According to this this ESPN.com article, the NCAA might have trouble finding enough winning teams to place into bowl games. Over the past college football season, the number of bowl games was increased from 33 to 35, meaning that 70 teams are placed into bowl games at the end of the season. With the amount of FCS (Div. I-AA) teams who have upset FBS Schools, there is speculation that there will not be enough teams to fill all the spots.
Before a losing team gets selected, the FCS should get a chance or two (possibly the FCS national champion or runner up) to play in a bowl game which cannot be filled by the NCAA
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Week 1 in Review
College football got off to a great start this past weekend, and this upcoming weekend looks even better with Miami-Ohio State, Florida State-Oklahoma, and Alabama-Penn State.
I was happy to see that Boise State- Virginia Tech on Monday night was such a great game. I feel like more football fans, and sports fans in general, watched it because there was no Monday Night Football. I felt like it was a great showcase for college football and I'm glad the game was so competitive.
As far as my predictions. I went 10-1. Ok, so a lot of the games were predicatable. I did not expect Michigan to have such an impressive showing over a respectable Connecticut team. Michigan-Notre Dame should be a great game this weekend, pitting two programs trying to revive themselves.
Oregon won their game 72-0 without star tailback LaMichael James. Holy Smoke! The Ducks and their dangerous offense travel to Tennesse this week.
I was happy with the Northwestern win, but at the same time I expected more from the run game. I hope they can really put the petal to the floor this weekend against FCS opponent Illinois State.
I was cheering for Hawaii to beat USC at home, and it could have definitely happened. The Warriors scored 36 points and were a few plays of pulling in even with USC, who won 49-36. USC, despite its off-season of turmoil, is still ranked, and can with the AP National Championship with an undefeated season. Still 36 points to Hawaii? USC plays Virginia this week, and it will be interesting to see if last week's defensive performance becomes the norm or the exception.
I was happy to see that Boise State- Virginia Tech on Monday night was such a great game. I feel like more football fans, and sports fans in general, watched it because there was no Monday Night Football. I felt like it was a great showcase for college football and I'm glad the game was so competitive.
As far as my predictions. I went 10-1. Ok, so a lot of the games were predicatable. I did not expect Michigan to have such an impressive showing over a respectable Connecticut team. Michigan-Notre Dame should be a great game this weekend, pitting two programs trying to revive themselves.
Oregon won their game 72-0 without star tailback LaMichael James. Holy Smoke! The Ducks and their dangerous offense travel to Tennesse this week.
I was happy with the Northwestern win, but at the same time I expected more from the run game. I hope they can really put the petal to the floor this weekend against FCS opponent Illinois State.
I was cheering for Hawaii to beat USC at home, and it could have definitely happened. The Warriors scored 36 points and were a few plays of pulling in even with USC, who won 49-36. USC, despite its off-season of turmoil, is still ranked, and can with the AP National Championship with an undefeated season. Still 36 points to Hawaii? USC plays Virginia this week, and it will be interesting to see if last week's defensive performance becomes the norm or the exception.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
My Big Ten Preview & Prediction
College Football starts tonight at 6:30 CT, which means I only have a few hours to make a relevant preview and prediction of the Big Ten football season. I think the Big Ten enters 2010 with a stronger reputation then it usually has during the preseason. Prior to the 2009-10 college football bowl season, the Big Ten's bowl struggles (especially in BCS games) led prognosticators to downgrade the conference during the following season. However with Iowa and Ohio State winning the Orange and Rose Bowls, I think the Big Ten has gained back a lot of the respect it has lost. Many believe Ohio State, which starts the season ranked 2nd, can ultimately win the BCS National Championship. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor, the Rose Bowl MVP, and the fact that Ohio State has won the past 5 Big Ten titles are perhaps the two biggest reasons why Ohio State is touted so highly. However, Iowa and Wisconsin are also worthy enough to be considered as a preseason favorite.
If Ohio State wins the conference, it will have earned it. The Buckeyes have to travel to both Iowa and Wisconsin. Ivan Maisel of ESPN believes Iowa will win the Big Ten because it hosts Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Big Ten should be a very competitive season and there are a lot of interesting stories. Besides the aforementioned schools, Penn State and the ageless Joe Paterno will be starting its first true freshman at quarterback, Michigan trys to improve amidst ongoing NCAA investigations, Michigan State trying to improve its standing in the conference, etc.
Before I go into my predictions, I'll list the "must-see" games worth keeping an eye on:
*Sept. 11- Miami (FL) at Ohio State
*Sept. 18- Iowa at Arizona
*Sept. 18- Notre Dame at Michigan State
*Oct. 2- Penn State at Iowa
*Oct. 9- Michigan State at Michigan
*Oct. 16- Ohio State at Wisconsin
*Oct. 23-Wisconsin at Iowa
*Nov. 13- Iowa at Northwestern--in my dreams, Northwestern is 9-0 at this point
*Nov. 20- Ohio State at Iowa
*Nov. 27- Indiana at Purdue
Predictions
1. Ohio State (12-0 overall ,8-0 in the Big Ten)
2. Wisconsin (11-1, 7-1)
3. Iowa (11-1, 7-1)
4. Michigan State (9-3, 6-2)
5. Northwestern (9-3, 5-3)
6. Penn State (8-4, 4-4)
7. Purdue (7-5, 4-4)
8. Michigan (6-6, 3-5)
9. Indiana (5-7, 3-5)
10. Minnesota (4-8, 2-6)
11. Illinois (3-9, 1-7)
Coach of the Year: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
Offensive Player of the Year: John Clay, Wisconsin
Defensive Player of the Year: Adrian Clayborne, Iowa
Week 1 Picks
> Towson @ IND - INDIANA
> Marshall @ OSU - OSU
> W Mich @ MSU - MSU
> E Ill @ Iowa - Iowa
> Ill @ Mizz - Mizzou
> UConn @ Mich - UCONN
> Pur @ Notre Dame - PURDUE
> Wis @ UNLV- WIS
> NU @ Vandy - NU
If Ohio State wins the conference, it will have earned it. The Buckeyes have to travel to both Iowa and Wisconsin. Ivan Maisel of ESPN believes Iowa will win the Big Ten because it hosts Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Big Ten should be a very competitive season and there are a lot of interesting stories. Besides the aforementioned schools, Penn State and the ageless Joe Paterno will be starting its first true freshman at quarterback, Michigan trys to improve amidst ongoing NCAA investigations, Michigan State trying to improve its standing in the conference, etc.
Before I go into my predictions, I'll list the "must-see" games worth keeping an eye on:
*Sept. 11- Miami (FL) at Ohio State
*Sept. 18- Iowa at Arizona
*Sept. 18- Notre Dame at Michigan State
*Oct. 2- Penn State at Iowa
*Oct. 9- Michigan State at Michigan
*Oct. 16- Ohio State at Wisconsin
*Oct. 23-Wisconsin at Iowa
*Nov. 13- Iowa at Northwestern--in my dreams, Northwestern is 9-0 at this point
*Nov. 20- Ohio State at Iowa
*Nov. 27- Indiana at Purdue
Predictions
1. Ohio State (12-0 overall ,8-0 in the Big Ten)
2. Wisconsin (11-1, 7-1)
3. Iowa (11-1, 7-1)
4. Michigan State (9-3, 6-2)
5. Northwestern (9-3, 5-3)
6. Penn State (8-4, 4-4)
7. Purdue (7-5, 4-4)
8. Michigan (6-6, 3-5)
9. Indiana (5-7, 3-5)
10. Minnesota (4-8, 2-6)
11. Illinois (3-9, 1-7)
Coach of the Year: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
Offensive Player of the Year: John Clay, Wisconsin
Defensive Player of the Year: Adrian Clayborne, Iowa
Week 1 Picks
> Towson @ IND - INDIANA
> Marshall @ OSU - OSU
> W Mich @ MSU - MSU
> E Ill @ Iowa - Iowa
> Ill @ Mizz - Mizzou
> UConn @ Mich - UCONN
> Pur @ Notre Dame - PURDUE
> Wis @ UNLV- WIS
> NU @ Vandy - NU
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Big Ten Divisions
The division of the Big Ten for Football starting in 2011 was announced tonight on the Big Ten Network. However, it was broken first earlier today by ESPN. com's Andy Katz.
Katz reported earlier in the day that the divisions would consist as follows:
Division X: Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern and Minnesota.
Division O: Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois.
The division were confirmed later on the Big Ten Network special. The Big Ten plans also included protected rivalries, which will give every school a protected rivalry game (between division X and division O) that will occur every year. Ohio State and Michigan, are one of the protected rivalries, which will allow the many trophy games between Big Ten schools to continue. It is important to remember that the Big Ten divisions apply only to football, and not every sport.
I think the biggest news revealed on the Big Ten Network specials was the fact that Ohio State and Michigan will meet (in their protected crossover), during the final week of the college football season, as they have traditionally met. Many believed that "The Game" would be moved to somewhere in the middle of the season, and were upset about the Big Ten breaking the tradition that Ohio State and Michigan would meet in the last week. The tradition was saved, which means it holds the possibility that Ohio State and Michigan could possibly play two games in a row if they win there individual divisions.
I think the Big Ten did a good job with the divisions. Its important to preserve tradition to a degree and I think through the protected rivalries, the Big Ten will save a majority of the trophies games (Little Brown Jug, Floyd of Rosdayle, etc.). The divisions are very even, in terms of both traditional powers and the up-and-comers in the league. As the Daily Herald's Lindsey Willhite points out the teams in the two divisions have the same combined record since 1993.
Also, I think its important to split the two biggest brands of the conference, Michigan and Ohio State, into separate divisions. Michigan probably will be successful, maybe not for the next few years, but will eventually re-emerge as a conference power. Since Michigan and Ohio State will play every year anyway, does it really matter if they are in different divisions? I could have done without "The Game" on the final weekend, you can't cater to the wishes of every single team, but overall the Big Ten made a clean split in making divisions. Most traditional rivalries were able to be saved. I was worried that the division split would dilute the Big Ten brand and destroy some of the traditions, but they really did a great job. Everything can't be saved, but overall, the brand and tradition of the Big Ten has been preserved.
As a Northwestern fan, I'm excited for Division X or whatever it will be called eventually. I think the division is really competitive and even. You can argue that Illinois, Indiana, and Purdue are among the there worst teams so 2011 and 2012 should set up pretty well for Ohio State. For each team, I think the season will be a little tougher, and it will force the lower teams to step up.
For the record, the divisions are unnamed for now, however, the Big Ten will not change its name despite the increasing number of teams.
Katz reported earlier in the day that the divisions would consist as follows:
Division X: Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern and Minnesota.
Division O: Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois.
The division were confirmed later on the Big Ten Network special. The Big Ten plans also included protected rivalries, which will give every school a protected rivalry game (between division X and division O) that will occur every year. Ohio State and Michigan, are one of the protected rivalries, which will allow the many trophy games between Big Ten schools to continue. It is important to remember that the Big Ten divisions apply only to football, and not every sport.
I think the biggest news revealed on the Big Ten Network specials was the fact that Ohio State and Michigan will meet (in their protected crossover), during the final week of the college football season, as they have traditionally met. Many believed that "The Game" would be moved to somewhere in the middle of the season, and were upset about the Big Ten breaking the tradition that Ohio State and Michigan would meet in the last week. The tradition was saved, which means it holds the possibility that Ohio State and Michigan could possibly play two games in a row if they win there individual divisions.
I think the Big Ten did a good job with the divisions. Its important to preserve tradition to a degree and I think through the protected rivalries, the Big Ten will save a majority of the trophies games (Little Brown Jug, Floyd of Rosdayle, etc.). The divisions are very even, in terms of both traditional powers and the up-and-comers in the league. As the Daily Herald's Lindsey Willhite points out the teams in the two divisions have the same combined record since 1993.
Also, I think its important to split the two biggest brands of the conference, Michigan and Ohio State, into separate divisions. Michigan probably will be successful, maybe not for the next few years, but will eventually re-emerge as a conference power. Since Michigan and Ohio State will play every year anyway, does it really matter if they are in different divisions? I could have done without "The Game" on the final weekend, you can't cater to the wishes of every single team, but overall the Big Ten made a clean split in making divisions. Most traditional rivalries were able to be saved. I was worried that the division split would dilute the Big Ten brand and destroy some of the traditions, but they really did a great job. Everything can't be saved, but overall, the brand and tradition of the Big Ten has been preserved.
As a Northwestern fan, I'm excited for Division X or whatever it will be called eventually. I think the division is really competitive and even. You can argue that Illinois, Indiana, and Purdue are among the there worst teams so 2011 and 2012 should set up pretty well for Ohio State. For each team, I think the season will be a little tougher, and it will force the lower teams to step up.
For the record, the divisions are unnamed for now, however, the Big Ten will not change its name despite the increasing number of teams.
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