College Football 2010 Week 1 Picks

Finally College Football is back this week. So it’s again time for me to make picks. So here are 13 games and my picks for those games.




Thursday September 2nd

7:30 ESPN: Southern Miss at South Carolina

It seems every year South Carolina opens the season on Thursday Night. This game has no appeal, except that it’s the opening game on ESPN. I’ll take South Carolina to win 17-13.

8:30 Versus: #15 Pittsburgh at Utah

This is the best Thursday Night Game. I expect a shootout with many points. I’ll take the home team in this one. Utah 34 Pittsburgh 27.

11:00 ESPN: #14 USC at Hawaii

The first game of the Lane Kiffin regime at USC. I think Hawaii will keep this close for a half. But in the end USC has waaaaaayyyy too much talent to lose this game. USC 42 Hawaii 24.



Saturday September 4th

12:00 ESPNU: Samford at #20 Florida State

Bobby Bowden went to Samford. However, he will not be the alumn on the sideline as head coach for Florida State on Saturday. That will be Samford alumn Jimbo Fisher. It will be weird not to see Bowden on the sidelines, but it won’t affect FSU’s play in this game. Florida State 61 Samford 10.

3:30 NBC: Purdue at Notre Dame

Brian Kelly’s first game as Notre Dame Head Coach. I expect a close low scoring game. I think it’s going to take at least one game for this Notre Dame offense to gel under Kelly. I still think they have the talent to win over Purdue despite the lack of offense. Notre Dame 16 Purdue 13.

3:30 ABC: UCONN at Michigan

Can Rich Rod finally get on track in his third season as head coach of Michigan? It won’t be easy to do that if he can’t win this game. This is a must win for Michigan. UCONN may finish the season with more wins than Michigan, but the fact is Michigan has more talent and should win this one. Michigan 30 UCONN 20.

Rich Rodriquez and Michigan have a must win game on Saturday.

3:30 ABC: UCLA at Kansas State

Two great head coaches in this matchup with UCLA’s Rick Neuheisel and Kansas State’s Bill Snyder. I expect a well played game here. I’ll take the UCLA in this one 27-24.

7:45 ESPN: #24 Oregon State vs. #6 TCU at Cowboys Stadium

This is the game College Gameday should be at, not LSU vs. North Carolina. Both these teams have legit shots to go to a BCS game this year. However, the chances TCU will go will fall to virtually 0% if they lose this game. I look for the TCU defense to keep the Rodgers brothers in check, and for TCU QB Andy Dalton to have a prolific day through the air. TCU 24 Oregon State 17.

I expect a big day from Andy Dalton and TCU against Oregon State on Saturday.

8:00 ABC: #21 LSU vs. #18 North Carolina at Georgia Dome

College Gameday is here for this game. I expect to see a low scoring, turnover high game, between two great defenses and two mediocre offenses. These teams are mirror images of each other. I’ll take the SEC team in this case. LSU 16 North Carolina 10.

11:00 Versus: #12 Wisconsin at UNLV

This will be an easy win for Wisconsin. Look for over 200 yards rushing by Wisconsin RB John Clay. Wisconsin 42 UNLV 10.



Sunday September 5th

3:30 ESPN: SMU at Texas Tech

This will be a fun barn burning shootout. Not the best matchup of teams this week, but this could very well be the best game of the week. I’ll take Texas Tech 44-38 over SMU.



Monday September 6th

4:00 ESPN: Navy vs. Maryland

Maryland will have no chance of stopping this option attack of Navy. This will be one of the most embarrassing moments for the ACC this season I hate to say. Navy 45 Maryland 17.

8:00 ESPN: #3 Boise State vs. #10 Virginia Tech at Fed Ex Field

The best game of the first week of college football belongs on Labor Day Night. And that’s what we get with Boise State vs. Virginia Tech in Washington D.C. I will be rooting hard for Virginia Tech for ACC pride. But I just don’t trust Virginia Tech in out of conference games. I think Tyrod Taylor will struggle throwing the ball at times, while Boise State QB Kellen Moore will have his biggest game for his Heisman campaign right here. Boise State 31 Virginia Tech 23.

Kofod

Classic Game of the Week August 31st

This week's classic game of the week is a game from last season. It was a Week 2 Sunday Night Matchup between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. It was the first game for the Cowboys in the new Cowboys Stadium aka Jerry World. The Giants won this crazy game 33-31. The Cowboys would have the last laugh, however, as they won the NFC East crown, while the Giants missed the playoffs.



Kofod

Music Video of the Week August 31st

I love this song right now. Quietly I am becoming a fan of every new song Flo Rida makes. If Flor Rida ever made a remix song with the FloRida State Warchant as the background sound that would be amazing. I suggest he does that haha. As for this week's Music Video of the Week here is his song Club Can't Handle Me ft. David Guetta.



Kofod

NFL Preview and Predictions

I made my college football preview picks a couple of weeks ago. So now here is my NFL preview picks.

AFC East

New England Patriots 13-3- This team is going to bounce back in style in 2010. Look for Brady to have his second best statistical season of his career (behind 2007 of course).


Miami Dolphins 9-7- The Dolphins will fight all year and be as tough a team to face as their can be in the league. Chad Henne is another year away from being really great.

New York Jets 7-9- I don't buy the hype. I love Hard Knocks, and Rex Ryan is a blast, but the Jets just have too many headcases. LT, Jason Taylor, Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, and so on and so on. Mark Sanchez will also have struggles this year as well.

Buffalo Bills 3-13- I'm not buying this preseason success. Trent Edwards still sucks. C.J. Spiller will win them a couple of games but that's it. Look towards 2010 and Jake Locker, Andrew Luck, Ryan Mallett, or Christian Ponder.

C.J. Spiller will be one of the few bright spots for the Bills in 2010.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens 14-2- I think this will be the best team in football. I expect monster years from Ray Rice, Ed Reed, Joe Flacco, Anquan Boldin, and the whole gang. Baltimore will get it done on offense and defense all the way to a Super Bowl XLV victory.

Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6- I think the Steelers will survive the first four games without Big Ben. Mike Tomlin will work wonders with this team. Dennis Dixon and Bryon Leftwich will do what they can to help out the team prior to Big Ben's return. Pittsburgh's defense will improve greatly Troy Polamalu back. The Steelers will make the playoffs.

Cincinnati Bengals 6-10- I'm not buying T.O. and Chad Ochocinco saving the day. The Bengals were wearing down at the end of last season and I expect it to continue.

Cleveland Browns 4-12- It will be a long year for the Browns. But on the bright side they will beat the Bills again for a third straight season. So they got that going for them. Which is nice.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts 12-4- Colts will be regular season stars again. And come the playoffs they will fall short once again.

Tennessee Titans 11-5- I think Chris Johnson will have another 2,000 yard season. Vince Young will make plays on the ground. The defense will play well again. The Titans will bounce back in the playoffs in 2010.

Chris Johnson will have another 2,000 yard season for the Titans.

Houston Texans 9-7- I think this is just a 9-7 type team as long as Gary Kubiak is the head coach. They have all the talent in the world, but I just don't trust him. Plus I'm not sure Matt Shaub is a good 4th quarter QB.

Jacksonville Jaguars 5-11- This is the fall out year. David Garrard will be awful. Jack Del Rio will wished he would have taken the USC job.

AFC West

San Diego Chargers 10-6- It will be a flacky season for the Chargers. Lots of bickering and fighting. Much like the 2008 Dallas Cowboys team. But because this division is so bad they will still make the playoffs as the division winner.

Denver Broncos 7-9- Kyle Orton will have another good statistical season. But in the end he's not good enough, he has no weapons, and the defense is not that good. Tim Tebow will have a couple of exciting red zone plays in the Wildcat for the Broncos.

Oakland Raiders 6-10- Jason Campbell is much better than JaMarcus Russell. But it's not going to get this team to .500. I just don't see it happening.

Kansas City Chiefs 5-11- Bill Simmons can bet all the money he wants on the Chiefs winning the AFC West in Vegas, but I'm not buying it. Don't like the chemistry of this team. I have a feeling Todd Haley will spend a lot more time at the Bemus Point Village Casino in the spring of 2011 than he would normally like to.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys 11-5- The most talented team in the NFC East. They will be the champions of the NFC East. Expecting a monster season from Miles Austin.

New York Giants 10-6- I think the defense will be better than last year, even though I'm not a Perry Fewell fan. Eli will have a great season, and just do enough to get the Giants into the playoffs.

Philadelphia Eagles 7-9- Kevin Kolb will have struggles this season. I think the Eagles are a year or two away from being Super Bowl contenders again.

Washington Redskins 7-9- This will be a fun season for Redskins fans. Fans will enjoy the Donovan McNabb/Mike Shannahan duo much more than the Jim Zorn/Jason Campbell duo. And there will be some new story every week with Albert Haynesworth. Fun team to follow, but until the Redskins get more weapons to help McNabb this is not a playoff team.

Albert Haynesworth will keep the Redskins entertaining all season long.

NFC North
Vikings 13-3- I think Brett Favre will have one last great season. He will survive even without Sidney Rice, and potentially Percy Harvin. Minnesota will lose in Week 1 to New Orleans, but will win the rematch in the NFC Championship. The Vikings will come up short in the Super Bowl to Baltimore, in part because of a late interception thrown by Brett Favre.

Brett Favre will make it to his third Super Bowl this season.

Packers 10-6- Aaron Rodgers will have a great season. But I don't quite trust that defense and offensive line of Green Bay. They are a year away from a Super Bowl run.
Detroit Lions 6-10- Detroit will be vastly improved in 2010. Stafford will play well. Jahvid Best will have the best season a Lions running back has had since Barry Sanders. And Ndamakong Suh will help improve the Lions on defense. It will be a fun season for Lions fans.

Chicago Bears 4-12- I don't buy the Mike Martz hype. The offense will suck. Cutler will throws picks left and right. It will be a long season for the Chicago Bears.

NFC South

New Orleans Saints 13-3- I see another great season for the Saints. No Super Bowl hangover here. Drew Brees will win the MVP. However, the Saints will fall just short to the Vikings in this seasons' NFC Championship.

Atlanta Falcons 9-7- I just see another 9-7 season from this team. I don't trust Michael Turner. I don't see this being a Super Bowl contender team this year. I don't even see this team making the playoffs.

Carolina Panthers 7-9- Carolina will stay around .500 all year. The running game will be great again. Matt Moore will have moments of greatness. But in the end it just won't be enough.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-14- Josh Freeman will look awful. Raheem Morris will seem to not know what he is doing coaching (because I don't think he does). Morris will be fired, and the Buccaneers will stare at the top pick in the 2011 draft wondering if they should still stick with Josh Freeman.

NFC West

Seahawks 10-6- I don't think Pete Carroll will work out in the long run. But in the short run I think this division is so bad, and I expect one last great run from Matt Hasselbeck that Seattle will make it to the playoffs one more time.

49ers 8-8- Patrick Willis, Michael Crabtree, and Frank Gore are great. But I don't trust Alex Smith at all. So 8-8 is what I will give San Francisco.

Cardinals 7-9- Matt Leinart is stuggling, and Derek Anderson is not the answer. Look for a frustrating season for Larry Fitzgerald.

Rams 3-13- The pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together with Sam Bradford now. However, the Rams will still need a few more pieces over the next few years.

AFC Playoff Seeds

1.) Ravens 14-2

2.) Patriots 13-3

3.) Colts 12-4

4.) Chargers 10-6

5.) Titans 11-5

6.) Steelers 10-6



NFC Playoff Seeds

1.) Saints 13-3

2.) Vikings 13-3

3.) Cowboys 11-5

4.) Seahawks 10-6

5.) Giants 10-6

6.) Packers 10-6



AFC Wildcard

Colts 24 Steelers 20

Titans 20 Chargers 17



NFC Wildcard

Cowboys 27 Packers 24

Giants 31 Seahawks 17



AFC Divisional

Ravens 23 Titans 13

Patriots 31 Colts 27



NFC Divisional

Saints 34 Giants 20

Vikings 24 Cowboys 21



AFC Championship

Ravens 24 Patriots 17

Vikings 30 Saints 24



Super Bowl XLV

Ravens 31 Vikings 20

Ray Lewis will celebrate another Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens this season.

All NFL First Team Offense

QB: Drew Brees Saints

RB: Chris Johnson Titans

FB: Le’Ron McClain Ravens

WR: Andre Johnson Texans

WR: Randy Moss Patriots

TE: Jason Witten Cowboys

T: Joe Thomas Browns

T: Jake Long Dolphins

G: Steve Hutchinson Vikings

G: Kris Dielman Chargers

C: Jeff Saturday Colts



All NFL First Team Defense

DE: Jared Allen Vikings

DE: Dwight Freeney Colts

DT: Haloti Ngata Ravens

DT: Darnell Dockett Cardinals

OLB: DeMarcus Ware Cowboys

ILB: Patrick Willis 49ers

ILB: Ray Lewis Ravens

CB: Darrelle Revis Jets

CB: Nnamdi Asomugha Raiders

S: Ed Reed Ravens

S: Troy Polamalu Steelers



All NFL Special Teams First Team

K: Garrett Hartley Saints

P: Brian Moorman Bills

KR: Josh Cribbs Browns

PR: DeSean Jackson Eagles



NFL MVP: QB Drew Brees Saints

NFL Head Coach of the Year: Mike Tomlin Steelers

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: RB Chris Johnson Titans

NFL Defensive Player of the Year: CD Darrelle Revis Jets

NFL Comeback Player of the Year: QB Matt Hasselbeck Seahawks


Kofod

Bobby Bowden Forced Out

Look I'm very excited for Florida State this year. I'll love Florida State forever. I'm looking foward to what Jimbo Fisher can do as a coach. But I hated how last year ended. Bobby Bowden should have gotten one final year to coach. This should have been his final season as coach. He should have gone out on a farewell tour to remember. He built Florida State out of nothing. I mean there is a statue outside the stadium of him. The field is named Bobby Bowden Field for goodness sakes! So this video below hurts. That 2009 season will always have hurt feelings for me. The Gator Bowl brought emotions I have never experienced watching a football game. I wanted Florida State to win, but I did not root the way I usually would. I did not go crazy. I just sat back and let the emotions go. When Bowden threw the flaming spear to the ground the tears started and would not stop. I cried before the game. I cried during the game. I cried after the game. It was saying goodbye. And no matter how it's done saying goodbye is never easy. I will never forget January 1, 2010 and that Gator Bowl. I know I will never experience watching a game like that ever again. It did bring some closure. But the force out forever tarnishes Florida State. Not Bobby Bowden, but Florida State. I only hope Penn State learns this lesson with Joe Paterno. So when I heard Bobby Bowden this week talk about his departure it reopened those December 2009, January 2010 wounds. It hurt. Watching the begining of this video hurts. But I think by typing all this, and getting it off my chest I can finally let go in a sense. Certainly never forget, but let go as much as I can. So good luck Jimbo Fisher. I hope 2010 is a dream season to remember for Florida State. Because 2009 was certainly not.


Kofod

Classic Game of the Week August 26th

Alright back to football for this week's classic game of the week. We are a week away from the first college football games of the season. So why not a classic college football game to get us pumped. I'll go with 1993 #1 Florida State vs #2 Notre Dame. It was the Game of the Century. It was the first game to have College Gameday on the road. It was the Catholics vs the Criminoles. The game lived up to the hype. Notre Dame won a thriller 31-24. ND went to #1, and FSU fell to #2. The next week however ND lost at home to Boston College 41-39. Florida State went back up to #1. Undefeated Nebraska went to #2 and Notre Dame went to #3. The rankings stayed that way all the way to January 1st. Notre Dame won the Cotton Bowl. Florida State beat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. Florida State finished #1, and Notre Dame finished #2. Lou Holtz still complains about that to this day. The first video is the NBC Intro to the game narrated by Bob Costas. I think it's one of the best intros to a football game you can ever see. The second video is highlights of the game.





Kofod

Music Video of the Week August 26th

I love the Jersey Shore. I love this song. I love this music video. Nothing more for me to say here.



Kofod

Classic Game of the Week August 19th

This week's Classic Game of the Week is inspired by one of my favorite shows of all time The OC. In the second episode of Season 1 of The OC, called The Model Home, Marissa's dad Jimmy is watching ESPN Classic. On ESPN Classic he is watching Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals between the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Lakers. In that game James Worthy went off with a triple double. As Jimmy said "James Worthy saved us." He hated Joe Dumars, Lambier, Rodman, and Isiah. So Jimmy was happy LA won. The following is three videos of the final minutes of the 4th quarter of this game 7. Isiah Thomas was out with an injury he had in Game 6. In the third video you can see Dennis Rodman make two incredibly dumb plays in the final minute. He fouls Magic Johnson in the front court, and then on a fast break he takes an ill-advised jump shot. Also with 2 seconds left the Pistons are trying to inbound the ball down 3. Yet Lakers players and fans start storming the court, Detroit panics, throws the ball in, and never gets a shot off. Today that would never happpen. But back then?! Hey it was the 80's! So here is the classic game of the week. Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals. Lakers 108 Pistons 105.







Kofod

Music Video of the Week August 19th

I'm not a country fan. But I love this music video. This is what football is all about. Here is the music video to Kenny Chesney's The Boys of Falls.



Kofod

College Football Preview

Alright here are my college football predictions. In the end I think Boise State will play Iowa for the BCS National Championship. I think Boise can get past Virginia Tech on Labor Day night, and beat Oregon State on the blue field. They will win the rest of their games in the easy WAC Conference to go undefeated. In Iowa I see a team that is even better than last year's Orange Bowl Champions. They get Ohio State and Penn State at home. I think they win both of those key games, and finish the regular season undefeated. I think Boise State QB Kellen Moore has another monster statistical season and walks away with the Heisman. And while people will talk about how Boise State vs. Iowa is the least sexiest BCS Championship ever, it will turn out to be one of the best BCS Championships ever. And the state of Idaho will be dancing, and the blue field will be rocking when Boise State becomes the first non BCS school to win a BCS Championship.

It will be a party all year down at the Blue Field in Boise, Idaho.

The only thing from keeping me from picking Alabama is I find it so incredibly hard to believe that for a 3rd straight season Alabama will go undefeated in the SEC regular season. 8 straight teams will play Alabama coming off a bye week. One of those teams has to beat Alabama.

I think Urban Meyer and Florida will continue to have success, even without Tim Tebow. Their is a lot of bias here but I think Florida State will have a huge bounce back season led by QB Christian Ponder. Ball State will be a terrific story and will win the MAC, and post double digit wins on the season. That will make David Letterman and Jason Whitlock proud. TCU will have another undefeated regular season, but will be left out of the BCS National Championship game. Cincinnati will win the Big East Championship for a third straight season. Arizona will win the Pac 10 and head to the Rose Bowl. Ohio State will make a return trip to the Rose Bowl. USC will be better than last year, but will still not be as dominate as they once were. Baylor and Northwestern will meet in a bowl game, with Baylor coming out on top in a thriller. And in the ultimate FU move Nebraska will end its final season in the Big 12 winning the Big 12 Championship. Below are my Top 25, my predictions of records for all Division I teams, my bowl predictions, my award predictions, and my First Team All American predictions. Enjoy!

Top 25

1.) Boise State


2.) Iowa

3.) Alabama

4.) TCU

5.) Ohio State

6.) Florida

7.) Texas

8.) Utah

9.) Florida State

10.) Nebraska

11.) Pittsburgh

12.) LSU

13.) Wisconsin

14.) Arizona

15.) North Carolina

16.) West Virginia

17.) Ball State

18.) BYU

19.) Stanford

20.) Miami

21.) USC

22.) Houston

23.) Oklahoma

24.) Virginia Tech

25.) Cincinnati
 
 

Iowa will have even a better team than last year's team that won the Orange Bowl.

 
 
 
 

Conference Predictions

 
SEC West


Alabama 13-1 (8-1)

Auburn 9-4 (5-3)

Arkansas 9-4 (5-3)

LSU 10-3 (5-3)

Ole Miss 9-4 (4-4)

Mississippi State 5-7 (2-6)



SEC East

Florida 12-2 (7-2)

Georgia 9-4 (4-4)

Tennessee 7-6 (4-4)

Kentucky 7-6 (4-4)

South Carolina 5-7 (2-6)

Vanderbilt 3-9 (0-8)



SEC Championship: Alabama 27 Florida 17



Big Ten

Iowa 12-1 (8-0)

Ohio State 11-2 (6-2)

Wisconsin 10-3 (5-3)

Penn State 8-5 (5-3)

Michigan State 8-5 (4-4)

Purdue 7-6 (4-4)

Michigan 8-5 (3-5)

Northwestern 6-7 (3-5)

Minnesota 6-7 (3-5)

Indiana 6-6 (2-6)

Illinois 4-8 (1-7)



Big 12 South

Oklahoma 10-4 (7-2)

Texas 11-2 (6-2)

Texas A&M 9-4 (5-3)

Oklahoma State 8-5 (4-4)

Texas Tech 7-6 (3-5)

Baylor 7-6 (3-5)



Big 12 South

Nebraska 11-3 (7-2)

Missouri 8-5 (4-4)

Colorado 7-6 (4-4)

Kansas 6-6 (3-5)

Kansas State 5-7 (2-6)

Iowa State 2-10 (0-8)



Big 12 Championship: Nebraska 20 Oklahoma 16



ACC Coastal

Virginia Tech 10-4 (7-2)

North Carolina 10-3 (6-2)

Miami 9-4 (6-2)

Georgia Tech 8-5 (5-3)

Duke 4-8 (2-6)

Virginia 4-8 (1-7)



ACC Atlantic

Florida State 11-3 (7-2)

Clemson 8-5 (4-4)

Boston College 7-6 (4-4)

North Carolina State 8-5 (4-4)

Wake Forest 4-8 (2-6)

Maryland 4-8 (2-6)



ACC Championship: Florida State 27 Virginia Tech 23



PAC 10

Arizona 10-3 (8-1)

USC 10-3 (6-3)

Stanford 9-4 (6-3)

Oregon State 8-5 (6-3)

Washington 7-6 (6-3)

Oregon 8-5 (5-4)

California 7-6 (4-5)

UCLA 5-7 (3-6)

Arizona State 4-8 (2-7)

Washington State 1-11 (0-9)



Big East

Cincinnati 10-3 (7-0)

Pittsburgh 11-2 (6-1)

West Virginia 10-3 (5-2)

Rutgers 7-5 (3-4)

South Florida 7-6 (3-4)

UCONN 6-7 (3-4)

Syracuse 5-7 (2-5)

Louisville 3-9 (0-7)



Mountain West

TCU 12-1 (8-0)

Utah 12-1 (7-1)

BYU 10-3 (6-2)

Wyoming 7-6 (5-3)

Air Force 7-6 (4-4)

San Diego State 6-7 (3-5)

UNLV 4-8 (2-6)

Colorado State 2-10 (1-7)

New Mexico 2-10 (0-8)



Conference USA West

Houston 10-4 (8-1)

SMU 8-5 (6-2)

Tulsa 7-6 (4-4)

UTEP 6-6 (4-4)

Tulane 3-9 (1-7)

Rice 1-11 (1-7)



Conference USA East

Central Florida 8-6 (7-2)

East Carolina 7-6 (6-2)

Southern Mississippi 6-6 (4-4)

Marshall 6-7 (4-4)

UAB 5-7 (3-5)

Memphis 3-9 (1-7)



Conference USA Championship: Houston 44 Central Florida 34



WAC

Boise State 13-0 (8-0)

Nevada 10-4 (7-1)

Fresno State 8-5 (5-3)

Hawaii 8-6 (5-3)

Idaho 8-6 (3-5)

Louisiana Tech 4-8 (3-5)

San Jose State 4-9 (2-6)

Utah State 3-9 (2-6)

New Mexico State 0-12 (0-8)



Independents

Navy 10-3

Notre Dame 7-6

Army 4-8



MAC East

Temple 9-5 (6-3)

Ohio 7-6 (5-3)

Bowling Green 6-6 (4-4)

Miami of Ohio 4-8 (4-4)

Buffalo 5-7 (3-5)

Kent State 4-8 (3-5)

Akron 2-10 (1-7)



MAC West

Ball State 11-3 (8-1)

Western Michigan 7-5 (6-2)

Northern Illinois 6-6 (4-4)

Central Michigan 4-8 (3-5)

Toledo 3-9 (3-5)

Eastern Michigan 0-12 (0-8)



MAC Championship: Ball State 30 Temple 17



SUN Belt

Middle Tennessee 9-4 (8-0)

Florida Atlantic 6-7 (6-2)

Troy 6-6 (6-2)

Arkansas State 5-7 (4-4)

North Texas 4-8 (3-5)

Louisiana 3-9 (3-5)

FIU 3-9 (3-5)

ULM 2-10 (1-7)

Western Kentucky 1-11 (1-7)

Bowl Predictions

Citi BCS National Championship Game Jan. 10 8:00 ESPN: Boise State 24 Iowa 20

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Jan. 9 9:00 ESPN: Oregon 34 Nevada 20

Papajohns.com Bowl Jan. 8 12:00 ESPN: Kentucky 27 UCONN 21

AT&T Cotton Bowl Jan. 7 8:00 FOX: Texas 34 Arkansas 24

GMAC Bowl Jan. 6 8:00 ESPN: Temple 23 Florida Atlantic 16

Allstate Sugar Bowl Jan. 4 8:00 ESPN: Alabama 24 TCU 23

Orange Bowl Jan. 3 8:00 ESPN: Florida State 34 Cincinnati 17

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Jan. 1 8:00 ESPN: Florida 27 Nebraska 20

Rose Bowl Jan. 1 4:30 ABC: Ohio State 30 Arizona 22

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl Jan. 1 1:30 CBS: Ole Miss 26 Michigan State 20

Capital One Bowl Jan. 1 1:00 ABC: Wisconsin 30 Auburn 23

Outback Bowl Jan. 1 1:00 ESPN: Georgia 27 Penn State 21

Dallas Football Classic Jan. 1 12:00 ESPNU: Baylor 37 Northwestern 34

Chick-Fil-A Bowl Dec. 31 8:00 ESPN: LSU 33 Virginia Tech 24

Liberty Bowl Dec. 31 3:30 ESPN: Houston 38 Missouri 24

Hyundai Sun Bowl Dec. 31 2:00 CBS: Miami 31 Washington 30

Meineke Car Care Bowl Dec. 31 12:00 ESPN: Pittsburgh 17 Georgia Tech 13

Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl Dec. 30 10:00 ESPN: Oregon State 31 Oklahoma 23

Franklin American Mortgage Mortgage Music City Bowl Dec. 30 6:40 ESPN: Clemson 30 Tennessee 13

New Era Pinstripe Bowl Dec. 30 3:20 ESPN: West Virginia 27 Texas Tech 23

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Dec. 30 12:00 ESPN: Air Force 44 Central Florida 41

Valero Alamo Bowl Dec. 29 9:15 ESPN: Stanford 27 Oklahoma State 22

Texas Bowl Dec. 29 6:00 ESPN: Michigan 28 Colorado 27

EagleBank Bowl Dec. 29 2:30 ESPN: SMU 38 Boston College 30

Insight Bowl Dec. 28 10:00 ESPN: Texas A&M 31 Purdue 17

Champs Sports Bowl Dec. 28 6:30 ESPN: North Carolina 20 Notre Dame 17

AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl Dec. 27 5:00 ESPN: North Carolina State 34 Wyoming 10

Little Caesars Bowl Dec. 26 8:30 ESPN: Ball State 33 Minnesota 30

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Dec. 24 8:00 ESPN: Hawaii 34 Tulsa 27

S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl Dec. 23 8:00 ESPN: BYU 33 Navy 27

MAACO Las Vegas Bowl Dec. 22 8:00 ESPN: Utah 33 California 20

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s St. Petersburg Bowl Dec. 21 8:00 ESPN: South Florida 42 Marshall 20

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Dec. 18 9:00 ESPN: East Carolina 31 Middle Tennessee 27

uDrove Humanitarian Bowl Dec. 18 5:30 ESPN: Idaho 38 Ohio 34

New Mexico Bowl Dec. 18 2:00 ESPN: Fresno State 44 San Diego State 37

College Football Awards

Heisman Trophy

Winner: QB Kellen Moore Boise State

2.) QB Terrelle Pryor Ohio State

3.) RB Mark Ingram Alabama

4.) QB Christian Ponder Florida State



Outland Trophy: DT Jared Crick Nebraska

Nagurski Trophy: DE Adrian Clayborn Iowa

Groza Award: K Blair Walsh Georgia

O’Brien Award: QB Christian Ponder Florida State

Mackey Award: TE Kyle Rudolph Notre Dame

Biletnikoff Award: WR A.J. Green Georgia

Maxwell Award: QB Kellen Moore Boise State

AP Coach of the Year: Chris Petersen Boise State

Kellen Moore will walk away with the Heisman Trophy.

1st Team All-American Offense

QB: Kellen Moore Boise State

RB: Mark Ingram Alabama

RB: Dion Lewis Pittsburgh

WR: A.J. Green Georgia

WR: Julio Jones Alabama

WR: Austin Pettis Boise State

TE: Kyle Rudolph Notre Dame

C: Colin Baxter Arizona

G: Justin Boren Ohio State

G: Rodney Hudson Florida State

T: Marcus Cannon TCU

T: Anthony Castonzo Boston College

1st Team All-American Defense

DE: Robert Quinn North Carolina

DT: Jared Crick Nebraska

DT: Jurrell Casey USC

DE: Adrian Clayborn Iowa

LB: Bruce Carter North Carolina

LB: Don’t’a Hightower Alabama

LB: Mark Herzlich Boston College

LB: Nigel Bradham Florida State

CB: Patrick Peterson LSU

CB: Brandyn Thompson Boise State

S: Tyler Sash Iowa

S: Blake Gideon Texas

1st Team All-American Special Teams

K: Blair Walsh Georgia

KR: T.Y. Hilton F.I.U.

P: Ryan Donahue Iowa

PR: Greg Reid Florida State

Mark Herzlich will have an All-American type year after returning from battling cancer.

Kofod

Football Talk and Sports in Vegas

I like Rex Ryan. I like a coach who is willing to have a personality and have confidence. But even I thought Ryan and Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum went too far to make light of the Revis contract situation on the first episode of Hard Knocks. Ryan joked about looking for Revis in his room, and on the practice talking about how Revis should be out there with the rest of the team. For once Rex needs to shut up. Contrary to what Colin Cowherd may think Revis holds all the cards in this contract situation, and the Jets defense will be nowhere near as good without Revis. Antonio Cromartie is good, but he’s no Revis. Rex good luck blitzing every down with no Revis on the field. The Jets management needs to suck it up, and pay Revis his money. He is the best defensive player in the league in my opinion. Pay him so you can play him!


Does anyone think Brett Favre will not be playing on Thursday September 9th against the Saints? Of course he will!

The NCAA has played “bad ass” this summer cracking down on USC, North Carolina, and South Carolina. I’m fine with this. Keep agents out as much as possible. But I don’t agree with Nick Saban shielding NFL scouts from his Alabama practices. Saban will recruit players on getting them to the NFL. Don’t be a hypocrite Saban!

If Ryan Fitzpatrick is not named the starting quarterback when the Bills season starts then he should be cut. There is no point in keeping him on as a backup. We know who Ryan Fitzpatrick is. He is a journey man quarterback. That’s it. At least let Trent Edwards, Brian Brohm, and Levi Brown battle it out through the season, and maybe one of them can find magic. If not then find a QB in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Speaking of Trent Edwards how bad did he look in the preseason game? Did anyone look good for that matter? It was an awful display. C.J. Spiller had a 12 yard run. Ok. David Nelson caught a TD pass. Alright. But other than that OH MY GOD did the Bills look bad. And I’m sorry I don’t want to hear the excuse “well it was just a preseason game, and the first one at that.” No! That’s a terrible excuse. Every other NFL team has looked NORMAL so far this preseason. Donovan McNabb looked like a good QB for the Redskins. Jimmy Clausen made a few nice throws for Carolina. Andre Johnson caught another TD for the Texans. This Bills team is just awful. The players, the coaches, the organization, everyone. Chan Gailey looked like a bumbling Mr.Magoo with his glasses far down his nose. What coach looks like that? We just aren’t normal. The over/under at all the Vegas Strip Sports books for the Bills wins was 5. Anyone who takes the over is an idiot! This team will be lucky to win 4 games!

Alright speaking of Vegas Strip, here are some sports thoughts on my experience in Vegas. For one thing anytime I told someone whether it’d be a bartender, cab driver, or just any random person that I was from Buffalo they would give me a look of disappointment. When the talk of the Bills came up, no matter what age group it was, Wide Right from Super Bowl XXV was one of the first topics of conversation. Followed by how great Jim Kelly, and Bruce Smith were. One guy I talked to mentioned he was a Raiders fan, back from the days when they were the Los Angeles Raiders. I told him we fans in Buffalo are terrified that the Bills will one day move to Toronto or Los Angeles. He said the Los Angeles does not deserve the Bills. He said he remembered going to a half filled LA Colosseum when the Raiders were good. He said they should either move the Jaguars or Chargers to LA, or give LA an expansion team. I agreed. LA is the 2nd biggest market in the U.S. they should have a NFL team. Just not the Bills.

The sports books in Las Vegas are amazing. Caesars Palace, and MGM Grand had really nice ones. New York New York, and Paris had smaller cozier ones. But by far the best one was the Hilton Sports Book. Prior to my trip to Vegas I exchanged emails with the top Vegas Insider for ESPN.com Chad Milliman. He told me the Hilton Sports Book was the best and he could not have been more right. It’s twice the size of Caesars or any other sports book. Huge big screens all around, plenty of betting windows, comfortable seats, and desks with little personal televisions with all the games on. Now there was barely anybody there because it was baseball season. By the way I won 6 out of 8 games betting on baseball which made me very happy. I don’t even really like baseball haha! But I sat watched games, got free drinks with me just giving a nice tip here and there, and could watch whatever games I wanted to watch. Now I can only imagine what the Hilton Sports Book, or any other sports book would be like during a NFL Sunday, or the NCAA Basketball Tournament. It has to be crazy! If I ever go back to Vegas again someday I should try to go during one of those times just to see what it is like.

The Hilton Sports Book was amazing!

Finally if you are in Las Vegas long enough you are bound to meet a celebrity. Now I went to see comedian Frank Caliendo who works on FOX NFL Sunday, but that does not count because I paid to see his show. But sure enough by the end of my week in Vegas I met a celebrity. Pete Rose. He was signing autographs at a sports memorabilia shop at Caesars Palace. I knew I would have to pay to get his autograph. The cheapest thing available was for him to autograph his book on admitting to bet on baseball for $85. Now look Pete Rose is a living sports legend. Whether you like him or not that is a fact. But I wasn’t going to pay $85 for him to sign his crappy book. For other sports legends sure. Bobby Bowden. I would have cashed out my account for him. Joe Montana who was scheduled to sign there the next week. Yeah I would pay $85 for him to sign a book. But not Pete Rose a man who bet on baseball and lied about it for over a decade.

So as I left the store I took a couple of pictures of Rose. Literally no other customers were in there. Finally, he looked at me and asked my name. I told him my name was Andrew. He asked me where I was from. I said Buffalo. He asked me have I been to Las Vegas before and I said no that it was my first time. We then talked about how nice Vegas is, and that Buffalo is a good city. I asked him about this year’s Cincinnati Reds team and if he thought they had a shot. He said if they can keep up their pitching than they definitely had a shot. This conversation lasted about 2 minutes. Then I said goodbye and “have a nice day Mr. Rose.” He may have been nice to me only to try to get me to sign an autograph. But either way a living sports legend was nice enough to talk to shoot the breeze with me for a couple of minutes. Does this change my opinion on Pete Rose? No I still don’t think he belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame. But he is the all time hits leader, made the All Century Team in 1999, and is one of the greatest baseball players ever. I mean come on he’s Charlie Hustle! So it was pretty cool he talked to me for a couple of minutes. I just wished I had asked him what he was planning on doing the rest of his time in Vegas. Or if he still uses Aqua Velva haha?

Pete Rose turned out to be a very nice guy to talk to.

One last thought on Las Vegas. There are so many different “themed” hotels and casinos everywhere. Want to go to Rome? Then head to Caesars Palace. Feeling France? The go to Paris Las Vegas. New York City is your thing? Then head to New York New York. Egypt? The Mandalay Bay is for you. Want a circus show? Then go to Circus Circus where I stayed. So Vegas has all these themed hotels on the strip. Yet there is always room for more. So here is my idea for a hotel/casino on the Vegas Strip. A 100% sports themed casino/hotel. Think about it. You could design it after the most famous sports buildings of all time. Have a wall of the exact replica of The Green Monster. Have a brick wall around the hotel with ivy on it like the outfield wall at Wrigley Field. Have statues of the most famous athletes ever all around, MJ, Babe, Jackie Robinson, Gretzky, and Ali. Have a huge video screen up so when people drive by they see a game on it, or famous highlights. Have the slot machines all be sports themes. Have a show about sports. Put an arena there for MMA and boxing matches. Guarantee a match every week. Have former athletes come for a fee to sign autographs. Have shops dedicated to one sport. A NHL shop, a NFL shop, a NBA shop, a MLB shop, tennis shop, NCAA shop, etc. Have former athletes who lost all their money, like Scottie Pippen who lost over $120 million, work there. Pay them well, and chances are they’ll give it all back in gambling and what not. Imagine Mike Tyson as a bouncer at the top club at the 100% sports book casino/hotel? That would be awesome! Make your sports book bigger and better than the Hilton Sports Book. So if I go to this hotel, on any given week, I’m guaranteed some type of athletic match, an autograph session from a famous athlete, the best sports book in town, and whatever my favorite team or sport is I know they will have a shop for it. Tell me this would not sell?! Tell me guys would not pay big bucks to stay in the Larry Bird suite, with Larry Bird stuff all around the hotel room suite?! Of course they would. Some billionaire should bank on this idea!

Kofod

Classic Game of the Week August 12th

I have done Music Video of the Week for a while now. Well I thought of another weekly feature. Classic Game of the Week. Each week now I will go to Youtube, or Hulu to find a classic game from a sport to show. Sometimes everyone will know what the game was, and sometimes people may have no idea what the game was. This week's first version is more than likely the latter for most. In Week 4 of the 1997 Season Jim Harbaugh and the Indianapolis Colts went to Buffalo, to play Todd Collins and the Bills. The Colts were up 26-0 in the 2nd Quarter when Buffalo made it's comeback. Buffalo WR Quinn Early had a career day for the Bills. RB Antowain Smith had a great game for the Bills too. Up 30-29 with a little over a minute to play Smith burst through a hole and went over 50 yards for a TD to put the Bills up 37-29. In classic Buffalo fashion he gave the Colts life, when they would have lost for sure had he done a "Brian Westbrook" and not scored a TD. Well the Colts scored a TD to cut it to 37-35, but then missed the 2 point conversion. The Colts still had one last chance after recovering the onside kick, but a Hail Mary in the final seconds went incomplete. Here is The "Forgotten" Comeback Game. One thing of note also is Jim Kelly doing the color commentary for NBC!



Kofod

Music Video of the Week August 12th

It's been a while since any blog posts have been up. So let's start with a music video of the week. I'll go with Eminem and Rihanna's Love The Way You Lie featuring Megan Fox and Charlie from LOST in the video. I don't know how anyone could not like this music video.



Kofod