Just a quick note to all the members of Cornnation and the other SBN blogs to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Hope this finds everyone healthy wealthy and wise. Good Luck to you and your teams this bowl season (well except Clemson I hope they play their worst game of the year.) Sorry guys cant hope you beat us. I do hope you and your families are well just hope you team has a bad game.

So once again it is November and the BCS looks to be in disarray. Imagine that. It has been a joke almost since its conception. The polls are nothing but popularity contest done by a bunch of guys who vote their favorite team to the top. And the coaches....well they are usually to busy coaching to watch very many games. So here goes one fans playoff thoughts.

First, I would cut the number of 1-A teams. For the purpose of this blog I am narrowing it down to 94 teams. 7 conferences with 12 teams. All having a conference championship game. They would be the Big XII, The SEC, the ACC, The Big Ten (adding Notre Dame), The Pac Ten (adding Hawaii), The Big East (adding Marshall, East Carolina, Army and Navy), The Mountain West (adding Boise St, Tulsa, Houston, and Fresno St.). The rest would be moved down a division. I know we could add more and probably should but this is for the sake of this.

Second I would make the rankings based on a point system similar to Nebraskas high school system. Its not perfect but it works. Something like this.

Teams with 0-4 wins-- a victory over one of these teams is worth 2 points, a loss cost you 10 points. Teams with 5-8 wins---victory is worth 5 points, a loss cost you 3. Teams with 9-12 wins---victory is worth 10 points while a loss only cost you 1 point. This would make teams schedule better teams and make for better games.

Either that or you let the NCAA do the scheduling. Keep the 12 game schedule, try to get it so that each team has 4 games against teams from each teir. I know it would be hard due to who is in each conference but they could try to get it as close as possible. All games would be played on a home and home basis so that each team gets a chance to play on each others field.

You take the top 16 teams based on the point system no conference tie ins. The higher ranking team gets a home game until the final which would be played at a neutral site. Gate and TV money gets split down the middle between the two schools but the home team gets to keep the concession money etc.

What about the other 78 teams?? Well let them continue to go to the bowl games. The only ones that would get hurt are the BCS bowls, most of the others are meaningless anyway so why would that change anything. And yes I know that most people want to keep the bowls involved in some way but you would never make them happy anyway and most teams dont have enough fans to travel to Florida or California or whereever for 3 more games. And I also know that if one of the lower ranked teams were to win it all they would have to travel for 4 games, but hey, you dont like it? Get better.

So there you go. Flaws and all that is my rough outline for the playoffs. Bash away boys. Lots of things could be better explained but I think you get the idea.

As much as everyone seems to want Bo Pelini as the next head coach (a thing I would not be totally against) I would much rather see Turner Gill. A former Husker player and coach Gill is the one to lead the turn around at NU.

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I wish you would have left the diaries alone Jon as it is harder then hell to post one now. I made a pick'em deal last week and thought I had it posted but to my surprise I found out I was wrong. Well lets hope this week is better and here are the games.
Since I am doing this on Sept. 11th I am also honoring our service men by picking their games this week.

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Here are this weeks pickem games. I will try to get it out on Tuesday of every week from now on. I had forgot that I told MR. Corn that I would do this so have fun and see how you do. I hope to have all the big games to pick this year and kind of keep a running score for the year.

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Let me be the first on the blog to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy 2007. May your bellys be full and your wallets fuller. Heres to hoping we dont see a single loss for the Huskers in 2007.

My 2007 wish list (top 6 Husker related)

1. Huskers win Cotton Bowl. Dont care by how much just that they win.
2. Tom Osborne becomes the new NU AD.
3. The Huskers win the 2007 (or would it be 2008?) MNC.
4. Bill Callahan goes back to coaching in the NFL.
5. Turner Gill returns to be head coach at NU. Puts in an offense that is part Option and part West Coast. Calls it the West Coast Option (Heck even Switzer and Holtz said you could still win using just the option). Recruits a qb that can run like Tommie Frazier and pass like Zac Taylor.
6. Doc Sadler has continued success as the BBall coach.

NU first downs: 18
   Net Rush yds: 175
   net Pass yds: 300
   total net yds: 475
   sacks by: 3

Auburn net rush yds: 104
       net pass yds: 175
       net total yds: 279

NU pts: 24
Auburn pts: 13

Total pts 37

Jon, for some reason I wasn't able to post any comments so I had to put my entry through a new diary. Did something get screwed up when you cleaned up the other stuff? Oh well I guess I am in.
   

Championship games and the last of the rivalries.

Champ. games first
Thurs: Mac
Cent. Mich. vs. Ohio--A coach who bypassed the Big XII against a coach who came from the Big XII. Ohio has been a celler dweller for years and Solich now has them playing in the big game in year two. MY PICK= Ohio

Fri: Con. USA
So.Miss. vs Houston--I dont really know much about either team. NU should have played Houston this year would have looked better then Nichols St. MY PICK=Houston

Sat: ACC
Wake Forest vs. Geo. Tech--Wow who would have predicted this at the start of the year? I have to root for the cinderella Wake. If for no other reason then NU plays them next year and it will make the schedule look better playing the ACC champ. MY PICK=Wake

SEC
Arkansas vs. Florida--I dont know who to pick in this one. The only common opponent that went different is LSU. Fla beat them but Ark. lost. Neither really stands out against the other. MY PICK= Arkansas in the upset.

Big XII
NU vs OU-- Finally the real rivalry. Its about time this game was for the Championship. Pederson not playing for OU gives NU an advantage. I like NUs chances against OU because they dont have a great passing game and NU plays better against the run. If we turn OU into a passing team and we can pass the ball at all we win. MY PICK=NU of course.

Other games:

Rutgers@West Virginia--If Rutgers wins they win the Big East. If not and Louisville wins they win it. Rooting for cinderella2. MY PICK=Rutgers

USC@UCLA--Another rivalry that is usually close and I think UCLA is better this year then in the past few years. But I think USC wins this anyway.MY PICK=USC

Stanford@Cal--I had this game listed last week but it is played this week. MY PICK=Still going with Cal.

Army@Navy--Navy is way to much for Army this year and the wishbone will not break. Could have 3 guys over 100yds rushing. MY PICK=Navy

Jon do you want me to do the bowl games? If so do you want them all or just the big ones? Would be happy to do it if you want.

A few more rival games this weekend and some important match ups also. Lots of games to pick this week.

Big XII
CU@NU--Please god no collapse this weekend. Please,please,please. NU has only lost once when I have attended, KSU 2003. I will be there. MY PICK=NU

KU@MIZZU--KU is coming off win in last rivalry game and MU is down. KU may still be playing to get into a bowl. MY PICK=KU

aTm@UT--The Burnt Orange is just too much for the Aggies. MY PICK=UT

OU@OSU--I always thought this was the "Civil War". It is always a good game and OSU might need to win to get to a bowl. MY PICK=OU

Others (and lots of them)

Boston Coll.@Miami--No Doug Flutie but will he be needed? MY PICK=BC
Wake Forest@Maryland--Wake wins the ACC Atlantic with a win. MY PICK=Wake
Geo. Tech@Geo.--The real "Peach Bowl"? MY PICK=Tech
Virginia@Vir.Tech--Tech should have no problem this year. MY PICK=Tech
Notre Dame@USC--The winner keeps their MNC hopes alive. MY PICK=USC
Stanford@Cal--The "Battle of the Band" or "The Big Game" you decide. MY PICK=Cal
LSU@Ark--Will Mich ST. look harder at Bo if LSU wins? MY PICK=LSU in the upset.
Florida@Fla.ST--Florida still in MNC hunt. Fla ST just trying to play spoiler. MY PICK=Florida
Miss ST@OLE MISS.--Isn't this the "Egg Bowl" or something. Does anyone care? MY PICK=Ole Miss.
Oregon@Oregon ST.--Bragging rights the only thing on the line in this game. MY PICK=OSU
Arizona ST.@ Arizona--No Sam Keller No win. Oh wait that is Bell and Baylor. MY PICK=ASU
Kentucky@Tennessee--The "Hillbilly Bowl". Not really but wouldn't that be great. Bill probably wouldn't go though. MY PICK=Tennessee.

The Big XII has ties to 8 bowl games and now has 9 teams eligible. Will all 9 get in or will someone stay home? There are still some games yet to be played and the outcome should decide some of that but there is some what if to consider.
KU is 6-5 and has to play Mizzu. OSU is 6-5 and has to play OU. If one or both lose they will be 6-6, with OSU beating KU earlier in the year I would think OSU would have the edge. But what happens if both win? That would leave KSU, MU, KU, TT, and OSU with 7-5 records. Do all get into bowl games then? If not who is out? KU would have victories over KSU and MU and a loss to OSU. KSU would have loses to KU, and MU but a win over OSU. They also have the win over Texas. Both have lost to Baylor. MU would have wins over TT and KSU but a loss to KU. Tech would have a loss to MU and a win over OSU. OSU would have a win over KU and loses to KSU and TT, they would have wins over NU and OU. A KU victory over MU would give them second place in the North (using head to head tie breaker) and that should give them a bowl birth I would think. But then again everyone says the North is the weakest division in major college football so would that be enough?
Man am I glad I dont have to decide all of this. Someone will probably be a little upset this year.

There are a few rivalry games this weekend so I tried to cover most of them.

Big XII

KSU@KU--KSU is coming off their biggest win in 3 years or more and KU is trying to get bowl eligable. Can KSU and Freeman win in Lawrence? Will KU be fired up enough to end the suspense of the bowl season? I think they will. MY PICK= KU

MU@ISU--Iowa St will be playing McCarneys last game and it is at home so it will also be senior day. Mizzu is really playing for nothing but a better bowl and it will still be crappy. MY PICK=ISU

OU@Baylor--Same as last week. NO Bell. No Win. Plus OU knows it still has a slim chance to win the south. MY PICK=OU

OSU@Tex.Tech--Both teams already bowl eligable and really not much else to play for. OSU has to be looking forward to next week and OU and making sure they dont win the South. MY PICK=Tex. Tech

OTHERS

MICH.@OHIO ST.--The biggest game of the weekend. Never before have they been rated 1-2 when they played. OSU will probably be in the MNC game win or lose but Mich has to win. I think they know that. OSU has more fire power but MU has to be more fired up. How many times has OSU ruined MU season. MY PICK= OSU

Virginia Tech@Wake Forest--Can the cinderella season continue for Wake? Can VT play the spoiler for a change? MY PICK=Wake Forest

Maryland@Boston Coll--Maryland must win if WF does to set up the showdown for the ACC Atlantic title. MY PICK=Maryland

Rutger@Cincinati--Can the cinderella story continue2? Can Rutgers get into the MNC game? MY PICK=Rutgers

Cal@USC--Cal trying to spoil USCs title hopes. Some think USC will get in if they win out. MY PICK=USC

Auburn@Alabama--Will Auburn rebound from last weeks debacle? This is almost always a close game. MY PICK=Auburn

Mich. St@Penn St--Smiths last game at MSU and maybe Joe PAs also? He will be 80 sometime this month. This game could go either way. MY PICK=Penn.St

Washington@Washington St.-- The battle of the Apple Barrell or something like that. State probably needs to win to go to a bowl. MY PICK=Wash. St.

If I left out a rivalry game you want picked go ahead and put it in the comments section and I will pick against you. Good luck.

I haven't seen the new polls yet so am just going to throw my ballot out there. This is an unprofessional guess.
Rank    Team      LW

1. Ohio St.       1
   
2. Michigan       2
   
3. Florida        6
   
4. USC            7
   
5. Notre Dame     9
   
6. West Virginia  10
   
7. Arkansas       11
   
8. LSU            12
   
9. Texas          4
   
10. Rutgers       15
    
11. Auburn        4
    
12. Boise ST.     14
    
13. Louisville    3
    
14. Wisconsin     16
    
15. California    8
    
16. Oklahoma      17
    
17. Wake Forest   18
    
18. Georgia Tech  19
    
19. Virginia Tech 20
    
20. Boston Coll.  22
    
21. Tennessee     13
    
22. Maryland      23
    
23. Nebraska      --
    
24. BYU           25
    
25. Georgia       --

This drops Oregon and aTm out. You could see Penn. St, Clemson, Purdue, Ohio, So. Florida, or Houston enter but I think with the trouncing of Auburn it will be Georgia.

NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND. We have a new race for the South division. With the Texas loss to KSU last night they have to beat aTm or have OU lose a game to clinch the South. If OU wins out and Texas loses to aTm OU will win the South and face NU in the Champoinship game. Kind of funny how everyone was wondering who would emerge from the North to play TU in the game and now we have to wonder who will emerge from the South to play NU. I dont know who to root for. We have the revenge factor in our favor if we play TU but I think we match up better with OU. After watching NU-TU earlier in the year and then the KSU-TU game last night the game looks more winnable no matter who we play. I suddenly like NUs chances a lot more.
So who do you want to play???

Big XII
NU@aTm--This would be a big win for NU. Any team that is 8-2 in the conference is good and would be a good win. MY PICK=NU

Texas@KSU--Tex. has way to much fire power for the Cats. MY PICK=TU

ISU@CU--A battle of losers. I think ISU plays to save McCarney and Cotton. MY PICK=ISU

Texas Tech@OU--If this was at Tech I might be tempted to pick them. Its not. MY PICK=OU

Baylor@Okie ST.--No Bell No win. MY PICK=OSU

OTHERS:
THURSDAY GAME!!!!
Louisville@Rutgers--Battle for the Big East Title? Rutgers trying to get to first ever BCS game. MY PICK=Rutgers

Wake Forest@Fla.ST-- A battle of old and new power in the ACC. MY PICK=Wake

Wisconsin@Iowa--Wisconsin still in Big 10 title hunt (mathmaticly). MY PICK=Wisconsin

Oregon@USC--USC needs to win to keep hope of Pac 10 title or will need lots of help. Oregon trying to play spoiler. MY PICK=Oregon in the upset of the week.

Tennesse@Arkansas--Ark can realisticly wrap up the SEC west title with a win. MY PICK=Arkansas

Alabama@LSU--LSU can still win the West if Ark loses and they win today and in the last game of the season. Yes I know that they have Miss. and Ark has Miss St between these two games but they should be wins for both teams to set up a chance at a west title game in two weeks if Tenn helps with the upset. MY PICK=LSU