It's Monday, as the New Year nears!

Some will be working on Monday, December 30th, while others will be playing ...

Armed Forces Bowl:
Middle Tennessee vs. Navy at 10:45 a.m. on ESPN (HD)
Anchors away!

Music City Bowl :
Georgia Tech vs. Ole Miss at 2:15 p.m. on ESPN (HD)
Go Yellow Jackets in Nashville!

Alamo Bowl :
Oregon vs. Texas at 5:45 p.m. on ESPN (HD)
Final swan song for the Longhorns coach Mack Brown in San Antonio!

Holiday Bowl:
Arizona State vs. Texas Tech at 9:15 p.m. on ESPN (HD)
Pac 12 vs. Big 12 night cap in San Diego!

Trick or Treat: Will the Hawkeyes bring Floyd home to Iowa City for a November run in the B1G?

The last time the University of Iowa headed to Minnesota, they returned home to Iowa City without Floyd of Rosedale last season, after losing to the Gophers 27-24. The Hawkeyes (5-2, 2-1 B1G Legends) face Minnesota (1-6, 0-3 B1G Legends) at 2:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network. Iowa becomes bowl eligible for the 11Th straight year with a win on Saturday in Minneapolis. However, Minnesota is just looking for something to build on.

Iowa has plenty on the line heading into a Legends title race in November. Minnesota is looking for their first Big Ten win under new coach Jerry Kill. A match up between two Legends teams will be on the line at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday.

The Iowa defense has given up the big play a more in 2011, than the typical defense under Iowa DC Norm Parker. Iowa is young in many spots in 2011, but if the Hawkeyes are going to continue to be in the hunt in November for the Legends division, the Hawkeyes need to step up on the road in Minneapolis. Iowa junior QB James Vandenberg is 0-3 in road starts in his career as a starter.

Iowa should get Floyd back for the winter, but this Iowa team hasn't won on the road yet, so this is far from a given. This is another rivalry game, with a trophy on the line. Currently, the Hawkeyes have zero trophy-game trophies in the trophy case. The Hawkeyes have three straight bowl trophies in the case, but those were other teams and Iowa needs to find some Mojo heading into November. A win on the road is the first step for the young Hawkeyes.

Our prediction is a little conservative here...

Iowa 29

Minnesota 18

At QB, both teams are lead by first-year juniors, with Vandenberg for Iowa and MarQueis Gray for Minnesota. Vandenberg has some good skills throwing the football, with the ability to make the chains move with his feet. Gray is a nice athlete, who has played WR in his career and is a quality QB carrying the football. His passing game has work, but he is facing an Iowa defense, who has given up some big plays this season, with the majority by air.

Iowa redzone defense has been good in 2011, but overall both teams are giving up plenty of yards to their opponents. Who plays stronger on third down and gets off the field sooner will be a major key on Saturday?

On Saturday, the best defense may likely be a solid offense. Both teams will need to establish strong line play on offense and keep the ball. Special teams will be very important, as well. How balanced will both teams be on Saturday? Iowa is capable of some big plays on offense and Minnesota's defense has given up plenty of offense to opponents thus far in 2011.

For Iowa, senior DE Broderick Binns will have a homecoming of sorts, with a return to his hometown for Saturday's game. Iowa's DEs will have a do a good job of containment vs. Minnesota's QB Gray. Iowa's other DE is sophomore Dominic Alvis, who will be backed by senior Lebron Daniel. This is an area of the game to watch in Minneapolis.

Iowa has been banged up at linebacker, so it will be injury to see who will take the field. How physical will Iowa be vs. Minnesota. In last year's win, Minnesota played well physically on both sides of the ball. Under Kirk Ferentz, line play and playing physical, assignment football has been Iowa's bread and butter. Will Iowa bring it on the road on Saturday?

Two other Iowa colleges face big road tests on Saturday. The University of Northern Iowa, ranked #2 in FBS, travels to #3 North Dakota State for a huge Missouri Valley Football Conference game. The Bisons beat Minnesota in Week 4. UNI's lone loss came @ Iowa State to open the 2011 season. The game will kickoff at 3 p.m. on FCS (DirecTV channel 617). A win on the road would be huge for the Panthers on their title run in 2011.

Iowa State (3-4, 0-4 Big 12) travels to Texas Tech (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) on Saturday for a 6 p.m kickoff on Fox Sports Net. The Red Raiders pulled off the upset in Norman last week. The Cyclones are just looking for some positives, after struggling in Big 12 play, after winning three straight games by comeback in non-conference play.

Other Big Games:

Northwestern @ Indiana at 11 a.m. on Big Ten Network

Michigan State @ Nebraska at 11 a.m. on ESPN

Purdue @ Michigan at 11 a.m. on ESPN2

Missouri @ Texas A&M at 11 a.m. on Fx

UAB @ Marshall at 11 a.m. on Comcast

Florida vs. Georgia in Jacksonville at 2:30 p.m. on CBS

Oklahoma @ Kansas State at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN

Illinois @ Penn State at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN

Baylor @ Oklahoma State at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2

Navy @ Notre Dame at 2:30 p.m. on NBC

Iowa @ Minnesota at 2:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network

South Carolina @ Tennessee at 6:15 p.m. on ESPN2

Iowa State @ Texas Tech at 6 p.m. on Fox Sports Net

Wisconsin @ Ohio State at 7 p.m. on ESPN

Stanford @ USC at 7 p.m. on ABC

Arizona @ Washington at 9:30 p.m. on Comcast

Iowa Hawkeyes beat Penn State 24-3 on Homecoming; while State of Iowa Division I teams go 3-0 in Week 5

The Iowa Hawkeyes (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) open Big Ten play with a solid 24-3 win over Penn State (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten) on Homecoming on Saturday night. Like the 2002 season, Iowa heads into Big Ten season at 3-1, and like 2002, Iowa opened with a solid win over Penn State. Unlike 2002, which was an offensive dominated game, defense shined on Saturday night this year.

Iowa for the past couple years has been compared to Alabama by Phil Steele, the noted college football magazine. Call Iowa a version of Alabama lite. Like the #1 Alabama program, both programs own a 24-3 win at home over the Nittany Lions this season.

Iowa's base 4-3 defense held ground and kept the Nittany Lions out of the end zone again. Other than a first minute TD on the first drive at Happy Valley last year, the Hawkeyes have kept the Nittany Lions out of the end zone for the past 119 minutes, as a happy coach Kirk Ferentz responded to Gary Dolphin on the Hawkeye Sports Network, after Saturday's game. As Gary Dolphin noted, the Hawkeyes have held the Nittany Lions without a touchdown for seven straight quarters now.

Iowa's defense was outstanding during last year's Penn State game in Happy Valley. This year, with two key newcomers in the linebacker corp, Iowa played solid football again. Senior Jeremiha Hunter, from York, PA, was the only returning starter, but junior Tyler Nielsen and true freshman James Morris were solid, as well. Morris entered the game in the second quarter, with Iowa ahead 10-0, after seniors Jeff Tapinian and Troy Johnson went out with injuries. Iowa has already lost junior Bruce Davis with an ACL injury at the MLB position.

It all started, as it has in the past three wins over Penn State, with the defensive line. Iowa has five outstanding lineman, with DE Adrian Clayborn, DT/DE Christain Ballard, DT Karl Klug, DT Mike Daniels and DE Broderick Binns. Ballard, pictured to right, was outstanding on Saturday night. He was considered by most the player of the game. Klug pulled off a couple tackles equal to his 2008 performance. Clayborn continues to garner the attention of most offensive coordinators and OL coaches.

Further, junior cornerback Shaun Prater had an outstanding game, including a 33 yard INT and a TD saving open field tackle at the tail end of the first half. Senior safety Brett Greenwood made some key open field tackles, as well.

Senior QB Ricky Stani, sophomore LT Riley Rieff, sophomore RB Adam Robinson, senior FB Brent Morse, senior WR Derrell Johnson-Koulanos, who missed last year's game, junior WR Malvin McNutt and senior TE Allen Reisner were all key performers on offense. The special teams units were solid, though Penn State took our return squads completely out of the game. Senior punter Ryan Donahue continues to show why he is one of the nation's best. True freshman place kicker Mike Meyers was perfect on the day.

Iowa will get a bye week next week, then head to Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines (5-0, 1-0) on Homecoming for the Wolverines faithful, in Week 7. The Iowa-Michigan series, since 1981 has been one of the better rivalries in the Big Ten. The 1981 game, which was a 9-7 win in coach J. Hayden Fry's third season. It brought an end of the Ohio State-Michigan dominance in the Big Ten. Wasn't the 1981 game in Ann Arbor a Homecoming game for Michigan, as well?

Iowa is now 12-11 in the PSU series. Iowa's Kirk Ferentz is now 8-2 head to head, as a head coach vs. all-time great Joe Paterno. Ferentz has the oldest tenure among Big Ten coaches, with the exception of Joe Pa, who is in his 45Th season as head coach and 61St overall on the sidelines for the historic Penn State program.

Iowa will open Big Ten play in 2011, in the new-improved Big Ten, at Penn State in Happy Valley. Will Joe Paterno be on the sidelines again in Iowa City in 2012?

For now, the quest for the Rose Bowl has started in 2010. Iowa is 1-0, with Ohio State, Michigan State, Northwestern and Michigan, after opening Big Ten play in the first weekend in October. It should be another exciting season of Big Ten football, as the 2010 College Football season heads into Week 6.

*** *** ***

Since the 7-35 loss at Iowa in Week 2, Iowa State (3-2, 1-1 Big 12 North) has been playing competitive football, as they returned to Big 12 play on Saturday night at Jack Trice Stadium. Iowa State beat Texas Tech (2-2, 0-2 Big 12 South) 52-38, after taking a 24-0 lead early. ISU coach Paul Rhoads beat his old boss, first year coach Tommy Tuberville at Texas Tech. Rhoads was a defensive coordinator at Auburn for Tuberville, ahead of becoming the ISU head coach in '09.

Utah (4-0, 2-0), Top 10 team, will visit Ames this Saturday for the Cyclones final OOC match up for the 2010 season. The Cyclones will work to remain competitive, after a near miss at Arrowhead Stadium over Big 12 North leader, Kansas State (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) and back to back wins over UNI and Texas Tech at Jack Trice.

*** *** ***

The University of Northern Iowa is only 2-2, but they have won two big MVfC games to start the 2010 season. On Saturday, UNI beat South Dakota State (0-4, 0-2 MVfC) 24-14 in the UNI-dome. Turnovers have been a heartache for the Panthers much of the 2010 season, but were not a thorn on Saturday. UNI will travel to #13 Southern Illinois (2-3, 1-1 MVfC) on Saturday.

Unlike Week 3, where Iowa fell at Top 25 Arizona (5-0, 1-0 Pac 10) and both Iowa State and UNI fell short to Kansas State and Stephen F. Austin, respectively, the State of Iowa shined on Saturday.

peace

It's College Gameday: Week 3

Saturday, September 18Th
Times are Central Time

Sorry, but we see two Top 25 match-ups, not one, in Week 3. Most talk has been about #4 Iowa (2-0) @ #21 Arizona (2-0), but #5 Texas (2-0) @ #13 Texas Tech (2-0) is a Top 25 match-up, as well. Texas Tech, with new coach Tommy Tubberville, has been in our Top 25, since the preseason, coming off the heals of their Alamo Bowl win over Michigan State. Both games should be two of the best in Week 3 of the 2010 College Football season.

• #17 Arkansas at Georgia, 11:00 a.m., ESPN (HD)
• Ball State at Purdue, 11:00 a.m., BTN (HD)
• Connecticut at Temple, 11:00 a.m., SNY / MASN / ESPN-GP / ERTV (cable)
• Georgia Tech at North Carolina, 11:00 a.m., ESPN-GP *2 / Raycom (HD) *3
• Iowa State vs. Kansas State (Kansas City), 11:00 a.m., FSN (HD)
• Kent State at #23 Penn State, 11:00 a.m., ESPN2 (HD)
• Maryland at #25 West Virginia, 11:00 a.m., ESPNU (HD)
• North Texas at Army, 11:00 a.m., CBSC (HD)
• Northern Illinois at Illinois, 11:00 a.m., BTN (HD)
• Ohio at #2 Ohio State, 11:00 a.m., BTN (HD)
• UMass at # 24 Michigan, 11:00 a.m., BTN (HD)
• Vanderbilt at Ole Miss, 11:21 a.m.,SEC Network / ESPN-GP
• Air Force at #9 Oklahoma , 2:30 p.m., FSN (HD)
• #1 Alabama at Duke, 2:30 p.m., ABC *1 / ESPN-GP *2
• Arizona State at #10 Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m., ABC *1 / ESPN2 *7
• BYU at Florida State, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU (HD)
• Colorado State at Miami (Ohio), 2:30 p.m., STO *8 / ESPN-GP
• #6 Florida at Tennessee, 2:30 p.m., CBS (HD) / cbssports.com
• Hawaii at Colorado, 2:30 p.m., DirecTV - 623 or 617 / FCS Central (cable)
• #12 Nebraska at Washington, 2:30 p.m., ABC *1 / ESPN2 *7 / ESPN-GP *2
• #19 USC at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m., ESPN (HD)
• Washington State at SMU, 2:30 p.m., CBSC (HD)
• Baylor at #7 TCU, 3:30 p.m., Versus (HD)
• Indiana at Western Kentucky, 4:00 p.m., BTN (HD)
• Louisville at Oregon State, 4:30 p.m., FSNW / FCS Pacific (cable)
• Akron at Kentucky, 6:00 p.m., FSS / SUN / FSNO / FSAZ / ESPN-GP
• Central Florida at Buffalo, 6:00 p.m., ESPN-GP / (Time-Warner / BHSN) (cable)
• Clemson at #18 Auburn, 6:00 p.m., ESPN (HD) / ESPN 3D
• Furman at #16 South Carolina, 6:00 p.m., ESPN-GP *2 / PPV (SC)
• Marshall at Bowling Green, 6:00 p.m., ESPN-GP / WASZ (cable)
• Mississippi State at #14 LSU, 6:00 p.m., ESPNU (HD)
• San Diego State at Missouri, 6:00 p.m., PPV (HD)
• Maine at Syracuse, 6:30 p.m., SNY
• #3 Boise State at Wyoming, 7:00 p.m., CBSC (HD)
• Fresno State at Utah State, 7:00 p.m., ESPN-GP / WAC Sports Network
• Louisiana-Monroe at Arkansas State, 7:00 p.m., ESPN-GP *2 / (CSS & CST) (cable)
• Notre Dame at Michigan State, 7:00 p.m., (ABC or ESPN2 *7) (HD)
• #5 Texas at #13 Texas Tech, 7:00 p.m., (ABC or ESPN2 *7) (HD)
• #11 Utah at New Mexico, 7:00 p.m., MTN (HD)
• #20 Houston at UCLA, 9:30 p.m., FSN (HD)
• #4 Iowa at #21 Arizona, 9:30 p.m., ESPN (HD)
• UNLV at Idaho, 9:30 p.m., ESPNU (HD)
• Wake Forest at #22 Stanford, 10:15 p.m., ESPN2 (HD)

Games not selected for nationally available networks.

• Central Michigan at Eastern Michigan, 3:00 p.m.
• East Carolina at Virginia Tech, 12:30 p.m., espn3.com
• Florida International at Texas A&M, 6:00 p.m.
• Middle Tennessee at Memphis, 6:00 p.m.
• Navy at Louisiana Tech, 6:00 p.m., espn3.com
• New Mexico State at UTEP, 8:00 p.m.
• Northwestern at Rice, 6:00 p.m.
• Portland State at #8 Oregon, 5:15 p.m., Comcast OR & WA (cable)
• Southern Utah at San Jose State, 7:00 p.m.
• Toledo at Western Michigan, 6:00 p.m.
• Troy at UAB, 3:00 p.m.
• Tulsa at Oklahoma State, 6:00 p.m.

FCS Game Watch

• Stephen F. Austin (1-1) @ Northern Iowa (1-0)
  The Panthers host a strong passing team in FCS play at the Dome!

peace

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

It's certainly been an odd week so far in College Football with the news at Florida and now Texas Tech

What's going on around College Football, since Christmas? Urban Meyer is going and now on leave of absence. Now, Texas Tech is suspending coach Mike Leach, due to treatment of one of his players.

Who makes the hires while Meyer is away? - ESPN (blog)‎
Assuming Urban Meyer is indeed coming back after his leave, you know it's going to be his call at the end of the day. Most signs point to Chuck Heater ...
Ex-Gators cast doubt on Urban Meyer's sub - USA Today (blog)
To understand Meyer's flip-flop, one must first understand his past - SI.com
Florida's Interim Coach Is Like Meyer, but With a Passion All His Own - New York Times

What impact will Urban Meyer's leave of absence have on the Gators recruiting for 2010 and beyond?

Meyer's leave will have impact on Florida recruiting - USA Today
With signing day a little more than five weeks away, Urban Meyer's decision to take a leave of absence as Florida coach has created uncertainty with some of ...
Urban Meyer's gridiron guessing game - Palm Beach Post (blog)

The news out of the Texas Tech pre-bowl camp is even more odd ...

Leach's attorney says coach did no wrong‎ - AP
The lawyer for Mike Leach says the suspended Texas Tech coach did nothing wrong in how he treated a player with a "mild" concussion. ...

Texas Tech suspends Mike Leach after player complains about treatment‎ - USA Today
Texas Tech has suspended coach Mike Leach from all duties following a complaint from a player and his parents regarding Leach's treatment of the athlete ...

At least college football fans can enjoy some more bowl action today, with two more bowl games on ESPN ...

The Prime Time Game on ESPN tonight:

Champs Sports

Miami-FL vs. Wisconsin
Orlando, Fla. at the Florida Citrus Bowl
Kickoff is Dec. 29Th at 7 p.m. Central Time

The Wisconsin Badgers didn't fare well last year in Orlando vs. Florida State, so will the trip to face the Hurricanes be better in 2009? Maybe a prime time game for the Badgers will allow them to play better, than last year's day game in the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl?

Both teams finished 5-3 in their respective conferences, the ACC and the Big Ten; and 9-3 overall for the season.

Our Pick: Miami-FL 34, Wisconsin 32

The Tune up Game before tonight's Prime Time game on ESPN:

EagleBank

UCLA vs. Temple
Washington, D.C. at RFK Stadium
Kickoff is Dec. 29 at 3:30 p.m. Central Time

A Pac 10 vs. MAC showdown in Washington D.C. When is the last time a MAC team won a bowl game? Heck, the same can be said for UCLA, who have not been stellar in bowl games either. UCLA was only 3-6 in the Pac 10 in '09, 6-6 overall. Temple finished 7-1 in the MAC East, tied with Ohio U for first place. The Owls were 9-3 overall.

Our Pick: Temple 27, UCLA 24

peace

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

peace

Week 12 in the books - This week's cidsports' College Top 25 in Football

The Road to the.... 2009 BCS National Championship and the bowls of the FBS!

The major polls talk about Alabama, then Texas Tech, but until proven otherwise, the Florida Gators, the 2006 season BCS Champs, clearly appear to have the right stuff to continue as my #1 team in the Country.

The Big Game this week is the Big 12 Showdown with Texas Tech at Oklahoma in Norman. The odd Big Game of the week is Michigan at Ohio State... with Michigan at 3-8 and 2-5 in the Big Ten, ouch! Welcome to the Big Ten Conference Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez.

The Big Trophy Game of the week is Iowa (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten) at Minnesota (7-4, 3-4 Big Ten) for the battle of the Floyd of Rosedale. Further, it is the Golden Gophers final game in the Metrodome, before opening next season in a new outdoor stadium on campus.

Here's this week's cidsports' Top 25 for Week 12:

1. Florida Gators (9-1, 7-1 SEC)
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (11-0, 7-0 SEC)
3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (10-0, 6-0 Big 12)
4. Southern Cal Trojans (9-1, 7-1 Pac 10)
5. Texas Longhorns (10-1, 6-1 Big 12)
6. Oklahoma Sooners (9-1, 5-1 Big 12)
7. Utah Utes (11-0, 7-0 MWC)
8. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten)
9. Boise State Broncos (10-0, 6-0 WAC)
10. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-2, 5-2 Big 12)
11. Missouri Tigers (9-2, 5-2 Big 12)
12. Ohio State Buckeyes (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten)
13. Georgia Bulldogs (9-2, 6-2 SEC)
14. Ball State Cardinals (10-0, 6-0 MAC)
15. TCU Horned Frogs (9-2, 6-1 MWC)
16. Brigham Young Cougars (10-1, 6-1 MWC)
17. Michigan State Spartans (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten)
18. LSU Tigers (7-3, 3-3 SEC)
19. Pittsburgh Panthers (7-2, 3-1 Big East)
20. Cincinnati Bearcats (8-2, 4-1 Big East)
21. Oregon State Beavers (7-3, 6-1 Pac 10)
22. West Virginia Mountaineers (6-3, 3-1 Big East)
23. Oregon Ducks (8-3, 6-2 Pac Ten)
24. Miami-FL Hurricanes (7-3, 4-2 ACC)
25. tie North Carolina Tar Heels (7-3, 3-3 ACC)
    Maryland (7-3, 4-2 ACC)

Teams Out of the Top 25 after Week 12 - Florida State Seminoles (7-3, 4-3 ACC) and California Golden Bears (6-4, 4-3 Pac 1o).

Team to Watch - Illinois Fighting Illini (5-6, 3-4 Big Ten) - Coach Ron Zook's Fighting Illini team is on the verge of staying home for the holidays with fellow Big Ten member Michigan, who like Illinois, finished tied for second place in '07 in the conference. The Fighting Illini travel to Evanston for the final conference game to face the Northwestern Wildcats (8-3, 4-3 Big Ten)

peace

Week 11 in the Books - This week's cidsports' College Top 25 in Football

Iowa knocks the Big Ten's candidate out. Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan State all have a chance for the Rose Bowl, but the BCS Championship Game for the 2008 season will not see a three peat with a Big Ten Conference school involved.

Is Alabama or Texas Tech really a #1 team? Heck, is Alabama even #1 in the SEC, when all is said and done?

Texas Tech remains undefeated, but are they the elite team in the country? Will they win the Big 12 South?

Where are those remaining non-BCS conference teams headed as we enter into the third weekend in November? Three teams remain undefeated: Ball State (MAC), Boise State (WAC) and Utah (MWC).

Here's this week's cidsports' Top 25 for Week 11:

1. Florida Gators (8-1, 6-1 SEC)
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-0, 6-0 SEC)
3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (10-0, 6-0 Big 12)
4. Southern Cal Trojans (8-1, 6-1 Pac 10)
5. Texas Longhorns (9-1, 5-1 Big 12)
6. Oklahoma Sooners (9-1, 5-1 Big 12)
7. Utah Utes (9-0, 5-0 MWC)
8. Penn State Nittany Lions (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten)
9. Boise State Broncos (9-0, 5-0 WAC)
10. Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-2, 4-2 Big 12)
11. Missouri Tigers (8-2, 4-2 Big 12)
12. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-2, 5-1 Big Ten)
13. Georgia Bulldogs (8-2, 5-2 SEC)
14. Ball State Cardinals (9-0, 5-0 MAC)
15. TCU Horned Frogs (9-2, 6-1 MWC)
16. Brigham Young (9-1, 5-1 MWC)
17. Michigan State Spartans (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten)
18. North Carolina (7-2, 3-2 ACC)
19. LSU Tigers (6-3, 3-3 SEC)
20. Florida State Seminoles (7-2, 4-2 ACC)
21. Pittsburgh Panthers (7-2, 3-1 Big East)
22. Cincinnati Bearcats (7-2, 3-1 Big East)
23. Oregon State Beavers (6-3, 5-1 Pac 10)
24. West Virginia Mountaineers (6-3, 3-1 Big East)
25. California Golden Bears (6-3, 4-2 Pac 1o)

Teams Out of the Top 25 after Week 11 - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-3, 4-3 ACC) and Maryland Terrapens (6-3, 3-2 ACC).

Team to Watch - Troy Trojans (6-3, 4-1 Sun Belt) travels to #19 LSU (6-3, 3-3 SEC) for their final OOC game for '08. Troy's two losses in the OOC were to Top 25 Oklahoma State and Ohio State in b2b road trips in September.

peace

I'll take a wildcard as #1 in the Nation after Week 10...

Who’s number one?

We will find out soon enough in the presidential campaign, but after Week 10 of the college football season… it’s hard to really say. We have three key BCS conference teams that are still undefeated, in Alabama, Penn State and Texas Tech.

But, are any of these teams truly the #1 college football team in the country?

1. Florida Gators (7-1, 5-1 SEC)


2. Penn State Nittany Lions (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten)


3. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-0, 5-0 SEC)


4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-0, 5-0 Big 12)


5. Southern Cal Trojans (7-1, 5-1 Pac 10)


6. Texas Longhorns (8-1, 4-1 Big 12)


7. Oklahoma Sooners (8-1, 4-1 Big 12)


8. Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-1, 4-1 Big 12)


9. Missouri Tigers (7-2, 3-2 Big 12)


10. Utah Utes (9-0, 5-0 MWC)


11. Boise State Broncos (8-0, 4-0 WAC)


12. TCU Horned Frogs (9-1, 6-0 MWC)


13. Georgia Bulldogs (7-2, 4-2 SEC)


14. LSU Tigers (6-2, 3-2 SEC)


15. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten)


16. Brigham Young Cougars (8-1, 4-1 MWC)


17. Ball State Cardinals (8-0, 4-0 MAC)


18. California Golden Bears (6-2, 4-1 Pac 10)


19. Michigan State Spartans (8-2, 5-1 Big Ten)


20. West Virginia Mountaineers (6-2, 3-0 Big East)


21. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-2, 4-2 ACC)


22. North Carolina Tar Heels (6-2, 2-2 ACC)


23. Maryland Terrapens (6-2, 3-1 ACC)


24. Florida State Seminoles (6-2, 3-2 ACC)


25. Pittsburgh Panthers (6-2, 2-1 Big East)
    

Teams Out of the Top 25 after Week 10 - Tulsa Golden Hurricane (8-1, 5-0 C-USA), Oregon Ducks (6-3, 4-2 Pac 10), Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-2, 3-2 Big Ten)

Team to Watch - Iowa Hawkeyes (5-4, 2-3 Big Ten) - The Hawkeyes host #2 Penn State at Kinnick Stadium this Saturday... with the Hawkeyes turning to a spoiler role predominately, after a disappointing and hard fought game in Champaign, where the Illinois Fighting Illini (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) beat the Hawkeyes 27-24 on a late minute FG, after leading the majority of game, only to see Iowa come back from a 15 point deficit to tie the game up.

peace

Wow, so Who's #1 today?

We make an important decision on Election Day - November 4, 2008...

Need to check out the latest news on the Election on Tuesday?

They also have RealClearSports...

Real Clear Sports
Texas Tech's Win for the Ages - Richard Justice, Houston Chronicle
Gators Silent Dawgs' Bark with Big Bite - Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel
BCS Goes High Tech - Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times
Can Jed York Save the 49ers? - Tom FitzGerald, San Francisco Chronicle
Colts-Patriots Not Quite the Same - John Tomase, Boston Herald

Who should be #1 in the College Polls, when Texas Tech's upset win 39-33 over Texas last night, after the Longhorns overcame a nearly four quarter deficit to gain a brief lead at 33-32?

I have to admit, the Red Raiders defense last night was impressive. This coming from the same Texas Tech Red Raiders team that nearly fell in OT at home to Nebraska.

I am impressed with Florida... I had them ranked #5, unlike other polls, prior to Week 10. Now, after Week 10, Florida is clearly impressive.

Who's #1 in College Football and who should be our next president?

peace

#3 Creighton Bluejays host #24 Drake in College Soccer today

Iowa @ Illinois in college football on ABC/ESPN at 2:30 pm, while #3 Creighton Jays soccer hosts #24 Drake in Omaha at 2 pm today!

Later tonight, the old Big 8 football returns, with Nebraska at my #7 Oklahoma on ESPN at 7 pm.

#1 Texas travels to Lubbock to face #8 Texas Tech with #1 on the line in the Big 12 South, prime time on ABC!

Finally, Iowa State travels to Stillwater to face #9 Oklahoma State in what could be a very ugly game.

On Iowa! Go Jays! Go Big Red! Go Longhorns! Go State!

peace

Is Texas Tech bending the scholarship rules in Football?

Contest winner becomes placekicker for Red Raiders?

So coach Mike Leach, you have players you allow to receive free rent for a month? The young man isn't a player yet or is he? It appears what was a contest for free rent has become a try out with a reward for the Red Raider football team.

First, is he eligible, due to transfer rules? Check!

Second, what happens to the free rent?

Is he a scholarship player Coach?

peace

Texas gets it done over Oklahoma in Red River Rivalry

Mission Accomplished!

I guess Texas has a pretty good team in '08. How far they go is yet to be determined, but teams that have solid quarterback play, a strong offensive and defensive line are teams that always deserve some respect, even from OU fans.

Texas Tech gets it done too. But, who have they really played to date? Nebraska isn't a strong program and to coach Bo Pelini's credit... the Cornhuskers were close to finishing a key road test.

Oklahoma State beats Missouri in Columbia. I certainly haven't given Okie State the props they deserve with a great start in '08.

The Big 12 Conference will likely see some teams beat up on one another from here on out.

peace

Two QBs in college that wore the #5 jersey... comparison for future?

They both wore the #5 jersey as college sophomore quaterbacks.

They both had great sophomore seasons.

Drew Tate in '04 wearing the #5 jersey lead Iowa to a share of the Big Ten title and a 10-2 record and a bowl win over defending champion, LSU, in the 2005 Capital One Bowl.

Todd Reesing in '07 wore the #5 jersey for the Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas finished 12-1 and the Jayhawks beat Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl.

The magic in '04 wasn't repeated by Drew Tate and Iowa as a junior and senior. Is Todd Reesing and Kansas headed the same direction in '08?

Not every preseason magazine or poll has Kansas repeating with a Top 25 finish. The Jayhawks benefited from missing Top 25 and Big 12 South opponents: Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech during last year's 12-1 campaign. In 2008, most have the three Big 12 opponents among the top 25 in the nation. Unlike '07, Kansas will face all three Big 12 South opponents in '08, plus five other brothers in the Big 12 North.

Is the foundation clearly in place for KU as some suggest?

Kansas open Big 12 play on October 4th in Ames, Iowa, facing the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium. It will be interesting to see how much #5 Reesing compares with old #5 Drew Tate. Tate's junior season got off to a rough start at Jack Trice in Ames in '05. The Cyclones have won two straight games at home in the Big 12.

peace