Week 10 preview

We're going simple this week. We've been off a week due to technical difficulties and now we just need to keep it simple this week. Every game involving the top 10 in the BCS will be discussed and the importance of each.


1) Texas at 7) Texas Tech- Can Mike Leach tell the world he can win a big game. TT is 8-0 but have played pretty much nobody. Texas is playing their 4th top 10 team in as many weeks and is 3-0 so far. If Tech wins this, they are in the national title hunt with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State still to play. Expect a lot of points and no one should go to sleep in this one.

Arkansas State at 2) Alabama- This is not one that Alabama can overlook. Arkansas State is good. YES!! I said it! The Red Wolves are good. They beat a Texas A&M team, albeit awful, but no one at the time even expected the former Indians to even be on the same field. The 12th man got scared in that one, but don't expect Sabanation to let another Louisiana-Monroe happen to them. Better team, should be better results.

3) Penn State has a tough matchup with Idle this week.

Nebraska at 4) Oklahoma- This used to be for all the marbles in the Big 8. This USED to be a matchup the entire world waited for. This was the Game of the Year every year and even the Game of the Century one year. This game is not even thought about on the national radar anymore. This game is played two years on, two years off. A rematch in the Big 12 Championship game is not expected. This game isn't expected to be much either.

Washington at 5) USC- Is Washington this year's Stanford?? NO!!!

8) Florida vs. 6) Georgia at Jacksonville, FL- This will be the game of the year. The Cocktail Party will be the biggest one in a while. Historically Florida has been better in this series, but will history continue to side with them or will it be UGA's first 2 game win streak in this series in a long while?

Iowa State at 9) Oklahoma State- Why is this on ABC in some markets??

10) Utah at New Mexico- If Utah continues to win, they could bust the BCS and with a few losses to the top teams, up close enough to maybe get into that #2 spot?? I think not, but still a great team and a great story.

Bowl projections after week 9

I have had a glitch in the computer this past week so I was not able to get week 9 out there. After my bowl projections, I will do a week 10 preview.


BCS Title: Penn State vs. Florida
Orange: Florida State vs. West Virginia
Fiesta: Texas vs. Boise State
Sugar: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
Rose: USC vs. Ohio State

GMAC: East Carolina vs. Central Michigan
International: Cincinnati vs. Western Michigan
Cotton: Texas Tech vs. LSU
Liberty: Tulsa vs. Ball State
Capital One: Georgia vs. Michigan State
Gator: Oklahoma State vs. Virginia Tech
Outback: South Carolina vs. Iowa
Insight: Wisconsin vs. Kansas
Chick-fil-a: North Carolina vs. Kentucky
Music City: Mississippi vs. Georgia Tech
Sun: Notre Dame vs. Oregon State
Armed Forces: Rice vs. Air Force
Humanitarian: Fresno State vs. Miami (FL)
Holiday: Missouri vs. Oregon
Alamo: Nebraska vs. Minnesota
Independence: Kansas State vs. Louisiana - Lafayette
Papa John's: South Florida vs. Troy
Texas: Houston vs. Colorado
Car Care: Louisville vs. Wake Forest
Emerald: California vs. Virginia
Champs Sports: Northwestern vs. Boston College
Motor City: Northern Illinois vs. Pittsburgh
Hawaii: Arizona State vs. Hawaii
New Orleans: Central Florida vs. Arkansas State
St. Petersburg: Connecticut vs. Memphis
Las Vegas: Arizona vs. BYU
Congressional: Navy vs. Maryland
New Mexico: San Jose State vs. TCU
Poinsettia: Utah vs. Buffalo

Week 8 recap

If we did not know who the best team in the country is up to this point, we know now. Texas destroyed Missouri on national television and if they can finish off the murderor's row that is the Big 12 schedule as well as win the Big 12 championship game, possibly against the same Missouri team, then Texas should be favored in the BCS national title game.

They are trailed in the BCS by Alabama and Penn State, both undefeated. Alabama once again did what they had to do to get by their opponent. Penn State struggled with a bad Michigan team starting off, but rolled in the second half.

Oklahoma is listed as 4th in the latest BCS, but unless Texas loses two games, that may be the highest they go because the pollsters will not put Oklahoma in the national title game if they are not in the Big 12 Championship game. Look at Georgia in 2007.

USC walloped Washington State 69-0 in the worst loss in Wazzu history.

Oklahoma State and Texas Tech continue to stay undefeated as they continue to roll through the Big 12 schedule.

If the season ended today, there would be two non-BCS teams in the BCS games. Utah is #11 in the BCS and Boise State is #12. Despite its one loss to Oklahoma, TCU is up there also at #14. If they beat Utah, watch out!

A couple of upsets this week budged the nation a little bit. Arizona is trying to prove that they belong in a bowl game as they stay up late and defeat California 42-27. Maryland, another team that beat Cal this season, shut out Wake Forest and put the rest of the ACC back in the race. Virginia is also playing much better as they defeat North Carolina in overtime.

Vanderbilt may not make a bowl after all. A week after losing to one Bulldog in Miss State, they lose another to Georgia. Vanderbilt really needs to beat Duke in their next game. Otherwise, they may not be playing in a bowl again.

Georgia Tech finally makes their way into the rankings after they ruin Dabo Swinney's debut as the interim head coach of Clemson. They might be playing their way towards Tampa if they are not careful.

Also, congratulations to Northwestern. For the second straight year, Pat Fitzgerald has led them to 6 wins. Only this year, they should win more than six and actually get to go to a bowl game this season.

Also joining the rankings this week is more non-BCS love in Ball State and Tulsa. Tulsa put up 77 points on national television while Ball State continues to win despite losing their best receiver early in the season.


This week's bowl projections and next week's preview coming later this week.

Week 8 preview

Week 8 has already started off with a bang with BYU getting beat by TCU on Thursday night. Saturday could be called statement week by many. There are 4 games involving two top 25 teams and many others that are very important to the national landscape. 2008 has turned almost as wild as 2007 up to this point. The only two things we haven't had are a FCS team shocking the world and Stanford knocking off a top 5 team. The latter can still happen as a better Stanford team than last year gets USC at home later on this year. Although an FCS team hasn't shocked the world this season, the place where the world was shocked, Ann Arbor, MI, was shocked this past weekend by a bad Toledo team. Wisconsin does play Cal Poly at the end of the season and the Mustangs did start off the season by beating San Diego State. The Badgers are a little bit better than the Aztecs, but watch out!!!


Look at that! I got caught looking ahead............on to the week 8 preview.


Game of the week: Missouri at Texas- Texas is now the #1 team in all the land. Missouri could've been #2, but someone forgot to tell Oklahoma State that they were supposed to lose last week. Win this and Missouri could be right back in the national title hunt. Lose this and they may be hurting when it comes to the Big 12 North. Expect it to be a close one but Texas wins.

Kansas at Oklahoma- Wait a minute! Kansas is having to play a decent opponent from the Big 12 South?? They are having to actually prove themselves to be able to make it to the BCS? Why would Kansas want to do this to themselves?? Wait, it's the rotation of the schedule. They actually have to beat someone this year!! Whoa!! I don't see it. OU in a laugher.

Vanderbilt at Georgia- last time Vanderbilt went into Georgia, they won! Last year in Nashville, Vandy should've won if not for a late fumble. No fumbles or INTs this week and Vandy wins. New QB Mackenzi Adams will fumble and will throw at least one INT and Georgia wins a close one. Georgia still alive in the SEC East, Vandy not although this would be a bigger win than the Auburn win two weeks ago.

Ohio State at Michigan State- Ohio State feels as if they are back in the BCS title hunt. Michigan State feels as if they are getting no respect. This would not be as major as Nick Saban's upsets over Ohio State in the 1990s but it would be awfully close. Jim Tressel will not let it happen. Ohio State does what it is supposed to do, even in East Lansing and beats Michigan State.

Ole Miss at Alabama and Michigan at Penn State- two games very similar in stature. Neither road team is expected to do much against the home teams. Both home teams have done nothing but dominate this season. Both road teams historically have played well if not beaten the home teams, especially in Michigan's case. Expect both home favorites to win closer than the experts think.

Week 7 Bowl Projections

I will admit. I cheated. This is being done after BYU lost on Thursday night. Here goes!!


BCS Title: Penn State (National #1) vs. Florida (National #2)
Rose: USC (Pac-10 champ) vs. Ohio State (at-large)
Sugar: Alabama (at-large) vs. Oklahoma (at-large)
Fiesta: Texas (Big 12 champ) vs. Boise State (at-large)
Orange: Virginia Tech (ACC champ) vs. West Virginia (Big East champ)

GMAC: East Carolina (C-USA #2) vs. Ball State (WAC)
International: Cincinnati (Big East) vs. Central Michigan (MAC #4/5)
Cotton: Texas Tech (Big 12 #2) vs. LSU (SEC)
Liberty: Tulsa (C-USA champ) vs. Kentucky (SEC #6)
Capital One: Michigan State (Big Ten #2) vs. Georgia (SEC #2)
Gator: Florida State (ACC #2) vs. Notre Dame (Big East/Big 12/ND)
Outback: Minnesota (Big Ten #3) vs. South Carolina (SEC)
Insight: Northwestern (Big Ten #6) vs. Colorado (Big 12 #6)
Chick-fil-A: North Carolina (ACC #2) vs. Mississippi (SEC)
Music City: Georgia Tech (ACC) vs. Vanderbilt (SEC #5)
Sun: California (Big 12 #3) vs. Kansas (Big 12/Big East/ND)
Armed Forces: Air Force (MW) vs. Rice (C-USA)
Humanitarian: Clemson (ACC #8) vs. Fresno State (WAC)
Holiday: Missouri (Big 12 #3) vs. Oregon (Pac-10 #2)
Alamo: Iowa (Big 10 #4/5) vs. Oklahoma State (Big 12 #4/5)
Independence: Nebraska (Big 12 #7) vs. Florida International (SEC #8/Sun Belt)
Papa John's: Louisville (Big East) vs. Troy (SEC/Sun Belt)
Texas: Kansas State (Big 12) vs. Houston (C-USA)
Car Care: Miami (FL) (ACC #6) vs. South Florida (Big East)
Emerald: Oregon State (Pac-10 #5) vs. Boston College (ACC #7)
Champs Sports: Wake Forest (ACC #4) vs. Wisconsin (Big Ten #4/5)
Motor City: Western Michigan (MAC) vs. Connecticut (Big Ten #7/at-large)
Hawaii: Stanford (Pac-10/C-USA) at Hawaii (WAC)
New Orleans: Arkansas State (Sun Belt champ) vs. Memphis (C-USA)
St. Pete: Pittsburgh (Big East) vs. Southern Miss (C-USA)
Las Vegas: BYU (MW #1) vs. Arizona State (Pac-10 #4)
Congressional: Navy (Army/Navy) vs. Buffalo (ACC/at-large)
New Mexico: TCU (MW) vs. New Mexico State (WAC)
Poinsettia: Utah (MW) vs. Northern Illinois (Pac-10/at-large)

Teams that finish .500 with nowhere to go: Temple, Bowling Green, San Jose State, and Louisiana Tech

Week 7 Recap

This week saw 3 of the top 5 go down and #5 become the new #1 despite another top 5 not losing. Texas earned their way to the #1 spot in sort-of a boxing type deal where as the team that beat #1 became #1 no matter whom was ahead of them. Alabama sat down in front of a TV this week and saw Oklahoma, Missouri, and conference rival LSU all go down but received little respect in the coaches poll. AP saw Alabama come 15 points away from being in that #1 spot. Also a barrage of coaching changes saw Auburn lose to Arkansas after firing the OC and Tommy Bowden quitting after underachieving again. Two of the top players on the team responded like that was the best thing for the program. Unlike Terry, I feel like Tommy gets back into coaching someplace because the man can coach, just not at Clemson where he is expected to win a national title with talent that would finish 7th in the SEC or Big 12.


There are plenty of other big winners this week as well as losers!!!

USC found their way back into the Top 5 this week after beating Arizona State. Who has USC beaten??? Texas Tech arguing has beaten the same caliber teams without a loss and sits at #7, Oklahoma State just beat the #2 team in the country in some polls at their place and they are undefeated. How are they #8??? How is BYU #9 and Utah not even in the top 10???? Remember, Utah beat the team that beat USC and are undefeated! Other undefeateds include Boise State, Ball State, and Tulsa which all keep on keepin' on!!!

Many other one loss teams made their case this week as well. Florida destroys top 4 team LSU as they vault to #4 and #5 in some polls. Georgia's only loss this year is to the #2 team in America yet sit at #10 with USC and Florida losing to .500 teams and in the Top 5.

Kansas remains alive beating a Colorado team that many thought would actually compete.
Ohio State is moving their way back up as well beating Purdue.


Michigan State gets a chance to prove they are for real this week as they beat an undefeated Northwestern team in Evanston. Next up: Ohio State.

North Carolina does not give the voters a chance to allow Notre Dame back in the rankings. With the loss to UNC, Notre Dame might end their season in 2008 rather than Jan. 1, 2009.

Finally, probably the most impressive in week 7 that still went unnoticed was Penn State destroying an overrated Wisconsin team, but still finds themselves undefeated and #3.

Week 7 preview

Many teams are already halfway through the regular season. All schools have a ways to go. Some, like Auburn, are still looking for their identity while teams like Oklahoma and Missouri just keep on rolling. This week there are plenty of big matchups to choose from.





1) Texas vs Oklahoma -Red River shootout is the game of the year so far this season. The winner of this should have the inside track to the Big 12 and possible national title. Does Texas jump to #1 if they blow out Oklahoma? I have a feeling we will not be able to find out.

2) LSU at Florida - the last two national champions. Unfortunately, they have to play each other instead of Ohio State this week. What was Florida thinking in losing to Ole Miss?? This could've been a much bigger matchup. It'll still be a big one.

3) Oklahoma State at Missouri- both teams need to play well in the big game. Both teams need defenses to step up since both offenses are potent. Will it be the Zac Attack or will the Pokes be chasing Chase all night???

4) Penn State at Wisconsin- here we go again. Wisconsin overrated, losing to one team they shouldn't lose to, and not beating any of the big boys. Could this change this week??

5) Notre Dame at North Carolina- the first time ever that ND is having to earn their ranking. Will they be able to in Chapel Hill???



Other games could be the talk of the weekend, including Texas Tech-Nebraska, Arkansas-Auburn, and Vanderbilt-Mississippi State. Yet another Big weekend to attempt to solve the 2008 puzzle.