Rest of O5 bowl picks

 I continue to circle the drain with Bowl Mania picks and am as bad with O5 as with Power 5 picks but here goes.

Iowa State(Big 12) vs. Memphis(AAC) | Liberty Bowl |  Memphis has decent offense, but it may not excel against the Cyclones . ISU 27 MEM 17

No. 23 Liberty(CUSA) vs. No. 8 Oregon(PAC12) | Fiesta Bowl |  Flames will stay it in for three quarters until they flicker out. and can't contain Bo Nix.  Quentin Cooley may reach 100 yards rushing for LU. Oregon 41 LU 27

Wyoming(MWC) vs. Toledo(MAC) | Arizona Bowl |  Cowboys have been erratic. I'll ride with the Rockets. Toledo 31 WYO 24 

Dec 30 2023

Wrong on this one. Iowa St never recovered from going down 19-0 early and lost to Memphis 36-26. 

Both QBs put on a show. MEM S. Henigan 24-34, 364 YDS, 4 TD,

ISU: R. Becht 22-38, 446 YDS, 3 TD

Dec 31,2023

Well, I picked Toledo, but nice way for Bohl, the Wyoming HC, to retire. Glad CW televised it. No time on the clock as the Cowboys hit the game winning FG fora 16-15 win.

Jan 2, 2023

No surprise Oregon rolled LU yesterday. They kept it close in the first half. I t was cool to hear the story of a Flames' lineman who worked hard to rehab from an injury and play in the game. One of the announcers voiced surprise that the kid chose to use his eligibility to play. The other announcer reminded him- it's an NY6 game. I've searched and can't find his name.

Jan 9, 2024

Frank Solich Named to College Football Hall of Fame. Props to him.

22 seasons as a head coach, record of 173-101. 58-19 record in six seasons as Nebraska's head coach from 1998 to 2003. 115 wins as the head coach at Ohio University(MAC).

April 19, 2024

Scouts watched some MAC games. These two getting some notice for rd1 or 2: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo, Marshawn Kneeland Edge W Michigan

rd3 possibles: Malachi Corley WKU WR, Michael Pratt Tulane QB, Luke McCaffrey Rice WR

Javon Solomon, EDGE, Troy (6-1, 246) may sneak into rd3 of NFL draft.

April 25, 2024

Maybe my Saints reach for X'ZAUVEA GADLIN OT from Liberty U in rd6 or 7.

April 26, 2024

At least Philly scouts watched more than P5 games. 22.Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo(MAC)

Luke McCaffrey(Rice-AAC) WR goes to Skins to end rd3. No surprises for non P5 kids.

Corley went to the Jets. Kneeland to the Cowboys . And a Yale kid went to the Chicago Bears: Kiran Amegadjie, OT.

O5 next 4 bowl picks

 Minnesota(Big 10) 18 Bowling Green(MAC)  13.  Dragan Kesich, the Big Ten Kicker of the Year, hits 6 FGs for the Gophers 

Maybe the other McCaffrey gets a win this week? Rice (AAC)24 TX S(SBC)t 20. 

RICE: L. McCaffrey(68 REC, 963 YDS, 12 TD)

Rebels' yell fades. Kansas(Big 12) 30 UNLV(MWC) 17

Special teams, perhaps a kickoff return for a TD for Virginia Tech, males the difference. VT(ACC) 27 Tulane(AAC) 23

Dec 27, 2023

Two out three ain't bad. Wrong on Rice. Bowling Green gave Minnesota a battle, and UNLV scored  plenty against Kansas. 

Dec 28, 2023

Well, I got VT correct which give 3 of 4. Coach Pry has had a nice end of the season beating UVA than Tulane, who have ended the season poorly.  Plenty of rain in Annapolis, MD yesterday. K. Drones QB - VT (20CAR 176YDS 1TD)

I'll add today's O5 game and take SMU(AAC) to beat BC(ACC) at Fenway Park. SMU 24 BC 20

Dec 29, 2023

Wrong on SMU

Yes, the AAC(2-3) has been underwhelming in the Bowl Games, and the 2 victors are UTSA and USF. I thought SMU was getting in gear yesterday with 14 points in the 2Q then they stalled out. BC 23 SMU 14

O5 Bowl Games Saturday Dec 23

Arkansas State Red Wolves(SBC) vs Northern Illinois Huskies(MAC) Can you say erratic.? Ark St 28 NIU 27

Troy(SBC) vs Duke (ACC) Both teams head coaches have moved on. I'll take Troy in a 24-23 upset.

 Georgia St(SBC) vs Utah St(MWC). Georgis St hasn't won since October and that won't change. Utah St 23 GAST 16

James Madison(SBC) vs Air Force(MWC) McCloud, the JMU QB, will play despite entering the transfer portal. .JMU 30 AFA 22

South Alabama(SBC) vs Eastern Michigan(MAC). EMU doesn't have enough O. South Bama 20 EMU 13

Coastal Carolina(SBC) vs San Jose State(MWC). Ok, I'll ride with Cordero and the hot SJST Spartans

Dec 24, 2023 

1-5 yesterday.  South Bama pummeled EMU 59-10J. Pritchett WR - USA 8REC 127YDS 2TD

Now for my incorrect picks: Duke stymied Troy's O. NIU kicker scored a TD. 

F. Brock RB - GAST 24CAR 276YDS 1TD

E. Michel FB - AFA 35CAR 203YDS 2TD

Vasko tossed 3 TD passes for CCU.

Feb 15, 2024

Georgia State postponed the rest of its spring practices and its spring game on March 7. Panthers started spring practice on Tuesday Feb 13,  two days before coach Shawn Elliott stepped down to become an assistant at South Carolina. Flip side of the NIL portal!

Feb 24. 2024

Dell McGee  is the new G ST HC 

Auburn (2013) Analyst

Georgia Southern (2014) RB coach

Georgia Southern (2015)

Assistant HC & RB coach

Georgia Southern (2015)

Interim head coach

Georgia (2016–2018)

Assistant HC & running backs coach

Georgia (2019–2023)

Run game coordinator & RB coach

Georgia State (2024)Head coach

Non P6 hoops- more news- WCC and W2 too

 NCAA requires at least seven active Division I members, which must sponsor men's and women's basketball, and for the conference to sponsor at least 12 Division I sports. Beavers and Cougar of the PAC2 have a two-year grace period in which it can exist without the minimum number of schools.

Oregon St and Wazzoo are working to join West Coast Conference as affiliate members. Zags and San Francisco are off to decent starts this season and are keys to the Alliances as well geography. St Marys has stumbled a bit this season but has been a regular Dance participant in the past 5 years. Dec 20 WCC scoreboard.

Dec 28, 2023

I took a quick look the non power6 hoops standings and focused on Liberty and WKU each being 10-3. LU got rocked by FAU but has a decent win over Wichita St. Flames face Bama today and WKU on 1/6. WKU lost to Wichita St.

Wichita St (AAC) played solid games against Kansas St and Mizzou but lost.

Dec 30, 2023

 Kind of confused by "stuns" in this headline:  San Diego State stuns No. 15 Gonzaga 84-74. Aztecs were in the Dance Final game last season and have less losses than the Zags this season.

Jan 1, 2024

Checked out some of the Summit League matchup of Omaha @ South Dakota. Frankie Fidler is a player to keep your eyes on. He scored 27 and made three steals for Omaha in a 67-51 win. ORU knocked off Denver, who defeated Omaha on Dec 29.

Jan 4, 2024

Omaha 81 Arizona(Big Sky) 55 Fidler 22 points, 2 steals

Marshall is getting healthy playing SunBelt opponents with recent wins over ULL and ULM after the Dec 21 loss to UNCW(CAA), who beat Kentucky earlier this season,

Jan 6, 2024

MAC: Checked in on the end of the Toledo 68 MiamiO 64 game last night. Ragged, physical play and neither team looks like it will fare well against Akron this season. Freeman (24pts,11reb) in the Zips 83-67 win over Bowling Green last night.

Jan 7, 2024

A10 is heating up. GW hung on to win 84-82 at VCU, who were trying to recover from a tough loss to the Bonnies. James Bishop IV made a two-point pullup jump shot for GW with two seconds remaining.

#herd beat TXST for its 3rd straight SBC win

WKU edged Liberty in CUSA action.

Jan 10, 2024

Wow, Aztecs got a scare from San Jose St  SDST 81 SJST 78.  J. LeDee  scored 31 PTS for Aztecs in MWC play.

Zips keep winning in MAC play. Akron 80 Ball State 76

Jan 12, 2024

FAU facing some tough AAC foes . Boyd scored 21 for FAU in an 85-84 win over Tulane.

WCC: Gonzaga(11-5), 4th in WCC lost to  Santa Clara(12-6), 2nd in WCC by the score 77-76

Santa Clara has wins over Oregon and Wazzoo(Pac12) and a loss to  Taco Tech(San Jose St-MWC)

Jan 13, 2024

Friday night is a decent night to check in on the non-P6, but sometimes it ain't pretty. Youngstown St 81 Wright St 71 -looked more like a rugby game at certain points.

Robert Morris 91 Purdue(Fort Wayne) 88. Corbin led RMU with 28 points. Perhaps RMU is finally getting some traction since leaving the NEC in 2020.

MILW 88 CLEV 80

Jan 15, 2024

Ragged game. Surprised Liberty stayed close to the end.  La Tech 80 LU 76. Crawford scored 22 for LT

In AAC play Memphis 112 Wichita St 86.

Plus Tulane lost a tough one to last place Tulsa 94-87 in OT. Haggerty scored 25 for Tulsa.

Jan 17, 2024

Akron remains in first in the MAC. AKR 77 WMU 66. Freeman had 20 pts, 14 reb for the Zips.

O5 Bowl games Dec 19-21

 Frank Harris will do what it takes to get UTSA(AAC ) to a win over Marshall(SBC) in the Frisco Bowl.

 UTSA 27 Marshall 20

Two teams, USF and Syracuse with erratic seasons. USF(AAC) 21 Cuse(ACC) 17. Byrum Brown, the USF QB, will toss 3 TD passes in the Boca Raton Bowl

Dec 20, 2023

Josh McCown and Chad Pennington cheered on their QB sons at the Frisco Bowl. Josh's kid got the win with UTSA.  Frank Harris(UTSA) was a late scratch due to shoulder problems. UTSA 35 MU 17

Dec 22, 2023

USF 45 Cuse 0  Bulls were flying around the field on both sides of the ball. B. Brown QB - USF 214 YDS 3TD. I saw some potential for Coach Golesh to develop the Bulls next season but who knows.

Fran Bowl, a former asst coach at Georgia, has his work cut out for him with the 2024 Orangemen.

Some coaching news that has intrigued me: Sean Lewis, (Colorado offensive coordinator) and former HC at Kent St., replaces Brady Hoke, who is retiring, at San Diego St.

Bob Chesney (Holy Cross head coach) replaces Curt Cignetti who left James Madison for Indiana.

O5 Bowl Games on Dec 16

 Myrtle Beach Bowl: Georgia Southern(SBC) vs. Ohio(MAC)

I'm going roll with the Bobcats. GS hasn't won since October. Ohio 20 GS 17

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Jacksonville State(CUSA) vs. ULL(SBC)

Malik Jackson will rush for 100 yards for Jax in a 27-23 win.

Avocados From Mexico Cure Bowl Miami (Ohio) vs. Appalachian State

MAC vs SBC. Aguilar returns to form and tosses two TD passes for Appy in a 24 16 win.

Isleta New Mexico Bowl

New Mexico State(CUSA) vs. Fresno State(MWC)

Pavia will return to for NMST in a 30-27 win.

LA Bowl

UCLA(Pac12) vs. Boise State(MWC)

Boise is on a nice high, but UCLA will have enough pride to avoid the upset and stop Jeanty who has rushed for 1263 yards this season. Bruins 24  Broncos 20

Dec 17, 2023

Sole incorrect pick yesterday was NMSU. 

Ohio came out and stayed in control. Rickey Hunt RB - OHIO 17CAR 115YDS 4TD. Plus a receiving TD. Bobcats didn't appear to miss all those portal departures.

R. Wiggins RB - JVST 27CAR 126YDS 1TD in a 34-31 OT win over ULL. ULL D scored 3TDs in the loss.

R. Amos RB - M-OH 33CAR 180YDS 1TD and his team lost to Appy 13-9

Keene threw 3 TD passes for Fresno in a blowout of NMSU.

G. Holani RB - BOISE 17CAR 138YDS 2TD in a loss to UCLA

Dec 17 evening: Going with SBC tomorrow afternoon. ODU 24 Wku 17 is my hunch.

Dec 18 evening: Turn on the TV after work and ODU is up 28-14, then its 35-14. I turn off TV. WKU wins 38-35. There goes my hot streak.

O5 pigskin title games 2023

 CUSA: A close one that will come down to the running game. Liberty will win at home. LIB 24 NMSU 21

NMSU: D. Pavia (153 CAR, 806 YDS, 5 TD)

LIB: Q. Cooley (202 CAR, 1251 YDS, 13 TD)

AAC: Tulane's D will do enough to slow down SMU's big O. TUL 27 SMU 24

MAC:  Little Miami doesn't have an answer for D Finn, Toledo's QB.  Toledo 34 Miami(OH) 27

MWC: I'll stick with the Rebels. R. White WR - UNLV (75REC 1300 YDS 7TD). UNLV 35 Boise 31

Sunbelt: Both teams have on a roll. Both QBs, Aguilar(APP) and Watson(Troy), each threw for over 3K yards for this season. APP 38 Troy 35

Dec 2, 2023

LIB: 49 NMSU 35: Pavia , Ags QB, left the game banged up in the 3Q. 

Liberty QB K. Salter Passing: 319YDS 2TD.  Rushing 12CAR 165YDS 1TD. Undefeated Flames have a shot at a New Year's day bowl if Tulane loses today.

Dec 3, 2023

I was correct on the first game but wrong on the other four games. SMU, Miami(oh), Boise St, and Troy won.

Little Miami did a great job of containing Finn.

How about these fellas:

K. Vidal RB - TROY U- 26CAR 233YDS 5TD

A. JeantyRB - BOISE ST -21CAR 153YDS 1TD

Dec 4, 2023

Fritz leaves Tulane for Houston(Big12)

Boist St elevates Danielson from interim HC to HC. He did  helluva job replacing Avalos mid -season.

Go Flames ! Liberty plays Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan 1

Dec 6: Former Vandy coach Derek Mason will be new coach at MTSU. He was most recently the DC at Oklahoma State in 2022.

New Mexico hires Bronco Mendenhall to be HC: He was an Asst there a long time ago. Solid hire

Feb 27, 2024

Former Boise State coach Dirk Koetter will be BSU's new offensive coordinator, 

He was HC previously w/Tampa Bay Bucs & Arizona State