Monday, September 27, 2010

Reflections of a Razorback



Have you ever noticed how liberally sports fans use the editorial we when discussing games their teams have played, big plays their teams have made, mighty foes their teams have beaten?

For example ...

"We won the game!"

"Did you see our comeback?"

"I was sure we would lose until we made that late score!"


There is no reason for any sports fan to feel superior to another in this regard. We all do it, no matter where we live or who we are.

Everyone says it — even those who know better — and we all know that most of us, when we say "we" did this or "we" overcame that, never actually did anything more than listen to the game on the radio or watch it on TV.

And I think most of us would agree, too, that — to be fair — only those who actually go out on the field of battle are entitled to use the first–person plural pronoun we.

On the other hand, though ...

I grew up in Arkansas, where the Razorbacks are the defenders of the dreams of the people in that state — and many who lived there once but live somewhere else today.

When I was living in Arkansas, there were — and I'm sure there still are — many sharp differences of opinion over many different issues and subjects. But the Razorbacks were always the great unifiers. They brought everyone together while the game, whatever it was, was being played.

The arguing resumed when the game ended, but, for a few hours, the entire state was united — the rich and the poor, the young and the old, the black and the white.

I think Arkansas has always had something of an inferiority complex. I lived there until my late 20s and the two most popular sentiments were
  • "Beat Texas!" and

  • "Thank God for Mississippi!"
The first was the annually expressed desire to defeat the hated Texas Longhorns in football, the second was an expression of gratitude that there was at least one place that was worse than Arkansas in, well, just about everything.

Well, Arkansas doesn't play Texas every year anymore so I guess that particular phrase has been replaced by something else, but I presume the statement about Mississippi is still in use.

Anyway, I've been inspired on this flight of fancy by the Razorbacks' game with top–ranked Alabama over the weekend.

That game was like a microcosm of the bipolar personality of Arkansas fans that I have seen and experienced since I was a child.

Wherever the Arkansas fans were on Saturday morning, whether it was Fayetteville, where the game was played, or somewhere else in the state — or outside the state's borders — the day began with high hopes, the proverbial impossible dream, the never–ending quest for legitimacy that pounds relentlessly in every Arkansas fan's heart.

It was embodied in the desire to beat Alabama. Some people may see Alabama as a substitute for Texas and, in a purely football sense, that would be logical, since the Crimson Tide has, if anything, an even greater national reputation (thanks mostly to Bear Bryant) in that sport.

But the truth is that Arkansas' rivalry with Texas always went beyond sports and included the state's Everybody Loves Raymondesque belief that favoritism was lavished on Texas and denied to Arkansas. In the eyes of Arkansans, Texas (not the Soviet Union) was the real "evil empire."

There just doesn't seem to be any way that Alabama can rise to that level of villainy. But, as a temporary surrogate, it will do, I suppose.

Anyway, the day that began with high hopes suddenly exploded into a fantasy of epic proportions when the Razorbacks scored a touchdown in the first minute of play. And when, at halftime, I went online to check my e–mail, I found my old friends from my Arkansas days discussing on Facebook whether the Razorbacks would be in the Top 5 after they beat the defending national champions.

I tried to remind my friends that it was only halftime, that it was only a 10–point lead and, in hindsight, my advice was valid. Alabama came back in the second half and won the game, although not by double digits, as many of the "wiser" football observers had predicted.

But, even though I gave my friends sound advice, I didn't take it myself. Even as I typed it, I was giving in mentally to the temptation to think about an accomplishment the rest of the football world could not anticipate, that had not happened and, as it turned out, would not happen.

The Hogs just ran out of gas.

When Alabama rallied behind the running of the defending Heisman Trophy winner, sanity was restored to a football world that had been rocked to its socks in recent weeks by James Madison's win over Virginia Tech and Jacksonville State's win over Ole Miss.

But it is mourning in Razorback Nation, where, thankfully, this is an off–week for the Hogs. After investing so much in Saturday's game, the team and its followers can use a week off.

Do I regret that the Hogs lost? Yes. It feels like it always did all those years when Texas dominated Arkansas.

(And, now that Alabama's winning streak over Arkansas has reached four, it's very familiar.)

Am I proud of the way they hung in there until the end? Yes.

I am a Razorback. I am always proud of the Hogs.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Don't Adjust Your TV -- The Stadium Is Rocking

I was surfing through the channels I knew to be showing college football games last Saturday afternoon, and I settled, for a couple of minutes, on a game in which one of the announcers made that statement.

I'm not sure which game it was. I had just finished watching my alma mater, the University of Arkansas, pull off a last–second road victory over Georgia. The Razorbacks are 3–0, they are in the Top 10, and the top–ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will come to Fayetteville this weekend.

I've heard that CBS will be on hand to televise the game. And I'm planning to be sitting in front of my TV when they kick things off on Saturday.

Will the Hogs win? I'll get to that in a minute. For now, it is satisfying to know that Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated, who expressed skepticism about Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett's legitimacy as a Heisman Trophy prospect, is now saying that Mallett had a "Heisman moment" with his game–winning TD pass in the final minute at Georgia last Saturday.

I have long respected Mandel's writing, so I am pleased to see that he thinks Mallett is living up to his preseason hype. I don't know if Mallett will win the award this year. I just hope he continues to play well, and Arkansas is competitive all season.

OK, I'll admit I'm something of a homer when it comes to the Razorbacks. Been that way all my life, don't you know. Even when it is obvious to just about all that Arkansas doesn't have a chance of winning, hope for a victory still springs eternal.

Arkies are like that. They've seen too many impossible dreams come true — and they have also seen too many sure things slip through their fingers. And beating the defending national champion clearly would be classified among the former, not the latter.

But, as much of a homer as I am, I don't think I'm quite up to the level of Joe Starkey, who writes in the Pittsburgh Tribune–Review that Pitt's game against Miami (Florida) tonight is huge for the Big East (undeniably) and that Pitt could be the conference's "savior" — which sorta overlooks West Virginia, the Big East's only currently ranked team.

Both schools face enormous tests this week (tests which, by the way, I think both will fail). Perhaps Big East supremacy will be on the line when the schools meet in late November.

Speaking of conference play, it is under way for most teams now, and, since multiple members of the so–called "power conferences" are in the rankings, that should mean that we will start seeing more clashes between ranked teams in the weeks ahead.

There are four such games on this week's schedule. Whether they're facing another ranked team or not, every member of the Top 25 is in action this week. All times listed are Central.

Thursday
  • #19 Miami (Florida) at Pittsburgh, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN: The last time these teams met was in late November 2003, in Miami's final game as a member of the Big East.

    Like tonight's game, it was played in Pittsburgh, but the conditions should be different — and the outcome could be different as well, although I doubt it. Miami won on that occasion, 28–14.

    Actually, Miami has won its last six games against Pittsburgh. The Panthers' last win in the series came in 1997, which also happens to be the last time Pittsburgh beat Miami in Pittsburgh.

    Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post–Gazette thinks these teams are mirror images of each other, which would suggest a close game. And it may be.

    But I'm going with Miami.
Friday
  • #4 TCU at SMU, 7 p.m. on ESPN: It is known as the "Battle for the Iron Skillet."

    I've heard that, many years ago, an SMU fan was frying up some frog legs in a pregame event, supposedly in the 1950s, and a TCU fan took offense. Ever since, the winner of the game — which has been played nearly every season since 1915 — has been awarded an iron skillet trophy.

    TCU has won nine of the last 10 encounters and, in the process, has taken the lead in the all–time series, 41–39–7. There was a time when it was inconceivable to me that SMU could lose to TCU. Now the opposite is true.

    I'll take TCU.
Saturday
  • #1 Alabama at #10 Arkansas, 2:30 p.m. on CBS: Today, as members of the same division of the same conference, Arkansas and Alabama play each other every year.

    But when I was growing up, they played in different conferences, and it usually took a date in a New Year's Day bowl game to get the teams together.

    In fact, that happened while I was in school at the University of Arkansas. The teams were invited to the Sugar Bowl. Alabama won the game, giving Bear Bryant his final national title.

    If the winner of this week's game is going to play for the national title, it will have to win many more games between now and January. And if Arkansas is going to win the game, it is going to have to overcome a three–year losing streak to Alabama — as well as the fact that Alabama is the defending national champion.

    It's worth pointing out, though, that before the current losing streak, Arkansas had a winning record against Alabama since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in the early 1990s.

    Kelly Whiteside of USA Today reports that there is a new attitude in Fayetteville. The Arkansas team that went to Alabama last year and, to paraphrase Whiteside, believed the game was over before it had begun has been replaced by a more mature, more experienced group.

    He suggests things are different this year. And I agree. Even though I'm an Arkansas grad, I would normally be inclined to pick Alabama, being the defending national champ and all. But how can I explain it? I saw something in the final minute of the Arkansas–Georgia game last weekend that made me think the Razorbacks can win this game.

    I know the fans will be pumped up. I expect Fayetteville to be worked up to a fever pitch. And I'm going to make Arkansas my upset special. Gotta admit, though, I'm nervous about it.

  • Eastern Michigan at #2 Ohio State, 2:30 p.m. on ABC: I'll be glad when Ohio State concludes its series of games against the Little Sisters of the Poor and starts playing Big Ten opponents.

    It really isn't much of a stretch for me to say I expect Ohio State to win the game.

  • #24 Oregon State at #3 Boise State, 7 p.m. on ABC: These schools have met four times since 2003. Each school has been the host twice, and the home team has won every time.

    The home field was Oregon State's salvation in 2005. Boise State was reeling from a road loss to Georgia the week before, all set up for the knockout punch that OSU tried to deliver. And OSU won the game by a field goal. But Boise bounced back and won seven in a row before falling to Fresno State.

    Likewise, it was fortunate for Oregon State that the game was played in Corvallis in 2003. The Beavers won the game by two points, Boise State's only blemish.

    Boise State won its home games against OSU in 2004 and 2006, both by wide margins. And, guess what? This year's game is also in Boise.

    And the recent history of the series may well be a factor. But I'm thinking the Broncos will be more motivated by the fact that James Madison's win over Virginia Tech robbed Boise of its signature win, the triumph it hoped could vault it into a national title game.

    Contrary to expectations, ESPN's "GameDay" broadcast will originate in Boise and ABC will provide Boise's first–ever regular–season network game coverage. As Brian Murphy of the Idaho Statesman says, "[T]he atmosphere should be electric."

    I think Boise State will win the game. And it won't be close.

  • #5 Oregon at Arizona State, 9:30 p.m. on FSN: Oregon has won five in a row against Arizona State, and the Ducks are ranked.

    I'll take Oregon.

  • South Dakota State at #6 Nebraska: I guess you could say Nebraska has been enjoying a somewhat leisurely stroll through the first month of the college football season, rolling up big wins over the likes of Western Kentucky, Idaho and Washington.

    I see no reason why South Dakota State will present much of a challenge to the Cornhuskers.

    Tougher games await when the Big 12 slate begins. And some of those opponents — Texas, for example, on Oct. 16 — will be considerably tougher to beat. For now, I'll take Nebraska.

  • UCLA at #7 Texas, 2:30 p.m. on ABC: Would it surprise you to know that UCLA has won its last two games with Texas? Or that Texas hasn't beaten UCLA since 1971?

    I've heard (and read) the rumblings about UT's offense. And I'm aware of the fact that Texas faces Oklahoma next week, which might prove a bit distracting for the Longhorns.

    Mandel has high praise for the Texas defense. "But can Texas expect to beat Oklahoma on Oct. 2 and Nebraska on Oct. 16 (I'm not that worried about UCLA this week) solely with its defense?" Mandel asks. "I doubt it, because those teams have pretty good defenses themselves."

    There have been rumblings in Austin, too. Kirk Bohls of the Austin American–Statesman has three observations to make about Texas — and all three have to do with the offense.

    For example, writing about Mac McWhorter, the offensive line coach, Bohls said he "has recruited some of the best offensive linemen in the state with very few positive results to show for it" and asserts that McWhorter "has to be on pink–slip alert."

    Like Mandel, I'm not concerned about the UCLA game. I think Texas will win the game. I'll be more interested in seeing what, if anything UT's offense can do against Oklahoma.

    Speaking of which ...

  • #8 Oklahoma at Cincinnati, 5 p.m. on ESPN2: I'm not really sure what to think of Oklahoma.

    Last week, the Sooners surrendered more rushing yards than at any time since Bob Stoops took over as head coach more than a decade ago. And they didn't give up all those yards to the teams that, historically, have been known to roll up big yardage on the ground. They gave up those yards to Air Force.

    The Sooners are sure to be tested in the weeks ahead, but I don't think they will be challenged much by Cincinnati. I think Oklahoma will win, perhaps by a couple of touchdowns.

  • Kentucky at #9 Florida, 6 p.m. on ESPNU: Florida has beaten Kentucky 23 straight times, sometimes by ridiculously wide margins.

    Kentucky last beat Florida in football on Nov. 15, 1986. Things were quite different in those day. Florida was 6–5 that year; Kentucky was 5–5–1.

    Today, Florida is a football powerhouse, a two–time national champion in recent years and a contender for the title in others. Kentucky occasionally has a team that is capable of keeping pace with the Gators for a couple of quarters, but I don't think the streak will be in jeopardy. After all, Kentucky hasn't won a game at Florida since Jimmy Carter was in the White House.

    I pick Florida.

  • Austin Peay at #11 Wisconsin, 11 a.m. on Big Ten Network: I'm not going to waste much time on this one. And, frankly, neither should you. There will be Saturdays this fall when Wisconsin will be tested. Just not this Saturday.

    I pick Wisconsin, by a significant margin.

  • #12 South Carolina at #17 Auburn, 6:45 p.m. on ESPN: These schools both play in the SEC, but they are in different divisions which means they don't play each other every year.

    In fact, I am only aware of four meetings between the schools, and Auburn won every one.

    If South Carolina is going to be a contender in the SEC, this is the kind of foe the Gamecocks must defeat. Perhaps they will. Someday. But not this Saturday. I pick Auburn.

  • San Jose State at #13 Utah: See what I said about the Austin Peay–Wisconsin game.

    And insert Utah wherever I wrote about Wisconsin.

    That includes picking Utah to win.

  • California at #14 Arizona: Since 2005, the home team in this Pac–10 matchup has emerged with the victory.

    I see no reason to go against that trend. I'll take Arizona.

  • #22 West Virginia at #15 LSU, 8 p.m. on ESPN2: If these two schools have ever faced each other in football, it was before my time.

    But based on their rankings, it ought to be a good game. And West Virginia's sophomore quarterback seems to have the passing game on an upward trajectory. Currently, the Mountaineers are in the Top 30 in the nation in passing offense.

    That sure does make the possibility of picking West Virginia to snap LSU's 30–game nonconference home winning streak enticing. And LSU is not a heavy favorite.

    But I'll stick with LSU in this game.

  • #16 Stanford at Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. on NBC: Notre Dame has lost only six of the last 20 meetings with Stanford.

    My guess is that Stanford will make that seven of 21 this Saturday.

  • Ball State at #18 Iowa, 11 a.m. on Big Ten Network: I just can't see Ball State winning this one.

    Gotta go with Iowa.

  • #20 USC at Washington State, 2 p.m. on FSNW: USC has won seven straight games against Washington State.

    I have to believe USC will make it eight in a row.

  • Bowling Green at #21 Michigan, 11 a.m. on ESPN2: I don't know if Michigan is "back" as a national contender.

    I suppose the Wolverines' performance in Big Ten play will tell us a lot. Are they better than the 5–7 team they were last year? Or the 3–9 team they were the year before that? We shall see.

    This weekend, though, I believe Michigan will be better than Bowling Green.

  • Temple at #23 Penn State, 2:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network: I simply can't imagine Penn State failing to beat Temple.

    The Nittany Lions have won 26 in a row against Temple, dating back to the mid–1970s, when Temple came up short by one point in the 1975 and 1976 games. Since that time, however, Penn State has routed Temple more often than struggled — and I'm anticipating another rout on Saturday.

  • Northern Colorado at #25 Michigan State, 11 a.m. on Big Ten Network: Back in the annals of college football, these two schools may have faced each other long before I was born.

    But would it matter? I can't see any way that Michigan State will lose this game, no matter what might have happened in the past.
Last week: 22–1.

Season: 59–6.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Some Setbacks, But I'm Still Standing

I sorta took it on the chin in my Top 25 picks last week after a nearly perfect opening week.

That was probably to be expected. I went out on a limb and picked Florida State to win at Oklahoma. Of course, the Seminoles did not come close to winning that game.

And I didn't anticipate that Kansas would defeat Georgia Tech. I don't think most observers saw that one coming, either.

And never in a million years did I think James Madison would upend Virginia Tech.

I am glad both of those things happened, though, because now my alma mater, Arkansas, has moved up to #12 in the rankings. Some people don't think the Hogs deserve to be among the nation's best dozen, but they have a chance today, against Georgia, to prove that they are legitimate.

Idle this week: #17 Miami (Florida)

All times are Central.

Saturday
  • #1 Alabama at Duke, 2:30 p.m. on ABC: The last time these teams met was in Alabama in 2006. The Crimson Tide won the game, 30–14.

    Before that, you have to go back to the Bear Bryant era to find a time when the schools met in football. And you'd probably have to go back even farther to find the last time Alabama traveled to Duke to play a football game.

    If this was a basketball game, Duke probably would be the favorite. But this is football. And Alabama is ranked #1. I'll take Alabama.

  • Ohio U. at #2 Ohio State, 11 a.m. on Big Ten Network: I can't believe this game will be on TV anywhere. Ohio State is sure to win.

  • #3 Boise State at Wyoming: Since 2002, the schools have met four times, and Boise has won each time.

    You know what? I'll make that five in a row for Boise State.

  • Baylor at #4 TCU, 3:30 p.m. on Versus: There was a time — back when the Southwest Conference still existed — when Baylor and TCU played to avoid the cellar in the conference standings.

    They're no longer conference rivals, and TCU is now routinely a member of the Top 25. But they have faced other in recent years. In fact, they opened the regular season against each other in 2006 and 2007 — TCU won both contests.

    Before that, their last meeting came in 1995, the last year of the SWC's existence. Baylor won that one.

    Well, 1995 is ancient history now. But it was the last time Baylor had a winning season. Meanwhile, TCU has had winning seasons every year since 2005 — and 2004 is the only losing season TCU has had since 1998. The programs are moving in opposite directions, and I'll pick TCU to remain on its established trajectory with a win.

  • Portland State at #5 Oregon: Let's see. Portland State played at Oregon in 2006 — and lost, 55–12. Before that, Portland State came to Oregon in 2006 — and lost, 41–0. Before that, Portland't last visit was in 1994. Oregon won, 58–16.

    I think a pattern has been established. I'll take Oregon.

  • #6 Texas at Texas Tech, 7 p.m. on ABC: I'm sure everyone remembers the 2008 match between these two teams. The Red Raiders enjoyed a rare victory on Michael Crabtree's late TD reception — and could have played for a national title if not for a loss to Oklahoma later that November.

    Texas has been playing Texas Tech every year since 1960, but it's been a Jekyll‐and–Hyde series. When the game has been played in Austin, Texas has been dominant, winning 21 of 25, often by wide margins. In Lubbock, the Longhorns hold a 15–10 advantage, and the game almost always seems to be close, no matter which team wins.

    I'll pick Texas to win, but, if you're a Longhorn fan, don't be surprised if it goes down to the wire.

    On the other hand, if you are a Longhorn fan, I'm sure I don't have to tell you that.

  • Air Force at #7 Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m. on FSN: Air Force has one of the most potent running attacks in America and might be capable of pulling off the upset — as long as no one reminds the Falcons that the only other time they were in Norman, Okla., in 2001, OU won, 44–3, or that the Sooners are ranked in the Top 10.

    Still, it might be an entertaining game. It might even be close for awhile. But I'll pick Oklahoma to pull away at some point.

  • #8 Nebraska at Washington, 2:30 p.m. on ABC: It's been more than a decade since these teams faced each other.

    In the late '90s, they faced off in each other's stadiums in 1997 and 1998, with Nebraska winning both times.

    They did the same thing in the early '90s, with Washington winning both times.

    Before that, one must go back to the '60s to find a time when the teams played each other. Obviously, the series' history is extremely limited.

    History does suggest, though, that it is Washington's turn to win. And Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated thinks it will.

    But I'm not sold. I think it will be a good game, but I think Nebraska will prevail.

  • #9 Iowa at #24 Arizona, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN: These two teams don't play each other often, but when they do, it tends to go down to the wire.

    They met in Iowa last year, and Iowa won, 27–17.

    Arizona did win the meeting before that, back in 1998 — which was the last time the teams played in Arizona. In 1996, Iowa won a squeaker at home, 21–20. Prior to that, they played in Arizona twice — in 1987, when Iowa winning another close one, 15–14, and in 1982, when Iowa won by a slightly larger margin, 17–14.

    In 1980, Iowa hosted the meeting and won a defense–oriented 5–3 decision.

    In the last two or three decades, Iowa has often been ranked, but today's Iowa–Arizona game is the first of which I am aware that features two teams in the Top 25. And I expect Arizona, an up–and–coming program, to have an excited crowd in its favor.

    But Iowa brings plenty of experience to the table. Arizona has the potential to pull off the upset, but I think Iowa will win the game.

  • #10 Florida at Tennessee, 2:30 p.m. on CBS: It's fair to say that both programs are in a bit of a transitional period.

    Florida is adjusting to life without Tim Tebow. Tennessee is merely trying to get its winning ways back.

    Eventually, I am sure, Tennessee will be a competitive program again. But, even at its best, it was never completely competitive with Florida in the last two decades. Tennessee won only six of 20 games with the Gators during that time.

    Even though the Gators probably will go through some more growing pains before they truly return to national prominence, I think they're a lot farther along that road than Tennessee. So I'll pick Florida.

  • Arizona State at #11 Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m. on ABC: From the "I've Heard That Tune Before" category ...

    I've been reading some articles lately that try to make the case that Arizona State is back. Mostly, the case is made on the basis of high offensive output in home wins over — drum roll, please — Portland State and Northern Arizona.

    Well, that's fine and dandy. Let's see how the Sun Devils do against a team from a power conference that is ranked and is playing at home.

    Someday, perhaps, Arizona State will be in a position to win in that situation. But not today. I pick Wisconsin.

  • #12 Arkansas at Georgia, 11 a.m. on ESPN: Georgia and Arkansas play sporadically, being in different divisions of the SEC.

    But the Bulldogs have won six straight against the Razorbacks, including an SEC title game in December 2002.

    Arkansas' last win over Georgia came nearly 17 years ago, in October 1993. Before that, Georgia prevailed in three straight contests. In all, Georgia has beaten Arkansas nine out of 10 times since the Razorbacks triumphed over the Bulldogs in the Jan. 1, 1976 Cotton Bowl.

    This is a crucial game for the Razorbacks. A win would send them into their showdown with Alabama with a 3–0 record — and possibly a Top 10 ranking, assuming that someone who is ranked ahead of them loses this weekend.

    I don't know if that will happen, but I will predict that Arkansas will beat Georgia.

  • Furman at #13 South Carolina, 6 p.m. on ESPN3: As nearly as I can tell, these teams haven't met in nearly 30 years — before South Carolina joined the SEC.

    Furman won, 28–23, on Oct. 16, 1982. Can it happen again? We've already seen two stunning upsets in college football this season so it's certainly possible that it will happen for a third straight week. But it isn't very probable.

    I'll take South Carolina.

  • #14 Utah at New Mexico: As talented as Utah has been in recent years, the natural assumption is that it has dominated New Mexico in football. And, for the most part, the Utes have.

    But New Mexico has enjoyed success from time to time — like when the Lobos won five of seven from 2000 to 2006. In some of those years, Utah clearly had the better team. But New Mexico won, anyway.

    And recent trips to New Mexico have been unexpectedly challenging for Utah. The last two contests there were won by a single field goal. Utah enjoyed a comparatively lopsided win (28–7) in New Mexico in 2004, but that was unusual for games in this series that have been played on the Lobos' field since the dawn of the current millennium.

    Typically, those games have been decided by a single score. And that could be what will happen today.

    Yes, it might be close today. But I still think Utah will win.

  • Mississippi State at #15 LSU, 6 p.m. on ESPNU: LSU has won 10 in a row against Mississippi State, which really isn't too surprising.

    Through most of the last decade, LSU has been a contender for the national title, winning two of them. Mississippi State has had only two winning seasons since its last win over LSU (which came in the previous millennium).

    And that win came at Mississippi State. It's been even longer since Mississippi State won at LSU. The Tigers have held serve at home in nine straight contests, and I believe LSU will extend that streak to 10 today.

  • Clemson at #16 Auburn, 6 p.m. on ESPN: For some reason that I can't begin to explain, it seems to me that Clemson and Auburn play each other in football a lot more often than they actually do.

    But since 1971, the teams have played each other only twice, and both were bowl games — the Peach Bowl in January 1998 (won by Auburn, 21–17) and the Chick–Fil–A Bowl in December 2007 (also won by Auburn, 23–20).

    Now, in the late '60s and early '70s, the teams really did face off every season. They met for five straight years, from 1967 to 1971, and Auburn won every time. In fact, you'd have to go back to the days of the Truman administration to find the last time Clemson beat Auburn, regardless of the venue.

    I'll take Auburn.

  • #18 USC at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m. on ESPN: Based on my research, these teams haven't faced each other in 30 years. And they haven't played in Minnesota since the year before that.

    USC won both of those games — and most of the games between the schools prior to that as well. Minnesota hasn't beaten USC in Minnesota in more than half a century.

    Can Minnesota do it today? I don't think so. Give me USC.

  • Wake Forest at #19 Stanford, 10:15 p.m. on ESPN2: These teams met at Wake Forest last year, and Wake Forest won the game, 24–17.

    Now, Wake Forest had some good teams a few years back, but the Demon Deacons have been struggling in recent years. Meanwhile, Stanford, after many years of mediocrity, appears to be on its way up.

    So the rankings appear to be a reasonable reflection of the public's perception of these two programs. Stanford is seen as the better team. It is also the home team this time, which means Wake Forest is the one that must contend with the jet lag that comes from a coast–to–coast commute this time.

    Seems to me the factors favor Stanford.

  • Massachusetts at #20 Michigan: There was a time when Michigan was feared in college football. It was taken for granted that the Wolverines might go undefeated until they met up with the Buckeyes of Ohio State at the end of the season, then the two would square off with a trip to Pasadena awaiting the winner.

    There were occasional exceptions to this rule, but, ordinarily, that's about how it played out.

    But times have changed. Ohio State has remained ranked among the nation's elite, but the Wolverines have struggled of late. In 2007, they opened the season with an astonishing loss to Appalachian State. They ended up going 8–4 that season and capping the campaign with a Capital One Bowl win over Florida, but, in hindsight, the bell began tolling for the program that year.

    In 2008, Michigan skidded to a 3–9 record, its lowest win total since 1963 (when the team played only nine games). And last year was only marginally better.

    So it is safe to say I am skeptical when anyone tells me that Michigan is back. Historically speaking, OK, they tend to rebound after one or maybe two bad seasons. But these last two seasons were exceptionally bad for Michigan. And I am not convinced that the Wolverines are competitive again because they have beaten Connecticut and Notre Dame.

    Things are apt to get difficult for the Wolverines when the Big Ten season begins. But, for now, I'm inclined to think that Michigan will remain unbeaten after playing Massachusetts today — and probably after playing Bowling Green next week.

  • Maryland at #21 West Virginia, 11 a.m. on ESPNU: Until the last two seasons, these two schools had faced each other every year since 1980.

    I don't know why the practice stopped after the 2007 season — or why it is being resumed today. What I can say is that West Virginia has won its last four encounters with Maryland and that Maryland's last win at West Virginia was in 1994.

    And I can also say that I think West Virginia will win.

  • Kent State at #22 Penn State, 11 a.m. on ESPN2: This shouldn't be a contest. I'll take Penn State.

  • #23 Houston at UCLA, 9:30 p.m. on FSN: The last time these schools faced each other was in 1998. Houston was the home team; UCLA was the winner, 42–24. They met the year before that, too, in Los Angeles, and UCLA won by an even wider margin, 66–10.

    Houston's last victory over UCLA was in 1979, when the Cougars opened the season with a 24–16 win in Los Angeles. Houston went on to win the Southwest Conference title and played Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl. UCLA went 5–6.

    The '70s were good to Houston, at least as far as its football games with UCLA were concerned. In 1977, Houston beat UCLA, 17–13, even though the Cougars limped to a 6–5 finish that year.

    But the fact remains that Houston hasn't beaten UCLA in more than 30 years. Can the Cougars win this time? I'm going to say no. UCLA will win.

  • Louisville at #25 Oregon State: These schools last met in 2005, when Louisville prevailed at home, 63–27. Now Oregon State gets to return the favor and be the host.

    There are some other differences, too. This time, Oregon State is ranked and Louisville is not.

    I'll go with Oregon State.
Last week: 16–4.

Season: 37–5.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

I Stand Corrected



Last week, I wrote that Jacksonville State's victory over Ole Miss on Labor Day weekend would be the biggest upset of the still young college football season.

But it took only a week for an even bigger upset to occur.

Thirteenth–ranked Virginia Tech was humiliated by James Madison, 21–16, yesterday.

Kinda makes you wonder what's next, doesn't it?

Well, as devastated as the Tech players must be after being embarrassed, the loss may prove to be even more deadly for Boise State, the team that beat Tech in an electrifying Labor Day night game.

Boise State had hoped that a victory over Tech could serve as its springboard into the national title game in January. But, as USA Today observes, JMU's triumph "devalued" Boise State's achievement.

And I have to believe USA Today is right about that. Virginia Tech is almost certain to fall out of the rankings, and Boise State will be deprived of its signature win.

Which, I think, makes my point for me.

College football needs a legitimate playoff system.

If Boise State goes undefeated this regular season, it will be the fifth time in the last seven years. Sometimes the Broncos have stumbled in their bowl game, as they did against Louisville in December 2004 and against TCU in December 2008. But other times they have met the postseason challenge, like last January when Boise beat TCU and January of 2007, when the Broncos shocked Oklahoma.

But they've been repeatedly denied a spot in the national championship game, sometimes in favor of teams with blemishes on their records, because the Broncos don't play in what is considered a "power conference."

Lots of people thought that beating Virginia Tech would permit them to get over that hurdle, but JMU likely will turn out to be the fly in that ointment.

Ya gotta wonder. What's next?

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Coaches' Day



Today is September 11, and, in the eyes of most of the people living today, it is the ninth anniversary of the worst terrorist attack ever on American soil.

In fact, this date is so closely linked to terrorism that I presume it will always be remembered — in memory as well as history books — that way.

And, considering what happened on this day in 2001, that is as it should be.

I'm not so sure it deserves the label of Patriots' Day. Perhaps the passengers on Flight 93 staged a revolt that led to the plane crashing in a Pennsylvania field, but the passengers on the other three planes did nothing particularly patriotic. As nearly as I can tell, they huddled in the back or remained in their seats while the terrorists flew the planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

That isn't meant as a criticism. Far from it. Had I been on board one of those planes nine years ago today, I, too, would have done whatever I was told in the mistaken belief that cooperating would help to defuse the situation.

But, in fact, cooperating only made things easier for the terrorists to achieve their goals. Nearly 10 years after the hijackings, I have heard suggestions that only the passengers on one of the airplanes tried to resist. But that is understandable. Who among us had any idea that morning what those goals might be? On Sept. 11, 2001, no one except the Muslim extremists who dreamed up the plan had given much thought to the idea of turning jets into bombs.

So I'm torn over the idea of calling today Patriots' Day. It isn't that I don't feel the people who lost their lives on that day should be remembered. I do. I'm just not convinced that the passengers on those planes acted particularly heroically. In death, they have become propaganda symbols, like the folks who died in the Alamo and on board the USS Maine.

But, before this day nine years ago, it was like any other day on the calendar. In some families, it was someone's birthday. In other families, it was a wedding anniversary. And, in still others, it was the anniversary of a death.

Over the years, important things did happen on this date, but nothing that even approached the devastation of that day in 2001.
  • For example, nearly 400 years before two airplanes slammed into the World Trade Center, Henry Hudson discovered Manhattan Island on Sept. 11, 1609.

    As more Europeans came to North America, it was probably inevitable that Manhattan would be found by someone so Hudson can hardly be blamed for what happened four centuries later. Nor could he be said to have put everything in motion.

    And Hudson didn't make what could arguably be called the sweetest deal in the history of real estate transactions, buying the island for about $24 worth of beads and baubles. That was someone else many years later.

    But his discovery was the beginning of a story that certainly must include the events of 9/11.

  • And it was 60 years before the terrorist attacks, on Sept. 11, 1941, that Charles Lindbergh, the famous American aviator who flew nonstop from New York to Paris in 1927, gave a speech accusing the British, the Jews and the Roosevelt administration of being advocates of a war with Germany and manipulating public opinion in that direction.

    I find that ironic, given the recent flap over plans to build a Muslim facility near Ground Zero and the even more recent controversy over a Florida pastor's announced intention to burn the Quran today.

    "We cannot blame them for looking out for what they believe to be their own interests, but we also must look out for ours," Lindbergh said as he insisted that he wasn't attacking the British or the Jews. "We cannot allow the natural passions and prejudices of other peoples to lead our country to destruction."
Well, before 2001, this day was noted as the birthday of two legendary football coaches — Paul "Bear" Bryant and Tom Landry.

Both men coached in other places before they took the jobs with which they always will be linked in the lore of football — Bryant at Alabama and Landry at Dallas. If you lived in the South in the 1960s and 1970s, you couldn't avoid them.

There were many great college coaches in the South in those days, actually — Darrell Royal of Texas, Vince Dooley of Georgia, Charles McClendon of LSU, Ralph "Shug" Jordan of Auburn, Barry Switzer of Oklahoma and Frank Broyles of my alma mater, Arkansas — but no one had the charisma, the raw star power of Bryant.

True, Royal was said to have revolutionized college football with the development of the "wishbone" offense. And he did win three national titles. So, too, did Switzer. But Bryant won six.

With his trademark hat and his gravelly voice, Bryant would have stood out, anyway, but he was always more noteworthy than his peers. He had sort of a John Wayne aura that probably would have been a weekly hit on TV if college football teams hadn't been restricted in their regular–season appearances in those pre–cable days

Landry wore a similar hat to Cowboys games.

He was born on Bryant's 11th birthday, and, for decades, he was the only coach the Dallas Cowboys ever had. That changed, of course, as it was bound to. Landry built the franchise, from its first games in 1960 to perennial Super Bowl contender (and occasional winner), but he left when the team was in decline and the whispers that the game had passed him by were no longer whispers.

That concept would have been laughable when I was a child. In those days, Landry was seen as an innovator, a coach who was always ahead of the curve.

In my childhood, the Cowboys were just about the only successful pro football team in the South. New Orleans was decades from becoming a legitimate Super Bowl contender, as was Atlanta. Houston had its moments but never seriously challenged anyone for much until Earl Campbell came along in the late 1970s.

The other option was Miami, which became more appealing after the Dolphins went undefeated in 1972. But, in my hometown in central Arkansas, Miami was too far away. Dallas was close enough that actually attending a game there was possible — even if, much of the time, it wasn't likely.

So the Cowboys had a clear fan base in my hometown that was influenced by both the team's success on the field and its proximity.

Now, much of the time, the Cowboys were known as the team that couldn't win the big one. They always seemed to be coming up short in the conference championship game or the Super Bowl, which Landry lost three times (twice to Terry Bradshaw and the Steelers).

The Cowboys were always in the thick of things. They became known as "America's Team," for which they were both loved and loathed.

My grandparents lived in Dallas, so I visited the city far more often than most of my friends when I was growing up. And, occasionally, my father and my brother and I attended Cowboys games. I saw Roger Staubach and Landry in person, and they had a magical quality of their own.

I also saw Bryant in person once. It was a Sugar Bowl game against Penn State in the mid–1970s. No national title was on the line on that occasion, unlike their next meeting in New Orleans a few years later.

Some folks will tell you that they think of Alabama's legendary rivalry with Auburn when they think of the Bear. Or perhaps they'll mention the series with LSU or Tennessee or Georgia.

But, even though the schools seldom played each other, I always think of Alabama's rivalry with Penn State, both on the field and off the field, when I think of Bear Bryant. Even if they didn't play each other on New Year's Day, they were rivals for the pollsters' affections.

And, in my mind, Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions are forever linked to Bear Bryant and the Crimson Tide.

Therefore, it seems appropriate to me that the schools are playing each other today, on what would have been Bryant's 97th birthday.

And tomorrow night, the Cowboys will kick off the season against the Washington Redskins.

In his coaching career, Landry had many rivals. His Super Bowl meetings with the Steelers of the 1970s are legendary. His NFC clashes with the likes of the Vikings and the 49ers were classic, and his rivalry with Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers produced the iconic "Ice Bowl."

Thoughts of Landry really bring back a lot of memories for me. In part, I suppose that is because I could watch him on TV just about every week. I was far beyond the blackout range but close enough to see just about every game every Sunday (except for one fall when my father, a college professor, went on his sabbatical and took the family with him to Nashville, Tenn., where, as I recall, we got more variety in our weekly pro football coverage than we had in Arkansas).

But I guess you could say that I always think of Dallas' rivalry with the Washington Redskins when I think of Landry. The Redskins emerged as a force to reckon with in the 1970s, and the Cowboys–and–Indians imagery was just too enticing.

So, likewise, it seems appropriate that, on the day after what would have been Landry's 86th birthday, the Cowboys and the Redskins will open their season against each other.

Happy Coaches' Day.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

I Have Mixed Emotions About Ole Miss' Loss



As a graduate of the University of Arkansas, I enjoyed the Razorbacks' season opener against Tennessee Tech the other day, especially since it helped vault them to #14 in the latest Associated Press poll.

But, as a graduate of the U of A (and a lifelong Razorback fan, on top of that), I must confess that I had mixed emotions over the outcome of the Ole Miss–Jacksonville State game. It matched two former Arkansas coaches — Jack Crowe, who once coached Arkansas in a humiliating season–opening loss to The Citadel (which cost him his job the next day), and Houston Nutt, who led the Razorbacks for about a decade before leaving for SEC rival Ole Miss a couple of years ago.

My friends in Arkansas have a different opinion of Nutt than I have, and perhaps that is to be expected. I've been gone from Arkansas for a long time. My friends see the Arkansas coaches up close and personal, warts and all; I get considerably less Razorback coverage here in Dallas.

Anyway, all of a coach's shortcomings are magnified in a place like Arkansas. From my vantage point, I watched Nutt lead Arkansas to bowl games, which was something that didn't happen very much in the years before he arrived.

And a Razorback was a legitimate candidate for the Heisman Trophy in Nutt's last two seasons at Arkansas. I can't remember the last time a Razorback was a contender for that award — if ever.

Nutt may have had his faults, but I will always be grateful for the success he brought the program. And I don't wish him ill.

Certainly, I didn't wish for what happened on Saturday.

I guess I should be happy for Crowe. But he wasn't at Arkansas long enough for me to develop any kind of loyalty to him. The rest of the college football world has been abuzz about the accomplishment, the way it always is when something like this happens.

For their part, Jacksonville State's Gamecocks are relishing their moment in the spotlight.

This week, Nutt and the Rebels have been in a lot of pain. They lost to Jacksonville State on Saturday. After going to the Cotton Bowl in Nutt's first two seasons there, I'm certain Rebel fans expected better than this.

Well, Ole Miss will bounce back — eventually. And Jacksonville State probably will never have another win like this one. Inevitably, the football world will return to normal.

But I'm guessing that college football won't witness a bigger upset for the rest of the season.

All but one of the teams in the Top 25 will be in action this weekend, and four games actually match two ranked teams. Third–ranked Boise State is idle this week. The Broncos get an extra week to savor their triumph over Virginia Tech on Monday.

All game times are Central.

Today
  • #21 Auburn at Mississippi State, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN: In the last 10 years, Auburn has won eight times against MSU. The Bulldogs' most recent glory days in this series came in the late 1990s, when they won four in a row over the Tigers.

    Auburn went through a rough spell, but the Tigers seem to be back on track. The Bulldogs are not. I still believe MSU will upset someone in the SEC this year, but it won't be Auburn, not this early in the season.

    But later this season, when MSU is about to face a team that's a little dinged up, watch out.
Friday
  • #23 West Virginia at Marshall, 6 p.m. on ESPN: Marshall has lost five in a row to West Virginia. Make that six.
Saturday
  • #18 Penn State at #1 Alabama, 6 p.m. on ESPN: There was a time when Penn State and Alabama only met in bowl games. Both were usually highly ranked, and even if they didn't meet in a bowl, there was always talk that they might. Bear Bryant and Joe Paterno were roaming the sidelines in those days. I even watched them play in person once.

    Some things are different now. For one, Bryant isn't around anymore (although Paterno still is); for another, this isn't a bowl game. Actually, though, the last time the teams faced each other, in 1990, Penn State prevailed, 9–0, in a regular–season clash just before Halloween.

    In fact, the teams faced each other every year back in those days. 'Bama won in 1989, 1988 and 1987; Penn State won in 1986 and 1985. And the schools played during the four seasons prior to that.

    It's possible that these two teams may face each other in a bowl game again, perhaps this year. But, at this point in the season, I'm inclined to think the home field and a pretty sharp squad will carry the day for Alabama, even if the defending Heisman Trophy winner won't be able to play.

  • #12 Miami (Florida) at #2 Ohio State, 2:30 p.m. on ABC: Back in January 2003, these two teams met in a thriller of a national championship game. Ohio State won the game in double overtime.

    This will be the first time the schools have met since that night. Prior to that, the teams met in the "Kickoff Classic" in East Rutherford, N.J., to open the 1999 season. Miami won that one. Before that, you have to go back to 1977 to find a time when these teams played each other.

    It ought to be a good game, but I'll give the edge to Ohio State.

  • Tennessee Tech at #4 TCU: I watched the Arkansas–Tennessee Tech game online last weekend, and I can only reach one conclusion. Tech will get a second straight big payday for showing up, but TCU will get the win.

  • Wyoming at #5 Texas, 6 p.m. on FSN: En route to their national championship date with Alabama last January, the Texas Longhorns traveled to Wyoming, where they cruised to a 41–10 victory.

    Meetings between the schools have been infrequent, to say the least. You have to go back to 1978 to find their last time the teams faced off in Austin, where Saturday's game will be played. Texas won that one, too, 17–3.

    They also played in Austin in 1974. The Longhorns won, 34–7.

    Will the fourth time be the charm for Wyoming? No. I expect a result similar to last year's — Texas by a comfortable margin.

  • Idaho at #6 Nebraska: I don't think these two teams have played before, but I don't think it matters if we don't have a previous game to use as a comparison.

    I expect Nebraska to win with no trouble.

  • #7 Oregon at Tennessee, 6 p.m. on ESPN2: I don't think these schools have faced each other in football before. Oregon is in the Top 10; Tennessee is not ranked. That would suggest an advantage for the Ducks.

    But the Volunteers are the home team, and, in Knoxville, that means something. Tennessee can pack more than 100,000 people into its stadium, and most of them will be wearing orange. I anticipate an Oregon victory, but it may not be easy.

  • South Florida at #8 Florida, 11:21 a.m. on SEC Network: This is another match that has never occurred before.

    I've heard that South Florida has a decent program — and might even give Florida a real game of it. But it's mighty tough to win in Gainesville — unless you play for Florida, and I do expect the Gators to win.

  • Iowa State at #9 Iowa, 2:30 p.m. on ABC: This series has been going on for a long time, and, historically, Iowa usually wins.

    You do have the exceptions, especially in the last decade — 2007 (when ISU won, 15–13), 2005 (a 23–3 win for ISU), 2002 (ISU's last win at Iowa, 36–31), 2001 (a 17–14 win for ISU and the last of four consecutive victories).

    The last three games at Iowa have resulted in Iowa victories — but not blowouts. Iowa's average margin of victory has been about 10 points.

    It ought to be a good game, but I'll take Iowa.

  • #17 Florida State at #10 Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m. on ABC: Do you remember the last time Florida State faced Oklahoma? It was Jan. 4, 2001, and the teams were meeting in the national title game in the Orange Bowl. OU won the game, 13–2.

    That was the first time the teams had met since Jan. 1, 1981, when OU beat Florida State in the Orange Bowl, 18–17. The year before that, OU beat FSU in the same bowl game, 24–7.

    But you have to go back to Sept. 25, 1976, when Florida State (then competing as an independent) and Oklahoma (then a member of the Big Eight) last met in the regular season. On that occasion, they played in the same place where they will play on Saturday — Norman, Okla. — and OU was the winner, 24–9.

    1976 was a comparatively down year for the Sooners, who had put together a record of 53–3–1 between 1971 and 1975. And, while they've enjoyed some success in the past decade, it hasn't really come close to what they achieved in the 1970s.

    And, while the Sooners come into this game ranked ahead of the Seminoles, I am more impressed by how unimpressive OU was in its season opener against Utah State.

    I agree with the Miami Herald that both teams have a lot to prove. But I think Florida State is ready to win. I'm not sure about Oklahoma.

  • San Jose State at #11 Wisconsin, 11 a.m. on ESPN: I don't think San Jose State and Wisconsin have ever faced each other in football.

    So there is no historical comparison to be made. But all you really need to know is that SJSU — which plays in the WAC — has a record of 25–35 in the previous five seasons while Wisconsin — which plays in the Big Ten — has a record of 48–17.

    I pick Wisconsin.

  • James Madison at #13 Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech last played James Madison in 2003, when Tech rolled to a 43–0 triumph. Before that, they met in 1999, when Tech prevailed, 47–0.

    Prior to that, they faced each other in two straight season openers (1992 and 1991). Tech won both games, 49–20 and 41–12. And Tech concluded its 1987 season with a 27–6 win over JMU.

    There was one other meeting before that, in 1980, which Tech won, 38–6.

    I see no reason why Virginia Tech should not make it seven in a row.

  • Louisiana–Monroe at #14 Arkansas, 6 p.m. on FSN: Louisiana–Monroe played Arkansas two years ago and almost escaped with a win (but lost, 28–27). The teams met three straight years from 2004 to 2006, and Arkansas won by lopsided margins each time.

    Before the start of the new millennium, the teams squared off four other times, and the Razorbacks won each time, giving Arkansas an 8–0 mark against Louisiana–Monroe. Can Louisiana–Monroe win this encounter? I don't think so. Give me Arkansas.

  • #15 Georgia Tech at Kansas, 11 a.m. on FSN: Georgia Tech–Kansas might be an intriguing match in basketball, but they haven't met in football since the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day in 1948.

    Kansas went 5–7 last year while Tech has gone to a bowl game 13 years in a row. I'll pick Georgia Tech.

  • Virginia at #16 USC, 9:30 p.m. on FSN: These teams play on opposite coasts. They seldom face each other.

    But they did meet two years ago in the season opener, which USC won, 52–7.

    I think that is the only time the schools have faced each other on the gridiron — which means this weekend's trip to Los Angeles to face USC will be a first for Virginia.

    The Cavaliers went 3–9 last year. USC has had its troubles during the offseason, but I still think the Trojans will win the game.

  • #19 LSU at Vanderbilt, 6 p.m. on ESPNU: LSU and Vanderbilt play in different divisions in the SEC so they don't meet every year.

    In fact, you have to go back 20 years — to a time when the teams in the SEC weren't split into divisions — to find Vandy's last victory over LSU. The Tigers have won the last six meetings. And they've won 25 of their last 30 games in Baton Rouge.

    I expect LSU to prevail this time as well.

  • UNLV at #20 Utah: Utah and UNLV have faced each other every year for the last 11 years. Utah has won all but one.

    And I expect Utah to win again.

  • #22 Georgia at #24 South Carolina, 11 a.m. on ESPN2: Georgia and South Carolina are in the same division in the SEC so they play each other every year. Most of the time, it is a close game, no matter who wins.

    And the rankings suggest another down–to–the–wire finish this year.

    It's been 10 years since Georgia lost at South Carolina. And I'm going to predict that Georgia will make it five straight wins at South Carolina.

  • #25 Stanford at UCLA, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN: The times they may be changing in this series.

    In the last 30 years, UCLA beat Stanford 19 times, including five in a row before Stanford beat UCLA last year, 24–16. But UCLA is coming off a 31–22 loss to Kansas State on the road last weekend. Stanford, meanwhile, is favored in some quarters to win the Pac–10. I'll go with Stanford to make it two in a row against UCLA.
Last week: 21–1.
Season: 21–1.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Utah Will Beat Pitt in Mild Upset

Every team in the Associated Press Top 25 is in action this week — although, in most cases, that doesn't seem to mean very much.

Four ranked teams will be playing today, but none will face each other.

Today
  • Marshall at #2 Ohio State, 6:30 p.m., Big Ten Network: These teams met on the same field nearly six years ago to the day and Marshall came close to winning, losing by 24–21. Based on current rankings, I would expect Ohio State to cruise to victory.

    But Marshall has never been shy about taking on big–name foes, even if the prospects for victory were slim. In recent years, Marshall has played Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Miami (Florida), West Virginia, Georgia and others. Marshall seldom wins those games, but occasionally it comes close. Still, I'll pick Ohio State.

  • Florida A&M at #13 Miami (Florida): Based on recent history, this should be the closest match yet in their sporadic series.

    Miami whipped Florida A&M, 48–16, last year. Before that, the teams met in 2006, and the result was an even bigger triumph for the Hurricanes, 51–10. Prior to 2006, they met in the 2002 season opener, with Miami winning, 63–17. In 1999, the two played and Miami rolled to a 57–3 win.

    In fact, last year's game was the first time A&M held Miami under 50 points since 1995, when Miami won, 49–3. And it's been nearly 20 years since A&M held Miami under 40 points.

    But it's been even longer since Florida A&M defeated Miami (1979). I don't think that streak will be snapped tonight. Florida A&M may find a way to hold Miami under 50 points again — but I expect Miami to win.

  • #14 USC at Hawaii, 9 p.m., ESPN: These two teams faced off in the season opener in Hawaii five years ago, and USC rolled, 63–17. They faced each other in California two years earlier, and USC was the winner on that occasion as well, 61–32. In fact, USC always seems to be scoring in the 60s when it faces Hawaii. The Trojans won in 1999, 62–7, and you have to go back to the late 1970s to find a time when Hawaii's defense put a lock on USC's defense.

    My best guess — at this early stage of the season and knowing the turmoil that has surrounded the USC program in the offseason — is that USC will prevail, but those 60–point performances are history. The Trojans will need to be satisfied with half that, considering that Hawaii hasn't surrendered more than 60 points since the last time these teams played, and USC has cracked the 60–point barrier only once since the 2005 season.

  • #15 Pitt at Utah, 7:30 p.m., Versus: These teams are meeting for the first time since the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2005. Utah won that meeting, 35–7, en route to a 12–0 record.

    I don't think they have played on any other occasion, and Pitt is the more highly regarded program today, but it is worth remembering that Utah was 10–3 last year, with losses to three teams that were in double digits in wins last season. I'll take Utah in a marginal upset. After all, Utah had some support in AP's poll, just not enough to crack the Top 25.
Nineteen teams in the Top 25 will be playing on Saturday. Most will be facing unranked foes, but there will be two clashes between ranked teams.

Saturday
  • San Jose State at #1 Alabama: Hmmm. Let's see. Alabama is the defending national champion and the home team. San Jose State has broken .500 twice in the last decade and is coming off a 2–10 season. I don't think I'm going out on a limb to pick Alabama.

  • Miami (Ohio) at #4 Florida, 11 a.m., ESPN: Likewise, I don't think it is a reach to pick Florida to win its opener against Miami (Ohio). Miami went 1–11 last year. OK, Tim Tebow is gone, but I still think the Gators should cruise in this one.

  • #5 Texas at Rice, 2:30 p.m., ESPN: Texas and Rice used to play each other every year in the old Southwest Conference. There was a time, I am told, when Rice was competitive with Texas. It hasn't been that way in a long time, and it won't be competitive this time. I pick Texas.

  • #24 Oregon State vs. #6 TCU at Dallas, 6:45 p.m., ESPN2: This actually should be a pretty decent game if the weather cooperates.

    Lately, the weather here has been cooler. Not cool — but it is cooler than it's been. Currently, the forecast calls for a high around 90° in Arlington on Saturday. By the time Saturday actually gets here, it might be cooler. Or it might be warmer. This is Texas. And it is early September.

    From that perspective, TCU has the advantage. I'll take TCU

  • Utah State at #7 Oklahoma: Utah State traveled to Oklahoma two years ago and lost big, 54–3.

    Before that, Utah State last came to Norman in 1991 and lost by the (comparatively) closer score of 55–21.

    Before that, you have to go back to 1974, when Utah State got hammered, 72–3.

    I think a trend has been established. I'll take Oklahoma

  • Western Kentucky at #8 Nebraska: Western Kentucky was 0–12 last year. Nebraska narrowly lost the Big 12 title game to Texas.

    'Nuff said.

    Give me Nebraska.

  • Eastern Illinois at #9 Iowa: I think this is Eastern Illinois' first–ever visit to Iowa. It shouldn't be too memorable.

    I'll take Iowa.

  • New Mexico at #11 Oregon: I don't think New Mexico and Oregon have played each other before.

    And, when you consider that New Mexico is 5–19 in the last two seasons, it's hard to imagine Oregon losing this game. Give me Oregon

  • #12 Wisconsin at UNLV, 10 p.m., Versus: UNLV played host to Wisconsin in 2007 and almost came away with a victory.

    Can UNLV pull it off this time? Nah. I'll take Wisconsin.

  • South Carolina State at #16 Georgia Tech: I can't imagine South Carolina State winning this game. Give me Georgia Tech.

  • Tennessee Tech at #17 Arkansas: I grew up in Arkansas, and I can't recall a time when these schools ever faced each other.

    Maybe they did, but Arkansas certainly must have won the game. If the Hogs had lost, I'm sure I would remember it.

    Anyway, the game is being played in Fayetteville, and I have heard nothing that would lead me to believe that Arkansas might lose. So I will predict an Arkansas victory.

  • #21 LSU vs. #18 North Carolina at Atlanta, 7 p.m., ABC: This may be the most intriguing matchup of the weekend, in large part because these teams so seldom face each other.

    In fact, I have found no evidence that the teams have met in football in nearly a quarter of a century. They played each other a couple of times in the mid–1980s, with LSU winning both times. Prior to that, they hadn't met since 1964, when LSU prevailed en route to a Sugar Bowl victory over Syracuse and an 8–2–1 record.

    In 1961, LSU opened the season with a loss to Rice, then ran off 10 straight wins, including a victory in the Orange Bowl. One of those wins was over North Carolina. Before that, you'd have to go back to the days of the Truman administration to find the next game between these schools.

    I guess you could say North Carolina is due for a win, and a neutral field might work in the Tar Heels' favor. But I've been watching SEC football ever since my alma mater (Arkansas) joined the conference, and LSU is almost always good. So I'll pick LSU to win, even though I expect it to be a close game.

  • Youngstown State at #19 Penn State, 11 a.m., Big Ten Network: Youngstown State's last visit to Penn State came in 2006, when Penn State won, 37–3.

    I don't know if the schools faced each other before that, but, really, does it matter? I expect Penn State to win this one, easily.

  • Samford at #20 Florida State, 11 a.m., ESPNU: The post–Bobby Bowden era begins. It won't begin with a loss. I'll take Florida State

  • Arkansas State at #22 Auburn, 6 p.m., FSS: Since Arkansas State last traveled to Auburn in 2005 (and lost, 27–0), ASU has won 16 games and lost 23. One of those wins was a win against a decidedly down Texas A&M squad in 2008, but the rest of its wins were against struggling programs.

    I think it is safe to say that, after a down year in 2008, the Tigers are back in form and are not likely to be struggling, at least not in their opener. I'll take Auburn

  • Louisiana–Lafayette at #23 Georgia, 11:21 a.m., SEC Network: I think this is the first time these schools have played each other in football so there's no historical comparison to make. But is it really necessary? I mean, come on. This is Georgia we're talking about. Non–SEC opponents almost never win between the hedges. I'll take Georgia.

  • Coastal Carolina at #25 West Virginia: Quick. What is Coastal Carolina's team nickname? OK, I didn't know, either. And it really doesn't matter, does it? Here's a much more relevant question. Why should I pick Coastal Carolina to do what very few teams have been able to do (i.e., win at West Virginia) in the last several years? I see no compelling reason to pick the Chanticleers. So I'll take West Virginia.
The remaining two ranked teams will face each other in a Labor Day game.

Monday
  • #3 Boise State vs. #10 Virginia Tech at Landover, Md., 7 p.m., ESPN: I don't think these teams have played each other before, but it's certainly a good primetime test for the potentially BCS–busting Boise State football team. Boise went 14–0 in 2009 and has lost only four times in the last four seasons.

    Virginia Tech is a worthy challenger, ranked 10th in the nation this season and winner of at least 10 games a season in nine of the last 11 years.

    And the game is apt to be a showcase for some of the talent that should be in the running for this year's Heisman. Cory McCartney observes, for SportsIllustrated.com, that Boise QB Kellen Moore is one of the leading contenders going into the season — but he may need a spectacular performance to overcome his team's non–BCS status.

    Meanwhile, Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams is a longshot, McCartney writes — not because of a lack of talent but because of a lack of touches.

    "[W]ith the return of 1,000–yard rusher Darren Evans to the Hokies' lineup and the pair expected to split carries," writes McCartney, "Williams' production could suffer."

    Boise State has played and beaten some big–name teams in recent years, including Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl a few years back. And Boise is coming off another Fiesta Bowl triumph, its 17–10 win over TCU in January,

    But the last time Boise played a 1A team after winning the Fiesta Bowl, the opponent won the game. And that is what I'm predicting here — Virginia Tech to win.

    On the other hand, the last team to open the season at Virginia Tech — Alabama, last year — won and went on to win the national championship. So, if Boise wins, watch out!
Note: All times are Central.