SB Nation - Pittsburgh Panthers

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Tuesday (12/22/09) Edition

WVUIE97 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:20:59 -0000

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information and a few daily distractions. Today we're being brought to you by Brahma beer, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown.

It's the Day Before the Day Before Christmas Eve. I hope everybody has their shopping done (mostly because I don't and I don't want to fight any crowds today). Anyway, there's plenty inside to keep you occupied. Tips, suggestions and requests are always a nice gift. See you on the other side...

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Report for Tuesday - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Coach Stewart Quotes - MSNsportsNET.Com

The secret of WVU’s success - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
I don't agree with the first two paragraphs....AT ALL.

News of Note (FB):

The Underdog Role - BlueGoldNews.com

Lending a Hand - MSNsportsNET.Com
Jack of All Trades, Pat Kirkland, is profiled.

Looks like Devine wants one more year - Charleston Gazette

Devine plans to return ... for now - Charleston Daily Mail

WVU's Devine yet to decide on future - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
I guess we have a winner for this week's theme.

WVU considers honoring Chris Henry at Gator Bowl - Charleston Daily Mail
Casazza's Notebook

WVU Focuses on Solid Football Going into Gator Bowl - WVIllustrated.com

Bowden Reminisces - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Audio link

News of Note (BB):

NCAA College Basketball Polls - ESPN
Holding steady at #6 in both polls

Weekly Watch: Week 5 - ESPN
On Wednesday, we're a "place to be"

Conference Call: West Virginia looking strong in Big East - Sporting News

What's On Tap:

Women's Basketball: WVU Takes on UMBC - MSNsportsNET.Com
7 pm tonight at the Coliseum.

Around the League (and Beyond):

Dixon gives UC spark off the bench - Cincinnati Enquirer

ESPN's OTL Takes a Look at Rutgers Football - Protect R Turf

Plethora of questions face Rutgers coach Greg Schiano as season wraps up - Star Ledger

Cardinals are still hobbled - Courier-Journal

Pitt Basketball: Brown makes anticipated return to Panthers' lineup - PPG

Kentucky beats Drexel to become first college team to reach 2,000 wins - ESPN

Joe McKnight doesn't travel with USC; three players ruled academically ineligible for Emerald Bowl - ESPN

Video of Interest:

Courtesy, as usual, of WVIllustrated.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Babe Year in Review Gallery of the Week:

Well...mostly babes.

via coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is yet another Brazilian supermodel who has been featured in the SI swimsuit edition and is another former Victoria's Secret model. I really want to, at least, visit Brazil...soon. Here's Isabeli Fontana.

via i214.photobucket.com

Brahma image via www.brahma.com.pe

The Domino Effect of Big 10 Expansion, Will it Affect the Mountain West?

Jeremy Mauss — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:51:21 -0000

The recent big college football news is that the Big 10 is finally considering expanding to grab a few extra million bucks in a championship game and to extend their season to the first week of December instead of pre-Thanksgiving. The search is to take between 12-18 months before any decision is made and the search is going to be extensive and 'nation wide,' but expect the usual suspects to be involved.

Teams of interest are and in no order: Pitt, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Rutgers, Nebraska, Kentucky, Louisville, Cincinnati, Iowa State, and Maryland. The Domers are the obvious and most coveted choice, but most likely will not join because their NBC contract goes for another six years. Even if Notre Dame says yes and the search takes 18 months which is the summer of 2011 when the invite will come Notre Dame will not begin play until the 2012 season. At that time if the current deal with NBC is not extended there would still be three more years left on that deal, and unless the Big 10 wants to let them finish out the deal and let the Irish keep the money no way the Irish will join.

Team Speed Kills brings out a very good point if the Big 10 goes after someone else just to get to twelve:

2. Saying yes to someone else means saying no to Notre Dame forever

Conferences larger than 12 members don't work well with football. The WAC tried having 16 and couldn't make it work. The MAC has serious scheduling problems with its 13 team format. A 12 member league works. More than that really doesn't.

If the Big Ten adds another member, it will have 12 schools. Since more than 12 is untenable, if that twelfth school is not Notre Dame, then the Big Ten will never have Notre Dame. Adding Missouri or Pitt functionally closes that door forever.

That is a real good point, because if the Big 10 wants to hurry this along and take someone else just to get a championship game; they can then seal the Irish's fate forever as an Independent.

Back to how this could affect the Mountain West. The MWC is desperately trying to gain BCS status and Boise State has been the rumored team for years, and most recently there was a rumor that would bring in Nevada, Fresno State, as well as Boise State this summer to gain BCS status. That was just a rumor, but realistically at least Boise will get the invite this summer.

The Big 10 expansion could mean every thing or it could mean nothing to the Mountain West, however the Pac-10 made the same statement as the Big 10 but back in July about a 12-18 month time line and wanting a title game. Utah from the Mountain West and Colorado from the Big XII were at the top of new commissioner Larry Scott's wish list to form the Pac-12.

The scenario that will have the minimal impact is that the Big 10 invites Notre Dame and then there is no domino effect what so ever, but we all know that has a slim chance of happening.

The two most likely candidates to join the Big 10 are Pitt and Missouri. Starting with Pitt they are one of the 'old money' teams on the east coast and are comparable in all aspects that the Big 10 wants. They are a state school with a large enrollment, a good educational institution, and are good at both money sports.

The Big 10 Network would not get a huge bump in viewers since it all ready covers the Pennsylvania with Penn State all ready in the league, so Pitt does not add much on that front. Now, if Pitt were to join then the Big East would be in for a real hurt because that would leave them with only seven teams and not eligible to be an FBS league, or more importantly a BCS league and all the bling that goes with being a cartel member.

The Big East would either need to crawl back to Temple and beg them to come back to the league they were kicked out of or go rampage the MAC or C-USA for an eighth member. Or somehow promote a basketball playing school that has an FCS program like UMass, Villinova, or Georgetown; but with that they may lose their BCS status since their league would be even more watered down. So, Pitt moving to the Big 10 would not really have any impact on Mountain West.

The biggie is Missouri because they are currently in the Big XII and fit nicely with all the Big 10 wants in its member institutions. Here is how it will or could affect the Mountain West: Missouri leaving opens up a spot in the Big XII and more importantly the Big XII North. TCU and Arkansas would love to get back in the old South West Conference rivalries, but they are not a geographical fit to be in the north division. Plus, moving Oklahoma or Oklahoma State to the north would disrupt their rivalries as well as the Red River Shootout if Oklahoma were to move. Those two are out of the question because of locale, now saying that the ACC has no real geographical lines they have Florida State and Miami, FL in separate divisions.

The next choice falls back to a former potential member when the Big XII was being formed and that is BYU. If it were not for government influence by the former Texas Governor Ann Richards who oh just happens to be a Baylor alum pushed and won the fight to get Baylor in the Big XII. BYU would be on the list and make the thousands of Cougar fans very, very happy to be in a BCS league, and be in a very winnable North division from day one.

However, if you go by the time line of expansion the Big 10 has which is the 12-18 month time frame the Big XII may be left scrambling for a different team. Now, why would BYU turn down a chance to be in the Big XII? The reason that could happen is if as I have expected for a while that Boise State will be invited this summer and begin play in 2011. That would give the Mountain West a very strong case to be a BCS league for the 2012 season because the league all ready has had three teams in the BCS top 25 final standings, and adding Boise would bring that number to four over the past two years. The Mountain West does not show any signs of slowing down, and with the Boise rankings counting while in the WAC the MWC looks almost a shoe in to begin play as a BCS league in 2012.

An invite coming from the Big XII to BYU -- if the Big 10 does expand with Missouri-- will most likely come in the summer of 2011 which is the last year of the four year BCS cycle. The reason a summer invite is mentioned is that any league that moves conferences must give a one year's notice. Now, that 2011 season would be the first with Boise State and give college football a chance to see if the Mountain West is a BCS league.

Here is the caveat with that the Mountain West may not know until after the 2011 football season, or possibly later if they are to be a BCS league. That would occur after an invitation would have been handed out to BYU, so I could see BYU jumping ship to the Big XII because of the uncertainty of the Mountain West becoming a BCS league. Quite frankly BYU would be stupid not to jump to a better league with a guaranteed BCS bid and realistically could win the Big XII North in year one.

The only way BYU would not join is if the BCS where to make some announcement about the Mountain West becoming a BCS league prior to an invite from the Big XII. That seems doubtful since the 2011 season will needed to be played. Now, a move by BYU to the Big XII would not affect the Mountain West and their BCS aspirations since all four of their playing years in the MWC would be in the four year cycle so BYU would not lose them.

The Pac-10 is also looking to expand about the same time as the Big 10 and they have mentioned Utah and Colorado as their top choices. Now, there is no need to run through the Utah scenario because it is exactly the same as BYU as far as the time line for invites go.

This Big 10 trickle down effect towards the Mountain West all boils down to if Missouri goes to the Big 10 to form hopefully either a) numerical correct league name, or b) a regional name makes sense, but since the Big 10 is obsessed with tradition do not be surprised if the name stays the same.

The best choice for Utah and BYU would be to stay in the Mountain West as a BCS league, because they are all ready on the top of the league and a move to a current BCS league would mean a few years of building up to the level -- that goes more toward Utah then BYU since the Big XII north is not as difficult as the Pac-10. Utah would be upper middle pack and be fitting Oregon, USC, and Cal to get a conference title.

Since the timing could make things go hay wire and if either league makes their expansion threat a reality the Mountain West could be in a world of hurt. An invite to a bigger league will come the summer prior to the last year of the BCS evaluation cycle so the Mountain West will not know for sure if they are included to the table or not. Why should Utah or BYU not go to a larger league if invited, I know I would.

Here is the real kicker that could be very odd and bizarre. The Mountain West could be a BCS league without BYU or Utah if they do happen to get plucked away. It is possible since both schools would have been in the Mountain West for the four year evaluation cycle, and if Boise gets in the last year of the cycle their WAC rankings are now shifted to the Mountain West.

Now, that would be weird.

The Octonion: New Moon

Sean Keeley — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:39:27 -0000

A secret society of the eight wealthiest mascots in the Northeast convenes at an estate in Providence, RI, otherwise known as ~~Mike Tranghese's~~ John Marinatto's basement. Chips and mango-peach salsa are served. They control the Northeastern bank money supplies, Fort Dix, ESPN and the Wesleyan College student newspaper.

They are known as The Octonion.

Parental discretion is advised.

	Somebody want to tell me what in the Flamerica University is going on around here?
	I don’t know what you’re talking about, sugar.
	Don’t feed me cow chips and call it kobe beef, poochie. You know what I’m talking about.
	Everybody calm down, no one is going to the Big Ten.
	I’ve got enough to deal with right now, I don’t need that kind of headache.
	Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t think they’ll be that interested when you’re playing the PapaJohns’com Bowl next year.
	What are you talking about? We don’t need Brian Kelly, we’ll be fine.
	HAHAHAHAHA…
	HAHAHAHAHA…
	HAHAHAHAHA…
	HAHAHA…Otto haz gigglez but duzn’t undurstanz wai.
	Cut the shit, fruit. We know you want in the Big Ten.
	Otto not commentin. Iz Big Ten isshu, not Saracuz isshu.
	Don’t feed us that line, Otto. We’re not stupid.
	Says the guy who hired Steve Kragthorpe.
	He won 8 games three times at Tulsa I’ll have you know.
	I’ll have you know you embarrass the fuck outta us.
	Go win a football game in October.
	Ladies, are you done? I wanna know who knows what, how they know it and what they know.
	That was hard to say for you, wasn’t it?
	I feel lightheaded. I need to take a breather. Pass me a Keystone Dry.
	He’s legally retarded but he’s right. Knight, you know something…
	Sir, I am offended! That barefoot plod I the cold ground upon with sainted vow my faults to have amended!
	What is that? Gay English?
	No, that’s not it.
	They say you’re talking to the Big Ten, Knight. What about us? What about your honor?
	Honour pricks me on. Yea, but how if honour prick me off when I come on? How then? Can honour set to a leg? No. Or an arm? No. Or take away the grief of a wound? No. Honour hath no skill in surgery, then? No. What is honour? A word.
	Next time can you just say "no?"
	A STRANGER ENTERS
	Oh hey fellas.

	WHAT THE FUCK?
	How’d you get in here?
	Otto invited me.
	Otto you little shit! You gave up our secret location???
	Otto disavowz such nawledge. I iz innosentz.
	It’s okay, Otto. You can tell them…
	Okayz….Otto iz goin too Midwestz.
	NOOOOO!!!
	TRAITOR!!!
	USURPER!!!
	MOTHERSHITFUCKTITS!!!
	DICKFOR!!!
	UNWORTHY COUSIN!!!
	Guys, guys…let’s calm down for a second…
	How can you calm down at a time like this?
	Well…because…I’m going too.
	NOOOOO!!!
	TRAITOR!!!
	USURPER!!!
	MOTHERSHITFUCKTITS!!!
	DICKFOR!!!
	UNWORTH...oh wait, I too am heading MidWest in search of glory.
	NOOOOO!!!
	TRAITOR!!!
	USURPER!!!
	MOTHERSHITFUCKTITS!!!
	DICKFOR!!!
	Alright guys, we got it. But look, it’s not so bad. They’re really good guys. And this'll give you a chance to have that potluck with Central Florida you keep talking about.
	SHADOWY FIGURES EMERGE FROM THE, UH…SHADOWS.
	It’s really quite nice in the Big Ten…
	You can watch your friends play on our network…assuming you live near a bar that gets the signal…
	Even if you only score 17 points a game, that's cool. Anything more is considered showboating here...
	We’d love it if you could come too Bearcat, eh?
	No way.
	Come on, it’ll be fun. You’ll be one of us…
	Yeah, one of us…
	One of us, eh...
	One of us…
	One of us…
	Onez of us…
	One of us…
	One of us…
	Bearcat, don’t do it.
	I….I…
	Sweetie! Bubbe! Please don't...
	I don’t…I can’t…
	Bro…come on…let’s hug it out…like on Entourage…you watch that show?...It’s the fucking bomb.
	Not anymore…it peaked in season two and hasn't been relevant or interesting since…but…still…can’t fight it…AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!
	Bearcat?
	My name is not Bearcat. I am Locutus of Big Ten Org.
	He's been assimilated! NOOOOO!!!
	TRAITOR!!!
	USURPER!!!
	MOTHERSHITFUCKTITS!!!
	Resistance, much like hoping for a meaningful Ohio State bowl victory, is futile.

You can find records of the previous Octonion meetings below (excuse the formatting issues on some of them, one day I'll get around to fixing):

Big Ten Expansion: 11+1 Can't Equal 12

Bama Hawkeye — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:45:34 -0000

Here's the thing about this Big Ten expansion: it's going to be a big deal. Otherwise, it's not going to happen. If adding a twelfth team only add to the Big Ten coffers by 9.09% (or 1/11th of the current total), the deal is a wash. The Big Ten isn't going to add a school and expand for a wash. They will only expand if the expansion creates an increase in funding above and beyond what they would have received otherwise. If 11+1=12, expansion won't happen. 11+1 must equal more than 12.

Now before you and tell me that the Big Ten will make big money from a title game, recognize that your point is ceded. It will be a moneymaker for the league. However, if the expansion does not increase regular season fees by at least 9.09%, each school will receive less money from the league during the regular season. I will posit that if any part of this deal is a financial loss, it is not happening.

TRE is your one stop shop for all things Big Ten Expansion related...

Graham discusses pros and cons of adding a 12th team...and who it might be.

Lake Erie M argues for mega-expansion and a 14 team league

BHGP lists the 4 most important issues surrounding expansion.

Chadnudj details the benefits of the North/South split

That's why, you need to think big, or get out of the discussion. Big Ten expansion is not about "finding a rival for Penn State." Big Ten expansion is not about finding any local twelfth school so that the league can have a championship game. Big Ten expansion is about increasing the percentage of college sports dollars that go directly into the coffers of each institution. I am not saying this in a derogatory or cynical way. It's exactly what expansion should be about. If you're going to upset this apple cart by adding a new member, there better be some huge HUGE benefits. That was what the league got when Penn State joined. That's what the league should get now.

So stop thinking small. Join me after the jump and start thinking Big. After all, it's in our league's name for a good reason.

Let's add that 12th Team:

Remember, think BIG. Here are the teams that I think by themselves can satisfy this requirement:

Notre Dame

Yes, it's the league's white whale (and I appreciate it that the Irish again hired a coach who can personally live up to that moniker.). At the same time, it is still the most recognized name and brand in college athletics. It would be a coup for the league. It would be a perfect fit (and they'd find a way to get the Irish into the AAU; don't sweat that). If Notre Dame would say yes (and they won't), this search would be done.

Texas

Do you remember that Texas reached out to join the Big Ten in 1993/94? Shortly before the Horns and Aggies (along with the state's two successful piggybackers) joined the Big 8, Texas talked with the Big Ten about becoming the league's 12th member. The Big Ten was under a self-imposed expansion moratorium, though.

Today, I don't see Texas joining. They are the New York Yankees of the Big 12. They have every conceivable advantage and limited revenue sharing. Why would they leave that situation for long road trips (the shortest Big Ten trip would be longer than the longest Big 12 trip) and equitable payouts? Do you think the Yankees would leave baseball's system for football's - where they would share (most of) their dollars evenly with Green Bay? Texas is in a perfect situation.

Nebraska

Yes, the Big Ten wants to dominate the Omaha media market. No, this would be about adding a football giant. Tom Osborne, for one, would listen long and hard. He's preached against the Southern-dominance of the Big 12 since its inception. I don't know if the Huskers take the offer, but it's a much closer call than you might think at first blush. And don't give me the "Big 8/12 founding member tradition garbage." It doesn't pay the bills.

Maryland

This is all about DC. The ACC has the market surrounded. The Big East has roots in the market (during hoops). The Big Ten can move on the area by adding the Terps. It's a contiguous state, which could use the move to recruit in more fertile areas (Ohio and Pennsylvania). Yes, Maryland is thought of as a basketball school first. I don't think that stops the inquiry. I don't know that Maryland jumps, but I bet they look long and hard at it.

Missouri

Missouri has already said that they would entertain the offers. Good for you, Mizzou. Missouri feels like it has received a raw deal from the Big 12 in football each of the last three years. The Big Ten would control, instead of split, the St. Louis market, while making an entry into Kansas City. Of the adding one combinations, this has the greatest likelihood of actually happening.

Here's who is not on the list:

Pitt

Like I said at the outset, this isn't about finding a partner for Penn State. In 17 seasons, the Lions have developed a nice rivalry with Ohio State and a hatred for Iowa. They don't need to bring their little brother school into the family just to have someone to kick around. Also, Pitt adds nothing but a 12th team. If you believe me when I write that this expansion has to be about more than that, then you know why Pitt won't happen.

Rutgers

I'm late coming around on this, but Rutgers adds nothing but a 12th team. Rutgers doesn't "give the Big Ten the New York market" any more than adding Middle Tennessee State would give the league the Nashville market.

West Virginia, Cincinnati, Louisville, Syracuse

They don't add anything but a 12th team.

Iowa State

Now you're just being silly.

Let's Think Bigger

An interesting article in the Tribune yesterday tipped the Big Ten's hand. They're not limiting their thoughts to 12 teams. They are also looking at the possibility of 14 teams in the league. What? Seriously? Yes. Who would this be?

How about Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. Add those three to the league and you control the media markets of the upper Midwest and great plains states. That doesn't add much. But, you add one of the Top 10 football programs, one of the Top 10 basketball programs, and a legitimate contender in both. That I find interesting. How do these divisions strike you:

Big Ten North	Big Ten South	or....	Big Ten East	Big Ten West
Michigan	Ohio State		Penn State	Nebraska
Michigan State	Indiana		Ohio State	Kansas
Wisconsin	Purdue		Michigan	Missouri
Minnesota	Kansas		Michigan State	Iowa
Iowa	Missouri		Indiana	Wisconsin
Northwestern	Illinois		Purdue	Minnesota
Nebraska	Penn State		Northwestern	Illinois

I like them, too. I'm partial to the North/South alignment (playing each team in their division, their permanent rival across from them on the list, and one rotating school each year), but I wouldn't argue with the East/West breakdown either. It just doesn't lend itself as well to the split.

Would the three Big Twelve schools come together? Yes, Kansas leaves K-State behind, but i don't think that they'd worry too much about that. Coming together might make the move more palatable for the joiners. I don't know enough about the numbers to know if it would make the league more profitable for the members, but my suspicion is that it would.

If you believe that the league will go for a more balanced geographic approach, maybe it's Missouri, Pittsburgh and Maryland. Look what that could do:

Big Ten North	Big Ten South	or...	Big Ten East	Big Ten West
Michigan	Ohio State		Maryland	Missouri
Michigan State	Maryland		Penn State	Iowa
Pitt	Penn State		Pitt	Minnesota
Wisconsin	Purdue		Ohio State	Wisconsin
Minnesota	Indiana		Michigan	Illinois
Iowa	Missouri		Michigan State	Northwestern
Northwestern	Illinois		Indiana	Purdue

When you add three teams, you're adding a championship game, but you're also adding 12 extra regular season games. That's increasing regular season product by more than 25%, and likely adding a premium to the value. It's a good deal for all involved.

Let's Think Biggest

Reread the money quote from the Tribune. The league is also considering 16 team options. What? Sixteen? What would that look like? My friends, it would look like the start of a playoff system.

Big Ten East	Big Ten North	Big Ten West	Big Ten South
Penn State	Michigan	Iowa	Ohio State
Indiana	Northwestern	Minnesota	Illinois
Maryland	Michigan State	Wisconsin	Missouri
Pitt	Purdue	Nebraska	Kansas

How would you schedule this for football? Let's dream a bit. Each team plays the three teams in their division, and four teams from another division. The eighth game will be decided by standings and played on Thanksgiving weekend, with the first place teams facing off in the league championship semi-finals. You could rotate what divisions face each other for full slates and what divisions meet head to head on Thanksgiving weekend. Do you think that Big Ten semi-final weekend would get ratings? TV Money? Attention?

I know that this is a radical change from anything that college football has done. And, I realize that these divisions will move away from the traditional rival system (thus, likely making it a non-starter). But, this is the time to think in these terms. The stodgy Big Ten is allowing itself to dream right now. It should be encouraged to think as big as it can.

Remember: Think Big

Over the next 12-18 months, you'll read periodic articles focused on one small addition to the Big Ten roster. Remember that won't happen. If expansion occurs, it will be because the Big Ten was able to get Bigger.

h/t on the title to Frank the Tank.

Addendum:

We never said what we were going to name this Bigger Big Ten. Sure, we could stick with the easy moniker and keep the Big Ten. Or we could go to the Big 14 or Big 16. But we can do better than that. We need something that demonstrates our dominance in college football. Something that shows that we will not only compete with those Southern units, but that we will dominate them. Got it...

THE UNION

Gen. Sherman approves.

See No Big Ten, Hear No Big Ten, Speak No Big Ten

Sean Keeley — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:00:33 -0000

View full size photo »

Some quick reaction from each school that is considered a decent contender for the eventual Big Ten invite:

Syracuse

[AD DOCTOR Daryl Gross is] not discussing the Big Ten's expansion because it's a Big Ten matter, not a Syracuse matter."

Rutgers

"We are a proud member of the Big East Conference," Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti said in a statement. "It is not our place to speculate on the expansion plans of any other conference."

Pittsburgh

No Comment.

Well then...carry on.

Fortune Teller: 2009 Bowl Predictions (Part 1)

Brian @ BCI — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:16:14 -0000

For the third straight year, we preview the upcoming college football postseason. Here are our picks for bowls 1-17, which takes you from the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque to El Paso, Texas for the Sun Bowl.

Leave your thoughts on any of the first 17 matchups below.

New Mexico (December 19)

Matchup: Fresno State (8-4) vs. Wyoming (6-6)
The Line: Fresno State -11.5

The Lead: Wyoming makes only its second trip to a bowl this decade while Fresno State makes its 9th bowl appearance in the last 10 years. Fresno State returns to New Mexico for the second straight year (losing to Colorado State 40-35 last year).

Brian Pick: Fresno State -11.5
Jeff Pick: Wyoming +11.5

St. Petersburg presented by Beef ‘O’ Brady’s (December 19)

Matchup: UCF (8-4) vs. Rutgers (8-4)
The Line: Rutgers -2.5

The Lead: Rutgers just making a bowl game game is no longer exciting for their players and fans who had higher hopes coming into this season than to finish 3-4 in the Big East. UCF meanwhile will be playing less than three hours from their campus and should be thrilled to be there.

Jeff Pick: UCF +2.5
Brian Pick: Rutgers -2.5

R + L Carrier New Orleans (December 20)

Matchup: Southern Miss (7-5) vs. Middle Tennessee (9-3)
The Line: Southern Miss -3.5

The Lead: Southern Miss returns to the New Orleans Bowl for the second straight year. Last year, Southern Miss blocked a field goal in overtime to defeat Troy 30-27 in one of the more entertaining 2008 bowl games. Middle Tennessee State is one of the hottest teams in the country, having won 6 straight and reaching the 9 win plateau for the first time since joining Division I-A in 1999. Southern Miss has a perfect 3-0 record in the New Orleans Bowl.

Brian Pick: Southern Miss -3.5
Jeff Pick: Southern Miss -3.5

MAACO Las Vegas (December 22)

Matchup: Oregon State (8-4) vs. BYU (10-2)
The Line: Oregon State -2.5

The Lead: BYU was on top of the world after beating Oklahoma to start the season. Oregon State was on top of the college football world in the final Thursday night of the season when playing Oregon for the Pac-10 title. Things didn't work out as either team had hoped from those points on though and they both fell to the pre-Christmas Las Vegas Bowl. Oregon State has plenty to prove though as they attempt to beat BYU, TCU and Boise State in the next 11 months and serve as the non-BCS school killer.

Jeff Pick: Oregon State -2.5
Brian Pick: Oregon State -2.5

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia (December 23)

Matchup: Utah (9-3) vs. California (8-4)
The Line: California -3

The Lead: With BC losing to Vanderbilt last season, Utah now owns the longest active winning streak in bowl games, having won their last 8 games including last year’s Sugar Bowl over Alabama. Cal is riding a seven game streak for bowl apperances, the longest in school history.

Brian Pick: Utah +3
Jeff Pick: Utah +3

Sheraton Hawaii (December 24)

Matchup: Nevada (8-4) vs. SMU (7-5)
The Line: Nevada -15

The Lead: This game features a very good WAC team against a very good C-USA team but does that mean that they are actually good teams? It's tough to say. Neither team has a very impressive win this season and both seemed to lose all their games when they had opportunities to prove themselves. Will anyone watch the Christmas Eve game in Hawaii? Other than Brian?

Jeff Pick: SMU +15
Brian Pick: Nevada -15

Little Caesars (December 26)

Matchup: Marshall (6-6) vs. Ohio (9-4)
The Line: Ohio -2.5

The Lead: This game renews a rivalry game between the two schools located only 80 miles apart. Ohio and Marshall used to compete in the Battle for the Bell which is set to be renewed in 2010. Ohio leads the all-time series 29-17-6, however Marshall has won 8 of the last 10 matchups between the two geographic neighbors.

Brian Pick: Ohio -2.5
Jeff Pick: Ohio -2.5

Meineke Car Care (December 26)

Matchup: Pittsburgh (9-3) vs. North Carolina (8-4)
The Line: Pittsburgh -3

The Lead: What a disappointing finish to the season for Pittsburgh. Pitt lost to their backyard brawl rival West Virginia before losing to Cincinnati in a de-facto Big East Championship game. The Panthers led the entire game against Cincinnati but could not finish so now instead of the Orange Bowl they get a trip to Charlotte to play North Carolina in a "road" bowl game. Good luck getting your team fired up for this one, Dave!

Jeff Pick: North Carolina +3
Brian Pick: Pittsburgh -3

Emerald (December 26)

Matchup: Boston College (8-4) vs. USC (8-4)
The Line: USC -9

The Lead: The 8-4 Eagles travel to San Francisco for the second time this decade to take on the 8-4 USC Trojans. This is the first time in seven years that USC hasn’t played in a BCS bowl game (5 Rose Bowls, 2 Orange Bowls). Good news for the Eagles is the last time Pete Carroll found himself in a non-BCS bowl game, the Trojans lost 10-6 to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl. You don't think we would pick against BC now, do you?

Brian Pick: Boston College +9
Jeff Pick: Boston College +9

Gaylor Hotels Music City (December 27)

Matchup: Kentucky (7-5) vs. Clemson (8-5)
The Line: Clemson -7.5

The Lead: If Boston College's 2008 performance in the Music City Bowl is any indication of how Clemson might play this year after the disappointing ACC Championship Game, it's is going to be tough to watch for Tiger fans. But after losing to South Carolina, the ACC really doesn't need Clemson, or any of its top programs, to lose to mediocre SEC teams. Clemson ticket sales for the bowl have been soft but hopefully Dabo can rally this team to victory.

Jeff Pick: Kentucky +7.5
Brian Pick: Clemson -7.5

AdvoCare V100 Independence (December 28)

Matchup: Texas A&M (6-6) vs. Georgia (7-5)
The Line: Georgia -7

The Lead: Georgia wraps up an otherwise disappointing, up-and-down season in Shreveport, Louisiana. For every quality win for UGA, there seemed to be an equally puzzling loss this year. Defeat Arkansas, get crushed at Tennessee. Defeat Auburn, lose to Kentucky at home, come back and defeat in-state rival Georgia Tech. Texas A&M has had a similar up-and-down season, but seemingly backed into the postseason having lost 3 of their last 4 games.

Brian Pick: Georgia -7
Jeff Pick: Georgia -7

EagleBank (December 29)

Matchup: UCLA (6-6) vs. Temple (9-3)
The Line: UCLA -4

The Lead: UCLA had to wait to see the result of the Army-Navy game before getting officially invited to this bowl game. In the bowl's second season, I don't imagine that their will be much hype this year compared to last year's geographically favorable matchup of Wake Forest vs. Navy. Look for Temple to surprise some people and possibly knock off a BCS school in this one.

Jeff Pick: Temple +4
Brian Pick: Temple +4

Champs Sports (December 29)

Matchup: Miami (Fla.) (9-3) vs. Wisconsin (9-3)
The Line: Miami -3

The Lead: This year’s Champs Sports Bowl is a matchup of 9-3 ranked teams. Both teams are coming off strong finishes, each winning 4 of their final 5 games. Wisconsin finished the season with a 51-10 drubbing of Hawaii on the road, while Miami took care of USF 31-10. Miami is 2-0 all-time in the Champs Sports Bowl. Wisconsin played in Orlando last season, losing to Florida State 42-13. This is the last year the Big 10 will be represented in this bowl as the Big East will send a team to face an ACC opponent starting next season.

Brian Pick: Miami -3
Jeff Pick: Miami -3

Roady’s Humanitarian (December 30)

Matchup: Bowling Green (8-5) vs. Idaho (7-5)
The Line: Idaho +1.5

The Lead: Another game that might set an attendance record this season but not the kind of record that you want to be setting if you are putting this bowl together. Boise fans might already be on their way to the Fiesta Bowl so even getting a few locals to come out for this game will be difficult. Bowling Green has a pretty good WR, and Idaho plays home games in a dome. That's all I have for this one.

Jeff Pick: Bowling Green -1.5
Brian Pick: Idaho +1.5

Pacific Life Holiday (December 30)

Matchup: Arizona (8-4) vs. Nebraska (9-4)
The Line: Arizona -1.5

The Lead: Arizona - having defeated the Trojans 21-17 to move to 6-3 in conference - will represent the Pac-10 as its #2 team in the Holiday Bowl. Nebraska won the Big 12 North, finishing the season at 9-4, 6-2 in conference. The Cornhuskers are coming off a heartbreaking 13-12 loss to Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Brian Pick: Arizona -1.5
Jeff Pick: Nebraska +1.5

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces (December 31)

Matchup: Houston (10-3) vs. Air Force (7-5)
The Line: Houston -4.5

The Lead: The mighty Houston Cougars who knocked off Oklahoma State at home are only 4.5 point favorites against Air Force? Oh right, we later found out that Oklahoma State was not nearly as good as anyone thought the would be and failed to make a push for a BCS bowl by nearly losing to Colorado and then getting destroyed by Oklahoma to end the season. Air Force had another nice season but only managed a 1-5 record against bowl bound teams this season.

Jeff Pick: Air Force +4.5
Brian Pick: Houston -4.5

Brut Sun (December 31)

Matchup: Oklahoma (7-5) vs. Stanford (8-4)
The Line: Oklahoma -8

The Lead: This should be an intriguing matchup between the unstoppable force (Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart and the 15th ranked Stanford Cardinal offense) and the immovable object (Oklahoma's 7th ranked defense). Oklahoma has had an otherwise disappointing season, that is, up until they put a 27-0 hurtin' on in-state rival Oklahoma State in Bedlam. Stanford may or may not be playing without the services of starting freshman quarterback Andrew Luck.

Brian Pick: Stanford +8
Jeff Pick: Oklahoma -8

Idle Musing About Big Ten Expansion

Oops Pow Surprise — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:26:49 -0000

More photos » by Keith Srakocic - AP

Is this really the best we can do? Really? (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

Browse more photos »

Okay, so even though expansion is probably a go--probably--none of this talk is going to be relevant for at least a year and probably much longer. Is that going to stop us? Has it ever?

Notre Dame's not going to happen. Why? Because there's likely far too large a disconnect between each side's perception of Notre Dame's value to the conference. Both the school and the conference probably think "they need us more than we need them," and only the conference would be right. Jim Delaney would likely want no part of such a radioactively bitchy athletic department and fanbase.

I get why Pitt's a natural fit for the conference and everything, but doesn't it seem like they're almost too good a fit? By that I mean their inclusion doesn't bring anything to the table except a "12th for the sake of 12." The footprint doesn't grow at all and there aren't any markets that come into play; would that even be a net positive in terms of BTN money per school? And that's not even taking into consideration the looming nightmare of crafting divisions. So yeah, might happen, but we'd prefer something a little more beneficial than the Wannstache and his minions.

Cincinnati is right out.

Missouri still intrigues me, although "Big Ten West" would scarcely be better at football than "Big Twelve North." Not a dig on Missouri, but just saying--all the post-1955 greatness (and about 90% of the pre-) is on the other side of Lake Michigan. It's likely in Missouri's best interests to at least entertain some overtures from the Big Ten, though; Missouri fans have been feeling far more disrespect from the Big 12 than any school should get from its conference (passed up for ISU? Seriously?), and if nothing else they should use the opportunity to strengthen their standing within the Big Roman Numerals. Otherwise, that BTN revenue sharing looks better and better.

Iowa State would immediately diminish the Big Ten's standing in every single aspect. They don't even belong in Division I, much less the Big Ten. No. No no no.

Any other Big 12 North schools would probably not have much reciprocal interest; they're too far away geographically and pretty well entrenched in that old Big 8 family.

As for Texas, yes, they were on the conference's radar, but there's no damn way they'd share their TV money. They're the king of the Big XII, and it'd be moronic for them to pass up any aspect of their relationship with the conference. Delaney would love to have them. And I'd love to be able to dunk on a 12-foot rim.

Syracuse and Rutgers are candidates for roughly the same reason: New York Money. Granted, they're both fine institutions with solid academic reputations, but let's be honest, the Big Ten wants to get on television screens in the Big Apple. It's quite reminiscent of when the NHL took a franchise from Winnipeg to Phoenix, since the Phoenix market is several times larger than Winnipeg. That, I assure you, has not worked out very well. You can't plop something foreign down in a major market and just expect people to pony up money. So if Syracuse or Rutgers joins and Delany tries to pressure cable companies in New York to buy into the BTN, guess what? It's probably not going to happen, and we're going to look remarkably stupid for thinking it would.

Of course, the best option--still and always--is Cornell.

Four Things The Big East Conference Needs To Do Right Now

Sean Keeley — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:52:11 -0000

View full size photo »

The Big Ten is coming for us. Maybe not us as in Syracuse but us as in the Big East. Talk all you like about Missouri and Nebraska and Boise State but at the end of the day the most obvious scenario for Big Ten expansion involves someone from the Big East jumping ship. Yes, Notre Dame makes the most sense but they're Notre Dame which means they're going to be asshats about it. That leaves us. Our teams represent the best media markets and are the most vulnerable in the finance and stability categories. If the Big East wants to nip the rampant speculation that will occur over the next 12-18 months, they should do so now with these easy steps.

Grow A F***ing Pair

The Big Ten basically admitted yesterday that they intend to inquire about the possibility of sleeping with the Big East's wife. The Big East's reaction? "I don't want to talk about it." You don't want to talk about. Well guess what, neither did Tiger Woods. How's he doing? Meanwhile everyone and their mother has written a post about possible Big Ten expansion scenarios and 99% of them involve your teams.

What happened last time the Big East tried to play it cool at first? The ACC nearly destroyed the entire conference. Seven years later and we're finally getting back on track. But even so, we're still in an extremely vulnerable position, especially when another BCS conference is throwing goo-goo eyes and promised riches at one of our schools.

Commissioner Marinatto, you need to be less Bud Selig and more Roger Goodell right now. I don't care what you do...issue a statement, hold a press conference, put Greg Schiano in a headlock until he agrees to stay in the conference...whatever it is, do SOMETHING.

Begin The Process Of Calling Up Villanova

Seriously, I don't know how many times I need to say this. And I don't care if Villanova doesn't want to become 1-A. They need to be convinced that they should become 1-A, you see what I mean? We've got guys in Providence who can smack some sense into those Philadelphia knuckleheads, right?

I've ranted on the need to bring in Villanova to the Big East before but to reiterate, it literally solves every major issue we have. It adds a ninth team to the conference, rounds out the conference schedule so it's even, maintains the integrity of the conference by adding a school that is already a member and it gives the Big East back the Philadelphia market. The Cats can split time with Temple in Lincoln Financial Stadium for the time being.

Worried about their ability to compete? Don't. Look how quickly UConn and South Florida got it together. And the timing couldn't be more perfect for the Wildcats, they're in the 1-AA finals.

This needs to happen.

Stop Thinking Like A Basketball Conference

I know. The Big East was founded on basketball. Congratulation, you win a medal. Actually, no, you don't win a medal. You win nothing. All you get to do is allow DePaul, Seton Hall and St. John's to continue to pretend that they're still viable, long-term major conference programs and not overblown Atlantic-10 teams. Huzzah and kudos.

The Big East has been run by Providence guys for a long time and that's shaped a lot of how it's been run. Basketball first. But guess what, if the conference gets raided and Syracuse or Pitt leaves, they're not going to stick around for basketball. They're gone for good. A flagship basketball program will up and vanish like a fart in the wind.

Marinatto, I know you're not willing to make the truly tough decisions. The truly tough decisions would be to excise a lot of the regional school fat that's weighing the basketball conference down. So if you can't do that, at least reorganize the basketball side in order to accommodate football a little better. Whatever that means to you...be it splitting the basketball-only schools off from the "all-purpose partners" or just shifting the way we go about business. Just don't hide behind the excuse of "we're a basketball conference," because you won't have any good basketball programs left pretty soon.

Come Up With A Ten-Year Plan

Eventually, the Big East needs to consist of 12 teams. It just does. If we can't beat the SEC or Big Ten or Big 12 with quality, we need to at the very least match them with quantity. Especially now that the MWC is gaining steam and is likely to expand or do whatever it can to get a stronger BCS foothold, the Big East can't be the weakest AND the smallest BCS conference. We can one or the other, but not both.

I said it yesterday but college conferences are like sharks, they move forward or they die. If Big East football remains stagnant for the next 3-4 years and makes no plans to expand, it will cease to exist shortly-thereafter. It will get raided by the Big Ten or someone else.

Explore your options. Identify your targets. Let's cannibalize Conference USA now in order to prevent our own cannibalization. East Carolina? Central Florida? Memphis? Navy? Army? I don't care but make something happen. At this point its about saving your skin.

Could Big Ten Expansion Force the SEC to Bring In a New School?

T Kyle King — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:15:09 -0000

Big Ten expansion talk is all the rage, even here in SEC country, and, while the Notre Dame Fighting Irish remain atop the list despite being obviously unattainable and the Pittsburgh Panthers make the most sense, much attention is being paid to the apparently interested Missouri Tigers, with respect to whom Big Ten aficionados not only have an idea, they have a plan.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that happens. Short of the Golden Domers climbing down from their high horse (which isn’t going to happen now that the arrival of Brian Kelly has ensured Notre Dame’s inevitable return to ~~relevance~~ ~~competence~~ dominance), conference expansion is a zero-sum game; if the Big Ten increases from eleven teams to twelve by poaching Mizzou, the Big 12 decreases from twelve teams to eleven. The Big 12 is going to need a new team.

Maybe it’s just the traditionalist in me, but it seems to me that there can be only one choice for Big 12 expansion should Missouri bolt for browner pastures. The Arkansas Razorbacks have a longstanding rivalry with the Texas Longhorns, currently have a series going with the Texas A&M Aggies, and have deep Southwest Conference roots. Turnabout is fair play, so a Big Ten that includes Missouri could mean a Southeastern Conference sans Arkansas.

If the first domino falls, the line could topple all the way to the SEC’s doorstep, raising the question . . . where would the SEC turn if it had to replace the Hogs? The options, it would seem, are these, in no particular order:

Louisville Cardinals: U. of L. shares an in-state rivalry with the Kentucky Wildcats and just hired longtime SEC defensive coordinator Charlie Strong. The ‘Ville would bolster the league’s basketball reputation but the Cardinals have been only intermittently good at football. Still, as a current member of an automatic BCS-qualifying conference, Louisville would have to get a look, although it’s too bad the Cards would be brought in to replace Arkansas, because a series between Bobby "Pignocchio" Petrino’s current and former schools would be fun to watch.

South Florida Bulls: I’m not saying they deserve it, but any number of SEC coaches would love another annual opportunity to travel to the recruiting hotbed of the Sunshine State. Tampa is an attractive market and USF has been consistently respectable (albeit no more than that) since making the jump to the Big East. You’d have to think the Florida Gators would scream and howl at having to add an in-state conference rival to their existing slate, though. This brings us to . . .

Florida St. Seminoles: Let’s not mince words here. If you were an SEC football fan in 1991, you thought Bobby Bowden ducked the SEC in order to pad FSU’s schedule with ACC games. It’s time to atone for that gutless decision now that the Jimbo Fisher era is underway. This would make great sense for the Gators, whose season-ender against the ‘Noles would count as a conference game, although it likely would increase the pressure on the Saurians to schedule the Miami Hurricanes more frequently. Regular trips to Tallahassee by the Georgia Bulldogs would please the conspiracy theorists among the Red and Black fan base, who would wonder regularly whether Mark Richt would just stay put once he got back to his old stomping grounds. While we’re on the subject of in-state out-of-conference rivals, I suppose I should mention . . .

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: I would be 100 per cent opposed to this idea, but you’d have to admit it makes sense. The Engineers played in the SEC for many years and were a part of some of the league’s great rivalries at one time. The Ramblin’ Wreck left the conference at the tail end of the Bobby Dodd era and had their efforts to rejoin the league rebuffed, so both sides might be lukewarm on a reconciliation. After both of this year’s ACC division champions fell to middling SEC East outfits that came into their battles for local bragging rights sporting 6-5 ledgers, it’s doubtful whether the Orange Bowl-bound Golden Tornado would want to trade a shot at a big-money bowl in the soft ACC for a lower spot in the league pecking order. In theory, Georgia Tech could enjoy home town advantage in an SEC championship game, but, honestly, that’s not much of a risk.

Clemson Tigers: Admittedly, I’m biased, but this option makes the most sense to me. The Country Gentlemen are comfortably within the SEC’s geographic footprint and share longstanding rivalries with the ‘Dawgs and the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Fort Hill Felines also share a common heritage with several other SEC schools which would make league games intriguing: Walter Riggs and John Heisman established strong ties between Clemson and the Auburn Tigers; the Alabama Crimson Tide have produced numerous coaches for the Orange and Purple, including Frank Howard, Danny Ford, and current skipper Dabo Swinney; Charley Pell landed both Clemson and Florida on probation; the LSU Tigers could host the Country Gentlemen in Death Valley before traveling to face them in Death Valley. Culturally, the Tiger faithful are a much more comfortable fit with the rabid fans of the Southeastern Conference than with the Big Ten wannabes of the Atlantic Coast Conference and an SEC association certainly wouldn’t hurt the proud Clemson baseball program. Should we be willing to trade the Razorbacks for the Tigers? Ken Hatfield certainly was, and he was an Arkansas alum.

If it were up to me, the Big Ten would add Missouri, the Big 12 would add Arkansas, the SEC would add Clemson, and the ACC would . . . actually, I don’t care what the ACC does. I say let’s ship the Hogs back to their old stomping grounds, move the Tennessee Volunteers over from the SEC East to the SEC West (where the Vols properly belong, given their natural rivalries with Alabama and Auburn), add Clemson to the SEC East, and have at it.

Go ‘Dawgs!

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Wednesday (12/16/09) Edition

WVUIE97 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:39:15 -0000

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information and some fun distractions. Today we're being brought to you by Victoria Bitter Gold in honor of today's Miss Throwdown.

The big news everywhere seems to be B11 expansion. Almost every article I found of fellow BE football members want their team considered. That does say something about the state of our conference, regardless of your or my personal opinions. Plenty inside about that. I've also got something special planned for around 1pm today. So make sure to check back then. Tips, suggestions and requests would be greatly appreciated. Here we go...

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Report for Wednesday - WVMETRONEWS.COM

2009 CFN All-Big East Team & Top 30 Players - Scout.com

Big East better watch out for Big Ten expansion - ESPN

Big Ten to explore possibility of expansion in next 12 to 18 months - ESPN

Expanding to 12 teams could hurt Big Ten in BCS, pocketbook - SI.com

Time is right to explore Big Ten expansion - ESPN

College Football Live Extra: Dec. 15th - ESPN Video
ESPN Video: Should the Big Ten expand?

Momentum seems to be on side of Big Ten expansion -- chicagotribune.com
"Joe Paterno's strong comments at the Big Ten meetings in May were "catalytic," according to a league source. Paterno's criticism that the league "goes into hiding for six weeks" between the regular season and the BCS bowls prompted some to re-examine their views on a league title game."

Mountaineers in the NFL - WVIllustrated.com

What's On Tap:

UCF vs. South Florida - SI.com
Tonight at 7 from the Sun Dome in Tampa on ESPN 360. The Bulls are giving 8.5.

Oral Roberts vs. Louisville - SI.com
Tonight at 7 on ESPN 360 from Freedom Hall. No line given. Can ORU pull the upset for their recently departed patriarch?

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. UAB Blazers - ESPN
Tonight at 7 from Birmingham. Cinci is favored by 1.5. No TV that I can find.

Video of Interest:

Thanks to WVIllustrated.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

An appetizer for later today.

Cool Toy Gallery of the Week:

Hey!!! It's not all T&A around here...sometimes.

via coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is a gorgeous Aussie actress. Say G'Day to Nicky Whelan. The link leads to a message board posting. The gallery is at the top if it's slow loading for you.

via img249.imageshack.us

This seems to be her. I say close enough.

Victoria Bitter Gold image via www.jankvollmer.de

SB Nation - Pittsburgh Panthers

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Tuesday (12/22/09) Edition

What You May Have Missed:

News of Note (FB):

News of Note (BB):

What's On Tap:

Around the League (and Beyond):

Video of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Babe Year in Review Gallery of the Week:

Miss Throwdown:

The Domino Effect of Big 10 Expansion, Will it Affect the Mountain West?

The Octonion: New Moon

Big Ten Expansion: 11+1 Can't Equal 12

Let's add that 12th Team:

Let's Think Bigger

Let's Think Biggest

Remember: Think Big

Addendum:

THE UNION

See No Big Ten, Hear No Big Ten, Speak No Big Ten

Fortune Teller: 2009 Bowl Predictions (Part 1)

New Mexico (December 19)

St. Petersburg presented by Beef ‘O’ Brady’s (December 19)

R + L Carrier New Orleans (December 20)

MAACO Las Vegas (December 22)

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia (December 23)

Sheraton Hawaii (December 24)

Little Caesars (December 26)

Meineke Car Care (December 26)

Emerald (December 26)

Gaylor Hotels Music City (December 27)

AdvoCare V100 Independence (December 28)

EagleBank (December 29)

Champs Sports (December 29)

Roady’s Humanitarian (December 30)

Pacific Life Holiday (December 30)

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces (December 31)

Brut Sun (December 31)

Idle Musing About Big Ten Expansion

Four Things The Big East Conference Needs To Do Right Now

Could Big Ten Expansion Force the SEC to Bring In a New School?

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Wednesday (12/16/09) Edition

What You May Have Missed:

News of Note (FB):

News of Note (BB):

Recruiting:

Around the League (and Beyond):

What's On Tap:

Video of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Cool Toy Gallery of the Week:

Miss Throwdown: