Odds and Ends 8/25/21

Welcome Back!

On Wednesdays I have my Odds and Ends.  This is where I present interesting statistics that you can't easily find elsewhere. These include:

Interconference results- which conference has the best OOC record (and which division)

Intraconference results- how do the divisions do against each other within each conference

Last Interception Race (LIR)- which QB will be the last to throw an INT

Undefeated/Winless teams- Starting week 2, I keep a running list of undefeated and winless teams throughout the season, updated each week

Bowl eligible/eliminated- Starting midseason, I keep a running list of teams as they reach bowl eligibility (6+ wins) or are eliminated from bowl eligibility (7+ losses)

Updates on my playoff picks- After I reveal my picks this Wednesday, I will update them each week

Games I'm excited about- I will give a brief preview with key questions about big games that week

Since the season hasn't started yet, I will use today's Odds and Ends to present my list of Coaches On The Hot Seat, my picks to make the CFB Playoff, and the Games I'm Excited About! 

Coaches on the Hot Seat- these coaches need to show some definite improvement this year, or they may not be around next year, at least not in the same location.  This improvement may mean winning the conference, getting to a bowl game, or even just winning a conference game or beating their rival, but progress needs to be shown.  These are just simply my opinion. And no, I don't have any inside information; I'm not that connected.

Jim Harbaugh, Michigan (0-6 vs Ohio State)

Scott Frost, Nebraska (3 straight losing seasons)

Jeff Brohm, Purdue (3 straight losing seasons)

Mike Norvell, FSU (only 2nd season, but was 3-6 last year, and not competitive in several games)

Dino Babers, Syracuse (4 losing seasons out of 5, 1-10 last year)

Justin Fuente, Va Tech (mostly downward trajectory since arrival, 2 losing seasons in last 3)

David Cutcliffe, Duke (2 straight losing seasons, 3-14 in last 17 games, most losses non-competitive)

Clay Helton, USC (I just feel obligated to put him here, but I think he's done pretty well...)

Chip Kelly, UCLA (3 straight losing seasons- it's time to start showing some results)

Doug Martin, NMSU (4 of last 5 seasons have 3 wins or less [1-1 last year in spring])

Randy Edsall, UConn (just 9-39 in 2nd stint)

Dana Holgorson, Houston (just 7-13 in 2 years at a program with lots of history and advantages)

Jake Spavital, Texas State (just 5-19 in 2 years, and '20 was worse than '19)

Seth Littrell, North Texas (2 straight seasons of just 4 wins- one more like it, and he's in trouble)

Dana Dimel, UTEP (while 3-5 last year was an improvement, it was against 2 FCS and winless ULM)

Thomas Hammock, Northern Illinois (5-13 in 2 years)

Tom Arth, Akron (only 1-17 in 2 years)

Scot Loeffler, Bowling Green (3-14 in 2 years)

Paul's Playoff Picks

Any Power Five team that goes undefeated is a shoo-in to make the playoff, but what would happen if each conference had an undefeated team?  Wouldn't that be awesome and create chaos? But when was the last time we had 5 teams that were undefeated in the same year? I certainly don't see that this year, and would be surprised if we have more than 1 or 2 this year.  This is how I see the playoff field shaking out.

I expect Georgia to win the SEC East, and face either Alabama or Texas A&M in the SECCG (I'm not convinced TAMU is quite ready to take that step).  The Dawgs will either be 12-0 or 11-1 entering that contest, and a win puts them in.  The same goes for Alabama or TAMU.

I expect Clemson to easily win the ACCCG, and at worst be 10-2, with perhaps a loss to UGA and an upset loss in the conference, maybe at Pitt (neither of which is by any means a certainty).

I expect Ohio State and Wisconsin to meet in the Big Ten CG, but I think both will have at least one  loss to their name, OSU early in the season because they will be breaking in a brand new QB (maybe to Oregon, maybe @Minnesota, or to Maryland at home), and Wisconsin to either Penn State or Notre Dame (or both).

I expect Oklahoma and Iowa State to be the class of the Big 12, but odds are that they will split their meetings (once in the regular season, once in the CG), and one or both could lose in an upset (could OU lose to Kansas St for a THIRD year in a row, and could ISU lose to Iowa yet again, and would that even be an upset?).

I expect Oregon and USC to meet in the PAC 12 CG, but both have challenging non-conference schedules, and difficult conference road games, so getting there undefeated will be a real challenge.

I expect Notre Dame to have a much more difficult time going undefeated in the regular season, as their schedule includes games @FSU, vs Wisconsin in Chicago, vs Cincinnati, @Va Tech, vs USC, vs UNC, vs Navy, @UVA, and @Stanford.  While the most difficult games are at home, this is a very challenging schedule, with their "easiest" games being against a decent Toledo, an improving Georgia Tech, and rival Purdue.

I expect Cincinnati to win the AAC, but they would need to go undefeated, which would include victories @Indiana and @Notre Dame, as well as over conference rivals UCF, Tulsa, and SMU. I expect at least one loss, if not 2.

Every team mentioned above has possibilities, and every team has flaws.  The key, as always, may be injuries, turnovers, and just plain old luck.  But here is who I see making the field of 4, in no particular order:

Oklahoma

Oregon

Georgia

Clemson

I'll update how my picks are doing each Wednesday throughout the season.

Games I'm Excited About

 ALL OF THEM! There's only five, so in all seriousness...

Nebraska @ Illinois- Can the Cornhuskers overcome all the distractions of the offseason and focus on this game, or will they lose to Illinois for the 2nd year in a row?  Can the Illini get the Bret Bielema era off to a successful start, and surprise the Huskers?

Hawaii @ UCLA- Can the Rainbow Warriors surprise the Bruins and serve notice to the rest of the MWC that they are a force to be reckoned with?  Can UCLA win their opening game for the 1st time since 2017?

UTEP @ New Mexico State- Can the Miners build on last year's 3 wins, and win their 3rd consecutive season opener? Can the Aggies defeat UTEP for a 2nd consecutive meeting, and can they win their opener for the 1st time since 2014?

Come back tomorrow for Paul's Picks! Follow me on Twitter: @pbanderson

Until next time, may you and your loved ones be blessed!