Best & Worst non-Conference games in 2012

knapplc

International Man of Mystery
Nebraska makes both lists. First is the worst:

4. Idaho State at Nebraska on Sept. 22: Idaho State was 2-9 last season – and that was the Bengals' best record since 2007. Idaho State has had just five winning records in the past 28 seasons; it has won five combined games in the past four seasons and 15 combined games in the past seven seasons. The Bengals have played 14 FBS opponents since 2000 and lost by an average of 33.2 points.
LINK

Now for the best:

8. Nebraska at UCLA on Sept. 8: We're at the eighth-best nonconference game, yet we're still not really into a must-see game. UCLA opens at Rice the week before this, and surely the Bruins will be strong enough under new coach Jim Mora to beat the Owls. Thus, the visit from the Huskers should tell a lot about the direction of Mora's new team. Conversely, it seems hard to believe Nebraska would be a Big Ten contender if it loses to the Bruins.
LINK
 
So to sum up, based on what we've learned the past few years during non-conference season... Watch out for Idaho State.

 
meh. Every team plays a couple of warm-up games. Idaho State isn't any worse of a creampuff than Towson State, a team on LSU's schedule.

 
UCLA is always a condundrum.......they certainly have enough talent every year, yet their choice of coaches seems to regularly relegate them to lower performances than the talent level would suggest.

Hopefully, Mora is not the exception to the rule (and not much in his resume suggests he is).........but this game should tell us quite a bit about both teams........

 
UCLA is always a condundrum.......they certainly have enough talent every year, yet their choice of coaches seems to regularly relegate them to lower performances than the talent level would suggest.

Hopefully, Mora is not the exception to the rule (and not much in his resume suggests he is).........but this game should tell us quite a bit about both teams........
This game is huge in my eyes. Need to go to So Cal and handle those guys....and No Mora was a failure in here in town and is flaky imo. Seems to be all flash.

 
They must have excluded all rivalry games and games played by independent schools because that "best of" list is atrocious.

 
I like that best of list. And I give huge credit to Notre Dame, they really upped their scheduling this year...playing Miami and Oklahoma as well as their other traditional rivalries. Good to see really.

I can't wait for Bama Michigan, that will be a good game.

Hell, I can't wait for college football.

 
I like that best of list. And I give huge credit to Notre Dame, they really upped their scheduling this year...playing Miami and Oklahoma as well as their other traditional rivalries. Good to see really.

I can't wait for Bama Michigan, that will be a good game.

Hell, I can't wait for college football.
I think Bama beats UM by +13

 
I don't know, how many people thought Oregon was going to run the floor with LSU?
Many, I didn't but you're right on that one.

I can't speak for everyone I just happen to think Bama will be too much to handle defensively for UM. I say that having no idea what Bama loses on its Defense so maybe I'm speaking too soon...

 
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They must have excluded all rivalry games and games played by independent schools because that "best of" list is atrocious.
If you read the article, the author is only counting 2-year non-conference matchups. His intend was a list of exciting games between teams that don't play often.

 
They must have excluded all rivalry games and games played by independent schools because that "best of" list is atrocious.
If you read the article, the author is only counting 2-year non-conference matchups. His intend was a list of exciting games between teams that don't play often.
I was elected to lead not to read.

 
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Again a pretty pathetic slate of non-conference games for CFB. CFB is the best but let's make it better by taking scheduling out of the hands of the AD's and have it controlled by some governing-body. Nobody wants to see these 2-4 exhibition games at the beginning of each year. Why not have a system like:

- 1 cream puff of your choice

- 3 games vs other BCS conferences (one has to be an away game)

- 8 conference games

 
I don't know, how many people thought Oregon was going to run the floor with LSU?
Many, I didn't but you're right on that one.

I can't speak for everyone I just happen to think Bama will be too much to handle defensively for UM. I say that having no idea what Bama loses on its Defense so maybe I'm speaking too soon...
Eh, maybe I'm wrong here but I think our main problems will be with Bama's offense. They return nearly every starter on a HUGE offensive line, have playmakers at every position and our d-line took a very big hit last year. On the other side of the ball, Bama must replace 5 All-Americans (insane). I know the argument is that they have WAY more talent than UM, but I think if an experienced offense with Denard at the helm had to play them, the first game of the year is the best chance to win.

 
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