O5 Bowl games 2024-25 early ones

 Kind of weird to see bowl games on the same day as the Army/Navy game.

Two seesaw teams . South Bama will eke out a 24-21 win over WMU. Lopez won't toss an INT for the Jags.

Memphis 31 WV 30. Henigan will have a big  passing game for the Tigers.

Is Rich Rod going back to WV for 2025? Will he Coach JVU in the bowl game?

Dec 14, 2024

 Dan Mullen is the new UNLV HC which suggests the Rebels O will remain in high gear.

Dec 15, 2024

K. Bullock RB, (USA) 130 YDS 1TD in a 30-23 win over WMU. correct on this one.

Jason Eck leaves Idaho(1AA) to become HC at New Mexico. 

Vandals program has danced between 1A and 1AA for a long time.

Dec 16, 2024

Next two picks are difficult. 

UNLV had a solid season in the MWC while Cal rode a seesaw  all season but made it to .500 overall. Cal 27 UNLV 26

JMU 30 WKU 20. Dukes will bounce back from Nov 30 SBC loss to the #herd 

Sac St  with Mike Vick as HC to either the MWC or Pac 2+. Who are  all these $$$ folks backing the investments in NIL etc?  Well Vick is going to be the HC at Norfolk St

Dec 18, 2024

Correct pick on Memphis who won 42-37. WV scored 21 of the last 28 points in the game.

Dec 19, 2024

wrong on UNLV  , correct on JMU

Early  in the game Williams completed a 49 yard TD pass to Kayden McGee, and I felt like the Rebels were going to win. UNLV D blanked Cal 10-0 in the second half.  UNLV 24 Cal 13

JMU  won the second half 20-3

JMU 27  WKU 17

Sam Houston hires Phil Longo, former OC  at Wisky, to be the new HC. He worked at SHSU a few years ago.

SHSU beat GASO last night 31-26. French tossed 4 INTs  and the Eagles did not make it all the way back. I got it wrong on Bowl Mania

O5 title games -2024

Jacksonville State 24 Western Kentucky 21: Stewart  rushes for over 100 yards for Jax St.

Tulane 17 Army 16:  Just a gut feeling the Green Wave D recovers from the Memphis game.

Boise St  31 UNLV 20: Jeanty rides on!

Miami(OH) 34 Ohio 24:  Gabbert tosses a few TDs in the Red Hawks win.

Marshall 28 ULL 27: Coach Huff has rounded the Herd into shape.

Dec 7, 2024

Big games for RBs

Wrong on TUL as Udoh of Army rushed for 158 yards and a TD

Right about JVU and Boise St. Jeanty(BSU) and Stewart JVU each rushed for over 200 yards.

Dec 8 2024

Split yesterday. Correct on the Herd who rolled the Cajuns 31-3. Wrong on MO who were handled by Ohio.  Ohio's HC Tim Albin is likely headed to Charlotte(AAC).

Appy is hiring Loggains, the South Carolina OC, to be its next HC. 

Dec 10, 2024

O5 hires: Huff stays in Sunbelt, leaves Marshall for USM. Tony Gibson (NC St DC) replaces Huff.

Willie Simmos(Duke RB  coach) takes over at FIU.

Mendenhall stays in MWC, leaves UNM for USU

Jerry Mack (Jacksonville Jaguars RB coach) takes Kennesaw St  HC job.

Week 14 Turkey and more

Over the years, TX/TAMU or MissSt/ Ole Miss have been in the Thanksgiving night time slot. Tonight it's Tulane/Memphis in an AAC matchup. If Tulane wins tonight then beats Army in the title game, I doubt if it will be enough to get them in the F12.

Each team has decent QBs and starting RBs. Green Wave is on a roll. TUL 31 Mem 27

CUSA: Liberty wins and they're in the CUSA title game  against JVST. Cooley rushed for 100+ yards for the Flames in 24-13 win over SHSU.

MAC: Four teams left in the MAC title race. Buffalo won Tuesday but needs a ton of scenarios to occur to get in. Ohio has a shot  (Miami OH) and Bowling Green , the other two teams vying for a title game chance, will play Friday at Noon.

Fannin, the BG TE, is a game time decision to play. I'll roll the dice . BG 27 Miami(OH) 21.

MWC: UNLV wins and they're in cuz they have a higher CFP metric than Col St. They did not play H2H this season.

UNLV plays Nevada.  CSU  plays an improving USU.

CSU wins 17-14 with a late TD pass from Nicosi.

SBC: Ton of title game  scenarios  in a conference with divisions.South Alabama clinches with a win AND a loss by ULL.

USA will beat TX St  24-23 to keep the pressure on ULL who faces ULM. Bothwell rushes for 100 yards for the USA Jags.

Nov 29 2024

Wrong on Tulane who didn't score in the 2nd &3rd quarters. Mario Anderson rushed for 177 yards for Memphis. MEM 34 TUL 24

Continue to be wrong: Liberty lost to SHSU. BG lost to Miami (OH), and South Bama lost to TX St

Red Hawks were focused on slowing down Fanin 8 REC , 47 yards

CSU was my sole correct pick. Nicosi threw 4 TD passes and ran for the game winning TD late in the 4th. I predicted a game winning toss. CSU 42 USU 37

Dec 1, 2024

Tip my hat to the #herd on its big 35-33 OT win over JMU. In the second OT MU converted a two point play, JUM did not. MU has won 6 straight and faces ULL in the SBC title game.

Other  notes:  Aztecs(MWC) lost 6 in a row to finish 3-9 for the season.

MAC title game in Detroit feature Ohio teams: Miami(OH) /Ohio.

WKU upset JVU  to gain the chance to play them again next week for the CUSA title. JVU hosts the game.

Dec 3 2024

Kittley, a year as the WKU OC , then 3 at Texas Tech  , is the new HC at FAU (AAC). TT's O was eighth in scoring in 2024.

Appy fires Shawn Clark, Rough season not sure this is the answer.

Week 13 early Mackin

 NIU has been up and down since beating Notre Dame  earlier in the season, and Miami (OH) is on a roll. Gabbert will toss two TD passes for MOH in a narrow 24-21 win over NIU.

Other 4 picks later this week.

Correct on MOH. Gabbert only tossed one TD but that was enough in the 20-9 win over NIU.

11/21/24

Nice methodical win by Ohio U over Toledo last night.

Now to the other 4 picks:

AAC: Rolling with ECU 24 NTX 20. Pirates are hot, NTX is not.

CUSA:  JAX St 28 SHSU 19. Stewart  rushes for 150 yards for the Gamecocks.

MWC:   Rams are hot , Bulldogs are struggling. CSU 21 Fresno St 17

SBC: Herd are galloping. ODU has had some close losses.  Nailbiter: MU 24 ODU 23

11/24/24

ECU roared back to beat NTX. Big games from two Pirates, Harris and Smith

SHSU slowed Stewart somewhat but the Cocks QB Huff TCOB

Braxton was great by air and land for the Herd in a 42-35 win over ODU

Wrong on CSU who blanked Fresno in the second half but couldn't come all the way back in a 28-22 loss.

11/25/24

Tulsa canned HC Kevin Wilson so that makes 6 AAC HC  vacancies to fill in the off-season.  Charlotte, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Rice, and Temple are the other openings. 

Ryan Switzer is the interim HC.at Tulsa.  Charleston, West Virginia kid.  Played at UNC and then a few years in the NFL.

Week 12 MAC on Tuesday, then more O5

 MAC: BGSU and WMU, two of the four teams tied for 1st place, play tonight. I'll go with the Bazelak to Fannin connection for the W.  BGSU 28 WMU 20.

Other four O5 picks  by Thursday.

Nov 13, 2024

Fannin Jr (10 REC 137YDS 2TD) for BGSU in 31-13 win over CMU. One correct.

How about that game in Buffalo? BUFF 51  Ball St 48

Nov 14, 2024

Ok, time for the other four picks:

AAC: Hughes has rushed for 1200 yards for Tulane, a hot team. TUL 31 Navy 21

CUSA: La Tech has been making strides, but they won't stop the WKU aerial show  led by Veltkamp. WKU 41 La Tech 30

MWC:  Cowboys O has showed signs of life,  and they 'll give  the Rams a scare but won't upset them. CSU 27 WYO 24

SBC:  ODU is a roller coaster ride, but this is an intrastate matchup with JMU. Barnett tosses two TDs for the Dukes. JMU 28 ODU 24.

Nov 16, 2024

CSU didn't have too much difficulty with Wyoming in a 24-10 win . J.Marshall rushed for 104 yards for the Rams.  Two for two, so far.

Nov 18, 2024

So wrong on WKU. LA Tech outkicks WKU 12-7

Tulane blanked Navy 35-0 and will face Army in the AAC title game.

JMU survived ODU 35-32. 

4-1 for the weekend

UNM over Wazoo and LIberty narrowly escaping  UMass  caught my attention.

Mendenhall has done a decent job with the Lobos.

ULL lost to USA. Jags were outscored 16-0 in the 4th but held on for 24-22 win

Temple fired Drayton after a win over FAU. You could see it coming after three bad seasons but it's still strange timing.

Nov 19, 2024

Associate HC Tim Brewster will serve as IC after  Biff Poggi was canned at Charlotte.His last HC  Job was Minnesota Gophers 2007–2010

Week 11 MAC on Tuesday

 I'm going to roll  with Fannin Jr., the TE for BGSU(66REC 947YDS 6TD), to catch two TD passes on the road. BGSU 28 CMU 24. 

Rest of the picks later in the week.

Nov 7, 2024

Fanin didn't find the end zone, but BGSU beat CMU so I nailed that one. BGSU 23 CMU 13

In other MAC news Ohio blanked Kent St 41-0.

Now to the other four picks:

AAC: AFA held Army to 20 points  and NTX can  score plenty of points. I'll go with Morris tossing a few TD passes. NTX 35 Army 31.

CUSA:  Cooley & Salter do enough for the Flames. LIB 24 MTSU 16

MWC: UNLV stayed close in a loss to Boise. Hawaii edged Fresno. Rebs will slow down Schager's aerial show enough for a 24-21 win.

SBC:  Interstate battle. CCU is coming off a bad loss to Troy and Appy looks like they've made some repairs. Aguilar  will toss two TD passes for Appy. APP 28 CCU 20

Nov 8, 2024

Wrong on Appy. CCU came out hot and rolled to a 38-24 win with Bennett rushing for 3 TDs.

Nov 10, 2024

Wrong on Army losing and the game being a high scoring one . Army 14 NTX 3

Correct on the Flames. Another big game for Cooley 14 CAR 138 yards, 1TD LIB 37 MTSU 17

Correct on Boise. More of the usual from Jeanty. I was damn close on the final score -28-21.

2-3 for the weekend.

 MWC: UNM beat  the slumping SDSU Aztecs. 

AAC: Tulane crushed Temple and is 6-0 in conference play.

SBC conference  ULL remains undefeated at 5-0 in the West. Marshall and GASO are tied at 4-1 in the East. Herd crushed USM and GASO was idle.

Nov 11, 2024

Four MAC teams tied at 4-1  Miami O, WMU, BGSU, and Ohio

WKU and Jax St tied at 5-0 in the CUSA. Is Rich Rod back?

Week 9 O5 Tuesday and more

 CUSA Tuesday time then the other 4 picks later this week.

SHSU stumbled against WKU, and FIU is having a rough season. Hunter Watson threw 2 TD passes in the loss to WKU but the rushing game was  weak.  Probably time to get McKinney 20 carries.  SHSU 24 FIU 16.

SHSU barely survived two missed FGs and being stuffed on 4th and goal at the end of the first half. SHSU 10 FIU 7. Bearkats need a healthy Watson back at QB ASAP.

Oct 24, 2024

Wow, Liberty loses to Kenn St. ODU blows out  GASO. SBC  is getting wild.

Ok on to the rest of my picks:

AAC: Navy has been sailing along nicely against team with weak defenses Notre Dame(Independent) will slow them down. ND 24 Navy 20

MAC: CMU has stumbled in  conference after beating  the Aztecs(MWC). Gabbert has put up some decent passing numbers for Miami(Ohio). MO 28 CMU 24.

MWC: Can the Rebels slow down Jeanty? Not enough to win! BSU 31 UNLV 27

SBC: SBC: South Bama got a much needed win over Troy last week ,but ULM will handle them. Hardy rushes for 100 yards ULM 34 USA 23

Oct 26, 2024

Got pretty close on the final score  guess . BSU missed a 2pt attempt after a Jeanty TD . BSU 29 UNLV 24

Jeanty rushed for a 128 yards.

Oct 27, 2024

Wrong on ULM who got 100 yards rushing from Hardy but were rolled by S.Bama 46-17.

Correct  on Navy losing to ND.

Correct on Miami (OH) winning. Mazee rushed for 120 of the Red Hawks 277 rushing yards in a 46-7 victory.

In other MAC news, Coleman Owen(WR- Ohio) ,Yds-Ru 22 TDRu 1

Yds-Rc 146 TD-Rc 2, has been putting up some numbers.  Ohio 47 Buff 16

Oct 28, 2024

You knew it was coming: Rice fires HC Mike Bloomgren after 2-6 start in his 7th season. Special teams coordinator Pete Alamar is the interim HC.

Week 8 in O5 conferences.

 WKU played well in 31-14 win over SHSU. Hunter Watson, SHSU QB, was hurt early in the game.

UTEP finally got a W with a win over FIU. CUSA is done for this week. Now to my picks.

AAC: Morris(NTX) has better stats  than Henigan(MEM) except in INTs.  NTX loses 28-24 @ Memphis.

MAC: Are the Buffalo Bulls back? I'm not sold. That 47-3 loss to UConn was bad.  WMU 30 BUFF 21

MWC: Both teams are hard to gauge. I'll go with S. Red rushing for over 100 yards for Nevada in a 31-30 win over Fresno. St.

SBC: Time to pay some attention to ULL, who beat Wake Forest and its only loss is to Tulane. Cajuns prevail at CCU 24-14.

Oct 19, 2024

Wrong on Nevada! S. Red rushed for 56 yards and a TD in the Wolf Pack's loss. FRES 24 NEV 21

In a game I didn't pick the Herd  stayed with Braxton at QB and got 177 yards rushing and 3 TDs from A.Turner in a 35-20 win over GA ST.

Oct 20, 2024

Wrong on NTX who lost a he!! of shootout to MEM. 

Right on WMU: Wolff  outduels Ogobanna  in another shootout. WMU 48-  Buff 41

Correct On ULL  who beat CCU34-24 and sit atop the SBCW.

2-2 this week.

Week 7 in O5 conferences

 CUSA: Veltkamp will toss 2TDs passes for WKU in a 28 to 20 win over UTEP. Hilltoppers need to keep pace with Liberty and Jax St who won this week. 

AAC: Coach Dilfer  needs a rapid improvement in his D. UAB will get a little better and stay close at Army. Army 24 UAB 19

MAC: Ohio loses a 17-16 nail-biter at CMU. 

MWC:  Both teams have  not impressed anyone this season. Cowboys win at home. WYO 20 SDSU 17.

SBC: Can the Herd contain French, the GASO QB?  Is Braxton, the Herd QB,  the answer . GASO 31 MU 27 in Statesboro, GA.

Oct 11, 2024

Veltkamp tossed 3TD passes for WKU in the 44-17 blowout. Jolly rushed for 119 yards for UTEP.

Oct 13, 2024

Army  rolled over UAB. Dilfer's program is not improving

MAC game was a nail biter, but I picked the wrong winner. CMU second  half comeback fell short  Ohio 27 CMU 25.

MWC: another close one that I predicted the wrong winner .Aztecs nipped the Cowboys 27-24

SBC: Dexter Williams came off the bench and sparked GASO to a 21-0 fourth quarter in a 24-23 win over the Herd. Two QB system backfired for MU. Earle's safety was costly. Braxton played well

3-2 this week.

Oct 14, 2024

They tossed an SBC game into the early week mix. Two struggling teams, Troy @ South Bama

Oct 16, 2024

Lopez , the USA QB, produced enough  O for South Bama(2-1 SBC) in a 25-9 win over Troy(0-3 SBC). MTSU beat  Kenn St 14-5 and NMSU survived La Tech 33-30 in CUSA action.

Week 6 in the O5 conferences

 MAC: We're heading into more conference games and I'm circling back to Bowling Green and their solid TE, Harold Fannin(37rec, 537 yards, 4 TDs). Falcons have struggled since giving Penn St a scare. BG 24 AKR 17

CUSA: Sam Houston St got spanked by UCF but have handled their other four opponents, UTEP hasn't won a game. SHSU 27 UTEP 20

AAC: Charlotte edged Rice last week , which may be just what Coach Biff needs to prevent another bad season. 9ers slow down Garcia, the ECU QB. CHAR 24 ECU 21

SBC:  ODU got it first win last week and CCU got spanked by UVA. CCU improves its weak rushing attack and  edges ODU 17-16.

MWC: Cooper rushes for 100 yards for the Aztecs to get a much needed win.  SDSU 23 Hawaii 17

Oct 4, 2024

D. McKinney,RB - SHSU 14CAR 138YDS 2TD in a 41-20 win over UTEP. First pick correct.  SHSU is 5-1.

Oct 5, 2024

No shortage of points for O5 teams last night .  UNLV scored 41 in OT loss to Cuse. Huff, the JVS QB, rushed for 176 yards and 3 TDS in a 63- 24 win over KENN

Oct 6, 2024

Wow Marshall scored over 50 in a win over Appy.  Braxton tossed 3 TD passes and rushed for two TDs for the Herd. 

ULM upset JMU, who failed ona 2PT conversion attempt to tie the game with four minutes left.

Now to the rest of my picks: went 5-0 for the weekend.

 CCU beat ODU. Charlotte pounded ECU. SDSU beat Hawaii.  Another big game for Fanin (9 rec, 135 yards) in  BG's 27-20 win over Akron.

Oct 8, 2024

Just noticed the CUSA is playing games on Tues &  Wednesday. Used to be just the MAC doing that. FIU/Liberty tonight.  NMSU/Jax St tomorrow night.

And Liberty got a scare from FIU . Cooley rushed for 174 yards for the Flames who won 31-24 OT

Week 4 O5 close matchups

 Both teams have struggled , particularly running the ball. Tulsa(AAC) 24  ULL 17 . K. Francis will have a decent game passing for the Hurricane.

The No D special: Rich Rod finally finds a way to win this season . Jax St(CUSA) 42 USM 41(SBC)

The Limited O special : Colorado St(MWC) 16 UTEP(CUSA) 13. Perhaps J Marshall scores a rushing TD for the Rams.

Ball St is coming off a 62-0 loss to Miami(FLA). Is a MAC match up against CMU, the Cure? Nah, Labas throws 2 TD passes  for the Chippewas. CMU 23 Ball St 16 

Sept 21, 2024

Coach Ken has done a great job,  but I didn't foresee  his Spartans giving Wazoo a hell of a scare  before losing 54-52. Too bad Chip Kelly's late move  didn't give UCLA a chance to promote Coach Ken

Sept 22 2024

Right on  Tulsa, Jax St,  & Colorado St, and CMU

Hughes rushed for 166 yards and a TD for Tulsa. Tulsa 41 ULL 33

Jax St got plenty of O and found some D in a 44-7 rout of USM.

Morrow rushed for 156 yards and 2TDs  for Colorado St. in a 27-17 win over  

Labas threw a  TD with 16 seconds left on the clock to lead CMU to a 37-34 win.

Tough loss for NIU getting upset by Buffalo

Herd  were leading the Buckeyes  7-0 after one quarter, but then it ugly for them. Ohio St 49 MU 14.  A Turner, the Herd's leading rusher, gained 32 yards.

James Madison  70-50 win over UNC   was a nice shot at the Power boys but also showed the Dukes haven't missed a beat so far  by hiring Chesney, from Holy Cross, to replace Cignetti.

Sept 25, 2024

Chatter about Sacramento St, a 1AA team in the Big Sky, leaping to the  MWC or PAC12.

Sluka, , the UNLV starting QB, leaves the team to save his red-shirt season, because the Rebels did not  "honor" a promise.. $$$$$$

Miami (Ohio) started the season with high hopes  and played NW tough before losing 13-6. Then lost to Cincy and ND. I suspect Gabbert goes off on UMass this week.

Week 2 :some O5 close matchups

 Cooper of SDSU  and Griffin of Wazoo each had big rushing games in week 1.  Wazoo 24 SDSU 23

ODU is coming off a tough loss to South Carolina, and ECU cruised by Norfolk St ODU 27 ECU 20

Only second match up between these teams. CMU 20  FIU 17

I like how FAU played Sparty tough in a 16-10 loss. FAU 19 Army 17

Another one that intrigues me. Will Coach Ken Niumatalolo's experience coaching against the academy teams help him today. I say yes. SJSU 17 AFA 16

Sept 8 2024

My error SDSU lost to Oregon St., Wazoo played and beat Texas Tech.

Right on SJSU  and FIU

Wrong on ODU and FAU

MAC was a mixed bag yesterday but props to Bowling Green for giving Penn St a great battle before falling. Harold Fannin, the BG TE (Yds-Rc 137,TD-Rc 1), has NFL skills.

Then to NIU for edging Notre Dame 16-13

Sept 9, 2024

O5 surprises. ECU(AAC) at 2-0. Jake Garcia, decent so far. Ark St(SBC) at 2-0. Is Butch Jones back?

Sept 10, 2024

It's been a fun week at work ribbing the PennSt fans to beware of Kent St (MAC) next week. Flashes won't beat the Vols this week.

Week 1 O5 -four pack

 Vashko tossed for 249 yards and 2 TDs for CCU(SBC) in a 55-27 blowout of Jax St(CUSA).Time to pick a few O5 games this weekend.

Rice(AAC) handles a fiesty SHSU(CUSA) squad 23 -20. EJ Warner, Kurt's son and a transfer from Temple starts at QB for Rice

Feel like Helton's Panthers are ready to step up. GA Southern(SBC) 31 Boise St (MWC) 27

JMU, minus Coach Cignetti, survives Biff's boys. JMU(SBC) 24 Charlotte(AAC) 23

EMU(MAC) 22 UMass(I) 20. Big plays from Eagles D will make the difference.

Sept 1, 2024

Wrong on Rice and GA Southern. Correct on JMU and EMU.

Solid days for Hunter Watson , SHSU QB, in a win over the Owls.

I'm surprised at the high score: Boise St 56 GAS 45. Jeanty(BSU) rushed for 267 yards, he!l of jump in Heisman race

Sept 2, 2024

Chad Morris threw for 415 yards and 3 TDS, and also rushed for 2 TDS for North Texas in a win over South Bama.

SBC is the only 1A conference that kept divisions for football. I like it.

Mid summer 2024 football coaching moves in O5

 Utah St :Blake Anderson is near the exit door over alleged 2023 mishandling of sexual and domestic violence violations. DC Nate Dreiling(33) will likely be the interim HC. Dreiling was DC for Jerry Kill at NMSU the last two seasons. I wonder if Secondary coach Evan Cooper , who just left Nebraska is headed to USU.

 It appears this will be a $$$ battle over, what  if any payout USU gives Anderson.

Ags face USC and Utah after opening with Robert Morris.

July 7, 2024

Charlotte Catholic HS ,one of NC best programs, hired Keith Emery away from Biff Poggi's Charlotte 49ers(AAC) staff, to be its HC 

Kaidon Salter, QB, Liberty will he as successful as Malik Willis? LU does not play a P5 conference team this season.

Ashton Jeanty , RB Boise St, rushed for 1343 yards last season. Let's see how he does against Oregon in game 2.

July 11, 2024

O5 coaches on the hot seat: Drayton(Temple), Neu (Ball St), Will Hall(USM). Wild that Neu has lasted 8 years.

Georgia Southern HC Clay Helton- does he need to get above .500 this season? Ol Miss won't be a W, but getting a win or two over MWC teams, Boise St and Nevada is essential.

Joe Moorhead ,Akron HC, is 4-20 in two seasons. All of his acumen on O won't help w/o studs. TJ Finley at QB? Buckeyes are first up for the Zips.

July 16, 2024

Tim Skipper(AHC/LB) will be the Fresno St HC for the 2024 season. Tedford steps down due to health concerns.

Bronco Mendenhall, the New Mexico HC, spent more time in "financial management" sessions in six months with the Lobos than he did at BYU and Virginia combined.

July 21, 2024

Rich Rod(Jax State) spicing up future schedules: USM  this year.  UAB for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.  series with Buffalo for the 2028 and 2031 seasons. And an intrastate matchup at Auburn in 2026.

I missed this one: Major Applewhite became South Alabama HC after three seasons as the Jags OC. He took over for Wommack who joined Deboer's Bama staff. Gio Lopez likely to start at QB for the Jags.

Marquez Cooper, RB- San Diego State, find his way onto TOP 25 RB list. He transferred there after three 1k seasons at Kent St.

July 27, 2024

Victory Bell series record is tied 59-59-7 after Miami O snapped the Bearcats 16-game winning with an OT win at Nippert Stadium on 9/16/23

Two games left for Victory Bell . 2024 at Miami O. 2026 @ Paycor Stadium , Cincy Bengals Home field, in 2026.

If Memphis is going to live up to the hype, then Seth Hannigan needs to get near last year's stats (32TD, only 9 INT). Tigers face the Noles in week 3..

They also play North Alabama, Troy, and Navy in September.

August 6, 2024

MIami O gets replaced by Bowling Green on the 2025 schedule. Last BG/Cincy matchup was in 1994.

W. Michigan's first two games are Wisky and Ohio St. 

Is Dean Connors, Rice RB, going to to make to 1000 yards rushing this season. I say yes!

 Byrum Brown, USF QB,  will need a miracle or two with first month matchups against Bama and  Miami(FLA) .  Coach Alex Golesh's guys should be  tough enough for AAC action.

Looking at $$: Fresno State(MWC) will receive 1.85M for playing at Michigan on 8/31. Plus 150K for moving its game at UCLA from 9/14 to 11/30.

Aug 12, 2024

Antario Brown, NIU RB who rushed for 1296 yards last season, will get tested in September games against Notre Dame and NC St.

Eric Morris, HC North Texas, will need some of Mike Leach , his former mentor, plays to improve from last year's 5-7 record. Toughest OOC game is against Texas Tech.

Morris was WR coach for Leach at Wazoo in 2012 .

Aug 15, 2024

Boise St(MWC) is getting a lot of hype about making the playoff race. Shaky D and games against Oregon, Oregon St, and Wazoo are stumbling blocks.

Will K.Niumatalolo, the head coach at San Jose State, have success recruiting in his home state of Hawaii?

Is Jase Bauer, a transfer QB from CMU, the answer for Rich Rod at SHSU?

Is Barry Odom's solid D enough to keep UNLV in the MWC race? Rebels face Big 12 teams, Houston and Kansas,  before conference play starts?

Sumrall left Troy U for Tulane to replace Fritz who's in Houston. Green Wave face Ok and KSt in September. Not sure they belong in the pre-season top 50.

Keep your eyes open for Harold Fannin Jr (TE-Bowling Green), who's a a crisp route runner with good hands.

August 22, 2024

 Kennesaw State HC Bohannon served as an assistant coach under Paul Johnson at various places. Perhaps the  triple option flexbone O will be on display in CUSA action this season.

Aug 24, 2024

Curious about Derwin Burgess', WR  for Georgia Southern,  steady improvement each season. Eagles host Boise St next Saturday

Burgess caught 6 passes for 117 yards and one touchdown in a 41-21 defeat of Ohio in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec 16, 2023.

Totally missed that Jerry Kill, ex-NMSU HC, will be chief consultant to Lea at Vandy this season. He'll be working with Tim Beck, the current Vandy OC, again

Pete Lembo, the Buffalo Bulls HC, is the only change in MAC head coaches from last season.

He was 35-22 in five seasons with Ball State(2011–2015).  He's been an assistant at a few schools including South Carolina last season.

September 1, 2024

Pavia paid instead dividends for Vandy with his arms and legs in the win over VTech.  Hey Las Cruces!

Odom's D TCOB  for the Rebels in a 27-7 win over Houston (Big12)

Non-P6 hoops-it's that time of year.

 Procrastination on doing a blog ends with Davidson(A10) knocking off my Terps(B10). Troy(SBC) took Oregon St to OT before falling 81-80, while Marshall (SBC) falls to Radford(Big South). Bryan Antoine converted a four-point play with 1.5 seconds left for Radford in the win over # herd.

Monmouth(CAA) beat WVU(B12)

Interesting action in the MAC/SBC: Coach Groce's Zips beat USM. Akron 72 USM 54

And for my Mewe buddy Arkrazor:  Cal Baptist(WAC) 80 Jackson St(SWAC) 66. Daniels Jr scored 25 for the winners.

This was a good one in the MAC/SBC challenge: Ball St 73 ODU 68 

 C. Jenkins G - ODU 20PTS 6REB

J. Anderson G - BALL 29PTS 9REB

UAB(AAC) beat my Terps.

Nov 21, 2023

Checking back in: UNLV(MWC) gave Florida St(ACC) a scare before losing 83-75. D Thomas Jr of the Rebels is a fun player to watch.

St Josephs(A10)  took Kentucky(SEC) to OT but fell 96-88.

SMU(AAC) beat West Virginia(B12) 70-58 .  Mustangs need to use this season to get ready for ACC hoops next season.

Nov 25, 2023

FAU(AAC) beat TAMU(SEC) yesterday and is off to a 4-1 start coming off last season's Final Four appearance. The loss was to Bryant of the American East conference.

Marshall(SBC) is off to a bumpy 2-4 start including getting pasted by Kentucky(SEC) 118-82 yesterday

Nov 30, 2023

Bowlsby, former Big 12 Commish, will be the interim AD at Northern Iowa replacing David Harris, who left to become the athletic director at Tulane.

Northern Iowa(MVC) is 2-5 this season but they beat Stanford.

Tulane is 5-1. Its only loss was to Bradley(MVC).

How about St Joseph's(A10) beating Nova(Big East). Erik Reynolds II scored 24 points in a road win. 

Dec 5, 2023

Catching up: UNCW(CAA) coach Takayo Siddle steered his team to an 80-73 upset of No. 12 Kentucky(SEC) on Saturday. In 2007 he scored eight points for Gardner Webb in an upset of UK in Rupp Arena.

Appy(SBC) beat Auburn(SEC)

T. Joseph(27PTS 6REB 3STL) for Southern(SWAC) in an upset of Miss St(SEC)

SEC stumbled against non -power 6.

Dec 7, 2023

Big home win for Towson U(CAA).  C. May G 27 PTS, 7 REB in 81-71 win over UMass(A10). Tigers keeps getting better after starting the season losing to Wake Forest, North Texas, and S Dakota St. Towson U is just north of Baltimore City.

UIC(MVC) 55 Jax St(CUSA) 49 Illinois-Chicago is having a decent OOC start. JaxSt could have a bumpy ride in CUSA hoops.

Dec 13, 2023

Sam Houston St(CUSA) edged ULM(SBC) 63-62. Great football debut in 1A, and now their hoops are doing ok. The last time SHS went to the Dance was in 2010 as the Southland champ.

Cal Baptist(WAC)lost 76-55 at Oregon 

Dec 14, 2023

Headed toward conference play. FAU(AAC) has kept in stride after its F4 appearance in the spring. Loss to Illinois. Wins over VTech and TAMU. Now if they beat Zona Dec 23.....

GW(A10) intrigues me at 9-2, the losses were to South Carolina and UIC. They haven't been good in a while so maybe the record is a false positive. James Bishop IV leads the team with 16.9 PPG.

Dec 16, 2023

Zags got more work to do. UConn 76 Gonz 63. In other WCC OOC play San Diego Toreros beat Portland St(Big Sky). SD beat Ariz St (Pac12) a few days ago.

Non- power confernce teams circling the top 25

 I reviewed some of the major polls and stories and added some comments. Football has most of my attention, but I'm slowly shifting into hoops gear.

AAC: Houston plays good D, which borders on mugging, and this may affect them this season depending on how closely the referees call the games. However, Bama went small ball and handed the Cougars their first loss. Memphis(8-3) Coach Penny recruits well.

MWC: San Diego State  (8-3) New Mexico (10-0); Utah State( 9-0) UNLV  10-0. Conference play will change some of this attention

WCC: Gonzaga(8-3) Saint Mary's (9-3). I added Santa Clara(9-3) because they upgraded their OOC schedule.

CAA: College of Charleston (11-1) I guess they're got a mention because they beat Virginia Tech.

I peeked at the Atlantic Sun and was surprised to see Liberty and Jacksonville off to slow starts. Also, Queens University Royals(9-2), a small private school in Charlotte who moved up from DII, is off to a nice start but isn't eligible for post season play until the 2026-27 season.

Dec 18, 2022

Nice day for AAC members Houston who won at UVA(ACC) and Memphis who beat TAMU(SEC).

Gonzaga was in top form in a 100-90 win over Bama(SEC), and San Francisco handed UNLV (MWC) its first loss in a decent day for the WCC.

Dec 22, 2022

Kinyon Hodges scored 22 points and Caleb Donaldson added 16 for the Eastern Illinois Panthers in a 92-83 upset of Iowa(Big 10). EIU (Ohio Valley) is 4-9 in OOC play, which includes blowout losses to Ohio St and Illinois of the Big 10.

No. 11 Gonzaga beat Montana for its 72nd straight home win.

Dec 27, 2022

Coach Ladner has S.Miss (11-2) fans feeling good with the additions of Mercer big man Felipe Haase, and Ol Miss transfer, Austin Crowley, but one of those two losses was to NW St.  The SunBelt season is about to get in gear so we'll see if the Golden Eagles' talk about Dancing has staying power.

Dec 30, 2022

WCC: Santa Clara beat San Fran last night and is on a nice roll which makes its Jan 7 matchup with Gonzaga interesting.

SunBelt: Marshall handled visiting Appy, and James Madison rolled Georgia St in Atlanta last night. Nothing like a VA/WV interstate battle tomorrow as #Herd host the JMU Dukes in Huntingdon,WV on.

Oops, I missed this one: Reggie Bass drilled a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left for Central Michigan(MAC) in a win over in-state rival Michigan 63-61. Coach Juwan Howard needs more than Anger MGT.

Jan 1, 2023

James Madison led 40-29 at halftime and hung on for a72-66 win over Marshall U. Edwards had 16 point and 6 rebounds for JMU, while Kinsey had 18 points, seven assists and two steals for the Herd.

New Mexico (14-0 2-0 MWC) nipped Wyoming 76-75 last night. Coach Pitino Jr is on a roll. Jamal Mashburn Jr, who followed his coach from Minnesota to UNM, scored 20 for the Lobos. His dad Jamal played at UK for Pitino Sr.

Jan 4, 2023

Mashburn scored 22 for the Lobos, but it was not enough to keep UNM from losing its first game this season and probably falling out of the top 25. Fresno St 71 UNM 67

Jan 6, 2023

AAC- Houston crushed SMU 87-53

WCC- Zags edged San Fran, an erratic team that beat Ariz St this season.  Conference looks like it's stronger this season. Keep your eyes on Santa Clara!

ASUN: Liberty is off to a 3-0 start in conference play with 75-41 win over Jax St. Queens is 2-1with a 75-74 win over Bellamine last night.

Jan 8, 2023

Queens Royals are getting a taste of conference play. They lost to Kenesaw last night. EKU survived C. Arkansas.

ASUN players get quite an education in the geography of the South. Every school is located in a state that was in the Confederacy except for EKU and Bellamine. Kentucky was a border state.

Jan 11, 2023

San Diego St is off to a 4-0 start in the MWC with a win over Nevada last night.

Life in the A10 has been rough for Loyola of Chicago who lost a home game to VCU last night.

Dayton 4-0 - 12-5

VCU 3-1 -       12-5

LoC        0-4   -       6-10

Jan 12, 2023

Houston(17-1 5-0 AAC)  83  USF(7-10 0-4 AAC)   77.  Cougars stay at #1, and USF appears to be showing improvement.

Jan 13, 2023

BYU 's crowd was fired up but the Cougars fell short against the Zags . GONZ 75 BYU 74.  

Nice team effort by Marshall in an 89-67 blowout of USM. Kinsey is a smooth member of the Herd.

Jan 14, 2023

Akron(11-6 3-1MAC) 104 Eastern Michigan(4-13 1-3MAC)  67. Coach Cooper keeps rolling in the MAC

VCU was down 33 -19 at halftime and looked ragged, but roared back to defeat Dayton 63-62 in an A10 matchup.

Kenan Blackshear scored 25 for Nevada in a big MWC win over Utah St. 

San Diego State 4-0

Nevada 5-1

Jan 15, 2023

Riley Battin's 18 points and seven rebounds helped Cal Baptist(11-8, 3-3 WAC) defeat Grand Canyon(12-6, 3-2 WAC) 79-74 on Saturday. Seattle (5-0) sits atop the WAC.

Kinsey scored 24 for the #herd in a big win over ODU to remain in a six way tie(4-2) for first in the SunBelt.

Jan 17, 2023

MLK day was a busy with hoops, and I watched a little of  Florida Atlantic(17-1, 7-0 CUSA) road win over WKU when I got home from work. Boyd led the Owls with 16 points. They've stuck with HC Dusty May, and it appears to be working.

Charleston (19-1,7-0 CAA) handled William & Mary easily.

Hawai'i (14-4, 5-1Big West) are off to a decent start. Bernardo da Silva had an interesting stat line (PTS11, REB 12, Blocks 3) in the Rainbows win over Cal St Northridge.

Jan 20, 2023

Cam Shelton banked in a go-ahead runner with 13 seconds left for Loyola Marymount in an upset 68-67 victory of  # 6 Gonzaga which knocked the Zags out of first in the WCC.

 Saint Mary's 6-0 17-4

Gonzaga 5-1 16-4

Santa Clara 4-2 16-5

Loyola Marymount 4-3 14-7

BYU 4-3 14-8

Sunbelt gets tighter. Marshall, USM, JMU, ULM, and ULL, won games that keep the standings tight at the top.

Jan 21, 2023

It doesn't take long to come back to reality in the MAC. Kent State(16-3 6-0MAC) 86 Ball State (13-6 4-2MAC) 65. I tuned into the game early but didn't stay. Toledo handled Buffalo in other MAC action. 

Mashburn Jr scored 25 for the Lobos. New Mexico 81 Boise St 79 in OT in MWC action.

Jan 22, 2023

Some Horizon news: Detroit Mercy's Antoine Davis scored 42 in a win over UIPUI and  is No. 2 on NCAA D-I scoring list with 3274 points, but he'll need a big finish this season to catch Pistol Pete(3667). They are 3.5 GB of Milwaukee and N. Kentucky in the conference.

Florida Atlantic(19-1, 9-0 CUSA) remains hot with a 67-59 win over UTEP. Their only loss this season is to Ole Miss (SEC).

Cal Baptist rolled Tarleton in WAC play, and Andrew Taylor led Marshall to a SunBelt win over Ark St.

Jan 23, 2023

Temple(12-9, 6-2 AAC) 56   Houston(18-2, 6-1 AAC) 55   Coach McKie's Owls get a huge W. Damian Dunn scored 16 points and made the go-ahead free throw then Kur Jongkuch blocked Houston’s go-ahead shot attempt in the final seconds.

Week 10 early MAC slate

 It's November so we have Tuesday and Wednesday games.

Buffalo(5-3 4-0 MAC) got off to a rough OOC start but has feasted in MAC play. and will get a narrow road win at Ohio(5-3 3-1 MAC). Cole Snyder is on a roll for the Bulls, and I'm not overlooking Rourke'

s season for the Bobcats. Buff 31 Ohio 30

• Ball State(4-4 2-2 MAC) gets back to winning at Kent State(3-5 2-2 MAC). Paddock tosses 2 tds for the 
• Cards in a win. Ball St 24 Kent 17

Central Michigan(2-6 1-3 MAC) at Northern Illinois(2-6 1-3 MAC). NIU 17 CMU 16. Whoever has the ball last wins

Western Michigan (3-5 2-2 MAC) at Bowling Green(4-4 3-1 MAC) Jaison Patterson, a big RB from Jacksonville, FLA has been getting into gear for BG. BG 27 WMU 19

Nov 2, 2022

Tuesday split: Wrong on Buffalo who lost to Ohio 45-24, but Ball St roared back from a 13-0 first quarter deficit to beat Kent St 27-20. Carson Steele rushed for 192 yards and a TD, and Paddock tossed 2 Tds for the Cards in the victory 

Nov 3, 2022

Wednesday split: Wrong on NIU who didn't score until the second half. WMU 35 NIU 22

Bowling Green won a low-scoring game. BG 13 WMU 9. The Falcons move into a 3-way tie for first in the East with Buffalo and Ohio

Ball St trails Toledo by a game in the West.

Nov 8, 2022

Week 11 and full slate of early games has me scrambling. I under-valued Ohio last week but not this week. Rourke will toss two TD passes for Ohio in a 28 -20 win over Miami(Ohio)

Nov 9

Rourke tossed 3 TD passes in Ohio's 37-21 win so I got that one. In other news, Toledo got a big 28-21 win over Ball St, despite Steele rushing for 198 yards and 3 TDs for the Cards.

Nov 11, 2022

Ohio has a one game lead over Buffalo and Bowling Green in the East,while Toledo has a two game lead over three teams.

MAC pigskin 2022 could be an Ohio-centric story

 If Kent St opening schedule doesn't bang them up too much, the MAC games may be a break.

Miami Ohio receiver Jack Sorenson is done, but 48-catch veteran Mac Hippenhammer returns and they'll need him to catch Kent St in the East. A lot of pundits think Buffalo will finish high. I'm not so sure.

NIU and CMU finish tied atop the West in 2021. However, Dequan Finn, Toledo's quarterback, leads a potent offense that may derail NIU. Toledo is at Ohio St on Sept 17. 

Aug 2, 2022

Season 2 for Coach Albin who replaced Solich at Ohio in 2021. They'll rely heaving on an LB corps anchored by Bryce Houston who led the team with 104 tackles last season. 

Probably another rough season and they face Penn St on 9/10.

Ball State ain't getting much love this pre-season, mostly because folks wonder if Paddock is the guy to replace three-year QB starter Drew Plitt. BTW, Plitt is in the Bengals' training camp. 

Akron @ Michigan St. in week 1. What will the P5 do in September if they relegate the other 5 to a different division.

Mocked out- O5 possibles in NFL rd1 2022

 AAC: No surprise that two Cincy players, QB Desmond Ridder and CB Ahmad Gardner, are forecast to go in rd1.  Logan Hall, a DL from Houston, and Tyler Smith, an OL from Tulsa have high hopes.

MAC: Bernhard Raimann, OL from Central Michigan. Skyy Moore. WR from Western Michigan

MWC: Trey McBride, TE from Colorado St.

If there's an O5 rd1 hopeful, I've missed, add it here.

O5= non P5

April, 29, 2022

Only o5 players to go in rd1: Gardner(Cincy) to the Jets , Smith(Tulsa) to the Boys.

April 30, 2022

Cheers to the AAC who are third behind the SEC and B10 in drafted players through three rounds.

AAC (10)

Cincinnati — 5: Ridder to the Falcons in rd3

Houston — 2: Logan Hall who went to the Bucs in rd 2

Tulsa — 1 Memphis — 1 SMU — 1

Mountain West (3):Colorado State- McBride to the Cards in rd2  Wyoming — 1San Diego State — 1

MAC (3):Central Michigan — 2-Raimann to the Colts in rd3. Western Michigan - Skyy Moore to the Chiefs

Conference USA (2):UAB — 1Western Kentucky — 1

Sun Belt :South Alabama — 1

May 1, 2022

9 Bearcats drafted overall - that's impressive. 

As far as rds 4-7 ,O5 picks that caught my eyes. RD4 : Likely, a TE from Coastal Carolina, to the Ravens. Zappe ,a gunslinger from WKU, to the Pats. 

RD5: I'm stunned Jerome Ford Cincy RB was still around for the Browns and that D'Marco Jackson LB, App St was available for my Saints. 

RD6 Bills take a punter Matt Araiza from San Diego St. 

RD7 Nazeeh Johnson S, MRSHL to the Chiefs. 

May 2, 2022

O5 UFAs : Carson Strong, QB Nevada(MWC) Height: 6-foot-3. History of knee injuries- Eagles signed him.

Sincere McCormick RB UTSA(CUSA)- He had some huge rushing games. I'm unsure why he hasn't been signed.

Sterling Weatherford  S Miami (OH) (MAC) signed with Colts

May 19, 2022

Saints sign UDFA Joel Dublanko who recorded 113 total tackles in 2021 for Cincy(AAC).  His 40 yard dash time was 4.75, but he was a he!! of a college linebacker.

July 16, 2022

D'Vonta Price, who signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent RB from FIU(CUSA) on April 30, 2022, is doing well in camp. He had a decent senior season at FIU.

Sept 10, 2024

2022 draft: Araiza is the Punter for Chiefs. McBride, TE for the Cards, needs more targets.

O5 tourney time in March 2022

 Sunbelt tournament tipped off in Pensacola, FLA last night with some mild upsets. Ark-LR(3-11) knocked off South Bama(9-7) 75-71 and Georgia Southern (5-11) knocked off CCU(8-8) 70-64.  In other action ULL beat UTA and Ark St beat ULM.

No upsets in AAC action as its tourney nears Memphis, Houston, SMU, and Tulane won last night.

NTX beat UTSA and should be the 1 seed in the CUSAT.

San Diego St needed two OTs to edge Fresno St 65-64 and will not catch Boise St for the top seed in the MWCT.

March 5, 2022

Heading toward the MACT: I was impressed at how Kent St held off a hot Buffalo squad. Toledo rolled Bowling Green, and I haven't forgotten Akron who edged CMU last night.

March 6, 2022

And just like that, TX St ain't Dancin. Jordan Brown scored 31 to lead ULL to an upset of TX St. The other SBCT winners yesterday were: Troy over Ark-LR, App St over Georgia Southern, and GA St over Ark St. Today's matchups Ga St/ULL, App St/Troy.

In the CUSA North Texas was upset by UTEP yesterday, but they 'll still be the top seed in the CUSAT ahead of UAB.

March 7, 2022

Penny has the Memphis Tigers in high gear. They owned Houston yesterday and their only loss in the last eleven games is to SMU who now sits on the bubble.

March 8, 2022

Georgia St is the Sunbelt Dance ticket holder. Corey Allen scored 29 points for GA St in an 80-71 win over ULL.

March 11, 2022

MACT: I'm surprised that CMU(7-23) took Toledo to the brink before losing 72-71. Others advancing: Ohio, Akron, and Kent St

CUSA: LA Tech beat WKU which is a minor upset. NTX, UAB, and MTSU advance.

MWCT:  Boise St survived a battle with Nevada(13-17). Colorado st, Wyoming, SDST keep playing.

March 12, 2022

CUSA: What a difference in games. UAB 102 MTSU 98 in 3OTs. NTX only scored 13 points in the 1st half and lost 42-36 to LA Tech.

MAC:  I've been tracking Akron who beat Toledo and thought it would be interesting to see Coach Cooper face his former team Ohio in the MACT final, but Kent St knocked off Ohio.

MWC: SDST knocked off # 23 Colorado St and Boise St beat Wyoming. I don't see the MWC getting four Dance tickets.

AAC:  Houston vs Tulane. Memphis vs SMU. I think Memphis and Houston are Dancing, but Tulane and SMU need to win the AACT for a Dance ticket.

March 13, 2022

"Jelly'' Walker sunk 11 of 11 from the free-throw line and scored 27 points for UAB in an 82-73  win over La Tech  in the CUSAT final

Freeman (23 PTS 8 REB 2 AST) led Akron to a 76-55 win over Toledo in the MACT final and a Dance ticket.

Boise St edged SDST 53-52 in the MWCT final

In the AACT Houston rolled Tulane and Memphis beat SMU 72-63 setting up a Houston/Memphis game today. SMU hung tough and may be on the bubble but  it depends on how deep the Dance Committee goes in the SEC and Big 12. Plus Va Tech upset Duke in the ACC final. 

Frank Haith resigned from Tulsa and Dooley is out at ECU.

March 14, 2022

Jax St (future CUSA) gets Auburn in an intrastate matchup. UAB(CUSA) gets Houston(AAC).

March 25, 2022

The chip is getting bigger for Houston who beat Zona last night. Man was I wrong on them in the Dance. Picking UAB over HOU in rd1 haunts me.