CAUGHT UP!

Having just finished LAST week's blog post, it's time for my no-huddle offense (I'm often accused of being offensive).  Bowl eligibility becomes a factor.  Hopefully we can take a break from the non-stop talk about Penn State and appreciate what a great game college football still can be.  Instead, let's all refocus on the recruiting illegalities, cash payments from boosters, and final exams with test items like, "How many quarters in a college football game?" as we get ready for Week #11.

Union (5-4) vs. Springfield (6-3).  Although this year-end contest is a non-conference game, teams do have two common opponents:  Ithaca and Merchant Marine.  Pride beat both, while Garnet lost to Bombers.  Dutchmen may get caught watching scoreboard for Hobart-Rochester score, which determines automatic bid to postseason playoff tourney.  Union and Hobart are tied in-conference, but Statesmen hold tie-breaker.  PICK:  Springfield (breaks my heart).

Air Force (5-4) vs. Wyoming (5-3).  Cowboy QB Brett Smith was knocked out of last week's loss to TCU, and the UW offense went in the tank.  Their defense can't seem to stop the run, and with Falcons at home looking to become bowl-eligible with three weeks to go in the season, all things point to a USAFA win.  PICK:  The Academy.

Army (3-6) vs. Rutgers (6-3).  Game will be played at Yankee Stadium.  WHAAAAAAAAT??  I predict that Derek Jeter will have a big game, C. C. Sabathia will carry the game into the 7th, and Mariano Rivera will get the ball and the save.  Afterwards, Jorge Posada will be released and the pinstripers will pick up Big Papi.  Oh yeah, and Army stinks; after all, they blew a 14-point lead over Air Force, didn't they?  PICK:  Rutgers. 

Navy (3-6) at SMU (6-3).  Fortunes of these two programs headed in opposite directions.  'Stangs score a lot of points, like the 45 they rang up on Tulane last week.  Unfortunately, Middies allow over 31 points a game, and have a predictable offense.  If SMU continues to play stifling run defense, that coupled with 24 QB sacks on the season so far means Navy won't find the endzone.  PICK:  SMU.

BYU (6-3) vs. Idaho (2-7).  Back to the cupcakes in Provo.  The fact that Vandals won 49-6 the last time these two teams met won't be a factor:  it was 1955.  QB controversy in Moscow not helped by loss of WR Armauni Johnson for the season, as well as a banged-up O-line.  Too many obstacles--and Cougars--to overcome this day.  PICK:  BYU.

#5 Boise State (8-0) vs. TCU.  A few of us still remember when Boise State was happy to be in the Top 25.  Then came the big upset vs. Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, complete with the Statue of Liberty play pulled off by Jared Zabransky.  Ever since, it's been fighting for respect against the one-loss wonders of the BCS system.  Broncs better watch out...Frogs are still a very dangerous team, with a potent offense and a credible defense to back it up.  But who wins on the Blue Moss?  PICK:  Boise State.


San Jose State (3-6) at Utah State (3-5).  Question:  Which team enters this game with the bigger hangover?  The home Aggies, who traveled to Honolulu and beat the Rainbow Warriors for the first time in four decades...or the visiting Spartans, who blew a 22-point lead in the 4th quarter in losing to Idaho?  Teams were on opposite sides of comeback efforts, with SJSU losing and USU winning.  In Logan, that favors the Ags.  PICK:  Utah State.

COMMENT:  Let's just get this out into the open right now.  The only way Boise State can even play for the national championship is if the following things happen:

1.  LSU loses (best chance of that coming in two weeks vs. Arkansas).
2.  Oke State loses (only possible vs. Oklahoma in three weeks).
3.  Stanford loses (best chance coming today vs. Oregon).
4.  Oklahoma, Alabama, and Oregon ALL lose one more game (EXTREMELY unlikely).

No other Top Ten team has to have anything CLOSE to these circumstances come about just to get a chance to play in the game.  Ridiculous.