College Football Kickoff (Week 13)

Games of the Week

#7 Florida Gators (10-1) at #5 Florida State Seminoles (10-1)
During the 1990's this game always had a  big time implications, but recently it's just been another game due to one of the teams not being very good.  However with both teams ranked in the top 10 and both teams looking to possibly sneak into the National Title game if teams ahead of them slip up.  Both teams have really good defenses and this should be a low scoring game.  The big question will be Florida's offense.  They are not very dynamic, but are returning QB Jeff Driskel from injury.  If he can be the play maker we saw earlier in the season the Gators can win.  But FSU has a lot more weapons on offense and that should be the difference maker.
Prediction:  Florida 10 Florida State 20

#4 Oregon Ducks (10-1) at #19 Oregon State Beavers (9-2)
This game doesn't have the same impact as it did a week ago.  This was going to be the game that Oregon could slip up.  But they did that last week.  Now it will be interesting to see what Oregon team shows up.  A pissed off one looking to prove that last week was a fluke.  Or a team that is still thinking about last week and could see their second straight loss.  Oregon State wants to show that they are the best team in the state and want to knock off the mighty Ducks.  Unlike last week this will be a high scoring game.  The Beavers don't have as good of a defense as Stanford and will struggle to slow the Duck offense down.  Add in that Oregon State doesn't have the fire power to stay in a shoot out and this could get ugly.
Prediction:  Oregon 45 Oregon State 27

#11 Stanford Cardinal (9-2) at #18 UCLA Bruins (9-2)
The worst part (or maybe the best part depending how the game goes) about this game is that it could be replayed next weekend.  UCLA has already locked up their spot in the Pac 12 Title Game.  A Stanford win would clinch their spot in the game.  But don't expect a let down game here.  Stanford is playing for a lot and UCLA even though they are already in are looking to show they are a not a flash in the pan.  We'll see a good match up with UCLA's spread offense vs the Cardinals physical defense.  Will QB Brett Hundley and RB Jonathan Franklin be able to run against the Cardinal?  Or will OC Noel Mazzone be able to out scheme this defense?  But don't forget that UCLA must stop RB Stepfan Taylor and they've shown that they can be run on.
Prediction:  Stanford 20  UCLA 17

#13 South Carolina Gamecocks (9-2) at #10 Clemson Tigers (10-1)
This is one of the most intense rivalries in college football.  Things have only gotten more interesting with both Dabo Swiney and Steve Spurrier trading shots all year long.  Look for this to be a really physical game.  We'll see Clemson's high octane offense face off against a stout Gamecock defense.  South Carolina's defense is good, but is it good enough to slow down Tajh Boyd and Sammie Watkins?  You have to know that the struggling Gamecocks offense is excited to a bad Tiger defense.  The big concern for Clemson will be if their defense can hold the Gamecocks down enough to out score them.  I like those chances with Marcus Lattimore not in this game.
Prediction:  South Carolina 27  Clemson 31

#20 Michigan Wolverines (8-3) at #12 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0)
Now that Brady Hoke has the Wolverines on the upswing this rivalry is starting to get back to where it use to be.  This game could have major implications if the Buckeyes weren't on probation and were vying for a spot in the National Championship Game.  But if Nebraska loses to Iowa and the Wolverines win, they will go to the Big 10 Title Game.  But no matter what, both of these teams wants to beat the crap out of the other.  Now that QB Dennard Robinson is back the Wolverines offense has an extra wrinkle in it.  It will be interesting to see what OC Al Borges has worked up for a thin Buckeye defense.  Ohio State will need a big game out of QB Braxton Miller because Michigan has an underrated defense and the Buckeyes don't have a lot of weapons besides him. 
Prediction:  Michigan  20 Ohio State 21

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Coaching Hot Seat

Skip Holtz
Record at South Florida: 
Bowl Appearances: 

A couple of years ago, Skip Holtz was an up and comer in the college football coaching circles.  After winning the Conference USA title two years in a row at East Carolina Holtz got his first crack at a BCS conference job.  Holtz took over at South Florida for Jim Leavitt who was fired for alleged abuse of players.

The South Florida job is one that many thought could be a sleeping giant.  They are in the fertile Florida recruiting grounds, had improved facilities, and were in a winnable conference.  Leavitt had them all the way up to #2 in the nation at one point before he was fired.  Holtz was a hot coaching name and many thought he could take them to that level.  Instead it's been three years and instead of Conference Championships and BCS Bowls we are talking about him possibly losing his job. 

It started out well for Holtz.  His first year in Tampa was alright.  They won 8 and beat Clemson in the Mieneke Car Care Bowl.  However the success of that initial season didn't last.  They only won 5 games last year and only 3 games so far this season.  Add in that Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are their remaining opponents and it looks like they'd be lucky to win one of them.  That leaves us to Holtz.  His best year was with Leavitt's players.  They've gotten worse every year.  Are three years enough to evaluate his program?

Probably not, but that seems to be the trend in college football.  He'll more than likely get another year.  But the seat is hot.  If he can't show vast improvement next year, we could be talking about South Florida looking for their 3rd coach in program history.

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What happened to....

West Virginia Mountaineers
At the beginning of the season everybody was intrigued how West Virginia was going to do as the new member of the Big 12 conference.  Especially after winning the Big East the year before.

The Mountaineers were thought to be the perfect team for the Big 12.  They, much like almost every team, run a spread attack and don't play much defense.  West Virginia HC Dana Holgerson had experience in the conference from his time as an assistant at Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.  With the talent the Mountaineers had on offense they were deemed a sleeper pick to win the conference.

West Virginia started the season off with a bang winning their first five games, mostly by dominating fashion.  QB Geno Smith was putting up monster numbers and was the far and away leader for the Heisman Trophy.  But after starting out 5-0, the Mountaineers hit a huge wall and have lost their next 5 games.  The offense began to stall and the defense was incapable of stopping anybody.  West Virginia has two games remaining, Iowa State and Kansas.  Both should be wins, but Iowa State is feisty and is always capable of winning every night.

What went wrong?  Have teams figured out Holgerson's offense?  Did they beat up on inferior competition to start the season?  Or did the grind of the Big 12 catch the Mountaineers off guard?  To be honest it's probably a combination of them all.  Their first five games were against poor competition.  Texas was struggling at the time and Baylor was their next best opponent.  Add in that the Mountaineers aren't use to playing top 25 teams on a consistent basis (have you seen the Big East) and the grind can wear on a team.

This season can be chalked up to a failure, but look for West Virginia to reload and be a player in the Big 12 for years to come.

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How about....

Conference Realignment

Two years ago Conference Realignment was a hot topic.  Nebraska, Colorado and Utah all joined new conferences.  The next off season we saw Texas A&M, Missouri, TCU, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse all move conferences.  Everything seemed to be stabilizing themselves.  But as you know, things have picked up once again and we have a new batch of teams moving around.

It all started with Notre Dame.  The Fighting Irish are the most famous Independent Team in college football.  But this past summer they moved their non football teams from the Big East to the ACC.  This was a move that was good for both Notre Dame and the ACC.  It gave the ACC another big name and put them into a secure spot.  The Big 10 was always a conference that wanted Notre Dame, but with this move that was never going to happen.  With the possibility of 16 team super conferences looming, the Big 10 didn't want to be left picking up the scraps.  So they made the next move.

Enter Rutgers and Maryland.  They are your newest members of the Big 10.  Not what most people expected when they thought of the Big 10 expanding.  But as we know, it's all about money.  Rutgers and Maryland bring new big markets to the conference.  Now the Big 10 Network would be able to expand into New York City and Baltimore increasing the exposure of the conference and getting BTN on even more TV sets.  That means more money for the conference.

But what does that mean for the other conferences?  Now the ACC is scrambling.  Who are they going to get for their 14th school?  Do they have to turn to UConn or Louisville?  What schools will move next?  The SEC and Big 10 will be looking eventually to get to 16.  The place they'll likely look is the ACC.  What was thought to finally be a secure conference, is starting to feel a little insecure.

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Player Spotlight

Jonathan Franklin

Height: 5'10
Weight: 198
School:  UCLA
Year:  Senior
Position:  Running back

With the UCLA Bruins on the rise and poise to play in their second straight Pac 12 Title Game, we've become a lot more familiar with Jonathan Franklin.  Franklin has been a huge part of the Bruins success on offense this year.  Going into the final game of the regular season Franklin is 5th in the nation in rushing yards (1,426 yards) while hauling in 12 total TDs.  He's gone over 100 yards in all but 3 games.  He even had over 200 yards in his first two games of the year.

All this success has brought a lot of attention to the senior running back.  Jonathan Franklin is a natural runner who doesn't have a lot of wasted movement and does does a great job of finding cut back lanes and openings.  He doesn't have elite top end speed, but is fast enough to get to the edge or break through the middle.  This season he has shown that he can also catch the ball, but has some work to do improving his route running and catching the ball more cleanly.

Overall Franklin has taken a huge step forward this year and is one of the top backs in college football this year.  His play has been a huge reason UCLA has a shot to win the Pac 12 Conference.  There will be several NFL teams looking to add him to their roster this upcoming draft.

College Football Kickoff (Week 12)

Games of the Week

#14 Stanford Cardinal (8-2) at #1 Oregon Ducks (10-0)
Easily the game of the week we have the top two teams in the Pac 12 facing off against each other.  The winner of this game would represent the North Division in the Pac 12 Title Game.  We'll see Oregon's high octane offense go up against Stanford's physical defense.  Last year Stanford couldn't handle Oregon's speed and athletism, will they be able to this year?  Can Stanford QB Kevin Hogan pick up where he left off and help keep the Cardinal in the game?  Or will Oregon's improved defense shut down Stanford?
Prediction:  Stanford 24  Oregon 42

#2 Kansas State Wildcats (10-0) at Baylor Bears (4-5)
Just looking at these two teams records it doesn't look like too good great of a match up.  But Baylor is a lot better than their record indicates.  They have the ability to score a ton of points and will put a lot of pressure on KState's defense.  But Baylor's defense is one of the worst in the nation and that isn't a good sign when you have KState's efficient offense coming to town.  This could be a big game for QB Collin Klein that could help him solidify his Heisman chances.  But this game could go to a shootout.  And Baylor might be due to knock somebody off.
Prediction:  KState  44  Baylor 32

#18 USC Trojans (7-3) at #20 UCLA Bruins (8-2)
This game doesn't have the national appeal we thought it was going to have early in the season, but there is still a lot to play for here.  Not only is this the battle for Los Angeles, but the winner of this game will represent the Pac 12 South in the Conference Title Game.  With a loss USC will have four on the season and with Notre Dame coming next week could be their 5th.  UCLA has a lot to prove.  New HC Jim Mora will want to make a statement against USC to keep the Bruins momentum going.  But will UCLA have enough defense to slow down the potent USC offense.  But can UCLA's running game expose USC's lack of depth on defense?
Prediction:  USC 35  UCLA 38

#25 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-1) at Cincinnati Bearcats (7-2)
The Big East race will come down to how Rutgers, Cincinnati, and Louisville play each other.  The team that wins the round robin will be the conference champion.  Cincinnati has already lost to Louisville, so they really need to knock off Rutgers here.  However Rutgers has been playing very good lately especially on defense.  Not a good sign for the Bearcats who haven't had good consistent play out of the QB position.  They could really use Munchie Legaux to regain his old form if they want to win. 
Prediction:  Rutgers 24  Cincinnati 17

#23 Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-3) at Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-3)
Unlike the rest of the games listed here this game doesn't have any affect on a conference or nation title.  But it is still a quality game between to top 25 contenders looking to finish the season strong.  Texas Tech is looking to get some revenge from last year's blow out loss to Okie State.  Oklahoma State is looking to get things back on track but will have to do so with some uncertainty at QB.  But we do know that this will be a high scoring affair with the #1 (Tech) and #4 (Okie State) passing offenses in the nation.  So it could be the team with the ball last will bed the winner.
Prediction:  Tech 45  Oklahoma State 38

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Coaching Hot Seat

Lane Kiffin
Record at USC:  25-10
Bowl Appearances:  0

Some people may be surprised to see Lane Kiffin's name associated with being on the hot seat, but you shouldn't be surprised.  USC was ranked #1 at the beginning of the year and there were a lot of expectations.  The Trojans returned star QB Matt Barkley and had stud WRs in Robert Woods and MarQuise Lee.  They have two talented RBs in Silas Redd and Curtis McNeill.  The offense was loaded at at a minimum were going to be able to outscore a lot of opponents. 

It's safe to say that the Trojans haven't lived up to them.  They've lost 3 games so far this season and with games against UCLA, Notre Dame, and possibly Oregon (again) it's safe to say they might lose two more.  Even with the sanctions they have enough talent to be better.  But QB Matt Barkley has struggled to be consistent and the defense has holes all over it.

Adding insult to injury there has been a lot of controversy surrounding Kiffin.  Against Colorado USC had a backup QB change his jersey to be the same as the punter (who is also the FG holder) and then ran a fake off of it.  A clear violation of NCAA rules.  Then there was the case of the deflated footballs.  USC "fired" a student manager because it was found out that the Trojans were deflating the footballs below NCAA standards.  Most people know that a student manager isn't going to do that without direction from the head coach.  Why bring this up, because Kiffin is widely known for bending the rules from his days at Tennessee and was on staff at USC when NCAA violations were broken. 

But the biggest reason why Kiffin's job might be in jeopardy is because USC Athletic Director Pat Haden wasn't the AD that hired Kiffin.  And word is that Haden isn't too pleased with Kiffin's run ins with NCAA rules.  Add that to a struggling team and Haden could feel the need to change coaches.  USC is one of the top jobs in college football and they could get whoever they wanted.  This could be Haden chance to get his own guy.

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What happened to....

Wake Forrest Demon Deacons
Let's take a look back to 2006.  That was the year that Wake Forrest made a big jump.  The went 10-2 on the regular season, won the ACC Championship, and went to the school's first BCS Bowl Game (Orange Bowl).  Head coach Jim Grobe was hailed for his coaching and schools (almost got the Nebraska job) were looking to hire him away from the Winston-Salem school.  Grobe was known for redshirting every freshman with the thought that his 4th year juniors and 5th year seniors would lead to success.    Linebacker Aaron Curry went #4 overall to the Seattle Seahawks in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Wake Forrest used the momentum from the 2006 ACC Championship season to reel off a 9 win and 8 win years.  The future was bright for Wake Forrest and it looked like they would be a consistent threat in the ACC's Atlantic Division. 
However, Wake Forrest was never able to maintain that success.  Since the 2008 season the Demon Deacons have only 14 wins and made it to only one bowl game (Music City Bowl loss to Miss State).  This year Wake Forrest has gotten better, but only have 5 wins on the season.  But with games against #3 Notre Dame and Vanderbilt left on schedule it doesn't look like they'll be bowl eligible.  That's a far cry from the program that we thought Grobe had built around 2007. 

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How about....

UCLA Bruins
Often times there are lists made of underachieving programs or schools that have the potential to become college football powers.  A name that you always see on both lists is the UCLA Bruins.  And why not, UCLA is in the fertile recruiting grounds of Los Angeles that produces a ton of football talent.  The Bruins have had some tradition of success.  But they've never really been able to put it together to reach a consistent level of success.  The Bruins have brought in several different coaches to try and turn their fortune around, but they usually end up firing the coach because a lack of success.

Well they may have finally found the guy that can get the job done.  Jim Mora Jr was hired this past year and there were a lot of negative reactions.  Mora wasn't very successful while being a head coach in the NFL (being fired twice) and his only experience coaching in college was when he was a GA at Washington in 1984.  Many thought that Mora was hired because all the top names they wanted turned down the job. 

But sometimes it's not the first choice that ends up being the best choice.  When Mora took over he hired assistants that have had a ton of experience in the college game.  His OC Noel Mazzone is regarded as one of the top offensive minds in college football.  Together they have transformed a UCLA offense that was rather pedestrian into one of the best in the Pac 12.  RB Jonathan Franklin has emerged as one of top RBs in the nation, while freshman QB Brett Hundley is thriving in the spread attack.  The Bruins have been a regular in the top 25 and if they can beat USC this weekend they will make it to the Pac 12 Title Game with a chance to get to the Rose Bowl.

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Player Spotlight

Chase Thomas

Height:  6'4
Weight:  240
School:  Stanford
Year:  Senior
Position:  Rush Linebacker

Andrew Luck may get a lot of the attention for helping Stanford become a yearly Pac 12 contender, but a huge reason for their success is the improved play of their defense.  One player that has really embodied the physical play of the defense is outside linebacker Chase Thomas.  Playing outside linebacker in the Cardinal defense it is Thomas' responsibility to seal the edge and put pressure on the QB.  Thomas played DE but once the Cardinal moved to the 3-4 Thomas was able to transition easily to the OLB spot.  He has a high motor, good quickness, and an understanding of how to get to the QB.  His specialty is the sack/fumble.  A skill that defensive coordinators love.  A good comparison might be current Bear and former Boise State Broncos Shea McClellian.  Teams are always looking for pass rushers and we are beginning to see teams take guys regardless of scheme (Bruce Irvin, McClellian) which only helps somebody like Thomas.

College Football Kickoff (Week 11)

Games of the Week

#15 Texas A&M Aggies (7-2) at #1 Alabama Crimson Tide (9-0)
This is a big game for both teams.  A&M is coming off a big win at Starkville and looking to show everybody they are a player in the SEC.  What better way then to knock off the Tide.  In Alabama's case, a win here would clinch their spot in the SEC Championship game and help pave teh way for an undefeated season.  The battle to watch is to see how QB Johnny Manziel does against the fierce Crimson Tide defense.  If Manziel can eliminate turnovers that hurt him against LSU the Aggie offense can put up points.  But you have to wonder what blitzes and schemes Saban will use to confuse the freshman signal caller.  A&M is also going to have to try and get to AJ McCarron while slowing down the power rushing attack.
Prediction:  A&M 13  Alabama 31


#4 Kansas State Wildcats (9-0) at TCU Horned Frogs (6-3)The big story line of this game is the health of KState QB Collin Klein.  Klein suffered some form of a concussion in last weeks game and his status is uncertain.  If Klein can't go, this game is a toss up.  Sure KState has RB John Hubert and some other weapons, but they aren't the same without the Heisman Front runner.  If Klein plays the Wildcats aren't a guaranteed winner.  TCU has a ton of talent and before QB Casey Pachall left the team they were a regular in the Power Rankings.  TCU also has a strong defense that will give the Wildcat offense fits.  Add in that TCU HC Gary Patterson is a KState alumn, they have extra motivation on their side.
Prediction:  KState 38  TCU 20


#23 Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-2) at #9 LSU Tigers (7-2)
Both of these teams are coming off losses and hoping to get back on track.  Mississippi State is on a two game losing streak and looking to show the nation that they didn't jump out to a 7-0 record only because they played crappy teams.  LSU is looking to avoid a 3 loss season and keep their chances of getting to a BCS Bowl.  Miss State got gashed last week by Texas A&M and they need to shore up some holes to prevent the LSU offense from exploiting them too.  QB Zach Mettenberger is coming off his best game of the year and the Tigers could really use him to have another one.  If he can do that the Tigers should roll with a victory.  It will also be interesting to see how Miss State QB Tyler Russell does with the talented LSU defensive line.  He did have issues last week against the Aggies.  Don't look for this one to be that close.
Prediction:  Miss State 6  LSU 24


#14 Oregon State Beavers (7-1) at #16 Stanford Cardinal (7-2)
Although neither of these teams will probably go to the Pac 12 Title game, this is a huge game for both teams.  The winner of this game could realistically make it to the Rose Bowl if Oregon stays undefeated.  The problem is avoiding having 3 losses.  Because you can't qualify for the BCS if you have three losses.  Both teams will bring good defenses to the game.  Stanford's physical defense will look to stop the passing attack of Oregon, while Oregon State's defense will have to deal with the power running of Stepfan Taylor.  The winner will likely be the team whose offense makes the fewest mistakes.  This game is also a battle of backup QBs as Cody Vaz took over for Sean Mannion when he got hurt and Kevin Hogan took over for Josh Nunes who has struggled to replace Andrew Luck.
Prediction:  Oregon State 17  Stanford 14


Penn State Nittany Lions (6-3) at #17 Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-2)
This game isn't getting a lot of nation hype, but it is still a very good game against two quality teams.  Penn State was the talk of college football for their 5 game winning streak, but are all forgotten about now.  All they did was lose to a good Ohio State team.  Nebraska in on a three game winning streak with two of those games had them coming from a double digit deficit.  Nebraska is in the drivers seat in the Big 10 Legends Division, but need to win out to control their own destiny.  But this will be tough against a physical Penn State defense that will look to slow down QB Taylor Martinez and the Husker rushing attack.  Penn State QB Matt McGloin has had a good season and is throwing the ball all over the field.  He'll test the blackshirt defense.  But HC Bo Pelini has a ton of success against immobile QBs and McGloin is your prototypical pocket QB.  This should be a fun game to watch.
Prediction:  Penn State 17  Nebraska 24

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Coaching Hot Seat

Derek Dooley
Record at Tennessee:  32-39
Bowl Appearances:  1

When Lane Kiffin left Tennesse after only serving one year on the job the administration chose to go in a different direction hiring Louisiana Tech Head Coach Derek Dooley.  The decision to hire Dooley was a cause for concern because he wasn't a hot coaching name and his 17-20 record at LaTech wasn't very good.  Heck he was 4-8 in his last year.  Not too impressive of a record coming into the premier college football conference.  You have to wonder if the AD hired Dooley with the thought he wouldn't leave for the next best job.

As many expected, things haven't gone very well for Dooley.  His first year was his best.  He ended with a 6-7 record and made it to the Music City Bowl.  In year two they finished with only 5 wins and only won one SEC game.  His hot seat was getting pretty warm in year 2.

This year looked like it could go pretty well.  The Vols entered the season with a ton of talent on the offensive with QB Tyler Bray and WRs Justin Hunter, Da'Rick Rodgers, and Cordalle Patterson.  However Rodgers was kicked off the team.  Tennessee started the season with a big win over NC State, but once SEC conference play started the wheels fell off.  They lost a 2nd half lead to Florida, lost by less than 10 points to Georgia, Miss State, and South Carolina but all of them are losses.  They haven't won a game in the SEC yet and almost lost to Troy.  The Vols only have 3 wins on the season and have to beat Missouri, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt just to be bowl eligible.

It doesn't look very good for Dooley.  Even if he wins out the rest of the year, the SEC is an impatient league and they'll likely be looking for a new coach.  The hot name is John Gruden who was a former GA at Tennessee and married a Tennessee alumn.  However Gruden is the hottest coaching name out there and will probably go for a better job.  Even with being in the SEC and having some tradition.  It's hard to recruit to Tennessee and that could scare some coaches off.  It will be interesting to see what they do.  The fan base wants more, but they might not get it.

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What happened to....

Iowa Hawkeyes
Going into this season the expectations for the Iowa Hawkeyes weren't great.  They were not favored to win their division and getting to 8 wins was seen to be their ceiling.  Heck some places even predicted them to be the second worse team in their division.  So why are they here?

If you remember back to the 2009 season the Hawkeyes finished with an 11-2 record and a win over Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.  Although not a super power the Hawkeyes have a history of competing for the Big 10 Title and regularly posting 9 win seasons.  However the Hawkeyes won 7 games in both 2010 and 2011.  This year Iowa has only 4 wins on the season with three remaining.  That means they'll have to beat Purdue and then either Michigan or Nebraska just to be bowl eligible.  That's a long ways from this team winning a BCS game three years ago. 

One of the biggest reasons the Hawkeyes have struggled is their offense.  They have always put out good offensive lines, but the skill positions haven't had the same impact that they did in previous years.  The running back position has been a mess.  Since the 2009 season the Hawkeyes have had a revolving door at RB.  Marcus Coker was a stud in 2011 but left the team.  This year their star is former Air Force FB Mark Wiseman.  But even he has missed games because of injuries.  Iowa fans have focused their criticism on former OC Norm Parker for his conservative style.  Parker retired and the Hawkeyes hired former Texas OC Greg Davis.  Davis was known for his spread offenses, but the Hawkeyes have continued to run the same style of offense that Parker did. 

Don't look for HC Kirk Ferentz to be on the hot seat.  He's owed over $20 million dollars on his contract and the University isn't ready to buy that out.  But some changes need to happen or the Hawkeyes could go from being on a bad stretch to being a forgotten program.

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How about....

Indiana Hoosiers
When you think of successful Indiana programs your first reaction is going to be towards their basketball program.  Not the football one.  But with the season that the Hoosier Football team is having, people do have to take noticed.

Last year Kevin Wilson took over a program that hasn't had hardly any success.    Wilson came from Oklahoma where he was the OC and a big part of some high powered offenses.  Wilson also won the Broyles Award for top assistant coach in the nation.  His first season was rocky at best.  He finished with a 1-11 record and was more famous for his exchange with Fox Radio hosts "Zach and Jack."  At one point Wilson had secured a commitment from top QB prospect Gunner Kiel, but Kiel later decommitted and ended up going to Notre Dame.

It was safe to say that the second year of Wilson's tenure wasn't very highly anticipated.  But this year has not only exceeded expectations, but blew them out.  Indiana has 4 wins so far and 2 of them are in conference.  Because Penn State and Ohio State cannot compete in the Big 10 Title Game the Hoosiers are tied with Wisconsin for the lead in the Leaders Division.  Indiana's offense has also taken a big jump this year.  They are currently 3rd in the Big 10 in total offense and 1st in passing yards per game.  Add in that the Hoosiers have 3 four star commitments and the future looks good for this once doormat program.

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Player Spotlight

William Gholston

Height:  6'6
Weight:  280
School:  Michigan State
Year:  JR
Position:  Defensive End

Going into the season there were some high hopes for Gholston.  He had the frame and physical skills to be a dominant defensive end.  He is your prototypical get off the bus first player.  He looks the part.  As a sophomore he was inconsistent and had the tendency to disappear at times.  Going into his junior year many were looking to see Gholston become more consistent and dominate more.

So far as a junior it's been too much the same as last year.  At times he's looked as a top 5 pick, then the next game he disappears and you forget he is on the field. Gholston does a great job taking on blockers and still being able to make plays.  With skills like this he'd be a good fit as a LDE in a 4-3 defense, but he could also fit well as a 5-technique defensive end in a 3-4 defense.  Teams could use him a lot like Arizona does with Calias Campbell.  Gholston might be better off staying at Michigan State for his senior year, but he does come out some team in the 2nd round will likely pull the trigger on him.

College Football Kickoff (Week 10)

Games of the Week

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide (8-0) at #5 LSU Tigers (7-1)
This years game doesn't have the same feel as last year, but that was because LSU was also undefeated, instead of having one loss.  But the stakes are still the same.  Winner of this game "should" win the West and move on to the SEC Title Game.  Alabama so far has been the clear cut #1 team in the nation and hasn't really had a close game.  But the have to travel to Death Valley at night which is never easy.  If LSU wants to get the win here they are going to need a HUGE game from QB Zach Mettenberger.  They'll need him to make plays, not just manage to offense.  Defensively the Tigers can slow the Alabama offense but unless the defense can make some plays to put points on the board it could be a long night.
Prediction:  Alabama 20  LSU 10


Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-2) at #4 Kansas State Wildcats (8-0)
Oklahoma isn't ranked, but they are right on the cusp of the top 25.  They're looking to make a mark on the season and end Kansas State's magical season.  But if they are going to, they'll need to score a lot of points against a Wildcat defense that held West Virginia to 14 and Oklahoma to 19.  Defensively they'll have to make some plays because KState looks to wear defenses down with QB Collin Klein and RB John Hubert.  If Oklahoma State wants to win they'll have to get early 3 and outs to keep their guys fresh.  But that's easier said than down.  Just ask Oklahoma and West Virginia.
Prediction:  Oklahoma State 16  Kansas State 45


#2 Oregon Ducks (8-0) at #16 USC Trojans (6-2)
A week ago this game had more hype around it.  But that was before the Trojans dropped a game to Arizona to give them their second loss on the season.  You have to wonder how USC is going to handle Oregon's offense considering they struggled against an Arizona attack that isn't as good.  USC has struggled to stop the run and that is what the Ducks will do to you.  Add in that USC doesn't have a lot of depth along the defensive line and that could be a disaster keeping up with the Oregon fast paced attack.  But will Oregon's improved defense be able to slow down the USC receivers and running backs?  Oregon is favored to win on paper, but USC is out to prove that they are better tahn their record indicates.  Don't be surprised if you see an upset.
Prediction:  Oregon 49  USC 27


#19 Texas A&M Aggies (6-2) at #15 Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-1)
The big match up in the SEC West is in Baton Rouge, but this game in Starkville is just as important.  In this battle of surprise teams, the winner still has an outside shot at the West Division crown.  But they'll need some help to do so.  It will be fun to watch A&M's high powered offense match up with the veteran Miss State defense.  As we've seen so far, A&M will go as far as QB Johnny Manziel will take them.  In the games they've lost he's taken care of the ball and made plays.  When they lose it's because he has turned the ball over.  Miss State also hasn't face an offense that is as good as Texas A&M all year.
Prediction:  Texas A&M  31 Mississippi State  24

#21 Texas Longhorns at #23 Texas Tech Red Raiders
The last time that Texas and Texas Tech had a huge game against each other we got an amazing game with Michael Crabtree hauling in a TD pass in the closing seconds to give the Red Raiders the victory.  Will this game against top 25 teams yield the same results?  I don't know, but this game will still be intriguing and a battle to move into the 3rd spot behind Kansas State and Oklahoma.  Just when Texas QB David Ash started to really play well, he took a step back.  Is he going to be able to get it back against an improved Red Raider defense?  Will the Texas defense be able to slow down Tech's offense enough to give their offense a chance?
Prediction:  Texas 20  Texas Tech 34

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Coaching Hot Seat

Gene Chizik
Record at Auburn:  31-17
Bowl Appearances:  3

To say that Gene Chizik's tenure at Auburn has been a roller coaster is an understatement.  Fans were unhappy that Auburn hired Chizik who had a 5-19 record at Iowa State prior to him coming to Auburn.  Many felt that there were better coaches out there and Chizik hadn't proved that he's worthy of this level of a job.  They felt that Turner Gill (former Buffalo HC) was more qualified and a better choice. 

Chizik answered a lot of critics with a National Championship season in his second year.  Lead by Heisman Trophy winning QB Cam Newton the Tigers went undefeated and winning a lot of close games in route to beating Oregon in the National Championship Game.  So it's hard to imagine how a coach who won a National Championship two years ago can already be on the hot seat.

It was year three where things started to slide.  Auburn only won 7 games during the regular season, but was dominated by the top teams in the conference.  After the regular season was over Auburn also lost three key members of their team.  RB Michael Dyer was kicked off the team, DC Ted Roof left for a DC job at Central Florida, and OC Gus Malzahn left to be the HC at Arkansas State. 

If year three was a downer, this current year is flat out depressing for Tigers fans.  Currently the Tigers are 1-7 and haven't won a game in the SEC.  Their only win was against Louisiana Monroe and they had to go to OT to do that.  They should win two more games (New Mexico State and Alabama A&M) but a 3-9 record isn't going to sit well in the SEC.  One of the biggest issues that Chizik has had at Auburn is not getting talent in there.  Sure there are good players on their roster, but they are few and far between. 

It is uncertain if Chizik will lose his job or not.  You'd think that National Championship would by him some time.  But in the SEC patience wears thin.  Auburn's administration could see that outside of the year that Cam Newton and Nick Fairley were there, the Tigers have underachieved.  It's truly amazing what a dominant player can do for a team.

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What happened to....

Mountain West Conference

Do you remember when the Mountain West was at one point the 5th best conference in college football ahead of the ACC and the Big East.  Utah and TCU had made it to BCS games while BYU and San Diego State were up and coming teams.  Boise State (who was a regular in the top 10) was set to join in 2011.  With the likes of those teams the Mountain West was beginning to get into the discussion of possible becoming  BCS Automatic Qualifying conference.

However 2011 was the year the conference started to fall apart.  Utah got an invitation to the Pac 10 and left.  BYU was upset that they didn't get invited and went independent.  Boise State still joined, but without BYU and Utah the conference didn't have the same star power.  TCU added to the teams leaving when they got an invite to the Big East and agreed to leave (but ended up in the Big 12 instead).  In an effort to strengthen the conference, the Mountain West added Fresno State, Utah State, and Hawaii.  Both those teams aren't TCU, Utah, and BYU. 

Looking at the Mountain West this year and you can see that the conference is down compared to what it is.  Boise State is still the cream of the crop, but they are down this year.  San Diego State  hasn't had the same success that they did when Brady Hoke was there.  What makes matters worse is that Boise State and San Diego State will be leaving for the Big East in a couple of years.

What will come of this conference then?  Sure can't count on Fresno State and Utah State to carry the BCS buster torch.

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How about....

Sun Belt Conference

For the longest time the Sun Belt was a conference that a lot of teams laughed at.  Normally when BCS level teams scheduled Sun Belt teams it would be an easy win that they didn't have to even worry about.  It was also a place where young coaches went to die.  You rarely ever saw programs dip into the Sun Belt to get their next coach.

But things are changing.  The Sun Belt is no longer a laughing matter.  Just look at Louisiana-Monroe.  They were the early talk of the college football season with a win over Alabama and near wins over Auburn and Baylor.  Western Kentucky even knocked off Kentucky.  Looking at the current standings Western Kentucky and Louisiana-Monroe are already bowl eligible.  Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee State are a win away.  Troy and Louisiana-Lafayette have great shots at 6 wins.  When was the last time this conference had 4 teams bowl eligible?

Another area of strength in the Sun Belt is the coaching.  No longer are coaches afraid to lead these schools and BCS schools are considering these coaches.  Just look at Hugh Freeze.  He went from Arkansas State to Ole Miss.  Other coaches that will likely be hot names include:  Gus Malzahn (Arkansas State), Todd Berry (Louisiana-Monroe), Dan McCarney (North Texas), Mario Cristobal (FIU), Mark Hudspeth (Louisiana-Lafayette), and Willie Taggart (Western Kentucky). 

It's safe to say that the Sun Belt is on the rise and with all the talent that is in the south, these schools have the potential to keep getting better.

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Player Spotlight

Kevin Minter 

Height:  6'2
Weight:  242
School:  LSU
Year:  JR
Position: LB

Minter broke into the starting lineup as a sophomore in 2011 and has never looked back.  With all the talent that is on the LSU defensive line, Minter doesn't necessarily get a lot of attention.  But with all the talent Minter has, it's beginning to be hard to ignore him.  In their game against Florida it really showed the type of player Minter really is.  Against a heavy Florida running attack, Minter finished with 20 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble.  Minter is at his best when he is playing downhill to stop the run.  He hits like a freight train and makes you pay for it.  He can shed blocks well and get to the ball carrier.  Minter has good speed and lateral quickness, but has some struggles in coverage.  Minter reminds me a lot of former LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard who is with the Buffalo Bills right now.  However Minter is probably a better athlete and football player.