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Breaking down the Rams draft needs

January 30th, 2010, 10:11 pm by rclements

The St. Louis Rams have a lot of holes to fill.

They need about as much help as a blind quadriplegic calling a suicide hotline.

They can address some of their needs via free agency – a big new wide receiver here, an offensive lineman there, maybe even a veteran quarterback to groom the star of the future.

Aah, the future.

Marc Bulger has probably played his last down for the St. Louis Rams.

The Rams were the third youngest team in the NFL last season, and look to remain young in 2010 because the majority of their needs will be met during April’s draft.

Marc Bulger has probably played his final game as a Ram. It’s undeniable the team needs a franchise quarterback, but anyone thinking there is a quarterback worthy of the top overall pick come April 22 is simply delusional.

While Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen and Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford each have their upsides, both are too risky to gamble the future of a franchise that won the Super Bowl just 10 years ago.

There is really only one sure-fire player to go with for the No. 1 selection, and that is Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Cornhusker is regarded by nearly every draft guru as the best player in the draft. When you’re trying to build from the ground up, like the Rams are, you need to take the best players.

While defensive tackle isn’t St. Louis’ biggest need, an impact player like Suh can upgrade the entire unit.

Suh is the best-case scenario for the Rams with the No. 1 pick.

The worst-case scenario would be drafting Clausen. If Rams general manager Billy Devaney and head coach Steve Spagnuolo are wowed by Clausen’s physical abilities and ignore his questionable leadership ability, they could both be looking for jobs within two years.

At the top of Round 2, St. Louis has a couple of options - either grab that quarterback of the future or select a game-breaking wide receiver.

I choose option A. While this year’s quarterback class lacks that true No. 1 guy, it is a pretty deep class of good quarterbacks, which is why the Rams do not need to gamble with a signal caller to begin the draft.

There are a handful of quarterbacks who should be available with the 33rd pick on Friday, April 23 when the Rams begin Day 2 of the draft in the NFL’s new three-day format.

Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour is the NCAA record holder for career touchdowns.

Three guys I’d focus on are Texas’ Colt McCoy, Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour and Florida’s Tim Tebow. All three were highly productive, winning quarterbacks in college, and all three were four-year players with proven leadership abilities.

None more so than Tebow. There is a knock on Tebow’s delivery, but nobody can dispute his productivity, tenacity and versatility on the football field. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Tebow threw for over 9,200 yards and 88 touchdowns to just 16 interceptions in three seasons as a starter.

His Gators won two BCS championships and another BCS bowl game, and he ran for 57 more touchdowns in his career. Rams fans in St. Louis are already clamoring for a guy like Tebow, and he would definitely pack the empty seats at the Edward Jones Dome. Those fans are probably singing a different tune after watching Tebow struggle all week at the Senior Bowl, including a pair of fumbles during the game.

McCoy is college football’s all-time winningest quarterback, but may lack the arm strength needed to make NFL throws. He was unable to play in the Senior Bowl, making his Combine and individual workout that much more important. Assuming his BCS title game injury doesn’t affect him too much, a strong showing at the Combine could quell the naysayers.

LeFevour is my guy. The 6-3, 228-pound CMU QB ranks second all-time in total offense for his career. He’s the only player in NCAA history to pass for more than 12,000 yards and rush for more than 2,500. He also has accounted for more touchdowns - 150 - than anyone in college football history. He has 102 passing TDs, 47 rushing and even caught a TD pass in illustrious career while leading the Chippewas to four straight bowl games, two bowl victories and a pair of MAC championships.

A four-year starter, LeFevour is everything you want in an NFL quarterback - productivity, undeniable leadership ability, winning track record. If he can prove at the Senior Bowl that he can adapt from a spread offense in college to more of a pro style system, which I believe he can, the Rams would be insane to pass on a guy who has franchise quarterback written all over him.

If the Rams want to sell season tickets, they should draft Tebow. If they want an NFL-ready quarterback to build around, LeFevour is the choice.

Best case scenario, Devaney selects LeFevour. Neither Tebow nor McCoy would be terrible selections. The worst case scenario would be taking a wide receiver here. While it is a need, when first-year Ram, and four-year veteran Ruvell Martin is the dean of receivers, going after a free agent like San Diego’s Vincent Jackson would be the best bet.

All that being said, if a guy like Bradford - because of his shoulder injuries - falls here, you take him. And if running backs Clemson’s C.J. Spiller or California’s Jahvid Best fall out of the first round - both very improbable scenarios - you do not pass them up.

Round 3 and beyond is where you really build your team. The Rams have nine total draft picks, so seven remain from here on out. An option would exist to use a couple of those, including the third-round pick, to move back into the second round if a solid offensive tackle like Iowa’s Bryan Baluga or USC’s Charles Brown is somehow still unclaimed. Massachusetts’ Vladimir Ducasse is a real possibility here.

But the best thing for the Rams is to use all of their picks to stockpile players. They need a running back to spell Steven Jackson. Rookie Chris Ogbonnaya looked good in his only NFL action the last two weeks of the season, but I’m not sold on the former Texas Longhorn and seventh-round pick. It took him 14 weeks to even be activated for a game. Veteran backups Samkon Gado and Kenneth Darby were largely unproductive in 2009 and probably won’t be on the 2010 roster.

What the Rams don’t need is another big bruising back like Jackson, which is why I don’t like the idea of taking Stanford’s Toby Gerhart or Tennessee’s Montario Hardesty here.

Could speedy Fresno State tailback Ryan Mathews fall to the Rams in Round 3?

They need a change-of-pace back. Somebody like Fresno State’s Ryan Mathews or USC’s Joe McKnight would be great choices.

They also need that offensive tackle in case Alex Barron is not back with the team. The club also needs help in the secondary - especially if they can’t re-sign safety Oshiomogho Atogwe. The fifth-year player from Stanford is the best defensive player the Rams have and, along with cornerback Ron Bartell, the only true serviceable NFL starter the Rams have in the secondary.

That’s where a guy like Michigan’s Donovan Warren or Alabama’s Javier Arenas can come in and upgrade the unit. Keeping Atogwe is also a must.

In the third round, the best-case scenario is simply taking the best player available that fills a need. Whether that’s offensive tackle, cornerback or running back. The worst thing the Rams can do from here on out is reach for a player. Follow your board and draft as many good players as you can. Trading down is definitely an option.

Hopefully for Rams fans, the best players available can help build a successful team on the foundation Devaney and Spagnuolo have laid.

Posted in: College football • NFL • Alex Barron • Atogwe • Billy Devaney • Bryan Baluga • C.J. Spiller • Charles Brown • Chippewas • Chris Ogbonnaya • Clemson • Colt McCoy • Dan LeFevour • Donnie Avery • Jahvid Best • Jimmy Clausen • Joe McKnight • Kenneth Darby • Marc Bulger • Montario Hardesty • Ndamukong Suh • Nebraska • Notre Dame • Oklahoma • Oshiomogho Atogwe • Ron Bartell • Ruvell Martin • Ryan Mathews • Sam Bradford • Samkon Gado • St. Louis Rams • Steve Spagnuolo • Steven Jackson • Texas Longhorns • Tim Tebow • Toby Gerhart | Post a Comment »

Why the Rams need to draft Ndamukong Suh with the top pick in April’s NFL draft

January 14th, 2010, 4:00 pm by rclements

There is no question that the St. Louis Rams need a quarterback.

It's time for Marc Bulger and the Rams to part ways.

Marc Bulger has worn out his welcome and neither Kyle Boller nor Keith Null showed last season that they can be the quarterback of the future in St. Louis.

All that being said, the Rams should select a quarterback with the top overall pick when the NFL draft rolls around on April 22, right?

Wrong.

There is not a quarterback in this draft class who merits being the top overall pick.

NFL general managers should always be wary of selecting underclassmen quarterbacks first overall. Ryan Leaf was the No. 2 pick in the 1998 draft, and we know how that turned out for the San Diego Chargers.

Tim Couch was the top pick in the 1999 draft and busted out. Indianapolis took Jeff George with the first pick in 1990. While he had a long NFL career with some success, he burned his way out of Indy quicker than a pothead burns through a joint.

Taking a quarterback with the top pick is truly hit or miss. The Colts hit in 1998 when they took Peyton Manning No. 1, and he hasn’t missed a game yet during his now Hall of Fame career.

But Manning, a four-year starter at Tennessee, is not the rule when it comes to teams with the top pick.

When you look at the two quarterbacks who are atop most draft lists, both have big question marks, and both are underclassmen.

Jimmy Clausen is not the right choice for the Rams with the top overall pick in April's NFL draft.

Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford is coming off a pair of shoulder injuries that required surgery, ending the former Heisman winner’s junior campaign. Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen played in a pro style offense under Charlie Weis at South Bend, but at times showed immaturity on the field. While there is no question that Clausen is physically ready to play in the NFL, the mental comparisons to a burnout like Leaf are obvious.

The Rams cannot afford such a gamble.

That is why a sure-thing like Ndamukong Suh is the most logical choice.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Nebraska defensive tackle is a senior, and led his team in tackles for two straight years. If that last part isn’t impressive enough, how about a defensive tackle with two blocked kicks, an interception, 22.5 tackles for a loss and 12 sacks. Those would be incredible numbers for a defensive end, but from a defensive tackle, they’re astounding.

Suh is considered to be the best defensive tackle prospect in a decade. He’s one of those rare can’t-miss players that no general manager can afford to pass on. And he would help every aspect of the Rams horrid defense.

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) is the rare can't-miss player the Rams cannot afford to pass up.

The Rams ranked 29th overall in the NFL in total defense. They were 25th against the pass, and 27th versus the rush. So as bad as the offense was, the defense was just as bad.

St. Louis was the victim of several bad injuries to its defense, none more so than to safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, the team’s best defensive player.

Atogwe is a free agent, and if the Rams want to prove to Atogwe that they’re committed to winning, what better player to sign than a disruptive interior defensive lineman?

Tackles that can get to the quarterback are rare. Most are of the run-stuffing ilk like the Williams duo in Minnesota or former Green Bay Packers Gilbert Brown and Grady Jackson.

Not only can Suh stuff the run, but he gets to the passer and would demand double teams on the inside.

The Rams have something special in linebacker James Laurinaitis, coming off a solid rookie season. He is the linchpin of a good, young linebacker corps with second-year players Larry Grant, Chris Chamberlain and David Vobora, and veteran Paris Lenon.

Having Suh demand attention in the middle will only free them up to make plays.

The Rams were the third worst team in sacks, generating just 25 sacks on the season. Chris Long, the second pick in the 2008 draft, came on at the end of the season to finish with five sacks. Leonard Little led the team with 6.5.

A defensive tackle who penetrates like Suh will only open things up for the defensive ends. Suh will help the pass rush, ultimately benefiting the defensive backs, who won’t have to stick to their respective man for as long as they did this past season.

A single player like Suh can benefit every phase of the Rams defense. After that, if they want to take a quarterback in the second round and focus on offense the rest of the way, that’s probably the right choice.

But you don’t pass on a sure thing. To do so would just be foolish.

You gamble in a casino, not in Radio City Music Hall on draft day.

Posted in: NFL • Billy Devaney • Indianapolis Colts • Jeff George • Jimmy Clausen • Keith Null • Kyle Boller • Marc Bulger • Ndamukong Suh • Peyton Manning • Ryan Leaf • Sam Bradford • St. Louis Rams • Steve Spagnuolo • Tennessee • Tim Couch | Post a Comment »

Why Charles Woodson was the right choice as the NFL’s defensive player of the year

January 13th, 2010, 2:46 pm by rclements

When Green Bay cornerback Charles Woodson was selected as the NFL’s defensive player of the year on Tuesday by the Associated Press, it set off debates about whether or not he deserved it.

The timing of the award could not have been worse, coming just two days after the Packers defense allowed 45 points in their 51-45 overtime loss to Arizona in the wild card round of the playoffs. Arizona’s other six points resulted in a fumble recovery for a touchdown in overtime for the game winner.

Woodson allowed a pair of touchdowns to Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the game, although it appeared that Fitzgerald got away with blatant pass interference on at least one of those scores.

Meanwhile New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis shut down Cincinnati’s Chad Ochocinco in consecutive weeks. The playoff performances of each made Jets head coach Rex Ryan berate the voters who did not pick Revis. There’s sticking up for your player, Coach, and then there’s not knowing what you’re talking about by ignoring the facts.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said this is why the awards need to be given after the NFL season. I responded to Schefter on Twitter, saying that the award is a regular-season award, and was awarded after the season.

During the regular season, Woodson was the most dominant defensive player all season long. He even stepped up his game when Green Bay starters Al Harris and Aaron Kampman went down in the same game, each with torn ACLs.

Green Bay finished the year with the NFL’s No. 2 defense, tops in the NFC, and Woodson was a huge reason why. The Jets had the league’s top-ranked defense, and Revis led the NFL’s top-ranked pass unit with six interceptions.

Green Bay's Charles Woodson tied for the NFL lead with nine interceptions, returning three of them for touchdowns.

Woodson also had nine interceptions on the year, returning three for scores. He also had two sacks, 74 tackles and five forced fumbles. Woodson also had 18 passes defensed on the year. Comparing the numbers, Revis had 31 passes defensed, but his six picks are three fewer than Woodson. Revis did not force any fumbles and Woodson had 20 more tackles. Woodson had three defensive touchdowns this year to Revis’ one, and even that came on a ball plucked out of the air after it was deflected by another player.

When Harris, Green Bay’s other bookend corner, went down, teams passed less often to Woodson’s side - making his interception number that more impressive. Teams rarely throw toward Revis, and his numbers suffer from that. None of the reasoning to vote for Woodson is a knock on Revis. Both are great players.

But when you look at who did what to alter the outcome of games, Woodson did more with a younger defense. Revis shut down the passing game. Woodson took away the passes through the air, and stopped plays on the ground. Opposing teams had to account for Revis in the passing game, but account for Woodson in every aspect of the gameplan.

Other players like Denver’s Elvis Dumerville, former Packer Darren Sharper, now with New Orleans, San Francisco’s Patrick Willis and Minnesota’s Jared Allen all had great seasons. But Woodson was the obvious choice.

Revis and the Jets may still be alive in the playoffs, but remember, Mr. Schefter and Mr. Ryan, it’s a regular-season award, and Woodson was the most deserving.

Posted in: NFL • Adam Schefter • Charles Woodson • Darrelle Revis • Darren Sharper • Elvis Dumerville • Green Bay • Jared Allen • New York Jets • Packers • Patrick Willis • Rex Ryan | Post a Comment »

What we learned from this season’s bowl games

January 6th, 2010, 2:51 pm by rclements

As the college football season wraps up Thursday night with the BCS championship game from Pasadena, we can reflect on the college bowl season, and try to figure out what we gained.

We learned that the ACC is not that good, the Big Ten is better than it’s given credit for, the SEC has some mortal teams, the SEC has some lucky teams, Missouri’s band is controversial (blame ESPN), Tim Tebow is really, really good, the East Carolina kicker is not really, really good, Cincinnati was severely overrated - or maybe the Bearcats missed their coach - and that the Mountain West Conference deserves a BCS automatic berth.

What we didn’t learn was who is the best team in college football.

Isn’t that why the Bowl Championship Series was founded? Wasn’t it created so that we get the best two teams on the field to play each other?

Do we have that this year with Texas facing off against Alabama? Some would say yes. I don’t necessarily disagree, but none of us really know for sure.

Watching Boise State plays TCU in the Fiesta Bowl was great fun, and was a hell of a game. But wouldn’t it be great to see Boise State play the Texas-Alabama winner play for the real national championship? One more game with the nation’s remaining unbeaten teams.

Boise State is just the second team in college football history to finish a season 14-0. The other team was Ohio State in 2002. That Buckeyes team won the national championship on the field, with its dramatic overtime victory over Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.

We entered the bowl season with five undefeated teams. Alabama was No. 1, followed by Texas, Cincinnati, TCU and then Boise. TCU was ranked fourth in the final BCS polls, while 12-1 Florida was sandwiched between the Horned Frogs and Boise State in the rankings.

Florida dismantled the Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl to end Cincinnati’s unbeaten season and outside shot at a share of the national title. The Gators were ripped apart by Alabama in the SEC championship game, so what does Florida’s romp over Cincinnati and Tebow’s stellar performance tell us?

Did Florida simply have a bad game against the Tide? Was Cincinnati simply beaten like a drum by a better team? A little of both?

Did Chris Petersen and the Boise State Broncos benefit from playing an unmotivated TCU team, or were they just that good?

The same questions could be asked about TCU in its loss to Boise. Andy Dalton had his worst game of the season, throwing three interceptions against the Broncos in the 17-10 defeat. Many college football writers, myself included, thought TCU deserved the berth in the BCS title game over both Cincinnati and Texas. So did we get an unmotivated, and unfocused, TCU team in the Fiesta Bowl because their eyes were still on Pasadena?

It’s happened before.

In 1998, No. 4 Kansas State was shunned from a BCS bowl, and promptly lost to an unheralded Purdue team in the Alamo Bowl. Two years ago, Big XII champion Oklahoma felt snubbed when the BCS selected Ohio State to play LSU in the BCS title game. The Sooners then stated their case by laying an egg in the Fiesta Bowl, losing big to West Virginia.

Is this what happened to TCU? Or was Boise simply underrated and the better team? I still maintain that TCU would have been more motivated to play Florida in the Sugar Bowl, and could have beaten the Gators - Tim Tebow and all. Boise State then would’ve played Cincinnati in the Fiesta.

Of course, if TCU would’ve beaten Florida in that hypothetical game, we’d then have three unbeatens instead of two and we’d know even less than we know now.

Posted in: College football • Alabama • BCS • BCS national championship • Boise State • Crimson Tide • Fiesta Bowl • Florida • Longhorns • Oklahoma • Pasadena • Rose Bowl • Sugar Bowl • TCU Horned Frogs • Texas • Tim Tebow | Post a Comment »

Bowl previews, Dec. 26-Dec. 31

December 25th, 2009, 8:25 pm by rclements

There were a couple of big surprises already in the bowl season. The first was Wyoming upsetting Fresno State in overtime. The second, and probably more surprising, was SMU simply anhillating Nevada in the Hawaii Bowl.

It was June Jones’ first trip to Hawaii since he left the University of Hawaii two years ago to become the head coach in Dallas. It was also the first bowl game in 25 years for the Mustangs, and they responded with a 45-10 walloping blow to the Wolfpack, who were without two of their three 1,000-yard rushers.

What surprises remain between now and New Year’s Day? We’ll have to see, but I’ll do my best to prepare you for each of the 14 bowl games that remain in December of 2009. BCS rankings are used, and all times are Central.

Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl: Ohio (9-4) vs. Marshall (6-6) at Detroit, Saturday, noon: I’ve never been an advocate for 6-6 teams qualifying for bowl games in a 12-game schedule. Should that team lose, it finishes the season under .500. That’s not rewarding a good season, it’s rewarding mediocrity.

But that’s what’s facing the Thundering Herd when they travel to Detroit to face the MAC runners-up. Just one 6-6 team has played so far, but it was Wyoming, which ended its season on a high note with a 35-28 upset of Fresno State.

Ohio has a shot at a 10-win season for the first time since 1968, and should get it against a Marshall team that barely beat Southern Illinois and was blasted by UTEP and Virginia Tech. Marshall could have a hard time scoring against an Ohio defense that has allowed 30 points just three times all season - two of which came in victories.

Quarterback Theo Scott and receivers Terrence McRae and Taylor Price have been hard to stop down the stretch, and should find success against the Marshall secondary.

Pitt freshman Dion Lewis will try to lead the Panthers to a bowl victory over North Carolina.

Meineke Car Care Bowl: Pittsburgh (9-3) vs. North Carolina (8-4) at Charlotte, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.:

The Tar Heels have a virtual home game in Charlotte, and will need all the advantages they can muster against a very good Pitt team led by senior quarterback Bill Stull and freshman phenom tailback Dion Lewis.

The Tar Heels have some nice wins under their belt - 31-17 over C-USA champion East Carolina, 33-24 over No. 15 Miami, and 31-13 at Boston College. But they also have some clunkers including a 16-3 loss to Virginia and a 28-27 setback to North Carolina State. North Carolina’s sixth-ranked defense has been the biggest reason it won eight games. The offense has been helter skelter, and the defense will have to again step up against the Panthers.

Stull (2,470 passing yards, 21 TDs, eight interceptions) and Lewis (1,640 rushing yards and 16 TDs) drive Pitt’s 16th-ranked offense. Lewis was the Big East freshman of the year, and the conference’s offensive player of the year.

Emerald Bowl: Boston College (8-4) vs. USC (8-4) at San Francisco, Saturday, 7 p.m.: The Trojans have an opportunity to end a disappointing season on a high note. It’s the first non-BCS bowl game since 2001, and the first time in seven years, the Trojans won’t win 10 or more games.

The once-vaunted USC defense was torched this season, and could be tested by the Eagles. Montel Harris ran for more than 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns this season for BC, which averages 26 points per game.

USC has more talent on paper, on gets a boost from the probable return of tailback Joe McKnight, who had been under investigation over the misuse of an SUV. McKnight leads the team with 1,014 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.

The Trojans have lost three of their last five, including blowout losses to Oregon and Stanford.

Music City Bowl: Kentucky (7-5) vs. Clemson (8-5) at Nashville, Sunday, 7:30 p.m.: For the fourth straight season, Kentucky is playing a bowl game in Tennessee. It’s the third time in that span that the Wildcats are in Nashville. Kentucky won the 2006 and 2007 Music City Bowls, and beat East Carolina in last year’s Liberty Bowl in Memphis.

This year, Kentucky faces Clemson - the same team it beat in the 2006 Music City Bowl. But this is a different Clemson team, thanks to super tailback C.J. Spiller.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound senior was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, ran for 1,145 yards and 11 touchdowns, but scored four more receiving, four on kick returns, another on a punt return, and even threw a pass. Overlooked as a Heisman finalist, Spiller finished sixth in the balloting.

Spiller has 7,416 career all-purpose yards, third-best in NCAA history, and could be the difference maker for Clemson to win its first bowl game since 2005 while ending Kentucky’s four-game bowl winning streak.

Independence Bowl: Texas A&M (6-6) vs. Georgia (7-5) at Shreveport, Monday, 4 p.m.: Texas A&M is the alma mater of my brother, so I’ve gotta pull for the Aggies, who should be thankful to just get an invite to a bowl game.

Georgia, on the other hand, was mired in a season of disappointment that began with a loss to Oklahoma State in Week 1. Neither defense is very good, but the Aggies offense is fifth nationally, and ranks 14th in points scored.

Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson is huge at 6-5, and threw for 28 touchdowns this season.

Texas A&M gave No. 2 Texas all it could handle in the season finale, and could give the Bulldogs defense fits. Georgia fired defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, and will have to prepare for Jerrod Johnson.

The 6-5 junior quarterback has over 3,200 passing yards with 28 touchdowns to just six interceptions. As good as the offense has been, the Aggies twice allowed 60 points this year, and rank 107th in the nation defensively. Defensive end Von Johnson did lead the country with 17 sacks, and he’ll have to get pressure on Georgia quarterback Joe Cox, who has 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions on the year.

Eaglebank Bowl: UCLA (6-6) vs. Temple (9-3) at Washington, D.C., Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.: The Bruins got into this game when Army lost to Navy on Dec. 12. They’ll face a Temple team that won nine straight following season-opening losses to FCS champion Villanova and Penn State. Along the way were wins over both Army and Navy, and a 7-1 conference mark before a season-ending loss to MAC runner-up Ohio.

Six MAC teams are in bowl games, and both Ohio and Temple have opportunities to join 11-2 Central Michigan with double-digit wins. Temple is led by freshman tailback Bernard Pierce, who burst on the scene with 1,308 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.

UCLA passed over Al Golden to hire Rick Neuheisel two years ago. Golden, now the Temple coach, has a chance to prove the Bruins wrong after getting Temple to its first bowl game in 30 years. It’s the first-ever meeting between the two schools, and UCLA is a four-point favorite despite having an offense that ranks 103rd in points scored.

Champs Sports Bowl: Miami (9-3) vs. Wisconsin (9-3) at Orlando, Tuesday, 7 p.m.: Both the Badgers and Hurricanes have young teams and bright futures. Wisconsin was drubbed 42-13 by Florida State in last year’s Champs Sports Bowl, and will look to erase that memory with a win over the Hurricanes.

Miami is led by sophomore quarterback Jacory Harris, who has been inconsistent this year, but still threw for over 3,100 yards and 23 touchdowns. He’s also got 17 interceptions, a big reason for Miami’s three losses. He’ll have to play much better against a Wisconsin defense that will dare him to throw.

The Badgers are among the nation’s best in stopping the run, and are led by outside linebacker/defensive end O’Brien Schofield. The senior was second in the nation in tackles for a loss (22.5) and registered 10 sacks.

Miami has not played a Big Ten team since losing to Ohio State in the 2002 national championship game. If the ‘Canes are going to beat Wisconsin, they’ll have to stop the Big Ten’s offensive player of the year. Sophomore running back John Clay is a bruiser at 6-2, 247 pounds, and rumbled his way to nearly 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Humanitarian Bowl: Bowling Green (7-5) vs. Idaho (7-5) at Boise, Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.: After a strong start, the Vandals stumbled down the stretch, including a blowout loss to in-state rival Boise State.

Freddie Barnes caught an eye-popping 138 balls for over 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.

Now Idaho gets to return to Boise’s home turf to take on a battled-tested Bowling Green team led by all-American receiver Freddie Barnes. The 6-foot senior hauled in an astounding 138 receptions for 1,551 yards and 16 touchdowns this season for the Falcons.

Idaho lost four of its last five, including defensive meltdowns in losses to Nevada (70-45), Boise State (63-25) and Utah State (52-49). Unlike the Vandals, Bowling Green bounced back from a 1-4 start that included losses at Boise (49-14) and Missouri (27-20) to win six of its last seven. The Falcons scored 30 or more points in all six victories, with the only loss coming to MAC champion Central Michigan (24-10).

Holiday Bowl: No. 22 Nebraska (9-4) vs. No. 20 Arizona (8-4) at San Diego, Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Falling just short of a Big XII title, the Cornhuskers head west to face an Arizona team that ended its season with a win over USC. The Wildcats nearly had a Pac-10 title wrapped up, had it not been for a dramatic double-overtime loss to eventual champ Oregon.

Nebraska has the nation’s No. 2 scoring defense, and ninth overall, led by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. The 6-4, 300-pound senior is the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft (you listening Rams?). He finished the season as the team’s leading tackler for the second straight season. He recorded 23 tackles for a loss and 12 sacks, including 4.5 in the Big XII title game against Texas. All this from an interior lineman.

Arizona will have its hands full trying to score against one of the nation’s top defensive units. The Wildcats are an average, at best, offensive team. They ranked 40th overall, 44th passing, 47th rushing and 44th in points scored. Nebraska is a slight favorite in the game, and for good reason. While Nebraska’s offense is not very good, its defense should be able to shut down the Arizona offense enough to secure the win.

Armed Forces Bowl: Houston (10-3) vs. Air Force (7-5) at Fort Worth, Thursday, 11 a.m.: The slate of New Year’s Eve games gets kicked off with a rematch of last year’s Armed Forces Bowl. Houston beat Air Force 34-28 in last year’s edition, and this year could have the same offensive fireworks.

Houston quarterback Case Keenum put up insane numbers this year. The 6-2 junior threw for 5,449 yards with 43 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. He threw for more than 500 yards in a game four times, including two of his team’s three losses. In the Conference USA championship game against East Carolina, Keenum was 56-of-75 for 527 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. ECU won the game 38-32 and will play Arkansas on Jan. 2 in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.

While Houston flings the ball through the air, the Falcons run the ball down your throat. Air Force is third in the nation with 273 rushing yards per game, and will have to play ball control against the nation’s No. 1 scoring offense. The Cougars average better than 43 points per game. Houston is also the country’s top passing unit, and best overall offense. With wins over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech from the Big XII and Mississippi State from the SEC, Houston would like to cap its year with a second straight win over Air Force.

Sun Bowl: Oklahoma (7-5) vs. Stanford (8-4) at El Paso, Thursday, 1 p.m.: For a season that began with national championship aspirations, Oklahoma’s dreams came crashing down to the Cowboys Stadium turf in Dallas on Sept. 5. In their season-opening 14-13 loss to BYU, the Sooners lost starting quarterback, and reigning Heisman winner, Sam Bradford to a shoulder injury.

Bradford tried to return later in the year, only to injure the shoulder again. While the Sooners limped to a five-loss season without their Heisman winner, Stanford watched its own Heisman candidate emerge.

Running back Toby Gerhart racked up more than 1,700 rushing yards this season while leading the nation with 26 touchdowns. He finished second in the Heisman voting, and will best be remembered for his dominant performance against USC and for punishing would-be Notre Dame tacklers in the regular season finale.

Oklahoma boasts the nation’s seventh-ranked run defense, and will need to be on top of its game if it expects to knock off the Cardinal.

Missouri's Danario Alexander emerged as one of the country's best receivers this year.

Texas Bowl: Navy (9-4) vs. Missouri (8-4) at Houston, Thursday, 2:30 p.m.:

It’s Missouri’s high-powered passing attack against Navy’s triple-option, dominant running game.

The Midshipmen again captured the President’s Trophy this season, and knocked off Notre Dame for the second time in three year. Now they have a chance at a 10-win season for the first time since 2004. To do so, the athletically out-matched Middies will have to contain Danario Alexander, who has emerged as one of the nation’s top wideouts.

Alexander has 107 catches for 1,644 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has been the spark for an offense that has scored at least 32 points in five straight games - four wins. Navy’s best defense will be a good offense - playing ball control to keep the ball away from Alexander and Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

Navy’s unquestioned leader is quarterback Ricky Dobbs, who leads the team with 1,026 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns, as well as 901 passing yards and five scores. He’s turned the ball over just three times this season, and set the NCAA single-season record for total touchdowns.

Insight Bowl: Minnesota (6-6) vs. Iowa State (6-6) at Tucson, Thursday, 5 p.m.: It’s a good thing this game is on NFL Network because nobody will want to watch it anyway. It’s the least intriguiging of any bowl game with a pair of .500 teams - meaning one team will finish the year at 6-7. Both teams were 3-5 in their respective conferences. Going to a bowl game was the furthest expectation for an Iowa State team that lost 10 games a season ago. So it’s a nice reward for the Cyclones, and first-year head coach Paul Rhoads.

Points could be at a premium in this one, but not because of good defenses. Minnesota does have a top-flight receiver in Cody Decker (50 catches, 758 yards, five TDs), but has an offense that ranks 113th nationally in total yards. Iowa State’s offensive unit, led by running back Alexander Robinson (1, 058 yards, six TDs), is 102nd in points scored.

If you have NFL Network, and want to take a nap to rest yourself for a late New Year’s Eve party, then turn on this game. If you want to see a good football game next Thursday, then just keep it on ESPN and watch Navy and Missouri.

Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty will try to lead the Volunteers to a victory in his final collegiate game.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Virginia Tech (9-3) vs. Tennessee (7-5) at Atlanta, Thursday, 6:30 p.m.:

Maybe the third time’s the charm for the Hokies. After previous losses in Atlanta to Alabama and Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech returns to the Georgia capital to take on Tennessee, and brash first-year coach Lane Kiffin.

The 34-year-old Kiffin has been a polarizing figure in the SEC all season, and filled Vols fans with doubts about his ability from day one. But here he is with his Volunteers, arrest and recruiting scandals and all, in a bowl game. Tennessee got here because of a stingy defense led by Jim Thorpe Award winner Eric Berry, the nation’s top defensive back. The Tennessee safety, and Atlanta native, was second on the team with 83 tackles, six for losses, with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

The game will feature two of the nation’s top tailbacks in Tennessee senior Montario Hardesty and Virginia Tech freshman Ryan Williams. Hardesty, a New Bern, N.C. native whom I had the pleasure to cover in high school, has rushed for 1,306 yards and 12 touchdowns. Williams put up the eighth-best season by a freshman in NCAA history with 1,538 yards and 19 scores. Both teams have improving young quarterbacks and good defenses. The difference could be special teams, where Frank Beamer’s Hokies always excel, and the Vols had two kicks blocked that cost them a win against Alabama.

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It’s nice to reconnect with old “friends”

December 19th, 2009, 1:57 pm by rclements

During the holiday season, many people reunite with old friends and other acquaintances that haven’t been seen in awhile.

This weekend, I get such an opportunity to do so, not once, but twice.

Tonight at Chaifetz Arena, I will have an opportunity to watch two kids at Missouri State whom I had the pleasure covering in high school.

Both Keith Pickens and Jerome Jones are freshmen for the Bears, who play at St. Louis University tonight at 7. I saw both Pickens and Jones lead their teams to the Missouri state finals last spring.

Pickens, a 6-3 forward with incredible leaping ability, led the Oakville Tigers to Mizzou Arena and a fourth-place finish in Class 5. Jones did the same at Miller Career Academy in the Class 4 ranks.

Pickens starts for the undefeated Bears, who come into tonight’s game at 9-0. He is averaging five points per game and is third on the team in blocked shots with five. Jones has played in all nine games and is a solid contributor off the bench.

It’s kind of surprising that Jones isn’t scoring more than just two points per game, considering he was a scoring machine in high school. He led the Phoenix with 25 points per game, including a 65-point outburst a year ago against Gateway Tech.

It will be nice to see both Keith and Jerome again tonight. I only got to cover Jones for one season, but have known Pickens for over two years, and even sat next to him during a few Oakville baseball games last spring.

On Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome, I will be covering the Rams game against the Houston Texans. If you recall, Houston selected Mario Williams No. 1 overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. Many scoffed at the pick, myself included, thinking the Texans would be better off taking Reggie Bush or Houston native Vince Young with the top pick.

Houston's Mario Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NFL draft, will bring his eight sacks with him to St. Louis on Sunday.

Following an underwhelming rookie season, which made people say that the inconsistent college player is the same NFL player, Williams has turned into a bonafide star. He’s posted double-digit sacks each of the last two seasons, and has eight so far this year. Against the porous and thin St. Louis offensive line, Williams could hit 10 sacks on the season during Sunday’s game.

Williams is listed at 6-foot-6, 295 pounds - a far cry from the 6-4, 225-pound kid I saw back in 2001 when he was a sophomore at Richlands High School in eastern North Carolina.

Williams worked at the Subway across the street from the school, and “made the best turkey sandwich” in the town of 1,000. Even as a lanky sophomore, Williams had good speed and nice hands from his tight end position. He wasn’t as impressive at defensive end, until he got to North Carolina State. There again, I saw him in person in the 2005 regular season finale against East Carolina at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

He dominated that game in the 52-14 win over the Pirates. He was largely inconsistent in college, but his flashes of brilliance and domination made him the top overall pick in the draft the following April.

I realize that when I talk to Williams on Sunday, he won’t remember me from the two times I saw him play and spoke with his coaches - Kevin Wilson at Richlands and Chuck Amato at N.C. State - but it will be nice to watch him again in person at this third level of football.

As impressed as I was by Williams in high school, he is not the most dominating football player I have ever seen on the prep gridiron.

Gateway Tech graduate Sheldon Richardson was a U.S. Army All-American last season.

That honor belongs to Sheldon Richardson, who graduated from Gateway Tech in St. Louis last spring. Richardson is currently attending the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif., and led his team in tackles as a freshman. In 10 games, he also had an eye-popping 17 tackles for a loss.

Richardson originally signed with Mizzou, which sent him out to the California JuCo for academic reasons.

After Richardson’s final high school football game - a 58-19 loss to Jefferson City Helias in the Class 4 state semifinals - I shook his hand and told him it was a pleasure to watch him play the previous two seasons.

When his basketball team was ousted from the state playoffs by Vianney a few months later, I stood in the locker room and reached out to shake his hand again to tell him the same thing. Instead I received a hug from the 6-foot-4, 280-pound teenager, who was still wiping tears from his eyes.

I may have to wait two years to see him play in Columbia, but when he does, it will again be nice to reconnect with another old friend.

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Bowl season begins as lower level playoffs finish

December 16th, 2009, 11:46 am by rclements

As ESPN reminds us on a regular basis, Saturday begins bowl season and “the most wonderful time of the year.”

I can’t say that I disagree.

People screaming for a playoff in Division I college football must realize that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the college bowl system. It’s how the NCAA crowns its champion that is screwed up. A post-bowl, four-team playoff is the way to go, but that’s a different argument for a different day.

I love season, but there are too many of them. To have 68 out of 120 teams playing in bowl games is just too much. The Insight Bowl, with a pair of 6-6 teams in Iowa State and Minnesota matching up is about the least intriguing of any bowl game.

That being said, there are some good matchups this weekend, beginning on Saturday. Just as an appetizer to the bowl schedule, the Division I FCS (I-AA) and Division III championship games are also Saturday. All times are Central and BCS rankings are used when applicable. Games are listed in chronological order through Christmas day.

Alonzo Stagg Bowl, Division III championship: Mt. Union vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater at Salem, Va., Saturday, 10 a.m.: For the fifth consecutive season, the Purple Raiders and Warhawks meet up in Virginia to decide the D-III champion. Mount Union has won three of the previous four title tilts, with Whitewater’s lone win coming in 2007.

Both teams are undefeated this season, 14-0, and this is what championship football is supposed to look like. There may not be any future NFL stars on the field Saturday, but this should be a must-watch game.

New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State (8-4) vs. Wyoming (6-6), Saturday, 3:30 p.m.: Fresno State probably had the wildest ending to the 2009 regular season of any team, needing a tip-drill catch by an offensive lineman to score a two-point conversion in the final seconds to beat Illinois 53-52.

Fresno State junior Ryan Mathews has 1,664 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns this season.

Wyoming is the clear underdog, but is a capable team. The Cowboys trailed Texas at halftime 14-10 earlier this season before getting blown out in the second half. Wyoming will need more consistency against the Bulldogs, who boast the WAC’s leading rusher in Ryan Mathews.

Fresno’s record could be better had it not been for a 34-31 overtime loss to 9-3 Wisconsin and a 28-20 setback at unbeaten Cincinnati. Its only other losses were to undefeated Boise State and 8-4 Nevada.

Division I FCS championship game: Montana (14-0) vs. Villanova (13-1) at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, 7 p.m.: Chris Whitney is the unquestioned leader for the Wildcats. The junior quarterback has nearly 1,800 passing yards with 17 scores and leads the team in rushing with 885 yards and six more TDs.

After a 38-28 scare from Holy Cross in the first round of the playoffs, Villanova has allowed just 20 points in the last two games combined.

‘Nova will have to play solid defense against an unbeaten Montana team that used a balanced attack and stifling defense to knock off Appalachian State in last weekend’s semifinal. Montana lost last year’s final to Richmond, and will try to set things right through the play of quarterback Andrew Selle (2,692 passing yards, 25 TDs) and running back Chase Reynolds (1,439 yards, 22 TDs).

St. Petersburg Bowl: UCF (8-4) vs. Rutgers (8-4), Saturday, 7 p.m.: Rutgers is making its fifth consecutive bowl appearance - a tribute to the job Greg Schiano has done resurrecting the program. UCF is back in a bowl game after a one-year absence. One thing is for sure in this one - the Knights will win.

The Scarlet Knights of New Jersey had three losses to really good teams in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and West Virginia, but one bad loss to Syracuse. They can’t afford a letdown against a Conference USA team whose only losses are to bowl-bound Southern Miss, No. 15 Miami, unbeaten Texas and C-USA champion East Carolina.

The Golden Knights rebounded from their 35-3 loss to the Longhorns to knock off C-USA runnerup Houston, 37-32. They followed that up with a 49-0 trouncing of Tulane and a 34-27 win over UAB. The UCF offense is on a roll, and will be a real test for the Rutgers defense.

Damion Fletcher and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles will try to end their season with a win on the Bayou.

New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi (7-5) vs. Middle Tennessee State (9-3), Sunday, 7:30 p.m.:

It’s the second straight trip to New Orleans for the Golden Eagles, and their second straight matchup with a Sun Belt team.

MTSU had an impressive season that included a win at Maryland. Its only three losses were to Clemson, Sun Belt champion Troy and Mississippi State. The Blue Raiders have won six straight thanks to a defense that ranks third in sacks and first in tackles for a loss.

It will be tested by a high-scoring Southern Miss offense led by senior tailback Damion Fletcher, who has over 5,200 rushing yards and 45 total touchdowns in his career. He needs 63 rushing yards against MTSU to go over 1,000 for the fourth consecutive year.

Las Vegas Bowl: No. 18 Oregon State (8-4) vs. No. 14 BYU (10-2), Tuesday, 7 p.m.: Another Pac-10 vs. Mountain West matchup gives us something to watch Tuesday night. BYU lost last season’s Las Vegas Bowl to Arizona, and will look to rebound against an Oregon State team that missed out on the Rose Bowl with its season-ending loss to Oregon.

BYU is in Vegas for the fifth straight season, going 2-2 in the previous four years. This will be the final game in the career of quarterback Max Hall, and the Cougars would love to send him out on a high note.

There could be a lot of points scored in this one. Hall has thrown for 30 touchdown passes, while the Beavers feature quarterback Sean Canfield and the Rodgers brothers, running back Jacquizz and receiver James.

Poinsettia Bowl: No. 23 Utah (9-3) vs. California (8-4) at San Diego, Wednesday, 7 p.m.: The Utes cap another solid season with another chance to knock off a BCS conference opponent.

Utah was the nation’s lone unbeaten last season, demolishing Alabama in the Sugar Bowl - the same Alabama team that eventual BCS champ Florida had trouble beating a game earlier.

Cal had high hopes for this season, and was once ranked sixth before blowout losses to Oregon and USC. Utah played three ranked teams this year - TCU, BYU and Oregon - and lost to all of them. Cal is a slight favorite, probably in the hopes that star running back Jahvid Best is able to play.

SMU coach June Jones makes his return to Hawaii on Christmas Eve.

Hawaii Bowl: Nevada (8-4) vs. SMU (7-5), Thursday, 7 p.m.: June Jones returns to Hawaii, where he coached and helped build a respectable Hawaii program.

His Christmas Eve return to Aloha Stadium probably won’t be a pleasant one. While he should be commended for leading SMU to its first bowl appearance in 25 years, the Mustangs are simply overmatched against a Nevada team that has three 1,000 rushers - Vai Taua (1,345), Colin Kaepernick (1,160) and Luke Lippincott (1,034).

Nevada’s potent offense is led by Kaepernick, who had 1,875 passing yards and 35 total touchdowns. The Wolfpack lost their first three games to Notre Dame, Colorado State and Missouri before finding their rhythm with eight straight wins. Nevada is the nation’s highest scoring offense at 41 points per game and will be too much for an SMU defense that allowed 30 or more points eight times this season.

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Championship weekend means BCS berths on the line

December 3rd, 2009, 1:05 pm by rclements

Tonight’s Civil War for the Rose Bowl kicks off what promises to be a weekend of triumph and disappointment.

In nearly every game, either a bowl bid or a berth in a BCS game is on the line as conference championships will be decided in the Pac-10, Conference USA, Big East, SEC, ACC, MAC and Big XII.

There are only 17 total games being played this weekend, beginning with Arkansas State and Western Kentucky tonight at 6 Central, and No. 16 Oregon State visiting No. 7 Oregon at 8 Central with the winner headed to Pasadena. More on that game later.

The Mid-American Conference will decide its champion Friday night when Ohio meets Central Michigan in Detroit. More on that game is also later.

Saturday has three noon Eastern kickoffs with two huge games in the Big East - Cincinnati-Pittsburgh and West Virginia-Rutgers - and the Conference USA title tilt in Greenville between No. 21 Houston and East Carolina.

Fresno State visits Champaign on Senior Day to face Illinois in Juice Williams’ final game in an Illini uniform at 11:30 Central.

San Jose State visits Louisiana Tech for a 1 p.m. Central kickoff. New Mexico State takes on No. 6 Boise State at 2 Central, and Arizona and No. 18 USC get going from the Coliseum 30 minutes later.

CBS will have the SEC championship game at 3 Central. The rest of Saturday’s slate has No. 19 California at Washington at 5:30 Central on Fox Sports Net and Florida Atlantic at Florida International at 6. There are three 7 p.m. kickoffs - Texas-Nebraska for the Big XII title, Clemson-Georgia Tech in the ACC championship and South Florida and Connecticut. Wisconsin travels to Hawaii for a 10:30 p.m. Central time kickoff to close out the day.

If you’re wondering about Army-Navy, that’s Dec. 12.

Why did I list all 17 games? Because every game can be found either on CBS, Fox Sports Net, ABC or the ESPN family of networks. So, grab a spot on the couch with some snacks and your favorite beverage around 11 a.m. Central time and just stay there for over 12 hours of non-stop football. Isn’t it great?

Here are the 10 can’t-miss games, BCS rankings are used and all times are Central:

Washington quarterback Jake Locker will try to engineer his team's third upset of a ranked team on Saturday.

10. No. 19 California at Washington, Saturday, 5:30:Cal is 8-3 and bowl-bound. Washington is 4-7, but has played the part of spoiler twice already this season - knocking off both USC and Arizona. Jake Locker is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and leads a Washington team talented enough to beat the Bears.

Cal has surprisingly played well since Jahvid Best went down with an injury. The Bears have won three straight and look to keep that momentum going by finishing the regular season with a road win.

9. Arizona at No. 18 Southern California, Saturday, 2:30: Two teams hopeful for a Rose Bowl berth just three weeks ago meet to wind up their Pac-10 schedule Saturday in Los Angeles.

Both teams have had their ups and downs, as both were upset by Washington earlier in the year. The Wildcats rebounded from a loss at California and a double-overtime loss to Oregon to beat in-state rival Arizona State last week.

The Trojans could slip to sixth in the Pac-10 standings and fall out of the Top 25 with a loss. A win by USC would mean it could still get to 10 victories on the season if it wins its bowl game. USC has an eight-game win streak against Arizona and should win this one to wind up second in the league standings. But the Trojans should have also beaten Washington.

8. No. 23 West Virginia at Rutgers, Saturday, 11 a.m.: Rutgers has beaten West Virginia just four times in 36 meetings, but let’s face it - there were some really bad Rutgers teams during that stretch.

Greg Schiano has built a different Rutgers program, and has a chance to prove how far it’s come by knocking off the Mountaineers.

Both teams sit at 8-3, so both have shots at 10-win seasons. If the Scarlet Knights want to pull off the upset, it must find a way to contain West Virginia’s bevy of playmakers - quarterback Jarrett Brown, running back Noel Devine and receiver Jock Sanders. Rutgers is allowed just 17 points per game, and will need another stout defensive effort to beat the ‘Neers.

CMU QB Dan LeFevour is the best quarterback nobody's talking about.

7. Ohio vs. Central Michigan at Ford Field in Detroit, Friday, 7 p.m.: Two of the country’s more underrated teams meet to decide the champion of the Mid-American Conference Friday night.

CMU is 10-2 and has one of the country’s best quarterbacks in Dan LeFevour. The 6-foot-3 senior led the Chippewas to an unbeaten conference mark by throwing for nearly 2,800 yards with 25 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He’s also the team’s leading rusher with 650 yards and 14 more scores. LeFevour ran for over 100 yards twice in wins over Akron and Bowling Green.

CMU’s only losses were at Arizona State and Boston College, but it won at Michigan State. The Chippewas are battle-tested, and will be tested against a good Ohio club that rolled a good Temple team last week.

6. No. 21 Houston at East Carolina, Saturday, 11 a.m.:The Conference USA title is on the line Saturday in Greenville. Houston has been the most impressive team in the conference this year, and is ranked No. 18 in both human polls. The Cougars own wins over two Big XII teams - Texas Tech and Oklahoma State - and Mississippi State from the SEC. But two inexplicable losses in conference play to UTEP and UCF has the Cougars on the road against the defending C-USA champions.

ECU beat UCF earlier this year at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, but did not play UTEP. ECU’s non-conference schedule was just as impressive as Houston’s, but without the same success. The Pirates fell to West Virginia, Virginia Tech and North Carolina. Their only conference loss was at a surprisingly resurgent SMU team on Oct. 10.

Since losing to Virginia Tech on Nov. 5, the Pirates have been on a roll, winning three straight by an average score of 35-19. The defense scored three touchdowns in a 44-17 romp at Tulsa and came up big again last week in the 25-20 win over rival Southern Miss to clinch the East Division.

Houston's Case Keenum will eclipse 5,000 passing yards Saturday. He already has 38 touchdown tosses, and could reach 40 against ECU in the C-USA championship game.

The defense will need to play big again versus Houston’s stellar offense led by Case Keenum. The junior quarterback has put up monster numbers this year and needs just 88 passing yards to eclipse 5,000 for the year. He’s got 38 touchdown passes to just six interceptions. He’s averaging better than 400 passing yards per game. Surprisingly he only threw for 323 yards and two scores last week, but completed 80 percent of his passes in the 73-14 whitewashing of cross-town rival Rice.

ECU counters with its good defense, but also rushing attack that needs to play ball control. ECU has a nice stable of running backs in Brandon Jackson and Giavanni Ruffin, but the leader is senior Dominique Lindsay, who can go over 1,000 yards with 46 against the Cougars. Dwayne Harris can also be a difference maker for the Pirates. He’s got 13 total touchdowns on the year, with five on the ground, five receiving and three kick returns.

5. No. 10 Georgia Tech vs. Clemson at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Saturday, 7 p.m.: Georgia Tech and Clemson ended their regular seasons on down notes - both upset by in-state rivals from the SEC.

Now the teams must regroup and prepare for each other with the winner headed to a BCS bowl game, most likely the Orange. Georgia Tech, thought to be a shoe-in as an at-large, needs the win more than ever now to land itself in the big-money bowl. A loss and it will likely lose out to unbeaten Boise State or a team from the Big Ten. Boise will have no problem dispatching New Mexico State Saturday to improve to 13-0 on the year.

If the Yellow Jackets are going to beat Clemson, it must limit the touches of C.J. Spiller. The Heisman candidate lost his chance at the stiff-arm trophy last week in a dismal team effort against South Carolina. He returned the opening kickoff back for a touchdown, but was held in check thereafter.

Paul Johnson’s offense preaches ball-control with its spread triple option, and Josh Nesbitt has done a good job under center all season for the 10-2 Ramblin’ Wreck. Being that South Carolina ran for 223 yards against the Tigers last week, it should have the Jonathan Dwyer and the rest of the Georgia Tech running backs salivating for a chance to put up big numbers.

This was a 30-27 Georgia Tech win when they met in Week 2. If Tech can run the ball at will like the Gamecocks did, and keep Spiller off the field, this one might not be as close.

4. No. 16 Oregon State at No. 7 Oregon, Thursday, 8 p.m.: The Rose Bowl is on the line for the first time in ages in a winner-take-all Civil War. Oregon State hasn’t been to the Rose Bowl since 1964, and was trounced by Oregon at home last year with a shot at Pasadena.

It’s been 15 years since the Ducks last played in the Rose Bowl, but this year’s team is 9-2 with the 19-8 loss to undefeated Boise in Week 1 and a shootout loss at Stanford last month.

Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli will try to lead the Ducks back to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 15 years.

Jeremiah Masoli has done a phenomenal job leading a potent Oregon offense. He’s accounted for 26 touchdowns and LaMichael James has been a God-send stepping in for LaGarrette Blount this season. James has over 1,300 rushing yards with 11 scores. He’s averaging a mind-boggling seven yards per carry.

The Beavers got to 8-3 on the year with one of the more balanced offense in the nation. Sean Canfield is just 200 yards shy of a 3,000-yard passing season and JacquizzRodgers - aside from having one of the coolest first names in college football - has 1,313 yards on the ground with 19 touchdowns.

3. No. 5 Cincinnati at No. 15 Pittsburgh, Saturday, 11 a.m.: Pitt’s unblemished conference mark went by the wayside last week with a 19-16 setback to West Virginia.

This week, the Panthers would like to deliver the same kind of disappointment to Cincinnati by handing the Bearcats their first loss and end their slim national title hopes. Even with last week’s loss, the game is a de-facto conference title game with the winner leaving the league champs.

Two of the conference’s best quarterbacks will be on display in Cincinnati’s Tony Pike and Pitt’s Bill Stull. Pike has put up silly numbers this year (2,048 passing yards, 23 TDs, 3 INTs), despite missing three games with an injury. Pike lit up Illinois last week with six touchdown passes. Stull (2,294 passing yards, 19 TDs, 6 INTs) has been the steady leader of a Pittsburgh offense that averages 32 points per game.

Cincinnati could be distracted by the rumors that head coach Brian Kelly will leave for Notre Dame. Kelly has tried to disspell the rumors, but they’re out there, and the Panthers could pounce on the opportunity.

2. No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Saturday, 3 p.m.: It doesn’t get much bigger than this with the winner headed to the BCS title game.

Two of the top Heisman trophy candidates will be on the field. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was impressive in last week’s dismantling of Florida State.

Alabama running back Mark Ingram had his Heisman campaign take a hit when he was limited to just 30 yards on 16 carries in his team’s slim victory at Auburn. Still, Ingram has over 1,400 rushing yards and 12 scores on the year with another three touchdowns receiving.

This game will be about the defenses, with two of the country’s best. Alabama’s defense is the top-ranked unit in the nation, and Florida allows less than 10 points per game. Of course, those numbers are skewed because of Florida’s dispicable non-conference schedule.

Offensively, the Gators are all about Tebow. He leads them in rushing with 796 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s also thrown for 2,166 yards and 17 scores. His two favorite targets are Aaron Hernandez (51 receptions, 654 yards, 4 TDs) and Riley Cooper (41 receptions, 703 yards, 8 TDs).

The Tide is more than just Ingram, as quarterback Greg McElroy proved last week in the late game-winning drive to beat Auburn without Ingram on the field. McElroy’s turned the ball over just four times this season, and ball control will be vital in a game where points will be at a premium.

The Gators have been here before, and knocked off an undefeated Alabama team in last year’s SEC title game en route to a BCS championship. If Alabama buckles under the pressure, it could fall again.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy can cinch the Heisman with another good performance Saturday against a very good Nebraska defense.

1. No. 22 Nebraska vs. No. 3 Texas at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Saturday, 7 p.m.:

If any one conference championship game has had the proclivity for the upset, it’s been the Big XII title tilt.

Time and again, the favored team - often with a shot at the national championship on the line - loses. This year, Texas is poised to get into the BCS title game, but must figure out one of the country’s best defensive front lines to do so.

Colt McCoy, who put on a dazzling display on Thankgsgiving against rival Texas A&M, can solidify himself as the Heisman front-runner with another solid outing. Across from him will be the Big XII’s No. 1 scoring defense led by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. The Cornhuskers are allowing just 11 points per game, and will try to become the first Big XII North team to win the conference championship since 2003, when Kansas State upset Oklahoma.

McCoy has over 3,300 passing yards with 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions, but he’s also rushed for 368 yards - with 175 of those yards coming against the Aggies last Thursday. Jordan Shipley needs just one catch to reach 100 receptions on the season. McCoy’s roommate has been on the receiving end of 11 touchdown strikes, and it’ll be on Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee and running back Roy Helu to keep the Texas offense off the field.

The key will be the Nebraska defense, led by Suh up front and safety Larry Asante in the back. If Nebraska’s front seven can generate a good pass rush, it’ll make it easier for Asante to direct his secondary mates and could have the Huskers in position for the upset.

This game affects more than just the Big XII, it also has an impact on the BCS hopes of TCU and Boise State. Win or lose, Texas will play in a BCS game. If the Longhorns fall, TCU could slide into the BCS title game against the SEC winner. It could also mean that Boise State could be unjustifiably snubbed for a BCS bowl bid.

Posted in: College football • ACC • Beavers • Big 12 • Big East • Big XII • Bill Stull • C-USA • C.J. Spiller • Case Keenum • Central Michigan • championship • Cincinnati • Clemson • CMU • Colt McCoy • Conference USA • Dan LeFevour • Ducks • East Carolina • Georgia Tech • Houston • Jeremiah Masoli • Jonathan Dwyer • Josh Nesbitt • MAC • Mark Ingram • Ndamukong Suh • Nebraska • Ohio • Oregon • Oregon State • Pittsburgh • Rose Bowl • SEC • Texas • Tim Tebow • Tony Pike • Zac Lee | Post a Comment »

Gobble Gobble: Ten games to eat up in Week 13

November 26th, 2009, 10:03 pm by rclements

Texas and Texas A&M got the Thanksgiving weekend slate of college football kicked off right Thursday night.

In a back-and-forth shootout perfect for the wild, wild West, the Longhorns held off their rivals from College Station for a 49-39 road victory at Kyle Field. And Colt McCoy might have wrapped up the Heisman with 304 passing yards and another 175 on the ground while accounting for five touchdowns.

If that game set the tone for what’s to come, it should be a fun weekend to sit back, feast on leftovers and enjoy rivalry weekend. The best part about rivalry weekend is that it’s all about in-state clashes.

North Carolina and N.C. State battle; Oklahoma and Oklahoma State face off; Oregon and Oregon State meet in the annual Civil War; Mississippi and Mississippi State play in the Egg Bowl; Auburn and Alabama meet in the Iron Bowl; Utah and BYU is a matchup of ranked teams; Virginia Tech looks to keep rolling in Charlottesville against Virginia; Miami and South Florida tangle in Tampa; Georgia and Georgia Tech pummel for the peaches; Clemson and South Carolina cross hairs; and UCLA and USC meet in the storied Los Angeles rivalry game.

Let’s not forget that Kansas needs to beat Missouri to become bowl-eligible, making the Border War more interesting. Not to be overlooked are games to decide Conference USA and the WAC. And this could be the final weekend we see Charlie Weis on the Notre Dame sideline. With so many games to choose from, I’ll try to whittle it down to 10. As always, BCS rankings are used and all times are Central.

10. Florida State at No. 1 Florida, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.: Florida State is 6-5 and needs a win to better its bowl chances. The ACC has struggled this year, and the Seminoles been the model of mediocrity. Still, never count out their chances in a rivalry game that will be full of emotions.

Tim Tebow will be playing his final home game for the top-ranked Gators, who are on a quest to not only repeat as SEC champions, but to win back-to-back BCS titles. Standing in their way of an unbeaten regular season are their hated rivals from Tallahassee.

Florida State will try to end a five-game losing streak to the Gators, and stop Florida’s 21-game win streak while dousing its national championship dreams.

East Carolina quarterback Patrick Pinkney will try to lead the Pirates to consecutive C-USA titles, but will have to beat Southern Miss Saturday to secure a spot in the conference championship game.

9. Southern Mississippi at East Carolina, Saturday, 12:30 p.m.: This is one of the more underrated rivalries in college football, but has been a one-sided one - especially in Greenville. The Golden Eagles own a 26-8 edge in the series, including a 17-2 advantage at ECU.

This year’s game means much more because both teams are 7-4, but ECU is 6-1 in conference play while USM sits at 5-2. A win by either team sends the winner to face either Houston or SMU in the conference championship game on Dec. 5. Houston is the likely opponent. The 23rd-ranked Cougars take on a Rice team that began the season 0-9 before winning two straight. Rice did upset Houston in last year’s battle for the Bayou Bucket. SMU, which had a chance to all-but wrap up a berth in the title game last week before losing at Marshall, plays host to Tulane.

The Pirates are the reigning conference champions and have scored at least 37 points in four straight games, including last week’s demolition of Tulsa.

ECU scored three defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal a 44-17 win over the Golden Hurricane. The Pirates lead the league in total defense, and will need a solid showing against a Southern Miss offense that ranks second behind Houston.

8. UCLA at No. 20 USC, Saturday, 9 p.m.: After a mid-season swoon, UCLA has won three straight to become bowl eligible at 6-5. The Bruins can really improve their draft stock by beating USC for just the second time in 11 meetings.

The Trojans were supposed to contend for a national championship this year, but instead sit at 7-3 questioning their ability. USC’s once-dominant defense has been lit up in losses to Oregon and Stanford two of the last three weeks. In between was a 14-9 win over Arizona that saw quarterback Matt Barkley look every bit of a freshman.

UCLA needs to jump on the Trojans early to keep the doubts alive. Do that, and the Bruins will be dancing down Sunset Boulevard.

7. Notre Dame at Stanford, Saturday, 7 p.m.: The Irish need a win to save Charlie Weis’ job. Stanford needs a victory to prove it’s for real.

Following Stanford’s 55-21 crushing of USC, the Cardinal stumbled against No. 22 Cal last week. Toby Gerhart and Andrew Luck should have big games against a punch-drunk Notre Dame defense. the key for Stanford will be getting pressure of its own on Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

The Irish signal caller may be a little punch-drunk himself and sporting a shiner when he leads his team into Palo Alto. Clausen was assaulted outside a South Bend bar last week, but will have to put that distraction behind him and just get the ball to Golden Tate.

This has the makings for an old-fashioned shootout, but if Notre Dame feels like its playing for a lameduck coach and comes out flat, the Cardinal could score early and often on the way to a rout.

Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer has rushed for 1,203 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

6. Georgia at No. 7 Georgia Tech, Saturday, 7 p.m.: The ACC title game participants are already set.

Georgia Tech will play Clemson next week. There are just a couple of inconsequential conference matchups this weekend with UNC-NC State, Duke-Wake Forest, Virginia Tech-Virginia and Boston College-Maryland. Before Clemson and Georgia Tech decide the conference champ, both must first dispatch in-state rivals from the SEC.

Clemson travels to Columbia to take on South Carolina while the Rambling Wreck welcome the Bulldogs to Atlanta. Georgia has lost all three of its games this season to ranked opponents. A win against its rival would end a disappointing season on a high note.

The Yellow Jackets have just one defeat and can really bolster their BCS resume with a victory. Georgia Tech is 10-1, and should it lose to Clemson - a team the Jackets beat 30-27 in Week 2 - it would still have a very good shot as an at-large team for a BCS bowl game.

5. No. 12 Oklahoma State at Oklahoma, Saturday, 11:30 a.m.: Heading into Thanksgiving, the Cowboys still had a shot at the Big XII championship game. Had Texas A&M actually beaten the Longhorns, Oklahoma State would just need a victory in Norman to win the Big XII South.

Easier said than done. Oklahoma has a very good defense and an offense capable of matching points with the Cowboys.

What the 6-5 Sooners must avoid are mistakes by quarterback Landry Jones. It’s a role reversal as Oklahoma State comes in ranked with a shot at BCS glory while the Sooners muddle around .500. It’s only the third time in the series history that the Cowboys are ranked while OU is not.

4. No. 2 Alabama at Auburn, Friday, 1:30 p.m.: The Iron Bowl is always fun, and this year is no different as the Tigers would love nothing more than to squash Alabama’s national championship dreams.

It’s the second straight season the Crimson Tide enter the matchup unbeaten. The Tide shut out Auburn 36-0 last year, but that was an Auburn offense that struggled to score all season.

This year the Tigers enter with the nation’s No. 16 offensive unit, and hope to find success against Alabama’s top-ranked defense. Auburn had won six straight in the series before last season’s loss. In order to start a new streak, the Tigers must contain Alabama tailback Mark Ingram. The super sophomore has rushed for 1,399 yards and 12 touchdowns this season for an offense averaging better than 32 points per game.

3. No. 21 Utah at No. 19 BYU, Saturday, 4 p.m.: Both teams still have an outside shot at the Mountain West title should unbeaten TCU lose to 1-10 New Mexico.

Utah and BYU bring identical records (9-2) and conference marks (6-1) to Provo for the Holy War.

Utah is led wideout David Reed, who has over 1,000 receiving yards while the Cougars have steady senior Max Hall under center. Hall has thrown for 3,234 yards and 28 touchdowns this year, and will try to lead BYU to its 200th win all-time at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Utah has won six of the last eight in the series, and six of its last eight trips to Provo.

Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick has led the Wolfpack to eight straight victories, accounting for 32 touchdowns along the way.

2. Nevada at No. 6 Boise State, Friday, 9 p.m.: The high-flying Wolfpack have been a thorn in the side for Boise State for some time. Nevada, while 8-3 overall, is 6-0 in conference play and will try to claim a share of the WAC title by knocking off defending champion, and unbeaten Boise on the Smurf Turf.

Boise State wants to keep its perfect overall record intact to get itself into a BCS bowl game, but it won’t be easy against a Nevada team that has found its stride, winning eight straight.

Nevada has scored more than 50 points five times this season, including a 70-point outburst against Idaho. Junior quarterback Colin Kaepernick has led the way, passing for 16 touchdowns and rushing for more than 1,100 yards and 16 more scores.

Boise State has its own sick offensive numbers, with sophomore Kellen Moore approaching 3,000 yards through the air with 33 touchdown passes to just three interceptions.

Nevada nearly upset the Broncos the last time they met on the blue field in Boise, and that was a wild 69-67 Boise victory in 2007. This year could feature the same type of high-scoring affair.

1. No. 9 Pittsburgh at West Virginia, Friday, 6 p.m.: Pittsburgh can take one step closer toward claiming the Big East crown by knocking off the Mountaineers. The Panthers are 9-1 and have undefeated Cincinnati next week, which could be for all the marbles.

If the Mountaineers win, and then Pitt beats the Bearcats, then it’s a three-way tie atop the conference standings. Fifth-ranked Cincinnati should have no problem at home Friday afternoon against struggling Illinois.

It will be on the Pittsburgh defense to slow down WVU quarterback Jarrett Brown and speedy tailback Noel Devine while trying to contain playmaking receiver Jock Sanders. The Mountaineers have playmakers all over their offense, but the defense is susceptible to the big play. That’s what Pittsburgh quarterback Bill Stull will try to exploit.

Stull has been the poised senior leader, quietly completing 66 percent of his passes for 2,115 yards and 18 touchdowns to only four interceptions. Pitt ended West Virginia’s BCS dreams two years ago, and the Mountaineers would love to do the same in this year’s edition of the Backyard Brawl.

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The Baker’s Dozen: 13 games to watch in Week 12

November 20th, 2009, 12:34 am by rclements

Time to change things up a bit. I’ll still have my top 10 games of the week, but with a few bonus games to keep an eye on.

Before we get to that, how about the Thursday night game in the Big XII? No. 12 Oklahoma State pulled out a win against a three-win Colorado team at home.

In Oklahoma State’s defense, it was playing without starting quarterback Zac Robinson, and has been without Dez Bryant at receiver. But thanks to third-string quarterback Brandon Weeden, who threw three touchdown passes, the Cowboys pulled out the 31-28 win to move to 9-2 on the year, and if Texas slips against Kansas or Texas A&M, it could be the Cowboys playing in the Big XII title game on Dec. 5.

Saturday’s games really don’t have the punch you would expect in late November. No. 1 Florida continues its “stellar” non-conference schedule when it plays host to Sun Belt powerhouse Florida International. After all, the Panthers have beaten Western Kentucky, Louisiana-Lafayette and North Texas, and those are their only three wins.

Are Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators really better than everybody else in the country?

Florida’s non-conference slate is a joke, padded with FIU, Troy and FCS foe Charleston Southern. The only decent game the Gators play out of league is the annual in-state grudge match with Florida State, which is 5-5 and will struggle to make a bowl game this year.

Second-ranked Alabama isn’t much better. The Crimson Tide takes on Tennessee-Chattanooga from the FCS on Saturday. It should be noted that Alabama has already beaten FIU and North Texas in its non-conference schedule. The Tide do get credit for beating a ranked Virginia Tech team to start the season, which is something Florida cannot boast. In fact, Florida has beaten just one ranked team all season - No. 8 LSU. Alabama has beaten four ranked teams.

But yet, Florida is No. 1 because its in the SEC, and its schedule is so much tougher and more rugged than say a Boise State team that has also beaten one ranked team - No. 11 Oregon. Both teams won those games on the road.

But the Broncos are penalized for being in the WAC, and playing a so-called weaker schedule. Never mind the fact that Boise has won its games by an average of 27 points, four points better than Florida’s average margin of victory. Boise also averages 10 points more per game than Florida.

I’m not saying Boise is better than Florida, but what I am saying is that maybe Florida and the SEC aren’t exactly head and shoulders better than everybody else in the country. For the record, Boise State travels to play Utah State this weekend before a WAC showdown next week with high-scoring Nevada, which is also unbeaten in conference play.

Now that we’ve looked at Florida, Alabama and Boise State, how about we do the top 10 games of the week? As always, all times are Central and BCS rankings are used.

10. Virginia at No. 23 Clemson, Saturday, 2:30: Clemson can clinch a berth in the ACC title game with a win over floundering

Clemson's CJ Spiller has rushed for 836 yards and six touchdowns while scoring four more through the air. He's also return three kicks for scores, and even thrown a TD pass while leading Clemson to a 7-3 record.

Virginia. It’s no secret how the Tigers have gotten to 7-3 with a 5-2 mark in the ACC - riding the legs of C.J. Spiller.

The Heisman candidate has accounted for 14 touchdowns this season, six on the ground, four receiving, three kick returns and he even threw a TD pass. He’s rushed for 836 yards, and could eclipse 1,000 on Saturday against a Virginia team that is struggling to stop anybody.

The Cavaliers have lost four straight, allowing 32 points per game.

9. No. 16 Wisconsin at Northwestern, 2:30: The Badgers close their Big Ten schedule in Evanston, where they’ve struggled as of late.

Wisconsin has dropped its last two meetings at Northwestern, and the Wildcats come in with a 7-4 record and a pretty good defense.

The key for Northwestern to pull off the upset in its season finale is to slow the Badgers running game.

Wisconsin has the Big Ten’s leading rusher, and front-runner for conference player of the year honors, in sophomore John Clay. The 6-foot-2, 247-pound bruiser has over 1,124 yards with 12 touchdowns this season and is coming off a 151-yard performance in the 45-24 win over Michigan in which he didn’t even play in the fourth quarter.

Behind Clay are two good backups in Zach Brown and true freshman Montee Ball. Even if Northwestern can slow Wisconsin’s rush attack, Badgers quarterback Scott Tolzien is coming off a game where he threw for four touchdowns and ran another one in.

Northwestern will have to try to wear down a Badgers defense that is among the best in the league against the run. Michigan managed just 71 rushing yards, most of those coming late, and was unable to keep its defense rested. Northwestern doesn’t run the ball extremely well, so much of the onus will fall upon quarterback Mike Kafka, who has thrown for nearly 2,600 yards and 10 touchdowns this year.

8. Duke at No. 20 Miami, Saturday, 11 a.m.: The Hurricanes can ill afford to look past a Duke team fighting for bowl eligibility. The Blue Devils haven’t been to a bowl game since losing the Hall of Fame Bowl to Wisconsin following the 1994 season.

With only four wins over FBS opponents, Duke must win its final two games against Miami and Wake Forest to become bowl eligible. To prevent the upset, Miami must take the passing lanes away from Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis. The senior signal caller has 2,640 passing yards and 16 touchdown passes to six interceptions. If Lewis struggles, Duke loses because the Blue Devils can simply not run the ball. Duke, as a team, has 639 rushing yards on the season with just five touchdowns.

Miami sits at 7-3 right now, and is out of the ACC race. But with Duke, South Florida and a bowl game remaining on the schedule, a 10-win season is in the reach of Miami, but it cannot afford to look past the Blue Devils.

7. Connecticut at Notre Dame, Saturday, 1:30: Charlie Weis’ job might be on the line, so the Irish need this one.

Charlie Weis and Jimmy Clausen better get this thing figured out if Weis wants to coach in South Bend next year.

Notre Dame is 6-4, but has lost two straight to Navy and Pittsburgh. It hardly seems like that big of a deal when you compare those two defeats to what UConn has lost this year. The Huskies are 4-5 and can still make a bowl by winning two of their last three. But their biggest loss came off the field when cornerback Jasper Howard was stabbed to death following an on-campus dance. Since his death, UConn has lost three straight by a combined 10 points.

This could be the week UConn finally wins one in Howard’s memory. The Huskies are facing a vulnerable, but desperate, Notre Dame team that is doubting its abilities, and maybe its coach. It’s unquestioned that Notre Dame has talent. Jimmy Clausen is having a fine season, not Heisman-worthy, but still a good year. The junior is over 3,000 passing yards on the season and has 21 touchdowns. He’s rushed for two more. The Irish boast one of the best receivers in the country in Golden Tate and have a solid defense.

Should UConn pull this one out in South Bend, Charlie Weis’ seat might as well be on the sun.

6. Oklahoma at Texas Tech, Saturday, 11:30: It’s not exactly been the caliber of season the 6-4 Sooners were expecting. Touted as a national championship contender, that all went down the drain in the Week 1 loss to BYU when Heisman-winning quarterback Sam Bradford went down with a shoulder injury.

Bradford came back a few weeks later, only to reinjure the shoulder and be put on the shelf for good with season-ending surgery. Without Bradford, and starting tight end Jermaine Gresham, who is also out for the year, the Sooners have not been able to put teams away.

The Sooners have lost four games by a combined 15 points, scoring just 49 points in those four losses. Oklahoma’s defense has been solid all year, allowing just 12 points per contest with two shutouts.

It’s been the offense that has been inconsistent. Landry Jones is the biggest reason why. When he’s good, he’s damn good filling in for Bradford. Last week he threw for 392 yards and five touchdown passes in the 65-10 win over Texas A&M. But on the season, he’s got 22 TDs with 12 picks. In three years as a starter, Bradford had just 16 interceptions to 88 touchdown tosses.

The Red Raiders are 6-4 also, but sit just behind the Sooners with a 3-3 conference mark. If quarterback Taylor Potts can get the Lubbock crowd buzzing, that could be enough to rattle Jones and allow Texas Tech the upset.

Kansas coach Mark Mangino has been the victim of his own success, and now has to face allegations of abuse from pampered cry-baby players.

5. Kansas at No. 3 Texas, Saturday, 7: This is the week when the Jayhawks are either going to fold up the tents and rebel against their coach, or rally around the Jabba The Hut look-alike.

Mark Mangino took over a fledgling Kansas football program eight years ago that would have been ecstatic to have a .500 record.

He led the Jayhawks to a 12-1 record two years ago, and an Orange Bowl victory. Because of that, he’s landed some four and five-star recruits who were pampered in high school and now want to turn on the coach who recruited them because he yells at them and pokes them in the chest. Big whoop. Go out there and win football games, and all is well.

Nobody complained about Mangino’s coaching style the first seven years, so why now? Sure, Kansas has lost five straight, but it has a 5-5 record, and still has a shot at a third straight bowl game - something the program hasn’t had in God knows how long.

It’s unfair that Mangino now has to deal with this while preparing to take his team into Austin to face an unbeaten Texas team with national championship aspirations. This game can be close, and is winnable for Kansas. But Texas is on a roll, and there’s a very good chance the Kansas players might have already given up.

4. No. 11 Oregon at Arizona, Saturday, 7: Both teams are in control of their own Rose Bowl destinies. If Oregon beats the Wildcats and then Oregon State next week, it will take on Ohio State in Pasadena on Jan. 1.

Jeremiah Masoli has accounted for 20 touchdowns this season for No. 11 Oregon.

Arizona can taste the pedals if it can get by the Ducks, then win at Arizona State next week, and topple No. 18 USC in the season finale in Los Angeles.

The Ducks clearly have the easier path, and are coming off a 44-21 trouncing of Arizona State while Arizona lost to Cal. It is Senior Night in Tucson and the Wildcats have the nation’s 20th-ranked rush defense to go against the Oregon three-headed rush attack of LaMichael James, LaGarrette Blount and Jeremiah Masoli. James leads the team with 1,193 yards and 11 touchdowns while Blount is coming off a near-season-long suspenson after his famous punch in Week 1. Masoli can beat you with his arm as well as his legs.

The Oregon quarterback has nine TDs on the ground, but has thrown for 11 more and just three interceptions. He nearly single-handedly ran roughshod over the Trojans of USC in Oregon’s 47-20 whitewashing.

3. No. 8 LSU at Mississippi, Saturday, 2:30: Ole Miss has been one of the most inconsistent and underachieving teams all year, but has still managed a 7-3 record, and a 3-3 mark in the SEC. LSU has had two tough-luck losses to the nation’s top ranked teams, Florida and Alabama.

Mississippi snapped a six-game losing streak to LSU last season in Baton Rouge, but has not won in Oxford against the Tigers since 1998. If the Rebels want to snap that streak, they need a good game from quarterback Jevan Snead, who has embodied inconsistency this season.

Snead was touted as a Heisman candidate and was considered a top pro prospect when the season began. But he completed just 53 percent of his passes, thrown for less than 2,000 yards in 10 games, and has 14 interceptions to go with his 17 touchdown passes.

Snead had his third-best completion percentage last week, completing 65 percent of his passes in the 42-17 win over Tennessee. But he also had his fewest pass attempts in the game, going 13 of 20 for 133 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.

That’s not going to get it done against a very good LSU defense that has allowed fewer than 14 points per game.

2. No. 10 Ohio State at Michigan, Saturday, 11 a.m.: It’d be easy to say one of the oldest and best rivalries in college football is about young quarterbacks Terrelle Pryor and Tate Forcier. Or the sweater-vested coach Jim Tressel against the beleagured Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez.

Ohio State junior Justin Boren is an Ohio native who originally attended Michigan before transferring to Ohio State.

But this game is about bragging rights over one Justin Boren. The Ohio State offensive lineman, No. 56 in your game program, is an Ohio native who originally went to Michigan. He played for the Wolverines, but then decided to transfer to Ohio State, making him twice the traitor in many’s eyes.

The Buckeyes want to win to prove that Boren made the right choice by finally seeing the light and returning home. Michigan wants to win to get revenge on the guy who deserted them.

Oh yeah, and the Wolverines need the win to become bowl-eligible and possibly save their coach’s job. They might have a good chance to do it against an Ohio State team that is ripe for a letdown after already clinching the Big Ten title and a berth in the Rose Bowl.

But that’s all secondary to the Boren Ultimatum, right?

1. No. 25 California at No. 17 Stanford, Saturday, 6:30: The best game of the week takes place in Palo Alto with the Bay Area clash between the Berkeley Bears and the Cardinal of Stanford and its fighting tree.

Long known as “The Big Game,” Stanford-Cal hasn’t meant much since “The Play” ended the game with Cal’s Kevin Moen running through the Stanford band to the end zone for the game-winning score in the 25-20 win back in 1982.

Since then, neither team has really been good in the same year, and the game hasn’t lived up to such legendary hype. That is, until maybe now.

Stanford is on fire, winning three straight games over Arizona State, USC and Oregon, and scoring 139 points in the process. The Cardinal has been led by freshman quarterback Andrew Luck and senior tailback Toby Gerhart.

The 6-4 Luck has outplayed USC’s over-hyped freshman Matt Barkley, throwing for 2,220 yards and 13 scores while rushing for 288 yards and two more scores. Gerhart has simply been a terrible omission from Heisman consideration. He has piled up nearly 1,400 rushing yards and has found the end zone 19 times.

Cal pulled off the upset of then-No. 17 Arizona last week without star running back Jahvid Best, who is still out with a concussion. Shane Vereen stepped in for best, and belted out 159 yards on 30 carries in the 24-16 win. The Bears will again be without Best, which means it will be on Vereen and quarterback Kevin Riley to outduel the Cardinal.

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