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NCAA Football Sports News | November 4, 2008
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Mitch's Week 11 College Football Picks Part Two
By miamimitchdotcom
November 04, 2008
We have Wednesday night college football that has meaning this week.
Now, a lot of these weekday games seem to be just tests to see how addicted are we to the game we love, college football, but Wednesday's games look like someone actually cares...
We have Wednesday night college football that has meaning this week.
Now, a lot of these weekday games seem to be just tests to see how addicted are we to the game we love, college football, but Wednesday's games look like someone actually cares. It's like they put these games on Wednesday so we all get a chance to see them.
Being Wednesday, the picks have gone out for my free picking contest and if you aren't part of it you still have plenty of time to sign up. Last week's winner was Dave Darby who showed that it's all about quality over quantity as he didn't have the best record but racked up the most confidence points.
In any event we have some games to talk about and a lot of ground to cover this week so let's get to it.
Toledo +6 1/2 at Akron (Wednesday 11/5/08, 8 EST) 4 out of 10
It's clear that Akron is the better team by record alone, but are they nearly a touchdown better than the Toledo Rockets—I just don't think so. While Toledo is has just a 2-6 overall record, they are a respectable 4-4 against the spread and have been in just about all of their games that they have lost.
Akron has played a softer schedule and suffer from what I like to call "Illinois syndrome;" where they have one good week followed by a bad week, last week they had a good week. Three of Toledo's last losses come against the powerhouse schools of the MAC in Ball State, Northern Illinois, and Central Michigan.
Akron has not been involved in a game where the final margin of victory one way or another was greater than seven points since September 20th.
While Akron may be better statistically, their strength of schedule doesn't quite stack up. The Zips are also horrible against the run ranking last in the MAC and and 112th in the country. Akron also is 97th in the country in yards allowed.
While Toledo's coach Tom Amstutz is playing out the season as a lame duck, his players like him and want to send him out well. Toledo has covered the last five times they played Akron though the bulk of the games were well beyond a relevant time frame.
While I don't love the game and don't think I would be playing it if it weren't on a Wednesday, I'll take a small shot with Toledo.
Mitch's Week 11 College Football Picks Part Two Continued
We have Wednesday night college football that has meaning this week.
While a lot of these weekday games seem to best tests to see just how addicted we are to the game we love, college football, Wednesday’s games look like someone actually cares and put these games on Wednesday so we all get a chance to see them.
Being Wednesday the picks have gone out for my free picking contest and if you aren’t part of it you still have plenty of time to sign up. Last week’s winner was Dave Darby who showed that it’s all about quality over quantity as he didn’t have the best record but racked up the most confidence points.
In any event we have some games to talk about and a lot of ground to cover this week so let’s get to it.
Toledo +6 1/2 at Akron (Wednesday 11/5/08, 8 EST) 4 out of 10
While it’s clear that Akron is the better team by record alone but are they nearly a touchdown better than the Toledo Rockets, I just don’t think so. While Toledo is has just a 2-6 overall record they are a respectable 4-4 against the spread and have been in just about all of their games that they have lost. Akron has played a softer schedule and suffer from what I like to call “Illinois syndrome” where they have one good week followed by a bad week, last week they had a good week. 3 of Toledo’s last losses come against the powerhouse schools of the MAC in Ball State, Northern Illinois, and Central Michigan. Akron has not been involved in a game where the final margin of victory one way or another was greater than 7 points since September 20th.
While Akron may be better statistically, their strength of schedule doesn’t quite stack up. The Zips are also horrible against the run ranking last in the MAC and and 112th in the country. Akron also is 97th in the country in yards allowed. While Toledo’s coach Tom Amstutz is playing out the season as a lame duck, his players like him and want to send him out well. Toledo has covered the last 5 times they played Akron though the bulk of the games were well beyond a relevant time frame. While I don’t love the game and don’t think I would be playing it if it weren’t on a Wednesday I’ll take a small shot with Toledo.
Northern Illinois +9 1/2 at Ball State (Wednesday 11/5/08, 8 EST) 4 out of 10
This line looks to be going higher and maybe by the time this is published it’s double digits but I like the Huskies all the same with the 9 1/2. Two of the better teams in the MAC match up in a game which is really along the lines of what people expected when College Football went to showing games on weeknights; it was a chance to showcase premier games in the lower conferences therefore allowing people to watch a game that they normally wouldn’t see or would be up against some stiff competition if it were played on a Saturday. Ball State is undefeated and nationally ranked, Northern Illinois is 5-3 overall and 6-2 against the spread. Ball State comes in with a statistical edge but I feel they have played inferior competition. Northern Illinois has had a much tougher road yet still are the better ranked defense.
Northern Illinois is 8-3 against the spread in their last 11 against Ball State and 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 trips to play the Cardinals. Both of these teams have strong individual trends as well but I still feel the Huskies have the edge as it once again comes down to their schedule as they have covered 8 of their last 10 and all of their last 5 on the road. Ball State is 10-4 in their last 14 conference games and 4-1 following their last 5 bye weeks. I like NIU to at least cover in what should be a very good game from teams we just don’t get chances to see a lot of.
Duke -3 1/2 Vs. NC State (Saturday 11/8/08, 3:30 EST) 6 out of 10
We haven’t heard a lot of David Cutcliffe for coach of the year but he certainly is deserving of mention when they give the award away this year. While some feel that Cutcliffe may be gone from Duke after this season for greener pastures, my guess is that it won’t be for Tennessee which many see as a logical fit. While many talk about the challenges Charlie Weiss faces at Notre Dame, those pale in comparison to what Cutcliffe faces from recruiting to being competitive with the talent he is able to acquire; be that as it may the Dukies are knocking on the door of a bowl bid. On the opposite side is Tom O’Brien who was hired away from Boston College by NC State to build a winner, as of yet O’Brien has yet to rise to the occasion and has proven that the Wolfpack job is quite the challenge. While NC State has been somewhat competitive in most of their games it hasn’t equaled wins as the Wolfpack only has 1 win against a 1-A opponent.
This game really comes down to a simple game of match ups and I think Duke has the advantage on both sides of the ball. NC States defense has been a sieve really for years now and they have done little to show they can stop anyone. On offense the Wolfpack are a little better but by no means good enough to have any kind of edge over Duke’s defense which is the strength of their team. I think Cutcliffe out coaches O’Brien and the Blue Devils outplay NC State and get the win and the cover.
Florida State -5 1/2 Vs,. Clemson (Saturday 11/8/08, 3:30 EST) 7 out of 10
Last week the Noles managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as they fumbled with less than a minute left trailing by 3 on the Georgia Tech 2 yard line, it was an ugly and humbling defeat. Bobby Bowden’s team will be more than ready this week to not even allow a scenario like that to even come into the picture.
While this game in the recent past has been a battle of Bowden Vs. Bowden, Tommy’s early departure from Clemson earlier this season means there will only be one Bowden on the sidelines this Saturday. Dn’t think for one second that nothing would make Bobby happier than avenging the mid season dismissal of his son. Clemson on the other hand is trying to right the ship mid-season as many have argued that the talent is already on the roster, just adjustments need to be made to utilize the strengths of the talent. I just don’t see how Clemson is going to effectively and consistently move the ball against the staunch Seminole defense.
The home team has covred 9 of the last 10 times these two have played. Clemson comes in at 1-6 against the spread this year while FSU is 3-2-1against the spread. Clemson is a horrific 1-8 against the spread in their last 9 overall while the Noles have covered 4 of their last 5 at Doak Campbell Stadium which historically has been a difficult place to play. WHile the spread looks to be about right it certainly doesn’t look to be too much for Florida State as they have a decided talent advantage across the board.
Kentucky +11 Vs. Georgia (Saturday 11/8/08, 3:30 EST) 5 out of 10
One of my ongoing themes this season has been Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks and how he just doesn’t seem to get the respect of many of the others. While he and his opposing Head Coach this weekend Mark Richt both have the same number of National Titles, Richt is generally held in much higher regard. While both are great coaches both have struggled at times this year and both of these teams got absolutely pasted by the Gators. I think this game is just eerily similar to the Bulldogs visit to Columbia earlier this season when they battled the Gamecocks and thoroughly dominated yet in the end they got a 14-7 victory, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this game have a similar score. Aside from the losses they had this year to graduation, the injury bug has been biting Kentucky.
The home team has covered 4 of the last 5 times these 2 have played. The Wildcats are 4-4 against the spread this year while the Dawgs are 3-4-1 against the number. Both of these teams haven’t been good covering games played in their conference with Georgia being 1-4 against the spread in their last 5 and UK being 2-5 against the spread in their last 7 against the SEC. I think this is a low scoring game and while I think Georgia probably wins, that’s a lot of points to cover in an SEC game with defenses if this caliber.
Michigan State -9 Vs. Purdue (Saturday 11/8/08, 12 EST) 7 out of 10
Congrats to Purdue Coach Joe Tiller for getting the win over Michigan in his last career game against the Wolverines. While Purdue has wanted to send out the retiring Tiller on a winning note and to a bowl game, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen this week and a loss this week in East Lansing will eliminate Purdue from bowl eligibility. Purdue has had trouble stopping the run this year and we haven’t heard the big numbers coming from Javon Ringer as of late and I think this is the week we hear his name early and often as he carves up the Purdue defense. If Purdue chooses to stuff the run. the Spartans are more than capable of lighting them up with a slew of athletic receivers.
The home team has covered 8 of the last 10 between these 2 teams and Michigan State has coverd the spread in 4 of the last last 5 contests. Spartan coach Mark Dantonio teaches and preaches a hard hitting ball hawking style which should cause a lot of trouble for Purdue QB Cutis Painter who has thrown 10 intercetions against only 6 touchdowns so far this season. The Spartan could make a pretty decent New Year’s Day Bowl with a strong finish and they should be focused and get the job done on both sides of the ball against the Boilernakers.
That’s all for today but I’ll be back tomorrow talking about both of the Thursday games and a few more throughout the weekend. If you want more free picks not available on the blog just sign up for my free newsletter; it’s free and quick and easy to sign up.
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Only four Black college football coaches in NCAA, lowest in 15 years
By Quibian Salazar-Moreno
November 7, 2008
A recent study by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida has shown that African-American head coaches in college football are the lowest it's been since 1993. With the recent firings of Ty Willingham at Washington and Ron Prince at Kansas State, out of the 119 NCAA football schools, there are only four Black coaches left: Miami's Randy Shannon, Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom, Buffalo's Turner Gill and Houston's Kevin Sumlin.
"While the percentages [of minority coaches] are slightly better, the general picture is still one of white men running college sport," the report's co-author, Richard Lapchick told the Associated Press. "Overall, the numbers simply do not reflect the diversity of our student-athletes. Moreover, they do not reflect the diversity of our nation where we have elected an African-American as President for the first time."
The study also looked at university leadership, which includes presidents and athletic directors, and found that 91 percent are held by white folks. Lapchick believes that NCAA should adopt a rule similar to the NFL's Rooney Rule where the league sanctions teams that do not interview minority candidates for coaching jobs. Lapchick hopes that Obama's election will make an impact on the hiring of minority candidates.
"His presidency will get people's attention, whether or not he gets involved," he said. "People will wonder: How can we have an African-American president and the lowest number of coaches in 15 years?"
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