FanNation - The Republic of Sport

  Okay, I'm back after being "out of town," as I like to say it. I have decided to christen my week back with a double issue. So here we go. By the way, I tend to give shout outs to my friends and family, so before you ask...

Navy

Last week versus Pitt

    I was really hoping that Navy would have knocked off Pitt so that my theory that the Big East is not a BCS Conference would coincide with my five year reunion. Unfortunately that didn't happen as Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada was not available for the week's game due to injury. Lesean McCoy was available for Pitt as he ran, ran, and unfortunately ran some more to knock off Navy 42-21.

    I might have underestimated Dave Wannstedt and the Pitt Panthers as they look to take the initiative in the Big East Battle.  More on that in another blog, but at least the beer was cold as Fancy Cat, Salvatore, and Navy, Army, Air Forceeveryone else seemed to have a good time back in gold ole' downtown Annapolis.  One of these days I will make it.

 

This Week versus SMU

Beating up on SMU is great, even if it involves not throwing a pass. If you do not have to pass, then don't. The game was basically rained out, as third-string quarterback Ricky Dobbs ran for over 200 yards, yet didn't throw a single pass in the victory. The Navy defense and especially the secondary was leaps and bounds better than they were against Pitt. I actually thought that they would have trouble with June Jones' wide open passing attack. The weather helped a great deal, but still held SMU to a touchdown.

 

Air Force

Yeah, they won 23-10 over a New Mexico team that they should have blown out. Last week they handled business by blowing out San Diego State. Air Force is quietly 6-2, but nevertheless is only the fourth best team in mountain west. The home stretch features a trip to Army, Colorado state and BYU at home, then finish up the year at TCU. I'll give them wins over the Black Knights and Rams, dropping the last two to finish 8-4 and a trip to the Bell Helicopter Bowl.

 I've never seen a writer destroy someone's signature moment the way this guy from the gazette does. Score a touchdown on a 96 yard fumble return, and then he goes and does a piece on you and your cheerleader girlfriend's romance.

http://www.gazette.com/sports/kirchoff_42331___article.html/ferguson_meredith.html

 

Army

Last Week versus Buffalo

    Three wins in a row for Army? Not quite, but the Knights played tough against Turner Gil's Bulls team in a close loss. The Knights were up 14 points in the fourth quarter before Buffalo came back to force overtime. The Bulls won it later on a field goal as Army missed their 51 yarder thanks in part to a penalty that backed them up.

 

This week versus Louisiana Tech

The Knights managed to get their third win of the year, as they still have some hope of getting bowl eligible...

    Hopes yes, but more like dreams as the Knights can probably get to four wins if they manage to beat either Rice or Rutgers sandwiched between Air Force (loss) and Navy (loss). They had a nice little run there, but then again, most teams would have gone 4-0 against Eastern Michigan, Tulane, Buffalo and Louisiana Tech. However, the Knights can prove me wrong with a big win over Air Force this weekend.

The Big East

 

I told everyone in my BCS buster blog that this conference would make everything haywire. South Florida lost to Louisville and Pittsburgh lost big to the State College of New Jersey.

http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/268676

   This means that there will likely be no team from the Big East ranked in the top 25. South Florida might stay in ranked high in the 20s. The other problem is now South Florida is on the outside looking in. West Virginia has the inside track to win the division. The Big East could actually have its champion go to a BCS bowl with four losses.

 

How will it end?

    Rutgers, the State College of New Jersey will upset someone else. Mike Teel, was well, Mike Teel and they blew out Pittsburgh. It will happen again; meanwhile Nieda's West Virginia regroups and wins the conference championship with four losses.

 

The ACC

    Just when I thought that Georgia Tech would establish itself, they decide to lose to Virginia, and mess everything up. Florida State is starting to emerge as the player in the Atlantic division. The coastal division is a big mess. Overall, the ACC has a great deal of pretty good teams. Georgia Tech, Florida State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, Boston College, Wake Forest and Maryland are all between say #20 and #40. This basically means that on any given day the ninth best team in the ACC can beat the best team in the ACC (ten, if you include 4-3 Duke). The mediocrity and inconsistency (Maryland, Virginia) is just insane.

 

Miami Conundrum

Randy Shannon has enough talent to beat anyone in the country. I say again, this team has enough talent to beat anyone in the country. The problem with Miami is that the talent is all in a few places. Robert Marve could start anywhere in the ACC, but so could Jacouri Harris. Harris took over for Marve and the Hurricanes beat Duke. Marve played good enough to get the win versus Wake Forest. Miami has enough offensive firepower to run the table, but the losses to Florida State and North Carolina mean that they are on the outside looking in. Watch for the Hurricanes next year with a battle hardened Harris leading the way.

How will it end?

    The next few weeks will bring clarity as the nine team gaggle sorts itself out. Georgia Tech plays North Carolina while Miami plays Virginia and Virginia Tech plays Maryland.  This should add some much needed clarity, but sadly it won't.

North Carolina wins the coastal and plays Florida State for the championship. Bobby Bowden manages to get the Seminoles another ACC Championship and a BCS bowl.