MY TEN BEST GAMES

October 20, 2013

The texts, e-mails and facebook messages were inevitable. Where does it rank? Of all the Penn State games you have attended, where does the 4OT classic against Michigan rank all-time? So, here it is. This is my list of the ten most memorable games, I have ever attended at Beaver Stadium.

Through my own research and consulting with my father, I have determined that I have seen 162 Penn State games in my life. All but six have been played at Beaver Stadium. There are a few classics I did not attend, and a few more that just missed the cut.

I WASN’T THERE

1. PSU 17  Ohio State 10 (2005) - The game that put Penn State back among college football’s elite. The sack and forced fumble by Tamba Hali is still the play of the decade to me. 

2. PSU 17  Pitt 10 (1978) - Trailing 10-7 in the 4th quarter and facing a 4th down & a long two inside the Pitt five, QB Chuck Fusina lied and told Joe Paterno it was less than a yard to the marker. Mike Guman scored on the next play. The Lions would win 17-10 assuring them a spot in the Sugar Bowl & a shot at the national title.

3. PSU 34  Alabama 28 (1983) - Penn State led at one point 34-7. However, the Tide rallied to make it 34-28 and drove inside the PSU 5 in the closing seconds. The Lions stuffed a running play on 4th & goal from the 2 as time expired.

4. PSU 24  Wisconsin 21 OT (2012) - As emotional a senior day as there has ever been. From the #42 on the helmets for Mike Mauti to the 2012 going on the ring of honor, it was already a special day before the dramatic OT win over the two-time defending league champs.

JUST MISSED

1. PSU 20  Pitt 17 (1999) - LaVar Arrington blocked a 50-yard FG attempt as time expired to preserve a 20-17 win for #1 Penn State. It is the last game PSU won in the series and last time these two rivals played at Beaver Stadium. 

2. PSU 17  Maryland 15 (1986) - The perfect season hung in the balance as the Terps lined up for a 2-point conversion. PSU led 17-15 with seconds to play. DB Duffy Cobbs broke up the try & PSU survived.

3. PSU 35  Northwestern 21 (2010) - Joe Paterno’s 400th win. PSU rallied from a 21-point deficit to win 35-21. It was a magical night & a dominant 2nd half.

MY TOP 10

1. PSU 27  Nebraska 24 (1982) - I was 8-years-old, and I remember it like it was yesterday. The whole weekend was different. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Lamar. We went to the soccer game Friday night for the pep rally. Lights were brought in because CBS wanted a 3:30 kickoff, and Beaver Stadium didn’t have lights. Then there was the game between two unbeaten teams. Nebraska erased a 21-7 3rd quarter deficit to take a 24-21 lead with 1:18 to play. Todd Blackledge then led the Lions 65 yards for the winning score. There was the 4th & 11 conversion  (by the nose of the football after a horrible spot), the disputed sideline catch by TE Mike McCloskey and the game-winner by Kirk “Stonehands” Bowman. The win helped PSU win its 1st national title. It is still the greatest game in Beaver Stadium history.

2. PSU 43  Michigan 40 4OT (2013) - It was the biggest roller coaster of a game in stadium history. No doubt about that. If a Nittany Lion has nine lives, it spent them all on Saturday night. The only things keeping this one from the top spot are the stakes and follies. The game meant nothing in terms of national title chases or Rose Bowl bids. Plus, unlike the Nebraska game, this game moved up this list thanks to mistakes... fumbles, missed field goals. PSU-Nebraska was two great teams being great. This one turned into more of “who will stop screwing up first.”

3. PSU 29  Ohio State 27 (2001) - Win #324 for Paterno to pass Bear Bryant. A Derek Ross pick-6 gave Ohio State a 27-9 lead in the 3rd quarter & had most fans expecting the record to fall the following weekend on Homecoming. Zack Mills had other plans. He jump started the comeback with a 69-yard TD run, then threw two TD passes to give the Lions a 29-27 lead. The Buckeyes had one more chance to salvage a victory, but DT Jimmy Kennedy blocked a FG try.  It was practically a perfect day... late October football weather, a great comeback over one of the Big Ten’s premiere programs to take down “the Bear.”

4. PSU 34  Notre Dame 30 (1983) - I call it “the Forgotten Classic.” ND RB Allen Pinkett ran all over PSU for over 200 yards & 4 TDs. The two teams traded leads all day. When freshman RB D.J. Dozier fumbled in the red zone with a little over two minutes to play, it appeared the Irish had the game in hand. However, Rogers Alexander crushed Pinkett in the backfield on 3rd & 1, and the ensuing punt went out of bounds at midfield. PSU quickly moved to the ND 10. QB Doug Strang got around ND’s Mike Golic, got a great block from FB Jonathan Williams and dove across the goal line for the game winner with 19 seconds left. Both teams were in down seasons, but this was the best PSU-ND game played in State College.

5. PSU 27  Michigan 17 (1995) - 18 inches of snow fell the week of the game, turning the stands in Beaver Stadium into ski slopes. That is until students, locals and bussed in prisoners from Rockview worked thru the night to dig out the stadium. The only previous visit by the Wolverines was a 21-13 Michigan win in 1993. With PSU clinging to a 3-point lead, senior RB Stephen Pitts broke a long run to give the Lions a 1st and goal. Three plays later, PK Brett Conway came on to try what appeared to be a short FG to make Michigan score a TD to win. Off the snap, holder Joe Nastasi ran over right guard and the block of All-American Jeff Hartings for the TD to ice the game.

6. PSU 22  Purdue 20 (2000) - Drew Brees and the Boilermakers were a two touchdown favorite over the 1-4 Lions. PSU was going thru an emotional week after freshman CB Adam Taliaferro suffered a severe spinal injury just a week earlier at Ohio State. The Lion offense struggled, but they capitalized on two botched punts to score on short drives. The story of the day was the defense. They held Brees in check most of the day and batted down a final Hail Mary to seal the win. I remember the PSU secondary showing off the 43 stickers on their helmets on the newly installed video replay board & saying, “For you Adam” as a raucous Beaver Stadium cheered & held up “We Believe” signs.

7. PSU 21  Notre Dame 20 (1987) - It was cold. I mean REALLY cold. The TV announcers on CBS pointed out the empty seats in the student section in the 2nd half & said, “the logic majors have gone back to the dorms to watch the game on TV and warm up.” Well, I am no logic major. We stayed to the bitter (and bitter is the appropriate term) end. A late ND TD pulled the Irish within one, but the PSU defense stuffed QB Tony Rice on the 2-point try to preserve a 21-20 victory.

8. PSU 31  Ohio State 27  (1997) - Some will say this one should be higher. It was a battle of unbeatens. The Lions rallied from a 27-17 deficit on a 51 yard TD run by Aaron Harris & a score by Curtis Enis (finishing off his 211 yard day). This game would likely be in my top 3 if it had led to bigger things. The state of Michigan derailed any hopes of a national championship or even a Big Ten crown with two blowout defeats of PSU to end the year. 

9. PSU 19  Pitt 10 (1982) - A picture of this one still hangs on my living room wall. It was the 1st Penn State-Pitt game I ever attended, and what a game it was. Dan Marino’s final regular season game at Pitt. The Lions & Panthers each had a loss and were ranked in the top 5. A PSU win meant a Sugar Bowl bid and a date with undefeated Georgia for the national championship. PSU trailed 7-3 at the half, but behind a Todd Blackledge to Kenny Jackson TD pass and 4 FGs from Nick Gancitano, the Lions won 19-10. The students carried Blackledge off the field & tore down the goal posts. 

10. PSU 32  Michigan State 29 (1996) - In the summer of 1996, my roommate Kevin Gorman subletted his half of our apartment to PSU QB Wally Richardson. The senior day game would be Wally’s last at PSU. With a Fiesta Bowl bid on the line for the Lions, Wally got off to a hot start and would finish 21-31 for 281 yards and a TD. With the score tied late & the students chanting his name, one of PSU’s best late game QBs of all-time (seriously, look up how many 4th quarter game winning drives he led) took PSU down the field. Senior kicker Brett Conway (another friend) booted a 30-yard FG for the win. After the two teams shook hands, I met Wally on the field to congratulate him. We walked off the Beaver Stadium field together.

POOR JOHNNY FOOTBALL

September 12, 2013

I was planning on making the theme of this week’s entry all about “Time” magazine’s absurd choice to put Johnny Manziel on the cover next to a headline of, “It’s Time to Pay College Athletes.” Then, I read an identical piece by my Happy Hour co-host Matt Markus. He echoes my sentiments exactly. Thanks for saving me the effort, Matt.

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/737-johnny-football-hardly-best-choice-for-time-s-argument-to-pay-athletes

As Matt points out, the schools spend thousands of dollars on all student athletes. After spending all that money on how many QBs have come and gone at Texas A&M, why shouldn’t the school try to make as much money as they can off of Manziel? They won’t even be breaking even from the amount they have spent on all his predecessors. 

For those of you that ask, “why can’t he take money for signing autographs? It’s his signature.” What is stopping any coach from promising a recruit that certain boosters will pay X amount of dollars for an autographed photo? It is no different than the Ohio State “tattooed five” selling championship gear. The value on those things (like an autograph) can be whatever you want it to be. So, here is $1,000 for a signature or $2,000 for a pair of gold pants. 

Enough of crying for the poor college athlete. If they need money beyond what the scholarship gives them, let them take out a loan.

Games of the Week:

Alabama @ Texas A&M - The biggest aspect of last year’s game that no one talks about is that it was played the week after the Alabama game at LSU. The Tide were coming off an emotional road win that required a do or die drive in the final two minutes. A&M caught them flat in the 1st quarter and ran out to a 20-0 lead and held on at the end. Now? The Aggies have their full attention. Last week, Sam Houston State had 240 yards rushing versus A&M. I think the Tide utilizes the extra week they’ve had to prepare and roll A&M 34-17.

UCLA @ Nebraska - It has been a rough off week in LA. Walk-on WR Nick Pasquale was hit by a car & killed while walking in his hometown. The Bruins closed off practice, & no player has spoken with the media. This was supposed to be a revenge game for the Huskers after they allowed 653 yards last year in a 36-30 loss. I do not believe in Nebraska’s defense at all. The Bruins won’t get 600 yards, but they will score enough points. I will take UCLA 38-28.

Mississippi @ Texas - Chaotic. That is the best way to describe the past week in Austin. After BYU rushed for 550 yards in an easy win over the Horns, Mack Brown fired his defensive coordinator and gave the job to Greg Robinson. The last time he was in charge of a defense, he got Rich Rodriguez canned in Ann Arbor. Today came the news that Texas QB David Ash is out with head & shoulder injuries. Last year Texas won 66-31. I am starting to think Texas is a sinking ship. I predict a Rebel upset 37-30.

BIG WEEKEND FOR THE FCS

September 5, 2013

There were 29 games last weekend that pitted an FBS team against an FCS Team. Here are the results with FCS wins in bold. (Samford also defeated Georgia State. GSU is a team transitioning to FBS, so I did not include it.)

Kent State - 17   Liberty - 10

Wake Forest - 31   Presbyterian - 7

Indiana - 73   Indiana State - 35

Ball State - 51   Illinois State - 28

Southern Utah - 22   South Alabama - 21

Towson - 33   UConn - 18

Middle Tennessee - 45   Western Carolina - 24

Tulane - 34   Jackson State - 7

San Jose State - 24   Sacramento State - 0

Army - 28   Morgan State - 12

Houston - 62   Southern - 13

North Dakota State - 24   Kansas State - 21

Arizona - 35   Northern Arizona - 0

Georgia Tech -70   Elon - 0

Boston College - 24   Villanova - 14

West Virginia - 24   William & Mary - 17

Illinois - 42   Southern Illinois - 34

Air Force - 38   Colgate - 13

Oregon - 66   Nicholls State - 3

Duke - 45    NC-Central - 0

Eastern Washington - 49   Oregon State - 46

Eastern Michigan - 34   Howard - 24

Tennessee - 45   Austin Peay - 0

McNeese State - 53   South Florida - 21

Missouri - 58   Murray State - 14

Arkansas State - 62   Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 11

Baylor - 69   Wofford - 3

Eastern Illinois - 40   San Diego State - 19

Northern Iowa - 28   Iowa State - 20

FCS - 17.86   FBS - 39.41

I understand if certain major programs don’t want to schedule FCS teams. I completely disagree that these kind of match-ups should never be played. 

The upper echelon of FCS teams are much closer to the non-BCS conference teams than those same teams are to the BCS conference programs, and the gap is closing for the former and growing for the latter.

The FCS schools get a much needed payday. The FBS schools get the revenue of a home game which is not to be overlooked. 

I get annoyed that so many people in the sports world complain about games they don’t watch or attend. If it isn’t a game you are interested in seeing, don’t watch it. 

If you are a season ticket holder, I understand those who say, “for how much you charge me for tickets, I want good match-ups.” However, getting a certain number of home games (seven for the biggest programs) funds the athletic department, and any season ticket holder for any team in any sport is going to have some games they are less interested in on the home schedule.

Do I want to see these games every week? No. Does it bother me that they are played? Not at all. As the Patriot League reaches its required amount of athletic aid thru athletic scholarships, they too will begin playing FBS teams, and I cannot wait. Lafayette @ Army is on the schedule in the coming years, and Lehigh sounds close to finalizing a few deals. 

If Iowa State or Iowa wants to play Northern Iowa in a given year, they should be allowed to do so. Playing that game will not keep Oklahoma or Ohio State out of the four team playoff. Losing it will, but if you can’t win that game, that is on you.

Games of the Week:

Florida @ Miami - Florida State has great rivalry games with both of these teams, but the Gatos and Canes do not have the same history with one another. Besides their home-and-home series with FSU, this is the first non-league road game Florida has played since they faced Miami at the Orange Bowl ten years ago. Al Golden’s team returns 18 starters, but I do not think they have the strength up front to go toe to toe with Florida. I think the Gators win 30-17.

South Carolina @ Georgia - I wasn’t overly impressed with Aaron Murray last week. He threw too many balls that forced his receivers to go to the ground to make the catch. He certainly wasn’t as accurate as Tajh Boyd. If Jadeveon Clowney is over his stomach bug, I expect him to play like a man possessed and harass Murray all night. The Bulldogs defense is very young and athletic, but they aren’t very good yet. I see a Gamecock win 26-20.

Notre Dame @ Michigan - Tommy Rees got the Irish off to a nice start last week throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns. The problem is the ND defense allowed 134 rushing yards and 362 total yards to Temple. This one is under the lights, and the crowd will be rabid. With this being the last Irish visit to Ann Arbor for the foreseeable future, I think Michigan rolls in this game. If the Irish can limit their turnovers, they will be in it to the end. I think one or two Rees mistakes will keep that from happening. I say Michigan wins 31-19.

2013 PREDICTIONS

August 29, 2013

Before the season kicks off I want to go on the record with my predictions.

BCS Championship Game - Alabama (SEC Champ) over Oregon (Pac 12 Champ)

Rose Bowl - Ohio State (Big Ten Champ) vs. Stanford (At-Large)

Fiesta Bowl - Texas (Big 12 Champ) vs. Louisville (AAC Champ)

Orange Bowl - Clemson (ACC Champ) vs. Notre Dame

Sugar Bowl - Georgia (At-large) vs. Florida State (At-Large)

Capital One Bowl - South Carolina v. Nebraska 

Outback Bowl - Michigan v. Texas A&M

Cotton Bowl - LSU vs. Oklahoma State

Gator Bowl - Wisconsin v. Ole Miss

Chick-Fil-A Bowl - Virginia Tech v. Florida

Alamo Bowl - USC v. Oklahoma

Sun Bowl - UCLA v. Miami

Holiday Bowl - Arizona State v. TCU

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl - Northwestern v. Baylor

Texas Bowl - Michigan State v. Texas Tech

Russell Athletic Bowl - Cincinnati v. Georgia Tech

Belk Bowl - North Carolina v. Central Florida

Pinstripe Bowl - Rutgers v. Kansas State

Music City Bowl - Tennessee v. Maryland

Games of the Week:

Georgia @ Clemson - It is a primetime battle of top ten teams to start the season. Clemson only returns six starters on each side of the ball, but they do have QB Tajh Boyd. The Tigers closed out last season by rallying to defeat LSU in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. The Bulldogs came up five yards short of playing for the BCS Championship last year. Georgia lost 8 defensive starters since last year, but Aaron Murray still runs the offense. I like Georgia in an offensive show 35-30.

LSU v. TCU - This one will take place at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The Tigers have been built on defense the last few years. This season the offense has the experience and is led by QB Zach Mettenberger. LSU has won 10 straight season openers including wins over Oregon, Arizona State and UNC. Gary Patterson’s Horned Frogs return 9 starters on defense and 7 on offense. TCU will be no pushover, but LSU just has too much talent. I will take LSU 24-19.

Boise State @ Washington - This game will be a big test for Chris Petersen and the Broncos. After winning at least 11 games for seven consecutive seasons, Boise State only has 9 total starters back. On the other side, Washington has 18 starters back including senior QB Keith Price. Boise State beat this same Washington team 28-26 last December in the Las Vegas Bowl. Boise State may still challenge for a BCS Bowl bid, but I think they start 0-1. I like the Huskies 28-21.

THE 2013 ROAD TRIP - PAC 12

August 29, 2013

Here is your last road trip for the 2013 season. You will be seeing a game at every stadium in the Pac 12. Enjoy.

8/31 - Boise State @ Washington - Two streaks continued for Boise State last year. They made it seven straight years with at least 11 wins, and they went to their third straight Las Vegas Bowl.  Their opponent in that last Las Vegas Bowl? Washington. The Huskies bring back 18 starters for Steve Sarkisian including QB Keith Price. Settle in and enjoy one of the best views in college football.

9/7 - Bonus Week - This is one of two off weeks, unless you want to check out one of the following... San Jose St @ Stanford, Hawaii @ Oregon State, Portland St @ Cal, Washington St @ USC, Sacramento St @ Arizona State, Weber St @ Utah or Central Arkansas @ Colorado

9/14 - Ohio State @ California - The Bears only have 11 starters back from a 3-9 team, but Sonny Dykes takes over this year in Berkeley. Last year, the Bears took Ohio State to the final minutes before falling 35-28. 

9/21 - Bonus Week - You can enjoy one more off week or you can go to one of these games... Arizona State @ Stanford, Idaho State @ Washington, Idaho @ Washington State, Utah State @ USC or New Mexico State @ UCLA.

9/28 - USC @ Arizona State - Pressure is building on Lane Kiffin. The Trojans should start 4-0 but will the heat get turned up on Kiffin after this one? USC has won 12 of 13 against ASU, but they lost the last time here 43-22 in 2011. The Sun Devils have talent, but they will be in the midst of a brutal stretch against Wisconsin, Stanford, USC and Notre Dame. 

10/3 (Thr) - UCLA @ Utah - In the last meeting in Salt Lake City, the Utes steamrolled the Bruins 31-6. A year ago in LA, UCLA held on for a tough 21-14 victory. With a national TV audience (kinda) on Fox Sports 1 and a primetime (local time) kickoff, the crowd should be rocking.

10/12 - Oregon State @ Washington State - It is year two under Mike Leach at WSU. He will have 16 returning starters to work with but that will not include his most productive QB, RB or WR. Over the first five games, WSU will have already played at Auburn, at USC and hosted Stanford. Could be another long year in Pullman.

10/19 - Utah @ Arizona - Year one in Tuscon under Rich Rodriguez went a heck of a lot better than it did in Ann Arbor. The Wildcats went 8-5 and won just their 7th bowl game ever. The entire starting defense is back, but they will have to improve on their 35.3 points per game allowed from 2012. 

10/26 - Arizona @ Colorado - The Buffs haven’t had a winning season since 2005 and bottomed out last year at 1-11. At least their fans hope they bottomed out. It is hard to imagine things getting any worse. They only averaged 17.8 points per game last season. They did score 31 points against Arizona a year ago. The problem is they allowed 56.

10/31 (Thr) - USC @ Oregon State - Corvallis has not been kind to USC. The Beavers upset USC in 2006 and knocked them out of the national championship game in 2008. Oregon State is looking for back-to-back wins over USC for the first time since the start of the series in 1914 and 1916. A Halloween night game on ESPN2 with the Trojans in town? Bring ear plugs.

11/7 (Thr) - Oregon at Stanford - This is hands down the game of the year in the Pac 12. It was the OT loss to Stanford last season that kept Oregon out of the national championship game. The Cardinal only return six starters on offense, but those 6 include QB Kevin Hogan and four starters on the offensive line.

11/16 - Stanford @ USC - This will be a tough follow-up game for Stanford after their showdown with the Ducks. The head coaches seem to get along better than Harbaugh and Carroll did but the talent on the field and the magnitude of the match-up remain as big as ever.

11/23 - Arizona State @ UCLA - These two have played action packed, high drama games the last two years with UCLA winning both by three total points. Most experts believe the southern division will be a three team race between these two squads and USC. It ain’t New Year’s Day, but a game in Pasadena is still special.

11/29 (Fri) - Oregon State @ Oregon - We close the road trip with the 117th meeting of the annual Civil War game. The Beavers have lost five straight to the Ducks. This is one of the great in-state rivalries in college football, and its significance in the Pac 12 has really grown in the last  five years.

The Oregon Ducks are still loaded with talent and came up three points shy of playing for the national championship a year ago. I think they win on the Farm on November 7, and they follow that up by beating USC in the Pac 12 Championship Game.

THE 2013 ROAD TRIP - ACC

August 26, 2013

Here is your ACC road trip for the 2013 season. You will be seeing a game at every stadium in the league. Enjoy.

9/2 (Mon) - Florida State @ Pitt - A big football game on Monday night is nothing new at Heinz Field. The difference here is this game involves the Panthers instead of the Steelers. It is Pitt’s ACC debut, and they start with a perennial power in primetime.

9/7 - Florida @ Miami - I always appreciate this non-conference game. Florida State plays both these teams annually, but these two haven’t played since 2008. With sanctions looming over the program, Al Golden is trying to bring the U back to its former glory. The Canes have 18 starters back and are in need of a win over an in-state rival.

9/14 - Georgia Tech @ Duke -”This would be a much better basketball game.” Keep that line in mind. It will come up frequently during this particular road trip. The Yellow Jackets have nine straight in the series by an average of 21 points per game.

9/19 (Thr) - Clemson @ NC State - The Tigers are 4-1 in this series over the last five years. Last  season, NC State ruined Florida State’s shot at playing for a national title. If Clemson, gets by Georgia in week one, they’ll have similar dreams entering this game. 

9/28 - Florida State @ Boston College - The Eagles have fallen on hard times the last few years going 4-8 and 2-10. This year Steve Addazio takes over as coach and has 18 returning starters to work with. He’ll need all the help he can get against the Noles. The 51 points FSU put up last season were the most BC has allowed since 2000. 

10/5 - NC State @ Wake Forest - The home team has taken care of business six consecutive years. Wake Forest will be coming off a game with Clemson, so they may be ripe for a loss.

10/12 - Virginia @ Maryland - Both teams are coming off 4-8 seasons. The road team has won the last four in the series. Enjoy one last ACC game for the Terps before they move to the Big Ten.

10/19 - Florida State @ Clemson - This game will likely decide the Atlantic Division championship. It’s not the Bowden Bowl any more, but it has become the marquee game in the ACC the last few years. 

10/26 - Georgia Tech @ Virginia - It is Homecoming in Charlottesville. The home team has won 15 of the last 18 in the series. After holding on for a 3-point win in 2011, the Cavaliers allowed 56 points to the Jackets last year.

11/2 - Miami, FL @ Florida State - Once the game of the year in college football, this game has lost its luster since the Canes joined the ACC. Not exactly what the league was looking for when they sent the invitation. Ten of the last 12 have been decided by a TD or less. Even if the luster is gone, this game is still a must see in the ACC.

11/9 - Virginia @ North Carolina - This one is the ACC’s longest running rivalry. The Wahoos and the Heels have played every year since 1919. UNC hasn’t won four in a row since 1979-82. Larry Fedora returns 13 starters in his 2nd season and hopes to contend in the Coastal division.

11/16 - Maryland @ Virginia Tech - The hostile Hokie crowd would like nothing more than to send Maryland off with a Blacksburg beat down. That really wouldn’t be anything new. Va Tech has won five straight by an average of 26 points per game.

11/23 - Pitt @ Syracuse - It’s the second year in a row these teams have played in the Carrier Dome. Their move to the ACC meant more for the basketball fans, so this one will likely have the same feel between these classic rivals.

11/30 - Georgia @ Georgia Tech - It is one of three SEC-ACC clashes on Thanksgiving weekend. This is the only won at an ACC stadium. Tech is just 1-11 in the last 12 meetings. Last year the Bulldogs routed their in-state rials 42-10. Tech’s best chance at a win is catching a depressed Georgia team that finds itself out of the BCS & SEC chase.

Is this finally the year it happens? Since the league expanded to 12 teams in 2005, Florida State and Miami have never played for the league title. I think the wait continues. I predict Clemson to win the league over Virginia Tech.

THE 2013 ROAD TRIP - BIG 12

August 24, 2013

Here is your Big 12 road trip for the 2013 season. You will be seeing a game at every stadium in the league, and we are including the annual Texas-Oklahoma game at the Cotton Bowl. Enjoy.

8/31 - Oklahoma State v. Mississippi State (in Houston) - There is more attention on LSU-TCU, but no one really gives TCU much of a chance there. Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops trumpeted the depth of his league compared to the SEC during the offseason. That argument will take a big hit if MSU wins here.

9/7 - West Virginia @ Oklahoma - Last year, this game was wild. The two teams combined for 99 points, 1,440 yards of total offense and four lead changes over the final 7:12  of the game. OU won in Morgantown on a TD with :21 left.

9/14 - Iowa @ Iowa State - The Cyclones have won the CyHawk Trophy the last two years (44-41 and 9-6). Neither team is expected to be that good, but a good in-state rivalry for bragging rights always adds something to a college football road trip.

9/21 - West Virginia v. Maryland (in Baltimore) - It doesn’t compare to the Red River Rivalry, but here’s a bonus neutral site game.

9/28 - Bonus Week - There’a only two games to choose from, but feel free to check out SMU @TCU or Oklahoma State @ West Virginia. 

10/5 - West Virginia @ Baylor - OU-WVU produced more yards of total offense, but this match-up in 2012 finished 70-63. I can’t promise another shootout of those proportions, but it should be a fun one in Waco.

10/12 - Texas v. Oklahoma (in Dallas) - The Sooners have won three straight over Texas by scores of 28-20, 55-17 and 63-21. Texas has gone 22-16 since losing the BCS Championship in January of 2010. A win here will not only get fans off of Mack Brown’s back, it could catapult Texas into national title contention.

10/19 - Oklahoma @ Kansas - This one has the makings of being a laugher. KU has lost eight in a row to OU, all by at least 14 points. In their last meeting here, KU managed only 6 yards of offense in the 2nd half. The crowd should be jacked for this one... for about 10 minutes. 

10/26 - Texas @ TCU - The Longhorns have won 28 of the last 30 meetings, but last year, TCU ruined Thanksgiving in Austin with a 20-13 victory. It is the first visit to Fort Worth by Texas since the Horned Frogs joined the Big 12. It is a game that has been circled on the calendar at TCU since they joined the league.

11/2 - Oklahoma State @ Texas Tech - With both the Texas and Oklahoma games on the road, this is the best choice to see Kliff Kingsbury’s boys in Lubbock. The Cowboys have won four straight in the series and scored 125 points over the last two meetings. If Tech can find some defense... any defense... this game will be a good one.

11/9 - Texas @ West Virginia - It will be a historic day in Morgantown as one of the nation’s premiere programs plays there for the first time ever. In fact, WVU is 2-0 all-time against Texas, with a 48-45 win last year and a 1-point win in 1956. Mountaineer fans are known to get rowdy, and this one should have the crowd as rowdy as ever.

11/16 - Texas Tech v. Baylor (in Arlington) - It’s another neutral site bonus game, as these two teams take over Cowboys Stadium. It is the fifth straight neutral site meeting in this series. The last three meetings have led to high drama and lots of points.

11/23 - Oklahoma @ Kansas State -This series has been dominated by Oklahoma. The Sooners are 62-9-1 vs KSU since 1935, but one of those nine losses came last year when Collin Klein led a 24-19 upset. KSU must replace 9 starters on defense, so back-to-back wins in this series should be difficult.

11/28 (Thr) - Texas Tech @ Texas - Thanksgiving night in Texas did not go well for the Longhorns last year as they fell to TCU. In fact, Texas has lost their last three home finales. As rough as things have been in Austin, they haven’t lost to the Raiders since Crabtree broke their collective hearts in 2008.

12/7 - Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State - We finish with Bedlam in Stillwater. A year ago, OSU blew double digit leads in each half and lost in OT. This game could be for the Big 12 crown and a BCS bid. Don’t let anyone fool you though by calling this a great rivalry. They’ve played 107 times. Oklahoma State has won 17.

This should be a three team race between Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. There is a good possibility we could have a three-way tie the way it played out in 2008. Texas has tons of experience returning from a 9-win team. I do not believe they go 12-0, but I think they will end up as the Big 12 Champ. 

If the league champion finishes with one loss, it will depend on when the other 1-loss league champs lose to determine if they get to play for the crystal football.

THE 2013 ROAD TRIP - BIG 10

August 23, 2013

As the season approaches, you still have time to plan your 2013 college football road trip. For the second year in a row, I will lay out the ultimate road trip for the SEC, Big 10, ACC, Big 12, Pac 12, AAC and the Independents.  

The inspiration comes from one of my favorite books, “Dixieland Delight - A Football Season on the Road in the Southeastern Conference” by Clay Travis. In the book, Travis spends one football season attending one game at every SEC stadium. (I dream of doing that one year in the Big Ten.)

I already gave you the SEC road trip. Time now for the Big 10. Enjoy.

8/31 - Northern Illinois @ Iowa - Both of these teams have competed in the Orange Bowl in the last four years. It’s true. UNI became the 1st MAC team to reach the BCS when they did just a year ago. Iowa has gone 19-19 since defeating Georgia Tech in the 2010 Orange Bowl. Last year, a late Hawkeye rally saved the day in an 18-17 victory. 

9/7 - Cincinnati @ Illinois - Year number one under Tim Beckman did not go very well as the Illini finished 2-10. Cincy is now led by Tommy Tuberville. This is a solid non-conference test for Illinois and the Big Ten. 

9/14 - Notre Dame @ Purdue - There’s no question, I would rather attend the ND-Michigan game on 9/7 but not at the expense of the Ohio State-Michigan game. We still get to see the Irish face a Big Ten team. These old rivals played a classic last year, with the Boilers rallying to tie late, before ND won on a FG in the closing seconds. This is a big time trap game for the Irish.

9/21 - Missouri @ Indiana - The Big Ten gets an SEC team on their home field! Okay, okay. It’s not exactly Florida @ Ohio State, but it will have to do.

9/28 - Wisconsin @ Ohio State - This one is easily the best match-up at the Horseshoe this season. We may as well call it the Leaders division championship game. With Penn State being ineligible again, the Buckeyes are a lock to play for the league title with a win here. The last two meetings have been classics. 

10/5 - Ohio State @ Northwestern - Coming off the night game with Wisconsin, the Buckeyes play another primetime game. This one is in Evanston against a pesky Wildcat team that seems to play everyone tough, but they have struggled to hold leads against the better teams. I think OSU has too much firepower for them, but it should be a great atmosphere.

10/12 - Northwestern @ Wisconsin - Our three week round robin concludes at Camp Randall. Since 1999, the Badgers are just 4-4 against NW. When Wisconsin wins, they win big with the average margin of victory coming by 27 points per game. Get ready to Jump Around before the road trip goes on hiatus.

10/19 - Bonus Week - You can take this particular Saturday off, or enjoy an extra stop for one of these games... Iowa @ OSU, Purdue @ MSU, Wisconsin @ Illinois or Indiana @ Michigan.

10/26 - Bonus Week #2 - Here are the choices for this bonus week before a great home stretch... PSU @ OSU, MSU @ Illinois, NW @ Iowa or Nebraska @ Minnesota.

11/2 - Michigan @ Michigan State - Last year, big brother (UM) got the better of little brother (MSU) for the first time since 2007. Sparty returns 15 starters and will likely be 4-0 in the Big Ten entering this game. If they get by Notre Dame, they could be 8-0 for this one. Michigan is high on talent but not experience.

11/9 - Penn State @ Minnesota -How has the college football world managed to survive the last three years without the battle for the Governor’s Victory Bell? If you can make it to town the night before the game, stop by “the Barn” and say hi. I’ll be there calling the Lehigh basketball game against the Gophers.

11/16 - Michigan State @ Nebraska - A year ago, Nebraska stunned the Spartans scoring the go-ahead TD with a mere :06 left. MSU has a week off after the Michigan game on 11/2. Meanwhile, the Huskers will be in the midst of a four game stretch against NW, UM, MSU and PSU.

11/23 - Nebraska @ Penn State -Two years ago, in the Huskers inaugural Big Ten season, fans of both teams were excited to hear this would be an annual match-up. Those were the good ole days. A few days before that 2011 contest, all hell broke loose in State College. The Huskers will play in front of a Beaver Stadium crowd that is very different from the one they saw two years ago.

11/30 - Ohio State @ Michigan - It may be a preview of the Big Ten Championship game the following week. It may determine if OSU plays for the BCS Championship. It’s Ohio State-Michigan. It’s a must on a Big Ten road trip.

The Buckeyes are a slam dunk to win the Leaders division. Penn State (likely a 7-8 win team) is still not eligible for the post-season. Indiana, Purdue and Illinois just don’t have the horses to keep up over a conference season, and Wisconsin must play OSU in Columbus. 

In the Legends division, NW’s schedule is just too tough. Michigan’s defense needs to be better. I see it coming down to the Nebraska-MSU game on 11/16, and that game is in Lincoln. 

Ohio State will not be perfect, but they will win the Big Ten Championship Game over Nebraska and play in the Rose Bowl.

THE 2013 ROAD TRIP - SEC

August 3, 2013

The season is still four weeks away, but now is the perfect time to plan your 2013 college football road trip. For the second year in a row, I will lay out the ultimate road trip for the SEC, Big 10, ACC, Big 12, Pac 12, AAC and the Independents.  

The inspiration comes from one of my favorite books, “Dixieland Delight - A Football Season on the Road in the Southeastern Conference” by Clay Travis. In the book, Travis spends one football season attending one game at every SEC stadium. (I dream of doing that one year in the Big Ten.)

The goal was to hit the biggest games all year while finding competitive games for the less talented teams. Some sacrifices and tough decisions had to be made obviously, but I am 100% satisfied with the games I have selected. 

The calendar is a big help this season. There are actually 14 Saturdays from Labor Day weekend thru November (one more than usual). We’ll start with the ultimate SEC road trip. The goal would be to go to 14 campus stadiums over 14 weeks, but I realized we have to include the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” in Jacksonville. That changed the visit to Arkansas from the Auburn game on November 2nd to the season opener. Enjoy.

8/29 (Thr) - Ole Miss @ Vanderbilt - Opening night in CFB. Fans of the Rebels are as excited for a season as they have been since Eli Manning graduated. Hugh Freeze pulled in a great recruiting class to go with 19 returning starters. Vandy is coming off a nine win season and figures to be competitive again under third year coach James Franklin.

8/31 - Louisiana @ Arkansas - In order to squeeze in the Florida-Georgia game, I passed on Auburn @ Arkansas for this one. It is the only non-league game on the SEC road trip. There should be some excitement beyond the normal season opener as Bret Bielema takes over in Fayetteville. The Hogs lost 7 starters on offense including QB Tyler Wilson, but they should still improve upon last year’s 4-8 mark.

9/7 - South Carolina @ Georgia -The SEC East may be decided before most NFL teams even kick off the 2013 season. You can’t count out Florida, but the most experienced and talented teams in the East are the Gamecocks and Bulldogs. Georgia must replace 8 starters on D, but they do return QB Aaron Murray and his entire offensive line. Meanwhile, the Ol’ Ball Coach says their goal is to finally win the SEC. To do that, they must win here.

9/14 - Alabama @ Texas A&M - It’s the game of the year. The rematch between A.J. McCarron’s Crimson Tide and Johnny Football’s Aggies. Bama has been replaying the TV broadcast of last year’s loss in the weight room with A&M logos around the room. It is the hottest ticket of the year. Tickets just to get in and sit in the upper deck behind an end zone are going for $376 each. 

9/21 - Tennessee @ Florida - The Vols are sick and tired of being pushed around by Florida and Alabama. Florida won with defense last year, but only four starters return on that side of the ball.  Florida has won 6 straight in the series by an average of 19 points per game. This will be the 1st SEC game for Butch Jones. The Swamp should be rocking for this rivalry game.

9/28 - Florida @ Kentucky - The Wildcats will enter this game coming off a bye. That could mean their fans will have officially turned their attention to basketball season, depending on how the first three games went. Florida has won 26 in a row over Kentucky. Get into the stadium early. Florida has outscored Kentucky 97-3 in the first quarter of the last five meetings.

10/5 - LSU @ Mississippi State - The Bulldogs have two weeks to prepare for the Tigers. Meanwhile, LSU will be coming off a trip to Georgia. Trap game? Maybe. Last time here, LSU won a defensive struggle 19-6. 

10/12 - Texas A&M @ Ole Miss - Any October trip to the Grove is good enough for me, but here we have a great western division match-up. The Rebels return 19 starters from a team that fell to A&M last year after a late Aggie rally 30-27. This should be a great game. It may be the difference between a 10-win season for A&M and a disappointing year.

10/19 - South Carolina @ Tennessee - The Vols have lost three straight and four of the last five to South Carolina. Butch Jones has brought energy to the UT program that has been missing for almost a decade. With a week to prepare for this one,  UT will be a legit threat.

10/26 - South Carolina @ Missouri - Unlike Texas A&M, the Tigers first year in the SEC was a rough one. Mizzou went 2-6 in league play. Missouri gets an easier start to the schedule this year and have a good chance of entering this game with a winning record. It will be tough back-to-back road games for South Carolina making this a potential trap game.

11/2 - Georgia v. Florida - We had to squeeze in “the Cocktail Party.” Hopefully this game isn’t as sloppy as last year when these two combined for only 29 first downs and nine turnovers. Georgia has won back to back meetings for the first time since 1988-89, and they will likely be favored here.

11/9 - LSU @ Alabama - Bama & A&M has the hype, but this has become the must watch game of the college football season the last few years. Just like the trip to College Station, Alabama has two weeks to prepare. Few atmospheres in 2013 will top this one.

11/16 - Florida @ South Carolina - It won’t match LSU-Bama, but this crowd will be rocking too. It is the headline SEC game on the home schedule. Last year, Florida rolled 44-11. The Gators only managed 14 first downs and 183 total yards, but four Gamecock turnovers led to the rout. They are itching for payback.

11/23 - Texas A&M @ LSU -The Aggies have two weeks to prepare for this showdown which could be the difference between a BCS bowl or not for both teams. Last season, A&M turned the ball over five times, missed an extra point and two FGs in a 24-19 loss. Can Johnny Manziel win in Baton Rouge a year after winning in Tuscaloosa?

11/30 - Alabama @ Auburn - The Tide has rolled the last two years by a combined score of 91-14. Auburn has not scored an offensive TD in this series since Cam Newton completed the comeback in 2010. Even if the rivalry has been one-sided, this is a must for any SEC roadtrip.

When it comes to a prediction, I just can’t go against Alabama in the SEC West... especially with two weeks to prepare for both A&M and LSU. In the east, I will take South Carolina. Schedule once again plays a factor. They will face Arkansas and Mississippi State from the west. Georgia gets LSU and Auburn, and Florida faces Arkansas and LSU. Expect the Tide to roll to another SEC crown.