Category Archives: college football

The MAC Still Hasn’t Figured this “13 Teams” Thing Out

Some of you may recall that the past two years I’ve done a rundown of college football’s top non-conference schedules.

I usually start around this time in March. And lo and behold, there’s nothing here! Why?

Well, blame the Mid-American Conference, for starters.

“We don’t know what exactly is going to happen at this point,” Miami assistant AD Pearson said. “Frankly, we’re waiting and waiting, as are all the other MAC schools, for the conference schedule to come out so we can get our schedule out there. Until then, we cannot comment.”

Basically, the MAC is running into a classic problem with round-robin scheduling an odd number of teams, created when Temple joined the league a few years ago. The Wizard of Odds points out that this isn’t the first time this has happened. And in the midst of all this, the MAC also hired a new commissioner.

Currently, no one knows when the MAC will have a schedule. Because of the repercussions, I can’t really do anything until all the schedules are set. For instance, Colorado almost certainly won’t play Miami of Ohio now, so until I know how will replace them how can I make any statements about their schedule? And what if the need for a 12th game causes CU to reschedule on of their other games?

This could get real messy.

Bowl Games: Part VI, The Last One

Here we go, the close of the 2008 college football season. As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

  • Oklahoma vs. Florida, BCS National Championship (@Miami, FL; 8:00 PM, FOX): This is it. While I am a playoff proponent, it’s hard not to get excited about the potential of this game. In fact, the main problem I have right now is that this game takes place too late, to be completely honest. A Thursday? Really? What time will they start in Pasadena next year? At 5:00 PM in LA both teams are liable to still be on the bus. Anyway, about this game. Like I said, I’m excited about the potential of this game, but I think Florida is the better team and have picked them accordingly.

Following this weekend or next week, a wrap-up of bowl season.

Bowl Games: Part V, The Run-Up

With 10 games in two days out of the way, it’s time go down the home stretch to the national title game. As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong:

Friday (note that these are all after the fact reflections, since I was lazy/busy)

  • Texas Tech vs. Mississippi, Cotton Bowl (@Dallas, TX; 2:00 PM, FOX): How the hell did Texas Tech get owned in this game? It makes no sense. I don’t even want to think about it.
  • East Carolina vs. Kentucky, Liberty Bowl (@Memphis, TN; 5:00 PM, ESPN): I’m pretty much on a 3 day losing streak at this point. The last predictions I got right was Kansas over Minnesota, and I missed everything else on the 31st. Ugh.
  • Alabama vs. Utah, Sugar Bowl (@New Orleans, LA; 8:00 PM, FOX): Watching this right now. Utah jumped out to a big lead but Bama just pulled within a score. I think Bama can still come back and run away with this, but going in I thought it would be pretty close. So yeah. I wouldn’t be upset to be wrong about this one, that’s for sure.

Saturday

  • Buffalo vs. Connecticut, International Bowl (@Toronto, ON, CA; 12:00 PM, ESPN2): Hey, it’s the International Bowl! Maybe I’ll actually get to see it this year (since I missed it previously due to traveling). UConn should win this, but the way things are going for me right now, who knows?

Monday

  • Texas vs. Ohio State, Fiesta Bowl (@Glendale, AZ; 8:00 PM, FOX): Probably the best of the remaining bowls, this should provide an interesting game between two teams who did not have their seasons go quite the way they wanted. I really think Texas is more talented than OSU, but it will probably really hinge on how they’ve handled the let down of not being in the title game.

Tuesday

  • Ball State vs. Tulsa, GMAC Bowl (@Mobile, AL; 8:00 PM, ESPN): It’s the Disappointment Bowl! Ball State was undefated, and then lost in their conference championship game. Tulsa was also undefeated until they played Arkansas late in the year, and then should’ve beaten a very moribund East Carolina in the C-USA title game. In other words, both these teams probably expected more. I also think Tulsa is light years more talented than Ball State and should win this one by a couple of scores.

Next up, national title game predictions!

Bowl Games: Part IV, 1/1

Happy New Year! Suffice it to say that I don’t really want to talk about football right now, but I’ll try. Here’s today’s games. As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong:

  • Iowa vs. South Carolina, Outback Bowl (@Tampla, FL; 11:00 AM, ESPN): I just refuse to believe Iowa is that good or that South Carolina is that bad. Hopefully The Visor spent the past few weeks coaching instead instead of playing golf.
  • Clemson vs. Nebraska, Gator Bowl (@Jacksonville, FL; 2:00 PM, CBS): Why is Clemson here? I have no idea; FSU definitely got shafted. That said, I can at least appreciate the “logic” of Clemson being here (hot end to the season) and I think that gives them an edge over the Huskers.
  • Georgia vs. Michigan State, Capital One Bowl (@Orlando, FL; 1:00 PM, ABC): I mostly picked the Spartans out of spite, and after last night I’m really hoping this holds up.
  • Pennsylvania State vs. Southern California, Rose Bowl (@Pasadena, CA; 4:30 PM, ABC): Despite the hype, this probably really is the best game of the day. In the end, though, I don’t know if Penn State can score enough against USC to keep up. My generic guess is that it’s close at the half and then USC pulls away late in the 3rd quarter.
  • Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati, Orange Bowl (@Miami, FL; 8:30 PM, FOX): Unless you’re a huge college football fan or a fan of either team I can’t think much of a reason to watch this game. I also hope the ACC can avoid embarassment in their latest BCS effort and win won for once.

I’ll be back later today or early tomorrow to bring you all the rest of the pre-national title game picks.

Bowl Games: Part III, 12/31

Here’s all the games of the last day of the year. As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

  • Air Force vs. Houston, Armed Forces Bowl (@Fort Worth, TX; 12:00 PM, ESPN): I’m taking the Falcons here not because I’m currently running an Air Force dynasty in NCAA 2009 right now, but because Houston isn’t very good and, well, it’s the Armed Forces Bowl. Air Force almost has to win.
  • Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh, Sun Bowl (@El Paso, TX; 2:00 PM, CBS): I am finally picking Pitt to win a football game, and I’m hoping I don’t regret it. That said, I can’t think of very many teams more disappointed heading into their bowl game than the Beavers.
  • Vanderbilt vs. Boston College, Music City Bowl (@Nashville, TN; 3:30 PM, ESPN): As much as I like rooting for Vandy during the season, they pretty much tanked after the Auburn win, beating only Kentucky in their next seven games afterwards. BC is a decent football team, and should win, but I also don’t expect the score to be that high.
  • Kansas vs. Minnesota, Insight Bowl (@Tempe, AZ; 5:30 PM, NFL): Kansas ended the season with a strong victory over Mizzou, and I can’t say I’ve though much of the Gophers at all over the course of the season. So I’m taking KU, and let’s face it, since it’s on the NFL Network it’s not like you’ll see if I’m wrong anyway.
  • Georgia Tech vs. Louisiana State, Chik-fil-A Bowl (@Atlanta, GA; 7:30 PM, ESPN): Usually, I avoid picking Tech at all in games. I don’t like predicting the outcome of my own team, because, well, it just feels wrong. To be consistent, I always pick Tech to win if I’m in a situation where I have to make a pick, like this one. So I did, and I won’t even attempt to provide any justification.

The next edition to the picks will be posted later tonight or tomorrow.