Dec 15, 2011

2012 Fiesta Bowl Preview

Every year, the BCS System chooses a martyr; a school that gets skewered by the complicated rankings and ends up playing in the wrong game. This year's martyr is Oklahoma State: a team with one double-overtime loss on the road that will never get its shot at the BCS title. The Cowboys lost to Iowa State, which is inexcusable. But for the BCS to deny them a shot at LSU in favor of Alabama-a team LSU beat a month ago-is equally inexcusable. As for Stanford, a tough mid-season loss to Oregon kept them out of both the BCS Title game and the Rose Bowl, so they ended up here. Not a bad consolation prize, all things considered.

Dec 15, 2011

2012 Rose Bowl Preview

It's a strange Rose Bowl year. Usually the Rose Bowl strives to match up the best of the Pac 12 against the Big Ten's finest. But, this year, they matched the two champions, which did not necessarily equate with the two best: Michigan and Michigan State may both be better than Wisconsin in the Big Ten while Stanford and USC could each be considered the class of the Pac 12. But, that's a semantic debate: Wisconsin vs. Oregon is what we have so let's examine the matchup:

Dec 15, 2011

2012 BCS Title Game Preview

9-6 in OT. That razor thin margin of victory is all that separates these two SEC behemoths. Back in November, LSU defeated Alabama at home 9-6 in a tough defensive slugfest, which many felt should have kept Alabama out of the title game. But fluke losses by Oklahoma State and Boise State combined with a strange, dysfunctional rankings system have landed us right back where we started in November: LSU vs. Alabama.

Dec 15, 2011

2012 Orange Bowl Preview

There are sexy matchups…and then there is the Orange Bowl. Tied up in agreements with the Big East and ACC conferences, the Orange Bowl has played out some of the worst matchups in recent years. This may be the worst: a 10-3 Clemson team that lost to both North Carolina State and Georgia Tech this year and a 9-3 West Virginia team with eyesore defeats to Louisville and Syracuse. However, while the matchup isn't sexy, these two teams are well-matched so it could end up a tough, relatively even game.

Dec 15, 2011

2012 Sugar Bowl Preview

The Wolverines are back! For the first time since 2006, Michigan finds itself in a BCS bowl. While that year's team was ranked third and missed the title game by a nose, this group represents the resurgence of college football's winningest program! The Wolverines find themselves matched against Virginia Tech, which is the most consistent performer in the SEC and a formidable opponent.

NCAA Football Blog Feature Articles:

• What Makes SEC Teams the Best
  What makes Southeastern Conference (SEC) football teams the best?
• Top SEC Schools
  Our take on which are the top SEC schools.
• Is College Football About Money or Power?
  Most people think college football is all about money. Actually it's more about power than money.
• What Will Happen to Jim Tressel and the Ohio State Buckeyes?
  Read More About What Will Happen to Jim Tressel and the Ohio State Buckeyes
• Who Should Run College Football?
  Who should run college football? The fans should. And the fans want a playoff, so let's give them one. No more BCS!!
• 2011 Preseason College Football Poll Yes it's early, but never too early for our 2011 preseason college football poll.
• 2011 College Football Recruiting Rankings
  Which college football team had the top recruiting class in 2011? Surprise -- it's not an SEC school.Here's our take.
• Top All Time College Football Team
  Which is the top all-time College Football Team? Simple, the Michigan Wolverines. After all, they have the most wins of any team.

Current Issues:

• The Basics of Football
  This is a brief overview and summary of the basics of Football.
• Plus-1 Can Save the BCS
  The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) is embroiled in controversy again. No one is happy. But the Plus-1 format can save the BCS.
• It's Destiny: LSU vs Alabama Rematch
  It's November and the BCS is a mess again. This time the controversy is over a potential LSU vs Alabama rematch.
• LSU vs Alabama Preview
  The game of the 2011 college football season is Saturday. It's LSU vs Alabama at Tuscaloosa. And, really, it's for the National Championship.
• Which School Should Become the SEC's 14th Member
  With Texas A&M a virtual lock to join the SEC, who will be the 14th member? Will it be Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri or Florida State? Here's our analysis.
• 2011 Preseason College Football Poll
  Yes it's early, but never too early for our 2011 preseason college football poll.
• Impact of Oklahoma and Wisconsin Upsets
  How will the upset losses by Oklahoma and Wisconsin affect the college football title race?
• Ohio State vs Michigan Rivalry
  The Ohio State vs Michigan Rivalry has certainly run full circle. Michigan used to dominate; lately its been Ohio State on top. But, now, it's time for the Wolverines to reassert themselves.
• Which School Should Become the SEC's 14th Member?
  With Texas A&M a virtual lock to join the SEC, who will be the 14th member? Will it be Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri or Florida State? Here's our analysis.
• The Consequences of the Pac-16
  The Pac-12 appears destined to become the Pac-16. That will be bad for everyone who loves college football. Here's why.
• College Football Is Sick
  College football is sick and may be terminal. The problems are many and complex. But, they can be fixed. Here's how.
• College Football Hall of Fame Players Picked First in the NFL Draft
  Read More About College Football Hall of Fame Players Picked First in the NFL Draft.
• Fiesta Bowl Corruption
  Fiesta Bowl Corruption -- have you heard about tax payer money in essence being used by Fiesta Bowl officials to go to strip clubs? Outrageous!Here's our take on it.
• NCAA Double Standard Newton vs Pryor
  The NCAA's enforcement body needs to come up with punishments that make sense and stop promoting double standards.
• Big Ten Decline
  -- The Big Ten Conference was destroyed on New Year's Day. What is the reason for the conference's recent decline?
• Should We Pay Our College Athletes?
  In the wake of the Reggie Bush and Cam Newton scandals, it's the forbidden question that must be asked: is it time to bite the bullet and pay our college athletes?
• 2011 BCS Bowls Previews
  Here's our Rose Bowl, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Discover Orange Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl, and BCS Championship Game previews.
• Why Does the Big East Still Have an Automatic BCS Bid?
  The Oklahoma-Connecticut matchup reminds me a little of the American invasion of Grenada….it's not much of a battle. So please remind me….why does the embarrassing Big East still have an automatic bid?

Analysis:

• Bowl Game Projections
  Want to know who is likely to win all the College Football Bowl Games? Check it out it's all here!
• Conference Title Ties
  If you thought that the only problem with the BCS was the rankings, think again! Ties in the major conference title races expose even worse flaws in the current system.
• NCAA War on Improper Recruitment
  Noticed all the sanctions and suspensions this season? Suspected a trend? Yup, the NCAA has declared total war on illegal recruitment….except in Cam Newton's case of course.
• The Cam Newton Saga
  It's time to look beyond the he said she said. What are the underlying issues behind the Cam Newton saga and what is the real damage?