Bye Week blues for Iowa Hawkeyes, as off the field issues emerge in Iowa City during off weekend

The Iowa Hawkeyes opened September only 3-2 overall, but earned the Floyd of Rosedale back with a 31-13 win over Minnesota in Week 5 to close out month and open 1-0 in the Legends division of the Big Ten .  But, the Week 6 bye week has been bitter sweet for Iowa, with news of an off the field arrest, as senior team captain Micah Hyde, Iowa's top cornerback, was arrested for public intoxication and interference of official acts per The Gazette and ESPN.

Update: Some solid Big Ten games in Week 6, as Iowa and Minnesota are enjoying bye weeks, but some players are enjoying the bye weeks too much!  The list gets longer for Iowa, as sophomore TE Ray Hamilton and reserve OL junior Drew Clark were charged with alcohol related issues per 1630 AM./KCJJ.

• Michigan State @ Indiana on Big Ten Network at 11 a.m.
• #25 Northwestern @ Penn State on ESPN at 11 a.m. ***
• Illinois @ Wisconsin on ABC (KCRG in Cedar Rapids) at 2:30 p.m.
• Michigan @ Purdue on Big Ten Network at 3 p.m.
• #21 Nebraska @ #16 Ohio State on ABC (KCRG in Cedar Rapids) at 7 p.m.

College Football rocks!

Football Begins Tonight with Buckeyes, Cyclones and Utes among the many teams kicking off the 2010 College Football season

It's Labor Day Weekend and the Kickoff of the 2010 College Football season begins Thursday with several match ups on TV and otherwise (Times are Central Time) ...

Top Game of the Day:

#22 Pittsburgh @ #13 Utah, 7:30 p.m, Versus (HD)

Look for a solid game in a rematch of the 2005 Fiesta Bowl: look for the Utes to likely pull it off at home! Utes by 4.

Iowa State opens at Jack Trice:

Northern Illinois @ Iowa State, 6:30 p.m.
(CSNC / CSNBA / FSN affiliates) (HD)

The Cyclones begin their second season under Coach Paul Rhoads in a tough MAC vs. Big 12 North match up. The Cyclones should win this one, but NIU is more than capable. Look for a 30-26 Cyclone victory to open the 2010 season!

BCS upset alert on EPSNU?

Minnesota @ Middle Tennessee, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU (HD)

Prior to the suspension of the Middle Tennessee #1 QB, this game had upset written all over it. Look for the new look Gophers to pull this one out on the road for the Big Ten's first road win of the year. Minnesota 30 Middle Tennessee 20

#2 Ohio State opens in Columbus on BTN

Marshall @ #2 Ohio State, 6:30 p.m.

The Buckeyes should score and dominate Marshall in the opener. Our Pick: Ohio State 38, Marshall 9

Big Ten Network also has IU on!

Towson @ Indiana, 6:30 p.m.

The Hoosiers should win vs. Towson, who played at Northwestern in '09. Look for the Pistol offense to score and the Hoosier defense to hold Towson in check. Hoosiers 45, Towson 17

SEC vs. C-USA match up to open season

Southern Miss @ South Carolina, 6:30 p.m., ESPN (HD)

The Ole Ball Coach Steve Spurrier should have South Carolina ready, despite the NCAA agent issues impacting a Gamecock player. Gamecocks by 13.

What does USC have to play for in 2010?

USC (on probation) @ Hawaii, 10:00 p.m., ESPN (HD)

Coach Lane Kiffin begins his era at USC with little to play for in his first two seasons, due to probation. Will the Trojans be motivated week in and week out? This Pac Ten vs. WAC contest will close out Day 1 of the 2010 College Football season on ESPN! Our pick: USC

Other Games for Thursday, September 2nd

• North Dakota at Idaho, 9:00 p.m., ALT
• Eastern Washington at Nevada, 8:00 p.m.
• Florida A&M at #11 Miami-FL, 6:30 p.m., espn3.com
• Florida Atlantic at UAB, 7:00 p.m.
• Hampton at Central Michigan, 6:00 p.m.
• Murray State at Kent State, 6:00 p.m.
• Norfolk State at Rutgers, 6:30 p.m., espn3.com
• Presbyterian at Wake Forest, 5:30 p.m., espn3.com
• Rhode Island at Buffalo. 6:00 p.m., Time-Warner (cable)
• Southeast Missouri State at Ball State, 6:00 p.m.
• Southeastern at Tulane, 7:00 p.m.

peace

Top Games of Week 1 in College Football: September 2Nd to 6Th

What are the Top 20 Games of Week 1 of the 2010 College Football season?

(Times are Central Time - Rankings are cidsports Top 25)

1. Monday, September 6Th: #3 Boise State vs. #6 Virginia Tech (Landover, MD) with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff on ESPN (HD) / ESPN 3D
2. Thursday, September 2Nd: #22 Pittsburgh at #13 Utah with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Versus (HD)
3. Saturday, September 4Th: #12 LSU vs. North Carolina (Atlanta) with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff on ABC (HD)
4. Saturday, September 4Th: Oregon State at #8 TCU with a 6:45 p.m. kickoff on ESPN (HD)
5. Saturday, September 4Th: Connecticut at Michigan with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on ABC / ESPN2 *7
6. Saturday, September 4Th: SMU at #17 Texas Tech with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN (HD)
7. Saturday, September 4Th: Washington at #16 BYU with a 6:00 p.m. kickoff on CBSC (HD)
8. Saturday, September 4Th: #23 Cincinnati at Fresno State with a 9:00 p.m. kickoff on ESPN2 (HD)
9. Saturday, September 4Th: Purdue at Notre Dame with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on NBC (HD)
10. Saturday, September 4Th: UCLA at Kansas State with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on ABC / ESPN2 *7 / ESPN-GP *2
11. Saturday, September 4Th: Illinois vs. Missouri with a 11:30 a.m. kickoff on FSN (HD)
12. Saturday, September 4Th: Colorado vs. Colorado State (Denver) with a 1:00 p.m. on MTN (HD)
13. Monday, September 6Th: Maryland at #25 Navy (Baltimore) with a 3:00 p.m. kickoff on ESPN (HD)
14. Thursday, September 2Nd: Southern Miss at South Carolina with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN (HD)
15. Friday, September 3Rd: Arizona at Toledo with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff on ESPN (HD)
16. Thursday, September 2Nd: Minnesota at Middle Tennessee with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPNU (HD)
17. Saturday, September 4TH: #10 Wisconsin at UNLV with a 10:00 p.m. kickoff on Versus (HD)
18. Thursday, September 2Nd: Northern Illinois at Iowa State with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on (CSNC / CSNBA / FSN affiliates) (HD)
19. Saturday, September 4Th: Northwestern at Vanderbilt with a 6:30 p.m. on (CSCA / ESPN-GP) *2 / CSS (cable)
20. Saturday, September 4Th: Washington State at Oklahoma State with a 6:00 p.m. on FSN (HD)

For a complete list of major College Football games

peace

Who are the best 2010 Surprise Teams in College Football?

The Sporting News has announced five teams, with the University of Iowa at the top of the list of Surprise Teams for 2010.

Iowa leads list of five teams that could land surprise spot in college football title game - Sporting News

• Iowa (11-2)
• Pittsburgh (10-3)
• Oregon State (8-5)
• Florida State (7-6)
• Auburn (8-5)

Phil Steele' 2010 College Football Preview likes the following 12 teams as 2010 Surprise Teams (page 22):

1. Oklahoma (8-5)
2. USC (9-4)
3. Georgia (8-5)
4. Notre Dame (6-6)
5. Auburn (8-5)
6. Miami-FL (9-4)
7. West Virginia (9-4)
8. North Carolina (8-5)
9. Arkansas (8-5)
10. Wisconsin (10-3)

Two Long Shots per Phil Steele ...

11. South Carolina (7-6)

12. Michigan (5-7)

Phil Steele's Top Non-BCS teams for 2010 (page 22):

1. TCU (12-1)
2. Boise State (14-0)
3. Houston (10-4)
4. Utah (10-3)
5. Nevada (8-5)

No Brigham Young Phil? The BYU Cougars (11-2) have won at least 10 games the past four seasons under coach Bronco Mendenhall. This will be a younger BYU team than recent teams, but can we count the Cougars out?

The 2010 College Football season will kickoff on Thursday, September 2Nd. Some of the top opening games on Thursday, September 2nd (times are Central Time):

• Marshall at Ohio State, 6:30 p.m., BTN (HD)
• Minnesota at Middle Tennessee, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU (HD)
• Northern Illinois at Iowa State, 6:30 p.m., (CSNC / FSMW / FSSW) (HD)
• Southern Miss at South Carolina, 6:30 p.m., ESPN (HD)
• Towson at Indiana, 6:30 p.m., BTN (HD)
• Pittsburgh at Utah, 7:30 p.m., Versus (HD)
• USC at Hawaii, 10:00 p.m., ESPN (HD)

peace

Friday Night College Football Today

The first weekend of college football continues tonight with two games on tap...

Friday, August 29th
Temple at Army
6:00 p.m.

ESPN Classic / ESPN 360
SMU at Rice
7:00 p.m.
(ESPN) (HD)

A chance to see some East Coast and Texas college football. Coach Al Gordon is an up and comer for Temple. SMU welcomes the debut of of coach June Jones, who departed Hawaii for SMU this past off season.

peace