Iowa vs. Missouri in the Insight Bowl

The final BCS Ratings are out. The BCS Title Game will pit #1 Auburn (13-0) vs. #2 Oregon (12-0) for the BCS Championship.

For the Iowa Hawkeyes, an invitation to the Insight Bowl has been extended and the Hawkeyes will face the Missouri Tigers (10-2, 6-2 Big 12 North). Interesting match up, after the 2005-08 series between the two opponents was canceled, when Missouri opted out of the first two games.

Iowa has not played Missouri for over 100 years. Missouri leads the all-time series with a 7-5 record.

Here's the full 2010-11 bowl line up. The Big Ten, Pac 10 and SEC all send two teams to BCS bowls this season.

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Oregon 60, UCLA 13 in Thursday night College Football in the Pac 10

#2 Oregon certainly has an offense today, in contrast to the performance in Boise in the 2009 season opener. After Thursday night's performance in Eugene, it may be getting harder and harder to not vote Oregon #1 right now in College Football.

Why Oregon will beat UCLA on Thursday - ‎ESPN (blog)
This week the Oregon Ducks will play their first-ever game as AP No. 1, but don't expect the Ducks' stay at No. 1 to be short-lived. Since No. ...
No. 1 Ducks romp over UCLA 60-13 ‎ - The Associated Press

Interesting to see that Colorado and Utah will be joining both Arizona and Arizona State in the same division of the Pac 10, soon to be Pac 12. The Pac 8 has come a long way and it is a little interesting that the four newest members are all in the same division ...

Conference reveals two-division setup for football as Pac-12 - The Statesman Journal
It's a whole new world in the Pac-10, er, Pac-12 Conference ...

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Upset Alert for Week 6: Does Oregon State continue to get #13 Arizona's number in Football?

It's 9 of 11 for Oregon State over Arizona isn't it? Oregon State enjoyed a win the last time in Tucson in 2008, with a 19-17 win, kicking a 24 yard FG as time expired.

Will it be three's a charm for the Oregon State offense? They have already faced the #1 and #3 defenses in College Football. #2 is next!

Our #13 ranked Arizona Wildcats team is ranked #2 in team defense. WR James Rogers for Oregon State should be back per ESPN, after the injury he sustained in Week 4 @ #3 Boise State.

James Rodgers should play at Arizona - ESPN (Blog)

Oregon State was able to beat Arizona State at home without James Rodgers. Will his return from a concussion be enough for the Beavers to record an upset at No. 9 Arizona on Saturday ...

Arizona did beat Oregon State last season on the road, in junior QB Nick Foles, first start in the Mike Stoops era. Foles hit 25-34 for 254 yards and 3 TDs.

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The Iowa Hawkeyes fall 27-34 @ Arizona in Week 3

Iowa's previous loss was 24-27 in OT at Ohio State last year. In a way, the Iowa loss @ Arizona in Week 3 was similar to the loss in '09 @ Ohio State. Both games witnessed an Iowa opponent on their home field gain separation, due to Iowa's poor execution or turnovers.

In both games, Iowa scored a big touchdown in the endzone by WR Marvin McNutt in the come back. But, at the end, the Iowa play calling couldn't keep the momentum on track as another opponent pulled the game out.

Former Iowa safety and now seventh year head coach Mike Stoops at Arizona appeared to have everything riding on the Iowa @ Arizona game in Week 3. He paced, he shouted, he disagreed with just about every negative play that impacted his Wildcats, despite what replay would have suggested as a good call on the field.

On the flip side, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz remained calm and quiet in his demeanor as Iowa fell behind 7-27 at halftime in Tucson. The Hawkeyes midway in the fourth quarter came back to tie the game 27-27. A missed extra point became costly, on a night where Iowa's special teams were not playing well.

"Both teams had their share of sloppy plays, but we got off to a fast start in
that department. That makes it tough, but our guys battled back." - Kirk Ferentz

Arizona blocked an Iowa punt deep in Iowa territory on Iowa's first possession. Arizona went on to take a 7-0 lead. Iowa made some positive plays in their next possession taking the ball nearly into the Arizona redzone, only to drop a pass that deflected right into the hands of Arizona CB Trevin Wade for a pick 6. Wade scored a pick 6 in Iowa's 27-17 win in '09 in Iowa City.

Iowa bounced back with another drive to make the score 7-14, but on the next kickoff, Arizona took the kickoff 100 yards for another Wildcat touchdown. Turnovers and special teams lead to 21 points right out of the gate for the Wildcats in what the ESPN television coverage called a "Hawkeye ambush." The "red out" was working in Arizona Stadium on Saturday night in the Desert in Tucson. And that was all in the first 16 minutes of the game.

The Hawkeyes (2-1) gave it a great effort in the second half, with Broderick Binns returning the pick-six favor with 8-minutes, 12-seconds left to knot the score at 27. Iowa also scored a touchdown after cornerback Shaun Prater recovered a muffed Wildcat punt.

After Iowa tied the ball game up 27-27, with solid defense in the second half and a mix of patient passing and several big plays, it was time for one final drive for the Wildcats. The #21 Arizona Wildcats (3-0) secured the upset by executing a 73-yard scoring drive late in the nonconference contest. #4 Iowa falls in the desert, after running out of momentum on the heals of the missed PAT.

Iowa allowed the most points since Indiana scored 38 in 2007 against the Hawkeyes. "They made the plays they had to make at the end and we didn't get it done," Ferentz said.

"The bottom line is that we made too many mistakes to win the game," UI linebacker Jeff Tarpinian said. "We knew we had to stop them and we didn't get it done." Tarpinian led the Hawkeye defense with 12 tackles. It was the second week in the row the new starting MLB has lead Iowa in tackles.

"We're going to go in (Sunday) and it will be a good teaching tool for us," Tarpinian said. Iowa will regroup with one final nonconference game, before the eight game conference schedule begins in the Big Ten.

Iowa will host Ball State at Kinnick on Saturday, September 25Th. The game will be telecast nationally on the Big Ten Network with an 11 a.m. Central Time start.

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#4 Iowa @ #21 Arizona to Cap off a great Week 3 in College Football

The Big Ten vs. Pac Ten: The #4 Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0) @ the #21 Arizona Wildcats in Tucson for a 9:30 p.m. Central Time kick off with a national audience on ESPN. Of course, the Big Ten vs. Pac Ten is occurring in Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well, this afternoon, with #19 USC @ Minnesota and Arizona State @ Wisconsin.

Iowa beat Arizona 27-17 in Iowa City in '09. The game was not as close as the score would indicate, with the final score coming late, when now starting QB #8 Nick Foles was inserted for the final action for Arizona.

Iowa hasn't won in the West, since 1987. They have lost six straight, but the last win was in Tucson, over the Arizona Wildcats. Although the all-time series is tied 6-6, Iowa has won four of the last five meetings. The lone blemish in that streak is a 35-11 Hawkeye loss in 1998 -- the last time the teams met in Tucson.

Iowa is 4-8 in true road openers. The Hawkeyes were blown out in the Desert in 2004, when they traveled to play Arizona State. But, Iowa may shake the monkeys off their back in 2010.

"We got quite an education and lesson that night. As I recall we didn't even
swarm properly. There's a picture -- you can probably look it up on the
Internet, where we were just all over the joint with our swarm. I'm not saying
it started there, it started before that, but it just is an indicator that we
weren't thinking right and they were. When you play a good team that's thinking
right and you're not, that's not good. If we do that this week we'll be beaten
by 60. It will be ugly." - Kirk Ferentz is talking about that '04 ASU game

In the 2003 Orange Bowl, Iowa wasn't up to the task vs. USC. Last year, in the Orange Bowl vs. Georgia Tech, the Hawkeyes were a +6 underdog, but the task was completed. Iowa was a 24-14 winner over the Yellow Jackets. In the 12Th year under Kirk Ferentz, with a veteran staff, Iowa appears to benefit from previous experience. Will it pay off int he desert in Tucson?

Last year, Iowa travel to Penn State as a +9 underdog in Week 4. It was a national audience and the Nittany Lions were offering Iowa with a "white out" game. The Hawkeyes started off down 0-7 off a big 80 yard pass play, but stayed calm and in the 3Rd quarter, took the lead and completed the game with a 21-10 finish.

This year, the "red out" is greeting the Iowa Hawkeyes as the travel to Tucson to face the Arizona Wildcats. Iowa brings a team with quite a bit of senior leadership. Iowa will likely bring a couple fans, as well, with twelve thousand Hawkeye fans expected for the game in Arizona Stadium, which holds 57,400.

The Arizona offense has some very good weapons.

• Junior #8 QB Nick Foles
• Senior #5 RB Nic Grgsby
• Junior #82 WR Juron Criner
• Senior #88 A.J. Simmons

The Iowa offense has some very good weapons, as well.

• Senior #12 Ricky Stanzi
• Sophomore RBs #32 Adam Robinson and #27 Jewel Hampton
• Senior #82 TE Allen Reisner
• Junior #7 WR Marvin McNutt and Senior #15 WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos

Both programs are good in special teams. The Iowa defense is very good on paper. They played very well vs. Arizona last year. They have two new linebackers starting, but they have experience in the program, with a 5Th year senior at MLB in #33 Jeff Tarpinian and a fourth year junior at OLB in #45 Tyler Nielsen. This should be a close game. Either team could be capable in this game. The edge is with Iowa, who have finished in the Top 10 four of the past eight seasons.

Our Pick:

• Iowa Hawkeys 24


• Arizona Wildcats 18

We see both teams very capable in special teams, so if one team extremely out plays someone, then this phase of the game may create the difference. Turnovers are always big and last year, Arizona scored one of it's two TDs off a Pick 6. Iowa can't afford to allow Arizona easy plays. Look for Iowa to play ball control and take away the big plays on defense. A Pac 10 shootout favors the Wildcats. Iowa typically wins game with sound defense and success controlling the line of scrimmage.

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Big Ten Media Day is just around the Corner; SEC and Pac 10 hold events

The Big Ten Conference will hold annual Kickoff Luncheon and Football Media Day, August 2-3, 2010 in Chicago. Thirty-three student athletes will be on hand. The University of Iowa will spotlight...

• Senior Quarterback Ricky Stanzi


• Senior Defensive End Adrian Clayborn


• Senior Defensive Tackle Karl Klug


• with head coach Kirk Ferentz, who will be entering his 12Th season as head Hawkeye

Big Ten Conference Official Athletic Site
Big Ten Announces 33 Football Standouts to Appear at 2010 Kickoff Luncheon ... BTN: Men's Golf - Big Ten Match Play Championship (2010), 1:00 a.m. ET ...
2010 Football Media Day - Big Ten Network
The TV network will offer four hours of live televised coverage that day, including the full press conferences for all 11 head coaches and Big Ten ...


At the recent SEC Media Day, the talk of the town was not the conference's continued dominance in the world of college football, but rather it's prevalence ...
2010 SEC Media Days: UF meets Pouncey controversy head-on‎ - Alligator Army (blog)
SEC Media Days: Saban, Alabama Do Best To Downplay Expectations ...‎ - ArkansasSports360.com
SEC Media Days: Nick Saban tells Alabama football team to forget ...‎ - NOLA.com

Back To Football At SEC Media Days‎ - ESPN - Chris Low
Robbie Caldwell took over for Bobby Johnson just a week before SEC media days. "Ah'm from New York originally," Caldwell purred. ...
2010 SEC MEDIA DAYS: ROBBIE CALDWELL, COMMODORE OF OUR HEARTS‎ - EDSBS
2010 SEC Media Days: Vanderbilt Interim Coach Robbie Caldwell ...‎ - SB Nation
Vandy's Caldwell gets a first: SEC media days‎ - WSFA

Top storylines for 2010 college football conference media days‎ - ESPN - Mark Schlabach -
Nebraska, and possibly Colorado, will be making a last appearance at Big 12 media days. The Buffaloes are leaving for the Pac-10, and the Cornhuskers are ...
Rounding up Wednesday in Hoover‎ - Jackson Clarion Ledger (blog)
SEC Media Days Notebook‎ - Dothan Eagle

Pac-10 Football Media Day Scheduled For July 29 at Rose Bowl‎ - UCLA Athletics Official Site
The 2010 Pac-10 Football Media Day will be held next Thursday, July 29. For the first time, it will be held at the Rose Bowl, home of the Bruins. ...
Fans Can Take Part in Pac-10 Football Media Day‎ - Pac 10
Defensive Back Rahim Moore Talks UCLA Football and Pac-10 Competition‎ - FS West

Catch the 2010 College Football Season on television, as games kick-off on Thursday, September 2Nd.

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The College Bowl spotlight continues on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 with the MACCO Las Vegas Bowl: BYU vs. Oregon State

A 7 p.m. kickoff from Las Vegas on ESPN on Tuesday, December 22ND ...

MAACO Bowl Las Vegas
12/22/2009 - Maaco Bowl Las Vegas The Matchup: OREGON ST. (8-4, 6-3 Pac-10) vs. BYU (10-2, 7-1 MWC) Dec. 22, 2009, 5 PM PT, ESPN Sam Boyd Stadium Las ...

The Mountain West vs. Pac-10 with Brigham Young vs. Oregon State in a game that should be exciting to watch.

Brigham Young finished the 2009 season at 10-2 overall, second in the MWC with a 7-1 mark. While Oregon State finished 2009 with a 8-4 overall record, 6-3 in the Pac 10, tied for second place with Arizona and Stanford. The BYU Cougars lost two games at home to Florida State and TCU, while Oregon State lost to Cincinnati and Arizona at home and on the road @ USC and @ Oregon.

BYU looks to rebound in 2009, after losing in the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl to Arizona 21-31. BYU is playing in their fifth straight Las Vegas Bowl and is 2-2 in those previous games. Oregon State won the Las Vegas Bowl in 2003 over New Mexico 55-14. The Cougars should be a stronger foe for the Beavers in 2009. Oregon State won the 2008 Sun Bowl over Pittsburgh, 3-0.

Prediction for the 2009 Las Vegas Bowl:

Will the BYU coach get his alma mater? The crystal ball is a little foggy on this one ...

Brigham Young 30

Oregon State 28

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Iowa's 27-17 win over Arizona in Week 3 of College Football

It was a great afternoon at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, as the Iowa Hawkeyes beat the University of Arizona 27-17 in front of a packed house, that included a little of the red and blue.

Iowa had a very nice drive lead by quarterback Ricky Stanzi to take a 7-0 lead. But, after holding Arizona to a 3 and out on defense, the next drive turned out to be a Hawkeye mistake, when Stanzi threw a pick 6. Arizona took an early 10-7 lead, when the defense nearly gave up the big play on a Nic Grigsby run for Arizona to the Iowa 1. A huge defensive stand, fueled by a minus 4 yard loss by reserve Iowa safety David Cato's run blitz on 2Nd down kept the U of A drive to 3 points rather than 7.

The 2nd period run by Adam Robinson on 3 and 23 was the other huge play of the day by the Iowa team. The Hawkeyes took a nice 14-10 lead at halftime. They never looked back fueled by the Iowa defense and a Wildcats' team that just didn't make many plays on Saturday in Iowa City.

The Hawkeyes take a 3-0 record into Big Ten play next Saturday. The Hawkeyes will travel to Happy Valley for the 7 pm game on ABC to a national audience, ESPN Game Day and white out crowd for PSU. Penn State (3-0) will be ready and capable, as the Hawkeyes look to rebound in Happy Valley, after losing 7-27 @ Penn State in '07. Of course, the Nittany Lions are remembering last year's 23-24 loss to Iowa that threw Penn State out of the BCS title game hunt.

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Week 3: Iowa vs. Arizona at Kinnick Stadium, ABC/ESPN2 @ 2:30 pm

It's Game Day Iowa style, with the University of Arizona, lead by two former Hawkeyes with head coach Mike Stoops and his defensive coordinator brother, Mark, headed back to their alma mater to face the '09 Iowa Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes and the Wildcats both enter Kinnick with 2-0 records.

(picture - Iowa's Tim Dwight vs. Arizona back in the '90s the last time the Wildcats visited Kinnick to face the Hawkeyes)

Iowa's offense

• Junior Ricky Stanzi has had two slow starts, will game 3 be a charm?
• Running backs Adam Robinson (rs-Fr.) and Brandon Wegher (true Fr.) appear 1-2 entering Week 3 ... will Jeff Brinson (rs-Fr.) see a couple more carries too?
• Iowa has a nice mix at WR and TE in '09 developing
• Does Iowa's offensive line lead the Big Ten in '09 - good test today
• PK Daniel Murray appears to be carrying the full load this year

Iowa's defense

• The defensive line will be tested by U of A's run game, which DC Norm Parker often finds a way to take away, whether it be PSU in '09 or other programs making their way to Kinnick
• The linebackers are looking forward to this one, absent a spread flare for a change
• The secondary loves to pick the ball lately ... will it continue today?
• Iowa's punter Ryan Donahue is one of the best weapons in Black & Gold

Key's to the game

1. Control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football
2. Win the turnover game
3. Get on the Wildcats early, which points to both Stanzi and the run defense

Prediction:

#20 Iowa 24
Arizona 20

Final thoughts: The U of A are 0-4 in OOC games on the road under coach Mike Stoops, now in his 6Th season in Tucson. This will be Wildcats' sophomore Matt Scott's first road test as a starter. Junior RB Nic Grigsby enters the game #2 in the nation in rushing, but the Wildcats best offensive player, TE junior Rob Gronkowski, is projected out. He has missed all three game thus far and this could be the first game that his absence is really missed. This should be a classic Big Ten-Pac Ten match up, like last week's USC @ Ohio State, this should be a close game at the end. Special teams could play a big role down the stretch. The Hawkeyes hold on and win @ Kinnick by less than a touchdown.

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Football '09: What do you look for to find conference favorites?

What do you look for to determine a quality team first?

• A quality, returning quarterback?
• Strength and depth in the O-Line?
• The Front 7 on defense?
• Returning letter winners?
• Returning starters?
• Last year's turnover margin?
• A Heisman Trophy or award candidate?
• The team's head coach

Some observations we often make:

1. Like Texas in '08, a quality O-Line? The same is true in '02 for Iowa. New skill position starters are far better at RB, WR, than across the O-Line. QB is always a key position. A strong O-Line can often help the development of a new QB.
2. Defensively, how does the Front 7 look, since a strong Front 7 often overcomes youth in the the secondary? Looking at the better teams in the SEC, Big Ten and Pac Ten ... one remembers often: Defense wins championships!
3. You can't forget to factor in Special Teams as an X-Factor. Virgina Tech has certainly been strong over the years under coach Frank Beamer. Special teams are often a bread and butter part to the Hokies success. Coach Kirk Ferentz's Iowa squads from '02 to '04 were fueled by strong special teams play, resulting in three straight finishes at #8 in the final college football polls.

So, who do you like as conference favorites in the various conferences in '09?

• ACC - Virgina Tech, North Carolina; the ACC Coastal seems a little more predictable than the ACC Atlantic? Is Coach Tom O'Brien in year 3 ready to have NC State competing for a division title, after leaving fellow ACC Atlantic team, Boston College?
• Big 12 - Texas looks solid, but is Oklahoma ready to take the Red River Rivalry back? Oklahoma State will continue to get better? The Big 12 South looks clearly better than the Big 12 North, after the North made some inroads over the past two seasons?
• Big East - In a fair world, would the Big East be a BCS conference, when you look at the upside of the Mountain West Conference lately? Conference seems to be a wide open race for '09? Is there really a good favorite here?
• Big Ten - With Iowa's O-Line, D-Line and LBs, even the DBs, could this year be special for the Hawkeyes? Iowa needs to get off to fast start in Big Ten and OOC if they want to be in the picture. Ohio State will continue to look to re-load, especially with a starting QB returning. Penn State is pretty good too, but do they really have the capability to re-load, as Ohio State does? If IU wasn't so questionable, wouldn't Minnesota be a strong candidate to return to #11? How improved overall will the Big Ten be?
• C-USA - East Carolina had a good start in OOC season last year and appears to be strong in the O-Line and Front 7 on defense compared to their conference rivals. The C-USA East looks a little like the ACC Coastal, where EC and Southern Miss look good? In the C-USA West: Is Houston and Tulsa better in '09? What's happening at UTEP?
• MAC - Can Buffalo coach Turner Gill take his team again up the MAC East ladder to the conference title game again? Central Michigan and Western Michigan will fight for the bid as best directional school in the State of Michigan and the MAC West division.
• MWC - Should they get an automatic BCS bid? It appears the Rose Bowl is taking note of the MWC as an asterisk? If Rose Bowl can't get the Pac Ten champ, then they will take the MWC champ? Did we read that news right? Utah #1 for '09 in the MWC? TCU has been pretty consistent this decade.
• Pac-10 - Does anyone challenge USC in the Pac Ten? We love the 9-game conference slate that the Pac-10 plays. Is Arizona a bowl team in '09?
• SEC - Much has been mentioned of Florida's schedule, but overall this team and Urban Meyer bring a lot to table personnel wise. Can Georgia rebound? The SEC was a little weaker in '09 after Florida and Alabama last year. Is Ole Miss really worthy of all the hype. Can LSU be held down very long?
• Sun Belt - Arkansas State beat Texas A&M last year. Are they ready to compete for a Sun Belt title? Troy has some parts returning from '08. Florida Atlantic slipped last year, which wasn't a surprise. Who will be bit in the major conferences by a Sun Belt team in '09? UL Monroe beat Alabama in '07.
• WAC - Boise State is often the front runner, since Fresno State and Hawaii have dipped recently. Nevada and LA Tech look to fall into #2 and #3 in '09.

It's time to start to compile information and discuss many of the other teams that make up the 120 FBS teams in Division I College Football for '09.

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75th Sun Bowl: Oregon State (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh (9-3)

The 2008 Sun Bowl hosts a match up of the Oregon State Beavers (8-4, tied for 2Nd in the Pac 10) vs. the Pittsburgh Panthers (9-3, tied for 2Nd in the Big East) in El Paso. The Pac 10 is going for their fifth straight win in the Sun Bowl, after Oregon won the one game vs. a Big East opponent, with a 56-21 win over USF last year.

Oregon State is playing in their third straight bowl game, after back to back wins in the '06 Sun Bowl and '07 Emerald Bowl with a one point win over Missouri and a 7 point win over Maryland, respectively. Pittsburgh is playing in their first bowl game under coach Dave Wannstedt, after seeing it's five year bowl streak end after the 2004 season. Pitt beat Oregon State 36-13 in the 2002 Insight Bowl.

Pittsburgh's three losses were vs. Bowling Green, in season opener, vs. Rutgers and at Cincinnati. Oregon State's four losses were at Stanford and at Penn State to open the season, then at Utah and vs. Oregon in the finale. Ironically, Oregon State was blasted at Penn State, while Pittsburgh beat Iowa at home. Iowa beat Penn State 24-23 this season. It doesn't mean much in this game, but it did cost the Nittany Lions a birth in the BCS championship game.

Experience favors the Beavers, with coach Mike Riley in his eighth season and winner of four consecutive bowl games. Ironically, the one bowl loss at Oregon State this decade was vs. Pittsburgh in 2002. Look for a good 2008 Sun Bowl celebrating the 75Th Anniversary of the bowl game.

Cidsports' Prediction

Oregon State 28

Pittsburgh 24

cidsports

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Holiday Bowl: Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Oregon (9-3)

The 2008 Holiday Bowl will pit the Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-3, 4Th in the Big 12 South) vs. the Oregon Ducks (9-3, tied for 2Nd in the Pac 10) in San Diego. The Big 12 has beat the Pac 10 in four of the past six Holiday Bowls, including last year, when Texas defeated Arizona State 52-34.

Oklahoma State is playing in their third straight bowl game, including last year's 49-33 win over Indiana in the '07 Insight Bowl. Cowboys coach Mike Gundy is 2-0 in bowl games as a head coach, entering his fourth season. The Oregon Ducks are playing in their fourth straight bowl game under coach Mike Bellotti, who is in his 14Th year as head coach, as dean of the Pac 10 coaches. Last year, the Ducks beat USF 56-21 in the '07 Sun Bowl.

The Cowboys three losses were all in the second half of the season at Texas, at Texas Tech and vs. Oklahoma, while the Ducks three losses cam in the middle half vs. Boise State, at USC and at California. Both teams played Washington State, with the Cowboys opening the season with a 39-13 win, while Oregon took care of business at Washington State 63-14 in the fifth game, coming off a loss to Boise State.

Conventional wisdom says with a Big 12 team squaring off with a Pac 10 team that the audience is in for an offensive showdown in the 2008 Holiday Bowl. Oklahoma State enters the game coming off an offensive showdown, but a 41-61 loss against in-state rival Oklahoma. While the Ducks, closed out the regular season with three wins, including a road finale at in-state rival Oregon State with a sound 65-38 win.

Cidsports' Prediction

Oklahoma State 38

Oregon 35

cidsports

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Emerald Bowl: California (8-4) vs. Miami-FL (7-5)

The final bowl game of the day, is a match up of the Pac 10 vs. ACC in the 2008 Emerald Bowl in San Francisco. This year's game will spotlight the California Golden Bears (8-4, 4Th in the Pac 10) vs. the Miami-FL Hurricanes (7-5, tied for 3Rd in the ACC Coastal Division).

California is playing in their sixth straight bowl game, after a 42-36 win over Air Force in last year's Armed Forces Bowl. While Miami-FL is returning to a bowl game, after missing their first bowl game in the decade. The Golden Bears are looking for their fourth straight bowl win, while the Hurricanes are looking for their second straight win, after spending the holidays at home last bowl season.

The Golden Bears top wins this season were all at home vs. Michigan State, Colorado State and Oregon, but lost all four road games at Maryland, Arizona, USC and Oregon State. The Hurricanes biggest wins this season were at home vs. Wake Forest and Virginia Tech, the ACC BCS representative, but five losses came at Florida, vs. North Carolina, vs. Florida State, at Georgia Tech, and at NC State.

Who steps up in the Emerald Bowl?

The Hurricanes won five straight, before losing their final two games of the regular season in the ACC. The Golden Bears are hoping to close out 2008 on a three game winning streak. Can the Pac 10's top running back, sophomore Jahvid Best. lead the charge for the Golden Bears? Do the young Hurricanes put things together on offense and defense to pull out the bowl win?

Cal's coach Jeff Tedford is 4-1 in bowl games, while Miami-FL's Randy Shannon is making his postseason debut in the Emerald Bowl, after becoming head coach last season. Cal's experience vs. Miami's youth... in the 2008 Emerald Bowl!

Cidsports' prediction

California 21

Miami-FL 20

cidsports

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Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona (7-5) vs. Brigham Young (10-2)

The final bowl game for day one of the 2008-09 bowl season is the Arizona Wildcats (7-5, 5Th in the Pac 10) vs. Brigham Young Cougars (10-2, 3RD in the MWC) in the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl.

This is the 3RD game between the two teams in three seasons, after each met in the season opener in '06 and '07. The teams split, with the home teams winning each game.

Both teams faced three common opponents this season (New Mexico, UCLA and Washington). Arizona lost the only game against the common opponents with a 28-36 road game at New Mexico.

This is Arizona's first bowl game, since the '98 Holiday Bowl, where the Wildcats beat Nebraska 28-20. This is BYU's fourth straight bowl game and fourth straight vs. Pac 10 opponents. All three games were in the Las Vegas Bowl. BYU won last year's Las Vegas Bowl 17-16 over UCLA.

Many are projecting a high scoring affair, but both teams had some low scoring games during the season. Arizona's highest output in the loss was 45, but in the other four losses the highest total was 28 points (vs. New Mexico). In BYU's home game vs. New Mexico, the Cougars won 21-3.

Arizona coach Mike Stoops is a defensive minded coach. BYU's offense only scored 28 points at Washington in game two of the season. The time span between the final game of the season and today's bowl game may slowdown each offense a bit.

Cidsports prediction

Arizona 31

BYU 24

http://twitter.com/cidsports

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Final week of regular college football season approaches

The Big Ten Conference finished play the weekend ahead of Thanksgiving.

The SEC saw teams like Georgia, LSU and South Carolina all go down to rivals in the final week of play, this past weekend. Oregon likely knocked Oregon State out of the Rose Bowl and the BCS. USC plays UCLA this week to determine the single team for the Pac 10 in the BCS this year.

The Big Ten will not likely send a team for the third straight year to the BCS title game, since Florida or Alabama from the SEC and a Big 12 school will likely play in the title game this year. However, the loss by Oregon State, will likely allow two Big Ten teams into BCS bowls, with Penn State in the Rose Bowl and Ohio State likely headed to the Fiesta Bowl.

For Iowa fans, two Big Ten teams in the BCS will likely allow Iowa to win a date in Tampa on January 1, 2009. Will it be a rematch with LSU of the 2004 Capital One Bowl? The Hawkeyes have finished strong in 2008 with five wins in their final six conference games. At 5-3 in the Big Ten, the Hawkeyes equalled their 2005 season mark, which also earned them a trip to Tampa.

In the 2009 BCS Title Game, the SEC will likely be represented by Florida, pending their win over Alabama in the SEC Title Game. Of course, the Crimson Tide will fill the slot, if they can remain undefeated with a win over the Gators, clearly their toughest test to date. On the flip side, the Big 12 is likely back in the title game, with Oklahoma the top candidate, if the defeat Missouri in the Big 12 Title Game. Texas is clearly the odd team out, but you can chalk that up to the Big 12 Conference, which sets the rules for how they determine a tie-breaker.

You ask me, I would take Texas over OU via head to head. Texas Tech would have been eliminated from my consideration based on two wins over FCS competition in the OOC games.

While many will cry for a 8 team or 16 team playoff for FBS. I'll suggest a return to the traditional bowl relationships and use the BCS simply for #1 vs. #2 in the final +1 BCS Championship Game. The argument I have with the Big 12 Conference is the BCS Poll is simply a device to get #1 vs. #2. It shouldn't be used for anything else and a Plus One system would be better for College Football, overall.

The argument for a playoff is enjoyable to watch among major college football fans. By the way, college football has a playoff system for Division I football. It is called the FCS and there are many conferences that play for the right to be among the 16 teams selected among Division I programs. The basketball playoff system involves basically every Division I conference, so if you want a playoff system... I suggest that your program consider the FCS for Division I programs.

http://twitter.com/cidsports

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The Good, Bad and Ugly after Week 4: Top 25?

It's still early in 2008 College Football season, but we are seeing some strengths and weaknesses starting to unfold, after four weeks of football. The Big Ten Conference will begin conference play in Week 5 and clearly from a national prospective... the torch barrier has fallen, bringing much of the conference with it. Four teams enter conference play undefeated, so it should be an interesting race in 2008.

USC is #1 nationally, but what about the strength of the Pac 10 overall? Can the Trojans remain focused week in and week out to run the table in '08 in the regular season?

The SEC is doing very well, when you look at Vanderbilt at 4-0 and 2-0 in the SEC and the top of the ticket this fall, taking care of business thus far with teams, like Georgia, Florida, LSU and Alabama.

How far can the Big 12 go in 2008? Will Oklahoma remain on top as the season unfolds and we finish out the season with the Big 12 Championship game? Missouri won it's first Big 12 North title ever in '07. Can anyone stop them from going higher in '08?

The Big East and the ACC... some want to dump the Big Ten into the fray, but clearly the Big East and ACC are falling short at the top of the ticket. Ohio State has one loss against #1 and two other prospects clearly appear capable of carrying the Big Ten's top banner at a higher level than anyone in either the Big East or ACC.

Pitt beat Iowa 21-20 at home. But, South Florida (4-0) played a tighter than expected game against FIU (0-3). USF beat Kansas (3-1) earlier, but how strong are they has they move into Big East play? Are we going to see another season, like 2004, with the Big East Conference in '08? In 2004, Pitt pulled off an important win at home in OT vs. Maryland. This year, Pitt (2-1) beat Iowa (3-1) in a game that could or should have gone either way.

The ACC doesn't have a clear cut Top 10 type team. Wake Forest at 3-0, 1-0 in the ACC doesn't seem to excite the country as a leader, as other names in the past. Can Virginia Tech (3-1, 2-0 ACC) gain back some much needed energy for the ACC in Week 5? The Hokies travel to Nebraska (3-0) for an interesting ACC-Big 12 contest. The Cornhuskers will be facing their first BCS conference opponent for the year. Of course, the Cornhuskers enter with two weeks of preparation, while is coming off a big road win in the ACC.

Notre Dame (1-2) will host their final Big Ten opponent of the year, with Purdue (2-1) heading to South Bend for Week 5. It will be coach Joe Tiller's final showdown, in his final season at Purdue. The Irish have an opportunity to start a winning streak on their schedule.

What about the non-BCS teams and conferences, thus far, after four weeks of play.

East Carolina (C-USA) found a early struggling North Carolina State (2-2, 0-1 ACC) as too much for the Pirates in Week 4 on the road. NC State beat ECU 30-24 to end the Pirates' quest for a Cinderella season. But, ECU (3-1, 1-0 CUSA) is off to a very solid start and will return to conference play in Week 5. Tulsa (3-0, 1-0 CUSA) picked up a win over New Mexico (MWC) in the OOC, while Marshall (3-1, 2-0 CUSA) is off to a good conference start by picking up another win in Week 4.

The MWC is off to a very good start lead by four conference teams: BYU (4-0, 1-0 MWC), Utah (4-0, 2-0 MWC), TCU (4-0, 1-0 MWC) and UNLV (3-1, 0-1 MWC). UNLV beat Iowa State (2-2) in OT at home, 34-31.

The WAC carried the non-BCS banner into the BCS bowls the past couple of years (Hawaii in '07 and Boise in '06). The WAC may not be out of it in '08, after a huge win by Boise State (3-0) over Oregon (3-1, 1-0 Pac 10) in Week 4 on the road. Fresno State (2-1) won an important road game again at Toledo in Week 4. Fresno's only loss was to Wisconsin (3-0) in Week 3, at home.

The Sun Belt and MAC don't appear primed for a strong non-BCS conference run vs. BCS opponents. Florida Atlantic (1-3) was a popular choice by many in the Sun Belt. But, FAU has showed very little in road games at Texas (3-0), Michigan State (3-1) and Minnesota (4-0).

Troy (2-1, 1-0 Sun Belt) and Arkansas State (3-1, 1-0 Sun Belt) are playing well in 2008 and clearly look capable of giving FAU a run for the Sun Belt Conference. I still like Troy taking the Sun Belt in '08.

But in the MAC, one team is clearly playing strong football. Ball State (4-0, 1-0 MAC) is playing well and did pick up a win over a BCS opponent for the MAC in Week 4. Ball State beat Indiana (3-1) 42-20. My favorite pick for the MAC is Western Michigan (3-1, 1-0 MAC). Central Michigan (2-2, 1-0 MAC), the favorite by many in the MAC, lost their third game to Purdue (2-1), since the third game of last year.

Week 5 will be the final weekend of September 2008. With conference play beginning for many, we should see some shake up continue throughout the Top 25 and beyond.

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How will the BCS unfold for the 2008 College Football Season?

Six premier conferences...

• Atlantic Coast Conference
• Big East Conference
• Big Ten Conference
• Big 12 Conference
• Pac Ten Conference
• Southeastern Conference

The 2008 college football season begins tomorrow night. Will we see another non-BCS conference emerge, as we have seen the past two seasons, with the WAC? Will Notre Dame rebound from the poor 3-9 season last year and contend for a bowl? Will the SEC make it three straight in the BCS Title Game in '08? Will Ohio State get back to the BCS Title and finally overcome the back to back runner up role?

In the ACC, twelve teams seek the 2008 ACC Championship. Last year, it was Virginia Tech over Boston College, 30-16, but the Hokies lost the Orange Bowl vs. Kansas, 21-24. This year, Virginia Tech is the preseason consensus pick in the ACC Coastal, while Clemson Tigers are getting the most love in the preseason in the ACC Atlantic.

In the Big East, West Virginia, despite a new head coach, is basically the preseason consensus pick in the conference. After coach Rich Rodriguez departed before the Fiesta Bowl, new coach Bill Stewart lead the Mountaineers to a 48-28 win over Oklahoma. The Mountaineers have been to two BCS bowls in three years and look lead in '08 again.

In the Big Ten, the Ohio State Buckeyes are the preseason consensus pick to win the conference. The Buckeyes have won two straight outright and have won at least a share the past three years. Will the Buckeyes make it to three BCS title games in row? Can they overcome the unbelievable failure vs. SEC opponents in bowl games? It should be an interesting season for the Buckeyes. Forty years ago, OSU head coach Woody Hayes lead the Buckeyes to a MNC. Can coach Jim Tressel lead the Buckeyes to their second BCS Title?

In the Big Twelve last year, we saw two teams emerge in the Big 12 North for the first time, with Missouri and Kansas finishing at 7-1 , while the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Iowa State finished last at 2-6. In the Big 12 North, it was Oklahoma, who went on to beat Missouri in the Big 12 Championship 38-17. This year, Oklahoma is picked as the preseason favorite in the South by most previews, but Texas and even Texas Tech, get the top nod each by one preview. In the North, Missouri is the favorite by all but one preview, where KU gets the pick.

In the Pacific 10 Conference, the USC Trojans are the preseason consensus pick in '08 and are going for at least their seven share of a conference title in seven years. For the second straight season, each Pac 10 team will play one another, playing nine conference games and three OOC opponents. USC won the Rose Bowl last year 49-17 over the Big Ten runner up, Illinois.

In the Southeastern Conference, where the past two SEC champions have gone on to win the BCS title game, Georgia or Florida are being picked in the SEC East, while LSU or Auburn are picked in the SEC West, with even Alabama being picked by one preview in the West. LSU won in '07, Florida in '06 and Georgia in '05... but, can Georgia get to their first BCS title game in '08?

Notre Dame is one of only three independents (Army and Navy) and they do get BCS consideration, if they have a bowl eligible season. Only Phil Steele's preview puts the Fighting Irish in the preseason Top 25, after last year's 3-9 mark. Will the Fighting Irish really rebound this year?

Only ten teams are selected for the BCS these days. A maximum of two teams from any conference. So, who will make the BCS in '08?

• BCS National Championship Game
• Rose Bowl
• Orange Bowl
• Fiesta Bowl
• Sugar Bowl

I will say this, if Ohio State gets to the BCS title game for the third straight year... they will win it. They will honor the 40th anniversary of Woody Hayes MNC accomplishment forty years ago. It will be an interesting twist, if it turns out to be a rematch of the top OOC game of the season...

Game of the Regular Season: September 13 - Ohio State at USC

Stay tuned, the kickoff of the 2008 college football season is less than 24 hours away! Game on!

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Big Ten Conference: Top 20 OOC games for '08

Conference bragging rights are always a great debate. Here's my Top 20 OOC games for Big Ten teams in '08...

• 1. #1 Ohio State at. #2 USC... Buckeyes are playing for a lot in this one on the road to the BCS in '08


• 2. #16t Illinois vs. #6 Missouri at St. Louis... #1 OOC rivalry today for a Big Ten team...


• 3. #11 Wisconsin at #25 Fresno State... a great game for UW, but shouldn't the Badgers play an OOC BCS team too?


• 4. Michigan State at California... classic Big Ten vs. Pac Ten 2nd tier match up for '08...


• 5. Purdue vs. #20 Oregon... another 2nd tier Big Ten vs Pac Ten, w/ Big Ten hosting...


• 6. Michigan vs. Utah... after last year's Appalachian State game, this one should be on the must watch list...


• 7. Michigan at Notre Dame... are the Fighting Irish back in '08?


• 8. Iowa at Pittsburgh... why isn't Penn State playing Pitt... Iowa plays Iowa State each year?


• 9. Michigan State vs. Notre Dame... are the Spartans for real?


• 10. Purdue at Notre Dame... this will be Joe Tiller's chance to go out on top, as he will retire after '08 from his head coaching job for the Boilermakers...


• 11. Penn State vs. Oregon State... 4th Big Ten vs. Pac Ten match up in '08...


• 12. Purdue vs. Central Michigan... both teams are playing 3rd game in nearly one year between each other, wow!


• 13. Minnesota at Bowling Green... a rare BCS team for a home appearance for Bowling Green...


• 14. Northwestern at Duke... the only Big Ten vs. ACC game in the '08 regular season...
  15. Indiana vs. Central Michigan... is this a dangerous Nov. game for Big Ten?


• 16. Minnesota vs. Florida Atlantic... a revenge game for the Gophers at home this season...


• 17. Iowa vs. Iowa State... the Cy-Hawk Series is the other Big Ten vs. Big 12 rivalry game that doesn't quite have the national flare as the game in St. Louis...


• 18. Penn State at Syracuse...new QB in the Carrier Dome for Nittany Lions... danger?


• 19. Illinois vs. Western Michigan in Detroit... Nov. 8 road trip in the OOC vs. a MAC school... upset trap?


• 20. Michigan vs. Miami-OH... the Wolverines are 23-0 all time vs. MAC teams... head coach Rich Rodriquez's inaugural season could be a dandy?

One game I'll regret leaving off this list: Ball State at Indiana, Sept. 20th.

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Who is the #1 College Football team for 2008?

Last year, LSU won the title. The SEC has won back to back BCS Titles with LSU and Florida, in 2006.

For other conferences, the Big 12's last title was Texas, in 2005. The Pac Ten's last title was USC, 2004. The Big Ten's last title was Ohio State, in 2002. The Big East's last title was Miami-Fl, in 2001. Of course, three former Big East teams are now in the ACC, including the Hurricanes. The ACC last title was Florida State, in 1999.

1998 was the first year of the Bowl Championship Series, so we have completed 10 seasons now of champions:

• 2007 LSU
• 2006 Florida
• 2005 Texas
• 2004 USC
• 2003 LSU
• 2002 Ohio State
• 2001 Miami-Florida
• 2000 Oklahoma
• 1999 Florida State
• 1998 Tennessee

So, who will be the 11th BCS Champions in 2008? Who is the favorite for the 2008 BCS Championship?

Veteran leadership at QB appears to be a key for BCS Champions. Both LSU and Florida, had senior QBs. But, what is clear, your team better be very strong defensively.

While you want to bring a pretty good offense and special teams to the table, defense wins championships in college football. Both LSU and Florida were lead first, by Top 10 defenses, as were basically all the BCS Champions this decade.

The 2008 Florida is a popular choice, looking at Phil Steele and Athlon's #1 picks for 2008. Florida is expected have an outstanding offense and special teams. But, is the defense truly a Top 10 defense this year? Strong defenses have been the common denominator for BCS champions? Further, Florida would appear to have pretty strong schedule, compared to the past two champions, who both came from the SEC.

Lindy's and the Sporting News are both going SEC, as well. But, Georgia is the team on their minds for #1. Georgia's schedule is projected by many to be one of the nation's toughest. While they are projected to have a strong defense, will the strength of schedule get the better of the Bulldogs and knock them out of title contention?

Sure Fire Scouting is aiming at the USC Trojans as the #1 for 2008. USC is expected to have one of the best defenses in college football and certainly the tops in the Pac Ten. The Pac Ten crowns a true champion now, making it the best conference schedule among the top BCS conferences. But, will this lead to a dangerous let down for the Trojan, when you have to play all 9 conference opponents?

Other teams to watch from other conferences:

• Ohio State from the Big Ten Conference, the Buckeyes are shooting for their 3rd straight BCS Title Game... if successful again, I will go with OHIO STATE for the title in '08! Toughest game for OSU will likely come out of conference, with a trip to USC in September.
• Clemson appears to be the clear favorite in the ACC for '08. Could the Tigers become the top sleeper for BCS Title Game in '08?
• West Virginia appears to be the clear favorite in the Big East for 2008, but with a new head coach... the title game appears to be a real long shot for the Big East's top program.
• Who in the Big 12? Missouri vs. Oklahoma for the Big 12 title and automatic bid for a BCS title game? OU hasn't made it to the BCS top game, since back to back visits in '03 and '04.
• Conference USA - Will likely have to wait again for its first BCS bid year.
• Mid American Conference - Nope!
• Mountain West Conference - BYU is the favorite to carry the banner for the non-BCS teams in '08, but the MWC hasn't had a BCS bowl game participant, since the 2004 season.
• Sun Belt Conference - No BCS candidates, but Florida Atlantic appears to be the clear conference favorite for '08.
• Western Athletic - Strongest non-BCS conference the past two seasons ('06 and '07), but unlikely a candidate for 2008.
• Independent - Notre Dame played in BCS games during Coach Weis' first two seasons ('05 and '06). While a return to bowl game is possible for '08, Notre Dame suffered it's worst season last year in my lifetime... so, a BCS bowl game is unlikely.

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Rose Bowl should always be for Champions

The 2007 College Football season has shown the BCS needs to be changed, once again.

USC and Ohio State should be facing one another in the 2008 Rose Bowl. Champions of the conferences should face one another each.

Ohio State will go to the BCS Championship, most likely, after Black Saturday for teams like West Virginia, Missouri and others throughout the season.

The BCS should be about #1 vs. #2 only. We need to get back the traditional bowl system, with a plus one game, with the final #1 vs. #2 in that one final game. The BCS Championship Game shouldn't eliminate the Big Ten or Pac Ten champion playing in the Rose Bowl in any year.

The Rose Bowl should be for the Champions of the Big Ten and Pac Ten. The Fiesta would likely have the Big 12 Champion, the Sugar would have the SEC and so forth.

A plus one system would eliminate a team coming off a loss from playing in the BCS Championship. It would allow everyone to play a bowl game, win in that bowl game, and than the final #1 vs. #2 always being two teams that are coming off a win.

It won't happen this year, but the '08 season should get back to traditional champions and a Plus One System. Make it happen BCS!

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