The Wait is almost over. 213 days. 2 million bad preseason takes. 58 Purdue transfers. 30,000 manual refreshes by Logan on the reddit thread r/hokies. 1 beautiful sport.
It was all worth it.
Consider all the wonderful memories college football has given us. For some of you, that includes the big milestones like reaching the pinnacle of this sport by winning the National Championship. Sure, some of you may have had to join a cult, support a reign of terror, ignore blatant cheating, or bark way too goddamn much. I’d have done the same. But let’s not forget about the smaller everyday stuff too.
Kunal, imagine a world where you didn’t march through downtown Nashville after Vandy made history against Alabama. Trevor, imagine not going viral for being in the middle of a drunken altercation at Mercedes Benz. Jake, imagine not ever having the chance to spread the philosophical and poetic phrase “This game stinks!” every Saturday in Fall. Andy, imagine not having built up an emotional callus from James Franklin letting you down all these years. Greg, imagine having an 8 year old son that didn’t make you pay $20 on Pay-Per-View whenever Nebraska played Troy in early September. These are the things that unite us, bring smiles, force tears and so much more.
Please, take a moment to appreciate all the moments that came before.
…
Now forget all of it because none of that shit matters right now. College football is back, baby, and that means only two things matter every Saturday from here on out. Winning and losing. And this college football locks game is no different. So let’s get into it.
First, let’s talk about the most important stuff. This serves as your last formal reminder to fill out your NCAA College Football Locks – 25/26 sheet and venmo me before Saturday August 23rd at 12:00p. If you have any issues accessing the sheet or have any other questions, please let me know ASAP! See below for some quick FAQs.
When are my picks due?
You have until 12:00p EST this Saturday, August 23rd to make your selections (Randy…Great job! You were the first one to complete it this year.)
How much money do I owe you?
$20 if you would like to participate in the Winner Take All prize. You can venmo me @joshwrightstp13.
How is Dylan Raiola making 3 million dollars this year?
You mean your 25/26 Heisman Trophy Winner? Worth every penny.
What's the URL of your website again?
I got you, bro. See link here: https://sportswrighting.com
When do I get to read your current college football takes?
Patience. Soon.
With that business out of the way, let me introduce some lovely new people we have added into the fold. Welcome Chris, Greg, Jay, Jaymin and John! We have spread our group’s fandom to the likes of Alabama and Clemson (I know, I know) as well as adding to the existing GT and Nebraska fans. I think I speak for the group when I say we all wish you the best of luck in your pursuit of 2nd place!
College football time. It’s been awhile so I have a lot to get off my chest. This week, I would like to briefly highlight what I have considered this offseason’s most over-discussed and under-discussed storylines.
Josh's Over-Discussed Storylines
Josh's Under-Discussed Storylines
Now onto some stats! As a fun yearly exercise, I like to go through last year’s spreadsheet, analyze them and pick out some of the most notable stats I could find. Read into them however you see fit.
Group's Overall Stats
- Total Overall Picks: 1,080
- Total Correct Overall: 535 (49.5% of all picks)
- Total Overs Selected: 535 (49.5% of all picks)
- Total Overs Correct: 250 Correct (46.7% of Overs)
- Total Unders Selected: 545 (50.5%% of all picks)
- 285 Correct – (53.3% of Unders)
- Conclusion: We are exactly where Vegas wants us.
Group's Lock Stats
- Total Locks Picks: 150
- Total Correct Locks Overall: 80 (53.3% of all Locks)
- Total Over Locks Selected: 85 (56.7% of all Locks)
- Total Over Locks Correct: 46 (54.1% of Over Locks)
- Total Under Locks Selected: 65 (43.3% of all Locks)
- Total Under Locks Correct: 34 (52.3% of all Under Locks)
Group's Adjusted Lock Stats
- Total Locks Adjusted: 108 (72% of all Locks)
- Total Adjusted Locks Correct: 67 (62% of Adjusted Locks)
- Total “Aggressive” Adjusted Locks: 34 (31.5% of Adjusted Locks)
- Total “Aggressive” Adjusted Locks Correct: 11 (32.4% of “Aggressive” Adjusted Locks)
- Total “Passive” Adjusted Locks: 76 (68.5% of Adjusted Locks)
- Total “Passive” Adjusted Locks Correct: 52 (68.4% of “Passive” Adjusted Locks)
- Total Non-Adjusted Locks: 42 (28% of all Locks)
- Total Non-Adjusted Locks Correct: 13 (31.0% of Non-Adjusted Locks)
- Conclusion: Safe is more guaranteed but aggressive is better than nothing at all.
Group's Correct Picks by Conference Stats
| Conference | % Correct |
| ACC | 51.8% |
| Big 12 | 45.8% |
| Big Ten | 42.3% |
| Pac 12/Ind | 56% |
| SEC | 55% |
| Group of 5 | N/A |
-
Conclusion: We suck at guessing conferences that have “Big” in the name.
Winner's Stats
- Kunal: 42 out of 72 picks correct (58.3%)
- Conclusion: Well done. But surprisingly not that high above group average.
"How close was Vegas?" Stats
- # of Teams whose win total ended within 1 win of their initial over/under: 27 (37.5%)
- # of Teams whose win total ended outside 1 win of their initial over/under: 45 (62.5%)
- Conclusion: Wow. A lot of potential upside for “Aggressive” adjusted locks.
Over vs. Under based on Initial Win Total Stats
| Win Total | Over | Under | Total |
| 2.5 to 3.5 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 4.5 to 5.5 | 18 | 5 | 23 |
| 6.5 to 7.5 | 6 | 14 | 20 |
| 8.5 to 9.5 | 5 | 15 | 20 |
| 10.5 – 11.5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
- Conclusion: Your best bet was to assume balance. 74% of the team’s projected to not go bowling went over their initial win total. 69% of the team’s projected to go bowling went under. Crazy stuff.
If you have made it this far, congratulations! Typically, I will do a Recommended Viewing Schedule as well but considering there is really only one game worth a damn this week, I will leave you with this question.
Which has made a larger cultural impact on society?
- Shaun of the Sheep – Farmageddon (Movie): When an alien possessing strange powers crash-lands near Mossy Bottom Farm, Shaun the Sheep quickly makes a new friend. Together they must run from a dangerous organisation who wants to capture the intergalactic visitor.
- Farmageddon (Documentary): A film-maker explores the assertion that government regulations benefit agri-business and threaten small farms.
- Farmageddon (Football Rivalry): The name for the long-standing college football rivalry game between the land-grant universities of Kansas State and Iowa State.
