I started last week making a plot of the opening Vegas Spread and the actual game results. It is an interesting way to see a snap shot of the over and under performers for the week. Here is this week's plot:
Overall there were 12 upsets, oddly highlighted by 3 MAC teams doing REALLY well (EMU, Toledo, and BGSU) and 1 MAC team doing really poorly (WMU... thanks guys). Ohio's upset over Marshall capped off a great week by the MAC. The Temple and BYU upsets are also quite interesting as teams from the Group of 5 jockey for that one New Years Six Bowl slot. Boise was the clear favorite going into the season, but right now Toledo and Temple would be at the top of my leader board. Louisville and South Carolina losing are also just kind of funny. Here are some other conference-by-conference observations:
ACC
Kind of a rough week in a week with not a lot of relevant games. Louisville lost, FSU failed to cover and looked bad doing it, and UVA loses a heart-breaker. Is this really a league that should get a play-off birth? Clemson and GA Tech may be the only hope. That is good for MSU
American
I mentioned earlier in the week that a potential Temple upset was important. Now, they are sitting at 2-0 and only have one game left against a preseason Top 50 opponent. That opponent is Notre Dame, at home, who now has an injured QB. Could we see Temple in the Peach or Fiesta Bowl?
Big Ten
Great win for MSU, obviously, and Michigan and Nebraska actually redeemed themselves a little, I guess. I mean, they beat the spread by 10+, so golf clap for that, losers. Anyway, the Big Ten was 12-2 with the only losses coming from Rutgers and Maryland. I am not sure those really count, do they? Hey Iowa even beat ISU for once!
Big 12
Oklahoma somehow came back to beat Tennessee which is good for the world. Every time an SEC teams loses in the non-conference, an angel gets its wings. Other than that, nothing of note, other than Iowa State and Kansas are still terrible.
Conference USA
Marshall lost to Ohio. For some reason, I find that funny. I guess that means Purdue is worse that we thought. That makes me slightly sad since I went to grad school in West Lafayette. So, mixed bag for me.
IND
BYU is rolling at 2-0 with UCLA and Michigan coming up. It sure seems like they should be slotted into the pool of Group of 5 teams to be eligible for a New Years Six Bowl, but I don't think that is how it works. ND was riding high last week, but lost their QB and just squeaked past UVA. If ND takes a step down, this is good for MSU's playoff chances
MAC
GREAT weeks for the MAC, as stated above. Toledo is an interesting case for a New Years Six Bowl with a win over an SEC team. They have Iowa State next week, then AK State before the MAC schedule begins. They play NIU and WMU at home, so the road game at BGSU now becomes very interesting. That being said, the MAC seems to be "brutal" (i.e. it seems like no one makes it out of the league with less then 2 losses), so I doubt we see them on New Years Day.
MWest
The conference went 1-11, including upset losses by Boise State (to BYU) and Wyoming (to EMU of all people). Ironically, the only team to win was Air Force, and they beat the spread by a lot. Interesting.
Pac 12
They had a better week this week, except for the State of Oregon. Even WSU got a minor upset at Rutgers. Arizona, Colorado, and Cal had strong showings against the spread.
SEC
Oh how the mighty have fallen. Auburn needs a late come back and OT to beat Jacksonville State. Arkansas loses, Tennessee loses, red-headed step-child Kentucky beats The Visor in conference play. Also, Bama, Florida, and Mizzou all fail to cover against bad teams. SEC! SEC! SEC!
I can't wait to see what Week 3 holds.
Overall there were 12 upsets, oddly highlighted by 3 MAC teams doing REALLY well (EMU, Toledo, and BGSU) and 1 MAC team doing really poorly (WMU... thanks guys). Ohio's upset over Marshall capped off a great week by the MAC. The Temple and BYU upsets are also quite interesting as teams from the Group of 5 jockey for that one New Years Six Bowl slot. Boise was the clear favorite going into the season, but right now Toledo and Temple would be at the top of my leader board. Louisville and South Carolina losing are also just kind of funny. Here are some other conference-by-conference observations:
ACC
Kind of a rough week in a week with not a lot of relevant games. Louisville lost, FSU failed to cover and looked bad doing it, and UVA loses a heart-breaker. Is this really a league that should get a play-off birth? Clemson and GA Tech may be the only hope. That is good for MSU
American
I mentioned earlier in the week that a potential Temple upset was important. Now, they are sitting at 2-0 and only have one game left against a preseason Top 50 opponent. That opponent is Notre Dame, at home, who now has an injured QB. Could we see Temple in the Peach or Fiesta Bowl?
Big Ten
Great win for MSU, obviously, and Michigan and Nebraska actually redeemed themselves a little, I guess. I mean, they beat the spread by 10+, so golf clap for that, losers. Anyway, the Big Ten was 12-2 with the only losses coming from Rutgers and Maryland. I am not sure those really count, do they? Hey Iowa even beat ISU for once!
Big 12
Oklahoma somehow came back to beat Tennessee which is good for the world. Every time an SEC teams loses in the non-conference, an angel gets its wings. Other than that, nothing of note, other than Iowa State and Kansas are still terrible.
Conference USA
Marshall lost to Ohio. For some reason, I find that funny. I guess that means Purdue is worse that we thought. That makes me slightly sad since I went to grad school in West Lafayette. So, mixed bag for me.
IND
BYU is rolling at 2-0 with UCLA and Michigan coming up. It sure seems like they should be slotted into the pool of Group of 5 teams to be eligible for a New Years Six Bowl, but I don't think that is how it works. ND was riding high last week, but lost their QB and just squeaked past UVA. If ND takes a step down, this is good for MSU's playoff chances
MAC
GREAT weeks for the MAC, as stated above. Toledo is an interesting case for a New Years Six Bowl with a win over an SEC team. They have Iowa State next week, then AK State before the MAC schedule begins. They play NIU and WMU at home, so the road game at BGSU now becomes very interesting. That being said, the MAC seems to be "brutal" (i.e. it seems like no one makes it out of the league with less then 2 losses), so I doubt we see them on New Years Day.
MWest
The conference went 1-11, including upset losses by Boise State (to BYU) and Wyoming (to EMU of all people). Ironically, the only team to win was Air Force, and they beat the spread by a lot. Interesting.
Pac 12
They had a better week this week, except for the State of Oregon. Even WSU got a minor upset at Rutgers. Arizona, Colorado, and Cal had strong showings against the spread.
SEC
Oh how the mighty have fallen. Auburn needs a late come back and OT to beat Jacksonville State. Arkansas loses, Tennessee loses, red-headed step-child Kentucky beats The Visor in conference play. Also, Bama, Florida, and Mizzou all fail to cover against bad teams. SEC! SEC! SEC!
I can't wait to see what Week 3 holds.
