WHO TRUSTED JAMES FRANKLIN IN THE BIG GAME?

???

This year he surrounded himself with some pretty good assistants so they may help him overcome his deficiencies moving forward. 

Don't count him out. 

@Coloneljim

 Well they didn’t stop him from going for it on 4th down on his own 20 and failing against SMU… he can get away with that against SMU, but a real squad will expose it.  Franklin is still the same ole Franklin.  Don’t under estimate franklins ability to shit the bed.  Coaching matters big time at this level and Franklin just doesn’t have it against better teams and coaches.  4-24 is not a small sample size…

Absolutely correct. I understand all that. Probably will find a way to screw things up again. Just sayin he has a chance to get the monkey off his back these next 2 games and he has the team to do it. Let's see what happens. GL     

@JimboSlice01

Went for it on 4th from his own 20 and also instead of kicking a fg from the 29, he went for it on 4/12. You can’t make this shit up. The announcers were laughing saying the analytics definitely don’t tell you to go for that one. 

Marcus Freeman gonna eat his lunch.

What has Marcus Freeman showed you that he is a better coach than Franklin?

@AJ86

That’s one question , and one would point you to a week ago when he out coached who a lot of people say is the best coach in football since saban left.  Franklin on the other hand, 4-24.  What has Franklin done to make you trust him in this spot? 

I liked the sudden change from punt team to offense with 4th and a few yards by Freeman. Kirby panicked and quickly pulled the punt return team and sent the defense out. They jumped offsides.

All Kirby had to do was to slowly put his defense out there forcing a ND timeout. Kirby had the advantage and failed to recognize it.

A checkmate moment.

@JimboSlice01

 I think both have had bad judgement decisions over the past couple of years. Freeman has several losses as 17+ points favorites at home. And Franklin has the title of "not winning the big game". Also yes you are correct, some of his calls in the CFP have been head scratching. But I will say this. The expanded playoff has helped him. In must win games he is 2-0. Granted both are not Ohio St, Texas, Georgia, Oregon, etc. but they are must-have wins. And Freeman has bounced back in a big way since the Northern Illinois debacle. 

This game just feels like old school ground and pound football. I know Drew Allar has a cannon but he is not always accurate. Also he seems to get tight when he plays elite teams. Regarding Notre Dame, Leonard can't really stretch the field. So this leaves both teams to run and use alot of short to intermediate passes which means tight ends will play a roll. The lines will play a huge roll in this game. My gut just feels like Penn St will win at the line. The only reason I have some concern about Penn St right now is if Abdul Carter will play.

Just my 2 cents. Should be a great game

@AJ86

 Abdul Carter is one big piece that Penn state needs at 100%.  I’ll give you one of my favorite stat lines going into this game.  Per PFF, ND ranks #2 defending the tight end pass only allowing a passer rating of 40.1 when targeting tight ends.  That on top of Carter not being his normal self, could mean trouble.  We know what ND can do against the run and have a pretty damn stout pass D..  that triple run threat ND has is extremely tough to contain.  If ND stays disciplined, I like them to win by 4 to 7 points.  Sure ND can lose this game, but there is a lot stacked up against Penn state here in my opinion…

@JimboSlice01

 I get what your saying. It makes sense. I feel that the DL stud that Notre Dame is missing is going to be a big factor against Penn St, especially with that dual running threat for them.

No matter what, this game feels like a 20-16 final

@AJ86

 Fair point. Although I was worried about that against Georgia.  After that showing, not nearly as concerned.  Very likely going to be a close game until the end.  I’d rather have the head coach without the huge psychological monkey on his back, but that’s just me.  GL to you whoever you back sir! 

@JimboSlice01

 Why did the line drop to 1.5

@AI4life

 I’m guessing it was your 7 figure bet on Penn state? Is that supposed to scare me? Do you think you are being clever? lol…

@AI4life

 And that’s where the line opened, so, ya know…

@JimboSlice01

 Wtfff. I asked a serious question dumbass. It was 2.5 all thks week. A person can't ask a serious question. Holy fuck.

@AI4life

 Oh really? Was it a serious question? Mmhmm

the fact they rolled everyone but NIll. They dominated a good IU team.  He outcoached Kirby.  That 4th down play in the 4Q iced it.  I wasnt a believer in him but he showed me this year he's a top coach.

Franklin.......I'm still not convinced. SMU outplayed PSU in the 1Q but turnovers killlled them. SMU QB just gifted the entire game to PSU.  Not that SMU was going to beat them but PSU didnt look ready from the start.  Boise hung with PSU the entire game.  Just couldnt cash in when it mattered and a very iffy penalty on a Boise TD in the 2nd half turned the entire game towards PSU.  

@jefff

 Who do you like in this game, Jeff? I'm still can't decide. 

so far I only played under 47 in ND/PSU.  

interesting that teams in the -3.5 to -7 range (OSU) in the playoffs are only 3-9 ATS

teams -7.5 and above (none this week) are 13-5 ATS

small favorites of 3 or less (ND right now) are 7-1 ATS  (7-0 ATS last 7)

could be noise at this point but maybe ND is the play?  it's only -1 so things can change I suppose.  I certainly trust Freeman more than Franklin

Penn St 2-16 SU as a dog.  Not great numbers

@jefff

 Thank you for the input sir. I like #44 Tyler Warren. I think he is a game-changer.

@Coloneljim

 Don’t count him out he said lmao

@AJ86

 Everything clown