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Despite what you may hear from skeptics, there's no better season in all of sports than college football bowl season and the complete television schedule for the bowl games is right here on Fanblogs, brought to you by BangTheBook.com.
The 2009 college football season will be capped by exciting college football bowl games, including the 2009 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, the 2009 Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona, the 2009 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, the 2009 Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida and the 2009 BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena, CA.
The best college football teams from the major conferences, including the Big10 conference, Big 12 conference, Pac 10 conference, ACC conference, Big East conference, SEC conference, and Mountain West conference will face off in college football bowl games throughout December and into January.
If you're looking for updated matchups, odds, insights, betting lines and online wagering for the college football bowl games, please be sure to try BangTheBook.com.
The initial BCS Standings for games played through October 17, 2009.
Rank
Team
Harris Poll
USA TODAY
Computer Rank
BCS average
1
Florida
1
0.9832
1
0.9925
1
0.990
0.988566756
2
Alabama
2
0.9600
2
0.9478
2
0.950
0.952598870
3
Texas
3
0.9337
3
0.9397
6
0.800
0.891115076
4
Boise State
5
0.8032
5
0.7817
5
0.840
0.808284270
5
Cincinnati
6
0.7625
6
0.7485
4
0.850
0.786976906
6
Iowa
7
0.7175
8
0.7031
3
0.940
0.786864902
7
USC
4
0.8400
4
0.8386
11
0.630
0.769548023
8
TCU
8
0.7070
7
0.7247
8
0.710
0.713921102
9
LSU
9
0.7004
10
0.6746
7
0.750
0.708309049
10
Miami, Fla.
10
0.6653
9
0.6766
13
0.540
0.627291109
11
Oregon
12
0.5533
14
0.5214
9
0.680
0.584896422
12
Georgia Tech
13
0.5225
13
0.5281
10
0.660
0.570197245
13
Penn State
11
0.5684
11
0.6061
17
0.320
0.498174249
14
Virginia Tech
15
0.4484
15
0.4556
12
0.580
0.494671424
15
Oklahoma State
14
0.5039
12
0.5390
21
0.170
0.404280900
16
BYU
16
0.4246
16
0.3912
25
0.080
0.298582615
17
Houston
18
0.2926
18
0.2854
18
0.220
0.266018436
18
Utah
19
0.2200
20
0.2034
14
0.330
0.251129944
19
Ohio State
17
0.3288
17
0.3261
32
0.010
0.221624542
20
Pittsburgh
20
0.1912
19
0.2224
20
0.190
0.201200317
21
Wisconsin
38
0.0063
31
0.0176
14
0.330
0.117980969
22
Arizona
37
0.0067
40
0.0047
14
0.330
0.113804143
23
West Virginia
23
0.0965
22
0.1275
24
0.110
0.111316285
24
South Carolina
26
0.0758
23
0.0963
22
0.140
0.104020220
25
Kansas
21
0.1414
21
0.1505
33
0.000
0.097303994
As my good friend Ben would say, there's a significant gap between Alabama at #2 and Texas at #3. The Horns are not helped at all by their computer standing; however, significant opportunities exist for UT to improve their standing by the weight of the remaining schedule (including a game with BCS #15 Okie State). If the Longhorns can hold serve for the balance of the year, an unbeaten Texas team could punch their ticket for the National Championship Game against the winner of the SEC title game.
Further down, it's difficult to see any substantial lift to Boise State (in other words, the Broncos will *not* be playing for the title). On the other hand, Iowa still has a nice slate that could help boost the Hawkeyes, but there's no question that they need some help above them, including losses by all but one of the teams ranked ahead of them (plus some significant wins by Ohio State to bring up the Big 10's status with the computers).
ALL THAT SAID... it's BCS week one and that means a lot can (and will) change.
The two schools were originally scheduled to play in Seattle in 2011 and at BYU in 2012. Next season, Washington will travel to Provo for a return game from the contest played in Husky Stadium on Sept. 6, 2008. The Cougars have a 3-4 record in previous meetings versus Washington, including a 28-27 victory in 2008.
I think it's a shame that the Huskies won't be playing two more against BYU. This has all the makings of a pretty balanced series. That said... BYU now has two open dates to go out and land a quality BCS opponent.
Pluto was still a planet. An unknown named Lance Armstrong was in the Tour de France and Sega was still producing video games. Boris Yeltsin was the president of Russia and the world was panicked by the Y2K problem. TigerEducated was dancing to "Mambo Number 5" and American Beauty was in theaters. You were using dial-up internet, and Florida State football was still relevant.
Seems like a long time ago, doesn't it?
Now imagine ten years into the future.... I don't know about you but I'm thinking... flying cars?
But not the folks in Austin. No, sir. The Longhorns are thinking... home-and-home series with USC.
The Austin American-Stateman reports that the Longhorns are in negotiations with Southern Cal for a shot to pair the two schools in 2019 and 2020 for the first time since the 2006 BCS title game. USC has confirmed the talks.
"USC is talking to a lot of schools — including Texas — about future football scheduling," USC spokesman Tim Tessalone told the Statesman. "Nothing has been decided or finalized."
Hey... I'm all for this game. I would hope it could be done sooner - you know, before there's teleportation - but as long as they still have football tailgating in the twenty twenties... I'm in.
The longest winning streak in the nation, 16 games from 2007-2009, ended with a 31-24 road loss to Oregon. Their 18 game streak in 2003-2005 is the longest in their history and it was tied with a streak in the 20's for the second longest. Utah's nation leading 9 game road winning streak also ended. Utah still has their nation leading 8 game (6 in consecutive years) bowl winning streak.
Florida now has the longest winning streak at 10 games.
Prior to this week it appeared that a MWC team could make a BCS berth with a loss. After this week that is not so promising. More on that latter this week when I continue my series "MWC: Put up or shut up."
The game was close to the very end, though Oregon had the lead since taking a 14-7 lead in the first. Utah gave up way too many yards on kick returns, including a punt return on their first punt of the game. Utah's offense also look problematic, verifying concerns revealed in the first two games are worse than one could have hoped.
When Utah's last streak ended they had a serious lack of talent and their motivation folded. They stumbled to a win the next week before dropping 3 in a row. I don't expect this to happen again this year, but I also don't think they have the offensive weapons it will take to win the MWC. 9-3 should be in reach and a chance to extend their bowl winning streak, maybe in the Poinsettia Bowl.
Oregon has regained some of the credibility lost in their opening game to Boise State, thought they will have to prove themselves in the PAC 10.
Good game Mayor, now excuse me while I begin trying to forget/justify this weekend. The whole weekend. Every game.
Our friend Samuel Chi at BCS Guru has published this weeks simulated BCS standings. For a more detailed explanation of how the ranking is simulated follow the link provided.
Bold indicates the highest ranked teams from automatic qualifying(AQ) conferences, a strike represent additional teams from the SEC and Big 12. Teams vying for a final AQ awarded to the highest ranked team from a conference without an AQ if at least one makes the final top 12 are in italics. The remaining teams (including those in italics not selected) are fighting for the last remaining BCS openings. Gaps represent large differences in the BCS standigns.
As usual the Big 12 and SEC dominate the standings with 5 teams each, many near the top.
Currently three teams from outside the BCS AQ conferences have crossed the #14 ranking needed to become BCS eligible. Two have made it into the top 10. A total of five are present in the top 25. This all suggests that a robust push by the MWC, WAC and C-USA to earn their AQ is underway.
If BYU wins this week against FSU they should take the lead from Boise State and hold it until they lose a game.
California (or USC) and Ohio State (or Penn State) are the only obstacles blocking the BCS from being forced to take a second team from outside the six AQ conferences. Virginia Tech and North Carolina are on deck to fill any vacancies, despite the media bombardment directed at the ACC so far this year.
The ACC certainly is not looking to be as even across the board as it was last year. If they are, it will be serious trouble for them.
The Big East also advanced further into the standings with Cincinnati entering the watch list and Pittsburgh joining them in the top 25, reflecting a strong early performance against mostly outmatched opponents. This week should be a good barometer of how good the Big East really is. Have we all really forgotten 2006 and 2007 already?
Others Receiving Votes: Oregon St. 113, Michigan St. 83, Pittsburgh 82, Texas Tech 53, Oregon 47, Clemson 40, Florida St. 39, West Virginia 32, Tennessee 30, Iowa 24, UCLA 18, Michigan 18, Baylor 17, Boston Coll. 14, Arizona 12, East Carolina 6, Auburn 4, Colorado St. 4, Air Force 4, South Carolina 3, Arkansas 3, Tulsa 1, Southern Miss 1, Houston 1, South Florida 1
Texas A&M has announced two big home-and-home series with perennial Pac10 powers - USC and Oregon.
"I am happy to report we will be adding two west coast schools to our football schedule, the USC Trojans and the Oregon Ducks," Byrne said. "When you combine USC and Oregon with the non-conference games we have planned with Arkansas, SMU and others in the coming seasons, I think our future football schedules will be challenging and highly entertaining."
The Aggies are finalizing a series with USC for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Meanwhile, A&M will make the trek to Eugene in September of 2018 and the Ducks will head to Kyle Field in September of 2019.
These are great inter-conference games and smart plays for all three teams, as a home date with A&M virtually guarantees a sellout for both USC and Oregon.
The new series marks A&M's first regular season games with a Pac10 opponent since 1992's Pigskin Classic win over Stanford.
Hat Tip: Ryan, who eats these games up like chocolate pudding
A game that started off with a symbolic handshake to emphasis sportsmanship in a rematch of a controversially aggressive game last year. Boise State had knocked out Oregon's starting QB in a personal foul.
With the media pressure on this game, all eyes focused on this game to see if either was a BCS contender. Boise State brought an unexpected defense and won the day 19-8. The higher stakes replay of the Boise State-Utah series from 1997-98 was made complete.
After the game, as the teams were leaving the field one of the Boise State's Byron Hout appeared to taunt Oregon's LeGarrette Blount who then punched Hout in the face. Coaches and players from both sides immediately separated the players from each other and LeGarrette Blount, who had been suspended from some practices this off season due to behavior issues, was restrained from fans and escorted off the field by the police, and not calmly. I hope this was due to the coaches informing him his days as a duck are over. Heck, let him walk home from Boise State.
Or to jail for battery.
It is a shame that a talented player feels entitled to ruin a sport for those around him, foe and teammate. It would be a travesty to the sport if he ever takes the field again.
The legendary BCS Guru has his simulated preseason BCS standings posted for the 2009 season. With the Coaches poll on the books along with three computer polls already posted, it's never too early to dig deeper on the BCS implications.
The results? No big surprises, but a few interesting notes....
BCSGURU.COM Simulated BCS Preseason Standings For the purpose of this preseason simulation, BCSGURU uses AP, Coaches, and three computer polls. Remember that AP poll is *not* a BCS component. This is a simulation.
BCSGuru already sees a lean for USC in the computer polls over Texas and Oklahoma. It will be interesting to keep an eye on this trend, especially when you factor the bump that the USC-Ohio State winner will get after week one.
Three non-AQ teams are lumped together in the simulated BCS, just as they are in the human polls. Boise State (#15), TCU (#16), and Utah (#17) all have an outside chance to make a run into an qualifier position.
Finally, Notre Dame is *not* getting any respect in the computer polls. The Irish average a #47 ranking, which means they will really need to prove it on the field this year. It seems unlikely that UND will crack the BCS top 15 without some really strong performances against what has the appearance of a soft (by UND standards) schedule this year.
Blind sniff test: Incorrectly identified U.N.C.; found Penn State scent "distinctly L.S.U."
Personal memory triggers: "Cow manure, beer, barbecue and tailgating smells. I'm not sure I'd want to spray that on my body."
KELLEY GIROD, Class of 2004, L.S.U.
Blind sniff test: Correctly identified L.S.U. "It's the richest, most decadent scent. It reminds me of a sort of Southern, very L.S.U. elegance."
Personal memory triggers: "An old bookbinding smell, really musty, but somehow warm and comforting. Like, you could imagine sitting there for hours of lectures comfortably. But scents won’t bring me back to a moment and I don't want them to. I mean, who wants to walk around and smell like their grandma's mashed potatoes? That's what memories are for, not fragrances."
Masik is already selling UNC, LSU and Penn State, with Florida, Georgia, Bama, Tennessee and Auburn coming later this year.
And I know what you're thinking? Can I smell like a Cock or a Beaver? Alas... South Carolina and Oregon State aren't represented... yet.
Personally, I'd like to see a West Virginia cologne ("Ode de Couch") or perhaps Stanford ("Pine Tree Perfume"). What about you?
The results? Well... pretty interesting, unless you're a Texas, Penn State, Florida, or Ole Miss fan. But - then again - if you're a Texas, Penn State, Florida, or Ole Miss fan, you probably already know that your non-con sucks this year.
Some highlights:
Florida: D+
Sept. 5: vs. Charleston Southern, F
Sept. 12: vs. Troy, D+
Nov. 21: vs. Florida International, D-
Nov. 28: vs. Florida State, B-
Oklahoma: C+
Sept. 5: vs. BYU (In Arlington, Texas), B
Sept. 12: vs. Idaho State, F
Sept. 19: vs. Tulsa, C
Oct. 3: at Miami, B
Texas: D-
Sept. 5: vs. UL-Monroe, F
Sept. 12: at Wyoming, D
Sept. 26: vs. UTEP, D+
Nov. 7: vs. UCF, D
Ohio State: C
Sept. 5: vs. Navy, C-
Sept. 12: vs. USC, A+
Sept. 19: vs. Toledo (at Cleveland), D
Oct. 31: vs. New Mexico St., D
Alabama: C
Sept. 5: vs. Virginia Tech (at Atlanta), A
Sept. 12: vs. Florida International, D-
Sept. 19: vs. North Texas, D
Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga, F
Virginia Tech: B
Sept. 5: vs. Alabama (at Atlanta), A
Sept. 12: vs. Marshall, D
Sept. 19: vs. Nebraska, B+
Nov. 5: at East Carolina, B-
Florida State: B-
Sept. 12: vs. Jacksonville State, F
Sept. 19: at BYU, B
Sept. 26: vs. South Florida, C+
Nov. 28: at Florida, A
LSU: D
Sept. 5: at Washington, D
Sept. 19: vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, D-
Oct. 31: vs. Tulane, D-
Nov. 14: Louisiana Tech, D
Utah: D+
Sept. 3: vs. Utah State, D-
Sept. 12: at San Jose State, D
Sept. 19: at Oregon, B+
Sept. 26: vs. Louisville, D+
Just a side note: Why the hell is FSU considered a contender this year? Heh....
The 2009 USA Today Coaches Football Poll, released August 7, 2009.
1. Florida (53)
2. Texas (4)
3. Oklahoma (1)
4. Southern California (1)
5. Alabama
6. Ohio State
7. Virginia Tech
8. Penn State
9. LSU
10. Mississippi
11. Oklahoma State
12. California
13. Georgia
14. Oregon
15. Georgia Tech
16. Boise State
17. TCU
18. Utah
19. Florida State
20. North Carolina
21. Iowa
22. Nebraska
23. Notre Dame
24. Brigham Young
25. Oregon State
Others receiving votes (with 2008 records):
Kansas (8-5) 138; Michigan State (9-4) 136; Texas Tech (11-2) 114; Cincinnati (11-3) 90; Pittsburgh (9-4) 64; West Virginia (9-4) 55; Rutgers (8-5) 51; Miami (Fla.) (7-6) 46; Missouri (10-4) 44; Illinois (5-7) 38; Clemson (7-6) 30; South Carolina (7-6) 18; UCLA (4-8) 14; Auburn (5-7) 12; Nevada (7-6) 11; South Florida (8-5) 11; Kentucky (7-6) 9; North Carolina State (6-7) 7; Arkansas (5-7) 6; Wisconsin (7-6) 6; Northwestern (9-4) 5; Southern Mississippi (7-6) 4; Wake Forest (8-5) 4; Arizona (8-5) 3; Boston College (9-5) 3; Central Michigan (8-5) 3; East Carolina (9-5) 3; Colorado (5-7) 2; Maryland (8-5) 2; Navy (8-5) 2; Tennessee (5-7) 2; Houston (8-5) 1; Michigan (3-9) 1; Minnesota (7-6) 1; Troy (8-5) 1.
I know what you're thinking? Where's the ritual preseason vote for Duke? I have no idea. Although South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is voting this year in the coaches poll, he did not cast his annual vote for the Blue Devils. Perhaps the uproar of blaming his assistant for snubbing Tim Tebow hit a little too close to home.
And not to beat a dead horse, but I *hate* preseason polls. They are *not* accurate indicators of success. Case in point? Last year's preseason coaches poll failed to rank 14 of the 25 teams in final season coaches poll. That's right. The 2008 preseason coaches poll failed to rank 56% of the teams in the 2008 final poll.
So... if you like you're football indicators with a 44% accuracy, then - by all means - go nuts over this one.
Steele's methodology differs from the NCAA's own strength of schedule calculation in that it factors changes to the team for 2009. For example, Steele takes into account a variety of factors including number of starters returning per team, whereas the NCAA just looks at each team's record from 2008 and projects it into this coming season. The difference? historically, is that Steele's projections tend to be more accurate at this point in the season.
Without further ado....
PHIL STEELE'S 2009 TOUGHEST SCHEDULE RANKINGS
1. South Carolina
2. Florida St
3. Oklahoma
4. Mississippi St
5. Minnesota
6. Arkansas
7. Georgia
8. Virginia Tech
9. Tennessee
10. Michigan St
...
115. Ball St
116. Florida Atlantic
117. Boise St
118. Army
119. Ohio
120. Kent St
A couple of trends jump off the page right away:
First and foremost, the top ten is stacked with SEC East teams. Three big factors are at play here.
- The SEC returns an great percentage of starters almost across the board. There are a few key holes to fill, but no team is remotely close to starting from scratch.
- The SEC East scheduling in 2009 brings strong divisional matchups this season.
- And last but in no way least, the Florida Gators are hugely rated by Steele this season and six of the top ten teams have games scheduled against UF.
Secondly, if you're Boise State, you not only have to win every game but you need to play some scoreboard pinball in order to make into a BCS game. The Broncos aren't getting any help from their schedule this season.
Third, the WAC & MWC have broken the glass ceiling on the BCS, but don't expect the MAC to join the party any time soon. Seven of the ten weakest schedules are from the MAC. Ouch.
Finally, and this might be the most important item to remember, Phil Steele's rankings have been a good predictor but they don't factor into the BCS in any way. The BCS has its own strength of schedule component within the computer indexes.
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With the media pressure on this game, all eyes focused on this game to see if either was a BCS contender. Boise State brought an unexpected defense and won the day 19-8. The higher stakes replay of the Boise State-Utah series from 1997-98 was made complete.
Can't get enough of the Penn State Nittany Lions? Does your committment to LSU more than skin deep? Your ship has come in.