We wrap up Thanksgiving weekend with another Top 25 adjustment in College Football

We will know a week from now who will make up the BCS Title Game for the 2009 college football season. Further, all the bowls will be known. There is still an outside chance for a non-BCS conference team to make the BCS Title Game.

The final candidates for #1 vs. #2 in the BCS Title Game for the 2009 season?

• Florida
• Alabama
• Texas
• TCU
• Cincinnati

Boise State is the final undefeated team, but appears clearly out of contention for the BCS title game for this year, based on the current BCS poll.

Here's our take on the current Top 25 in College Football ...

1. Florida Gators (12-0, 8-0 SEC) - They will face #2 Alabama (12-0, 8-0 SEC) in the SEC title game this Saturday. Did you know that Tim Tebew's first bowl game was vs. Iowa in the 2006 Outback Bowl? The Gators would match up extremely well vs. Iowa, better than 2006, when the Gators beat Iowa 31-24 in Tampa.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0, 8-0 SEC) - The Crimson Tide are a little dinged with star sophomore RB Mark Ingram tending to an injury. The game with the Gators in the SEC title game will be a challenge for the Crimson Tide. It would be interesting to see coach Nick Saban and Alabama face off in a bowl game this season. Saban faced Iowa, when he was at LSU in the 2005 Capital One Bowl. The Hawkeyes pulled off the upset 30-25 on the final play. Could a Bama-Iowa match up be on the horizon?
3. Texas Longhorns (12-0, 8-0 Big 12) - The Longhorns will face the Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-3, 6-2 Big 8) in the Big 12 title game. A loss by the Longhorns would have to go down as the biggest upset in Big 12 title game history. The Longhorns and Hawkeyes faced off in the 2006 Alamo Bowl, when the Longhorns beat Iowa 26-24. It's not likely the Hawkeyes will see the Longhorns in a bowl game this season.
4. TCU Horned Frogs (12-0, 8-0 MWC) - The Horned Frogs need help to find a spot in the BCS title game. They actually could fall out of the Top 4, if Cincinnati gets enough love in the Bearcats final game. A TCU-Iowa bowl game is possible, but not expected at this point.
5. Cincinnati Bearcats (11-0, 6-0 Big East) - The Bearcats close out the regular season @ Pittsburgh (9-2, 5-1 Big East) in what is basically the Big East championship game, where the winner will represent the Big East in the BCS. Can the Bearcats make it two year in a row?
6. Boise State Broncos (12-0, 8-0 WAC) - The Broncos have finished 12-0 in two of the three past seasons now, with a strong season in '09. Could an Iowa-Boise State match up be on the horizon in the Fiesta Bowl? Many are pinning their hopes on such a match up in the Valley of the Sun this season.
7. Oregon Ducks (9-2, 7-1 Pac 10) - The Ducks close out the regular season Thursday when the host in-state rival Oregon State (8-3, 6-2 Pac 10), in what is basically the Pac 10 championship game. The winner will represent the Pac 10 in the Rose Bowl vs. the Big Ten champ, Ohio State (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten).
8. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten) - The Buckeyes are waiting to learn the news of who from the Pac 10 will face the Buckeyes in the 2010 Rose Bowl game in Pasadena. The Buckeyes captured the Big Ten birth this season with a OT win at home vs. Iowa two weeks ago.
9. Iowa Hawkeyes (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten) - The Hawkeyes need some help to figure in the at-large spot in the BCS bowls. An upset in the Big 12 title game would not likely be good for a Big Ten at-large team. Many are projecting Iowa vs. Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. We will find out next Sunday.
10. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (10-2, 7-1 ACC) - The Yellow Jackets will face Clemson (8-4, 6-2 ACC) in the ACC title game. The Yellow Jackets are going for their third straight win over the Tigers.
11. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten) - The Nittany Lions are sitting and waiting to see, if they may be the 2Nd Big Ten team picked as an at-large BCS bowl invitee. Some project that the Nittany Lions may favor higher than Iowa for the Orange, should the Orange go with a Big Ten team as their at-large pick. Despite losing head to head to the Hawkeyes, the Nittany Lions may be favored in the Orange?
12. Virginia Tech Hokies (9-3, 6-2 ACC) - The Hokies regular season has concluded, but they will represent the ACC in a bowl game this season. The Hokies closed out the regular season with a 42-13 win @ Virginia (3-9, 2-6 ACC) that may be the final nail on the Al Groh era at UVA!
13. LSU Tigers (9-3, 5-3 SEC) - The Tigers closed the regular season with a 33-30 OT win vs. Arkansas (7-5, 3-5 SEC). The Capital One Bowl is a likely spot for the Tigers. Could a rematch be on track vs. Iowa, who squared off in 2005 in Tampa?
14. Pittsburgh Panthers (9-2, 5-1 Big East) - Despite the loss 16-19 loss @ West Virginia (8-3, 4-2 Big East) this Thanksgiving weekend, the Panthers still have a lot to play for. This week, the Panthers host #5 Cincinnati (11-0, 6-0 Big East) for a birth in a BCS bowl game. This would be the first BCS bid for Pitt, since the 2004 season, under former coach Walt Harris.
15. Oregon State Beavers (8-3, 6-2 Pac 10) - Can the Beavers play in their first BCS bowl game with a win @ Oregon? The Beavers @ #7 Oregon (9-2, 6-1 Pac 10) for the Pac 10 title and the birth in the Rose Bowl vs. Ohio State.
16. Brigham Young Cougars (10-2, 7-1 MWC) - The Cougars closed out the regular season with a solid 26-23 OT win over MWC and in-state rival Utah (9-3, 6-2 MWC). Could a bowl bid with Arizona be on the horizon again for the Cougars?
17. Miami-FL Hurricanes (9-3, 6-2 ACC) - The Hurricanes closed out the regular season with a 31-10 road win @ South Florida (7-4, 3-3 Big East). The Hurricanes await a bowl bid for the second straight season.
18. USC Trojans (8-3, 5-3 Pac 10) - The Trojans close out the regular season hosting Arizona (8-3, 5-3 Pac 10) in a final Pac 10 showdown of the regular season. The winner will finish in the top half of the conference.
19. California Golden Bears (8-3, 5-3 Pac 10) - The Cal Bears close out the regular season @ Washington (4-7, 3-5) in a final Pac 10 showdown of the regular season. The Huskies don't have a bowl game, so the Golden Bears need to be careful up North.
20. Houston Cougars (10-2, 6-2 C-USA) - The Cougars will face the East Carolina Pirates (8-4, 7-1 C-USA), who are the defending C-USA champs, in the C-USA title game. The Cougars are coming off a 73-14 blow out vs. Rice (2-10, 2-6 C-USA) to close out conference play.
21. Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-3, 6-2 Big 12) - The Cornhuskers will face #3 Texas (12-0, 8-0 Big 12) in the biggest game in the coach Bo Pelini era. Pelini is in his second season at Nebraska. A win in the Big 12 title game would be huge for the Husker nation. The Huskers are coming off a 28-20 win @ rival Colorado (3-9, 2-6 Big 12).
22. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-3, 6-2 Big 12) - The Cowboys crashed and burned their BCS opportunity with a 0-27 loss @ Oklahoma (7-5, 5-3) over the Thanksgiving holidays. A solid bowl bid is likely, but the health of the Cowboys team is weakening, after a physical game with in-state rival OU.
23. Stanford Cardinal (8-4, 6-3 Pac 10) - The Cardinal ended Notre Dame's (6-6) regular season with a 45-38 home win to close out the regular season. Stanford has not been bowl eligible, since the '01 season. Coach Jim Harbaugh is in his third season at Stanford.
24. West Virginia Mountaineers (8-3, 4-2 Big East) - The Mountaineers pulled off a 19-16 home win over Pittsburgh (9-2, 5-1 Big East) in Big East play. The Mountaineers close out Big East play @ Rutgers (8-3, 3-3 Big East) to end the regular season this weekend.
25. (tie) Clemson Tigers (8-4, 6-2 ACC) - Next up for the Tigers is a ACC Championship game match up vs. Georgia Tech (10-2, 7-1 ACC). The Tigers are coming off 17-34 loss @ in-state rival South Carolina (7-5, 3-5 SEC), who has lost 10 of the last 12 vs. the Tigers.
    (tie) Utah Utes (9-3, 6-2 MWC) - The Utes concluded the regular season with a 23-26 loss @ Brigham Young to close out MWC play. The Utes await their seven straight bowl bid to close out the 2009 season.

peace

Hope everyone is enjoying their week of Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Creighton Bluejays pushed the Michigan Wolverines into OT in Orlando on Thanksgiving. But, too many mistakes cost the Jays down the stretch.

Ott's Thoughts: Michigan 83, Creighton 76 (OT) - White and Blue Review ‎
Except Creighton fans could say the same thing. The Bluejays out rebounded Michigan for the better part of 45 minutes. The Jays shot better than UM. ...
Michigan Holds Off Creighton in Overtime - New York Times
Michigan 83, Creighton 76 - USA Today
Recap: No. 15 Wolverines 83, Jays 76 (OT) - Detroit Free Press

Celebrating Thanksgiving today with our family and a little football

Friday, November 27Th on DirecTV today

• Rutgers at Louisville 10:00 a.m. ESPN2 (HD)


• Temple at Ohio 10:00 a.m. ESPNU (HD)


• Illinois at Cincinnati 11:00 a.m. ABC (HD) - Tough times for the Fighting Illini!


• Wyoming at Colorado State 1:00 p.m. Mtn.


• Alabama at Auburn 1:30 p.m. CBS (HD) / Online


• Memphis at Tulsa 2:30 p.m. CBSC (HD)


• Nebraska at Colorado 2:30 p.m. ABC (HD) - A Thanksgiving Family Tradition


• Pittsburgh at West Virginia 6:00 p.m. ESPN2 (HD)


• Nevada at Boise State 9:15 p.m. ESPN2 (HD)

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend!

peace

Iowa Basketball is 1-0 outside and 0-4 within the CBE Classic to open the '09-'10 season

The 2009-10 basketball season for the University of Iowa has not gotten off to a good start. The Hawkeyes did get one victory over Bowling Green in game 3 of the season. But, the Hawkeyes went 0-4 in the CBE Classic. The Hawkeyes lost two games at home in the on-campus part of the CBE Classic. Then, they followed it up with back to back games in Kansas City, both losses. The Hawkeyes fell to #3 Texas on Monday, then vs. Wichita State tonight.

Iowa is now 1-4 to open the season.

It's not likely going to be a pretty season for coach Todd Lickliter, now in his third season, at Iowa. The Hawkeyes have only two upper classmen and are not at full strength with a 13 player roster.

Looking at the teams in the CBE Classic field. Clearly the University of Iowa played the toughest slate of teams. Duquense and Texas-San Antonio were two of the better bottom bracket teams.

The bottom line is Iowa is not a very good team right now. They are inconsistent and lack a lot of what it takes to compete with the better programs in the NCAAs.

If you are an Iowa fan in 2009-10, it would serve you well to be patient. Otherwise, it will get pretty negative at times.

Remember, this is the time for Thanksgiving. On the football side, Iowa finished 10-2, 6-2 in the Big Ten, which is good for second place. Time will tell in the next couple of weeks, whether Iowa will pull in their second BCS bid in the history of Iowa football.

peace

Who is worthy of all-Big Ten in Football in '09?

The Big Ten Conference annouced the 2009 all-Big Ten football team on Monday, November 23, 2009. Here's a look at our all-Big Ten team for 2009 from cidsports, using Big Ten only stats.

First and second team offensive members

QB: Darryl Clark, senior, Penn State and Mike Kafka, senior, Northwestern
RB: John Clay, junior Wisconsin and Brandon Saine, junior, Ohio State
RB: Evan Royster, junior, Penn State and Adam Robinson, freshman, Iowa
WR: Blair White, senior, Michigan State and Tandon Doss, sophomore, Indiana
WR: Keith Smith, junior, Purdue and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, junior, Iowa

TE: Tony Moeaki, senior, Iowa and Garret Graham, senior, Wisconsin

C: Stefen Wisniewski, junior, Penn State and Rafael Eubanks, senior, Iowa
G: Dace Richardson, senior, Iowa and Jon Asamoah, senior, Illinois
G: Justin Boren, junior, Ohio State and John Moffitt, junior, Wisconsin
T: Bryan Bulaga, junior, Iowa and Kyle Calloway, senior, Iowa
T: Gabe Carimi, junior, Wisconsin and Dennis Landolt, senior, Penn State

First and second team defensive members

E: Adrian Clayborn, junior, Iowa and Ryan Kerrigan, junior, Penn State
T: Jared Odrick, senior, Penn State and Mike Neal, senior, Purdue
T: Christian Ballard, junior, Iowa and Karl Klug, junior, Iowa
E: Brandon Graham, senior, Michigan and O'Brien Schofield, senior, Wisconsin
LB: Navarro Bowman, junior, Penn State and A.J. Edds, senior, Iowa
LB: Pat Angerer, senior, Iowa and Ross Homan, junior, Ohio State
LB: Greg Jones, junior, Michigan State and Sean Lee, senior, Penn State
CB: Amari Spivey, junior, Iowa and Brandon King, senior, Purdue
CB: Sherrick McManis, senior, Northwestern and Donavan Warren, junior, Michigan
S: Tyler Sash, sophomore, Iowa and Brad Phillips, senior, Northwestern
S: Kurt Coleman, senior, Ohio State and Brett Greenwood, junior, Iowa

First and second team specialist members

PK: Ryan Swensen, senior, Michigan State and Stefan Demos, junior, Northwestern

PT: Zoltan Mesko, senior, Michigan and Jeremy Boone, senior Penn State

KR: Keshawn Martin, sophomore, Michigan State and Ray Small, senior, Ohio State

KR: Derrell Johnson-Koulanos, junior, Iowa and Arrelious Benn, junior, Illinois

PR: Ray Small, senior, Ohio State and Colin Sandeman, junior, Iowa

Coach of the year: Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Offensive player of the year: John Clay, RB, Wisconsin
Defensive player of the year: Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State
Newcomers of the year: Offense: Adam Robinson, RB, Iowa. Defense: Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin

peace

The Iowa Hawkeyes finishe regular season 10-2, 6-2 in the Big Ten for '09, what next?

The Iowa Hawkyeyes (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten) keep Floyd south for winter for the eighth time in nine seasons with a 12-0 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-6, 3-5 Big Ten) at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. Could a Fiesta be on the horizon for the Iowa Hawkeyes? Time will tell.

Bowl predictions: Iowa, 3 others battling for two BCS spots - Gazetteonline

The Hawkeyes are 11Th in the BCS bowl currently, after Week 12. The AP and Coaches polls rank Iowa 13Th. Latest college football rankings and polls

How would cidsports rank the Top 25 after Week 12?

1. Florida (11-0, 8-0 SEC)
2. Texas (11-0, 7-0 Big 12)
3. Alabama (11-0, 7-0 SEC)
4. TCU (11-0, 7-0 MWC)
5. Cincinnati (10-0, 6-0 Big East)
6. Boise State (11-0, 6-0 WAC)
7. Georgia Tech (10-1, 7-1 ACC)
8. Ohio State (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten)
9. Oregon (9-2, 7-1 Pac 10)
10. Pittsburgh (9-1, 5-0 Big East)
11. Iowa (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten)
12. Penn State (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten)
13. Oklahoma State (9-2, 6-1 Big 12)
14. Virginia Tech (8-3, 5-2 ACC)
15. LSU (8-3, 4-3 SEC)
16. Oregon State (8-3, 6-2 Pac 10)
17. Clemson (8-3, 6-2 ACC)
18. Miami-FL (8-3, 5-3 ACC)
19. BYU (9-2, 6-1 MWC)
20. Utah (9-2, 6-1 MWC)
21. USC (7-3, 4-3 Pac 10)
22. California (8-3, 5-3 Pac 10)
23. Houston (9-2, 5-2 C-USA)
24. North Carolina (8-3, 4-3 ACC)
25. tie Nebraska (8-3, 5-2 Big 12)
    tie Mississippi (8-3, 4-3 SEC)

peace

Can Iowa get to a BCS at-large bowl bid with win over Minnesota on Senior Day 2009?

The Iowa Hawkeyes have played some outstanding football in 2009, despite detractors nationally in the media over the course of the 2009 season. Iowa (9-2, 5-2 in the Big Ten) will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-5, 3-4 in the Big Ten) for the annual battle for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy at Kinnick Stadium. It's a 11 a.m. kickoff on ESPN.

• Seniors remain resilient - UI The Daily Iowan


• Iowa football: Hawkeyes will settle for any kind of win vs. Gophers - DesMoinesRegister.com


• Iowa, ISU still look good in bowl picture - Spencer Daily Reporter


• Minnesota Coach Tim Brewster’s memory is pink and hazy - Gazetteonline
  
  Our prediction for today's battle:

Iowa Hawkeyes 36

Minnesota Golden Gophers 18

Look for Floyd of Rosedale to remain in his southern home for another year!

peace

Congratulations to Coach Todd Lickliter and the Iowa Basketball team

The Iowa Hawkeyes (1-2) get first win of the 2009-10 basketball season on Friday night, with a 68-46 home win over Bowling Green.

Iowa claims first win of season - Quad City Times
"Eventually, I knew the shots would start to fall," Gatens said, referring to his 19-percent shooting in the Iowa basketball team's first two games. ...
Men's basketball: Hawkeyes cruise to first victory of season - DesMoinesRegister.com
Hawkeyes await shooting thaw - Burlington Hawk Eye

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