If the Apple Cup is really being moved to Qwest Field every year, it’s a dark day for WSU athletics…

If Tony Bennett leaving Pullman wasn’t bad enough, now the Apple Cup is leaving Pullman too? The single biggest athletic event of the WSU calendar, no matter how good or bad our football team is?

Years ago, Rick Neuheisel, the snake who represented the University of Washington’s football program with remarkable accuracy, suggested this very thing. He suggested we play the game every year in a “neutral site” about 5 miles from their home stadium. Mike Price correctly laughed at it from our side, and the suggestion was dismissed.

BCS Championship Prediction

As much as I wish this was Texas playing instead of Oklahoma, this is a really good matchup regardless. Two very high-powered offenses in a game I can only venture a shaky but educated guess at.

Congressmen looking to abolish BCS…

Apparently under the impression that the federal government isn’t wasting enough time and tax money on doing nothing, and also isn’t meddling enough in the affairs of private citizens and privately owned businesses, certain members of Congress want to fix college football’s system of determining a champion…

Link

I love sports more than the average person does, and I fully agree that the BCS is flawed, but it’s pure silliness for the federal government to be meddling in something like this. And seriously, even if this should be under their jurisdiction…since when does the federal government successfully fix anything?

NCAA Top 25 (end of regular season)

No real surprises this week, though I did pick the wrong way on the ACC Championship game and it’s really odd that Cincinnati struggled so badly with Hawaii. The BCS selection show should be pretty predictable tomorrow.

1. (12-1) Florida (3)
2. (12-1) Oklahoma (2)
3. (11-1) Texas (4)
4. (11-1) Penn State (5)
5. (11-1) USC (6)
6. (12-1) Alabama (1)
7. (11-1) Texas Tech (7)
8. (12-0) Utah (8)
9. (12-0) Boise State (9)
10. (10-2) Ohio State (10)
11. (11-2) Cincinnati (11)
12. (10-2) TCU (12)
13. (10-2) BYU (13)
14. (9-3) Oklahoma State (14)
15. (9-3) Oregon (15)
16. (9-3) Georgia Tech (16)
17. (9-3) Pitt (18)
18. (9-3) Georgia (19)
19. (9-4) Missouri (20)
20. (8-4) Oregon State (21)
21. (9-3) Michigan State (22)
22. (8-4) Ole Miss (24)
23. (9-3) Northwestern (25)
24. (9-4) Virginia Tech (NR)
25. (8-4) Cal (NR)

NCAA Week 15 Picks (with final BCS projections)

Pac-10

Washington at California
The Dawgs’ “perfect” season is merely a formality at this point.
Spread: Cal -34.5

NCAA Top 25 (Week 14)

Sorry to skimp on comments this week…I’ll say that I’d rather see Texas in the championship game, but I find it very difficult to argue with Oklahoma at this point. The beating Texas Tech just a week ago is too much to overlook, I’m afraid…it has to be the Longhorns or Sooners.

I’m pretty sure you won’t be seeing Boise State in the BCS this year. There are more powerhouses this year than last, including an undefeated mid-major in Utah who simply had to overcome a much tougher schedule to run the table. Tough break for the Broncos, who are more deserving than Hawaii was last season.

1. (12-0) Alabama (1)
2. (11-1) Oklahoma (2)
3. (11-1) Florida (3)
4. (11-1) Texas (4)
5. (11-1) Penn State (5)
6. (10-1) USC (6)
7. (11-1) Texas Tech (7)
8. (12-0) Utah (8)
9. (12-0) Boise State (9)
10. (10-2) Ohio State (10)
11. (10-2) Cincinnati (12)
12. (10-2) TCU (15)
13. (10-2) BYU (17)
14. (9-3) Oklahoma State (11)
15. (9-3) Oregon (18)
16. (9-3) Georgia Tech (21)
17. (12-0) Ball State (19)
18. (8-3) Pitt (20)
19. (9-3) Georgia (13)
20. (9-3) Missouri (14)
21. (8-4) Oregon State (16)
22. (9-3) Michigan State (22)
23. (9-3) Boston College (23)
24. (8-4) Ole Miss (NR)
25. (9-3) Northwestern (24)

NCAA Week 14 Picks

Pac-10

UCLA at Arizona State
The loser is officially eliminated from bowl contention. I don’t think either one will make it regardless. Both teams are pretty bad, but ASU at least brings explosiveness on offense to the table (mostly just in theory this year, granted)…for that reason, as well as homefield advantage, give me the Devils.
Spread: Arizona State -10
Pick: Arizona State 24, UCLA 17

#23 Oregon at #17 Oregon State
On top of a bitter rivalry to fight over, both teams have quite a bit of motivation in their bowl chase, with the Holiday Bowl on the line for the Ducks and of course the Rose Bowl on the line for OSU. The Beavers sidestepped a land mine at Arizona last week, and after that I think they’ll have just enough to get them over the finish line to win the Pac-10 title. Should be a great game.
Spread: Oregon State -3.5
Pick: Oregon State 27, Oregon 24

Notre Dame at #5 USC
Notre Dame has locked up bowl eligibility, and will surely draw an invite, but they’re going to limp into their bowl at 6-6 after USC embarrasses them this week.
Spread: USC -30
Pick: USC 52, Notre Dame 14

Washington State at Hawaii
Hawaii isn’t all that good this year. Can the Cougs carry their momentum from the big win (laugh if you want about the “big” win, but 2-10 never looked so good) into Hawaii and give them a run for their money? Honestly, my guess is no, I can’t help but feel after that win that they’ll probably be completely flat and mostly just enjoying their tropical vacation. Thankfully, as a Coug fan, while I’d rather win…I’m not going to care all that much about this loss. Not after last week.
Spread: Hawaii -28
Pick: Hawaii 35, Washington State 10

Last Week: 0-3
Season: 55-13
Against the spread: 0-3
Season (ATS): 32-32-1

Top 25
#1 Alabama over Auburn (upset potential: 3/10)
#2 Texas over Texas A&M (upset potential: 1.5/10)
#3 Oklahoma over #12 Oklahoma State (upset potential: 3/10)
#4 Florida over #20 Florida State (upset potential: 2.5/10)
#7 Texas Tech over Baylor (upset potential: 2/10)
#9 Boise State over Fresno State (upset potential: 3/10)
#11 Georgia over #22 Georgia Tech (upset potential: 3.5/10)
#13 Missouri over Kansas (upset potential: 2.5/10)
#15 Ball State over Western Michigan (upset potential: 3.5/10)
#16 Cincinnati over Syracuse (upset potential: 2/10)
#21 Boston College over Maryland (upset potential: 4.5/10)
West Virginia over #25 Pittsburgh (upset potential: 5.5/10)

NCAA Top 25 (Week 13)

1. (11-0) Alabama (2)
I suppose it’s worth saying that they can’t totally look past Auburn next week…weird things happen in these fierce rivalry games.

2. (10-1) Oklahoma (4)
Wow. I picked them to win, but that blowout was way beyond what I thought they’d pull off. Assuming they take care of Missouri again, there’s no argument against these guys for the national title game.

3. (10-1) Florida (5)
It’s pretty clear that they’re two wins away from the national title game at this point. There won’t be a case to make against them if they beat Florida State and Alabama.

4. (10-1) Texas (3)
Now the politics begin…Texas Tech will claim that their head-to-head win should count for a BCS at-large bid, where Texas will be able to claim that they never had a blowout loss. For the record, I do lean toward Texas as the better team.

5. (11-1) Penn State (7)

4 Apple Cup wins in 5 years…fantastic.

Yes, the Washington State Cougars are an awful, awful team. Happily, and I didn’t believe it all season until this moment, the Huskies are even worse.

I had given up all hope, I mentioned in passing in an e-mail to my mom that “it looks like a loss this year,” but then Kevin Lopina completed a miracle pass to Jared Karstetter, Nico Grasu converted the field goal, and suddenly we were in overtime. Overtime was incredibly dramatic; the defense showed some guts, kept the Huskies out of the end zone, and this thing was decided by the fact that we had a better kicker than them.

It wasn’t the highest level of quality football, but it was drama, excitement, entertainment, intensity…everything we love in sports. I was as excited as the winning field goal was knocked through as I am when my team wins a playoff game. For today anyway, I can forget that my team is an awful 2-10 team…we just won the Apple Cup, and will finish up with a better season than the Huskies for the 8th straight year. I’m a happy man.

NCAA Week 13 Picks

Washington at Washington State
No matter how bad a season gets, I still care passionately about this game. Unfortunately, the state of Washington has degenerated so badly that on Monday morning, I came into work (in a Coug shirt, mind you) saying the Cougs had almost no chance in the Apple Cup; meanwhile, my boss, a Husky season ticketholder, said that he can’t see how the Dawgs can possibly win this game. Our teams are so bad that we’re doing the opposite of trash-talking, we’re sitting on opposite sides, shrugging and saying “yeah, your team is bad, but you’ve got this one.”

NCAA Top 25 (Week 12)

The top 12 all remains the same. This was one of the least dynamic weeks of the NCAA season.

1. (10-0) Texas Tech (1)
If they beat Oklahoma, I will honestly consider their other two games to be a near-formality on their path to the national title game.

2. (11-0) Alabama (2)
Style points really don’t matter anymore for the Tide. As long as they stay out of the loss column, they’re going to play for the championship.

3. (10-1) Texas (3)
The Longhorns could finish 11-1 and land anywhere from the national title game to outside of the BCS altogether. This Big 12 South is crazy.

4. (9-1) Oklahoma (4)
They’re lucky to be the last in line to take on Texas Tech. They know exactly how great of an opponent they’re getting, and a win sticking in the voters’ memories would give them a good shot at winning the BCS tiebreak to play for the Big 12 title (and probably the national title).

5. (9-1) Florida (5)

NCAA Week 12 Picks

California at Oregon State
Two of the best non-USC teams in the Pac-10. I’ve gotta go with the Beavers…they’re at home, they have Rose Bowl aspirations, and all three of Cal’s losses have come on the road; they’re simply not as good away from Berkeley.
Spread: Oregon State -3

NCAA Top 25 (Week 11)

1. (10-0) Texas Tech (1)
I really don’t see any kind of argument to put Texas Tech below Alabama anymore. This team is incredibly impressive.

2. (10-0) Alabama (3)
Great job of pulling through and winning. I honestly think they’re headed for an eventual loss to Florida in the SEC title game, but this has been a fantastic year for the Tide regardless of what happens going forward.

3. (9-1) Texas (4)
Their fate is in the hands of the Sooners at this point. I’m sure it’ll be painful for them to root for Oklahoma, but it’s the Longhorns’ last shot at the national title. I suppose the good news is that an Oklahoma loss would ensure that Texas gets a BCS game.

4. (9-1) Oklahoma (5)
Now that Penn State got knocked out, the title hopes are truly rekindled for OU.

5. (8-1) Florida (6)

NCAA Week 11 Picks

Stanford at Oregon
Stanford’s gotten good, but they haven’t gotten this good. Winning at Autzen is probably the toughest task in the conference outside of beating USC anywhere, and I don’t see the Cardinal making a particularly serious run at it.
Spread: Oregon -13
Pick: Oregon 34, Stanford 21

Arizona at Washington State

NCAA Top 25 (Week 10)

1. (8-0) Texas Tech (7)
That was SO impressive. Tech wasn’t even a little bit scared of the Longhorns. I didn’t care one way or another about their team before that game, but that was a fun breakout game to watch. As Kirk Herbstreit put it…there was nothing flukey about it.

2. (9-0) Penn State (2)
Even though I didn’t move them up to #1, Texas’ loss was great news for Penn State. It makes it much less likely that anyone will escape the Big 12 unscathed, since Texas’ hardest games are now behind them, and Tech still has really tough games ahead.

3. (9-0) Alabama (4)
Couldn’t ask for much more out of them in a game that’s tough to get up for. I imagine a lot of people will be calling for an LSU upset next week, but I think the Tide will take care of them without too much problem.

4. (8-1) Texas (1)
Heartbreaking loss for the Longhorns after a great effort. They could still win the championship, but it’s going to be a lot harder now. They couldn’t quite make it over that last big hurdle of the regular season.

5. (8-1) Oklahoma (3)

NCAA Week 10 Picks

Pac-10

#24 Oregon at California
I think the winner of this game will play in the Holiday Bowl. They both impress me, Oregon maybe a little moreso, but Cal just hasn’t shown much weakness at home yet.

NCAA Week 9 Top 25

The musical chairs acts in the ACC and Big East mangle the second half of the list up again…the top of the list, however, is pretty much the status quo.

1. (8-0) Texas (1)
Colt McCoy is now an obvious frontrunner for Heisman, and one who’s easy to root for. Texas won’t relinquish the #1 spot until they actually lose a game.

2. (9-0) Penn State (2)
You can go ahead and pencil them in for one of the spots in the national title game, I think.

3. (7-1) Oklahoma (3)
The Sooners forgot to play defense in the first half, but their offense is just ridiculous. I’ll officially be surprised if they don’t not only play in a BCS bowl, but win it.

4. (8-0) Alabama (4)
Bama football isn’t pretty, but they look very tough to beat. There only looks to be three games left where their bid for an undefeated season will be seriously challenged.

5. (6-1) USC (6)

NCAA Week 9 Picks

Pac-10

UCLA at Cal
In spite of another loss where they looked less than impressive, I maintain the stubborn belief that Cal is one of the better teams in the conference, and still a solid contender for the Holiday Bowl. UCLA won’t pull a true upset all season long (their upset over Tennessee has since been illuminated by the ineptitude of the Vols), and I honestly think they’re headed for a season no better than 4-8. The Bears haven’t lost yet at home, and I’m fully expecting the good Cal to show up this week.
Spread: Cal -17
Pick: Cal 34, UCLA 21

NCAA Week 8 Top 25

1. (7-0) Texas (1)
Just in case anyone doubted that they deserved the #1 ranking, they emphatically proved it this week.

2. (8-0) Penn State (4)
The first half was one of their ugliest of the season, but it was long forgotten by the final gun. If they win next week, it’ll again look like we’re headed for an appearance by the Big Ten champion in the title game.

3. (6-1) Oklahoma (3)
The good news is that they’re still one of the elite teams in the nation. The bad news is that Texas doesn’t appear like they’re going to give them the chance to catch up in the South. Pencil the Sooners in for a BCS game like the Orange Bowl, but not the title game.

4. (7-0) Alabama (2)
They’re certainly falling behind a bit on style points, but the big picture is still really solid for the Tide this year. Their remaining schedule is honestly about as soft as an SEC schedule can look.

5. (7-0) Oklahoma State (6)

NCAA Week 8 Picks

#8 USC at Washington State
This is one of the biggest mismatches that college football will see this year. Going to be very, very ugly…
Spread: USC -42
Prediction: USC 70, Washington State 10

Stanford at UCLA
Another great win for Stanford this past week, as they keep taking steps forward. UCLA probably has the talent edge on paper, but they aren’t playing together nearly as well as Stanford is. I think this game is something of a coin flip, but I’ll take the Cardinal to score the minor upset.
Spread: UCLA -2.5
Prediction: Stanford 23, UCLA 20

Oregon State at Washington
Oregon State’s offense looked like one of the best in the nation against Washington State. The Huskies might ding the Beavers for more points than the Cougars did, but they won’t be much more effective at slowing down their offense.
Spread: Oregon State -14
Prediction: Oregon State 41, Washington 24

#25 California at Arizona
Arizona disappointed to a certain extent on both sides of the ball against Stanford. This is a very tough draw for Cal in the desert, but I think the Bears are the better team…they’ve looked formidable every week outside of what I’m reasonably convinced was an aberration at Maryland. I like them to take down a fun shootout here.
Spread: N/A
Prediction: Cal 35, Arizona 31

Last Week: 3-1
Season: 34-10
Against the spread: 0-4 (ouch…)
Season (ATS): 19-22

Top 25
#1 Texas over #11 Missouri (upset potential: 4/10)
#2 Alabama over Ole Miss (upset potential: 2.5/10)
#3 Penn State over Michigan (upset potential: 3/10)
#4 Oklahoma over #16 Kansas (upset potential: 2.5/10)
#7 Texas Tech over Texas A&M (upset potential: 1.5/10)
#8 Oklahoma State over Baylor (upset potential: 2/10)
#9 BYU over TCU (upset potential: 3.5/10)
#10 Georgia over #22 Vanderbilt (upset potential: 3/10)
#20 Michigan State over #12 Ohio State (upset potential: 5.1/10)
#13 LSU over South Carolina (upset potential: 4/10)
#14 Utah over Colorado State (upset potential: 1.5/10)
#15 Boise State over Hawaii (upset potential: 2.5/10)
#17 Virginia Tech over Boston College (upset potential: 4/10)
#18 North Carolina over Virginia (upset potential: 3.5/10)
#19 South Florida over Syracuse (upset potential: 1.5/10)
#21 Wake Forest over Maryland (upset potential: 4/10)
#23 Pittsburgh over Navy (upset potential: 3.5/10)

Other games of interest…
Georgia Tech over Clemson
Miami (FL) over Duke
Colorado over Kansas State
Purdue over Northwestern
Wisconsin over Iowa
Kentucky over Arkansas