Seattle Seahawks San Diego Chargers St. Louis Rams Oakland Raiders Kansas City Chiefs Ben Graham
2010年11月30日火曜日
Ponder says elbow not an issue
Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder had to have fluid drained from his elbow again following the win over Florida, but he said on Monday it shouldn't be a hindrance against Virginia Tech in the Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game on Saturday. "I don't think it will be an issue," Ponder said. "I think the biggest thing was just getting that fluid out so I can practice all week. I feel a lot better. It was hurting a little bit after the game. It was definitely swollen. They got it out. I feel pretty good now."
Ponder said it doesn't usually swell up until the end of the game, and that his adrenaline keeps him from feeling much pain, if any. The key, he said, will be trying to avoid getting hit on his elbow.
"It's football, so that's pretty much impossible to do," he said. "I'll wear some padding on there and wear some sleeves to hopefully keep it from swelling up too bad."
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/34191/ponder-says-elbow-not-an-issue
San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks San Diego Chargers St. Louis Rams Oakland Raiders Kansas City Chiefs
Why Stanford is better than your team
Stanford is better than your team because it's got a better quarterback than your team. Stanford is better than your team because your team hasn't shut out three BCS conference opponents this year. Stanford is better than your team because its offensive line would make your defensive front cry uncle. Stanford is better than your team because it's ranked eighth in the nation in scoring offense and 11th in scoring defense, and no other BCS conference team can match that. And, finally, Stanford is better than your team because its coach can kick your coach's butt.
Stanford is 11-1 playing against the nation's eighth toughest schedule in the nation's toughest conference, according to the highly respected Sagarin Ratings. Its only loss came at Oregon, which is No. 1 in all the major polls and No. 2 in the BCS standings.
Ewwww. Yuck. Heads just exploded everywhere outside the West Coast.
Are we being intentionally provocative and just a bit disingenuous? Yes. Why? Because those who follow Pac-10 football get to be provocative and disingenuous at this time every year because you get so much lunkheaded and disingenuous analysis that questions the quality of the nation's toughest conference.
No, we are not saying the Pac-10 is the nation's "best" conference. It's the toughest because it plays by different rules, and Stanford's stunning success playing by those rules sets it apart.
- The Pac-10 plays nine conference games, which no other conference does. That means five more defeats are guaranteed to be scattered throughout the conference every season, thereby making it a mathematical fact that it's more difficult to become bowl eligible in the Pac-10 than any other conference.
- The Pac-10 plays the most challenging nonconference schedule among the BCS conferences. Not only has it played six top-17 teams in the current BCS standings, it played five of them all on the road. And that list doesn't include Iowa, Texas, Notre Dame, Tennessee and BYU.
That combination of nine conference games and tough nonconference scheduling also leads to this: No Pac-10 team played fewer than five road games this year. Seven played six -- including Oregon and Stanford -- and USC played seven.
Contrast that with other top-10 BCS programs: Auburn (four road games), Wisconsin (five), Ohio State (four), Arkansas (four), Michigan State (four), Oklahoma (five) and LSU (four).
If you don't believe playing two fewer road games a season is a huge advantage, you know nothing about college football.
This is a long setup to this: Stanford critics point out it has only beaten three teams with a winning record. That sounds like a meaningful critique. But again reference the bullet points above.
Then consider this: There are 19 other bowl-eligible BCS conference teams that are 6-6 or 7-5. How many would not be bowl eligible if they played an extra conference game, another road game (or two), one fewer nonconference patsy and one more tough nonconference game?
Arizona State likely will finish tied for seventh in the Pac-10 if it loses Thursday at Arizona. Yet the Sun Devils were good enough to push Wisconsin to the brink before losing 20-19 on the road.
UCLA will finish ninth in the conference if it loses to USC on Saturday. Yet the Bruins were good enough to beat Texas and Houston. Sure, those teams fell well short of preseason expectations, but which team finishing second to last in a BCS conference has a better nonconference resume?
In other words, 5-7 in the Pac-10 is much different than it is in the Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and ACC. That's what the non-biased Sagarin Ratings take note of when it rates the Pac-10 ahead of other conferences.
And that's what Stanford emerged from -- with a 22.5-point average margin of victory.
Of course, proving the quality of Stanford is only part of the issue. Most who aren't blinded by fandom recognized early on that the Cardinal were an elite team. But it's also fair to say that the Cardinal is not an elite team in terms of attendance, which is why Stanford might not have received a BCS bowl berth if it hadn't climbed to No. 4 in the BCS standings, which earned it a guaranteed spot.
It's worth noting that Stanford fans turned out last year for the Sun Bowl, which set a stadium and game record with 53,713 fans in attendance.
But the Cardinal this year also has two of the biggest drawing cards in the country, for ticket sales and TV ratings: quarterback Andrew Luck and coach Jim Harbaugh. Those two will attract not only college football fans, but also NFL fans who are curious about the top-rated college quarterback and a coach who is on a lot of wish lists -- college and pro.
The honest truth is that we do not know if Stanford is better than your team. We just typed that to make you mad. Sorry.
What we do know is Stanford belongs. It has earned a berth in a BCS bowl game because it is an elite team.
And what we suspect is the Cardinal will have proven that when the bowl season ends.
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/34226/why-stanford-is-better-than-your-team
Tory Collins Brandon McRae Jermelle Cudjo James Farrior Fred Davis Peter Mayer
Eric Mangini hot-seat meter: Status quo
By the numbers, Panthers PK John Kasay was about a three-in-four shot to hit the 42-yard field goal that he bounced off the left upright as time expired Sunday at Cleveland, securing a 24-23 win for the Browns. Before his miss, he had connected on 114-of-151 attempts from between 40-and-49 yards, a 75.4 percent success rate. Moreover, he had hit 3-of-4 kicks from that very range on the very same field earlier in the game vs. the Browns.
The Browns were all-too-close to losing their third game in a row and falling to 3-8, and had that happened, there simply would have been a good deal less optimism surrounding this team as it readies for three consecutive road games, the first a meeting with 6-5 Miami on Sunday.
But the Browns escaped with a much-needed win, a triumph that props up their still-flickering playoff hopes and shields head coach Eric Mangini from too much criticism for the time being as we get ready to put a bow on November. The victory wasn't without its silver linings, most notably the continued excellent play of RB Peyton Hillis, who scored all three Cleveland touchdowns, rumbled for 131 yards rushing and racked up another 63 yards receiving.
However, the offense stalled after halftime, mustering just three points in the final 30 minutes. QB Jake Delhomme threw a pair of picks, including one returned for a TD. The defense surrendered 151 yards rushing and allowed Carolina to drive 71 yards in less than a minute to set up Kasay's game-winning field-goal attempt.
The Browns were fortunate he missed; the numbers tell us that. If they are reliant on such breaks going forward, they are going to have their hearts broken more often than not. They are capable of better play, and they will need to build off the victory vs. Carolina to succeed with away games at Miami, Buffalo and Cincinnati next on the schedule.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/11/29/eric-mangini-hot-seat-meter-status-quo
Nate Burleson Otto Graham Paul Brown Marion Motley Jim Brown Lou Groza
Andy Reid Reportedly Chews Out DeSean Jackson After Loss
Filed under: Eagles, NFC East, NFL Rumors
Eagles coach Andy Reid scolded wide receiver DeSean Jackson in front of the entire team following Philadelphia's 31-26 loss to Chicago Sunday, according to Geoff Mosher of The News Journal.Mosher reported that Jackson "had irritated Reid by having a loose demeanor before the game and not taking pregame drills seriously." The report also cited a play in the fourth quarter as a possible reason for Reid's frustration -- as the Eagles attempted to rally from a big deficit, Jackson short-armed a pass from Michael Vick, resulting in an incompletion.
Jackson, who finished the game with two catches for 26 yards, reportedly sat in front of his locker with his face buried in his hands for nearly 20 minutes while teammates consoled him.
Greg Couch: Bears Quietly Proving They're Among NFL's Best
Jerry Bonkowski: Vick Excels, but Mistakes Doom Eagles
Jerry Bonkowski: Vick Excels, but Mistakes Doom Eagles
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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/29/andy-reid-reportedly-chews-out-desean-jackson-after-loss/
Mike McCormack Frank Gatski Ozzie Newsome Joe DeLamielleure Gene Hickerson Joshua Cribbs
2010年11月29日月曜日
Chargers vs. Colts: Peyton Manning's San Diego Nightmare Continues
Filed under: Chargers, Colts, AFC South, AFC West
INDIANAPOLIS - Kevin Burnett and Eric Weddle each returned interceptions for touchdowns and the San Diego Chargers beat the Indianapolis Colts, 36-14, at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday night.
Burnett's 29-yard interception return gave the Chargers an early three-point lead they never relinquished and Weddle's 41-yarder keyed a huge second half for San Diego, which won its fourth consecutive game.
Peyton Manning threw two first-half touchdown passes as the Colts trailed, 16-14, at halftime.
The Colts' defense limited Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers much of the game, and didn't allow a San Diego offensive touchdown until the fourth quarter.
Indianapolis remains tied with Jacksonville for first place in the AFC South at 6-5, with the Jaguars losing to the New York Giants, 24-20, Sunday. San Diego also is 6-5, a game behind Kansas City in the AFC West.
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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/28/chargers-vs-colts-peyton-mannings-san-diego-nightmare-continu/
Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Buffalo Bills
Indiana makes a tough call, but right one
In a perfect world, college football's classiest coaches could also be the best ones. If so, Bill Lynch might be hoisting a crystal football in early January.
Instead, Lynch's Indiana Hoosiers players hoisted the Old Oaken Bucket on Saturday at Purdue. Indiana had ended a 12-game Big Ten losing streak and beaten its archrival on the road for the first time since 1996.
It was a great moment for Lynch and the Hoosiers, but that's all it was. A moment. Reality set in Sunday, as Indiana athletic director Fred Glass looked at the football program under Lynch's leadership through a wide-angle lens.
For all the good things that Glass saw -- and that so many of us see in Lynch -- the AD couldn't turn a blind eye to the number three.
As in, three Big Ten wins in the past three seasons.
Glass proceeded to make a bottom-line decision in a bottom-line business and fired Lynch on Sunday after the Hoosiers finished 5-7. It was the first major personnel move for Glass, and it likely will be one of the toughest choices of his career.
"I take no joy in this at all," Glass said at a news conference Sunday afternoon, "but I'm confident that it's the right thing to do."
Glass had three options with Lynch following Indiana's third consecutive bowl-less season:
- Extend Lynch's contract
- Allow Lynch to coach in the final year of his deal
- Make a change
"Three Big Ten wins in three years isn't the basis for an extension," Glass said.
You might remember Glass, after being hired, talked a lot about how contracts needed to be honored and needed to mean something again at Indiana. Some might view Sunday's decision as hypocritical because Lynch still had a year left on the extension he received in November 2007 after leading Indiana to its first bowl appearance in 14 seasons.
But in today's college football, a coach with one year left on his deal might as well have no years left. A coach can't recruit without some semblance of security, and going through a season as a potential lame duck would be tortuous.
"That wouldn't serve Bill or Indiana University very well," Glass said.
Glass made the right call Sunday, even though it was a tough one.
Lynch is the consummate gentleman, a total class act and an excellent representative for Indiana and its football program. His players stayed out of trouble for the most part, and he and his staff upgraded recruiting in recent years.
Lynch viewed Indiana like few coaches do -- as a destination job. He grew up in the state, starred as a player at Butler and coached at three in-state schools (Butler, Ball State and Depauw) before taking over at Indiana in 2007 following Terry Hoeppner's death.
But he didn't win enough, plain and simple. Especially in the Big Ten, where he went 6-26 with two last-place finishes in his four seasons. Indiana came so close so many times in league play, especially last season and also this year, but the Hoosiers couldn't get over the hump.
The Big Ten is a tough league that is about to get tougher in 2011 with the addition of Nebraska. Indiana needs a coach who can help the program take the next step. It will take time.
"Any change often results in one or two steps back," Glass said.
Glass called Lynch "a fabulous guy" and "a great teacher" and said several times how hard the decision was to make.
"It’s been really hard on me," he said. "But boo hoo for me. It’s part of being an athletic director. It’s my decision."
The next coach also will be Glass' decision, and he's willing to take his time to find the right man. Indiana won't use a search committee, although Glass will consult many people, including Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian, former Colts coach Tony Dungy and Chuck Neinas, who runs the Neinas Sports Services consulting firm.
Dungy, for the record, now is being used as a consultant for both Big Ten vacancies (Indiana and Minnesota).
Glass declined to outline the specifics he's looking for in Indiana's next coach but mentioned several times that he'll reach out to the Black Coaches Association. I'd be surprised if Indiana doesn't strongly consider some minority candidates in its search.
Some early possibilities for IU: San Diego State coach Brady Hoke, former Minnesota coach Glen Mason, Houston coach Kevin Sumlin, Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst and Michigan State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell.
Glass might not find many coaches who view Indiana as a dream job, as both Lynch and Hoeppner did. But Indiana certainly is a better job than it was several years ago, as the school has upgraded its stadium, its football training facilities and, perhaps most important, its home attendance.
“I think it's a fantastic job," Glass said. "Properly understood, it will be highly sought after. Indiana University is clearly committed to the football program."
Indiana can show its commitment by paying its next coach appropriately. Lynch made $650,000 this season, well below the bar for a coach from a major conference.
"We’re prepared to make the resources available to get the group that we want," Glass said, "and understand that it's probably going to be significantly more expensive than what we're spending now."
It takes tough decisions to become a better program. Indiana made one today.
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/34129/indiana-makes-a-tough-call-but-right-one
Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans
What we learned in the ACC: Week 13
In the final week of the regular season, the most is usually revealed: The Randy Shannon era is over. Hours after losing in overtime to South Florida, Miami announced that Shannon was fired, and a search for a new coach would begin immediately. Shannon was 28-22 in his four seasons at Miami, the Canes never finished better than second place in the Coastal Division and have yet to win a bowl game.
Florida State is state/Atlantic Division�champs. For the first time since 1999, FSU beat rivals Florida and Miami in the same season, and they're back in the ACC title game for the first time since 2005. The Noles snapped their six-game losing streak to Florida, beating the Gators for the first time since 2003. FSU is the only ranked team in the state. The first step to returning to national prominence is owning the state, and FSU was able to do that this year. According to ESPN’s Stats & Information, Jimbo Fisher became the first head coach at Florida State in the past 50 years to beat Florida in his first try.
It is possible to go undefeated in the ACC. Virginia Tech is proof, as the Hokies became the first team in the ACC to finish the conference schedule undefeated since Florida State in 2000. According to ESPN’s Stats & Info, that was by far the longest drought without an undefeated team of any conference in the FBS. After their 0-2 start, the Hokies reeled off 10 straight wins for their seventh straight 10-win season. In order for the ACC to produce a national title contender, it has to have a team capable of going undefeated in conference play. Virginia Tech gave the league hope for both in the future.
Wake Forest still has a pulse. The Deacs snapped a nine-game losing streak with their win over Vanderbilt, and now have something positive to build off of heading into the offseason. Wake had the longest active losing streak in the FBS, but put a stop to it by winning the turnover battle, making plays on special teams, and running the ball.
The ACC nonconference record still needs work. The ACC is no longer winless against the SEC this year, but it maxed out at two wins. The ACC entered the final weekend of the regular season 0-3 against the SEC, but improved to 2-5 thanks to Florida State and Wake Forest. Clemson lost to South Carolina and Georgia Tech lost to rival Georgia -- both for the second year in a row. And of course, Miami didn’t help the ACC with its loss to Big East foe South Florida. The ACC finished the regular season 30-18 in nonconference play, including an FCS loss to James Madison.
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/34101/what-we-learned-in-the-acc-week-13-3
James Farrior Fred Davis Peter Mayer Nate Burleson Otto Graham
2010年11月28日日曜日
Torrey Smith talks about his future
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- It was senior day in College Park, but Maryland may have also seen the last of junior receiver Torrey Smith in Byrd Stadium. He certainly played like it was his last game, as the Terps' top offensive option will consider leaving school early for the NFL draft. "It's something that obviously I have to investigate," Smith said. "I'll talk to (Ralph) Friedgen, Kevin Glover, see what happens. Just because you play well doesn't mean you can go. I have to weigh my options. I love being here. I wouldn't have chose any other school if I could. Everything has worked out great for me here. I definitely would love to be here for another year, but I have to weigh my options. I graduate in December. I've got a single mother. She's got some things going on at home. Things aren't the best. Whatever is the best situation for me to do, obviously I'll take that route."
Maryland couldn't have defeated NC State without Smith. He set career highs in receptions (14), receiving yards (224) and receiving touchdowns (4). He had a school-record four receiving touchdowns and had the third-most yards in a game in school history. He became just the second player in school history to have more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season (1,045), and he's now the school's career leader in all-purpose yards with 5,183.
Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien said he'll do his part to keep Smith in College Park.
"I'm going to work him, definitely," O'Brien said with a laugh. "Torrey, he'll make the right decision for himself and his family. But I'm definitely going to be a little bit of a persuader in the sense I want him back. He knows that. He's going to do what's good for himself and his family."
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/34053/torrey-smith-talks-about-his-future
Seattle Seahawks San Diego Chargers St. Louis Rams Oakland Raiders Kansas City Chiefs
2010年11月27日土曜日
Packers fantasy focus
Even though it’s missing key weapons Jermichael Finley and Ryan Grant because of season-ending injuries, Green Bay’s offense is all of the sudden hotter than an asphalt highway in the Deep South in the dead of summer. In its four-game win streak, the Packers have averaged 351.3 yards and 28.3 points. Heading into a challenging battle down in Dixie against the high-flying Falcons, we have chosen to focus on four Packers fantasy prospects in particular.
We begin with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, who made mincemeat out of the Minnesota secondary last week after a slow start. It probably has taken a little longer this season than his fantasy owners would have preferred, but Rodgers is starting to look like the fantasy signalcalling stud he was much of last season. He has thrown seven TD passes with zero interceptions in Green Bay’s past two games and also has eight carries for 62 yards in that span. This Sunday he could continue to flourish against Atlanta’s 24th-ranked pass defense.
There isn’t a hotter fantasy receiver at the moment than Packers wideout Greg Jennings, who has 32 catches for 520 yards and six TDs in his last five games. Jennings, who had three TDs last week and catches of 47 and 46 yards vs. Minnesota, will be facing Falcons cornerbacks that have gotten burned on occasion this season.
With that in mind, you probably also should consider Packers WR James Jones as a possible fantasy force this Sunday. Jones was a fantasy monster in Week Nine against Dallas (8-123-1) and made an impact with 3-51-1 vs. Minnesota last week.
An intriguing fantasy sleeper might have emerged in Packers rookie RB Dimitri Nance, who led the team in rushing with 37 yards on 12 carries last week against the Vikings. It’s not a given, but Nance might have replaced John Kuhn as Green Bay’s short-yardage specialist, which could put him in a better position to score some TDs near the goal line.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/11/26/packers-fantasy-focus-9
USC Trojans football Colorado Buffaloes Notre Dame Fighting Irish Pittsburgh Panthers Florida State Seminoles
Shaun Hill: Patriots Tried to Break My Arm
Filed under: Lions, Patriots, AFC East, NFC North
Lions quarterback Shaun Hill says the New England Patriots weren't in much of a holiday spirit during their Thanksgiving game.In fact, according to Hill -- who has been playing despite a broken bone in his left forearm -- the Patriots were intentionally trying to injure him. Hill said that in a pileup on a quarterback sneak the Patriots were targeting his injured arm.
"That's why I eventually gave up the ball," Hill said. "Somebody was down there (in the pile) literally trying to break my arm, which is already broken. Literally, trying. And, uh, y'know, I guess wasn't seen (by officials)."
If Hill's story can be corroborated by video, the Patriot player or players responsible should be fined heavily, if not suspended. There's no place in the NFL for intentionally trying to injure an opponent.
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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/26/shaun-hill-patriots-tried-to-break-my-arm/
Penn State Nittany Lions Alabama Crimson Tide Clemson Tigers Florida Gators Northwestern Wildcats
2010年11月26日金曜日
Brady leads Patriots past Lions 45-24
Updated Nov. 25, 2010 @ 6:55 p.m. ET
By Larry Lage, AP Sports Writer
DETROIT (AP) — Tom Brady was perfect on the field and his exit was first class.
Brady threw a season-high four touchdown passes, all in the second half, and the New England Patriots routed the Detroit Lions 45-24 on Thursday after trailing by 11 late in the second quarter.
``We showed some resiliency, coming out in the second half and playing the way we did when the crowd was into it,'' Brady said.
Following Brady's brief news conference, the former Michigan star jogged out of Ford Field — limping slightly up a steep ramp — hugged Robert Kraft and got into an idling limo with the team owner behind a police escort.
New England (9-2) moved a half-game ahead of the AFC East rival New York Jets — who played Cincinnati on Thursday night — for the NFL's best record, setting up a showdown at home Dec. 6.
``I don't think we're at where we need to be at,'' Brady said. ``But this is a tough group.''
No one in the red, white and blue is tougher than Brady.
After taking a ton of shots early in the game, the three-time Super Bowl winner and two-time MVP bounced back to complete 21 of 27 passes for 341 yards with no interceptions, giving him a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3 for the second time in his career.
``He's like a surgeon,'' Detroit center Dominic Raiola said.
Brady threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Deion Branch early in the fourth quarter after connecting with him on a 79-yarder to tie it at 24. Wes Welker's second TD reception sealed the victory with 6:42 left, putting the Patriots ahead by two TDs and making their double-digit deficit a distant memory.
``When you outscore a team 35-7 in the second half, a lot of things have to go right,'' New England coach Bill Belichick said.
The Lions (2-9) are used to things going wrong, especially on Thanksgiving.
Detroit has lost a franchise-record seven straight games — by an average of nearly 23 points — in its annual showcase.
``This one is really tough because we gave everybody so much hope,'' Raiola said. ``We were up 14-3, Ford Field was going crazy and then boom, boom, boom.''
Brady became the first to have a perfect passer rating this season with a minimum of five attempts, according to STATS LLC. His first perfect game was Oct. 21, 2007, when he threw a career-high six TD passes in a victory over Miami.
``If we give him time, there's nothing he can't do,'' guard Logan Mankins said. ``He's going to find the guy that's open, and he's going to get them the ball. The rest is up to us.''
Brady had plenty of help with Welker and Branch through the air and BenJarvus Green-Ellis on the ground.
Green-Ellis ran for two TDs, matching a career high. His second one capped the scoring with 3:14 left and led to several pushing and shoving matches with the frustrated Lions.
Shaun Hill was 27 of 46 for 285 yards with one TD — to Calvin Johnson at the end of the first quarter that put the Lions up 7-3 — and two interceptions to rookie cornerback Devin McCourty.
Maurice Morris ran for two TDs, matching his total in two seasons in Detroit. Morris' first score put Detroit ahead 14-3 with 5:58 left in the first half.
Green-Ellis' 15-yard TD pulled the Patriots within four with 45 seconds left in the second quarter, then they allowed Detroit to drive for a lead-padding field goal to end the first half.
The Lions looked as if they finally might put together a good showing on Thanksgiving, forcing New England to punt on its first drive of the second half.
But Detroit began to fall apart when Hill underthrew Johnson on the ensuing possession and McCourty picked off the pass and returned it 23 yards to set up Brady's tying pass to Welker.
``That was a big play by Devin that really swung the game,'' Belichick said.
Detroit recovered, going ahead midway through the third quarter, but the lead didn't last long.
Brady found Branch, who was wide open, and he ran circles around Alphonso Smith on the 79-yard scoring play 22 seconds later.
Branch beat Smith on his next TD with 13:45 left in the first half, sending the cornerback to the bench in a move that was made much too late to help the Lions.
``I just want to apologize to my teammates because they played so hard,'' Smith said. ``I feel as if I was the catalyst for this loss. I also want to apologize to this organization and the fans.''
NOTES: Patriots RB Danny Woodhead has reportedly signed a contract extension, but he refused to confirm it. ``I'm very happy to be here,'' Woodhead said three times when asked about the deal. ... Lions DT Ndamukong Suh had a sack, giving him eight to break the team rookie record set by Tracy Scroggins in 1992. ... Belichick has 172 victories, moving past Joe Gibbs for 11th place on the NFL list. Belichick also joined Tom Landry as the only ones with at least 10 straight winning seasons with the same team since the 1970 merger. ... The Lions were the last team in the league to give up a TD pass to Brady, who made his NFL debut against them in 2000 and won a start against them in 2006. ... Brady has a career record of 120-36, including the playoffs, as a starter since 2001. The Lions are 35-120 since that season.
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/11/25/brady-leads-patriots-past-lions-45-24
Kansas City Chiefs Ben Graham Patrick Edwards Eugene Sims Aldrick Robinson
Peppers, Idonije charged with containing Vick
Each Wednesday throughout the season we'll identify one player, coach or area of the team that is most under the microscope. This week, DEs Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije are the choice.
Every player on Bears' defense is going to need to be at his best this week against Philadelphia's offense, which averages an NFC-best 28.4 points per game, but Peppers has the ability to affect the game like few other players can, and the Bears are going to need him and Idonije to play smart and under control.
When Eagles QB Michael Vick can't find an open receiver, he'll tuck the ball and take off running if pass rushers don't have him cornered. Vick is completing passes at a higher rate than he did earlier in his career, but he still does damage with his legs — he gains 6.8 yards per carry and has five rushing touchdowns in seven games.
If Peppers or Idonije break containment trying to make a sack, Vick could quickly find a seam and break free for a lengthy gain after linebackers have dropped back into coverage.
Vick can rack up first downs with those scrambles, and Peppers and Idonije have to be careful not to give Vick a running lane that he can't resist passing up.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/11/24/peppers-idonije-charged-with-containing-vick
Oakland Raiders Kansas City Chiefs Ben Graham Patrick Edwards Eugene Sims
2010年11月25日木曜日
Three reasons behind Wisconsin's surge
Wisconsin's offense isn't new. It's just better. A lot better. The Badgers have been rooted in the same offensive principles for years: the power run, bruising line play, an effective play-action game, efficient quarterbacking, tight ends and receivers who catch (passes) and throw (blocks).
"When we go recruit these guys, they know who we are," offensive coordinator Paul Chryst told me this week. "We haven't changed."
What has changed this season are the results. Wisconsin's offense has gone from pretty good to virtually unstoppable.
The numbers don't lie (thanks to the Wisconsin sports info staff for these notes):
- Wisconsin leads the Big Ten and ranks seventh nationally in scoring at 40.9 points per game. The Badgers will easily eclipse the team single-season scoring record of 34.3 points per game set in 2005.
- The Badgers are even more potent in Big Ten play, averaging 41.7 points. Since 1936, only four Big Ten teams have averaged at least 40 points per game for an entire conference season. Wisconsin has scored on 45 of 71 possessions (63.4 percent) in league play, not including five possessions on which it ran out the clock to end the half or a game.
- During its current six-game winning streak, Wisconsin has outscored its opponents by more than 22 points per game (44.7-22). The Badgers have averaged 240.7 yards on the ground, while quarterback Scott Tolzien has completed 78.6 percent of his passes. Wisconsin has converted 54.1 percent of its third downs (33-of-61) and scored touchdowns on 83.9 percent of its red zone opportunities (26-of-31).
- Wisconsin ranks second nationally in red zone touchdown percentage (79.3 percent). In Big Ten play, the Badgers have converted 28 of their 33 red zone trips into touchdowns (84.8 percent). Wisconsin ranks ninth nationally in red zone scoring (91.4 percent) and has gone 41-for-42 in its last eight games.
- The Badgers lead the Big Ten and rank 10th nationally in third-down conversion percentage (51.3).
- Wisconsin already has set a team record with 41 rushing touchdowns
How has this happened? Here are three reasons.
1. Experience and depth
The Badgers aren't lacking in any area of their offense.
They have three senior starters along the offensive line in left tackle Gabe Carimi, left guard John Moffitt and center Bill Nagy. Carimi, an Outland Trophy finalist, and Moffitt have combined to start 87 games in their careers.
The receiving corps also boasts experience with tight end Lance Kendricks, a fifth-year senior, as well as receivers David Gilreath, Isaac Anderson, Kyle Jefferson and Nick Toon, who have combined for 67 starts.
Top running back John Clay has started for two seasons. Same goes for Tolzien.
The Badgers also have had plenty of players step up when others go down, whether it's running back Montee Ball, receiver Jared Abbrederis or tight ends Jake Byrne and Jacob Pedersen.
"The neat thing about it is it takes everyone to be a part of it," Chryst said. "Everyone can really take ownership for what's happening."
2. Running back depth
Most teams would be in trouble if they lost the league's offensive player of the year for a few games. Not Wisconsin.
Clay's knee injury hasn't slowed down the Badgers' run game one bit. In fact, Wisconsin is putting up even better numbers without him -- not a knock against Clay, just a fact -- by rushing for 695 yards and 12 touchdowns in wins against Indiana and Michigan.
Wisconsin is the only FBS team to have three backs with at least 600 rushing yards: Clay (929), freshman James White (895) and Ball (686). All three players have recorded 13 rushing touchdowns this season.
While White has emerged as the Big Ten freshman of the year front-runner, Ball has provided the biggest lift. An afterthought in the first half of the season, Ball stepped in after injuries to both Clay and White and has 467 rush yards and nine touchdowns in his last three games.
"Montee was a big part of what we were doing in the second half of last season, and Montee has continued to improve," Chryst said. "You've got to give him a ton of credit for not getting caught up where he is on the depth chart and keeping his focus."
3. Scott Tolzien
Wisconsin has mass-produced elite offensive linemen, running backs and tight ends in recent years, but the quarterback position has been more of a headache.
Tolzien came out of nowhere to win the starting job in 2009, and he has taken his game to another level this fall. The senior leads the nation in completion percentage (73.9) -- he completed 24 consecutive passes before an interception last Saturday -- and has completed 78.6 percent of his passes during the current win streak.
Tolzien is on pace to set team records for career pass efficiency (151.2 rating) and career completion percentage (68.2). He has done his best work in clutch situations, completing 23 of 27 passes with 12 touchdowns and only one interception in the red zone, and completing 40 of 57 passes for 492 yards on third down (rating of 150.8).
"He's playing his position as good as anybody in college football," head coach Bret Bielema said. "What he's done in the red zone, it's just unbelievable. And ball-security wise, being able to come through in clutch situations, has been really unparalleled by anything I've ever witnessed."
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/33743/three-reasons-behind-wisconsins-surge
Miami Dolphins New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Washington Redskins New York Jets
Illinois has little trouble with Yale
The Ilini's D.J. Richardson pressures Yale's Porter Braswell during the first half. (Robert K. O'Daniell/AP)
By Chris Hine
CHAMPAIGN -- As Illinois broke its pregame huddle, it chanted a different motivational cheer.
Instead of "1, 2, 3 Illini!" or "1, 2, 3 win!" Illinois hit the floor Tuesday night saying "1, 2, 3 shutouts!"
Perhaps the Illini should make that their permanent cheer.
There were plenty of "shutouts" for Illinois on defense as it defeated Yale 73-47 at Assembly Hall.
"As a team we played pretty well for the Thanksgiving break crowd," senior Mike Tisdale said.
One reason for that was Tisdale.
In the offseason, Tisdale put on about 30 pounds of muscle, but so far this season, he wasn't exactly playing like it.
He still was prone to being out of position on defense and, at times, was a negligible factor on the boards. But against Yale, Tisdale was as active as he ever has been on the glass as he finished with 10 points and matched his career high with 13 rebounds.
It has been an ongoing process for Tisdale to adjust to playing with his added bulk, but he took a step in the right direction.
"People were saying we need to be more physical and they would be right," Tisdale said. "We came out and did it."
Maybe this was a product of playing Yale rather than Texas, whose front line overpowered Illinois in the Illini's overtime loss Thursday. Tisdale fouled out after getting six rebounds.
But on Tuesday, the only thing that kept him from getting a career-high in rebounds was that Weber took him out of the game for the last several minutes. There will be other nights to get it, and the Illini hope he does it a couple of times over.
Illinois defense played against Yale like it did in its first few games of the season. The Illini set a season-high mark on their prized Matto chart, which awards points based on hustle plays.
Maybe that, too, is a product of playing Yale, Southern Illinois and Toledo instead of Texas and Maryland, but Yale struggled to find any rhythm on offense, especially in the first half. And there were times last year when Illinois' defense struggled against some of its weaker competition.
After the game, Illinois coach Bruce Weber doled out a compliment to senior Demetri McCamey for his defense -- one of the few times he has done that in McCamey's career.
"I thought Demetri's defense in the first half was as good a 16, 17 minutes as he has had since he has been here," Weber said.
In the first half, Illinois' speed and trapping defense made it difficult for Yale to run its offense. Yale, who previously defeated Boston College, committed 22 turnovers and finished just 14-for-49 from the field.
Richardson finished with 16 points while McCamey had 11 points and seven assists.
Illinois now faces Western Michigan on the road Saturday.
"Now we have to see if we can bottle that and take it Kalamazoo and win a road game," Weber said.
Source: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/11/illinois-game-day-cant-take-yale-lightly.html
Buffalo Bills Dallas Cowboys Miami Dolphins New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles
2010年11月24日水曜日
Fisher: Young not welcome at Titans meeting
Tribune News Services
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher says though he had an assistant tell Vince Young not to attend a team meeting, the quarterback has not been banned from the team's headquarters.
Fisher said Tuesday night on his weekly radio show that he looked for Young in the locker room before the team meeting. Fisher says he couldn't find Young, so he sent an assistant coach to tell Young he was not welcome in the meeting for "obvious reasons."
Fisher says he didn't want Young in Monday's meeting because he had to update the Titans (5-5) on the quarterback's situation. Young, who had tossed his pads into the stands on Sunday, had a heated exchange with Fisher before Young stormed out of the stadium.
Young needs season-ending surgery on his right thumb and was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
Source: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/11/source-titans-young-not-banned-from-facility.html
Miami Dolphins New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Washington Redskins New York Jets
Boy who fell from skybox died of multiple injuries
Tribune News Services
LOS ANGELES -- An autopsy conducted on a 2-year-old boy who fell from a skybox at Staples Center died of multiple traumatic injuries.
Los Angeles County coroner's Capt. John Kades (KAY'-deez) released the official cause of death on Tuesday.
Police and paramedics have said Lucas Anthony Tang suffered massive head injuries in the Sunday night fall from a third-level luxury box. He landed on a row of seats minutes after the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors. He died at a hospital.
Police have released few details of the incident, saying only that Tang's family was taking photographs and somehow the toddler went over the edge of the section.
Source: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/11/boy-who-fell-from-skybox-died-of-multiple-injuries.html
Ben Graham Patrick Edwards Eugene Sims Aldrick Robinson Tory Collins
BC's Montel Harris out 3-6 weeks
Boston College leading rusher Montel Harris, also the ACC's leading rusher at 127.5 yards per game, could miss three to six weeks after surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. Harris will definitely miss the regular-season finale at Syracuse and possibly a bowl game. A school spokesman said the team medical staff has said that three to six weeks is the usual recovery time, but it depends on the individual. It's possible Harris can return in time to play in a bowl game, which would most likely be the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.
Until then, BC will turn to true freshman Andre Williams. The staff has confidence in Williams -- he ran for 108 yards on 12 carries in the win over Virginia. But Syracuse's defense is better than UVA's, and the problem is not Williams, it's a lack of depth or experience behind him. Fullback James McCluskey could also help, but if there was one player this team couldn't afford to lose, it was Harris. The good news for the Eagles is that BC became bowl-eligible last week.
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/33599/bcs-montel-harris-out-3-6-weeks
Tory Collins Brandon McRae Jermelle Cudjo James Farrior Fred Davis
2010年11月23日火曜日
Arrowhead advantage could take Chiefs a long way
If the Chiefs could play all their games at home, they very well could be a front-runner to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
After looking very shaky in back-to-back road losses at Oakland and Denver, the Chiefs played like a different team Sunday when they returned to Arrowhead Stadium. They dominated the Cardinals from start to finish, winning 31-13 to up their home record to 5-0.
"This was a really good team win for the Kansas City Chiefs," head coach Todd Haley said. "We had a couple tough games there back to back and we were definitely looking forward to getting back to Arrowhead, get our fans back behind us, which they've done such terrific job of and did so again today. We just keep getting better and better."
K.C. preached fundamentals at practice last week, and it showed in the team's performance. Coming off their worst two rushing days of the season, the Chiefs ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns (both by Thomas Jones) against Arizona. They also did not turn the ball over and held the Cards out of the endzone until the final play of the game. It was a tremendous all-around effort that had Haley fired up after the game.
"This is a great football town," he said. "So to have an opportunity to come here and be the head coach in a town and city like this, you can't ask for anything more — what a special place."
The PFW Spin
Unlike the past two seasons, when the Chiefs combined for an abysmal 2-14 record at Arrowhead, the home-field advantage is back in Kansas City. As the country was able to see in the club's Week One win over the Chargers on Monday night, the stadium is filled to capacity with raucous crowds who make life very difficult on the opposition. It's almost like a collegiate atmosphere, with the deafening roar of the fans forcing offenses to false start and call timeouts.
The numbers back this up. Scoring on K.C. at home has been a chore, with opponents averaging just 13.4 points. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are piling up 27.6 points in those contests. Thus far, only Buffalo was able to hold Kansas City below 21 points at Arrowhead.
The Chiefs have simply executed better in front of their home fans than they have on the road, for whatever reason that may be. The running game has been stronger, the mistakes have been fewer and the defense has been more intense. It has reminded some of the many dominant K.C. teams of the 1990s.
If the Chiefs can manage to play well enough to maintain their one-game lead in the AFC West and capture the division, nobody is going to want to come into Arrowhead in January. The Chiefs' home-field advantage alone could be too much for a wild-card team to overcome, and K.C. could be on its way to the franchise's first playoff victory since 1993.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/11/22/arrowhead-advantage-could-take-chiefs-a-long-way
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Pittsburgh Panthers Florida State Seminoles Miami Hurricanes Georgia Bulldogs
Eagles CB Hobbs will miss Bears game with injury
Tribune News Services
PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles cornerback Ellis Hobbs, who was down on the field for 11 minutes during Sunday night's 27-17 win over the New York Giants, suffered a disc injury in his neck, an MRI revealed Monday, and will be out at least one week.
Coach Andy Reid did not know the severity of the injury, but did say Hobbs, who is also a kick returner, would not play Sunday when the Eagles (7-3) meet the Bears (7-3) at Soldier Field.
Hobbs was injured during the kickoff return to open the second half, when he was involved in a helmet-to-helmet collision with Giants defensive lineman Dave Tollefson.
"Right now, the MRI showed some damage to the disc," Reid said. "Time will tell."
Reid said it was not known if Hobbs would need surgery. Last year, he missed the final nine games with a neck injury that required surgery.
PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles cornerback Ellis Hobbs, who was down on the field for 11 minutes during Sunday night's 27-17 win over the New York Giants, suffered a disc injury in his neck, an MRI revealed Monday, and will be out at least one week.
Coach Andy Reid did not know the severity of the injury, but did say Hobbs, who is also a kick returner, would not play Sunday when the Eagles (7-3) meet the Bears (7-3) at Soldier Field.
Hobbs was injured during the kickoff return to open the second half, when he was involved in a helmet-to-helmet collision with Giants defensive lineman Dave Tollefson.
"Right now, the MRI showed some damage to the disc," Reid said. "Time will tell."
Reid said it was not known if Hobbs would need surgery. Last year, he missed the final nine games with a neck injury that required surgery.
Source: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/11/eagles-cb-hobbs-will-miss-bears-game.html
Wichita State University Nebraska Cornhuskers North Carolina Tar Heels Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Arizona Wildcats
Vikings fire Childress; hire Frazier in interim
The Vikings announced Monday morning that they have fired head coach Brad Childress and promoted defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to interim head coach.
The last straw apparently was Sunday's 31-3 loss to the Packers after a season of unmet expectations.
Vikings owner/chairman Zygi Wilf and Frazier will address the media at 4 p.m. ET Monday in the team's Winter Park fieldhouse.
The season has been an unmitigated disaster almost from the start. Since losing to the Saints in the NFC championship game in January, expectations have run high with the majority of the team returning. Once the Vikings pursued QB Brett Favre — a move Childress supported initially last year and this year — anything short of a deep playoff run was going to be a disappointment.
Instead of a celebration, a circus ensued. The trouble and drama snowballed almost from the work "go" this summer.
Favre again wavered in his decision to come to Minnesota, and Childress was criticized for sending three players down to Mississippi and having his assistant coaches lie to the media about their whereabouts.
Sidney Rice, who was injured in the game against the Saints, delayed his hip surgery and missed all the way up until his season debut in Sunday's loss. Percy Harvin missed significant time in the preseason with his migraine headaches.
The Vikings would lose in the opener to the Saints and then fall to 0-2. But excitement was raised when the Vikings traded for WR Randy Moss from New England for a third-round pick. He was expected to fill the void of Rice and help Harvin and Favre in the passing game. Favre especially was said to be happy because he always had wanted to play with Moss.
But the Vikings lost three of their four games with Moss, and he indirectly criticized Childress in a press conference after the loss to the Patriots. Moss called his former coach, Bill Belichick, the best coach in football and said how much he missed his old team. The next day, Childress informed his players that Moss would be cut — and did so before he informed ownership of his intentions. Childress had final say over the 53-man roster, but he was required to go through various channels, including Wilf, before he made significant moves.
Wilf reportedly was incensed with how Childress circumvented the process with the Moss move, and yet the owner continued to show his support, including after Week 10's loss at Chicago. But there was no statement from Wilf, who appeared furious when he left the Vikings' locker room after falling to the Packers at home, 31-3. The Vikings were listless in the loss, and there were a few verbal altercations on their sideline. Favre was seen yelling at offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, and DE Ray Edwards was seen ripping into rookie CB Chris Cook.
Throughout their two years together, Favre and Childress had a stormy relationship, too. It began during last year's magic season, interestingly, as the two men disagreed about how the offense should be run. Childress was upset through the early part of 2009, and the two men had a sideline blowout in a loss to the Panthers. They were able to put aside their differences through the playoff run and even decided to rearrange their marriage this season.
But the honeymoon long was over. Reports this summer, in fact, suggested that Favre was not wavering in his return because of health concerns but that he was ambivalent about playing because of his relationship with Childress.
Favre was not alone in that sentiment. Over the past few weeks, sources have told PFW that many players believe that Childress did not support them properly and they had grown tired of his management style. Other than a singular voice of support from NT Pat Williams, few other Vikings spoke on Childress' behalf publicly as the coach's hot seat grew warmer.
Childress had a record of 40-37 over his five partial seasons, including a 1-2 mark in the postseason.
Frazier is popular in the clubhouse and has interviewed for several head-coaching openings, including with the Bills and Seahawks this past offseason. Although Frazier's stop unit hasn't been as dominant this season as in recent years past, the Vikings rank seventh in rushing yards per game allowed and sixth in first downs allowed per game.
The Vikings now will hand the job to Frazier and, like the situation in Dallas with Jason Garrett, Frazier could get the opportunity to earn the job on a full-time basis.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/11/22/vikings-fire-childress-hire-frazier-in-interim
Dallas Cowboys Miami Dolphins New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Washington Redskins
NFL transactions for November 20, 2010
AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
BALTIMORE - Roster addition: OG Bryan Mattison (from Ravens practice squad). Placed on waivers: OT Scott Kooistra.
BUFFALO - Roster addition: FB Jehuu Caulcrick (from Bills practice squad). Practice squad; injured: LB John Russell. Placed on waivers: WR Paul Hubbard.
N.Y. JETS - Roster addition: WR Patrick Turner (from Jets practice squad). Practice-squad additions: LB Shawn Crable; DT Jarron Gilbert. Practice-squad deletion: CB Wilfred Billingsley.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
ARIZONA - Roster addition: RB Alfonso Smith (from Cardinals practice squad). Placed on waivers: WR Max Komar.
DETROIT - Reserve/injured: RB Kevin Smith (thumb). Roster addition: LB Caleb Campbell (from Lions practice squad).
MINNESOTA - Roster addition: WR Sidney Rice (from reserve/physically unable to perform).
NEW ORLEANS - Reserve/injured: LS Jason Kyle (shoulder). Roster addition: LS Jake Ingram (released by Patriots 11/10). Practice-squad addition: QB Sean Canfield. Practice-squad deletion: RB Chris Taylor.
N.Y. GIANTS - Roster addition: TE Jake Ballard (from Giants practice squad). Placed on waivers: S Domonique Johnson.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/11/21/nfl-transactions-for-november-20-2010
Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh Steelers Chicago Bears
2010年11月22日月曜日
Commissioner says MLS to add 2 playoff teams
Tribune News Services
TORONTO -- Major League Soccer will add two playoff teams next season, expanding its postseason field to 10, and will investigate aligning its schedule with soccer's international calendar.
Commissioner Don Garber made the announcement at Sunday's 15th MLS Cup game in Toronto between the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas.
Garber says next year's playoff format has yet to be determined, but the goal is to avoid a repeat of this season, when two Western Conference teams (Colorado and San Jose) met in the Eastern Conference championship. Six of the eight playoff qualifiers this year came from the West.
The league will grow to 18 teams next season when expansion franchises in Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, British Columbia, begin play.
TORONTO -- Major League Soccer will add two playoff teams next season, expanding its postseason field to 10, and will investigate aligning its schedule with soccer's international calendar.
Commissioner Don Garber made the announcement at Sunday's 15th MLS Cup game in Toronto between the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas.
Garber says next year's playoff format has yet to be determined, but the goal is to avoid a repeat of this season, when two Western Conference teams (Colorado and San Jose) met in the Eastern Conference championship. Six of the eight playoff qualifiers this year came from the West.
The league will grow to 18 teams next season when expansion franchises in Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, British Columbia, begin play.
Source: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/11/commissioner-says-mls-to-add-2-playoff-teams.html
St. Louis Rams Oakland Raiders Kansas City Chiefs Ben Graham Patrick Edwards
Non-AQ Bowl Projections
Those who have followed my bowl projections since Week 1 know that I had Boise State in the BCS national title game from the very beginning. I took the Broncos out a few weeks ago when TCU leapfrogged them to No. 3 in the BCS standings. But after a 51-0 route of Fresno State and the way the Broncos have inched closer, I have placed Boise State back in the title game. No offense to TCU, but playing 1-10 New Mexico is going to hurt while Boise State takes on Nevada. If the Broncos dominate the way they did against the Bulldogs, they will climb back in front. I am still projecting an Auburn loss to pave the way for a non-AQ in the title game. I do have TCU in a BCS game as an at-large team, but I still think there is a 50-50 chance one of the undefeated non-AQs gets left out. Should Alabama beat Auburn, there is a very real possibility that the Crimson Tide would be taken for a BCS game over undefeated TCU/Boise State. An 11-1 LSU team could also trump undefeated TCU/Boise State�as well. The reason -- money and prestige. Both teams would travel more fans and bring better TV ratings. SEC generally trumps non-AQ.
But I am clinging to faith in the system. Why? I have no idea. I should not have faith in a system that fails to reward undefeated teams for their accomplishments. But as TCU coach Gary Patterson said earlier this week, it would be a travesty for an undefeated non-AQ to get left out. Let's hope the bowl officials and BCS officials realize that.
Points to remember: If a non-AQ makes it into the BCS title game versus Oregon, the Rose Bowl is not required to take an at-large non-AQ to fill its open Pac-10 spot. Also, these predictions serve as my projection of what is going to happen in the postseason, not what should happen.
As for the other non-AQ conferences, I still have UCF winning C-USA over SMU, FIU winning the Sun Belt and Northern Illinois taking the MAC over Ohio. There are questions about whether the SEC would block C-USA from the Liberty Bowl because of the complicated tie-ins with those two leagues and the Big East. I am predicting the Big East will not have enough teams to make it in there, and the SEC will. With Notre Dame now bowl eligible, Miami (Ohio) stays home in these projections.
BCS National Championship Game: Oregon vs. Boise State
Allstate Sugar:Auburn vs. TCU
Kraft Fight Hunger: Boston College vs. Nevada
GoDaddy.com: Ohio vs. Troy
AutoZone Liberty:UCF vs. Kentucky
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces: SMU vs. Army
Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman: Maryland vs. Southern Miss
AdvoCare V100 Independence: Georgia Tech vs. Air Force
Little Caesars: ULM vs. Northern Illinois
Sheraton Hawaii: Tulsa vs. Hawaii*
S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia: San Diego State vs. Navy*
MAACO Las Vegas: Utah vs. Tennessee
Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg: Connecticut vs. East Carolina
R+L Carriers New Orleans:� UTEP vs. FIU
uDrove Humanitarian: Temple vs. Fresno State
New Mexico: BYU vs. Toledo
* indicates school accepted bowl bid.
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/33475/non-aq-bowl-projections-8
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