2011 Week 14 Picks

Week 1: 69-9 (88.5%)
Week 2: 53-12 (81.5%)
Week 3: 49-15 (76.6%)
Week 4: 46-14 (76.7%)
Week 5: 40-15 (72.7%)
Week 6: 40-12 (76.9%)
Week 7: 35-15 (70%)
Week 8: 32-20 (61.5%)
Week 9: 44-10 (81.5%)
Week 10: 35-18 (66%)
Week 11: 41-16 (71.9%)
Week 12: 42-18 (72%)
Week 13: 43-11 (79.6%)
Season: 569-185 (75.5%)


Thursday, December 1
West Virginia at USF


Friday, December 2

MAC Championship Game at Detroit
Ohio vs Northern Illinois

Pac-12 Championship Game
UCLA at Oregon


Saturday, December 3

Syracuse at Pitt
Connecticut at Cincinnati
Iowa State at Kansas State
Wyoming at Colorado State
UNLV at TCU
Utah State at New Mexico State
Texas at Baylor
Louisiana Monroe at FAU
MTSU at North Texas
Idaho at Nevada

Troy at Arkansas State
New Mexico at Boise State
BYU at Hawaii
Fresno State at San Diego State
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State

C-USA Championship Game
Southern Miss at Houston

SEC Championship Game at Atlanta
Georgia vs LSU

ACC Championship Game at Charlotte
Virginia Tech vs Clemson

Big Ten Championship Game at Indianapolis
Wisconsin at Michigan State



Saturday, December 10
Army vs Navy at Washington DC

Washington State fires Paul Wulff

Washington State fired head coach Paul Wulff after going 9-40 in four seasons. He posted the best record of his tenure this season at 4-8. Wulff obviously wasn't getting the job done and needed to be replaced.

Link

Ohio State hires Urban Meyer

Ohio State announced Urban Meyer as its new head coach today. Obviously, this is a great hire. Meyer has won two national championships plus another undefeated season at Utah. He is 4-0 in BCS bowl games and 7-1 overall in bowl games. He has never won fewer than eight games in a season as head coach. Interim coach Luke Fickell is rumored to be retained by Urban Meyer, although I wouldn't be surprised if he interviewed for another head coaching vacancy.

Link

Arizona State fires Dennis Erickson

Arizona State fired head coach Dennis Erickson after five seasons. He earned a 31-30 record with bowl appearances in his first year and an upcoming bowl bid this season. Arizona State started off strong this year with a 5-1 record including a 21-point beatdown of USC that looked more and more impressive as the season continued. Unfortunately, the Sun Devils only won one more game the rest of the way and choked away their chance to win the Pac-12 South.

Link

UCLA fires Rick Neuheisel

UCLA fired head coach Rick Neuheisel after four seasons. He earned a 21-28 record with one bowl appearance, a win. UCLA actually won the Pac-12 South despite a 6-6 overall record and will play in the inaugural championship game. Neuheisel will coach the conference championship game but not the bowl game. The Bruins did appear to be mired in mediocrity, and losing to your crosstown rival USC 50-0 is inexcusable. I think the timing of this announcement is strange. I realize that it's a long shot, but what if UCLA upsets Oregon and plays in the Rose Bowl. UCLA should have waited a week before deciding Neuheisel's fate.

Link

Kansas fires Turner Gill

Kansas fired head coach Turner Gill after two seasons. He recorded a 5-17 record with only one conference win. Kansas lost the last ten games of the season. Kansas has been terrible under Gill's leadership, and it was obvious that he was not the right guy for the job. Turner Gill had some success building a program at Buffalo, so maybe returning to the MAC and coaching at Akron would be a good move for him.

Link

UAB fires Neil Callaway

UAB fired head coach Neil Callaway after five losing seasons. He compiled a 18-42 record failing to ever reach six wins in a season. With no postseason appearances and dwindling attendance, this move was inevitable.

Link

2011 Week 13 Top 25

1 - LSU (1)
2 - Alabama (2)
3 - Oklahoma State (3)
4 - Boise State (4)
5 - Stanford (5)
6 - Virginia Tech (6)
7 - Houston (7)
8 - Oklahoma (9)
9 - Oregon (10)
10 - Michigan State (11)
11 - Michigan (12)
12 - South Carolina (13)
13 - USC (14)
14 - Wisconsin (15)
15 - Arkansas (8)
16 - Georgia (18)
17 - Kansas State (17)
18 - Penn State (16)
19 - Clemson (19)
20 - Nebraska (21)
21 - TCU (20)
22 - Baylor (22)
23 - Southern Miss (23)
24 - Arkansas State (25)
25 - Cincinnati (UR)

Rank from previous week in parentheses

Others Receiving Votes: Northern Illinois, Notre Dame, Texas, Tulsa, West Virginia

Added: Cincinnati

Dropped: Notre Dame

2011 Coaching Carousel

New Head Coach:

Akron: Rob Ianello is out after a 2-22 record in two seasons.
Akron hired: Terry Bowden (North Alabama HC)


Arizona: Mike Stoops was fired in the middle of his eighth season.
Arizona hired: Rich Rodriguez


Arizona State: Dennis Erickson is out after a 31-30 record in five seasons.
Arizona State hired: Todd Graham


Arkansas State: Hugh Freeze was hired away by Mississippi after just one season.
Arkansas State hired: Gus Malzahn (Auburn OC)


Colorado State: Steve Fairchild is out after four seasons.
Colorado State hired: Jim McElwain (Alabama OC)


FAU: Howard Schnellenberger will retire at the end of this season.
FAU hired: Carl Pelini (Nebraska DC)


Fresno State: Pat Hill is out after 15 seasons.
Fresno State hired: Tim DeRuyter (Texas A&M DC)


Hawaii: Greg McMackin has retired after four seasons at Hawaii.
Hawaii hired: Norm Chow (Utah OC)


Houston: Kevin Sumlin was hired away by Texas A&M.
Houston hired: Tony Levine (Houston asst HC)


Illinois: Ron Zook is out after disappointingly losing the last six games of the season.
Illinois hired: Tim Beckman


Kansas: Turner Gill is out after a 5-17 record in two seasons.
Kansas hired: Charlie Weis


Memphis: Larry Porter is out after two seasons.
Memphis hired: Justin Fuente (TCU co-OC)


Mississippi: Houston Nutt is out after four seasons.
Mississippi hired: Hugh Freeze


New Mexico: Mike Locksley was fired early in his third season for problems both on and off the field.
New Mexico hired: Bob Davie (ESPN analyst, former Notre Dame head coach)


North Carolina: Everett Withers was named the interim head coach before the season. Withers won seven games, but a coaching search is likely to reopen after the season.
North Caroline hired: Larry Fedora


Ohio State: Luke Fickell was named the interim head coach before the season. Fickell did some good things such as gaining bowl eligibility and beating Wisconsin, but a coaching search is likely to reopen after the season.
Ohio State hired: Urban Meyer


Pitt: Todd Graham was hired away by Arizona State.
Pitt hired: Paul Chryst (Wisconsin OC)


Southern Miss: Larry Fedora was hired away by North Carolina.
Southern Miss hired: Ellis Johnson (South Carolina asst HC)


Texas A&M: Mike Sherman is out after four seasons, a 25-25 overall record, and two bowl losses.
Texas A&M: Kevin Sumlin


Toledo: Tim Beckman was hired away by Illinois.
Toledo hired: Matt Campbell (Toledo OC)


Tulane: Bob Toledo is out after five seasons and zero bowl game appearances.
Tulane hired: Curtis Johnson (New Orleans Saints WR Coach)


UAB: Neil Callaway is out after five seasons and zero bowl game appearances.
UAB hired: Garrick McGee (Arkansas OC)


UCLA: Rick Neuheisel is out after five seasons and zero bowl game appearances.
UCLA: Jim Mora


Washington State: Paul Wulff is out after four seasons and zero bowl game appearances.
Washington State hired: Mike Leach



Open Position:

Penn State: Joe Paterno is out at Penn State after an eternity of coaching there. The job that everybody was waiting for is now the most toxic situation in the country.
Possibilities: Tom Bradley, Greg Schiano, Al Golden, Dan Mullen

Illinois fires Ron Zook

Illinois fired head coach Ron Zook after seven seasons. He compiled a 34-50 record with two bowl appearances. The Illini will also earn a bowl bid this season. This season started with much promise after a 6-0 start. Illinois went on to lose the final six games of the regular season, culminating with a blowout loss to Minnesota who had previously win only twice. Ron Zook did bring the Illini to a Rose Bowl, but was too inconsistent and just didn't win enough games. Upgrading Paul Petrino from offensive coordinator might be an option, or the Illini might go with a clean slate.

Link

Akron fired Rob Ianello

Akron fired head coach Rob Ianello after just two seasons. He compiled just a 2-22 record with just one FBS win. Rob Ianello was an assistant coach at every stop of his coaching career. Just like Larry Porter at Memphis, he was obviously not prepared to be a head coach. I strongly believe Akron should pursue Luke Fickell for its opening, who has only ever coached at Akron and Ohio State.

Link

Memphis fires Larry Porter

Memphis has fired head coach Larry Porter after just two seasons. He compiled just a 3-21 record with only one conference win. Larry Porter was a running backs coach at every stop of his coaching career. I normally don't condone firing a coach after two years, but he was obviously not prepared to be a head coach.

Link

Arizona hires Rich Rodriguez

Arizona hired Rich Rodriguez to a five-year contract. I think this is a great hire. Rodriguez never really fit it in Michigan, but he was very successful at West Virginia. If he can learn from the mistakes made at Michigan, he should have the Wildcats as annual contenders in the Pac-12 South.

Link

2011 Week 13 Picks

Week 1: 69-9 (88.5%)
Week 2: 53-12 (81.5%)
Week 3: 49-15 (76.6%)
Week 4: 46-14 (76.7%)
Week 5: 40-15 (72.7%)
Week 6: 40-12 (76.9%)
Week 7: 35-15 (70%)
Week 8: 32-20 (61.5%)
Week 9: 44-10 (81.5%)
Week 10: 35-18 (66%)
Week 11: 41-16 (71.9%)
Week 12: 42-18 (72%)
Season: 526-174 (75.1%)


Tuesday, November 22
Miami (OH) at Ohio


Thursday, November 24
Texas at Texas A&M


Friday, November 25

Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois
Louisville at USF
Kent State at Temple
Iowa at Nebraska
Houston at Tulsa
Bowling Green at Buffalo
Akron at Western Michigan
Toledo at Ball State
Arkansas at LSU
Colorado at Utah

Boston College at Miami
Pitt at West Virginia
UTEP at UCF
California at Arizona State


Saturday, November 26

Rutgers at Connecticut
Georgia at Georgia Tech
Michigan State at Nebraska
Ohio State at Michigan
Cincinnati at Syracuse
Iowa State at Oklahoma
Rice at SMU
Tennessee at Kentucky
Troy at Western Kentucky
Maryland at NC State

Wyoming at Boise State
Nevada at Utah State
FIU at MTSU
Alabama at Auburn
Purdue at Indiana
Illinois at Minnesota
Duke at North Carolina
Vanderbilt at Wake Forest
Virginia Tech at Virginia
Penn State at Wisconsin

East Carolina at Marshall
Missouri vs Kansas at Kansas City
Oregon State at Oregon
Louisiana Lafayette at Arizona
UAB at FAU
New Mexico State at Louisiana Tech
Memphis at Southern Miss
Air Force at Colorado State
Florida State at Florida
Texas Tech vs Baylor at Arlington

Mississippi at Mississippi State
Washington State at Washington
Clemson at South Carolina
Notre Dame at Stanford
San Jose State at Fresno State
UCLA at USC
San Diego State at UNLV
Tulane at Hawaii

2011 Week 12 Top 25

1 - LSU (1)
2 - Alabama (3)
3 - Oklahoma State (2)
4 - Boise State (7)
5 - Stanford (6)
6 - Virginia Tech (11)
7 - Houston (9)
8 - Arkansas (8)
9 - Oklahoma (4)
10 - Oregon (5)
11 - Michigan State (14)
12 - Michigan (15)
13 - South Carolina (12)
14 - USC (20)
15 - Wisconsin (17)
16 - Penn State (18)
17 - Kansas State (19)
18 - Georgia (12)
19 - Clemson (10)
20 - TCU (22)
21 - Nebraska (16)
22 - Baylor (UR)
23 - Southern Miss (13)
24 - Notre Dame (24)
25 - Arkansas State (25)

Rank from previous week in parentheses

Others Receiving Votes: Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Rutgers, Tulsa, West Virginia

Added: Baylor

Dropped: Cincinnati

New Mexico hires Bob Davie

New Mexico hired Bob Davie to be the new head coach. Bob Davie has spent the past decade away from coaching and has been an announcer instead. Davie has only been a head coach at one program, Notre Dame. He compiled a 35-25 record there including an 0-3 record in bowl games. I would say this hire is questionable at best. New Mexico has been one of the worst FBS programs over the past three seasons, and I don't expect that to change next year.

Link

2011 Week 12 Picks

Week 1: 69-9 (88.5%)
Week 2: 53-12 (81.5%)
Week 3: 49-15 (76.6%)
Week 4: 46-14 (76.7%)
Week 5: 40-15 (72.7%)
Week 6: 40-12 (76.9%)
Week 7: 35-15 (70%)
Week 8: 32-20 (61.5%)
Week 9: 44-10 (81.5%)
Week 10: 35-18 (66%)
Week 11: 41-16 (71.9%)
Season: 484-156 (75.6%)


Tuesday, November 15
Ball State at Northern Illinois


Wednesday, November 16
Ohio at Bowling Green
Western Michigan at Miami (OH)


Thursday, November 17
Southern Miss at UAB
North Carolina at Virginia Tech


Friday, November 18
Oklahoma State at Iowa State
Toledo at Central Michigan


Saturday, November 19

Louisville at Connecticut
Minnesota at Northwestern
Indiana at Michigan State
Nebraska at Michigan
Cincinnati at Rutgers
Wisconsin at Illinois
Akron at Buffalo
Iowa at Purdue
Citadel at South Carolina
Kentucky at Georgia

Georgia Tech at Duke
Samford at Auburn
Furman at Florida
Army at Temple
Eastern Michigan at Kent State
Georgia Southern at Alabama
New Mexico at Wyoming
Maryland at Wake Forest
Arkansas State at MTSU
Mississippi State at Arkansas

Miami at USF
Texas Tech at Missouri
Clemson at NC State
Penn State at Ohio State
Washington at Oregon State
Tulane at Rice
Kansas at Texas A&M
SMU at Houston
Colorado State at TCU
FAU at Troy

Navy at San Jose State
Boston College at Notre Dame
Louisiana Tech at Nevada
Utah State at Idaho
Utah at Washington State
FIU at Louisiana Monroe
UNLV at Air Force
LSU at Mississippi
UCF at East Carolina
Western Kentucky at North Texas

Vanderbilt at Tennessee
Colorado at UCLA
Virginia at Florida State
Boise State at San Diego State
Marshall at Memphis
Oklahoma at Baylor
Kansas State at Texas
USC at Oregon
Tulsa at UTEP
Arizona at Arizona State

California at Stanford
New Mexico State at BYU
Fresno State at Hawaii

2011 Week 11 Top 25

1 - LSU (1)
2 - Oklahoma State (2)
3 - Alabama (5)
4 - Oklahoma (6)
5 - Oregon (7)
6 - Stanford (3)
7 - Boise State (4)
8 - Arkansas (8)
9 - Houston (9)
10 - Clemson (10)
11 - Virginia Tech (11)
12 - South Carolina (13)
13 - Southern Miss (15)
14 - Michigan State (17)
15 - Michigan (18)
16 - Nebraska (20)
17 - Wisconsin (19)
18 - Penn State (12)
19 - Kansas State (14)
20 - USC (21)
21 - Georgia (22)
22 - TCU (24)
23 - Cincinnati (16)
24 - Notre Dame (UR)
25 - Arkansas State (UR)

Rank from previous week in parentheses

Others Receiving Votes: Georgia Tech, Rutgers, Texas, Tulsa, West Virginia

Added: Arkansas State, Notre Dame

Dropped: Georgia Tech, Texas

Joe Paterno out at Penn State

Joe Paterno was fired this week in the midst of the terrible Sandusky scandal. Joe Paterno will go down as one of the greatest coaches in college football history, but his legacy will also be forever tainted by this scandal. There have been five in-season firings so far this year.

2011 Week 11 Picks

Week 1: 69-9 (88.5%)
Week 2: 53-12 (81.5%)
Week 3: 49-15 (76.6%)
Week 4: 46-14 (76.7%)
Week 5: 40-15 (72.7%)
Week 6: 40-12 (76.9%)
Week 7: 35-15 (70%)
Week 8: 32-20 (61.5%)
Week 9: 44-10 (81.5%)
Week 10: 35-18 (66%)
Season: 443-140 (76%)


Tuesday, November 8
Northern Illinois at Bowling Green
Western Michigan at Toledo


Wednesday, November 9
Miami (OH) at Temple


Thursday, November 10
Ohio at Central Michigan
Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech
Houston at Tulane


Friday, November 11
USF at Syracuse


Saturday, November 12

Rice at Northwestern
Pitt at Louisville
Texas at Missouri
Marshall at Tulsa
Nebraska at Penn State
Wake Forest at Clemson
West Virginia at Cincinnati
Michigan State at Iowa
Ohio State at Purdue
Florida at South Carolina

Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
Kentucky at Vanderbilt
NC State at Boston College
Buffalo at Eastern Michigan
North Texas at Troy
Wyoming at Air Force
Kent State at Akron
Baylor at Kansas
Arizona at Colorado
Duke at Virginia

San Jose State at Utah State
Louisiana Lafayette at Arkansas State
Washington at USC
Miami at Florida State
Auburn at Georgia
TCU at Boise State
Wisconsin at Minnesota
Rutgers vs Army at Yankee Stadium
Michigan at Illinois
Texas A&M at Kansas State

MTSU at Louisiana Monroe
Navy at SMU
UAB at Memphis
Tennessee at Arkansas
San Diego State at Colorado State
FAU at FIU
Oregon State at California
UCLA at Utah
Western Kentucky at LSU
Maryland vs Notre Dame at Landover, MD

Louisiana Tech at Mississippi
Alabama at Mississippi State
Oregon at Stanford
Fresno State at New Mexico State
UCF at Southern Miss
East Carolina at UTEP
Idaho at BYU
UNLV at New Mexico
Hawaii at Nevada
Arizona State at Washington State

Houston Nutt out at Mississippi

Houston Nutt will resign at the end of the season from Mississippi. He has a record of 24-23 in four seasons with three games left in the year. Mississippi is 2-7 and ineligible for the postseason. Houston Nutt led Mississippi to consecutive Cotton Bowl wins in his first two seasons, but has only won a single conference game in his past two seasons. I'm not surprised that Mississippi chose to make this move.

Link

2011 Week 10 Top 25

1 - LSU (1)
2 - Oklahoma State (3)
3 - Stanford (5)
4 - Boise State (4)
5 - Alabama (5)
6 - Oklahoma (6)
7 - Oregon (7)
8 - Arkansas (8)
9 - Houston (9)
10 - Clemson (12)
11 - Virginia Tech (13)
12 - Penn State (15)
13 - South Carolina (11)
14 - Kansas State (16)
15 - Southern Miss (17)
16 - Cincinnati (18)
17 - Michigan State (19)
18 - Michigan (14)
19 - Wisconsin (20)
20 - Nebraska (10)
21 - USC (21)
22 - Georgia (22)
23 - Texas (23)
24 - TCU (UR)
25 - Georgia Tech (24)

Rank from previous week in parentheses

Others Receiving Votes: Arizona State, Auburn, Louisiana Lafayette, Notre Dame, Ohio State

Added: TCU

Dropped: West Virginia