Campus Confidential
We may have Big Ten roots, but all college football conferences were created equal.
Patriot League adds scholarships for football
Patriot League colleges and universities that play football will be allowed to award scholarships for recruits, the league's Council of Presidents announced Monday.
Beginning in the fall of 2013 each school will be permitted to award no more than the equivalent of 15 scholarships each year to incoming football student-athletes, including transfer student-athletes.
The total amount of...
Alabama No. 1 in AP and USA Today polls
Alabama's dominating 21-0 win over LSU in the BCS National Championship in New Orleans on Monday night gave the Crimson Tide the national title.
And, not surprisingly, Alabama is No. 1 in both of the major polls.
What is surprising is that Alabama was not a unanimous selection in the AP poll. The Crimson Tide received 55 of 60 first-place votes. LSU got one vote and Oklahoma State got...
Fearless prediction: BCS National Championship
BCS National Championship
Tonight
No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 1 LSU (+1.5), 8:30 p.m.: After more than a month of hype and constant analysis, the game is finally here. Of course, the first match up between Alabama and LSU in November became known as the “Game of the Century.” LSU won that game 9-6 in overtime in Tuscaloosa. Now comes the rematch (“Game of the Century II?”) with a national...
Fearless predictions: Jan. 7-8
Photo credit: AP
Saturday
BBVA Compass Bowl
SMU vs. Pittsburgh (-3.5), 1 p.m.: Pittsburgh will be without head coach Todd Graham, who left for the Arizona State job. The Panthers won three of five to end the season and the two losses were by a combined four points. Leading rusher Ray Graham suffered a season-ending knee injury in late October. Quarterback Tino Sunseri was sacked an incredible 57 times...
Fearless prediction: Cotton Bowl
Photo credit: AP
No. 8 Kansas State vs. No. 6 Arkansas (-7.5), 8 p.m.: This is a BCS-worthy match up. Kansas State’s two losses have come against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Arkansas has lost to LSU and Alabama. Kansas State, behind head coach Bill Snyder, has been a surprise team this season, winning seven straight to start the season, then losing two straight and winning the final three games to get to 10 wins....
Fearless prediction: Orange Bowl
Photo credit: AP
Orange Bowl
Tonight
No. 23 West Virginia vs. No. 15 Clemson (-3), 8:30 p.m.: If you’re a fan of offense, this is the game for you. Don’t expect a Baylor-Washington outcome, but plenty of points will be scored in what should be an entertaining game. Big East champion West Virginia ranked 17th nationally in total offense during the regular season (460 yards per game) and ACC champion Clemson...
Fearless prediction: Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
Tonight
No. 13 Michigan vs. No. 11 Virginia Tech (+3), 8:30 p.m.: Of all the bowl selections this season, the Sugar Bowl has probably been the most debated. Michigan and Virginia Tech were selected ahead of other at-large teams such as Boise State, Baylor and Kansas State. Still, this match up should be a good one. Virginia Tech’s defense was 15th nationally in the regular...
Youthful Rutgers shows future promise
Photo credit: AP
At first glance, the 2011 New Era Pinstripe Bowl made you wonder how offensively inept Iowa State ever upset Oklahoma State when the Cowboys were No. 2 in the country and seemed headed for the BCS Championship game. The Cyclones (6-7) were anything but world-beaters in their 27-13 loss to Rutgers Friday evening at Yankee Stadium.
But before you file this away as one of many ho-hum bowl matchups...
Fearless bowl predictions: Jan. 2
Photo credit: AP
TicketCity Bowl No. 19 Houston vs. No. 22 Penn State (+6), 12 p.m.: Some important questions: 1) What is the mindset of the Penn State players after the Jerry Sandusky scandal during the regular season and then getting snubbed by bigger bowls despite a 9-3 record? 2) What is the health of Penn State starting quarterback Matt McGloin after getting into a locker room fight recently and suffering a...
Fearless bowl predictions: Dec. 31
Photo credit: AP
Meineke Car Care Bowl Texas A&M vs. Northwestern, 12 p.m.: There were huge hopes for Texas A&M this season, but the Aggies ended up with a disappointing 6-6 season and saw head coach Mike Sherman get fired (Houston’s Kevin Sumlin will take over). The Aggies have a high-powered offense, led by quarterback Ryan Tannehill (3,415 yards and 28 touchdowns). The defense, however, has been bad this...
