (not 2018, but going forward).   I expect they'll play well

Here I disagree, new, young offense, going on the road for the first time, against THAT defense?  And while Harbaugh's struggles against good teams are well documented, his teams have consistently handled the teams they should.  Not just not lose, but not even really be in danger of losing.  Somehow Indiana is the exception there, giving him trouble three times, but aside from the Hoosiers.
Michigan 35, Nebraska 15

[ELA]

September 24 Poll

• Alabama (4-0)
• Clemson (4-0)
• OHIO STATE (4-0)
• Oklahoma (4-0)
• Miami (4-0)
• Auburn (4-0)
• Notre Dame (4-0)
• PENN STATE (4-0)
• South Carolina (4-0)
• Georgia (3-1)
• Florida State (4-0)
• Texas (4-0)
• WISCONSIN (3-1)
• MICHIGAN (3-1)
• MICHIGAN STATE (2-1)
• Virginia Tech (3-1)
• Utah (3-0)
• Oregon (4-0)
• Stanford (3-1)
• Oklahoma State (4-0)
• NC State (4-0)
• IOWA (4-0)
• West Virginia (3-1)
• Mississippi State (3-1)
• Florida (4-0)

[FearlessF]

Ask LSU how easy it is to play Troy.   I could see an emotional win vs Colorado and a let down vs Troy, especially if UNL starts a freshman QB

Since Transfer QB Noah Vedral won't pursue waiver for immediate eligibility, it could be worse if Frost doesn't start a freshman

[ELA]

WEEK 5
Thursday, September 27

• #5 Miami d. North Carolina

Friday, September 28

• Colorado d. UCLA
• Tulane d. Memphis

Saturday, September 29
ESPN College Gameday, live from State College, PA
#8 PENN STATE 34, #3 OHIO STATE 31

• #1 Alabama d. UL Lafayette
• #2 Clemson d. Syracuse

• #4 Oklahoma d. Baylor
• #6 Auburn d. Southern Miss
• #7 Notre Dame d. #19 Stanford
• #9 South Carolina d. Kentucky
• #10 Georgia d. Tennessee
• #11 Florida State d. Louisville
• Kansas State d. #12 Texas
• NORTHWESTERN d. #14 MICHIGAN
• #15 MICHIGAN STATE d. Central Michigan
• #16 Virginia Tech d. Duke
• Washington State d. #17 Utah
• #18 Oregon d. California
• #20 Oklahoma State d. Kansas
• #21 NC State d. Virginia
• #23 West Virginia d. Texas Tech
• #24 Mississippi State d. #25 Florida

• Air Force d. Nevada
• Appalachian State d. South Alabama
• Arizona State d. Oregon State
• Arkansas State d. Georgia Southern
• Army d. Buffalo
• Ball State d. Kent State
• Boise State d. Wyoming
• Boston College d. Temple
• Central Florida d. Pittsburgh
• Connecticut d. Cincinnati
• East Carolina d. Old Dominion
• FIU d. UA-Pine Bluff
• Florida Atlantic d. Middle Tennessee
• Fresno State d. Toledo
• Georgia State d. UL Monroe
• Georgia Tech d. Bowling Green
• INDIANA d. RUTGERS
• LSU d. Ole Miss
• Marshall d. Western Kentucky
• Miami(Ohio) d. Western Michigan
• New Mexico d. Liberty
• North Texas d. Louisiana Tech
• Northern Illinois d. Eastern Michigan
• Ohio d. Massachusetts
• PURDUE d. NEBRASKA
• San Jose State d. Hawaii
• SMU d. Houston Baptist
• TCU d. Iowa State
• Texas A&M d. Arkansas
• Troy d. Coastal Carolina
• UAB d. Charlotte
• USC d. Arizona
• UTSA d. UTEP
• Vanderbilt d. Tennessee State
• Wake Forest d. Rice
• Washington d. BYU

[Entropy]

This Troy isn't nearly as good as last year's version.  They lost all of their starting skill positions players, and 6 starters from a defense that carried them, top 20 nationally in S&P+.  Somehow nobody hired Neal Brown, but that's about the only thing they have going for them going into 2018.  I think Nebraska is still trying to figure out enough stuff that maybe they make some mistakes.  But I still think HUskers win.

My off the cuff pick: Nebraska 31, Troy 23
Here I disagree, new, young offense, going on the road for the first time, against THAT defense?  And while Harbaugh's struggles against good teams are well documented, his teams have consistently handled the teams they should.  Not just not lose, but not even really be in danger of losing.  Somehow Indiana is the exception there, giving him trouble three times, but aside from the Hoosiers.
Michigan 35, Nebraska 15

all good thoughts.   Maybe its hope, but young teams like to play to their competition.   Maybe it's hope on my part, but I could see a UNL have that up and down season.   Young team, new system, new staff...  They will look both better and worse than their true team performance level. 

[Entropy]

UNL losing to Purdue at home (outside of injuries) would be as welcomed as Riley losing at Illinois.   Even with Frost as the coach...

[medinabuckeye1]

WEEK 5
Saturday, September 29
ESPN College Gameday, live from State College, PA
#8 PENN STATE 34, #3 OHIO STATE 31

It is interesting how your projections make this even bigger than it appears presently.  With Michigan (ND) and Michigan State (ASU) losing OOC and Wisconsin (IA) losing a conference game, Penn State and Ohio State would be the only two B1G teams to start ranked and still be undefeated heading into the final weekend of September.  
What a two game stretch for the Nittany Lions.  They host Ohio State on September 29 then get a week off before hosting Michigan State on October 13.  If Penn State wins both they could nearly lock up the B1G-E depending on how Michigan does against Wisconsin.  The Wolverines host Penn State and Wisconsin but play the Spartans and Buckeyes on the road.  If PSU gets to 6-0 then they would win the B1G-E so long as either:

• They beat Michigan and lose no more than once, or
• They lose to Michigan but Michigan loses twice (fairly likely anyway and extremely likely if the Wolverines lose at home to the Badgers).  

All that the Buckeyes and Spartans could do is to watch, wait, and hope Penn State loses twice.