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?

Non P6 hoops- stumbling into 2024/25

 GCU never made it to the WCC, took the off ramp to MWC, maybe as soon as 2025. No Zags, no Antelopes will hurt the WCC. Plus WAC is stung.

Chicago St starts life in the NEC but has a rough game this month against TX(SEC)

USF(AAC) lost Coach Rahim , who died at he age of 43 due to a complication during surgery.Fletcher takes over. 

Lot of hype for St Louis(A10) , with former Indiana St HC Josh Shertz and a few of his player joining the team.

Coach Kampe(Oakland) stayed put  after beating Kentucky in 2024 Dance so the Golden Grizzlies will be a team to watch in the Horizon League.

Nov 9, 2024

Caught my attention: VCU(A10) blew out BC. CoC(CAA) beat USF(AAC). Brzovic 34 points  for the Cougars coached by Chris Mack.

South Dakota St (Summit) survived a late rally by LBSU(Big West) for a 79-73 win.

Nov 15, 2024

GCU(WAC) stayed with  Ariz St in the first half, but  went cold in the second half of a 76-87 loss. However, JaKobe Coles didn't miss a shot for the Lopes while scoring 17 points in the game.

Nov 18, 2024

St Mary's(WCC) beat Nebraska. 

William & Mary(CAA) scored 102 in a win over GASO(SBC). Where did that come from? Noah Collier scored 19 for the Tribe.

Boise St(MWC) beat Clemson.

Nov 23, 2024

Dorn (24pts) leads Elon(CAA) to an upset over Notre Dame (ACC)

Christmas  scored 15 points for Longwood(Big South) in an upset of UAB(AAC)

BTW, the late Jerome Kersey, ex NBAer, played for Longwood(1980-84).

Nov 26, 2024

Tyrese Hunter(AAC) scored 26 for Memphis in an upset of UConn.

KSt brings Longwood back to reality.

Chicago St (NEC)continues to struggle in a 63-48 loss to Radford(BigSouth)

Nov 27, 2024

Davis(18PTS9REB)(MWC) leads the Aztecs past Creighton (Big East). Memphis(AAC) keeps rolling with a win over Sparty. GCU(WAC) gives Stanford its first loss.

Dec 4, 2024

Maybe UTA hoops stays in the WAC this time. They were in the WAC (2012/13) then SBC (2013-22), then back to the WAC(2022-)

Mavs have been up and down this season and Ware(17 pts, 9reb) led them to an 84-70 win over ULM(SBC) last night

Dec 6, 2024

Dons top Billikens 78-61. Some  Sycamores fled Indiana St for SLU(A10) , but it ain't showing  positive results yet. Malik Thomas scored 22 for San Fran(WCC).

Drake(8-01-0 MVC) beat Valp. Stirtz scored 29 for the Bulldogs.

Dec 11, 2024

Nice 71-68 win for NDSU(Summit) over Butler(Big East) . J White (27pts) was a sharp-shooter for the Bison. 

COFC(CAA) 78 JOES(A10) 75  Good win for Coach Mack

Dec 16, 2024

Navy (Patriot) gave VTech a battle before losing 80-72

SF(WCC)  rides a big second half(52 points) to a 76-66 win over LOYCH(A10)

Todd scored 31 for Ark St(SBC) in a 98-89 OT win over UAB(AAC)

Chicago St  remains winless, and it's going to be a rough season when they get into  the NEC schedule. N. Crawford scored 20 in a loss to Mercer(Southern). Grand Canyon is the next game.

Dec 17, 2024

UTEP(AAC) 67 TARL(WAC) 62. Spirited comeback attempt by Gillispie's kids.

Weston scored 30 for MTSU(CUSA) in a win over  Cal Baptist(WAC)

Dec 20, 2024

G Crawford (17 P, 5 R , 3 A) for UNTD(North Texas -Dallas) in  a 69-68 upset of Rice (AAC). Ok, now I know NTX has as a Dallas campus.

Dec 22, 2024

Wichita St(AAC) fans are scratching their heads. After bad losses to DePaul and Kansas City(AKA- UMKC), X Bell scored 24 points to lead the Shockers to a 84-65 win over KST(Big12) 

Dec 26, 2024

Coach Chris Mack is having a nice early part of the season at CoC(CAA). After losing to Oregon St the Cougars beat LOYCH  and Charlotte. Brzovic  19.2 PPG this season

Chicago St is 0-14  this season. NEC play starts soon and I don't foresee a lot  of improvement.

Dec 31, 2024

End the year looking out west. WCC: Zags gets a tough game from Pepperdine and win 89-82. San Fran survives Santa Clara 97-94 in OT. 

Bent Leuchten (20 pts, 10 reb) for UCI(Big West) in a 71-63 win over Cal Baptist(WAC)

I was checking out the score of SFA(Southland) beating Abilene Christian(WAC) and noticed that UTRGV hoops left the WAC for the Southland. They paid a 2M exit fee. Biggest reason given was the cost of extensive travel and the need to maintain a footprint in TX and Louisiana.

Week 10 O5 it's Tuesday

 SHSU, with or w/o Hunter Watson , gets by La Tech . Bearkats will focus on stopping the Bulldogs' aerial show.  SHSU 20 LaTech 19

Oct 30, 2024

Score was lower than I thought. Not much O . Decker scored the only TD in the game. SHSU 9 LA Tech 3. Bearkats keep winning.

Oct 31, 2024

Rich Rod got a huge game from T Stewart 232 yards , 4 rushing TDs . Jax St 31 Liberty 14

Now to my picks:

AAC: Tulane is hot , 9ers gave Memphis a tough game last  week. Tulane wins a close one  at Charlotte 24-23.

MAC: Akron edged EMU last week and will win at home over BUFF by a score of 21-17.

MWC: Jeanty and the Broncos will be too tough at home. Boise St 28 SDSU 20.

SBC:  Herd rides A J  Turner to a home win over ULM. MU 27 ULM 20

Nov 1, 2024

Tulane woke up in the second half and rolled the 9ers.  TUL 34 CHA 3 Hughes rushed for 117 yards and 2 TDs

Nov 2, 2024

The Jeanty /Madsen show was way too much for the Aztecs.  BSU 56 SDSU 24

Nov 3, 2024

Marshall survived  Hardy rushing for 207 yards and beat ULM 28-23

Akron aborted their 4Q rally fumbling a punt return and lost despite Finley tossing 4TD passes.

4-1 for the weekend.Akron was the only incorrect pick

On games I didn't pick

AAC surprises: Kitna threw 6 TD passes leading UAB to its first conference win. UAB 59 Tulsa 21.

Rice beat Navy and I still think the Owls would be a nice addition to the Pac 12