Each week this article will
focus on some of my predictions and insights for the coming
week and discuss some of my previous, faulty predictions.
The article will also feature pictures of a different
college football stud that defines the term “Eye Candy.”
Angles
Since the inception of the
BCS in 1998, teams that have played each other in the
regular season have not met in a bowl game rematch, but that
event could likely happen this season. And this is not
happening for just any bowl game, but the national title
game.
To make this even more
absurd, only twice in the history of college football have
two teams from the same conference met in a bowl game
rematch: 1959 featured a game between LSU and Mississippi (LSU
won 7-3) and 1978 featured a game between Nebraska and
Oklahoma (Nebraska won 17-14).
Michigan is not the only Big
Ten team that has only one loss. The other team, Wisconsin,
is tied with Michigan in the No. 2 spot in the Big Ten.
Unfortunately for the Badgers, their loss to Michigan was by
two touchdowns. Even though the game was played in
September, the final score was big enough to drop Wisconsin
too low in the rankings to overcome. Wisconsin is not being
given enough love this season and will likely not make a BCS
game, something the Badgers deserve. It’s a shame.
Continuing with absurdities,
how can the coaches
rank
USC higher than Michigan when USC lost to Oregon State?
Oregon State wasn’t even ranked while Michigan lost to the
No. 1 team in the country! Aren’t the polls supposed to
reflect which team is playing the best football? Michigan,
to me, played a great game. They lost as they were supposed
to, whereas USC should have beaten Oregon State.
Maybe when this crazy storm
called the BCS subsides, the people in control will
determine the best solution to crown a national champion is
like all other sports: a playoff system. The current BCS
system could be used as a starting point where the
conference champions are sent to the playoffs. The first
round of games could be played at the higher ranked schools’
facilities, while the later second and third rounds are
played at the current BCS locations.
Teams that do not win
their conference could still enjoy the bowl games they are
currently used to. The winner of the playoffs would be
crowned the national champion. The school presidents and
athletic directions would be happy because the season is
extended by maybe one week. The fans will be happy
because the bowl games remain intact. The sponsors will be
happy because of the hype that will be created for the games
will increase the potential eyes seeing their ads.
Rivalry Week
Predictions
This week brings us a number
of big games between teams that play for silly trophies.
Some of these names are ridiculous, such as the Beehive
Boot, which is given to the winner of the Battle of the
Brothers (between Utah and Utah State), to just strange,
such as the Old Brass Spittoon (given to the winner of
Indiana and Michigan State). Not all these trophies are
given out this weekend, but here’s a list of games that are
being played this weekend along with random predictions for
the outcomes.
(Disclaimer: Information
about the trophies and games were taken from a Wikipedia
article.)
The Lone Star Showdown. This
game features the two traditional powers from the Republic
of Texas -- Texas A&M and Texas -- battling for the Lone
Star Showdown Trophy. My heart would like the Aggies to
pull off the upset in a close nail biter, but my gut is
telling me Texas is going for the rout.
In a game that’s been played
since 1926, Notre Dame and USC play for the
Jeweled
Shillelagh. Why
they play for this weird trophy is beyond comprehension, but
I do know this game should be a dandy. Look for a close
game where USC takes care of business.
Florida and Florida State are
playing for the Governor's Cup. With the Seminoles having
such a down season, this game will be more of an after
thought outside the Sunshine State. Look for Florida to win
big and try to convince the BCS computers the Gators belong
in the national title game instead of Michigan or USC.
The Bedlam
Series has been
played since 1900 and features the two big hitting teams
from the state of Oklahoma. The Cowpokes and Sooners play
for the Bedlam Bell. The series is greatly lopsided with
the Sooners winning almost 80% of the time. This year will
be no different.
Georgia and Georgia Tech play
for the Governor’s Cup which is described as
Clean,
Old-Fashioned Hate.
Georgia Tech has only 38 wins in this game compared to
Georgia’s 57, but with the type of football that the Yellow
Jackets are playing this season, the gap will become less.
Keep in mind, though, Georgia has won each meeting since
2001.
The
Commonwealth Cup
is given to the winner of the annual game between Virginia
and Virginia Tech. Though the teams have met on the
gridiron since 1895, this trophy started being awarded in
1996. Virginia Tech leads the series 7-3 and should easily
rack up its third win in a row over the
Wahoos.
Dangles
Last week I took a chance and
suggested that Pitt would be able to defeat WVU as that was
a preseason prediction that was made and I was going to
stick to it. Well, looks like another one of my preseason
predictions was flat out wrong as
WVU won by 18
points.
I was also pessimistic for
Virginia Tech's chances of wining in Winston-Salem. When
stud RB
Branden Ore
went down with a leg injury early in the first quarter,
things looked grim for Virginia Tech. But once again it was
Bud Foster’s
defense that
sealed the
deal for Virginia
Tech as the Demon Deacons were held to just two field
goals. The Hokies defense hasn’t given up a touchdown in
over 71 minutes of play. Wow!
Perks
Stepping up into the starting
QB role has proven to be easy for Wake Forest’s
Riley Skinner.
This stud replaced the first string QB
Brett Hodges,
a stud in his own right, when Hodges was hurt with a
season-ending shoulder injury. It’s great to see the
success that Skinner is having in his starting QB role.
Being a freshman spells good news for the Demon Deacons in
the years to come.
Related:
Week
11 recap
Week
10 recap
Week
9 recap
Week
8 recap
Week
7 recap
Week
6 recap
Week
5 recap
Week
4 recap
Week
3 recap
Week
2 recap
Week
1 recap
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