NCAAF Conference Championship Review

By Dan Rodgers

ACC - Unfortunately, my VA Tech Hokies were not apart of this game this year but that doesn't mean that a good show wasn't put on. C.J. Spiller went to work on his Heisman case but it wasn't enough to stop Josh Nesbitt and the Yellow Jackets. Spiller had a ridiculous game, rushing for 233 yards and four touchdowns. However, Nesbitt rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown and passed for 136 yards and another touchdown. To be honest, I wasn't expecting it, but hats off for GA Tech even though I still wish it was VA Tech was apart of it. Good luck to the Yellow Jackets in, most likely, the Orange Bowl against Iowa or Penn State.


Big 12 - Well this was just an absolutely ridiculous game. It wasn't exactly the smartest play that I have ever seen a QB make, but Colt McCoy got lucky that after he rolled out and threw the ball away there was still one second left on the clock. Game winning 46-yard field goal, boom...game over and the Longhorns are going to the BCS National Championship. End of story, there is no question about it. On a personal note, even though I love McCoy, his three interceptions probably destroyed his Heisman hopes due to the stellar day that many others had. No worries, he gets his shot at a ring.

Big East - This game is the definition of a heartbreaker for Pitt. They were ahead by as many as 21 and took a touchdown lead with less than two minutes play. However, a botched snap/hold on the extra point proved to be the difference in the game as Cinci put together a great drive to win the game on the extra point. Dion Lewis' 47 carries for 194 yards and 3 touchdowns was not enough. Cincinatti, though undefeated, will most likely be playing Florida in the Sugar Bowl.

Big Ten - Ohio State already clinched their birth into the Rose Bowl against Oregon. Woo woo, congrats.

Pac-10 - Oregon defeated Oregon State two days ago to clinch the title and face Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

SEC - If you know me at all, I have been all over Alabama this entire season. This game tells you why: Bama 32 Florida 13. If you ask me, this is the only stat you need, but I will also give you that the Crimson Tide rushed for well over 200 yards which is obviously most the this season. Bama got some revenge from last year and earned their birth in the BCS National Championship game in Pasadena. Best of luck boys, you will probably face Texas. Note: Mark Ingram was responsible for 189 yards and three touchdowns, and he deserves the Heisman.

Rodgers That

College hoops tip off

Back from the dead, it’s Toddy P. I’ve been away but now I’m back to stay. My favorite time of the year is fast approaching so I’ll shed some light upon this chaotic, exotic, and quite possibly orgasmic game we know as college hoops.

Just so you have a grasp of who the men in suits are placing their bets on, I’ll give you the ESPN/USA Today Poll:

1. Kansas

2. Michigan State

3. Texas

4. North Carolina

5. Kentucky

6. Villanova

7. Purdue

8. Duke

9. West Virginia

10. Butler

11. Tennessee

12. California

13. Washington

14. Connecticut

15. Michigan

16. Oklahoma

17. Ohio State

18. Minnesota

19. Miss. State

20. Georgia Tech

21. Georgetown

22. Dayton

23. Louisville

24. Clemson

25. Syracuse

I have to agree with the unanimous decision that the Jayhawks are the huge favorite to win big this year. With Hansbrough out of the picture, Cole Aldrich is on a fast track to be the best big man in the country. Sherron Collins averaged 18.9 pts/game last season and will not slow down. The addition of freshman Xavier Henry, Thomas Robinson and Elijah Johnson make this team knee deep with natural talent.

Overall, I agree with the preseason top 25 as it is shown, with maybe a few tweaks here and there. It’s hard to argue with the top 5. UNC could honestly put together a team of 73 year old, WWII vets with Alzheimers and Roy Williams would have them in the final four. Michigan State was the runner-up last year and has the preseason Big Ten player of the year in junior Kalin Lucas. I’m not entirely sold on Texas and Kentucky, but I’ll have to wait and see.

The rest of the board seems fairly steady but a few things to notice are the big conferences at hand. The Big East runs the table with 6 teams in the Top 25, the Big Ten has 5, the ACC has 4, and the Big 12 and the SEC both have 3. The rest may have one or two at the most but are not note worthy due to a lack of strength from top to bottom.

Now in this next part I will give my predictions for conference champions. These are based on each team's schedule, strength of other teams in the conference, last year's performance, returning players and new additions

Big East-This is probably the toughest conference to pick a winner. You have great teams like Nova, WVU, and UConn, but also the entire conference is capable of making a run. Now, I am sure I am going to take a lot of heat for this but my team to watch is Louisville. They may be small but everyone on that team can shoot. They also have four returning senior guards and a hell of a coach in Rick Pitino. They are very capable of playing a fast-paced game and can catch all of the over-sized teams in the conference off guard.

Big Ten-This conference is also very good all around. Michigan State will run it. It’s really quite simple. The only team that I feel could make an argument is Michigan and State is on an entirely different level.

ACC-UNC. Last year’s National Champions. Tyler Hansbrough or not the Tar Heels will continue to be there in the end.

Big 12-Kansas. My favorite to win the national championship. Sherron Collins and Cole Aldridge make this team almost unbeatable.

SEC-Now here I will be completely honest with you. I can’t give you a real answer as to who I think will win. Kentucky is the favorite and with new coach John Calipari, why not? LSU has forward Tasmin Mitchell coming back to play another year. Five teams in this conference have all five starters returning, and three others are returning four. I have a feeling this conference will be turned on its head by the end of the year. So I ask you, Down ‘N Dirty Sports fans, who do you think might pull it off in the SEC?

These are the conferences expected to be represented strongly in the tournament. Remember, these are preseason predictions so don’t give me a hard time when at the end of the season I may not have a single one right.

On that note, I am glad to be back and writing. Look forward to new posts from me, including a weekly college basketball blog, and also an NFL weekly preview. Maybe even a few more opinionated pieces here and there.

"Any American boy can be a basketball star if he grows up, up, up..."
-Bill Vaughn