Saturday Football ‘08

January 29, 2009

The Bowl season is just about over. This Saturday in El Paso is the Texas versus The Nation Bowl.  yup…that’s right.

And last weekend, from Mobile, Alabama (home state of the losing Crimson Tide I might add) was the Senior Bowl.

Neither of these games amount to much except to give top colligiate talent a chance to blow out a knee or something in front of the NFL scouts.

January 20, 2009

So I’m a bit late with this summary…I got the #1 and #3 right

Final AP rank and this Blog’s prediction in parenthesis

1. Florida (1)
2. Utah  (NR)
3. USC (3)
4. Texas (14)
5. OU (7)
6. Alabama (21)
7. TCU (NR)
8. Penn State (NR)
9. Ohio State (2)
10. Oregon (16)
11. Boise State
12. Texas Tech (6)
13. Georgia (5)
14. Mississippi (NR)
15. Virginia Tech (18)
16. Oklahoma State (NR)
17. Cincinnati (NR)
18. Oregon State (NR)
19. Missouri (4)
20. Iowa (NR)
21. Florida State (NR)
22. Georgia Tech (NR)
23. West Virginia (10)
24. Michigan State (NR)
25. BYU (15)

 

December 31, 2008

College football stories: Comebacks, controversies

December 8, 2008

There’s just too much happening now to keep up with….

Can someone tell me why there is a coaches poll? We have coaches from all over the country doing a weekly best guess and/or partial (as in favored or biased) vote on team rankings. No one will convince me a Pac-10 coach knows how to rank best-to-worst the Big East teams, for example, and vice versa, nor can they objectively rank the teams with 119 other D-1 schools. If they are any good, coaches are on the sidelines on Saturdays, watching their own game films through the week, and game planning for the their next opponent unti the early morning hours most every night leading up to kickoff.  I’m sure they have a few spare hours each week to take in a rebroadcast game or two from one of the upper range ESPN channels. This poll, also known as the USA Today, carries BCS weight…even more reason to doubt the worth of such a goofy a_ _ system.

If anyone is interested, the infamous Harris Poll that just so happens to dislike Mack Brown this year is comprised of 114 guys that sometimes forget what day it is. It really is a BS system. A sampling of Texas and Big 12 coaches with ballots final votes:

• Art Briles, Baylor: Oklahoma, Florida, USC, Alabama, Texas, Texas Tech, Utah, Penn State, Ohio State, Boise State (did not rank his own Baylor team in the top 25)
• Gene Chizik, Iowa State: Texas. Oklahoma, Florida, USC, Alabama, Texas Tech, Utah, Penn State, Boise State, Ohio State (did not rank his own Iowa State team in the top 25, rightfully so)
• Dan Hawkins, Colorado: Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Alabama, USC, Penn State, Utah, Texas Tech, Boise State, Ohio State (did not rank his own Colorado team in the top 25)
• Gary Patterson, TCU: Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Alabama, USC, Penn State, Utah, Boise State, Ohio State, TCU
• Mack Brown, Texas: Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Penn State, USC, Utah, Texas Tech, Ohio State, Boise State
• Todd Dodge, UNT: Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama, USC, Penn State, Utah, Boise State, Texas Tech, Ohio State  (did not rank his own UNT team in the top 25 – no brainer there)
• Mike Leach, Texas Tech: Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Florida, Alabama, Texas, USC, Penn State, Utah, Ohio State, Boise State
• Bo Pelini, Nebraska: Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, USC, Alabama, Texas Tech, Penn State, Utah, Boise State, Ohio State (ranked his own Nebraska #22)
• Gary Pinkel, Missouri: Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Alabama, USC, Texas Tech, Penn  State, Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Oregon (ranked his own Missouri #18)

Playoffs!

Here’s breakingbraking news, the Penn State “Naughty” Lion mascot got all drunked up and arrested for DUI. He’s suspended from attending the Rose Bowl. The guys name is Sheep…that would make him a schnockered-up, spirited Sheep in Lion’s clothing no longer….:)

Boise State goes undefeated (12-0) and “settles” for a non-BCS Bowl invitation (however it will most likely be a great game against TCU – Poinsettia Bowl on 12/23).

Twice-lost Cincinnati gets an Orange Bowl BCS berth over Boise State, TCU, or Texas Tech, all three ranked higher in the AP and Coaches polls than Cincy - that’s just wrong you BS idiots. I hope V Tech blows them out by 50

November 26, 2008

College Football’s Most Overrated Rivalries

November 25, 2008

At least K-State didn’t make this list: Welcome to the (Bottom 10) jungle

November 22, 2008 (from “Big 8+4″ blog page)

Noteworthy games of Week 13

Losing Efforts

• LSU…lost at home in embarrassing fashion to Ol’ Miss
• Notre Dame fans threw snowballs at their own team – I don’t know what’s more disgusting, the fans or the team
• Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, and K-State gave their departing coaches big wins
• BS (BCS) Busters Boise State and Utah both won, again;
• Michigan lost for the 9th time this season
• North Texas lost for the 10th time this season
• Notre Dame lost for the 5th time this season
• Auburn did not lose their 7th game this season because they didn’t play
• Arkansas lost for the 6th time this season
• Tennessee did not lose their 8th game this season
• Purdue did not lose their 9th game this season
• Illinois lost their 7th game this season
• Colorado hopes not to lose the 7th game of the season this weekend
• Texas A&M is headed for their 8th loss of the season against Texas
• Washington has lost all 11 games this season
• SMU has lost 10 times this season

Points Scored or Not:

• After 70 points last week, unranked Houston had 700+ yards offense this week against UTEP…that’s a double Oh My!
• Cal Poly missed 3 PAT’s allowing Wisconsin to win their 7th game in OT, in Madison, 36-35
• Florida scores 70, gets 705 yards offense, and now has a “take-that” claim of scoring at least 42 points in 6 straight games.

Rivalry Trophy and Bragging Rights

• Purdue gets to store the “Old Oaken Bucket” for a year with it’s win over Indiana – just the kind of fine furnishings welcomed in my house
• Harvard beat Yale. Harvard co-wins the Ivy League (with Brown) and the 125th meeting of the 2 schools…any bets on a bowl game for the Crimson (what kind of mascot name is that? Don’t they have any smarts up there in Cambridge?).
• Cal beat Stanford and wins the 111th playing of the “Big Game”

Whut the #?!*<&:

• Somebody tell me why in the world Florida would play The Citadel – this late in the season or ever
• Duke had 3 mores punts than they had first downs against Virginia Tech
• Army was 2 of 4 passing…for 2 yards
• Purdue had 3 TDs in the 1st quarter against Indiana…that was more TDs than they had in the previous 4 1/2 games.
• Iowa skunked Minnesota 55-0 – and they out rushed the Gophers 222 to 7,,,7 yards rushing – my morning walk to the head is longer than that!

Atta Boys:

• Penn State and JoePa are off to the Rose Bowl
• Tbo’s 2nd favorite college team Northwestern beats Illinois for it’s 9th season win, and as many as 4 bowl invites await them
• Cincinnati won 9 games this season dispite having 4 injuried QBs…and the 4th QB kid (Tony Pike) is playing with a broken left arm
• Pre-season barrel-bottom Buffalo clinched the Mid America Conference championship with an OT win over Bowling Green.

Salutes:

• Air Force lost to TCU
• Army lost to Rutgers

These Wings are Tired:

• Chase Holbrook, New Mexico St.: 45-60 passing, 4 TD, 486 yds.
• Andy Schmitt, E. Michigan: 50-76 passing, 3 TD, 484 yds.
• Case Keenum, Houston: 41-51 passing, 3 TD, 480 yds.
• Curtis Painter, Purdue: 38-54 passing, 4 TD, 448 yds
• Austen Amaud, Iowa State: 31-45 passing, 3 TD, 440 yds. (against KSU)
• Kellen Moore, Boise State: 29-48 passing, 3 TD, 414 yds.
• Ryan Lindley, San Diego St.: 35-50 passing, 2 TD, 387 yds.
• Adam DiMichele, Temple: 21-37 passing, 6 TD, 370 yds.
• Trevor Vittatoe, UTEP: 27-45 passing, 4 TD, 362 yds.
• Graham Harrell, Texas Tech: 33-55 passing, 3 TD, 361 yds. (who said he had a bad day?)

These Dogs are Tired:

• Tarrion Adms, Tulsa: 33 rushes, 1 TD, 323 yds.
• DuJuan Harris, Troy: 28 rushes, 2 TD, 234 yds.
• Jahvid Best, California: 19 rushes, 3 TD, 201 yds.
• Pat White, West Virginia: 21 rushes, 2 TD, 200 yds.
• Team Tulsa = 489 yds.
• Team NC State = 466 yds.
• Team Troy = 391 yds.
• Team Cal Poly = 276 yds.

These Digits are Tired:

• Lucas Miller, Arkansas: 10 receptions, 1 TD, 201 yds.
• Kenny Britt, Rutgers: 10 receptions, 0 TD, 197 yds.
• Chris Williams, New Mexico St: 10 receptions, 2 TD, 189 yds.
• Tyler Jones, E. Michigan: 17 receptions, 2 TD, 185 yds.

Rivalry Week:

• New Hampshire 28 Maine 24
• NC State 41 UNC 10
• Harvard 10 Yale 0
• Utah 48 BYU 24
• Cincy 28 Pitt 21
• Boise St 41 Nevada 34

 See Ya Later:

• Retiring Joe Tiller, Purdue
• Fired Ron Prince, Kansas State
• “Excused” Phillip Fulmar, Tennessee
• “Soon to be Replaced” Greg Robinson, Syracuse
• “It’s gonna happen” Charlie “Snowball at your Head” Weis, Notre Dame

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November 17, 2008

Trivia 1: With Michigan losing 8 times in a single season – the first time ever in their storied 129-year football program history – I sat in dismay watching them lose to a long time favorite school of mine, Norhtwestern (remind me sometime why) and wondered why they had helmets like they have. Then I switched over and watched the Yale-Princeton game, and realized both Princeton and Michigan have similar helmet designs. So I says “Hmmmmm”. Well here’s your college trivia for the week kids: The helmet decal/paint is called the “Winged Helmet”. Fritz Crisler was the first to come up with the decal for his 1935 Princeton Tigers. The triangular shapes on the forehead are to represent the folded back ears of a tiger (the school mascot) and the three stripes moving from “the ears” to the back of the helmet imitate those on the animal’s body (that’s gonna make you look for a picture of a tiger isn’t it…and don’t ask why an emblem for a ”grounded” Tiger is called “winged”). Three years later (1938), Crisler left Princeton to coach the Michigan Wolverines. With him he took the Winged Helmet design (Princeton ceased using it at the same time)…it has been a Michigan icon since. Note, Princeton brought back their Winged Helmet design in 1998 and have used it since.

Trivia 2: Centennial Conference is a Division III collection of interesting named colleges with a long history…one that typically is not read for their prowess on the gridiron. 11 schools comprise the conference: Franklin & Marshall College, Bryn Mawr College, Dickinson College, Gettysburg College, Haverford College, John Hopkins University, Muhlenberg College, Swathmore College,  Ursinus College, Washington College, and Western Maryland College-now called McDaniel College.

Trivia 3: Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA. It is the 25th oldest institution of higher education, 17th oldest college in the US. Franklin College was named after Ben Franklin; Marshall College was named after the 4th US Supreme Court Justice John Marshall. The two colleges merged in 1853. The then future 15th U.S. President James Buchanan was the first president of the new F&M Board of Trustees. F&M went coed in 1969. Their mascot are the “Diplomats”.

October 21, 2008

Rivals.com: Ranking them all I read it and still weep for #83

October 10, 2008

I personally do not see any of these happening: Top 10 Upset Specials for Week 7

We’ll assess that predictuon Sunday morning….

October 5, 2008

For weekly predictions (other than yours truly), check out these web sites:

Who’s Got the Edge

CFB Power Rankings

BtB 2008 College Football Content

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September 22, 2008

And then…as if I need another reason not to like Notre Dame football, there’s this: Laptopgate.

And this: Matt Hayes’ Bowl Predictions.

And this guy is just funny: Deinhart’s Awards.

September 20, 2006

Interesting Bowl prediction from NBC Sports today. I’ve taken the liberty to copy the Schools they predict to make a Bowl this year – see the web site for a breakdown of each of the 34 Bowls. (BTW, I typically would not give a link to this web site because of the stupid, special Notre Dame link within the website…but in the case of bowls and our upcoming College Bowling 2008 contest, I had to cough through the annoyance.) 

Air Force: Poinsettia
Alabama: Cotton
Arizona: Las Vegas
Arizona State: Holiday
Auburn: Outback
Ball State: Motor City
Boise State: Humanitarian
Bowling Green: EagleBank
Buffalo: International
BYU: Fiesta
California: Emerald
Central Florida: Armed Forces
Central Michigan: GMAC
Cincinnati: Meineke
Clemson: Music City
Colorado: Insight
Connecticut: Papajohns
East Carolina: Liberty
Florida: Sugar
Florida State: Meineke
Fresno State: Hawaii
Georgia: BCS National Championship
Georgia Tech: Champs
Houston: St. Petersburg
Illinois: Outback
Iowa: Champs
Kansas: Sun
Kansas State: Independence
Kentucky: Music City
Louisiana Tech: New Mexico
Louisville: International
LSU: Capital One
Maryland: Humanitarian
Miami: Gator
Michigan State: Insight
Mississippi: Liberty
Missouri: Orange
Navy: EagleBank
Nebraska: Texas
North Carolina: Emerald
Notre Dame: Poinsettia
Ohio State: Alamo
Oklahoma: Fiesta
Oklahoma State: Holiday
Oregon: Rose
Penn State: Capital One
Pittsburgh: St. Petersburg
Purdue: Motor City
Rice: Texas
South Carolina: Independence
South Florida: Gator
Southern Miss: New Orleans
Stanford: Hawaii
TCU: Armed Forces
Tennessee: Chick-fil-A
Texas: Cotton
Texas Tech: Alamo
Troy: New Orleans
Tulsa: GMAC
UCLA: Sun
UNLV: New Mexico
USC: BCS National Championship
Utah: Las Vegas
Vanderbilt: Papajohns
Virginia Tech: Chick-fil-A
Wake Forest: Orange
West Virginia: Sugar
Wisconsin: Rose

September 17, 2008

Most of my faithful blog readers and/or those of you I’ve had a college football conversation with over the past several months know my attitude towards the BS (BCS) system of College Bowls and determining who plays for the national championship each year.  In a brilliant display of stupidity with the BS system, strength of schedule was discounted, then eliminated from the “equation” rankings starting a couple seasons ago. What has resulted is the whimping of college football programs nationwide. No longer does a football program need to factor in who they play each year in order to advance or showcase their program in the post season. This obviously and unfairly favors the storied programs across the nation. College tradition and history often times carries them in the polls regardless of their cup cake scheduling tactics, and consequently provides them with opportune Bowl invitations. And with that, recruiting becomes an advantage over other programs struggling to make a name for themselves.

This morning I found this: BCS beware: 10 softest nonconference schedules (please know I did not go in search of this – it was on the main page of msn.com…so I’m not picking on any one team or group of fans at this time and with this write).

Hopefully you make note come College Bowl invitiation time of the teams and their conferences – you know I will. I find it disheartening that the make up of this list encompasses three perennial football powerhouse conferences (Big 12, SEC, Big 10), all with high profile coaches and athletic departments. I do try to overlook the fact that college football’s economic evolution has taken precedence over the play on the field on Saturdays. TV revenues, coprorate sponsorships and endorsements, and $13 million bowl appearances certainly catch the attention of the conference and college bean counters – I understand that – and fortunately student athletes benefit in the long run and not while in an academic field of play setting. Most of them play at the college level for the love of the game…that’s why I prefer college football…college athletics in general for that matter…over the professionals.

 

I could go on (and probably will for the rest of the season), but will do so later.

 

tm

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September 3, 2008

New page for Big 12 football – check “Big 8+4″

 

August 25, 2008

Here it is gang – for your reading enjoyment and “get real” comments: 

COLLEGE	AP	Coaches	CBS	ESPN Power	Playboy	T-BO	COMMENT	T-Bo Regular Season End Rank
Georgia	1	1	2	1	6	3	One of the toughest schedules in CFB	5
Ohio State	2	3	4	3	2	5	Cream of the Big 10…again	2
USC	3	2	3	2	5	3	Cream of the Pac 10…again	3
Oklahoma	4	4	9	5	1	6	Sophomore QB	7
Florida	5	5	17	4	3	1	Too much offense	1
Missouri	6	7	5	6	4	2	Year to Chase	4
LSU	7	6	1	9	8	7	Miles-Michigan distraction	8
West Virginia	8	8	6	8	7	9	Big East is the Big Easy unless OU is their opponent	10
Clemson	9	9	19	7	15	13	ACC also too easy, will have a good record because of it	13
Auburn	10	11	15	10	9	11	Quietly surprises teams in the SEC	12
Texas	11	10	14	11	13	18	They will have the numbers but Mac has them confused	14
Texas Tech	12	14	23	13	11	8	Tennis football will cause sore necks with the fans	6
Wisconsin	13	12	18	12	14	10	Will be better than predicted, second to OSU	9
Kansas	14	13	7	21	10	16	Tougher schedule brings them back to earth	17
Arizona State	15	16	16	15	12	17	They host bowl games in Arizona – for someone else	NR
BYU	16	17	12	14		15	WAC will allow them a handsome record	15
Virginia Tech	17	15	8	16	18	20	Usually gets ranked better than they really are	18
Tennessee	18	18	11	19	23	12	Will be better than most predict	11
South Florida	19	21	30	18		19	Will become the #2 team in the state	19
Illinois	20	19	20	22	21	25	‘07 flash in the pan?
Oregon	21	20	22	17		14	Will give USC a run out west	16
Penn State	22	22	27	20		21	Joe needs to retire
Wake Forest	23	23	26	26		24	See Clemson
Alabama	24	26	55	23		23	Spent all their recruiting budget on the coach	21
Pittsburgh	25	32	62	24			See WVU	24
South Carolina	26	27	58	27			Their mascot alone is worth some kind of ranking	20
Fresno State	27	25	43	25		22	There’s good reason K-State cancelled their game	22
California	28	31	47	27			3rdfiddle in the Pac 10	25
Utah	29	28	37	29	16		Will be respectable, I guess?
Cincinnati	30	35	21	33	17		They don’t/can’t play football in Cincinnati
Florida State	31	29	50	27			Bobby needs to retire
Michigan	32	24	24	34			New coach has them all caddywamppus
Boston College	33	31	10	32			Big Irish boys always play smash mouth	23
Rutgers	33	30	42				NE fans will have football besides the Patriots
Michigan State	35	36	45	30			The perennial heart-break team
Boise State	36	32	29	36	20		Gotta play Fresno, #2 in the WAC
North Carolina	37	43	83				Let ‘em play basketball
Arkansas	37		31		19		The tank team this year?
Connecticut	39	36	39	36			Get a grip…really?
Tulsa	40	49	34				No respect in that state
UCLA	41	43					Rosier cheeks in LA next year
Oregon State	42	33	25	31	24		Will upset one of the big 3 in the Pac-10
Virginia	43		28				Glad Ron Prince left for the Midwest
Mississippi State	43	38	35				I got nothing this year
Arizona	45	49					See ASU
Nebraska	46	34	71				Sandwich U will have a Hogie this year
Notre Dame	46	39	91	34			My 2 favorite teams Saturday: KSU and whoever plays these guys
Washington	48		75				Too much milk in their Latte’
Hawaii	48		13				Trying to get SMU on their schedule
Kentucky		39	32				Will upset somebody again this year in the SEC
TCU		39	41				Perennial underdog and overachiever
Maryland		42	59				I know nothing about these guys
Texas A&M		43	44				Maybe in a couple more years
Georgia Tech		46	48		25		Might surprise so people this year
Louisville		46	57				Somebody tell them 2006 is over
UCF		46	33				Who?
Colorado		49	68				A Buff #3 in the Big 12 North – Toughest schedule if CFB
Oklahoma State		49	46				Let’s get Gundy upset every week this year
Kansas State			80		22		Consider the source at #22
Miami (FL)			74	36
Air Force			36
New Mexico			38
Purdue			40
Indiana			49

Here’s what all the marbles are for:

2008-09 Bowl Schedule
Date	Bowl	Location	Matchup
Jan. 8	BCS Title	Miami, Fla.	BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2
Jan. 5	Fiesta	Glendale, Ariz.	BCS vs. BCS (Big 12 Champion)*
Jan. 2	Sugar	New Orleans, La.	BCS vs. BCS (SEC Champion)*
Jan. 1	Rose	Pasadena, Calif.	BCS vs. BCS (Pac-10 vs. Big Ten)*
Jan. 1	Orange	Miami, Fla.	BCS vs. BCS (ACC Champion)*
* – Note: ACC, Big 12, Pac-10, Big Ten and SEC are sloted to play in specific bowls if they are not in the BCS Championship. The Big East does not have an anchor bowl.

 

More CFB links if interested:

Top 10 college football teams of the past decade

 College football Power 25

 

August 23, 2008

Top 2008 Offenses in College Football?

August 19, 2008

Top Twenty-five Question for 2008

Plan Your Weekends: Season’s Best Games (check out Weeks 8, 13, & 14)

August 15, 2008

10 College Football Coaches on the Rise  

Toughest places to play college football

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August 3, 2008

If anyone is interested, here’s a listing of College Football Stadium Seating Capacities. Get your season tickets now.

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July 30, 2008

A few of you guys know me as a college football addict. I’m giving this blog the opportunity to display my sometimes unorthodox predictions, annoying game/team commentary, and true rantings of game results, and your chance to comment as well. Most of my consistent blog readers know of the “Bowling” contest orchestrated come December/January. This just might be the place to come to catch those comments.

Since I’m a Big 8 alum, I’m starting with my Big 8 – of I mean Big 12 predictions. Have I ever mentioned that the old Southwest Conference certainly won out on that merger…it could be said (and is) that the Big 8 rescued a conference from the “throws” of mediocrity.

And since all the Texas media thinks the South division of the Big 12 is so much better, I will start with predictions of the North division, then the South, then the league.

Still to come will be my take on 2007 bowl teams for a 2008 prediction – whether they can repeat. The one team that won’t get much of a writeup is Notre Dame…my two favorite teams on Saturday are K-State and whoever is playing Notre Dame.

Grab an adult beverage, sit back and take this all in. We’ll revisit this between now and January 2009. But I suspect will have a few comments right away. Here goes:

BIG 12 NORTH

Nebraska (2007: 2-6 conference, 5-7 overall)
New 47 year old coach Bo Pelini (does he sound like a sandwich to anyone else?) comes from sidelines of L.S.Phew to the cold weather of Lincoln Nebraska. $1.1 million can buy a lot of heavy coats. He has a mess even with half the starters back this year: a bench warmer quarterback, lousy defense, player indictments, and a tough schedule compared to the rest of the Big 12. Defense should be improved given Pelini’s background but the question will be whether the famed Devaney/Osborne I-back offense will become a plaque on the wall and a shelved playbook this year. They open with 5 home games (robbed that schedule technique from Mangino). They will be 2-3 before hitting the road to Lubbock for Week #6. Prediction: 5-7 and the Corn Shuckers Bowl (aka the weight room at Memorial Stadium). A new coach couldbring an upset win (but not 2) – look for either Virginia Tech or Colorado to fall victim to sheer Big Red luck. #4 in the North.
Aug. 30 Western Michigan (win) WIN
Sept. 6 San Jose State (loss) WIN
Sept. 13 New Mexico State (win) WIN
Sept. 27 Virginia Tech (loss?) LOSS
Oct. 4 Missouri (loss) LOSS
Oct. 11 @ Texas Tech (loss) LOSS
Oct. 18 @ Iowa State (win) WIN
Oct. 25 Baylor (win) WIN
Nov. 1 @ Oklahoma (loss) LOSS
Nov. 8 Kansas (loss) WIN
Nov. 15 @ Kansas State (win) WIN
Nov. 28 Colorado (loss?) WIN

Iowa State (2007: 2-6, 3-9)
The Cyclones haven’t registered on the Fujita Scale in a long time…or at least since KSU was in town (did I just say that?). They return 15 starters that no one has ever heard of. Second year coach Gene Chizik will have no offense and even less defense…again this year. It is going to be a long season and Gene better save at least half his $1.1 million salary just in case he’s in the soup line next year. Prediction: They should call it a season after a 2-0 start because the next 10 losses will be nothing more than Friday night football execution. Order the new big screen plasma TV now for the locker room to watch games on New Year’s Day. #6 in the North.
Aug. 28 South Dakota State (win) WIN
Sept. 6 Kent State (win) WIN
Sept. 13 @ Iowa (loss) LOSS
Sept. 20 @ UNLV (loss) LOSS
Oct. 4 Kansas (loss) LOSS
Oct. 11 @ Baylor (loss) LOSS
Oct. 18 Nebraska (loss) LOSS
Oct. 25 Texas A&M (loss) LOSS
Nov. 1 @ Oklahoma State (loss) LOSS
Nov. 8 @ Colorado (loss) LOSS
Nov. 15 Missouri (loss) LOSS
Nov. 22 @ Kansas State (loss) LOSS

Missouri (2007: 7-1, 12-2, #5 AP)
Everyone is going to be Chase-ing Missouri this year. If Daniels stays healthy, Gary Pinkel’s 7th year taming Tiggers could be the cream of the Big 12. The season opener will be a slight challenge, then they’ve scheduled three putz games before Big 12 play begins. Their ground game might be questionable but Daniels likes to throw and his receivers do not have skillet hands (too bad Texas Tech isn’t on the regular schedule – that would be a fun game to watch). They will need to out score their opponents – defense has taken some hits on and off the field. Prediction: They have 3 “tough” games on their schedule – Illinois, Texas, and KU. But that’s their toughest competition this year until the Big 12 Championship game. The KU game will be interesting just because its a hated rivalry. Missouri will score a ton of points and be 12-0, BCS Bowl invite for the second week in January having just maybe a run at the National Championship. #1 in the North. Heisman Trophy to Daniels – I think not unless they win all the marbles.
Aug. 30 Illinois (win) WIN
Sept. 6 Southeast Missouri State (win) WIN
Sept. 13 Nevada (win) WIN
Sept. 20 Buffalo (win) WIN
Oct. 4 @ Nebraska (win) WIN
Oct. 11 Oklahoma State (win) LOSS
Oct. 18 @ Texas (win) LOSS
Oct. 25 Colorado (win) WIN
Nov. 1 @ Baylor (win) WIN
Nov. 8 Kansas State (win) WIN
Nov. 15 @ Iowa State (win) WIN
Nov. 29 Kansas (win) LOSS

Kansas (2007: 7-1, 12-1, #7 AP)
Will the Jayhawks repeat their 2007 Cinderella season again this year? Apparently Jayhawkers think yes as they must now like their “rotund” coach - he got a “sizable” paycheck raise this year and a “5XL”contract extension…and he has a 37-36 record at K-Who. Well OK then. After 6 years of dining in Lawrence, former K-State and OU assistant Mark Mangino supposedly got belly surgery, pulled off a miracle of winning last year, and is letting his team come out from behind his wideness to gain national attention. They return 15 starters including a quarterback nobody wanted out of high school and a receiving corp that can run, catch, and chew gum at the same time. Jayhawk defense was stubborn in ‘07 and should continue to improve this year. Once again Coach Pudge gets things started against high school competition (Sam Houston State for crying out loud).  Prediction: if they stay healthy at skill positions and can play against stronger competition they should go 9-3 (Nebraska could upset the ‘hawks for 8-4), KU may get tortillas at a bowl in Arizona. #2 in the North.
Aug. 30 Florida International (win) WIN
Sept. 6 Louisiana Tech (win) WIN
Sept. 12 @ South Florida (win) LOSS
Sept. 20 Sam Houston State (win) WIN
Oct. 4 @ Iowa State (win) WIN
Oct. 11 Colorado (win) WIN
Oct. 18 @ Oklahoma (loss) LOSS
Oct. 25 Texas Tech (loss) LOSS
Nov. 1 Kansas State (win) WIN
Nov. 8 @ Nebraska (win) LOSS
Nov. 15 Texas (win) LOSS
Nov. 29 @ Missouri (loss) WIN

Kansas State (2007: 3-5, 5-7)
Oh my things are gloomy in Manhattan once again. 38 year old third year coach Ron Prince may be showing his lost charm. He hit the recruiting trail and got 32 signees, of which 19 came from the Juco ranks – desperate times in Manhattan? The spring game ended with the White team whupping the Purple team (or vice versa) 3-0 after both squads had a combined 200 yards offense. New offensive low scoring records may be set this year…but then the Cats are known for their record setting in years past.  The Josh Freeman lead offense should be better than the Ian Campbell lead Cat defense. Too bad Texas isn’t on the schedule this year, the Cats could use another Mac Brown choke in their victory column. Prediction: off-season weight training and more Juco recruits will help the Cats in 2009, I would relish a KU upset in week #9 but that won’t happen in Lawrence, 4-8 if they can get past North Texas and Prince is gone come December. #5 in the North.
Aug. 30 North Texas (win?) WIN
Sept. 6 Montana State (win) WIN
Sept. 17 @ Louisville (loss) LOSS
Sept. 27 Louisiana-Lafayette (win) WIN
Oct. 4 Texas Tech (loss) LOSS
Oct. 11 @ Texas A&M (loss) WIN
Oct. 18 @ Colorado (loss) LOSS
Oct. 25 Oklahoma (loss) LOSS
Nov. 1 @ Kansas (loss) LOSS
Nov. 8 @ Missouri (loss) LOSS
Nov. 15 Nebraska (loss) LOSS
Nov. 22 Iowa State (win) WIN

Colorado (2007: 4-4, 6-7)
48 year old Dan Hawkins starts his 3rd season herding Buffaloes. Son Cody still gets preferential treatment from dad at quarterback and he has returning receivers to throw to (BTW their old quarterback is now their new tight end). We’ll have to wait and see if they can even run with a football this year. I’ve always appreciated Colorado’s non-conference scheduling – they play competition nearly every week of the season (note to others for a change, for a change). Prediction: With the exception of WVU, the Buffs will win every home game and go 8-4 this year…good enough for a mid December bowl. Wins and competitive scheduling should help Colorado rebuild their program. #3 in the North.
Aug. 30 Colorado State (win) WIN
Sept. 6 Eastern Washington (win) WIN
Sept. 18 West Virginia (loss) WIN
Sept. 27 @ Florida State (loss) LOSS
Oct. 4 Texas (win) LOSS
Oct. 11 @ Kansas (loss) LOSS
Oct. 18 Kansas State (win) WIN
Oct. 25 @ Missouri (loss) LOSS
Nov. 1 @ Texas A&M (win) LOSS
Nov. 8 Iowa State (win) WIN
Nov. 15 Oklahoma State (win) LOSS
Nov. 28 @ Nebraska (win) LOSS

 

BIG 12 SOUTH

Oklahoma (2007: 6-2, 11-3, #8 AP)
The Stoops will be empty in Norman for Saturday home games – everyone will at the game or tailgating. Brother Bob has been in Norman for-ev-er now, or so it seems (9 years). He makes $3.45 million because he’s a proven winner and inspirational leader of even lesser talent on a football field, not to mention he’s mentored 6 head coaches in D-1 football (that’s it, he’s a football coach and an OU teacher – that justifies his double-duty salary right?).  Bradford will lead this team at QB if he doesn’t take that available part-time job at the car dealership downtown. Defense…well I think even Bob is not sure which squad will show up to play on Saturday. It will be fun in Norman and Bob will not have to rant on the sidelines as much this year. Prediction: 11-1 with a soft-serve ice cream schedule, won’t see Missouri this year, looking forward to a smug press conference come 10/11/08, but can he win a January bowl for a change? #2 in the South
Aug. 30 Chattanooga (win) WIN
Sept. 6 Cincinnati (win) WIN
Sept. 13 @ Washington (win) WIN
Sept. 27 TCU (win) WIN
Oct. 4 @ Baylor (win) WIN
Oct. 11 vs. Texas (win) LOSS
Oct. 18 Kansas (win) WIN
Oct. 25 @ Kansas State (win) WIN
Nov. 1 Nebraska (win) WIN
Nov. 8 @ Texas A&M (win) WIN
Nov. 22 Texas Tech (loss) WIN
Nov. 29 @ Oklahoma State (win) WIN

Oklahoma State (2007: 4-4, 7-6)
Please, nobody get Mike Gundy mad this year. I still have that press conference in my head – holy cow, even T. Boone must have repositioned his butt in the chair after that.  40 years old and coaching at his alma mater – life is good for his 4th year riding Cowboys? 16 returning starters should make the high octane offense go again in ‘08, but the defense? Well, they got a great big 300 pounder on the line and another guy nicknamed “The Punisher”…hmmmm. I think they will still need to outscore people to win. These guys might be the K-State of the South – no great big names or playmakers to compliment all the Juco’s on the roster. Prediction: 6-6 (aka average), the waters will be still in Stillwater come December. Gundy will have one more season to “produce” wind for T. Boone’s semi-pro team. #4 in the South.
Aug. 30 @ Washington State (loss) WIN
Sept. 6 Houston (win) WIN
Sept. 13 Missouri State (win) WIN
Sept. 27 Troy (win) WIN
Oct. 4 Texas A&M (win) WIN
Oct. 11 @ Missouri (loss) WIN
Oct. 18 Baylor (win) WIN
Oct. 25 @Texas (loss)  LOSS
Nov. 1 Iowa State (win) WIN
Nov. 8 @ Texas Tech (loss) LOSS
Nov. 15 @ Colorado (loss) WIN
Nov. 29 Oklahoma (loss) LOSS

Texas (2007: 5-3, 10-3 #10 AP)
Mac Brown-nose starts his 11th season in Austin. He’s still stuck with the “he can recruit but can he coach” label. He hasn’t had a team since he lost his best offensive coordinator after the ‘05 season, who is now calling plays in the huddle for the Tennessee Titans. The media is saying his 10-win season streak comes to an end this year – it will if he replaces, or does that stupid QB rotation thing again - Colt for Chiles, give us a break here Mac…your fans need to root for a starter, not someone different on 3rd downs. 11 returning starters grace the Longhorn roster. +$150 million DKR Remembrance Stadium renovations are near complete, complete with club seating that only UT fans could appreciate the chilled wine service and valet parking (that’s not real college football is it?). Longhorns historically win at home and they should win six of the seven this year (7 home games…right out of the Mangino playbook). I’m sure Mac is glad Fla. Atlantic comes to Austin this year and they don’t play K-State. Major Applewhite (remember him?) is an assistant coach – he may have replaced Mac’s step-son on the staff. Prediction: 7-5, they could surprise Colorado on the road, KU should be weary as well if Mac & Co. can coach punt, pass, and kick (and don’t touch the football if you’re on the sidelines). He will lose, again, to Stoops during the Texas State Fair, a courtesy bowl invite for mid December – maybe here in Texas, #3 in the South.
Aug. 30 Florida Atlantic (win?) WIN
Sept. 6 @ UTEP (win) WIN
Sept. 13 Arkansas (win) HURRICANE IKE – SEPT 27TH WIN (played 9/38/08)
Sept. 20 Rice (win) WIN
Oct. 4 @ Colorado (loss) WIN
Oct. 11 vs. Oklahoma (loss) WIN
Oct. 18 Missouri (loss) WIN
Oct. 25 Oklahoma State (win) WIN
Nov. 1 @ Texas Tech (loss) LOSS
Nov. 8 Baylor (win) WIN
Nov. 15 @ Kansas (loss) WIN
Nov. 27 Texas A&M (win) WIN

Texas Tech (2007: 4-4, 9-4, #23 AP)
Mike Leach has 19 returning starters this year. At 47, it’s about time he wins it all in the South. His 8th year and $1.6 million salary in dusty Lubbock has always come up a bit short. Not this year. This is the year of Raiders in Red sweeping the South. We will see the Harrell to Crabtree races all season long and they will likely wear out the artificial turf on Spike Dike’s lawn (whatever their stadium is called). Can they play defense? Leach thinks so with an old assistant turned new defensive coordinator (Ruffin McNeill – great name for a defensive guy don’t ya think) calling the shots. Prediction: Mac Brown will be upset with officials and the hospitality in Lubbock, Bob Stoops will stomp on the OU sidelines during an OU loss, thanks to a KU style soft-schedule with “who?” competition and 7 home games, Tech will go 12-0 and play in the Big 12 Championship. January bowl invitation will be extended but they won’t be in the last game of the season because of their schedule strength. #1 in the South
Aug. 30 Eastern Washington (win) WIN
Sept. 6 @ Nevada (win) WIN
Sept. 13 SMU (win) WIN
Sept. 20 Massachusetts (win) WIN
Oct. 4 @ Kansas State (win) WIN
Oct. 11 Nebraska (win) WIN
Oct. 18 @ Texas A&M (win) WIN
Oct. 25 @ Kansas (win) WIN
Nov. 1 Texas (win) WIN
Nov. 8 Oklahoma State (win) WIN
Nov. 22 @ Oklahoma (win) LOSS
Nov. 29 Baylor (win) WIN

Texas A&M (2007: 4-4, 7-6)
1st year coach Mike Sherman does not own a computer nor does he know how to charge the going rate for internet football locker room trivia. Welcome to Kyle Field Mike – the Aggies have needed someone with the likes you for a long time. The Aggie faithful are paying you $1.8 million to bring the NFL game to College Station…in the next year or two. He has some experience in the backfield – his Wreaking Crew defense may make the fans take a seat while he trys to figure out what he has to work with. Prediction: a Gig ‘em thumb in the helmet earhole and 6-6, good recruits will contribute next year. #5 in the South
Aug. 30 Arkansas State (win) LOSS
Sept. 6 @ New Mexico (win) WIN
Sept. 20 Miami (loss) LOSS
Sept. 27 Army (win) WIN
Oct. 4 @ Oklahoma State (loss) LOSS
Oct. 11 Kansas State (win) LOSS
Oct. 18 Texas Tech (loss) LOSS
Oct. 25 @ Iowa State (win) WIN
Nov. 1 Colorado (loss) WIN
Nov. 8 Oklahoma (loss) LOSS
Nov. 15 @ Baylor (win) LOSS
Nov. 27 @ Texas (loss) LOSS

Baylor (2007: 0-8, 3-9)
Even though the Bears bring 17 starters back to play footsieball in Waco, one should look at the dismal ‘07 record and say “So?”. Art Briles will quickly understand this isn’t Conference USA football being played in the Big 12. He inherits an odd schedule that won’t be much help in his 1st year. His best problem is at quarterback – he has 3 guys vying for the position. Briles will bring a pass-pass-pass offense that will shine for one pretty good receiver…if he knows who is going to try to throw to ball to him. Baylor is going to have to score a bunch – they got no defense to keep them in any football game (unless they were playing K-State this year). Prediction: 3-9 and a Briles call back to Houston to see if his old job is available. #6 in the South.
Aug. 30 Wake Forest (loss) LOSS
Sept. 6 Northwestern State (win) WIN
Sept. 13 Washington State (loss) WIN
Sept. 19 @ UConn (win) LOSS
Oct. 4 Oklahoma (loss) LOSS
Oct. 11 Iowa State (win) WIN
Oct. 18 @ Oklahoma State (loss) LOSS
Oct. 25 @ Nebraska (loss) LOSS
Nov. 1 Missouri (loss) LOSS
Nov. 8 @ Texas (loss) LOSS
Nov. 15 Texas A&M (loss) WIN
Nov. 29 @ Texas Tech (loss) LOSS

BIG 12 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

• Prediction: Missouri versus Texas Tech. 
• Missouri wins in an overtime shoot out. Both teams score a combined 300 points 
• Leach accuses the referees of missing calls because of them being too fat to keep up with his game.
• Chase Daniels doesn’t cry on the sidelines. Pinkel shows uncommon class for a Mizzou guy in the post-game press conference but does a Gundy reaction when told by a reporter they’re not in the BCS Championship game.
• Mac Brown is all smiles because he once again has effectively whined to the BCS for a January bowl game despite his team’s record
• Bob Stoops is excited because West Virginia and Boise State are invited elsewhere to bowl
• Mangino starts complaining his way to some fruit or corn chip bowl, threatening to eat the BCS out of house and home
• Prince is hired away from KSU, going to Garden City Juco to lead that team to mediocrity and provide farm team recruits for the next no-name coach of the Mildcats
• T. Boone Pickens completes his purchase of Oklahoma State University and installs wind turbines on every campus building
• Briles holds a press conference prayer vigel for the 2009 season and sports a new Baptist beehive haircut
• Kyle Field installs cushion seats on the student body side of the stadium and co-eds become part of the Yell Leaders finally giving the fans reason to cheer since football takes a backseat to basketball now
• Ames Iowa offers T. Boone the opportunity to buy their university at a discount and move it to Oklahoma
• Bo Pelini opens a Subway in Baton Rouge and starts recruiting criminal elements from Louisiana to play in the snow
• Boulder City Council passes an ordinance allowing topless bars and underage drinking for a few months in early 2009 – Hawkins rehires Gary Barnett as his head recruiter.

Whew!