What We Learned Yesterday

Auburn and Oregon both held serve yesterday to remain atop the polls. Each team avoided the upsets that have been decimating the top ten lately, riding explosive offenses to 50-pt totals against decent conference opposition. Yes USC fans, that is really all you are these days. And two undefeated pretenders, Missouri and Michigan State, lost as expected in tough spots. And so we enter November with three undefeated non BCS teams in Boise State, TCU and Utah and all sorts of questions remaining about who the best teams are in 2010. Every week is an elimination tournament for the national title race while rearranging conference battles. Next week we have the battle for supremacy in the MWC between Utah and TCU with the loser also being bounced from BCS title game consideration and a SEC West showdown between Alabama and LSU that will send the loser packing. You have to love this time of year.

Remember When

The Penn State-Michigan clash tonight is not getting too much pub, but that has not been the case in the recent past. Although the series has been dominated by the Wolverines, here is a battle pitting then no. 3-ranked Penn State versus no. 5-ranked Michigan from October 15, 1994 as recapped in The USA TODAY College Football Encyclopedia:

Penn State 31 MICHIGAN 24: Battle in "The Big House" drew 106,382, 3rd largest crowd to date in collegiate history. On the verge of putting verdict away, early-striking Penn State (6-0) collected mostly FGs and led 16-0 before K Remy Hamilton put Wolverines (4-2) on board at 16-3 before H. TB Tyrone Wheatley, who had only 9/11y rushing in 1st H, exploded for 67 and 21y TDs on consecutive series, and, in span of 4:19, Michigan suddenly jumped into 17-16 lead. Nittany Lions answered with QB Kerry Collins (20-32/231y, 3 TDs) passing for TD and 2-pt conv at end of 86y foray. After WR Amani Toomer (7/157y) set up 24-24 tie with 38y catch, Penn State forged ahead for good with 2:53 left: WR Bobby Engram made toe-in-bounds catch, TB Ki-Jana Carter (in photo, left, with Collins, center, and TE Kyle Brady) ran 26y and Engram caught 16y TD. Toomer maneuvered himself all alone at Lions 5YL, but lost his bearings and long pass drifted off his fingertips. Michigan soon evaporated possession on 4th down INT by Penn State DB Brian Miller.

Paul's Picks

Once again my lousy picking is deflating my interest in writing a long post. I am now at 17-22 for the season. Enough said.
Wake Forest at MARYLAND (-5.5)
Although neither team is a threat for a ranking or meriting much attention, the spread is implying that Maryland is decent. This is a pick based solely on noticing a spread that seems too high. Oh, and Wake does have some talent on defense. Pick: Wake +5.5
Vanderbilt at ARKANSAS (-21)
Pad the stats time for the Razorbacks. Pick: Arkansas -21
Akron at TEMPLE (-29)
I am including this game just so I can type a -29 next to Temple. Pick: Temple -29
Missouri at NEBRASKA (over/under 55)
Although I like Nebraska in this game-like everyone else--I am impressed enough with Missouri's defense to shy away from giving the points. But I do like the under in what should be a defensive struggle. Pick: Under 55
Cal at OREGON STATE (-3)
Cal has played four home games this season, winning them all by average 47-9 score. They have played three road games, losing them all by average margin of 16. This game is on the road and features the second half of the season Beavers, who are always good this time of year. Pick: Oregon State -3
Michigan at PENN STATE (+3)
How did Michigan get back into the rankings? Because they did not drop their third straight game(they were off)? Penn State wins third straight in rivalry once dominated by Michigan. Pick: Penn State +3

Boise Blues

One of the elements fueling the rise of Boise State football to prominence has been their frequent appearances on ESPN, based on their and the WAC's willingness to play games on any day of the week to suit the television schedule. But now that the Broncos are a top 3 program, is this still helping them?

I wonder. There is certainly an element of desperation to playing games on a Tuesday (they beat La Tech 49-20 last night). Or, to be honest, any day other than Saturday and maybe Thursday (but do not make it a habit). Boise has five more games this season and three of them are to be played on a Friday night, all to be aired on ESPN. Being on ESPN a majority of the season is a definite plus but playing on Friday nights hurts.

Of course, Boise is leaving the WAC after this season and it is the WAC's low-level status that is fueling these scheduling decisions. The Mountain West, which will include Boise starting in 2011, plays a great majority of their games on Saturday, but they do not have a deal with ESPN. Instead Boise fans will have to find their games on Versus or CBS College Sports. Boise will be on ESPN in the future when they play on the road against a team from a conference that has an ESPN contract--like Mississippi next September. So being on television will not be the problem (and they'll make close to $1 million a year more than they do under the current WAC contract). But fans will definitely have to work more to see their games and I bet the regular college football viewer will tune in for Boise's games against TCU (if they stay) or Air Force, but not the lesser lights. There is too much competition on a Saturday.

The other problem facing Boise as they search for more respect is that ridiculous blue field. What once was a way for the team to stand out is now a reason to point fingers at them for getting an unfair advantage by wearing blue uniforms. But more importantly they do not look like a national power when playing at home. I have a hard time watching a full game when they play at home and I assume a great many traditionalists do not even bother. Although Boise playing a great majority of their games on Saturday will be a reality beginning next season, the blue turf is here to stay.

What We Learned Saturday

Being a big fan of major upsets, I am very happy right now. Every week another over-rated big power falls by the wayside and every week the "experts" drum up support for the latest BCS conference flavor. Auburn is no. 1 in the latest BCS ranking? The Arkansas back-up QB came off the bench and tore that D to shreds. All of these teams have flaws and it will be interesting to see who survives the rest of the action. Michigan State and Missouri, for example, will be hard-pressed to win this weekend (at Iowa and at Nebraska respectively). And we still have to have at least one stunning upset, whereby a team with a mediocre record knocks off a top 5 squad. How about Mississippi beating Auburn Saturday? All of that should make it a little easier for Alabama to climb back into the mix and for at least one non BCS squad--and there are three ranked in the top 7--making the title game.

And to be honest, there has been so much discussion about these non BCS conference teams that it will almost be a let-down if the BCS title game does not pit one them versus a more traditional power. And the ratings between Alabama and Boise would be huge. We'll see. It is only October 25.

There were quite a number of big games this past weekend in regards to conference action and I will break down each conference as the week goes on. It has been an exciting year and the final stretch promises some big-time action.

If You Root For Enough Teams...

There is nothing quite like sports to capture the highs and lows of life. Yesterday my wife and I went to the new Giants Stadium (hard to judge as we had good seats) to witness Navy run through and over Notre Dame. Being a fan of the Fighting Irish since birth, the game was a complete disaster. The Midshipmen dominated the action. But being that it was college football, we had plenty of fun tailgating with friends including long-time supporters of this blog Jim Johnson and Steve Feeley.

And in true sports fashion, the low of the afternoon was erased by the evening as the San Francisco Giants nipped the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 to win the National League pennant. Like Notre Dame, the Giants are a team I root for because of my father. And so it was great to see a team given little chance of winning, emerge victorious against the two-time defending NL champs. And so even though another Notre Dame season appears lost, the Giants are four wins away from an improbable championship--their first since 1954. They were given little chance that year too.

Go Giants!

Remember When

Today's Georgia Tech-Clemson match-up is a bit under the radar, despite being the rematch of last year's ACC Championship. But 20 years ago this battle, featuring two Top 20 teams, was a key game in Georgia Tech's stunning drive to a co-national championship. Here is a recap of the game, played on October 13, 1990, as written in The USA TODAY College Football Encyclopedia:

GEORGIA TECH 21 Clemson 19: Yellow Jackets (5-0) won 9th straight over 2 years, jumping to 14-0 1st Q lead on 2 TD passes by QB Shawn Jones (pictured emerging heroically from some mist). Clemson (5-2) fought back on 4 FGs by K Chris Gardocki, his 44y boot narrowing gap to 14-12 in 4th Q. On following KO, Georgia Tech soph RET artist Kevin Tisdale went 87y to Tigers 13YL to set up TD run by RB T.J. Edwards. Tech staged GLS when LB Calvin Tiggle (19 tackles) made 4th down stop, but later allowed their 1st TD all year when Clemson QB Chance Cameron scored with 3:27 left. Gardocki missed 60y FG try with 1:00 to play.

The Yellow Jackets remained out of the national title picture despite this victory, and then fell to no. 16 overall on October 29 with tie to UNC. Unbelievably, they worked their way up to a shared championship with a great November, including an upset of top-ranked Virginia, and then Citrus Bowl win over Nebraska.