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 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

Week 13 in the O5

 AAC: How about UTSA (8-3 7-0AAC)  @ Tulane (10-1 7-0AAC).  Green Wave D will slow down Frank Harris. TUL 24 UTSA 17.

SMU is also 7-0 in conference play and has too much O for the improving Midshipmen D. SMU 27 Navy 13

CUSA: Two experienced head coaches: Kill's Kids win at home over  Rich Rod's Gamecocks. NMSU 24 Jax St 19

MAC: Little Miami owns the tiebreaker over Ohio and will face Toledo in the title game next week. Their rushing attack will do the job Saturday Miami(OH) 20 Ball St 13.

MWC: San José State (6-5 5-2 MWC) @ UNLV (9-2 6-1 MWC). Rebs will make sure they are in the title game. UNLV 28 SJST 23.  I'm just tossing a coin on their opponent next week.  Boise St /AFA, each 5-2,  play Friday.

Sunbelt: Troy is in the title game. CCU hosts JMU and needs a W to get to the title game. I don't see the Chants sealing the deal. JMU 31 CCU 24. McCloud, the JMU QB, will have a big game.

Nov 25, 2023

Good start for my picks: Tulane 29 UTSA 16. Green Wave D slowed down: F. Harris QB - UTSA 198YDS 1TD 2INT. 

I called this one a coin toss.  Boise 27 AFA 19. Boise gets into the MWC title game if UNLV beats SJST.  

Nov 26, 2023

SMU crushed Navy. Little Mami blocked a FG attempt to hold off Ball St 17-15.

JMU crushed CCU. McCloud threw 5 TD passes. Appy, not JMU(ineligible). plays Troy in SBC title game.

San Jose State beats UNLV 37-31; MWC ends in 3-way tie for first. Computer is sorting out which two teams land in the title game.

NMSU edged .JX St 20-17 and plays Liberty in the CUSA title game.

Nov 27, 2023

Boise State, San Jose State, and UNLV finished the season tied at 6-2 in the MWC standings. None of the three teams appeared in the College Football Playoff Rankings, SJST lost out in the second tiebreaker an average of computer rankings from Anderson & Hester, Colley Matrix and Massey and Wolfe, several of the computers used for the old BCS system. 

Boise St will play at UNLV.

Delaware is moving up to 1A and joining the CUSA.  Blue Hens are about 75 minutes away from me by car. Joe Flacco left Pitt for DE and made it to the NFL.

Week 10 in the O5

 AAC: While it lasts, an AAC matchup between two former SWC teams. SMU 30 Rice 20. SMU QB

P. Stone (2138 YDS, 19 TD, 5 INT) is having a great season.

CUSA: La Tech will give Liberty a scare in Lynchburg, VA, but not prevail. LIB 24 LaTech 23

MWC: I 'll go with Fresno QB Mikey Keene in a home game. FRES 31 Boise St 27

SunBelt: Both teams have struggled. J. Aguilar QB - APP (2173YDS 20TD 6INT) will do enough at home for win over Marshall.  Appy 21 Marshall 16. It will be televised on NFLN.

I didn't pick the game: Gunnar Watson threw 3 TD passes to Chris Lewis for Troy in a 28-10 win over South Bama. Troy is 4-1 in the SBC

Nov 5, 2023

Rice gave SMU a good game. SMU 36 Rice 31

Q. Cooley RB - LIB (23CAR 179YDS 2TD) in a 56-30 win over LaTech, but wasn't as close as I guessed.

Fresno moves to 4-1 in the MWC with a 37-30 win over the Blueturfers

Rough times for the Herd. Appy 31 Marshall 9.

correct on all 4 picks.

Some wild AAC scores: Tulane could only manage 13 points in a win over ECU. Memphis 59 USF 50. Tigers won but their D is bad.

O5 week 12

 AAC: I'm taking ECU at home against Houston, a future B12 member, in a battle of productive QBs, Ahlers(ECU)/Tune (HOU). Houston gave up 77 points to SMU two weeks ago, while ECU is 2-1 against future Big 12 teams, after beating BYU and UCF, and losing 27-25 to Cincy.   ECU 34 HOU 31

CUSA: Frank Harris, the UTSA QB, will remain in high gear @ Rice, in an intrastate matchup and keep the Roadrunners undefeated in CUSA play. UTSA 40 Rice 27

MAC: I couldn't get to all the early MAC games so this is the one I have to pick. Snow is coming to the Buffalo area this weekend, but will only keep the final score lower. BUFF 16 Akron 6.

MWC: Boise State(7-3 6-0 Mountain West) @ Wyoming(7-3 5-1 Mountain West). Cowboys kick 5 FGs and survive. WYO 22 BSU 20

SunBelt: If the NFLN can travel to Hattiesburg, MS to televise a game, so can I. Carter Bradley will toss 3 td passes to keep South Bama on pace with Troy u in the West. USA 27 USM 20

Nov 18

I didn't pick this game, but Tulane crushed SMU 59- 24 last night. 

Nov 20, 2022

MAC game canceled, and I split on the other four.

Correct: UTSA jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back in a 41-7 win. USA withstood a mild late threat from USM, and holy sh^t I guessed the correct final score.

Wrong:  ECU got crushed 42-3 by Houston. The E stands for erratic. Wyoming went up 10-0. but Boise worked its way back slowly and won 20-17.

Nov 21, 2022

If Ohio wins this weekend, than they take the East. Will the MAC re-schedule the Buffalo /Akron game if Ohio loses? 

Nov 22, 2022

I might as well make my MAC week 13 pick here since a few MAC games are being played tonight. Bowling Green rolls into Athens, Ohio tonight. I'll ride with Rourke, Ohio's QB. Ohio 27 BG 17

Nov 23

Ohio started N Harris at Qb because Rourke was still dinged up from last week and didn't miss a beat Ohio 38 BG 14. Ohio clinches the East and will likely face Toledo from the West next week in Detroit for the MAC title. EMU has a chance of tying depending on Friday's outcomes. 

Nov 27, 2022

Toledo meets Ohio in the MAC title game, while Akron travels to Buffalo to make up the snow game.  Who knows with the MAC?

Week 7 O5 conference play

 AAC: Navy is averaging 237 yards on the ground this season and scored 52 against Tulsa last week, but may not score enough to stay with high-scoring, low-winning SMU.  SMU 40 Navy 38.

CUSA: It's the battle of the Owls. Rice is having a decent season while FAU 's only win is against a 1AA team. Rice 27 FAU 24

MAC: I'll go with BGSU (M. McDonald 106-190, 1218 YDS, 14 TD, 2 INT) over Miami(Ohio) in a nailbiter. Bowling Green 24 Miami O 23

MWC: Nevada hasn't won since beating TX St in week 1, and Hawaii gave San Diego St a good game before losing by 2 points. HAW 20 Nev 19

SunBelt: JMU and CCU are getting all the ink, but South Bama's only loss is to UCLA by a point. USA 34 ULM 23

Oct 15, 2022

I picked the AAC game right and got damn close on the final score: SMU 40 Navy 34. Mordecai to Goffney remains a solid connection for the Mustangs.

Oct 16, 2022

4-1 on my picks.

Wrong: on Rice who lost to FAU 17-14.

 Right: on Bowling Green who beat M-O 17-13. Hawaii got a great game from Parson who rushed for 136 yards and 3TDs in a 31-16 win over Nevada. SBama kicked it in to gear in the second half for a 45-38 win over ULM. Carter Bradley(USA) tossed for 420 yards and 3TDs.

Stunbelt theme this season has been if you're undefeated, you're in trouble. Georgia Southern handed JMU its first loss and ODU did the same thing to CCU.

Week 3 O5: Hot or not

 I can't ignore three hot SunBelt schools, App St, Marshall, and Georgia Southern, this week. I think the trio may come out of the gate slow but get in gear by the second quarter of their respective games.

App St will get a big game out of running back C Peoples in a 30-19 home conference win over Troy.

Marshall will ride freshman phenom K. Laborn to a 31-16 win at Bowling Green(MAC).

Georgia Southern will have to slow down C Brown to pull out a close road win. GS 24 UAB(CUSA) 22

Air Force has relied on a strong running attack to get off to a 2-0 start but face a tough conference road game at Wyoming. Peasley will throw 3 TDS for the Cowboys and hand AFA a 27-24 loss.

I covered the AAC in a blog on ACC history and SMU losing a close one to MD(Big10)

Sept 17, 2022

Peasley only tossed one TD pass, but the Cowboys slowed down AFA in a 17-14 win.

Sept 18, 2022

The "Stun" belt had a few holes poked in it this weekend, on OOC play with Marshall falling in OT to BG and Georgia Southern getting handled by UAB which made me 2-2 in my picks. Laborn's fumble out of the end zone for a touchback was a killer for Marshall.

In other OOC play USA was held scoreless in the fourth quarter in a one-point loss to UCLA, Ark St fell to Memphis, ODU fell to UVA, SMU lost to MD, and ULL lost to Rice.

Yes, I'm 63 and miss the ACC

 Terps were a solid ACC team the last time they faced SMU, who was in the SWC, in football. Terps won  7-0 in 1961 and 14-6 in 1962 to lead the series 2-0. SMU was coached by Bill Meek in 1961 and Hayden Fry in 1962. Terps were coached by Tom Nugent both seasons. The 1961 Terps beat Penn St which remains a big deal in this part of the USA.

I'm looking for MD(B10) to eke out a home win 20-19 with a solid game from Baby Tua against SMU(AAC).

earlier blog: https://busterother5.blogspot.com/2020/07/yes-im-60-and-miss-acc.html

Sept 18, 2022

15 penalties but the Terps persevered to take a 3-0 series lead over SMU. Thanks, Roman Hemby 16 carries, 151 yards, 1TD in a 34-27 win.

Georgia Tech is a mess with blowout losses to Clemson (41-10) and OL Miss (42-0) this season.

Wake Forest survived Liberty 37-36 when the Flames didn't convert a two pointer.

Cuse edged Purdue but the jury remains out on the Carriers.

Oct 15, 2022

Boeheim usually gets on my nerves but I'm with him on the Big Ten, which finished 9-9 in the 2022 Dance. The ACC finished 14-5 and sent three teams to the Elite Eight.

"At the end of the day, you play for the [NCAA] tournament," Boeheim said Friday at his team's media day. "You can say what you want about the Big Ten. They sucked in the tournament. 

Nov 25, 2022

It's good to see the Terps continue to schedule games against other Maryland 1A schools. They beat Coppin St(MEAC) yesterday, a small inner-city school in Baltimore City. Juan Dixon, one of the key members of the Terps 2001-02 title team, is HC of Coppin St.

BTW, MD hosts UCLA this season. I recall when Lefty Driesell got a little ahead of himself calling MD the UCLA of the East in the 1970s.

Dec 9, 2022

It feels weird to type: Friday, Dec. 30

Duke's Mayo Bowl: Maryland(Big10) vs. NC State(ACC)

Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)

Someone waking up from a nine-year coma thinks why are two ACC teams matched up in a Bowl Game?

I'll stick with my Terps who showed me something in a loss to Ohio St. Baby Tua has been solid. MD 24 NC St 20

Dec 15, 2022

UCLA kicked our butt from beginning to end last night in hoops. UCLA 87 MD 60. Hope we get it together before UCLA joins the Big 10. Cal Board of Regents got $$$ concessions and OK'd the UCLA move.

Dec 31, 2022

What a wacky world! Gary Hahn, the NC St radio announcer since 1991, was suspended for saying this while relaying the score of the Sun Bowl, "down among all the illegal aliens in El Paso, it's UCLA 14 and Pittsburgh 6.". 

BTW, Pitt(ACC) beat UCLA 37-35 in game of scoring streaks in which it also rained at times while the sun was shining brightly. Sun Bowl has been a constant must -see TV game for me since I was a kid, and is now one of the few bowl games not televised by ESPN. It's on CBS.

Now back to the NC St game. Terps 16 Wolfpack 12

Jan 29, 2023

Yep, a Terps hoops conference win over Nebraska and being respectful about RIP Billy Packer are sure signs times have changed. BP was such a Tobacco Road (UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, & NC St) homer, I'd mute the TV on regional ACC telecasts.

Feb 26, 2023

UNC gets a big win over UVA to keep its Dance chances alive. FSU upsets Miami. And it still feels weird to type Pitt may be the best team in ACC. Panthers crushed Cuse, and it sure appears Boeheim won't be able to cry his way into the Dance.

My Terps play Northwestern in a battle for second place in the Big 10. No one saw that coming during Xmas season.

Feb 27, 2023

Terps crushed NW and are two GB of Purdue in the B10. 

Louisville (2-16) upset an erratic Clemson squad to get it's second ACC win.

RIP, Terry Holland , the hoops coach at UVA. Some great battles on and off the court between Terry and and Lefty(MD). Lefty nearly got Moses Malone(Petersburg VA) ,but Moses joined the ABA. Terry got Ralph Sampson from Harrisonburg, VA.

May 10, 2023

RIP: Denny Crum. Great college coach for Louisville. He was an assistant for Wooden at UCLA.

The two Louisville national titles in 1980 and 1986 came when the Cards were in the Metro Conference. Kenny Payne, the current Cards HC played on the 1986 team. 

Sept 1, 2023

Rare for this Terps' fan to concur with UNC bosses on Tobacco Road, but I do on NO to expanding the ACC into a transcontinental conference. It won't improve anything. 

Sept 16, 2023

Terps were down 14-0 to UVA in a renewal of former ACC regional rivalry and came back to win 42-14. The matchup was usually played on the final regular season Saturday. Next year the game will be at UVA.

Dec 7, 2023

SMU, a future ACC team. barely misses being in a NY6 bowl and ends up in the Fenway Bowl playing BC. It feels weird to type that in an ACC blog.

Jan 30, 2024

I'm unsure why the ACC takes so many algorithmic hits. Right now, it appears UNC, Duke, and UVA, would make the dance. FSU, Wake Forest, and Miami(FLA) are being ignored. 

Feb 16, 2024

RIP Lefty Driesell- rarely a dull moment

AAC 2022 football hunches

 While the big AAC debate appears to be about the Cincy and Houston, the two teams, headed to the Big 12 in 2023, I want to give a shout out to Jamie Romo, an Annapolis, MD kid playing OL for Navy. His grandfather, Leon "Red" Romo, played football at LSU.

I'm giving Cincy proper respect for winning the AAC title and cracking the F4 ceiling last season, and it gets a big test in its opener @ Arkansas(SEC). Unfortunately, Cincy will not face Holgorsen's Cougars in the regular season. Houston's toughest OOC game is @ Texas Tech(BIG12) on Sept. 10.

SMU and Memphis could get in the mix since each has a gunslinger to apply the offensive pressure. Tanner Merdecai for the Mustangs and Seth Henigan for the Tigers could be difference makers.

Aug 9, 2022

 First-team All-MAC linebacker Ivan Pace transfers in from Miami (Ohio) and joins his brother Deshawn to bolster Cats LB corps. They are local Cincy kids.

Gerry Bohanon, an ex-starting QB at Baylor, has not locked up the QB1 job at USF, and remains in a battle with Timmy McClain.

Aug 16, 2022

Bohannon gets the nod to start in its opener against BYU, and McClain enters the transfer portal. SOP these days.

aug 24, 2022

Guz Malzahn named John Rhys Plumlee, a transfer from Ol Miss, the starting quarterback at UCF. He beat out Mikey Keene, who played last year amid Dillon Gabriel’s injury.

Dallas/Ft worth area got hit with 9.19 inches of rain in a 24-hour period this week, and now only a small patch of turf remains above water on SMU's football field at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. 

O5 post -op on March 15

 I'm rooting big time for the Cowboys to rope the Hoosiers in during a Dance play in game today because the Big 10 doesn't deserve 9 tickets. Wyoming had an erratic finish to the season and as usual will rely heavily on Hunter Maldonado and Ike Graham.

NIT games:

 Interesting intrastate battle in Texas for teams who thought they'd be Dancing. TX ST(Sunbelt) faces NTX(CUSA). Mean Green of NTX looked lean in CUSAT so I'll roll with  the Bobcats to scratch out a win in Denton.

I'll hang with former with UMBC Head coach Odom, who may remind his Utah St Ags that he was the coach who took  down the 1 seed UVA Cavs in the Dance a few years ago. USU(MWC) 67 Oregon 65 as the Ducks descent continues.

List of HC openings in the O5: Ball St, ECU, Western Michigan, and Tulsa. I've heard rumors that Mike Anderson will leave St Johns for Tulsa but not sure at this point if anyone can get SJU back to its glory days of Chris Mullen and Walter Berry.

March 16, 2022

Maldonado had a solid night but it wasn't enough for the Cowboys. IU 76 WYO 68

In the NIT ,NTX beat TX St and Oregon beat Utah St.. Tonight  Toledo(MAC) faces Dayon(A10) and SMU(AAC) faces Nichols(Southland)

march 17, 2022

Toledo got crushed by Dayton  and SMU beat Nichols in NIT play.

I like UAB upsetting Houston, Boise St beating Memphis, and Colorado St beating Michigan in rd1 of the Dance.

March 22, 2022

O5 has Houston left in the Dance and no teams remaining in the NIT.

Tulsa(AAC) hires La Tech's HC Eric Konkol.  ECU (AAC) hired Mike Schwartz, ex Associate HC at Tennessee. In the MAC, Ball St and WMU are looking for  new head coaches.

I didn't see this coming.  SMU's Tim Jankovich retires. Well, we know the next coach won't be Larry Brown.

MARCH  26, 2022

UCLA assistant coach Michael Lewis is the new HC at Ball St (MAC). He played for Bobby Knight at Indiana and coached under Brad Stevens at Butler.

March 27, 2022

Houston lost a low scoring game to Nova 50-44 so no F4 for the Cougars

Allegations of major violations have been levied against the Memphis. They stem from the recruitment and short stint(3 games) of former top recruit James Wiseman. It looks bad but how tough has the NCAA enforcement been recently so Penny may not be dropped from coaching quickly.

March 28, 2022

SMU named Rob Lanier as HC after he took Georgia State(Sunbelt) to the Dance this season.

He was 53-30 in his three seasons at Georgia State. He took Siena(MAAC) to the Dance in 2002 and had been an assistant for Billy Donovan and Rick Barnes. I recall his Sienna team giving Loyola of Baltimore fits in his MAAC days. I'm still a bit surprised at the hire.

March 31, 2022

Talvin Hester, an ex asst at Texas Tech, is the new HC at La Tech

April. 6, 2022

Jonas Hayes, interim coach who led Xavier to its first NIT championship in 64 years, is the new Georgia State's HC.

I thought WMU(MAC)  forgot they had an opening. After 19 seasons as an assistant at Michigan State, Dwayne Stephens is the new W. Michigan HC.

April 12, 2022

Transfer portal gets nuttier: SMU Mustangs guard Kendric Davis, AAC Player of the Year, is in the portal. He played at TCU before joining SMU.

 Lofton is leaving La Tech.

April 14, 2022

Nate Oats looks toward his former conference, the MAC, and signs Former Ohio U point guard Mark Sears, who averaged nearly 20 points a game last season. Sears is from Muscle Shoals, ALA

June 2, 2022

O5 guys leaving 2022 NBA draft pool: Sasser returns to Houston U. DeAndre Williams will return to Memphis U.

June 16, 2022

While reading a list of International players and others who removed themselves from  early entry in the 2022 NBA draft , I found  Dhieu Deing, who played for UTSA(CUSA)  last season  . Wise move ! He's a 6'5 guard with this stat line from last season     PTS13.6 ,REB  5.3, AST1.5, FG% 34.5 .

June 24, 2022

AAC (2) Memphis — (2): Jalen Duren (13), Josh Minott (45) both to the Hornets

Mountain West (1) Colorado State — 1:David Roddy (23)  to the 76ers

MAC (1)        Toledo — 1:Ryan Rollins (44)--to the Hawks

Duren got traded to Knicks then Detroit. Rollins was traded to GSW.

O5 hoops: who's rising from the middle of the pack on Feb 5

 About five weeks until Dance tickets are issued, and I'm focusing on teams looking to shake things up.

MWC: Utah St(14-9, 5-5) has won four straight conference games, and their head coach Odom was the UMBC HC who upset UVA at the Dance a few years ago. Justin Bean leads the Ags in points, rebounds, and steals.

CUSA: Yes, first place NTX is the hottest team with seven straight wins, but UTEP(13-8, 6-3) with five straight wins is climbing. Boum is averaging nearly 20 ppg.

SunBelt: No long streaks in conference play, but I'll roll the dice on TX St(14-6, 5-3). Asberry 14 ppg leads a balanced scoring Bobcats' squad.

MAC: If anyone can catch Ohio, it's Akron(14-6, 7-3) HC Cooper, who once coached at Ohio. Ali Ali leads the team with 13.8 ppg.

AAC: Houston and SMU look like locks now so I'll roll the dice on those hooting Owls  of Temple(12-7, 5-3). Damiam Dunn leads the team with a 15.9 PPG.

Feb 6, 2022

Did I curse anybody? Nope! Isiah Small had 15 points and nine rebounds for Texas State in a 69-64 win over Coastal Carolina 69-64.

Temple beat Tulsa, UTEP edged Rice, Utah St rolled UNLV.

Akron plays Miami (OH) today.

Feb 7, 2022

Ali Ali(AKR - F 21 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST) had his usual night for the Zips in a 71-59 win over MO.

BTW Houston pounded Cincy 80-58 in AAC play.

Feb 10, 2022

Houston started the game on fire and was up by 15 in the second half but couldn't stop SMU's rally and lost 85-83. Kendric Davis scored 22 points to lead SMU. In other AAC news Memphis beat Tulane and Cincy beat USF. 

San Diego St got a much needed MWC win over SJST

Feb 11, 2022

South Bama crush Ark-LR 77-46. Mason Harrell had 20 points as Texas State topped ULL 82-73 and inched closer to App St, the top team in the SunBelt.

Feb 13, 2022

AAC tightened up with Memphis beating Houston, SMU beating ECU, Temple losing to Tulane and Cincy falling to Tulsa.

TX St beat ULM to  take over first in the SunBelt from App St who lost to GA St.

                      

 How about those Cowboys of Wyoming(21-3, 10-1 Mountain West) who romped over SJST 74-52. Graham Ike had 25 points and 18 rebounds in the victory.

Feb 14, 2022

CUSA Sunday; ODU 81 UAB 72- Bad loss for the Blazers

MTSU 78 CHAR 63   Big game for Josh Jefferson (30 pts) for the Blue Raiders

Goran Miladinovic had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Herd in a road win. MU 88 UTEP 79

Feb 16, 2022

Akron lost in OT to WMU. 

The Wyoming Cowboys were gunned down by New Mexico. Did Pittino Jr figure something out?

Memphis keeps rolling, this time they beat Cincy. Tulane beat USF to stay relevant in the AAC.

How about this MAC score? 

Feb 17, 2022

Temple kept its small AAC hopes alive with a win over SMU , which also pushed the Mustangs back a game behind Houston.

Boise flew by Air Force, and Bryce Hamilton (
17 PTS 7 REB 4 AST ) led UNLV over Fresno St in MWC action.  Rebs are in the middle of the pack and may be a team to watch in the MWCT.

Feb 18

I scanned the Tv for some CUSA action and watched parts of WKU 77-67 won over Charlotte and noticed ALY KHALIFA Charlotte 49ers a 6'11" center from Egypt moves well for a big man. Elsewhere, Marshall beat ODU but remains in the East basement. MTSU(9-3) beat FIU and is two games up on FAU in the East.

NTX (12-1) edged FAU(8-5) to remain two games ahead in the West of UAB(10-3), who crushed Rice.

Feb 20, 2022

Khalifa scored for CHA in 99-84 win over the Herd. Tylor Perry made a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining to lift North Texas to a 58-57 win over UAB in a matchup of top dogs.

Feb 21, 2022

Mustangs are charging hard to catch Houston in the AAC. Marcus Weathers(20 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST) led SMU to an impressive 73-57 win over Memphis, while Houston barely survived 2 OTs in a win over Wichita St. Temple beat Cincy and those Owls are hanging around to steal a Dance ticket.

Feb 23, 2022

Checking in with the MAC: Buffalo edged Miami O last night and have not lost this month.

In the MWC Boise St(13-2) edged SDST and has a slim lead over WYO(11-2) in the standings.

Feb 24, 2022

TX St edged South Bama 55-52 and remains ahead of second place App St, who beat Ark-LR last night in Sunbelt action.

Wyoming lost to Colorado St 61-55 in MWC action.

Feb 26, 2022

TX St Bobcats(12-3) keep winning in the Sunbelt. Ga St(9-5) beat ULL and may be the team with the best shot to slow down TX St in the SBCT. Other winners last night were App ST, USA, CCU, and Georgia Southern

Ali Ali scored 22 points for Akron in a 91-83 defeat of Ohio(14-4) who fell out of first place in the MAC. Toledo (14-3) plays Miami O today.

Feb 27, 2022

Toledo(14-3) beat M(O) and faces Buffalo(13-4), a winner over NIU yesterday, in Tuesday MAC action.

NTX, MTSU , and UAB, the top three CUSA teams, won, however UAB struggled to get by UTEP in a 69-66 win.

Boise State(14-2) and Wyoming(12-3) each won yesterday to keep things tight in the MWC entering the final week of regular season play.

Feb 28, 2022

There wasn't much Sunday O5 action except for the AAC. Houston handled SMU. Neither team looked sharp. Memphis held Wichita St to 17 points in the first half in an 81-57 win. Temple beat Tulane both of those teams a faint pulse for making the Dance.

O5 conference play in week 10

 All the chatter in my Mewe O5 group this week has been about Marshall and Georgia Southern so I can't ignore either team this week.

CUSA: Coach Taggart has FAU trending upward, but I'm going with Coach Huff's #herd who has found a rising star in Rasheed Ali (149 CAR, 808 YDS, 15 TD)  MU 27 FAU 23

SunBelt: Coach Helton just started and he won't have Eagles soaring against Coastal Carolina who will continue its recovery after the Appy loss. CCU 31 GS 19

AAC: I don't think Memphis gets a healing W against SMU . Mordecai will toss a few TD passes for the Mustangs. SMU 31 Memphis 24

MWC: Aztecs will survive an aerial scare from C. Cordeiro (124-224, 1706 YDS, 10 TD, 7 INT)  on Warriors turf .  SDST 36 HAW 34

Since the MAC slate is over this week before my prognostications, I'll go with a military matchup.  It will be ground warfare when  Air Force(MWC) lands to face Armyat Choctaw Stadium in Arlington TX this Saturday. AFA RB ,B. Roberts(185 CAR, 845 YDS, 8 TD) will lead the Falcons to a W. AFA 23 Army 22

Nov 6, 2021

3-2 this weekend: Correct on  the #herd , chanticleers, and #aztecs. Wrong on SMU and Air Force.

Who can figure out Memphis? And a running back had this stat line for Army, Tyrell Robinson (2 REC, 118 YDS, 1 TD).

Don't ignore  Utah State (4-1) in the Mountain division of the MWC. and the tie in the CUSA East with Marshall and WKU each at 4-1

O5 conference play in week 9

 AAC:  Cincy deserve all the press it can get , however SMU(7-0, 3-0 ) /Houston(6-1, 4-0)  matchup this week should be a good one. I don't think Houston's D can slow down SMU's QB T. Mordecai(187-263, 2320 YDS, 29 TD, 7 INT)  SMU 34 Hou 29

CUSA: UTEP's only loss is to Boise St and FAU looked like a new team in a blowout W over Charlotte last week. I'll take Taggart's kids at home . FAU 26 UTEP 22

MAC: Only one MAC game slated and it's in Buffalo this week. Bowling Green has disintegrated since beating Minnesota last month and Buffalo has been doing ok. Buffalo 17 BG 16

MWC: Fresno St QB Haener will toss a few TD passes and help the Bulldogs give San Diego St its first loss. Fres 24 SDST 19

Sunbelt: Is App St back after beating CCU? Can Bowden keep ULM on a roll after wins against Liberty and South Bama? I'll roll Charles Rodgers throwing two TD passes in a ULM win. ULM 23 App St 20

Oct 31

I was wrong on SMU who couldn't contain Tune(HOU), and Buffalo  who couldn't stop Matt MacDonald(BG).

I was correct on  FAU who held back a late UTEP rally, Fresno who handed SDST its first loss, and Appy who rolled ULM .

Nov 3, 2021

Ex USC coach Clay Helton was hired to helm Georgia Southern(Sunbelt) .  Undefeated Cincy(AAC) got F'D in the polls for no valid reasons. 

O5 OOC play in week 4

N. Starkel (63-123, 937 YDS, 6 TD, 4 INT) takes his San Jose St(MWC)  team  to play Western Michigan(MWC) led by K. Eleby (58-93, 702 YDS, 5 TD). In a battle of productive QBs WMU , who upset Pitt last Saturday , will survive 31-30.

In a battle of two former SWC teams , SMU(AAC) will give TCU(Big12) a tough matchup but fall 28-24. 

Tanner Mordecai SMU(81-111, 1023 YDS, 16 TD)has been productive and one of his TD passes was a final second Hail Mary TD pass in a win over La Tech last Saturday.

Tulane(AAC) has scored some points in losses to Oklahoma and Ol Miss while UAB(CUSA) scored one TD in a loss to Georgia, but the Blazers will keep this a low scoring game and prevail 19-16.

Just heard: Tennessee paid an additional $100,000 to not play Army in 2022.  Army  was supposed to get $1.4 million for the game but was paid a $500,000 buyout to cancel the agreement. Akron(MAC) will replace them and be paid $1 million.  Army hasn't filled the schedule slot yet. Vols' folks claim Fulmer got the ball rolling on this. It's a chicken-sh^t move.

Sept 26, 2021

One for three for this weekend. UAB 28 Tulane 21 Starting qbs, Hopkins (UAB) , Pratt (TUL) each threw three TDs

Another game with 3 TDs QBs: Mordecai lead SMU over TCU and Dugan by a score of 42-34. Also, Bentley rushed for 153 yards and TD for the Mustangs in the Dallas area "bowl"

Starkel and the Spartans laid an egg in a 23-3 loss to WMU

In a day filled with upsets and near upsets, how about  Bowling Green(MAC) defeating Minnesota(b10) 14-10

Tuesday football and five O5 picks week ending Nov 14

 I'll take Mayer's passing to lead Miami O to a 31-27 win over Buffalo, who will get a 100 yard rushing game from J. Patterson tonight's MAC matchup.

Tulsa (3-1, 3-0 American) hosts SMU(7-1, 4-1 American) and I don't think the host team can slow down these Mustangs Buechele, Bentley IV, and Rees Rice. SMU 34 Tulsa 26

Sincere McCormick will get back on track and rushed for over 100 yards in UTSA 22-19 win over UTEP in a battle of two erratic CUSA  teams.

#carsonstrong (96-131, 1181 YDS, 9 TD) will keep Nevada undefeated in a MWC win over New Mexico.

App St((5-1, 3-0 Sun Belt) needs to keep pace with undefeated Coastal Carolina so I look for their D to have a big day in 20-9 win over Georgia St

Nov 11

Pass me the dunce cap on the Miami(OH) pick. Buffalo 42 M(O)10. Vantrease, the Bulls QB, threw for 353 yards and 4TDs.

Nov 15

Another wrong pick with SMU. Tulsa outscored SMU 21-0 in the second half to earn a 28-24 AAC win. Tulsa's QB, Zach Smith, threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns . Then I got the last three picks, UTSA, Nevada, and App St correct.

Brendan Brady picked up the rushing slack for McCormick who sat for personal reasons  and Harris threw three TD passed  for UTSA in a 52-21 win over UTEP  Carson Strong threw for 336 yards and 3tds for Nevada in a 27-21 win over UNM. The APP St didenough in a 17-13 win over Georgia St.

On a side Marshall rolled  MTSU 42-14 and is looking like the best team in the CUSA,

MWC is back and more O5 picks for week ending Oct 24

 Can App St shed the rust  and beat Arkansas St on a Thursday night? Yes, I'll take Zac Thomas, the App St QB, over the Bonner/Hatcher platoon  of Ark St. APP 26 Ark St 20.

Wyoming behind its QB Sean Chambers pulls out a 20-17 road victory at Nevada. 

Cincy travels to SMU in a battle of two top 25 teams. Cincy has enough D to rope in the Mustangs O and win 24-23.

Taggart's Owls won't  slow down the Wells/Knox show in Huntingdon, WVA. Marshall 30 Fau 20 

Oct 23

The rust flew off APP St in a 45-17 victory of Ark St. App St QB, Zac Thomas, tossed four TD passes and ran for one. 

Oct 24

I didn't pick this game but needed to mention that #ChrisSmith ran a kickoff back 100 yards for a ULL(Sunbelt) TD in a 24-20 win over UAB(CUSA).

Oct 25

Heck of  battle in Nevada with  Charlie Strong tossing for 420 yards nd 4 TDs including the game winner in OT. NEV 37 WYO 34. BTW, Chambers, the Wyoming QB, went down early with a bad fibula injury.

SMU's D was weak, as expected , and could not contain Cincy QB, Desmond Ridder who tossed one TD pass and ran for 3TDs while gaining 179 yards on eight carries. Cincy 42 SMU 13.

#herd got it done again. Wells tossed two TD passes and Knox rushed for 101 yards in 20-9 win over FAU.

3-1 this weekend. I was wrong on Wyoming.

O5 OOC tight ones for Sept 19

 GA Tech(ACC) D was impressive  against the Noles last week and should contain UCF(AAC) QB Dillon Gabriel. If GT finds a way to prevent kicks from being blocked, they 'll win a nailbiter 24-22.

Is there enough "Tiger" in the tank with ex -Auburn QB , Malik Willis  leading Liberty in a matchup against WKU(CUSA)? Ex Terp QB Pagrome struggled against Louisville last week. LU 20 WKU 17.

Will a defense show up in the SMU(AAC) /North Texas (CUSA) matchup. Buechele will lead SMU to a 38-35 win over Jason Bean and the not so Mean Green. Both QBs will toss at least three TD passes.

I couldn't ignore this matchup of former Southwest Conference rivals Baylor(Big12) and Houston(AAC)  meeting for the first time since 1995 . Plus, Aranda(Baylor) and Holgorsen(HU) were members of Mike Leach's staff at Texas Tech in 2000. Brewer will toss two TD passes for Bayor in in 21-16 win over the Cougars, who will need to develop a strong rushing attack.

Sept 20

BAY/HOU was canceled. I was wrong big time on UCF who obliterated the GT D 49-21. No D showed up  as the Mustangs ran wild across the not so Mean Green. SMU 65 -NT 35. I got the winner the 35 right.. Willis played a solid game at QB and  the Flames rushing attack was in gear in a 30-24 win over WKU. 2-1 for the weekend.

Special shout-out to the Marshall fans. Herd 17 Appy 7

Dec 21 O5 Bowl Games

NEW MEXICO BOWL SDST(MWC) has found various ways to put together a solid season. CMU has been erratic . Aztecs D get a pick 6  and a narrow 19-17 win
FBC MORTGAGE CURE BOWL- Tough call . Can  Flames D contain Werts, the Georgia Southern QB? Nope! I'm looking for a wild won with Hickson of Liberty rushing for two TDs in a 36-34 win
CHERIBUNDI BOCA RATON BOWL Kiffin is gone so FAU falters to SMU(AAC)  34-22. Shane Buechele will strafe the  Owls D for three TD passes.
CAMELLIA BOWL You never know which FIU(AAC) teams will show up. Arkansas St(SunBelt) QB Hatcher will have a solid day.  Ark St 29 FIU 26
MITSUBISHI MOTORS LAS VEGAS BOWL: Harsin has Boise St(MWC) nearing the heights it was at Peterson left for UW.  Peterson goes out on a winning note at UW with 23-22 win. Ahmed rushes for 100  + and a TD for the Hiskies
R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL UAB's (CUSA) offense tends to disappear. App St(Sunbelt) survives losing another HC. App St 20 UAB 16

dec 22 review

Five out of six. Only incorrect pick was SMU (AAC). Robison tossed for 305 yards and two TDs for FAU in a 52-28 win.. I thought UAB was going to make it a big day for the CUSA, but App St with Boynton rushing for 157 yards and two TDs roared back for  the 31-17 win. Then FIU(CUSA) couldn't slow down Hatcher, the  Ark St QB, and lost 34-26 giving the Sunbelt a 2-0 day against the CUSA.
Another Sunbelt squad , Georgia Southern , fell to Liberty 23 to 16. Calvert's 57 yards TD pass to a wide open Huntley was a huge play for the Flames.
MWC got a split. Aztecs controlled CMU the entire game  in a 48-11 win. Boise got rolled by UW 38-7.

Jan 8:

It turns out the Aztecs win over CMU was HC Rocky Long's last victory. He was 81-38 as head coach at SDSU and before that 65-69 in eleven seasons at New Mexico which makes him the winningest HC in MWC history. Brady Hoke, the man he replaced at SDSU nine years ago, is the new HC.

Jan 27

And  Rocky Long returns  to be the Lobos DC. Man, WTH happened at SDSU? I thought he'd retire or go to a different conference as a consultant.

May 21, 2020

 Props to UAB: Georgia is on their schedule in 2021 and 2023 and LSU in 2022. UAB is 2-25 versus SEC schools. In 2000 they beat Saban's LSU squad, and they beat Miss St in 2004.

July 14, 2020

Four-star QB Shedeur Sanders, son of Deion Sanders, commits to FAU (CUSA). Big nab for Coach Taggart.

AAC HOOPS 2019/20 predictions

Houston guard DeJon Jarreau leads a solid squad but that BYU loss stings
Memphis: Wiseman(suspended til January) but a successful return should keep the Tigers in the Dance picture. Quinones is a decent guard
Cincinnati has a new HC, John Brannen, and Jarron Cumberland is still a Bearcat
Temple-New HC  McKie inherits guard Quinton Rose and some other solid players
USF is led by guard Laquincy Rideau and is receiving a lot pre-season hype. I'll wait and see.
Wichita St needs a lot from Dexter Dennis early in the season
UConn-  Bouknight and Gilbert form a dynamic backcourt.
UCF is going to miss Tacko
Tulane -New HC Ron Hunter has a lot riding on incoming transfer KJ Lawson
Tulsa- DO or die time for Coach Haith
ECU- A lot rides on the JUCO transfers
SMU- Erratic team. Darius McNeil has the potential to be a solid lead guard

Nov 23

 I posted the blog in the morning and by nighttime Houston lost to Oregon . Cincy barely survived Illinois St. UConn lost to Xavier, a team they'll face more often when they return to the BigEast next season. And East Carolina blew out the same Evansville squad that beat Kentucky earlier this season. Also Coach Hunter, formerly of GA St, Tulane squad beat MTSU. Temple beat USC.

dec 28

 Fabian White Jr. and Caleb Mills scored 19 points each in Houston's (AAC) rally to a 75-71 win over No. 21 Washington(PAC12) in the  Diamond Head Classic. It could be an important part of the Cougars resume for March Madness

jan 4, 2020

Houston took care of business with a 78-63 win over UCF, but the WTH happened to Temple last night. They only scored 17 in the first half of  70-44 loss to Tulsa, who was led by
J. Horne( 23 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST)

jan 5

 Yesterday's results from the new SEC/AAC SCHEDULING Alliance of four games a season. Hammond had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Georgia in a surprise 65-62 win over Memphis. Wichita St crushed Ol Miss 74-54. Kendric Davis scored 24 points and Tyson Jolly added 21 for SMU in a 92-81 win over Vandy. On Dec 8 Houston beat South Carolina 76-56. AAC 3 SEC 1 this season

jan 12

AAC standings tighten with Tulsa's big 63-61 win over Houston. Coach Ron Hunter's move from Ga St of the  Sunbelt to Tulane and  has been erratic. In their last five games they've defeated Cincy and Temple but lost to Memphis, Uconn, and Towson(CAA).
Wichita St is the lone undefeated team in AAC play

Jan 16

Quinton Rose scored 19 points for Temple who handed Wichita St its first AAC loss this season.
Brandon Rachal scored 21 points for Tulsa in a 65-49 win over ECU. Houston beat SMU 71-62. wICHITA, tULSA, and Houston are tied at 3-1 with Cincy atop the AAC.

 jan 23

WTH to Memphis?  Jeriah Horne (21 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST)  led Tulsa to an 80-40 rout of Memphis.
Cumberland cousins helped Cincy beat Temple 89-82. SMU crushed ECU  84-64. Tulsa is in first place, ahalf game up on Cincy and Houston.

jan 29

Jarron Cumberland (28 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST)  led Cincy in a 65-43 pounding of SMU.

feb 2

 The Bearcats moved into a tie with Houston for second place in the AAC after coming back from fifteen point deficit to beat the Cougars 64-62. Both teams trail first place Tulsa who defeated Wichita St 54-51 thanks to a solid game from  Elijah Joiner (22 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST).

Feb 9

Cincy(8-3) lost an OT game to UConn while Houston(9-2) crushed Wichita St to take over first place.Tulsa(7-3) was upset by UCF.(4-7) was led by Darin Green Jr. (26 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST) .

feb 17 

Tre Scott (14 PTS, 12 REB, 1 AST) was key factor in Cincy's OT win over ECU and UConn put a damper on Memphis Dance hopes with a 64-61 win. Wichita St handled Tulane. SMU's upset of Houston on Saturday allowed Cincy to move into a tie for first.

 feb 20

Yes, the Cincy loss to UCF hurts them some, but SMU has to be off the bubble with a loss to cellar dweller Tulane.  Tulsa fell to third place with 76-43 loss to Houston. Memphis edged ECU.

feb 23

Memphis upset of Houston(11-4)  made the battle for first more interesting. Tulsa (10-4)   and Cincy 10-4) are .5 GB. Martins Igbanu scored 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds for Tulsa in its 79-57 blowout of SMU. Cincy plays Wichita St today

feb 29

How is it that Cincy is being considered  an out for the Dance. The AAC is a decent hoops conference and deserves a minimum of three Dance tickets. Cincy , Houston , and Tulsa are tied for first in the AAC at 11-4.

Week 11- Late on MAC the n the rest of the O5

Two Tuesday night games with Toledo edging Kent St and WMU edging Ball St leaves me with one game to guess on. I'll go with O'Rourke and the Bobcats at home 28-27 tonight over Miami (Ohio) in a battle for 1st in MAC East.
AAC: ECU is a team on the rise and gave Cincy a scare last week, but will fall by 8   at SMU. Buechele will toss 3 td passes.
CUSA: It's always tough traveling to west Texas for road games , but Charlotte, led by Lemay's solid running will edge UTEP 24 -22.
MWC: Aerial fireworks with Hawaii coming out on top  51-44. McDonald (HAW) and Love (SJSU) will combine for 1K in passing yards..
Sunbelt:  Georgia St needs this one badly to stay in the race in the East but I don't think they'll contain ULM QB Caleb Evans. ULM 37 Ga State 30.

Nov 7

Close score but I picked the wrong team . ORourke had a so-so game for Ohio and #SamSloman hit a 53-yard field goal with 3:48 to play to give Miami O  a 24-21 win and the lead in the MAC East.

Nov 9

 I didn't pick this game: I watched the final 25 minutes of the Tulsa 37-34 upset of UCF. UCF crumbled. Twelve men on the field penalty with a chance to get the ball back in the final minute.

Nov 10

Too bad I didn't put $$$$ on my other 4 picks.
SMU survived a 59-51 shootout with ECU and the same for Hawaii holding off SJSU. Evans (ULM) was too much for Georgia St, and  Chris Reynolds (24-35, 354 YDS, 2 TD ) led Charlotte  back on the road at UTEP  28-21. Charlotte (5-5) is closing in on a bowl bid.
Special mention for #wku (CUSA) rocking Arkansas (SEC) and App St beating South Carolina (SEC)

April 12, 2020

This kid must be be great. #BrandonCouncil, an OL grad transfer from Akron(MAC) commits to Auburn over Baylor and  Missouri. LSU and USC were also interested.

April 15

 Other 5(Group of Five) asks the NCAA to waive the minimum football attendance requirements and the requirement for a minimum of 16 varsity athletic teams.

May 5, 2020

 Ohio(MAC) quarterback Nathan Rourke was selected with the by the BC Lions with the 15th pick of the CFL draft. Rourke was born in Victoria, British Columbia.

May 14, 2020

 East Carolina gets second SEC transfer in less than a week. Arkansas RB Chase Hayden. On May 7 it was Alabama cornerback Nigel Knott.

May 17, 2020

   Dan Ellington,  the GA St starting QB for the past two years, is now on its coaching staff. That was quick!

Aug 13, 2023

Back from Canada: Nathan Rourke(OhioU) got some playing time and scores last night for the Jags in a pre-season win over Dallas.