We Interrupt Our Bowl Season To Bring You The Following Bulletin

 

Navy QB Reynolds is FBS All-Independent Player of the Year

 

December 19, 2013--Baltimore Sun.  Navy sophomore quarterback Keenan Reynolds was chosen as the Football Bowl Subdivision All-Independent Offensive Player of the Year, it was announced Wednesday. Nine Navy football players were chosen to the All-Independent team. In his second season with the Midshipmen, Reynolds set an NCAA single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 29; tied the NCAA mark for most touchdowns in a game against an FBS opponent with seven, against San Jose State; broke the nearly 100-year-old Navy single-season scoring mark with 176 points, eclipsing the previous mark of 174 by Bill Ingram in 1917; and set the school record for points in a season with 224. Reynolds heads into the Dec. 30 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl against Middle Tennessee State ranked No. 1 in the country in scoring, averaging 14.7 points per game, No. 1 in rushing touchdowns with 29 and No. 2 in rushing yards by a quarterback with 105.0.

And now back to our regularly scheduled program which is already in progress.

Sam & The Dude at the alleys in The Big Lebowski

There are 35 sponsored postseason bowl games, and of course the FCS, Division II, and Division III national championship games.  I really don't have the stomach to preview/review all of them over the next couple of weeks, so I'll be selective...and as thorough as possible.  Naturally I'll cover our regular cast of characters (USC, BYU, Navy, Oregon, and BC) and will weigh in on the bigger prizes as well (Orange, Sugar, Rose, Fiesta, and BCS Championship).

41st Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl

Tune in to ESPNU, Friday, 7:00 p. m. ET/4:00 p. m. PT

#1 Mount Union vs. #5 Wisconsin-Whitewater.  Eighth time in nine years that these two teams are meeting for the national championship...blah, blah, blah.  What you may not know is that Whitewater actually leads the series 4-3, including the last three in which the teams have met.  Most D-III experts are focusing on the prolific Mount Union offense and the stingy Whitewater defense.  So I'll shift gears and compare the Purple Raider defense and the Warhawk offense.

Mount Union's schedule included five Top 25 teams, who combined to score 169 points (38.8/game) against them.  The remaining nine teams scored only 72 total points (8 pts./game).  This does not bode well for the Raiders, who will be going up against a Whitewater offense that averaged over 28 pts./game against four Top 25 teams and 35.8 points/game against all comers.  Warhawk QB Matt Behrendt has thrown for over 3,000 yds. and 36 TDs and has only been picked off once all season.  Mount Union's defense allows an average of 210 passing yds./game and will have to face not only Behrendt but dependable RB Jordan Ratliffe, who has rushed for 1,113 yds. and 7 TDs himself.  While Mount Union has a far better 3rd down conversion rate than UW-W (57%-44%) the Hawks are better on 4th down (47%-41%).  If the game becomes a battle for field position, expect Whitewater to go for it on 4th down and put themselves in increasingly better position to score.  Then consider that the Hawks actually have more success scoring when inside the red zone, at a rate of 85% compared to the Raiders' 72%.  Whitewater has 19 fewer penalties against them than Mount Union.  The Raiders have lost 17 fumbles, the Hawks only eight.  Mount Union QB Kevin Burke, D-III Offensive Player of the Year has been intercepted eight times, while UW-W's Behrendt only once.

No doubt it will be another epic in the long history of games played between these two outstanding programs.  For the only the third time in this season's 31 playoff games, expect the underdog to prevail.  PICK:  Wisconsin-Whitewater

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl

 

Tune in to ABC, Saturday, 3:30 p. m. ET/12:30 p. m. PT

#21 Fresno State vs. USC.  A bowl game named after an automotive product (synthetic motor oil).  OK, no wisecracks about lubricants.  The Smack is uber-intrigued by this matchup.  These two have actually played each other before, with the series split 1-1.  In 1992 the Bulldogs shocked the Trojans 24-7 behind QB Trent Dilfer, he of the Super Bowl winning Baltimore Ravens of 2000-01.  The last time they met (2005), it took a come-from-behind effort in the 4th quarter for the #1 Trojans, on the strength of 294 yds. of rushing by Reggie Bush, to overcome the Bulldogs.  When was the last time you saw FSU ranked and USC unranked?

This is also the earliest in the season that the Trojans have played a bowl game.  Both teams are dealing with emotional issues:  Fresno State with a final-game loss to San Jose that spoiled its perfect season and shot at a BCS bowl, and USC with the loss of its head coach and interim coach within the same two months.  Teams with potent passing games have befuddled the Trojans all year, and the Derek Carr-led Bulldogs should pose plenty of challenges for the strong USC defense.  On the other side of the ball, RB Silas Redd is out with an injury, and the SoCal offense will be staring down the barrel at five different Fresno State defenders each with at least seven tackles-for-losses, as well as ten sacks as a unit.  Reputation is making the Trojans the betting favorite, but I'll take the Bulldogs in an upset.  PICK:  Fresno State.

P. S.  Fresno State and USC are scheduled to meet in the 2014 season opener.

12 In A Row? 9 In A Row? What's The Difference?

The talk about Texas coach Mack Brown's fate continued to swirl, until finally late Saturday he announced he was stepping down after sixteen years at the helm of the UT football program.  He did so with class, thanking everyone associated with the program, university, and community for the opportunity.  Brown referred to the role he, his family, and his players had in the Longhorns' success.  "We set a standard at this place. You've got to win all of them. That's the expectation and I understand that. I'm a big boy. I understand you don't win all the games here, people are unhappy. Other people love eight wins — not here."  Of his inaugural season, Brown went on to quip, "We won nine and they threw us a parade."

7 million reasons to lose interest in the Texas job

As predicted, Nick Saban isn't going anywhere, instead signing a long-term extension that will reportedly pay him $7-7.5 million a year until he decides to let his agent Jimmy Sexton shop him around for some other opportunity about which he knows nothing.  Because he doesn't read the newspaper.  Or watch TV.  All he cares about is what's going to happen at practice.  Or the next game.

Runaway Heisman winner, FSU's Jameis Winston

Oh yeah, the Heisman Trophy is awarded to Florida State's Jameis Winston.  Even though 119 voters neglected to include him on their ballot, the result was the most lopsided in Heisman history.  If you couldn't tell that Winston was going to take the trophy within the first five minutes of the broadcast, you must've spent it in either the kitchen or the bathroom.  (I myself was in the shower.)



Amidst it all, the 114th renewal of the Army-Navy rivalry and assorted FCS, Division II, and Division III games were played around the country.  Here's how things went down during Week #16 in college football:

Navy's Keenan Reynolds breaks a long one

Navy 34, Army 7.  On a day where everyone looks like they'd rather be somewhere else, Navy doesn't wait for the 2nd half, wasting no time in jumping out to a 17-0 advantage.  After Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel changes sides, Army is able to move the ball quickly and QB Angel Santiago runs for six on a play designed as a pass.  But that's all the Cadets have, and all the Middies will allow.  Once again Navy QB Keenan Reynolds is the star of the show, rushing for 136 yds. and three TDs, bringing his season's total to a record-setting 29.  Aside from the atrocious weather, the story is the Navy defense which holds the Black Knights to just 157 yds. of total offense in making it twelve straights wins in the series.  Once again Army gets to sing first, while Navy gets the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy and a taxpayer-subsidized trip to the White House.

BREAKING NEWS:  Army coach Rich Ellerson was fired today, following the completion of a 3-9 season in which the Black Knights lost their twelfth straight game to archrival Navy.  As usual, a hard-working "tremendous role model" for players and "great mentor" for other members of the athletic department loses out to wins and losses.  Rumored successors include:  Lane Kiffin, George O'Leary, Lou Holtz, Rick Neuheisel, and Mack Brown.  When reached for comment, Nick Saban insisted that he hadn't heard of the opening and wasn't interested in the job..

Division III Update

Can you imagine anything quite as exciting as a championship tournament where the semifinal games are both decided by one point?  That's what happened in Division III as defending national champs Mount Union Purple Raiders and their perennial championship opponent Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks will play for the championship for the 8th time in nine years.

WR Mike Collichio hauls in the winning TD pass

Mount Union 41, North Central 40.  The Cardinals succeed in holding Mount Union to ten fewer points than their season's first half average, and even manage to take the lead with only 1:38 to play.  But in the end the Purple Raiders will not be denied, as QB Kevin Burke throws a TD pass with just over a minute left on the clock, and Mount Union escapes to ensure a birth in its ninth consecutive Stagg Bowl.  Burke also runs for a game-high 131 yds. and two TDs, making him the school's single-season rushing record-holder.  There are eight lead changes in the game, four in the final quarter alone.  Special teams have a dramatic impact on the outcome, as North Central fails to score twice on 2-point conversions and has two extra-point kicks blocked.  The Mount Union defense also intercepts a Cardinal QB Spencer Stanek pass, only his second pick of the season.

Wisconsin-Whitewater 16, Mary Hardin-Baylor 15.  As predicted, the Warhawks don't make mistakes:  no penalties and only one turnover.  While the Cru's defense manages to hold UW-W scoreless in the first quarter, they allow all 16 points unanswered points right in the middle of the game, then can't muster quite enough of a rally to win at home.  Whitewater's own defense limits UMHB to just 241 yds., including 106 from RB Elijah Hudson.  QB Matt Behrendt dials up 197 yds. on 21-of-29 passing for the 'Hawks, while RB Jordan Ratliffe adds 100 yds. and both touchdowns on the ground.

Coaching Carousel

 

Chris Petersen (formerly of Boise State) ---> Washington (replacing Steve Sarkesian)

Brian Harsin (formerly of Arkansas State) ---> Boise State (replacing Petersen)

Poor Arkansas State...lost their fourth head coach in five years.  (P. S.  Remember kids...you can't transfer unless you sit out a year.)

WHO WILL BE NEXT?? 

Small Schedule, Big Rivalry

Enjoy covering the history and pageantry

Commentators Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson get more excited about covering the annual Army-Navy game than any other.  That's saying a lot since the pair covers SEC football throughout the rest of the fall for CBS.  With Navy leading the series 59-47, seven games having been tied, Danielson appeared on the Paul Finebaum Show this week and was positively glowing about his weekend assignment.  Here's how The Smack sees it:

A view you won't see this year

Army (3-8) vs. Navy (7-4).  The Game will be played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and will be the only Division I game on this week's schedule.  Middies are on an 11-0 run against the Black Knights, including all eight of those contested at Lincoln Financial.  A win this Saturday would give Navy the Commander-In-Chief's trophy for the ninth time in the last eleven years.  But there's plenty of incentive for Army who, with a victory of its own, would win the trophy by virtue of there being a three-way split amongst the major service academies in 2013.

Hey Sentinel...is this the one you stole?

Navy's signature win came two weeks ago against a San Jose State team that handed Mountain West Conference champion Fresno State its only defeat of the season.  By the same token, Army's last game was a losing effort against previously winless Hawaii, the MWC's bottom-feeder.  Win or lose, the season comes to an end for Army on Saturday, while Navy has a couple of weeks to rest and prepare for its Armed Forces Bowl showdown against Middle Tennessee.

For Army, their 2nd-ranked offense will be led by running backs Terry Baggett and Larry Dixon, and double-threat QB Angel Santiago who passes as far as he runs.  Santiago's favorite aerial target, as always, will be WR Xavier Moss.  Make no mistake, expect Army to run because, as a team, the Black Knights average only 80 yds. of passing per game.

Result of Googling "Woo Poo-On-Hudson"

Ranked just behind Army, Navy's offense features QB Keenan Reynolds who throws a bunch more than Santiago.  The results--26 TDs and over 1,100 total yards through the air--will most definitely keep the Army defense nervous, as it typically gives up over 215 passing yds./game.  But Army will also be busy keeping track of eight other runners, each of whom has totaled at least 185 yds. this season.  For its own, Navy's defense has been on a recent tear, reducing its last three opponents' point totals by an entire touchdown.

As much as I would enjoy seeing the upset, I can't imagine a scenario in which Army will beat Navy this year.  This will be one of those traditional intense rivalry games where you throw away the record books.  It may even be close in the first half, but once they're out of the tunnel for the second half, it's a lock for the Middies.  PICK:  Navy.

Division III

All four remaining teams enter the weekend undefeated and untied for 2013.  At stake:  a coveted berth in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.

#1 Mount Union (13-0) vs. #4 North Central (13-0).  Mount Union is nation's highest scoring team averaging 49.6 pts./game and is 2nd in the nation in total offense (536.7 yds./game) relying more heavily on the run than the pass. The Purple Raiders are also the best team in nation on third down with a 57.8% conversion rate.  They're 2nd in the nation in total defense (273.7 yds./game) and is 3rd in the nation against the run allowing just 62.1 yds./game.  North Central brings a very balanced offense into the game, with a slight preference towards the passing game where they average over 13 yds./catch..  Defensively they will be challenged when Mount Union runs the ball, but having forced opposing backs to cough up the ball 20 times already this season should help them control the ball and capture good field position.  The Cardinals typically score way more and hold opponents to fewer points in the first half than the second.  As for the Raiders, they have scored more first half points than second half points eleven times in thirteen games this season.  In order to win, North Central will have to shut down Mount Union early.  I don't think they're capable of that.  PICK:  Mount Union.

#3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (13-0) vs. #5 Wisconsin-Whitewater (13-0).  Game will be played in Belton, TX where the Crusaders have made their mark running the football, averaging 5.3 yds./carry as a team.  They are very tough defensively, holding opponents to just 1.7 yds./rush and having forced 27 interceptions.    On special teams MH-B averaged nearly 14 yds./punt return while averaging 41.1 yds./punt going the other way.  Whitewater stakes their reputation on a passing game that averages 11.1 yds./catch and a quarterback who has only been intercepted once all season.  Meanwhile, their running backs have only lost seven fumbles all year.  The Warhawk special teams average nearly 29 yards/kickoff return, and as a team they are penalized just over five times/game.  At this point in the season, games are frequently decided by mistakes, and Whitewater just doesn't make many of them.  Despite being on the road, their experience and ability to exploit opponents' weaknesses makes this UW-W's game to lose.  PICK:  Wisconsin-Whitewater.

"And this quarter ton of fun is your nutrition coach which I know is ironic."

High Intensity, Part II

Headed to pasture?

Besides the bowl selections, the big news off the field this week is the future of both Mac Brown and Nick Saban.  Will Brown step down?  Yes.  Will Saban leave 'Bama?  I don't think so, but many others do.  If he does, surprisingly it won't be for the money.  He already has an unsigned contract extension sitting on his desk in Tuscaloosa.  Rather it would be for the challenge of "rebuilding" a program which, under Brown, nearly earned a birth in the Fiesta Bowl this season.  As ESPN's Mike Greenberg said, "Nick Saban is a 'leaver', that's what he does."  Stay tuned to find out if Saban, even with deep roots in Tuscaloosa, hops aboard the Longhorn Locomotive to Austin.

For a second straight week, the entertainment value of college football rises above even the level of hype accorded it.  Except for games being played simultaneously, I'm able to catch a great deal of the action.  Thanks to a very understanding wife!

Doesn't compare to the Dutchman's Shoes

Louisville 31, Cincinnati 28 (OT).  The Keg Of Nails Trophy stays with the Cardinals, who overcome a very tough Bearcat defense in the second half, force overtime, and put the AAC championship at the feet of Central Florida.  After a 4th quarter comeback by Louisville, it takes a Tony Miliano 26-yard field goal for Cincy to knot the game at 24-all.  Although the Bearcat defense stops Louisville, a pass-interference call on 4th down gives the Cardinals' offense new life, providing RB Dominique Brown just enough to push across the goal line.  Then Louisville's defense forces three consecutive incompletions from Brendon Kay to ice the win.  Despite a stellar season, Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater (23-of-37, 255 yds., 3 TDs) is NOT invited to New York, but is still a likely 1st-round NFL pick.

Bowling Green 47, Northern Illinois 27.  Gone are the undefeated season, the Heisman Trophy, and the at-large BCS invitation for the Huskies, who are dominated from wire to wire by the underdog Falcons.  BG offense rolls up huge numbers en route to first conference championship since 1992.  QB Matt Johnson throws for 393 yds. and five TDs, while the defense limits NIU's Jordan Lynch to just 21 completions in 40 attempts and picks him off twice.  A promising outside Heisman shot, Lynch is invited to New York for this weekend's ceremonies but this loss drops him completely out of contention.

Neither does this

Oklahoma 33, Oklahoma State 24.  Turns out this game is not the one that actually decides the Big 12 representative to the BCS.  That distinction belongs to Baylor-Texas, where da Bears leave no doubt as to the best team in the conference.  Back to "Bedlam"...all-time stupidest pre-game question evah, from ESPN's Shannon Spake to Oke State's coach Mike Gundy.  Spake:  "How did your team prepare for the cold weather?"  Gundy:  "We practiced outside all week."  Genius like that probably costs the Cowboys this game.  Also, while State has exactly 200 yds. each in passing and rushing yardage, the Oklahoma special teams kick coverage keeps the Cowboys out of good field position on exchanges, smothering them for minus-8 yds. on the day.   Sooner QB Blake Bell makes everyone forget that he was benched for Trevor Knight part way through the season, and comes off the bench to go 10-for-16 and the go-ahead TD in the 4th quarter.

Auburn 59, Missouri 42.  Another week, another incredible game.  Fans throughout the state of Missouri wake up Sunday morning asking how it's possible for their beloved Tigers to roll up 534 yds. of total offense and still lose.  By now we all know the answer:  opposing Auburn piles up 677 yds. of their own.  First time this season that Mizzou doesn't force a turnover.  Winning Tigers have RB Tre Mason to thank for one of the all-time dominant rushing performances (46 carries, 304 yds., 4 TDs).  Mason gets an invite to New York as well.  Hey, let's not forget Missouri, which actually leads 34-31 late in the 3rd quarter.  Unfortunately, their defense can find no answers to Mason and QB Nick Marshall, the latter rushing for more than he throws.

Hurts, don't it?

Stanford 38, Arizona State 14.  Cardinal leave no doubt that they are the righteous choice to represent the Pac-12 in the Rose Bowl.  QB Tyler Gaffney and RB Ty Montgomery account for five touchdowns and the Stanford defense frustrates the Sun Devils all afternoon, forcing punts at crucial times and missed field goals at others.  Biggest stop of the day is the 2nd half goal-line stand, when three different Arizona State ball carriers are stopped at the 1 yd.-line.  With the victory, Stanford punches its ticket to the school's 14th Rose Bowl.

Michigan State 34, Ohio State 24.  Guess all those non-believers are right; Ohio State didn't play "anybody" this season and is punched in the face by State's defense.  So it is the Spartans who will travel to Pasadena to take on Stanford on January 1st, their first Rose Bowl since 1988.  After Michigan State jumps out to a 17-point lead, Buckeye QB Braxton Miller (148 rushing yds. on the day) makes several big plays to put Ohio State right back in it.  Sparty's defense isn't perfect, giving up 24 unanswered points to Miller & Co., but holds firm late in the game when it has to.  Michigan State's QB Connor Cook passes for 304 yds. and three TDs, finding eight different receivers in the process.

Free shoes for everyone!

Florida State 45, Duke 7.  Apparently the Seminoles are at least 29 points better than Duke.  By virtue of their dominance against ACC competition, they will enter the BCS Championship Game as the betting favorite.  Both teams hold the ball for approximately half the contest, both turn the ball over three times, and the Seminoles are actually penalized twice as much as the Blue Devils.  But amidst all the numbers, the ones that really matter are total offense stats, with Florida State having 569 yds. to Duke's 239.  The difference maker, once again, is FSU's sensational freshman Jameis Winston.  Odds-on favorite to win the Heisman on Saturday, Winston throws for 3TDs and runs for another, a total of 389 yds. by himself.  The Seminole defense holds Duke under 100 yds. in rushing and allows only 3.3 yds./offensive play in a dominating performance.

Fresno State 24, Utah State 17. Aggies give Bulldogs all they can handle, testing a Fresno State team obviously struggling to overcome the disappointment of last week's season-first loss.  Fresno's QB Derrick Carr breaks older brother David's school records for TDs and passing yardage, and extends his streak of consecutive games with a touchdown pass, longest in the nation.  Meanwhile, Bulldog defense, which allowed San Jose State over 700  yds. of total offense just a week ago, sacks Utah State QB Craig Harrison nine times and intercepts him twice but still has to weather a furious Aggie 4th quarter comeback in this the inaugural Mountain West Conference championship game.

File photo (obviously)

The Road to Amos Alonzo Stagg.  Pre-game picks were spot-on, although Mt. Union made it interesting having to fight back a late rally by a stubborn Wesley team.  Also, The Smack has great respect for the Mary Hardin-Baylor team, a legitimate threat to derail Wisconsin-Whitewater in the semis.

Postseason Bowl Picture About To Take Shape

Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl Only 18 Days Away!

Abbreviated college football schedule this week, with a handful of conference championships and one lingering rivalry game with serious bowl implications.  Everyone on the regular weekly radar has either finished their seasons (Union, Air Force, and Georgia State), is awaiting a bowl assignment (BYU, USC, BC, and Oregon), or has one final rivalry game to play (Army vs. Navy, for both the Thompson Cup and the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy).

Sark meets the press

In other news, USC Athletic Director Pat Haden shocked no one by not removing the interim tag in front of Ed Orgeron's name.  It's safe to say that Washington's Steve Sarkesian wasn't on many people's short list, but there's no denying the logic behind Haden's choice.  It's even more certain that offering Orgeron the title of "Assistant Head Coach"--despite being attached to a hefty salary--was more insulting than simply offering thanks for a job well done and providing a pleasant exit from Los Angeles.  While I don't think anyone can blame Orgeron for quitting on the spot, I'm not sure how that will play when the coaching carousel opens for him to climb aboard.

Enjoy these games, certain to be among the very best of the year.

Thursday

#19 Louisville (10-1) at Cincinnati (9-2); 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PT, ESPN.  Use your DVR to record The Big Bang Theory on Thursday night, so you won't miss the great matchup between the nation's leaders on both sides of the ball.  A win for either team, coupled with a Central Florida loss to SMU, means the American Athletic Conference championship (there is no AAC title game).  The Cardinals' Heisman candidate QB Teddy Bridgewater has a 71% completion rate, 25 TD passes with only three picks, and NFL 1st-round draft choice written all over him.  While not his equal, the Bearcats' Brendon Kay came off the bench after the start of the year to put up numbers nearly as impressive (70%/22 TDs) but has been picked off 9 times.  With teams so evenly matched, the game might very well come down to those turnovers.  More importantly, with allowing only 242 yds./game, give the edge to the Cards and their defense.  PICK:  Louisville.

Friday

OK, so they play teams like UMass

Bowling Green (9-3) vs. #14 Northern Illinois (12-0); 8 PM ET/5 PT, ESPN2.  Prolific offense against stingy defense, as the unbeaten Huskies take on the Falcons (no, not those Falcons).  Don't be enamored of the clean slate, know that Bowling Green has allowed seven separate teams only one touchdown each, holding all opponents under 14 points/game.   NIU's QB Jordan Lynch has emerged as a legitimate non-BCS conference candidate to win this year's Heisman Trophy.  In their last regular season game, Lynch ran for 321 yds. and 3 TDs.  The prize for this conference championship is a berth in the GoDaddy Bowl against the Sun Belt's winner, three-loss Louisiana-Lafayette.  Conference championship...Heisman Trophy...unbeaten season...with three such large incentives, I'll take the Huskies.  PICK:  Northern Illinois.

Saturday

Is this anything like "Mayhem"?

#17 Oklahoma (9-2) at #6 Oklahoma State (10-1); 12 PM ET/9 AM PT, ABC.  The "Bedlam Bell" is up for grabs in this series that's been played since 1904.  The original trophy was modeled after the bell clapper in Old Central, the oldest building on the Oke State campus.  Nowadays it's a glass bell mounted on a wooden base, not unlike the national championship trophy.  Unlike other rivalries, the term "Bedlam" carries over to other sports contested by the two schools, including wrestling and men's basketball.  In 2011, the gridiron Cowboys ended an eight-game losing streak with a crushing 44-10 victory.  Last year was the first in the series to go into overtime, resulting in a 51-48 Sooner win.  Never mind any of that.  There is no longer a Big 12 championship game, and the conference's BCS bowl representative will be determined by who's on top at the end of the season.  That means this game is everything for Oke State because they've already beaten the other two contenders (Baylor and Texas).  A win, and they go to the Fiesta Bowl    PICK:  Oklahoma State.

Alberg family will thank me for this

#5 Missouri (11-1) vs. #3 Auburn (11-1); 4 PM ET/1 PT, CBS.  OK, OK, so the Tigers shocked the world by rolling the Tide.  Gone also are Georgia, Florida, Texas A & M, LSU, and South Carolina, each having been mentioned as possible contestants in this year's SEC championship.  Nobody--and I mean NO BODY--mentioned Missouri in the same breath as these others.  Were it not for the absence of its own outstanding signal-caller, James Franklin, in Mizzou's double-overtime loss to South Carolina in October, these Tigers might already be in the national championship discussion.  They'll have to earn their way (and get a little help from Ohio State, Florida State, or both) and overcome Cinderella.  Hail Mary vs. Georgia...109-yd. runback vs. 'Bama...is there a third miracle on tap?  You heard it here first.  PICK:  Missouri.

Where's Oregon??

#7 Stanford (10-2) at #11 Arizona State (10-2); 7:45 PM ET/4:45 PT, ESPN.  This is who's left after the carnage that has been the Pac-12 regular season.  While perennial powers USC and Oregon are waiting for their bowl invites once all the other chips to fall into place, we're left with a highly competitive matchup between teams with identical two-loss records.  A national championship will not emerge from this game, but an upset might.  Whichever team can apply the most pressure to the opponent's quarterback may be the difference between a win or a loss.  When these two met in September, Stanford prevailed.  With the game being played in Tempe, The Smack goes with the Sun Devils.  PICK:  Arizona State.

Cousin Howard will be watching

#1 Florida State (12-0) vs. #20 Duke (10-2); 8 PM ET/5 PT, ABC.  By now Duke's success in football has been well-documented and is widely-known.  The end comes this week, when the Blue Devils play for their first ACC championship since 1958 against ol' Free Shoes U.  Consensus Heisman Trophy winner QB Jameis Winston leads an undefeated Seminole team that has Clemson as its signature win on the season.  Despite being a 29-point dog, don't count out the Dookies.  Of course, I don't actually think they'll win, but expect a much closer game than 29 points.  PICK:  Florida State.

Sorry, Gretchen!

#2 Ohio State (12-0) vs. #10 Michigan State (11-1); 8:17 PM ET/5:17 PT, Fox.  Big 10...no, 11; no, 12 (no wait...definitely not Big 12).  Well, whatever your favorite number, this will be a "big" game.  The chic pick here is the Spartans, because for some reason folks seem critical of Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes.  Never mind Meyer and his team are 24-0 over the past two years, and that included the Jim Tressel sanctions.  This is the Big...whatever, and most teams in the conference apparently stink worse than most teams in other major conferences.  I'm not buying it.  The Bucks are good.  Then again, the Spartans are better.  PICK:  Michigan State.

Even Curt agrees

Utah State (8-4) vs. #24 Fresno State (10-1); 10 PM ET/7 PT, CBS.  What a wonderful year for the Aggies!  My heart goes with them, but Fresno State is simply a better team.  Despite seeing their undefeated season go down the drain in last week's shootout loss to San Jose State, Fresno State will have spent the week shoring up its defensive schemes.  Without QB Chuckie Keaton, the player most responsible for State's rejuvination and out for the season with a knee injury, the Bulldog defense will shut down the Aggies and then treat the townies to yet another Derek Carr aerial circus.  PICK:  Fresno State.

Where football is played for the love of the sport

Still alive and in the chase for the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, higher-seeded teams listed first:

• #1 Mt. Union (12-0) vs. #15 Wesley (10-2)
• #4 North Central (12-0) vs. #6 Bethel (12-0)
• #2 Linfield (11-0) vs. #5 U of Wisconsin-Whitewater (12-0)
• #3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (12-0) vs. #25 St. John Fisher (10-2)

All the top seeds should prevail, except for Linfield.  I'll take the UW-W Wildhawks to upset the Wildcats.  After all, the entire bracket was set up to pit Mt. Union and UDub-Dub in yet another (8th in 9 years) battle for the title.  Maybe the D-III model still needs some work...

A Weekend To Remember

Sports pundits across the nation are hailing the past holiday weekend as the greatest ever in college football.  You'll get no objection from The Smack.  No sooner do I consider the Ohio State-Michigan game one of the best ever, then I  tune in to Alabama-Auburn only to have my chin drop to the floor a second time.

For the record, whether you like Grady Hoke or not, his decision to go for two--at home, rivalry game--is the correct (and gutsy) one.  The specific play called?  Not so much.

Winner...............loser.

As for Nick Saban, another story.  How do you throw a redshirt freshman into a game-winning kicking situation and then not properly cover the ensuing runback when it falls short?  Humble pie is on the menu in Tuscaloosa this week.

All of this means (a) I look forward to the upcoming week's conference championship preview and (b) the entire college football world (or at least those in my family) prep for the Army-Navy classic the following week.  Meanwhile, here's how it went down with our usual faves in Week #14:

Colorado State 58, Air Force 13.  No pic available, but the Chris Haskell Bowl trophy is a giant "0.5" shaped from Legos atop a  Silly Putty base.  (This is an inside joke no one other than The Sentinel will understand.  In fact, there is an actual "Ram-Falcon" trophy which has been awarded to the winner of this annual game since 1957.)  The prize goes to the Rams as Air Force closes out 2013 winless in the MWC.  Caught focusing on RB Kapri Bibbs (as was The Smack), Falcon secondary helpless in stopping QB Garrett Grayson, who is 26-of-34, 395 yds., and 4 TDs (including one on the ground).  Despite entering game averaging over 272 yds. on the ground, Air Force is held scoreless for three quarters and manages only 154 yds. rushing on the day.

Much of a stereotype, ya think?

Hawaii 49, Army 42.  As suspected, Rainbows catch Black Knights looking ahead.  The six-hour time change doesn't help, either.  Hawaii jumps out to a 14-0 first quarter lead, then holds off a furious Army 2nd half comeback attempt.  Just like Grayson (above), QB Sean Schroeder has 3 TDs through the air and one on the ground.  The Army defense allows the 'Bows to pile up 608 yds. of total offense, featuring (I love this name) Steven Lakalaka, who runs for 104 yds. and a TD as Hawaii avoids a perfect season.



BYU 28, Nevada 23.  Knew this one would be exciting...and close.  Wolf Pack actually holds Cougars scoreless in the first half but cannot keep QB Taysom Hill down all day.  Hill wakes up and throws for two scores in the second half and RB Jamaal Williams rushes for 219 yds. and two more TDs.  Pack scores a late TD, misses the 2-pointer, and cannot wrest the ball from BYU during the last three minutes of the game..

#22 UCLA 35, #23 USC 14.  Oh, NOW I understand why UCLA was ranked ahead of USC.  Bruin QB Brett Hundley carries the ball 13 times for 80 yds. and gives postgame credit to his O-line for allowing him to throw for 208 more.  The Trojan offense, under scrutiny from the preseason, is unable to run or pass and is held scoreless in both the first and last quarters.  Jim Mora, Sr. actually could be seen running off the field with his head coach son saying, "PLAYOFFS!!"  Late word out of L. A.:  Boise State's Chris Peterson sits atop Pat Haden's short list of candidates to succeed interim coach Ed Orgeron at the end of the season.  It is said that Orgeron will be asked to stay on "in come capacity".  Yeah, like that'll happen.

Syracuse 34, Boston College 31.  Close all the way, the 'Cuse wins a wild one behind an impressive 21-point 2nd quarter performance and a 75-yard last-ditch drive to end the game.  A huge blow to the Eagles is the absence of RB Andre Williams, lost to injury in the 3rd quarter after gaining just 29 yds.  Orange QB Terrel Hunt proves to be a dual threat,throwing for 270 yds. and two TDs and adding 90 yds. and another score on the ground.

#12 Oregon 36, Oregon State 35.  Civil War indeed!  State nearly sends Ducks to their third defeat in November.  Once again QB Marcus Mariota saves the day, this time with a 12-yard toss to Josh Huff with just 29 ticks left on the clock, the third time on the day that these two hook up for scores.  Typical time of possession, with the Beavers holding onto the ball for over 35 minutes, to no avail.  When the Ducks strike, they strike quickly.  Two 4th down conversions also help.

South Alabama 38, Georgia State 17.  First year in FBS ends without a win for the Panthers.  Try as they might, the Georgia State defense simply cannot stop opponents' offenses.  Today it's the Jaguars' QB Ross Metheny and RB Jay Jones who combine for three touchdowns and 392 yds.  Like the Chicago Cubs, wait 'til next year, Panther faithful.