College Football -- Week 13

I intend to keep this short. Like I said, intend. Oregon lost control of its chances. I should put up a posting on the blog about teams that were in control in November and lost. 2001 has nearly a half-dozen. Sadly, my Blue Devils were dominated by Notre Dame. I'm speechless as to how lousy the Devils were with the ball. Carolina is the week, which can fix the season. If not, basketball season has already begun. In the big game of the week, Ohio State controlled nearly the entire game in Ann Arbor.

Hawaii continued to infuriate me by barely surviving against a lousy Nevada team. I hope Boise annihilates Hawaii this week. We may be "stuck" with a WAC team in the BCS, but I'll take the Broncos over the Warriors any day. Alex's Rockets did not do well against Ball State. But all can be forgiven by winning the Peace Pipe against the BuGS this week. The media fawned over Tim Tebow's performance against Florida Atlantic. While there are lots of great things to talk about that kid, beating up FAU isn't one of them. Connecticut and West Virginia have set up a de facto Big East Championship Game (much like the Big Ten did). Thus, it looks like every major conference but the Pac-10 has one this year. Bauer's 'Cats stunk against Illinois and probably will not be bowling at 6-6. If only they had beaten a team from Durham. Georgia finished its SEC season. They need Tennessee to lose to UK to get to Atlanta. LSU would much rather fight UT than UGa. So, go 'Cats.

Missouri finished tuning up for the Big 12 North Championship game this week in KC. Kansas did as well. Miami University clinched a spot in the MAC title game against CMU. Tennessee needed a miracle comeback versus Vandy. It was a shame. LSU was less than dominant against Mississippi. Wisconsin struggled with Minnesota and illustrated how bad the top of the Big Ten is. Miami couldn't do anything right against Virginia Tech. Cal's slide continued with a loss in Seattle. Wake, a very unappealing bowl choice, got its 7th win to ensure a bowl bid. Oregon State looked excellent at Wazzu. With Dixon done for the season (one tough hombre playing on a torn ACL), I'm hoping that the Beavs can give USC Rose Bowl control with a win in the Civil War. The Bruins can do that this week though.


0 losses: #2 Kansas (1)

1 loss: #1 Louisiana State (#28 Kentucky), #3 West Virginia (#23 South Florida), #4 Missouri (#10 Oklahoma), #5 Ohio State (#17 Illinois), #6 Arizona State (#9 Oregon) (5)
And "#15" Hawaii doesn't count when its wins are #42, #85, #87, #100, #106, #112, #116, #118, and two FCS schools.
I have a horrible suspicion that everyone is going to lose, and Ohio State will get in just by virtue of taking the last two weeks off. Peacking order is (1) LSU, (2) KU/MU, (3) WVU, (4) ASU, and (5) tOSU as I see it today. The championship races are pretty simple now, with the exception of the Big 12 South. (I won't complain much though.)

ACC (Orange Bowl)

Boston College (5-2): Win the ACC Championship Game (Miami, vs. Virginia or Virginia Tech at Jacksonville)

Virginia (6-1): Win out (Virginia Tech, vs. Boston College at Jacksonville)
Virginia Tech (6-1): Win out (at Virginia, vs. Boston College at Jacksonville)
Big 12 (Fiesta Bowl)
Kansas (7-0): Beat Missouri and win in the Big 12 Championship Game (Missouri at Kansas City, vs. Oklahoma or Texas at San Antonio)
Missouri (6-1): Win out (at Kansas at Kansas City, vs. Oklahoma or Texas at San Antonio)
Oklahoma (5-2): Win out OR a Texas loss and then win in the Big 12 Championship Game (Oklahoma State, vs. Kansas or Missouri at San Antonio)

One-loss North teams needing help: None
Two-loss South teams needing help: Texas (5-2, one Oklahoma loss)
Big East (At-large)
Connecticut (5-1): Beat West Virginia (at West Virginia, Bye)

West Virginia (4-1): Beat Connecticut (Connecticut, Pittsburgh)

Two-loss teams needing help: None

Big Ten (Rose Bowl)
Ohio State (7-1): Going to Pasadena or New Orleans (Bye, Bye, Rose Bowl or BCS National Championship Game)
Pacific-10 (Rose Bowl)
Arizona State (6-1): Win out (Southern California, Arizona)

Two-loss teams needing help: Oregon (5-2, one Arizona State loss), Southern California (5-2, one Oregon loss)

Southeastern (Sugar Bowl)
Tennessee (5-2): Win out (at Kentucky, vs. Louisiana State at Atlanta)
Louisiana State (6-1): Win the SEC Championship Game (Arkansas, vs. Tennessee or Georgia at Atlanta)

Two-loss East teams needing help: Georgia (6-2, one loss by Tennessee)

This week, I will celebrate Thanksgiving with my family by watching ASU-USC. If you need a place to watch, my door is open. Friday gives us a full day. Nebraska and Colorado will be shoved down our throats. LSU goes for that silly boot versus the Hogs. Texas A&M can make the Big 12 race very interesting by upsetting a mediocre Texas team (whom Scott Wolfe votes #4 in the country). Boise and Hawaii go at night, and the Egg Bowl is on GamePlan. Not to mention, there is the Peace Pipe on ESPNU.

Saturday gives us a Miami-BC game. The Eagles are only playing for a better bowl and respect. Miami just wants to salvage the season. (Jerry, it's in HD, so you probably want to watch elsewhere.) The Virginias play for a trip to lovely Jacksonville. Tennessee can clinch a trip to Atlanta. I pray they don't. The Holy War is supposedly on all three MWC outlets at once. I am unsure what that means, but I will pop open a beer, have a shot of liquor, drink some caffeine, swear, try to have sex with a woman other than my wife (like that would happen), light up a cigarette, and use everyday underwear instead of the magic variety to celebrate.

The afternoon gives LA UO-UCLA. A Bruin upset is very good for USC, so don't root against UCLA too hard. UConn and WVU will clinch a BCS berth. I expect WVU to go to the Orange Bowl and UConn to the Sugar Bowl if either wins as of right now. (If Hawaii is in the mix, it becomes harder to guess on UConn.) Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate will also be available from Georgia. The Irish end the dream season in Palo Alto. Bedlam will happen in Oklahoma too. Duke and Carolina will be on ESPNU giving me hope before making me angry. I am unsure what game we will get on ESPN. It could be K State-Fresno or UConn-WVU. I'm hoping for the latter.

At night, the Floridas go in a game that means little nationally. Clemson and South Carolina battle for control of the most fucked up state that I've actually been to. The Shula Bowl is on GamePlan. The Apple Bowl is a week ahead of the rest of Pac-10 rivalry week. And nationally, the Border War/Showdown between KU and MU will captivate the nation. Will Kansas be unable to step up after playing nobody? Will Mizzou get some respect? Will the winner find a way to lose next week to Oklahoma/Texas? Will Kansas regret moving this game to Kansas City and out of Lawrence forever? How could I talk more about this than Alabama, post-9/11 and post-Pearl Harbor after losing to ULM, versus Auburn? Oh yes, because this is important and nobody outside of Alabama cares.

Apologizes for neglecting lines last week. No one complained. I doubt most people besides Kevin and Alex get to this point in the email.

Happy Thanksgiving. Only one week let.

Available Games

Tuesday, November 20
4:00 -- Middle Tennessee at Troy (-13) (ESPN2 HD)

Thursday, November 22
*5:00 -- #11 Southern California at #7 Arizona State (+3) (ESPN HD)

Friday, November 23
8:00 -- Central Michigan at Akron (+2.5) (ESPNU)
9:00 -- Nebraska at Colorado (-4.5) (ABC HD)
10:00 -- Mississippi at Mississippi State (-6.5) (LFS/ESPN GamePlan)
11:30 -- Arkansas at #1 Louisiana State (-12.5 ) (CBS HD)
*11:30 -- Toledo at Bowling Green (-6.5) (ESPNU)
*12:30 -- #13 Texas at Texas A&M (+5.5) (ABC HD)
*6:00 -- #17 Boise State at #14 Hawaii (-3.5) (ESPN2 HD)

Saturday, November 24
*9:00 -- #8 Virginia Tech at #16 Virginia (+3.5) (ESPN HD)
9:00 -- Miami (Florida) at #15 Boston College (- 14.5) (ESPN2 HD)
9:00 -- South Florida at Pittsburgh (+10.5) (ESPN GamePlan/ESPN Plus)
9:00 -- Maryland at North Carolina State (-2) (ESPN GamePlan/LFS)
*10:30 -- #19 Tennessee at Kentucky (-3) (CBS HD)
*11:00 -- Utah at Brigham Young (- 4.5) (Versus/CSTV/the mtn.)
11:00 -- Miami (Ohio) at Ohio (-2.5) (ESPN GamePlan/GTN)
*12:30 -- #9 Oregon at UCLA (+2) (ABC/ESPN GamePlan)
12:30 -- #6 Georgia at Georgia Tech (+3.5) (ESPN GamePlan/ABC HD/ESPN HD)
*12:30 -- #20 Connecticut at #3 West Virginia (-17) (ESPN GamePlan/ABC HD/ESPN HD)
12:30 -- Kansas State at Fresno State (-1) (ESPN/ESPN GamePlan)
12:30 -- Notre Dame at Stanford (-3.5) (ESPN2 HD)
12:30 -- Oklahoma State at #10 Oklahoma (-11.5) (FSN HD)
*****12:30 -- Duke at North Carolina (-14) (ESPNU)
1:00 -- Nevada at San Jose State (+3) (ESPN GamePlan/KAMA/Comcast SportsNet West)
*2:00 -- Florida State at #12 Florida (-14) (CBS HD)
*4:00 -- #21 Clemson at South Carolina (+2.5) (ESPN2 HD)
*4:00 -- Washington State at Washington (-5.5) (FSN HD)
*4:00 -- Florida Atlantic at Florida International (+11.5) (ESPN GamePlan/ESPN Plus)
4:15 -- #23 Cincinnati at Syracuse (+20) (ESPNU)
*5:00 -- Missouri at Kansas (-2.5) at Kansas City (ABC HD)
*5:00 -- Alabama at #25 Auburn (-6) (ESPN HD)

Unavailable Games

Friday, November 23
11:00 -- Wyoming at Colorado State (-3.5) (the mtn.)

Saturday, November 24
10:00 -- Tulane at East Carolina (-12) (MASN)
11:00 -- Southern Methodist at Memphis (-7.5) (KTXA/WLMT)
12:30 -- Utah State at Idaho (-2.5) (Altitude)
1:00 -- Ball State at Northern Illinois (+9) (Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Comcast Local)
1:30 -- Alabama-Birmingham at Marshall (-14.5) (WOWK)
2:30 -- Nevada-Las Vegas at New Mexico (- 10.5) (the mtn.)

Games Not on TV

Saturday, November 24
10:00 -- Buffalo at Kent State (0)
11:00 -- Temple at Western Michigan (-11)
11:00 -- Wake Forest at Vanderbilt (+1.5)
11:00 -- Texas-El Paso at Central Florida (-19)
12:00 -- Tulsa at Rice (+11)
12:00 -- Arkansas State at Southern Mississippi (-14)
12:30 -- Texas Southern at Houston (Shame on the Cougars)
1:00 -- Western Kentucky at North Texas (NL)
4:00 -- Louisiana-Monroe at Louisiana-Lafayette (+2.5)
5:00 -- Texas Christian at San Diego State (+11)

Open Dates: Iowa State, Baylor, Texas Tech, Louisville, Rutgers, #18 Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, #5 Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, #22 Wisconsin, Eastern Michigan, Air Force, Arizona, California, Oregon State, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, Army, and Navy.