CFB Week 13 (11/20-24) News and Picks

Ban lifted on Texas A&M bonfire

Posted: Tuesday November 20, 2007 12:14AM; Updated: Tuesday November 20, 2007 12:14AM

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -- The off-campus bonfire organized by Texas A&M students is back on again after the Robertson County Commissioners Court lifted a burn ban, according to the student Web site for the event.
Last week, commissioners voted to impose the burn ban because of dry conditions and strong winds. After weekend rains that dumped up to 3 inches of rain in some areas, the commissioners lifted the ban in most precincts, including the one where the bonfire is held, and the traditional event was rescheduled for Tuesday night.
"We are definitely happy," Nick Kaechler, a junior leader of the off-campus organization in charge of the project, said in Tuesday's Bryan-College Station Eagle.
He said all procedures will be the same as those planned for a Saturday bonfire.
The bonfire has been banned from campus since 12 Aggies were killed when a 59-foot-high wedding cake-like stack of more than 5,000 logs collapsed as students were building it on Nov. 18, 1999. But since then students have continued the tradition off-campus. They've been constructing the bonfire this year at a ranch near Hearne.
From 1909 until the year before the accident, the bonfire was constructed and burned on the eve of A&M's annual football game against its archrival, the University of Texas.
The bonfire is funded by admission fees and by support from A&M alumni.
 
Saban Compares Louisiana-Monroe Loss to 9-11, Pearl Harbor

Posted Nov 20th 2007 10:33AM by Brian Cook
Filed under: Alabama Football, SEC, NCAA FB Coaching, Breaking News, LA Monroe Football
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You're probably looking for a punchline given the headlines above, but no... seriously:
Citing the 9-11 terrorist attacks and Pearl Harbor, Alabama coach Nick Saban said Monday his team must rebound like America did from a "catastrophic event." In this case, that would be an embarrassing 21-14 loss Saturday to Louisiana-Monroe. "

Changes in history usually occur after some kind of catastrophic event," Saban said during the opening remarks of his weekly news conference. "It may be 9-11, which sort of changed the spirit of America relative to catastrophic events. Pearl Harbor kind of got us ready for World War II, or whatever, and that was a catastrophic event."​
This is not quite a direct comparison -- Nick Saban, despite what LSU fans might tell you, is not history's greatest monster -- but it is high up on the list of embarrassing things coaches have said over the past 10 to 15 years. Even leaving aside the "America, eff yeah!" aspect of things, losing to ULM is just losing to ULM and not, say, a nation-altering surprise attack by foreigners, no matter how many kids on the ULM team speak Cajun. Trust me: I'm a Michigan fan. You get over it.

I do love "Pearl Harbor kind of got us read for WWII... or whatever." I can't remember if that was Korea or 'Nam or what; I coach football! Grrrr!
 
Kragthorpe to SMU rumors persist
By Mike Section: News
Posted on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 10:55:00 AM EDT


Again, just throwing this out there, and then slowly backing away.

Sources in Dallas confirm Louisville Head Coach Steve Kragthorpe is very likely the choice to replace the deposed Phil Bennett at SMU. It is unlikely SMU Athletic Director Steve Orsini has actually offered the position to Kragthorpe - or that the two have even spoken about the position - since Louisville has one more regular season game on its schedule. It's more likely the two sides are negotiating the parameters of a would-be deal through intermediaries, while also feeling out other options.
Steve Kragthorpe and SMU could be a marriage of convenience. For SMU, the Mustangs get a proven, championship coach (2005 C-USA Championship at Tulsa) with deep ties to the state of Texas (played at West Texas, assistant coach at Texas A&M) which should help significantly in recruiting. The potential hiring would also give Orsini the "splash" hire he's known to covet.
For Kragthorpe, SMU would be a way out of a very difficult situation at Louisville. The Coach apparently feels he will never be able to win back his fan base (see Ron Zook at Florida) and with Brian Brohm, Harry Douglas and several other seniors not returning, next year could be worse than 2007 (currently at 5-6). It would also be a chance for him to resurrect a program that hasn't been to a bowl since 1984. The thinking is, if Kragthorpe can lead the Mustangs to a bowl in a couple of years, he can have his pick of jobs when the time is right to move again.
The difficult thing for Kragthorpe to overcome could be his very close personal relationship with his current boss, Louisville Athletic Director Tom Jurich. If Coach Krag can get the blessing of his old friend, he may just jump on the first Pony heading west.
While there are several other names floating around Dallas, such as Terry Bowden, Houston Nutt, Paul Johnson and Dennis Franchione - and even Chan Gailey, the smart money is on Kragthorpe. In the end, Orsini may deicide to move in a different direction - or Kragthorpe may decide the move just isn't right for him and his family, but right now it appears SMU and Steve Kragthorpe are moving closer toward a marriage of convenience.
 
This Week's Vegas Oddsmakers' Top 25/30

The debate is on: Missouri/Kansas? West Virginia? Arizona State? No/no, no and no. If LSU wins out, give us LSU-Ohio State please. That's according to this week's Oddsmakers Poll, featuring 30 teams and the not-to-be-contested wisdom of Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which tells you which college teams are the best, scoreboard and polls be damned. As expected, for all the problems of the Vegas Oddsmakers (i.e. ignoring win-loss records), they are invaluable at this time of year. We're looking at a bunch of one-loss teams, and we need to know which is best. If Ohio State and LSU would be favored vs. one-loss Missouri, let's roll with that matchup.
Some plucky fans have been e-mailing of late and attempting to mildly contest this wisdom. One reader, Neema, dug up Vegas's preseason rankings, and noted that Vegas's not-to-be-contested top 10 included Southern Cal, Louisville, Cal and UCLA. A full evaluation will be delivered upon season's end. Another reader, Greg, suggests that AP/Harris pollsters be required to pick every game against the line each week, and only the top 50 percent be allowed to vote the following week, thus fusing the wisdom of Vegas with the human tendency to honor wins and losses in some manner. Interesting.
Biggest frauds, according to Vegas: Virginia is ranked 15 spots too high by the BCS. Connecticut is at least that much overrated. Tennessee is ranked 11 spots too high. Hawaii is ranked nine spots too high. Georgia is ranked six spots too high. Kansas is ranked five spots too high.
Biggest sleepers, according to Vegas: South Florida, a Vegas fraud earlier in the season, is now ranked eight spots too low by the BCS. BYU is ranked seven spots too low, although the Cougars are finally on the BCS radar. Oklahoma is ranked six spots too low. Southern Cal and Clemson are ranked five spots too low. Teams like Michigan and Texas Tech, which aren't ranked by the BCS, are considerably underrated.
Vegas looked smart when: BYU won big again. Hawaii, about which Vegas is skeptical, very nearly lost. That's about it.
Vegas looked dumb when: Mistrusted-by-Vegas teams like Kansas and Illinois and Virginia Tech all won big. Longtime Vegas pet Clemson lost at home. Massively underrated Cal lost yet again. Life isn't always perfect.
Games to watch: Some perfect ones for our purposes. The BCS has Southern Cal ahead of Arizona State; Vegas disagrees. The BCS has Hawaii ahead of Boise State; Vegas strongly disagrees. the BCS has Kansas ahead of Missouri; Vegas disagrees. The BCS thinks Virginia-Virginia Tech should be close; Vegas strongly disagrees. The BCS ranks both Connecticut and West Virginia; Vegas has eyes only for the 'Eers. The BCS is sticking with Tennessee; Vegas has the Vols virtually identical to Kentucky. Just a huge weekend for Vegas to prove itself.
Numbers after the jump. BCS rankings in parentheses.
1. LSU (1)
2. Ohio State (5)
3. West Virginia (3)
4. Oklahoma (10)
5. Missouri (4)
6. Southern Cal (11)
7. Kansas (2)
8. Florida (12)
9. Oregon (9)
10t. Arizona State (6)
10t. Texas (13)
10t. Virginia Tech (8)
13t. Georgia (7)
13t. Boston College (14)
15t. South Florida (23)
15t. Boise State (19)
17. Clemson (22)
18. Brigham Young (25)
19. Illinois (17)
20. Michigan (NR)
21. Texas Tech (NR)
22. Wisconsin (21)
23. Arizona (NR)
24. Hawaii (15)
25t. Auburn (NR)
25t. Utah (NR)
27. California (NR)
28. Cincinnati (24)
29. Tennessee (18)
30. Kentucky (NR)
Not ranked by Vegas: Virginia (16th in BCS), Connecticut (20th).
 
BCS May Expand Eligible Teams From 14 to 18; Hello Illini?

Posted Nov 20th 2007 12:18PM by Brian Cook
Filed under: Big 10, BCS, Bowl Games, Illinois Football, Breaking News
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The BCS, having recently expanded is purview to ten teams, was facing down a potential issue: only two teams per conference can get in. With Notre Dame imploding and Hawaii vulnerable to a loss, that would mean four of the six BCS conferences would have to send a second team to complete the BCS.

Problem: only teams in the top 14 of the BCS standings are eligible, and the Big Ten, ACC, and Big East are in serious danger of only placing one team in the eligible zone. Potential solution:
In an attempt to avoid a potential headache at the end of the regular season, the commissioners of the six BCS football conferences have voted to expand the pool of BCS at-large candidates from 14 to 18.
The new rule goes into effect only if there aren't enough teams among the top 14 of the final BCS standings to fill 10 slots in the BCS National Championship Game, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Rose Bowl<!-- presented by Citi-->.
​
This is most relevant for the Illinois, which finished 9-3 and is currently 17th in the BCS standings.

The Pac-10, SEC, and Big Twelve will all send two representatives, leaving one open spot. For the Illini to make it, the following things have to happen:
  • West Virginia beats UConn, thus winning the Big East, or loses both its remaining games and drops out of the top 18. Likelihood: very high.
  • Virginia Tech wins the ACC, beating current #16 UVA and current #14 Boston College. Likelihood: fairly high.
  • Hawaii loses. Likelihood: who knows?
All humans should root against this scenario as it would rob us of a potential Bowl Redacted between Illinois and Florida, which would no doubt provide great spectacle as the blogosphere watches Orson Swindle's head explode.
 
Oregon State's Bernard has surgery

Beavers star running back questionable for 'Civil War'

Posted: Tuesday November 20, 2007 5:46PM; Updated: Tuesday November 20, 2007 5:46PM

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon State running back Yvenson Bernard had surgery on his right knee on Tuesday.
Beaver head coach Mike Riley described the procedure as a scope to clean up Bernard's knee, which was injured in the first half of the Beavers' 52-17 victory at Washington State last Saturday.
Oregon has a bye this week before playing Oregon at Autzen Stadium in the annual Civil War rivalry game.
"It's questionable at best for his return in time for the Civil War," Riley said. "We feel better about his chances to play in our bowl game. But, we're talking about Yvenson Bernard, so I won't rule out anything at this point."
Bernard, a senior, has rushed for 3,685 career yards, second most in Oregon State history.
 
Virginia star Chris Long questionable

Defensive end slowed by bad case of strep throat

Posted: Tuesday November 20, 2007 5:39PM; Updated: Tuesday November 20, 2007 5:41PM

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -- In the week leading up to its biggest game ever, No. 16 Virginia finds itself rooting for defensive end Chris Long's immune system.
Long, a finalist or semifinalist for every major defensive award this season, has been slowed by strep throat this week, Cavaliers coach Al Groh said Tuesday.
He said Long watched part of practice on Monday dressed in sweats and a stocking cap, but Long said he felt miserable about halfway through and headed for home.
Groh said he wasn't sure of Long's status for Saturday's game against No. 8 Virginia Tech, saying he'd have to take a "wait and see" approach as the week wore on.
Long was not available Tuesday. The school said he was lifting weights.
 
Kragthorpe rumors confirmed
By Mike Section: News
Posted on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 06:33:54 PM EDT


Oh my.
ESPN's Pat Forde wrote in his "Forde Yard Dash" column today that a source had informed him that it was "50/50" whether embattled first-year Louisville head coach Steve Kragthorpe would leave if he were offered the job at SMU.
Now WHAS-11's Kyle Draper and 790 a.m.'s Adam Neft are reporting that U of L football sports information director Rocco Gasparro has confirmed the 50/50 rumor. Both are also reporting that Tom Jurich is backing his head coach and wants him to stay.
It certainly sounds like the SMU job is Kragthorpe's for the taking, and I think it has become extremely clear which way the Cardinal fan base is hoping he's leaning.
 
QUALITY PAC-10 RIVALRY TAUNTIN’

The post above is not in error: no weekend features a higher pH in the Pac-10 than this rivalry weekend, where tempers simmer and boil over to nearly angry levels between teams. It’s…it’s almost acrimonious, we dare say!
(This isn’t a slap at the Pac-10–it’s mostly a good thing you don’t get so upset you actually shoot your brother and kill him over a football game, which did happen once in Gainesville following a Tennessee/Florida football game. Note that we said “mostly” a good thing.)
First, the Apple Cup opens with the first salvo coming courtesy of married father/ Washington defensive tackle Jordan Reffett, who responded thusly when asked what would happen if one of his kids went to Washington State:
“That wouldn’t be allowed … None of my kids–and I plan on having more–are going to be at WSU, because I want them to be able to get a job someday.”
I like the “I plan on having more.” This is an indicator of a very recently married man; a more experienced one would have said “WE plan on having more,” and only with the explicit permission of his nodding and smiling wife. They’re always counting, Jordan, never sleeping, always keeping score, look at the baby, look at the baby, smile, always keeping score, Jordan. With that diction, you’re out rutting with whatever in-season trollop flashes her bump-hams at you. This will surely cost you at least five minutes of conversation and energy you could have spent on something valuable, like video games, pornography, or your 15th viewing of the film Blow.
The next one is a bit more visual, but immediate. Courtesy of the always fantastic Wizard of Odds: the Bellotti Potti.
BellottiPotty.jpg

The idea of Donald Duck’s eyes barely peeping through a brown-green pool of human refuse as we enter the port-o-potty has now replaced Pennywise peeping through the sewer grate as our nightmare fuel for the ages.
 
Spurrier is working it for Clemson:

Spurrier regrets hyping team

Coach says he was wrong to think S.C. could contend

Posted: Tuesday November 20, 2007 2:31PM; Updated: Tuesday November 20, 2007 5:26PM

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Steve Spurrier is not always right.
South Carolina's head ball coach found that out the hard way this season, enduring his longest college losing streak since starting out at Duke in 1987. For nearly a year, Spurrier touted the Gamecocks chances to contend for a Southeastern Conference title. Now, four straight losses later, a humbled Spurrier knows he's got more work ahead.
"I was wrong," Spurrier said Tuesday.
It was last fall after the Gamecocks (6-5) came close to upsetting SEC powers Tennessee (31-24), Arkansas (26-20) and national champ Florida (17-16) when Spurrier decided his team goals would include challenging for the SEC crown. For a while this year, Spurrier seemed like a genius as South Carolina opened 6-1 and rose to No. 6 in the country.
Then came the worst month in Spurrier's 15 seasons as an SEC coach with four straight defeats. A loss Saturday to No. 21 Clemson (8-3) would give Spurrier his worst college losing streak, and likely leave the Gamecocks on the fringe of the postseason.
The way South Carolina finished a year ago with three straight victories, "I just thought maybe our team would be ready," Spurrier said. "Obviously, it didn't quite work out that way."
Spurrier's incoming freshman were considered among the country's best. The group, though, hasn't had a significant impact this season, Spurrier said. In addition, the defense -- which gave up 99 points and 1,188 yards in the past two losses to Arkansas and Florida -- has gone the bulk of the season without injured star linebacker Jasper Brinkley and rising junior defensive lineman Nathan Pepper.
"Now, we won some games without those guys, but when you're leading tackler, linebacker, goes out," Spurrier said. "Obviously, now we look back and say, 'Man, we could've used him to make some tackles.' Yeah, we could have."
Brinkley, on the Butkus Award watch list enter the year, had season-ending surgery after getting hurt in a loss at LSU in September.
As the losses piled up, Spurrier's frustration has increased. He complained about his team's size and strength after watching them get pushed around against Arkansas and Florida. He took the unusual step during the team's off-week practices working with the defense.
There have been overthrows at crucial times and breakdowns on special teams.
"Our attitude stinks right now," a fed-up Spurrier said. "As a team we don't perform at a real high, intense level."
South Carolina safety Chris Hampton doesn't completely agree with his coach's assessment. "I think some of our goals are gone, but we're still fortunate to be playing and playing as long as we can," the senior said. "Hopefully, this weekend we can turn things around."
Despite this season's fall, Spurrier's not giving up on turning the Gamecocks into SEC champions one day.
Spurrier's name has come up on this year's coaching carousel should openings emerge at LSU or Texas A&M, the same way he was mention a year ago for jobs at Miami and Alabama. The thinking goes Spurrier frustration will increase and he'll realize he can't win at South Carolina as he had with Florida.
That perception, Spurrier says, is part of the Gamecocks' appeal. "I told a lot of people I've got one of the best jobs in the country here simply because this school has not been at the top," he said. "So we're trying to get there."
"The recruiting class last year gives us hope," he said.
Spurrier hopes to piggyback another stellar class on top of that one while he and his staff work harder at getting them ready.
"Give us a little more time to train these guys, OK?" he said. "We have to train these young guys and see if they can respond."
 
Purdue's Lymon kicked off team

Boilermakers WR was arrested early Sunday for DUI

Posted: Tuesday November 20, 2007 2:07PM; Updated: Tuesday November 20, 2007 2:07PM

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Purdue coach Joe Tiller on Tuesday dismissed wide receiver Selwyn Lymon from the team two days after he was arrested on drunken driving and resisting arrest charges.
"Selwyn is the victim of making some very poor choices, and, in addition to dealing with the legal ramifications of those poor choices, he no longer will be a part of the football program at Purdue," Tiller said in a statement released by the school.
A Tippecanoe County court magistrate on Monday ordered Lymon jailed without bond. He also was charged with operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device required as a condition of previous charges.
The Associated Press left a phone message seeking comment from his lawyer, Mathew Scott Sandy.
Police said Lymon had a blood-alcohol content of 0.15 percent, nearly double the legal limit for driving in Indiana, when he was stopped about 3:15 a.m. Sunday in West Lafayette.
Prosecutors filed drunken driving and other charges against Lymon in September, following a March 20 fight outside a West Lafayette nightclub during which he was stabbed in the chest.
Lymon caught three passes for 35 yards Saturday during Purdue's 27-24 loss to Indiana in Bloomington. Lymon, a junior from Fort Wayne, had 40 catches for 450 yards and two touchdowns this season for Purdue (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten).
Tiller said he planned to meet with Lymon as soon as possible.
"As a human being, we will support him and do whatever we can to help him earn his degree," Tiller said.
 
Possibly Bonkers Seminole: "Tebow Is Going Down This Week"

Posted Nov 20th 2007 1:34PM by Ian Cohen
Filed under: Florida Football, Florida State Football, ACC, SEC, BCS
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If this year's Miami/Florida State matchup didn't have the Q rating of seasons past, what then of the Florida/Florida State finale? Florida comes in with three losses and no hopes of a birth in the SEC title game (though they are ranked #12) and Florida State shows up like they've been most of the season: unranked and jockeying for a mid-level bowl game. Besides that, it takes a backseat to far more compelling (and important) rivalry games taking place on Saturday, namely Mizzou/Kansas and Virginia/Virginia Tech, both of which have conference championship berths on the line. And that's even before the likes of the Holy War and Clemson/SC.

So you can forgive Florida State linebacker Geno Hayes for trying to get some bad blood boilin'. Hayes aligns himself with the vast minority of human beings not all that impressed with Tim Tebow's retardo stats. To wit:
''Tim Tebow is going down this week,'' Hayes told a roomful of reporters. ``Y'all put that down. Tim Tebow is going down this week. That is our attitude...It's not difficult, really it's not,'' Hayes said. ``Auburn showed that when they played on a couple of goal-line stops. He's a great quarterback, take nothing away from him, but it's not like we're going to go in there and give up because he's bigger and more agile at his size."​
He would also mention the fact that FSU didn't have a lot of trouble turning once-upon-a-time Heisman candidate Matt Ryan into a INT machine, which sort of discounts the fact that...well, Matt Ryan isn't a once in a lifetime talent and FSU has been nothing if inconsistent on D this year. Of course, let's not also forget that Florida's defense has shown signs that they can make Drew Weatherford look like Tim Tebow.
 
Tim Brewster Gets the Dreaded Vote of Confidence

Posted Nov 20th 2007 2:10PM by Tom Fornelli
Filed under: Minnesota Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Coaching
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The Big Ten has 10 of it's 11 teams bowl eligible this season, and a small part of the reason for it is the only team in the conference that isn't bowl eligible, the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Thanks to their 0-8 record within the conference, they've done their part to help just about everybody get to six wins this season.

Still, even though they finished their season 1-11, first year coach Tim Brewster need not fear for his job. At least that's what his athletic director Joel Maturi is saying.
"That's why you do the (hiring) process," he said. "I know how hard I worked, I know how many people I interviewed, I know the references that I checked. That's why you work real hard on the front end, so you don't second-guess yourself.

"I really, truly believe that Tim Brewster is a great fit for Minnesota, I believe he's the right coach, and I think it's only appropriate that we give him three to four years that he deserves to see what he can do with his program."
​
Maturi is right, too. It's only fair that Brewster is given some time to turn the Gophers around. He took over a team this season that lost several players on the defense thanks to off-field antics, and had to implement brand new offensive and defensive schemes.

Say what you will about the Gophers performance on the field this season, but at the very least, they weren't lying down for anybody. They played hard in every game, they just didn't have the talent to compete. With the state of the Big Ten right now, it's not out of the question that the Gophers can be competitive next season with a solid recruiting class. Just look at the Illini, who went 2-10 last season and are now being considered for a BCS bowl.
 
UNC Looks to Expand Stadium

Posted Nov 20th 2007 12:29PM by Ian Cohen
Filed under: UNC Football, ACC, BCS, NCAA FB Campus
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The Butch Davis-to-Arkansas rumors may not have a lot of credibility to them, but as long as they keep popping up, you have to wonder if he's using them as leverage to create UNC's program in his own image. All year, he's been beating the drum for expansion of Kenan Stadium, and at this Monday's press conference, he set a number to it: 8,000-10,000.

On the one hand, you have the "if you build it they will come" frame of mind. Though UNC is currently 3-8 and rarely in danger of stuffing Kenan beyond its 60,000 capacity, Davis' recruiting classes and non-Browns coaching history suggest that the Tar Heels could be back at Mack Brown Era-levels sooner as opposed to later. And even though Virginia suffered (or still suffers) a similar reputation as being a wine and cheese type of crowd, the expansion of Scott Stadium in 2000 has hardly resulted in scores of empty seats. Davis is aware of this situation:
"Just draw a circle around Chapel Hill, anything inside of 250 miles: Virginia's done it, Virginia Tech's done it, Clemson's done it, Tennesee's done it, South Carolina's done it. So all of the people you're competing for on the eastern seaboard, that's what everybody has done,'' he said. "And they've incorporated the academics ... into their stadium expansion, and that's one of the goals and objectives for us, as well."

​
Anything jump out to you? I'd reckon that UNC has little trouble with its academic profile or its cash flow...although I can say that UVA's stadium expansion directly led to me getting that B- in Indian Film & Music I needed to fulfill my major's requirements. Mere button-pushing or a honest to goodness attempt to mold UNC into a football power?
 
Life on the Margins, Week Twelve
By SMQ
Posted on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 12:34:37 PM EDT


Weekly obsessing over statistical anomalies and fringe idiosyncracies. Don’t get carried away by these scores from last weekend...
(As always, click here for a definition of 'Swing points')

<table cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3"> <tbody><tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td align="center">
</td> <td align="center">Oregon</td> <td align="center">Arizona</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Total Offense</td> <td align="center">463</td> <td align="center">322</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td align="right">1st Downs</td> <td align="center">24</td> <td align="center">16</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Yds./Play</td> <td align="center">4.8</td> <td align="center">4.7</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td align="right">Yds./Possession</td> <td align="center">27.3</td> <td align="center">24.8</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Turnovers</td> <td align="center">4</td> <td align="center">2</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td align="right">Swing Points</td> <td align="center">+3</td> <td align="center">+14</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Final Score: Arizona 34, Oregon 24
- - -
The obvious mitigating factor here was Dennis Dixon’s collapse late in the first quarter, but the game might have turned just before that, when his receiver bobbled a sure touchdown that instead popped into the arms of Nate Ness, setting up a quick turnaround scoring drive by Arizona that made a burgeoning blowout – if the receiver had hung onto the ball, Oregon would have led 15-0 five minutes into the game – into a tight struggle. After Dixon went down, the Wildcats parlayed the Brady Leaf Experience into a touchdown on an interception return and broke the game wide open on a punt return (a blocking-in-the-back flag was picked up on the play) that stretched the margin to 20 points in the second quarter; in the end, that was what both offenses accounted for: two touchdowns and two field goals apiece. After Willie Tuitama’s second touchdown pass, Arizona punted eight times and fumbled once in its last ten possessions. Going forward, though, I wouldn’t disregard Oregon’s lack of production without Dixon. Arizona is not a pushover defensively, but it’s impossible to envision the same offense that came out rolling with its star quarterback going three-and-out six times in two quarters if he’s in the game, which it did with Leaf, or turning it over twice more in pretty ugly fashion. There’s no way to know what UCLA might or might not do Saturday, but with the Bruins and Oregon State ahead, the Ducks are still 0-6 the last two years when Leaf attempts more than ten passes.

<table cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3"> <tbody><tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(164, 74, 74) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td align="center">
</td> <td align="center">UL-Monroe</td> <td align="center">Alabama</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Total Offense</td> <td align="center">282</td> <td align="center">409</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td align="right">1st Downs</td> <td align="center">17</td> <td align="center">23</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Yds./Play</td> <td align="center">4.1</td> <td align="center">6.2</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td align="right">Yds./Possession</td> <td align="center">23.5</td> <td align="center">31.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Turnovers</td> <td align="center">0</td> <td align="center">4</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td align="right">Swing Points</td> <td align="center">+7</td> <td align="center">0</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Final Score: UL-Monroe 21, Alabama 14
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The classic turnover-driven upset, though the War Hawks do deserve credit for their response to Alabama’s response to ULM’s initial touchdown in the second quarter: down 7-0, the Hawks picked off John Parker Wilson (this is a recurring theme in the Tide’s three-game slide), setting up a one-play, one-yard touchdown march to tie, and were immediately hit with a 63-yard ‘Bama drive that included runs of 15 and 12 yards and another pass that covered 21 to push the lead back out to seven, and could have said “Good try, we had our shot” and called it a day right there. Instead, Monroe came back with an 80-yard drive to tie and kept the Tide off the board the rest of the game. Not that ‘Bama didn’t still have its chances in the second half: the offense moved 56 yards only to miss a field goal on the last play of the third quarter, anda few drives later moved 69 yards into the Monroe red zone before fumbling away its best chance to tie. Cue visual summary:
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That’s just how things go when you play the turnover game.

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</td> <td align="center">Wisconsin</td> <td align="center">Minnesota</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Total Offense</td> <td align="center">443</td> <td align="center">501</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td align="right">1st Downs</td> <td align="center">19</td> <td align="center">23</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Yds./Play</td> <td align="center">7.0</td> <td align="center">7.0</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td align="right">Yds./Possession</td> <td align="center">34.2</td> <td align="center">41.8</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Turnovers</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center">3</td> </tr> <tr></tr><tr style="background: rgb(234, 234, 234) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td align="right">Swing Points</td> <td align="center">+14</td> <td align="center">0</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Final Score: Wisconsin 41, Minnesota 34
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Backup quarterback/coach’s son Clint Brewster sounds like a man after LOTM’s own heart, allegedly telling Wisconsin kicker Taylor Mehlhaff after the game, “You guys are terrible...we're 1-10 and we should have beat you.” If not for a pair of coverage breakdowns in the second half, the Gophers could have pulled one of the upsets of the year. The first, with Minnesota up 13-10 early in the third quarter, was a 56-yard punt return David Gilreath to the Gopher 18-yard line, setting up a quick and dirty touchdown run by Zach Brown to put the Badgers up 17-13 two plays later. The second, with Wisconsin now up 34-27 in the fourth quarter and punting after a rare three-and-out forced by the most generous defense in Big Ten history, was a muffed punt by Harold Howell at his own 15, quickly recovered by the Badgers and turned into another easy score by Brown that effectively put the game and the Gophers’ first conference win of the season out of reach. It takes a special team to average 42 yards per possession and lose, folks.
Notes: Rutgers-Pittsburgh is probably the most bizarre game I’ve looked at all season, statistically: neither team did anything on offense, but the Panthers ultimately outgained the Knights by about 40 yards, had a nine-minute advantage in time of possession, were plus-two in turnover margin, had scoring drives of twelve, seven and six yards following said turnovers, and lost, 20-16. Pitt slightly “outplayed” the Knights down-to-down (more yards, more first downs) and had the benefit of multiple short field, turnover-induced scores...and lost. I don’t think I’ve seen another game this season where that was the case.
 
High Fives! Notre Dame Narrowly Avoids Worst Offensive Season in NCAA History

Posted Nov 20th 2007 8:21PM by Brian Stouffer
Filed under: Notre Dame Football, NCAA FB History
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While it was touch-and-go for a while, it looks like Notre Dame is out of the woods for achieving the worst statistical offense in the last nine years thanks to the porous defenses of Duke and the service academies. Saurian Sagacity announces that the Irish have improved to 235.8 yards per game, a healthy margin north of 2002 Rutgers record-setting futility 214 yards per game. By his calculations, the Irish will have to put up negative-27 yards against a Stanford that statistically rates as one of the worst in the country, giving up 455.3 yards per game.

Granted, nothing is impossible with this 07 Irish squad, but I think it's safe for the Rutgers lads to pop their champagne a la the '72 Dolphins and celebrate yet another year of their incredible record staying intact.

That being said, it will still take some luck for the Irish to finish out of last place in total offense. FIU has 79 fewer yards than the Irish, but they play one more game. Duke is the next closest team, but the Irish will have to outgain them by 299 yards this weekend. It's possible, since Duke's opponent, North Carolina, has a fairly respectable defense, ranked #35 and giving up 100 less yards per game than Stanford, Notre Dame's opponent.
 
Red, White and Blue? NC State Wants A Boise Vacation

Posted Nov 20th 2007 3:40PM by Ian Cohen
Filed under: NC State Football, ACC, BCS, Bowl Games
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For far too long, the Roady's Humanitarian(that's the new name)/MPC Computers Bowl has been seen as the college football equivalent of community service. I mean, it's a good thing and all, but more often than not, you have to take a big picture view to derive any pleasure and for the most part, it doubles as punishment. This was a rep that got cemented after the 2004-2005 stretch where Virginia and Boston College lugged their Top 25 rankings into no-win situations due to the mishegas of the ACC bowl selection process. In fact, thanks to Virginia, the ACC instituted a rule where bowl selection committees can no longer pass over a team for another one with two fewer conference wins.

But if you want to find a squad that would have no problem shuffling off to Boise (possibly to the chagrin of their fanbase), look no further than Raleigh, where 55th-year senior Darrell Blackman has given typically backhanded praise for their postseason home, should they triumph over Maryland.
"If the opportunity comes, yeah, I'd like to go," a smiling Blackman said Monday. "If it's for another football game, yeah."​
So to make that clear- as long as NC State isn't there for a team-building ski trip or attempt to visit the boyhood home of Doug Martsch, Blackman's cool with it. As Dirk Diggler once said, feel my heat. Of course, there's also the matter of Tom O'Brien continuing his streak of bowl bids, but if you can remember anywhere near half of BC's postseason results under TOB, just know that everyone is sick of hearing about your Beantown pride. However, there stands a possibility that the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl (you should always call it by its proper name) could land a marquee name after all. After all, where is the loser of the Hawaii/Boise State game going to end up?
 
Week 13 Turkey-fried Trevonics


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By Trev Alberts
formerly of ESPN.com



Distractions, drinking, an abridged prognostication week, and all sorts of other fantastical excuses are in store for this post of all trades, loyal followers. Sorry for the Bloo-ness of last week, but he distracted me with a cup and ball, and then we played for the site in a rousing game of marbles. Damn bastard plays keepsies, and he plays it to the bone. Before we get back on the Trevonic Horse, let's reset the major errors made both in actual football and imaginary polling. For those who took my little azul friend serious...you have to live with that.

  1. Kansas
  2. Louisiana State
  3. Missouri
  4. West Virginia
  5. Ohio State
  6. Arizona State
  7. Georgia
  8. Virginia Tech
  9. Oregon
  10. Oklahoma
  11. Southern Cal
  12. Florida
  13. Boston College
  14. Hawaii
  15. Texas
  16. Tennessee
  17. Illinois
  18. Virginia
  19. Boise State
  20. UCONN
  21. Clemson
  22. Wisconsin
  23. South Florida
  24. Texas Tech
  25. Cincinnati
Its just that time of year when logic is overridden by losses, freak injuries break the ties, and I keep teams like Texas in the purgatory they deserve. I'm not fair, but I certainly am tough, and if I'm not tough, I'm certainly phony tough and crazy brave, that special kind of crazy reserved only for those in the throes of desperation. Now for the scoreboard! We're keeping the season to date, its like when Corso takes a sick day, the last of which I believe was in 1986. Antioxidants, kids, antioxidants.

Season to date:
Against the Spread: 86-97-3
Straight Up: 129-55

There's only one way to dig out of this ATS hole this week. Well actually, there are several: toast, pretzel sticks, popcorn, and jelly beans.


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LSU (-12) over Arkansas
Texas (-5) over Texas A&M
Boise State (+3.5) over Hawaii
Virginia Tech (-3.5) over Virginia
Tennessee (+3) over Kentucky
BYU (-4.5) over Utah
Georgia (-3.5) over Georgia Tech
West Virginia (-17) over Connecticut
Oklahoma (-11.5) over Oklahoma State
Oregon (-2) over UCLA
Florida (-14) over Florida State
South Carolina (+2.5) over Clemson
Cincinnati (-20) over Syracuse
Auburn (-6) over Alabama
Kansas (-2) over Missouri


Trev Alberts is not a recognized Blogpoller. He no longer has the motor skills to play ping pong.
 
Greg Davis to SMU and other coaching rumors


Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman is reporting that SMU is possibly interested in Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis for their recently vacated head coaching position. Though Texas Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds said no one from SMU had requested permission to speak to Davis a source did confirm that they had contacted him unofficially.
A surprising amount of coaching rumors today. Before the Davis to SMU rumor this afternoon there was some buzz on the Arkansas message boards that Davis was headed for retirement and former Arky offensive coordinator Guz Malzahn would be Texas’ next OC. When that rumor was brought up on Orangebloods.com, posters claiming to be “in the know” wouldn’t comment on particular coaches coming or going just that there was some smoke that one of the Texas coaches may be headed for retirement.
I’m certainly not going to claim that Davis has no faults (in fact he’s got tons of them), but he’s a solid offensive coordinator and an even better quarterbacks coach. The development of Vince Young and Colt McCoy as quarterbacks has been incredible and Davis deserves a huge amount of the credit. His gameplanning and playcalling often leave a lot to be desired but it won’t be easy to replace him if he leaves.
Texas’ offense might be more exciting with someone like Malzahn calling the shots, but I’m not sure it would be better.
We’ll keep you updated on any other juicy rumors or actual news as we hear it.
 
<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="storytitle"> Tues. Question - The BCS Matchups You Want </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="primaryimage" valign="top">
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Arizona State QB Rudy Carpenter
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</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="middle">By Staff
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Posted Nov 20, 2007
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In the confines of the current rankings and the possibilities, what BCS matchups do you want to see happen?
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<table id="table2" align="right" border="0" cellspacing="4" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="#ffffcc"> Past TQs
- LSU, Oregon or Kansas - The leading 5 for the Heisman - Early Pick It: LSU vs. Ohio State - Three BCS sleepers - Midseason Bests - 3 Big Calls for the Second Half - The biggest disappointment - 5 most overrrated teams - I was dead/on right/wrong about ... - USC, LSU or Oklahoma?l - Was the App St win good or bad for college football?
- 3 Sleeper Teams
- Predicting the Season - 3 things we're sure of - What to look for on Signing Day
- Bears or Colts? - Early bowl surprises and trends - 3 things to look for from the bowls - Do you want the Alabama job? - What are the 3 best non-BCS bowls? - Who's 2nd in the Heisman race? - Michigan-OSU rematch? - Michigan or Ohio State? - Should Louisville be No. 3? - The nat'l title game will be ... - The best one-loss team - Rule changes to help the flow - The Midseason Stuff - The real top five ranking - The early coach of the year is ...? - These three teams are for real, these three aren't
- After 2 weeks, who's better, who's worse?
- 10 Greatest Quarterbacks of All-Time
- 10 Greatest Defensive Players of All-Time
- 10 Greatest Regular Season Games of All-Time
- 10 Greatest Playmakers of All-Time
- 10 Worst Heisman Winners
- 10 Greatest Bowl Games
- All-Time Offensive Team
- All-Time Defensive Team </td> </tr> </tbody></table> [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2] Pete Fiutak [/SIZE][/FONT]<o:p>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2][/FONT]</o:p> [/SIZE] Q: Forget what will happen or what should happen, within the current BCS rankings and format, what matchups do you want to see?
A: I've been saying that I want to see an LSU-Oklahoma matchup only because I thought those were the two best teams in the country. That has changed a bit now. Going with the theory that more upsets are on the way, here's what I'd like the BCS to look like.

Fiesta: Oklahoma vs. Oregon
With no Dennis Dixon or Adrian Peterson around, it wouldn't be the true 2006 rematch, but it would be as heated and intense a game as any in the bowls with all the controversies from the game in Autzen last year stirred up. The two fan bases would be at each other's throats from the start.

Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Kansas
Let's say KU beats Missouri and loses to Oklahoma, while Virginia Tech beats Virginia and Boston College. Kansas would get a chance to show its offense is for real, but Vince Hall, Xavier Adibi and the Tech linebacking corps would make this a war.

Sugar: Georgia vs. West Virginia
The rematch of the 2006 Sugar Bowl, the Georgia fans would be screaming about revenge, while college football fans would drool over a showdown between Knowshon Moreno and Steve Slaton.

Rose: Hawaii vs. Arizona State
Shootout, shootout, shootout. Colt Brennan threw for 559 yards and five touchdowns in the 41-24 win over the Sun Devils in last year's Hawaii Bowl while Rudy Carpenter threw for 467 yards and four scores. Now imagine all this happening again, but in Pasadena.

BCS Championship - Ohio State vs. LSU
I have no rooting interest in Ohio State whatsoever, but after the way the defense played against Michigan, and after the way the offensive line dominated, with time off to prepare, this might be the best foe for an LSU team that'll be in a lather playing in the Superdome. If Les Miles pulled this off, his price as the Michigan head coach would go through the roof.
Richard Cirminiello [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2][/FONT] <o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p> [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2][/SIZE][/FONT] <o:p> </o:p><o:p>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2][/SIZE][/FONT]</o:p> Q: Forget what will happen or what should happen, within the current BCS rankings and format, what matchups do you want to see?
A: National Championship – LSU – West Virginia. LSU arguably has the best defense in the country, now go out and stop QB Pat White and his fellow jackrabbits on the fast track of the Superdome.

Rose Bowl – Ohio State – USC. The most traditional of the bowl games deserves a match up of two traditional powers. Plus, it’s just the type of game that’ll keep cranky Rose Bowl officials happy for another year.

Fiesta Bowl – Oklahoma – Georgia. Sam Bradford vs. Matt Stafford. DeMarco Murray vs. Knowshon Moreno. With young talent everywhere, could this game be a preview of next year’s BCS Championship game?

Orange Bowl – Virginia Tech – Kansas. No matter what the Jayhawks do over the next two weekends, they’ve earned a chance to showcase their talent on a national stage, and for a lucrative payout.

Sugar Bowl – Arizona State – Hawaii. Yeah, Georgia would get scooped up long before this game ever happened in New Orleans, but it would be fun to see these two offenses go at it, while finally seeing if the Warriors could hold up against a quality opponent from a major conference.
John Harris<o:p>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2][/SIZE][/FONT]</o:p> [/SIZE] Q: Forget what will happen or what should happen, within the current BCS rankings and format, what matchups do you want to see?
A: BCS National Championship game – LSU vs. West Virginia – best game on the board, in my opinion, that we COULD get. Consequently, I’m praying this is what we get on January 7<sup>th</sup>, 2007. Dual threat quarterbacks have given LSU problems and Pat White and Steve Slaton against Glenn Dorsey and crew would be well worth the wait.Rose Bowl – Ohio State vs. Arizona State – The last time Ohio State was in Pasadena coincides with the last time Arizona State was in Pasadena (for a Rose Bowl that is). That one was a classic…so, a man can dream for another one, right?
Sugar Bowl – Georgia vs. Hawaii – What would be more impressive, Knowshon Moreno rushing for 300 yards or more against Hawaii’s defense or Colt Brennan throwing for 450 yards plus and four touchdowns? It could happen.
Orange Bowl – Virginia Tech vs. Texas – Two powers that have met before, after the 1995 season in Sugar Bowl. Not sure either team is completely BCS bowl worthy, but it’d be a fun matchup nonetheless…if for no other reason than to watch V Tech’s defense against Texas running back Jamaal Charles and QB Colt McCoy.
Fiesta Bowl – Oklahoma vs. USC – Remember this is what we’d want to see, not what we might see. With the Oregon offense in shambles, I don’t want to see them in this game, even if the Ducks beat UCLA and Oregon State. These two powers last met in the Orange Bowl a few years ago, but this one should be a bit more competitive. Should be. Matthew Zemek [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2][/SIZE][/FONT] <o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2][/FONT]</o:p> [/SIZE] Q: Forget what will happen or what should happen, within the current BCS rankings and format, what matchups do you want to see?<o:p></o:p>
A: Orange: Virginia Tech-Arizona State. This would never happen, of course, but since the Pac-10 and ACC don't play that often, Hokies-Sun Devils would offer a very intriguing matchup.

Fiesta: Missouri-Boise State. Fireworks aplenty. Sit back and enjoy.

Sugar: Georgia-Kansas. I want to see the Jayhawks play an old-money power in what would generally be enemy territory. Missouri will test KU this Saturday, but this team needs to play a challenging game out of conference. This would be it.

Rose: Ohio State-USC. Tressel. Carroll. The two best programs over the past six college football seasons. Better than the BCS title game, whatever the matchup might be.

BCS Title Game: LSU-West Virginia. This game would be fun to watch, and it would offer the Mountaineers a chance to do what they did in the 2006 Sugar Bowl, only on a bigger stage and a larger scale.

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This post is necessary if just to watch Bates do his Spurrier impression again:

CURIOUS INDEX, 11/21/07

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</td> <td width="528"> Oh, happy day. Hey, Florida State’s got three huge receivers and loves to throw the patented Jeff Bowden jump ball even with Jimbo Fisher’s new offense. Hey, Florida’s got a banged-up secondary and screaming liability freshman Jacques Rickerson at corner. We saw a woman slug down a 22oz. can of malt liquor and throw it into the bushes next to a MARTA station this morning. That’s our soul up there, potentially.
(BTW, we don’t think it’s necessary to put D in quotes when referring to the Gator ‘D’, as the Gainesville Sun does. That’s slang for ‘dick,’ and if the Gators’ collective penis is hurting, there’s clinics and antibiotics for that.)
Tim Tebow, though, will continue the tradition of being a big, evangelical, other-cheek-turning Florida quarterback by letting FSU’s talk of him “going down” in the game Saturday by letting the trash talk “motivate him” instead of trash-talking back.
Whatcha gonna do, Timmy, when they hit you late? Say “Please don’t do that?”

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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Eqy28LUdhzo&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></object></p> The Michigan head coaching search will begin with interviews with Carr assistants Mike Debord and Ron English. This is all a matter of due diligence and courtesy. Repeat that phrase eight to ten times in a row to yourselves, Michigan fans. Repeat, and rock back and forth hugging your knees in the basement like you just saw the crimson face of Lucifer himself.
OBC regrets his early suggestions that South Carolina could contend in the SEC this year.
“I was probably unrealistic at some point thinking that our team could compete this year. Looking back, obviously, I was wrong,” Spurrier said Tuesday. “At the end of last year, playing Florida close, winning the last two, playing everybody close, I just thought maybe our team would be ready. Obviously, it didn’t quite work out that way.”
So do we. We had them as high as six, further proof of why you never, ever, ever use a late season surge the prior year as evidence for high preseason ranking despite obvious roster holes and instability at the quarterback position. But we didn’t have Michigan in their customary 3 hole, at least, so we don’t feel completely stupid. Mostly stupid, yes; completely stupid…well, not yet.
Finally, we blame the holiday for the double YouTubage, but the attention to detail and superb fighting technique on display in this video are both too good not to share–even if we’re leery of referring to young women collectively as “poon.”

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THANKSGIVING: THE PLAN

We had a turdulent day today, thus the relative silence on the blog. Apologies. We’ll make it up to you sometime.*
The plan for Thanksgiving is this:
1. Run the Atlanta Half-Marathon tomorrow. We’ll be in a bright orange shirt and coughing up blood. This should easily narrow it down to seven white males at most.
2. Eat our college football-themed Turducken.
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Brilliant work by Chef Weis and his sous-chef, Brian from House Rock Built.
3. Play Rock Band. We almost took out a lamp this morning when we lost a drumstick playing the drum part to “Maps.” We never liked that lamp anyway.
4. Post updates on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Keep eyes peeled.
Enjoy your holiday, and travel safely.
 
Justify Your Existence, or, Are You Really Real?
By SMQ
Posted on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 03:19:00 PM EDT


The overarching, unmistakable narrative for this season has been one of wild upsets, and it's appropriate in that vein that four very nondescript underdogs have a chance of grabbing their division or conference by the throat this weekend against the preseason favorite. What's interesting about Arizona State, Virginia, UConn and Kansas, though, is that none of them has really upset anybody in the process, not significantly. These are quiet, workmanlike Cinderellas, and their steady advances en route to their winner-take-all games with projected princes USC, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Missouri, respectively, better embody the ethic of the underdog than any single, wild takedown by an Appalachian State or Stanford.
Consider: at the start of the season, Arizona State was picked to finish fifth in the Pac Ten, and no one thought ASU would finish higher than fourth; Virginia was almost unanimously picked fourth in the ACC Coastal out of six; UConn was almost unanimously seventh in the Big East out of eight; and Kansas was fourth or fifth in the Big 12 North out of six. Each of their opponents Saturday was a near-unanimous favorite in August to win their respective conferences (except Missouri, which was second overall in the Big 12 North but received a good deal of first place predictions over Nebraska), yet the line for three of the four de facto division/conference championship games is at a field goal or less; depending on the service, Kansas may be a very slight favorite to beat Missouri in a game Jason Whitlock dubbed "a one-time event" for his city, "a brawl to settle it all...The Kansas-Missouri rivalry will be settle Saturday night. Seriously, it will never be the same...this meeting is the greatest thing to happen to college football this year."
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Ahhhh!!!! Did it work? Did we surprise you?
- - -

That is hyperbole, but if there is a testament to the touted parity in the modern sport, this must be it, the fact that, at this point in the season, none of the one-time underdogs looks out of place anymore at the ball. Well, maybe UConn. Nobody is sure yet what to make of the Huskies, who have offset an overall 9-2 record (5-1 in the Big East) by being suspicious consumers of Duke, Maine, Temple, Pittsburgh, Akron and Syracuse, relying on a huge turnover margin (+15 through eleven games) and outrageous game-changing/deciding calls in their favor - not once but twice - and following affirming wins over South Florida and Rutgers with a 27-3 trouncing at the hands of Cincinnati. Most fans can't name a single player on UConn's roster (maybe that one guy with bleached dreds?) and are accordingly 17-point underdogs to the mighty Mountaineers despite bringing to West Virginia the nation's third-ranked scoring defense. The game will earn UConn an outright Big East championship and Wake Forest-esque BCS bid (indeed, as I've said before: UConn is Wake Forest) or the scorn of unmoved voters and a bid in the Texas Bowl. The same thing happened to Rutgers when it went to Morgantown for the title last year, and there is no Ray Rice driving the nondescript Husky attack against a significantly improved WVU defense.
Virginia - one-point conqueror of UConn in October, 17-16, one of an incredible five UVA wins by two points or less - is still largely a mystery, as well, for obvious reasons, but oddsmakers opened the line on the Cavs' game with Virginia Tech at 3.5 to 4 points in the Hokies' favor, probably out of their understandable unease re: the Tech offense. In all, though, Virginia ranks ahead of their cross-state rivals in four of 17 categories tracked by the NCAA: passing offense, total offense, kickoff returns and sacks allowed. The Cavs do not approach Tech defensively, as almost no other teams do. Even dissecting the records, which are identical overall and in the ACC, there's an asterisk in favor of the Hokies, who played Boston College, Clemson and Florida State from across the divisional aisle, where Virginia drew Maryland, N.C. State and Wake Forest. All of this will be completely irrelevant if Tech goes into its notorious shell on offense and lets the Cavs do what the Cavs do, which is hang around and beat you with a well-placed banana peel or something.

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Chin up Rudy - you could be in the Rose Bowl by week's end.
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Arizona State has the awkward distinction of being a first place team in a tough, respected conference with almost nothing to recommend it as a truly high quality team going into its game with mussed but ever ambitious USC Thursday, which, like the others, could be the difference in the winner visiting the Rose Bowl or the Sun Bowl (for the millionth time, Pac Ten: fix your TV contract and your bowl tie-ins, please). Both teams are in the same boat: since their early Big 12 wins (Colorado for ASU, Nebraska for USC) have turned out largely worthless, neither has beaten a winning team outside of quickly-disregarded Oregon State and rapidly deteriorating Cal, and both are victims in a tiebreaker scenario with Oregon. That SC is a three-point favorite to a higher-ranked team on the road is a tribute totally to the preseason perception. And then, of course, there's Kansas, which will get more attention Friday for its personal Game of the Century of the Millenium showdown with Missouri, for whom Kansans apparently share a very strong, reciprocal dislike (murderous sectarian riots over the spread of slavery will do that for a rivalry). I've been pounding hard on the Jayhawks' schedule the last couple weeks with an eye permanently cocked toward this game, which really does carry that much meaning, in terms of the national picture and the perception of these two teams, specifically. Kansas is a surprise unbeaten, without doubt, but of their eleven wins, only one - over Nebraska - would have actually counted as a surprise in August, when we were wrong wrong wrong as wrong could be about the merits of the Cornhuskers. What has been surprising about Kansas is not its level of play but its consistency, the accumulation of many fairly ordinary wins (73 points against Nebraska is not ordinary, but, in the same vein, neither was allowing the Huskers to score 39 on the other end). Here is the only chance to add great value to consistency, to be "for real" on a level that justifies a shot at the conference championship and beyond. Otherwise, the Jayhawks are just another upstart in a season filled with them.
 
Boston College: Win Or You're Screwed...Sorta

Posted Nov 21st 2007 2:51PM by Ian Cohen
Filed under: Boston College Football, Clemson Football, Virginia Football, Virginia Tech Football, ACC, BCS, Bowl Games
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When the ACC puffed out to 12 teams several years back, it was pretty much anathema to anyone who wasn't John Swofford or affiliated with Virginia Tech. Most of this had to do with how it directly affected the basketball schedule; see the argument about Virginia being an "unfit" regular season ACC champion because they didn't get to play Duke or UNC twice (as if UNC winning at John Paul Jones was a given). On a less concrete level, it bothered purists who saw the ACC as a "basketball conference." Which is true in two fundamental ways: many of the conference's schools have achieved far more success on the hardwood than the gridiron, and (here's the important part), they don't have the characteristics of many "football schools." Besides having a handful of universities with enrollments of less than 10,000 (Duke, Wake, GT and now, BC) and mid-sized state schools (Virginia, UNC), even the larger universities (NC State, Florida State) aren't coming close to the nationwide alumni prevalence of an Ohio State or Texas or USC.

Now that the conference finds itself trying to fill out big boy bowls, this has arguably resulted in a dichotomy where the smaller schools get screwed during bowl season year in, year out because of misconceptions about a school's ability to "travel" and whether they're a "football" school. Of course, this ends up in the Catch-22 of schools like Virginia, Boston College and Wake being unable to change these reputations because they're being sent out to places like Hawai'i, San Francisco and Boise instead of somewhere within reason. They even had to instate a rule that preventing bowl selection committees from cherrypicking teams who have reputations that precede the actual product they put on the field; to illustrate the rule, if Wake Forest has a 7-5 record with a 5-3 conference slate, they can't be passed over for, say, Maryland if they're 7-5 with a 3-5 conference record.


Boston College has already been a victim of this once; despite finishing in the Top 25 in 2005, they were relegated to the Humanitarian Bowl due to the vicissitudes of the selection process (i.e., 4th choice doesn't mean you have to take the 4th best team), a large part being that Boise didn't want to bring Virginia for a second straight season considering the lack of enthusiasm they brought the first time. This year, there's far more at stake for them in the ACC Championship than just a trophy. Beat VT or UVA- you get an eight-digit payday at the Orange Bowl. Lose...well, I hear Orlando's really nice this time of year. From the looks of things, the Gator and Chick Fil A Bowl may have already decided that BC isn't part of their plans. So says Chick Fil-A president Gary Stokan:
"Everybody has a concern regarding BC with respect to its [fan] travel."
​
He doesn't rule the Eagles out completely, but you get the feeling that they're far less attractive of a choice than the loser of UVA/VT or southern mainstay/guaranteed sellout Clemson. Even with UVA's sketchy reputation for travel, they still have a good presence in the Atlanta area and haven't been to this bowl since 1998. All protests from BC/Atlanta Fanhouse correspondent Bill Maloney aside, you can see things from Stokan's perspective, but it still sucks hard. Meanwhile, the Gator Bowl bit the bullet last year by taking Georgia Tech just weeks after they lost the ACC Championship in the same stadium, and they're not looking to relive that thrill again. You'd best believe they're giving Clemson a good once-over.

Granted, the Champs Sports Bowl would probably sound like a far more attractive fallback plan if it didn't have that name. It doesn't have the same payday or the cachet of proximity to New Year's Day, but whatever Big Ten school fills the opposite slot (Penn State?) would pick up the ticket slack and still result in a meaningful, "name" matchup. And in the event that UVA ends up there (likely the case if BC wins the ACC), well, you have to admit that constitutes a wildly successful outcome considering expectations that preceded even the Wyoming game. But if things don't pan out that way, you basically have a situation where one of the conference's strongest teams is almost completely barred from two of its three most lucrative bowl games.
 
What's Wrong With Chris Long?

Posted Nov 21st 2007 2:10PM by Ian Cohen
Filed under: Virginia Football, Virginia Tech Football, ACC, BCS, NCAA FB Gossip, NCAA FB Injuries
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Yeah, that title alone is probably enough to have the Virginia faithful rending their clothes in the streets, but those message board twitterings you've been reading are true: Chris Long missed practice on Monday with strep throat, which he continues to struggle with.

Of course, you don't have your "motor" and "relentlessness" praised, um, relentlessly unless you're <strike>an undersized white guy</strike> the type of player who could work through this. Moreover, unless doctors gotta dig all up in his thorax, I seriously doubt that Chris Long would miss the most important game against archrival Virginia Tech that the team has ever played. Al Groh noted that Long would have to be "very sick" to skip out, which I've taken the liberty to translate as meaning "dead." During his freshman year, Long managed to work through mono, which is pretty amazing, considering that everyone I knew in college with that ailment used it as an excuse to play decades of Madden dynasties. This will be tracked closely, but until then, resume normal breathing. God knows Chris Long would like to.
 
Jim Harbaugh Will Not Be Replacing Lloyd Carr

Posted Nov 21st 2007 2:08PM by Tom Fornelli
Filed under: Michigan Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Rumors, NCAA FB Coaching
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As the University of Michigan begins it's search for Lloyd Carr's replacement by interviewing current coordinators Ron English and Mike DeBord, one possible candidate has taken his name off the list.

Former Michigan quarterback, and current Stanford head coach, Jim Harbaugh wants everybody to know he isn't interested in the job.
"As far as the opening they have, the Michigan people will do a great job in selecting someone to carry on that tradition," Harbaugh said. "It's not going to be me. I am happy where I am."
​
It's pretty nice of Jim to let us all know he doesn't want the job, especially when you consider he was probably never going to get it anyway. He's only in his first year at Stanford, and even though the Cardinal upset USC this season, Harbaugh hasn't really done anything in Palo Alto to catapult himself up the list of possible replacements.

There is also the fact that Carr and the school aren't exactly thrilled with Harbaugh right now anyway. After the comments he made earlier this season about the school's academic standards (even though they're true for the most part), Bo Schembechler probably has a better chance of rising from the dead to take the program over, than Harbaugh does of getting the position.

Besides, every interview the school makes is just to kill time until Les Miles finally leaves LSU.
 
Purdue Kicked Selwyn Lymon Off The team

Posted Nov 21st 2007 1:21PM by Tom Fornelli
Filed under: Big 10, Purdue Football, NCAA FB Police Blotter
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I reported here yesterday about the latest incident involving Purdue wideout Selwyn Lymon. Excuse me, I meant former Purdue wideout Selwyn Lymon.

It seems that Lymon's latest arrest for DUI and resisting arrest, along with a bar fight that resulted in Lymon being stabbed back in March, is just too much for Purdue, and they've kicked Selwyn off the team.
"Selwyn is the victim of making some very poor choices, and, in addition to dealing with the legal ramifications of those poor choices, he no longer will be a part of the football program at Purdue," coach Joe Tiller said in a statement.

A Tippecanoe County court magistrate on Monday ordered Lymon jailed without bond. He also was charged with resisting arrest and operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device required as a condition of previous charges.​
Lymon compared his dismissal to being "stabbed in the back. At least when I was stabbed in the chest, I saw it coming."*

*Totally not true
 
Not going anywhere
By Mike Section: News
Posted on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 03:24:03 PM EDT


At a press conference this afternoon, Steve Kragthorpe called rumors that he had interviewed for the open head coaching position at SMU "absolute fiction" and said he is still completely committed to the University of Louisville football program.
Kragthorpe did not take any questions from the media.
The embattled first-year head coach said that his lofty expectations have not changed since the day he took the job, despite the fact that his Cardinal team - which was ranked in the top ten to begin the season - is 5-6. He said he knew it was going to be tough to live up to the preseason hype, but added that he wasn't prepared for some of the "off-the-field issues" that occurred this season. He also admitted that he was sure there were some people out there who were hoping that he would leave, which he said would be "the easy thing" for him to do.
The immediate reaction from the U of L fan base is, well, it's not the usual reaction you get from a fan base after a press conference in which the program's head coach announces he is not taking another job.
Like it or not, Steve Kragthorpe will be your head coach for at least the culmination of the Hunter Cantwell era.
 
Can Clemson Shake Off Their Funk?

Posted Nov 21st 2007 3:57PM by Bill Maloney
Filed under: Clemson Football, ACC, BCS, South Carolina Football

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Clemson didn't finish the job last Saturday against Boston College. The loss kept them out of the ACC Championship game and extended the Tigers conference title drought another year. Needless to say the players took it hard. It took star running back James Davis two days just to leave his house, talk to his team or even watch SportsCenter.

Saturday provides a partial remedy for the BC hangover -- a rivalry game against South Carolina. There is a lot at stake, too. If the Tigers win they will probably land in an attractive bowl (either the <strike>Peach</strike> Chick-fil-A or Gator). Losing to the Gamecocks would create a whole different set of issues. Gator and Chick-fil-A would be gone...and so might Tommy Bowden. Tommy Bowden seemed to have removed himself from the Hot Seat with the Tigers 8-2 start. But the setback against the Eagles warmed things up a bit. Another loss would make this a true TB meltdown. Throw in the a few well-timed Steve Spurrier quips after a potential loss and you could envision the Hot Seat ablaze. Any good will Bowden has earned over the years would be gone.

Tommy Bowden would be the fall guy but it might not be his fault. The guys at Danny Ford is God have a new theory for Clemson's annual teases and trip ups. If there is a Clemson curse perhaps they can bring back Ford to fix their problems -- football or supernatural.
 
Longhorns mostly healthy for A&M

By Suzanne Halliburton | Wednesday, November 21, 2007, 04:03 PM
The bye week was a healing one for the football team.
Reserve safety Drew Kelson (knee) is the lone Longhorn on the injury report for Friday’s game at Texas A&M. Kelson is listed as doubtful. Kelson, who has been a special teams standout, sprained his knee, Nov. 3, in a win at Oklahoma State.
Texas was forced to play without several key defenders against Texas Tech, Nov. 10. However, linebacker Jared Norton (shoulder) and end Eddie Jones (shoulder) are not on the injury list.
 
LSU line climbing.

13 and 13' now. Will we see 14? I didn't think it would jump this high, so maybe.
 
SI’s Stewart Mandel puts Aggies in their place


The Aggies aren’t officially in need of a head coach yet but that hasn’t stopped the crazy train for getting going full steam ahead. Coaching candidates from across the country including Tommy Tuberville, Mike Sherman, and Paul Bear Bryant have all reportedly begged to have the job and silently accepted the position.
The latest hot name is the one and only Steve Spurrier, but Aggie fans aren’t sure he’s good enough for them. Sports Illustrated’s Stewart Mandel probably spit coffee all over his keyboard when he read this email from Aggie Matt from Corpus:
I am sure you are tired of hearing questions about the Texas A&M coaching situation, but I heard Steve Spurrier mentioned as a possible candidate. Do you think the Aggies will actually consider him, and if so, how do you think he would compete against Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech in recruiting?
–Matt, Corpus Christi, Texas
​
Mandel’s response is a classic:
At some point, I’d like to take a visit to whatever planet it is Aggies fans come from. Would A&M “consider” Spurrier? Sure. They’ve already set their sights on Tommy Tuberville, and Dennis Erickson is apparently on their “Plan B” list. Why not throw Spurrier into the mix as long as we’re playing Monopoly?
Now, will Spurrier “consider” the Aggies? Sure… for about as long as it takes to read this sentence.
The guy specifically chose South Carolina because at this point in his career, he wanted a low-pressure environment where the expectations are manageable. Texas A&M — where they expect the coach to compete at the same level as Texas, despite an all-time record of 35-73-5 against the ‘Horns — does not fit that description.
​
Nice to see we’re not the only ones who can have a good chuckle at the Aggies’ expense. They may not be from another planet but they sure can drink the Kool-Aid in College Station. I love the note about their expectations and hopes to be as good as Texas, and of course pointing out their horrid all-time record against the Horns.
Hilarious.
 
Charlie Weis Wants Jimmy Clausen to Beef Up

Posted Nov 22nd 2007 8:00AM by Tom Fornelli
Filed under: Notre Dame Football
Charlie Weis thinks that the time Jimmy Clausen spent on the sidelines after being benched for Evan Sharpley has had a very positive effect on his young quarterback. I'm more of the opinion that Clausen's improvement is just 20 minutes of garbage time against Air Force and a full game against Duke, but whatever, improvement is improvement right?

Still there is something Weis would like to see Clausen do this offseason, and that's hit the weight room so his frail frame can take the punishment that comes with playing behind the Irish offensive line.
"That's critical," Weis said. "Not just to take the hit, it's to be able to shrug off guys. The really good quarterbacks, you'll see they are getting touched a lot but they don't go down a lot."

Weis said he has talked to Clausen at length about the need for him to get stronger.
​
Clausen is listed at 207 pounds as currently constructed, but Weis admits he's really in the 195 pound range, which for a 6'3 quarterback is extremely light. Jimmy doesn't have to get to Brady Quinn status or anything, but adding about 10-15 pounds of muscle sure couldn't hurt in the long run.

Today is Thanksgiving, so now is just as good a time to start as any.
 
This One will be all on the Defense
By Paragon SC Section: Football
Posted on Thu Nov 22, 2007 at 08:17:03 AM EDT


As good as ASU has been this season they have a huge deficiency n the offense, the ability to protect the quarterback.
They lead the Pac-10 in sacks allowed at 43, couple that with a solid USC pass rush, and the #1 defense in the Pac-10- #3 nationally, and on paper you see this game today shaping up to be a real mess for ASU. Rudy Carpenter has been a piñata back in the pocket and he has an injured hand to show for it. To this point they have gotten away with I but they have yet to play a defense of this caliber.
Arizona Coach Dennis Erickson agrees:

Erickson has studied USC's defensive front, which includes Jackson, nose tackle Sedrick Ellis, tackle Fili Moala and Moore, who will play behind freshman Everson Griffen today because of a hand injury. Some of what Erickson sees is familiar.
"They remind me a little bit of some of the fronts I had at Miami, Warren Sapp, Cortez Kennedy and some of those guys," Erickson said.
[...]Said Erickson: "We haven't seen a defense close to it."

While a lot of people will point to the front seven going up against the ASU offensive line as the premier battle to watch I would say look more carefully at how the secondary performs today. If the pressure comes Carpenter will put it up and then it is all on the secondary to shut it down. I don't think it will surprise anyone if we see a lot of blitzes to pressure Carpenter even more.
And Safety Kevin Ellison will be looking to conquer some demons of his own:

Ellison was a freshman when he suffered torn knee ligaments and a broken leg after intercepting a tipped pass that helped set up the Trojans' final touchdown in a 38-28 comeback victory over Arizona State. Ellison had graduated a semester early from Redondo Union High to join the Trojans in 2005 spring practice. By the time USC played Arizona State in its fourth game, he was part of the third-down defensive package.
"I didn't really know what I was doing," he said this week. "It was happening fast back then. I got lucky on the interception. It happened to get tipped to me and I was in the right place at the right time.
"Well, maybe the wrong place at the wrong time as far as my knee. But everything happens for a reason."

His leadership will be key tonight in not letting the Sun Devils convert any big plays.
Freshman Everson Griffen has some opinions of his own,

Griffen, an Arizona native, did not hesitate when asked about the Sun Devils' offensive line. "They're just slow, big guys, that's it," he said. "Just run past them."

I always like to be careful as not to give the opponent any bulletin board material but you gotta love the kid's enthusiasm.
So we'll see how it goes tonight, I think SC will do ok but it will be on the defense to shut the Sun Devils down.
 
<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="storytitle"> The Kansas Problem ... The Schedule </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="primaryimage" valign="top">
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</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="middle">By Reese Jenniges
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Nov 22, 2007
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Has Kansas played anyone this year? That should be the biggest issue in the rankings.
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[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]The Kansas Problem[/FONT]
Compiled by Reese Jenniges
It takes more than moxie

Every writer in college football seems to be stuck on who deserves a shot at the national championship in January. The answer seems fairly easy, if KU goes undefeated, there is no correct or fair way of denying them the trip to New Orleans. It is quite easy to argue that LSU should take the other spot. Here and now, the topic of interest is who the new number two is because…

The Jayhawks will lose to Missouri in Kansas City.

Come hell or high water, the Tigers will be in the Big 12 Championship. KU will ultimately fall short of their goal by losing to Missouri and thus giving the Tigers a trip to the Big 12 Championship. But how can this be? Kansas is a team of destiny! So is Hawaii and they‘ll be lucky to get a BCS bid with their cakewalk of a schedule.

Game Performance

Kansas has had a fairly tough time with its Big 12 opponents (minus Baylor, Iowa State and Nebraska). They’ve had to hold on against K-State, Colorado and Texas A&M. They won games against these tough conference opponents by an average of five points. Even Oklahoma State gave them a run for their money a couple weekends back. For a team that has throttled Nebraska, a whoopin’ of Colorado shouldn’t be too much to ask for.

Meanwhile, Missouri has really only had two opponents that were pushovers, Western Michigan and Illinois State. It also seems fairly safe to say that WMU is just as good as CMU or Toledo and better than FIU; Illinois State is also better than SE Louisiana. Notice how Missouri has clocked Big 12 opponents that Kansas had trouble with at home. The Tigers went on the road and tattooed Colorado 55-10, while KU had to outlast them 19-11.

Overall Performance

Take a look at the base statistics, the Jayhawks digits in nearly every category are a bit skewed. Crushing Central Michigan, SE Louisiana, Toledo and FIU are all W’s but they inflate KU’s stats. This dominant KU defense and their respective offense has most of its mastery on weak opponents like the above out of conference teams and of course Baylor and Nebraska. The KU defense has had 20 interceptions and 12 fumbles against their opponents thus far. 32 turnovers isn’t bad, they lead the nation in turnover ratio. One problem, almost a third of their gains are accounted for by those four teams (5 ints, 5 fumbles). Furthermore, the run game is responsible for 27 TDs to date, and the pass game, 33 TDs. 60 TDs is a fantastic feat for any team, but when 24 of them have come from the above four adversaries, it doesn’t seem as potent. That’s right; 40% of their offensive TDs are due to the defenses of CMU, SE Louisiana, Toledo and FIU. Don’t look so hot now huh?

Take a look at Missouri’s statistics, of their 54 offensive TDs, 11—five passing, six rushing—are accounted for by these two pushover games which is about a fifth of their scores. The Tigers also have 26 takeaways, of which only four are linked to the two weakest opponents on their schedule (about 15% of their total). Statistically, this squad that hails from Columbia is superior.

Strength of Schedule

Minus the out of conference games, KU and MU have the same schedule with two HUGE exceptions. KU got OK-State and Baylor. MU got Oklahoma and Texas Tech. Now, tell me, who has the easier schedule? Losing one close game to Oklahoma is nothing to be ashamed of, Kansas has yet to play a team with the kind of skill that the Sooners presented the Tigers with. Missouri crushed Tech and held that awesome pass offense to just one TD and picked off ace QB Graham Harrell four times. What willhappen when Todd Reesing gets behind center against that pass defense?

Even if the Jayhawk crew doesn’t crumble against the Tigers, they have the Sooners to face in the Big 12 Championship. Everything points to a Missouri victory in Kansas City. The Jayhawks will need more than moxie to beat the Tigers, and they’ll need something resembling the 101<sup>st</sup> Airborne to beat the Sooners. So the question is who is the real number two?
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Phil's Power Sweep Top 25 forecast:

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="904"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td colspan="18">Each week I will look at the matchups involving top 25 teams for the upcoming week and give you my forecast on the game. If you read pages 324 and 327 of my National college football preview you will see I have a Power Plays projection for each teams yards for the season. I will give you my computers projection for each game as well and keep track how both do this season. The numbers above the game reflect the Power Plays projected box score for each game. I then write my personal analysis below. I am not a computer and I do not just go by what a computer predicts, so sometimes the forecasts may vary. All games will be tabulated by the Straight up winner of each game. I will also have a couple of extra marquee games or upset selections each week to keep it interesting. Here are this weeks games involving Top 25 tms.*Numbers in Red are actual numbers/ Highlighted numbers are within 30 yds or 4 pts!
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</td><td colspan="14" rowspan="5">Wk of November 22nd
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</td><td colspan="7" rowspan="2">#1
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</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="3">#2 vs #3
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</td><td colspan="9" rowspan="3"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
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</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">Arkansas
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">175
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">120
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">29
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.8
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#1 LSU
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">245
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">275
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">46
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.3
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</td><td height="5">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="6">
</td><td colspan="11" rowspan="3"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">* Arrowhead Stadium
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#3 Missouri
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">110
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">355
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">36
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.5
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#2 Kansas
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">150
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">285
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">34
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.1
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</td><td colspan="9" rowspan="3">LSU has not been overly impressive the last month and a half but they control their destiny to get to the title game. Arkansas ran for 298 yards last year vs LSU’s D and this is like a bowl game for Arkansas as their next game is over a month away while LSU has the SEC title game on deck and has the pressure of having to win the last two on their shoulders while Arkansas can play loose. Hogs make a game of it.
PHIL’S FORECAST: #1 LSU 34 Arkansas 24
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</td><td colspan="11">This game could produce a team that plays in the National Title game AND even the Heisman Trophy winner! Should be a great high scoring game. My computer calls for Missouri to have a 465-435 yard edge and win by two. They have the more battle tested team and I will call for a Tigers win as well.
PHIL’S FORECAST: #3 Missouri 34 #2 Kansas 31

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</td><td colspan="11" rowspan="2">#6
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</td><td colspan="7" rowspan="3">#4 vs #20
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</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#6 Georgia
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">125
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">173
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">30
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.0
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">Georgia Tech
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">186
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">183
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">22
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.8
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td height="3">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="21">
</td><td height="5">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="3" rowspan="3">
</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="3"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
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</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#20 Connecticut
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">98
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">120
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">14
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.4
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#4 West Virginia
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">312
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">165
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">33
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.1
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td colspan="8">
</td><td height="46">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="20">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="8">
</td><td colspan="12" rowspan="4">Georgia is the stronger team and despite the distraction of following the Tennessee game which starts earlier in the day (Tennessee loss equals SEC Title Game) Richt should have them focused as a win here wraps up a BCS bowl berth should they not get to the SEC title game. Dogs playing their best ball down the stretch and they own GT and the SEC is much tougher than the ACC this year.
PHIL’S FORECAST: #6 Georgia 30 GEORGIA TECH 20

</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="21">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="3">
</td><td colspan="10">The battle for the Big East title but one of these teams is a contender and the other is a pretender. Look for Pat White and Steve Slaton to finally play up to their capabilities but I also look for the vastly underrated Mountie defense to shut down a pedestrian UConn offense. UC had just 12 FD’s and 204 yards offense in their trip to Cincinnati.
PHIL’S FORECAST: #4 WEST VIRGINIA 35 #20 Connecticut 10

</td><td colspan="8">
</td><td height="126">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="21">
</td><td height="6">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="33">
</td><td height="19">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="4" rowspan="2">
</td><td colspan="7" rowspan="2">#7 vs #11
</td><td colspan="22">
</td><td height="11">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="5">
</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="3">#8 vs #16
</td><td colspan="7" rowspan="3">
</td><td height="37">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="16">
</td><td height="3">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="3" rowspan="3">
</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="3"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
_clear.gif
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#11 USC
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">148
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">180
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">20
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.6
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#7 Arizona St
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">127
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">215
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">20
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.3
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td colspan="3">
</td><td height="8">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="20">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="4">
</td><td colspan="13" rowspan="3"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
_clear.gif
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#8 Virginia Tech
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">107
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">158
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">20
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">1.5
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#16 Virginia
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">74
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">248
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">20
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.2
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="3">
</td><td height="42">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="17">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="3" rowspan="3">
</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="3">Should be a great game and could determine the Pac 10 title. Both teams worthy of the high ranking and the winner may find their way into the Rose Bowl if the Ducks lose one more game. PHIL’S FORECAST: #11 USC 23 #7 Arizona St 20

</td><td colspan="4">
</td><td height="8">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="20">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="4">
</td><td colspan="13" rowspan="3">This is the battle for the ACC Atlantic Title and should be a tight low scoring game. VT has played well on the road and will have a good crowd of fans for this. Virginia has had a magical season and is much tougher at home than on the road. This one could be decided by a late FG.
PHIL’S FORECAST: #8 Virginia Tech 17 #16 VIRGINIA 16

</td><td colspan="3" rowspan="3">
</td><td height="72">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="17">
</td><td height="22">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="2" rowspan="2">
</td><td colspan="8" rowspan="2">#9
</td><td colspan="7">
</td><td height="43">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="23">
</td><td height="5">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="33">
</td><td height="2">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="18">
</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="2">#10
</td><td colspan="5" rowspan="2">
</td><td height="1">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td rowspan="3">
</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="3"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
_clear.gif
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#9 Oregon
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">238
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">190
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">32
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.5
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">UCLA
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">152
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">245
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">23
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.8
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td colspan="7">
</td><td height="47">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="22">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="5">
</td><td colspan="13" rowspan="3"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
_clear.gif
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">Oklahoma St
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">210
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">210
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">28
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.4
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#10 Oklahoma
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">195
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">325
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">38
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.0
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td colspan="4" rowspan="3">
</td><td height="3">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="16">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td rowspan="3">
</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="3">Losing the Heisman front runner Dennis Dixon is a HUGE blow to the Ducks title chances. Leaf is not a mobile QB and also not as strong a passer. HUGE! I think the Ducks still have a shot at beating a very underrated team that is fresh off a bye and beat USC here at home last year. Great spot for UCLA and they have an excellent shot at the win but Bellotti somehow comes up with a plan to pull out the victory.
PHIL’S FORECAST: #9 Oregon 23 UCLA 20

</td><td colspan="5">
</td><td height="47">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="22">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="5">
</td><td colspan="13" rowspan="3">Oklahoma suffered a MAJOR loss last week when QB Bradford went down and then they lost RB Murray for the season. Bradford could return here. A Texas loss on Friday would give them the title but I can’t imagine the Sooners letting up in the Bedlam battle.
PHIL’S FORECAST: #10 OKLAHOMA 37 Oklahoma St 23

</td><td colspan="4" rowspan="3">
</td><td height="98">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="16">
</td><td height="11">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="4" rowspan="3">
</td><td colspan="7" rowspan="3">#12
</td><td colspan="5">
</td><td height="24">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="22">
</td><td height="8">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="6">
</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="3">#13
</td><td colspan="6" rowspan="3">
</td><td height="16">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="17">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="2" rowspan="3">
</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="3"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
_clear.gif
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">Florida St
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">105
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">250
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">26
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">1.9
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#12 Florida
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">150
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">335
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">41
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.2
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td colspan="5">
</td><td height="28">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="21">
</td><td height="2">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="3">
</td><td colspan="13" rowspan="3"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
_clear.gif
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#13 Texas
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">215
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">240
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">31
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">1.8
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">Texas A&M
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">175
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">255
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">28
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">1.2
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td colspan="5" rowspan="3">
</td><td height="24">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="15">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="2" rowspan="3">
</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="3">Florida St is not used to being a big underdog in games but does well in those events. QB Weatherford has an 8-1 ratio a big improvement from the last couple of years. Florida St also has the defensive edge and will be well motivated for this rivalry and this is a rare year when one of the teams does not have a title game on deck. Gators are still the stronger team and get the win. PHIL’S FORECAST: #12 FLORIDA 33 Florida St 23

</td><td colspan="3">
</td><td height="26">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="21">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="3">
</td><td colspan="13" rowspan="3">The Aggies upset a stronger Texas team last year. Mack Brown has done a great job as Texas has had a very disappointing season but still has a shot at the Big 12 title and even if Oklahoma wins the Horns will get a BCS berth with a win. This could be coach Frans final game with the Aggies and they should give a premier effort at home and Horns defense is not playing up to their talent level.
PHIL’S FORECAST: #13 Texas 31 TEXAS A&M 30

</td><td colspan="5" rowspan="3">
</td><td height="96">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="15">
</td><td height="9">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="4" rowspan="2">
</td><td colspan="7" rowspan="2">#14 vs #17
</td><td colspan="4">
</td><td height="35">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="22">
</td><td height="14">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="33">
</td><td height="6">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="3" rowspan="2">
</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="2"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
_clear.gif
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#17 Boise St
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">159
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">248
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">39
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.1
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#14 Hawaii
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">67
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">448
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">33
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.7
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td colspan="20">
</td><td height="6">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="6">
</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="2">#15
</td><td colspan="4" rowspan="2">
</td><td height="48">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="19">
</td><td height="3">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="33">
</td><td height="1">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="3" rowspan="2">
</td><td colspan="10" rowspan="5">The winner goes to the Sugar Bowl and that is where I pegged Hawaii at the start of the year. I will call for the Warriors to wrap up the WAC title with a win at home.
PHIL’S FORECAST: #14 HAWAII 44 Boise St 34

</td><td colspan="20">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="3" rowspan="2">
</td><td colspan="13" rowspan="2"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
_clear.gif
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">Miami, FL
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">73
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">210
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">15
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">3.6
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#15 Boston College
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">117
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">345
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">36
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.2
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td colspan="4" rowspan="2">
</td><td height="43">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="5" rowspan="3">
</td><td height="11">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="20">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="3">
</td><td colspan="13" rowspan="5">Miami has a shot here due to motivation. A BC win here would NOT mean a BCS berth if they lose next week. A BC loss here is meaningless if they win NEXT week as the ACC title gets them a BCS bowl berth. Miami desperately needs a win to avoid a losing season and possibly land a bowl slot.
PHIL’S FORECAST: #15 BOSTON COLLEGE 27 Miami, Fl 20

</td><td colspan="4" rowspan="5">
</td><td height="23">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="18">
</td><td height="21">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="6">
</td><td colspan="7">#19
</td><td colspan="5">
</td><td height="51">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="18">
</td><td height="3">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="4">
</td><td colspan="10"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
_clear.gif
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#19 Tennessee
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">151
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">175
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">29
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">1.8
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">Kentucky
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">109
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">325
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">27
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.3
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td colspan="4">
</td><td height="54">
</td></tr><tr><td width="3">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="145">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="6">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="270">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="3">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="67">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="2">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="2">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="34">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="4">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="3">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="66">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="4">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="262">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="2">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="1">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="3">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="2">
_clear.gif
</td><td width="2">
_clear.gif
</td><td height="1" width="7">
_clear.gif
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href="http://www.philsteele.com/NCAA%20Schedules/Future%20Schedules/futureschedulesf.html"><area alt="" coords="11,278,65,288" href="http://www.philsteele.com/NCAA%20Schedules/Div%20IAA%20Schedules/conferencemain.html"><area alt="" coords="11,264,125,277" href="http://www.philsteele.com/NCAA%20Schedules/Div%20IAA%20Schedules/conferencemain.html"><area alt="" coords="9,236,111,249" href="http://www.philsteele.com/NCAA%20Schedules/2007weekbyweek.html"><area alt="" coords="11,222,119,235" href="http://www.philsteele.com/NCAA%20Schedules/2007weekbyweek.html"><area alt="" coords="11,194,65,204" href="http://www.philsteele.com/NCAA%20Schedules/ncaaschedules.html"><area alt="" coords="11,179,115,192" href="http://www.philsteele.com/NCAA%20Schedules/ncaaschedules.html"><area alt="" coords="11,149,136,159" href="http://www.philsteele.com/FBS%20Info/midssn%20all%20conf/midssnallconfmai.html"><area alt="" coords="11,135,130,145" href="http://www.philsteele.com/FBS%20Info/midssn%20all%20conf/midssnallconfmai.html"><area alt="" coords="11,105,132,118" href="http://www.philsteele.com/Top%2025/top25main.html"><area alt="" coords="11,76,119,89" href="http://www.philsteele.com/Misc%20Pages/phil%27sweeklynote.html"><area alt="" coords="11,47,99,57" href="http://ncsports.websitegear.com"><area alt="" coords="13,0,78,13" href="http://www.philsteele.com"></map><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="904"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td colspan="14">
</td><td height="3">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="2" rowspan="6">
</td><td colspan="5" rowspan="6">A Tennessee win equals the SEC East title. Kentucky already knocked off #1 LSU here at home and this is like a bowl game for them with no games after this for 3 or 4 weeks. Last year the Cats outplayed Tennessee but narrowly lost on the road. This year they knock off a ranked Vols team at home.
PHIL’S FORECAST: KENTUCKY 38 #19 Tennessee 35

</td><td colspan="7">
</td><td height="16">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="4">
</td><td colspan="2">#21
</td><td>
</td><td height="51">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="7">
</td><td height="5">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="2">
</td><td colspan="5"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
_clear.gif
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#21 Clemson
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">188
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">150
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">30
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">1.8
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">South Carolina
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">82
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">270
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">19
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.7
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td height="54">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="7">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="2">
</td><td colspan="5" rowspan="7">Typical Clemson. When things look great for them, they lose. When it looks like they have no hope, they win. Clemson had FULL control of their destiny needed only to beat BC at home and it would be off to the ACC title game! They led and they blew it. Now, how do they get ready for their rival that they have beaten 5 of the last 6 years that is fresh off a bye and led by mastermind Steve Spurrier. SC needs a win to get to bowl eligibility and get it here.
PHIL’S FORECAST: SOUTH CAROLINA 24 #21 Clemson 23

</td><td height="7">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="9">
</td><td height="14">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="3">
</td><td colspan="3">#23
</td><td colspan="3">
</td><td height="51">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="9">
</td><td height="5">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="2">
</td><td colspan="5"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
_clear.gif
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">Utah
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">138
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">190
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">21
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">1.9
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#23 Byu
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">117
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">300
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">22
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">3.0
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td colspan="2">
</td><td height="54">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="9">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="2" rowspan="6">
</td><td colspan="5" rowspan="6">I think the WAC and Mountain West should get together and have a title game between the two leagues. While BYU can afford to lose this and win the MWC with a win at San Diego St next week, this could be like a semifinal game as the two team are playing the best ball in the conference (with TCU a close #3). Put the winner of this game vs the winner of Hawaii/Boise and it would be a great game. This one goes to the wire and the visitor has fared well in the series but BYU claims the Beehive Boot.
PHIL’S FORECAST: #23 BYU 24 Utah 20

</td><td colspan="2">
</td><td height="19">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="7">
</td><td height="19">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="3">
</td><td colspan="2">#24
</td><td colspan="2">
</td><td height="51">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="7">
</td><td height="7">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>
</td><td colspan="4"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
_clear.gif
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#24 Cincinnati
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">168
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">270
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">33
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">1.5
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">Syracuse
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">67
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">255
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">9
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">3.4
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td colspan="2">
</td><td height="54">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="7">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="8">
</td><td colspan="4" rowspan="6">Syracuse allows 5.2 ypc rushing and also cant stop the pass (allows 68% completions). Cincy coach Kelly likes to put the hammer down vs overmatched teams. The Carrier Dome used to be one of the toughest venues to play in for an opponent but due to their complete lack of success recently, the Bearcats may have more fans left in the building in the 4th quarter than the Orangemen.
PHIL’S FORECAST: #24 Cincinnati 38 SYRACUSE 17

</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="6">
</td><td height="13">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="2">
</td><td colspan="2">#25
</td><td colspan="4">
</td><td height="51">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="8">
</td><td height="5">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>
</td><td colspan="4"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td height="12" valign="top" width="124">
_clear.gif
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Rushing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Yds Passing
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Points
</td><td valign="top" width="53">Turn Overs
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">Alabama
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">102
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">193
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">16
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.5
</td></tr><tr><td height="17" valign="top" width="124">#25 Auburn
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">109
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">218
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">20
</td><td valign="middle" width="53">2.6
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td colspan="3">
</td><td height="54">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="8">
</td><td height="4">
</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td rowspan="2">
</td><td colspan="4" rowspan="2">The Iron Bowl has been dominated by Auburn and the Tigers are fresh off a bye and catch the woeful Tide off their outright loss to Sun Belt member ULM. Should be an easy Tiger win right? Actually while Auburn has the tougher D, the Tide have the stronger offense and Saban has established a pattern of having his team ready for SEC big games and not really putting any effort in to games they should win easily. The Tide will be ready for this one and have the offensive edge.
PHIL’S FORECAST: Alabama 20 #25 AUBURN 17
</td></tr></tbody></table>
 
Bradford cleared for Okla. State game

Posted: Thursday November 22, 2007 9:12PM; Updated: Thursday November 22, 2007 9:12PM

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford was cleared to play Saturday against Oklahoma State.
Bradford, the nation's top-rated passer, sustained a concussion last weekend at Texas Tech, but doctors determined he's healthy enough to face the Cowboys.
"Everything has checked out and barring any unforeseen circumstances Sam will play this week," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said Thursday in a statement.
Bradford was injured in the first quarter of Oklahoma's 34-27 loss at Texas Tech, which probably knocked the 10th-ranked Sooners (9-2, 5-2 Big 12) out of national title contention. He has thrown for 2,520 yards and 28 touchdowns with only six interceptions this season.
Backup quarterback Joey Halzle completed 21 of 41 passes for 291 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in relief of Bradford against Tech.
Stoops didn't release additional information about injured defensive end Auston English, who is doubtful for Saturday. English has missed the past two games with a hairline fracture in his leg.
Oklahoma will be without leading rusher DeMarco Murray (knee), defensive end Alan Davis (concussion) and backup receiver Adron Tennell (knee).
The Sooners can clinch the Big 12 South title with a victory over rival Oklahoma State (6-5, 4-3). A win would send them into the conference championship game in San Antonio on Dec. 1.
 
Friday Iron Bowl Primer

by auburn91 Thu Nov 22, 2007 at 06:04:36 PM EDT

By Jay Coulter
jccoulter@gmail.com
<table align="right"><tbody><tr><td>
groves2.jpg
</td></tr></tbody></table>Can you feel it? It’s time. The Iron Bowl is finally here. It’s us vs. them. Our way of life vs. theirs. Good vs. Bad. Right vs. Wrong. Has vs. Has Been. You get the picture. We are now a few hours away from kickoff of the most anticipated game of the year.
True Auburn fans should have butterflies already. I suspect some of you are already throwing up in anticipation. Don’t worry. It’s completely natural. It would be unnatural to be any other way. Take a deep breath and let’s look deeper into Saturday's game...
First off, I know I speak for everyone in sending sympathies to former Alabama running back Siran Stacy. As most of you know, Stacy was involved in a horrible accident in Dothan earlier this week that took the life of his wife and four of his children. Stacy remains in intensive care along with his three year-old daughter.
Something like this makes you realize how trivial a football game can be. If you’d like to help contribute to a fund being set up by Wachovia Bank for Stacy you can do so by sending your contributions to:
The Siran Stacy Fund
PO Box 892
Geneva, Al. 36340
Stat of the Day: Auburn will only have two senior starters from the state of Alabama tomorrow night – quarterback Brandon Cox and safety Eric Brock. You’ll remember this group signed at the same time Jet Gate and the SACS accreditation issue was taking place. This is just another testament to the job Tommy Tuberville has done getting this team ready to play – Georgia not withstanding.
Nick Saban is 0-3 in games played at Jordan-Hare Stadium. As LSU head coach, Saban lost 34-17 in 2000; 31-7 in 2002; and 10-9 in 2004.
For all the talk of Alabama’s demise, expect the game to be close. The average margin of victory for Auburn in its run of five straight wins is eight points.
For those of you headed to Jordan-Hare on Saturday, there will be plenty to see and do. The Sports Illustrated SEC Tour will be on campus and with them will be several former Auburn players and coaches to sign autographs. The players will be in the Tiger Team Village adjacent to Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Here’s a schedule of who’s appearing along with times (Central)...
• Friday, November 23
Pat Dye 1:30- 3:30pm
• Saturday, November 24
Benji Roland 12:30-1:30pm
Ben Leard 1:30-2:30pm
Kurt Crain 2:30-3:30pm
Stan White 3:30-4:30pm
Quentin Riggins 3:30-4:30pm
Frank Sanders 4:30-6:30pm
Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson can remind you of Brandon Cox in the way he plays. When he’s on, he’s very good. When he’s not on, look out. Sound familiar? This season, Wilson has passed for 2,477 yards and 15 touchdowns. The downside? He’s also thrown 10 interceptions and is a big reason for the Tide’s recent skid.
Look for Auburn to try and take advantage of the Alabama special teams. Tide punter P.J. Fitzgerald is averaging only 38.5 yards a punt, which is 94th nationally. Meanwhile, punt return threat Javier Arenas is nursing a high ankle sprain and is not expected to play. This is a huge break for Auburn.
Watch the rushing game. The team with the most rushing yards holds an 18-2 record over the last 20 Iron Bowls.
Alabama ranks 60th nationally in rushing yards (154.2 a game). They rank 55th in passing yards, averaging 232 yards a game.
On the defensive side, the Tide ranks 33rd against the run, allowing an average of 125 yards a game. Through the air, they are worse, giving up 221.6 yards a game which ranks 54th nationally.
So what can we expect? As I said earlier this week, I believe the loss to Louisiana-Monroe will have an effect on this Alabama team. With that said, don’t expect that same team to show up at Pat Dye Field.
Alabama will be ready to play. They usually are in this game. The outcome is really anyone’s guess – especially in this season. If Alabama plays the way it did against Tennessee and LSU they will have a better than average chance of winning.
The same can be said of Auburn. If they bring their A-game, there are few in the country that can stay with them and Alabama will not have near enough horses. Should the team that played in Sanford Stadium two weeks ago make a return engagement then the streak will be over in a hurry.
Something tells me Tommy Tuberville will have this team ready to play. The same may be said for Alabama. In the end, look for Auburn to notch a sixth straight.
 
DEGENERATES: GIVE THANKS

Gambling is about what’s happening now, not what happened last week. If you’re into history, go read a book. If you choose to follow the way of the degenerate, then you came to the right place. In the spirit of the holiday, I’m giving you (don’t worry, I won’t be swaddling you in smallpox dipped blankets) picks — awesome ones! Let us eat.
hunkofpete.jpg

USC @ Arizona State (+2.5)
The season began with USC being heralded as one of the greatest college teams of all time. It ends with them facing elimination from the Pac-10 title hunt at the hands of Arizona State on Thanksgiving night in this year’s Tryptophan Bowl. What the Sun Devils are doing here is beyond me. They’re like Lingering Uncle Larry at Thanksgiving Dinner. He gets invited because he has nowhere else to go but no one wants him there. He shows up early, reeking of dingy strippers, hugs your sisters a little too long, makes lewd remarks about your mom’s boobs, and leaves last, but not before he cries about how lonely he is. Which is actually a prophetic description of Dennis Erickson. You did good, Dennis, really. But we know you’re always looking for the BBD and none of this really matters to you anyway. It is a big deal to Pete, so stop harshing his vibe and git. USC by a TD.
lunch.jpg

Texas @ Texas A & M (+5)
For one day, every year, stuffing is king. When else would you reach into a turkey’s poop shoot for your dinner? I don’t see you wrist deep in a bird’s ass in April, but it’s Thanksgiving, so it’s cool. Nothing says Happy Holidays like scooping grub out of a dirty bird’s sweet spot for your beatifically smiling family. That’s what this game is: It’s stuffing. It’s the only time this year when you can bear to watch these teams. The Longhorns’ fanbase has been driven mad by inconsistentency all year. Some of the natives are even turning against Mack Brown who brought them a National Championship just 2 years ago. And then there’s Coach Fran. Dear, sweet, misguided, Coach Fran. He may not be the worst coach in America, but he has to be the stupidest. And that’s what this comes down to, for me. With a win, Coach Fran will be bowl eligible and he can leave with back to back wins over Texas, which is why I’m so sure Texas is going to roll here. Despite what you hear, Texas is not a bad team and their offense is coming around. They’ve been averaging 43 points a game over the last five, which is the number I see here: Texas, 43-10.
Bye, Coach Fran!
nick.jpg

Alabama @ Auburn (-6)
This game is like the Thanksgiving cranberry sauce to me. I don’t want to smell it, hear about it, or see it, yet year after year this shit is crammed down my throat. It’s tart, slimy, and the crimson hue gives me the dry heaves. So does this game. I hear these teams don’t care for each other. Based on the amount of vitriol I hear from both sides, I wish they’d both lose. The Tide are “led” by the erstwhile Napolean, Nick Saban who spent more time this week discovering new ways to become more loathsome than he did preparing for Tubs & The Gang. Tubs spent the week… honestly, who knows what he does? Doesn’t matter. Auburn’s just better. Tubs has never lost to Bama at home and the Tigers have won 5 in a row overall in the series. They make it 6 this year. Don’t let the line scare you, take Auburn to cover.
wfvhospitality.jpg

Connecticut @ West Virginia (-17.5)
I checked 3 different sports books to confirm that this spread was accurate, and it is. This line put a smile on my face like a pumpkin pie in a vat of Cool Whip. The Huskies are third nationally in scoring defense and fifth in turnover margin. They’re also 7-1 against the spread in their last 8. Couple that with Pat White’s peculiar predilection for fumbling (and minor head injuries) and the fact that Steve Slaton is wearing down (he’s averaged less than 4.5 YPC in 5 of 6 games) – I see this as a dogfight down to the wire. West Virginia may win, but they’re not walking away from UConn. Take the Huskies and the points. As a bonus in this game, the Total is set at 50.5. Don’t know if that’s points or couches ignited; regardless, take the Over.
float.jpg

Missouri @ Kansas (-2)
And now we come to the game of the week and the second oldest rivalry in college football. They call it the Border War, which is awesome, because it’s been a pillow fight since its inception. This game hasn’t meant anything since Mangino was an A-Cup (’twas the fall of ‘68). This year it’s different with both teams competing for a Big 12 title and a shot at a National Championship. I prefer to call it the Crystal Meth War since both states are more famous for the copious cache of crank they gleefully (and toothlessly) produce. This year, that description is particularly apt since both teams are on a binge of revenge across the Big 12, leaving behind beaten bullies, body odor, and empty ammonia canisters. Both offenses average 42+ pts a game and boast two of the top QB’s in the country. Since Missouri lost in Norman, they’ve rolled off 5 straight, topping 40 points in each. Regardless of what happens next, they are for real. Mount Mangino has done an amazing job with the Jayhawks. He’s built a deadly offense (ranked #7 nationally) and a solid defense (ranked #8 nationally). The difference here is a matter of perspective. Kansas is going to play with fear, not of Missouri, but of losing and ruining a perfect season. This makes a team tight and I see them turning the ball over in critical situations. Missouri already lost and I see them playing without fear like they’ve got nothing to lose. Go with the Tigers here, in the game of the weekend.
 
Back from the bar. Didn't post these but I'll add them to the list.

Arkansas +13 (-110) for $200

Hawaii 2H -' (-115)

This game is too much of a toss up and am simply hedging off. Going to make or break with the Georgia play tomorrow.
 
Alright, I'm calling it. Georgia wins and covers the 3 (even with 4 minutes left).

Finally! A winning week! Woohoo!

Week 13: 4-2 and +$740.

Now I'm back to a wonderful 50% and we have a very short card this upcoming week. Will probably be very selective again unless something jumps out. Bowls are coming up and there will be plenty of opportunity early on to make some paper.
 
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