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And Then There Were 25 (2010 Undefeated Teams)

We've only played for four weeks, and already, the list of perfect teams in the FBS is down to 25. All but 6 are ranked in the AP poll (four of those got votes) and all but 5 of them were ranked in the USA Today Coaches poll. The perfect 25 are:

1. Alabama (1) 4-0
2. Ohio St. (2) 4-0
3. Boise St. (3) 3-0
4. Oregon (4) 4-0
5. TCU (5) 4-0
6. Nebraska (6) 4-0
7. Florida (7) 4-0
8. Oklahoma (8) 4-0
9. Stanford (9) 4-0
10. Auburn (10) 4-0
11. Wisconsin (11) 4-0
12. LSU (12) 4-0
13. Utah (13) 4-0
14. Arizona (14) 4-0
15. USC (18) 4-0
16. Michigan (19) 4-0
17. N.C. State (23) 4-0
18. Michigan St. (24) 4-0
19. Nevada (25) 4-0
20. Missouri (27/23) 4-0
21. Kansas State (30) 4-0
22. Oklahoma State (31/24) 3-0
23. Northwestern (35) 4-0
24. Texas A&M 3-0
25. Indiana 3-0

The Big Ten and Big 12 each have six teams. The Pac-10 and SEC have four. The MWC and WAC each have a pair. The ACC has only NC State. The Big East has nobody. We'll be down to no more than 20 this week: A&M plays Oklahoma State, Michigan plays Indiana, Wisconsin plays Michigan State, Florida plays Alabama, and Stanford plays Oregon. In addition, Oklahoma and NC State face tough tests. It'll be another big weekend.

My 2010 Bottom 10 After Week 4

We have six winless teams left in the FBS, and six (Mississippi, Kansas, Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Akron and Ball State) that lost home games to FCS opponents. Akron is the only team on both of those lists, so it's a sold Bottom Ten #1 team. Not far behind are two teams that haven't won since the 2008 season and Ball State, which has one win and one loss against its two lower division opponents. Here are my ten picks rounding out the bottom:

1. Akron (0-4) [1] Winless against both FCS and FBS. Next loss: N. Illinois
2. Ball State (1-3) [2] Skunked by Iowa. Split with 2 FCS opponents. Next loss: @ C. Michigan
3. Western Kentucky (0-4) [3] Loses its 24th straight looking ahead to FIU. Next loss: Bye
4. Eastern Michigan (0-4) [4] Had no chance against the Buckeyes. Next loss: Ohio
5. Minnesota (1-3) [5] Home loss to N. Illinois not even season's low point. Next loss: Northwestern
6. New Mexico (0-4) [6] Pounded by UNLV. 1-15 since start of 2009. Next loss: UTEP
7. Florida International (0-3) [NR] Playing the role of "easy win" four times to start 2010. Next loss: Bye
8. New Mexico State (0-3) [NR] Lost to Kansas, which lost to a Dakota. Next loss: Boise State
9. San Jose State (1-3) [10] Winless against FBS in three road games. Next loss: UC Davis
10. North Texas (1-3) [7] Win at Fla. Atlantic not enough to drop out of bottom 10. Next loss: La-Lafayette

Dropped out: Virginia Tech ([8] won at BC), Ole Miss ([9] beat Fresno St.)

Not far ahead: Washington State (1-3), Florida Atlantic (1-2), Vanderbilt (1-2)

Shocking Redemption Last Week: Virginia Tech shutting out BC in Boston

Crummy Game of the Weak: UC Davis @ San Jose State

Blowout of the Weak: New Mexico State @ Boise State

My College Football Top 25 For Week 5

If I had an AP vote, here is what my week 5 ballot would look like:

1. Alabama (1)
2. Ohio State (2)
3. Oregon (3)
4. Nebraska (5)
5. Boise State (6)
6. Stanford (10)
7. Oklahoma (7)
8. Florida (8)
9. TCU (9)
10. Wisconsin (11)
11. LSU (12)
12. Arizona (13)
13. USC (14)
14. Auburn (21)
15. Arkansas (15)
16. Michigan (16)
17. Miami (FL) (17)
18. Utah (18)
19. Iowa (22)
20. Penn St. (23)
21. South Carolina (20)
22. Michigan State (25)
23. Texas (4)
24. North Carolina State (NR)
25. Air Force (NR)

Dropped out: West Virginia (19), Oregon State (24)

I almost went with: Nevada, West Virginia, Oregon State

I can't believe anyone gave votes this week to: Houston, UCLA

I think I might be overrating these: Wisconsin, Boise State, TCU

I knew it! Texas

My College Football Pick Results, 2010 Week 4

For the first time this year, USC covered. For the third time in three weeks, I won more than I lost, going 4-3 in my money picks and 11-6 overall. On the year, I'm 12-5 in my money picks. Here's how I did in week 4:

W #4 TCU @ SMU +18½
L Bowling Green @ #21 Michigan -25½
W Ball St. @ #18 Iowa -27½
W * #20 USC @ Washington St. +22
W * #16 Stanford @ Notre Dame +4½
W Temple @ #23 Penn St. -14
L * East. Michigan @ #2 Ohio St. -43½
L * #7 UCLA @ Texas -15½
W #1 Alabama @ #10 Arkansas +7
W #8 Oklahoma @ Cincinnati +14
W Kentucky @ #9 Florida -14
W #12 South Carolina @ #17 Auburn -3
W * San Jose St. @ #13 Utah -31
W * #24 Oregon St. @ #3 Boise St. -18
L #22 West Virginia @ #15 LSU -10
L California @ #14 Arizona -6½
L * #5 Oregon @ Arizona St. +11½

On covering of huge spreads, I was right that Ohio State, Utah and USC would cover, and wrong about Oregon covering. I was right about TCU and Boise State not covering, but Michigan did cover. Again, not a bad week. I should have bet the house.

USC @ Washington State Game Notes 9-25-2010

As you watch USC playing at Washington State today, you might see some of these interesting bits and pieces of information on your screen:

• USC is 3-0 (0-0 Pac-10), ranked #20 in the AP (ineligible for Coaches' poll ranking)
• After each of its three victories, USC has dropped two spots in the following AP poll.
• Washington State is 1-2 (0-0 Pac-Ten), unranked
• USC is favored by 22 points (and dropping)
• Kickoff: 12 noon PDT at Martin Stadium, in Pullman, WA
• Weather will be sunny with a high of 81°
• Broadcast: Prime Ticket, Bill Macdonald, John Jackson, Lindsay Soto
• This is the teams' 70th meeting, dating to 1921
• USC has won 86% of the games, including the last seven
• USC leads 57-8-4
• In Washington (Pullman, Spokane and Seattle), USC is 17-3-2
• USC has only lost at Washington State three times
• From 1958-1997, USC won 25 out of 26.
• Last game: USC 27-6 at LA in 2009.
• Last game in Pullman: USC 69-0 in 2008
• Last WSU win: 2002, 30-27 (OT) at WSU.
• That game decided the Pac-10 - USC went to the Orange Bowl and WSU went to the Rose
• In conference openers, USC is 65-18-5 (.767)
• WSU is 15-16-1 in conference openers
• At home, WSU is 9-9-1 in conference openers
• WSU head coach Paul Wulff is 0-2 against the Trojans, and is looking for his 5th career win
• USC head coach Lane Kiffin is trying to become the first since Jess Hill (1951) to start 4-0
• USC has only 73 players on scholarship.
• Washington State's roster has 113 players, including walkons
• WSU's rushing offense is #105 in the nation
• Its scoring defense is #113 in the nation
• Since 2000, WSU is 9-30 against ranked opponents
• USC has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 99 of its last 100 games
• USC is 29-15-1 on turf
• USC has no players from Washington
• The Cougars have 42 players from California
• Today is the 23rd birthday for USC wideout David Ausberry
• USC plays Washington next week
• It will be the 8th time USC has played the Washington schools back-to-back
• USC QB Matt Barkley was USC's first ever true freshman QB to start an opener
• He is also the school's first-ever sophomore team captain
• USC QB Matt Barkley's 266 completions rank him 12th on USC’s career passing list
• Barkley has thrown a TD pass in 11 straight games
• Eight of USC PK Jacob Harfman’s 18 kickoffs have pinned foes within the 20, including 6 touchbacks
• All 5 of USC’s RBs average 4.6 yards per carry or more
• USC is converting 100.0% (8-of-8, with 7 TDs and 1 field goal) of its chances in the red zone.
• Passing is the only category in which WSU is in the nation's top 80 as a team
• Every game in the Pac-10 this week includes at least one ranked team
• Only Washington is not in action this week
• USC’s roster features 2 Gatorade National High School Football Players of the Year
• Both are QBs: Mitch Mustain (2005) and Matt Barkley (2007)
• USC has won 89 of its last 100 games
• The USC football program is on probation until June 9, 2014

USC's weekly football release.

Washington State's weekly football release.

Fight On!  Beat the Cougars!

My College Football Picks, 2010 Week 4

Last week I was 4-1 in my money picks and 13-6-1 overall. So far, that means I'm 8-2 with my favorite picks of the season. That's better than usual. I have a bunch of lines I really like this week, mostly involving the Pac-10. Once again, I'm a sucker for USC's dropping line. I'm shocked at how few points UCLA gets, and I'm shocked by how many Oregon State gets. My picks are in bold. Seven games I would put real money on are marked by an asterisk:

Thursday, Sep 23
#19 Miami (FL) @ Pittsburgh +3 (done)

Friday, Sep 24
#4 TCU @ SMU +18½

Saturday, Sep 25
Austin Peay @ #11 Wisconsin (no line)
Northern Colorado @ #25 Michigan St. (no line)
Bowling Green @ #21 Michigan -25½
Ball St. @ #18 Iowa -27½
* #20 USC @ Washington St. +22
* #16 Stanford @ Notre Dame +4½
Temple @ #23 Penn St. -14
* East. Michigan @ #2 Ohio St. -43½
* #7 UCLA @ Texas -15½
#1 Alabama @ #10 Arkansas +7
#8 Oklahoma @ Cincinnati +14
South Dakota St. @ #6 Nebraska (no line)
Kentucky @ #9 Florida -14
#12 South Carolina @ #17 Auburn -3
* San Jose St. @ #13 Utah -31
* #24 Oregon St. @ #3 Boise St. -18
#22 West Virginia @ #15 LSU -10
California @ #14 Arizona -6½
* #5 Oregon @ Arizona St. +11½

Again this week, USC is favored, and UCLA and Notre Dame are underdogs. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It would not shock me to see Arkansas, Oregon State or West Virginia score upsets. I think Ohio State, Oregon, Utah and USC will have huge margins of victory. I think TCU, Boise State and Michigan will not.

Update: Actually, one line had Wisconsin -43.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/odds

My 2010 Bottom 10 After Week 3

We have six teams - Mississippi, Kansas, Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Akron and Ball State - that can't win a home game against an overmatched FCS team, and San Jose State entered the 4th quarter with a shot at being team #7. We still have two teams that haven't won since the 2008 season. Here are my ten picks rounding out the bottom:

1. Akron (0-3) [2] Pounded by Kentucky. Winless against both FCS and FBS. Next loss: @ Indiana
2. Ball State (1-2) [3] Loss to Purdue follows split with 2 FCS opponents. Next loss: Iowa
3. Western Kentucky (0-3) [6] Can't even stay close with Indiana. Next loss: @ USF
4. Eastern Michigan (0-3) [7] Third straight loss follows winless 2009. Next loss: @ Ohio State
5. Minnesota (1-2) [5] Covered spread with last second TD against USC. Next loss: N. Ill.
6. New Mexico (0-3) [8] Pounded by Utah. 1-14 since start of 2009. Next loss: @ UNLV
7. North Texas (0-3 [10] Skunked by Army 24-0. Next loss: @ Fla. Atlantic
8. Virginia Tech (1-2) [1] Rallied to beat East Carolina. Golf clap. Next loss: @ BC
9. Ole Miss (1-2) [4] Win over Tulane does little to erase Jacksonville St. Next loss: Fresno St.
10. San Jose State (1-2) [NR] Cracks top 10 with mere 5 point win over S. Utah. Next loss: @ Utah

Dropped out: Vanderbilt (1-2, beat Ole Miss)

Not far ahead: Florida International (0-3), Washington State (1-2), Kansas (1-2), Vanderbilt (1-2)

Shocking Redemption Last Week: UCLA beating #23 Houston

Crummy Game of the Weak: Akron @ Indiana

Blowout of the Weak: Ball St. @ Iowa, Eastern Michigan @ Ohio State, San Jose State @ Utah

My College Football Pick Results, 2010 Week 3

For the third week in a row, I was wrong about USC and the spread. For the second week in a row, I won the other four "money" games I picked, however, to go 4-1 in the money and 13-6-1 overall. Here's how I did:

W * Maryland @ #21 West Virginia -10
W Kent St. @ #22 Penn St. -21
L Ohio @ #2 Ohio St. -30
L #12 Arkansas @ Georgia -2
W Air Force @ #7 Oklahoma -16½
W * #1 Alabama @ Duke +24
W Arizona St. @ #11 Wisconsin -13
L * #18 USC @ Minnesota +12
W #8 Nebraska @ Washington +3
P #10 Florida @ Tennessee +14
W Baylor @ #4 TCU -21
L Louisville @ #25 Oregon St. -20½
Portland St. @ #5 Oregon (no line)
Furman @ #13 South Carolina (no line)
L Mississippi St. @ #15 LSU -8
W Clemson @ #16 Auburn -7
W * #14 Utah @ New Mexico +23
W #3 Boise St. @ Wyoming +23½
W #6 Texas @ Texas Tech +3
L #23 Houston @ UCLA +3
W #9 Iowa @ #21 Arizona -1
W * Wake Forest @ #19 Stanford -17½

In the other three games I was watching, I was wrong on every count:

L! Cal @ Nevada +2
L Washington State @ SMU -23½
L Notre Dame @ Michigan State -3½

Still, not a bad week. I should have bet my house on them.

My College Football Top 25 For Week 4

If I had an AP vote, here is what my week 4 ballot would look like:

1. Alabama (1)
2. Ohio State (2)
3. Oregon (3)
4. Texas (4)
5. Nebraska (7)
6. Boise State (6)
7. Oklahoma (5)
8. Florida (8)
9. TCU (9)
10. Stanford (13)
11. Wisconsin (12)
12. LSU (15)
13. Arizona (NR)
14. USC (11)
15. Arkansas (17)
16. Michigan (14)
17. Miami (FL) (16)
18. Utah (18)
19. West Virginia (19)
20. South Carolina (20)
21. Auburn (25)
22. Iowa (10)
23. Penn St. (21)
24. Oregon State (23)
25. Michigan State (NR)

Dropped out: Houston (22), Cal (24)

I almost went with: Pitt, Air Force, Nevada

I can't believe anyone gave votes this week to: Cal, Notre Dame

I think I might be overrating these: Wisconsin, Boise State, Texas, TCU

I knew it! Iowa

When I Was a Kid

When I was a kid:

• The library was a place to hang out
• If you wanted to instant message someone, you had to dial the phone
• Dialing a phone number involved actual using an actual dial
• Heating up leftovers took a long time, because you had to use a regular oven
• If a dad kicked his kid's butt, everyone applauded him for his discipline
• To steal music, we had to actually shoplift something from a store
• Portable music came in the form of low quality battery-operated tape decks
• Your music choices were LP, 45, cassette or 8-track
• Tapes wore out and records got scratched
• Only rich people had fax machines
• Computers were something the only the government and big corporations had
• The only way to leave a message for someone was to talk to someone who had a pen and paper
• There was no caller ID or call waiting
• All the "big box" stores were for members only
• To find out what was on TV, you needed a newspaper of TV Guide
• Every town had a drive-in theater
• Cartoons were only on during cartoon time - after school and Saturday mornings
• Everyone played outside, all over the neighborhood
• Getting grounded meant losing out on stuff outside the house
• Report cards only came out on paper
• Schools never printed or copied. They mimeographed.
• There were pay phones all over the place
• You could ride a bike without a helmet
• Or ride in the back of a pickup
• Or ride a skateboard in public places
• The only form of music video was a live performance on TV
• Cigarette smoke was everywhere
• And you could buy cigarettes from a vending machine
• Dirty movies could only be seen at the dirty movie theater
• Baseball card packs cost less than a candy bar
• And there was only one kind each year
• There were only about a dozen college football games on TV each Saturday
• All TV and radio was free
• To call the police, you needed to look up their phone number
• The Yellow Pages were a valuable resource
• Every day, there were at least a few door-to-door salesmen at your door
• The ice cream man came around once a day
• Everyone bought road maps
• Hitchhiking was a common mode of transportation
• A penny was worth picking up off the ground

It would be quite a shock to go back and spend a week in the 70s again.

USC @ Minnesota Game Notes 9-18-2010

As you watch USC playing at Minnesota today, you might see some of these interesting bits and pieces of information on your screen:

• USC is 2-0 (0-0 Pac-10), ranked #18 in the AP (ineligible for Coaches' poll ranking)
• Despite two victories, USC has dropped two spots each week in the AP Poll.
• There are still 43 teams in the nation that are 2-0
• Minnesota is 1-1 (0-0 Big Ten), unranked
• USC is favored by 12 points (and dropping)
• Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CDT (12:30 PDT) at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
• Weather will be partly cloudy with a high of 60°
• Rain is in the forecast ... tomorrow
• Broadcast: ESPN, Dave Lamont, J.C. Pearson
• USC comes off a disappointing 17-14 home win over Virginia
• Minnesota comes off a 41-38 loss at home to FCS team South Dakota
• USC wears cardinal and gold, and will be in white road jerseys
• Minnesota wears a similar maroon and gold, and will be in home maroon jerseys
• The series dates back to 1953, but their last meeting was 30 years ago
• Last game: #5 USC 24 @ Minnesota 7 (1980)
• USC leads the series 4-1-1.
• Three of those were played in Minnesota.
• In Los Angeles, the Trojans are 2-0-1 against the Gophers
• In Minnesota, the Trojans lead 2-1
• This is the third different stadium in Minnesota to host a Gophers/Trojans game
• The first two were in Memorial Stadium. The third was at the Metrodome.
• Minnesota's lone win was in a blizzard in 1955.
• The tie was at the Coliseum
• The Trojans have been ranked in all six contests.
• USC has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 99 of its last 100 games
• The Trojans have won their last ten games against Big Ten teams
• USC also has a streak of 18 straight non-conference road games
• USC is 28-15-1 on turf
• Minnesota is 24-23-2 against the Pac-10
• USC is 68-27-2 against the Big Ten nation
• USC has no players from Minnesota
• All-time USC has had 5 lettermen from Minnesota
• USC's last two recruits from Minnesota (Walker Ashley and Seantrel Henderson) never played a down for the Trojans
• The Gophers have five players from California
• USC head coach Lane Kiffin grew up in Minnesota and attended Bloomington High School
• Minnesota travels to USC next year for the opener on September 3
• USC returns 5 starters on offense from 2009
• Minnesota returns 2 starters on defense
• USC QB Matt Barkley was USC's first ever true freshman QB to start an opener
• He is also the schools first-ever sophomore team captain
• Barkley has 7 TD passes this season, against no interceptions (but one fumble)
• All 5 of USC’s RBs average 4.9 yards per carry or more
• USC returns 6 starters on defense from 2009
• Minnesota returns 9 starters on offense
• Minnesota QB Adam Weber is a 4-year starter
• He is also Minnesota's only 3-year captain
• Only Houston quarterback Case Keenum has more career starts
• Only 12 players in the history of the FBS and Division I-A football have captained 3 years
• Minnesota RB Duane Bennett is sixth nationally in rushing (145.5)
• Minnesota leads the Big Ten in first downs (51)
• Minnesota leads the nation in time of possession
• USC leads the nation in penalty yards.
• Five first-year freshmen have played for USC in 2010
• Two of those started
• USC carries just 73 scholarship players
• USC is 7-7 in the rede zone this season (6 TD, 1 FG)
• USC’s roster features 2 Gatorade National High School Football Players of the Year
• Both are QBs: Mitch Mustain (2005) and Matt Barkley (2007)
• USC has won 89 of its last 100 games
• The USC football program is on probation until June 9, 2014
• Minnesota celebrates 50th anniversary of its 1960 national title with a team reunion Saturday.
• The first 5,000 fans to enter the stadium to receive a commemorative button
• The 1960 team members will greet the team at end of Gopher Victory Walk
• 1960 team captain Greg Larson will participate in the coin toss

USC's weekly football release.

Minnesota's weekly football release.

Fight On!  Beat the Gophers!

My College Football Picks, 2010 Week 3

Last week I was 4-1 in my money picks and 9-7 overall. That's a good, if late, start to the season. This week, I like USC's dropping line and although I'm not a fan of West Virginia, I think Maryland is terrible and the Mountaineers have some pride to restore after last week's near-disaster. My favorite line, however, is Utah @ New Mexico. Five games I would put real money on are marked by an asterisk:

Saturday, Sep 18
* Maryland @ #21 West Virginia -10
Kent St. @ #22 Penn St. -21
Ohio @ #2 Ohio St. -30
Massachusetts @ #20 Michigan (no line)
#12 Arkansas @ Georgia -2
Air Force @ #7 Oklahoma -16½
* #1 Alabama @ Duke +24
Arizona St. @ #11 Wisconsin -13
* #18 USC @ Minnesota +12
#8 Nebraska @ Washington +3
#10 Florida @ Tennessee +14
Baylor @ #4 TCU -21
Louisville @ #25 Oregon St. -20½
Portland St. @ #5 Oregon (no line)
Furman @ #13 South Carolina (no line)
Mississippi St. @ #15 LSU -8
Clemson @ #16 Auburn -7
* #14 Utah @ New Mexico +23
#3 Boise St. @ Wyoming +23½
#6 Texas @ Texas Tech +3
#23 Houston @ UCLA +3
#9 Iowa @ #21 Arizona -1
* Wake Forest @ #19 Stanford -17½

In other relevant games, I like:

Cal @ Nevada +2
Washington State @ SMU -23½
Notre Dame @ Michigan State -3½

USC has a Perfect Day last week. This week, USC is favored, and UCLA and Notre Dame are both underdogs. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It would not shock me to see Oklahoma lose to Air Force. I'd be blown away if Alabama, Ohio State or Boise State lost.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/odds

That Tough SEC Schedule

Four Pac-10 teams play ranked non-conference opponents (Arizona St. @ #11 Wisconsin, #8 Nebraska @ Washington, #23 Houston @ UCLA and #9 Iowa @ #21 Arizona) this week. All are facing higher-ranked opponents.

Compare that to the SEC, which, over the course of the season, have just four games (Penn State @ Alabama, Oregon @ Tennessee, West Virginia @ LSU, Mississippi @ Houston) against teams currently ranked in either poll. Only two of those four will be against lower ranked teams, and only one is against teams ranked lower in the preseason poll. One of those opponents (Houston) could easily be unranked by the time the game is played.

SEC non-conference opponents this week include Duke, Furman, Akron and Clemson. Last week's slate: South Florida, Tulane, Louisiana Monroe, Western Kentucky, #7 Oregon, and #18 Penn State, was the only respectable non-conference slate in the SEC's season. They went 1-1 against the ranked teams.

My 2010 Bottom 10 After Week 2

We have six teams - Mississippi, Kansas, Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Akron and Ball State - that can't win a home game against an overmatched FCS team (though Kansas can win against a ranked team), and we still have two teams that haven't won since the 2008 season. Here are my ten picks rounding out the bottom:

1. Virginia Tech (0-2) [NR] Loss to that Idaho school was bad. James Madison? Worse.
2. Akron (0-2) [NR] Lost to something called "Gardner-Webb", at home on missed PAT.
3. Ball State (1-1) [NR] Opened with 2 FCS opponents and only earned a split.
4. Ole Miss (1-1) [1] Win over Tulane does little to erase Jacksonville State loss.
5. Minnesota (1-1) [NR] Lost to South Dakota, at home
6. Western Kentucky (0-2) [3] Gave up 63 to Kentucky. Still winless since 2008
7. Eastern Michigan (0-2) [4] Kept it close against Army and Miami (OH), but still winless since '08
8. New Mexico (0-2) [5] Pounded by T.Tech. 1-13 since start of 2009
9. UCLA (0-2) [10] Lost 35-0 at home to Stanford. Prepare for traditional Neuheisel 3rd year meltdown.
10. Vanderbilt (0-2) [7] Got 3 points against LSU. 2-12 since start of 2009.

Dropped out: Washington State (1-1, needed 16 point rally to edge Montana State by a point), and Kansas (1-1, redeemed itself by beating #15 Georgia Tech, but still winless against FCS), San Jose St. (0-2, covered the spread at Wisconsin), North Texas (0-2, took lead into 4th quarter before losing to Rice).

Not far ahead: North Texas (0-2), San Jose State (0-2), Florida International (0-2), Washington State (1-1), Kansas (1-1), Memphis (0-2),

Shocking Redemption Last Week: Kansas knocking off #15 Georgia Tech

Crummy Game of the Weak: Vandy @ Ole Miss

Blowout of the Weak: USC @ Minnesota

Congratulations to the Big East, Big Ten and Big 12. There isn't a winless team left in any of those conference.

My Top 25 Rooting Interests for 2010, Week 3

Here are the 25 college football games I find most interesting, and how I'll be rooting. For the most part, this is (i) USC interests, including UCLA and Notre Dame losses, a cheer for the Pac-10, except UCLA, and hope for interesting upsets. Here they are:

1. #18 USC @ Minnesota - Obviously, I want USC to avoid loss to team coming off the FCS failure.
2. #23 Houston @ UCLA - A ranked team coming to the Rose Bowl to test the Bruins.
3. Michigan State v. Notre Dame - Irish were one play away from waking the echoes. Let them rest.
4. Duke v. #1 Alabama - An upset of #1 is always fun to watch.
5. Ohio @ #2 Ohio St. - If some Ohio has to win, let it be Ohio.
6. Wyoming v. #3 Boise St. - A Wyoming win here would show how bad Va. Tech really is.
7. Arizona St. @ #11 Wisconsin - Go Pac-10 on the road against a ranked opponent
8. Washington v. #8 Nebraska - Go Pac-10 on the road against a ranked opponent
9. #21 Arizona v. #9 Iowa - Go Pac-10 on the road against a ranked opponent
10. #19 Stanford v. Wake Forest - Go Pac-10 on the road
11. #5 Oregon v. Portland - Oregon couldn't possibly blow this after demolishing Rocky Top
12. #25 Oregon St. v. Louisville - Go Pac-10.
13. Cal @ Nevada - Go Pac-10 on the road. Shut up the AP voter(s) who have Nevada in their polls.
14. Mississippi St. @ #15 LSU - Just to expose LSU as a fraud.
15. Baylor @ #4 TCU - To expose TCU as a fraud.
16. Texas Tech v. #6 Texas - This would be a sweet upset.
17. Massachusetts @ #20 Michigan - How epic would this upset be?
18. Furman @ #13 South Carolina - Go FCS on the road against the SEC.
19. Kent St. @ #22 Penn St. - Actually, this might make me sad if it happens.
20. Maryland @ #21 West Virginia - I don't feel that strongly about this game
21. Georgia v. #12 Arkansas - Someone has to win this, it might as well not be the team ahead of USC
22. Air Force @ #7 Oklahoma - I wouldn't mind the Oklahoma upset, but it's not high on my list
23. Tennessee v. #10 Florida - I'm not fond of Tennessee, but I hate Florida
24. Clemson @ #16 Auburn - Expose Auburn!
25. New Mexico v. #14 Utah - This is not going to happen. New Mexico sucks.

That's about all I'm paying attention to this week.

My College Football Top 25 For Week 3

If I had an AP vote, here is what my week 3 ballot would look like:

1. Alabama (1)
2. Ohio State (2)
3. Oregon (4)
4. Texas (3)
5. Oklahoma (7)
6. Boise State (5)
7. Nebraska (10)
8. Florida (8)
9. TCU (11)
10. Iowa (12)
11. USC (9)
12. Wisconsin (13)
13. Stanford (23)
14. Michigan (25)
15. LSU (18)
16. Miami (FL) (6)
17. Arkansas (20)
18. Utah (21)
19. West Virginia (19)
20. South Carolina (22)
21. Penn St. (14)
22. Houston (NR)
23. Oregon State (NR)
24. Cal (NR)
25. Auburn (NR)

Dropped out: Virginia Tech (15), Georgia Tech (16), Florida St. (17), Georgia (24)

I almost went with: Arizona, North Carolina, Pitt, Air Force

I can't believe anyone gave votes this week to: Florida St., Texas A&M, James Madison, Maryland, Nevada

I think I might be overrating these: Boise State, Texas, Iowa, TCU, West Virginia

I knew it! Florida State

My College Football Pick Results, 2010 Week 2

For the second week in a row, I was wrong about USC and the spread. I won the other four "money" games I picked, however, to go 4-1 in the money and 9-7 overall. Not a bad week:

L San Jose St. @ #11 Wisconsin -38
W #16 Georgia Tech @ Kansas +14
W #22 Georgia @ #24 South Carolina +3
W * South Florida @ #8 Florida -15½
L Idaho @ #5 Nebraska -28½
W * #17 Florida St. @ #10 Oklahoma -7
L #12 Miami (FL) @ #2 Ohio St. -8½
W Iowa St. @ #9 Iowa -13½
W * UNLV @ #20 Utah -21
L Wyoming @ #5 Texas -28½
W #19 LSU @ Vanderbilt +10
L #7 Oregon @ Tennessee -11½
L LA Monroe @ #14 Arkansas -34
W #18 Penn St. @ #1 Alabama -12
L * Virginia @ #16 USC -20
W * #25 Stanford @ UCLA +6

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/odds

USC Virginia Game Notes 9-11-2010

As you watch USC host Virginia tonight, you might see some of these interesting bits and pieces:

• USC is 1-0 (0-0 Pac-10), ranked #16 in the AP (ineligible for Coaches' poll ranking)
• Virginia is 1-0 (0-0 ACC), unranked
• USC is favored by 20 points, up from an opening line of 17
• Kickoff: 7:42 p.m. PDT at L.A. Memorial Coliseum
• Weather will be cool and clear, coming down from a high of 77° toward a low of 59°
• Broadcast: FSN, Barry Tompkins, Petros Papadakis, Rebecca Haarlow
• USC leads the series 1-0
• Last game: USC 52 @ Virginia 7 (2008)
• The 64,947 who watched that constituted the largest Virginia home crowd ever
• This is Virginia's first game in the state of California
• USC's game at Virginia in 2008 was its first in the state of Virginia
• The Cavaliers have played just three times against California schools (San Jose State, Fresno State, USC)
• This is only the 15th game played west of the Mississippi River in Virginia history
• They are 4-10 in those games
• Their next trip is to UCLA in 2015
• In its opener against Richmond, Virginia faced former USC QB Aaron Corp
• This is Lane Kiffin's home debut as head coach of the Trojans
• Virginia head coach Mike London is in his first season
• Both USC and Virginia fielded their first football teams in 1888
• USC has no players from Virginia and the Cavaliers have no California natives
• USC has had only 1 football letterman from Virginia: LT John Wilkins (1959-60)
• USC’s record for home openers is 90-18-7 (.813)
• The Trojans have won their past 12 home openers
• USC has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 104 of its past 105 games
• USC is 12-6 all-time against current ACC teams
• USC has lost 2 of its last 3 home games
• USC has won its last 31 home night games
• USC has won 17 straight non-conference games and 13 non-conference home games
• Virginia is 42-73-3 all-time in road openers, including losses in its last four openers on the road.
• 22 Cavaliers played in the 2008 contest against USC, including 4 starters
• Virginia WRS Kris Burd and Dontrelle Inman each had 80-plus receiving yards last week
• Cavalier great “Bullet” Bill Dudley's #35 is on a sticker on Virginia's helmets
• Virginia kicker Robert Randolph is on the watch list for the Lou Groza Award
•  Virginia players are sometimes called Wahoos 
• QB Matt Barkley's 5 TD passes last week tied a USC record
• WR Ronald Johnson's 3 TD catches last week tied a USC record
• USC returns 5 starters on offense from 2009
• Five first-year freshmen have played for USC in 2010
• Two of those started
• USC freshman TB Dillon Baxter makes his debut in this game
• Baxter was suspended for the Trojans' opener at Hawaii
• USC’s roster features 2 Gatorade National High School Football Players of the Year
• Both are QBs: Mitch Mustain (2005) and Matt Barkley (2007)
• USC has won 89 of its last 100 games
• USC is ranked sixth nationally in passing efficiency
• The USC football program is on probation until June 9, 2014
• USC's press releases now list just 6 Trojan Heisman Trophy winners
• Reggie Bush's #5 jersey has been removed from the Coliseum
• There will be a pre-game ceremony to commemorate the 9th anniversary of 9/11
• USC’s 3 NCAA championships from 2009-10 (men’s and women’s water polo and men’s tennis) will be saluted at halftime
• The 2010 USC football schedule poster will be given to fans after the game
• USC outgoing transfers this season included: Malik Jackson, D.J. Shoemate, Byron Moore, Travon Patterson
• USC signees Seantrel Henderson and Glen Stanley were released from letters of intent
• USC FB FB Soma Vainuku did not qualify
• USC DE Nick Perry, CB T.J. Bryant, and WR Scott Stephens are listed as questionable due to injury
• USC S Patrick Hall is suspended
• USC C Abe Markowitz (foot), LB Marquis Simmons (appendix), TE Xavier Grimble (ankle), TB D.J. Morgan (knee), LB Hayes Pullard (knee), DT Christian Tupou (knee) are out with injury

USC's weekly football release.

Virginia's weekly football release.

Fight On!  Beat the Wahoos! 

My Top 25 Rooting Interests for 2010, Week 2

My rooting interests this season are going to be a little different than in year's past. Since I don't care about the BCS, I don't need to worry about what computers will think of USC's strength of schedule. Ergo, I want as many perfect weekends as possible. I will root for UCLA possibly never, and for Notre Dame probably never, all season. I want to see some interesting upsets, particularly of teams ranked ahead of the Trojans, but mostly, I just want USC to win. This week, the games I'm watching and the outcomes I want are:

1. USC v. Virginia - I want USC to win. Always.
2. Michigan @ Notre Dame - I still like Michigan a bit, and Notre Dame losing could set up the possibility of a Trojan fan's "Perfect Day."
3. #25 Stanford @ UCLA - I have no love for Stanford, but they play UCLA this week. Enough said.
4. #18 Penn State @ #1 Alabama - It wouldn't help USC in the polls, since Penn State would jump USC if they won this, but I'd love to see Alabama go down. This would give Penn State the "College Football Belt", too
5. Miami (FL) @ #2 Ohio State - I like the Buckeyes if I'm betting, but I'm rooting for the U if I'm not.
6. San Jose State @ #11 Wisconsin - This is just because Wisconsin is ranked ahead of USC.
7. Kansas v. #15 Georgia Tech - The pollsters dropped USC behind Georgia Tech this week. I disagree, and the best way to prove them wrong would be for Kansas, an FCS upset victim last week, to knock the Yellowjackets off.
8. South Florida @ #8 Florida - It's Florida.
9. #17 Florida State @ #10 Oklahoma - One of these teams is very overrated. Maybe both. I'm hoping it's Oklahoma that proves to be the more overrated team.
10. Tennessee Tech @ #4 TCU - TCU is not the 4th best team in the nation. Tennessee Tech probably doesn't have the stuff to prove it.
11. Wyoming @ #5 Texas - I'm rooting for Wyoming as just another upset-above-USC scenario.
12. Washington State v Montana State - Please guys, don't embarrass the conference.
13. Washington v. Syracuse - Another Pac-10 non-conference rooting interest.
14. Tennessee v. #7 Oregon - I'm torn with this one. Maybe a win would calm the Vols fans down a bit, and an Oregon loss bodes well for USC's chances to finished first in the Pac-10.
15. Louisiana Monroe @ #14 Arkansas - Another upset-above-USC scenario.
16. Idaho @ #5 Nebraska - I don't think the Cornhuskers are one of the top five teams in the nation. A loss or close win against Idaho might help me argue the point a bit more easily.
17. James Madison @ #13 Virginia Tech - How funny would it be if Boise State's only quality win turned to crap this week with a home loss to James Madison?
18. South Dakota @ Minnesota - Not bloody likely, but it would be pretty cool to watch USC's next opponent fall to a FCS school the week before we play them.
19. #22 Georgia @ #24 South Carolina - It's a close call, but I don't like the Ol' Ball Coach, so ...
20. Vanderbilt v. #19 LSU - Almost always, I root against LSU.
21. Iowa State @ #9 Iowa - Iowa needs to lose for USC to crack the top ten, but this is a very remote shot.
22. Cal v. Colorado - Another Pac-10 non-conference rooting interest.
23. Arizona State v. Northern Arizona - Another Pac-10 non-conference rooting interest.
24. Arizona v. Citadel - Another Pac-10 non-conference rooting interest.
25. Mississippi v. #21 Auburn - Played on Thursday. Mississippi State came close, but lost 17-14.

If I get the first one like I want it, I can live without the other 24, but I'd love to see 15 of my rooting interests fulfilled.

My 2010 Bottom 10 After Week 1

It's too early to guess which team will end 2010 as the worst in the land, but we already have two teams - Mississippi and Kansas - that can't win a home game against an overmatched FCS team, and we have two teams that haven't won since the 2008 season. Here are my ten picks rounding out the bottom:

1. Ole Miss (0-1) Blew a 3-TD lead at home at Jacksonville State.
2. Kansas (0-1) Lost at home to South Dakota State
3. Western Kentucky (0-1) Pounded by Nebraska. Still winless since 2008
4. Eastern Michigan (0-1) Kept it close against Army, but still have no wins since 2008
5. New Mexico (0-1) Encore to 1-11 season is a 72-0 drubbing at the hands of Oregon
6. Washington State (0-1) After 1-11 in 2009, they start 2010 with 48 point lost to Oklahoma State 
7. Vanderbilt (0-1) Lost to Northwestern. That makes them 2-11 since the end of 2008
8. North Texas (0-1) Followed up 2-10 season with 35-10 loss to Clemson
9. San Jose St (0-1) Served up to Alabama for week one meal
10. UCLA (0-1) Because they are Bruins.

Not far ahead: Florida International

Shocking Redemption Last Week: Miami (Ohio) hanging tight with #4 Florida before losing 34-12

Crummy Games of the the Week: Montana State @ Washington State

Blowout of the Week: San Jose State @ #11 Wisconsin

My College Football Picks, 2010 Week 2

I didn't really have a chance to look at the spreads last week and pick 'em all. I know I'd have gotten Florida, Oklahoma, USC and Pitt wrong. However, I thought the easiest money I've seen in many seasons was the line on the Oklahoma State / Washington State game. Okie State was anywhere from a 15½ point favorite to a 17 point favorite at home against a team that went 1-11 last year and had a lousy recruiting class. Sure enough, they covered, winning by 48. This week, I don't see anything quite that obvious, but I really like USC, Florida and Oklahoma's lines. Five games I would put real money on are marked by an asterisk:

Thursday, Sep 9
#21 Auburn @ Mississippi St. (Auburn won 17-14)

Friday, Sep 10
#23 West Virginia @ Marshall (WV won 24-21 OT)

Saturday, Sep 11
San Jose St. @ #11 Wisconsin -38
#16 Georgia Tech @ Kansas +14
#22 Georgia @ #24 South Carolina +3
* South Florida @ #8 Florida -15½
Idaho @ #5 Nebraska -28½
James Madison @ #13 Virginia Tech (no line)
* #17 Florida St. @ #10 Oklahoma -7
#12 Miami (FL) @ #2 Ohio St. -8½
Iowa St. @ #9 Iowa -13½
* UNLV @ #20 Utah -21
Tennessee Tech @ #4 TCU (no line)
Wyoming @ #5 Texas -28½
#19 LSU @ Vanderbilt +10
#7 Oregon @ Tennessee -11½
LA Monroe @ #14 Arkansas -34
#18 Penn St. @ #1 Alabama -12
* Virginia @ #16 USC -20
* #25 Stanford @ UCLA +6

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/odds

My College Football Top 25 For Week 2

If I had an AP vote, here is what my week 2 ballot would look like:

1. Alabama (1)
2. Ohio State (2)
3. Texas (3)
4. Oregon (5)
5. Boise State (7)
6. Miami (FL) (9)
7. Oklahoma (4)
8. Florida (6)
9. USC (10)
10. Nebraska (11)
11. TCU (12)
12. Iowa (13)
13. Wisconsin (14)
14. Penn St. (15)
15. Virginia Tech (8)
16. Georgia Tech (16)
17. Florida St. (18)
18. LSU (19)
19. West Virginia (21)
20. Arkansas (22)
21. Utah (25)
22. South Carolina (NR)
23. Stanford (NR)
24. Georgia (NR)
25. Michigan (NR)

Dropped out: Pittsburgh (17), Oregon St. (20), North Carolina (23), Cincinnati (24)

I almost went with: Houston, Oregon State, North Carolina

I can't believe anyone gave votes this week to: Notre Dame, Arizona, Kansas St., Texas A&M, East Carolina.

I think I might be overrating these: Boise State, Iowa, Florida State, Utah

My College Football Top 25 For Week 1

If I had an AP vote, here is what my preseason ballot would look like:

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Oklahoma
5. Oregon
6. Florida
7. Boise State
8. Virginia Tech
9. Miami (FL)
10. USC
11. Nebraska
12. TCU
13. Iowa
14. Wisconsin
15. Penn St.
16. Georgia Tech
17. Pittsburgh
18. Florida St.
19. LSU
20. Oregon St.
21. West Virginia
22. Arkansas
23. North Carolina
24. Cincinnati
25. Utah

I almost went with: South Carolina, Stanford, Georgia, Connecticut

I can't believe anyone gave votes this week to: Notre Dame, Mississippi, Temple, SMU or Middle Tennessee State.

I think I might be overrating these: Nebraska, Iowa, LSU