HEISMAN & EXPANSION

December 18, 2009

For those of you who did not hear my announcement on the Happy Hour, I voted for Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh for the Heisman Trophy. Suh was the most dominant DT I have seen in a long time, and his performance in the Big 12 Title Game was one for the ages. Mark Ingram of Alabama was third on my ballot with Toby Gerhart of Stanford second.

Neither Tim Tebow nor Colt McCoy (my top two picks last year) made it on my ballot. Tebow did absolutely nothing spectacular this season, unless you count not dying from that hit in the Kentucky game. As for McCoy, his two biggest games (the Oklahoma game and the Big 12 Title Game) were his two worst. I didn’t take anything into account that occurred prior to September 3 of this year. The Heisman Trophy is NOT a lifetime achievement award.

Ingram never wowed me all year. Bama won with defense all year. You can argue that Ingram wasn’t even the best player on Alabama. He did carry the offense in the middle of the season. However, Toby Gerhart was the more consistent player.

I know. I know. “But, Ingram ran against the SEC. Gerhart plays in the Pac 10 where they play no defense.” Check the stats. In rushing yards per game and yards per carry, the Pac 10 stacked up very well versus the SEC. In a conference that also had Joe McKnight of USC, Jacquizz Rodgers of Oregon State, Jahvid Best of Cal and LaMichael James of Oregon, Gerhart blew them all away.

Name one other big time RB in the SEC. In fact, name a great offense in the SEC. In my opinion, Ingram won based on the reputation of the SEC. The Pac 10 was the second best conference in America in 2009. The gap between one and two isn’t as big as SEC fans would have you believe.

Now, as for expanding the Big Ten… here are my thoughts on some of the potential candidates.

Notre Dame - Let’s not even waste time talking about this. It’s NOT going to happen.

Pitt – The Big Ten already has the Pittsburgh market thanks to PSU. All you do by bringing in Pitt is elevate their stature, which hurts Penn State.

Syracuse – This one makes even less sense to me. Unless the Big Ten Network would really benefit from adding the Ithaca and Utica markets… NEXT!

West Virginia – Good fan base and very competitive teams. However, this market does nothing for the league either. Plus, it really doesn’t fit academically.

Nebraska – This one is an intriguing idea. The market isn’t that attractive, but the splash from adding them would be the next best thing knowing that the Irish aren’t interested. Would they really leave the Big 12? I doubt it.

Missouri – If the Big 11 decides to go west, I think this is your 12^th team. It gets you deeper into St. Louis, and they are attractive from a competition standpoint.

Rutgers – The Scarlet Knights are actually a great fit if they want to go east. They have history (as a school), enrollment and academics to fit. Plus, the combo of PSU and RU in the league may be enough to get the Big Ten Network on in New York City.

The rest of the nation would laugh at this addition, but the league would laugh all the way to the bank.

Basically, if they go east, it’s Rutgers. If they go west, it’s Missouri. I’ve heard some rumblings of maybe trying to go to 14 teams. In that case, Nebraska may be interested if Mizzou is going too. Then you add Rutgers, Missouri and Nebraska. Leaving the Big 8 plus four, minus two as the new Big 10!

Bowl Games this week:

New Mexico Bowl – Saturday, December 19 – 4:30pm

Wyoming (6-6) vs. Fresno State (8-4)

WHO to watch: Bulldog RB Ryan Matthews led the nation in rushing yards per game with 151.2 in eleven games. In total, he carried for 1,664 yards, or almost 200 yards more than his first two seasons combined. Oh yeah, and he’s only a junior.

WHY to watch: It’s the first bowl game of the year!

Why to SKIP it: Fresno State played in this game last year against a better opponent. Albuquerque isn’t exactly a place for great college football. They won’t be that excited to be there. Would you?

Analysis: I whiffed on this one last year when I took FSU. They are potent on offense. Wyoming is not ranking 112^th in total offense and 94^th in scoring offense. The Cowboys play like their NFL namesake in December.

Prediction: Fresno State 30 Wyoming 15

St. Petersburg Bowl – Saturday, December 19 – 8:00pm

Central Florida (8-4) vs. Rutgers (8-4)

WHO to watch: Scarlet Knights QB Tom Savage is the future of the program. As a freshman, he threw 12 TD passes and 6 INTs. Although, five of those picks came in the last four games. This will be a virtual road game for RU. Let’s see how the kid handles it.

WHY to watch: Rutgers has been putting up billboards in Florida t attract potential recruits. Will that ad campaign take off like the Bud Frogs or blow up like Reebok’s Dan and Dave spots?

Why to SKIP it: The undefeated Saints are playing the Cowboys right now!

Analysis: I like UCF in an upset. They’re games with Texas and Miami are better than any two games RU played this season.

Prediction: Central Florida 21 Rutgers 20

New Orleans Bowl – Sunday, December 20 – 8:30pm

Southern Miss (7-5) vs. Middle Tennessee (9-3)

WHO to watch: MTU QB Dwight Dasher is averaging almost 300 total yards per game in the Blue Raiders spread offense.

WHY to watch: Both teams can score averaging 33 and 31 points per game. If you like defense, MTU can do that too. They led the nation in tackles for loss per game at 8.33.

Why to SKIP it: After a long day of NFL action, ending with this would be rather anti-climactic.

Analysis: The Eagles can within a feather of playing for the Conference USA title. MTU will put up a fight, but USM has been there before. In fact, they won this game last season. They take it again Sunday night.

Prediction: Southern Miss 28 Middle Tennessee 23

Las Vegas Bowl – Tuesday, December 22 – 8pm

#14 BYU (10-2) vs. #18 Oregon State (8-4)

WHO to watch: The Rodgers brothers of OSU are worth the price of admission. Sophomore RB Jacquizz was first team all Pac 10 with 1,377 yards and a school record 20 TDs. His older brother James is a junior WR that caught 87 passes for 1,007 yards and nine more TDs.

WHY to watch: It’s the first match-up of ranked teams this bowl season.

Why to SKIP it: I don’t think there’s ever been two groups less enthusiastic to come to Vegas. BYU is playing in their fifth straight Las Vegas Bowl. Oregon State comes in after falling one game short of the Rose Bowl for the second year in a row.

Analysis: Neither Rodgers brother played in last year’s Sun Bowl win over Pitt. It showed in the 3-0 final score. The Beavers will have too much for the Cougars in a close one. I’ll admit that I could totally see an uninterested Beavers team digging too big of a hole. I think the Pac 10 starts to show its strength.

Prediction: Oregon State 26 BYU 14

Poinsettia Bowl – Wednesday, December 23 – 8:00pm

#23 Utah (9-3) vs. California (8-4)

WHO to watch: Cal sophomore RB Shane Vereen has played pretty well in place of Jahvid Best. Best will not play due to injury. In the three previous games that Vereen as filled in, he’s totaled 444 yards and four TDs.

WHY to watch: For the 2^nd night in a row, the Pac 10 faces the MWC. The Utes have two BCS wins in the last five seasons. Can they topple the Bears for their ninth straight bowl win?

Why to SKIP it: No Jahvid Best.

Analysis: If Cal was 100% (i.e. Best was healthy), I’d take the Bears. Without him, they finished the season with a four TD loss to Washington. The Utes are still looking for respect for their program and conference. I think they earn more for both Wednesday.

Prediction: Utah 28 Cal 21

Hawaii Bowl – Thursday, December 24 – 8:00pm

Nevada (8-4) vs. SMU (7-5)

WHO to watch: Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick threw for 1,85 yards this season and ran for 1,160 while accounting for 35 TDs.

WHY to watch: Two years after taking Hawaii to the Sugar Bowl, June Jones returns to the islands as coach of SMU.

Why to SKIP it: Santa’s coming. Get to bed already!

Analysis: Nevada started 0-3. Their four losses are to Notre Dame, Colorado State, Missouri and Boise State. SMU played a bunch of close games this year, losing half. I’ll take the Wolfpack over a Mustang team that’s happy to make their first bowl game since receiving the death penalty.

Prediction: Nevada 38 SMU 21