Why You Can't Blame Northern Illinois

Associated Press/Carlos Osorio

The Northern Illinois Huskies out of the Mid-American Conference will be playing in their first BCS Bowl game in school history. The Huskies were selected to play in the Discover Orange Bowl against ACC Champion Florida State after hitting the 15th spot in the final regular season BCS Standings. There are a lot of analysts and fans of college football that have not accepted the fact that the Huskies are playing in this bowl game. The Huskies, who are led by one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country Jordan Lynch, came into the final weekend with an 11-1 record and a No. 21 ranking in the BCS Standings. It seemed almost impossible that the Huskies would make a BCS Bowl game, even with a MAC Conference Championship win over #17 Kent State. The Huskies would need to defeat Kent State, leap an idle Michigan and hope Boise State, Texas, UCLA, Florida State, and Nebraska would lose. What ended up happening was that Northern Illinois won the MAC Conference Championship in double overtime, Boise State defeated Nevada, Texas lost to Kansas State, UCLA lost to Stanford, Florida State defeated Georgia Tech, and Nebraska lost to Wisconsin. Just hours before the final BCS Standings were to be released on the Bowl Game Selection Show, there were reports that Northern Illinois had hit No. 15 in the BCS Standings. Northern Illinois only needed to hit No. 16 in the BCS Standings to receive an automatic BCS Bowl bid, because the Big East and Big Ten Champions were not going to be ranked in front of them. The reports were indeed correct and the Huskies became the main topic of discussion when the bowl games were unveiled on ESPN. There was a lot of anger and confusion over the Huskies and why they did not deserve to be in the Discover Orange Bowl.

NIU Pre-game Huddle

A majority of College Football fans that were not living in the small Illinois town of DeKalb thought this was the most ridiculous thing they had ever seen. The real question was do they really belong in a BCS Bowl game over Oklahoma or Clemson? In all honesty, they probably did not deserve it. You can't hate Northern Illinois though. All Northern Illinois did was continue to win and ended up doing what they needed to do to crash the BCS. The Huskies cannot control that a few conference champions from other BCS automatic qualifying conferences finished behind them. The teams to be blamed for this problem are simply Louisville and Nebraska. Louisville and Rutgers both were upset a week before their final meeting of the season and were knocked out of the Top 25. After Louisville defeated Rutgers for the Big East title, the Cardinals were only able to make it to No. 21 in the BCS Standings. It wasn't so much having Wisconsin (8-5) winning the Big Ten Championship as it was Nebraska getting blown out and dropping from No. 12 to No. 16. The Big East Champion was already going to be the automatic qualifier to fall behind Northern Illinois. The Huskers loss gave the Huskies a very good chance of hitting the No. 16 spot in the BCS Standings.

Who to blame for Northern Illinois's BCS Birth?

                                 1. Louisville and Rutgers from a weak Big East Conference.

  2. Nebraska losing to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship. 

                  3. Can also blame UCLA and Texas for not winning their season finales. 

                                 4. The BCS system.          

Northern Illinois Huskies Resumé

Record: 12-1 (8-0 MAC)

Defeated #17 Kent State 44-37 (2OT) for the MAC Championship.

Best wins: #17 Kent State (11-2), Toledo (9-3), Kansas (1-11)

Bad loss: Iowa (4-8)            

Ranking: 15th in the final regular season BCS Standings. 

Note: Have won 11 or more games in their past three seasons and currently are 

          back-to-back MAC Champions.          

What is interesting about this resumé is that Northern Illinois only defeated one ranked opponent the entire season and their best win over a BCS automatic qualifier was against a Kansas team that won just one game this entire season. Northern Illinois was winning the entire game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in a showdown at Chicago's Soldier Field, but then blew a a five-point lead with 2:15 left in the game and lost 18-17. I figured Northern Illinois had a legitimate chance coming into the season to make a splash into the BCS picture, but thought for sure they were completely eliminated after this loss. What happened this season was out of the ordinary. If you noticed teams such as Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Northwestern, and Arizona bounced back and forth between entering and dropping out of the Top 25. This gave teams from mid-major conferences with one or two losses to begin placing themselves in shape to hit the No. 16 spot in the BCS Standings. These mid-major schools hoped that the conference champion from the Big East would drop behind them. As everyone well knows, the Big East should not be an automatic qualifying conference. This season, the Big East was the main reason why mid-major schools felt they had a chance of crashing the BCS party. Northern Illinois didn't hit the Top 25 until one week before the regular season ended. Look at all of the non-BCS automatic qualifying teams that could have been in a BCS bowl game besides Northern Illinois. 

Final BCS Standings

19. Boise State       10-2

22. Utah State        10-2

24. San Jose State  10-2

25. Kent State        11-2

All of these mid-major schools had a chance to make it to a BCS Bowl game because of the inconsistency of teams from BCS automatic qualifying conferences. The MAC had an overall record of 4-3 against the Big East. This is proof of why the Big East should be placed in the pool of mid-major schools. With the loss of West Virginia to the Big 12 this season, the depth of the conference has become weaker and weaker. One positive aspect that Northern Illinois has that these other mid-major schools do not is an explosive player in quarterback Jordan Lynch. Lynch became more and more recognizable as the college football season progressed. There are pros and cons to this whole BCS situation and here they are. 

Pros

° Northern Illinois will be in their first BCS Bowl game and is led by an explosive quarterback in Jordan Lynch.

° 28th in total defense and holding opponents to 19.0 points per game. 

° Free tickets for Northern Illinois students (see con below related to this topic).

° Have nothing to lose against Florida State. 

Cons

° Dave Doreen will not be the head coach during the Discover Orange Bowl as he has accepted the head coaching position at NC State.

° Potentially being overmatched by Florida State. Have not faced a team with this much talent all season long. 

° As generous as it is giving students free tickets to the Discover Orange Bowl, the university could be in jeopardy of losing money because of their BCS Bowl bid. The ticket allotment for Northern Illinois is 17,500. Northern Illinois has averaged just 15,670 in attendance this season. With a once in a life time opportunity, hopefully Husky fans will make their way down to Miami. 

Note: UConn went to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in 2010 and lost $2,924.385. Only 2,771 of the tickets were sold of the ticket allotment of 17,500. This is what NIU is hoping to avoid. 

Source: 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/northern-illinois-free-orange-bowl-ticket-every-student-182836361--ncaaf.html 

College Football Regular Season Recap

Preseason Projections: 

Correct Bowl Projection

Capital One Bowl (Orlando, FL)

Georgia vs Nebraska 

Note: Lindy's Sports Magazine, Athlon Sports Magazine, and Phil Steele Magazine did not pick one correct bowl game in their preseason projections. 

Heisman Projection

Kansas State Quarterback Collin Klein was sixth on my Heisman list heading into the 2012 College Football Season. 

Who surprised and disappointed this season: 

Surprised

1. Notre Dame: 

My projection: 9-3 losses: Michigan, Oklahoma, USC

Record: 12-0         losses: none

- I wasn't sure if this Irish team could pull through this season. The inconsistency these past few seasons made me doubt the Irish and put them in the Russell Athletic Bowl. The Irish became a new beast this season with a defense led by linebacker Manti Te'o. The offense also improved as the season continued under sophomore quarterback Everett Golson. The Irish will play Alabama in the BCS National Championship.  

2. Texas A&M:

My projection: 7-5 losses: Florida, Arkansas, LSU, Auburn, Alabama
Record: 10-2         losses: Florida & LSU

- Everyone was saying how the Aggies could not compete in the SEC Conference this season. First year head coach Kevin Sumlin turned the program around in one season with the help of freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel. The Aggies lost to Florida and LSU, but had possibly the best win of the season in college football at Alabama. Texas A&M ranked in the Top 15 in passing yards, rushing yards, and in scoring.

3. Oregon State:

My projection: 5-7 losses: Wisconsin, UCLA, BYU, Utah, Washington, Stanford, Oregon 

Record: 9-3           losses: Washington, Stanford, Oregon

-  After this season, it was thought that Head Coach Mike Riley would be on the hot seat and his job would be in jeopardy after losing seven or eight games. Riley once again proved the nation wrong and led his team to a 6-0 start and ended the season with a 9-3 record. The defense ranked as one of the best against the rush and the offense became dangerous with a passing attack led by quarterbacks Sean Mannion and Cody Vaz. The wide receiver play of Markus Wheaton and Brandin Cooks presented problems for secondaries all season long as well.

4. Stanford:

My projection: 8-4 losses: USC, Washington, Notre Dame, Oregon
Record: 10-2         losses: Washington, Notre Dame

- With the departure of quarterback Andrew Luck, there weren't many people who thought the Cardinal would be competing for the Pac-12 Championship with Oregon and USC appearing to be the true contenders. David Shaw's team hung around in the rankings the whole season. The Cardinal upset #2 USC in the second week of the season and then were upset two weeks later at Washington. The Cardinal two weeks later lost in a controversial overtime loss at #7 Notre Dame, but won out the regular season as they upset #2 Oregon on the road and defeated #16 UCLA in the Pac-12 Championship. A major reason for the improvement of the Cardinal at the end of the season was in part to the switch of quarterbacks from Josh Nunes to Kevin Hogan. The defense continued to be one of the best in the nation again this season.

5. Kansas State:

My projection: 8-4 losses: Oklahoma, West Virginia, TCU, Baylor
Record: 11-1         losses: Baylor

- I think most people thought that last year was simply a fluke. The 73-year-old Bill Snyder and his captain quarterback Collin Klein apparently did not feel the same way as the Wildcats made it all the way to number one in the nation until their second to last game of the season when they were upset at Baylor. The Wildcats were not flashy, but were a solid team offensively, as well as defensively. Without Heisman finalist Collin Klein, this team does not go on the road and get a signature win at Oklahoma, nor do they win the Big 12 title.


Disappointed

1. Arkansas:

My projection: 9-3 losses: Alabama, South Carolina, LSU
Record: 4-8           losses: LA-Monroe, Alabama, Rutgers, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, South Carolina,     Mississippi State, LSU

- The departure of Bobby Petrino hurt the Razorbacks, but who would have seen a 4-8 record coming? The upset loss, most likely the biggest one in Arkansas history, again LA-Monroe in overtime put the Razorbacks in panic mode and everything hit rock bottom after that. Interim coach John L. Smith lost control of the situation and senior quarterback Tyler Wilson battled through an injury early in the season and was not able to be as successful as last season. Arkansas's only SEC wins came against Auburn and Kentucky, who both combined for a total of five wins on the season and no wins in SEC play.

2. USC:

My projection: 13-0 losses: none
Record: 7-5             losses: Stanford, Arizona, Oregon, UCLA, Notre Dame

- The Trojans came into the season as a lock for the Pac-12 Championship and a potential BCS National Championship contender. Only three weeks into the season though the Trojans were upset at Stanford. After that loss, USC went on to win their next four games and were at a solid 6-1 record. Once late October/November hit the Trojans season went literally down the drain. USC lost at Arizona, gave up 62 points to Oregon at home in a 62-51 loss, lost the Pac-12 South Division as UCLA beat USC for the first time since 2006, and then lost at home to Notre Dame. The offense led my senior quarterback Matt Barkley and potential Heisman candidate wide receiver Marqise Lee was solid for the most part, but the Trojan defense looked awful and struggled most of the season. "Unfinished business" was not finished as the Trojans settled with a 7-5 record.

3. Auburn:

My projection: 8-4 losses: LSU, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama
Record: 3-9           losses: Clemson, Mississippi State, LSU, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Georgia, Alabama

- This team may have been the biggest nightmare of them all. Auburn looked to be an improved team this season and everything was bad from start to finish. The offense was atrocious averaging just 18.7 points per game and had one of the worst passing attacks in the country. The Auburn offense was my preseason biggest disappointment. The defense which should have been improved this season ended up giving up 439.8 yards per game and 28.3 points per game. Auburn failed to beat a team from a BCS automatic qualifying conference and had their worst season since 1998. Head Coach Gene Chizik was fired just two seasons after he had won a BCS National Championship.

4. Iowa:

My projection: 8-4 losses: Michigan State, Northwestern, Michigan, Nebraska
Record: 4-8           losses: Iowa State, Central Michigan, Penn State, Northwestern, Indiana, Purdue, Michigan, Nebraska

- The Iowa Hawkeyes may have been projected to be the fourth best team in the Big Ten Legends Division, but their were expectations this season of being at least an eight win team. The schedule set up nicely for the Hawkeyes as they did not have to face Ohio State or Wisconsin this season. Iowa began the season in a tussle with a Northern Illinois team that is now playing in the Orange Bowl. The Hawkeyes came away with a one-point victory, but lost two of their next three non-conference games at home to in-state rival Iowa State and Central Michigan. As the season went on in Big Ten play the offense struggled to put points on the board as they averaged just 19.3 points per game. This ended up  putting the Hawkeye defense in a difficult position to win ball games. The expectations of senior quarterback James Vandenberg were not fulfilled and there continued to be problems with depth at the running back position. Heading into next season Kirk Ferentz will be on the hot seat.

5. Utah:

My projection: 8-4 losses: BYU, USC, Cal, Washington
Record: 5-7           losses: Utah State, Arizona State, USC, UCLA, Oregon State, Washington, Arizona

- A team that was supposedly going to be improved and an asset to the Pac-12 Conference were a disappointment this season. It started with being upset at Utah State in overtime and losing quarterback Jordan Wynn with an injury for good. This Utah team should have been at worst second in the Pac-12 South Division with an 8-4 record. This team made costly mistakes in close games and turned the ball over. This is what prevented this Ute team from being bowl eligible and a contender in the Pac-12  Conference this season.

College Football Week 14 Recap

My Overall Record: 99-41  
My Record in Week 14: 7-3

Best game from Week 14: #2 Alabama 32, #3 Georgia 28

The regular season is done besides the Army-Navy game and Heisman Trophy Presentation this upcoming weekend. Head Coach Nick Saban and his Alabama Crimson Tide have done it again. They defeated the #3 Georgia Bulldogs in what would be considered by most as the best SEC Championship game of this decade. Who knows if Alabama wins this game if Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray spikes the ball with 12 seconds to go? No one can really figure out why that play was not executed. You can't take anything away from Alabama though. The Crimson Tide fought back in the second half after the Bulldogs took the momentum by blocking a field goal and returning it for a touchdown to take a 21-10 lead. The rushing attack led by Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon played a huge role in the Crimson Tide climbing back into the game and the 45-yard touchdown pass from AJ McCarron to Amari Cooper with 3:15 left in the game is what advanced this team to another BCS National Championship game. The Crimson Tide won their second SEC title in four years and will be going for their third national championship in four years.

Other conference games came down to the very end as well.  On Thursday, The Big East showdown came down to the very end in Piscataway with Louisville and injured quarterback Teddy Bridgewater defeating Rutgers 20-17. Louisville is now headed to their first BCS Bowl game since 2006. On Friday, there were two very close games in the MAC Championship and Pac-12 Championship. One of the biggest stories of the weekend was the Northern Illinois-Kent State game. For the third straight year, the MAC Championship went down to the wire. Jordan Lynch and company fought off Kent State 44-37 in double overtime and now are headed to their first BCS Bowl game in school history. The Pac-12 Championship came down to the very end as UCLA kept it close the whole game. Unfortunately, Bruin kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn was not able to convert a 52-yard field goal to tie the game with 34 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Stanford fought off UCLA for the second straight week 27-24. The Stanford Cardinal will head to their third straight BCS Bowl game. The ACC title game ended up being surprisingly close as well between Florida State and Georgia Tech. Florida State stopped Georgia Tech on a last minute drive when Seminole defender Tevin Washington intercepted a Karlos Williams pass. Florida State hung on to win the ACC Championship 21-15 and will go to their first BCS bowl game since 2005. Collin Klein and Kansas State clinched their first Big 12 Championship since 2003 as they knocked off the Texas Longhorns at home 42-24. Lastly, the biggest upset of the weekend occurred in Indianapolis. The 7-5 Wisconsin Badgers absolutely dismantled the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Badgers came in with revenge on their minds as running backs Montee Ball, Melvin Gordon, and James White ran for a combined 527 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. The Husker defense ended up giving up a total of 640 yards in a 70-31 loss. The Wisconsin Badgers are now heading to their third straight Rose Bowl.

BCS Bowl Games  

1.   
                                               

BCS National Championship 

 Sun Life Stadium 

Miami Gardens, FL                  

Jan. 7, 2013

#1 Notre Dame vs #2 Alabama 

Fiesta Bowl

University of Phoenix Stadium

Glendale, AZ

Jan. 3, 2013

#4 Oregon vs #5 Kansas State 

Sugar Bowl

Mercedes-Benz Superdome

New Orleans, LA

Jan. 2, 2013

#3 Florida vs 21 Louisville 

Orange Bowl

Sun Life Stadium

Miami Gardens, FL

Jan. 1, 2013

#12 Florida State vs #15 Northern Illinois 

Rose Bowl

Rose Bowl

Pasadena, CA 

Jan. 1, 2013

#6 Stanford vs Wisconsin 

2012 Heisman Trophy Predictions

1. QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (Freshman)

- Johnny Manziel was the biggest surprise of the 2012 College Football season. Manziel was not a clear starter until right before the season began. As a freshman, Manziel became the first SEC player to have 4,600 yards in one season. He also set freshman FBS records, such as most rushing yards for a quarterback in one season with 1,181 yards. Manziel led his team to a 10-2 regular season record and knocked off Alabama on the road. 

2. LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame (Senior)

- No one can even explain how great Mant Te'o is as a leader and human being. In September, Te'o lost his girlfriend and grandmother in a matter of a day and was still able to perform at the highest level . Te'o recorded 103 total tackles and seven interceptions during the regular season. Te'o also led an Irish defense that has given up just 10.3 points per game. Te'o and the Irish are headed to the BCS National Championship to play Alabama. 

3. QB Collin Klein, Kansas State (Senior)

- There is not one player who meant more to his team than Collin Klein did. Kansas State is at best an 8-4 team without him. Klein passed for 2,490 yards and 15 touchdowns. Klein also rushed for 890 yards and 22 touchdowns. The play of Klein has led Kansas State to their first Big 12 Championship since 2003 and a Fiesta Bowl bid. Klein would have been the obvious choice to win the Heisman Trophy, but the 52-24 loss at Baylor where he threw three interceptions hurt his chances of winning.

NCAA College Basketball Recap #1

College Basketball has begun and we are already seeing some great basketball. The Maui Invitation, Battle 4 Atlantis, and other Thanksgiving tournaments are over. We now are currently into the conference challenges as the ACC played against the Big Ten and the SEC is now battling it out with the Big East. There has been impressive play by teams such as Indiana, Duke, Florida, Michigan, and Gonzaga. Other teams are starting off a little slower than expected, such as NC State, North Carolina, and UCLA. Here are my current rankings and analysis of what I have seen so far this season.

1. Indiana   7-0 

- The Indiana Hoosiers appeared to be struggling two weeks ago when they played Georgia and against Georgetown. The Hoosiers struggled against Georgia well into the fourth quarter until they pulled away and won 66-53. The Georgetown game really tested the Hoosiers as they needed overtime to pull off the 82-72 win. Since that game though, Indiana has looked solid. The blowout win over #14 North Carolina on Tuesday said a lot about this team. The Tar Heels are not the same team from last season, but the play from star sophomore Cody Zeller, junior Will Sheehey, and Victor Oladipo could not have been much better. Talk about shooting lights out. The lights literally went out in Assembly Hall for a brief moment. This game showcased how talented this team could be this season and Christian Watford only had two points on the night.

  2. Duke      7-0

- Out of any team in the country, the Duke Blue Devils have best resumé of wins right now. The Blue Devils defeated #3 Kentucky in Atlanta 75-68, #2 Louisville 76-71 in the Battle 4 Atlantis Championship, and #4 Ohio State 73-68 at home. The Blue Devils also had difficult games in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament against Minnesota and VCU. This Blue Devil team looked tired early against Ohio State and could only make shots from the line in the first half. In the second half though, the Blue Devils battled back and played great basketball against a tough Buckeye squad. Mason Plumlee's inside game and rebounding has been key to the success the Blue Devils have had. The Blue Devils have also seen the rise of freshman guard Rasheed Sulaimon, who is averaging 12.7 points per game. Look for Sulaimon to continue to be a huge part of the Duke offense along with senior guard Seth Curry, senior forward Ryan Kelly, and sophomore Quinn Cook. This team already looks better than they did last season. 

3. Michigan   6-0

- This may possibly be the best Michigan team we have seen in years. The Wolverines have defeated Pittsburgh, Kansas State, and NC State so far this season. The Wolverines, led by junior guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and sophomore guard Trey Burke, are currently scoring 80.8 points per game and are fifth in the nation with a field goal percentage of .529. I am impressed with the defensive of play from these Wolverines. Freshman forward Glenn Robinson III has had 19 rebounds in his last two games and has been a playmaker on offense averaging 12.2 points per game. Watch out for the Wolverines as the season continues, they are a lot stronger than last year's team that was upset in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Ohio. 

 4. Florida       6-0

- After a blowout 82-49 victory over Marquette last night, I am ready to put the Gators in the number four spot. Florida did have to cancel its first game of the season against Georgetown on the USS Bataan due to moisture on the court, but the Gators were able to blow out #22 Wisconsin 74-56 just days after the cancellation. The Gators are led by senior guard Kenny Boynton, who is currently averaging 14.5 points per game and has been almost solid from the free throw line going 22 for 25. The Gators also consist of senior forward/center Erik Murphy, who is averaging 4.2 rebounds per game and senior guard Mike Rosario, who has averaged 11.0 points per game. Freshman guard Michael Frazier III will also be a valuable asset to this team as he dropped 17 points on Marquette last night. Lastly, the Gators will play tough opponents in their next three of four games. The Gators must travel to in-state rival Florida State, #9 Arizona, and Kansas State in Kansas City. If the Gators get through these three games look for them to be undefeated until at least late January. 

5. Ohio State    4-1

- The Buckeyes lost in a close one at Duke on Wednesday 73-68, but these Buckeyes are a very talented bunch. The inside game is strong and the Buckeyes defensively shutdown Duke the entire first half. The Buckeyes are led by junior forward Deshaun Thomas who has been impressive this season by averaging 22.4 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game. Junior guard Aaron Craft continues to be the key roll player in the Buckeye offense and junior guard Lenzelle Smith, Jr. currently has a three-point field goal percentage of .474. The Buckeyes will breeze through their non-conference schedule until December 22nd when they host Kansas.

6. Syracuse   4-0

7. Louisville  5-1

8. Gonzaga   7-0

9. Arizona    4-0

10. Kansas    5-1


Teams to watch: 

1. Oklahoma State (5-0)
- The Cowboys had a blowout win over #6 NC State 76-56 and have a tough guard game consisting of true freshman Marcus Smart.

2. Illinois (8-0)
- John Groce's squad has looked unstoppable so far this season. They won the Maui Invitation by defeating Butler 78-61. The play from senior guard Brandon Paul has been crucial as he has averaged 18.3 points per game.

3. Oregon (6-1)
- The Pac-12 is going to be up for grabs and the Ducks could be in the mix again. The Ducks knocked off #18 UNLV in the semifinals of the Global Sports Classic in Las Vegas. The Ducks then almost upset #22 Cincinnati in the Finals. The play from the Duck's freshman and Rice transfer Arsalan Kazemi has been a large part of why this team has been successful.

4. Georgetown (4-1)
- The Hoyas defeated #11 UCLA, then gave #1 Indiana all they could handle in overtime and almost pulled off the upset. Pay attention to the play of junior guard Markel Starks. This kid has looked solid so far this season.

Potential Pretenders:

1. NC State (4-2)
- A lot of talent on this Wolf Pack squad that was ranked number six in the preseason ranking. Unfortunately, they were blown out by an unranked Oklahoma State team 76-56 and also lost at #3 Michigan 79-72. The play from freshman T.J. Warren and junior C.J. Leslie will hopefully get this Wolf Pack team back on track and in a position to compete for the ACC title.

2. UCLA (5-2)
- Here we go again with the drama surrounding the UCLA program. UCLA had to defeat UC-Irvine in overtime, lost to Georgetown, and then was upset by Cal Poly at home. Junior center Joshua Smith and junior guard Tyler Lamb have already left the program. It will be up to freshman Shabazz Muhammad to lead this Bruin squad the rest of the season.

3. North Carolina 
- The Tar Heels are obviously not as strong this season with the loss of their four star players from last season, but it doesn't mean they are a bad team. The Tar Heels look all out of sorts this season. The Tar Heels were almost blown out in Maui by Butler, then were manhandled at #1 Indiana 83-59.

College Football: Week 14 matchups to watch

We finally have reached the last weekend for teams to make their way into BCS Bowl games. The game this weekend with National Championship implications is the SEC Championship between #2 Alabama and #3 Georgia. The winner of this game will play #1 Notre Dame in Miami for the crystal ball. The craziness of the Big Ten will finally be decided in Indianapolis Saturday night as #12 Nebraska (10-2) will take on Wisconsin (7-5) in the Big Ten Championship for a ticket to the Rose Bowl. Wisconsin came close to defeating the Huskers earlier this season in Lincoln and have earned a spot in this game because of Ohio State and Penn State being ineligible. At the beginning of the season it was all about a rematch between Oregon and USC in the Pac-12 Championship. Here we are at the end of the season and we have #16 UCLA playing #8 Stanford for the second time in less than a week for a trip to the Rose Bowl. The ACC's wheel of destiny landed on Georgia Tech this season. Georgia Tech (7-5) will play #13 Florida State (10-2) for the ACC Championship after Miami (FL)
self-imposed a postseason ban on themselves making the Hurricanes ineligible for the ACC Championship. Lastly, there is a crucial game tonight for a potential BCS at-large bid for #17 Kent State or #21 Northern Illinois. The Kent State Golden Flashes only need to move up one more spot in the BCS standings to make it to a BCS Bowl game. The Northern Illinois Huskies need a lot more help with losses from Boise State, Texas, and UCLA. Even that may not be enough for the Huskies to be eligible for an at-large BCS bid.

ESPN College GameDay will be live from Atlanta, GA (10:00 AM ET)

Matchup: #2 Alabama vs #3 Georgia

Thursday, November 29th

1. Louisville @ Rutgers  7:30 PM ET ESPN

- Finally, the mighty Big East will be settled tonight in Piscataway. Louisville and Rutgers were both upset this past Saturday and dropped out of the BCS Standings. The winner of this game will play in either the Sugar Bowl or Orange Bowl. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are looking for their first BCS bowl bid in the school's history. Louisville went to a BCS Bowl game in 2007, where they defeated Wake Forest 24-13 in the Orange Bowl. The matchup in this game is going to be the Cardinals passing attack against the tough Scarlet Knight defense. Louisville will rely on the passing game of sophomore quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater has averaged 350.2 passing yards and 2.8 touchdowns in his past five games. The Cardinal offense has averaged 296.5 passing yards per game this season. The Scarlet Knights have not been strong on offense this season and have needed to win games by relying on its defense. The Scarlett Knight defense is holding opponents to only 114.4 rushing yards per game and just 15.1 points per game. What could be a key aspect in this game is if the Scarlet Knights rushing attack led by Jawan Jamison can show some sort of life and wear down a Cardinal defense that has not faired well against the run this season. Could we see "pandemonium in Piscataway" part II against Louisville?

Prediction: Rutgers 28, Louisville 24

Result: Louisville 20, Rutgers 17


Friday, November 30th

2. #21 Northern Illinois vs #17 Kent State  MAC Championship (Detroit, MI)  7:00 PM ET ESPN2

- The Golden Flashes of Kent State are very likely to be BCS bound if they can win this game. On the other hand, the Northern Illinois Huskies are looking to repeat as the MAC Champions and are hoping for a miracle that they hit the 16th spot in the BCS Standings. The Golden Flashes are on a 10-game winning streak after being blown out early in the season at Kentucky 47-14. The success of Kent State has been in part to its rushing attack. Running back Dri Archer, who should be able to go tonight, has rushed for 125 or more yards in three of his last four games. Archer also has 18 total touchdowns on the season. The Golden Flashes are 11th in the country in rushing yards per game this season with 241.5. The Huskies are led by explosive junior quarterback Jordan Lynch who has led an offense that is currently 9th in the country in rushing yards per game with 245 yards. Lynch's dual threat ability has caused him to be a nightmare for defenses this season. Lynch has averaged 229.1 passing yards per game, 134.2 rushing yards per game, and has accounted for 39 of the Huskies touchdowns this season. Not only are the Huskies sound on offense, but their defense continues to be tough year after year. The Husky defense is holding opponents to 17.5 points per game this season. The MAC Championship is more than just a game this year. It could potentially be for the conferences first BCS bid.

Prediction: Northern Illinois 32, Kent State 26
Result: Northern Illinois 44, Kent State 37 (2OT)

3. #16 UCLA @ #8 Stanford  Pac-12 Championship  8:00 PM ET FOX

- In less than a week, UCLA and Stanford will have played two games against each other. In round one this past Saturday, The Stanford Cardinal completely outplayed the UCLA Bruins and won by a score of 35-17 in the Rose Bowl. The Bruins must now travel to the "The Farm" to get revenge against a very tough and physical Cardinal team. Last week, I picked the Bruins to pull the upset. Boy how was I ever wrong. Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor went off for 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Stanford defense also shut down the UCLA offense by holding them to just 73 total rushing yards. Standout UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin rushed for only 65 yards and one touchdown leaving the offense up to the arm of quarterback Brett Hundley. If UCLA wants any chance of winning this time against Stanford, the offense must establish a running game. The UCLA defense must also prevent Stepfan Taylor from breaking free and running for big gains. We'll see if the Bruins have what it takes to win round two.

Prediction: Stanford 42, UCLA 21
Result: Stanford 27, UCLA 24

Saturday, December 1st 

4. #11 Oklahoma @ TCU  12:00 PM ET ESPN

- It's the Sooners last chance to win the Big 12 Championship. The Sooners need to defeat the Horned Frogs and then have Kansas State lose to Texas to be the winner of the Big 12. With a Big 12 Conference Championship, the Sooners would be guaranteed a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. The Sooners won in overtime in a shootout with in-state rival Oklahoma State this past weekend and TCU is coming off an upset victory at Texas. Sooner quarterback Landry Jones threw for an impressive 500 yards and three touchdowns this past weekend. Jones has thrown for 500 or more yards in his past two games and his main target has been junior wide receiver Jalen Saunders. Saunders has put up 285 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his past two games. A lot of pressure will be put on the Horned Frog defense to stop an offense that is averaging 41.7 points per game. The Horned Frog defense held the Texas Longhorns to just 13 points and 86 rushing yards last Thursday. They will need another gutsy performance from the defense, because the offense led by Trevone Boykin will not be able to put up enough points on the Sooner defense to win. Oklahoma should win this ball game and appear in the Fiesta or Sugar Bowl. If the Sooners do not win the Big 12 they will need to hope Kent State loses in the MAC Championship. Kent State could steal an at-large bid away from Oklahoma if they defeat Northern Illinois in the MAC Conference Championship game.

Prediction: Oklahoma 42, TCU 23

5. #23 Oklahoma State @ Baylor  12:00 PM ET FX

- Both of these teams put up over 40 points this past weekend and went into overtime. Look for this to be another Big 12 game where there is only offense and no defense. There could potentially be over 1,000 yards of offense in this game. The Oklahoma State offense has averaged 332.6 passing yards per game and has scored an average of 45.6 points per game. Quarterback Clint Chelf has looked solid since taking over the Cowboy offense four games ago. Chelf has averaged 251.7 passing yards per game and has thrown nine touchdowns. Baylor has been just as explosive on offense. Baylor has averaged 358.5 passing yards per game and is putting up 44.4 points per game. Quarterback Nick Florence has been amazing this entire season after having to replace Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III. Florence has passed for 3,825 yards this season and 30 touchdowns. We can't forget about the running games of both teams either as Baylor and Oklahoma State have top 20 rushing attacks. This is going to be a very high scoring affair and it will be up to one of the defenses to make a stop late in the fourth quarter.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 54, Baylor 49

6. #20 Boise State @ Nevada  3:30 PM ET ABC

- The Boise State Broncos are not completely out of the BCS picture yet. With a win, the Broncos would need one of the two scenarios to happen. The first scenario is the Broncos would need UCLA, Kent State, Texas, and Florida State to lose. The second scenario would consist of UCLA, Kent State, and Texas losing, then the Broncos jumping Michigan in the BCS Standings. Boise State needs to get past Nevada though. We all remember what happened two years ago when the Wolf Pack pulled the upset at home against the Broncos. Two years has passed though and both teams are not what they were in 2010. Boise State's offense has not been as explosive with quarterback Joe Southwick, but the Bronco defense has been one of the best in the country. The Bronco defense is only giving up an average of 14.4 points per game and 133.5 rushing yards per game. This could be trouble for a Wolf Pack offense that relies heavily on their rushing attack led by 1,000 yard rusher Stefphon Jefferson and quarterback Cody Fajardo. If Nevada cannot get their running game going it could result in a blow out win for Boise State.

Prediction: Boise State 42, Nevada 24

7. #2 Alabama vs #3 Georgia  SEC Championship (Atlanta, GA) 4:00 PM ET CBS

- This one is for all the marbles. The winner of this game goes to the BCS National Championship and the loser will likely be heading to the Cotton or Chick-fil-A Bowl. This is going to be a heavy weight fight with teams that had aspirations of making the National Championship before the season even began. These teams expected to be in Atlanta playing in a game of this magnitude. The Alabama Crimson Tide have a good offense with an even better defense. Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron has 25 touchdown and only two interceptions on the season. The offense also consists of a solid backfield with Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon, as well as a rising star in freshman wide receiver Amari Cooper. The Crimson Tide defense led by line backer C.J. Mosley and nose guard Jesse Williams have allowed just 9.3 points per game this season. The Crimson Tide defense is currently the best overall defense in the country and have not given up more than 24 points in any game this season.

The Georgia Bulldogs appeared to be out of the race with a blowout loss at South Carolina. Then the season changed in those two weeks after the South Carolina game. Georgia barely escaped Kentucky 29-24 and Bulldog safety Shawn Williams called his own defense "soft." Georgia went on to upset Florida 17-9 and took control of the SEC East Division for good. The Bulldog offense led by quarterback Aaron Murray continues to look better with 14 touchdown passes in his last five games. The Bulldog offense has also become more explosive with the help of freshman running back Todd Gurley, who has rushed for 1,138 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. The Bulldog defense has given up just 11.1 points per game since they lost to South Carolina in Week 6. Linebacker Jarvis Jones  has been a nightmare for offenses this season and looks to be one of the key players in stopping the Crimson Tide offense. This game will be all about defense and field position. Both offenses will be geared towards game management and not making mental mistakes that could put the opposing team's offense in scoring position. A lot of pressure will also be placed on Alabama kicker Jeremy Shelley and Georgia kicker Marshall Morgan to make key field goals. This is going to be a very close game between two very talented teams.

Prediction: Alabama 23, Georgia 17

8. #18 Texas @ #6 Kansas State 8:00 PM ET ABC

- It's as simple as this. If Kansas State wins this game, they win their first Big 12 Championship since 2003 and guarantee themselves a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. Wildcat Quarterback Collin Klein will get his final chance to impress Heisman voters against an improved Texas Longhorn defense. The Wildcat offense needs the rushing attack led by Collin Klein and John Hubert. The Wildcats had just 76 rushing yards against the Baylor defense two weeks ago. The Longhorns have struggled against the run this season by giving up an average of 201.5 yards per game, meaning this could be something the Wildcat offense takes advantage of. The Longhorn offense struggled against TCU last week and have replaced quarterback David Ash with Case McCoy. McCoy has come in late in the fourth quarter twice this season to try and revive the Longhorn offense after Ash had struggled. If the Wildcat defense can shutdown the Longhorn rushing attack and put pressure on Case McCoy, the Wildcats have a good chance of winning this game. The Wildcat defense must put the Baylor game behind them after they gave up 52 points and 580 yards. Kansas State has defeated Texas in their last four meetings. We will see if Texas has anything left in the tank after last week's loss.

Prediction: Kansas State 34, Texas 24

9. #13 Florida State vs Georgia Tech  ACC Championship (Charlotte, NC)  8:00 PM ET ESPN

- Florida State and Georgia Tech are both coming off of embarrassing losses to their in-state rivals. The Florida State Seminoles expected to be here at the beginning season. If the Seminoles do not win this game, the Seminoles season has gone right down the drain again. Quarterback EJ Manuel was banged up last week against the Gator Defense, but has been cleared and will be ready to play Saturday night. The Seminole offense has been good this season averaging 41.5 points per game, but it has been the defense that has been the backbone of this team. The Seminole defense has given up just 15.1 points per game and 280.9 total yards per game this season. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets made it to this game by default. Both teams ahead of the Georgia Tech in the ACC Coastal Division were ineligible to play. North Carolina had a one year bowl ban heading into the season and Miami (FL) recently self-imposed a bowl ban on themselves. The Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech have one of the best rushing games in the country statistically with their triple option attack.  Last week though, Georgia shutdown the Yellow Jacket offense and held them to just ten points. The Yellow Jacket offense may be in even more trouble as they face the 4th best best defense in the country. The Seminoles should be headed to their first BCS Bowl game since 2005.

Prediction: Florida State 42, Georgia Tech 16

10. #12 Nebraska vs Wisconsin  Big Ten Championship (Indianapolis, IN)  8:17 PM ET FOX

- Earlier this season, Wisconsin blew a 17 point lead in Lincoln and lost to Nebraska 30-27. Since that game, the Huskers have squeaked out victories against Northwestern, Michigan State, Penn State, and Iowa. Wisconsin improved after losing that night in Lincoln, but have lost in overtime these past weeks against Ohio State and Penn State. In all honesty, these teams should be sending thank you notes to Ohio State for being ineligible to play in this football game. The Husker offense was shutdown last week at Iowa and were fortunate to come out of Iowa City with a 13-7 victory. The Huskers will rely again on the running game of Rex Burkhead, who rushed for 69 yards and one touchdown last week after being out since late October with a knee injury. The Badgers must rely on their running back Montee Ball as well. Ball set the record for most touchdowns in FBS history last week at Penn State. If the Badgers can pound it out on the ground that will open up wide receiver Jared Abbrederis to make plays down the field like he did against the Husker defense earlier this season. The key in this game is going to be the Wisconsin defense. The Badger defense has a talented linebacking core headed by Chris Borland and it will be up to them to contain Husker quarterback Taylor Martinez. Most people are looking for the Huskers to run away with this game and punch their ticket to the Rose Bowl. Just because the Badgers are 7-5 does not mean they don't have a chance to win this game. Expect round two between these teams to be just as close.

Prediction: Nebraska 26, Wisconsin 24

College Football Week 14: Big East Title

Thursday, November 29th

1. Louisville @ Rutgers  7:30 PM ET ESPN

- Finally, the mighty Big East will be settled tonight in Piscataway. Louisville and Rutgers were both upset this past Saturday and dropped out of the BCS Standings. The winner of this game will play in either the Sugar Bowl or Orange Bowl. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are looking for their first BCS bowl bid in the school's history. Louisville went to a BCS Bowl game in 2007, where they defeated Wake Forest 24-13 in the Orange Bowl. The matchup in this game is going to be the Cardinals passing attack against the tough Scarlet Knight defense. Louisville will rely on the passing game of sophomore quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater has averaged 350.2 passing yards and 2.8 touchdowns in his past five games. The Cardinal offense has averaged 296.5 passing yards per game this season. The Scarlet Knights have not been strong on offense this season and have needed to win games by relying on its defense. The Scarlett Knight defense is holding opponents to only 114.4 rushing yards per game and just 15.1 points per game. What could be a key aspect in this game is if the Scarlet Knights rushing attack led by Jawan Jamison can show some sort of life and wear down a Cardinal defense that has not faired well against the run this season. Could we see "pandemonium in Piscataway" part II against Louisville?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIwce8NxnnY

Prediction: Rutgers 28, Louisville 24

College Football Week 13 Recap

My Overall Record: 92-38
My Record in Week 13: 6-4

Best game from Week 13: #13 Oklahoma 51, #21 Oklahoma State 48 (OT)

"Civil War" between Oregon and Oregon State 

Most of the chaos was settled this past weekend. Notre Dame pulled their undefeated regular season off at USC 22-13. The Irish defense came up with a huge goal line stand again with minutes remaining to ice the game. The Irish are now Miami bound and playing for their first National Championship since 1988. The second spot in the National Championship game will go to the winner of the SEC Championship game between #2 Alabama and #3 Georgia. The other BCS bowl games are beginning to look a lot   less complicated now. Stanford clinched the Pac-12 North this past weekend at UCLA      35-17, meaning the Oregon Ducks will have to settle for an at-large bid to a BCS Bowl game. Nebraska was able to sneak out a close one at Iowa 13-7 on Friday to win the Big Ten Legends Division. The Ohio State Buckeyes hung on at home to beat Michigan 26-21 to go undefeated on the season. It's just to bad that the Buckeye's season is finished and they will not be going to the BCS National Championship due to their one year probation. The Florida Gators pretty much guaranteed themselves a spot in a BCS bowl game with an impressive 37-26 win at in-state rival Florida State. The craziest game on Saturday was the shootout in Bedlam between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Sooners needed a four yard touchdown run from Blake Bell with four seconds remaining to take the game into overtime. In overtime, The Cowboys kicked a field goal on their first possession, but the Sooners took advantage of the situation and won the game 51-48 on a Brennan Clay 18 yard rushing touchdown. Oklahoma must defeat TCU this upcoming weekend and needs Kansas State to lose at home against Texas to win the Big 12 Championship.

BCS Bowl Game Scenarios

BCS National Championship (Miami, FL)

#1 Notre Dame vs #2 Alabama or #3 Georgia 

Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ)

#5 Oregon (at-large bid) vs #6 Kansas State or #11 Oklahoma (Big 12 Champion)

Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA)

#12 Nebraska or Wisconsin (Big Ten Champion) vs #8 Stanford or #16 UCLA (Pac-12 Champion)

Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, LA)

#4 Florida (SEC at-large) vs #6 Kansas State or #11 Oklahoma or Rutgers or Louisville (at-large)

Orange Bowl (Miami, FL)

#13 Florida State or Georgia Tech (ACC Champion) vs Rutgers or Louisville or #17 Kent State

Note: If mid-major #17 Kent State defeats #21 Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship they can earn a BCS at-large bid. Kent State needs to be ranked at least 16th in the BCS and in front of a BCS automatic qualifier. Currently a Big East school is not ranked in the Top 25.