Today's Picks

62-62. Ugh. Today I iike Marshall laying 5 against UConn, am passing on the Sun Bowl, Washington -8 against Southern Miss, Duke +3 versus IU and, in a late switch, Tulse plus 14 in Frank Beamer's finale with Va Tech.

Saturday's Picks

Well I teeter on the .500 fence at 60-59. Hopefully I will not face plant ala Humpty Dumpty. The opening game pits Arizona and New Mexico playing in Albuquerque and I like the Lobos getting 7.5. Arizona has injuries, a poor bowl record and will not be into this game or opponent. I would take New Mexico on the money line. I am taking BYU +2.5 against Utah in Las Vegas but I disagree that the Cougars have a motivational edge. Both teams hate the other and will get fired up for a rivalry. I just think the teams are even. I like Appy State -7.5 in Montgomery, Alabama against Ohio. I think they win by double digits. I am taking 6-6 Georgia State +1 against 5-7 San Jose State in the cure Bol but do not want to talk about it much less see it. Finally ilike Louisiana Tech -2 against Arkansas State in New Orleans in what promises to be a shootout. Enjoy

Heisman Trophy Prediction

Well the player I would have voted for, Florida State back Dalvin Cook, did not even make the cut for New York City. Oh well. Of the remaining three, Stanford's Christian McCaffrey, Clemson's Deshaun Watson and Alabama's Derrick Henry, I would pick Watson as he elevates that team to championship contender. My prediction on who will win is different, however, as I believe Henry will take home the trophy as he did the Maxwell.

Today's Picks

The major intrigue today is whether I can remain over .500. Oh and some conference championships and bowl playoff spots are up for grabs. I stand at 57-55. I like Baylor -21.5, Conference USA Title Game over 74.5, Houston -5.5, Alabama -17.5, KSU +5.5, UNC +4.5 and Iowa +3.5. Good luck.

MAC Title Game

Once again the MAC title game will feature Northern Illinois and Bowling Green and hopefully we will get the nail-biter us fans of the conference deserve. Last year Northern won this same match-up 51-17, while Bowling Green won by 20 the year before. Unfortunately Huskies QB Drew Hare was lost for the season with a leg injury and frosh Tommy Fielder will start. He has only appeared in one game,completing 9-17 for 113y in last week's loss to Ohio. The Falcons counter with stud QB Matt Johnson, who threw for 4465y this year with 41 TDs. Northern will not keep up, unfortunately, against a Bowling Green attack that can score. The Falcons will also will be inspired by last year's big loss. Pick: Bowling Green -13.5

Coaching Changes Part One

I am glad that Frank Beamer is leaving Virginia Tech with another bowl game. No one knew where that campus was when he was hired and now it is a premium job. Great hire with Fuente and staff retentions. Now he needs to find and develop a QB as good as Paxton Lynch. Meanwhile I am not a big fan of USC retaining Clay Helton. What has he done to deserve that job? He has had loads of talent there as an offensive coordinator and the Trojans never sniff the top ten in statistics. Nobody knows him nationally and while there is plenty of talent in California it helps to pull the occasional stud from New Jersey or Florida or wherever. There will be plenty of other moves this week.

Today's Picks

My season record is 54-49. I need to improve on that. Today I like Michigan even, Penn State +11, ECU even, Temple -12, South Carolina +17, UCLA +3.5, Oklahoma State +7, Minnesota +2.5. Good luck.

Remaining Contenders for College Football Playoffs

Well here we go. If Thanksgiving shopping is done then college football's regular season must be winding down. Yet there are still so many crucial battles to be played, both this weekend and next, that we have quite a few teams with a realistic shot at making the playoffs. All of the non power five conference teams are out since none of them ar undefeated. Notre Dame is still alive but must win at Stanford Saturday night. Of the power five conferences, the Pac 12 has been eliminated as its champion, either Stanford, UCLA or USC, would have too many losses. The ACC has the current front runner in Clemson and if they beat South Carolina and then North Carolina in the ACC championship game then they will sew up the number one seed. Should they lose this weekend then that would probably, but not definitely, set up a showdown with the Tar Heels for one spot. The Big Ten seems to have a spot sewn up too unless Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State all lose this weekend. That's not impossible but unlikely. Realistically those teams are playing for one spot in the final four. Alabama seems to have a spot but must win over mismatched rival Auburn and then underwhelming SEC East champ Florida. If florida sweeps FSU and then Alabama they'll probably grab a spot. The Big 12 is the mystery conference as they could be out again this year if OU loses to Okie State. I feel that the Big 12 is fighting Notre Dame for one spot as the committee will not want two teams in the final four that did not have to play a conference championship game. Let's play some ball.

Today's Picks

Please excuse my silence but busy with a college football doc. I am down to 47-44 so I need a big week. Here goes: Indiana +13.5, Memphis-Houston over 71, OSU-15.5, WSU +8.5, Notre Dame -26.5, UNC-13, Navy-21.5, ISU +13.5, Baylor -2.5, South Carolina +8, Stanford -10, Minny +11.5

Today's Picks

Now I sit at 43-36. It is time to make some hay. Today i like Purdue +7.5, NC State +10, Iowa -17, Auburn +7, CSU +3.5, Georgia +2, Cal +4.5, Temple +11, Texas Tech +2.5, Houston -12, Duke -13 and Minnesota +13. Good luck.

Jerry Kill Retires

There is more sad news to report as Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill, who has battled epilepsy for 10 years, has been forced to retire as his health has worsened. Although he has fought the good fight in trying to maintain his health and lead a major college football program, he can no longer do that and with a heavy heart has had to move on. Kill has don an excellent job at Minnesota and leaves with his head held high. The program is in excellent shape and interim had coach, Tracy Claeys, a long-time Kill assistant, is 4-3 in this role in replacing Kill before when his seizures got the best of him. This time Kill is not returning and the program has to decide whether to keep the current staff or go in a new direction. The second half of the season will go along way toward determining that and a quality game against the next opponent, Michigan, will help. More than the usual number of people will be rooting for them.

Tragedy at Oklahoma State Overshadows Football

There is a lot to talk about with Oklahoma State and Big 12 football. The Cowboys are undefeated and one of four conference teams ranked in the top 25 of the AP Poll. But none of that means much, today, for the families of those killed or injured Saturday at the homecoming parade. The focus is on them,as it should be, and we can all get back to football at a later date.

Today's Picks

Okay, now at 38-30. Time to do well despite a dull lineup. I'll take Utah +3.5, A&M +5, Northwestern +7, Wisconsin -6, Duke +3, UCF +22, PSU -6.5, BC +7.5, South Florida -13, FSU -7, W. Kentucky +15 Have fun

Situation at Louisville Basketball

I do not mean to belittle the hookers-for-recruit story coming out of Louisville, but I find it odd that this is such a big story. For decades recruits were wooed with women and everyone knew that it was going on but no one cared. For some reason the use of coeds to sleep with potential game changers for basketball and football is okay but when Louisville decides to use professionals they get caught. On the assumption that these women are more likely to be checked for STDs than a typical college student willing to sleep with players for the good of the program, it really is the proper way to go about this. And if anything, the use of actual students is worse because some players get the impression that if they commit then they will continue the relationship with that particular student (and sometimes they do). Anyway, Louisville is embarrassed and that to me is enough as this is a really tough broken law to investigate nationally.

Today's Picks

Okay, so now I am at 31-27 and ready to push that record back up. Louisiana Tech +12.5 at Miss State Florida +7 at LSU Nebraska +3 at Minny Kansas State +4 hosting OU Pitt +3.5 at GTech MSU +7 at Michigan Rutgers +5.5 at IU South Carolina -2 hosting Vandy FSU -7 hosting Louisville PSU +17.5 at OSU Good luck.

Epic Catch

It was on late last night here in the East but the catch made last night by Stanford WR Francis Owasu is worthy of the media overkill reserved for the best of individual plays. When I saw it live I could only make out that UCLA DB Jaleel Wadood ran over the receiver in the end zone. That Owasu somehow ended up possessing the ball for the TD, catching it with his arms around the Bruins' back and then holding on while they both tumbled to the ground, was amazing. Look we have all become jaded with a weekly barrage of exceptional catches. The combination of extreme athleticism and those gloves have made the seemingly impossible possible. But some catches should be elevated above the others and this is one. And by the way, Stanford won 56-35.

Tonight's Pick

Man i need a win bad. Now 30-27, having seemingly lost 27 in a row. Tonight I am confident that Stanford will cover laying 6.5 against UCLA. The Bruins will find it difficult to run the ball and are still trying to replace stars on defense.

ACC Update

Roughly midway through the college football season and Clemson and Florida State appear to be, once again, the cream of the ACC. They do not meet until November 7 however but each host interesting opponents this Saturday. FSU hosts a Louisville team that has lost three games but that was against a tough schedule. The Cardinals can score points and it will be interesting to see them against a Noles defense that has generally bent but not broken this season. Louisville must find a way to contain back Dalvin Cook and force QB Everett Golson into obvious passing situations. That's easier said then done. On offense the visitors will rely on freshman QB Lamar Jackson and his rushing ability against an athletic defense. Good luck. Clemson must face a Boston College team that cannot score, but does not give up many points either. Much has been made of the team's 3-0 loss to Wake but they have now played consecutive games in which neither team reached 10 points (9-7 loss at Duke). They will do their best to frustrate a Tigers offense that is inconsistent. The big game in the Coastal division may be Pitt at Georgia Tech, a game that has taken on a much different meaning than it was expected to in preseason. Tech was the preseason pick in the division but sit at a shocking 0-3. They can turn things around although the offense still looks broken. A tough Panthers defense won't help, although it needs to play the run better than it did against UVA. And the Pitt offense has room for improvement too, but if it protects the ball (unlike last year versus Tech) than it should have a close win to remain unbeaten in ACC play. There are some interesting games among the other ACC teams but those are currently for positioning.

American Athletic Update

With three squads undefeated on the season and some historic wins over big-time programs, the re-done American Athletic Conference is quietly having a fine season. Those three unbeatens, Memphis, Temple and Houston are all ranked in one poll or another and there is a chance that the conference can still make a ripple or two. But for now the focus is on a competitive conference race, especially out West. Temple already has a 1-game lead in the East race and is the clear favorite. They face struggling UCF this Saturday before embarking on a competitive two-game stretch to close October. On Thursday the 22nd they travel to Greenville, NC to take on an ECU squad that beat Virginia Tech at home by a TD last month. Then on Halloween they host Notre Dame. If Temple is undefeated on November 1, they will have earned it. Houston is getting more mention for what Ohio State is not doing than for anything they are achieving. And that is because new head coach Tom Herman seems to be the missing piece in Columbus after winning the Frank Broyles Award last season there as the nation's top assistant. QB Greg Ward leads the way with 1,301y passing with an 8-1 TD-INT ratio and 554y rushing with 11 scores. On Halloween they get to tangle with a struggling Vandy squad before beginning a tough November conference slate. Memphis and Navy are tied with Houston atop the West with 2-0 records. They square off November 7 in a huge match-up that will feature Memphis's dynamic passing QB Paxton Lynch versus Navy's running star QB Keenan Reynolds. But the Tigers cannot look that far ahead with a game versus Mississippi this Saturday at the Liberty Bowl. That game should be a beauty. The other key game in conference this weekend is up at UConn, where the Huskies take on USF. The loser of that game would already have two losses in conference.

Changes for Both USCs

The University of Southern California and the University of South Carolina football programs rarely share the headlines unless the two are squabbling aver who exactly is the "Real USC." But since USC--err the one out West--won that battle via results on the field and in court (that one actually concerned just the SC logo trademark), their link today as football teams suddenly without head coaches is the strongest to date. The reasons behind Steve Sarkisian's ouster at Southern Cal and Steve Spurrier's as Head Ball Coach at South Carolina are as different as night and day, but it is still rare for major programs to lose head coaches in early October. As with most every coaching change at this time of the year, the circumstances were not good. Sarkisian is battling alcohol issues and certainly needs to regain his health. He was not the best fit, however, for a program that demands double figure wins and national championship runs on an annual basis. Thusly that USC, with or without AD Pat Haden (who should go too) needs to bring in a guy who can fully take advantage of the plethora of talent Southern Cal can pull annually. As for Spurrier, he retires as the all-time winningest coach at both Florida and South Carolina. He was one of the select few people in college football to excel at the highest level as both a player and a coach with both a Heisman Trophy and national championship to prove it. I do not agree with his mid-season departure but the team is currently broken and he did not have an answer. As for the squads they left behind the kids need to play hard and hope bright days are ahead. And good luck to the schools with their hires as it is not easy getting the perfect coach. Just look at the hiring histories of both USCs to see plenty of names that are forgotten or should be.

Much Ado About Three to Nothing

Saturday's epic Wake Forest-Boston College contest have many people up in arms about how bad a game it was but do you hear such protest for Big 12 or West Coast shootout? Yes Wake won a game 3-0 in which they only earned 5 first downs but BC's stout defense did have something to do with that. In some of the shootout games there is no reasonable defense being played despite the said teams knowledge of the offense they are playing. Look I understand it. Folks want offense. But I would much rather have attended the Wake win than the Baylor obliteration of Kansas. Even the exciting Utah win over Cal featured a lot of bad football. Teams should not take 2-yard wide receiver screens 70y to the house. Remember in the game at Chestnut Hill, every possession was key and the game could have changed at any moment. Except, of course, BC's offense would have flubbed it so...

Today's Picks

Sitting at 30-24 and I need a good week to keep the ever=encroaching .500 from catching me. The problem is that i hate the card. Here are a few: OU-16.5 over Texas CSU +15.5 hosting Boise Utah -7.5 hosting Cal Good luck.

USC Loss Damages Others

The Trojans looked pretty bad last night. Washington was clearly the hungrier team and deserved the road win. USC will tumble out of the rankings and while they still have a lot to play for it remains to be seen if they can rally. But you know that already. The point of this post is that you may not like USC and are happy that they are tanking. But should you be? Fans of Stanford, Notre Dame and UCLA should be rooting for USC, not against. I know that goes against everything you believe in your heart about fandom, but a near great Trojans team is the best way for your team to make the final four. This year the three teams I mentioned all needed USC to win last night. Beating USC in Los Angeles helped restart Stanford's season and being that they are so far from the top four they needed to not only win out but for the USC win to look good. UCLA is in a different position as they needed the win over their rivals to look good as an end-of-the-year statement before, hopefully, they win the Pac 12. And of course without a conference title game Notre Dame needed the USC prime-time game to be a huge win for them. The Irish desperately need Stanford to run the table. The history of Notre Dame's football program points this out. The Irish last won a national title in 1988 just a few weeks after winning an unprecedented no. 1 versus no. 2 battle with the Trojans. The last title before that featured the wearing of the green beating of the Trojans in 1977--that USC team went on to win title the following two years. And in 1973 Notre Dame beat the defending champion Trojans, who one year later would win another title. So root loudly against USC while inside you secretly hope they win every game but the one they play against you.

Auburn Football on Side of the Road with Flat Tire

The dismissal of stud wide receiver D'haquille Williams from the Auburn football program caps a dreadful start to a 2015 season that began with such promise. Williams continued to break team rules--and these are SEC rules--and clearly had to go. And despite Williams's talent, the Tigers will be better without the headaches he provides. Teams can rally easier without a selfish player. But can they rally? The key would be to bury their national title aspirations, because those are over, and to focus on what they can accomplish. Get back to playing Auburn ball, which is tough in the trenches and, now under head coach Gus Malzahn, dynamic on offense. That has been missing this year with the team's QB problems but the talent is there for a quick rebuild. And quick it will have to be as they have a daunting schedule remaining. But screw that. Make the remaining opponents fear playing Auburn once again.

Wide Open Season Promises Excitement

The defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes were expected to dominate proceedings here in the 2015 regular season. After all they offered the tantalizing combination of an abundance of talent and a middling schedule. But much like FSU last season, the Buckeyes have underwhelmed so far with narrow wins over squads like Northern Illinois and Indiana. While OSU will have plenty of time to impress, others have stepped up in September to lay claim to the title of best in the land. But even that bunch has had some unimpressive wins themselves or actual losses as the top 10 continues to rewrite itself. This may be a season where a 16-team playoffs would be fun. after all, if the season ended yesterday and we used the most recent FWAA-NFF Super Poll to seed teams, number 16 Stanford would not be too much of an underdog against top-seeded OSU. We can look at this two ways. Either we are watching a rather dull season or the opposite. That the race to the top four is wide open so let's enjoy the competition. That is my take and I am sticking with it.

Saturday's Picks

I finished September with a 26-18 record, which is okay. Here are the picks for this wet opening weekend of October. Minnesota +4.5 at Northwestern, Iowa +6.5 at Wisconsin, Air Force +5.5 at Navy, Texas Tech +17.5 at Baylor, ECU -6 at SMU, KSU +7.5 at Okie State, Mississippi -7 at Florida, CSU +4 at Utah State, Notre Dame +2 at Clemson, Oregon =7.5 at Colorado, Arizona +13.5 at Stanford Goodluck

Today's Picks

Sorry for the delay. Down to 23-15. I like: No Ill +3.5 at BC, Tennessee -1 at Florida, TCU -5.5 at TT, Arkansas +7 hosting A&M, Arizona +2 hosting UCLA, Utah +10.5 at Ore, ASU +5.5 hosting USC. Good luck

Tonight's Pick

I enter the evening 23-14 and am contemplating two tough games tonight. I do not know how anyone can be excited about their pick for the Boise at Virginia game. Boise is one of the better teams to travel east over the past few years, including a win down the road from Virginia in Blacksburg in 2010. This Boise team is solid but not exemplary, however. UVA, on the other hand, is playing for a salvaging of the season after the heartbreaking loss to ND. they have been so good at home recently that I cannot pick against them on a Friday night. so i will pass. I am going out on a limb by picking Oregon State tonight, at home against Stanford, to hang close before losing. The Beavers are young and rebuilding under new coach Gary Andersen, who knows how to slow an offense down enough to hang with a better foe. True Michigan did blow them out two weeks ago, but that game was close until a disastrous punt snap allowed the wolverines to begin pulling away. Stanford had a huge win late Saturday night on the road and now has to go on the road again on a short week to play a team they blew out last year with a ranked Arizona on deck. Pick: Oregon State +16

Look Back at a Classic Upset

What's great about an upset is that it sits there, forever, in black and white. As long as college football matters--and there is no sign of that abating any time soon--the fact that the University of Louisiana-Monroe beat Alabama 21-14 on November 17, 2007 will always be recorded in the books. And since those two teams meet up this Saturday for the first time since that game, the upset is back in the news. And as someone who does not like Nick Saban, that is a welcome discussion any and every time. What is great about that result was that La-Monroe had a mediocre season. They went to Tuscaloosa with a 4-6 record with one of the team's losses coming to a North Texas team that finished the season 2-10. The Redhawks themselves finished the season 6-6. Despite the big win head coach Charlie Weatherbie only lasted two more before being fired. Of course, that was not a great Alabama squad by any stretch of the imagination, finishing the season 7-6 including a four-game losing streak in November. John Parker Wilson was the embattled QB and Terry Grant was the leading rusher with only 891y. Still Nick Saban was not happy that day and probably is not happy any time someone brings up that game. Knowing that makes me happy. I love a good upset.

Today's Picks

With the season mark at 18-7 I am feeling good. I like a lot today so here's hoping the luck continues. Temple -11 at UMass. Michigan -35 hosting unlv South Carolina +16.5 at Georgia LSU -6.5 hosting Auburn Va Tech -6.5 at Purdue Nebraska +3 at Miami Utah State +7 at Washington Texas Tech +11 at Arkansas Colorado State +3 versus Colorado Kentucky +3.5 hosting Florida Western Kentucky +1 at IU Iowa -5.5 hosting Pitt BYU +14 at UCLA Utah -14 at Fresno Good luck.

Tonight's Pick

I am red hot this September as I have opened the season 17-7. But that is in the past so let's remain focused. Tonight I am going with Louisville, although I will be rooting hard for head coach Bobby Petrino to open the season 0-3 with the Cardinals. Still, they are a desperate team and playing at home on a Thursday. clemson is not as good as their ranking. Pick: Louisville +6.5

How Much Lower Can Rutgers Sink?

With multiple players being suspended for accused criminal activity the Rutgers football program will soon be holding open tryouts. Well, maybe not. But the ability of the squad to compete with the upper echelon of the Big Ten, already pretty shaky before the suspensions, is now looking near impossible. Truthfully wins and losses matter little at the moment. The program needs to get a hold of the situation before anyone else gets hurt and then go about earning respect as a team that plays hard and does the right thing off the field. The situation is so dire now that changes have to happen. The coach and athletic director are obvious choices to go while the president himself needs to argue for his job. Someone beyond reproach needs to be hired, but current guys who both win and in the right manner are few and far between. Coaches are usually given a free pass if they win and athletic directors are fired if their hires do not win, so there is little reason to expect the good guys to get hired. Hopefully Rutgers will get the shipped straightened out although there is little reason for optimism.

Today's Picks

Sitting at 12-6 on the season I am ready for a few games today. Buffalo +17.5 at PSU Army +7 at UConn Miss State +4 hosting lsu CSU +5 hosting Minny Iowa -3 versus ISU MSU -4 hosting

Tonight's Pick

Once again the Beehive State is loaded with quality football players and tonight's Utah State-Utah game is a fine showcase. Utah looked like the Pac 12 contender it is last week in handling Michigan and they will try to control the game tonight. But tonight's opponent will have emotion on its side and better QB playing. That QB Chuckie Keeton has spent so much time injured over the years that he should view tonight's televised match-up as a chance to make up for lost time. The Aggies will stay close in this one, a game that is the last scheduled between these two rivals for the time being. Pick: Utah State +12

Conference USA Update

There is a big game tonight and I am not talking about the NFL. Western Kentucky, fresh off a two-point victory over Vanderbilt, hosts fellow Conference USA contender Louisiana Tech. The game is a huge one for the Hilltoppers after last year's surprising blowout loss at Ruston, Louisiana. The Bulldogs won that game 59-10 but one would expect the home team to come out for bear this season, especially with star QB Brandon Doughty, RB Leon Allen and three of the top four receivers from '14 back in the fold. For the visitors the key will be new QB Jeff Driskel's ability to move the ball on an improved, but still suspect, Hilltopper D that will be inspired. The environment will be crazed and I look for a Western Kentucky win (but not confident to list it as a pick).

Saturday Recap and Tonight's Pick

One of the many elements of college football that is truly wonderful is the shear number of folks who are ecstatic today because of results from this weekend. I love the NFL and am a big Giants fan, but while I would love for them to beat Dallas next Sunday night, I won't be that excited if they do as there is a long season ahead of us, including a rematch, and one game does not make or break a team. There is no way I will feel as happy Sunday night with a win as fans of Temple remain today two days after their school's historic victory over Penn State. BYU fans will always remember Saturday's incredible finish, even if the Cougars will have to continue the season without injured star QB Taysom Hill. Most of the other winners who impressed did not have victories as huge as BYU and Temple, but fans of Northwestern, Notre Dame, Auburn and Texas A&M among hundreds of others, cannot wait to continue a promising season. We may have another momentous win tonight if Virginia Tech can repeat their upset of Ohio State. The problem for the Hokies is that OSU's offense is so much better today than last September. I rally do not see the Hokies be able to hang in once the Buckeyes get rolling. Close at the half but then comfortable by game's end. Pick: OSU-14. After a good Saturday I sit at 10-6 for the season.

Today's Picks

FORDHAM!!!! Okay I got that out of my system. Down to 3-3 after Boise allowed Washington back into last night's game. For today: UCLA-14.5, Northwestern +11, ASU +3, BYU +6.5, Bowling Green +21.5, La-Lafayette +17, Georgia So +19.5, ND-9.5, Bama-12. My hunch pick is Temple +6.5

Tonight's Pick

Well I went 3-2 on opening night and will not mention the loss by .5 pts on a late TD. Anyway, the games are weak today--apart from the Fordham at Army rematch--but I do have a selection for the late game baring of mild interest. And the main story in the build up to that game concerns a coach returning to the team he recently left. I must admit i find those stories boring. But I am excited to see the jilted team, Boise State, begin what could well be a special season. The Broncos welcome back former head coach Chris Petersen, who is leading his new charges, the Washington Huskies,in year two of what is not a rebuild but a rearranging. And that is the problem. Washington is very young (9 returning starters) and is creating a new identity. Boise is experienced (17 returning starters) and itching to beat the Pac 12 one more time, especially the Pac 12 program that poached their coach. While I believe that Washington can hang for a bit, this game could blow open in the 3rd Q. Pick: Boise -11.5

Opening Night Recap

While the level of play last night was typical for first weekend football (i.e., the kids need some work) there was at least plenty of excitement. Here are some quick thoughts: Michigan has a lot of work to do--but we all knew that already. South Carolina survived but do not look like SEC East contenders. Arizona needs the injury bug to move on or it will not remain in the top 25. Contenders in need of style points should not play at Minnesota. Horrible work by officials at end of Colorado-Hawaii game is an embarrassment. Great win for long-suffering Hawaii coach Norm Chow nonetheless. Same too for Ron Turner as his FIU Panthers upset 17-pt favorite UCF.

College Football Kicks Off

Here we are opening up what promises to be another exciting college football season, and I am ready for the action. Actually the season kicked off in fine fashion Saturday with Montana's 38-35 win over four-time defending champion of FCS North Dakota State. That game ended on a winning TD run on the final play and while I cannot promise continued excitement of that enormity, I will say that this season should be a good one. Tonight will not shake up any early season rankings, but there are a few games of interest. Out in Salt Lake City, the Jim Harbaugh run at Michigan begins with a tough one versus the Utes, a team that had their way with the Wolverines last year in Ann Arbor. While I--and, well, everyone--expect Harbaugh to eventually do well at his alma mater, this first test is just too tough. Michigan will play smash mouth in an attempt to keep turnovers down but the Utah front seven, that dominated in last year's game, is experienced and loaded for bear. The Michigan D should be fine this year too, but Utah's offense features stud back Devontae Booker, who rushed for 1,512y, and veteran QB Travis Wilson. Michigan hopes to spring the dynamic play-making ability of CB and returnman and offensive surprise Jabril Peppers on opponents this season, but he should be somewhat negated by Utah's superb special teams and veteran QB. Pick: Utah covers -6. The first game on the schedule tonight is South Carolina versus North Carolina in Charlotte. This game pits two of the more disappointing teams in the country last season, but one of them, SC, has a big edge in track record as the vets on the squad know what it takes to win more than ten games in a season. They will begin their 2015 campaign the right way with a win over the still-struggling Tar Heels, who have to rebuild their disastrous D from last year. New DC Gene Chizik has too much work to do to stop the Gamecocks, who just need a decent game from new starting QB Connor Mitch. The Gamecocks two-headed run tandem of David Williams and Brandon Wilds will keep the chains moving, while stud WR Pharoh Cooper will be tonic to a young QB. UNC has a fine offense themselves, with stud QB Marquise Williams leading a unit that returns 10 starters, but they will not be able to score enough against a SC D that is improved from '14 to offset the weaknesses on their own D. Pick: SC -2.5 While Vanderbilt should show some improvement after an awful year in 2014, they will be hard-pressed to contain the explosive Hilltoppers who will be pumped up to open in an SEC stadium. Stud QB Brandon Doughty returns at the helm of an offense that scores in bunches. Pick WKU -2.5 That is three favorites in a row and so I owe you a dog. And so I am going with Minnesota at home. Normally picking a solid Big Ten team at home coming off an 8-win season would not be too ballsy, but in doing so I am going against highly-ranked TCU. Making it easier is that I am getting 16.5 points. Look, TCU knows it has to play well tonight on ESPN, but any motivation from not making the playoffs last year was used up when they blew out Mississippi in the Peach Bowl. The Gophers were banged up last year in losing at TCU by 23. This year they have the motivational edge in that nobody gives them a shot, despite the talent being nurtured by coach Jerry Kill and his staff. Plus they play really well at home--just ask OSU. Pick: Minny +16.5 For those of you on the West Coast--or insomniacs out East, the late Colorado at Hawaii game should be fun. Both teams are improved but I am a big fan of Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre and feel that they can pull away from the home team late as WR Nelson Spruce proves unstoppable. Pick: Colorado -7.5

Embracing Michigan's All-White Road Uniforms

In this era of slick packaging and glitz and shine trumping tradition, the decision this week by Michigan--supposedly at the behest of coach Jim Harbaugh--to wear white tops and pants on the road this season is refreshing. The word is that the new coach wanted to pay homage to the 1974 club, along with 1975 the last to sport these uniforms, and anything that pays homage to the college football that I first remember, is alright by me. The 1974 edition of the Wolverines had another magnificent season under head coach Bo Schembechler in finishing 10-1. Why only 11 games you say? Well in losing the final game of the season 12-10 to Ohio State, with Michigan missing a field goal at game's end, the Wolverines could not go bowling as Big Ten rules at the time designated conference-winning Ohio State, via tiebreak, as Rose Bowl representative and the other nine schools as unable to go to any post-season game. That changed right after this season due to the misfortune of a Michigan program that went 30-2-1 over the 1972-74 seasons but never tasted bowl play thanks to the conference's desire to make the Rose Bowl the be-all and end-all and to a controversial vote of conference ADs after the 1973 season. For Michigan seniors in 1974, the heartbreak must have been tremendous. In 1971 they would have been ineligible to play as freshmen when the Wolverines won the conference and went to the Rose Bowl. 1971 was the final season that freshmen were ineligible. Then they played dominant ball for three straight seasons only to be thwarted time and time again from getting to the Rose Bowl, all while playing the final three seasons that Big Ten teams were banned from playing in any bowl other the the Rose Bowl. This is a rare classy move by Harbaugh, who was a young football player in Ann Arbor in the mid 70s when his dad was a coach on Schembechler's staff. This squad is not as good as the 1974 team but they will play hard.

Mess at UAB

College football has enough visible problems to make it tough for even us big fans. Lately though the ugly underbelly of the sport keeps coming up to the surface in a way that makes one truly shake his head. With the UAB football situation there are some clear-cut snakes here that are making decisions about that program that are not in the best interest of UAB football. And make no mistake about it. We are not talking incompetence. While there is plenty of that in college football, this case is one featuring very crafty people maliciously taking down this program. They were caught in their lies and now the program is returning, but a lot of damage has been done and no one has lost his cushy job over the situation. While President Watts of UAB is rightfully taking the brunt of the heat over this, his manipulator in the situation, Paul Bryant Jr., is not getting enough heat. And while it is sad that he is the Bear's son, we must separate that from our view of him. Without that he really looks bad. Pathetic is probably a better word. The other problem with this whole story has been the amount of coverage it has received in relation to the amount of coverage the football team has generated over the decades. No one nationally cared about Blazers football until this story became so juicy and soon nobody will care again. That's nationally--myself included--but there are a lot of peple who care about the program and they fortunately got their message out. Hopefully the media will stop being so star driven and start covering the entire sport. Like a corrupt board suddenly acting in the best interest of what they are supposed to oversee, that is probably wishful thinking.

Another Funny NFL Draft

Well another NFL draft has come and gone and yet again ignorance ruled the day. I always find it humorous that the so-called experts spend so much time discussing players--and the potential draft position debate for players begins well before players end their college playing days--but then are almost always completely wrong come draft day. But the best thing is that they are allowed to then rip teams for viewing players differently then they, the experts, do. That is a great job. Be wrong nine out of ten times and then be allowed to complain that the real experts did not take your advice. I also love it when they have no idea how the player in question and team in question would actually fit in real life. They seem to have finally figured out the difference between a 3-4 defense and a 4-3 but they still mock players that do not fit schematically to teams whether it be the type of blocker and offensive lineman is or the way a DB has been taught to play. And despite all of the knowledge we have now on these players--or perhaps because of that overkill--the draft still produces chuckles when these guys do not know anything about the player when he is drafted. As a New York Giant fan this became apparent when the Giants drafted DB Mykkele Thompson from Texas in the fifth round. As soon as he was drafted he was treated as if he was a backup player from my alma mater Fordham, and not a two-year starting player for the Longhorns. They had no idea who he was and, pathetically, some experts even took to twitter to admit to the world that they did not know the kid. Huh? Thompson was deemed a player unworthy of being selected at a certain time in the process that failed to take in two major bits of information. One is that he was finally fitted with corrective lens midway through this past season, after which his play improved to the point that post-lens he was one of Texas's leading tacklers. He then, after not being invited to the combine because, again, some folks deemed him not worthy of being drafted, he displays excellent measurable at his pro day. In baseball, scouts would have been all over him because they have a reason, his vision, for improved play and they have his 40 time etc to fall back on. But in football he gets lost in the shuffle. But that gets me back to the experts. Okay this kid is off your radar for some reason. But you were watching tape of his teammates, like DT Malcolm Brown and LB Jordan Hicks, who were drafted high. And you were watching tape of Texas's secondary when they tangled with teams like West Virginia and Kansas State, who had sought after receivers. Right? Well Thompson had seven tackles versus the Mountaineers when the entire secondary had to tangle with Kevin White, who did catch 16 balls but did not get much after the catch in totaling "only" 132 yards. And Thompson had 11 tackles against KSU. I could go on and on. The point being is that if you are truly an expert then you should know the name of a two-year starter at Texas who had 11 tackles against KSU. Right?

SEC North?

When Urban Meyer began his fantastically success current run at Ohio State he got in trouble with his fellow conference coaches for poaching recruits, something that the Big Ten always frowned upon. But Meyer was doing something he had always done, and is accepted throughout the nation, and the message was clear: the Buckeyes were going to do whatever it took to win and the rest of the conference had better do the same if it wanted to compete. Meyer has gone on to win 38 of 41 games with the Buckeyes with only one conference loss so the lesson is clear. Do whatever it takes to win and you will be lauded when you do win. And so now we sit in February and on signing day OSU pulled a receiver from Arkansas whose high school coach was fired for supposedly giving money to said receiver's family. There are rumors swirling that there is even more to the story but a lot of that could be due to hurt feelings on the part of the locals. Even so this is a huge red flag. Meanwhile the Buckeyes are over the limit when it comes to the number of scholarship players on the current roster and have been before--they have had SEC-like roster movement over the past few years--there is no player currently pointing fingers and accusing the program of tossing him aside. That said, it is dangerous to play the you-need-to-have-more-than-85-in-February game to overcome potential defections and injuries as there will be a year when you wake up August 1st with extra players who will have to be "cut". It is an awful product of over-signing and has been something that has dampened the SEC's recent success. Like with the Hill situation there does not seem to be anything clearly wrong being done by Meyer and his staff but there is some smoke. Winning can only cover up so much of this crap. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, meanwhile, just hired the mother of Stanford safety Wayne Lyons as director of player development. The offer has to be good enough to get the woman, a former teacher, to move from Florida to Ann Arbor. Her son, who was recruited by Harbaugh but never played for him, has wavered on what he plans to do next year. He has graduated and can transfer. This again may be much ado about nothing, but the impression be given is that Harbaugh is doing what he can tokeep up with Meyer. It just does not smell right.

Another Great Hall of Fame Class Announced

The National Football foundation announced another outstanding class of football players and coaches as the newest members of the College Football Hall of Fame. Fifteen former star players and two heralded coaches have been added to the Hall and once again the voters have done a fine job. I also want to give credit With the announcement moved to January this year--and for the time being--to lock into the national championship game and its media coverage, the group certainly had a lot of local flavor. With the game being played in Irving, Texas, the announcement was held there too and two players who played for state universities, Zach Thomas of Texas Tech and Ricky Williams of Texas, made it as too Brian Bosworth who played in some memorable Oklahoma-Texas games in the nearby Cotton Bowl and Arizona State linebacker Bob Breunig, who played professionally for the Cowboys. The rest of the country was represented well too as Trev Alberts of Nebraska is finally in, along with Ronnie Brewer of Millsap, Ruben Brown of Pitt, Wes Chandler of Florida, Tom Gatewood of Notre Dame, Dick Jauron of Yale, Clint Jones of MSU, Lincoln Kennedy of Washington, Rob Lytle of Michigan, Michael Payton of Marshall and Art Still of Kentucky. The coaches selected were Bill Snyder, who is the fourth coach to named while still being active, and Jim Tressel of OSU. I will break down each new member individually over the next few days. But once again the Hall is richer for the inclusion of these players and coaches.

Not A Good Night For College Football

I do not know where to start there was so much awful football playing and coaching last night. It was difficult watching the games it got so bad and the tape of the 4th quarter of the Ohio State win should be burned. We were forced fed four final teams to battle for a true champion and three of them played like crap. Even the fourth did a number of wrong things but were fortunate to be playing the train wreck of a team called Florida State. I love college football and hate that this bs over-hyped crap was dumped on us fans. The old bowl system was much better, at least based on one night.