Sports Then and Now

The Big East may be losing, and gaining, some schools for College Football.

The Big East, and Big 12, have been at it for a couple of weeks. However, not only the conferences are working towards aligning their respective “divisions”  differently, the schools are. Here’s the Big East Merry Go Round:

Pittsburgh and Syracuse want out. The Big East for College Football has fallen to the cellar of any College Football Conference Ranking. The conference just can’t win the big games. Did you see Connecticut last year? They won the Big East, but then got run over by Oklahoma 48-20. There’s no way for a Big East team to win a BCS game right now, it’s impossible.

I’m questioning and pondering why Pitt and ‘Cuse want out. They plan on moving over to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), but every fan knows that they can’t win their either. Sure, recent NFL Players have come out of Pittsburgh, Lesean McCoy, Larry Fitzgerald, and you can even go back with Dan Marino, Mike Ditka and Tony Dorsett. It’s the truth, the University of Pittsburgh has a stellar football program, the thing is, they can barely win in the Big East, and I can’t imagine them tearing up the ACC like they plan on doing. Fine, Duke, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and Virginia are all easy teams to beat, but North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Clemson will wallop the Panthers. All I have to say about Pitt, is there is just no point in switching Conferences.

Syracuse, has a little different story. The Orangemen were a prominent team way back when, but they have struggled at the Carrier Dome, and every field, for recent years. The Orange, have turned it around a little bit, but still haven’t found any formula for winning games, and the Big East in general. ‘Cuse hadn’t had a winning season since 2001 after their 8-5 campaign last year, and haven’t reached a BCS Bowl since 1998! We’ll see if the Orange can turn it around, or Syracuse will find themselves being the pushover in the ACC.

Possible Contenders: There has been rumors flying in all directions about the Big East, but this is true: If anyone in the Big East leaves, the Big East will replace them. Possible schools to fill the gap are Army, Navy, Air Force, Temple, Villanova and East Carolina. Notre Dame, Memphis, Houston, Central Florida and Southern Methodist are all longshots, but are definitely still in the running. Even add Connecticut to the “I want out” list, as the defending Big East Champs may want to follow the leaders. Read the rest of this entry →

Maryland, Illinois and Arizona State Are My Top 3 Sleepers For This Year's College Football Season.

Since we are in the spirit for College Football as we speak, and the season is underway, here are my 3 sleepers and 3 busts for the 2011 College Football Season, and why:

Sleepers:

1. Maryland Terrapins: No, it’s not just the uniforms, Maryland is for real. Granted, the Terps beat Miami, A team that will quickly fall to the cellar of the ACC, but there is promise for Maryland this season. Maryland will likely win there next 3 games, (West Virginia, Temple and Towson) Maryland will find their way easily into the AP Top 25 by Week 6 when they face Georgia Tech. Maryland only has 3-4 tough games, so expect them to go to a solid bowl this season. “Fear The Turtle.”

2. Illinois Fighting Illini: Illinois is in a tough conference, however, like Maryland, their schedule is pretty darn easy. While the Illini are set to play in the Leaders division of the Big 10, their conference schedule looks weak. Now, that may sound like a bad thing, but for Illinois, it’s all about winning. Illinois will go 6-0 to start the year. Then, it gets tough. Ohio State is still a tough opponent despite the off field issues, Penn State is never a great place to play, and with Coach Paterno and Running Back Silas Redd, they are coming to play this season. After that? Oh, a date with Michigan who is planning on using Denard Robinson’s speed, and Brady Hoke’s wisdom, to return Michigan to it’s former glory. Wisconsin is next, which we assume will be a loss for the Illini. Nonetheless, I predict a 9-3 record for Illinois, and a spot in the end of year Top 25.

3. Arizona State Sun Devils: My last sleeper team comes from a sleeping conference. Oregon and Stanford are the only legitimate teams in the conference, with USC trailing behind. You can now add ASU to the list. Arizona State will be in the Pac 12 Championship Game. Yeah, I said it. The Sun Devils have a terrific offense led by Quarterback Brock Osweiler leading the team. Osweiler threw for 2 TD’s as Arizona State ran all over UC Ddavis, 48-14 in Week 1. The Schedule for Arizona State, is simple. There is no Stanford on that list, and the Sun Devils could keep up with Oregon, and upset the Ducks. For the rest of the schedule, is all out winning. Illinois, USC and California could challenge the Sun Devils, but I don’t see it. Predict a 10-2 season and a berth in the Pac 12 Championship Game for ASU.

Notable Sleepers: USF, Ole Miss and Missouri. Read the rest of this entry →

Just because Andrew Luck is the best player in college football doesn't mean he will win the Heisman Trophy.

Excitement is high as the kickoff to the 2011 college football season is finally upon us. After all the off-the-field scandals of the past several months, it will be nice to finally be able to talk about action happening on the playing field.

Since many with far greater insight and knowledge of college football than I have spent the last several months analyzing all BCS teams and ranking them for the upcoming season, I don’t see the need to just regurgitate information you can find elsewhere, but I do want to kickoff the 2011 season by looking ahead and making five “bold” predictions for some of the things I anticipate will happen in 2011.

Prediction 1: A team from the SEC will not win the BCS Championship

Considering that a team from the SEC has claimed each of the last five BCS championships I guess you can say that I am starting out with a pretty bold prediction right out of the gate.

Don’t get me wrong, the SEC will continue to be the epicenter of college football, but given the deficiencies in each of the top programs, it is difficult to believe that any one team can withstand the brutal conference schedule to come out unscathed. It is certainly possible that a one loss SEC team could reach the BCS title game, but that will only happen if other teams across the country falter. But given the parity in the SEC, I think it will be a challenge for any team to even complete the season with just one loss in this tough conference. Read the rest of this entry →

Recent "scandals" have brought up the topic of paying Collegiate Athletes.

This offseason has been by far the worst offseason in the history of College Football. USC and Ohio State have broken NCAA regulations and the allegations surrounding Miami (though not yet proven) are even worse. These situations, along with many others in recent years, beg the question as to whether college athletes should be paid.

Here’s the answer:

This a tough question, because everyone wants to see their favorite team out on the field and winning games, not being inspected and searched by the NCAA, but college athletes should NOT be paid or rewarded beyond what they already receive. Read the rest of this entry →

The Big 10 Will Be Very Deep This Season.

As the 2011 College Football season is coming at us in full stride, here is my opinion on the top conferences this year:

1. Big 10: This is a tossup. The SEC looks stellar this year, but I have to go with the Big 10. With the Nebraska Cornhuskers entering the conference, there’s going to big dramatic changes. I like Michigan State to win the Legends Division. Look for Nebraska to make a splash and come up right behind the Spartans. I’m picking Michigan as the sleeper of the Legends, with Brady Hoke dramatically changing this program. For the Leaders Division, Wisconsin blows out the competition. Penn State falls short in 2nd, and Illinois and Ohio State will be in the pack. The Big 10 is a deep conference this year, that’s why i like them at #1.

2. SEC: Just behind the Big Ten, I like the Southeastern Conference. Alabama wins yet another SEC title, but they’re going to have to do it with teams like Arkansas, South Carolina and Georgia right on their back. I don’t believe Auburn will contend this year, but Tiger fans, expect a bowl game. LSU will be there, as usual, along with Tennessee and Ole Miss being stuck in a unbelievable conference.

3. Big 12: The Big 12 won’t be deep. But, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will battle it out in Norman and Stillwater once again. Trailing Oklahoma will be Texas, who has rejuvenated their program, and may have a shot. I like Texas A+M as a sleeper, along with Missouri, but Baylor will have a hard year. Read the rest of this entry →

The Big Ten Conference is sending 8 teams to Bowl Games after the 2010 season.

The Big Ten has an opportunity to shed their “also-ran” or more appropriately their “barely-ran” mantle compiled in recent bowl game appearances.

This year they could actually make their way into the top tier of bowl-winning conferences like – dare we say it – the SEC?

As Bowl Season gets underway this coming weekend, the Big Ten will send eight teams bowling while the SEC lines up ten.

Last year the Big Ten managed to record a winning record of 4-3 in bowl game appearances as Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin won their contests – with Iowa and Ohio State in BCS Bowls.

Michigan State, Northwestern and Minnesota came close but no cigars.  All in all, it was a great bowl year for the Big Ten.

Great, when you consider that after the 2008 football season the Big Ten went 1-6 with only Iowa winning that year over SEC opponent South Carolina.

Following the 2007 football campaign, the Big Ten amassed a paltry 3-5 record.  We might also point out that in 2006 and 2007, the Ohio State Buckeyes played for the National Championship, losing both times to SEC opponents, Florida and LSU respectively.

In the past three years the SEC has compiled a 19-8 bowl record while the Big Ten skidded to an 8-14 record.  It cannot be overlooked that the SEC has won the last four BCS Championship games.

Indeed, the SEC is an impressive conference and going forward, the Big Ten hopes to catch and pass them as the newly realigned Big Ten begins a new era in Conference play with great expectations.  Welcome you Corn Huskers!!

With eight teams vying for victory, can the Big Ten score a strike?

Read the rest of this entry →