No one pleased Hawkins returning in 2010

I'm not even sure Dan Hawkins is real excited about the news he's returning to coach Colorado in 2010. According to 850 KOA (hat tip: The Ralphie Report) AD Mark Bohn will keep the embattled coach for at least one more season.

If you listen to our podcast you know we predicted this one. Colorado's financial situation is abysmal and paying off Hawkins and hiring a new staff just isn't possible because the money isn't there.

Money woes can be the only reason Hawkins will be back on the sidelines next year. His current team is 3-8 as it will close out the season at 8-3 Nebraska. A closer look at the Hawkins' era in Boulder is not pretty.

• Overall: 16-32
• Home: 13-11
• Road: 2-18
• Neutral: 1-3
• Big 12: 10-21
• Non-conference: 6-11
• Ranked teams: 3-11

What does all this mean? Colorado will remain meaningless nationally and in the Big 12. The Buffaloes have become a team you schedule for homecoming.

Picks of the Week: No. 8

Stay away from the ACC. Remember stay away from the ACC. That’s what the ‘Eer is doing this week. He will not try to think he knows anything about the ACC (thanks Wake Forest). So here it goes, best picks of the week that don’t include the ACC.

Nebraska (-17.5) over Iowa State
The Cornhuskers still control their own destiny in the Big 12 North, and Bo Pelini will have his team out to erase the embarrassment of last week’s 31-10 loss to Texas Tech. Look for a steady dose of Roy Helu Jr., who should be healthy for Saturday. The Cyclones ended a two-game skid last week with a 24-10 win over Baylor.
Pick: Nebraska 36, Iowa State 14

Northern Illinois (-11.0) over Miami of Ohio
The RedHawks are battling Eastern Michigan and Ball State for worst of the worse in the Mid-American Conference this year. Does anyone remember when Miami was the class of the conference? The Huskies should bounce back in a big way after losing to 20-19 last week. Only concern for Northern Illinois is the possible loss of starting QB Chandler Harnish, who may miss Saturday’s game with a knee injury.
Pick: Northern Illinois 27, Miami of Ohio 9

Arizona (-7.5) over UCLA
The Wildcats seem to be the new darling of the Pac-10 after good wins over Stanford (43-38) and Oregon State (37-32), and you could argue they shouldn’t have lost to Washington (36-33). QB Nick Foles has solidified the offense. He’s thrown for 1,209 yards and nine TDS, while completing almost 74 percent of his passes. UCLA has not shown much improvement in Rick Neuheisel’s second year as coach. After opening the season 3-0, the Bruins have dropped three straight, including a 45-26 loss to Cal.
Pick: Arizona 30, UCLA 17

Arizona State (+6.5) over Stanford
I considered this as the upset pick of the week, and this game should be very close so the home team should win. However, the Sun Devils looked better in last week’s upset of Washington so I think the game will be decided by a late field goal. The difference in this game will be the balanced attack of Stanford with RB Toby Gerhart and QB Andrew Luck. Even in last week’s loss to Arizona, Luck completed 21 of 35 for 423 yards and three TDs.
Pick: Stanford 32, Arizona State 30

Upset of the Week
Colorado (+4.5) over Kansas State
I haven’t hit an upset all year, so don’t follow my advice here. However, I’m going with Colorado because Dan Hawkins finally pulled the plug on weak-armed son Cody at QB and turned the offense over to Tyler Hansen. The new signal caller was convincing in his debut going 14 of 25 for 175 yards with a TD and a rushing score. Kansas State is playing better than many expected and the Wildcats were impressive in last week’s 62-14 thumping of Texas A&M, but that was the Aggies.
Pick: Colorado 24, Kansas State 20

Last Week: 3-2
Season Record: 19-16

Saturday thoughts Oct. 10

- Even though the score was only 13-3, it never felt like LSU had a chance to beat the top-ranked Gators Saturday night. Florida just ran the ball, controlled the clock and let their defense pick apart LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson.

- Rich Rodriguez just injected a quarterback controversy into a team that's lost two straight after the loss to Iowa. Rodriguez chose to yank a struggling Tate Forcier late in the game in favor of Denard Robinson. Robinson responded with a quick TD drive, but hit late-game interception when the Wolverines just need a field goal was an enormous mistake. Perhaps Forcier was hurt, but it's still going to bring up a lot of questions.

- Texas recovered after messing around with Colorado for awhile. Jordan Shipley for Heisman?

- Didn't see much of the day games as I was watching Ohio State blow out Wisconsin despite a pathetic offensive display. Two interceptions returns for TDs and a KO return for a TD were all OSU needed. Terrelle Pryor struggled badly and looked like he had seriously regressed. That defense is nails though.

- From the scores and highlights I've seen, I'm guessing Virginia Tech and Alabama were both impressive.

WVU's animated win vs. Colorado

FULL SCREEN VERSION

(Drive chart courtesy of SBNation's Rocky Top Talk)

Since we posted WVU's animated loss to Auburn it seems only right to put up last Thursday's win over Colorado. It's still not pretty (seriously, four fumbles in the first half), but at least this time the Mountaineers come out on the right side.

Anything for a win

Dan Hawkins is desperate these days. The Buffaloes are 0-2 (when many thought they'd be 2-0 right now). Of course, this was planned well before last week's program-embarrassing loss at Toledo, but CU is trying to channel some of the success of the 1930s.

Hawkins' team is wearing 1937 Colorado Buffaloes throwback uniforms when his 2009 team takes on Wyoming on Saturday during Legacy Day in Boulder. The Buffs will don the jersey of that era, gold in color with black numbers, along with silver pants. I love when teams do this, especially paying homage to a specific time in their history. Not a bad year in CU history. The Buffs went 8-0 that season.

Nice tribute and Colorado should finally get that first win of the season.

Of course, you can buy this NIKE jersey.

Picks of the Week

Colorado (+5 1/2) over Florida State
This game is technically at a neutral site (Alltell Stadium in Jacksonville), but FSU will have the clear home-field advantage. However, the Noles offense is sputtering with its two-QB system (Christian Ponder and D'Vontrey Richardson). Let's also note that Jimbo Fisher is the most overrated offensive coordinator/future head coach in the country. Colorado is 4-0 and very confident following the upset win over West Virginia last week. I like Buffs QB Cody Hawkins to find a way to beat FSU. He's not the most consistent thrower, but he's gutsy.
Pick: Colorado 27, FSU 17

Georgia (-7) over Alabama
The Bulldogs don't need a "Black Out" to lower the Tide on Saturday night. Georgia is simply better than Nick Saban's boys. Alabama is better and will continue to improve under sad-sack Saban, but the Tide won't roll this week. Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno will shine inside the hedges in Athens.
Pick: Georgia 28, Alabama 20

Purdue (+1) over Notre Dame
Both teams are 2-1 and this match up has had some memorable games. This game could very easily come down to which quarterback plays better--Purdue's Curtis Painter or Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen. Clausen has improved from last year and he's getting a little more protection, but Painter will win this battle. I hate to take Purdue on the road, but the Boilermakers will make fewer mistakes and pull out the mini-upset.
Pick: Purdue 22, Notre Dame 14

Nebraska (-7) over Virginia Tech
This is a gut pick. I haven't seen enough of the Cornhuskers to pick this one on facts. Here's what I know. Nebraska is more disciplined under Bo Pelini and the Huskers are playing at home. Virginia Tech is young and have struggled each week. Beamer Ball is highly overrated. Frank's a good coach, but his team will cave in Lincoln.
Pick: Nebraska 34, Virginia Tech 17

Upset special

Illinois (+15 1/2) over Penn State
Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you I think Penn State is the most overrated team coming into every season. Despite Jo-Pa enjoying a 4-0 start, the Nittany Lions victories are against weak teams. Ron Zook, on the other hand, is developing something with the Fighting Illini. Following a wild 52-42 loss in the season opener against Missouri, Illinois has righted itself against weaker competition. QB Juice Williams has been tough to stop the past two weeks running and throwing. He humbles the PSU defense, which the heads at ESPN are giving way too much credit.
Pick: Illinois 30, Penn State 27

Last week: 4-1
Season: 4-1

WVU - Colorado Live Blog

Colorado FG is good and the Buffs win 17-14. WVU missed a lot of chances in this game with penalties, poor clock management, drops and missing a wide open player on a trick play. And WVU really outplayed Colorado in the second half.

Very good win for Colorado. I still don't think the Buffs are going to be consistent enough to do much in the Big 12, but one upset and you're in the thick of it in the Big 12 North.

Wow has WVU been bad on short yardage tonight. They lined up in the I finally, but still looked confused. Going for the FG is the right call here. WOW and it's off the upright. Devastating blow to WVU. Should have been up 7 and are now in trouble.

Going to OT. Neither team was particularly impressive on their final drive. WVU's clock management was a head scratcher.

- 7:59 Potentially huge turn as WVU blows the wipe open WR pass, when the WR (third-string QB) chucks a duck about 10 yards short. That's just unlucky. I'm sure that kid has made that throw 20 times in practice. Follow that up with a chop block and WVU's back to midfield. WVU gets backed up too far and has to punt. Does anybody else think WVU gives away their playcall with their line splits? Maybe it's my imagination.

Is Craig James, um, mentally disabled? Between him laughing and Jesse Palmer going "Woooo! Wooot! Woo!" Chris Fowler must be going insane.

- 4:49 3rd quarter: Great run by White to tie it at 14-14. If WVU can mount any kind of passing threat, man they're going to be difficult to stop. How screwed was that safety at about the 15-yard line? He was in no man's land with White.

- 9:33 3rd quarter: nice job by WVU to keep the Buffs pinned and get good field position. Looks like WVU could tie it up here. wow. never mind. stopped on 4th and 1. Who taught pat White how to run the sneak? Get your butt down and drive!


- If you had asked before the game, who will be the best vastly undersized, incredibly quick running back on the field, of course you would have answered Noel Devine. Instead, it's been Colorado freshman Rodney Stewart. A native of scenic Columbus, Ohio, where he played at City League power Brookhaven. Stewart's got 75 yards on about 12 carries and is outplaying last year's recruiting ranking sensation and fellow freshman Durel Scott. Scott was the top-ranked back in the country. Stewart couldn't get offers from anybody. but this is why little backs are so great in the spread. In the I-formation, most defenders know approximately where a back is headed. in the spread, a real short guy can be hard to find.

Well, live second half blogging as I just got home.

From what I saw in the second quarter, looks like the Buffs have moved the ball pretty easily while WVU is killing itself with drops and penalties.

Picks of the Week

West Virginia (-2 1/2) over Colorado
Maybe this is more heart than logic. West Virginia is too talented to open 1-2, but the Mountaineers were out of synch against East Carolina and if the same happens in Boulder the Buffaloes will win. But I’m going with Pat White and a re-energized defense.
Pick: WVU 35, Colorado 24

Miami (-4) over Texas A&M
I’m not a big fan of rotating quarterbacks. It may work at Miami, but I like Robert Marve just a smidgen more than Jacory Harris. Marve should come into his own at College Station when the Hurricanes try to make it two in a row over the Aggies. Mike Sherman could use this win to get the vocal A&M fans on his side. The Aggies defense, which is ranked 11^th in the Big 12, will have its hands full.
Pick: Miami 40, Texas A&M 10

Troy (+21 1/2) over Ohio State
I admit it, I don’t know too much about Troy State. This isn’t an upset pick. I’m taking Troy and the points. The Buckeyes have been sluggish the past two weeks, including an embarrassing whipping at USC. OSU will still be in a funk Saturday and find a way to pull out a close win over the Trojans in the Horseshoe.
Pick: OSU 27, Troy 7

Florida (-7) over Tennessee
This shouldn’t be a very shocking pick, but these two teams always seem to beat the other when they are the underdog. Not this year. The Gators learned a lot in the tough victory over Miami and they are getting better each week. Urban Meyer needs to gain some confidence in a running game and use Percy Harvin, Chris Rainey, etc. Tennessee learned something from its season-opening loss to UCLA—that it really sucks and Phil Fulmer could announce his retirement soon.
Pick: Florida 34, Tennessee 14

Upset special

Ball State (+3 1/2) over Indiana
Indiana is 2-0 with those impressive wins over Western Kentucky (31-13) and Murray State (45-3). Junior Kellen Lewis is solid at quarterback, but I like Ball State junior Nate Davis. The Bellaire, Ohio, native is more agile and has a better arm. Davis will lead the Cardinals at Memorial Stadium. Ball State blows this game if the defense can’t cause any turnovers.
Pick: Ball State 30, Indiana 28