THE REIGNING FAT MAN OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Okay, it's one thing when Kansas got rid of the co-Fat Man of College Football, Mark Mangino. You could argue he may have lost his job based on how he allegedly treated his team, and its players.
But, the reigning Fat-Man of College Football, Ralph Friedgen of Maryland, is getting fired after getting his Terps to 8-4, after a 3-9 record in 2009, and achieving Coach of the Year honors in the ACC. He has done a good job with a team that was a disgrace before he got there.
He has a good freshman QB in O'Brien, and a potential 15 starters back next year, so Friedgen is being let go at a time when his Terps appear to be in a major upswing.
The reigning "Fat-Man" of college football is getting screwed. I have an outside hope his team plays so well today, they will re-hire one of my favorite college football coaches.

HOW YOU LIKE JOE WEBB NOW?

When commentators and fans ignorantly made fun of the Vikes Joe Webb this past week, I was hoping what happened last night would come to pass.
If Webb played a school that had the name University of Alabama instead of University of Alabama at Birmingham, Joe may have won the Heisman last year.
He was in the top 5 of my favorite players last year because he almost single-handedly led his team to a bowl game( and victory) last year. During that Heisman-deserving season, Webb ran for 1400 yards, passed for 2300 yards and scored 21 Tds on the ground, and 12 through the air. That's 33 darn touchdowns. Commentators and fans belittled Webb foolishly last week. Webb( AND ME) HAD THE LAST LAUGH.
See, another learning moment courtesy of a person who may know more about college football than anyone you will meet in your lifetime.

YO, SUCKERS

For those of you who were sucked in by Iowa's "devastating" suspensions, here's my message, and another point you should register as a learning moment: Teams like Iowa, now a top program, have recruits to replace suspended players. Freshman RB Marcus Coker, a top 50 RB coming out of high school, gained over 215 yards tonight.
If this were UTEP, or Tulsa, or SMU, or Troy, or Northern Illinois, or pick your mediocre program, a suspension is devastating news. At programs like Iowa, forget about it. Okay, I will go to sleep now with the comfort of knowing I taught you somethin

ARE YOU WILLING TO LEARN?

During this bowl season, I hope to have enough time to write stuff here. I hope I have the time, because if I do, you will learn a lot about college football and handicapping. Of course, I've learned that there are few guys out there who know sports who will admit there is anything to learn from anyone,but themselves. I know better because I learn something new almost every day I'm involved with this handicapping thing. So, if interested, sit back and learn something.

First of all, for those who didn't sign up for the bowl special: I had the under in G.T.-AF game for two-stars; G.T. in a one-star play; I had N.C.St. and the over in the same game in one-star plays; I had Iowa in a two-star play, and the under in the game as a one-star play. Let me add, like all competitive people, I want to kick butt for the guys who had confidence in me and signed up for my Bowl Special, but, I also want to shove it up the --- of those who didn't sign up with me.

What I'd like to do now is give a one or two sentence synopsis of teams whose seasons just ended with their bowl games. Enjoy and learn:

BYU:Move to independ status should work. Like Notre Dame, will have national following. Nine back on offense!
UTEP: Same old, mid-level status this year, next year, the year after, the year after...
N.Ill.: Like almost all MAC teams, when they play good, they lose their coach and return the MAC pack. Ditto the Huskies
Fresno St.: What's happened to Pat Hill? ATS he now stinks. He loses senior QB and expd. O-line
Louisville:Strong did wonders with an inexperienced defense. The Cardinals are back!
So.Miss: Will always be at top of CUSA. But, don't think they will reach status they once had under previous, disrespected coach, Jeff Bower.
Boise St.: Two missed, chippy field goals, and, instead of playing a top-notch BCS school, they get an over-rated Utah squad in a very low-level bowl. UNFAIR!
Utah: Moves to PAC-10. Marshall moved from MAC to CUSA. They were stars in the MAC, also-rans in the CUSA. Will the same happen to the UTES?
S.D.St: Great weather should bring great recruits; very good offensive and defensive coordinators; very good head coach; big question: will Coach Hoke use Aztec job as stepping stone to "bigger job?"
Navy: Loses QB Ricky Dobbs. Prediction: Army beats Navy next year. Get those bets in now.
Hawaii: I don't care how many players they lose, they always seem to be competitive. Now, if someone can explain to me what happened in that Tulsa game, I'm listening.
Tulsa: This coach, Todd Graham might just be able to keep Tulsa consistently at the top of CUSA(okay, that ain't saying much). Remember, he also led Rice in 2006 to a winning record. That's really unusual.
Air Force: Coach Calhoun has figured out the perfect offense(option), and the perfect defense(blitz-crazy, but, disciplined) for his service academy squad. ALL 4 DBs return next year!
G.T.: Coach Johnson will always keep his teams near top of ACC. His option is just too hard to defend. The big question is whether that offense can make it to top levels of NCAA.
West Virginia: I really like coach Stewart, as a human being. As a coach, I agreed with Mountaineer AD that Stewart cannot lead his program to next level.
North Carolina St.: Coaching is the most important ingredient in college football. O'Brien did a great job at BC., and is now doing the same at N.C.St. Now, his main job: keep QB Wilson from leaving for baseball. If Wilson stays, the Wolfpack offense will be very good.

NAVY VS. SAN DIEGO ST.

QB Ricky Dobbs is a special option QB. He runs the option superbly, he throws the ball well, unusual for an option QB, and he's a great leader. He, and his team, seem to play better on the road, and this is a home game for SDST., and a road game,of sorts for Navy. Keep in mind SanDiego has a big Naval base there. A big Navy contingent is expected. Since the arrival of Paul Johnson, Navy is 19-7 as road dogs. Present coach Niumataolo has carried on that tradition, going 8-3 as a road dog.
TWO STAR PLAY ON THE RICKY DOBBS-LED NAVY MIDSHIPMEN.

SanDiego has a defensive coordinator , Rocky Felker, who coached against option attacks for years when he was at New Mexico. He should have some success against Navy's option. I know Navy will come to play, and I believe they will offer the Aztecs a decent defensive effort. Add to all this the horrible field conditions( SanDiego and their field has been hit with very heavy rains of late) and we recommend a ONE STAR PLAY ON THE UNDER

BOISE ST. VS. UTAH

Boise St. Has the better QB; the better defense; and probably the better running game. My fear in this game is two-fold: will Boise St. have the same incentive without the national title at stake, and second, Utah has been strong in bowl games.
Those fears have kept me from making this a higher recommended game.
BOISE ST. IN A ONE STAR PLAY.

NO RECOMMENDATION ON THE TOTALS.

2010 BOWL PACKAGE WITH REFUNDS IF I DON'T PRODUCE!

I have come out with a system that rewards me if I do well, and gives you a refund if I don't. It's pretty interesting. Please check my web-site at www.college-edge.com for complete details.

If you've taken the time to read this, and some of my posts during the year, I want you to know I don't feel like I'm bragging when I tell you that in your lifetime you may never meet anyone who knows as much about college football as I. As Muhammad Ali once famously said, "it ain't braggin' if it's true." I write this because I believe I will put you in the best position to make the bowl season a profitable one.
I know how much work I put into this. Take advantage of that work!
Tonight at this site: My synopsis of BOISE ST.-UTAH!

LOUISVILLE VS. SOUTHERN MISS.

Louisville has the better defense and a dominating running back in Powell. That's good enough for me: TWO STAR PLAY ON LOUISVILLE

Both teams have good running games; both teams have decent quarterbacks; and both teams are playing in a weather-controlled dome. That's also good enough for me:
ONE STAR PLAY ON THE OVER.

BEARS VS. VIKES( THE FROZEN TUNDRA GAME)

Rich, our NFL guru, likes the Bears tonight.

FRESNO ST. VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS

With due respect to the Huskies of Northern Illinois, how the heck are they favored in the Humanitarian Bowl? The MAC conference is an incredible 2-14 against the spread in bowl games. To me, that means if you are going to go with a MAC team, they need to have something very special going on. The Huskies were special...until their loss to Miami of Ohio in the MAC Championship game. Since that demoralizing loss, Northern Ill. has lost its head coach to Minnesota. Adding to dysfunction is the fact the offensive and defensive coordinators have also left the Huskies. With no idea right now of where the program is heading, how can these kids give any kind of meaningful effort?
On the other side of the ball, Fresno St. is the picture of stability. Their coach, Pat Hill, has just re-signed as the Bulldog head coach; their RB Rouse is back at almost full strength; their QB is a three-year starter; their offensive line is very experienced; and they are playing on Boise St.'s blue turf, a field the Bulldogs are familiar with.
Additionally, Pat Hill is 0-5 as a favorite in bowl games, BUT, 5-0 in bowl games as a favorite!

TWO STAR PLAY ON FRESNO ST. OVER NORTHERN ILLINOIS

UTEP VS.BYU

The under and UTEP are both ONE STAR plays in the opening game of the bowl season.

Call 267-752-3343, or check here for N.I. vs. Fresno St. That game starts at 5:30p.m.

ARMY-NAVY

I like the under in games involving service academies, particularly since each now run the option on offense. You have to assume these teams know how to defend it. The trends from the last five years are on my side. With the present posted over/under totals of 53, the service academies have gone under that total 14 of 17 times since 2005. I won't fight those numbers.
TWO STAR PLAY ON THE UNDER

I like what the Cadets have done this year, and predicted Coach Ellerson would return Army to prominence. He is on his way with his team's bowl invitation.
But, Navy is still the better team, and I LOVE the fact the best player on the field is probably the QB of Navy, Ricky Dobbs. He's a senior, and, I think he goes out in style in this utmost of rivalry matchups.
ONE STAR PLAY ON NAVY

USC AT UCLA: CONTINUED:

My computer went batty while writing the USC-UCLA summary, so read what you can below, and go with these two recommendations in the last game of today's schedule, and the next to last game in what's been a nice season. See you next week with Army-Navy, and then stay tuned for our big Bowl Offer:

ONE STAR PLAY ON UCLA, AND THE OVER IN THE SAME GAME.

IF YOU CAN GET A SECOND HALF LINE ON THE OKLA- NEBRASKA GAME, TAKE THE OVER IN THE SECOND HALF OF THAT GAME. MARTINEZ APPEARS HEALTHY.

USC AT UCLA: A NIGHTCAP TO A NICE SEASON

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeHow in the heck is USC favored in this game? Their defense is, untypically, in a shambles. They had no starters return this year in their defensive backfield, and, they've recently suffered injuries to that already depleted corps. But, not even considering the sad shape of their fdefensive backfield, their interior line has played very little perceptible defense as well. Offensively, USC lost QB Barkley to injury, and, since that injury, have done almost nothing in the air.
UCLA has played almost equally bad defense. Offensively, believe it, or not, I like UCLA's starting QB Breuhart a little. He's had some pretty decent games since being installed as the starter, and, yes, I think his QB play will be better than USC's tonight.eeeeeeeeeeeee
There is the Army-Navy game nexteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

OKLAHOMA VS. NEBRASKA

I don't think Nebraska can beat Okla. w/o Martinez. Even with him, the bottom line he is a freshman, and I will always go against a freshman QB In these spots.
OKLAHOMA IN A ONE STAR PLAY OVER NEBRASKA.

I would take the over, but, I just don't know Martinez's physical status.


PLEASE RETURN AT 10:00P.M. FOR USC-UCLA

UCONN VS. USF

UConn has the best offensive weapon on the field in RB Todman. I believe he will lead his team to a win. Both QBs will produce almost nothing tonight(USF going with a walk-on freshman). So, TWO, ONE STAR RECOMMENDATIONS ON UCONN AND THE UNDER IN THE SAME GAME.
RETURN AT 8:10P.M.

ALERT!

PONDER'S OUT FOR FSU. I'D CANCEL ANY INVESTMENTS IF ANY WERE MADE. IF NOT, QB MANUEL IS NOT THAT BAD. HE JUST DOESN'T HAVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS OF PONDER

FSU VS. V.T.IN ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Two good Qbs in Ponder and Taylor; two good running attacks; two experienced offensive lines.
All that adds up to a pretty high scoring game and a ONE STAR RECOMMENDATION ON THE OVER.

I'm leaning to FSU, but, it takes a lot for me to against one of my favorite coaches of all time, Frank Beamer, who also happens to be one of the best in big games. I'll sit, and enjoy the points getting racked up on the scoreboard!

SEE YOU AT ABOUT 7:50P.M.

AUBURN- SOUTH CAROLINA OVER: THE REASON

Both teams have played very sub-par pass defense this year within the SEC. If South Carolina played better pass defense, I would have recommended the Gamecocks. Bottom line is I was surprised how porous Carolina's pass defense has been this year.
On the other side of the ball, South Carolina has been strong passing the ball, which is convenient for us since Auburn has been poor against the pass. I also like the fact the Gamecocks will offer a nice rushing threat in freshman sensation RB Lattimore.
Since I don't think Auburn will have two consecutive sub-par offensive games, I think this will be a pretty high scoring game. As a result, we gave the over a one-star recommendation.

AUBURN VS. SOUTH CAROLINA

ONE STAR RECOMMENDATION ON THE OVER IN THIS AUBURN-GAMECOCK CONTEST.

REASON COMING

RETURN 1/2 HOUR BEFORE START OF NEXT SCHEDULED GAME.

OREGON AT OREGON ST.: THE REASON

Rivalries are fine when one of the teams can compete with the other team. Oregon St. will not compete with Oregon today. Oregon St cannot: run, pass( new QB has replaced inj. QB), play run defense, play pass defense. And, by the way, THEY LOST TO WSU!!!!!!!!
This line should've been in the 20s. O regon, I think, will win big!


RETURN AT 3:50P.M. FOR AUBURN VS. SOUTH CAROLINA

OREGON AT OREGON ST.

TWO STAR RECOMMENDATION ON OREGON

COME RIGHT FOR MY REASONINGS ON THIS PLAY

OREGON VS. OREGON ST. AT 3:25P.M.

NEVADA AT LATECH

ONE STAR RECOMMENDATION ON THE OVER IN THIS GAME BETWEEN NEV. -L.T.

YOUR 12:00P.M. RECOMMENDATIONS

PITT AT CINCY: Let me keep this simple: how the heck is Cincy favored in this game? Pitt WILL run the ball and pass the ball on a porous Cincy defense. Cincy will have difficulty rushing the ball on a tough Pitt rush defense. I'm guessing if somebody out there thinks Cincy should be favored, it might be because of the QB play of Cincy's Collaros. The trouble is Pitt has played very good pass defense this year. Look, one of the fears I have is Pitt is so disappointed by last week's loss that they come with nothing. I just don't see that happening. If they can win, Pitt is still theoretically alive in the Big East race.
PITT IN A ONE STAR PLAY

RUTGERS AT WEST VIRGINIA: This is one of the worst Rutgers teams in years. West Virginia is still alive in the Big East, and I see no reason why they can't blow out a team that is now bad in every facet of the game. My one fear in this game is coach Schiano,in whom I have a great deal of respect. But, even his good coaching cannot overcome his horrible team.
WEST VIRGINIA IN ONE STAR PLAY
The totals line, in my opinion, is ridiculously low(approx. 44.5), mainly because of the involvement of a team in Rutgers that has an absolutely bad defense. I'll take the over in this situation every time.
ONE STAR PLAY ON THE OVER IN THE W.VA-RUTGERS CONTEST

ONE STAR PLAY ON THE UNDER IN THE SMU-UCF GAME.
PLEASE CALL AT 11:50AM FOR POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL 12:00P.M. PLAYS

ILLINOIS AT FRESNO ST.

Fresno St. lost two defensive starters in the last two weeks, including a CB, and a defensive lineman. That doesn't bode well for a team that has to face a very strong running game in the Illinois team. Illinois should be able to move the ball freely vs. Fresno St.
I believe Fresno St. will come to play tonight, and if they do, they will have to lead with their offense. They do have a decent QB, and a decent running game. Illinois' defense has been good at times this year, but, in the last 3 games, they've given up 67, 38, and 27 points. I think Fresno's Bulldogs will score on the Illini.
ONE STAR PLAY ON THE OVER

I'm leaning slightly to Fresno St. in the game. I just can't see a Ron Zook-coached team as a 6 point favorite on the road in a non-conference game. The trouble is coach Pat Hill of Fresno St. has been surprisingly horrible as a home underdog(1-6 in the last five years). What the heck has happened to Pat Hill teams since that heart-breaking loss to USC some years back?
So, a slight lean toward Fresno St., but, no recommendation.

CALL 11:50A.M., SATURDAY MORNING FOR OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE 12:00 GAMES.

Miami,Oh vs. Northern Illinois

I gave you No.Illinois early in the week as a two-star play.

Miami, Oh has a freshman starting at QB, and an average running game against N.I.'s pretty tough defense. Miami has a pretty decent defense.

Under the total in a ONE STAR PLAY.

RETURN AT 9:45P.M. FOR ILLINOIS-FRESNO ST.

ASU AT ARIZONA: 8:00P.M.

Sometimes I look at a game, and think that the pick in the game is too obvious. Sometimes that obviousness scares me, but, I rarely let that deter me from making the pick. Tonight's game between ASU and Arizona, to me, falls into the obvious category. I will not let that obviousness deter me.
This is a rivalry game in which one team is already bowl eligible( Arizona), and the other needs a win tonight to become bowl eligible(ASU). Just because a team needs a win to become bowl eligible, does not mean I'll automatically go with that team as a recommendation. If the team that needs to win is clearly worse than the bowl eligible team, the must-win scenario means less to me. I don't consider ASU as the clearly worse team.
Consider that ASU played Wiscy(19-20) tough; they lost to Oregon by only 11. Arizona lost to the Ducks by 19;each lost to Oreg.St. by three or less; and ASU lost to USC and Stanford by a cumulative 4 points. ASU has played well, for the most part,this year.
I would also guess that Arizona expended a lot of heart and soul in last week's loss to Oregon. After all, they were actually ahead at halftime. Rivalry game, or not, I feel some kind of let-down may be in order tonight for the Wildcats, particularly since they know going into the game they have a bowl spot clinched. Again, if they felt this way against a WSU-type team, I'd say they'd be okay. But, they are playing a decent team in the Dennis Erickson-led Sun Devils. The spread is currently at -5.5 points, Arizona favored. I would buy the .5 point and make ASU a +6 pick.

TWO STAR PLAY ON THE ASU SUN DEVILS

In the last five years of this game, all five have gone under the present posted totals of 56. I won't fight that trend. No recommendation on the totals, but a lean to the under in this contest.