Thursday, September 17th

• Clemson at Louisville 6:30 pm ESPN - an ACC game in Louisville to open Week 3 of College Football

Friday, September 18th

• Florida State at Boston College 7:00 pm ESPN - another ACC in Week 3 ...
• Idaho State at Boise State 8:00 pm CBSSN - The Broncos look to get back to winning vs. an FCS program, after a tough road loss in Week 2 at BYU ...
• New Mexico at Arizona State 9:00 pm PAC-12 Network - final Sun Devils tune up before Pac 12 play opens up ...

Exciting finish in New Mexico, with next bowl coming up in St. Petersburg

Great finish in the first bowl game of the season with Wyoming defeating Fresno State in OT 35-28 in the New Mexico Bowl to kick off the 2009-10 bowl season.

Next up:
Sat., Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. Central Time
St. Petersburg Bowl from St. Petersburg, Fla.
Big East vs. C-USA: Rutgers vs. Central Florida

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights were picked by some in the pre-season to be the top contender in the Big East Conference in 2009, but the Scarlet Knights finished 3-4, tied for fourth in the Big East, and 8-4 overall. Central Florida Knights didn't enter the 2009 season with high expectations, but finished second in the C-USA East Division at 6-2, 8-4 overall for the 2009 season.

Rutgers was 8-5 in 2008 and won 29-23 in the Papajohns.com Bowl 29-23 over North Carolina State, while Central Florida finished 4-8 in 2008 and have only played in two bowl games in the school's history, losing both games, including the 2007 Liberty Bowl 3-10 to Mississippi State. Rutgers is 3-2 all-time in bowl games.

Prediction for the St. Petersburg Bowl:

Could three be the charm, as the Central Florida plays in its third bowl ever vs. a Rutgers team that is seeking to win their fourth straight bowl game in four years.

Rutgers 38, Central Florida 26

peace

Sidenote: Iowa beats Drake in basketball to stop a two game skid in the series, as well as win one of the three games in the Iowa Four Pack series. Creighton travels to undefeated New Mexico to face Steve Alford's club that is rising in the Top 25 right now.

College Football '09: A look at the Mountain West Conference

Does the Mountain West Conference make BCS noise again in '09? Who is the candidate for '09? How does the conference breakdown in '09 for MWC?

• The MWC is ranked #10 by Jeff Sagarin among the FBS conferences



• No non-BCS conference team has ever played in the BCS Title Game and not likely anytime soon

• The MWC in '08 put into question a little the viewpoint: Why does the Big East have automatic BCS bowl slot compared to the MWC this year?

• Will there be another BCS bid in '09 for the WAC?

Ranked teams in the AP and Coaches' preseason polls:

• TCU at #17
• Utah at #19 and #18, respectively
• BYU at #20 and #24, respectively

Preseason magazines like other MWC teams in the Top 25 preseason:

none, but the 3 Top 25 are well liked by most magazines too

Teams rebuilding in the MWC in '09

• Colorado State

Teams in the MWC not ready for prime time in 2009?

• San Diego State
• Wyoming
• New Mexico

Will the MWC finish this way in 2009??

1. Utah * (8-0 in '08) (11-3 in bowls)
2. TCU (7-1) (11-13-1)
3. BYU (6-2) (9-17-1)
4. Air Force (5-3) (8-10-1)
5. UNLV (2-6) (3-0)
6. Colorado State (4-4) (5-7)
7. New Mexico (2-6) (3-7-1)
8. San Diego State (1-7) (1-4)
9. Wyoming (1-7) (5-6)

denotes 2008 MWC champs (source for above list)

Last BCS bowl participant

• Utah went 12-0 during the 2008 regular season (W, Sugar over Alabama 31-17)

Kickoff Game of the Season

Thursday, September 3rd

Utah State @ Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah at 9:00 PM CT

TV: Mountain

Final Look at the MWC teams, using the preseason Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings:

1. Utah (#12 in Sagarin ratings) - Coach Kyle Whittingham lead the Utes to their first BCS bowl, since the '04 season under former coach Urban Meyer. Whittingham is entering his 5Th season in '09 after finishing 13-0 last season. The Utes return 54 letterwinners, with 5 OFF and 7 DEF from last year's team that beat Alabama 31-17 in the Sugar. Utah opens the '09 season vs. Utah State, @ San Jose State, @ Oregon and vs. Louisville before a bye week and opening MWC play @ Colorado State.
2. TCU (#16) - Coach Gary Patterson is entering his 9Th season at the helm for the Horned Frogs after finishing 11-2 last year. The Horned Frogs return 46 letterwinners, including 6 OFF and 4 DEF plus both kickers from last year's team that beat Boise State 17-16 in the Poinsettia. The Horned Frogs don't open until week 2 of the season when they open @ Virginia, vs. Texas State, @ Clemson and vs. SMU before opening MWC play @ Air Force.
3. BYU (#23) - Coach Bronco Mendenhall enters his 5Th year at the helm for the Cougars after finishing 10-3 last season. The Cougars return 45 letterwinners, with 4 OFF and 8 DEF plus PK from a club that lost 21-31 to Arizona in the Las Vegas. The Cougars open '09 with a big game vs. Oklahoma in Arlington (Dallas Cowboy's new stadium), @ Tulane, vs. Florida State, vs. Colorado State to open MWC play, then close OOC play vs. Utah State.
4. Air Force (#55) - Coach Troy Calhoun enters his 3rd season at the helm for the Falcons after finishing 8-5 last year. The Falcons return 44 letterwinners, with 6 OFF and 6 DEF from the squad last year that lost to Houston 28-34 in the Houston. The Falcons open the '09 season vs. Nicholls State, @ Minnesota, @ New Mexico and vs. New Mexico to open MWC play, returning to OOC play @ Navy. Air Force concludes OOC play vs. Army in November.
5. New Mexico (#74) - The Lobos welcome new coach Mike Locksley to Albuquerque. Locksley is the former OC from Illinois. The Lobos return 44 letterwinners, with 6 OFF and 3 DEF plus both kickers from a squad last season that finished 4-8. The Lobos open '09 play in the OOC @ Texas A&M, vs. Tulsa, then open MWC play vs. Air Force, then back in OOC play vs. New Mexico State and @ Texas Tech.
6. Colorado State (#79) - Coach Steve Fairchild enters his 2nd season at the helm for the Rams. The Rams finished 7-6 last year and return 45 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 5 DEF from a squad that beat Fresno State 40-35 in the New Mexico. The Rams open '09 season in the OOC @ in-state rival Colorado, vs. Weber State, vs. Nevada, then open MWC play @ BYU, before finishing OOC play @ Idaho.
7. Wyoming (#98) - First year coach Dave Christensen enters Laramie after holding the OC position at Missouri. The Cowboys return 43 letterwinners, with 8 OFF and 8 DEF plus both kickers from a squad that finished 4-8 last year. The Cowboys open '09 play in the OOC vs. Weber State, vs. Texas, @ Colorado, before opening MWC play vs. UNLV. Wyoming closes in the OOC @ Florida Atlantic.
8. UNLV (#104) - Coach Mike Sanford enters his 5Th season at the helm for the Rebels. The Rebels return 46 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 7 DEF plus PK from a squad that finished the season 5-7 last year. The Rebels open the '09 season in the OOC vs. Sacramento State, vs. Oregon State, vs. Hawaii before opening MWC play @ Wyoming. UNLV is @ Nevada to finish OOC play in '09.
9. San Diego State (#110) - New coach Brady Hoke moves over from leading Ball State for '09. Hoke replaces Chuck Long for the Aztecs. The Aztecs return 48 letterwinners, including 8 OFF and 7 DEF plus both kickers from a team that finished last year at 2-10. The Aztecs open the '09 season in the OOC @ UCLA, vs. Southern Utah, @ Idaho, before opening MWC play @ Air Force. They finish OOC play vs. New Mexico State followed by a bye week before resuming the heart of the MWC schedule.

A look back at last year's statistics in the MWC.

peace

New Mexico Bowl: Colorado State (6-6) vs. Fresno State (7-5)

The 2ND bowl up for the 2008-09 bowl season is the 2008 New Mexico Bowl with the MWC squaring off with the WAC: Colorado State Rams (6-6, 5Th in the MWC) vs. Fresno State Bulldogs (7-5, tied for 5Th in the WAC). Bragging rights between the top two non-BCS conferences will be on the line in this game on ESPN.

Both teams losses came from bowl eligible teams this season. Phil Steele projected Fresno State for the New Mexico Bowl in his 2008 preview, while Steele projected Colorado State dead last in the MWC.

Fresno State is a seasoned bowl team under coach Pat Hill, while Colorado State is playing in its first bowl, since the '05 Pinsettia Bowl, where Navy pounded the Rams 30-51. Fresno State beat Georgia Tech 40-28 in last year's Humanitarian Bowl. The Rams last bowl win was in '01 vs. North Texas in the New Orleans Bowl.

This bowl game will likely be high scoring or will it? Fresno State only scored 10 points in their final outing and 24 points in their final two wins. Colorado State has won two straight and scored 20 and 31 points in wins over New Mexico and at Wyoming, respectively. Look for the Rams first year coach Steve Fairchild to pick up his first bowl win for Colorado State in the New Mexico Bowl today.

Cidsports prediction

Colorado State 28

Fresno State 20

http://twitter.com/cidsports

peace

Support for your team... exhibition attendence outstanding at Creighton

College Basketball is kicking off things this week.

Andy Katz at ESPN had some very nice things to say about Creighton Monday:

• Creighton proves once again that it is one of the most-followed
programs with its loyal fan base. The Bluejays beat Central Missouri in an
exhibition game Sunday in front of 15,038 fans in Omaha. Just think about that
for a minute. There are plenty of high-major programs that would beg for numbers like that in the regular season, let alone for a Sunday exhibition in early
November. - Andy Katz

Creighton plays basketball at the Qwest Center Omaha. Clearly, the Bluejays play in the Mecca of the Missouri Valley for arenas.

The Jays open the 2008-09 season at home on Sunday, November 16, when Steve Alford brings his New Mexico Lobos to the Qwest Center. Alford is in his 2nd year of coaching at the University of New Mexico, after stints at Missouri State (formerly Southwest Missouri during Alford's days in Springfield) and the University of Iowa.

peace

AP releases Pre-Season College Basketball Poll

Creighton Bluejays receive 7 votes on the first AP Preseason College Basketball Poll.

North Carolina is the consensus #1 team according the AP Poll.

The Big Ten Conference has Michigan State at #6, Purdue #11, and Wisconsin #25. Ohio State received 64 votes, clearly behind the 196 votes received the #25 team.

The Big 12 Conference has Texas at #7, Oklahoma #12, and Kansas #24. Baylor and Texas A&M were among the schools also receiving votes.

Creighton's final opponent from last season, Florida, is rated #19. Florida defeated Creighton in the NIT to end the Jays season.

Three Creighton opponents are among the teams receiving votes: New Mexico (Nov. 16 home opener), St. Joseph's (Dec. 6 on road), and fellow Missouri Valley Conference team, Drake.

It should be an exciting year in college basketball. Iowa and Iowa State are both continuing the rebuilding process.

peace

Is the MWC home of the non-BCS big Hope in '08?

Who will make the BCS bowls in 2008? A lot of discussion about Georgia and Ohio State these days. What conference outside the Big Six will carry the non-BCS conference banner this season?

Will one among the Mountain West Conference be one of the BCS bowl participants in 2008?

The Mountain West Conference carried the banner in 2004, with Utah, who beat Pittsburgh 35-7 in the Fiesta Bowl. The Western Athletic Conference has carried the banner the past two seasons. This year's popular choice this year could lead the the MWC back in line as the top non-BCS flag carrier.

Brigham Young is a preseason consensus Top 25 member. They are the most popular candidate among the non-BCS programs to crash the BCS party in '08. While not a consensus pick, Utah is a candidate for the Top 25, as well, from the MWC.

Top 15 OOC MWC games:

1. Utah at Michigan in season opener
2. Brigham Young at Washington
3. Oregon State at Utah
4. UCLA at Brigham Young
5. Stanford at TCU
6. Colorado State vs. Colorado in season opener (in Denver)
7. Iowa State at UNLV
8. Arizona at New Mexico
9. Texas A&M at New Mexico
10. TCU at Oklahoma
11. UNLV at Arizona State
12. Wyoming at Tennessee
13. San Diego State at Notre Dame
14. Colorado State at California
15. Northern Iowa at Brigham Young in season opener

The MWC looks to grab the flag over the WAC and all others among the non-BCS to carrier the banner in '08. Will the MWC grab it again? Will have to see the season unfold to find out.

So, who do I like in the MWC race in '08?

1. Brigham Young Cougars (8-0 in '07) enter their fourth year under coach Bronco Mendenhall and will have to weather having a target on their backs in '08 to prevail.
2. Utah Utes (6-2 in '07) enter their fourth year under Kyle Whittingham and will look to win their first MWC title, since '04 and Urban Meyer's final team in Salt Lake City that saw the Utes earn and win a BCS bowl game.
3. TCU Horned Frogs (4-4 in '07) will welcome their eighth season under coach Gary Patterson, who is best known for his defense and should have one of the better units in the MWC.
4. New Mexico Lobos (5-3 in '07) host the dean of the MWC with coach Rocky Long, who will build off last year's success and a 23-0 win over Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl.
5. Wyoming Cowboys (2-6 in '07) are lead by coach Joe Glenn, entering his sixth season... with junior QB Karsten Sween and senior RB Devin Moore leading the offense!
6. San Diego State Aztecs (3-5 in '07) look for better play in coach Chuck Long's thrid campaign as the Aztecs head man!
7. UNLV Rebels (1-7 in '07) begin year four under coach Mike Sanford and look to get out of the cellar after four straight seasons there in the MWC.
8. Air Force Falcons (6-2 in '07) may have a tougher second year with coach Troy Calhoun at the helm in Colorado Springs.
9. Colorado State Rams (2-6 in '07) welcome the new coach in the MWC with Steve Fairchild replacing long-time coach Sonny Lubick.

• Biggest Game and Rivalry: Nov. 22 - BYU at Utah in "The Holy War" rivalry game
• Next Best Game: TCU at New Mexico in season opener
• Coach of the Year: Bronco Mendenhall, BYU

So, the MWC hopes to garner a BCS game or bust, in '08!

peace