Bored

It appears we are down to a three player race for the Bored Bowl. Vampiro69 is way back at #6 although unlike Hawk 34 and iggy he did qualify for his conference championship so I wouldn't completely dismiss him from contention but he needs a lot of help. Clearly the big result was Mecca being upset by Will Scarlet and that has allowed UZI Suicide to grab the #2 spot. The margin is close enough between those two though where I wouldn't say UZI controls his own destiny but obviously he's in good shape. AboveAverage484 on the other hand does control his own destiny as win and he is into the Bored Bowl. The conference championship match-ups and the bowl picture will be in the next post. Bored Championship Series Rankings thru Week 13 1. N.C. State - AboveAverage484 1.6 2. Arizona - UZI Suicide 2.35 3. Nebraska - Mecca 2.6 4. Miami of Ohio - Hawk 34 4.0 5. Georgia Tech - iggymcfly 4.3 6. Ball State - Vampiro69 4.7 7. Alabama - AlwaysPissedOff 8.55 8. LSU - teke184 8.95 9. Virginia - Edwin MacPhisto 9.0 10. Tennessee - Canadian Brandon 9.65 Other Receiving Votes: Minnesota (Vern Gagne), Ohio State (Gert T), South Carolina (Cuban Linx), Syracuse (CanadianChris)

Obviously Tech/Oklahoma game has been over for a while and now the score is now high enough where the one tied match-up has been decided. Week 13 Results #10 Tennessee (Canadian Brandon) 11, Kentucky (Danville Wrestling) 10 #1 N.C. State (AboveAverage484) 10, Miami (Spaceman Spiff) 10; Average wins by tiebreak Tulsa (Will Scarlet) 11, #2 Nebraska (Mecca) 10 #3 Arizona (UZI Suicide) 11, Arizona State (still fly) 7 #4 Miami of Ohio (Hawk 34) 10, UTEP (Angel Grace Blue) 7 #5 Georgia Tech (iggmcfly) 11, Georgia (Obi Chris Kenobi) 7 #6 Ball State (Vampiro69) 10, Texas (Broward83) 9 South Carolina (Cuban Linx) 11, #7 Alabama (AlwaysPissedOff) 10 Notre Dame (KingPK) 10, #8 Syracuse (CanadianChris) 9 Boston College (HarleyQuinn) 13, #9 Virginia (Edwin MacPhisto) 12 San Diego State (Anti Hero) 11, Indiana (Agent of Oblivion) 8 LSU (teke184) 13, Navy (MarvinisaLunatic) 8 Ohio State (Gert T) 12, Michigan (MFer) 8 Florida State (909) 7, Florida (Urban Warfare) 6 Minnesota (Vern Gagne) 11, Stanford (Bored) 10 Fresno State (Agent Bond34) 8, Boise State (Vitamin X) 6 Buffalo (Carnival) 9, Kent State (JHawk) 7 Rutgers (the pinjockey) 10, Illinois (The Rocket) 9 USC (Cartman) 11, UCLA (phoenixrising) 8 Washington State (kkktookmybabyaway) 11, Washington (Smues) 8 Conference Standings Big Eight 1. Syracuse (5-2, 8-5) 1. San Diego State (5-2, 6-7) 1. Minnesota (5-2, 8-5) 4. Ohio State (4-3, 8-5) 4. Indiana (4-3, 7-6) 6. Michigan (2-5, 6-7) 6. Illinois (2-5, 3-10) 8. Rutgers (1-6, 5-8) Big MAC 1. Nebraska (5-2, 10-3) 1. Ball State (5-2, 9-4) 3. Miami of Ohio (4-3, 9-4) 3. Buffalo (4-3, 6-7) 3. Tulsa (4-3, 5-8) 6. Kent State (3-4, 4-9) 7. Texas (2-5, 4-9) 8. UTEP (1-6, 4-9) Pac-8 1. Arizona (6-1, 10-3) 2. Notre Dame (4-3, 8-5) 2. USC (4-3, 5-8) 4. Arizona State (3-4, 7-6) 4. UCLA (3-4, 5-8) 4. Washington (3-4, 4-9) 7. Stanford (1-6, 5-8) Washington State* (4-3, 5-8) Southeastern Seven 1. Kentucky (5-2, 8-5) 1. Florida (5-2, 6-7) 3. Tennessee (4-3, 9-4) 3. LSU (4-3, 8-5) 3. South Carolina (4-3, 7-6) 6. Alabama (3-4, 8-5) 7. Navy (2-5, 4-9) Georgia* (1-6, 3-10) Western Atlantic 1. N.C. State (5-2, 10-3) 1. Boston College (5-2, 7-6) 3. Georgia Tech (4-3, 9-4) 3. Virgina (4-3, 8-5) 5. Fresno State (3-4, 7-6) 5. Miami (3-4, 6-7) 7. Florida State (2-5, 5-8) 7. Boise State (2-5, 4-9)

Oregon State wins on a last second field goal, 19-17. One win away from a shocking Rose Bowl bid.

Oregon State misses an extra point to tie the game against Arizona. 17-16 with 4:05 to go.

Utah is now up 48-24 on BYU with three minutes to go and they are about to lock up a BCS berth. Boise State will now have to rely on an at-large invite but it seems highly unlikely that they will get one. Arizona takes the lead on Oregon State 17-10 with 8:26 to go.

Six wins makes you eligible but they need seven to lock up a bid. Odds are there will be enough open bids this year for them to grab one but by rule seven-plus win teams have to be invited first to open bowl bids over six win teams.

After being outscored 524-91 in ten games against I-A opponents, Wazzu beats Washington 16-13 in overtime. Yup, Tyrone Willingham will never find I-A coaching job ever again.

No good! Seriously, Charlie Weis should be fired. The Irish now have to upset USC next week to assure themselves a bowl game.

Syracuse goes up on Notre Dame 24-23 with 42 seconds remaining. DOING IT FOR GREG ROBINSON!!!!

Hey the Apple Cup is going to have an exciting finish it seems. Wazzu hits a field goal as time expires. Overtime.

Stanford has curled up and died in the 3rd quarter. 20 points by Cal in only seven minutes. 30-3. Bowl drought will continue. I am sad.

Coming into today, STANFORD~ had scored on 37 of 39 redzone posessions while scoring 30 touchdowns. Today in the redzone they've missed a field goal, fumbled, and settled for a field goal after having 2nd and Goal at the 1. They've played so much better than Cal in this game but they trail 10-3 at the half.

Aww the Congressional Bowl sold it's naming rights and is now the EagleBank Bowl. I'm shocked the St. Petersburg Bowl still hasn't sold theirs as that always seemed like a generic placeholder bowl name. ACC Bowl Tie-ins: BCS/Orange, Chick-Fil-A, Gator, Champs Sports, Music City, Meineke Car Care, Emerald, Humanitarian, EagleBank Locks: Boston College, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, North Carolina Bowl Eligible: Virginia Tech, Wake Forest Bubble Teams: Clemson, Duke, N.C. State, Virginia Everyone is technically still alive but highly unlikely Duke or N.C. State win their last two games. The winner of the Clemson/Virginia game this week will become bowl eligible while the loser will have to pull of an upset in a rivalry game the following week. Notre Dame Bowl Tie-ins: Cotton, Gator, Sun Irish barely avoid disaster at the end of the Navy game to become bowl eligible. Should lock up a bid with an easy win against Syracuse this week which will have them on their way to the Gator or Sun Bowl. Upset USC the following week and they will end up in the Cotton Bowl. Big East Bowl Tie-ins: BCS, Gator/Sun, Meineke Car Care, International, Papajohns.com, St. Petersburg Locks: Cincinnati, Connecticut, Pittsburgh Bowl Eligible: South Florida, West Virginia Bubble Teams: Louisville, Rutgers As covered last week the Big East will lose a bid to Notre Dame if they finish 7-5 leaving the conference with five bids. Rutgers crushed a reeling USF team and can become bowl eligible with a win over Army this week which is quite the surprise considering how bad they played the first half of the year. With that in mind, there will be at least one team in this conference needing to find an open bid if they want to go bowling so it is very important to get seven wins. Big Ten Bowl Tie-ins: BCS/Rose (two bids?), Capital One, Outback, Alamo, Champs Sports, Insight, Motor City Locks: Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State Bowl Eligible: Wisconsin Bubble Teams: Illinois The Big Ten's season is over after this week and if Penn State and Ohio State win, they are both on their way to BCS bowls. Illinois needs to win at Northwestern this week or otherwise the Motor City Bowl will become an open bid. Big XII Bowl Tie-ins: BCS/Fiesta (two bids), Cotton, Holiday, Gator/Sun, Alamo, Insight, Independence, Texas Locks: Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech Bubble Teams: Colorado There is no scenario where this conference doesn't put two teams in the BCS so you can put them down for nine bids which also locks Kansas up for a bid even they still sit on six wins. With Kansas State and Texas A&M being eliminated from bowl consideration, the Texas Bowl is now an open bid and if Colorado doesn't win at Nebraska in two weeks then the Independence Bowl will also be an open bid. Conference USA Bowl Tie-ins: Liberty, GMAC, Texas, Armed Forces, New Orleans, St. Petersburg Locks: Rice, Tulsa Bowl Eligible: East Carolina, Houston Bubble Teams: Marshall, Memphis, Southern Miss, UTEP Only change was Houston became bowl eligible with a drubbing of Tulsa. Southern Miss scored a big win over East Carolina and now only has to beat an awful SMU team to become bowl eligible. MAC Bowl Tie-ins: Motor City, GMAC, International Locks: None Bowl Eligible: Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Western Michigan Bubble Teams: Akron, Bowling Green, Northern Illinois The odds of Ball State getting into the BCS are now zilch as they were passed by BYU in the BCS standings. See last week's entry as to why there is a really small chance Ball State could not go bowling but it gets slimmer and slimmer with the the growing number of open bids there will be. Mountain West Bowl Tie-ins: BCS?, Las Vegas, Poinsettia, Armed Forces, New Mexico Locks: Air Force, BYU, TCU, Utah Bubble Teams: Colorado State, UNLV There's a story out there that I don't think has received any attention yet and that is if BYU beats Utah this week, they and not Boise State could end up with the Fiesta Bowl invite. There's nothing in the BCS rules that requires the highest ranked non-BCS conference team to be taken, if there is another eligible non-BCS team who can be chosen. Boise getting passed over for a one loss non-BCS team could be a nice shitstorm. UNLV should become bowl eligible with a win over San Diego State this week while Colorado State will play at Wyoming with a chance to become bowl eligible as well. Popular belief is that the New Mexico Bowl would invite the Rebels over CSU. Pac-10 Bowl Tie-ins: BCS/Rose (two bids?), Holiday, Sun, Emerald, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Poinsettia Locks: Arizona, California, Oregon, Oregon State, USC Bubble Teams: Arizona State, Stanford, UCLA No changes this week as every favorite won. Stanford's season is on the line in the Big Game on Saturday and they will win. They just have to. ASU and UCLA are both idle before their elimination game in two weeks. Still seems likely that at least the Poinsettia Bowl will be an open bid which would go to a WAC team. SEC Bowl Tie-ins: BCS/Sugar (two bids), Capital One, Cotton, Outback, Chick-Fil-A, Music City, Liberty, Independence, Papajohns.com Locks: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, South Carolina, Vanderbilt Bubble Teams: Arkansas, Auburn Since the conference is pretty much assured to BCS bids at this point which pushes the conference to ten bids, every eligible team is now a lock including Vanderbilt will be going to their first bowl in 26 years. Both Arkansas and Auburn are longshots to become bowl eligible which would leave the Independence and the Papajohns.com Bowl as open bids. I'm sure the Independence Bowl is just giddy over the possibility of instead of having an SEC/Big XII match-up they may end up with a MAC/Sun Belt showdown. Sun Belt Bowl Tie-in: New Orleans Locks: None Bowl Eligible: Troy Bubble Teams: Arkansas State, FIU, Florida Atlantic, UL Lafayette, Middle Tennessee The winner of the ULL/Troy game this week all but clinches the conference title and the New Orleans Bowl bid. Because of contingency bids and other open bids this sad sack of conference could conceivably end up sending four teams to bowls when all is said and done. WAC Bowl Tie-ins: BCS?, Humanitarian, Hawaii, New Mexico Locks: Boise State Bowl Eligible: Fresno State, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, San Jose State Bubble Teams: Hawaii As I already covered, Boise State's odds of landing a BCS bid could even longer than you think. Fresno, LA Tech, and Nevada all became bowl eligible this week but there is still way too many things that can happen to figure out who is going where and who is staying home. Again the Poinsettia Bowl will likely be added as a 4th bid for the conference, assuming the Pac-10 doesn't fill.

Beyond the myriad of typos in this post, I have to make a correction regarding Clemson. I had forgotten that they played two I-AA teams this year and you can only count one of those games towards bowl eligibility thus they still need to beat South Carolina next week to become bowl eligible.

A week ago North Carolina had a chance to take control of the Coastal division in the ACC and now they are about to be eliminated as N.C. State has opened up a 31-10 lead on the Tar Heels.

Florida - Urban Warfare SATURDAY Purdue Virginia Arkansas Penn State Wake Forest California Illinois BYU Oregon State Minnesota Pittsburgh Florida State Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Texas Tech/Oklahoma game? 66 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers have against Arizona? 101

Along with JHawk, iggymcfly and Urban Warfare are late with their picks. Who You Should Root For #10 Tennessee (Canadian Brandon, 8-4) vs. Kentucky (Danville Wrestling, 8-4) - GAME OF THE WEEK TN: Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Texas Tech KY: Miami, Pitt, Oklahoma #1 N.C. State (AboveAverage484, 9-3) vs. Miami (Spaceman Spiff, 6-6) NCS: Georgia Tech, Clemson, Arkansas, Wake, Illinois, Arizona, Iowa, Oklahoma UM: Miami, Virginia, Mississippi St, BC, Northwestern, Oregon St, Minnesota, Texas Tech Tiebreak: 75/72 #2 Nebraska (Mecca, 10-2) vs. Tulsa (Will Scarlet, 4-8) NE: Georgia Tech, Clemson, Arkansas, Wake, Illinois, Arizona, FSU Tulsa: Miami, Virginia, Mississippi St, BC, Northwestern, Oregon St, Maryland #3 Arizona (UZI Suicide, 9-3) vs. Arizona State (still fly, 7-5) AZ: Clemson, Arkansas, Penn St, Wake, Utah, Oregon St, Iowa, Cincinnati ASU: Virginia, Mississippi St, Michigan St, BC, BYU, Arizona, Minnesota, Pitt Tiebreaks: 74/72, 130/135 #4 Miami of Ohio (Hawk 34, 8-4) vs. UTEP (Angel Grace Blue, 4-8) MOH: Purdue, BC, Cal, Maryland, Oklahoma UTEP: Indiana, Wake, Stanford, FSU, Texas Tech #5 Georgia Tech (iggymcfly, 8-4) vs. Georgia (Obi Chris Kenobi, 3-9) Obi has a 1-0 lead GT: Clemson, Penn St, BC, Cal, Illinois, Arizona, Iowa, Cincinnati, FSU GA: Virginia, Michigan St, Wake, Stanford, Northwestern, Oregon St, Minnesota, Pitt, Maryland Tiebreak: 72/380 #6 Ball State (Vamprio69, 8-4) vs. Texas (Broward83, 4-8) BS: Northwestern, Cincinnati, Maryland TX: Illinois, Pitt, FSU #7 Alabama (AlwaysPissedOff, 8-4) vs. South Carolina (Cuban Linx, 6-6) AL: Miami, Virginia, Arkansas, BC, Northwestern, Oregon St, Maryland SC: Georgia Tech, Clemson, Mississippi St, Wake, Illinois, Arizona, FSU #8 Syracuse (CanadianChris, 8-4) vs. Notre Dame (KingPK, 7-5) SU: Georgia Tech, Virginia, Wake, Maryland, Oklahoma ND: Miami, Clemson, BC, FSU, Texas Tech #9 Virginia (Edwin MacPhisto, 8-4) vs. Boston College (HarleyQuinn, 6-6) Indiana (Agent of Oblivion, 7-5) vs. San Diego State (Anti Hero, 5-7) IN: Virginia, Wake, Stanford, Northwestern, Iowa, Pitt, Texas Tech SDS: Clemson, BC, Cal, Illinois, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Oklahoma LSU (teke184, 7-5) vs. Navy (MarvinisaLunatic, 4-8) LSU: Georgia Tech, Clemson, BC, Iowa, FSU Navy: Miami, Virginia, Wake, Minnesota, Maryland Ohio State (Gert T, 7-5) vs. Michigan (MFer, 6-6) OSU: Purdue, Virginia, Mississippi St, BC, Utah, Iowa MI: Indiana, Clemson, Arkansas, Wake, BYU, Minnesota Tiebreaks: 71/79, 125/122 Florida (Urban Warfare, 6-6) vs. Florida State (909, 4-8) FL: Virginia, Illinois, Oregon St FSU: Clemson, Northwestern, Arizona Minnesota (Vern Gagne, 7-5) vs. Stanford (Bored, 5-7) MN: Virginia, Arkansas, BC, Cal, Northwestern, FSU, Texas Tech SU: Clemson, Mississippi St, Wake, Stanford, Illinois, Maryland, Oklahoma Fresno State (Agent Bond34, 6-6) vs. Boise State (Vitamin X, 4-8) FS: Purdue, Virginia, BC, Cal, Northwestern, Cincinnati, Maryland, Texas Tech BS: Indiana, Clemson, Wake, Stanford, Illinois, Pitt, Florida St, Oklahoma Tiebreaks: 82/58, 135/164 Buffalo (Carnival, 5-7) vs. Kent State (JHawk, 4-8) UB: Miami, Purdue, Mississippi St, Illinois, Iowa KS: No point for Thur., Indiana, Arkansas, Northwestern, Minnesota Tiebreaks: 68/78, 89/125 Rutgers (the pinjockey, 4-8) vs. Illinois (The Rocket, 3-9) RU: Miami, Purdue, Mississippi St, Northwestern, Maryland IL: Georgia Tech, Indiana, Arkansas, Illinois, Florida St UCLA (phoenixrising, 5-7) vs. USC (Cartman, 4-8) UCLA: Miami, Indiana, Virginia, Wake, Oregon St, Minnesota, FSU USC: Georgia Tech, Purdue, Clemson, BC, Arizona, Iowa, Maryland Washington (Smues, 4-8) vs. Washington State (kkktookmybabyaway, 4-8) WA: Miami, Indiana, Stanford, Oregon St, Minnesota, Pitt, Florida St WS: Georgia Tech, Purdue, Cal, Arizona, Iowa, Cincinnati, Maryland

LSU - teke184 THURSDAY Miami at Georgia Tech SATURDAY Indiana at Purdue Clemson at Virginia Arkansas at Mississippi State Michigan State at Penn State Boston College at Wake Forest Stanford at California Illinois at Northwestern BYU at Utah Oregon State at Arizona Iowa at Minnesota Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Florida State at Maryland Texas Tech at Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Texas Tech/Oklahoma game? 71 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers have against Arizona? 140 Buffalo - Carnival THURSDAY Miami at Georgia Tech SATURDAY Indiana at Purdue Clemson at Virginia Arkansas at Mississippi State Michigan State at Penn State Boston College at Wake Forest Stanford at California Illinois at Northwestern BYU at Utah Oregon State at Arizona Iowa at Minnesota Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Florida State at Maryland Texas Tech at Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Texas Tech/Oklahoma game?68 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers have against Arizona?89 Nebraska - Mecca THURSDAY Miami at Georgia Tech SATURDAY Indiana at Purdue Clemson at Virginia Arkansas at Mississippi State Michigan State at Penn State Boston College at Wake Forest Stanford at California Illinois at Northwestern BYU at Utah Oregon State at Arizona Iowa at Minnesota Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Florida State at Maryland Texas Tech at Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Texas Tech/Oklahoma game?77 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers have against Arizona?120 Alabama - AlwaysPissedOff Miami Purdue Virginia Arkansas Penn State Boston College California Northwestern Oregon State Utah Iowa Cincinnati Maryland Oklahoma TB #1: 76 TB #2: 109 Miami of Ohio - Hawk 34 THURSDAY Miami at Georgia Tech SATURDAY Indiana at Purdue Clemson at Virginia Arkansas at Mississippi State Michigan State at Penn State Boston College at Wake Forest Stanford at California Illinois at Northwestern BYU at Utah Oregon State at Arizona Iowa at Minnesota Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Florida State at Maryland Texas Tech at Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Texas Tech/Oklahoma game? 58 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers have against Arizona? 109

Miami - Spaceman Spiff THURSDAY Miami at Georgia Tech SATURDAY Indiana at Purdue Clemson at Virginia Arkansas at Mississippi State Michigan State at Penn State Boston College at Wake Forest Stanford at California Illinois at Northwestern BYU at Utah Oregon State at Arizona Iowa at Minnesota Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Florida State at Maryland Texas Tech at Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Texas Tech/Oklahoma game? 72 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers have against Arizona? 118 Minnesota - Vern Gagne THURSDAY Miami at Georgia Tech SATURDAY Indiana at Purdue Clemson at Virginia Arkansas at Mississippi State Michigan State at Penn State Boston College at Wake Forest Stanford at California Illinois at Northwestern BYU at Utah Oregon State at Arizona Iowa at Minnesota Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Florida State at Maryland Texas Tech at Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Texas Tech/Oklahoma game? 88 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers have against Arizona? 133 N.C. State - AboveAverage484 THURSDAY Miami at Georgia Tech SATURDAY Indiana at Purdue Clemson at Virginia Arkansas at Mississippi State Michigan State at Penn State Boston College at Wake Forest Stanford at California Illinois at Northwestern BYU at Utah Oregon State at Arizona Iowa at Minnesota Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Florida State at Maryland Texas Tech at Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Texas Tech/Oklahoma game? 75 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers have against Arizona? 123

Washington State - kkktookmybabyaway THURSDAY Georgia Tech SATURDAY Purdue Clemson Mississippi State Penn State Wake Forest California Northwestern Utah Arizona Iowa Cincinnati Maryland Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: 100 Tiebreak #2: 89 San Diego State - Anti Hero THURSDAY Miami at Georgia Tech SATURDAY Indiana at Purdue Clemson at Virginia Arkansas at Mississippi State Michigan State at Penn State Boston College at Wake Forest Stanford at California Illinois at Northwestern BYU at Utah Oregon State at Arizona Iowa at Minnesota Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Florida State at Maryland Texas Tech at Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Texas Tech/Oklahoma game? 82 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers have against Arizona? 63 Washington - Smues THURSDAY Miami Indiana Clemson Mississippi State Penn State Wake Forest Stanford Northwestern Utah Oregon State Minnesota Pittsburgh Florida State Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Texas Tech/Oklahoma game? 63 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers have against Arizona? 111

The main reason Notre Dame can do just fine without being part of a conference is because of their television deal with NBC. As long as they have that in place it makes no sense for them financially to join a conference. If NBC ever decides to not renew the deal you'd see the Irish join the Big Ten in a hurry. Also as an independent when they make a bowl they don't have to share the payout with the rest of the conference and that become a huge boon for them when they make a BCS bowl with a payout of $14 million+ going to the school.

Red Sox traded Coco Crisp to the Royals for reliever Ramon Ramirez.

Wow, bizarre finish in the UAB/Arizona game. With the game tied U of A had the ball for the final shot in regulation. They miss the shot with about three seconds left, UAB gets the rebound and looks like they only have a chance for a halfcourt shot but Arizona's Jamelle Horne intentionally fouls the UAB player with 0.8 seconds on the clock. Free throw, ball game and UAB advances to the NIT semis.

My Picks Georgia Tech Purdue Clemson Mississippi State Penn State Wake Forest STANFORD~ Illinois Utah Oregon State Iowa Cincinnati Maryland Oklahoma 73/123

The plan is to move everything to ESPN including the MNC game. It should be noted the Rose Bowl negotiates their own separate t.v. deal from the BCS and they may be unwilling to have their game moved off of ABC. Really what we're seeing is the continuing trend of moving sports off of network television. ABC in particular seems to want no part of sports anymore hence why they closed down ABC Sports a couple of years of ago and handed all their production over to ESPN. One other note this year will be the last MNC game on Fox since the Rose Bowl is the site of next year's MNC game so it was already slated to be shown on ABC.