Cancellations highlight Week 3 on Saturday in College Football

Saturday, September 15th 

• Ball State at Indiana, 11:00 am on BTN
• Florida State at Syracuse, 11:00 am on ESPN 
• Georgia Southern at Clemson, 11:00 am on ESPNU 
• Hawaii at Army, 11:00 am on CBSSN 
• Kent State at Penn State, 11:00 am on FS1
• Middle Tennessee at Georgia, 11:00 am on ESPN News
• Miami-FL at Toledo, 11:00 am on ESPN2 
• Murray State at Kentucky, 11:00 am on SEC Network 
• Oklahoma at Iowa State, 11:00 am on ABC 
• Rhode Island at UConn, 11:00 am on SNY / ESPN Extra
• Rutgers at Kansas, 11:00 am on FSN 
• Temple at Maryland, 11:00 am on BTN - possible trap game ahead of B1G play for Terps?
• Troy at Nebraska, 11:00 am on BTN - lost to NIU in Week 3 last year
• UTEP at Tennessee, 11:00 am on SEC Network 
• Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh, 11:30 am on ESPN Extra / ACC RSN / WatchESPN
• UC Davis at Stanford, 1:00 pm on PAC-12 Network
• Vanderbilt at Notre Dame, 1:30 pm on NBC
• Boise State at Oklahoma State, 2:30 pm on ESPN 
• BYU at Wisconsin, 2:30 pm on ABC 
• Duke at Baylor, 2:30 pm on FS1 
• Lehigh at Navy, 2:30 pm on CBSSN 
• LSU at Auburn, 2:30 pm on CBS 
• Miami-OH at Minnesota, 2:30 pm on BTN 
• SMU at Michigan, 2:30 pm on BTN
• South Florida at Illinois, 2:30 pm on BTN
• Colorado State at Florida, 3:00 pm on SEC Network
• Houston at Texas Tech, 3:00 pm on FOX 
• North Texas at Arkansas, 3:00 pm on SEC Network 
• UTSA at Kansas State, 3:00 pm on FSN 
• Ohio U at Virginia (Nashville), 3:30 pm on ESPN2
• New Hampshire at Colorado, 4:00 pm on PAC-12 Network
• San Jose State at Oregon, 4:00 pm on PAC-12 Network 
• Idaho State at California, 5:00 pm on PAC-12 Network 
• Alabama at Ole Miss, 6:00 pm on ESPN 
• Arkansas State at Tulsa, 6:00 pm on CBSSN 
• Oregon State at Nevada, 6:00 pm on ESPNU
• Akron at Northwestern, 6:30 pm on BTN 
• Louisiana Lafayette at Mississippi State, 6:30 pm on ESPN2
• Louisiana Monroe at Texas A&ampM, 6:30 pm on SEC Network
• Missouri at Purdue, 6:30 pm on BTN 
• Northern Iowa at Iowa, 6:30 pm on BTN - Hawkeyes get to 3-0 in a projected: 23-10 win
• UMass at Florida International, 6:30 pm on beIN / Video (not on DirecTV)
• Western Kentucky at Louisville, 6:30 pm on ACC RSN
• Eastern Washington at Washington State, 7:00 pm on PAC-12 Network 
• New Mexico at New Mexico State, 7:00 pm on ELVN / FSAZ+
• Ohio State vs. TCU (Arlington), 7:00 pm on ABC 
• Washington at Utah, 9:00 pm on ESPN
• Arizona State at San Diego State, 9:30 pm on CBSSN 
• Fresno State at UCLA, 9:30 pm on FS1
• Southern Utah at Arizona, 10:00 pm on PAC-12 Network 
• Alabama A&M at Cincinnati, 6:00 pm on espn3 Video
• Bethune Cookman at Florida Atlantic, 5:00 pm on Stadium Video / Facebook Video / Stadium
• Central Michigan at Northern Illinois, 2:30 pm on $espn+ Video
• Delaware State at Western Michigan, 6:00 pm on $espn+ Video
• Eastern Kentucky at Bowling Green, 3:00 pm on espn3 Video
• Eastern Michigan at Buffalo, 5:00 pm on $espn+ Video
• Prairie View at UNLV, 9:00 pm on MWC Video / Stadium
• Texas State at South Alabama, 6:00 pm on $espn+ Video
• Wofford at Wyoming, 3:00 pm on Stadium Video / Facebook Video / Stadium
• East Carolina at Virginia Tech Cancelled
• Marshall at South Carolina Postponed
• Norfolk State at Liberty Postponed
• Southern Miss at Appalachian State Postponed
• UCF at North Carolina Cancelled
• West Virginia at North Carolina State Cancelled

Thursday Night College Football: October 11th

Thursday, October 11th

• Western Kentucky @ Troy, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU (HD)/ espn 3
• Texas-El Paso @ Tulsa, 7:00 p.m, FSN Affiliates (HD) / FCSC (cable)
• Arizona State @ Colorado, 8 p.m., ESPN (HD)

A batlle in the Sun Belt, the Conference USA and the Pac 12 highlight Thursday night football in College Football.  None of the teams are Top 25 programs currently, though Arizona State be getting closer to breaking the Top 25.  The Sun Devils are 2-0 and leading the Pac 12 South currently.  Colorado is 1-1 in the conference.

Western Kentucky is 1-0 in the Sun Belt, while Troy is 2-1 in the conference.  Huge game for both programs in the hunt for the '12 Sun Belt title.

Tulsa is 3-0 in the C-USA West, while UTEP is 0-2 in the conference.  Who will pick up this important conference Thursday night game?

The 2010-11 Bowl Season begins with a Trifecta of Blow Outs to start off Bowl Play

The New Mexico Bowl kicked off the 2010-11 Bowl line up with the soon to be FBS Independent, BYU from the Mountain West Conference, taking on a C-USA West opponent, UTEP. The Gazette headline in the Sunday print newspaper said it all: "BYU caps a big turnaround", as the BYU Cougars (7-6) defeated the UTEP Miners (6-7) 52-24. More news on the New Mexico bowl win from Albuquerque.

It was a coming out party for the BYU Cougars , after a sub prime start with 1-4 start in 2010. Next year, the BYU Cougars will be an Independent, no longer affiliated with the MWC. The Cougars will join Army, Navy and Notre Dame as the four FBS Independents in Division I.

The independent BYU Cougars will kick off the 2011 season at Ole Miss (4-8, 1-7 SEC East in '10). BYU's 2011 schedule

The Cougars were lead in 2010 by freshman QB Jake Heaps. There should be a lot of excitement for BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall in 2011, with a young signal caller back and the hype entering College Football as the newest FBS Independent.

In 2012, the BYU-Notre Dame series will begin, among the top two FBS Independents, outside Army-Navy.

Next up in the opening day Trifecta of college bowl games took place in Boise, ID with the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl. The MAC runner-up Northern Illinois faced off from team WAC fourth place team, Fresno State, on the Smurf blue turf, home of the Boise State Broncos.

Northern Illinois 40, Fresno State 17 - news

With the win, the NIU Huskies (11-3, 8-0 MAC West), who lost their head coach, Jerry Kill, to the Minnesota Golden Gophers for the Humanitarian Bowl and the 2011 season, finish an outstanding 2010 season. Tom Matukewicz lead the Huskies as the interim head coach for the bowl game and 40-17 win over Pat Hill and Fresno State.

The Fresno State Bulldogs (8-5, 5-3 WAC), under coach Pat Hill for his 15Th season in 2011, will regroup and face a solid OOC schedule next season, with Cal, @ Nebraska, Ole Miss and @ San Diego State among FBS opponents. The Bulldogs will head to the MWC in time, but remain in the WAC for 2011, due to a $5 million buyout clause.

The finale of the blowout first weekend of the 2010-11 college bowl line up was live from New Orleans in the 2010 New Orleans Bowl. The MAC representative, Ohio U. Bobcats vs. the Sun Belt co-champion, Troy Trojans. It was all Troy (8-5, 6-2 Sun Belt), in a 48-21 win over Frank Solich's boys from Athens, OH. The Trojans lead 38-7 at the half over Ohio U. (8-5, 6-2 MAC East). More news on the Troy win over Ohio U.

Next Bowl Game in 2010-11:

Beef O' Brady's Bowl from St. Petersburg

Southern Mississippi (8-4, 5-3 C-USA East) vs. Louisville (6-6, 3-4 Big East)
St. Petersburg, Fla. at Tropicana Field
Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. Central Time on ESPN

peace

Week 6: For Iowa it's a Bye Week and for others it is Business as Usual

Tuesday night football: Troy (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) is @ Middle Tennessee (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) on ESPN2 in a huge Sun Belt showdown. The #14 Iowa Hawkeyes (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) have a bye week in Week 6, before heading up to Ann Arbor for a showdown with Michigan (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) in Big Ten play. Michigan State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) will play @ Michigan in Week 6.


Clayborn Earns Big Ten Defensive Honor - U of Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa - - University of Iowa senior defensive end Adrian Clayborn has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following Iowa's 24-3 win over Penn State last Saturday. The announcement came Monday from the Big Ten office ...

Iowa Football Has Break from Action this Weekend - U of Iowa
10/5/2010 - Iowa has an open week after defeating Penn State 24-3 in Kinnick Stadium to begin Big Ten Conference play. The Hawkeyes are 4-1, with home wins over Eastern Illinois, Iowa State, Ball State and Penn State and a loss at Arizona ...

A popular question on Iowa message boards, such as Rivals.com HawkeyeReport, is where would Iowa be ranked right now, if they had not been upset at the University of Arizona in Week 3? ESPN radio guy, Colin Cowherd on Monday called Iowa a Top 10 program, despite the loss in Tucson.

peace

Conference Look: The 2010 Sun Belt Conference

The Sun Belt Conference is the lowest rated FBS conference by most accounts, but there could be some excitement during the 2010 season. The Sun Belt celebrates the 10Th anniversary in football in 2010.

Only 16 programs in the FBS have never been ranked. None of the Sun Belt programs have ever been ranked, since 1959. Could the ceiling be broke in 2010?

Biggest Win by Sun Belt: Louisiana-Monroe had a huge win in 2007 at Alabama, when the Warhawks upset Nick Sabin's Alabama Crimson Tide, 21-14. Alabama has been 27-3, since that game.

Last year, Middle Tennessee (10-3) beat Maryland 32-31 in Week 3 on the road and beat Southern Mississippi 42-32 in the New Orleans Bowl. Troy (9-4) lost 41-44 to Central Michigan in the GMAC. Louisiana-Lafayette (6-6) beat Kansas State 17-15 last year in Week 2.

Top 12 OOC games with Sun Belt Conference teams:

1. Minnesota @ Middle Tennessee on 9/2 - The Blue Raiders will host the Golden Gophers on opening day ... The Sporting News is picking this game as a Sun Belt victim!


2. Kansas State @ North Texas on 11/27 - The Mean Green will close out Thanksgiving weekend with a visit from a Big 12 program ... Will this be the another victim?


3. Bowling Green @ Troy on 9/4 - The Trojans lost 14-31 last year at Bowling Green, so a payback opportunity in opening weekend rematch ...


4. Rice @ North Texas on 9/11 - The instate series is tied 1-1, but the '08 game at Rice turned out to be a 20-77 loss for the Mean Green ...


5. Louisville @ Arkansas State on 10/2 - The Red Wolves have selected the game with Louisville as their Homecoming game, despite the 13-21 loss @ Louisville last year ...


6. Oklahoma State @ Louisiana-Lafayette on 10/8 - The Ragin' Cajuns look to pick up another win vs. Big 12 at home, after last year's win over K-State ...


7. Rutgers @ FIU on 9/11 - The Panthers open the 2010 season at home a week later than most as Rutgers pays a visit to Miami, after last year's 15-23 loss in NJ ...


8. Indiana @ Western Kentucky on 9/18 - The Hilltoppers lost 13-31 in the '08 opener at IU, but this season's game the Hoosiers come for a visit ...


9. Florida Atlantic vs. Michigan State on 9/11 in Detroit - The Owls lost 0-17 @ MSU in '08 ...


10. Troy @ Oklahoma State on 9/11 - Third meeting, the Trojans won 41-23 in '07 at home, but followed it up with a 24-55 loss on the road in '08 ...


11. Arkansas State @ Indiana on 10/16 - The Red Wolves are 0-5 lifetime vs. Big Ten and gave Iowa a scare last year, so first meeting vs. Hoosiers could be interesting ...


12. Florida Atlantic @ Texas on 11/20 - The Owls opened at Texas in '08 and got rolled 10-52, so will a late November game give the Owls a better chance?

• Middle Tennessee - Austin Peay (9/11), @ Memphis (10/18)
• Troy - @ UAB (9/18), @ South Carolina (11/20)
• North Texas - @ Clemson (10/4), @ Army (10/18)
• Florida Atlantic - @ UAB (9/4), @ USF (10/2)
• Arkansas State - @ Auburn (9/4), @ Navy (10/20)
• Louisiana - Lafayette - @ Georgia (9/4), @ Ohio (10/30), @ Mississippi (11/6)
• FIU - @ Texas A&M (9/18), @ Maryland (9/25), @ Pittsburgh (10/2)
• Louisiana-Monroe - @ Arkansas (9/11), SE Louisiana (9/25), @ Auburn (10/2)
• Western Kentucky - @ Nebraska (9/4), @ Kentucky (9/11), @ USF (9/25)

Best chance for a Top 25 Team in 2010 - Middle Tennessee

Top Conference Game - Troy @ Middle Tennessee on 10/5 (Tuesday)

Most dominate program over the last 3, 5 and 9 years of the conference: Troy (best conference records)

Former members of the conference: New Mexico State, Utah State and Idaho

The Sun Belt held a Football Media Day on July 19Th and 20Th. A look at the past nine seasons and champions of the Sun Belt.

Preseason Sun Belt Coaches Poll

First Place Votes in Parenthesis (Record from '09)
1. Middle Tennessee (7-1) 75 (5)
2. Troy (8-0) 73 (3)
3. Arkansas State (3-5) 53
4. Louisiana-Lafayette (4-4) 49 (1)
5. Florida Atlantic (5-3) 45
6. FIU (3-5) 42
7. Louisiana-Monroe (5-3) 32
8. North Texas (1-7) 27
9. WKU (0-8) 9

Note - Western Kentucky's first official football season was '09. South Alabama hopes to join the football conference in 2013. The Arkansas-Little Rock and the University of Denver don't field a football team.

Preseason All-Sun Belt Team

As voted on by the Sun Belt Head Coaches and Media Representatives

Offense

• Dwight Dasher (MT, Sr., QB)
• Alfred Morris (FAU, Jr., RB) and Lance Dunbar (NT, Jr., RB)
• T.Y. Hilton (FIU, Jr., WR) and Jerrel Jernigan (Troy, Sr., WR)
• Ladarius Green (ULL, Jr., TE)
• Derek Newton (ASU, Sr., OL), Brad Serirni (FIU, Sr., OL), Mark Fisher (MT, Sr., OL)
• Esteban Santiago (NT, Sr., OL) and Tyler Clark (Troy, Sr., OL)

Defense

• Bryan Hall (ASU, Sr., DL), Troy Evans (ULM, Jr., DL),
• Jamari Lattimore (MT, Sr., DL) and Brandon Akpunku (NT, Jr., DL)
• Demario Davis (ASU, Jr., LB), Grant Fleming (ULL, Sr., LB),
• Craig Robertson (NT, Sr., LB)
• Tavious Polo (FAU, Sr., DB), Anthony Gaitor (FIU, Sr., DB),
• Jeremy Kellem (MT, Sr., DB) and Bryan Willis (Troy, So., DB)

Special Teams

• Alan Gendreau (MT, Jr., Place Kicker)
• Spencer Ortego (ULL, Sr., Punter)
• T.Y. Hilton (FIU, Jr., Return Specialist)

Offensive Player of the Year: Dwight Dasher (MT, Sr., QB)
Defensive Player of the Year: Bryan Hall (ASU, Sr., DL)

Bowl tie-ins for the Sun Belt Conference:

• New Orleans Bowl
• GMAC Bowl

MTSU primed to pass up Troy atop Sun Belt - SI.com
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -As the Sun Belt Conference closes out its first decade of college football, commissioner Wright Waters is calling on its top teams to set ...

peace

The BCS Title Game is one day away; tonight the final non-BSC Bowl, GMAC Bowl, between two conference champions

GMAC Bowl: MAC champion vs. Sun Belt champion

Central Michigan vs. Troy
from Mobile, Ala. and Ladd-Peebles Stadium
Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. Central Time on ESPN

This game is pretty irrelevent on the FBS scale, but it is always nice to see two conference champions playing in a bowl match up. Will anyone really watch it?

Last night at the FedEx Orange Bowl: Iowa 24, Georgia Tech 14

It was a very good year at Georgia Tech‎ - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Georgia Tech ran into a big, athletic defense that had had over 40 days to prepare. When quarterback Ricky Stanzi was healthy, Iowa was the best team in the ...

Post-game notes on Robinson's health, Tarpinian's stealth - Gazette Online (blog)
Iowa's Adam Robinson (32) leaps over Georgia Tech's Mario Butler (2) in the second half of the Orange Bowl on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, at Land Shark Stadium ...

Thursday Night at 7 p.m. Central Time on ABC
Citi BCS National Championship Game

BCS #2 Texas (13-0) vs. BCS #1 Alabama (13-0)
Pasadena, Calif.

Rose Bowl

peace

College Football '09: A look at this year's Sun Belt Conference

Does the Sun Belt Conference make any BCS noise in '09. Who would a candidate be for '09? How does the conference breakdown in '09 for Sun Belt?

• The Sun Belt is ranked by Jeff Sagarin as a lowest conference in FBS

• The Sun Belt is ranked lower than the Colonial Conference, which is in the FCS

Ranked teams in the AP and Coaches' preseason polls:

none, with Troy receiving one vote in each poll

Preseason magazines don't like any Sun Belt teams in the Top 25 preseason:

none

Teams rebuilding in the Sun Belt in '09

• UL - Lafeyette

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

• UL -Lafayette
• UL -Monroe
• Western Kentucky
• FIU
• North Texas

Will the Sun Belt Conference finish this way in 2009??

1. Troy * (6-1 in '08) (1-2 in bowls)
2. Arkansas State (4-3) (0-1)
3. Middle Tennessee (3-4) (0-1)
4. Florida Atlantic (4-3) (2-0)
5. Florida International (3-4) (none)
6. Lousisiana - Monroe (3-4) (none)
7. Louisisiana - Lafayette (5-2) (none)
8. North Texas (0-7) (1-5)
9. Western Kentucky # (0-5) (none)

* denotes 2008 Sun Belt Conference champs (source for above list)

# New full member in 2009, after moving to FBS in 2008.

Last BCS title winner

• No Sun Belt 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 Sun Belt teams, using the preseason Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings:

1. Troy (# 70 in Sagarin ratings) - Coach Larry Blakeney enters his 19Th season at the helm for the Trojans. The Trojans are the most competetitive and consistent program of late in the Sun Belt. The 8-5 team in '08 return 52 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 5 DEF plus both kickers from a team coming off a 27-30 loss to Southern Miss to close out the season in the New Orleans. Troy opens in OOC @ Bowling Green @ Florida, vs. UAB, then a huge Sun Belt opener @ Arkansas State. Final OOC game is at Arkansas on 11/14.
2. Middle Tennesse (# 106) - Coach Rick Stockstill enters 4Th year after a 5-7 record in '08. The Blue Raiders return 45 letterwinners, with 10 OFF and 6 DEF plus both kickers. The Blue Raiders open the '09 seaon @ Clemson, vs. Memphis, @ Maryland, then enter Sun Belt play. Final OOC game is vs. Mississippi State on 10/17 coming off bye week.
3. Florida Atlantic (# 112) - Coach Howard Schnellenberger enters his 9Th season and is the only coach in FAU history for the Owls, who started football in '01. The Owls 7-6 team from '08 return 46 letterwinners, 8 OFF and 3 DEF plus their punter, from the team that defeated Central Michigan 24-21 in the Motor City. The Owls open '09 @ Nebraska, bye week, @ South Carolina, the Sun Belt opener vs. ULM, vs. Wyoming. Final OOC game is @ UAB to open November.
4. Arkansas State (# 119) - Coach Steve Roberts enters his 8Th year for the Red Wolves coming off a 6-6 record in '08. The Red Wolves return 51 letterwinners, including 7 OFF and 8 DEF plus their placekicker. They open '09 vs. Mississippi Valley State, @ Nebraska, bye week before the Sun Belt opener vs. Troy, @ Iowa and travel on Halloween @ Louisville.
5. Louisiana - Lafayette (# 123) - Coach Ricky Bustle is entering 8Th season at the helm of the Ragin' Cajuns. The Ragin' Cajuns return 50 letterwinners, including 7 OFF and 9 DEF plus punter from their 6-6 squad from '08. They open '09 season vs. Southern, vs. Kansas State, @ LSU and @ Nebraska, before a bye week and the run in the Sun Belt Conference.
6. Louisiana - Monroe (# 127) - Coach Charlie Weatherbie is entering his 7Th year at the helm for the Warhawks. Last year the Warhawks finished 4-8. They return 40 letterwinners, with 8 OFF and 9 DEF plus both kickers. They open in '09 @ Texas, vs. Texas Southern, @ Arizona State and later play @ Kentucky on 10/24 for their OOC games.
7. Western Kentucky (# 133) - Coach David Elson begins his 7Th year and will enter a full slate of Sun Belt games finally in '09. The Hilltoppers return 33 letterwinners, with 8 OFF and 4 DEF plus their punter from last year's 2-10 team. The Hilltoppers open '09 play @ Tennessee, vs. USF, vs. Central Arkansas and @ Navy, before a bye week and play in the conference.
8. Florida International (# 147) - Coach Mario Cristobal enters his 3Rd season in Miami at the Golden Panthers' helm. They finished 5-7 last year and return 55 letterwinners, with 10 OFF and 6 DEF plus PK Dustin Rivest will take over both duties in '09. The Golden Panthers open the '09 season a week later than most teams @ Alabama, @ Rutgers, vs. Toledo, then enter conference play. On 11/21, FIU will travel to face preseason #1 Florida.
9. North Texas (# 165) - Coach Todd Dodge enters his 3Rd season at the helm for the Mean Green after leaving head coaching at the Texas high school level. The Mean Green were 1-11 last year and return 47 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 9 DEF plus their PK. North Texas opens the '09 season @ Ball State, vs. Ohio U., @ Alabama, then opens Sun Belt play vs. Middle Tennessee. The final OOC game is 11/21 vs. Army.

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

peace

New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi (6-6) vs. Troy (8-4)

Today's only bowl game is the 2008 New Orleans Bowl between Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (6-6, tied for 2ND in C-USA East Division) vs. Troy Trojans (8-4, Champs of the Sun Belt).

This is Troy's third bowl game ever and first bowl game, since the '06 New Orleans Bowl, when the Trojans defeated Rice 41-17. Southern Mississippi had to win their final four games to get to bowl eligibility, in coach Larry Fedora's first season. The Golden Eagles know bowl games and have had a winning season each season this decade. So could the Trojans spoil the Golden Eagles winning streak?

The Golden Eagles led Conference USA with a plus 13 turnover margin. Troy was clearly the best team in the Sun Belt. Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State were the two common opponents this season for both opponents.

Southern Mississippi appears to have more question marks. There winning season steak appears vulnerable in the 2008 New Orleans Bowl.

Cidsports predictions

Southern Mississippi 27

Troy 35

http://twiter.com/cidsports

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

Top College Football Games: August 30, 2008

In Ames, Iowa, the Iowa State Cyclones kickoff the 2008 season at home.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the first day in College Football for 2008:

Top Games:

1. Oregon State at Stanford in Pac Ten showdown
2. Troy at Middle Tennessee in Sun Belt showdown
3. Vanderbilt at Miami-Ohio
4. North Carolina State at South Carolina
5. Wake Forest at Baylor
6. UTEP at Buffalo

Ugly Game:

1. Charleston Southern at Miami-Florida

Other Games of Interest:

1. South Dakota State at Iowa State
2. Hofstra at Connecticut
3. Jacksonville State at Georgia Tech
4. Eastern Kentucky at Cincinnati
5. Eastern Illinois at Central Michigan
6. Northeastern at Ball State
7. Indiana State at Eastern Michigan

peace

Florida Atlantic nearly consensus pick in Sun Belt for '08

The Florida Atlantic Owls are nearly a preseason consensus pick in the Sun Belt Conference football race for '08. However, the College Football News is departing from conventional wisdom and is going with the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders for '08.

The Sun Belt Conference is the lowest rated conference in the FBS division entering '08, by most accounts. Though, Phil Steele rated the Sun Belt ahead of the MAC to close out '07 (page 18 of Phil Steele's 2008 College Football Preview).

Lindy's has Florida Atlantic at #84 nationally, behind 3 MAC teams (Central Michigan, Ball State, and Miami-OH). Athlon Sports on the other hand has FAU #70 nationally, ahead of everyone in the MAC, other than #62 Central Michigan. PFW/College Football News picks Middle Tennessee ahead of FAU in the conference race, but has FAU #82 nationally, behind 3 MAC teams (CMU, Ball State, and Bowling Green), while Middle Tennessee is rated #108 nationally. All three magazines have FIU #119, last nationally of all FBS teams for '08.

Top 15 Sun Belt OOC games to watch in '08 -

1. Troy at Ohio State
2. Florida Atlantic at Texas in season opener
3. Florida Atlantic at Michigan State
4. Arkansas State at Texas A&M in season opener
5. Arkansas State at Alabama
6. Florida Atlantic at Minnesota
7. Troy at Oklahoma State
8. ULM at Auburn in season opener
9. ULM at Arkansas
10. ULM at Ole Miss
11. Louisiana-Lafayette at Illinois
12. Maryland at Middle Tennessee
13. North Texas at Kansas State in season opener
14. FIU at Kansas in season opener
15. FIU at Iowa

Finally, defending BCS champion LSU hosts both Troy and North Texas in '08 in the OOC. Troy is the only FBS team in '08 that will face both the BCS champ and runner up on their schedule. Who will be this year's victim to the Sun Belt in the OOC in '08. ULM beat Alabama in November '07, while Troy beat Oklahoma State in '07?

The Sun Belt will add Western Kentucky as a football member in 2009 and South Alabama in 2013. For what it's worth, according to Wikipedia, Florida Atlantic has the strongest endowment of all football members in the Sun Belt.

So, who does one pick in the Sun Belt Conference for 2008?

1. Troy Trojans (7-1 in '07) are going for their 3rd straight share of a Sun Belt title and they have several skill position holes to fill in '08. My surprise pick!
2. Florida Atlantic Owls (7-1 in '07) have the upper hand, playing Troy at home in '08?
3. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (4-3 in '07) won a share of the Sun Belt in '06 w/ Troy.
4. UL- Monroe Warhawks (4-3 in '07) last won a share of the Sun Belt in '05.
5. Arkansas State Red Wolves (3-4 in '07) also last won a share of the Sun Belt in '05.
6. UL-Lafayette Red Wolves (3-4 in '07) also last won a share of the Sun Belt in '05.
7. North Texas Mean Green (1-6 in '08) won a share or outright Sun Belt title from '01 to '04.
8. Florida International Golden Panthers (1-6 in '08) are the #119 team in the nation and will likely need another year before moving out of the Sun Belt cellar.

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers play five games vs. Sun Belt teams, but will not become an official conference member in football until next season.

• Biggest Game: Oct. 7th - Troy @ Florida Atlantic
• Biggest Football Rivalry Game: Aug. 28 - Troy @ Middle Tennessee to open season
• Coach of the Year: Larry Blakeney, Troy (his 18th season for Trojans)

Some other projections for the Sun Belt in '08 that I googled after I made my own picks. Jason Lowry's picks. Jeff Alexander's picks. Catfish and Cornbread picks. I know I went on a limb in the Sun Belt for '08.

peace