This one pretty much speaks for itself.

Perhaps it’s my fever-induced state, but I just convinced myself that Auburn still has a good shot at a BCS Bowl bid.

Imagine the expected OSU-USC matchup shakes out. The Rose gets the first two picks, so naturally they take Michigan first. But who else does the Rose pick? The SEC title game loser? If that’s Arkansas, they would probably get hammered in the polls. If West Virginia beats Rutgers, I think the Rose wants a conference champion, and they can get that in WVU. (Of course, what the rose really wants is OSU-USC, but oh well.)

So the next to pick is the Sugar. The Sugar gets UF as the SEC title game winner. Notre Dame is still available, so the Sugar picks them.

Next is the Orange, and this is where it gets interesting. Provided Boise State beats Nevada, they get a BCS bid. Since none of the bowls actually want Boise St., they will fall all the way to the Fiesta. Auburn is currently 12th in the BCS standings, and at 10-2 they meet both of the criteria for at-large selection. Ahead of them are the following teams likely to lose in the next few weeks (whereas Auburn is done): LSU, Arkansas, and Notre Dame. ND won’t fall that far when/if they lose this weekend, whereas LSU probably will (3rd loss) and Arkansas will face the usual title-game loser curse. Based on what I’ve said, the Orange could select from a pool of Arkansas, Louisville, Boise State, Auburn, and maybe Oklahoma. If I’m a bowl game committee chairman, I want people in the seats, so I want a SEC team. Arkansas is far away and will be coming off a loss, whereas Auburn is closer and just beat their arch-rival. Auburn is not likely to fall any further despite not playing. (Especially if UF wins the SEC title.)

As usual, I refuse to predict Tech to win the ACC, though I like our chances.

I’m pleasantly surprised by the number of eligible teams this year – especially from the Big 12 and SEC, which I thought might not make it. The Big 12 even has an extra team this year, and plus their weakness sorta helps them (in the sense they won’t get 2 BCS bids). The Big Ten will fall short, but Cincinnati should be able to go to the Motor City, and Washington State isn’t that far away from Boise.

Anyway, I’m tired and sick and heading back to Madison later today. And To Hell With Georgia.

So, I managed to pump out this week’s CFP. You can read it at http://tito.asimweb.org/cfp/week13.html. I’m too tired to comment on the predictions, or the results of yesterday’s games. I will say, however, that the $60 I paid to see this year’s Iron Bowl in person (albeit in the upper deck) was well worth it. War Eagle!

With a resounding victory over, well, Duke, To Hell With Georgia week begins here on ASimSports.

Ehren and I, of course, go to GT (as does Will). Tito goes to Auburn, but they’re rivals with UGA, too, and UGA knocked them out of a BCS at-large bid. So while they may lack the “Clean Old Fashioned Hate”, there’s certainly plenty to be bitter about.

There were several rivalry games played today. OSU beat Michigan, USC beat Cal, Tennessee beat Vandy, UNC beat NCSU, Purdue beat Indiana, Northwestern beat Illinois, Kansas beat Kansas State, Washington beat Washington St., and, last but definitely not least, Auburn beat Alabama (woo!).

Also, speaking of rivalries, apparently Duke-GT used to be big back in the day. Of course, GT used to have huge rivalries with other old foes that lasted longer than the Duke thing did. Schools like Tennessee, Alabama, and Auburn used to appear on the GT schedule every fall, but no more, killed initially by joining the ACC and then in the late 80’s when another conference game was added. Alas. But, hey, GT did play Auburn in 2003 and 2005, and has a series coming up against Alabama in a few years…

Rece Davis apparently said that Colonel Reb is no longer crying, hooray Internet memes! And of course, Ole Miss still blew it in the end.

Who wants to win the ACC Atlantic? No one, apparently. Maryland’s luck ran out and they lost to BC, but Wake lost to a rejuvenated (and still dirty) Virginia Tech. Wake still controls their own destiny, but if they lose, all then things get interesting. Here’s the lowdown:
Wake plays @Maryland and BC plays @Miami. If Wake wins, it’s over, as they hold all tiebreakers. If Wake Forest loses and Boston College loses, then Maryland goes to Jacksonville. If Wake loses and BC wins, then BC goes to JAX.

Speaking of Miami….I guess they really don’t want to go to Boise. They lost to UVA, which means they’re 5-6. How the mighty have fallen. And that fall started with that splendid victory by GT last year at the Orange Bowl….

With the Rutgers loss, things just got a lot more interesting in the Big East. If WVU wins out, they should have a BCS advantage over Louisville, otherwise, who knows? I’m not even in a position to speculate about the BCS right now. Here’s my wild-ass guess to close out the night:

1. Ohio State
2. USC
3. UF
4. ND
5. Arkansas

The wild-cards are West Virginia and Michigan. The computers loved Michigan due to their schedule (there are 2 teams out there whose only losses are to Michigan), and losing to a 12-0 team doesn’t really hurt you that much, but the loss in and of itself does. The question is- how much does that loss hurt, exactly? We’ll find out tomorrow. And then I’ll do my bowl predictions, if I have time.

Also, since there’s a good number of games on Friday due to Thanksgiving, expect a post about those too. Later!

First, go read this.

Now, take a deep breath, and let’s do this thing. All times Eastern and reflect the games being shown on the Georgia Tech Cable Network.

Noon:

• Maryland @ Boston College (ESPN): BC desperately needs a win against one of the ACC’s luckiest teams.
• Michigan St. @ Penn St. (ESPN2): The Fightin’ John L. Smiths try to save their season, but it’s probably too late, and PSU will rally behind a returned JoePa.
• Oklahoma @ Baylor (FSN): Sooners have nothing to worry about here.
• Buffalo @ Wisconsin (ESPNU): Once again, why?
• Miami @ UVA (LF ACC): Miami should win here, as but UVA is also trying to salvage a decent season.

12:30 – Tennessee @ Vanderbilt (LF SEC): The ‘Dores won last year. Will they win again? I wish, but they probably won’t.

3:30:

• Michigan @ Ohio State (ABC)
• Auburn @ Alabama (CBS): War Damn Eagle
• Kansas St. @ Kansas (FSN): Can K-State keep the momentum going heading into Lawrence. Or will the Mangino prevail?

6:45 – Washington @ Washington State (FSN): Meanwhile, U-Dub has anti-momentum coming into this game, losing to one of the worst teams in DI-A

7:00 – Virginia Tech @ Wake Forest (ESPN2): Wake Forest needs the win here, lest Maryland pass them. VPI wants to continue to salvage their season. I like Wake, though.

7:30 – USF @ Louisville (ESPNU): BIG EAST BATTLE!@#%$!

7:45 – Rutgers @ Cincinnati (ESPN): It’s Big East night on the ESPN family of networks! Rutgers should roll.

8:00 – California @ USC (ABC): I want Cal to win anyway, and not just to cause a Mich-OSU rematch. The Cal Drinking Song is probably the best post-3rd quarter tradition, ever.

10:15 – UCLA @ ASU (FSN): Uh, why is this being broadcast? At least the crowd has some talent to scope out.