AEAAE Top 25 (Final)

We know Nick Saban has picked up all of the National Title hardware, but if he'd like the trophy that comes with winning the final AEAAE poll he should let us know in the comment section and we'll set up a meeting place.

Team (LW) Record

1. Alabama (1) 14-0
2. Texas (2) 13-1
3. Florida (6) 13-1
4. Boise State (5) 14-0
5. Ohio State (7) 11-2
6. Iowa (9) 11-2
7. TCU (3) 12-1
8. Penn State (11) 11-2
9. Cincinnati (4) 12-1
10. Virginia Tech (14) 10-3
11. Oregon (8) 10-3
12. BYU (17) 11-2
13. Nebraska (15) 10-4
14. Georgia Tech (10) 11-3
15. LSU (13) 9-4
16. Pittsburgh (18) 10-3
17. Wisconsin (23) 10-3
18. Utah (24) 10-3
19. Miami (12) 9-4
20. Central Michigan (22) 12-2
21. USC (NR) 9-4
22. Mississippi (NR) 9-4
23. West Virginia (16) 9-4
24. Clemson (NR) 9-5
25. Texas Tech (NR) 9-4

Others receiving votes: Rutgers, Navy.

Jones choosing between Marshall, Cincy?

It may be time to turn to Plan B for the Marshall Thundering Herd.

Following a number of reports that Marshall was ready to hire Central Michigan coach and former West Virginia assistant Butch Jones to replace Mark Snyder, it now appears Jones has been stringing the Herd along.

Now there are reports that Cincinnati wants to replace Brian Kelly with Jones, beating out East Carolina's Skip Holtz for the job.

This can't sit well with an overzealous and totally irrational fan base in Huntington. There was also a group in Huntington who wanted Florida State offensive line coach Rick Trickett, but he has said he's staying put.

Former Marshall coach Bob Pruett has also been rumored to be interested in returning, but that one has gained little to no traction.

So are we up to Plan D now?

AEAAE Top 25 (Week 11)

Based on a more impressive performance in the SEC title game, Alabama jumps from No. 3 to No. 1, while Texas remains No. 2 despite a lackluster performance in the Big 12 title tilt

Team (LW) Record

1. Alabama (3) 13-0
   
2. Texas (2) 13-0
   
3. TCU (4) 12-0
   
4. Cincinnati (5) 12-0
   
5. Boise State (6) 12-0
   
6. Florida (1) 12-1
   
7. Ohio State (7) 10-2
   
8. Oregon (8) 10-2
   
9. Iowa (9) 10-2
   
10. Georgia Tech (13) 11-2
    
11. Penn State (10) 10-2
    
12. Miami (14) 9-3
    
13. LSU (11) 9-3
    
14. Virginia Tech (17) 9-3
    
15. Nebraska (21) 9-4
    
16. West Virginia (20) 9-3
    
17. BYU (18) 10-2
    
18. Pittsburgh (16) 9-3
    
19. Arizona (NR) 8-4
    
20. Stanford (22) 8-4
    
21. Oregon State (12) 8-4
    
22. Central Michigan (NR) 11-2
    
23. Wisconsin (25) 9-3
    
24. Utah (NR) 9-3
    
25. Oklahoma State (24) 9-3
    

Others receiving votes: North Carolina, Navy, Missouri, Texas Tech, East Carolina.

Picks of the Week: No. 14

I got a little redemption last week by ending my 12-week losing skid in picking upsets, but still only managed a 3-2 outcome. At one game over .500 I'm putting my winning season on the line in the final week.

USC (-7.0) over Arizona
It appears the winner of this game gets a Holiday Bowl invitation. Nice for ’Zona, not so much for the Trojans. The Wildcats would be a serious contender for an upset here if not for the fact no one in the Pac-10 plays well on the road and QB Nick Foles is injured. Looks like USC will get to 9-3 with a chance to add a 10th victory in the Holiday Bowl.
Pick: USC 27, Arizona 14

Wisconsin (-12.0) over Hawaii
Maybe when this game was scheduled Badgers coach Bert Bielema was looking for a warm location to coach his last game at UW. Then he did a remarkable job this year and Wisconsin is 8-3. The Badgers should just pound the ball on the ground with RB John Clay, who will more than likely have a career day against a Hawaii defense that allows 193 yards per game.
Pick: Wisconsin 38, Hawaii 12

Alabama (-5.5) over Florida
Look, the SEC officials will not let Tim Tebow lose this game. The Gators will get every call Saturday. But they’ll keep it close and the Tide will be in this game because of Nick Saban and the best defense in the nation. Mark Ingram’s injury hurts Alabama’s offense. Sorry Bama fans, Florida wins for a second year in a row.
Pick: Florida 24, Alabama 21

Central Michigan (-13.0) over Ohio
One week after picking the Bobcats to pull the upset of Temple (finally an upset pick in 2009), I’m going against Frank Solich’s team. Ohio QB Theo Scott is beat up and the Chippewas are clearly the class of the Mid-American Conference. CMU’s Dan LeFevour will officially become the greatest QB in conference history (statistically speaking) after this championship game in Detroit Friday night.
Pick: Central Michigan 34, Ohio 15

Upset of the Week
Florida Atlantic (+1.5) over Florida International
This is the eighth annual Shula Bowl and the Owls hold a 6-1 advantage over the Golden Panthers. This is a nice South Florida rivalry that includes a wild 57-50 overtime victory by FAU last year. Owls QB Jeff Van Camp should be the difference in this game. He threw for three TDs and ran for another in last week’s 29-23 win over Western Kentucky.
Pick: FAU 39, FIU 38

Last Week: 3-2
Season Record: 33-32

MAC Championship: Ohio vs. Central Michigan

The 'Eye enjoys ribbing me because I enjoy keeping up with what's going on in the Mid-American Conference. I'm not an expert on the MAC, but I like to think there are some talented players and excellent coaches in the conference.

When Ohio (9-3, 7-1) faces Central Michigan (10-2, 8-0) Friday night in the championship game in Detroit, it's a chance to see two of the nation's best coaches in the Bobcats Frank Solich and the Chippewas Butch Jones.

Ohio has its hands full. The Bobcats are banged up (including QB Theo Scott) after a tough four-week stretch to even get in this game, and they have to figure out a way to stop one of the conference's best all-time players in QB Dan LeFevour.

But Ohio will be ready. The Bobcats are trying to claim their first conference title since 1968, so if you have nothing important on the Friday slate check out this MAC contest.

Coming tomorrow: Weekend predictions.

Dare to Dream

Beating Michigan never gets old for us Ohio State fans, but has gotten a little, um, ho-hum of late.

Then this story broke today, as Duke backup point guard Greg Paulus visited Ann Arbor for spring football practices last week. A former highly-touted prep quarterback, whose brother plays QB for North Carolina, Paulus has used all four years of his basketball eligibility for the Blue Devils. If he switches to football, he's got one year left at any school he chooses.

Is this the best spring news ever? Could be.

Since UM is down to pretty much freshman Tate Forcier at QB, a little depth would be nice. And Paulus has been the poster boy of the whiny, overly-entitled Duke basketball player. It's a beautiful marriage. I could use some good ol' fashioned hate back in the rivalry. And he's easy to hate.

The best part is this: Duke coach David Cutcliffe did ask Paulus to come try out for the Blue Devils' football team - as long as he tried out at wide receiver.

Hmmm, can't cut it at Duke? Come play for Michigan!

That's awesome.

Bowl Preview: Motor City Bowl

Motor City Bowl
Ford Field, Detroit
Florida Atlantic vs. Central Michigan
Date: Dec. 26
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Line: Central Michigan -6

About Florida Atlantic: Howard Schnellenberger still has a moustache. Howard Schnellenberger is 5-0 in bowl games. Howard Schnellenberger is 112 years old.

Intangibles:
Somewhere in Florida: -3
Near Atlantic Ocean: +1
Nicknamed Owls: +2
Know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop: +THAREE!!

About Central Michigan: They’re nicknamed the Chippewas and they had a good season, until they lost the season finale to Eastern Michigan, 56-52. Yikes. That’s the same Eastern Michigan that fired its coach.

Impact Player: This came straight from the bowl game press release: “The Owls feature junior Quarterback Rusty Smith, who Coach Schnellenberger has called a pro prospect.” Yeah, so’s that jerkoff from Fresno State.

Bowl slogan: “We live in Detroit. What else you gonna do?”

Little known fact: Florida Atlantic won five of its last six. Including a huge win over Florida International at Dolphin Stadium in a South Florida Classic. Three of the four fans rushed the field.

Watchability (1-5): -3

The Pick: Central Michigan 39, Florida Atlantic 27

Picks of the Week

I did it again. Said I would pick an ACC game. So I thought it was smart to take an SEC team to defeat Duke. Thanks a lot Vanderbilt and that lovely three-game skid your on now. I'm determined to get back on track this week. So here we go again.

Brigham Young (-14) over Colorado State
This is the type of game that BYU excels in usually. The 17th-ranked Cougars are still in the running for the Mountain West Conference title, so this game is important. Colorado State has improved this year under first-year coach Steve Fairchild. The Rams are 4-4 following a gutsy win over San Diego State last week, and they still have bowl aspirations.
Pick: Brigham Young 42, Colorado State 17

Southern Cal (-46) over Washington
Never thought I'd pick a team that was already down 46-0 before the opening kickoff. This one just feels right. The Trojans offense struggled a bit last week against Arizona, but still won. QB Mark Sanchez will go crazy against the Huskies and USC will roll up a big win similar to the one it had against Washington State a few weeks ago.
Pick: Southern Cal 54, Washington 3

Louisville (-13) over Syracuse
Syracuse's lone Big East victory came at the expense of Louisville last season in Kentucky. The Cardinals are primed for revenge against an overmatched Orange. Louisville enters Saturday's game on a three-game winning streak and Steve Kragthorpe's defense should be up to the challenge.
Pick: Louisville 34, Syracuse 14

Central Michigan (+2.5) over Indiana
How is Indiana favored in this game? I know it's in Bloomington, but I'm not even considering this pick an upset win. Central Michigan runs the spread under former Rich Rodriguez disciple Butch Jones. The numbers aren't on the Chippewas side as they are 0-5 against BCS opposition, including dropping two games in 2008 to Georgia (56-17) and Purdue (32-25).
Pick: Central Michigan 27, Indiana 24

Upset of the Week
Miami (+2) over Virginia
Seems odd to think that UVA is favored in this game. After watching Al Groh's boys get totally dominated in the season opener against Southern Cal, it looked like the Cavaliers were headed for disaster and Groh was going to be ushered out of town. Instead, Virginia has rebounded and has a shot at winning the ACC. Miami is more athletic and the Hurricanes are due for this type of win (underdog on the road).
Pick: Miami 20, Virginia 14

Last Week: 2-3
Season: 14-16