USC May End Oregon's National Championship Hopes

The Ducks have never been too saddened by misfortunes in Southern California however USC's problems may cost Oregon a shot at the title.  Thanks to NCAA sanctions USC is not eligible, among other things, to be ranked. This means when the Ducks and Trojans get together for what may be the Ducks toughest test the men of Troy will not be ranked. So, if the Ducks can get by the Trojans and run the table thier strength of schedule and ultimate computer rating may be hurt by the NCAA sanctions. Certainly Auburn & Oklahoma may look to have tougher schedules than Oregon and may in the end be chosen if all three are undefeated at seasons end so ultimately even with a loss the Trojans may still cost the Ducks a shot at the National Championship.

Are They Coming to Your City?

Today I am all caught up in College Football after purchasing our season tickets yesterday for the Razorbacks.  One of the best college football memories I have was attending Utah vs TCU last year in Fort Worth.  Nothing was better than walking into the TCU commons area and getting booed by everyone in sight.  We had so much fun at College Gameday and even got on tv.  We kept the recording on our DVR as proof.  So in that spirit I am going to try and predict the location of College Gameday for this season as based on the schedule.

(Proof of our Gameday Visit)

Week 1: September 4th

Easily the best game of this week will be Virginia Tech vs Boise State but the game is played on Monday.  So with that being the case I expect that Gameday will come to you live from Atlanta with LSU vs North Carolina.

Week 2:  September 11th
This game was an easy pick with Penn St vs Alabama during the second week of the year its easy to predict Kurt and the gang will be heading to Tuscaloosa.

Week 3: September 18th

This was a hard week to decide because a few of the teams could be ranked very differently by this week.  That being said I think Texas vs Texas Tech will get a visit with the crew heading to Lubbock.  I don't think Tech is that good so we could see FSU get ranked and BYU vs FSU from Tallahassee get the nod. 

Week 4: September 25th

I love it when some of my favorite teams get some love and I believe that will happen in week 3.  Oregon St vs Boise St will hopefully bring enough momentum and intrigue to get the bus to roll into Boise.  For personal reasons however I am predicting Gameday will make a stop for Arkansas vs Alabama in Fayetteville.

Week 5: October 2nd

The easy pick this week is Florida vs Alabama but will the crew already making one stop in Tuscaloosa, I am going to give the nod to Texas vs Oklahoma from Dallas.

Week 6: October 9th

This was a pretty easy week to predict with not many big time matchups.  I have LSU vs Florida getting the visit for Gameday from Gainesville. 

Week 7: October 16th

This will be the week of Texas.  Both top match ups will be coming from the Lonestar State with TCU hosting BYU and Nebraska vs Texas from Austin.  I don't think Gameday will pass on Huskers vs Horns after last years battle.

Week 8: October 23rd

This is a hard week to predict because there are a lot of mediocre match ups.  That being said I am going to predict that Georgia Tech vs Clemson from Clemson, SC.

Week 9: October 30th

In a battle that doesn't matter I pick Gameday to travel to LA for Oregon vs USC.  Most years this would be a very hyped game but maybe the Trojans will knock of a highly ranked Oregon since they have nothing else to take from the season.

Week 10: November 6th

This being the day after my birthday I was hoping for a great weekend of football and based on the schedule I won't be let down.  My personal pick of this week will be TCU vs Utah from Salt Lake City.  Two years ago my wife bought me tickets to the sold out Utes vs Horned Frogs and it was the best sporting event I have ever been to.  It was so incredible and such a memory but I have a feeling that Alabama vs LSU from Baton Rouge will get the visit.

Week 11: November 13th

I began looking into this match up last year and didn't purchase the tickets because they were expensive and it was a little farther from Arkansas than I presumed. Utah vs Notre Dame from South Bend is one of my favorite  games of the whole year.  Yes I love Utah and yes I hate Notre Dame.  What a perfect match up for me.

Week 12: November 20th

This week I believe we will see Ohio State vs Iowa from Iowa City.  This game very easily could decide major BCS rankings not to mention the Big Ten title.

Week 13: November 27th

 I had to go with the Holy War with BYU vs Utah from Salt Lake City.  It will be the last time that these two teams will meet with MWC implications.  I hope that ESPN doesn't pass on what could be an epic game.

Week 14: December 4th

In what will be back to back wars for Gameday I have them visiting Corvallis  for the Civil War with Oregon St vs Oregon. 

Update from Twitter

GameDayFootball @TheFour6Three We enjoyed your blog! 
              We too are so excited for another season! http://goo.gl/b/ya9V

It was awesome to hear back from Gameday and so far we are 100% correct they announced today Sept 4th will be in Atlanta for UNC vs LSU.

College Football TOP25 Coaches' Poll

Hot off the presses the Top25 Coaches' Poll for College Football.                                          Aug. 6 2010 preseason poll
Rank	Team (first-place votes	2009 record	Points	Final 2009 rank
1.	Alabama (55)	14-0	1,469	1
2.	Ohio State (4)	11-2	1,392	5
3.	Florida	13-1	1,245	3
4.	Texas	13-1	1,240	2
5.	Boise State	14-0	1,215	4
6.	Virginia Tech	10-3	1,052	10
7.	TCU	12-1	1,051	6
8.	Oklahoma	8-5	1,035	NR
9.	Nebraska	10-4	1,001	14
10.	Iowa	11-2	952	7
11.	Oregon	10-3	940	11
12.	Wisconsin	10-3	778	16
13.	Miami (Fla.)	9-4	728	19
14.	Penn State	11-2	508	8
15.	Pittsburgh	10-3	492	15
16.	LSU	9-4	476	17
17.	Georgia Tech	11-3	455	13
18.	North Carolina	8-5	445	NR
19.	Arkansas	8-5	438	NR
20.	Florida State	7-6	374	NR
21.	Georgia	8-5	312	NR
22.	Oregon State	8-5	263	NR
23.	Auburn	8-5	260	NR
24t.	Utah	10-3	169	18
24t.	West Virginia	9-4	169	22
Others receiving votes
Cincinnati (12-1) 135; Houston (10-4) 76; Brigham Young (11-2) 66;  Arizona (8-5) 65; Mississippi (9-4) 48; Clemson (9-5) 44; Stanford (8-5) 41;  Connecticut (8-5) 40; Notre Dame (6-6) 38; South Carolina (7-6) 38;  Washington (5-7) 26; Missouri (8-5) 23; Navy (10-4) 12; Oklahoma State (9-4) 11;  Boston College (8-5) 10; Michigan State (6-7) 10; Arizona State (4-8) 6;  California (8-5) 6; Texas Tech (9-4) 5; South Florida (8-5) 4; Texas A&M (6-7) 3;  Northwestern (8-5) 2; Temple (9-4) 2; Central Michigan (12-2) 1;  Mississippi State (5-7) 1; Nevada (8-5) 1; Northern Illinois (7-6) 1;  Southern Methodist (8-5) 1.

Preseason All-American Teams

The Four6Three gives you a sneak peak of what the college football insiders are saying for this coming year.  Our latest sneak peak is for Sporting News and Blue Ribbon Yearbook.  

Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook announced its preseason top-25 rankings this week, which features Boise State as the No. 3 overall team heading into the fall. The only teams earning higher rankings than the Broncos were Ohio State (No. 1) and Alabama (No. 2). Blue Ribbon also honored Boise State junior quarterback Kellen Moore by selecting him as one of five players to be featured on the publication cover. Moore was joined by Mark Ingram (Alabama, RB), Ryan Mallett (Arkansas, QB), Case Keenum (Houston, QB) and Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State, QB).

Ryan Mallett was also voted as Blue Ribbon College Football Offensive Player of the year.  

Sporting News released their preseason All-Americans as well.  They are listed below.

SPORTING NEWS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

RB Mark Ingram, Alabama

RB Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh

OL Mike Pouncey, Florida

OL Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh

OL Rodney Hudson, Florida State

OL Stefan Wisniewski, Penn State

OL Jake Kirkpatrick, TCU

TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame

WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

WR A.J. Green, Georgia

K Kai Forbath, UCLA

KR D.J. Monroe, Texas

 

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL Jared Crick, Nebraska

DL Robert Quinn, North Carolina

DL Von Miller, Texas A&M

DL Adrian Clayborn, Iowa

LB Greg Jones, Michigan State

LB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College

CB Patrick Peterson, LSU

CB Brandon Harris, Miami

S Rahim Moore, UCLA

S DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson

P Drew Butler, Georgia

PR Greg Reid, Florida State

 

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB Kellen Moore, Boise State

RB LaMichael James, Oregon

RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State

OL Matt Reynolds, BYU

OL Chase Beeler, Stanford

OL Kyle Hix, Texas

OL Dan Hoch, Missouri

OL Butch Lewis, USC

TE Ben Guidugli, Cincinnati

WR Julio Jones, Alabama

WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

K Grant Ressel, Missouri

KR Chris Owusu, Stanford

 

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL Marcell Dareus, Alabama

DL Sam Acho, Texas

DL Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh

DL Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue

LB Akeem Ayers, UCLA

LB Travis Lewis, Oklahoma

LB Don't'a Hightower, Alabama

CB Kendric Burney, North Carolina

CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

S Mark Barron, Alabama

S Tyler Sash, Iowa

P Tress Way, Oklahoma

PR Jeremy Kerley, TCU

 

THIRD TEAM OFFENSE

QB Case Keenum, Houston

RB Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech

RB John Clay, Wisconsin

OL Caleb Schlauderaff, Utah

OL Anthony Castonzo, Boston College

OL Barrett Jones, Alabama

OL Zach Hurd, Connecticut

OL Clint Boling, Georgia

TE D.J. Williams, Arkansas

WR James Cleveland, Houston

WR Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh

K Alex Henery, Nebraska

KR Tyron Carrier, Houston

 

THIRD TEAM DEFENSE

DL Allen Bailey, Miami

DL Jurrell Casey, USC

DL Cameron Heyward, Ohio State

DL Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma

LB Tank Carder, TCU

LB Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut

LB Kelvin Sheppard, LSU

CB Trevin Wade, Arizona

CB Curtis Brown, Texas

S Jeron Johnson, Boise State

S Deunta Wiliams, North Carolina

P Derek Epperson, Baylor

PR LaVon Brazill, Ohio

Let us know what you think....Tweet us @ Four6Three or leave us a comment.  

Friday Farewells for June 18, 2010

This edition of the Four6Three's Friday Farewells is brought to you by your local World Cup Soccer team, here to help you tie up the competition.  


Farewell:

NBA Season. The Season is over, but it went as long as it possibly could and we are not talking about only game 7 but the six months that are the NBA playoffs.  Seriously the playoffs started April 17th and finished on June 17th.  TWO MONTHS.  Four tears for each year of my life the NBA has taken with its extraordinarily long playoffs. No wonder I don't watch the regular season.

Restraint. Laker fans we get it you hate the Celtics, but booing a 200 year old legend while he is awarding your star the Finals MVP is a little much. I don't care if Bill Russell is your worst enemy you don't boo one of the greatest players ever while he is handing your best player a trophy.  Two tears for the over-exuberance of an entire arena.

Mountain West. University of Utah has left the best Non-BCS conference for the PAC10. The original BCS busters have either Really busted the BCS for good or simply sold out. It makes one wonder if Utah Senator Orin Hatch will continue his crusade against the BCS. Only time will tell. Two sentimental tears for the Utes two BCS victories.

Conference Expansion Rumors. The hottest water cooler or sports radio show topic has been college expansion, but with Itah getting in the Pac-10 all that is behind us right?!? Sure it is unless you are listening to Jerry Jones and the rumors concerning Arkansas & Notre Dame to the Big 12.  So maybe the summer of fun isn't over yet, Arkansas A.D. has said Arkansas is not interested.  Lots of tears. What else am I going to do all summer if the rumors stop, WORK?

Field Goals. In one of the best defensive displays in NBA history or one of the most pathetic offensive performances the Lakers scored 12 out of their last 19 points form the free throw line where even there it looked as though there was a lid on the basket. The Lakers shot 32.5% while the Celtics were on fire shooting 40.8%. Kobe & Ray Allen combined for a 9 for 38 shooting night, which happens to be exactly what I shot at the rec center last week so next week I will be announcing to whoever decides to guard me that I am as good as Allen and Bryant combined. Don't worry I know how peposterous that statement is, my crossover and post game are way better.  Tears YES! I don't mind watching defensive basketball that was fantastic, but somebody mix in a make.  Maybe I am still bitter about the missing years of my life.  


If you can't get enough of Friday Farewells or you need something to cure your depression from the US tie  click here.

UTES GO PAC-10!

Utah has been officially invited to join the PAC-10!  We need not wait their response to begin the coronation.  Acceptance by Utah is guaranteed as they have expressed interest and would be crazy not to accept.  This makes the MWC addition of Boise State proves not to increase the conferences stature, but does help them maintain status as the best Non-BCS Conference.

The Utes will make it a 12 team PAC-10, that will likely be divided into two divisions.  We think the most sensible solution would be to do a North division with Washington, Washington St., Oregon, Oregon St., Colorado, & Utah.  The South would then include the four California schools and the two Arizona schools. This makes sense and would keep all the regional rivalries together on a yearly schedule, which means the division will probably be something else.

The Big 12 Is Wounded, But Alive

It is official the BIG 12 is alive, but 10. Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma St. are staying, why because they found money in Big 12 country.  There was a lot of rain clouds in Big 12 country last week so what did Commissioner Beebe do?  He went out and searched for the end of the rainbow.  Turns out he found a pot of gold in a reportedly $200 million TV deal with Fox & ESPN/ABC.  Unlike previous finds that lead country folks to head west to Beverly Hills, this Texas Gold is enough to keep the Longhorns and the rest of the Big 12 together minus 2.     

Questions still remain will Utah fill the last spot as the PAC-10?
Is the BIG 12 comfortable being 10 and going without a championship game?

Stay tuned as soon as we know you'll know. 

More BCS Power

The following is an excerpt from an article I am currently working on entitled Busting The BCS.  It analyzes the BCS's possible antitrust violations.  This excerpt is focused on the two new bowl games announced for next season.  If you are interested in the entire article let me know and I will post more or create a link so it can be read.  Senator Hatch, that includes you.

College football is growing and yet the schools and conferences reaping the benefits are BCS members.  There have been two new bowl games added for next season and continuing on for four years, the four teams that will be invited will all be from BCS conferences.[1]  The New Era Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium in New York City will match-up the third-ranked team from the Big East and the sixth-ranked team from the Big 12, while the Dallas Football Classic will pit the sixth-ranked team from the Big Ten against the seventh-ranked team from the Big 12.[2] This is just one more example of how the rich continue to get richer and how the BCS bowl games are not the only place where Non-BCS schools are excluded.  The BCS perpetuates the disparities between members and non-members in many areas other than the difficulty in playing in the Orange, Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, or BCS National Championship bowl games.  These examples clearly demonstrate the anticompetitive effects the BCS has on college football.  

---

[1]Associated Press, NCAA Approves 35 Bowl Games For Next Four Years, http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5129612 (last visited May 4, 2010).

[2] Id.

College Football To Move To Playoff In 2011

A Congressman aid said there is a rider to a major bill that is "95% likely to pass" that would change college football's post season forever.  This congressional aid said the bill has not been news because members of Congress are now talking to the NCAA hoping they will disolve the BCS first.  Congress would prefer to allow the NCAA to save face and do the right thing. 

The bill would disolve the BCS for antitrust issues because of the competitive advantage it gives to BCS Conference schools.  The bill would require the NCAA to adopt an 8 or 16 team playoff format.  The aid is a former college roomate of mine and very reliable, but not as reliable as a solid April Fools Joke.   

Quack Attack!

LaMichael James the speedy running back for the Oregon Ducks plead guilty to harrassment charges.  Also do in court the same day is the starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli along with an ex-receiver for burglary of a frat house. These are the latest charges in a crime spree involving Oregon Duck football players. The placekicker Rob Beard pleaded guilty to a charge involving his participation in a street fight. A linebacker was charged with drunk driving and defensive end Matt Simms was kicked off the team after pleading guilty to striking a man he thought beat up the kicker. Then of course there is Legarrette (Bonehead) Blount who went Mike Tyson on a Boise State player after a game then tried to take on fans, staff, security, state troopers and anyone else related to the state of Idaho on his way out of Bronco Stadium.

What is going on Eugene? At the current rate they can use everyone's mug shots for this year's program. The population of Ducks in captivity is rapidly rising. Lane County Jail is soon to open its own Duck exhibit. Maybe they could pay for some of the extra costs by selling some of those pellets in the quarter machines to feed the Ducks. Another possibility is the University adding a county lock-up fee for all Oregon athletes. The obvious question is who is at fault, administration, coaches, players, or all of the above?

Friday Farewells for March 12, 2010

This weekly edition of Friday Farewells is brought to you by your local grocery store because groceries are what you eat (you guessed it Jo Gates didn’t pay up).


Farewell:

UConn and UNC. Two very distinguished programs were ousted early in their respective conference tournaments. Neither of these schools will be making the NCAA Tournament this year. Rebuilding year is a nasty word around these two campuses because they so rarely do it, but hopefully they will return to some sort of dignity and the big dance soon. Two Carolina blue teardrops.

Speculation over Jim Calhouns future. He’s back, he says for many more years. This is good news for Husky fans and bad news for the rest of the Big East. We love speculation, but when health issues are factored in we are glad to see it go.

Jose Reyes. First hamstringitis and now thyroid problems, Reyes is 6-8 weeks away from baseball activity. Never good to see someone have health problems. On the other side if you want to hear from someone who truly cares check out TheFour6Three on twitter our TWEETER DJ is Mets fan, because this is one blog where the Mets don’t get much love. I might be sad if I, well, hmmm… nope I got nothing.

Common sense. If common sense were common everyone would have it. Ben Rothelisberger and Allen Iverson wish this were the case. Between drinking themselves into horrible situations and not ever wanting to take responsibility for their actions these two could really use some decision making skills. Life coaches everywhere could be cashing in on these two. Sad to see the state of stupidity of what we call celebrities and stars.

Tourney Losers. Too many to name or even remember you came to your conference tournament needing to win it to get into the big dance. Goodbye too to your hopes and dreams. Hello spring break. One tear for each of you.

Manhood. Remember the days when a football team that was really talented and tough would take any team on, anywhere, anytime. Well apparently the anytime is a problem for Alabama. YES ALABAMA the defending National Champs. They complained to the SEC this week that they play 6 teams coming off bye weeks. SO WHAT? You are the number one team in the country. Last time I checked if you are the best you have to prove it. It really stinks to be number one and a sissy. Curl up tonight and watch a double feature of Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail and cry your elephant size tears on your crimson pillow. Its time to be MEN again.

Cable TV Shows. Running on a schedule no one can figure out, we will sadly watch re-runs or do something productive with our life until you return in two months. Come on you can do it.

Missed last week's Farewells... here you go.

Here We Have Idaho*

In honor of College Football Signing Day lets review who the young men might want to play for if they want their coach to have guts.

This became apparent this past bowl season. The two gutsiest calls both came from two coaches from the same state. No, it was not Florida, California, Texas, or even Alabama. Although Nick Saban chose to fake a punt on 4th and forever from his own 20 yard line that was not gutsy just stupid. No the state with the coaches with true backbone is Idaho. Go Gem State! No the Capital is not Des Moines.

The CALLS:
The Idaho Vandals after being down 7 with 32 ticks left on the clock the Vandals drove 66 yards in the length of the field and scored a touchdown with 4 seconds left on the clock. Overtime right? Wrong. Coach Robb Akey goes for TWO and it seconds later he was taking a quick dip in yellow Gatorade!
And we all remember the Fiesta Bowl where the Boise State Broncos successfully faked a punt on 4th and 9 with the game weighing in the balance. This fake resulted in a 29 yard gain and the drive resulted in the go ahead score in another BCS victory.

With the coaching carousel in effect it is a wonder both of these coaches were not talked about more at big schools. Chris Petersen however seems perfectly happy with the western white pine, mountain blue birds, huckleberries, and of course potatoes.
So when you think of Idaho add two Coaches with Guts to the list of things you think of.


*I admit I am from Idaho & 99.9-100% bias and yes I have been asked if my hometown was near Des Moines. The answer is … YES just west.