Conference Championship Weekend kicks off Friday night with MAC

Friday, December 4th 

Championship Game

MAC Championship Game: Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois 7:00 pm on ESPN2 - The Falcons went 2-0 against B1G teams (@Maryland and @ Purdue) in 2015, while the Huskies gave the Ohio State Buckeyes a great game in September, losing 20-13 in Week 3. The Falcons had the stronger OOC schedule compared to the Huskies, who have been carrying the MAC banner for multiple seasons ...

Saturday, December 5th 

• AAC Championship Game: Temple at Houston 11:00 am on ABC / espn3 - The winner is seeking a New Year's 6 birth ... 
• CUSA Championship Game: Southern Miss at Western Kentucky 11:00 am on ESPN2
• Texas at Baylor 11:00 am on ESPN / espn3 Skycam - no conference title, with Oklahoma the regular season champion in the Big 12.
• Georgia State at Georgia Southern 1:00 pm on espn3 - Sun Belt, home state bragging rights on the line on Saturday.
• New Mexico State at Louisiana Monroe 2:00 pm on espn3 - Closing out play in the Sun Belt.
• Texas State at Arkansas State 2:00 pm on espn3 - Red Wolves can celebrate an undefeated Sun Belt title, with a home win on Saturday, but the title has been clinched.
• SEC Championship Game: Alabama vs. Florida 3:00 pm on CBS - The Crimson Tide are the pride of the SEC, so an upset by the Gators will knock the conference out of the College Football Playoff for 2015
• SWAC Championship Game: Alcorn vs. Grambling 3:00 pm on ESPNU - FCS programs that don't play for a FCS Championshp ...
• West Virginia at Kansas State 3:30 pm on FS1 - The Wildcats are seeking to become bowl eligible, though a bowl date is likely available at 5-7, with the number of bowls in 2015.
• Troy at Louisiana Lafayette 4:00 pm on espn3 - Both teams closing out Sun Belt play.
• Appalachian State at South Alabama 6:30 pm on espn3 - Both teams closing out Sun Belt play.
• MWC Championship Game: Air Force at San Diego State 6:30 pm on ESPN2 - The Aztecs are 8-0 in conference play, as the Falcons come into San Diego at 6-2.
• Pac-12 Championship Game: Stanford vs. USC 6:45 pm on ESPN / espn3 Skycam - The Cardinal have an outside shot at the College Football Playoff, if underdogs in the ACC and SEC take care of business ...
• ACC Conference Game: Clemson vs. North Carolina 7:00 pm on ABC / espn3 - The Tigers are one of two unbeaten teams remaining in the FBS. The Tar Heels have won 11 straight games, after losing the season opener against South Carolina.
• Big Ten Championship Game: Iowa vs. Michigan State 7:00 pm on FOX - The Hawkeyes are 4-0 head to head against the Spartans, when each team is ranked in the Top 25, but this is the first game ever, with each in the Top 5 ... Our Pick: Iowa 30, MSU 23!

DI-AA Playoffs Second round:

• G15: William & Mary at Richmond 11:00 am on on ESPN Extra / espn3
• G10: The Citadel at Charleston Southern 12:00 pm on ESPN Extra / espn3
• G11: Colgate at Jams Madison 12:00 pm on ESPN Extra / espn3
• G9: Chattanooga at Jacksonville State 1:00 pm on ESPN Extra / espn3
• G16: Western Illinois at Illinois State 1:00 pm on ESPN Extra / espn3
• G12: Montana at North Dakota State 2:30 pm on ESPN Extra / espn3
• G12: SHSU at McNeese 6:00 pm on ESPN Extra / espn3

G14: Northern Iowa at Portland State 9:00 pm on ESPN Extra / espn3

Sunday, December 6th

College Football Playoff selection show 11:00 am on ESPN - Who's In?

Bowl selection show 3:00 pm on ESPNU - Who is bowling in 2015?

Friday, December 11th

• DI-AA Quarterfinal 7:00 pm ESPN2 / WatchESPN

Saturday, December 12th

DI-AA Quarterfinal 11:00 am on ESPNU 

• Army vs. Navy 2:00 pm on CBS 

Post Christmas Bowl Games on Thursday feature two MAC programs in action

Thursday, December 26th Little Caesars Bowl: Bowling Green (10-3) vs. Pittsburgh (6-6) at 5 p.m. on ESPN (HD) The Pitt Panthers are filling in for the B1G role, since the Big Ten didn't have an eligible team to provide for this year, so it is a MAC vs. ACC match up at Ford Field in Detroit. Preview Bowling Green is 4-6 in bowl games. The Green Falcons lost last year's Military Bowl to San Jose State. Pittsburgh is 12-17 in bowl games. This is the sixth straight bowl game for the Panthers, after playing in three straight Compass Bowls, including back to back bowl losses, with the most recent vs. Ole Miss. Poinsettia Bowl: Northern Illinois (12-1) vs. Utah State (8-5) at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN (HD) It will be NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch's swan song for the Huskies, in a battle of MAC and MWC programs at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Preview Northern Illinois is 4-4 in bowl games. The Huskies lost in last year's Orange Bowl to Florida State and are playing in their sixth straight bowl game. Utah State is 2-5 in bowl games. The Aggies are playing in their third straight bowl game, after winning the Idaho Potato Bowl last year over Toledo.

Out with Mike Leach at Texas Tech ...

As the attorney for Mike Leach was suggesting on Tuesday, Texas Tech has chosen to dismiss head football coach Mike Leach for cause ...

Mike Leach fired: Texas Tech coach's methods seen as cruel‎ - Christian Science Monitor

Mike Leach, the most successful coach in Texas Tech football history, was fired Wednesday after being accused of punishing receiver Adam James for not ...

Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach Fired!!‎ - Gather.com
Texas Tech Red Raiders fire Mike Leach - ESPN
Dec 30, 2009 ... Texas Tech fired coach Mike Leach on Wednesday, two days after he was suspended by the school as it investigated his treatment of a player ...

Mike Leach becomes the second coach in the Big 12 Conference dismissed this season, due to the treatment of players.

Ex-Kansas coach Mangino getting $3 million from KU - Associated ... - Sporting News
Dec 16, 2009 ... Former Kansas football coach Mark Mangino will be paid $3 ... Comparing what he'd have gotten had they terminated him "without cause" with ...

Big Ten opens 2009-10 bowl season at 1-0

Wisconsin 20, Miami 14 in the 2009 Champs Sports Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 29Th on ESPN.

Today, December 30Th, two more bowl games are played ...

Roady's Humanitarian with Bowling Green vs. Idaho from Boise, Idaho at Bronco Stadium at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Followed by the Prime Time match up on ESPN:

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl

Arizona vs. Nebraska
from San Diego and Qualcomm Stadium
7 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN Radio

My picks have definitely fallen off this bowl season, but we were happy to see Wisconsin win and help boost the Big Ten off at 1-0 start this 2009-10 bowl season.

Tonight, it should be an interesting game with two programs that we have ties too. Both schools won last season in bowl games and are looking to build for the 2010 season.

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

peace

College Football '09: A look at the Mid-American Conference

Don't look for the Mid-American Conference to make any BCS noise with a surprise candidate in '09? That would be a first for this conference. How does the conference breakdown in '09 for MAC?

• The MAC is ranked #11 by Jeff Sagarin as a conference in FBS
• The MAC is a spoiler conference at best in '09
• Central Michigan looking for fourth straight bowl in '09
• Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Ball State and Buffalo also all bowled in '08
• Buffalo attended first bowl ever under coach Turner Gill in '08

Ranked teams in the AP and Coaches' preseason polls:

none, but Central Michigan received votes in each poll ...

Preseason magazines don't like the MAC in the Top 25 preseason:

none

Teams rebuilding in the MAC in '09

• Ball State

Teams rated below the FBS mark of #120 in 2009?

• Temple
• Miami-Ohio
• Kent State
• Eastern Michigan

Will the MAC East Division finish this way in 2009??

1. Buffalo * (5-3 in '08) (0-1 in bowls)
2. Ohio U. (3-5) (0-3)
3. Akron (3-5) (0-1)
4. Bowling Green (4-4)
5. Temple (4-4) (1-1)
6. Kent State (3-5) (0-1)
7. Miami-Ohio (1-7) (4-4)

Will the MAC West Division finish this way in 2009?

1. Central Michigan (6-2 in '08) (1-4 in bowls)
2. Western Michigan (6-2) (0-4)
3. Toledo (2-6) (7-3)
4. Ball State * (8-0) (0-5)
5. Northern Illinois (5-3) (2-2)
6. Eastern Michigan (2-6) (1-0)

* denotes 2008 MAC division champs (source for above list)

Last BCS title winner

No MAC team has ever participated in a BCS bowl.

Kickoff Game of the Season

Thursday, September 4Th
Troy @ Bowling Green

Bowling Green, Ohio
TV: none

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

1. Ball State (#81 in Sagarin ratings) - Veteran coach Stan Parish remains head coach after taking over for departed Brady Hoke, who moved onto San Diego State. Parish lead the Cardinals in the 13-45 loss to Tulsa in the GMAC. The Cardinals return 36 letterwinners, with 4 OFF 7 DEF and their placekicker from their 12-2 season in '08. OOC games with North Texas, New Hampshire, @ Army and @ Auburn take place before the MAC schedule.


2. Central Michigan (#87) - Coach Butch Jones is entering his 3rd season for the Chippewas, after an 8-5 campaign in '08. The Chippewas return 44 letterwinners, including 6 OFF and 10 DEF plus both kickers from their team that lost 21-24 to Florida Atlantic in the Motor City. The Chippewas open '09 with @ Arizona, @ Michigan State, Alcorn State, then begin MAC play. Final OOC game is @ Boston College on Halloween.


3. Western Michigan (#88) - Coach Bill Cubit enters his 5Th season for the Broncos, after a 9-4 record in '08 and a disappointing 14-38 loss to Rice in the Texas. The Broncos return 32 letterwinners, including 7 OFF and 3 DEF plus both kickers for '09. They open '09 @ Michigan, @ Indiana, MAC opener at home, vs. Hofstra, then @ Michigan State on 11/7.


4. Bowling Green (#92) - The Falcons replace Gregg Brandon with new coach Dave Clawson, who was a successful HC at FCS Richmond after finishing 6-6 in '08. Clawson has 39 returning letterwinners, 7 OFF and 3 DEF and their punter back. The Falcons open in the OOC hosting Troy, @ Missouri, @ Marshall and hosting Boise State before opening MAC play for '09.


5. Northern Illinois (#99) - Coach Jerry Kill enters his 2Nd season at the Huskies helm. The Huskies finished 6-7 in '08 and return 45 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 4 DEF plus returning PK will handle both duties this year. The Huskies lost 10-17 to LA Tech in the Independence. The Huskies open '09 in the OOC @ Wisconsin, vs. Western Illinois, @ Purdue and vs. Idaho before opeing MAC play on HC vs. Western Michigan.


6. Akron (#111) - Coach JD Brookhart is coming into his 6Th year at Akron and coming off 5-7 season. The Zips return 45 letterwinners, with 9 OFF and 6 DEF plus both kickers. The Zips open @ Penn State, vs. Morgan State, and vs. Indiana before opening MAC play. The final OOC game will be 10/24 at Syracuse.


7. Toledo (#113) - The Rockets have replaced coach Tom Amstutz with first year coach Tim Beckman, who is a former assistant at BG, but last 4 years at Ohio State and last 2 as DC at Okie State. The Rockets return 57 letterwinners, with 9 OFF and 7 DEF plus both kickers from the 3-9 '08 team. Toledo opens OOC play @ Purdue, vs. Colorado, vs. Ohio State in Cleveland and at FIU before opening on the road in MAC play.


8. Ohio U. (#114) - Former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich is entering his 5Th season for the Bobcats and they are coming off a 4-8 season in '08. They return 47 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 7 DEF plus their punter in what could be a season to watch for the Bobcats. The Bobcats open in OOC play vs. UConn, @ North Texas, vs. Cal Poly and @ Tennessee, before opening conference play with back to back road games.


9. Buffalo (#115) - Coach Turner Gill is back for year four leading the Bulls. The Bulls return 53 letterwinners, with 6 OFF and 8 DEF plus both kickers from a 8-6 team that finished with a 20-38 loss to UConn in the International. Coming off the MAC title, the Bulls will not likely sneak up on anyone in '09. Buffalo opens '09 in OOC play @ UTEP, vs. Pittsburgh, @ UCF, then begin MAC play. HC is 10/10 vs. Garder Webb.


10. Temple (#125) - Coach Al Gordon is entering his 4Th season with the Owls and is coming off a 5-7 season in '08. The Owls return 51 letterwinners, with 6 OFF and 9 DEF plus both kickers. Could this be the breakout year after climbing from 1-11 to 4-8 to 5-7 the first three seasons? Temple opens '09 vs. Villanova, then bye week to prepare for @ Penn State. They open MAC play for 3 games, then HC vs. Army, with later trip @ Navy.


11. Miami-OH (#126) - The early part of the decade was successful for the Redhawks ('00 to '05), but new head coach Mike Haywood moves in after serving at Notre Dame under Charlie Weis. The past four years under Shane Montgomery have been a roller coaster, with a 2-10 record in '08. The Redhawks return 45 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 5 DEF. The Redhawks open '09 with Kentucky in Cincinnati, then @ Boise State, 2 MAC road games, vs. Cincinnati and a road game @ Northwestern in a challenging OOC slate.


12. Kent State (#132) - Coach Doug Martin enters his 6Th year coming off a 4-8 record in '08 for the Flashes. The Flashes return 59 letterwinners, with 8 OFF and 7 DEF plus both kickers. The Flashes have one bowl game in their history and that was in '72 at the Tangerine. The '09 season opens with vs. Coastal Carolina, @ Boston College, vs. Kent State, MAC opener vs. Miami-OH, then final OOC game @ Baylor.


13. Eastern Michigan (#141) - The Ron English era begins in '09 for the Eagles. The former Michigan and Louisville DC will work with 45 letterwinners, with 9 OFF and 8 DEF plus both kickers back from last year's 3-9 squad. EMU has not had a winning season since '95 and there only bowl game was in '87. The Eagles open '09 with OOC games vs. Army, @ Northwestern, @ Michigan and a OOC game @ Arkansas on Halloween.

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

peace

Are these three team Top 25 college football teams?

Should these teams be out of the Top 25 after Week 1?

1. Clemson (0-1, #11 in my preseason picks) - blasted by Alabama 10-34 - clearly Alabama looks like a Top 25 team, but is Clemson worthy?
2. Virginia Tech (0-1, #12) - tough road game at East Carolina turned out to be the Hokies losing on a blocked punt for a touchdown... ECU beats VT 27-22!
3. Illinois (0-1, #20) - yes, they lost to my #10 team, the Missouri Tigers 42-52, but can the Fighting Illini overcome the loss in leadership and RB Rashard Mendenhall from '07 to remain a Top 25 program in '08?

A side note, Bowling Green's win at Pittsburgh 27-17, which isn't a major upset. While Pitt was given some respect, by some previews, they clearly needed to earn it on the field in '08, after finishing 5-7 in '07. Next up for Pitt (0-1) is MAC underdog Buffalo (1-0).

peace

Is the MAC ready for a breakout season in football in '08?

Like the Sun Belt Conference, the Mid-American Conference doesn't have a major 'mid-major' like the WAC or MWC that is likely to make noise for a BCS bid. But, is the MAC ready for a breakout season in football in '08?

There is no preseason consensus favorite for 13 member MAC in '08, which is broken into two divisions: East and West. Bowling Green and Miami-OH get the most love in the East, while Central Michigan and Ball State get the most love in the West. Western Michigan may be a sleeper to watch out for?

Central Michigan (6-1 in '07 in the West) beat Miami-OH (5-2 in the East in '07) in the '07 MAC Title Game 35-10. CMU has won back to back MAC titles games, so will '08 make it three in a row?

When I wrote my comments on the Sun Belt Conference yesterday, I failed to point out Phil Steele's Top 40 and Top 50 spots for the Sun Belt and MAC. Looking over page 29 of Phil Steele's 2008 College Football Preview: FAU was rated ahead of three MAC teams in the Top 50 nationally. Remarkably, Phil Steele had FAU #37 nationally and though Phil Steele doesn't pick Western Michigan to win the West, they are ranked #40 nationally. Rounding out the Top 50: Central Michigan #44 and Ball State #46 are in.

As PFW/College Football News speaks to on page 8 of their '08 Season Preview,
"Which conference other than your own should you care about. The MAC."

Top 21 OOC MAC football games in '08:

1. Central Michigan at Georgia
2. Central Michigan at Purdue
3. Miami-OH at Michigan
4. Toledo at Michigan
5. Western Michigan at Nebraska in season opener
6. Illinois vs. Western Michigan (in Detroit)
7. Bowling Green at Pittsburgh in season opener
8. Minnesota at Bowling Green
9. Kent State at Iowa State
10. Ball State at Indiana
11. Ohio U at Northwestern
12. Central Michigan at Indiana
13. Northern Illinois at Minnesota
14. Temple at Penn State
15. Ohio U at Ohio State
16. Boston College vs. Kent State (in Cleveland) in season opener
17. Eastern Michigan at Michigan State
18. Vanderbilt at Miami-OH
19. Northern Illinois at Tennessee
20. Akron at Wisconsin in season opener
21. Akron at Syracuse

Phil Steele (page 19) didn't have any Sun Belt teams among his 2008 Most Improved Teams, but the MAC has four teams on the list: #3 Northern Illinois, #8 Western Michigan, #14 Kent State, and #20 Miami-OH. Northern Illinois welcomes the conference's only new coach in Jerry Kill, who moves over from FCS Southern Illinois. Kill has coached at the Division II level, the FCS level and now the FBS level.

Miami-OH coach Shane Montgomery is entering his fourth season and it would be good to continue moving up the MAC ladder and find a way to garner a bowl game or MAC title in the near term. The RedHawks haven't bowled, since hiring their former OC to replace the late Terry Hoeppner, after the '04 season.

Who are the top teams in '08 for the MAC in football (my picks):

MAC East:

1. Miami-OH RedHawks (4-2 division, 5-2 MAC in '07) continue the move up the MAC ladder in '08.
2. Bowling Green Falcons (4-2 division, 6-2 MAC in '07) will battle to spoil the RedHawks climb.
3. Kent State Golden Flashes (1-5 division, 1-7 MAC in '07) makes the move back into top half of the MAC East.
4. Temple Owls (3-3 division, 4-4 MAC in '07) enter year two as a member of the MAC in football and third year with promising Al Gordon as head coach.
5. Buffalo Bulls (4-2 division, 5-3 MAC in '07) enter third season under coach Turner Gill and look to continue to build on improving as a football program.
6. Ohio U Bobcats (3-3 division, 4-4 MAC in '07) enter fourth season with former Husker head man Frank Solich at the helm.
7. Akron Zips (1-5 division, 1-7 MAC in '07) haven't had a winning season, since '05 title year.

MAC West:

1. Western Michigan Broncos (2-3 division, 3-4 MAC in '07) enter fourth season under coach Bill Cubit have talent, but lost three MAC games by less than 7 points in '07. My Surprise Pick
2. Central Michigan Chippewas (4-1 division, 6-1 MAC in '07) look for third straight MAC title, with everyone gunning for them in '08.
3. Ball State Cardinals (4-1 division, 5-2 MAC in '07) is becoming solid under coach Brady Hoke, who enters 6th season.
4. Northern Illinois Huskies (0-5 division, 1-6 MAC in '07) have a lot of ground to make up after downturn last year, but new coach should provide some fresh opportunities.
5. Toledo Rockets (2-3 division, 3-5 MAC in '07) last solid year was in '05.
6. Eastern Michigan Eagles (3-2 division, 3-4 MAC in '07) broke out of the cellar in '07, but will it hold in '08?

• Biggest Game in '08: Oct. 18th - Western Michigan at Central Michigan
• Biggest Game in MAC East: Oct. 18th - Miami-OH at Bowling Green
• MAC Title Game Prediction: Miami-OH over Western Michigan
• Coach of the Year: Shane Montgomery, Miami-OH

Do I agree that the MAC is a conference to watch other than the Big Ten and Big Twelve? Defense wins championships and I am not ready to say defense has become a trend in the MAC. The MAC plays some exciting football, but when your top team loses to a FCS division team (i.e. North Dakota State over Central Michigan, 14-44 in '07)... there is a chink in the armour.

peace