Really glad that we finally have this format. I'll be pulling for all the non-SEC/B1G schools this weekend. (Indy is my one SEC/B1G exception...go Hoosiers!)

If I was making spread bets give me:

ND -6.5
SMU +8.5
Clem +12.5
Tenn +7.5

If I was just picking game winners I would say:

ND
PSU
UT
Tenn

Love it

7am in South Bend. cars already lined up waiting to get on campus. a light snowfall.

Happy CFP Friday to all who observe. pic.twitter.com/XdceIDqmPG

— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) December 20, 2024

Whelp! @CFBPlayoff South Bend! pic.twitter.com/E9S9BH69aT

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) December 20, 2024

I actually think Clemson over Texas would be the most realistic upset. I think Indiana keeps it somewhat competitive tonight. I see PSU winning handily. And I don't trust Tenn to go into Columbus and win with such an inconsistent QB.
In the meantime go Ohio and Florida! (Have en both in my Bowl Mania)

Good morning from Notre Dame Stadium.#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/AdPyaXPuuE

— The Fighting Irish (@FightingIrish) December 20, 2024

I didnt realize the ND/Indiana game was today. I think going forward play off games up north are going to show why major bowls are and have been in places like Florida, Texas, Arizona and Southern Ca.

PartyBear said:

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I didnt realize the ND/Indiana game was today. I think going forward play off games up north are going to show why major bowls are and have been in places like Florida, Texas, Arizona and Southern Ca.

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Personally...I would much rather see a game out in snowy elements than in a climate controlled dome.

Not a huge Herby fan but the guy has excellent taste in dog breeds. Mans best friend a Golden Retriever

Giving Tennessee 7 points seems a bit much to me. I think there's a decent chance they win outright. It does depend on which OSU team shows up--if they play like they did against Michigan, Tennessee might win by double digits.

I'm also not going to be surprised if SMU wins. They are better than a lot of people give them credit for, and I don't trust Franklin much as a big game coach.

The other two favorites I think will win. The snow isn't good for Indiana--ND is the better defensive team and defense tends to be key in bad weather games.

IowaBear said:

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Not a huge Herby fan but the guy has excellent taste in dog breeds. Mans best friend a Golden Retriever

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Pound muts and found muts for me. I've had some dumb ones over the years, but I've never had a bad one.

Can't go wrong with any dog really. I've pretty much accepted the wife being a vet is going to turn our house into a zoo. We already have 2 Goldens and a few adopted cats.
She graduates in May and wants to adopt of yet another dog

TechDawgMc said:

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Giving Tennessee 7 points seems a bit much to me. I think there's a decent chance they win outright. It does depend on which OSU team shows up--if they play like they did against Michigan, Tennessee might win by double digits.

I'm also not going to be surprised if SMU wins. They are better than a lot of people give them credit for, and I don't trust Franklin much as a big game coach.

The other two favorites I think will win. The snow isn't good for Indiana--ND is the better defensive team and defense tends to be key in bad weather games.

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I have a feeling SMU could end up like 2013 BU when it had to play in freezing rain in Stillwater. Last year SMU won the AAC, then had to play its bowl game in cold rainy weather in Boston and got pounded by 6-6 Boston College.

Really hope all these first round games are competitive and that we see some upsets.

First Friday night game at Notre Dame since 1900 when they beat The College of Physicians and Surgeons 5-0.

And first time since 1990 they aren't on NBC.

Heavy snow fall today in State College, PA.

Nick Saban tells Curt Cignetti the one thing he didn’t learn from coaching with him

“One thing you didn’t learn from me is talking all the shit you talk”

💀 pic.twitter.com/tqAWNBIYpI

— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) December 20, 2024

Saban with words for the fat old dudes posting on the internets

Coach Saban gets REAL talking about fans and social media 🗣️🗣️#CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/tWoyP2ZoQa

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) December 20, 2024

Nick Saban calls for college football to align with the academic calendar and to create a national legislation:

“I mean, we have a Constitution, we have a Bill of Rights – that’s what this country was built on. We have no rules in college football. The academic calendar and the… pic.twitter.com/3CdcSBLSrw

— On3 (@On3sports) December 21, 2024

OMG: the referee for the IU-Notre Dame game is the Big12 ref who made such an absolute fustercluck of the BU-TCU game.

So far, it's looking like Indiana is who we thought they were. ND 14 Indiana 3 with 3:26 left in the first half.

Hopefully Indiana's offensive coaches determine that smashmouth up the middle vs. the Notre Dame defense is not working.

17-3 ND at half

Indiana is terrible. A joke. They would be fortunate to be 6-6 in the SEC or even the Big 12.

The Big 10 gets such a free pass.

GruntTuff said:

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Indiana is terrible. A joke. They would be fortunate to be 6-6 in the SEC or even the Big 12.

The Big 10 gets such a free pass.

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Conferences are too big. Teams can play the bottom rung and look like gangbusters.

This is the battle of the teams that didn't play anyone.

Indiana, even in the terrible Big 10, will be fortunate to be 6-6 next year.

Their offense is a true joke.

Jack Bauer said:

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GruntTuff said:

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Indiana is terrible. A joke. They would be fortunate to be 6-6 in the SEC or even the Big 12.

The Big 10 gets such a free pass.

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So true

Conferences are too big. Teams can play the bottom rung and look like gangbusters.

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Alabama beats Indiana by 40. Baylor beats them by 30. Indiana finishes 6-6 in the Big 12. What a joke.

20-3 Irish.

Indiana would be lucky to get across midfield

GruntTuff said:

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Indiana is terrible. A joke. They would be fortunate to be 6-6 in the SEC or even the Big 12.

The Big 10 gets such a free pass.

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They are clearly outclassed....but I've been impressed with Indy's defense. Other than that horrible length of the field rushing touchdown they give up early their defense has fared better than I thought it would.

They've held ND to 272 yards so far....and 98 of that was on the one busted play.

The ND defense has been absolutely smothering.

Indiana has no reason to be in the playoffs. Sure they have a great record but they played nobody.

Gone are the days of needing a tough schedule to get in (unless you are a G5 school).

All the P4 conferences basically just need their winner to have only one or two losses, and then a few others with one or two losses to get multiple teams in. There is basically no reason to get a loss playing a non conference opponent just to have a tough game.

Also, I do not think ND really deserves to be in the playoffs either. They need to be forced into a conference and to actually play people. Then again being in a conference doesn't mean you play a tough schedule now because they are too large. (Indiana, UT, penn state(

IU played 2 teams that finished with a winning record (10-2 OhioSt and 7-5 Mich).

ND played 7 teams with a winning record, but 4 of them are G5 (7-5 N Ill, 8-5 Miami OH, 11-2 Army and 9-3 Navy).

At least they beat 8-4 Aggy, 8-4 Louisville and 7-5 GaTech.

ND cruising to the Sugar Bowl vs UGA on January 1st

Meaningless factoid: when BU played at Notre Dame in 1998, we also lost 27-3.

Indiana putting some window dressing on this.

Score a TD and the 2 point conversion....and just recovered onside kick.

Indy 11
ND 27

1:04 left

Alvarez (the Big12 ref) exhibiting his complete inability to manage a game efficiently.