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Harbaugh Cheats Stanford Football Fans Out Of Real Victory

November 20, 2009 under College Football


By Eddie Mayrose

Two Point Try A Shot At USC Football Coach

November 23, 1968.  Ohio State, on its way to a National Championship, squares off with arch rival Michigan at Ohio Stadium.  Late in the woody hayesgame, Buckeye fullback Jim Otis blasts over the goal line to put the home team up 48-14.  Yet, instead of opting to kick the extra point, Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes decides instead to attempt a two point conversion in order to hang the half century mark on his bitter enemy.  Asked after the game why he went for two, Hayes famously responded, “Because they wouldn’t let us go for three.”

Thought of that last Saturday when Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh left his offense on the field to go for two after a touchdown gave the Cardinal a 55-21 lead over USC in the fourth quarter.  Now, I have no idea what may have been Harbaugh’s motivation; for all we know, he may have a beef with Pete Carroll dating back to their days in the NFL.  But what Harbaugh actually accomplished was pushing his team’s incredible performance over the last two weeks out of the spotlight.  Instead of talking about the fact that Stanford rang up more than 100 points on two Top Ten teams in successive games, or trumpeting the Heisman candidacy of RB Toby Gerhart, who scored three times while running all over the Trojans or Stanford’s incredible, out-of-nowhere run that has them talking about a trip to the Rose Bowl, we’re scratching our heads trying to find a reason for the feud between the two coaches.  And that’s sad.


Games of the Week


Oregon at Arizona

-  Arizona is still alive in the Rose Bowl hunt but they’ll have to win out and get some help.  Oregon may have the services of RB LeGarrette Blount for the first time since the season opener.  Can’t see Oregon blowing this opportunity, especially considering they’ve already had their stumble vs. Stanford.  Still, the Pac Ten is a tough place to win on the road.  The pick here is Oregon 38-27.


St. Joseph’s Dallas Carter vs. Philadelphia City Six

- It’s Tournament time in the land of the cheese steaks for the Intramural Football Champions of Philly’s five major universities and Villanova.  St. Joe’s Dallas Carter heads into the title round at Drexel carrying the favorite tag based on a roster chock full of New York guys.  QB Danny Mayrose and WR James Lopez look to add a football crown to the victory list they’ve compiled since kindergarten and will turn to Joe Mreczko and rookie sensation Marc Strange for some much needed help along the way.  Asked for a prediction, the four concurred, “The Hawk Will Never Die.”  We’ll agree, especially if Mayrose and Lopez have their hands on the ball in crunch time.


CollegeSportsView.com Top 25


1. Texas 10-0
2. Florida 10-0
3. TCU 10-0
4. Alabama 10-0
5. Boise State 10-0
6. Cincinnati 10-0
7. Pittsburgh 9-1
8. Georgia Tech 10-1
9. LSU 8-2
10.Oregon 8-2
11.Ohio State 9-2
12.Oklahoma State 8-2
13.Stanford 7-3
14.BYU 8-2
15.Clemson 7-3
16.Iowa 9-2
17.USC 7-3
18.Wisconsin 8-2
19.Oregon State 7-3
20.Houston 8-2
21.Virginia Tech 7-3
22.Nebraska 7-3
23.North Carolina 7-3
24.Nevada 7-3
25.Navy 7-3

Five to Watch
Miami 7-3
Utah 8-2
Rutgers 8-2
Arizona 7-3
West Virginia 7-3

BCS On Track For Another Bad Title Game

October 29, 2009 under College Football

By Eddie Mayrose

NCAA Football at Mercy of Illogical BCS: Iowa Is Latest Fraud

It only took two weeks of BCS rankings before the first absurdity reared its ugly head. Iowa football, based on itshawkeye incredible offensive output that produced a thrilling, last-minute, 15-13 victory over the super charged, 4-4 Michigan State Spartans, leap frogs Boise State in this week’s poll and lands in the Number Four spot, ahead of TCU, and the Cincinnati Bearcats as well. So much for computers in sports.

Iowa has slogged its way through the mind-numbingly, mediocre Big Ten Conference; benefiting immensely from the BCS’ inability to recognize the conference as the weakest of its six leagues. The Hawkeyes have but one signature win; a 21-10 yawnfest over Penn State in Happy Valley. Even that victory can’t be accurately valued, as the Nittany Lions have played more cupcakes than anyone in the Top 25. Who knows if they’re any good?

Boise, on the other hand, walloped an Oregon team facing off with USC this weekend for the inside track to the Rose Bowl. That the Ducks have been manhandling opponents without their best offensive player, LeGarrette Blount, makes Boise’s season-opening thrashing of Oregon, with Blount, even more impressive. TCU has traveled to Clemson and BYU to register dominating wins while Cincinnati has knocked off South Florida and Oregon State in their own buildings. All of these teams are better than any that Iowa has faced to this point.

Am I bashing the Big Ten, Here? Absolutely and with good reason. Based on past reputation, the conference perennially reaps the benefits of being severely overrated. Ask yourself this. Which of the other teams in the Top Ten wouldn’t be favored in a matchup with Iowa? Hell, Ohio State is at seventeen and will absolutely be favored when they meet in two weeks.  Here’s hoping this mess works itself out, if only to spare us what has become the annual slaughter of the Big Ten in the BCS title game.

College Football Games of the Week

USC Trojans vs the Oregon Ducks- In the de facto Pac Ten championship game, Oregon poses the last true hurdle on the Trojans’ path to the Rose Bowl. Pete Carroll’s boys have already suffered their one upset and are not out of the BCS Championship picture just yet. They’ll be too much for Oregon to handle, especially with a rapidly maturing Matt Barkley under center. USC 27 Oregon 13

Texas Longhorns v Oklahoma State Sooners

- The Longhorns road to the Big 12 Championship game is clear once they get past Oklahoma State. The Cowboys have done well to rebound from two significant, early season losses. The first, to Houston and the second, All American WR Dez Bryant; declared ineligible by the NCAA. Texas 31 Oklahoma State 10

Curry at Nichols- The Bison host their long time rival, Curry, in a matchup that’s gone against Nichols for longer than they’d care to admit. Head Coach Bill Carven has had enough, emotionally declaring to his charges, “I will not lose to Curry College!” The Bison have done a great job regrouping from the loss of four senior standouts and have fashioned a solid season. Look for DE Bill Hassett to wreak havoc in the Curry backfield and lead the Bison to a hard fought win. Nichols 16 Curry 14

Heisman Watch

Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame- The junior signal caller has the Irish at 5-2 and just a few plays claussenfrom 7-0 solely on the strength of his right arm. With Notre Dame’s defense employing a “bend and almost break” scheme every week, Clausen’s Montana-like, last minute heroics are the biggest reason the Irish are still in contention for a BCS bowl bid. If the award was given out today, it’d go to Clausen.





Tim Tebow, QB Florida

- The pre-season favorite and former Heisman winner muddled through tebow 2another mediocre performance at Mississippi State. Have to really start wondering if he’s all the way back from that concussion. He’ll have the advantage of an almost weekly national stage but needs to pick up his game if he wants bookends.





Mark Ingram, RB Alabama

- His fumble dealt a big blow to the Tide as it narrowly escaped mark-ingramTennessee’s upset bid last week in Tuscaloosa. Ingram committed the deadliest sin of Heisman hopefuls in failing to take advantage of a national television audience.





Anthony Pillari, WR Nichols

- The senior wideout could be in for a big weekend. Two weeks after pillariestablishing the Nichols’ record for receptions in a game (13), he needs just three catches this week to set a new Bison mark for receptions in a career(125). Should he grab seven, he’ll also own the school’s single season record (49) . As a Div. III player, the New Jersey native knows he’s a longshot for the Heisman but figures he’ll go out and have a great season, nonetheless. “This team graduated some legendary seniors last year”, said Pillari, “and I’m just trying to live up to the things I learned in their house; do your best and don’t be a shem.”

CollegeSportsView Top 25 in College Football

1) Florida 7-0
2) Texas 7-0
3) Alabama 8-0
4) Boise State 7-0
5) Cincinnati 7-0
6) TCU 7-0
7) USC 6-1
8 )LSU 6-1
9) Oregon 6-1
10)Iowa 8-0
11)Georgia Tech 7-1
12)Oklahoma State 6-1
13)South Carolina 6-2
14)Houston 6-1
15)Penn State 7-1
16)Virginia Tech 5-2
17)Oklahoma State 6-1
18)Notre Dame 5-2
19)Pittsburgh 7-1
20)Utah 6-1
21)West Virginia 6-1
22)Mississippi 5-2
23)Miami 5-2
24)California 5-2
25)Oklahoma 4-3

Five to Watch
Wisconsin 5-2
Navy 6-2
BYU 6-2
South Florida 5-2
Nichols 4-4

 

Big Conference Matchups Highlight This Week’s NCAA Schedule

October 15, 2009 under College Football, Uncategorized

We’re seven weeks into the College Football season and finally have a weekend we can01-USCNotreDameAP sink our teeth into.  Starting with a huge Big East matchup tonight and carrying through a big SEC clash on Saturday night, there are a number of games that will make or break a school’s hopes for at least a conference title and, in some cases, a National Championship.  Let’s take a look.

Red River Rivalry Is Oklahoma’s Last Stand
It’s plain and simple for Bob Stoops’ Oklahoma Sooners.  Win out or forget a BCS bid.  OU has already suffered two losses, albeit without the services of Heisman winner Sam Bradford, and can afford no more.  Each week’s contest will be the biggest of their season from here on out and none will be tougher than Saturday’s matchup with #2 Texas.  Mack Brown’s boys have been flying under the radar this season but intend show their wares to a national audience behind QB Colt McCoy, a narrow runner up to Bradford for last year’s Heisman.  Texas coach Mack Brown will look to repeat last year’s dominating performance that saw the Longhorns hold Oklahoma to just 48 rushing yds.  A Sooners’ victory would open the BCS door for quite a few schools but Texas just seems too strong.  Texas 34 Oklahoma 20.

Big East Championship Game in October
Tonight’s matchup between Cincinnati and South Florida lost some of its luster a few weeks back when USF QB Matt Grothe was lost for the season but still features the conference’s best teams.  Freshman sensation B.J. Daniels has done well to knock off an overrated Florida State and a punchless Syracuse squad since taking over.  However, the Bearcat offense is clicking on all cylinders behind QB Tony Pike and they’ve already shown they can win decisively on the road.  Cincy averages 42 PPG and will look to impress a national audience of voters by hanging at least that many on the Bulls. Cincinnati 38 South Florida 17.

No Easy Weeks For SEC Football Teams
Alabama, fresh off its biggest win of the season over Mississippi, puts its perfect record on the line vs. South Carolina. For the Gamecocks, the tandem of QB Stephen Garcia and WR Alshon Jeffery will have to play much better than last week when they managed to hold off a less than impressive Kentucky squad.  This is the first of three straight home games for the Tide, who’ll rely heavily on RB Mark Ingram to counter Steve Spurrier’s defensive schemes.  Alabama 27 South Carolina 23.

Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech Battle for Coastal Division Crown in ACC
The two best offenses in the ACC hook up with a bid to the conference championship game likely going to the winner. The Hokies have risen to #6 in this week’s CSV poll; an opening week loss to Alabama the only blemish on their record while Georgia Tech has a loss to Miami standing between them and perfection.  Both teams have dual threat QB’s with big play resumes but we like Va. Tech’s Tyrod Taylor just a bit more than Ga. Tech’s Josh Nesbitt.  And we absolutely love the speed of the Hokies defense.  Throw in the inevitable ‘Beamer Ball” special teams play and it comes up Virginia Tech 31  Georgia Tech 16.

USC Trojans Visit South Bend
USC continues its difficult road schedule in renewing its heated rivalry with the Fighting Irish.  ND coach Charlie Weis has had two weeks to prepare for this one but, unless he’s found a way to get thirteen defenders on the field, he’ll be on the short end of a shootout.  Irish QB Jimmy Claussen leads an offense as good as any in the country but the defense can’t stop anyone. Look for Pete Carroll to extend his winning streak over Notre dame to seven behind frosh QB Matt Barkley and tailback Joe McKnight.  USC 44 Notre Dame 34.

CollegeSportsView.com’s  Top 25

1) Florida (5-0)
2) Texas (5-0)
3) Alabama (6-0)
4) Boise State (5-0)
5) Cincinnati(5-0)
6) Virginia Tech (5-1)
7) USC (4-1)
8 ) LSU (5-1)
9) TCU (5-0)
10)Ohio State (5-1)
11)Kansas (5-0)
12)South Florida (5-0)
13)Oregon (5-1)
14)Oklahoma (3-2)
15)Iowa (6-0)
16)Nebraska (4-1)
17)South Carolina (5-1)
18)Miami (3-1)
19)Oklahoma State (4-1)
20)Georgia Tech (5-1)
21)Notre Dame (4-1)
22)Penn State (5-1)
23)BYU (5-1)
24)Wisconsin (5-1)
25)Utah (4-1)

Five Teams to Watch
Auburn (5-1)
Missouri (4-1)
Mississippi (3-2)
Arkansas (3-2)
Nichols  (3-3)

Close Calls and Big Hits Mark Life In The SEC

September 27, 2009 under College Football

By Eddie Mayrose


SEC Football Not For The Faint Of Heart

Three conference matchups this week gave a bit of a preview as to just how tough this season may be in the SEC.  While Tim-Tebow-Hurt-Video-And-PicturesAlabama cruised past Arkansas, Mississippi State came up less than a yard short of knocking off #5 LSU in Baton Rouge.  The Bulldogs had a first and goal at the Tigers’ 2 yard line but couldn’t punch it in.  In Lexington, despite Florida’s thrashing of previously unbeaten Kentucky, All-World QB Tim Tebow was knocked from the game with a concussion.  After spending Saturday night in the hospital, Tebow’s availability to return in time for the Gators’ road trip to LSU this weekend had yet to be determined.

Big East Conference Makes a Statement

Ask a college football fan which of the BCS conferences is the weakest and he’ll usually tell you it’s the Big East.  Seemingly bristling from that tag, the Big East made a Big Statement this weekend when South Florida, behind an untested freshman QB, went into Tallahassee and dominated Florida State.  Led by Tallahassee native B.J. Daniels, the Bulls led from start to finish in vanquishing Seminole squad coming off a huge win over Brigham Young.  Daniels, who decided to attend South Florida because Florida State wanted him to play defense, ran the ball well, made the passes he had to and gave his team reason to believe there might be life after Matt Grothe… Rutgers used a strong second half to put Maryland away while Pitt blew a fourth quarter lead in Raleigh and fell to N.C. State.

Miami Hurricanes Not All The Way Back Just Yet

Much was made last week of Miami’s 3-0 record that included victories over Florida State and Georgia Tech.  While their return to the Top Ten of the Coaches’ poll grabbed a lot of attention, it also seemed to make people forget just how good Virginia Tech is.  The pre season league favorite, none too happy at being listed as an underdog on their home field, sent “The U” back to the drawing board with a 31-7 thrashing in Blacksburg… Georgia Tech recovered from its loss to Miami and routed the offensively-challenged North Carolina Tar heels 24-7.

Big 12 Takes Weekend Off

Not a busy week in the Big 12, as early season cupcakes were still on the menu.  As league play commences this week, Texas has clearly established itself as the team to beat; at least until Sam Bradford returns to the Oklahoma lineup.

Parity Means Mediocrity Once Again In The Big Ten

One of these years, college football analysts will see the Big Ten for the Big Fraud that it is and stop ranking its teams so high in the pre season; especially Penn State.  Despite the fact that Paterno’s boys annually beat up on women’s colleges to start the year, pollsters taken with the ancient coach write the Nittany Lions onto their ballots.  Iowa made a mockery of PSU’s ranking this week and with it all talk of one last title for Paterno.  Indiana showed some chops by hanging with Michigan in the Big House, Wisconsin remained undefeated and Ohio State restablished itself as the cream of the crop.

Three BCS Party Crashers Still Left

Through the first month of the season, we’ve seen Boise State, TCU and Houston all establish solid resumes for a BCS bowl in spite of their residing in Non-BCS conferences.  Boise continues to roll; it’s decisive victory over Oregon to open 2009 now looking even better with the Ducks’ annihilation of California.  TCU traveled to Clemson and handled the Tigers; no easy task in Death Valley.  The Horned Frogs’ chances will come down to a matchup with BYU in the Mountain West.  As for Houston, if they weren’t in Conference USA,  they’d currently be sitting atop the standings of the Big 12 South off of their victories over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.  As we always do here at CollegeSportsView.com, we hope all three finish the season with perfect records and cause the BCS computer to explode.

CollegeSportsView.com Top 25

1) Florida                4-0
2) Texas                   4-0
3) Alabama             4-0
4) LSU                       4-0
5) Boise State         4-0
6) Cincinnati           4-0
7) TCU                       3-0
8) USC                        3-1
9)Virginia Tech      3-1
10)Ohio State          3-1
11)Oklahoma           2-1
12)Kansas                 4-0
13)Houston              4-0
14)South Florida    4-0
15)Iowa                      4-0
16)Oklahoma State 3-1
17)Georgia                3-1
18)Mississippi          3-1
19)Michigan              4-0
20)Oregon                 3-1
21)California             3-1
22)Penn State           3-1
23)BYU                       3-1
24)Missouri              4-0
25)Auburn                4-0

Five Teams to Watch

Utah
South Carolina
Nebraska
Indiana
Miami

Different Year, Same Story for USC Football

September 21, 2009 under College Football

By Eddie Mayrose


Pac Ten Football Turned Upside Down

Despite a 65-5 record over their last 70 games, the USC Trojans have all but taken huskies 2
themselves out of the BCS National Championship picture in each of the last four seasons with an early, in-conference stumble.  Over the last three seasons, California, UCLA and Oregon State have each proven too high a hurdle for the Men of Troy but, even with their track record, no one could have expected the Trojans to be upset by a Washington team that went 0-12 last year.  However, in what proved to be a perfect storm for the Huskies, injuries forced USC to go with a third string, freshman QB against their former Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian, Washington’s new head man.  His familiarity with his former charges proved fatal for USC as Sarkisian grabbed his first big win, 16-13… While USC garnered much of the pre-season hype in the PAC Ten, it was California that caught our attention.  Saturday, RB Jahvid Best ran for five touchdowns as the high scoring Golden Bears beat Minnesota 35-21 and held on to their #2 ranking.

South Florida Dealt Bad Break in Big East

Tough blow for South Florida, #24 in last week’s CSV rankings and our pick to win the Big East, as QB Matt Grothe went down for the year with a knee injury… Cincinnati, the most likely candidate to step into that void, went into Corvallis and dominated Oregon State to move up to #16… Pittsburgh is off to a 3-0 start and looks like a serious contender for the Big East title.

Charlie Weis Still Has Notre Dame Football Fans On Edge

Even when he wins, there’s no rest for Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis.  A narrow 33-30 victory against a less than impressive Michigan State squad; especially since it came gift wrapped by Spartans’ QB Kirk Cousins.  Despite engineering a late drive that put his team into position for at least a game tying FG, Cousins missed a wide open Nick Holt in the end zone before launching a dying quail that was picked off on the 5 yard line.   The Irish, led by QB Jimmy Claussen, have an offensive unit that can compete with anyone in the nation but their defense leaves a lot to be desired.

Big Weekend for Miami Football Faithful

Don’t look now, but “The U” appears to be back.  Miami dominated Georgia Tech, the CSV’s #15 team, on Thursday.  After an impressive win over Florida State, the ‘Canes appear headed back to the top of the league.. Speaking of the Seminoles, who saw that beating of #7 BYU coming?  Combine that victory with Virginia Tech knocking off #23 Nebraska and its easy to see why ACC Football fans are thinking big. It’s not all good news, however as it looks like a very long year ahead for the Maryland Terrapins, who lost at home to Middle Tennessee.

Florida Lets Tennessee Off With A Slap On The Wrist In the SEC

Could’ve been a lot worse for Lane Kiffin and his Tennessee Vols on their visit to The Swamp.  Despite Kiffin’s off-season promise to sing Rocky Top all night after beating Florida and his unfounded accusations toward head coach Urban Meyer regarding recruiting violations, the Gators surprised many by not running up the score in their 23-13 victory… Great start for the SEC as it heads into its conference schedule with four teams, (Florida, Alabama, LSU and Mississippi),  in the CSV top seven and two others, (Auburn and Kentucky), undefeated.

Big 12 Football Losing Luster

First Oklahoma loses to BYU, then Houston dominates Oklahoma State on its own field and, finally, Baylor takes a beating at home from an unimpressive UConn Huskies squad. Its starting to look more and more like  Texas Football fans will be making the trip to Kansas City for the conference title game.

Boise State Continues To Rise In BCS

Last week we mentioned the potential mess in the BCS Standings should more than one Non-BCS member be ranked in the Top Ten.  Well, BYU and Utah solved that problem by losing, leaving just Boise State and TCU as possible candidates. The Broncos won a shootout at Fresno State while TCU heads to Clemson this week.  A win in Death Valley and another over BYU would lead to a Mountain West Conference title and an almost certain BCS berth.  That is, as long as Boise isn’t ranked higher.

CollegeSportsView Top 25

1)  Florida
2)  California
3)  Texas
4)  Alabama
5)  LSU
6)  Boise State
7)  Mississippi
8)  Penn State
9)  USC
10)Ohio State
11)Virginia Tech
12)TCU
13)Oklahoma
14)Miami
15)Kansas
16)Cincinnati
17)BYU
18)Houston
19)Oklahoma State
20)Georgia
21)North Carolina
22)Michigan
23)Missouri
24)Florida State
25)South Florida

Five Teams to Watch

Pittsburgh
Auburn
UCLA
Nebraska
Iowa


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