Big East Update

Ugggh.   Uggggggh.
Rutgers!  That was a frustrating game for every player and fan,  The Big East title was theirs for the taking.  I do not want to repeat what happened.  It was too painful the first time.  But it was typical Rutgers and they will now have to get excited to play in the Belk Bowl or some such second tier game.
As for Louisville, QB Teddy Bridgewater was fabulous.  Shaking off multiple injuries, Bridgewater rallied the troops in splendid fashion.  He truly is a star and will rightfully have a BCS showcase.  That game is huge for a Cardinals program hoping to move up in class with a new commitment to winning.  They have shown plenty of second half fortitude this year but cannot fall too far behind against another conference champion.

Four Team Playoff Blues

If Alabama wins Saturday then the nation will have a few weeks to get ready for a national championship tilt between the Tide and Notre Dame.  The Irish will still be knocked for, well, I am unsure what reasons, but generally most everyone will accept the pairing as the best way to decide the 2012 champion.
But what if the four-team playoff system, to begin next season, were in place this year?  To be honest it would be a problem-causer.  Let's say, for the sake of argument, that all of the favorites this weekend win their games.  So Notre Dame and Alabama, obviously, are in.  But what about spots three and four?  Kansas State and Florida?  That would leave both Oregon and Stanford out, plus the 2-loss SEC teams and FSU.  SI conducted a survey of 11 current administrators and they came up with Florida and Oregon.  So no KSU nor a Stanford team that could win the Pac 12 title and has already topped Oregon on the field.
Not sure making the playoffs larger would work as the main BCS conference champions should get automatic berths but that may not leave enough at large berths to count for Notre Dame, a Boise State type team and all of the talented second place teams from big conferences.  No one has explained where these games are going to be played either.  Go to 16 then the logistics get worse.
One thing is clear about the future of playoffs.  Money will be the driving factor.

Big Conference of the East/USA Update

To be honest, there is not much more to say about conference realignment.  Louisville is now going to the ACC and not the Big 12 and Rick Pitino is just going to have to deal with it.  As for football, well, the Cardinals should do okay but it is hard to know for sure until the ACC is rearranged.  Meanwhile more Conference USA teams are flocking to the Big East as it becomes the best of the second tier schools (in football, add a bunch a non football playing old timers in basketball).
On the field the battle of a future Big Ten team and future ACC team is the key one for the Big East on the season.  Due to tiebreakers, the winner of Thursday's Rutgers versus Louisville battle should be BCS bound.  The game should be competitive with Rutgers looking to pound the visitors on the ground while injured QB Teddy Bridewater hopes to shake off ankle and wrist injuries to lead Louisville.  Look for Rutgers to ride RBs Jawan Jamison and Savon Huggins, both expected to play after leaving the Pitt loss with injuries, to a decent 4th Q lead and then withstand heroic Bridgewater-led comeback.  Scarlet Knights by 3.

Kentucky Hires the other, other Stoops

I like the hire.  I was worried the Kentucky would try to get that idiot Petrino but they went to the coaching tree for Mark Stoops and he will get them competitive.  Not sure how high they could ever go but 7-8 wins is doable.  Get some hungry players who would prefer to be in the two-deep for Kentucky than on Alabama's bench.  Play hard and the fans will come--at least until hoops season.

View From Bennett Avenue

In discussing match-ups for the national championship game analysts have talked throughout November about the style similarities and differences between the top contenders.  One element of football that is taking center stage--thank God--is toughness as Notre Dame, Alabama, LSU, KSU, Florida, etc all game plan to beat up opponents while teams that try to out-athlete opponents have stumbled.  The team that best epitomizes the speed game, Oregon, fell to a Stanford team that was much tougher than the Ducks.
But you can't hit 'em if you can't catch them and the premium is now on very big players that can also move.  There are not that many of those guys and they tend to be collected by those top teams.So when you take a look at your favorite team's recruits pay attention to the big guys.  The rise to the BCS title game is much easier with guys like Nix, Tuitt and Te'o than Clausen.
As for this title game Notre Dame does match up well with both Georgia and Alabama and the game should be a good one.  Keep and eye on the very talented players up front as they will dictate the outcome of the game.

Big Night

That was a great win for Notre Dame, coming on the field of their bitterest rival.  And now they-we-I have to wait 45 days?  Let the countdown begin.
And what a way to seal an undefeated regular season.  It could not have been scripted any better.  I'll write more tomorrow as I am too drained now.

Today's Picks

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  The pro games that day failed to live up to the quality of my sister-in-law's turkey and sides but hopefully the college football slate today measures up.  And I hope you have cleared your day as there are a full day of intriguing match-ups.
Michigan +4 at Ohio State
I am going back and forth on which team has the better motivation.  OSU needing a win to wrap up a 12-0 season or Michigan, who can stop that from happening?  And so, since I believe we will be watching two highly motivated squads, it will come down to talent and I feel the talent level is pretty close.  Take the points and keep track of the big plays.
Georgia -13 hosting Georgia Tech
I am not much of a fan of this Bulldogs squad as they seem like a 9-3 team to me.  Thanks to a ridiculous schedule, however, they can make the national championship game with two straight wins.  They do own this series and Tech has been pretty mediocre this year.  Sure the pressure is on Georgia and that has killed the chances of others this November, but I do not see how an undermanned Tech team can take advantage.
Minnesota +8 hosting MSU
I am trying to focus on meaningful games but this spread just seems too lopsided for me.
Vandy -11.5 at Wake
The Deacs seemed to have shut it down for the season while the Dores are a bit under the radar.  Vandy to win by 20.
Duke +6 hosting Miami
Good luck getting a Canes team motivated after their spot in the ACC title game and a bowl game were taken away this week by school officials.  Meanwhile the Blue Devils want to put a stamp on one of their most successful regular seasons in decades.
Pitt -2 hosting Rutgers
Panthers will be focused on taking down a Rutgers squad that is ranked but not necessarily better.  The Scarlet Knights can lose this game by 100 and still make a BCS game with a win next week.  That is a big advantage for the home team.
Oregon State +10 hosting Oregon
Oregon spreads are all out of whack based on the team's rout of lesser lights for the first ten weeks of the season.  But now they play a tough Oregon State D the week after playing a tough Stanford D.  This game should go down to the wire and do not be tempted by the notion that Oregon will rout the Beavers to make up for last week.
South Carolina +4 at Clemson
Gamecocks have owned this series recently and do better in big games.
USC +6.5 hosting ND
I am just trying to jinx the Trojans.  Game could easily go down to a FG which could hurt a Trojans team struggling in the kicking game.
Good luck...