Week 5 in the O5

 CUSA: Battle of QBs: Reed (WKU) outduels Vattiato(MTSU) in a close one. WKU 34 MTSU 31

I'll take Henigan at home to lead Memphis(AAC) to a 27-24 win over Boise St(MWC).

MACaction: CMU is coming off a big win over South Bama but will struggle to eke out a 16-13 win over EMU.

SunBelt: Coach Elliot has GA St off to a 4-1 start. M.Carroll will rush for over 100 in a win 30-20 win over Troy.

Sept 29, 2023

 I was correct on WKU who won 31-10. Reed threw for 297 yards and 2 TDs.

Jax St beat SHS and are 2-0 in CUSA action.

Oct 1, 2023

I was correct on Memphis and CMU and wrong big time on GA St who lost 28-7. Henigan, the Memphis QB, led them to a comeback win.

Some interesting stats: Marshall won over ODU despite allowing K. Calloway11CAR 236YDS 3TD.

T. Stewart.,RB - BGSU(MAC), 26CAR 138YDS 1TD in 38-21 upset of GTech(ACC)

In the MWC, UNLV rush for 307 yards in a win over Hawaii and is 4-1 for the season. 

Week 4 reality check O5 teams

 UNLV(MWC) is coming off a big win over Vandy while UTEP(CUSA) has stumbled this season. UNLV 24 UTEP 19.

USF played a decent game in a loss to Bama, and Rice has a win over Houston this season. USF in a nailbiter by a score of 22-20 in this AAC matchup. Look for B Brown, the USF QB, to have a solid game.

Ohio returns to MAC play after stunning Iowa St and visits Bowling Green. BobcatsD helps them survive 13-12 at BG.

South Bama(SBC) is coming off a blowout W over OK St. CMU(MAC) has lost to Notre Dame and Sparty. L Webb rushes for over 100 yards and the Jags win 27 -20 over C. Michigan.

Sept 22, 2023

M. Carroll RB - GAST 29 CAR 150YDS 1TD in a win over Coastal Carolina. I would've had that pick wrong.

Sept 24, 2023

Correct on UNLV, USF, and Ohio, but wrong on USA who lost to CMU. Quite a day for two USF players:

B. Brown QB - USF Passing:435YDS 2TD, Rushing 14CAR 82YDS 1TD

N. Simmons WR - USF 8REC 272YDS 1TD 

How about Wyoming's win over Appy, and the #herd win over VTech(ACC)

It turns out WYO/APP game was the second half of a 2015/2021home /home series. The 2021 game was re-scheduled, probably due to the covid crisis.

Week 3 O5 wacky style

 Lobos(MWC) host Ags(CUSA) in an intrastate battle:  Neither team has been impressive this season. UNM 20 NMST 19.

Utah St wins 21-17 on the road at AFA. Legas will be tossing a lot of passes for Utah St..

Cordeiro will be winging the ball around the Glass Bowl for San Jose St(MWC). SJST 30 Toledo(MAC) 23

Tulane(AAC) showed some mettle in its loss to OL Miss last week and will win 27-24 at USM(SBC). Makhi Willis rushed for 92 yards for Tulane in that loss.

Sept 16, 2023

Michel rushed for 3TDs in AFA's 39-21 win over Utah St. One wrong.

Army won at UTSA(AAC). The injured Frank Harris DNP for the home team.

NMST was in the WAC from 2005-12. NM left the WAC in 1998

Sept 17, 2023

I was wrong on both MWC picks, NM and SJST yesterday. Only correct pick was Tulane over USM. 

The sh^t talk from Little Miam fans is probably nuts on Twitter after the win over Cincy. The size of the OK St loss blows my mind, and Webb of USA ran all over them (151 yards,2TD). Ohio U has a stellar D. OHIO 10 Iowa St 7

Back to the MWC: UNLV beat Vandy, Fresno blanked Ariz St, and Col St took Deion's Buffs to OT before losing. 

NMST was in the WAC from 2005-12. NM left the WAC in 1998.

Sept 18, 2023

AAC took a beating, but NTX fought off La Tech rally for the W.

Week 2 O5 matchups along the Atlantic.

 Miami (Ohio) visits Amherst, MA and wins a close one over UMass 20-19. Rough game for the Redhawks' Gabbert last week, but he'll return to form this week. I hope UMass returns to the MAC soon.

I've enjoyed this Marshall(SunBelt)/ECU(AAC) matchup over the years. Ali has a big game for the Herd and Garcia is not Ahlers yet for ECU. MU 27 ECU 19

FAU(AAC) hosts Ohio(MAC). Larry McCammon has a big game rushing for the Owls in a 24-20 win.

In a SunBelt matchup, ULL visits ODU in Norfolk, VA. Both are coming off tough matchups which they lost. ODU lost to VTech and ULL lost to Houston. Home cooking in a low scoring game. ODU 17 ULL14

Sept 10, 2023

G. Larvadain WR - M-OH 8REC 273YDS 3TD in a 41-28 win over UMass

The Herd took their time getting into gear and scored 21 points in the 4Q for 31-13 win over ECU.

FAU fell 17-10 to visiting OHIO. My only incorrect pick.

K. Wicks carried the ball 17 times for 103 yards for ODU in a 38-31 win over ULL.

Toss up on biggest upset yesterday. Rice (AAC) beat Houston (Big12) or James Madison(SunBelt) roaring back to beat Virginia(ACC).

Sept 12, 2023

App St (Sunbelt) took UNC to OT before falling. No games scheduled in the future for this intrastate match. UNC is up 3-1 in the series. Appy won in 2019.

Wyoming (MWC) plays TX this week. Got me thinking that's where Fred Akers was HC before he took the TX HC job. He was also Purdue HC after he left TX.

Week 1 O5 matchups from the gut

It's early and I'm trying to get a feel for O5 ball so I'm going from my gut.

 Army marches south to visits ULM(SunBelt). Bowden's boys survive 20-19.

Cal visits Denton and loses 24 -20 to NTX(AAC)

Tulane (AAC) gets a rough test from South Bama. TUL 27 USA 23

Sept 1, 2023

UCF 56 Kent St(MAC) 6. The entire off-season folks discussed how Sean Lewis' exit from the Kent ST HC job to become Deion's OC at Colorado was going to sting. It sure does. Rough first game for HC Kenni Burns.

Ugly start for MAC continues. Miami FLA rolls Miami O. Sparty rolls CMU.

Sept 3, 2023

Right on ULM and Tulane, way off on NTX.

He!! of a comeback: ULM 20 Army17

I doubt if Mean Joe Green could've saved NTX yesterday. Cal 58 NTX 21

Tulane took care of Biz: TUL 37 USA 17

Powerful early season upsets: Wyoming(MWC) over Texas Tech. TX St(SunBelt) over Baylor. NIU(MAC) over BC (ACC)

If UTSA(AAC) came close but no cigar against Houston. That may have been too much sh^t talk for the State of Texas.. HOU 17 UTSA(AAC) 14

Sept 5, 2023

Charlotte (AAC) visits my Terps this Saturday. I'm on upset alert. Biff Poggi, the 9ers HC, was born in Baltimore, MD and coached at St Francis Academy High School in Baltimore City.

Sept 10, 2023

When I turned on the game, the Terps were down 14-0. They got in the gear and won 38-20. Glad I was wrong on Charlotte, but I still see think the 9ers will be worth keeping an eye on in AAC play this season.

J. Mack, WR - CLT 4REC 106YDS 1TD 

Warming up for the 2023 O5 season

 Aztecs pay some legal fees to stay in the MWC another year while they wait for the Pac12  to get a deal with Apple or anyone. SDST host Ohio(MAC) in its opener

Funbelt  usually pull some upsets early, but I don't see many serious possibilities except Coastal Carolina beating UCLA at the Rose Bowl. McCall returns at QB for CCU, and Coach Chip Kelly's teams often stumble out of the blocks. Of course, Coach Chadwell is at Liberty U and Tim Beck is running the Chanticleers.

Rick Rod is back as a Head Coach and his JaxSt squad host UTEP in the season CUSA opener. 

Rice (AAC) will likely get spanked in Austin by the Horns, but I like seeing ex-SWC matchups.

 Tulane finished ahead of UCF in the AAC last season and beat USC in the Cotton Bowl. Coach Fritz has a good thing going. Sincere Haynesworth anchors a solid OL. Green Wave hosts South Bama in its opener

CUSA:  I noticed a lot of "love" for WKU in pre-season CUSA polls. I'm still wondering about their D. It was OK until the loss to Auburn then weaker until the end of the 2022 season.

July 26, 2023

 Tyrice Knight, who led UTEP(CUSA) with 95 tackles last year, skipped a portal move to a P5 team. "I'm more of a loyal guy... I couldn't walk out on them." Big hit on twitter and its fits our group posts. BTW, the Miners may be sniffing upset of Northwestern scandalCats on Sept 9.

July 30, 2023

Week Zero: Intrigued by games 2 and 5

UMass vs New Mexico State(CUSA) 

Ohio(MAC) vs San Diego State(MWC)

Hawaii(MWC vs Vanderbilt

San Jose State(MWC) vs USC

FIU vs Louisiana Tech: CUSA game

Aug 1, 2023

Seems like a longshot and that's if the Pac 12 gets in gear soon:   ULNV joining the P12. Rebels play at the new Raiders-owned Allegiant Stadium, and the A's are bringing the MLB to town.

Aug 5, 2023

Well gang, looks like I may be chatting about Cal, Wazzoo, Stanford, and Oregon St next year in non p5 sports. Crazy day yesterday with the death of the Pac 12.

I'm looking at week 1 and thinking UCF better prepare well for Kent St(MAC). Not a good look getting upset in game 1 as a member of the P5.

I was looking at the FIU /La Tech game in week Zero, and if Coach MacIntyre can get to .500 this season. Looked back at FIU coaching tree. Don Strock, the ex-Dolphins back QB, was its first HC.

Aug 16, 2023

reading some amusing tweets: NMST /Umass game on ESPN will get more eyes than San Jose St/USC on P12N on week 0.

Dae Dae Hunter (Liberty) will sit out the 2023 season and transfer for 2024 season. That stings!

Announcers should have fun on Nov 4 when Jax St plays South Carolina. Both teams are Gamecocks.

Aug 27, 2023

I thought FIU would play LA Tech close, but hard way to lose by being outscored 9-0 in the second half LT 17-FIU 13.

Ohio gave SDSY a tough game but fell 20-13

Rich Rod wins first game as Jax St HC. Jax 17 UTEP 14

NMST lost to UMass 41-30- tough loss.

Hawaii hung with Vandy but lost. Vandy 35-Hawaii 28. Next up possible upset against Stanford.

aug 16au

Surprises on the way to the CWS

 Samford beat S.Miss. Rider beat CCU. 

Oklahoma schools having a tough time: Oral Roberts beat OK ST. E. Carolina beat OK.

 Troy beat BC.

 Penn beat Auburn. Penn's bullpen combined for 5.2 innings while allowing just one earned run in a 6-3 win that lasted 11 innings.

It's double elimination.  One of these two teams gets eliminated today. WV(Big 12), who lost to Indiana, faces Ball St (MAC), who lost to Kentucky.

June 3 Game time

Miguel Santos: 3 HR, 9 RBI in DBap's rout and elimination of Oklahoma State . 

 Auburn is done via  a 7-2 loss to USM. OK crushed Army to stay alive.

In more elimination games WV beat Ball St., UNC beat Wright St, ULL beat Maine, Cal-St-Fullerton beat San Jose St, and how about Santa Clara over Zona.

In a non -elimination game MD lost to Wake Forest 21-6. It still irks me losing to a Tobacco Road team. ACC memories don't go away.

June 4 2023

Oral Roberts beat DBAP to move on. USM has to beat Penn. CCU has to beat Duke . 

George Mason, near the Pentagon, finished off my Terps, then turned around and lost to Wake Forest.

June 6, 2023

I wonder if we'll see Larry Bird at the Indiana St/TCU series.

I have friends near Hattiesburg so I'll keep an eye on the farewell tour of longtime USM coach Scott Berry. USM/Tenn. 

Matt Hogan has 17HR, 65RBI for ORU who faces Oregon.

June 8, 2023

Indiana St @ TCU: Sycamores lost home field due to a Special Olympics event. Sears leads ISU with 19HR.

ORU @ Oregon: Ducks will need these guys healthy. Center fielder Colby Shade (wrist) and starting pitchers Jace Stoffal (finger) and Isaac Ayon (right arm)

Tenn @ S.Miss: Lot of focus on Tanner Hall, USM pitcher.

June 10, 2023

Hogan homered for ORU early, and they jumped out to a 8-0 lead, but the Ducks crept back for a 9-8 win. TCU beat Indiana St 4-1.

June 11, 2023

S.Miss is up 4-0 in suspended game1 with the Vols. 

Yep, nice two run single by Quinn kept ORU alive. 

TCU chopped down the Sycamores 6-4 to move onward. ISU out-hit TCU 10-6.

June 12, 2023

Vols rocked Tanner Hall(USM) in GM 2 to even that series.

ORU is the lowest seed to reach the MCWS since Stony Brook in 2012. ORU sure can hit the ball. They 'll face TCU in the battle of Christians.

Well, we're down to just ORU as far non power conference teams. Vols blanked USM 5-0 yesterday to head to Omaha. SEC(3) ,ACC(2), Big12, Pac12, and Summit each with one in the CWS. 

Tide steals Terps head coach Vaughn.

June 15, 2023

ORU, UVA, Wake, LSU are my picks. I'm rooting for ORU but am aware that its pitching is suspect. ACC has been a solid baseball conference for a long time.

June 16, 2023

Got in from work in time to catch Denton, ORU's closer, make folks nervous in the bottom of the ninth, but he held on to a 6-5 win over TCU. Brothers hit a three run homer for ORU  in a four run top of the ninth.

June 18, 2023

ORU faces FLA today and  will need plenty of offense to beat the Gators.

TCU /VA: Loser is eliminated.

June 19, 2023

TCU eliminated UVA. FLA scored five runs on five hits in a 5-4 win over ORU. Three of the five Gators' hit were home runs. 

Hogan hit an inside the park homer for the Golden Eagles.

June 20, 2023

Vols roared back to eliminate Stanford. Wake edged LSU and faces Tenn today in an elimination game.

ORU plays TCU in an elimination game today.

June 21, 2023

Bye, bye ORU. TCU never looked back in a 6-1 win yesterday. LSU eliminated Tenn and faces FLA next. LSU plays Wake. I'll root for TCU now to win it all.

off-season: Memphis(AAC) and Akron(MAC) are searching for new head coaches, and so is Cincy who's moving to the Big 12.

June 30, 2023

A few of the non-P5 guys on the Team USA roster who will play in a pair of five-game series with Chinese Taipei and Japan from June 30-July 12 at various sites across the Carolinas. 

Matt Ager; RHP; Pleasanton, Calif.; UC Santa Barbara

 Trey Yesavage; RHP; Boyertown, Pa.; East Carolina

July 6, 2023

Plenty of P5 guys and few High school kids showing up in mock drafts, but I found one non-P5 kid getting props. 18. Brewers: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon(WAC). His dad Jack played for the Pirates in the MLB. 

MLB draft: July 9-11

July 10, 2023

In rd1 Wilson went to the A's at 6. Nolan Schanuel, 1B, FAU went to the Angels at 11. He batted .444.

 Morehead State(OVC) first baseman Jackson Feltner was picked 235th by the DBacks, and Patrick Copen(Marshall) was selected by the  Dodgers with 220th pick(round7) 

July 11, 2023

Ok, too many players taken in the baseball draft to breakdown by conference. Sunbelt had its fair share. Also, a nod to ORU, the 2023 Cinderella, who had three kids drafted: Outfielder Jonah Cox, was drafted 166th overall by the Athletics. Star closer Cade Denton went just six picks later at 172nd overall to the Rockies. Left-handed pitcher Jacob Widener went 259th overall to the Royals.

July 12, 2023

Orioles watched the non p5

- -

4 118 BAL Levi Wells 21 P Texas State $563,600 - -

5 154 BAL Jake Cunningham 21 OF North Carolina-Charlotte $396,700 - -

6 181 BAL Jacob Cravey 21 P Samford University $312,300 - -

7 211 BAL Teddy Sharkey 21 P Coastal Carolina $244,400 - -

8 241 BAL Braxton Bragg 22 P Dallas Baptist $197,800 - -

9 271 BAL Zach Fruit 23 P Troy University $177,100 - -

10 301 BAL Matthew Etzel 21 OF Southern Mississippi $167,000 - -

11 331 BAL Nestor German 21 P Seattle $125,000 - -