Bowl Preview: Meineke Car Care Bowl

Meineke Car Care Bowl
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina
Date: Dec. 26
Time: 4:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Line: Pitt -2.5

About Pitt: The Wannstaches were only a late touchdown away from beating Cincinnati and reaching a BCS game. Instead, they're spending Christmas in Charlotte. Ouch. Pitt's biggest improvement over previous seasons was when offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh took a job with the New York Jets. This let Pitt hire a new OC, Frank Cignetti, who was interested in scoring points. That and they got a freshman running back named Dion Lewis who's sweet.

Intangibles:Peppi's North Side: +5
Pitt campus: -3
Steelers fans: -7
Steelers fans when they suck: +4

About North Carolina: The Tar Heels are returning to the Car Care Bowl for the second season, which may not be quite the visions of Mack Brown-like glory fans were hoping for when they hired Butch Davis. the Heels could be great Saturday. Or they could be terrible. Nobody ever knows. They're kind of like the rest of the ACC. Or any team coached by Butch.

Intangibles: Butch Davis at Miami: +3
Butch Davis with the Browns: -8 (F you, Butch.)
Roy Williams: -3
Not Duke: +3

Impact Player: I'll go with Pitt QB Bill Stull, who I actually saw play in high school as a freshman. He's a little better now. If Stull can make some plays down the field, Pitt wins.

Bowl slogan: "Inviting North Carolina-based teams since 2004 to help our attendance projections!"

Little known fact: North Carolina's uniforms are kind of cool, but kind of gay and make me uncomfortable with own sexuality. Billy, have you ever seen a grown man naked? Wait, what?

Watchability (1-5): 3.8

The pick: Pitt 27, North Carolina 21

Picks of the Week: No. 3

If Stanford hadn't buckled in the second half, and if Texas didn't sleep walk through the first half 'Eer would have been 4-1. Instead the week wasn't as good as I had hoped. So this week I have to prove my mettle. Here we go.

Ohio State (-20.5) over Toledo
Jim Tressel is not known as a guy who runs up a score. But after last week's near-win against USC and the heat he's taken all week from the fans, Coach Tressel will try to show he can still call an effective game. This should be like a home game for the Buckeyes as most of the crowd in Cleveland Browns Stadium will be rooting for No. 11 OSU. Just Toledo will get the huge gate receipts.
Pick: Ohio State 42, Toledo 13

Texas (-17.5) over Texas Tech
How bad does No. 2 Texas want to avenge its only loss of 2008? Watch this game and you'll see. Colt McCoy and Mack Brown want payback and to keep the Longhorns on track for a BCS Championship showdown. Beside, Mike Leach and the Red Raiders don't fare well in Austin. Another interesting fact is since 2000, the Red Raiders have lost all four games played against ranked teams in August and September.
Pick: Texas 45, Texas Tech 21

Tulsa (+17.5) over Oklahoma
The 12th-ranked Sooners will win this game, but it's going to be much closer than 17.5 points. The Golden Hurricane are 2-0 and one of the top teams in Conference USA. This is Tulsa's best chance to win this in-state battle. Don't overlook the fact that Tulsa is road-tested this season with wins over Tulane (37-13) and New Mexico (44-10).
Pick: Oklahoma 38, Tulsa 28

North Carolina (-7.5) over East Carolina
The Pirates were everyone's early season darling in 2008. This year Skip Holtz' defense is a bit more porous as is evident in ECU's opening games against the Mountaineers (35-20 loss to West Virginia and 29-24 win over Appalachian State). Butch Davis' boys struggled at UConn last week, but returning to Chapel Hill and a focused week of practice is all the 24th-ranked Tar Heels need to win this week.
Pick: North Carolina 32, East Carolina 14

Upset of the Week
Georgia (-1.0) over Arkansas
Something doesn't seem right about this one. UGA is the underdog at Arkansas? OK. I'll bite. The Bulldogs got the offense going against South Carolina last week (wish I could say the Dawgs' defense looked better). QB Ryan Mallett is a nice player and could light up Georgia, but I'm going with the more talented team ... that's Georgia.
Pick: Georgia 32, Arkansas 24

Last Week: 2-3
Season Record: 5-5

Preseason: ACC rankings

Continuing our way-too-early preseason conference predictions, it is time to look at ACC.

Atlantic Division
1. Florida State
Key players: QB Christian Ponder, DE Kevin McNeil, FB Marcus Sims, LB Kendall Smith.
Predicted record: 9-3
Maybe I'm reaching by having FSU reach the top of the division. There have been plenty of distractions for the Seminoles, starting with the NCAA trying to take away 14 victories from Coach Bowden. It doesn't help that the Noles had to suspend receiver Rod Owens and the NCAA didn't grant Corey Surrency another year of eligibility. FSU may also start three or four freshmen.

2. North Carolina State
Key players: TB Toney Baker, QB Russell Wilson, S Clem Johnson, LB Ray Michael.
Predicted record: 9-3
The Wolfpack are ready to make a move in year three under Tom O'Brien. N.C. State played an almost perfect game against rival North Carolina last year, so expect more of that this season. The Pack are deep at QB with Russell Wilson and Mike Glennon, who could be starting at a few other ACC programs.

3. Wake Forest
Key players: QB Riley Skinner, DT Boo Robinson, WR Jordan Williams, CB Brandon Ghee.
Predicted record: 7-5
This sounds odd to say, but the Demon Deacons were decimated by the NFL Draft, especially on defense (see Aaron Curry). Word out of Winston Salem is the defense isn't in as bad of shape as many may think. Expect a lot more for Riley Skinner this fall, and never underestimate the genius of Jim Grobe.

4. Maryland
Key players: QB Chris Turner, TB Da'Rel Scott, WR Torrey Smith, DB Terrell Skinner.
Predicted record: 7-5
Ralph Friedgen has dropped almost 100 pounds. That's not good news for the Denny's and Waffle House's around College Park. There is positive news about the Terps defense, which is is important in the ACC. Offensively Friedgen usually works miracles, but can he do it with quarterback Chris Turner?

5. Clemson
Key players: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Willy Korn, WR Jacoby Ford, LB Kavell Conner, DE Ricky Sapp.
Predicted record: 6-6
Dabo Swinney is the coach. I could probably stop here. But the first-year coach has a quarterback controversy as both Willy Korn and Kyle Parker are listed as starters for the upcoming season. Besides, this is Clemson. The Tigers will find a way to be mediocre again.

6. Boston College
Key players: DE Austin Giles, LB Mark Herzlich, QB Dominique Davis, RB Josh Haden.
Predicted record: 4-8
Let's not even get into the whole coaching fiasco this winter. Boston College has been one of the ACC's best teams the past two years. But there are too many question marks and the devastating news that ACC Defensive Player of the Year Mark Herzlich has cancer could mean a long season in Chestnut Hill.

Coastal Division
1. Virginia Tech
Key players: QB Tyrod Taylor, TB Darren Evans, S Dorian Porch, LB Cody Grimm.
Predicted record: 10-2
Tyrod Taylor is a unique talent, and if he stays healthy could lead the Hokies to a memorable season. Defensively, Virginia Tech could be the best in the ACC when all is said and done. Special teams remain a strength, but the Hokies may be weaker than normal at kicker.

2. Georgia Tech
Key players: QB Josh Nesbitt, TB Jonathan Dwyer, C Sean Bedford, LB Sedric Griffin, DE Robert Hall.
Predicted record: 9-3
The rest of the ACC will be a little more comfortable defending against Paul Johnson's triple-option. The Jackets are also more comfortable with the system, so GT could be the team to knock off Virginia Tech.

3. North Carolina
Key players: QB T.J. Yates, DE E.J. Wilson, TB Shaun Draughn, LB Bruce Carter.
Predicted record: 8-4
The Tar Heels are all about defense, which is a normal trait under Butch Davis. The offense should be solid, but finding experience at receiver is still a priority (especially trying to replace do-everything receiver Hakeem Nicks.

4. Miami (FL)
Key players: QB Jacory Harris, TB Graig Cooper, C A.J. Trump, DT Joe Joseph, CB Ryan Hill.
Predicted record: 6-6
I like that the U won't have any doubts at quarterback with Robert Marve off to Purdue and Jacory Harris taking all of the snaps now. However, Miami is still very young, has a tough schedule and must adjust to two new coordinators. The defense is extremely athletic.

5. Duke
Key players: QB Thaddeus Lewis, LB Vincent Rey, RB Re'quan Boyette.
Predicted record: 4-8
I want to believe the Blue Devils will make bigger strides under David Cutcliffe in his second year, but this is Duke. Thaddeus Lewis may have to carry this team on his shoulders for Duke to reach .500.

6. Virginia
Key players: WR Mikell Simpson, OG B.J. Cabbell, LB Steve Greer, QB Jameel Sewell, FB Rashawn Jackson.
Predicted record: 3-9
Al Groh is desperate this season. He fired his son last year and has turned the offense over to Gregg Brandon. Jameel Sewell returns at quarterback after missing last season with an injury. It's going to be a long season in Charlottesville.

Who's left to fire?

This is total speculation, but South Florida coach Jim Leavitt doesn't seem like a great boss. That might explain the mass exodus of assistant coaches over the past two weeks from the Bulls' program.

On Thursday, it was defensive backs coach Troy Douglas who made 3-for-3 in coaching losses after he resigned Wednesday to take the same job under Butch Davis at North Carolina. Other recent defections were defensive coordinator Wally Burnham and offensive coordinator Greg Gregory.

Remember how pissed Leavitt was when Gregory was looking to leave for the University of Florida? He's probably running around the Bulls football facilities yelling at everyone today.

Little advice Jim. Maybe you should dial it down a notch and show a touch of compassion.

Bowl Preview: Meineke Car Care

Meineke Car Care Bowl
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
West Virginia vs. North Carolina
Date: Dec. 27
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Line: West Virginia –1.5

About West Virginia: Gov. Joe Manchin is in his second year as head coach of the Mountaineers, calling plays by remote control through his animatronic puppet Bill Stewart. Manchin favors plays that let the greatest rushing quarterback in school history throw the ball quite a bit and not getting the ball to Noel Devine because he tends to score “too fast” and not give the defense a chance to rest up. He also likes his coach to be homespun and friendly and slightly racist – kind of like the rest of West Virginia. Rumors abound that if Stewart wins this game, Manchin will name him Attorney General.

Intangibles:
Weirton: -5
Snowshoe: +5
Borders Ohio: +10
Borders Kentucky: -8
Flaming davenports: +2

About North Carolina: (Full disclosure: I’m a Browns fan. F*ck Butch Davis.) That being said, the Tar Heels reminded me a lot of the Butch Browns – inconsistent as hell. Wipe out Rutgers, knock off Miami, get crushed by rival NC State at home. At least he can’t draft William Green.

Intangibles:
Cool unis: +5
Slightly gay unis: -5
Tyler Hansbrough: -4 (THAT’S AN OFFENSIVE FOUL, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD)
The Carl Torbush era: -2

Impact Player: Jock Sanders. I just think it’s funny his name is “Jock.” He’s one of that army of midget RBs and WRs WVU runs out on the field and they run around like Dorothy’s house just crashlanded in their backyard.

Bowl slogan: “At least it’s not UConn and Navy. That sucked.”

Little known fact: The last two times these teams met in a bowl, UNC won 20-13 in the 1997 Gator Bowl. The game MVP was UNC quarterback Oscar Davenport. Now, that’s a little known fact, mofos.

Watchability (1-5): 3.5

The Pick: North Carolina 21, WVU 20

Tennessee: 2008's Michigan

Big-name coaches are lining up to tell University of Tennessee thanks, but no thanks.

Today, Duke's David Cutcliffe, North Carolina's Butch Davis and South Carolina's Steve Spurrier have all publicly stated they aren't interested in the void left by the bitter Phil Fulmer.

Programs like Tennessee (Clemson and Syracuse pay attention) need to realize they aren't that attractive to established coaches. (See post below. Rich Rodriguez had it much better at WVU than he does at Michigan). Those coaches don't need the headache or rebuilding nightmare that it requires.

Now Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is ready for the challenge and would embrace it. Or maybe consider Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong or consider a young and emerging coach like Buffalo's Turner Gill (who may be a better fit at Syracuse).

Another day, another coach

It was nice knowing you Phil Fulmer. I'm sure the Bama fans are sad to see you go. Now the search begins for the replacement. Is it Butch Davis at North Carolina? Doubt it. Maybe David Cutcliffe at Duke returns.

When is Syracuse going to part with Greg Robinson so they have a shot at a good coach?

Big de-cleaters

Real Life

Sometimes reality and passion don't mix.

I had planned to watch North Carolina-Rutgers last night. Really. Then something called child-induced exhaustion set in. So instead of watching Butch Davis and the Tar Heels embarrass Rutgers (and continue the embarrassing start for the Big East), I went to bed early.

My extended slumber was a personal bonus, but I feel an obligation not to miss games. I'll do my best in the future, but if someone knows how to convince two little ones not to make up at 5:30 every morning I'm listening.