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Another bowl season is upon us, and it’s time for me to make my picks so I have a reason to watch a number of games I would otherwise not care about.

New Mexico Bowl – BYU vs UTEP
A disastrous start to the season for BYU was saved by winning five of six before nearly pulling off an upset at Utah.  The Cougars saved their season and are playing their best ball now, while UTEP is headed in the opposite direction.  The Miners lost five of six after starting 5-1.  The records are even, but these are not evenly matched teams.
BYU 45, UTEP 14

Humanitarian Bowl – Northern Illinois vs Fresno State
Fresno State went 8-4 against a tough schedule that included Boise State, Nevada, Illinois, Ole Miss and Hawaii.  Unlike the Huskies, the Bulldogs are battle-tested.  Northern Illinois puts up a ton of points, but how they will do against a legitimate team remains to be seen.  The key for Fresno State will bed stopping NIU’s run attack.  Chad Spann averages 103 yards per gamed and has 20 touchdowns.
Fresno State 35, Northern Illinois 30

New Orleans Bowl – Troy vs Ohio
The Bobcats won seven of eight after starting 1-3 to earn this bid and put their 21st ranked defense up against Troy’s 25th ranked offense.  The Trojans love to pass the ball, leading to Corey Robinson’s 3,000+ yard season, but the main problem has been interceptions (15 in 12 games).  He can’t do that against Ohio’s defense and expect to win.
Ohio 24, Troy 20

St. Petersburg Bowl – Louisville vs Southern Mississippi
The Cardinals somehow got into a bowl game despite going 3-4 in the Big East, including a 26-0 shutout of Big East champion UConn. Southern Miss brings a high-flying offense averaging more than 200 rushing yards per gamed to Florida, but they will have to contend with Louisville’s 11th ranked defense.  This is a hard one to pick, but I’ll go with Louisville even though their schedule was soft.
Louisville 27, Southern Miss 24

Maaco Bowl – Boise State vs Utah
It’s amazing how far one can fall with one loss.  The Broncos went from likely Rose Bowl contenders to playing Dec. 22 because if two missed chip shot field goals.  Utah struggled down the stretch, losing to Notre Dame and nearly to BYU.  The Boise State defense won’t let this Utes offense budge, and the Broncos will score enough to win easily.
Boise State 37, Utah 9

Poinsettia Bowl – San Diego State vs Navy
For Navy, it’s going to bed run-run-run.  For San Diego State, expect pass-pass-pass.  The winner will be whichever defense can adjust and make the other offense get out of its comfort zone.  I think it will be easier for San Diego State to run than it will be for Navy to throw, so San Diego State, with a more difficult schedule, has the advantage.
San Diego State 20, Navy 14

Hawaii Bowl – Hawaii vs Tulsa
It’s always tough for the team that has to fly all the way out to Hawaii to play the Warriors, but this one looks to be especially tough on Tulsa for two reasons.  31 – Hawaii leads the nation in pass offense.  #2 – Tulsa can’t stop the pass (ranked 115th nationally).  If there is one thing the Golden Hurricane have going for them, it’s momentum.  They have won six straight, but it stops here.
Hawaii 43, Tulsa 36

Little Caesars Bowl – Florida International vs Toledo
There’s really not much to like about Toledo.  Their quarterback has more interceptions than touchdowns, and their leading rusher averages just 75 yards per game.  Florida International played a gauntlet of a nonconference schedule, and it paid off with a 6-2 Sun Belt record.  The Golden Panthers have two backs averaging more than 4.5 yards per carry.  That’s the difference in this snoozer.
Florida International 13, Toledo 9

Independence Bowl – Air Force vs Georgia Tech
The top two rushing offenses in America clash in what promises to be one of the most exciting games on the bowl slate.  Both of these teams know how to defend the triple option since they do it every day in practice, but ironically, neither team has a great run defense.  The difference comes down to who can make plays on third and long.  Air Force’s pass offense sucks a little bit less.
Air Force 31, Georgia Tech 21

Champs Sports Bowl – West Virginia vs North Carolina State
A lot of people think West Virginia would have been the best Big East BCS representative.  As it is, they are stuck here and cannot take resurgent N.C. State lightly.  The Wolfpack’s Russell Wilson threw for 3,288 yards and 26 touchdowns this year but likely hasn’t seen a defense as good as the Mountaineers’ D.  Expect a low-scoring game with West Virginia making enough plays through the air to win.
West Virginia 24, North Carolina State 10

Insight Bowl – Missouri vs Iowa
Many in Iowa City are calling this season a disappointment following last year’s Orange Bowl championship, but the Hawkeyes have a chance to salvage the season against a very good Missouri team.  Iowa’s defense played well even in late season losses, and Kirk Ferentz will have the unit ready for Missouri’s four-headed running back monster. If Missouri wants to win, it will have to be through the air.
Iowa 33, Missouri 24

Military Bowl – East Carolina vs Maryland
These teams actually have two common opponents (Navy and N.C. State).  East Carolina’s defense is absolutely pathetic, as evident by the 76 points Navy put up in a route.  Maryland beat Navy and held the Midshipmen to 14 points.  The Pirates lost four of their final five while Maryland won four of its final six.  The game is being played in Washington D.C.  Anyone else seeing the trend here?
Maryland 49, East Carolina 20

Texas Bowl – Illinois vs Baylor
Two overachieving teams limp into Houston after not being picked bowl eligible before the season.  Illinois was thinking 9-3 with Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern and Fresno State as its final four, but finished just 1-3.  Baylor had the Big 12 South lead at 4-1 before losing its final three.  Robert Griffin should be able to make enough plays in this de facto home game.
Baylor 28, Illinois 22

Alamo Bowl – Oklahoma State vs Arizona
Both teams seem to have gotten the benefit of the doubt in the bowl selection process, despite Arizona finishing 0-4.  Oklahoma State brings the nation’s top offense to San Antonio, and that’s trouble for the wounded Wildcats, who gave up 40+ points against comparable offenses Stanford and Oregon.  The Cowboys’ defensive struggles will mean little if they can win this shootout.
Oklahoma State 38, Arizona 24

Armed Forces Bowl – Army vs SMU
For the first time ever, all three service academy schools are bowl eligible, so Army gets the game you know they’ll be excited for.  We know Army can run the ball, but on the other side, can their pass defense stop a very efficient Kyle Padron, who has thrown for more than 3,500 yards this season.  Army will put up a fight in its first bowl game since 1996, but SMU, playing in its home town of Dallas, will win.
SMU 30, Army 19

Pinstripe Bowl – Kansas State vs Syracuse
The first ever bowl game in Yankee Stadium will be the coldest bowl without a doubt.  The inaugural game features a contrast of styles.  Syracuse wins with tough defense, while Kansas State relies on its running game to win high-scoring games.  Four of Syracuse’s five losses came at home, which isn’t good considering this one is in the home state.  It’s a coin flip, but I’ll take Syracuse.  I’ll probably be wrong.
Syracuse 21, Kansas State 20

Music City Bowl – North Carolina vs Tennessee
As bad as the Volunteers were at times, it’s hard to think they are actually bowl eligible.  They very quietly won their final four games to get here at 6-6, though they didn’t play a team as good as UNC during that streak.  North Carolina could have been in a very different position if not for the early season slew of suspensions.  They are a better team now then they were at the start of the year.
North Carolina 27, Tennessee 23

Holiday Bowl – Nebraska vs Washington
The ‘Huskers blew the Big 12 Championship game for the second year in a row, and again find themselves in the Holiday Bowl against a weak opponent who they already beat by five touchdowns.  The rare rematch was not the Holiday Bowl’s choice, but it will be more of the same.  Nebraska racked up 383 rushing yards in the week three blowout, and they may get more in San Diego.
Nebraska 37, Washington 7

Meineke Car Care Bowl – South Florida vs Clemson
South Florida has all kinds of problems, starting with their anemic offense. B.J. Daniels has three more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (9), and they can’t run the ball either.  Clemson has struggled offensively as well, but against a much tougher schedule, Kyle Parker and the Tigers have done enough to keep them in most games.  This will be a defensive struggle, and not a pretty one to watch.
Clemson 17, South Florida 6

Sun Bowl – Notre Dame vs Miami
The Sun Bowl gets very lucky.  With USC’s two-year bowl ban, the Sun gets the first choice of an at-large team, and Notre Dame is the obvious one.  With Miami struggling down the stretch, the ‘Canes fall into the Sun Bowl’s lap, creating a battle of program-rich powers with down seasons.  Notre Dame comes in hot, while Miami limps in, but I still think the Hurricanes are the better team.
Miami 35, Notre Dame 30

Liberty Bowl – Georgia vs UCF
On paper this may not look fair, but don’t pencil anything in just yet.  UCF won Conference USA with defense, holding nine f their 13 opponents under 20 points.  Georgia started 1-4 but went 5-2 after that, rolling along with an offense that has put up at least 30 points in each of those seven games.  In fact, the Bulldogs have scored at least 41 in all six wins.  Offense prevails in this one.
Georgia 38, UCF 31

Chick-fil-A Bowl – South Carolina vs Florida State
The losers of their respective conference championships meet in Atlanta after bigger dreams were dashed not long ago. For South Carolina, it’s a chance to wipe away humiliation they suffered just two weeks ago when Auburn torched the in this same building.  Christian Ponder and the Seminoles will be able to score, but the inconsistent defense needs to keep South Carolina at bay.
Florida State 33, South Carolina 31

TicketCity Bowl – Northwestern vs Texas Tech
The Red Raiders have to be disappointed with their 7-5 season considering they hired Tommy Tuberville in the offseason to bring a defensive mindset to the program, as well as establish a balance between run and pass.  Instead, Texas Tech finished 114th in total defense and 81st in rushing offense.  Northwestern is becoming a bowl regular, but can they win one? They too have defensive issues.
Texas Tech 32, Northwestern 27

Outback Bowl – Florida vs Penn State
Urban Meyer will supposedly be coaching his final game Jan. 1.  We’ll see.  If he does leave for good, his last game could potentially be a win over the man with the most coaching wins – Joe Paterno.  Meyer’s defense is solid, but John Brantley is suspect, and Jeffrey Demps is having a down year.  Even so, emotions will be riding high in Meyer’s last game, and the Gators have home-field advantage.
Florida 20, Penn State 12

Capital One Bowl – Alabama vs Michigan State
Who would have thought Nick Saban’s team would finish fourth in their own division?  Better yet, who would have thought Michigan State would win 11 games?  The ‘Tide roll in with the nation’s sixth best defense and have faced Spartan-quality offenses before.  Michigan State’s defense will see one of its most dynamic offensive opponents of the season with Greg McElroy and Julio Jones.
Alabama 28, Michigan State 7

Gator Bowl – Mississippi State vs Michigan
Believe it or not, neither of these teams had any bad losses.  Mississippi State’s four losses came against SEC West opponents ranked in the top 25, while Michigan lost to three 11-1 teams, as well as Iowa and Penn State.  The Bulldogs held running quarterback Cam Newton to 70 rushing yards…not a bad total, in an early season loss.  They will have to deal with Denard Robinson this time.
Mississippi State 27, Michigan 20

GoDaddy.com Bowl – Middle Tennessee State vs Miami-Ohio
Both teams come in hot.  Miami-Ohio upset Northern Illinois to win the MAC, while Middle Tennessee won three straight to get bowl eligible.  However, this is the Redhawks’ game to lose.  The defense should be able to handle a Blue Raiders offense that doesn’t do much, and Thomas Merriweather could have a big day on the ground.  Miami-Ohio will make it six straight.
Miami-Ohio 35, Middle Tennessee State 14

Cotton Bowl – LSU vs Texas A&M
The Aggies finished 6-0 and landed here because of proximity.  LSU had a shot at the Sugar Bowl if not for a late season loss to Arkansas.  LSU has been all about defense and are doing it again this year despite facing one of the nation’s toughest schedules.  You can bet they are looking forward to stopping Jerrod Johnson and an Aggie offense that was very good in the season’s second half.
LSU 27, Texas A&M 24

Compass Bowl – Pittsburgh vs Kentucky
Mike Hartline was the only thing keeping this game close.  He threw for 3,178 yards and 23 touchdowns with only nine interceptions before being arrested, kicked off the team and effectively ending any hope Kentucky hd of keeping this game close.  The Panthers will get a big day from Dion Lewis against a soft UK rush defense, and Pitt should hold Kentucky’s offense in check without Hartline.
Pittsburgh 31, Kentucky 10

Fight Hunger Bowl – Nevada vs Boston College
The Wolfpack may still have hangover worries because of the Boise State win, but Boston College is still one of the better teams they have played.  The interesting matchup here is Nevada’s 3rd ranked rush offense led by Vai Taua’s 120 yards per game against the top rush defense in the country.  For Nevada to be successful, they will have to stay balanced, which they can do against the Golden Eagles.
Nevada 27, Boston College 17

Rose Bowl – Wisconsin vs TCU
This is the most difficult BCS game to pick, primarily because of what Wisconsin did offensively at the end of the year.  It’s scary to think the running game got better after John Clay got hurt, but that’s the truth.  The Badgers are in a rhythm right now, one that I can’t even see TCU breaking.  If TCU’s offense can move the ball, which I think they can, then it will be a fun game to watch.
Wisconsin 22, TCU 21

Fiesta Bowl – Connecticut vs Oklahoma
If you’re picking UConn, raise your hand.  If you’re raising your hand, stop lying.  Connecticut is one-dimensional on offense, though Oklahoma’s rush defense has been suspect.  Expect the Sooners to stack eight in the box and blitz a lot, forcing quick decisions from Zach Frazer.  If this game was played two weeks ago, Oklahoma wins.  But it’s in January.  I’m raising my hand.  Why not.
Connecticut 38, Oklahoma 35

Orange Bowl – Stanford vs Virginia Tech
Remember when Virginia Tech lost to James Madison?  Me neither.  The Hokies have made everybody forget after winning 11 straight following an 0-2 start.  Stanford isn’t too shabby either.  It’s lone loss is to a team playing for a national title.  The Hokies have shown they can score, and Tyrod Taylor doesn’t make mistakes.  This should be another good one if both defenses come to play.
Virginia Tech 31, Stanford 24

Sugar Bowl – Ohio State vs Arkansas
A top 10 offense (Arkansas) vs a top 10 defense (Ohio State) is always a fun matchup.  Ohio State held a good Michigan offense to seven in the final game of the season.  Arkansas can score on good defenses though.  They put up 43 on Auburn, 41 on South Carolina and 31 on LSU.  I think Terrelle Pryor could have a big day against the Arkansas defense.  OSU plays in big games like this every year.
Ohio State 31, Arkansas 19

BCS National Championship – Auburn vs Oregon
The Ducks average better than 300 yards per game, while Auburn allows just 110.  Something has to give in what seems like an evenly matched national championship game.  Oregon’s weakness is its defensive front, which should allow Cam Newton time to do what he does.  However, no team is more dynamic or plays faster than the Ducks, which Auburn hasn’t seen.  Expect a shootout.
Oregon 45, Auburn 38

Conference records

ACC:  6-3
Big 12:  4-4
Big East:  5-1
Big Ten:  3-5
Conference USA:  1-5
Independents:  0-3
MAC:  2-2
Mountain West:  3-2
Pac 10:  1-3
SEC:  5-5
Sun Belt:  1-2
WAC:  4-0

Confidence

35)  Nebraska
34)  Pittsburgh
33)  Maryland
32)  Boise State
31)  Miami-Ohio
30)  BYU
29)  Alabama
28)  SMU
27)  West Virginia
26)  Oklahoma State
25)  Nevada
24)  Ohio State
23)  Clemson
22)  Air Force
21)  Iowa
20)  Ohio
19)  Hawaii
18)  Georgia
17)  Mississippi State
16)  San Diego State
15)  LSU
14)  Florida International
13)  Miami
12)  Baylor
11)  Fresno State
10)  Louisville
9)  Texas Tech
8)  Florida
7)  Florida State
6)  Virginia Tech
5)  Syracuse
4)  Oregon
3)  North Carolina
2)  Wisconsin
1)  Connecticut

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Once I knew I wanted to major in journalism, the challenge was finding the right school for me.  Once I was told Northwestern (money) and North Carolina (wait listed) were out of the picture, I narrowed my search to two schools – the University of Missouri and the University of Arizona.  I had made visits to both, and while both had top 10 journalism programs, there were strong contrasts.  Tucson was hot all the time (triple digits on my visit), whereas Columbia saw unpredictable and often cold weather.  Arizona had no streets on campus, Missouri was on a grid.  Little things like that.  But as someone who loved sports and wanted to be at a school where sports were prevalent, there was one major difference – Arizona rocked, Missouri sucked.  At just about everything.

I chose Missouri.

I will never regret my choice, for it seemed as soon as I arrived on campus, Missouri sports began to rise, while Arizona began to fall.  I enjoyed my years at Missouri seeing a football team reach number one, a basketball team come within a few possessions of its first Final Four, and a softball team make two consecutive WCWS appearances, among other achievements.

Now Arizona, finally, has a team with which to be proud.  The Wildcat football team has stepped out of basketball’s shadow and is knocking on the door of national recognition.  The defense has been all-world, though it hasn’t seen a team like it will see Saturday night when the Hawkeyes come to town.  Nick Foles has an 83 percent completion percentage, and Nic Grigsby is averaging eight yards per carry.  For the first time in a long time, Arizona has a chance to break through and get to a BCS game.  I like their chances in a wide open Pac 10.

#9 Iowa Hawkeyes at #24 Arizona Wildcats
Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker will not be there due to health issues, and it’s not a good game to miss.  Arizona has the number 12 offense in the country through two games, which is going to put even Iowa’s #9 defense to the best.  If Arizona can get a push on Iowa’s massive defensive line, then the run will open up the pass.  Tucson will be rocking.  If you live out east, make it a late night.  The game starts at 11:30 p.m. ET and probably won’t be decided until the closing minutes.
Arizona 28, Iowa 21

#6 Texas Longhorns at Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas will never forget.  Two years ago, the ‘Horns lost one game, but that one loss kept them from the Big 12 championship game when Michael Crabtree snagged a pass from Graham Harrell, wrestled away a defender and scampered into the endzone with one second left, lifting Texas Tech to a program-defining victory over Texas.  More of the same this year?  Not so fast.  Texas’ defense will be able to control a Red Raider offense that doesn’t have the playmakers it did two years back.
Texas 35, Texas Tech 20

Clemson Tigers at #16 Auburn Tigers
I’ts Tigers vs Tigers in an ACC/SEC battle on primetime.  Neither team has been impressive in both weeks, but Auburn has been just a little bit better.  They found a way to grind out a win at Mississippi State last week and are coming in on 10 days rest.  Clemson’s defense has been awful so far, and that’s against North Texas and Presbyterian.  Auburn should be able to have its way offensively, so as long as they can play defense, they should be okay.
Auburn 41, Clemson 23

Air Force Falcons at #7 Oklahoma Sooners
Don’t sleep on the Falcons.  I’ve seen them play twice in person, and they have looked pretty good in both games.  Getting off to a fast start is key for Air Force, something they haven’t done in two wins so far.  Landry Jones returned to form last week as the Sooners dominated Florida State.  With a trip to Cincinnati on the schedule next, Oklahoma could finish a very difficult nonconference schedule unbeaten with a win in Norman.
Oklahoma 40, Air Force 31

#8 Nebraska Cornhuskers at Washington Huskies
The Huskers get their first real test of the season after a sloppy win over Idaho last week.  Jake Locker needs to prove himself in a big game, and this is it.  Taylor Martinez has been better with his feet (5 TDs) than with his arm (0 TDs), so Washington will have to spy him and keep him close.   However, the Huskie D has been pretty bad so far, so Martinez may be able to do both effectively.  Locker will have his moments, but it won’t be enough.
Nebraska 37, Washington 23

UPSET SPECIAL:  Georgia 30, #12 Arkansas 27
The Bulldogs lost a tough game at South Carolina last week and need a big win to get them going in the SEC.  Arkansas has been pretty good through two weeks, but a stern road test will change that.

Last week:  4-2
Overall:  8-4
Upsets:  1-1

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Go ahead. Laugh.

I deserve it.

I’m the guy who said Oregon wouldn’t be the same team this year because of the losses of Jeremiah Masoli and LeGarrette Blount. Oops.

I’m the guy who said New Mexico would come within a touchdown (31-24) of beating Oregon in Eugene (real final: 72-0). Oops.

Yes, I’m even the guy who criticized the offseason, saying they wouldn’t recover. Oops.

I’m also the guy who can admit when he’s wrong (though it doesn’t happen often).

I was wrong. Oregon is good. So good, in fact, that I can’t find a team better through two weeks. And the Ducks aren’t just thinking BCS. That was last year. This year, Oregon is thinking national championship.

Week 2 rankings:

1)  Oregon Ducks (2-0)
If you can find me a team that has played two more convincing games against quality competition, please come forward.  The Ducks beat a Mountain West team by 72, then went to Knoxville and won by five touchdowns.  That’s not normal.

2)  Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0)
No Mark Ingram, no problem for the ‘Tide against JoePa.  Trent Richardson is not just Ingram’s replacement – he’s now a Heisman contender after his 144 rushing yards paced Alabama in a convincing win over the young Nittany Lions.

3)  Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0)
Against a Miami program that’s as good as its been since the ’03 Fiesta Bowl, Terrelle Pryor did just enough on offense to win the rematch.  Although he didn’t do much with his arm, Pryor’s 113 rushing yards kept the defense off the field.

4)  TCU Horned Frogs (2-0)
TCU overcame some mistakes to beat Oregon State in Dallas.  Last week, they were virtually perfect in a 62-7 slaughter of Tennessee Tech.  Six Horned Frogs saw the end zone.  Seven of the teams first eight games are in the state of Texas.

5)  Michigan Wolverines (2-0)
Before you start whining about how high they are, look at the schedule.  UConn is a good team, and that game wasn’t close.  Now look at the Notre Dame game.  Michigan came back to beat a likely nine-win team on the road.  Quality.

6)  Texas Longhorns (2-0)
Mack Brown might have the best defense in the country, but we already knew that.  This week, he let Garrett Gilbert throw more, and the first year starter rewarded his coach with 222 yards, a touchdown, and no turnovers for the second straight game.

7)  Florida Gators (2-0)
The Gators overcame another slow start to blow by in-state rival South Florida.  Florida used big plays and five turnovers to set up 31 second half points and pull away in a game that featured no fumbled snaps after having eight the week before.

8)  Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-0)
Nebraska’s 38 points against Idaho Saturday was deceiving.  The defense scored 14 of them and forced five takeaways, and the offense had trouble getting into a groove.  A road date with Washington Saturday is the Cornhuskers’ first real test.

9)  Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0)
The in-state rivalry with the Cyclones is always a fun matchup for the fans, but not for the players in the red and white.  Iowa dominated again Saturday behind 156 rush yards from Adam Robinson on just 14 carries.  Iowa ran it 50 times overall.

10)  Oklahoma Sooners (2-0)
The convincing win over Florida State probably proves the Utah State scare was a fluke.  Nevertheless, I can’t rank them higher until I see FSU-like performances every week.  Landry Jones threw for 380 yards and four touchdowns Saturday.

11)  Utah Utes (2-0)
The Utes backed up their overtime thriller over Pittsburgh with an impressive showing against UNLV.  Even though the offensive numbers were nearly identical, the Utah special teams forced the Rebels into too many mistakes.

12)  Arizona Wildcats (2-0)
Going to Toledo and winning by 39 was more impressive than beating the Citadel by 46, but the margins of victory and the dominance their defense has shown make it difficult to put them even this low.  The game of the week is in Tucson this week.

13)  Wisconsin Badgers (2-0)
After a good second half against UNLV, the Badgers looked extremely sluggish against San Jose State in the home opener.  John Clay was a workhorse once again, but the passing attack managed fewer than 200 yards.  Arizona State visits Saturday.

14)  LSU Tigers (2-0)
Find me another team that has two road wins over power conference opponents.  If you’re having trouble, that’s because there’s only one.  Les Miles is working his way off the hot seat with a hot start.  The defense held Vanderbilt to 135 total yards.

15)  Boise State Broncos (1-0)
They have one win, and it is against an 0-2 team that lost to an FCS team at home.  If the Broncos were to hang their hat on one win this year, Virginia Tech was going to have to be that win.  Now it’s not.  They are lucky to be in my top 15.

16)  Miami Hurricanes (1-1)
Miami is the best non-undefeated team in the country, but showed weaknesses against a very good Ohio State team.  After I praised Jacory Harris for the way he protects the ball in wins, he promptly threw four interceptions in the loss.

17)  South Carolina Gamecocks (2-0)
South Carolina started its SEC season off with a bang in knocking off a ranked Bulldogs team in Columbia.  Defense was the story for offensive-minded Steve Spurrier, as his team held Georgia to 61 rush yards and 192 pass yards.

18)  Stanford Cardinal
Going into the Rose Bowl and winning isn’t easy, but Stanford made it look that way Saturday night.  Andrew Luck was not great but mistake-free, and the defense shut out UCLA and scored a TD in Stanford’s first road win over UCLA since 1996.

19)  Arkansas Razorbacks (2-0)
My skepticism is fading.  For now.  Ryan Mallett battled through a rough first have to complete 28 passes for 400 yards and lift Arkansas to a 24 point second half to pull away from Louisiana-Monroe.  Greg Childs had 148 yards and two TDs.

20)  Penn State Nittany Lions (1-1)
Saturday’s loss to Alabama was a classic example of inexperience showing its colors against a good team.  The young Nittany Lions were not as physical as the ‘Tide, and it showed.  Sophomore Kevin Newsome got to take a few snaps at the end.

21)  Auburn Tigers (2-0)
Auburn has been less than impressive in both games, but winning on the road in the SEC is tough, and Auburn passed test one with a win at Mississippi State.  Six Tigers combined for 190 rushing yards.  Clemson comes to town this week.

22)  California Golden Bears (2-0)
I probably should have the Bears higher after outscoring opponents a combined 105-10 the first two weeks.  Kevin Riley threw four touchdowns in the latest parade, this a 52-7 win over soon-to-be Pac 10 for Colorado.

23)  Air Force Falcons (2-0)
After crushing Northwestern State in week one, Air Force dominated a ranked BYU team in Falcon Stadium.  The Cougars never saw the endzone in the Mountain West’s first game.  The Falcons head to Norman for a battle with OU Saturday.

24)  West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0)
The Mountaineers escaped Marshall in overtime Friday in a game they probably should have lost.  Noel Devine rushed for 112 yards, and Geno Smith threw for 316 yards on 32 pass completions.  Maryland and LSU are on the schedule next.

25)  Houston Cougars (2-0)
Case Keenum is not on pace for another record-breaking season, but he’s lighting up the scoreboards again for the Cougars.  After leading Houston to 68 points in the opener, he put up 54 Saturday.  Houston makes a trip to the Rose Bowl next.

#12 Miami Hurricanes at #2 Ohio State Buckeyes
The way to beat Ohio State?  Don’t turn the ball over, and make Terrelle Pryor one-dimensional.  Jacory Harris does not turn it over.  He threw just three incomplete passes in a week one win against Florida A&M.  The defense allowed just 53 net rush yards, and in plays in which they stopped A&M for a loss, they racked up 81 yards the other way.  If their run defense is as good this time, Pryor will be forced to throw, and that’s a perfect recipe for success.
Miami 29, Ohio State 24

#18 Penn State Nittany Lions at #1 Alabama Crimson Tide
Mark Ingram is out, meaning another opportunity for Trent Richardson.  Alabama had no problems in game one, but they probably want a two-back tandem to deal with this Lion D.  They won’t get it, but it won’t matter.  A defensive struggle will consume the first half until Greg McElroy finds some holes in the second half.
Alabama 24, Penn State 9

#17 Florida State Seminoles at #10 Oklahoma Sooners
Brothers reunite as FSU offensive coordinator Mark Stoops meets OU head coach Bob in a showdown of top 20 teams that became very interesting after week one’s results.  Oklahoma blew a 21-0 lead and had to claw out a win against Utah State, while Christian Ponder began his Heisman chase by going 12-14 for 167 yards and four touchdowns in just one half.  Still, Oklahoma will get it together this week.
Oklahoma 33, Florida State 17

#22 Georgia Bulldogs at #24 South Carolina Gamecocks
It’s a battle for second place in the SEC East as the traditional SEC opener between the two heads to Columbia.  I’m still trying to figure out how South Carolina won by 28 with nearly identical stats in every category as Southern Miss.  Every category except red zone chances.  Georgia’s #4 ranked defense won’t be so generous.
Georgia 27, South Carolina 20

#7 Oregon at Tennessee
I was wrong about the Ducks.  Judging by the New Mexico game, it appears they have no weakness on offense or defense.  LaMichael James is back for a showdown with the Vols.  This offense appears to be on the right track, and I’m not going to cross them again until they give me reason to.  Nevertheless, it won’t be a 72 point win in Knoxville.
Oregon 34, Tennessee 16

UPSET SPECIAL – Kansas Jayhawks 26, #15 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 20
Turner Gill’s debut was a disaster.  A 6-3 loss to North Dakota State is embarrassing, but something tells me they’ll be ready for this one.  I don’t know why, and I’ll probably be laughed at later when Tech wins by 20, but Kansas has always had a respectable defense, and they can hang around if they figure out how to slow down Tech’s option.

Last Week:  4-2
Overall:  4-2
Upsets:  0-1

There’s no better place to start than with the weekend’s final game, which made every national title contender cringe.  Any program with a remote shot of making the BCS national championship took a huge hit Monday night when Kellen Moore took a BCS bombshell and dropped it perfectly into the hands of Austin Pettis in the closing moments against Virginia Tech.  That sealed a 33-30 victory and all but put the Broncos in the championship, leaving just one spot open for the rest of the nation to fight for.  With Boise State’s victory, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that a one-loss team will not play for the national championship this season.  That means Ohio State cannot afford its annual hiccup, and the Florida/Alabama loser Oct. 2 is thinking Sugar Bowl at best.

With droopy eyes and an exponential hatred for air transit, here are my rankings after week one:

1)  Boise State Broncos (1-0)
Who else do you put here?  The Broncos have the nation’s best win after downing Virginia Tech in the capital.  They also become the first team to clinch a spot in the championship game after the opening week.  Now, who will they play?

2)  Alabama Crimson Tide (1-0)
The defending champions rolled to a strong opening day win, and Trent Richardson did just fine filling in for the injured Mark Ingram.  As of now, Ingram is questionable for Saturday’s game against Penn State.  Early upset?

3)  Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0)
The Bucks crushed Marshall Thursday and immediately started talking about Miami, who they’ll play this weekend.  Terrelle Pryor had three touchdown passes in the tune-up win before the ‘Canes.  Will Pryor benefit from a phantom call?

4)  Oregon Ducks (1-0)
Remember when I said New Mexico would come close to pulling the upset?  Go ahead and laugh.  After Oregon’s 72-0 victory in which they gained 720 total yards, it’s clear the offense didn’t need Jeremiah Masoli or LaMichael James.  Rose Bowl?

5)  Texas Longhorns (1-0)
Garrett Gilbert played mistake-free football in his first start, and the unproven offense did enough to win Mack Brown’s first ever opener away from Austin.  The big burst came during a 24 point second quarter.  Who was the QB last year again?

6)  Florida Gators (1-0)
Lots of people are making a big deal about the botch snaps that led to eight fumbles, but my biggest concern is the 13 offensive yards they put up in the first half.  Should Tim Tebow say a prayer before game two?

7)  Florida State Seminoles (1-0)
A 59-6 win is impressive no matter who you play, especially considering Florida State never comes to play in week one.  Jimbo Fisher has brought a new attitude to Tallahassee, and it shows.  Can they beat the suddenly vulnerable Sooners?

8)  Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-0)
Yes, it was a complete mismatch, but part of playing these games is winning by the appropriate amount, and that’s what Bo Pelini’s squad did in a 49-10 route of Western Kentucky.  Will they demand to take their flag from all Big 12 stadiums?

9)  TCU Horned Frogs (1-0)
The Horned Frogs dominated every statistical category except the scoreboard.  A 30-21 game-not-as-close-as-score win made Andy Dalton the winningest QB in TCU history.  Will they play Boise State in a bowl game for the third straight year?

10)  Virginia Tech Hokies (0-1)
It’s clear Tyrod Tayler is a great quarterback, and Frank Beamer has a really good team.  The first quarter doomed the Hokies, and as predicted, defense is going to be the problem.  Can they run the table in the improved ACC?

11)  Miami Hurricanes (1-0)
After last year’s hot start, the ‘Canes are looking to repeat a spectacular September.  Jacory Harris tossed three touchdowns in a 45-0 win over Florida A&M Thursday.  Now it’s OSU.  Over/under on how many ’02 alums have called the team this week?

12)  Wisconsin Badgers (1-0)
John Clay had 17 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns as Wisconsin used a 24-0 third quarter to pull away from UNLV in Vegas.  Wisconsin always starts in the top 15.  Is this the year they finish there?

13)  Utah Utes (1-0)
Utah had a very good win over Pittsburgh Thursday night, and set themselves up nicely to make a run in the Mountain West.  DeVonte Christopher caught eight passes for 155 yards.  Utah should schedule home games every Thursday, right?

14)  Michigan Wolverines (1-0)
It’s hard to ignore Michigan because of all the national hype, but they sure did come to play Saturday against UConn.  Denard Robinson, the quarterback, looked more like a running back with 197 yards rushing.  Will they finally beat Ohio State?

15)  Penn State Nittany Lions (1-0)
After a slow start, Rob Bolden and company got it rolling in the second half in a 44-14 win over Youngstown State.  The offense did struggle a bit with only 371 total yards, but I’m sure they will clean it up against Alabama Saturday, yea?

16)  Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0)
It wasn’t pretty for Iowa – Eastern Illinois had them outgained for a while in the first half – but the Hawkeyes used stifling defense to cruise 37-7.  Ricky Stanzi avoided an early injury.  When will Iowa’s two blocked field goals come this year?

17)  Oklahoma Sooners (1-0)
Scary moments for the Sooners against the tough…Utah State?  That’s right.  Oklahoma nearly let another opener turn into a disaster when the Aggies bounced out of an early hole to make it a game.  Will they get stung by FSU this week?

18)  Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-0)
Guess who’s back with an even better running game?  Believe it or not, Georgia Tech looks like it might be even more explosive on the ground after Saturday’s 372 yard ground performance.  Will they defend their ACC crown?

19)  LSU Tigers (1-0)
I’m trying not to give the Tigers too much credit for a win over a second string roster, but it was a road game against a top 25 opponent, and LSU got it done.  Les Miles needed that win and now will likely start 5-0.  Is LSU back?

20)  Arkansas Razorbacks (1-0)
I don’t like this team as much as the writers do, but Ryan Mallett was very good and made an early case for SEC player of the year, completing 21 of 24 passes in a 41 point win.  Can they beat Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M and Auburn in a row?

21)  BYU Cougars (1-0)
The Cougars used a come-from-behind effort to knock off Jake Locker and Washington Saturday.  The defense shut out Washington in the second half.  The big question – can BYU bring it every week as an independent?

22)  Georgia Bulldogs (1-0)
Do-it-all quarterback Aaron Murray threw three touchdowns and added one on the ground to help Georgia slaughter Louisiana-Lafayette.  Things heat up fast with South Carolina up next.  How will the Bulldogs fare in the SEC East?

23)  West Virginia Mountaineers (1-0)
Noel Devine began his Heisman push with 11 yards on 23 carries with a touchdown against Coastal Carolina.  The Mountaineers have Maryland and LSU on the nonconference slate this season.  Will they win both?

24)  Arizona Wildcats (1-0)
The Wildcats, eager to avenge the Holiday Bowl disaster against Nebraska, came out smoking at Toledo with a 41-2 victory.  Nick Foles threw for 360 yards in the onslaught.  The Wildcats now have four straight home games.  Breakout year?

25)  Stanford Cardinal (1-0)
No Toby Gerhart, no problem for Stanford.  Andrew Luck didn’t need much luck in throwing four touchdowns and throwing Stanford past Sacramento State.  The Pac 10 season kicks off Saturday with UCLA.  Can they send the Bruins to 0-2?

Meanwhile, here’s a look at how the major conferences are doing:

ACC:  4-2
Big 12:  5-2
Big East:  4-5 (includes Villanova loss)
Big Ten:  4-1
Pac 10:  2-0
SEC:  2-2

Well, it changed mine quite a bit last night.

My roommate and I were up until 6 a.m.  Actually it was 5 a.m. but that stupid time change thingy counts I guess.

So we’ll call it 6 a.m., and why?  We were predicting our seeds for the tournament.

As it turns out, him and I should be our own committee.  We have the same 65 teams in the tournament.  But more important, we have the same three teams fighting for two spots.  Here’s how it breaks down:

Mississippi State’s win over Vanderbilt eliminated Florida from contention.  The Bulldogs beat the Gators twice and have two fewer losses.  Even a loss to Kentucky in the SEC Championship should not put them behind Florida.  That said, they have to win that game.  Neither Carl (roommate) nor I can see them getting in otherwise.

Minnesota is our last team in.  They have wins over the top five teams in the Big Ten and a win against Butler.  Plus they are playing for the Big Ten Championship.  Their 27 point win over Purdue eliminates Illinois from contention.  The Illini have two more losses, one fewer win, and a loss to Minnesota.  The Gophers don’t necessarily have to beat Ohio State to get in, but losing won’t do them any favors because…

The third team sweating things out is Utah State.  The Aggies lost the WAC Conference Championship game to New Mexico State and now must sweat it out to see if 27-7 with only one top 25 win (BYU) will be good enough.  Both Carl and I say yes as of now, but the Aggies could get booted if both Mississippi State and Minnesota pull off upsets today.

So again, here’s now it breaks down:

Kentucky win:  Minnesota and Utah State in, Mississippi State out
Ohio State + Mississippi State win:  Utah State and Mississippi State in, Minnesota out
Minnesota + Mississippi State win:  Minnesota and Mississippi State in, Utah State out

If the committee chooses Illinois over any of these three teams, I will lose it.  If the committee bootes Virginia Tech over any of these three teams, I will lose it.

Maybe Carl and I should call the committee and tell them we already have it figured out.

Maybe I should take a nap.  6 a.m. is late.  Or early…

Big East opening round win = .5
First round win = 1
Quarterfinal win = 2
Semifinal win = 3
Championship win = 4

Click on the corresponding tournament under the person’s name to see his or her picks for that conference.

Jaryd’s picks

ACC Tournament
Big East Tournament
Big Ten Tournament
Big 12 Tournament
Pac 10 Tournament
SEC Tournament

Kyle’s picks

ACC Tournament
Big East Tournament
Big Ten Tournament
Big 12 Tournament
Pac 10 Tournament
SEC Tournament

Molly’s picks

ACC Tournament
Big East Tournament
Big Ten Tournament
Big 12 Tournament
Pac 10 Tournament
SEC Tournament

Blake’s picks

ACC Tournament
Big East Tournament
Big Ten Tournament
Big 12 Tournament
Pac 10 Tournament
SEC Tournament

Carl’s picks

ACC Tournament
Big East Tournament
Big Ten Tournament
Big 12 Tournament
Pac 10 Tournament
SEC Tournament

Brendan’s picks

ACC Tournament
Big East Tournament
Big Ten Tournament
Big 12 Tournament
Pac 10 Tournament
SEC Tournament

At large locks:

ACC (3)
Wake Forest
Virginia Tech
Maryland

Atlantic 10 (3)
Temple
Charlotte
Xavier

Big East (4)
Syracuse
West Virginia
Pittsburgh
Georgetown

Big Ten (3)
Ohio State
Purdue
Wisconsin

Big 12 (4)
Kansas State
Texas A&M
Baylor
Texas

Conference USA (1)
UAB

Mountain West (2)
BYU
UNLV

SEC (2)
Vanderbilt
Tennessee

West Coast (1)
St. Mary’s

This leaves 11 at large bids up for grabs.  Below is who takes them (in order) as of tonight.

1)  Rhode Island Rams – That’s right.  The strongest bubble team is the Rams.  With an RPI of 21, the 19-5 Rams have wins over Dayton and Oklahoma State, and no terrible losses.  The Atlantic 10 is better than the Pac 10, SEC and Mountain West, at least in the top half.

2)  Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – Despite the recent slide, the Jackets have the best strength of schedule in the ACC after Duke, and still only seven losses.  They have five wins against the RPI top 40, and if you’re wondering how deep the ACC is, know that Tech is currently in eighth.

3)  Clemson Tigers – Clemson’s resumé is nearly identical to Georgia Tech’s.  The Tigers’ strength of schedule ranks 31, and they are #30 in the RPI.  They sit sixth in the ACC with nonconference wins over Butler and South Carolina, as well as wins over Maryland and Florida State.

4)  Dayton Flyers – Another A-10 team deserving of a spot is the Flyers.  They are 17-7 but have slipped to seventh in the conference at 6-4.  They beat Georgia Tech and Old Dominion out of conference, and Xavier in conference.  The RPI ranking is #32, and the strength of schedule is #30.

5)  Missouri Tigers – The nonconference schedule was not great, but wins over Old Dominion and Illinois are looking better this month than they did in January.  Quality losses include Richmond, Vanderbilt, Kansas, Baylor and Texas A&M.  The Tigers are in sixth in the nation’s best conference.

6)  Marquette Golden Eagles – Marquette has been competitive in every game this season, and the worst is behind them.  However, an RPI ranked #56 and a strength of schedule ranked #54 are worrisome, but they have worked themselves into a situation where they could finish fourth in the Big East.

7)  Florida State Seminoles – FSU lacks the big win, but does have enough quality victories and few enough bad losses to warrant a tournament berth.  Losing to Maryland twice hurt, but they did beat Georgia Tech twice to make up for it.  They are tied for sixth in the ACC.

8)  Oklahoma State Cowboys – If the Cowboys’ worst loss is at Oklahoma, count them in.  The Pokes have wins over Kansas State and Texas A&M, no bad losses and a strength of schedule ranked #44.  The RPI is in the top 40, and they are 5-5 in the Big 12.

9)  Mississippi Rebels – Ole Miss has done just enough to squeeze into the field, the biggest asset being a win over Kansas State.  Four of the Rebels’ seven losses are to teams in the top 20 in RPI.  The strength of schedule isn’t eye-opening, but outside of Arkansas, they’ve won all the games they’re supposed to win.

10)  Illinois Fighting Illini – The Illini were a lock until the Ohio State blowout.  Even so, they’re winning the games they should win in the Big Ten, and playing well at the right time.  Wins over Michigan State and Purdue were a big boost for the team currently in fourth in the Big Ten.

11)  Florida Gators – They’ve played a tough schedule and have only two losses against teams with an RPI below 27.  Their biggest problem is lack of quality wins.  Despite that, I’m still taking the Gators as my last team in with only eight losses over a Louisville team with three bad losses and nine overall losses.

On the outside looking in:

Louisville
Texas Tech
Wichita State
Mississippi State
San Diego State
Virginia
Cincinnati
Washington
South Carolina

Enough for me to write about it anyway.

To start from the beginning would be to go back a long way, so I’ll just tell you what happened yesterday.  I was at the library (University of Missouri) when I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in quite some time.  We talked about our semesters, graduation, the weather and…per usual when I’m involved in a conversation…sports.  I asked him, who I will refrain from naming for his own embarrassment, who he thought would win the Kansas/Texas game.  He said Texas.

Dumb.  But I was the guy who said the Colts would win the Super Bowl, so I won’t fault him for a wrong pick.  It was what came next that had me really peeved.

“I don’t ever want Kansas to win.  I hope they lose every game.”

As a Missouri student and fan, he has blindly been led to believe that the most educated college sports fans are ones who hate Kansas.  Fine.  Hate Kansas.  But if you’re a Missouri fan, don’t ever root for KU to lose.  Ever.

This kid considers himself educated.  I just had to walk away.

He’s not the only one.  When Kansas loss to Tennessee, I immediately logged onto Facebook to see a barrage of status updates from my friends and classmates:

“KU sucks.”

“Rock-chalk chickenhawk”

“Kansas is overrrated.”

Joe Schmoe is no longer listed as single.

Okay, so I didn’t really care about that last one, but the first three were quite annoying coming from Tiger fans.

Here’s a lesson to all college sports fans: hate whoever you want, but want your conference opponents to win (no, I don’t get paid for my brilliance).

In college sports, strength of schedule means everything.  If your conference opponents are losing, your favorite team is getting weaker without even playing a game.  In Missouri’s case, every Kansas loss hurts.  The Tigers play the Jayhawks twice in basketball every season.  And every season, I want Kansas to be ranked number one going into those games.  Why?  Because beating an undefeated, top ranked team carries a lot more weight than beating an unranked bubble team.

Same goes for football.  In 2007, I couldn’t believe all the idiots on Missouri’s campus who wanted Kansas to lose a football game.  A golden storyline was being written every week when overachieving KU started 11-0.  While nearly everyone else wanted the Jayhawks to stop flying, I recognized this for what it was – an opportunity of a lifetime for Tigers football.  Undefeated Kansas vs one-loss Missouri on the last day of the regular season, playing for the Big 12 North championship, a chance to play in the Big 12 championship game, and national title hopes still very much alive for the winner.  Not to mention a rivalry game, primetime on ABC, and with College Gameday at the neutral Arrowhead Stadium.  But I guess all that didn’t mean anything for those Tiger fans who were rooting for a Jayhawk loss prior to the Missouri game.  One Kansas loss would have destroyed that moment.  Instead, it was the Tigers who boosted up to number one by beating the number two Jayhawks.

Had Kansas not come into that game unbeaten, who knows if the Tigers would have leaped West Virginia.  One thing is for sure – the game got an enormous amount of publicity, propelled both schools’ football programs, and likely lured at least a recruit or two away from a Texas school to come play in Columbia.  And it was because the team Missouri beat was undefeated.

The nonconference part of the schedule in any sport is the part where every Tiger fan should be rooting for all Big 12 teams, including Kansas, to go undefeated.  Just like every Auburn fan should be rooting for the SEC, and every Butler fan should root for the Horizon League.  In conference play, it all depends on standings, but generally you want the good teams to beat the bad ones so that the matchups with the good teams mean more.

Highly anticipated matchups leads to high attendance, which leads to money.  More money means more opportunity to improve facilities, which leads to better performance.  Better performance leads to more TV time, which in turn creates more exposure.  More exposure leads to better recruiting, which leads to better performance.  Connect the dots any way you’d like.  Just know that there is no justification for rooting against a rival whom your team is going to play, especially against someone whom your team won’t play.

Missouri fans say “but it’s Kansas.  We hate them.  They’re our rivals.”  True.  True.  And true.  They are your rivals, and you may hate them.  But rooting against them is stupid.  It only hurts Missouri.

In professional sports, it’s the opposite.  Hate who you want and root for them to lose.  In pro sports, winning is the only thing that matters.  Quality wins and strength of schedule means nada.  Red Sox fans want the Yankees to go 0-162, and that’s perfectly fine.  But those same Bostonians better be rooting for Notre Dame to win every game so the Boston College/Notre Dame game means more.

So Missouri fans, if you want to root against Kansas because it makes you feel good, then go for it.  Call yourselves true fans.  Call yourselves passionate.

Just please don’t call yourselves educated.