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 →

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 →