theGMs newest College Football Top 10

Last week's installment of the top ten can be found here. But before we get to this week's top ten lets examine my post from Thursday about the BCS imploding. It is well on its way!

Alabama beat LSU virtually eliminating the Tigers from contention.

Ohio State beat Penn State which eliminated the Lions.

Oregon lost to Stanford in a shocker which knocks the Ducks out of contention.

Iowa lost to Northwestern which gives them a loss and more than likely gets rid of them.

That is a pretty good weekend but more needs to be done. While TCU did make it to #4 in the BCS I think Cincinnati will pass them if they were to run the table. Meaning Cincy still needs to lose.

But that should happen. The other problem and the bigger problem is Texas. Will Texas lose? Florida or Alabama will be out because of them playing each other and there is no chance two teams from the same conference will play against each other in the title game.

There are still a couple other teams to watch out for, Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech. And if Pittsburgh truly has a chance then so would Iowa. But with their remaining schedule it might be enough.

Again....the key to TCU making the title game (outside of TCU actually winning all their games) is Texas losing.


Now its time for this week's top 10....

1. Texas (1) 9-0 | The Longhorns are the best team I have seen this season. They have been the most consistent on both sides of the ball and have executed as well as anyone. A couple tests remain but nothing that stands out from the rest. As long as they win they should make the title game.
2. Alabama (2) 9-0 | Beating LSU was definitely impressive and they have cemented themselves in as the best team in the SEC in my opinion. Offensively they still struggle at times which is why they remain behind Texas. They still need to win out to get to the title game.
3. Florida (3) 9-0 | Not nearly as dominant a team as they were last season which is what is keeping them down in my rankings. Still very good but not as good as the Tigers or Longhorns at this point.
4. Cincinnati (6) 9-0 | They struggled a bit with UConn which raises very large warning flags with WVU and Pitt still to come but they did win and that's all that matters at the end of the day.
5. TCU (7) 9-0 | Personally I want them to make the title game as I legitimately think they can win it but they need help obviously. Beating up on SDSU is good but doing it to Utah will be better.
6. Boise State (10) 9-0 | They move up in my rankings thanks to many losses and Georgia Tech's struggles against Wake. They really only have one more test and it is barely a test. They will never jump TCU or many 1 loss teams with their schedule.
7. Georgia Tech (8) 8-1 | As good an executing team as their is in the country but struggling with Wake is not good. But they won and in a few weeks no one will even remember their struggles. An ACC title (and no more losses) could be enough to get them moved up.
8. LSU (4) 7-2 | When your two losses are to the #2 and #3 teams then you don't drop far. Against any other conference leader (except Texas) they would probably dominate.
9. Pittsburgh (-) 8-1 | This team is performing as well as anyone. They haven't really proven themselves just yet but their opportunities begin in a couple weeks.
10. Miami (-) 7-2 | They weren't even on the radar last week but when teams lose to Northwestern and Stanford they can no longer appear on this list until they redeem themselves.

Just Missed:

Utah - they are 8-1 with only a loss to Oregon on their resume. They have 2 chances to prove themselves and ruin my dreams....starting this week against TCU.
Iowa - they are still 9-1 but just as easily could be 7-3 in my opinion. They have to beat OSU to even be considered for the top 10.

How to blow up the BCS....

Let's play a little hypothetical game today. We all want to see the BCS implode right? Sure we do. How would that most likely happen??

A non-BCS conference school would have to win the National Championship. There is no way the presidents and athletic directors at the BCS schools could ignore that.

And lucky for us this might be the best chance for that to happen.

At this time there are 2 undefeated non BCS schools in the top 7 of the BCS...TCU and Boise State. Above them however there are still 5 undefeated BCS schools (Alabama, Florida, Texas, Iowa, and Cincinnati). In addition to them though there are 5 additional BCS schools with only 1 loss that could jump them in the BCS if they win the remainder of their games (Georgia Tech, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh, and LSU).

So let's just be safe and assume that 9 of those teams have to lose in order for this to happen. And if a school from one conference remains undefeated any school from that conference will automatically be eliminated because they would not allow teams from the same conference in the BCS title game.

Meaning if Florida goes undefeated and plays an undefeated Alabama team in the SEC title game there is no chance you would see that matchup again in January.

So I took at the schedules and this is what I think....

Florida needs to run the table....

Alabama would win out (which would give LSU its 2nd loss) and then lose to Florida in the SEC Championship....

Texas would have to lose to either Kansas or Texas A&M (could happen) and then struggle in the Big 12 Title game....

Iowa would have to lose one ot their remaining 3 games...most likely 11/14 @ Ohio State....

Cincinnati has 4 games left and needs to lose 1 (no way a 1 loss Big East team gets in) most likely to lose @ Pittsburgh on 12/5....

LSU would have already lost their 2nd but if they were to beat Bama this weekend they could also lose either against Ole Miss, Arkansas or in the SEC title game....

Oregon is on the outside looking in honestly since they already lost to Boise. There would be one hell of an uproar if Oregon gets in over Boise but to make sure that doesn't happen they need to lose @ Arizona or against Oregon State....

Penn State might not leap over either TCU or Boise anyhow but to be sure they would need to probably lose this weekend against Ohio State....

Pittsburgh (like PSU) probably isn't going to make it but to be sure have Notre Dame, WVU, or Cincy beat them (likely)....

Georgia Tech is the toughest to pick out a loss...they shouldn't be challenged until the ACC Title game and that might not be a challenge either....but Georgia could beat them after Thanksgiving...

That all leaves only 1 more thing...

Boise and/or TCU HAS TO RUN THE TABLE....

TCU could lose this week (watch out for SDSU in a trap game) or next week vs Utah....

Boise has 2 tough games left (technically) against La Tech this week or Idaho next week....

But if we want to see the BCS implode wouldn't it be great to finish it off with an ALL non-BCS title game of Boise vs TCU!?!?!

The potential to see this is small but starting this week there are games that matter....

Alabama over LSU
Ohio State over Penn State
UConn over Cincy
Wake Forest over Georgia Tech
Boise State over La Tech
TCU over San Diego State U

Sure there are other games and if those outcomes don't come to be there are other chances to see these teams lose but those are the best chances to see the beginning of the end of the BCS!


***if I confused you above just look at this....

Alabama beats LSU this weekend but loses to Florida on 12/5...

Texas loses to Kansas and for good measure to Texas A&M...

Iowa loses to Ohio State...

Cincinnati loses to Pittsburgh....

Oregon loses to Arizona and/or Oregon State...

Georgia Tech loses to Georgia....

Penn State loses to Ohio State...

Pittsburgh loses to West Virginia...

AND...

Boise State and/or TCU win the rest of their games....

And we get to see...

Florida vs TCU/Boise St. for the National Championship....AWESOME!!!

theGM's College Football Top 10

Wow...two weeks in a row! Now we are talking about consistency. Here is last week's in case you are curious. Numbers in parentheses are last weeks rankings.

1. Texas (2) 8-0 | When you absolutely embarrass two teams in consecutive weeks, on the road, that are considered challengers...you move up. There were a couple questionable performances early in the season but the last 3 weeks...no better team in the country.
2. Alabama (1) 8-0 | I know they didn't play so they shouldn't drop but lets remember how they looked the week before the bye...barely getting passed an average Tennessee team. Texas played great and Bama played okay. Now they get LSU...prove how good you are.
3. Florida (3) 8-0 | Beating Georgia is good but not that good. That is exactly the game I would hope Florida has. Not good enough to move up but they aren't moving down either. Won't move up anymore unless Texas or Bama fall.
4. LSU (5) 7-1 | Did what they were supposed to with a 42-0 beating of Tulane. Take away the Florida game and this team is possibly best in the country.
5. Oregon (10) 7-1 | Wow...who saw that coming? I expected the Ducks to win but they just took it to the Trojans. Last week I had USC #4 so Oregon gets a big bump after beating up on them.
6. Cincinnati (6) 8-0 | This team is winning without their starting quarterback right now...that's how good they are. Unfortunately they are beating Big East teams and no one cares. But no comes their tests...UConn this week, West Virginia next.
7. TCU (8) 8-0 | They handled UNLV 41-0....what else do you want. Not sure how good they are but I would love to see them play against the big boys to find out.
8. Georgia Tech (7) 8-1 | Minus the VaTech game and this is hands down the best team in the ACC. It's funny cause defenses know what is coming and yet they can't stop it.
9. Iowa (9) 9-0 | Most other undefeated teams would be much higher than this but that isn't necessarily right. They got TONS of help from the officials this past weekend and if they somehow make it to the National Title game they will be exposed.
10. Boise State (-) 8-0 | They have beaten everyone they have played including Oregon but they are still short of quality opponents. If they win them all they will surely move up.

Just Missed:

• Penn State - another good win on the road. Welcomes OSU this weekend...win that and they are probably back in the Top 10.
• Pittsburgh - didn't play this weekend...get Syracuse next weekend which won't help them. After that they get Notre Dame, Cincy, and WVU. Tough stretch.

theGM's College Football Top 10

After a couple week hiatus I am back and ready to post consistently again. Starting today I hope to have at least 3 posts a week up and maybe even more...who knows though.

Anyways a couple weeks ago I put my NCAA Top 10 up and meant to continue with it but alas I fell off the face of the earth. But here is the next installment in what will hopefully become a weekly thing.

1. Alabama - still my #1 team. They have beaten everyone on their schedule and have looked better doing it. Tennessee almost took them down but couldn't get it done. Not sure if they can beat Florida but right now they are better.
2. Texas - wins over Oklahoma and at Missouri are solid wins but the reason they jump over Florida is because they have looked better doing it. They have more chances to prove themselves starting this week AT Okie State.
3. Florida - still unbeaten and still might have the best chance to win it all but they have looked average the past couple weeks. A couple more hurdles to clear (this week vs Georgia to start) and they will be in Atlanta in the beginning of December.
4. USC - I hate putting them this high but of the top 1 loss teams they have played the best schedule. If they beat Oregon this weekend they will justify their high ranking.
5. LSU - their only loss is to Florida but they are still a good team. Completely shut down Auburn this past weekend and gets Bama in a couple weeks.
6. Cincinnati - their schedule hasn't been top notch as of yet but it is going to get better. IF they end the season unbeaten I think they could get a championship shot.
7. Georgia Tech - they had one slip up at Miami but have won all their other games. Not much left on their schedule til the ACC Championship game which they should win.
8. TCU - completely destroyed a good BYU team on the road. Probably the most likely BCS buster but would need substantial help to warrant a title bid.
9. Iowa - they haven't lost which means I should probably have them higher but I just can't. They are barely getting by in games and that matters to me.
10. Oregon - after their opening loss and struggle against Purdue every wrote them off but they haven't lost since the opening Thursday and they are looking very good.

Just Missed:

• Boise State - they just haven't done enough yet. And they can't do anymore. The Oregon win looks better and better every week but that is the only win they have. A good team that is getting pushed down due to their conference...sounds familiar.
• Pittsburgh - they have lost 1 game and are playing as good as anyone. Last 3 games are tough and could push them higher IF they win out. Good team that no one is talking about.
• Penn State - Other than the slip up against Iowa which doesn't look so bad each week they are playing good. Took Michigan to task on Saturday in the Big House. Still have games remaining to improve their status.

TheGM's Top 10

Now that we have actually been able to see who is any good in college football I will put out my first poll of the year. I don't have a huge problem with polls coming out in preseason as it gives us something to talk about but I didn't feel like I could put together an accurate poll so I didn't do one until now.

1. Alabama - sure Florida is the big #1 but they haven't played the schedule that Bama has played. Not that their schedule is anything to write home about but it is better than the Gators.
2. Florida - If I would have done a preseason poll they surely would have been #1 and still could get there. Hopefully Tebow is able to come back soon though.
3. Texas - The only game they have played so far is at home against an average Texas Tech team. I think this team could, should, and will run the table and get to Pasadena for the National Title game but as of now they haven't proved anything.
4. LSU - I can't stand the SEC sometimes but lets face the truth and say there isn't a conference in the country that comes CLOSE to the SEC in terms of competition. Wins at Washington and at Mississippi State get LSU to the top 5.
5. Va Tech - the first one loss team makes its appearance...ahead of other undefeated's?? Yup. Remember their only loss came against the team I have at #1. Not too bad with wins over Nebraska and Miami under their belt.
6. Houston - I thought the Oklahoma State win was more of a fluke then a good win but they followed it up with a win over Texas Tech. They get Miss State in 2 weeks and their conference slate but they seem like a good team.
7. Cincy - They are 4-0 and have beaten a few good teams but there are still questions. I think the Oreg State win was their best so far but Fresno isn't a bad team. They can't afford to lose a game though.
8. Boise State - Oregon was obviously a big win and winning at Fresno last week was important. A weak schedule the rest of the way means the only way they move up is if other teams move down.
9. USC - I know they lost to Washington but you had to see that coming. The reason I still have them here is because of a big win AT Ohio State. Also their starting quarterback (freshman or not he is still the starter) was out for the Wash game.
10. TCU - Not a great schedule but wins AT UVa and AT Clemson are solid and better than most other teams.

Teams On the Verge:

• Oklahoma - they have not beaten anyone of any value yet. IF they can beat Miami then we will talk but until then they are on the outside looking in.
• Michigan - continue winning. So far all 4 wins (not super convincing) have been at home. Win a couple big games on the road.
• Ohio State - had the USC game won and blew it. Haven't played anyone else of interest. But you keep winning and that is all that can be asked of you.
• Kansas - sure they are undefeated but they have yet to play anyone decent.

5 Games You Don't Want to Miss This Weekend

This is the first full weekend of football this year and I am sure everyone is looking forward to sitting in front of the TV and just watching football all weekend. But unfortunately the Saturday slate of games is pretty weak. There is only 1 game featuring two ranked teams....OSU vs USC.

Sunday should be better but even there you have questions because you just don't know which games are going to be worth turning on.

So I am going to give my best 5 games to watch this weekend. Enjoy the weekend!


Saturday:

Notre Dame at Michigan

Two programs that everyone loves to hate which were down in the past couple years. As much as many of us would LOVE for these programs to always struggle I think they are both heading in the right direction.

This is a tougher game for Notre Dame then people think. Michigan still gets good recruiting classes and still has athletes. And let's really consider who Notre Dame has beat in the past couple seasons...UCLA, Duke, Stanford, San Diego State, Michigan (last year), Purdue, Stanford, Washington, Navy, Hawaii, and Nevada.

WOW...that is weak!

Now Michigan was terrible last season and I think Rich Rod is a terrible coach who will NEVER win a Big Ten Championship (he couldn't win consistently in the Big East...how is he going to succeed in the Big Ten) but he will have limited success.

I think Notre Dame is highly over rated and they will lose by double digits today in the Big House.


USC at Ohio State

Not sure what to make of this game. Freshman quarterback headed into very hostile environment in a retribution game from last seasons beat down by USC in LA.

But Ohio State is replacing starters all over the field and struggled mightily with Navy last week. Remember though that Navy is better than many D-1 teams so that shouldn't have been a huge surprise...they are good.

I just don't see how Ohio State can win this game. They obviously have the motivation but I don't think they have the players. I am not sure what the numbers are but I would imagine they are replacing at least 12 starters on both sides of the ball....not good when you struggle in Week 1 and then get USC in week 2.

USC by 10.


Sunday:

Miami at Atlanta

The two biggest surprises last season start the season against each other. Personally I am down on both teams although the more I look at Atlanta the more I like. As for the first week....I think it is a crap shoot. You can pick any game and you will probably find something to question between the two teams.

This game is no different. Atlanta has a great running game, a solid passing game, and a average (or worse) defense. Miami is an average team across the board but they have the attitude.

In this game...the first week of the season...I take the Dolphins.


Washington at NY Giants

In my personal opinion the Redskins are going to be a team that surprises this year. No one is picking them to win the the division or even compete for that matter. But remember this....Jason Campbell is (I believe) entering his FIRST season in something like 7 or 8 where he is working with the SAME OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR as the year before.

That is going to be HUGE. Then you add into that a full year of DeAngelo Hall and the addition of Albert Haynesworth and I think this team makes the playoffs.

In week 1 though they have to travel to the Meadowlands (where Eli generally struggles) to play the defending division champs. Questions abound the Giants offense...can Jacobs carry more of the load and stay healthy? Who steps up and replaces Plaxico Burress? Can the offensive line stay healthy for another entire season?

That is a lot to wonder about....I think they do okay against the Skins in week 1 though and I have the G-Men.


Chicago at Green Bay

Jay Cutler gets his first crack at an actual defense with his stellar receiving core. Against one of the better pass defenses in the league last season too boot. Fortunately for Cutler he has Matt Forte in the backfield with him and with the Packers moving to a 3-4 I think he could have success this week.

But will that be enough? Chicago was one of the WORST pass defenses in the league last season and there is no reason to think they will be much better this year. Aaron Rodgers could have his best game of the season in week 1 this year.

I like the Packers at home but it should be a good close game.

The GM Says....2/13

Bud Selig says A Rod "shamed the game".....Bud you are an idiot.

Now is not the time to attack a star player by saying you are "saddened" by the fact that A-Rod used steroids. And why would you say A-Rod "shamed the game" when a few others admitted to using? Selig you are an idiot for that. Now is the time to stand behind your star player and support him. Celebrate him coming forward and accepting his responsibility instead of attacking him. This is exactly why you aren't liked by ANYONE!!

Police arresting people in Phelps case....I told you so!

I said on this site last week that the police in South Carolina are going to try and make names for themselves by doing everything they can to charge Phelps with something. And that is exactly what they are trying to do. They are rounding up suspects and are surely offering them deals to testify against Phelps. This is ridiculous. So the kid did something that he shouldn't have done BUT come on. Is your arresting him gonna help the fight against drugs?? NO its not. Leave your agendas off the job!

Rosenhaus says Boldin, Johnson, and Burress want traded.....Anquan come to Philly!!

Agent Drew Rosenhaus says that he has three clients that are interested in being traded from their current teams. Chad "Not Sure His Last Name" Johnson, Anquan Boldin, and Plaxico Burress are the three clients. Personally I think Burress and Johnson are solid but past their best days. I don't think there is much argument that Boldin is the best of the bunch and please please Andy Reid TRADE FOR HIM!!! Give up one of your first round picks and GET HIM NOW!!

UConn could lose one of top scorers for season.....that would hurt there chances a bit.

Jerome Dyson is scheduled to have surgery next week on an injured knee. He suffered the injury in the Syracuse game on Wednesday night. Dyson is second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.2 points per game. This would be HUGE for the UConn. I think if he is out for the season, which they have yet to determine, that UConn is out as serious contenders for the title. Sure they will still make the tourney and might even make a run but they won't be able to keep up in scoring with a team like UNC.

Ferentz gets new deal for same money.....wow, average gets a good pay these days.

Kirk Ferentz signed a 7 year extension today with the University of Iowa. Ferentz will get the same salary and bonus structure as his current deal had. Last season the Iowa coach made 2.84 million in salary. Hmmm...I wonder if I can find a job where average gets paid that well. In his last 4 seasons Ferentz has led Iowa to a 28-22 record. Not that great but apparently not worth a new coach either.

The GM Says....2/10

A-Rod admits to steroid use.....good for you Alex.

I don't see why everyone is so upset about this. We all knew that MULTIPLE players (maybe as many as 75-90% of players) were using steroids through this era. So what? It wasn't illegal in baseball at the time. Was it unethical? Sure it is technically cheating BUT who cares? I don't. I think Alex did the best thing he could and I was happy to hear him come out and say yes I did it.

Big Ben plays Super Bowl with broken ribs.....his fame and aura grows.

If you look across the NFL you will surely find guys that are considered tough. And surely some of them have played with worse than broken ribs but for a quarterback to do what he did in the Super Bowl with all the juking and jiving that he did to have broken ribs? Wow.

Pac-Man is no longer a Cowboy.....now he can go be a Raider.

Is there another place for Adam "not PacMan" Jones to go? Sure....Oakland. I would say Cincinnati but they seem to be interested in cleaning up their image. So that leaves Oakland to sign the troubled, and DRASTICALLY over rated, cornerback.

Lane Kiffin screw up again.....is this guy an idiot??

Apparently Kiffin and his staff did a few things that they are not supposed to do when recruits are visiting. One being a mock press conference and the other being a player entering the field through some fog. Apparently you can't simulate a game day atmosphere for a recruit. First of all lets just say that the NCAA is ridiculous. Why not let these kids get a taste of it? But that is besides the point right now. Mr. Kiffin......did you even look at the rule book??? Apparently not. You are absolutely killing your image right now and everyone is starting to ask, was Al Davis right about this guy?

The GM Says....2/4

After a little time off I am back to tell you what I think about the current sports news stories.


Signing Day in college football......important but not defining.

Some people get all excited when their team signs a top 5 class. They should. It is important BUT just ask Notre Dame how well it translates to wins! Signing day and projecting classes is like projecting NFL teams after a draft. You can't tell right away. Sometimes it takes years to figure out which players will be great and which ones won't. But you do have a better chance with a top class so it is important. But not the be all end all of your team.


Raiders keep Tom Cable as coach.....I doubt anyone else wanted the job!

Is Cable a good coach? I don't know. I write a blog and watch football, I have no idea how he is gonna be. But I can't help but wonder if Al Davis just couldn't generate much interest in the job. I mean to be the coach of the Raiders you have to be willing to give up control over player personnel and assistant coaches. And then you have to wonder if Al is going to fire you after 2 years. I can't imagine any of the top candidates were really very interested.


Bonds tested positive for drugs.....wow, that's shocking news! (yawn)

Is anyone really surprised that Bonds tested positive? I highly doubt it. If Bonds still thinks he can convince people that he is innocent than he must be getting his advice from OJ!


Tar Heels lose Ginyard for season.....BUT they are still the favorites.

Come on. Really is a single player (role player) really that important. People are acting like the loss of Marcus Ginyard is damaging to the Heels chances. I don't think so. He has only played a few games this season and UNC seems okay to me. Would his return have HELPED their chances? Yes but losing him does NOT damage their chances.


Mike Tomlin is the NFL's Renaissance Man according to Jay Mariotti.

I like the piece by Jay. I have tried to read most of what he is writing now over at AOL but sometimes I miss some. This write up about Tomlin was mostly stuff you already knew or heard about but it is still a good read. He seems to be the perfect style of coach for any NFL team and I just hope that all these teams hiring new young coordinators realize that it takes a certain STYLE of coach to do what Tomlin has done.


Chad Johnson now WANTS to be a Bengal.....probably cause no one else wants him!

I don't have a big problem with Chad Ocho Cinco or whatever the hell his name is. His celebrations aren't a big problem to me. I like some of them. His demanding a trade last off season is a different story and I think it turned some teams off of him. AND the fact that he was TERRIBLE this season surely didn't help his appearance. But I bet if Houshma-zillie resigns with the Bungals then Chad will want out AGAIN!


Dan Reeves has an office in Dallas......is any Cowboy's coaching job safe?

Reeves is rumored to be coming on as a consultant/overseer for Wade Philips. Really? That sounds like trouble brewing. If you are a boss would you want another guy standing around watching you waiting to give you advice? It is bad enough that Jerry Jones thinks he is a coach but now you have Reeves coming in. Hey....I like it. I am an Eagles guy. Come on in Dan and screw up the Cowboys more!!


Bud Selig makes a ridiculous amount of money......but is he the worst Commissioner?

I would say that Selig should take a 90% pay cut. That would pay him $1.8 million which is still more than enough. BUT some people have said he is the worst Commissioner in sports and he shouldn't be making that much. I would say that the idiot running the NHL into the ground, Gary Bettman, is by far a worse Commissioner. With expansion and labor problems the NHL has become a joke in the US and a new commissioner is needed NOW!


Jason Whitlock says referee Terry McAulay was SB MVP......why? cause the Cards couldn't do it?

Basically Jason says that there were so many questionable calls that the Cards were at a disadvantage. I am not going to argue that there weren't some bad calls. BUT 3 of those calls (all personal fouls) came on the same drive that ended with a Steelers field goal. And really the Cards Plaxico Burressed themselves on multiple occasions and just weren't good enough. I thought the officiating was average at best but so what. Calls even themselves out over a season. I am sure there were a couple wins this season where Arizona got a few questionable calls.

The GM Says....National Championship Edition

This was only the 3rd bowl game I watched in its entirety. The others were the Poinsettia Bowl and the Rose Bowl. And this was easily the best of all of them.

• I was very impressed with Oklahoma on the defensive side of the ball. They played very well all game long and their defensive line is dominant. They got pressure on Tebow all game long and forced many incompletions.
• Tim Tebow might not be a star quarterback in the NFL but I would still draft him somewhere around the third round. I think he can be an excellent package quarterback and H-back in situations. And an amazing locker room guy.
  
• I don't think Sam Bradford was that impressive last night. He had a good game but he wasn't dominant. My big problem with Bradford (in the NFL) IS NOT that he won't be good but that it will take him some time to get really learn the game. He never has to make pre-snap reads in college! I am not saying he can't but he doesn't have to right now and he will on the next level.
• Percy Harvin was the best athlete and player on the field last night. I said in the preview that Florida needed him to have a good game and he did. Without Harvin OU rolls in this game.
• Ahmad Black's interception was easily the play of the game. If OU completes that pass they likely go in to score and take the lead.
• Florida needs to get and stay focused in big games. Penalties almost killed them in this game. The LT had 3 or 4 false start penalties which is just ridiculous. And they had at least 2 personal foul penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct. You just can't have stupid penalties like that in a game of this magnitude.
  
• Neither of Bradfords interceptions were really his fault but both of Tebow's were.
• Oklahoma has made 4 National Title games in the last 9 years which is impressive. And I am sure some of that is how good they are but how much of that is how bad the Big 12 usually is? I am not saying OU hasn't deserved it cause they have beaten the teams they needed to beat but really you have Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri, Okie State, Texas Tech, Colorado, and Nebraska. None of those teams have been consistently decent let alone good. But OU did what they needed to do each year (unlike USC who loses to lesser opponents every year) and they should be proud of their 4 trips to the title game.

BCS National Championship Game Preview

National Championship Game
Florida vs Oklahoma
Thursday, January 8, 8:00
on FOX
Dolphin Stadium - Miami

Why you should watch:

• Umm...hello...National Championship game!
  
• 2 good offenses going head to head
• 2 good defense against a maybe not so good defense
• SEC vs Big 12
• Tebow vs Bradford
• Meyer vs Stoops
• Last college football game (cause senior games and spring games don't count)
  

Why you shouldn't watch:

• It's just a "mythical" championship
  

Streaks and Scheduling Notes:
Florida:

• 12-1 (8-1)
  
• 17th straight bowl game (8-8); 2-4 in their last 6
• Only loss to Ole Miss at home
• Since that loss no game has been within 11 (28 points after that)
  

Oklahoma:

• 12-1 (8-1)
  
• 10th straight bowl game (4-5); 1-4 in their last 5
  
• Only loss to Texas at neutral site
• Since that loss no game has been within 14 points
  

Key Stats, Figures, and Players:
Florida:

• Offensively they are somewhat balanced although they don't throw for many yards. They are 61st in passing offense BUT they are 5th in passing efficiency...which means they are good at passing when they do it.
  
• Defensively they very good. They allow only 105 rushing yards and 174 passing yards per game. They have also picked off 24 passes this season.
  
• QB Tim Tebow obviously. He has over 2,500 yards passing, 28 touchdowns, and ONLY 2 interceptions all season. Maybe even more importantly he has over 500 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns on the ground.
  
• RB/WR Percy Harvin (when healthy) is the game changer on offense. He has run the ball 61 times for over 500 yards and 9 touchdowns. He has also caught 35 passes for almost 600 yards and another 7 touchdowns.
• 4 running backs, Harvin, Chris Rainey, Emmanuel Moody, and Jeffrey Demps, average over 7.3 yards per carry.
• LB Brandon Spikes is the leader on the defense. He leads the team with 87 tackles this season (48 solo). He also has 4 interceptions, 2 of which he returned for touchdowns.
  
• DE Carlos Dunlap leads the team with 12 tackles for loss and 9 sacks this season.
• CBs Janoris Jenkins and Joe Haden have been solid all season. Combined they have 6 interceptions and 21 pass breakups.
  

Oklahoma:

• Offensively they are one of the best. They average over 200 yards rushing and over 350 passing yards per game. And they don't give up sacks as their offensive line is amazing.
  
• Defensively they are not as good. Against the run they are okay allowing only 106 yards per game. But passing they allow over 250 yards per game. They average 3.2 sacks per game too.
  
• QB Sam Bradford has been amazing this season. 4,464 passing yards and 48 touchdowns this season. WOW. He averages over 10 yards per attempt. Meaning they get 10 yards per PASS.
  
• RBs Chris Brown and DeMarco Murry have both rushed for over 1000 yards this season. They also scored 34 rushing touchdowns combined.
  
• WR Juaquin Iglesias leads the team with 69 receptions and almost 11oo yards. He also has 10 touchdowns this season.
• LB Travis Lewis (who by the way is a freshman) is the best playmaker on the defense. He leads the team with 137 tackles including 69 solo tackles. He also has 12 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and 4 interceptions this season.
• LB Keenan Clayton is another player to watch on defense. He has 78 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, 9 pass breakups, and a very impressive 6 forced fumbles.
• CB Dominique Franks is probably the best player in the secondary. He has 4 interceptions (with 1 touchdown), 1 fumble recovery (and touchdown), and he has 10 pass breakups.
  

Who Wins:
Florida....I am not a firm believer in the Big 12 this season as has been mentioned here before. But I will say that Oklahoma IN MY OPINION is the most talented of all the teams in the conference. However Florida is only rivaled by USC as the most talented and best teams in the country. Really this game is going to come down to in my opinion Percy Harvin. With Harvin the Gators are not beatable....without him they are closer to average. He says he will be 90% for the game which isn't great but I think it is good enough.

GMAC Bowl Preview

GMAC Bowl
Ball State vs Tulsa
Tuesday, January 6, 8:00
on ESPN
Ladd-Peebles Stadium - Mobile, Alabama

Why you should watch:

• 2nd to last college bowl game of the year
• 2 good offenses going head to head
  

Why you shouldn't watch:

• I barely want to write this preview let alone watch another bowl game
  

Streaks and Scheduling Notes:
Ball State:

• 12-1 (8-1)
  
• 2nd straight bowl game (0-1); have never won a bowl game
  

Tulsa:

• 10-3 (7-2)
  
• 4th straight bowl game (2-1)
• Lost 3 of their last 5 games
  

Key Stats, Figures, and Players:
Ball State:

• Offensively they are solid. They are top 30 in the country in most categories and are the 6th most efficient passing offense in the nation.
  
• Defensively they are average. The best thing they do is scoring defense where they only allow 18.6 points per game.
  
• QB Nate Davis has had a phenomenal season so far. He has thrown for over 3,400 yards and 26 touchdowns this season.
  
• RB MiQuale Lewis has rushed for over 1,700 yards and has 22 touchdowns this season.
  

Tulsa:

• Offensively they are one of the best. They average 255 rushing yards and 310 passing yards. They are the 2nd best scoring offense in the country with 47 points per game.
  
• Defensively they are bad. They can kind of stop the run allowing 133 yards per game but that is all.
  
• QB David Johnson has thrown for over 3,800 yards and 43 touchdowns this season.
  
• RB Tarrion Adams has gained over 1,300 yards and has scored 11 touchdowns.
  
• WR Brennan Marion is second on the team with 43 receptions this season. But he has 1,112 yards and averages (AVERAGES!!) 25.9 yards PER CATCH! He also has 8 touchdowns.

Who Wins:
Ball State....I don't have a good reason. I THINK their defense will hold up enough and their offense shouldn't have any problems moving the ball against the Tulsa defense. BUT I haven't been very good since New Year's Eve so Tulsa will probably win.

The Big 12??

So was the Big 12 really that good this season?

I mean if you are going to argue that the Big 10 was worse than originally thought because they haven't won their bowl games than you have to hold the Big 12 to the same standards.

I have said a similar thing before on this site.

Now let's look at the conference and examine their results.

Missouri....They won which is good but shouldn't they have destroyed a supposedly "bad" Big 10 team? I mean Northwestern wasn't that good this season. They only got to the bowl game based on beating lesser teams (much like Missouri) and then they took the mighty Tigers to overtime.

Oklahoma State....They played a much better team than Missouri and lost by 11 in what was a very good game. BUT if the Big 12 was AS GOOD as everyone says they are shouldn't they have won this game. Here was a team that allowed only 123 yards per game on the ground and they gave up over 300 to Oregon.

Kansas....They were the worst Big 12 team in a bowl and they did what they were supposed to by defeating a lowly Big 10 team relatively easily. This is the one game that really throws my argument although really....Minnesota....not too impressive.

Nebraska....Let's not get carried away and say Nebraska was very good but they were in the Big 12 and played very good offense but they needed all 4 quarters to finally put away the mighty Clemson Tigers. But Nebraska, like Kansas, wasn't really in the discussion as a really good team.

Texas Tech....This is where it gets ugly for the Big 12. Here is a team that beat Texas and only lost to Oklahoma and they are playing Ole Miss who was 8-4 in the less than standard SEC this season. And it really wasn't close. Tech couldn't move the ball on the Rebels defense and they ended up losing by almost 2 touchdowns...OUCH.

Texas....They won and that is important but they played Ohio State. If you remember Ohio State was beaten badly by USC. Then they were beaten at home by Penn State. And then Penn State got throttled by USC. So what does that tell you about Texas....they would get throttled by USC. In order for Texas to impress and change my opinion of the Big 12 this season they would have had to beat OSU convincingly.

Obviously Oklahoma is still to play and could really help their conference by beating Florida. But if Florida comes out and wins relatively easily the Big 12 is going to fall in many books.

Oh and don't make the argument that these schools didn't want to be there. That is bullshit. If that's the case then they didn't deserve to be in the discussion for anything. You play who is in front of you no matter where the game is.

And if you are going to make that argument anyways than you have to use if for Penn State. I mean they had just as many losses as Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, USC, and Texas Tech. And theirs came by 1 point on the road. Unlike Texas (by 6), Oklahoma (by 10 on a neutral field), Tech (by 44), and USC (by 6). So really wouldn't Penn State have had the biggest complaint out of any of those teams to NOT WANT TO BE WHERE THEY WERE???

Just face it....the Big 12 was over rated ALL SEASON because their offenses were good and they all beat up on lower teams.

The GM Says....Weekend in Review

I wasn't around the Internet throughout the weekend as I decided to just relax and enjoy some bowl games and playoff games but I am back at work now so I have some free time again.

This entry in the GM Says will go back to New Years since I didn't post but I do have stuff to say about it.

• Penn State....what the hell? I am sure you all saw that I picked Penn State to win. Just so you know how confident I was in that pick I gave it a 1 in my bowl mania selections. Basically I was only picking it cause I was rooting for them. But I did think it would be much closer than it was. Whoever calls the defensive plays (ahem..Tom Bradley) needs to explain to me and every other fan why the hell you wouldn't change your coverage after USC figured it out? The 2nd quarter was spent allowing Sanchez to pick apart the secondary. And they didn't change anything in the 2nd half it was just that USC didn't care as much so they didn't play as hard.
• Utah....good for you! I was extremely tired Friday night and actually only saw the first half of this game but the first quarter was amazing. They absolutely deserved to be there and I don't want to hear about Alabama not really wanting to be there cause that is bullshit! Utah beat them hands down.
• University Presidents.....playoffs anyone? This year is SCREAMING for a playoff system. Who wouldn't want to see USC and Utah get to play another game after their wins? It would be amazing. New Year's day means nothing anymore...no one cares because the games don't mean anything to the fans. Sure the players want to win and I would like to see my team win but really it doesn't matter one bit. PLAYOFFS!! NOW!!
• Boston College....knock it off. First you lost to a team in Vanderbilt that while it was a great story had no business beating you. They barely won a game down the stretch and then you let them walk all over you for most of the game. And NOW you are threatening your coach. You have told him that IF he INTERVIEWS with the Jets you will fire him!! REALLY? Is that even allowed? Let him interview you jack asses. He has earned it by taking your crappy team to the ACC championship game 2 straight years.

• Arizona....congratulations. Finally you get a home playoff game and you made good use of it as you beat the Falcons in the playoffs. I was impressed with your running game and your run defense. If you can keep that up you could challenge for the Super Bowl. But I am not a believer yet and still think you will lose in Carolina this weekend.
• San Diego....welcome back. Many people continued to put you in their power rankings even though you sucked for most of the season and now you might be finally be playing up to your expectations. You completely shut down Peyton Manning and the high powered Colts offense and little Darren Sproles dominated the game. I was impressed. Good luck in Pittsburgh.
• Baltimore....next up...Tennessee. If you don't listen to the podcast, why the hell not?, you don't know that I picked the Ravens to win the Super Bowl. I think that defense is the best in football as far as making plays. Sure the Steelers have the better numbers but if Ed Reed is going to score a touchdown each game I will take their defense. The game against Miami on Sunday was NEVER close.
• Philly....my other pick. That's right I picked an Eagles/Ravens Super Bowl. Both 6 seeds are getting in this season. So far so good as the Eagles really shut down the Vikings with the exception of one Peterson run. Next up the Giants who were dominated by the Eagles in week 14. McNabb looked good and the defense looked good. They are ready for the Giants.
• New England....franchising Cassell? That tells me that Brady is NOT progressing as they think he should be. If he was on schedule to be back for the season next year would they really pay a backup around 12 million bucks? I think not. Cassell is going into next season as the starter cause Brady WILL NOT be ready to go.

Fiesta Bowl Preview

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Ohio State vs Texas
Monday, January 5, 8:00
on FOX
University of Phoenix Stadium - Glendale, Arizona

Why you should watch:

• Big Ten vs Big 12
  
• Will Texas show up to play?
  
• Colt McCoy is worth watching for sure
  
• 2 very good teams on a nice neutral field
• Nothing else on
  

Why you shouldn't watch:

• It might not be close depending on which teams show up
  
• Ohio State has failed miserably in the last 2 BCS games
  

Streaks and Scheduling Notes:
Ohio State:

• 10-2 (7-1)
  
• 9th straight bowl game (4-4)
• Only losses to USC and Penn State
  

Texas:

• 11-1 (7-1)
  
• 11th straight bowl game (7-3); 4 straight wins
• Only loss to Texas Tech
  

Key Stats, Figures, and Players:
Ohio State:

• Offensively they run the ball all day with Pryor and Wells. They CAN throw but they don't do it much. They are 104th in passing offense but are actually 26th in passing efficiency. In other words they are successful when they throw it.
  
• Defensively their strength is against the pass as they only allow 164 yards per game. They aren't bad against the run allowing 115 yards per game.
  
• QB Terrelle Pryor is a solid player. He has thrown for over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for over 500 yards and another 6 touchdowns.
  
• RB Chris "Beanie" Wells is the man to stop for Texas. He has over 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns this season even while missing 3 full games.
  

Texas:

• Offensively they are one of the best. They average 176 yards on the ground and almost 300 yards through the air.
  
• Defensively they are better than you think. Against the run they are 2nd in the country but against the pass they are a little weak.
  
• QB Colt McCoy is the little engine that could for this team. He has thrown for almost 3,500 yards and 32 touchdowns and is the leading rusher with over 575 yards and 10 touchdowns.
  
• WRs Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby are both dangerous. They have combined for 157 receptions, 1,934 yards, and 19 touchdowns.
  
• LB Sergio Kindle has registered 11.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks on the season.
  
• DE Brian Orakpo has 16.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.
  

Who Wins:
Texas....I don't think Ohio State can even come close to staying with the Longhorns in this game. They MIGHT make a game of it but I think it is unlikely. But defensively they have the edge. They just need to do more on offense and anything can happen.

International Bowl Preview

International Bowl
Buffalo vs Connecticut
Saturday, January 3, 12:00
on ESPN2
Rogers Centre - Toronto

Why you should watch:

• A good way to start Wild Card Saturday
  
• What else are you going to do?
• Watch Drew Willy play quarterback for Buffalo
  

Why you shouldn't watch:

• Really? It's Buffalo vs UConn
  
• Do some around the house chores...it might be more interesting
  
• You are probably all bowled out by now
  

Streaks and Scheduling Notes:
Buffalo:

• 8-5 (6-3)
  
• 1st ever bowl game
• Won 6 of last 7 games
• 4-3 away from home; 4 straight wins
  

Connecticut:

• 7-5 (3-4)
  
• 3rd bowl game in last 5 years (1-1)
• Lost 5 of last 7 games
• 3-3 away from home
  

Key Stats, Figures, and Players:
Buffalo:

• Offensively they are a decent team that would rather throw the ball. They are top third in the nation in scoring and passing offense.
  
• Defensively they aren't very good. They allow over 150 rushing yards and almost 250 passing yards per game.
  
• QB Drew Willy is the key to the offense. He has thrown for over 3,000 yards and has 25 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions.
  
• RB James Starks is very good too. He has over 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns this season on the ground. He also has over 300 yards receiving.
  
• WR Naaman Roosevelt has 96 receptions for over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns this year.
  

Connecticut:

• Offensively they are a running team. They are really bad throwing the ball with only 147 yards per game through the air.
  
• Defensively they are very good. In fact they are the 7th best pass defense in the country allowing only 164 yards per game.
  
• RB Donald Brown is the only offensive weapon they have. He has over 1,800 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.
  
• DEs Julius Williams and Cody Brown are going to pressure Willy all day long. They have combined for 24.5 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles.

Who Wins:

Buffalo....This is probably my biggest stretch other than Memphis over USF. The Big East is showing they are better than you think during the bowl season so far but I think Buffalo wants this game more. They have NEVER been to a bowl and are going to be amped up. Plus the game is in Toronto which is basically a home game for the Bulls. This could go either way though.

Sugar Bowl Preview

Allstate Sugar Bowl
Utah vs Alabama
Friday, January 2, 8:00
on FOX
Superdome - New Orleans

Why you should watch:

• Can Utah pull the upset?
  
• Was Alabama good enough to play for the National Title?
• Should non-BCS schools be allowed in BCS games?
• 2 very good defenses against average offenses
  

Why you shouldn't watch:

• Alabama might embarrass the Utes
  
• Might be low scoring
• You might have something better to do on a Friday night
  

Streaks and Scheduling Notes:
Utah:

• 12-0 (8-0)
  
• 6th straight bowl game (5-0); 8-0 in last 8 bowl games
  

Alabama:

• 12-1 (8-1)
  
• 5th straight bowl game (2-2)
  

Key Stats, Figures, and Players:
Utah:

• Offensively they are solid and balanced. They are 41st in the country in rushing and passing offense. And they are 15th in scoring offense.
  
• Defensively they are very good against the run but can struggle against the pass. They only allow 17 points per game.
  
• QB Brian Johnson has thrown for over 2,600 yards and 24 touchdowns this season.
  
• RBs Matt Asiata and Darrell Mack have combined for almost 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.
• WR Freddie Brown has 65 receptions for 775 yards and 7 touchdowns this season.
• DE Paul Kruger has 15.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks this season. He might have a good day against Bama with their starting tackle suspended.
  

Alabama:

• Offensively they run the ball. They average almost 200 yards per game on the ground but only 170 through the air.
  
• Defensively they are really strong against the run and solid against the pass. They only allow 79 yards rushing and 178 yards passing per game.
  
• RB Glen Coffee has been a stud this season. He has over 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
  
• His backup RB Mark Ingram has also had a good season with over 700 yards and 12 touchdowns.
• Freshman WR Julio Jones is a gamebreaker on the outside with 51 catches for over 800 yards and 4 touchdowns.
  
• CB Rashad Johnson is a good cover corner. This season he has 5 interceptions. 2 of which he returned for touchdowns.
  

Who Wins:

Alabama....I think Utah will keep it close but unfortunately for them I don't think they can quite keep up. I am pulling for the Utes though since it would hurt the SECs reputation as well as make the Mountain West conference's. It should be a very good game though.

Liberty Bowl Preview

AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Kentucky vs East Carolina
Friday, January 2, 5:00
on ESPN
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium - Memphis

Why you should watch:

• A nice happy hour with football!
  
• East Carolina had a good start to the season and has been playing better of late
  

Why you shouldn't watch:

• There have been so many Bowl games already
  
• Neither of these teams is really worth watching

Streaks and Scheduling Notes:
Kentucky:

• 6-6 (2-6)
  
• 3rd straight bowl game (2-0)
• Lost 6 of 8 games and 3 straight
  
• 2-3 away from home this season
  

East Carolina:

• 9-4 (7-2)
  
• 3rd straight bowl game (1-1)
  
• Won 6 of last 7 games
• 5-3 away from home this season
  

Key Stats, Figures, and Players:
Kentucky:

• Offensively they are terrible. They rank 79th in rushing offense and 98th in passing. Not good.
  
• Defensively they are very good against the pass and average against the run. They won their early games thanks to their defense.
  
• QB Randall Cobb is a jack of all trades. He will line up all over the field and do everything. He has 542 passing yards, 316 rushing yards, and 197 receiving yards. He has accounted for 11 touchdowns.
  
• LB Micah Johnson is the leader of the defense. He is second on the team with 87 tackles and first on the team with 11.5 tackles for loss.
  

East Carolina:

• Offensively they rival Kentucky for suckiness! They are 64th in passing offense and 83rd in rushing offense.
  
• Defensively they are pretty average. They don't do anything great but do most things good enough.
  
• QB Patrick Pinkney is the leader of the offense. As he goes they go. He has over 2,300 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
  
• DT C.J. Wilson is a force on the defensive line. He has 18.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks this season.

Who Wins:

East Carolina....I know Kentucky had some injuries and that helped their downfall but come on. They lost 6 of 8. Their two wins were over Arkansas and Mississippi State by a combined 2 points. I don't trust Kentucky at all. East Carolina started out good with upsets of West Virginia and Virginia Tech but then they fell apart. They win with solid play and defense. Hopefully they come through again.

Cotton Bowl Preview

AT&T Cotton Bowl
Mississippi vs Texas Tech
Friday, January 2, 2:00
on FOX
Cotton Bowl - Dallas

Why you should watch:

• If you are off on Friday what else are you going to do?
  
• Texas Tech might pass for 500 yards this game
  
• SEC vs Big 12 argument gets its first taste
  

Why you shouldn't watch:

• If you work you will probably miss almost all of it
  
• It probably won't be a close game
  

Streaks and Scheduling Notes:
Mississippi:

• 8-4 (5-3)
  
• 5th bowl game last 10 years (3-1)
• Won 5 straight games
• 3-2 away from home this season
  

Texas Tech:

• 11-1 (7-1)
  
• 9th straight bowl game (5-3)
  
• Only loss to Oklahoma
  

Key Stats, Figures, and Players:
Mississippi:

• Offensively they are a running team although they can pass the ball with good efficiency. While they are only 58th in passing offense they are 25th in passing efficiency.
  
• Defensively they are great against the run. Unfortunately for them Tech doesn't run much they throw it all the time.
  
• QB Javon Snead has had a solid season. He has over 2,400 yards and 23 touchdowns.
  
• RBs Cordera Eason and Brandon Bolden have combined for over 1,000 yards and 7 touchdowns.
  
• WR Dexter McCluster has 38 receptions for 542 yards and a touchdown. But his real value is running the ball where he has 558 yards and 5 touchdowns.
• Defensively it is a team effort. As a team they lead the country in tackles for loss with 107. 23 different players have recorded one. 19 players have recorded at least 1 sack too.
  

Texas Tech:

• Passing is all this team does. They are the best passing offense in the country with 417 yards per game through the air.
  
• Defensively they are better at stopping the run but aren't really good at anything.
  
• QB Graham Harrell has thrown for more than 4,700 yards this season and has 41 touchdowns to go along with it.
  
• WR Michael Crabtree is the number 1 target on the team. He has 93 catches for over 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns.
  
• DE Brandon Williams is the only real force on the defense. He has 12.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks on the season and is far and away the team leader in those categories.
  

Who Wins:

Texas Tech....The only way Ole Miss stays in this game is if Tech doesn't want to be there. They might be bummed about being left out of the BCS and not really into this game. But I think they are going to want to show the country what kind of team they are. If they want to prove they were worthy than they better embarrass the Rebels.

Orange Bowl Preview

FedEx Orange Bowl
Cincinnati vs Virginia Tech
Thursday, January 1, 8:30
on FOX
Dolphin Stadium - Miami

Why you should watch:

• The second BCS game of the season
  
• I really think this game will be better than most of them
• 2 solid teams that have something to prove
  

Why you shouldn't watch:

• Late start means if you work Friday you won't see it all
• Might not be much scoring
  

Streaks and Scheduling Notes:
Cincinnati:

• 11-2 (6-1)
  
• 4th bowl game last 5 years (3-0)
• Won 6 straight games
  

Virginia Tech:

• 9-4 (6-3)
  
• 16th straight bowl game (6-9): lost 4 of last 5
• Won 4 of last 5 games including 3 straight
  

Key Stats, Figures, and Players:
Cincinnati:

• Offensively they are a pass first team. They average 254 yards passing but only 121 yards rushing per game.
  
• Defensively they are solid especially against the run where they only allow 104 yards per game.
  
• QB Tony Pike was low on the depth chart at the start of the season. But due to injuries he is now the starter. He has over 2,100 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.
  
• WRs Marshawn Gilyard and Dominick Goodman have combined for 152 receptions, 2,095 yards, and 17 touchdowns this season.
  
• DE Connor Barwin has 14.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks this season.

Virginia Tech:

• Offensively they are a running team that sucks at passing. They are 111th in passing offense this season.
  
• This team wins with defense. They allow only 107 rushing yards per game and 170 yards passing. They are also 13th in the country in scoring defense.
  
• QB Tyrod Taylor isn't the most polished passer but he can run with the ball. Combined he has totaled 1,587 yards and 8 touchdowns in limited time this season.
  
• RB Darren Evans is the workhorse. He has over 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
• DEs Jason Worilds and Orion Martin and LB Cody Grimm are forces on the defensive side of the ball. Combined they have 44 tackles for loss, 22 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and 15 quarterback hurries.
  

Who Wins:

Cincinnati....VaTech is going to be without a couple starters for sure and possibly Worilds as well. On top of that I don't think the Hokies can keep up with Cincy's on the scoreboard. If Taylor or Sean Glennon can learn how to throw the ball effectively then MAYBE Tech has a chance.