Biggest College Football Storylines of 2010

1. Cam Newton elgibility controversy
2. The Big Conference Shakeup(Utah and Colorado to Pac 10, Nebraska to Big 10, TCU to Big East)
3. Urban Meyer done
4. Big Teams Failing (Florida, Texas and USC)
5. BCS Tournament Talks Continue
6. Big East Downfall (Champion goes 8-4)

Fiesta Bowl Prediction

7 Oklahoma vs. UConn
QB Comparison:
Oklahoma's Landry Jones 4,289 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, 11 interceptions
UConn's Zach Frazer 1,202 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
RB Comparison
Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray 1,121 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns
UConn's Jordan Todman 1,574 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns

Defensive Comparison: Oklahoma has end Jeremy Beal who attacks opposing quarterbacks and is hard to block. Travis Lewis is a alert stopper in the middle and create and finish turnovers as he did against Nebraska in the Big 12 championship. Quinton Carter can stuff of teams in the secondary. UConn has an extroadinary load of talent at linebacker. All Scott Lutrus and Lawrence Wilson. Both will chase down DeMarco Murray and pressure Landry Jones. They are unnaturally fast for their position.

Overlook: Oklahoma has had a series of BCS letdowns over the years streaming from Boise State, West Virginia and Florida. They don't want to add UConn to that list. They have a Sam Bradford-like QB now in Landry Jones and a good back in Murray who can also catch passes out of the backfield. Ryan Broyles is a good receiver. UConn won just 8 games but could have won more if Zach Frazer had better year (5 TD passes). Jordan Todman led the team having a monster year. Even if the Huskies defense can hold the Sooners to less than 30 the offense likely won't score more than 20.
Oklahoma, 28 UConn, 18

Rose Bowl Prediction

3 TCU vs. 5 Wisconsin
QB Comparison:
Wisconsin's Scott Tolzien 2,300 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
TCU's Andy Dalton 2,638 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
RB Comparison:
Wisconsin's James White 1,029 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns
TCU's Ed Wesley 1,065 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns

Defensive Comparison:
Wisconsin has strong defensive end J.J. Watt who can bring the pressure and can occasionally bat down passes. In the middle the Badgers are also loaded with Mike Taylor and Blake Sorensen. Jay Valai is a beast in the secondary.
TCU has a suffocating defense led by Tank Carder in the middle at linebacker. He's a hard hitter and will help shut down the explosive Badger running game. Tejay Johnson can make interceptions and will constantly annoy Scott Tolzien.

Overlook: TCU makes their second straight BCS bowl game and this one is indeed the grandaddy of them all. Their defense has been talked about as one of the top in the nation but the offense isn't too bad either. Andy Dalton is a great passer and can make plays with his legs. Ed Wesley is underrated. Wisconsin used its powerful ground game too ride to a 11-1 mark and share of the Big Ten title. James White and John Clay will get the most carries but don't count out Montee Ball. Wisconsin will challenge but it will be tough to beat the high-riding Horned Frogs.
TCU over Wisconsin, 31-27

Bowl Picks Jan.1st-Jan. 8th (Excludes BCS Bowl games)

To Note=BCS bowl predictions in seperate post.

TicketCity Bowl
Northwestern (7-5) 28 The Wildcats have a dynamic passing game with Dan Persa(15 touchdowns) and strong wide out Jeremy Ebert.
Texas Tech (7-5) 27 Brian Duncan can stuff up teams in the middle at linebacker but the offense is at it's best when Taylor Potts is effective.

Outback Bowl
Penn State (7-5) 21 Robert Bolden wasn't great but all freshman quarterbacks go through struggles. Evan Royster is the main playmaker on offense.
Florida (7-5) 17 John Brantley struggled in his first year replacing Tim Tebow throwing as many touchdowns as interceptions and will likely struggle in this one. Trey Burton may get playing time as his backup.

Capital One Bowl
Michigan State (11-1) 34 Kirk Cousins is a strong passer (20 touchdowns) but the ground game is the bigger option led by Edwin Baker(1,187 rushing yards0.
Alabama (9-3) 30 When healthy Mark Ingram was effective but the defense was a problem. Marcell Dareus must disrupt the backfield.

Gator Bowl
Mississippi State (8-4) 27 Explosive quarterback Chris Relf will run and pass all over the Michigan defense just as he has done all year.
Michigan (7-5) 24 Remember when Denard Robinson was the overwhelming Heisman pick? He's still good(30 total touchdowns).

GoDaddy.com Bowl
Miami(Ohio) (9-4) 35 Zac Dysert has to cut down on his interceptions(12) but has the talent to lead Miami.
Middle Tennessee State 21 Last year the Blue Raiders won their first bowl game in team history. Two straight is just unrealistic.

Cotton Bowl
LSU (10-2) 31 Jordan Jefferson has improved as a runner and as a passer and Patrick Peterson can shut down top receivers.
Texas A&M (9-3) 28 Ryan Tannehill is on a tear lately and Von Miller is underrated on defense.

Compass Bowl
Pittsburgh (7-5) 21 Tino Sunseri isn't great but luckily he has dominant receiver Jon Baldwin which can beat any corner the Wildcats put on him.
Kentucky (6-6) 17 Do-it-all wide receiver Randall Cobb is explosive and Mike Hartline is great when on his game.

Bowl Picks Dec.30th-Dec.31st

Armed Forces Bowl
Army(6-6) 26 Army is playing in their first bowl in 14 years they do have an advantage playing SMU at home.
SMU (7-6) 27 Kyle Padron starred last year in the Mustangs beat down win over Nevada and will again flourish against a decent Army secondary.
Pinstripe Bowl
Syracuse (7-5) 20 If you like like ground battles you'll like this one- the Orangemen present Delone Carter while Kansas State uses Daniel Thomas.
Kansas State (7-5) 18 Thomas rushed for 1,495 yards and 16 touchdowns but QB Carson Coffman's TD to INT ratio was 12 to 7.
Music City Bowl
UNC (7-5) 21 The loaded defense has struggled with NCAA investigations surrounding but Bruce Carter is still a hard hitter.
Tennessee (6-6) 12 Rookie head coach Derrick Dooley had a good regular season but the Vols offense is still weak other than Tauren Poole(5.2 yards per carry).
Holiday Bowl
Nebraska (10-3) 35 The 'Huskers offense will run all over the Huskies with Taylor Martinez(6.4 yards per carry),Roy Helu(11 touchdowns) and Rex Burkhead.
Washington (6-6) 24 Jake Locker has struggled this year and now has to go up against a loaded Nebraska secondary led by Prince Amukamara.
Mieneke Bowl
Clemson (6-6) 16 Kyle Parker is good when healthy but the rest of the offense is slim. Luckily defensive end will annoy South Florida's B.J. Daniels.
South Florida (7-5) 14 B.J. Daniels has been worse than expected and the other options are just decent.
Sun Bowl
Miami (7-5) 28 Stephen Morris filled in for Jacory Harris at quarterback just fine and will likely start. He is a decent thrower and is mobile.
Notre Dame (7-5) 20 It was a luckily undramatic season thanks to Dayne Crist and Michael Floyd. Unfortunately cornerback Brandon Harris will likely shut down Floyd.
Liberty Bowl
UCF (10-3) 27 Bruce Miller is the best small conference player in the nation at defensive end.
Georgia (6-6) 19 As far as freshman quarterbacks go Aaron Murray was really good (24 TD's) but other than A.J. Green his receiveing core is limited.
Chick-fil-A Bowl
South Carolina (9-4) 31 Reciever Alshon Jeffrey does everthing and Marcus Lattimore is a strong rusher.
Florida State (9-4) 27 New coach Jimbo Fisher has a good player in QB Christian Ponder.

Bowl Picks Dec.26th-Dec.29th

Little Caesars Bowl
Toledo(8-4) 35 Toldeo has a decent offense but can you beat you when they can use the passing game with wideout Eric Page.
Florida International(6-6) 20 Wesley Carroll is a strong passer racking up 2,483 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Independence Bowl
Air Force(8-4) 31 If you like scrambling quarterbacks you'll like this one with Air Force presenting Tim Jefferson.
Georgia Tech(6-6) 24 The option has been weak this season but the Yellow Jackets still have versatile Josh Nesbitt.
Champs Sports Bowl
West Virginia(9-3) 24 Any team that plays the Mountaineers have their hands full trying to shut down electric game breaker Noel Devine(886 yards).
NC State(8-4) 21 Russell Wilson is the team's number one playmaker who passed for 3,288 yards. He has an option in Owen Spencer who had 57 receptions.
Insight Bowl
Missouri(10-2) 34 Blaine Gabbert has turned into Chase Daniel of late and Aldon Smith can constantly get into the backfield.
Iowa(7-5) 24 The defense is loaded with Adrian Clayborn and Tyler Sash but struggles when the ground game isn't great.
Military Bowl
East Carolina(6-6) 21 Dominique Davis will lead the offense with 36 touchdowns.
Maryland(8-4) 13 After learning that he will not return next year this bowl game might not be the biggest thing on Ralph Friedgren's mind.
Texas Bowl
Illinois(6-6) 27 If the Illini get 150 passing yards out of Nathan Scheelhaase and a good game out of back Mikel LeShoure(1,513 yards) they can win.
Baylor(7-5) 21 Robert Griffin has truned into one of the best all-around quarterbacks in the nation but Baylor is 1-3 in their last four.
Alamo Bowl
Oklahoma State(10-2) 38 The Cowboys offense never stops with QB Brandon Weeden, RB Kendall Hunter and WR Justin Blackmon.
Arizona(7-5) 24 Nick Foles is a strong passer but the rest of the offense is just okay. Brooks Reed can put pressure on opposing offenses when healthy.

Burning Questions For College Basketball

The college basketball season is in full throttle and I answer some of the biggest questions so far this season.

Question: With Kyrie Irving out is Duke still number one?
Answer: Yes even though Ohio State is looked just as good. If Duke can hang on until conference play they'll stay at the helm in one of the weakest major conferences.
Q:Who is the best in the Big East?
A: I think Pittsburgh over Villanova in this one. Pitt has a stronger inside presence and I'm still not sure how good Corey Fisher is.
Q: Should Michigan State be worried?
A: Definitely not. Michigan State is prone to struggle early on in the season because of their tough schedule but they always star late in the year.
Q: Who's the best small conference team?
A: I still think Butler is the best mid-major team. They have strong scorer and rebounder Matt Howard and do-it-all guard Ronald Nored. Gonzaga also contends in this category when sophomore Elias Harris healthy.
Q: Is Tennessee for real?
A: They started off great but have lost to two straight unranked teams. I still think they're a good team when they get production from freshman forward Tobias Harris.

Bowl Picks Dec.18-Dec. 24

New Mexico BowlUTEP(6-6) 27 The Miners bring in a strong ground game led by Donald Buckram than can easily take over the Cougars decent defense
BYU(6-6) 31 The Cougars didn't really miss Max Hall as freshman Jake Heaps passed for 2,052 passing yards.
St. Petersburg BowlSo. Miss(8-4) 17 After a dismal early season loss to South Carolina the Golden Eagles are 8-3 led by Kendrick Hardy who has 855 yards this season.
Louisville(6-6) 24 Louisville also has a better than stellar ground game led by Bilal Powell and are loaded when the passing game is efficient.
Humanatarian Bowl
Northern Illinois(10-3) 35 The MAC champs have a back similar to Garrett Wolfe now with Chad Spann(1,293 rushing yards, 20 touchdowns).
Fresno State(8-4) 27 Another team with a talented back Fresno State presents speedy Robbie Rouse who might be even better than Ryan Matthews.
New Orleans Bowl
Ohio(8-4) 20 Ohio deosn't have a stacked offense but they always find ways to win.
Troy(7-5) 12 Corey Robinson is a beast for the team but the team isn't quite balanced enough.
Las Vegas BowlBoise State(11-1) 42 Kellen Moore will come out and try to prove he should have won the Heisman with a big game.
Utah (10-2) 34 Utah tries to keep a long bowl win streak alive but unless Brandon Burton and Seaver Siliga can star on defense it will be tough.
Poinsetta BowlNavy(9-3) 28 Underrated passer and rusher Ricky Dobbs will be the reason Navy wins their 10th game of the season.
San Diego State(8-4) 20 If Dobbs is good Aztecs QB Ryan Lindley is even better(3,554 passing yards, 26 touchdowns)
Hawaii Bowl
Hawaii(10-3) 38 The Rainbow Warriors won 10 games because of their pass game led by Bryant Moniz who had 4,629 passing yards.
Tulsa(9-3) 24 Tulsa has a loaded quarterback in G.J. Kinne who led the team in rushing and passing.

NCAA Football Top 25

1. Oregon
2. TCU
3. Auburn
4. Wisconsin
5. Stanford
6. Michigan State
7. Ohio State
8. Arkansas
9. Nebraska
10. Boise State
11. Oklahoma
12. LSU
13. Missouri
14. Nevada
15. Virginia Tech
16. Oklahoma State
17. Texas A&M
18. Utah
19. South Carolina
20. Alabama
21. Florida State
22. West Virginia
23. Northern Illinois
24. Mississippi State
25. Arizona