Preseason college football bowl picks

The college football season begins tomorrow, and while Thursday can’t come fast enough for many players, coaches and fans, much of the country is wait because…well…I haven’t made my predictions yet.

Here they are.  The BCS games at least.

There is no tournament as you know, and that’s just fine.  Eyeballs are still on the screen, money is still flowing in and teams are still jumping conferences in search of that extra dollar.  The final season pre-realignment should be a dandy.

BCS National Championship
Florida (13-0) vs Oklahoma (13-0)

Are these the two most talented teams in the country?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  Only time will tell.  Florida’s passing game is its biggest question mark.  Besides the obvious loss of Tim Tebow, the Gators return only one starting receiver from its 2010 Sugar Bowl championship team (Deonte Thompson), but a lot of unproven talent led by Carl Moore and Chris Rainey.  Florida’s schedule shapes up nicely.  They play just three games outside the state, two of which should be sleepers.  The game everybody is talking about is the Alabama game in Tuscaloosa, and by that point, Urban Meyer will have figured out a way to use his dynamic running back tandem and throw the ball effectively.  Alabama lost 13 defensive players to the draft, and has always been pretty vanilla offensively.  Florida is faster and more talented, and they will beat the Tide twice this year to reach the championship game 13-0.

Oklahoma knows it will likely have to run the table to get back to the championship game.  Landry Jones is back after playing nearly a full season filling in for the injured Sam Bradford.  Ryan Broyles and DeMarco Murray return to help an offense that should expect to show flashes of 2009 when they put up five straight 60+ point games.  The defense has just five returning starters.  If they fail to make it back to this game, it won’t be because they didn’t score enough points.  The non-conference schedule is difficult, but the Sooners should take care of Florida State in Norman, and should finish nonconference play without a blemish if they don’t overlook a trip to Cincinnati.  The game everybody wants to see is the Red River Shootout.  Spoiler alert: don’t bet on Texas.  On the same day Florida soars by Alabama, Oklahoma will do the same to Texas.  Last year Bradford got hurt in the first quarter, and the Sooners nearly won the game anyway.  This time Texas is the team without its Heisman candidate.  With a more experienced Jones running the show, Bob Stoops will find ways to score on a good Texas defense.  After that, the Sooners should roll through the rest of the schedule until they meet Nebraska in the Big 12 championship.  Something tells me Oklahoma won’t want Nebraska walking away with the final league championship game banner before bolting for the Big Ten.

Rose Bowl
Ohio State (11-1) vs Oregon State (8-4)

The Buckeyes have become a BCS staple, and that won’t change this season.  Terrelle Pryor is a preseason Heisman pick, and the Buckeyes return 10 starters on offense.  The experience should help make the offense better, especially the 106th ranked passing attack.  Defensively, don’t expect Ohio State to fall off.  Led by All American defensive end Cameron Heyward, Ohio State will be making life miserable for Big Ten opponents again.  I’m picking them to lose either at Wisconsin or at Iowa, but the slip shouldn’t keep them from another Big Ten championship and another Rose Bowl appearance.

The Oregon State pick may surprise you.  It may surprise Dennis Dodd too, who has the Beavers eighth in his preseason standings.  Honestly, the most talented team in the conference cannot play in this game, which is why I’m picking the team I think will finish second.  This race is going to be tight all year, and as we learned last year, there isn’t a whole lot of difference between one and eight.  Jacquizz and James Rodgers are outstanding playmakers who will make life much easier for first year starter Ryan Katz.  The defense will be solid with nine returning starters, as long as they can stop the pass.  Oregon State has a brutal schedule.  They are the only team in the country to play all 12 games against either BCS opponents or teams that made BCS bowl games in 2010.  They go to TCU and Boise State before Pac 10 play begins, and while they will likely lose both, they will be battle tested before conference play.  They have USC and Oregon at home, and without Jeremiah Masoli and all the offseason problems the Ducks had, I think the Beavers will take the Civil War.  It will be a 7-2 finish for Oregon State, which will be good enough to finish ahead of the eight teams they need to in order to make this game.

Orange Bowl
Virginia Tech (11-2) vs Pittsburgh (10-2)

The Hokies get the first chance of any team to really put its mark on 2010 when it opens in the nation’s capital against Boise State.  After that, it’s a coin toss for Frank Beamer’s squad as it plays out the ACC schedule that has been as predictable as a Toyota brake or a Pittsburgh Pirate bullpen outing.  The offense, yes offense, will be the ones carrying this team. Beamer will have to get used to pitch and catch style football with Ryan Williams and a healthy Darren Evans in the backfield.  Tyrod Taylor is a senior now with plenty of experience and a plethora of receivers to throw to.  The defense may be shaky while the newcomers fill in, but Beamer is a defensive-minded coach, so don’t bet against his D.  I have the Hokies with two losses.  Boise State will not be one of them.

Pittsburgh may seem like the most obvious major college champion, and they are, but the question is where do they go?  The last Big East team to play in the Orange Bowl got waxed (by the Hokies), and the committee has thought twice about putting little sister in the game ever since.  A heisman-type running back leads an offense that may be better than what they showed against the Bearcats in the regular season finale.  The defense returns six, but the suspect unit could pose problems against Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Miami and Utah.  Dave Wannstedt’s crew is itching for a BCS berth after coming up just short last year, and they will get it.  There are four games to look out for, and they will lose two of them: at Utah, Miami, at Notre Dame, at Cincinnati.

Sugar Bowl
Alabama (11-2) vs Boise State (11-1)

The Sugar Bowl’s replacement pick will be Alabama, who will be happy to see Urban Meyer’s Gators gone after Florida trucks them in Atlanta in December.  Alabama will have too hard a time replacing 13 defensive players to be the same type of powerhouse it was in 2009.  More will be expected of Greg McElroy, who has yet to prove he can actually carry a team despite his career record.  Nevertheless, this is still a very good and very dangerous team.  The schedule is not all that difficult outside of Florida, so the Tide should be able to handle all non-Urban Meyer-coached teams pretty easily.  This may be deja vü – they were beaten by a mid-major in 2008.

That mid-major shouldn’t be considered a mid-major any longer.  Boise State is for real, and they will show it this season.  Only one, yes one, starter from either side of the ball is gone, and a top Heisman contender in Kellen Moore returns to lead the Broncos in one of the most anticipated seasons in school history.  An undefeated season may mean a trip to Glendale for the national championship game, but it won’t happen.  I have the Broncos losing to Virginia Tech in the opener at RFK.  Why?  Because Boise has the same team they had last year, and that team gave up way too many points in a very weak conference.  The Virginia Tech offense is experienced and lethal, which is why I think the Hokies will win in a shootout.  After the Monday night setback, Boise State will run the table to earn its third BCS trip in four years.

Fiesta Bowl
Texas (11-1) vs TCU (11-1)

If there was any positive during an otherwise disgusting national championship performance by the Longhorns, it was the second half play of now-starter Garrett Gilbert.  Although he is no McCoy, Gilbert’s gameday experience will help him.  The question is, will his offensive line?  Relatively unproven tackles will have to fend off quick defensive ends, and Gilbert may see his share of turf time.  The schedule is an interesting one, as Tommy Tuberville’s Red Raiders host the ‘Horns in week three.  Last time Texas visited Lubbock, Michael Crabtree whipped the Raider faithful into a frenzy.  Don’t think the Longhorns have short memories.  The Red River Shootout is always the game of the year in the conference, and this year’s game is no exception.  It’s the only game I have Texas losing, simply because Oklahoma is the only team that can shred an otherwise stellar secondary.  One other game to look out for – Texas travels to Lincoln Oct. 16 for a rematch with Nebraska.  After a bye, I like the ‘Horns.

TCU still has a bitter taste in its mouth after the offense failed to show up in this game last year.  The Fiesta Bowl committee will be hesitant to take them, but in the end won’t pass up the opportunity to match these Texas teams together in a game fans have wanted to see since TCU climbed into the national spotlight.  Andy Dalton returns with a number of 400 yard receivers to spread the ball around to.  Four offensive line starters return to help two new running backs get into the mix, and seven starters return on the defensive unit that was one of the best in the country.  TCU opens with pesky Oregon State in the Jerry Dome, then it’s a relatively light load until a Nov. 6 matchup at Utah.  That’s the only time the Horned Frogs will fall this season, leaving them out of the national championship picture but giving them their second straight BCS appearance.

Here’s an idea: how about no conferences

There have been so many expansion rumors, and maybe facts, published this week, it’s hard to wrap my head around it.  My hometown hockey team is playing in the Stanley Cup finals, and two legendary NBA franchises are duking it out on the hardwood for the Finals trophy again.  Rafael Nadal just won the French Open again, Armando Galarraga pitch a perfe…ugh…really good game, and the Women’s College World Series is down to its final four teams.  Yet somehow, this expansion news is the biggest thing in sports right now, more so because of the impact it could have on the college landscape than what has actually happened so far, which is really nothing.

I’ll catch you up really quick.

You may recall a few weeks ago a report came out saying the Big Ten had invited Missouri and Nebraska to its conference.  That report turned out to be false, but prompted swift action by another conference.  The Pac 10 is reportedly ready to offer six Big 12 schools (Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado) membership into its conference.  Only one of those six schools, Texas, would earn less revenue by switching conferences.  The Pac 10 is saying each school would get $20 million, as the conference would start its own network.

Not so fast.  A recent e-mail from Ohio State President Gordon Gee to Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany all but straight up says Texas will be included in the Big Ten’s expansion plans.

So how is the Big 12 reacting to all of this?  At first, commissioner Dan Beebe said only that he hopes the conference will stay intact and thinks they have a good reason to do so.  Things are a little hotter now though.  CBSSports has confirmed that at least Nebraska, and possibly Missouri, have been given two weeks to commit to remaining in the conference.  Otherwise the six Big 12 schools invited by the Pac 10 may take off.

There’s a whole lot more I can go into, but I’ll let you read all the reports yourself.  When you’re done, come back and read my proposal, which may be the best of all: get rid of conferences in football.

We all know this expansion drama is about football and nothing more.  Though it will obviously affect all sports, the revenue from football far outweighs the consideration from other sports.

So why not just get rid of conferences all together?  That’s right.  Make everyone an independent.

If this expansion thing keeps going, dominos will fall, and eventually we will have two super conferences – the Pac 60 and the Big 60.  So why not just not have conferences at all?

Each team is on its own in terms of generating revenue.  No conference networks.  No partnerships with broadcast or cable networks.

Scheduling?  Easy.  Each school plays 12 games.  They play the same 12 teams two years in a row to get the home and home matchup.  Two of those 12 teams can be the same every year.  That way each school can keep its two biggest football rivals on the slate.  USC and play Notre Dame and UCLA every year.  Florida can keep Georgia and Tennessee.  Texas can play Oklahoma and Texas A&M.  Michigan gets Ohio State and Michigan State.

The other 10 games must be different each time a new schedule is made every two years.  So if Florida wants Georgia and Tennessee every year, they can do it, but they can’t have Florida State more than two years in a row.  After taking two years off, they can put the Seminoles back in.  This shuffles the scheduling so teams aren’t playing the same teams every year.

The BCS system can still be used and would likely be more accurate since there wouldn’t be conference championship games to mess things up.

My idea seems just as plausible as any other right now.  I’d much rather see that than be in my recliner at age 70 watching the Pac 60 champion and Big 60 champion play for the national championship.

Super conferences.  Not as far away as you might think.

Ducks not flying together this offseason

Ducks fly together.

It’s the motto that helped Gordon Bombay’s little league hockey team win the district championship in the film Mighty Ducks.  Apparently that motto never made it to Eugene, Oregon.

Chip Kelly’s football “Ducks” look more like a scattered cluster than a flock.  Plagued by off-field issues since being trampled by underdog Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, the Oregon football Ducks are getting their wings clipped.

More like severed, actually.

All this coming when it seemed Oregon would put a stranglehold on a conference dominated for years by USC.  The Ducks are being picked as a preseason top five team in nearly every “way too early” poll you look at.  But the unraveling just won’t stop.

It started On Jan. 24, just three weeks after the Rose Bowl embarrassment.  Police charged sophomore kicker Rob Beard with assault when he entered a 20-person fight to help former kicker Mike Bowlin.  Beard was knocked unconscious, had to spend two days in intensive care, and had facial surgery.  Bowlin left the team after the brawl.

That same weekend, starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and wide receiver Garrett Embry were accused of stealing computers, a guitar and a projector from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house, supposedly because members of the house kicked Embry out earlier at a party.  Police have not made any arrests yet.

Six days later, policed charged defensive end Matt Simms for misdemeanor assault after Simms attacked a person he thought was involved in the Jan. 24 brawl with Beard.  Kelly dismissed Simms from the team.

Last Wednesday, police arrested star running back LaMichael James after a fight with his girlfriend and charged him with strangulation, assault and physical harassment.

On Saturday, policed arrested and charged linebacker Kristian Kiko Alonso for driving under the influence of alcohol.  In response to a rumor that Kelly decided to dismiss Alonso from the team, wide receiver Jamere Holland posted several derogatory and expletive comments on his Facebook page, blasting the coach, the program and students who didn’t support him.  He has since deleted those posts, but it was too late.  Kelly kicked Holland off the team.

If all that wasn’t bad enough, Kelly got into a verbal argument during a radio interview with Portland Oregonian John Canzano.

So what does all of this mean?  Well, it means at least three players won’t be showing up to spring practice.  It could be more if Kelly decides to take action against Masoli or James.  It could cost them a Pac 10 title.  It could have no effect.

But it has put a black eye on the program.

And it’s on Kelly to get the Ducks flying together again.

Way too early top five for 2010

Guest columnist Blake Borron

I was expecting my first post in far too long to be a victory rant about the Texas Longhorns. In lieu of certain…occurrences, I have instead decided to give a taste of things to come for next season. As much as my heart wants me to crown UT as the preseason #1 team for 2010, my brain and last week’s game only allow one team to surface as the king of the first season of the new decade. Roll Tide!

1. Alabama Crimson Tide: Last year’s national champs are only getting stronger with monster recruiting class after monster recruiting class. Nick Saban is an arrogant tool who wouldn’t smile on his wedding day, but he’s one of the best recruiters and X’s and O’s guys in history.

Strengths: The stars on offense twinkle so brightly you need Oakleys to block out the glare. The running back tandem of Heisman winner Mark Ingram and the possibly even-more-talented Trent Richardson is the best college football has seen since Reggie Bush and LenDale White. Julio Jones will be possibly the nation’s most talented wide receiver, but Marquis Maze is the silent assassin that gives the passing game legitimacy.

Weaknesses: The defense loses massive defensive tackle Terrence Cody and playmaking cornerback Javier Arenas to graduation. Expect linebacker Rolando McClain, the leader of the defense, to follow them to the NFL a year early. The greatest deficiency may be the play of quarterback Greg McElroy. After a dismantling of Florida in the SEC Championship game, Texas returned the favor and embarrassed the first year starter in the National Championship. His play, as well as that of an offensive line that needs to give him better pass protection, will be counted on far more next year.

2. Texas Longhorns: All the momentum the Horns had at the beginning of the National Title Game went out the door when Colt McCoy went out of the game after only five offensive plays. Backup Garrett Gilbert, wide receiver Jordan Shipley, and the defense did their best to pull UT out of a big first-half deficit, but fell just short when Gilbert fumbled the ball inside his own ten.

Strengths: After a sluggish start, Gilbert showed flashes of brilliance against a fierce ‘Bama defense in spite of many miscues by his wide receivers and no semblance of a rushing attack. He will only get better after an off-season knowing he’s THE guy for next year. The team speed on offense, while raw, is matched only by Florida. The UT defense will be one of the best in the country as long as Will Muschamp is in town. The Horns return as much defensive talent as anybody in the country, including freakish lockdown cornerback Aaron Williams and defensive end Sam Acho, who led the team in sacks.

Weaknesses: There are a bunch on offense, most notably the need to improve an offensive line that can only be qualified as one of the worst in UT history. Consequently, that has led to the chronic degeneration of the running game since UT’s title in 2005. The graduation of Shipley, arguably the best wide receiver in UT history, leaves a group of young and/or inconsistent receivers that will now be counted on to make plays with regularity instead of deferring to Shipley. If they don’t step up, there are even younger guys behind them in what many are calling UT’s best receiver recruiting class ever. Injuries have decimated the tight end position the last two years, which has limited Texas’s ability to run. Star departing seniors Sergio Kindle, LaMarr Houston, and Rod Muckelroy, as well as early entry Earl Thomas, must be replaced on defense.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes: Few teams have been doubted more the past few seasons than the Buckeyes, but that seems to be a vanishing state of mind. After a dominant performance in the Rose Bowl over a talented Oregon team, tOSU returns all their skill position players and the majority of their offensive line. A home date with the talented and speedy Miami Hurricanes will go a long way to validating or erasing the perception that Ohio State can’t handle teams with superior fast-twitch muscles!

Strengths: Terrelle Pryor finally seems to be grasping the offense and coming into his own as a playmaker at quarterback. His performance, though far less awe-inspiring, mirrors Vince Young’s 2005 Rose Bowl victory. That led to a national title in the next season, and Pryor hopes to mimic Young’s success. All his weapons return, including favorite target DeVier Posey. The offensive line mauled Oregon’s less talented defensive front and four out of the five starters return. Jim Tressell is still one of the best defensive coaches in college football, so expect to see the usual toughness and strength out of the Buckeye defense.

Weaknesses: Tressell’s seeming lack of ingenuity on offense will plague the team until he unleashes Pryor like he did with Troy Smith in 2006. That will come with increased confidence in Pryor’s decision making, which was impressive in the Rose Bowl. At times the running backs were underwhelming, they need to be more explosive with such a strong offensive line and dual-threat QB like Pryor to take the pressure off of them. On defense, the line must be rebuilt and both standout safeties graduate. DE Cameron Heyward and CB Chimdi Chekwa are a good place to start, but they will need younger faces to step up and make plays if they are going to maintain the standard of play they’ve been at the past few years.

4. Florida Gators: Florida looked fantastic in the Sugar Bowl. Funny how much easier it is against a lackluster team like Cincinnati than, say, Alabama. Timothy Christ…err, I mean Tebow has finally graduated, meaning Urban Meyer (assuming he decides to return) will have to find a new boy toy to fawn over. Perhaps that will be likely starter John Brantley, a highly-touted recruit three years ago.

Strengths: As long as Meyer is at Florida, the recruiting juggernaut will be full steam ahead. That means the Gators will consistently have more talent than basically any other team in the nation, which is why I have them rated so highly despite such heavy losses. The offense is led by speedsters Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey at running back. Lightning-fast Deonte Thompson is the only returning receiver with any kind of experience. He will be joined by the also freakishly-fast Andre Debose, who missed last season with an injury. The offensive line is the best in the nation if Maurkice and Mike Pouncey return at guard and center respectively, but the Gators have some work to do if they both choose to enter the draft.

Weaknesses: It obviously starts at QB, where Tebow leaves to the imminent obscurity of his NFL career and whatever other potential football institutions spring up during his tenure as a professional football player. The man nigh unanimously deemed the greatest player in the history of competition by ESPN, CBS, and, of course, Urban Meyer leaves a gaping hole in the Florida backfield with consequent expectations that Peyton Manning, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Jesus Christ, and, certainly John Brantley would not live up to. The defense loses stud linebackers Brandon Spikes and Ryan Stamper to graduation, and shutdown CB Joe Haden to the draft. Freakishly talented defensive end Carlos Dunlap may accompany him. It’s not an issue of talent with the Gators, it’s an issue of getting that talent ready to play week in and week out in the grueling SEC.

5. Oregon Ducks: The other half of the Rose Bowl game returns all but three starters, including proven stars QB Jeremiah Masoli and RB LaMichael James. Oregon has a rare opportunity–the chance to take over the Pac 10 conference. Pete Carroll is Seattle bound and USC is not the team or program it was over the past decade. West coast primacy is shifting north to Eugene in a hurry!

Strengths: It all starts with the multifaceted attack of Masoli and James. Masoli runs the zone read to perfection, and he has good speed in the open field. James, on the other hand, has elite speed and will be one of the top tailbacks in the country after only his freshman year. Backup Kenjon Barner is another speedster in the same mold as James. Oregon loves to get him on the edge and he is a special teams demon. The defense returns all but two starters from a solid unit. Perhaps Oregon’s greatest asset is head coach Chip Kelly, one of the brightest minds in college football.

Weaknesses: Just take a look at the Rose Bowl and you’ll see why I was hesitant to put the Ducks this high on my list. Ohio State out-toughed, out-physicaled, and out-hustled Oregon all afternoon. Oregon just didn’t have the attitude to play in that game, and it resulted in them getting their butts kicked up and down the field for much of the game. Too much finesse, or, to put it simply, they were “soft.” They also don’t have the defensive talent that the top three teams possess. Their defensive line loses both the starters on the defensive side of the ball, which may be a positive because they got absolutely worked by the Buckeyes.

The top 100 sports stories of the decade

I ranked these in order of importance, number of people it affected, and how dramatic the story was.  Feel free to comment or post your own rankings.

100)  NHL starts winter classic
The NHL had its first ever “Winter Classic” on New Year’s Day 2008 as the Buffalo Sabres hosted Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins outdoors in front of 71,000 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.  The Penguins won in an overtime shootout.

99)  Pirates set losing seasons mark
The Pittsburgh Pirates became the first franchise in sports history to have 17 consecutive losing seasons when they finished the 2009 season 62-99.  The last time the Pirates had a winning season was 1992, when the team won the division.

98)  Celtics edge Bulls in dramatic series
The 2009 NBA playoffs featured an opening round series that saw the second seeded Boston Celtics defeat the seventh seeded Chicago Bulls in seven games. Four of the seven games went to overtime, and there were seven total overtime periods.

97)  Four UNC players taken in top 14
The UNC draft class of 2005 was so talented, four players were taken in the top 14 of the NBA draft.  The Hawks took Marvin Williams #2, the Bobcats took Raymond Felton #5 and Sean May #13, and the T’Wolves took Rashad McCants #14.

96)  Rocco Mediate takes Woods to 91st hole
One of the most exciting playoffs in golf took place at the 2008 U.S. Open.  Relatively unknown Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods were tied after 72 holes.  After the 18-hole playoff, the two were still tied until Woods bested Mediate on hole 91.

95)  Tim Tebow sets college football legacy
Florida Gator quarterback Tim Tebow sat behind senior Chris Leak as a freshman and watched the Gators win a national championship in 2006.  He became the starter in 2007, won another national title in 2008, and was a Heisman winner.

94)  UConn women go 39-0 twice
The most dominant women’s hoops team of the decade was the Connecticut Huskies.  In 2002, the women claim their second of five decade championships with a perfect 39-0 season.  In 2009, they would go a perfect 39-0 again.

93)  Kevin Everett suffers life-threatening injury
One of the scariest injuries of the decade was when Buffalo Bill Kevin Everett suffered a career-ending and life-threatening cervical spine injury on opening day in 2007.  Everett was able to walk again even after doctors said he would not.

92)  Paul Tagliabue steps down as NFL commissioner
Paul Tagliabue stepped down as commissioner of the NFL in 2006 after 17 years at the helm.  During Tagliabue’s time there were no lockouts or strikes, and he introduced a strict salary cap and six new franchises to the league.

91)  Four one-seeds reach Final Four.
For the first time, March Madness produces four #1 seeds in its Final Four as North Carolina, Kansas, Memphis and UCLA all made it to San Antonio in 2008.  Not surprisingly, the attendance for the ’08 tournament was the highest in history.

90)  Texas upsets USC in Rose Bowl
Numbers one and two all season, Texas met USC in Pasadena for the national championship in the 2006 Rose Bowl.  Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush led an explosive USC offense, but Vince Young got the last laugh as Texas won 41-38.

89)  Thirteen pitchers throw no-hitters in 2000s
Hideo Nomo, A.J. Burnett, Bud Smith, Derek Lowe, Kevin Millwood, Randy Johnson, Anibal Sánchez, Mark Buehrle (2), Justin Verlander, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Carlos Zambrano and Jonathan Sánchez threw no hitters this decade.

88)  Jimmie Johnson wins AP male athlete of the year
In 2009, NASCAR racer Jimmie Johnson became the first racing athlete to ever win the AP Male Athlete of the Year Award.  Johnson won the Sprint Cup Series for the fourth consecutive year in 2009, and has been in the top five every year since 2002.

87)  Phillies become first franchise to lose 10,000
The Philadelphia Phillies became the first sports franchise to lose 10,000 games, losing number 10,000 on July 15, 2007.  Ironically, the Phillies weren’t losers that year – they won the NL East.  The Atlanta Braves have the second-most losses.

86)  Pacman Jones suspended for legal troubles
Adam “Pacman” Jones was arrested in 2005 for assault, in 2006 for disorderly conduct, and in 2007 for a shooting and drug deals, among other incidents.  The NFL suspended Pacman for a total of 22 games in the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

85)  Ravens win Super Bowl with stellar defense
The Ravens throttled the New York Giants 31-7 to win Super Bowl XXXV.  Baltimore proved it doesn’t need flash to win.  Trent Dilfer did just enough, and the defense dominated, allowing the fewest points and rush yards in a single season.

84)  Golden State shocks Dallas
The eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors defeated the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the first round of the 2007 NBA playoffs.  The Warriors, coached by former Dallas coach Don Nelson, were the first eight seed to win a best of seven series.

83)  Ohio State (#1) defeats rival Michigan (#2)
The 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated their hated rival Michigan Wolverines 42-39 in the last regular season game for both teams.  The matchup featured the rivalry with a #1 ranking, the Big Ten title and a national title berth on the line.

82)  Biggio records hit number 3,000
Craig Biggio, a 20-year veteran with the Houston Astros, recorded hit number 3,000 on July 28, 2007 against the Colorado Rockies.  Biggio was the 27th player to join the club.  Less than a month later, he announced he would retire.

81)  Titans advance with Music City Miracle
Down one with 16 seconds left, the Tennessee Titans used a throwback on a kickoff return to score a touchdown and beat the Buffalo Bills 22-16 in the 2000 Wild Card round.  Frank Wycheck threw laterally to Kevin Dyson, who took it 75 yards to win.

80)  Super Mario rescues Jayhawks with three pointer
Dead in the water through 38 minutes, the Kansas Jayhawks stage a dramatic comeback, helped by Memphis Tiger missed free throws, to win the 2008 national championship game.  Mario Chalmers’ three with two seconds left forced overtime.

79)  Tom Watson makes historic British open run
Tom Watson made a historic run at the British Open Championship in 2009.  The 59-year-old veteran led most of the tournament and had the gallery on his side, but three-putted the 72nd hole to fall into a playoff.  He lost to Stewart Cink.

78)  Lakers defeat Kings in epic seven-game series
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Sacramento Kings in seven games in the 2002 Western Conference Finals.  Robert Horry’s last-second three wins game four, Mike Bibby’s shot wins game five, and the Lakers take the last two of the dramatic series.

77)  Expos move to Washington
The Montreal Expos moved to Washington D.C. and became the Nationals after the 2004 season after 35 years in Canada.  Major League Baseball bought the team, and the league decided to make the move to the U.S.

76)  Detroit Lions go 0-16
The Detroit Lions made NFL history in a bad way in 2008-2009 by becoming the first NFL team to lose every game of a 16-game schedule.  Daunte Culpepper quarterbacked for most of the season, and Ron Marinelli coached the team.

75)  Rachel Alexandra wins Preakness
Racehorse Rachel Alexandra made history in 2009 by becoming the first Filly in 85 years to win the Preakness Stakes.  Alexandra actually won eight major races in 2008 and 2009, and has won nine races in a row.  She will race again in 2010.

74)  Rockies win 21 of 22 to make playoffs
One of the best stretches of baseball came in 2007.  The Colorado Rockies won 21 of 22 games, including a dramatic one-game playoff, to win the NL Wild Card.  They would sweep their way to the World Series before falling to Boston.

73)  Penguins get revenge on Wings to win Stanley Cup
One year after losing to the Detroit Red Wings in six, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2009, defeating the Wings in seven games.  Every team won on home ice through the first six, but Pittsburgh steals game seven in Detroit.

72)  Weinke becomes oldest player ever to win Heisman
After leading Florida State to two consecutive national championship games, Chris Weinke threw for 4,167 yards in his senior year and won the Heisman Trophy in 2000 at age 28.  Florida State went to its third straight national championship.

71)  Spurs continue decade’s best dynasty
Say what you want about the Lakers, the best NBA team this decade was San Antonio.  After winning its first championship to close the 1990s, the consistent Spurs tacked on three more this decade – in ’02-’03, ’04-’05, and ’06-’07.

70)  Yankees begin, close decade with championship
The New York Yankees won the Subway Series, beating the crosstown rival Mets in 2000.  The Bronx Bombers then went the rest of the decade without winning a title – an unusual feat for them – until beating the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009.

69)  McMahon’s XFL falls flat
In 2001, WWF owner Vince McMahon created the “Xtreme Football League.”  A league with custom-name jerseys and rules to “toughen” the game did not go over well, and the league failed after one season due to low TV ratings and attendance.

68)  Home teams win dramatic one-game playoffs
In 2007, the Colorado Rockies scored three runs in the bottom of the 13th to beat visiting San Diego 9-8.  In 2008, the Chicago White Sox rode a Jim Thome HR to a 1-0 win over Minnesota.  In 2009, Minnesota walked off in 12 to beat Detroit 6-5.

67)  Marlins win the World Series
No World Series winner was more unpredictable than Florida’s 2003 run.  After being in the NL East basement, they fired manager Jeff Torborg, replaced him with Jack McKeon, and shocked the Giants, Cubs and Yankees to win as a Wild Card.

66)  LeBron arrives in the NBA
The 2003 -2004 season was the first for LeBron James, the number one overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers straight out of high school.  James quickly became one of the most dominant players in the league, and has an MVP and a gold medal.

65)  Terrell Owens can’t stay in one place
Terrell Owens, one of the greatest wide receivers in the NFL, might be better known for his unwillingness to cooperate.  Owens left the San Francisco 49ers in 2003 and played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills.

64)  Florida wins back-to-back basketball titles
Lead by a superb frontcourt that included Joakim Noah and Al Hortford, the Florida Gators won back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007.  All five starters returned after the surprise first title to help lead the dominant Gators.

63)  Armstrong finishes third in return to Tour
After three years of not racing in the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong returned to professional cycling in 2009.  His goal was to “raise awareness of the global cancer burden.”  His third-place finish in the 2009 Tour was inspirational for many.

62)  Syracuse defeats UConn after six overtimes
In one of the most exciting college basketball games of all time, the Syracuse Orange defeated the Connecticut Huskies in the 2009 Big East quarterfinals.  Eric Devendorf’s shot was waved off at the end of regulation, setting the stage for 6 OTs.

61)  Steve McNair shot and killed
Among the tragic losses in 2009 was former NFL MVP Steve McNair, who was shot and killed by his mistress in a murder-suicide.  McNair played for the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens and was selected to the Pro Bowl three times.

60)  Schottenheimer fired after 14-2 season
The 2006-2007 San Diego Chargers went 14-2, but lost in the AFC divisional round to the New England Patriots.  Head coach Marty Schottenheimer was fired one month later.  The move puzzled many because of his success during the season.

59)  Zidane headbutts Materazzi
A bizarre scene took place during the 2006 World Cup final match when Zinedine Zidane, France’s best player, inexplicably head butted Italy’s Marco Materazzi in overtime.  Zidane was ejected, and Italy won the World Cup in a shootout.

58)  Celtics complete largest turnaround in NBA history
The 2006-2007 season was a terrible one for the 24-58 Boston Celtics.  But Danny Ainge traded for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, and the Celtics went 66-16 in ’07-’08, a 42 game improvement.  They beat the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

57)  Nadal overtakes Federer as world’s #1
Rafael Nadal sat number two behind Roger Federer for 158 weeks before taking the world’s number one ranking away from him in August 2008.  Nadal and Federer played each other four times that year, and Nadal won all four to help boost him.

56)  Boise State shocks Oklahoma in Fiesta Bowl
The undefeated Boise State Broncos defeated the favored Oklahoma Sooners with a bundle of trick plays in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.  A hook-and-ladder tied the game with seconds remaining, and a Statue-of-Liberty play won the game in overtime.

55)  Williams gets into legal trouble
In 2002, former NBA star Jayson Williams was on trial for the murder of a limousine driver, though the charge was reduced to manslaughter.  In February, he was Tasered after a violent hotel incident, and was arrested after a May bar fight.

54)  Mets blow seven game lead in September
One year after owning the best record in the National League, the 2007 Mets seemed poised to finish what they couldn’t in 2006.  But in the last 17 games of the season, the Mets blew a seven game lead, allowing the Phillies to win the NL East.

53)  Adrian Peterson sets single game rushing record
One of the greatest single-game performances in NFL history occurred on Nov. 4, 2007 when Adrian Peterson set the single-game rushing record with 295 rushing yards.  Corey Dillon ran for 278 in 2000, and Jamal Lewis ran for 295 in 2003.

52)  Ichiro comes to America, brings hit barrage
The Seattle Mariners signed Ichiro Suzuki, one of Japan’s most prolific hitters, in 2001.  He has 200+ hits in each of his first nine seasons, including an MLB-record 262 hits in 2004.  He already has 2,030 hits in his MLB career.

51)  Manning finally beats New England, wins a ring
Peyton Manning had not beat the Patriots in the playoffs.  But in the 2007 AFC Championship game, that all changed.  Manning’s Colts beat New England 38-34, overcoming an 18-point deficit, then beat Chicago 29-17 to win the Super Bowl.

50)  Pete Sampras retires
Tennis legend Pete Sampras officially announced retirement in August of 2003.  Sampras won 14 Grand Slam singles titles, which was a record until Federer broke it at the 2009 Wimbledon.  He was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007.

49)  Stallworth suspended for 2009 season following manslaughter
NFL wide receiver Donte Stallworth plead guilty to DUI and second degree manslaughter after killing a pedestrian while driving in 2009.  Stallworth served just 24 days in jail, but the NFL suspended him for the entire 2009 season.

48)  Michael Phelps’ behavior questionable
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps ran into trouble a few times.  In 2004, he was sentenced to 18 months probation for pleading guilty to driving under the influence.  In 2009, pictures were released showing Phelps smoking marijuana.

47)  Grady Little leaves Pedro in
With a 5-2 eighth inning lead in game seven of the 2003 ALCS against rival New York, Red Sox manager Grady Little decided to leave starter Pedro Martinez in the game following three straight hits.  Pedro blew the lead, and the Red Sox lost.

46)  Annika Sorenstam plays with the men
One of the most successful female golfers of all time, Annika Sorenstam may be best known for playing in the 2003 Bank of America Colonial – a men’s PGA Tour event.  She also won 10 LPGA majors and 72 tournaments overall, both records.

45)  Pat Tillman dies while serving in the Army
Pat Tillman, the former linebacker and safety for the Arizona Cardinals, left the team in 2002 to enlist in the U.S. Army after the attacks of 9/11.  Tillman died while serving his country in Afghanistan in 2004, supposedly by friendly fire.

44)  Roy Williams finally wins a national championship
The only thing that had eluded college coaching great Roy Williams was a national championship.  That finally came in 2005 as Williams’ North Carolina Tar Heels defeated Illinois in the championship.  Williams would win another title in 2009.

43)  Division 1-AA Appalachian State defeats Michigan
In 2007, Appalachian State defeated then #5 Michigan 34-32 in the ‘Big House’ in one of the biggest upsets in college football history.  The win was the first by an FCS team over a ranked FBS team, and led to FCS teams being eligible for the AP Poll.

42)  Cal Ripken Jr. retires
One of baseball’s most beloved players decided to call it quits in 2001 after 21 years in the league, all with the Baltimore Orioles.  Ripken hit a home run in the 2001 All-Star game and was named MVP of the game.  He has 3,184 lifetime hits.

41)  Phil Jackson returns as coach of Lakers
Phil Jackson left Chicago following Michael Jordan’s retirement, only to return one year later to open the decade as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.  The Lakers have won four NBA championships in Jackson’s nine years as coach, including 2009.

40)  Griffey has injury-ridden decade
After playing 11 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Ken Griffey Jr. was injured in each of his nine seasons with the Reds to open the decade.  Many think that the steroid-free slugger would have the most HRs of all time if not for the injuries.

39)  Players brawl with fans during NBA game
A disturbing scene took place during a Detroit Pistons home game against Indiana in 2004.  After a hard foul led to some pushing and shoving, fans sparked a brawl with Pacer players.  The NBA suspended nine players and two fans faced charges.

38)  Nick Saban leaves LSU for the NFL
Nick Saban spent the first five years of the decade at LSU, winning two BCS bowls and a national championship in 2003.  But when the Miami Dolphins offered him $5 million and control of all operations, Saban left, but went 15-17 in two seasons.

37)  Brett Favre retires, then unretires…twice
One of the greatest and most well-liked quarterbacks of all time called it quits in 2007, then returned with the Jets after Green Bay wouldn’t take him back.  After one season in New York, he retired again, only to come back with Minnesota.

36)  Kobe scores 81 points
Kobe Bryant had one of the greatest single-game performances of all-time on Jan. 22, 2006 against the Toronto Raptors when he scored 81 points.  Bryant shot 60 percent, making seven threes and scoring 55 of the 81 points in the second half.

35)  Serena Williams takes over women’s tennis
Williams became the #1 ranked tennis player for the first time in July of 2002, and has been ranked #1 five different times.  She had all four Grand Slam titles at once in 2002-2003, and has won 23 Grand Slams overall, including doubles.

34)  Tim Donaghy bet on games he officiated
One of the black stains of the NBA occurred when Tim Donaghy, an NBA referee from 1994-2007, pleaded guilty to betting on NBA games he officiated.  It was believed that he purposely miscalled games to affect point spreads and win his bets.

33)  Danica Patrick first woman to win a race
Patrick became the first woman to ever win a race when she won the Indy Japan 300 in 2008.  She started racing in the Indy Car Series in 2005, where she was named rookie of the year.  She is arguably the most influential female athlete.

32)  Michigan legend Bo Schembechler dies
Michigan coaching legend Bo Schembechler died in 2006, one day before the Wolverines took on rival Ohio State.  Schembechler coaches the Wolverines from 1969-1989, compiling a 234-65-8 overall record.  He also coached at Miami.

31)  New England becomes NFL team of the decade
A Drew Bledsoe injury made way for an unknown QB named Tom Brady in 2001.  Brady took New England to the Super Bowl, winning that and two more after that.  The Patriots seemed destined to win the 2002 Super Bowl following 9/11.

30)  Unlikely pair throw perfect games
Randy Johnson is considered to be one of the most dominant and powerful pitchers in baseball history, while Mark Buehrle is known better as a finesse, fast worker.  Both threw perfect games this decade – Johnson in 2004, Buehrle in 2009.

29)  Marion Jones admits to steroid use
Marion Jones, a dominant track and field athlete, was forced to forfeit her five gold medals from the 2000 Olympic games after admitting that she took steroids before the games.  Jones was sentenced to six months in jail, which she served in 2008.

28)  White Sox break 88-year drought
Lost in the losing streaks of the Cubs and Red Sox was the Chicago White Sox’ drought, which was actually longer than Boston’s.  The White Sox broke the streak by winning the World Series in 2005, highlighted by an 11-1 postseason.

27)  David Beckham signs with the L.A. Galaxy
David Beckham, one of the world’s top soccer players, left Real Madrid in 2007 to play soccer in the United States.  Beckham had hoped to boost the popularity of the sport in America, a country considered to be behind the curve with soccer talent.

26)  George Mason goes to the final four
Cinderella’s slipper fit the Patriots perfectly in 2006.  George Mason entered the NCAA men’s basketball tournament as a #11 seed and upset Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State and Connecticut before falling to Florida in the semifinals.

25)  Katrina forces New Orleans teams to relocate
The massive destruction Hurricane Katrina put on New Orleans in 2005 forced the city’s Hornets and Saints to relocate.  The Saints played home games in Baton Rouge and San Antonio, while the Hornets played two seasons in Oklahoma City.

24)  2006 Duke lacrosse scandal proved false
A North Carolina Central student accused three Duke lacrosse players of raping her.  Though the accusations were later deemed false, the scandal forced the cancellation of the rest of the season, and coach Mike Pressler resigned.

23)  NBA creates one and done rule
Prior to 2006, high school players were allowed to enter the NBA draft, so players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Garnett never went to college.  The new rule forced players like Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose to spend a year in school.

22)  NHL lockout cancels 2004-2005 season
A dispute between players and owners over salary issues, including a salary cap, caused the cancellation of the entire season.  It was the first time an entire pro sports season had been cancelled, but resulted in the new salary cap we have today.

21)  Steelers win record six Super Bowls
In 2005-2006, the Pittsburgh Steelers won their record-tying fifth Super Bowl under Bill Cowher as a #6 seed, beating Seattle 21-10.  Three years later, the Steelers would do it again, winning a 27-23 thriller over Arizona for the record.

20)  Tiger Woods scandal shakes golf
Tiger Woods, considered by many to be the greatest golfer of all time, was accused of having an affair with a nightclub manager.  The next day, he crashed his car, leading to media attention surrounding his personal life and family.

19)  Federer emerges as most dominant man in tennis
Roger Federer became the world’s number one ranked tennis player in 2004 and held that ranking for 237 consecutive weeks.  He briefly fell to #2, but regained the #1 ranking to close the decade.  He has 15 Grand Slam titles – the most all time.

18)  USA men’s basketball team slips at Worlds, Olympics
Loaded with a slew of NBA All-Stars, the USA men’s basketball team finishes sixth at the 2002 World Championships, then settles for bronze in the 2004 Olympics.  It’s the lowest finish by the team ever at Worlds and tied for lowest at the Olympics.

17)  ‘Iron Mike’ era ends with loss to Lewis
In one of the most publicized and highly anticipated fights in boxing history, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis tangled on June 8, 2002.  Lewis dominated, KOing Tyson in the eighth round.  Tyson would fight a few more times before finally retiring.

16)  Dale Earnhardt Sr. dies
A tragic final-lap crash at the 2001 Daytona 500 took the life of one of NASCAR’s all-time greats.  Earnhardt won 76 races and seven Winston Cup Series titles.  After Earnhardt’s death, NASCAR focuses on safety with safer cars and tracks.

15)  BCS creates controversy beginning in 2004
In 2004, the Auburn Tigers became the first undefeated BCS team to be left out of the BCS National Championship.  Utah went undefeated in 2004 and 2008, Boise ran the table in 2006 and 2009, and TCU and Cincinnati went undefeated in 2009.

14)  Kobe Bryant accused of rape
Arguably the best player in the NBA was accused of rape by a woman in Denver.  Bryant was acquitted of sexual assault charges but admitted committing adultery.  The golden boy of the NBA was no longer considered to be a role model by many.

13)  Bartman sparks big inning for opponents
In 2003, the die-hard Cubs fan took a would-have-been out away from Moises Alou, extending Luis Castillo’s at-bat in game six of the NLCS.  The Marlins, down 3-2 in the series and 3-0 in the game, won both.  The curse of the billy-goat lives on.

12)  Michael Vick indicted for dog fighting
Former overall number one draft pick Michael Vick, who two years earlier had led the Atlanta Falcons to the NFC championship, was indicted on dog fighting charges in July of 2007.  He would spend a year in prison before returning to the NFL in 2009.

11)  Team USA spectacular in 2002, not so much in 2006
Team USA soccer gave America a thrill in 2002, making it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup before eventually falling to Germany 1-0.  The Americans upset Portugal and Mexico along the way.  In 2006, they failed to win a game in the Cup.

10)  Jordan indecisive about retirement…again
After Michael Jordan had called it quits following his sixth NBA championship, the love of the game brought him back again.  Jordan played two seasons with the Washington Wizards before retiring. He was inducted into the hall of fame in 2009.

9)  Barry Bonds sets *HR records
In 2001, Barry Bonds broke Mark McGwire’s single season home run mark by belting 73 long balls.  Six years later, Bonds would pass Hank Aaron for most HRs all time with his 756th.  The authenticity of these records may forever be debated.

8)  Patriots go perfect, only to lose in Super Bowl XLIV
The New England Patriots had the perfect team and the perfect record.  They were the first team to ever finish a 16-game regular season unbeaten.  But the New York Giants had other plans.  Eli Manning and company upset New England 17-14.

7)  Sports goes on after 9/11
In a time when America could have caved and crumbled after the attacks of 9/11, the sports world did not.  The NFL postponed all games for week two, and the MLB postponed its games for three days.  But, like America, sports went on.

6)  Lance Armstrong wins seven straight Tour De France titles
American Lance Armstrong dominated cycling for years, winning the Tour De France the first six times in the decade, and seven dating back to 1999.  What may have been more remarkable about the streak was that he is a cancer survivor.

5)  Boston Red Sox end curse of the Babe
Because the Red Sox were so close for so many years, it almost appeared as though the curse of the Babe would never be broken.  But the rival Yankees set a perfect stage for a remarkable turnaround, blowing a 3-0 ALCS lead to the division rivals.

4)  Usain Bolt breaks sprinting world records
Perhaps no one dominates their sport the way Jamaican Usain Bolt dominates sprinting.  In Beijing in 2008, he won three golds and set three world records in the 100, 200 and 4×100.  A year later, he would break his own 100 and 200 records.

3)  Michael Phelps rakes in the gold
In the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, Phelps took six gold medals and two bronze medals – an incredible feat for a 19-year-old.  In Beijing in 2008, he was even more remarkable, breaking Mark Spitz’ record by winning eight golds.

2)  Diamondbacks beat Yankees in 2001 World Series
The Yankees tugged on America’s heartstrings in the first sports championship post-9/11.  New York, for the first time, were the good guys.  But after Pettitte got rocked and Rivera blew game seven, it was the cardiac ‘Backs who prevailed.

1)  Steroids forever change baseball
Nothing has changed the landscape of sports more than the recent steroid saga.  Players, records, teams and championships will forever have asterisks next to them thanks to the likes of McGwire, Sosa, Bonds, Palmeiro, Clemens and Rodriguez.

Bonus – What we didn’t see this decade:
- Triple Crown winner in horse racing
- Triple Crown winner in Major League Baseball
- Cubs winning the World Series
- True Grand Slam in golf
- Eagles winning the Super Bowl

Longhorn fans have holiday cheer

They say everything’s bigger in Texas. This holiday season, it’s true.

Being a Texas Longhorns sports fan could not be any sweeter. On Saturday, the #2 ranked volleyball team closed a tremendous season with a heartbreaking five-set loss to undefeated and three-time defending champion Penn State. Despite the loss, the ‘Horns finished 29-2 on the season.

For most schools, a runner-up finish in volleyball would be the highlight of the athletic year. But Texas isn’t most schools.  The football team is also playing for the national championship.  This ‘Horns team is also underdogs against a very good Alabama team, but don’t count them out just yet.  No one gave them a chance in 2005 before they shocked the world by beating USC to win the national championship.  The Trojans haven’t been back to the big game since.  And before I forget, it’s worth mentioning that this team has a player (Colt McCoy) who has finished in the top three in Heisman voting two straight years, and another player (Jordan Shipley) who just might be the best all-purpose player in the country.

Playing in the national championship in football is pretty cool.  But even if the ‘Horns drop the highly anticipated contest, they can fall back on their men’s basketball team, which also ranked…you guessed it…number two.  Until this week, the team hadn’t played anyone who will come within an earshot of making the NCAA tournament, but two double-digit victories against the two teams who played in the national championship game just nine months earlier has me convinced.  So what if they’ve only played two games outside the state.  This is the deepest team in the nation, and as long as they stay healthy, I think they can win a title in this sport too.  They don’t even need to win their own conference to earn a number one seed come March.

Speaking of March, that’s about the time when preseason baseball rankings will be released.  Expect the Longhorns to start number one in most polls.  In the meantime, look for the women’s basketball team to make a sweet sixteen run.  The lady Horns of the hardwood are ranked #17 nationally.  Are you a fan of swimming?  If so, check out the men’s swimming and diving team, currently ranked number one in the nation, or the women’s swimming and diving team, ranked number four.

Before this year is over, the Longhorn athletic department is going to have a lot of banners to hang, and possibly some trophies to polish.

Everything is bigger at Texas.  At least this year.

Picking all 34 bowl games

Bowl season gets underway Saturday with the first of 34 bowl games.  Damn, that’s 68 bowl bids.  I guess when a team loads up on FCS and Sun Belt teams in the nonconference, being bowl eligible doesn’t mean much.  But here we are anyway, and I’ll attempt to pick all 34, though I will likely only watch about half of them.

New Mexico Bowl – Fresno State vs Wyoming
Fresno finished strong with a dramatic overtime win over Illinois in Champaign.  A loaded schedule included losses to Wisconsin, Cincinnati and Boise State, but that should have them ready.  Props for Dave Christensen for getting Wyoming back to a bowl in his first season.
Pick:  Fresno State

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl – Central Florida vs Rutgers
When Rutgers lost by 32 at home to Cincinnati in week one, things weren’t looking good.  But the Scarlet Knights pulled it together and finished 8-4 in a surprisingly competitive Big East.  However, Central Florida basically has a home game here, and containing Tim Brown’s big play ability will be key.  Rutgers’ D ranks 99th.
Pick:  Central Florida

New Orleans Bowl – Southern Mississippi vs Middle Tennessee State
Sub Belt runner-up Middle Tennessee’s lone conference loss was to Troy, and 9-3 should be considered a success.  Al logic says pick the Blue Raiders, but I’m going against my logic on this.  Southern Mississippi had some heartbreaking losses against good teams, which will ultimately have them prepared for this game.
Pick:  Southern Mississippi

Las Vegas Bowl – Oregon State vs BYU
The Beavers were just a few plays away from playing Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.  Instead, they settle for Vegas and a great matchup with BYU.  The Beavers played five teams in the top 25, while the Cougars played just two.  Max Hall should have fun with the Beaver defense, but Oregon State will win a high-scoring game.
Pick:  Oregon State

Poinsettia Bowl – Utah vs California
Jahvid Best should be ready for this game, but how well he will do coming back from the concussion is unknown.  The Golden Bears, ranked as high as #6 earlier this year, fell after back to back blowout losses mid-season.  Utah’s defense is #20 in the country, while Cal ranks at #70.
Pick:  Utah

Sheraton Bowl – Nevada vs SMU
SMU will snap its 25 year bowl drought when it takes the field in Honolulu on Christmas Eve to play Nevada.  The Wolfpack got hot at the end of the season, winning eight of their final nine after an 0-3 start.  SMU will be happy to be here.  Nevada isn’t leaving without a win.
Pick:  Nevada

Little Caesars Bowl – Marshall vs Ohio
One of only two bowls north of the Mason Dixon line takes place in Detroit between two virtually equal teams.  Marshall is 6-6 but has played a tougher schedule.  Ohio is 9-4 after a MAC Championship loss to Central Michigan.  Ohio did play Tennessee and UConn tough.
Pick:  Ohio

Meineke Car Care Bowl – Pittsburgh vs North Carolina
Like Oregon State, Pittsburgh has to be crushed knowing that an Orange Bowl date with Georgia Tech was probably one or two plays away.  After a heartbreaking loss to Cincinnati, the Panthers settle for a “neutral” site game in Charlotte with the Heels.  Carolina’s defense will keep it close, but the ‘Heels just can’t score.
Pick:  Pittsburgh

Emerald Bowl – Boston College vs USC
I’m really entertained to see what the line on this game will turn out to be.  Right now it’s USC -9, and I’ll take the Trojans to cover.  Boston College has a terrible offense, and USC’s defense can be good despite some poor games.  This is a weird bowl to see USC playing in, and you know they are peeved about it.  Watch out BC.
Pick:  USC

Music City Bowl – Kentucky vs Clemson
Clemson, suffering from the Pitt/Oregon State virus, will have to watch their team take on a -not-as-good-as-their-record Kentucky team.  I’ve thought the ‘Cats were overrated all year, and Clemson has a chance to prove me right.  Kentucky’s rush D is ranked #100.  C.J. Spiller will have a field day.
Pick:  Clemson

Independence Bowl – Texas A&M vs Georgia
The interesting matchup here is Georgia’s fairly good defense against Texas A&M’s explosive offense.  The Aggies lit up Texas’ third ranked D and can do it again when they play the Bulldogs.  But the Aggie defense is awful, and Georgia should have its chances to score as well.
Pick:  Georgia

EagleBank Bowl – UCLA vs Temple
Games like this are the toughest to pick.  UCLA is 6-6, but with the #11 schedule in the nation.  Temple is 9-3, but had the sixth easiest schedule.  UCLA’s offense is ranked #88.  Temple’s is #89.  UCLA’s defense is #39, Temple’s is #37.  I’ll take the Bruins because of the schedule.
Pick:  UCLA

Champs Sports Bowl – Miami vs Wisconsin
Another game with no distinct advantage is a good one which features two 9-3 teams.  Wisconsin’s loss to Northwestern cost them their shot at a New Year’s Day bowl game despite a better overall record than the Wildcats.  Jacory Harris will make enough plays to push the ‘Canes to victory in their home state.
Pick:  Miami

Humanitarian Bowl – Bowling Green vs Idaho
Idaho fans were on a roller coaster early this season with the team’s 6-1 start.  But that vanished after the Vandals lost four of their final five, and they limp into Boise, where they lost on the same field by 38.  This time, Tyler Sheehan and Bowling Green are the opponents.  Limiting Sheehan’s big plays will be key for Idaho.
Pick:  Idaho

Holiday Bowl – Arizona vs Nebraska
Geographically, Arizona has the edge, but Husker fans will travel to watch their near Big 12 champions play.  Both defenses are really good, which is why I think 17 points may be enough.  The difference is that Arizona can score, and has, against good teams.  The Huskers haven’t shown consistent offense all season.
Pick:  Arizona

Armed Forces Bowl – Houston vs Air Force
The Armed Forces have their team, the Falcons, in this game.  Awaiting the Falcons is the #1 offense in the nation – the Houston Cougars.  Case Keenum and James Cleveland will be faced with its toughest task of the season with the Falcons’ #10 defense.  It’s Keenum’s chance to prove he deserved an invite to New York.
Pick:  Houston

Sun Bowl – Oklahoma vs Stanford
How about this high-profile matchup?  Last year, the final score of the Sun Bowl was 3-0.  This year Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart and the Cardinal will need more than that to beat the Sooners.  Gerhart will look to add to his nation-best 26 touchdowns against the seventh ranked Sooner rush defense.
Pick:  Stanford

Texas Bowl – Navy vs Missouri
Missouri became the first team in college football history to scout its bowl opponent in a live game, as the Army/Navy game took place after the bowl selection process.  It’s Navy’s fourth ranked rush attack vs Missouri’s #12 rush defense.  Navy’s only chance is if they can find a way to pass.
Pick:  Missouri

Insight Bowl – Minnesota vs Iowa State
The Insight Bowl took the Cyclones, who are bowling for the first time since 2001.  That decision makes for a good game.  Neither team’s offense or defense is any good, but the Gophers at least have a respectable defense.  Iowa State can’t stop anyone.
Pick:  Minnesota

Chick-fil-A Bowl – Virginia Tech vs Tennessee
Here’s a game that I don’t think will be close.  Virginia Tech has an outstanding defense, and Tennessee doesn’t do much to move the ball.  The Vols defense may keep it respectable for a while, but eventually Virginia Tech, who was ranked as high as number four even after the ‘Bama loss, will pull away.
Pick:  Virginia Tech

Outback Bowl – Northwestern vs Auburn
Would you believe me if I told you Auburn has played seven top 30 teams?  That’s right, seven.  The Tigers won three of those games, but it’s more about the fact that they played those games that has them prepared for this New Year’s Day dandy.  Northwestern played well at the end of the year and won’t go down without a fight.
Pick:  Auburn

Capital One Bowl – Penn State vs LSU
The best bowl game of the season is in Orlando.  LSU played Florida and Alabama tough, but Penn State will be a monstrous challenge as well.  The Lions’ D is eighth best in the country, and LSU has the twelfth worst offense in the nation.  It’s going to be tough for the Tigers to score.
Pick:  Penn State

Gator Bowl – West Virginia vs Florida State
How ironic is it that Bobby Bowden’s last game is against the team he used to coach?  As fun as the Bowden storyline should be, the Seminoles have no business being in this game.  Other ACC schools (Clemson, Miami) have to be peeved about the ‘Noles getting the Gator bid.
Pick:  West Virginia

International Bowl – South Florida vs Northern Illinois
Sophomore quarterback Chandler Harnish has been very efficient for Northern Illinois, but they haven’t played a team nearly as good as South Florida since a week one loss to Wisconsin.  The Bulls played tough in a good Big East conference.  The only bowl not played in the U.S. should be a fun one.
Pick:  South Florida

Papajohns.com Bowl – South Carolina vs Connecticut
Middle-of-the-pack teams clash in the only bowl named for a pizza.  UConn lost all five games by four points or fewer, which is quite unbelievable when you think about it.  A few bounces going the other way could make this team 12-0.  Four of South Carolina’s five losses came by double digits.
Pick:  Connecticut

Cotton Bowl – Oklahoma State vs Mississippi
Both of these teams started the season in the top 10 and had national championship aspirations.  Jevan Snead was supposed to win the Heisman and go #1.  Zac Robinson, Kendall Hunter and Dez Bryant were supposed to combine to form the best offense in the country.  This is a game of disappointment.
Pick:  Mississippi

Liberty Bowl – Arkansas vs East Carolina
The Pirates were awfully impressive in capturing their second straight Conference USA championship by knocking off Houston.  Their reward is a date with Arkansas.  Ryan Mallett had a heck of a year that went unnoticed because the Hogs lost five games.
Pick:  Arkansas

Alamo Bowl – Michigan State vs Texas Tech
Everyone knew this would be a down year for Texas Tech following the losses of Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, but 8-4 is surprisingly respectable for the Red Raiders.  First year starter Taylor Potts threw for more than 3,000 yards, and he’ll have another big game against the Spartans.
Pick:  Texas Tech

GMAC Bowl – Central Michigan vs Troy
Central Michigan’s turnaround led to a MAC championship.  Now Butch Jones is bolting for Cincinnati to fill the void left by Brian Kelly.  Coach or no coach, the Chippewas should have no trouble moving the ball at will against Troy.  Troy has the offense to keep it close, so look for a high-scoring game.
Pick:  Central Michigan

Rose Bowl – Ohio State vs Oregon
Jeremiah Masoli and the Ducks could have folded after losing to Boise State to open the season.  Instead, the Ducks won 10 of 11, dethroned USC to win the Pac 10, and earned a Rose Bowl berth.  Ohio State is on the other end, making this the best BCS game on this year’s slate.
Pick:  Oregon

Sugar Bowl – Cincinnati vs Florida
Tim Tebow lost the game he wanted to win more than anything.  Now he plays his last college game against a team without a coach.  Cincinnati has scored a lot of points on a lot of people, but they haven’t faced a defense like Florida’s.  Tebow won’t let the Gators lose this one.
Pick:  Florida

Fiesta Bowl – Boise State vs TCU
We can talk all we want about the fact that these are two non-BCS teams playing each other, or about them both being undefeated, or about them playing in the national championship game.  But the matchup is what it is, and it should be entertaining.  TCU won last year, and they’ll repeat this year.
Pick:  TCU

Orange Bowl – Iowa vs Georgia Tech
The Hawkeyes were an overtime loss away from winning the Big Ten, but they’ll take their first BCS bowl game since the era began.  Awaiting Iowa and its #11 defense is Georgia Tech’s second ranked rush offense, led by Jonathan Dwyer and Josh Nesbitt.
Pick:  Georgia Tech

BCS National Championship – Alabama vs Texas
Which Texas team will show up?  The Horns that blew out Okie State in Stillwater?  It better be.  The team that “beat” Nebraska?  Stay home.  We know the Tide and Heisman winner Mark Ingram will be there.  Both teams have good enough defenses to keep from getting blown out.  Bottom line: roll Tide.
Pick:  Alabama

Five must-see bowls, five snoozers

The 2009-2010 bowl season is sure to produce some interesting storylines, even if the games may not be great.  In the Sugar Bowl, a top five offense will clash with a top five defense.  In Dallas, a Cotton Bowl matchup features two teams with explosive offenses who both have to feel disappointed to be in that game.  The day after Christmas, USC will play a bowl game.  Six days later, Bobby Bowden will coach his final game, against his former team.  Three days after that, two non-BCS schools will meet in a BCS bowl.

Here, I give you five bowls to watch even if it means skipping work or family reunions, and five bowls with which you can hit the snooze button.

Sleep through…

5)  Chick-fil-A Bowl:  When Virginia Tech meets Tennessee on New Year’s Eve, things will get ugly.  The Hokies have to consider this season a disappointment, yet they have a chance for another 10-win season under Frank Beamer.  The Hokie defense will make life miserable for a vanilla Tennessee offense and should win comfortably.  Alternative suggestion: start your New Year’s Eve plans early.

4)  Fiesta Bowl: Is the BCS really this scared?  Two of the past three years, a BCS buster has knocked off a powerhouse.  So logically, the BCS puts its two undefeated busters up against each other as to not ruin this system by having another Oklahoma or Alabama fall in the spotlight.  I thought the point of these teams making it to a BCS game was to see how they matched up with BCS schools.  Now we’ll never know.  Alternative suggestion: rewind time and put TCU up against Georgia Tech and Iowa against Boise State.

3)  Texas Bowl: Navy still has one more game to play, meaning they lose two weeks of preparation on Missouri, whom they will play on New Year’s Eve in Houston.  Not only that, but Navy can’t throw the ball.  In fact, they won a game this year in which they didn’t even attempt a pass.  If they try to run, Missouri will stuff it (12th in the nation against the run).  If they try to throw, they will be out of their element.  On the other side, the Tigers have scored at least 32 points in five straight games.  It won’t be close.  Alternative suggestion: see Chick-fil-A Bowl suggestion.

2)  Gator Bowl: That’s really nice of the Gator Bowl to invite Bobby Bowden to play his last game there.  So cute.  Too bad the whole nation will be watching a different 1 p.m. New Year’s Day bowl instead.  Bowden and Florida State do not belong in this game after a .500 finish.  Not only that, but they are going up against a talented West Virginia team which ended the season with wins over Pitt and Rutgers, and a near shocker in Cincinnati.  The ‘Noles don’t have a defense, and West Virginia will exploit that early and often.  Alternative suggestion: watch ABC (see below for why).

1)  Emerald Bowl: Yes, the most boring yet comedic thing to watch will be Boston College trying to move the ball on USC’s defense.  Despite the Trojans’ struggles this season, the defense has been relatively stable against bad offenses, and Boston College’s is ranked 97th in the country.  Give Pete Carroll a month to prepare for anyone, and they’re in trouble.  The Eagles don’t have a chance, especially in San Francisco.  Alternative suggestion: leave one Christmas present unopened so you have something to look forward to the next day.

Must-see games

5)  Holiday Bowl: What a dandy this will be.  Heisman candidate Ndamukong Suh and the ninth ranked Nebraska defense faces a top 20 defense in Arizona.  Normally I like Nebraska in this game, but the game being in San Diego neutralizes things.  Arizona is riding high after winning at USC, and Nebraska is feeling good about their “win” against Texas.  Double digits may be enough to win this game.

4)  Rose Bowl: The best BCS matchup features the perennial Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes and…someone other than USC.  This alone makes it a must watch, but considering it’s the Ducks, a team that got white-hot after an opening night loss to Boise State, it should be a classic.  Terrelle Pryor and Jeremiah Masoli should set off plenty of fireworks.

3)  Las Vegas Bowl: It’s amazing that a team can go from playing on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl to playing in a bowl on Dec. 22.  But that’s exactly what happened to the Oregon State Beavers after a heartbreaking loss in Eugene Thursday night.  In comes BYU, a team with lofty expectations before being trampled at home by Florida State, then TCU.  And if there’s anyone who can take apart the Beavers, it’s underrated senior quarterback Max Hall, who is ahead of Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow and Kellen Moore in passing yards per game despite fewer passing attempts.  Buckle up for an offensive explosion.

2)  Poinsettia Bowl: Ironically, last year’s Poinsettia Bowl featured Boise State and TCU, with a final scored of 17-16.  This year the San Diego bowl game should be equally entertaining.  Two teams ranked in the preseason top 25 meet, and this will be about Utah’s defense trying to stop California’s Jahvid Best, who will be returning from a concussion suffered last month.  Both teams are out to prove that early season losses were a fluke.

1)  Capital One Bowl: The best bowl game of the season takes place in Orlando on New Year’s Day.  LSU will face Penn State, and if you recall, things were looking up for these teams in November.  Penn State had Ohio State coming to Happy Valley for the conference championship, while LSU actually held a lead on Alabama.  Neither team came through though, and wind up here instead.  The key to this game is LSU’s defense.  They must hold Penn State down, because the Tiger offense, ranked #108 in the country, won’t have a lot of opportunities against Penn State’s eighth ranked defense.

USC loss creates chaos for BCS

When the smoke had cleared in the Coliseum Saturday, all that remained was the remnants of a 55-21 thrashing USC took at the hands of upstart Stanford.  Two years ago, Stanford pulled off one of the biggest upsets of all time with a 24-23 win that spoiled USC’s national title hopes.  This time, Stanford’s win spoiled the Trojans’ BCS hopes.

And who gains as a result of USC’s loss?  That would be the Big East.  More importantly the loser of the Dec. 5 showdown between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.  Now that USC has lost again, the loser of that game could still make it to a BCS bowl, especially if that loser is the Bearcats.

Cincinnati is in a position where even a loss to Pitt won’t mean exclusion from the BCS.  They would still be 11-1 and likely in the top 10 in the BCS rankings.  As we learned in 2007, the BCS bowl committee favors one loss teams over strength of schedule, so Penn State and Iowa won’t have much of an argument even if both schools finish 10-2.

If the Panthers lose to the Bearcats, things really get interesting.  The Panthers, as well as a trio of Big Ten non-conference champions (Penn State, Iowa and Wisconsin) and Oklahoma State would all be 10-2.  That’s five teams fighting for one spot.

- First, the committee should determine the best of the Big Ten schools.  Iowa should get the nod because they beat both Penn State and Wisconsin, and took Ohio State to overtime in the Shoe without their starting quarterback.  That leaves Iowa, Oklahoma State and Pittsburgh.

- From here, strength of schedule plays a role, but the committee will also look at which teams’ fans travel the best and which are most marketable.  Iowa probably has the advantage in terms of being marketable and traveling well, followed by Oklahoma State and Pittsburgh.  However, Pittsburgh would likely end up playing the most difficult schedule by season’s end.  Their schedule is ranked 57 by the computers right now, but will go up after games against West Virginia and Cincinnati to close the year.  Oklahoma State has the weakest SOS at 60.  Iowa is 33, but with a game against Minnesota remaining, which will deflate the ranking

It will be tough for the committee to call this one.  I can see them taking Iowa because they have been historically kind to the Big Ten.  Iowa has been arguably the surprise team of the year, and they do have quality wins over Penn State, Wisconsin and Arizona.  However, Pittsburgh, again, will probably have the toughest strength of schedule, and more than half of their conference contains teams with three or fewer losses.  That’s quite an argument as well.  Here’s how I see it playing out:

Sugar Bowl:  Alabama vs Cincinnati – The SEC runner-up playing the Big East runner-up.  Both teams will be in the top 10 despite losing their respective final games.

Orange Bowl:  Georgia Tech vs Pittsburgh - The ACC champion against the Big East champion.

Fiesta Bowl:  TCU vs Boise State – Both teams will be automatic qualifiers because they will be in the top eight.  The BCS…and the nation…wants to see this game.

Rose Bowl:  Oregon vs Ohio State – The traditional Big Ten champion against Pac 10 champion game.

BCS National Championship:  Florida vs Texas – The BCS #1 against the BCS #2.

Football rankings and bowl projections

There goes Iowa.  One week after I touted the Big Ten cinderella story, they lose their trap game to Northwestern.  The Hawkeyes can’t play for a national championship now, and will likely lose out on a BCS game after Ohio State punishes them this week.  Hawkeye fans can say it was because Ricky Stanzi got hurt.  I can fire back by saying he’s played mediocre at best this year.  Northwestern was able to stop an offense not known for its quarterback play, so how big a loss was Stanzi?  The point is, Iowa is now in a must-win situation against Ohio State in Columbus if they want a BCS game.  Otherwise it’s likely back to the Outback Bowl for the Hawkeyes.

Speaking of bowls, it’s time for me to make my first BCS bowl projections, so that will follow my rankings.

1)  Alabama Crimson Tide (9-0) – Every week they seem like they play a big game, and every week they win.  The schedule has been brutal, yet they are unbeaten.  They outgained LSU by 199 yards and had 11 more first downs.

2)  Florida Gators (9-0) – It’s official.  With their wins this weekend, the Gators and Tide have secured trips to the SEC championship game.  Florida did it with their usual defense, holding Vanderbilt to under 200 yards of total offense.

3)  Texas Longhorns (9-0) – The past few weeks, the Longhorns have looked more like themselves, holding their past three opponents to a combined 17 points.  The offense is revamped, and Jordan Shipley was simply amazing against UCF.

4)  Cincinnati Bearcats (9-0) – Is there a quarterback controversy in Cincinnati?  Because there should be.  Since Tony Pike’s injury, backup Zach Corallos is 79-89 with 1,100 and eight touchdown passes.  West Virginia is next.

5)  Boise State Broncos (9-0) - The Broncos aren’t impressing the BCS with their margins of victory, and it happened to them again Tuesday.  With the rise of TCU, Ohio State, Georgia Tech and USC, Boise may not see a BCS game without help.

6)  TCU Horned Frogs (9-0) – Here’s another team with a lot to prove over the past few weeks, and boy have they stepped up.  They’ve won their past four games by scores of 38, 31, 41 and 43 points.  They are getting closer to Boise every week.

7)  Iowa Hawkeyes (9-1) – The Northwestern loss was bad, but this team still has nine wins with two games to go and can earn a Rose Bowl date against Oregon with a win over the Buckeyes in Columbus.  But the last time that happened?  1959.

8)  Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-1) – Surprisingly, it’s Georgia Tech, not Miami or Virginia Tech, that has taken control of a competitive Coastal division.  The Jackets needed overtime to knock off Wake Forest despite 412 rushing yards.

9)  Pittsburgh Panthers (8-1) – This may be the quietest team in the nation.  But Pitt is 8-1, 5-0 in the Big East and have their eyes on an Orange Bowl berth.  Two tough games stand between them and the showdown with Cincinnati on Dec. 5.

10)  Houston Cougars (8-1) – It’s hard to talk about the Cougars without bringing up Case Keenum.  He already has more than 3,800 yards to go with his 28 touchdown passes.  And his team is 8-1.  He’s got my vote for Heisman.

11)  LSU Tigers (7-2) – LSU’s two losses are to Florida and Alabama, so how far can they really drop?  They put up a good fight against both teams, but didn’t have the offense to make the plays at the end to win either game.

12)  Oregon Ducks (7-2) – Well on their way to the Rose Bowl, Oregon stumbled back into the Pac 10.  We’ve seen this before.  A team beats USC, then stumbles, allowing the Trojans to win the conference.  See 2008.  Or 2007.

13)  Miami Hurricanes (7-2) – The ‘Canes are this high because of the wins against Oklahoma and Georgia Tech, even if the Virginia Tech loss looks worse now.  A contending Virginia team came into Coral Gables and got embarrassed by 35.

14)  USC Trojans (7-2) – Pete Carroll’s defense gave up 27 against Notre Dame, 36 against Oregon State and 47 against Oregon.  When the defense does play well, as it did against Arizona State the offense doesn’t show up.  They’re inconsistent.

15)  Ohio State Buckeyes (7-2) – Amazingly, this team is once again in the driver’s seat for a conference title.  The Iowa loss didn’t matter, but a huge win in Happy Valley sure did.  The Buckeyes racked up 228 rushing yards in the win.

16)  Penn State Nittany Lions (7-2) – Penn State’s two losses have come to Ohio State and Iowa, and they didn’t play Wisconsin this year.  That means their best win is at Northwestern.  Their offense looks lost when they play good defenses.

17)  Utah Utes (8-1) – After an early season loss to Oregon, Utah has battled their way back by beating up on the bottom of the Mountain West.  Now they take their 5-0 conference record to Fort Worth, where an upset gives them the conference.

18)  Oklahoma State Cowboys (7-2) - I can’t get behind a team that gave up 45 and 41 points to the only two ranked teams they’ve played all season.  It’s pretty sad that Dez Bryant is still the second leading receiver on this team.

19)  Arizona Wildcats (6-2) – Guess who can go to the Rose Bowl by winning its next four games? Yep. Arizona is a half game back in the Pac 10. To win four straight though, the ‘Cats need wins at Cal, against Oregon, at Arizona State and at USC.

20)  Wisconsin Badgers (7-2) – Living on the edge is working this year for Wisconsin.  Five of their seven wins have come by one possession, and their two losses came to the teams playing for the conference championship Saturday.

21)  South Florida Bulls (6-2) - The Bulls have two losses – to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.  Other than that they are 6-0.  B.J. Daniels and Moise Plancher are combining to average more than five yards per carry.  They go to Rutgers Thursday.

22)  West Virginia Mountaineers (7-2) - West Virginia has shown signs that they are a good team, but haven’t played consistent enough.  To win the Big East they’ll need November wins over Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, starting Friday in Ohio.

23)  BYU Cougars (7-2) – BYU bounced back from a tough loss to TCU with a 52-0 smacking of Wyoming.  Max Hall threw four touchdown passes for the Cougars, who now need a win over Utah and some help to claim the Mountain West.

24)  Auburn Tigers (7-3) – Give credit to Gene Chizik for coming in and turning this program around.  In his first year, he has knocked off West Virginia, Mississippi and Tennessee.  Two tough games remain with Georgia and Alabama left.

25)  Stanford Cardinal (6-3) – Stanford had a great win over a red-hot Oregon team Saturday.  They racked up more than 500 yards of offense and put up 51 on the Ducks.  They go to USC Saturday, and we all remember how the last trip there went.

BCS Bowl Projections

Rose Bowl – Oregon vs Ohio State
Fiesta Bowl – Boise State vs TCU
Orange Bowl – Georgia Tech vs Pittsburgh
Sugar Bowl – Alabama vs USC
National Championship – Florida vs Texas