Sanctimonium

Gator Statistics: Conference and In-State Rivals

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 17:45:00 +0000

With the first week of competition complete, this table only represents results through the end of the 2021 season.

Opponent	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	Win %	First Meeting	Last Meeting
Georgia	99	44	53	2	0.455	1915	2021
Auburn	84	39	43	2	0.476	1912	2019
Kentucky	72	53	19	0	0.736	1917	2021
LSU	68	33	32	3	0.507	1937	2021
Florida State	65	37	26	2	0.585	1958	2021
Miami	56	27	29	0	0.482	1938	2019
Vanderbilt	55	43	10	2	0.800	1945	2021
Mississippi State	55	34	19	2	0.636	1923	2018
Tennessee	51	31	20	0	0.608	1916	2021
Alabama	42	14	28	0	0.333	1916	2021
South Carolina	42	29	10	3	0.726	1911	2021
Georgia Tech	38	9	23	6	0.316	1912	1981
Mississippi	25	12	12	1	0.500	1926	2020
Tulane	21	13	6	2	0.667	1915	1984
Arkansas	12	10	2	0	0.833	1982	2020
Missouri	11	5	6	0	0.455	1966	2021
Texas A&M	5	2	3	0	0.400	1962	2020
Florida Atlantic	4	4	0	0	1.000	2007	2021
UCF	3	2	1	0	0.667	1999	2021
South Florida	2	2	0	0	1.000	2010	2021
FIU	1	1	0	0	1.000	2009	2009

Starting from the top of the table, one notices Georgia is the Gators' most frequent opponent. Florida and Georgia have met 98 times between 1915 and today, and have been playing annually every year since 1926 (excluding two years during World War II, when UF suspended its football program). Georgia has defeated Florida more than any other of the Gators' opponents, although since 1950 UF has won 39 contests against UGA's 32 and one tie.
But perhaps Georgia should not be considered Florida's oldest rival. The first game against Auburn was played in 1912. Except for three years during the early Forties, the Gators and Tigers played every year from 1927 to 2002. When the annual UF-AU game was terminated after the 2002 season, Florida had played Auburn and Georgia 80 times each. In addition, Auburn is the closest SEC university to Gainesville. Until 2018, Auburn had played Florida more times than they had played their archrival Alabama.
Kentucky has played Florida more than anyone besides UGA and Auburn... this may be surprising considering the distance between Lexington and Gainesville. Indeed, for many years (1933 to 1992) UK was the farthest conference opponent from UF. Kentucky was also the northernmost SEC school (now Missouri), while Florida is the southernmost. Today, only Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas A&M are farther than Lexington. Nonetheless, they have played every year since 1967. This series has been terribly lopsided over the last six decades; since the teams began playing annually, Florida has won 48 times while Kentucky's won only seven.
Louisiana State is the Gators' most frequent opponent currently in the SEC's West division and still playing Florida annually. They had never played each other until both teams joined the SEC, but have played fairly regularly since 1953 (annually since 1971). When the conference split into East and West, it was decided that Florida would still play two western teams annually. While the Auburn choice was obvious (it was an old and competitive rivalry), LSU was neither the Gators' first- nor second-most frequently played western team. As a matter of fact, they were third, but that will be explained farther down. Nonetheless, the two southernmost schools in the SEC seem apt rivals, as the series is among the most competitive in the conference.
Not surprisingly, Florida State is the most frequent non-conference rival of the Gators. The game has been played annually since its inception, with only a one-season hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020. The two North Florida schools share an intertwined history that traces back the Seminary Act of 1851, while the Buckman Act of 1905 established the modern campuses of both institutions. FSU and Miami have played one more game than FSU and Florida. While the Seminoles and the Hurricanes first met in 1951, they did not start annual play until 1969. That series is led by Miami 35-31.
Miami is the most frequent non-conference opponent that Florida no longer plays annually. Opinion among Gator fans is split as to whether this series or that with Auburn is the most unfortunate casualty of scheduling changes. Other than two years during the war, the Gators and the 'Canes played every year from 1938 to 1987. When the UF athletic department decided to cut its number of annual in-state opponents from two to one, it was decided that Florida State would be the one to remain. By that time, Florida State, the other large public university in North Florida, had displaced the smaller private school in South Florida as the Gators' #1 in-state rival.
Of all series between current annual opponents, that with Vanderbilt is the most lopsided. It was played somewhat infrequently until the SEC East division was created in 1992, though at the time Florida only led 14-9-2. Florida has dominated since then, with 28 wins to Vanderbilt's single victory.
When the conference split in 1992, the Gators needed two western schools to play annually. Auburn was the first, but who would be the second? Surprisingly, before the split Florida had played Mississippi State more frequently than any other western opponent besides Auburn (48 times to LSU's 39). However, that series had been far less competitive to that point (Florida had led it 30-16-2). The decision for Florida and LSU, whose series at the time was led by LSU 18-17-3, to play annually was made partially in the interest of balancing and competitiveness. Since the divisional schism, UF holds a slight 4-3 lead against MSU while Florida leads LSU 16-14.
Although they first met in 1916, Florida and Tennessee have only been playing each other annually since 1990. Tennessee had previously dominated the series, though that changed after Tennessee-native-son-but-Gator-alum Steve Spurrier took the helm as Gator head coach. Florida has led 25-7 since the day Spurrier was hired. The series peaked in intensity during the 1990s, when both teams battled for domination of the SEC East.
Before South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, they had only played the Gators on 12 occasions (and not since 1964), although their initial contest, a 6-6 draw in 1911, was Florida's first against any opponent that would later become a member of the SEC. Before the expansion, the Gators had led the series 6-3-3, but since have led 23-7. South Carolina gained a brief edge over Florida under head coach Steve Spurrier, who is responsible for 5 of the Florida's 10 defeats to the Gamecocks.
Alabama has played Florida on 42 occasions. The Gators and the Crimson Tide have played infrequently since first facing off in 1916. Of their 42 meetings, 10 have been SEC Championship games. In such games, the Tide lead with six wins to Florida's four. The Gators have a lower winning percentage against Alabama, the traditional hegemon of the conference, than they have against any other remaining SEC member.
It may surprise many that Florida has played Georgia Tech so frequently. As a matter of fact, the Yellow Jackets have played the Gators 38 times – as many or more times than four modern members of the SEC (and 14 more occasions than Florida has played fellow charter and current member Ole Miss). However, the Gators did play Georgia Tech quite regularly from 1929 until the Jackets left the SEC after 1963. This is also the most lopsided series against the Gators of any opponent they have played more than ten times. The Orange and Blue only triumphed on nine occasions in 38 attempts against the Yellow Jackets. Had that series continued, one would imagine, that trend probably would have reversed. The Gators have not met the Yellow Jackets on the gridiron since a 27-6 triumph in 1981.
Despite both being charter members of the SEC, Florida and Mississippi have only met 25 times. Since first playing in 1926, the Gators and the Rebels have only played more than two consecutive years on one occasion (1944-1948). As of the most recent conference alignment, this is unlikely to change any time soon. The Gators have also defeated Ole Miss less frequently than any other charter member of the SEC still a member of the conference.
Like Georgia Tech, Tulane was once a member of the SEC and thus have some history playing the Gators. Until 1958, the Green Wave actually led the series with Florida 6-2-2. However, in 1958 the Gators won for the first time in 36 years and have not lost since. Since Tulane left the conference after 1966, they have only played Florida five times (the last being a 63-21 Gator victory in 1984).
Florida and Arkansas have played on 12 occasions – the first was in Houston for the Bluebonnet Bowl while two others were in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. Arkansas's two wins came in the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl and the most recent competition in Fayetteville. Thus, this is the most lopsided series between Florida and any of their SEC opponents.
Missouri has only played the Gators 11 times, though since the last conference expansion they have played on an annual basis. The Tigers won the first match-up, the 1966 Sugar Bowl, despite a furious comeback-attempt led by quarterback Steve Spurrier. Since Missouri joined the conference in 2012, the series has been split with 5 wins for each Tigers and Gators.
Florida has only played Texas A&M five times, less than any other conference opponent. As members of different SEC divisions, they only play infrequently. The first game was played in 1962 and won handily by the Gators in Gainesville. The second game was the January 1977 Sun Bowl in El Paso. That game was won by the Aggies. Texas A&M has won 2 of the 3 games played since the Aggies joined the SEC.
The Gators have played Florida Atlantic four times and UCF thrice; they have only played South Florida twice and FIU only once. Of these four newer programs, none had defeated Florida until UCF earned a 29-17 victory over the Gators in the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl. Florida Atlantic came close to taking down the Gators in 2015, when it took overtime for the Gators to put away the Owls in the Swamp.
Not included in the table above but also of note: Florida leads Sewanee (another charter member of the SEC who left in 1940 and now play in Division III) in their series, 7-2-0; UF leads Florida A&M 1-0-0, Florida Southern 13-1-0, Rollins 13-2-1, Stetson 15-2-2, and Tampa 5-0-0.

Gator Statistics: Conference and In-State Rivals

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 12:00:00 +0000

With the first week of competition complete, this table only represents results through the end of the 2020 season. Note that Florida's season-opening victory over FAU is not included in this table.

Opponent	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	Win %	First Meeting	Last Meeting
Georgia	98	44	52	2	0.459	1915	2020
Auburn	84	39	43	2	0.476	1912	2019
Kentucky	71	53	18	0	0.746	1917	2020
LSU	67	33	31	3	0.515	1937	2020
Florida State	64	36	26	2	0.578	1958	2019
Miami	56	27	29	0	0.482	1938	2019
Mississippi State	55	34	19	2	0.636	1923	2018
Vanderbilt	54	42	10	2	0.796	1945	2020
Tennessee	50	30	20	0	0.600	1916	2020
Alabama	41	14	27	0	0.341	1916	2020
South Carolina	41	29	9	3	0.744	1911	2020
Georgia Tech	38	9	23	6	0.316	1912	1981
Mississippi	25	12	12	1	0.500	1926	2020
Tulane	21	13	6	2	0.667	1915	1984
Arkansas	12	10	2	0	0.833	1982	2020
Missouri	10	5	5	0	0.500	1966	2020
Texas A&M	5	2	3	0	0.400	1962	2020
Florida Atlantic	3	3	0	0	1.000	2007	2015
UCF	2	2	0	0	1.000	1999	2006
South Florida	1	1	0	0	1.000	2010	2010
FIU	1	1	0	0	1.000	2009	2009

Starting from the top of the table, one notices Georgia is the Gators' most frequent opponent. Florida and Georgia have met 98 times between 1915 and today, and have been playing annually every year since 1926 (excluding two years during World War II, when UF suspended its football program). Georgia has defeated Florida more than any other of the Gators' opponents, although since 1950 UF has won 39 contests against UGA's 31 and one tie.
But perhaps Georgia should not be considered Florida's oldest rival. The first game against Auburn was played in 1912. Except for three years during the early Forties, the Gators and Tigers played every year from 1927 to 2002. When the annual UF-AU game was terminated after the 2002 season, Florida had played Auburn and Georgia 80 times each. In addition, Auburn is the closest SEC university to Gainesville. Until 2018, Auburn had played Florida more times than they had played their archrival Alabama.
Kentucky has played Florida more than anyone besides UGA and Auburn... this may be surprising considering the distance between Lexington and Gainesville. Indeed, for many years (1933 to 1992) UK was the farthest conference opponent from UF. Kentucky was also the northernmost SEC school (now Missouri), while Florida is the southernmost. Today, only Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas A&M are farther than Lexington. Nonetheless, they have played every year since 1967. This series has been terribly lopsided over the last six decades; since the teams began playing annually, Florida has won 48 times while Kentucky's won only six.
Louisiana State is the Gators' most frequent opponent currently in the SEC's West division and still playing Florida annually. They had never played each other until both teams joined the SEC, but have played fairly regularly since 1953 (annually since 1971). When the conference split into East and West, it was decided that Florida would still play two western teams annually. While the Auburn choice was obvious (it was an old and competitive rivalry), LSU was neither the Gators' first- nor second-most frequently played western team. As a matter of fact, they were third, but that will be explained farther down. Nonetheless, the two southernmost schools in the SEC seem apt rivals, as the series is among the most competitive in the conference.
Not surprisingly, Florida State is the most frequent non-conference rival of the Gators. The game had been played annually since its inception in 1958 until 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic forced the two schools to put the rivalry on hiatus for a season. The two North Florida schools share an intertwined history that traces back the Seminary Act of 1851, while the Buckman Act of 1905 established the modern campuses of both institutions. FSU and Miami have played one more game than FSU and Florida. While the Seminoles and the Hurricanes first met in 1951, they did not start annual play until 1969. That series is led by Miami 35-30.
Miami is the most frequent non-conference opponent that Florida no longer plays annually. Opinion among Gator fans is split as to whether this series or that with Auburn is the most unfortunate casualty of scheduling changes. Other than two years during the war, the Gators and the 'Canes played every year from 1938 to 1987. When the UF athletic department decided to cut its number of annual in-state opponents from two to one, it was decided that Florida State would be the one to remain. By that time, Florida State, the other large public university in North Florida, had displaced the smaller private school in South Florida as the Gators' #1 in-state rival.
When the conference split in 1992, the Gators needed two western schools to play annually. Auburn was the first, but who would be the second? Surprisingly, before the split Florida had played Mississippi State more frequently than any other western opponent besides Auburn (48 times to LSU's 39). However, that series had been far less competitive to that point (Florida had led it 30-16-2). The decision for Florida and LSU, whose series at the time was led by LSU 18-17-3, to play annually was made partially in the interest of balancing and competitiveness. Ironically, since the divisional schism, UF only holds a slight 4-3 lead against MSU while Florida leads LSU 16-13.
Of all series between current annual opponents, that with Vanderbilt is the most lopsided. It was played somewhat infrequently until the SEC East division was created in 1992, though at the time Florida only led 14-9-2. Florida has dominated since then, with 28 wins to Vanderbilt's single victory.
Although they first met in 1916, Florida and Tennessee have only been playing each other annually since 1990. Tennessee had previously dominated the series, though that changed after Tennessee-native-son-but-Gator-alum Steve Spurrier took the helm as Gator head coach. Florida has led 24-7 since the day Spurrier was hired. The series peaked in intensity during the 1990s, when both teams battled for domination of the SEC East.
Before South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, they had only played the Gators on 12 occasions (and not since 1964), although their initial contest, a 6-6 draw in 1911, was Florida's first against any opponent that would later become a member of the SEC. Before the expansion, the Gators had led the series 6-3-3, but since have led 23-6. South Carolina gained a brief edge over Florida under head coach Steve Spurrier, who is responsible for 5 of the Florida's 9 defeats to the Gamecocks.
Alabama has played Florida on 41 occasions. The Gators and the Crimson Tide have played infrequently since first facing off in 1916. Of their 41 meetings, 10 have been SEC Championship games. In such games, the Tide lead with six wins to Florida's four. The Gators have a lower winning percentage against Alabama, the traditional hegemon of the conference, than they have against any other remaining SEC member.
It may surprise many that Florida has played Georgia Tech so frequently. As a matter of fact, the Yellow Jackets have played the Gators 38 times – as many or more times than four modern members of the SEC (and 14 more occasions than Florida has played fellow charter and current member Ole Miss). However, the Gators did play Georgia Tech quite regularly from 1929 until the Jackets left the SEC after 1963. This is also the most lopsided series against the Gators of any opponent they have played more than ten times. The Orange and Blue only triumphed on nine occasions in 38 attempts against the Yellow Jackets. Had that series continued, one would imagine, that trend probably would have reversed. The Gators have not met the Yellow Jackets on the gridiron since a 27-6 triumph in 1981.
Despite both being charter members of the SEC, Florida and Mississippi have only met 25 times. Since first playing in 1926, the Gators and the Rebels have only played more than two consecutive years on one occasion (1944-1948). As of the most recent conference alignment, this is unlikely to change any time soon. The Gators have also defeated Ole Miss less frequently than any other charter member of the SEC still a member of the conference.
Like Georgia Tech, Tulane was once a member of the SEC and thus have some history playing the Gators. Until 1958, the Green Wave actually led the series with Florida 6-2-2. However, in 1958 the Gators won for the first time in 36 years and have not lost since. Since Tulane left the conference after 1966, they have only played Florida five times (the last being a 63-21 Gator victory in 1984).
Florida and Arkansas have played on 12 occasions – the first was in Houston for the Bluebonnet Bowl while two others were in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. Arkansas's two wins came in the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl and the most recent competition in Fayetteville. Thus, this is the most lopsided series between Florida and any of their SEC opponents.
Missouri has only played the Gators 10 times, though since the last conference expansion they have played on an annual basis. The Tigers won the first match-up, the 1966 Sugar Bowl, despite a furious comeback-attempt led by quarterback Steve Spurrier. Since Missouri joined the conference in 2012, Florida has had a slight 5-4 edge over the Tigers.
Florida has only played Texas A&M five times, less than any other conference opponent. As members of different SEC divisions, they only play infrequently. The first game was played in 1962 and won handily by the Gators in Gainesville. The second game was the January 1977 Sun Bowl in El Paso. That game was won by the Aggies. Texas A&M has won 2 of the 3 games played since the Aggies joined the SEC.
The Gators have played Florida Atlantic three times and UCF twice; they have only played South Florida and FIU once each. While generally competitive baseball series, the Gators have never lost to one of the four newer in-state programs on the gridiron. Florida Atlantic came close to taking down the Gators in 2015, when it took overtime for the Gators to put away the Owls in the Swamp.
Not included in the table above but also of note: Florida leads Sewanee (another charter member of the SEC who left in 1940 and now play in Division III) in their series, 7-2-0; UF leads Florida A&M 1-0-0, Florida Southern 13-1-0, Rollins 13-2-1, Stetson 15-2-2, and Tampa 5-0-0.

Gator Statistics: Conference and In-State Rivals

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000

With the first week of SEC competition complete, this table only represents results through the end of the 2019 season. So note that Florida's season-opening victory over Ole Miss is not included in this table.

Opponent	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	Win %	First Meeting	Last Meeting
Georgia	97	43	52	2	0.454	1915	2019
Auburn	84	39	43	2	0.476	1912	2019
Kentucky	70	52	18	0	0.743	1917	2019
LSU	66	33	30	3	0.523	1937	2019
Florida State	64	36	26	2	0.578	1958	2019
Miami	56	27	29	0	0.482	1938	2019
Mississippi State	55	34	19	2	0.636	1923	2018
Vanderbilt	53	41	10	2	0.792	1945	2019
Tennessee	49	29	20	0	0.592	1916	2019
South Carolina	40	28	9	3	0.738	1911	2019
Alabama	40	14	26	0	0.350	1916	2016
Georgia Tech	38	9	23	6	0.316	1912	1981
Mississippi	24	11	12	1	0.479	1926	2015
Tulane	21	13	6	2	0.667	1915	1984
Arkansas	11	9	2	0	0.818	1982	2016
Missouri	9	4	5	0	0.444	1966	2019
Texas A&M	4	2	2	0	0.500	1962	2017
Florida Atlantic	3	3	0	0	1.000	2007	2015
UCF	2	2	0	0	1.000	1999	2006
South Florida	1	1	0	0	1.000	2010	2010
FIU	1	1	0	0	1.000	2009	2009

Starting from the top of the table, one notices Georgia is the Gators' most frequent opponent. Florida and Georgia have met 97 times between 1915 and today, and have been playing annually every year since 1926 (excluding two years during World War II, when UF suspended its football program). Georgia has defeated Florida more than any other of the Gators' opponents, although since 1950 UF has won 38 contests against UGA's 31 and one tie.
But perhaps Georgia should not be considered Florida's oldest rival. The first game against Auburn was played in 1912. Except for three years during the early Forties, the Gators and Tigers played every year from 1927 to 2002. When the annual UF-AU game was terminated after the 2002 season, Florida had played Auburn and Georgia 80 times each. In addition, Auburn is the closest SEC university to Gainesville. Until 2018, Auburn had played Florida more times than they had played their archrival Alabama.
Kentucky has played Florida more than anyone besides UGA and Auburn... this may be surprising considering the distance between Lexington and Gainesville. Indeed, for many years (1933 to 1992) UK was the farthest conference opponent from UF. Kentucky was also the northernmost SEC school (now Missouri), while Florida is the southernmost. Today, only Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas A&M are farther than Lexington. Nonetheless, they have played every year since 1967. This series has been terribly lopsided over the last six decades; since the teams began playing annually, Florida has won 47 times while Kentucky's won only six.
Louisiana State is the Gators' most frequent opponent currently in the SEC's West division and still playing Florida annually. They had never played each other until both teams joined the SEC, but have played fairly regularly since 1953 (annually since 1971). When the conference split into East and West, it was decided that Florida would still play two western teams annually. While the Auburn choice was obvious (it was an old and competitive rivalry), LSU was neither the Gators' first- nor second-most frequently played western team. As a matter of fact, they were third, but that will be explained farther down. Nonetheless, the two southernmost schools in the SEC seem apt rivals, as the series is among the most competitive in the conference.
Not surprisingly, Florida State is the most frequent non-conference rival of the Gators. The game had been played annually since its inception in 1958 until 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic forced the two schools to put the rivalry on hiatus for a season. The two North Florida schools share an intertwined history that traces back the Seminary Act of 1851, while the Buckman Act of 1905 established the modern campuses of both institutions. Florida State has played each the Gators and the Miami Hurricanes 64 times. Although the Seminoles and the Hurricanes first met in 1951, they did not start annual play until 1969. That series is led by Miami 34-30.
Miami is the most frequent non-conference opponent that Florida no longer plays annually. Opinion among Gator fans is split as to whether this series or that with Auburn is the most unfortunate casualty of scheduling changes. Other than two years during the war, the Gators and the 'Canes played every year from 1938 to 1987. When the UF athletic department decided to cut its number of annual in-state opponents from two to one, it was decided that Florida State would be the one to remain. By that time, Florida State, the other large public university in North Florida, had displaced the smaller private school in South Florida as the Gators' #1 in-state rival.
When the conference split in 1992, the Gators needed two western schools to play annually. Auburn was the first, but who would be the second? Surprisingly, before the split Florida had played Mississippi State more frequently than any other western opponent besides Auburn (48 times to LSU's 39). However, that series had been far less competitive to that point (Florida had led it 30-16-2). The decision for Florida and LSU, whose series at the time was led by LSU 18-17-3, to play annually was made partially in the interest of balancing and competitiveness. Ironically, since the divisional schism, UF only holds a slight 4-3 lead against MSU while Florida leads LSU 16-12.
Of all series between current annual opponents, that with Vanderbilt is the most lopsided. It was played somewhat infrequently until the SEC East division was created in 1992, though at the time Florida only led 14-9-2. Florida has dominated since then, with 27 wins to Vanderbilt's single victory.
Although they first met in 1916, Florida and Tennessee have only been playing each other annually since 1990. Tennessee had previously dominated the series, though that changed after Tennessee-native-son-but-Gator-alum Steve Spurrier took the helm as Gator head coach. Florida has led 23-7 since the day Spurrier was hired. The series peaked in intensity during the 1990s, when both teams battled for domination of the SEC East.
Before South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, they had only played the Gators on 12 occasions (and not since 1964), although their initial contest, a 6-6 draw in 1911, was Florida's first against any opponent that would later become a member of the SEC. Before the expansion, the Gators had led the series 6-3-3, but since have led 22-6. However, since Steve Spurrier was given the reins at South Carolina in 2005 (and later replaced by Will Muschamp, another former Florida head coach, in 2016), Florida has held only a 9-6 lead over Carolina.
Alabama has played Florida on 40 occasions. The Gators and the Crimson Tide have played infrequently since first facing off in 1916. Of their 40 meetings, nine have been SEC Championship games. In such games, the Tide lead with five wins to Florida's four. The Gators have a lower winning percentage against Alabama, the traditional hegemon of the conference, than they have against any other remaining SEC member.
It may surprise many that Florida has played Georgia Tech so frequently. As a matter of fact, the Yellow Jackets have played the Gators 38 times – as many or more times than four modern members of the SEC (and 14 more occasions than Florida has played fellow charter and current member Ole Miss). However, the Gators did play Georgia Tech quite regularly from 1929 until the Jackets left the SEC after 1963. This is also the most lopsided series against the Gators of any opponent they have played more than ten times. The Orange and Blue only triumphed on nine occasions in 38 attempts against the Yellow Jackets. Had that series continued, one would imagine, that trend probably would have reversed. The Gators have not met the Yellow Jackets on the gridiron since a 27-6 triumph in 1981.
Despite both being charter members of the SEC, Florida and Mississippi have only met 24 times. Since first playing in 1926, the Gators and the Rebels have only played more than two consecutive years on one occasion (1944-1948). As of the most recent conference alignment, this is unlikely to change any time soon. The Gators have also defeated Ole Miss less frequently than any other charter member of the SEC still a member of the conference.
Like Georgia Tech, Tulane was once a member of the SEC and thus have some history playing the Gators. Until 1958, the Green Wave actually led the series with Florida 6-2-2. However, in 1958 the Gators won for the first time in 36 years and have not lost since. Since Tulane left the conference after 1966, they have only played Florida five times (the last being a 63-21 Gator victory in 1984).
Florida and Arkansas have played on 11 occasions – the first was in Houston for the Bluebonnet Bowl while two others were in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. Arkansas's two wins came in the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl and the most recent competition in Fayetteville. Thus, this is the most lopsided series between Florida and any of their SEC opponents.
Missouri has only played the Gators nine times, though since the last conference expansion they have played on an annual basis. The Tigers won the first match-up, the 1966 Sugar Bowl, despite a furious comeback-attempt led by quarterback Steve Spurrier. Since Missouri joined the conference in 2012, Florida and Missouri have each won four games against the other.
Florida has only played Texas A&M four times, less than any other conference opponent. As members of different SEC divisions, they only play infrequently. The first game was played in 1962 and won handily by the Gators in Gainesville. The second game was the January 1977 Sun Bowl in El Paso. That game was won by the Aggies. The two opponents have each defeated the other once (at the other's stadium) since Texas A&M joined the SEC in 2012.
The Gators have played Florida Atlantic three times and UCF twice; they have only played South Florida and FIU once each. While generally competitive baseball series, the Gators have never lost to one of the four newer in-state programs on the gridiron. Florida Atlantic came close to taking down the Gators in 2015, when it took overtime for the Gators to put away the Owls in the Swamp.
Not included in the table above but also of note: Florida leads Sewanee (another charter member of the SEC who left in 1940 and now play in Division III) in their series, 7-2-0; UF leads Florida A&M 1-0-0, Florida Southern 13-1-0, Rollins 13-2-1, Stetson 15-2-2, and Tampa 5-0-0.

Bowl Predictions: 2019-20

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Time again for bowl picks. Last year I did remarkably well considering I spent most Saturdays working, including a full month of the season in the Eastern Hemisphere. You can follow my predictions live at ESPN's Bowl Mania.

Friday, December 20

Bahamas Bowl: Charlotte (7-5) over Buffalo (7-5)
Frisco Bowl: Utah State (7-5) over Kent State (6-6)

Saturday, December 21

New Mexico Bowl: San Diego State (9-3) over Central Michigan (8-5)
Cure Bowl: Georgia Southern (7-5) over Liberty (7-5)
Boca Raton Bowl: SMU (10-2) over Florida Atlantic (10-3)
Camellia Bowl: Arkansas State (7-5) over FIU (6-6)
Las Vegas Bowl: Washington (7-5) over 19 Boise State (12-1)
New Orleans Bowl: 20 Appalachian State (12-1) over UAB (9-4)

Monday, December 23

Gasparilla Bowl: UCF (9-3) over Marshall (8-4)

Tuesday, December 24

Hawaiʻi Bowl: BYU (7-5) over Hawaiʻi (9-5)

Thursday, December 26

Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech (9-3) over Miami (6-6)
Quick Lane Bowl: Pittsburgh (7-5) over Eastern Michigan (6-6)

Friday, December 27

Military Bowl: North Carolina (6-6) over Temple (8-4)
Pinstripe Bowl: Wake Forest (8-4) over Michigan State (6-6)
Texas Bowl: 25 Oklahoma State (8-4) over Texas A&M (7-5)
Holiday Bowl: 22 USC (8-4) over 16 Iowa (9-3)
Cheez-It Bowl: Air Force (10-2) over Washington State (6-6)

Saturday, December 28

Camping World Bowl: Iowa State (7-5) over 15 Notre Dame (10-2)
Cotton Bowl: 10 Penn State (10-2) over 17 Memphis (12-1)
Peach Bowl: 1 LSU (13-0) over 4 Oklahoma (12-1)
Fiesta Bowl: 3 Clemson (13-0) over 2 Ohio State (13-0)

Monday, December 30

First Responder Bowl: Western Kentucky (8-4) over Western Michigan (7-5)
Music City Bowl: Mississippi State (6-6) over Louisville (7-5)
Redbox Bowl: California (7-5) over Illinois (6-6)
Orange Bowl: 9 Florida (10-2) over 24 Virginia (9-4)

Tuesday, December 31

Belk Bowl: Virginia Tech (8-4) over Kentucky (7-5)
Sun Bowl: Arizona State (7-5) over Florida State (6-6)
Liberty Bowl: 23 Navy (10-2) over Kansas State (8-4)
Arizona Bowl: Wyoming (7-5) over Georgia State (7-5)
Alamo Bowl: Texas (7-5) over 11 Utah (11-2)

Wednesday, January 1

Citrus Bowl: 13 Alabama (10-2) over 14 Michigan (9-3)
Outback Bowl: 12 Auburn (9-3) over 18 Minnesota (10-2)
Rose Bowl: 6 Oregon (11-2) over 8 Wisconsin (10-3)
Sugar Bowl: 5 Georgia (11-2) over 7 Baylor (11-2)

Thursday, January 2

Birmingham Bowl: 21 Cincinnati (10-3) over Boston College (6-6)
Gator Bowl: Tennessee (7-5) over Indiana (8-4)

Friday, January 3

Potato Bowl: Nevada (7-5) over Ohio (6-6)

Saturday, January 4

Armed Forces Bowl: Tulane (6-6) over Southern Miss (7-5)

Monday, January 6

LendingTree Bowl: Louisiana (10-3) over Miami of Ohio (8-5)

Monday, January 13

National Championship: 1 LSU (14-0) over 3 Clemson (14-0)

Gator Statistics: Conference and In-State Rivals

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 12:00:00 +0000

With Week 0 complete, this table only represents results through the end of the 2018 season. So note that Florida's season-opening victory over Miami is not included in this table.

Opponent	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	Win %	First Meeting	Last Meeting
Georgia	96	43	51	2	0.458	1915	2018
Auburn	83	38	43	2	0.470	1912	2011
Kentucky	69	51	18	0	0.739	1917	2018
LSU	65	33	29	3	0.531	1937	2018
Florida State	63	35	26	2	0.571	1958	2018
Mississippi State	55	34	19	2	0.636	1923	2018
Miami	55	26	29	0	0.473	1938	2013
Vanderbilt	52	40	10	2	0.788	1945	2018
Tennessee	48	28	20	0	0.583	1916	2018
Alabama	40	14	26	0	0.350	1916	2016
South Carolina	39	27	9	3	0.731	1911	2018
Georgia Tech	38	9	23	6	0.316	1912	1981
Mississippi	24	11	12	1	0.479	1926	2015
Tulane	21	13	6	2	0.667	1915	1984
Arkansas	11	9	2	0	0.818	1982	2016
Missouri	8	3	5	0	0.375	1966	2018
Texas A&M	4	2	2	0	0.500	1962	2017
Florida Atlantic	3	3	0	0	1.000	2007	2015
UCF	2	2	0	0	1.000	1999	2006
South Florida	1	1	0	0	1.000	2010	2010
FIU	1	1	0	0	1.000	2009	2009

Starting from the top of the table, one notices Georgia is the Gators' most frequent opponent. Florida and Georgia have met 96 times between 1915 and today, and have been playing annually every year since 1926 (excluding two years during World War II, when UF suspended its football program). Georgia has defeated Florida more than any other of the Gators' opponents, although since 1950 UF has won 38 contests against UGA's 30 and one tie.
But perhaps Georgia should not be considered Florida's oldest rival. The first game against Auburn was played in 1912. Except for three years during the early Forties, the Gators and Tigers played every year from 1927 to 2002. When the annual UF-AU game was terminated after the 2002 season, Florida had played Auburn and Georgia 80 times each. In addition, Auburn is the closest SEC university to Gainesville. Until 2018, Auburn had played Florida more times than they had played their archrival Alabama.
Kentucky has played Florida more than anyone besides UGA and Auburn... this may be surprising considering the distance between Lexington and Gainesville. Indeed, for many years (1933 to 1992) UK was the farthest conference opponent from UF. Kentucky was also the northernmost SEC school (now Missouri), while Florida is the southernmost. Today, only Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas A&M are farther than Lexington. Nonetheless, they have played every year since 1967. This series has been terribly lopsided over the last six decades; since the teams began playing annually, Florida has won 46 times while Kentucky's won six.
Louisiana State is the Gators' most frequent opponent currently in the SEC's West division and still playing Florida annually. They had never played each other until both teams joined the SEC, but have played fairly regularly since 1953 (annually since 1971). When the conference split into East and West, it was decided that Florida would still play two western teams annually. While the Auburn choice was obvious (it was an old and competitive rivalry), LSU was neither the Gators' first- nor second-most frequently played western team. As a matter of fact, they were third, but that will be explained farther down. Nonetheless, the two southernmost schools in the SEC seem apt rivals, as the series is among the most competitive in the conference.
Not surprisingly, Florida State is the most frequent non-conference rival of the Gators. The game has been played annually since its inception in 1958. The two North Florida schools share an intertwined history that traces back the Seminary Act of 1851, while the Buckman Act of 1905 established the modern campuses of both institutions. Florida State has played each the Gators and the Miami Hurricanes 63 times. Although the Seminoles and the Hurricanes first met in 1951, they did not start annual play until 1969. That series is led by Miami 33-30.
When the conference split in 1992, the Gators needed two western schools to play annually. Auburn was the first, but who would be the second? Surprisingly, before the split Florida had played Mississippi State more frequently than any other western opponent besides Auburn (48 times to LSU's 39). However, that series had been far less competitive to that point (Florida had led it 30-16-2). The decision for Florida and LSU, whose series at the time was led by LSU 18-17-3, to play annually was made partially in the interest of balancing and competitiveness. Ironically, UF only holds a slight 4-3 lead against MSU while Florida leads LSU 16-11 since the divisional schism.
Miami is the most frequent non-conference opponent that Florida no longer plays annually. Opinion among Gator fans is split as to whether this series or that with Auburn is the most unfortunate casualty of scheduling changes. Other than two years during the war, the Gators and the 'Canes played every year from 1938 to 1987. When the UF athletic department decided to cut its number of annual in-state opponents from two to one, it was decided that Florida State would be the one to remain. By that time, Florida State, the other large public university in North Florida, had displaced the smaller private school in South Florida as the Gators' #1 in-state rival.
Of all series between current annual opponents, that with Vanderbilt is the most lopsided. It was played somewhat infrequently until the SEC East division was created in 1992, though at the time Florida only led 14-9-2. Florida has dominated since then, with 26 wins to Vanderbilt's single victory.
Although they first met in 1916, Florida and Tennessee have only been playing each other annually since 1990. Tennessee had previously dominated the series, though that changed after Tennessee-native-son-but-Gator-alum Steve Spurrier took the helm as Gator head coach. Florida has led 22-7 since the day Spurrier was hired. The series peaked in intensity during the 1990s, when both teams battled for domination of the SEC East.
Alabama has played Florida on 40 occasions. The Gators and the Crimson Tide have played infrequently since first facing off in 1916. Of their 40 meetings, nine have been SEC Championship games. In such games, the Tide lead with five wins to Florida's four. The Gators have a lower winning percentage against Alabama, the traditional hegemon of the conference, than they have against any other remaining SEC member.
Before South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, they had only played the Gators on 12 occasions (and not since 1964), although their initial contest, a 6-6 draw in 1911, was Florida's first against any opponent that would later become a member of the SEC. Before the expansion, the Gators had led the series 6-3-3, but since have led 21-6. However, since Steve Spurrier was given the reins at South Carolina in 2005 (and later replaced by Will Muschamp, another former Florida head coach, in 2016), Florida has held only a slight 8-6 lead over Carolina.
It may surprise many that Florida has played Georgia Tech so frequently. As a matter of fact, the Yellow Jackets have played the Gators 38 times – as many or more times than four modern members of the SEC (and 14 more occasions than Florida has played fellow charter and current member Ole Miss). However, the Gators did play Georgia Tech quite regularly from 1929 until the Jackets left the SEC after 1963. This is also the most lopsided series against the Gators of any opponent they have played more than ten times. The Orange and Blue only triumphed on nine occasions in 38 attempts against the Yellow Jackets. Had that series continued, one would imagine, that trend probably would have reversed. The Gators have not met the Yellow Jackets on the gridiron since a 27-6 triumph in 1981.
Despite both being charter members of the SEC, Florida and Mississippi have only met 24 times. Since first playing in 1926, the Gators and the Rebels have only played more than two consecutive years on one occasion (1944-1948). As of the most recent conference alignment, this is unlikely to change any time soon. The Gators have also defeated Ole Miss less frequently than any other charter member of the SEC still a member of the conference.
Like Georgia Tech, Tulane was once a member of the SEC and thus have some history playing the Gators. Until 1958, the Green Wave actually led the series with Florida 6-2-2. However, in 1958 the Gators won for the first time in 36 years and have not lost since. Since Tulane left the conference after 1966, they have only played Florida five times (the last being a 63-21 Gator victory in 1984).
Florida and Arkansas have played on 11 occasions – the first was in Houston for the Bluebonnet Bowl while two others were in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. Arkansas's two wins came in the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl and the most recent competition in Fayetteville. Thus, this is the most lopsided series between Florida and any of their SEC opponents.
Missouri has only played the Gators eight times, though they are currently scheduled to play on an annual basis. The Tigers won the first match-up, the 1966 Sugar Bowl, despite a furious comeback-attempt led by quarterback Steve Spurrier. Since Missouri joined the conference in 2012, Missouri has led the series with four wins to Florida's three.
Florida has only played Texas A&M four times, less than any other conference opponent. As members of different SEC divisions, they only play infrequently. The first game was played in 1962 and won handily by the Gators in Gainesville. The second game was the January 1977 Sun Bowl in El Paso. That game was won by the Aggies. The two opponents have each defeated the other once (at the other's stadium) since Texas A&M joined the SEC in 2012.
The Gators have played Florida Atlantic three times and UCF twice; they have only played South Florida and FIU once each. While generally competitive baseball series, the Gators have never lost to one of the four newer in-state programs on the gridiron. Florida Atlantic came close to taking down the Gators in 2015, when it took overtime for the Gators to put away the Owls in the Swamp.
Not included in the table above but also of note: Florida leads Sewanee (another charter member of the SEC who left in 1940 and now play in Division III) in their series, 7-2-0; UF leads Florida A&M 1-0-0, Florida Southern 13-1-0, Rollins 13-2-1, Stetson 15-2-2, and Tampa 5-0-0.

Bowl Predictions: 2018-19

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 13:00:00 +0000

As usual, this year I'll be taking a swing at predicting this season's bowl games. There's sure to be some surprises and upsets, so you'll just have to watch to see how well it goes. You can follow my predictions live at ESPN's Bowl Mania.

Saturday, December 15

Cure Bowl: Tulane (6-6) over Louisiana (7-6)
New Mexico Bowl: Utah State (10-2) over North Texas (9-3)
Las Vegas Bowl: 21 Fresno State (11-2) over Arizona State (7-5)
Camellia Bowl: Georgia Southern (9-3) over Eastern Michigan (7-5)
New Orleans Bowl: Appalachian State (10-2) over Middle Tennessee (8-5)

Tuesday, December 18

Boca Raton Bowl: UAB (10-3) over Northern Illinois (8-5)

Wednesday, December 19

Frisco Bowl: San Diego State (7-5) over Ohio (8-4)

Thursday, December 20

Gasparilla Bowl: Marshall (8-4) over South Florida (7-5)

Friday, December 21

Bahamas Bowl: FIU (8-4) over Toledo (7-5)
Potato Bowl: BYU (6-6) over Western Michigan (7-5)

Saturday, December 22

Birmingham Bowl: Wake Forest (6-6) over Memphis (8-5)
Armed Forces Bowl: Army (10-2) over Houston (8-4)
Dollar General Bowl: Troy (9-3) over Buffalo (10-3)
Hawaiʻi Bowl: Hawaiʻi (8-5) over Louisiana Tech (7-5)

Wednesday, December 26

First Responder Bowl: 25 Boise State (10-3) over Boston College (7-5)
Quick Lane Bowl: Minnesota (6-6) over Georgia Tech (7-5)
Cheez-It Bowl: California (7-5) over TCU (6-6)

Thursday, December 27

Independence Bowl: Duke (7-5) over Temple (8-4)
Pinstripe Bowl: Wisconsin (7-5) over Miami (7-5)
Texas Bowl: Vanderbilt (6-6) over Baylor (6-6)

Friday, December 28

Music City Bowl: Auburn (7-5) over Purdue (6-6)
Camping World Bowl: 20 Syracuse (9-3) over 16 West Virginia (8-3)
Alamo Bowl: 13 Washington State (10-2) over 24 Iowa State (8-4)

Saturday, December 29

Peach Bowl: 10 Florida (9-3) over 7 Michigan (10-2)
Belk Bowl: South Carolina (7-5) over Virginia (7-5)
Arizona Bowl: Nevada (7-5) over Arkansas State (8-4)
Cotton Bowl: 2 Clemson (13-0) over 3 Notre Dame (12-0)

Orange Bowl: 1 Alabama (13-0) over 4 Oklahoma (12-1)

Monday, December 31

Military Bowl: Cincinnati (10-2) over Virginia Tech (6-6)
Sun Bowl: Stanford (8-4) over Pittsburgh (7-6)
Redbox Bowl: Oregon (8-4) over Michigan State (7-5)
Liberty Bowl: 23 Missouri (8-4) over Oklahoma State (6-6)
Holiday Bowl: 17 Utah (9-4) over 22 Northwestern (8-5)

Gator Bowl: 19 Texas A&M (8-4) over North Carolina State (9-3)

Tuesday, January 1

Outback Bowl: 18 Mississippi State (8-4) over Iowa (8-4)
Citrus Bowl: 12 Penn State (9-3) over 14 Kentucky (9-3)
Fiesta Bowl: 11 LSU (9-3) over 8 UCF (12-0)
Rose Bowl: 6 Ohio State (12-1) over 9 Washington (10-3)
Sugar Bowl: 5 Georgia (11-2) over 15 Texas (9-4)

Monday, January 7

National Championship: 1 Alabama (14-0) over 2 Clemson (14-0)

Representing /u/BullAlligator on /r/FloridaGators

Gator Statistics: Conference and In-State Rivals

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 12:00:00 +0000

Florida begins its SEC schedule this weekend, so the table of statistics has been updated to accommodate for the results of the 2017 season.

Opponent	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	Win %	First Meeting	Last Meeting
Georgia	95	43	50	2	0.463	1915	2017
Auburn	83	38	43	2	0.470	1912	2011
Kentucky	68	51	17	0	0.750	1917	2017
LSU	64	32	29	3	0.523	1937	2017
Florida State	62	34	26	2	0.565	1958	2017
Miami	55	26	29	0	0.473	1938	2013
Mississippi State	54	33	19	2	0.630	1923	2010
Vanderbilt	51	39	10	2	0.784	1945	2017
Tennessee	47	27	20	0	0.574	1916	2017
Alabama	40	14	26	0	0.350	1916	2016
South Carolina	38	26	9	3	0.724	1911	2017
Georgia Tech	38	9	23	6	0.316	1912	1981
Mississippi	24	11	12	1	0.479	1926	2015
Tulane	21	13	6	2	0.667	1915	1984
Arkansas	11	9	2	0	0.818	1982	2016
Missouri	7	3	4	0	0.429	1966	2017
Texas A&M	4	2	2	0	0.500	1962	2017
Florida Atlantic	3	3	0	0	1.000	2007	2015
UCF	2	2	0	0	1.000	1999	2006
South Florida	1	1	0	0	1.000	2010	2010
FIU	1	1	0	0	1.000	2009	2009

Starting from the top of the table, one notices Georgia is the Gators' most frequent opponent. Florida and Georgia have met 95 times between 1915 and today, and have been playing annually every year since 1926 (excluding two years during World War II, when UF suspended its football program). Georgia has defeated Florida more than any other of the Gators' opponents, although since 1950 UF has won 38 contests against UGA's 29 and one tie.
But perhaps Georgia should not be considered Florida's oldest rival. The first game against Auburn was played in 1912. Except for three years during the early Forties, the Gators and Tigers played every year from 1927 to 2002. When the annual UF-AU game was terminated after the 2002 season, Florida had played Auburn and Georgia 80 times each. In addition, Auburn is the closest SEC university to Gainesville. Auburn will still have played Florida more frequently than their arch-nemesis, Alabama, until they meet again this November.
Kentucky has played Florida more than anyone besides UGA and Auburn... this may be surprising considering the distance between Lexington and Gainesville. Indeed, for many years (1933 to 1992) UK was the farthest conference opponent from UF. Kentucky was also the northernmost SEC school (now Missouri), while Florida is the southernmost. Today, only Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas A&M are farther than Lexington. Nonetheless, they have played every year since 1967. This series has been terribly lopsided in the last half-century; since the teams began playing annually, Florida has won 46 times while Kentucky's won five.
Louisiana State is the Gators' most frequent opponent currently in the SEC's West division and still playing Florida annually. They had never played each other until both teams joined the SEC, but have played fairly regularly since 1953 (annually since 1971). When the conference split into East and West, it was decided that Florida would still play two western teams annually. While the Auburn choice was obvious (it was an old and competitive rivalry), LSU was neither the Gators' first- nor second-most frequently played western team. As a matter of fact, they were third, but that will be explained farther down. Nonetheless, the two southernmost schools in the SEC seem apt rivals, as the series is among the most competitive in the conference.
Not surprisingly, Florida State is the most frequent non-conference rival of the Gators. The game has been played annually since its inception in 1958. The two North Florida schools share an intertwined history that traces back the Seminary Act of 1851, while the Buckman Act of 1905 established the modern campuses of both institutions. Florida State has played each the Gators and the Miami Hurricanes 62 times. Although the Seminoles and the Hurricanes first met in 1951, they did not start annual play until 1969. That series is led by Miami 32-30.
Miami is the most frequent non-conference opponent that Florida no longer plays annually. Opinion among Gator fans is split as to whether this series or that with Auburn is the most unfortunate casualty of scheduling changes. Other than two years during the war, the Gators and the 'Canes played every year from 1938 to 1987. When the UF athletic department decided to cut its number of annual in-state opponents from two to one, it was decided that Florida State would be the one to remain. By that time, Florida State, the other large public university in North Florida, had displaced the smaller private school in South Florida as the Gators' #1 in-state rival.
When the conference split in 1992, the Gators needed two western schools to play annually. Auburn was the first, but who would be the second? Surprisingly, before the split Florida had played Mississippi State more frequently than any other western opponent besides Auburn (48 times to LSU's 39). However, that series had been far less competitive to that point (Florida had led it 30-16-2). The decision for Florida and LSU, whose series at the time was led by LSU 18-17-3, to play annually was made partially in the interest of balancing and competitiveness. Ironically, the series between UF and MSU has been split an even 3-3 while Florida leads LSU 15-11 since the divisional schism.
Of all series between current annual opponents, that with Vanderbilt is the most lopsided. It was played somewhat infrequently until the SEC East division was created in 1992, though at the time Florida only led 14-9-2. Florida has dominated since then, with 25 wins to Vanderbilt's single victory.
Although they first met in 1916, Florida and Tennessee have only been playing each other annually since 1990. Tennessee had previously dominated the series, though that changed after Tennessee-native-son-but-Gator-alum Steve Spurrier took the helm as Gator head coach. Florida has led 21-7 since the day Spurrier was hired. The series peaked in intensity during the 1990s, when both teams battled for domination of the SEC East.
Alabama has played Florida on 40 occasions. The Gators and the Crimson Tide have played infrequently since first facing off in 1916. Of their 40 meetings, nine have been SEC Championship games. In such games, the Tide lead with five wins to Florida's four. The Gators have a lower winning percentage against Alabama, the traditional hegemon of the conference, than they have against any other remaining SEC member.
Before South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, they had only played the Gators on 12 occasions (and not since 1964), although their initial contest, a 6-6 draw in 1911, was Florida's first against any opponent that would later become a member of the SEC. Before the expansion, the Gators had led the series 6-3-3, but since have led 20-6. However, since Steve Spurrier was given the reins at South Carolina in 2005 (and later replaced by Will Muschamp, another former Florida head coach, in 2016), Florida has held only a slight 7-6 lead over Carolina.
It may surprise many that Florida has played Georgia Tech so frequently. As a matter of fact, the Yellow Jackets have played the Gators 38 times – as many or more times than five modern members of the SEC! However, the Gators did play Georgia Tech quite regularly from 1929 until the Jackets left the SEC after 1963. This is also the most lopsided series against the Gators of any opponent they have played more than ten times. The Orange and Blue only triumphed on nine occasions in 38 attempts against the Yellow Jackets. Had that series continued, one would imagine, that trend probably would have reversed. The Gators have not met the Yellow Jackets on the gridiron since a 27-6 triumph in 1981.
Despite both being charter members of the SEC, Florida and Mississippi have only met 24 times. Since first playing in 1926, the Gators and the Rebels have only played more than two consecutive years on one occasion (1944-1948). As of the most recent conference alignment, this is unlikely to change any time soon. The Gators have also defeated Ole Miss less frequently than any other charter member of the SEC still a member of the conference.
Like Georgia Tech, Tulane was once a member of the SEC and thus have some history playing the Gators. Until 1958, the Green Wave actually led the series with Florida 6-2-2. However, in 1958 the Gators won for the first time in 36 years and have not lost since. Since Tulane left the conference after 1966, they have only played Florida five times (the last being a 63-21 Gator victory in 1984).
Florida and Arkansas have played on 11 occasions – the first was in Houston for the Bluebonnet Bowl while two others were in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. Arkansas's two wins came in the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl and the most recent competition in Fayetteville. Thus, this is the most lopsided series between Florida and any of their SEC opponents.
Missouri has only played the Gators seven times, though they are currently scheduled to play on an annual basis. The Tigers won the first match-up, the 1966 Sugar Bowl, despite a furious comeback-attempt led by quarterback Steve Spurrier. Since Missouri joined the conference in 2012, Florida and Missouri have split the series with three wins each.
Florida has only played Texas A&M four times, less than any other conference opponent. As members of different SEC divisions, they only play infrequently. The first game was played in 1962 and won handily by the Gators in Gainesville. The second game was the January 1977 Sun Bowl in El Paso. That game was won by the Aggies. The two opponents have each defeated the other once (at the other's stadium) since Texas A&M joined the SEC in 2012.
The Gators have played Florida Atlantic three times and UCF twice; they have only played South Florida and FIU once each. While generally competitive baseball series, the Gators have never lost to one of the four newer in-state programs on the gridiron. Florida Atlantic came close to taking down the Gators in 2015, when it took overtime for the Gators to put away the Owls in the Swamp.
Not included in the table above but also of note: Florida leads Sewanee (another charter member of the SEC who left in 1940 and now play in Division III) in their series, 7-2-0; UF leads Florida A&M 1-0-0, Florida Southern 13-1-0, Rollins 13-2-1, Stetson 15-2-2, and Tampa 5-0-0.

Bowl Predictions: 2017-18

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 13:00:00 +0000

This year's bowl slate features a wide variety of competitive matchups and intriguing pairs. One never knows with too much certainty how things will play out, but I'll try to take a stab at it. You can follow my predictions live at ESPN's Bowl Mania.

Saturday, December 16

New Orleans Bowl: Troy (10-2) over North Texas (9-4)
Cure Bowl: Western Kentucky (6-6) over Georgia State (6-5)
Las Vegas Bowl: 25 Boise State (10-3) over Oregon (7-5)
New Mexico Bowl: Marshall (7-5) over Colorado State (7-5)
Camellia Bowl: Arkansas State (7-4) over Middle Tennessee (6-6)

Tuesday, December 19

Boca Raton Bowl: Florida Atlantic (10-3) over Akron (7-6)

Wednesday, December 20

Frisco Bowl: Louisiana Tech (6-6) over SMU (7-5)

Thursday, December 21

Gasparilla Bowl: FIU (8-4) over Temple (6-6)

Friday, December 22

Bahamas Bowl: UAB (8-4) over Ohio (8-4)
Potato Bowl: Central Michigan (8-4) over Wyoming (7-5)

Saturday, December 23

Birmingham Bowl: South Florida (9-2) over Texas Tech (6-6)
Armed Forces Bowl: San Diego State (10-2) over Army (9-3)
Dollar General Bowl: Appalachian State (8-4) over Toledo (11-2)

Sunday, December 24

Hawaiʻi Bowl: Fresno State (9-4) over Houston (7-4)

Tuesday, December 26

Heart of Dallas Bowl: Utah (6-6) over West Virginia (7-5)
Quick Lane Bowl: Duke (6-6) over Northern Illinois (8-4)
Cactus Bowl: Kansas State (7-5) over UCLA (6-6)

Wednesday, December 27

Independence Bowl: Florida State (6-6) over Southern Mississippi (8-4)
Pinstripe Bowl: Iowa (7-5) over Boston College (7-5)
Foster Farms Bowl: Arizona (7-5) over Purdue (6-6)
Texas Bowl: Missouri (7-5) over Texas (6-6)

Thursday, December 28

Military Bowl: Navy (6-6) over Virginia (6-6)
Camping World Bowl: 22 Virginia Tech (9-3) over 19 Oklahoma State (9-3)
Alamo Bowl: 15 TCU (10-3) over 13 Stanford (9-4)
Holiday Bowl: 16 Michigan State (9-3) over 18 Washington State (9-3)

Friday, December 29

Belk Bowl: Wake Forest (7-5) over Texas A&M (7-5)
Sun Bowl: 24 North Carolina State (8-4) over Arizona State (7-5)
Music City Bowl: 21 Northwestern (9-3) over Kentucky (7-5)
Arizona Bowl: New Mexico State (6-6) over Utah State (6-6)
Cotton Bowl: 5 Ohio State (11-2) over 8 USC (11-2)

Saturday, December 30

Gator Bowl: Louisville (8-4) over 23 Mississippi State (8-4)
Liberty Bowl: 20 Memphis (10-2) over Iowa State (7-5)
Fiesta Bowl: 9 Penn State (10-2) over 11 Washington (10-2)
Orange Bowl: 6 Wisconsin (12-1) over 10 Miami (10-2)

Monday, January 1

Outback Bowl: Michigan (8-4) over South Carolina (8-4)
Peach Bowl: 7 Auburn (10-3) over 12 UCF (12-0)
Citrus Bowl: 17 LSU (9-3) over 14 Notre Dame (9-3)
Rose Bowl: 3 Georgia (12-1) over 2 Oklahoma (12-1)
Sugar Bowl: 1 Clemson (12-1) over 4 Alabama (11-1)

Monday, January 8

National Championship: 4 Alabama (12-1) over 3 Georgia (13-1)

Gator Statistics: Conference and In-State Rivals

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 12:00:00 +0000

The table of statistics has been updated to accommodate for the results of the 2016 season.

Opponent	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	Win %	First Meeting	Last Meeting
Georgia	94	43	49	2	0.468	1915	2016
Auburn	83	38	43	2	0.470	1912	2011
Kentucky	67	50	17	0	0.746	1917	2016
LSU	63	32	28	3	0.532	1937	2016
Florida State	61	34	25	2	0.574	1958	2016
Miami	55	26	29	0	0.473	1938	2013
Mississippi State	54	33	19	2	0.630	1923	2010
Vanderbilt	50	38	10	2	0.780	1945	2016
Tennessee	46	26	20	0	0.565	1916	2016
Alabama	40	14	26	0	0.350	1916	2016
Georgia Tech	38	9	23	6	0.316	1912	1981
South Carolina	37	26	8	3	0.743	1911	2016
Mississippi	24	11	12	1	0.479	1926	2015
Tulane	21	13	6	2	0.667	1915	1984
Arkansas	11	9	2	0	0.818	1982	2016
Missouri	6	3	3	0	0.500	1966	2016
Florida Atlantic	3	3	0	0	1.000	2007	2015
Texas A&M	3	2	1	0	0.667	1962	2012
UCF	2	2	0	0	1.000	1999	2006
South Florida	1	1	0	0	1.000	2010	2010
FIU	1	1	0	0	1.000	2009	2009

Starting from the top of the table, one notices Georgia is the Gators' most frequent opponent. Florida and Georgia have met 94 times between 1915 and today, and have been playing annually every year since 1926 (excluding two years during World War II, when UF suspended its football program).
But perhaps Georgia should not be considered Florida's oldest rival. The first game against Auburn was played in 1912. Except for three years during the early Forties, the Gators and Tigers played every year from 1927 to 2002. When the annual UF-AU game was terminated after the 2002 season, Florida had played Auburn and Georgia 80 times each. In addition, Auburn is the closest SEC university to Gainesville. For at least a few more years, Auburn will still have played Florida more frequently than their arch-nemesis, Alabama.
Kentucky has played Florida more than anyone besides UGA and Auburn... this may be surprising considering the distance between Lexington and Gainesville. Indeed, for many years (1933 to 1992) UK was the farthest conference opponent from UF. Kentucky was also the northernmost SEC school (now Missouri), while Florida is the southernmost. Today, only Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas A&M are farther than Lexington. Nonetheless, they have played every year since 1967. This series has been terribly lopsided in the last half-century; since the teams began playing annually, Florida has won 45 times while Kentucky's won five.
Louisiana State is the Gators' most frequent opponent currently in the SEC's West division and still playing Florida annually. They had never played each other until both teams joined the SEC, but have played fairly regularly since 1953 (annually since 1971). When the conference split into East and West, it was decided that Florida would still play two western teams annually. While the Auburn choice was obvious (it was an old and competitive rivalry), LSU was neither the Gators' most frequently nor second-most frequent western team. As a matter of fact, they were third, but that will be explained farther down.
Not surprisingly, Florida State is the most frequent non-conference rival of the Gators. The game has been played annually since its inception in 1958. Florida State has played each the Gators and the Miami Hurricanes 61 times. Although the Seminoles and the Hurricanes first met in 1951, they did not start play annually until 1969. That series is led by Miami 31-30.
Miami is the most frequent non-conference opponent that Florida no longer plays annually. Opinion among Gator fans is split as to whether this series or that with Auburn is the most unfortunate casualty of scheduling changes. Other than two years during the war, the Gators and the 'Canes played every year from 1938 to 1987. When the UF athletic department decided to cut its number of annual in-state opponents from two to one, it was decided that Florida State would be the one to remain. By that time, Florida State, the other large public university in northern Florida, had displaced the smaller private school in South Florida as the Gators' #1 in-state rival.
When the conference split in 1992, the Gators needed two western schools to play annually. Auburn was the first, but who would be the second? Surprisingly, before the split Florida had played Mississippi State more frequently than any other western opponent besides Auburn (48 times to LSU's 39). However, that series had been far less competitive to that point (Florida had led it 30-16-2). The decision for Florida and LSU, whose series at the time was led by LSU 18-17-3, to play annually was made partially in the interest of balancing and competitiveness. Ironically, the series between UF and MSU has been split 3-3 while Florida leads LSU 15-10 since the conference division.
Of all series between current annual opponents, that with Vanderbilt is the most lopsided. It was played somewhat infrequently until the SEC East division was created in 1992, though at the time Florida only led 14-9-2. Florida has dominated since then, with 24 wins to Vanderbilt's single victory.
Although they first met in 1916, Florida and Tennessee have only been playing each other annually since 1990. Tennessee had previously dominated the series, though that changed after Tennessee-native-son-but-Gator-alum Steve Spurrier took the helm as Gator head coach. Florida has led 20-7 since the day Spurrier was hired. The series peaked in intensity during the 1990s, when both teams battled for domination of the SEC East.
Alabama has played Florida on 40 occasions. The Gators and the Crimson Tide have played infrequently since first facing off in 1916. Of their 40 meetings, nine have been SEC Championship games. In such games, the Tide lead with five wins to Florida's four. The Gators have a lower winning percentage against Alabama, the traditional hegemon of the conference, than they have against any other remaining SEC member.
It may surprise many that Florida has played Georgia Tech so frequently. As a matter of fact, the Yellow Jackets have played the Gators 38 times – as many or more times than five modern members of the SEC! However, the Gators did play Georgia Tech quite regularly from 1929 until the Jackets left the SEC after 1963. This is also the most lopsided series against the Gators of any opponent they have played more than ten times. The Orange and Blue only triumphed on nine occasions in 38 attempts against the Yellow Jackets. Had that series continued, one would imagine, that trend probably would have reversed. The Gators have not met the Yellow Jackets on the gridiron since a 27-6 triumph in 1981.
Before South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, they had only played the Gators on 12 occasions (and not since 1964). Before the expansion, the Gators had led the series 6-3-3, but since have led 20-5. However, during the tenure of head coach Steve Spurrier at South Carolina from 2005 until 2014, Florida and Carolina both defeated each other five times.
Despite both being charter members of the SEC, Florida and Mississippi have only met 24 times. Since first playing in 1926, the Gators and the Rebels have only played more than two consecutive years on one occasion (1944-1948). As of the most recent conference alignment, this is unlikely to change any time soon. The Gators have also defeated Ole Miss less frequently than any other charter member of the SEC still a member of the conference.
Like Georgia Tech, Tulane was once a member of the SEC and thus have some history playing the Gators. Until 1958, the Green Wave actually led the series with Florida 6-2-2. However, in 1958 the Gators won for the first time in 36 years and have not lost since. Since Tulane left the conference after 1966, they have only played Florida five times (the last being a 63-21 Gator victory in 1984).
Florida and Arkansas have played on 11 occasions – the first was in Houston for the Bluebonnet Bowl while two others were in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. Arkansas's two wins came in the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl and the most recent competition in Fayetteville. Thus, this is the most lopsided series between Florida and any of their SEC opponents.
Missouri has only played the Gators six times, though they are currently scheduled to play on an annual basis. The Tigers won the first match-up, the 1966 Sugar Bowl, despite a furious comeback-attempt led by quarterback Steve Spurrier. Since Missouri joined the conference in 2012, Florida has led the series with three wins to the Tigers' two.
Florida has only played Texas A&M three times, less than any other conference opponent. As members of different SEC divisions, they only play infrequently. The first game was played in 1962 and won handily by the Gators in Gainesville. The second game was the January 1977 Sun Bowl in El Paso. That game was won by the Aggies. The most recent game was in 2012, played in College Station, and won by Florida (20-17).
The Gators have played Florida Atlantic three times and UCF twice; they have only played South Florida and FIU once each. The Gators have never lost to one of the four newer in-state programs. The only occasion Florida came close to losing to one of those four was in 2015, when it took overtime for the Gators to put away Florida Atlantic in the Swamp.
Not included in the table above but also of note: Florida leads Sewanee (another charter member of the SEC who left in 1940 and now play in Division III) in their series, 7-2-0; UF leads Florida A&M 1-0-0, Florida Southern 13-1-0, Rollins 13-2-1, Stetson 15-2-2, and Tampa 5-0-0.

Bowl Predictions: 2016-17

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Sat, 17 Dec 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Bowl season is one of the most fun parts of the year for college football fans. Predictors included. You're never sure whether teams are going to play as well as they did in the regular season or not. We're sure to see a few tight battles and shocking upsets. There will be a lot of enjoyment from here on out until the championship game on January 9th. You can follow my predictions live at ESPN's Bowl Mania.

Saturday, December 17

New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico (8-4) over UTSA (6-6)
Las Vegas Bowl: Houston (9-3) over San Diego State (10-3)
Camellia Bowl: Toledo (9-3) over Appalachian State (9-3)
Cure Bowl: UCF (6-6) over Arkansas State (7-5)
New Orleans Bowl: Louisiana (6-6) over Southern Miss (6-6)

Monday, December 19

Miami Beach Bowl: Tulsa (9-3) over Central Michigan (6-6)

Tuesday, December 20

Boca Raton Bowl: Memphis (8-4) over Western Kentucky (10-3)

Wednesday, December 21

Poinsettia Bowl: BYU (8-4) over Wyoming (8-5)

Thursday, December 22

Potato Bowl: Colorado State (7-5) over Idaho (8-4)

Friday, December 23

Bahamas Bowl: Eastern Michigan (7-5) over Old Dominion (9-3)
Armed Forces Bowl: 25 Navy (9-4) over Louisiana Tech (8-5)
Dollar General Bowl: Troy (9-3) over Ohio (8-5)

Saturday, December 24

Hawaii Bowl: Middle Tennessee (8-4) over Hawaii (6-7)

Monday, December 26

St. Petersburg Bowl: Mississippi State (5-7) over Miami of Ohio (6-6)
Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland (6-6) over Boston College (6-6)
Independence Bowl: Vanderbilt (6-6) over North Carolina State (6-6)

Tuesday, December 27

Heart of Dallas Bowl: Army (7-5) over North Texas (5-7)
Military Bowl: 24 Temple (10-3) over Wake Forest (6-6)
Holiday Bowl: Washington State (8-4) over Minnesota (8-4)
Cactus Bowl: Boise State (10-2) over Baylor (6-6)

Wednesday, December 28

Pinstripe Bowl: 23 Pittsburgh (8-4) over Northwestern (6-6)
Russell Athletic Bowl: 16 West Virginia (10-2) over Miami (8-4)
Foster Farms Bowl: 19 Utah (8-4) over Indiana (6-6)
Texas Bowl: Texas A&M (8-4) over Kansas State (8-4)

Thursday, December 29

Birmingham Bowl: South Florida (10-2) over South Carolina (6-6)
Belk Bowl: Arkansas (7-5) over 22 Virginia Tech (9-4)
Alamo Bowl: 12 Oklahoma State (9-3) over 10 Colorado (10-3)

Friday, December 30

Liberty Bowl: Georgia (7-5) over TCU (6-6)
Sun Bowl: 18 Stanford (9-3) over North Carolina (8-4)
Music City Bowl: 21 Tennessee (8-4) over Nebraska (9-3)
Arizona Bowl: Air Force (9-3) over South Alabama (6-6)
Orange Bowl: 6 Michigan (10-2) over 11 Florida State (9-3)

Saturday, December 31

Citrus Bowl: 20 LSU (7-4) over 13 Louisville (9-3)
Gator Bowl: Georgia Tech (8-4) over Kentucky (7-5)
Peach Bowl: 1 Alabama (13-0) over 4 Washington (12-1)
Fiesta Bowl: 2 Clemson (12-1) over 3 Ohio State (11-1)

Monday, January 2

Outback Bowl: 17 Florida (8-4) over Iowa (8-4)
Cotton Bowl: 8 Wisconsin (10-3) over 15 Western Michigan (13-0)
Rose Bowl: 9 USC (9-3) over 5 Penn State (11-2)
Sugar Bowl: 7 Oklahoma (10-2) over 14 Auburn (8-4)

Gator Statistics: Conference and In-State Rivals

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Florida begins its SEC schedule today, so the table of statistics has been updated to accommodate for the results of the 2015 season.

Opponent	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	Win %	First Meeting	Last Meeting
Georgia	93	42	49	2	0.462	1915	2015
Auburn	83	38	43	2	0.470	1912	2011
Kentucky	66	49	17	0	0.742	1917	2015
LSU	62	31	28	3	0.524	1937	2015
Florida State	60	34	24	2	0.583	1958	2015
Miami	55	26	29	0	0.473	1938	2013
Mississippi State	54	33	19	2	0.630	1923	2010
Vanderbilt	49	37	10	2	0.776	1945	2015
Tennessee	45	26	19	0	0.578	1916	2015
Alabama	39	14	25	0	0.359	1916	2015
Georgia Tech	38	9	23	6	0.316	1912	1981
South Carolina	36	25	8	3	0.736	1911	2015
Mississippi	24	11	12	1	0.479	1926	2015
Tulane	21	13	6	2	0.667	1915	1984
Arkansas	10	9	1	0	0.900	1982	2013
Missouri	5	2	3	0	0.400	1966	2015
Florida Atlantic	3	3	0	0	1.000	2007	2015
Texas A&M	3	2	1	0	0.667	1962	2012
UCF	2	2	0	0	1.000	1999	2006
South Florida	1	1	0	0	1.000	2010	2010
FIU	1	1	0	0	1.000	2009	2009

Starting from the top of the table, one notices Georgia is the Gators' most frequent opponent. Florida and Georgia have met 93 times between 1915 and today, and have been playing annually every year since 1926 (excluding two years during World War II, when UF suspended its football program).
But perhaps Georgia should not be considered Florida's oldest rival. The first game against Auburn was played in 1912. Except for three years during the early Forties, the Gators and Tigers played every year from 1927 to 2002. When the annual UF-AU game was terminated after the 2002 season, Florida had played Auburn and Georgia 80 times each. In addition, Auburn is the closest SEC university to Gainesville. For at least a few more years, Auburn will still have played Florida more frequently than their arch-nemesis, Alabama.
Kentucky has played Florida more than anyone besides UGA and Auburn... this may be surprising considering the distance between Lexington and Gainesville. Indeed, for many years (1933 to 1992) UK was the farthest conference opponent from UF. Kentucky was also the northernmost SEC school (now Missouri), while Florida is the southernmost. Today, only Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas A&M are farther than Lexington. Nonetheless, they have played every year since 1967. This series has been terribly lopsided in the last half-century; since the teams began playing annually, Florida has won 44 times while Kentucky's won five.
Louisiana State is the Gators' most frequent opponent currently in the SEC's West division and still playing Florida annually. They had never played each other until both teams joined the SEC, but have played fairly regularly since 1953 (annually since 1971). When the conference split into East and West, it was decided that Florida would still play two western teams annually. While the Auburn choice was obvious (it was an old and competitive rivalry), LSU was neither the Gators' most frequently nor second-most frequent western team. As a matter of fact, they were third, but that will be explained farther down.
Not surprisingly, Florida State is the most frequent non-conference rival of the Gators. The game has been played annually since its inception in 1958. Florida State has played each the Gators and the Miami Hurricanes 60 times. Although the Seminoles and the Hurricanes first met in 1951, they did not start play annually until 1969. That series is led by Miami 31-29.
Miami is the most frequent non-conference opponent that Florida no longer plays annually. Opinion among Gator fans is split as to whether this series or that with Auburn is the most unfortunate casualty of scheduling changes. Other than two years during the war, the Gators and the 'Canes played every year from 1938 to 1987. When the UF athletic department decided to cut its number of annual in-state opponents from two to one, it was decided that Florida State would be the one to remain. By that time, Florida State, the other large public university in northern Florida, had displaced the smaller private school in South Florida as the Gators' #1 in-state rival.
When the conference split in 1992, the Gators needed two western schools to play annually. Auburn was the first, but who would be the second? Surprisingly, before the split Florida had played Mississippi State more frequently than any other western opponent besides Auburn (48 times to LSU's 39). However, that series had been far less competitive to that point (Florida had led it 30-16-2). The decision for Florida and LSU, whose series at the time was led by LSU 18-17-3, to play annually was made partially in the interest of balancing and competitiveness. Ironically, the series between UF and MSU has been split 3-3 while Florida leads LSU 14-10 since the conference division.
Of all series between current annual opponents, that with Vanderbilt is the most lopsided. It was played somewhat infrequently until the SEC East division was created in 1992, though at the time Florida only led 14-9-2. Florida has dominated since then, with 23 wins to Vanderbilt's single victory.
Although they first met in 1916, Florida and Tennessee have only been playing each other annually since 1990. Tennessee had previously dominated the series, though that changed after Tennessee-native-son-but-Gator-alum Steve Spurrier took the helm as Gator head coach. Florida has led 20-6 since the day Spurrier was hired. The series peaked in intensity during the 1990s, when both teams battled for domination of the SEC East.
Alabama has played Florida on 39 occasions. The Gators and the Crimson Tide have played infrequently since first facing off in 1916. Of their 39 meetings, eight have been SEC Championship games. In such games, Florida and the Tide have split victories with four each. The Gators have a lower winning percentage against Alabama, the traditional hegemon of the conference, than they have against any other remaining SEC charter member.
It may surprise many that Florida has played Georgia Tech so frequently. As a matter of fact, the Yellow Jackets have played the Gators 38 times – as many or more times than five modern members of the SEC! However, the Gators did play Georgia Tech quite regularly from 1929 until the Jackets left the SEC after 1963. This is also the most lopsided series against the Gators of any opponent they have played more than ten times. The Orange and Blue only triumphed on nine occasions in 38 attempts against the Yellow Jackets. Had that series continued, one would imagine, that trend probably would have reversed. The Gators have not met the Yellow Jackets on the gridiron since a 27-6 triumph in 1981.
Before South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, they had only played the Gators on 12 occasions (and not since 1964). Before the expansion, the Gators had led the series 6-3-3, but since have led 19-5. However, during the tenure of head coach Steve Spurrier at South Carolina from 2005 until 2014, Florida and Carolina both defeated each other five times.
Despite both being charter members of the SEC, Florida and Mississippi have only met 24 times. Since first playing in 1926, the Gators and the Rebels have only played more than two consecutive years on one occasion (1944-1948). As of the most recent conference alignment, this is unlikely to change any time soon. The Gators have also defeated Ole Miss less frequently than any other charter member of the SEC still a member of the conference.
Like Georgia Tech, Tulane was once a member of the SEC and thus have some history playing the Gators. Until 1958, the Green Wave actually led the series with Florida 6-2-2. However, in 1958 the Gators won for the first time in 36 years and have not lost since. Since Tulane left the conference after 1966, they have only played Florida five times (the last being a 63-21 Gator victory in 1984).
Florida and Arkansas have played on ten occasions – the first was in Houston for the Bluebonnet Bowl while two others were in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. Arkansas has not won in the series since that 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl. Thus, this is the most lopsided series between Florida and any of their SEC opponents.
Missouri has only played the Gators five times, though they are currently scheduled to play on an annual basis. The Tigers won the first match-up, the 1966 Sugar Bowl, despite a furious comeback-attempt led by quarterback Steve Spurrier. Since then, Florida and Mizzou have split the series with two wins each.
Florida has only played Texas A&M three times, less than any other conference opponent. As members of different SEC divisions, they only play infrequently. The first game was played in 1962 and won handily by the Gators in Gainesville. The second game was the January 1977 Sun Bowl in El Paso. That game was won by the Aggies. The most recent game was in 2012, played in College Station, and won by Florida (20-17).
The Gators have played Florida Atlantic three times and UCF twice; they have only played South Florida and FIU once each. The Gators have never lost to one of the four newer in-state programs. The only occasion Florida came close to losing to one of those four was in 2015, when it took overtime for the Gators to put away Florida Atlantic in the Swamp.
Not included in the table above but also of note: Florida leads Sewanee (another charter member of the SEC who left in 1940 and now play in Division III) in their series, 7-2-0; UF leads Florida A&M 1-0-0, Florida Southern 13-1-0, Rollins 13-2-1, Stetson 15-2-2, and Tampa 5-0-0.

Bowls in Review: 2015-16

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 12:00:00 +0000

This will be the last scheduled post for Sanctimonium, as the blog will now go on hiatus due to my present workload. It's the long overdue review for last year's bowl games! I thought I'd mail this one in before the beginning of the next season. Well, I didn't write the review, unfortunately, but I did update my final season record for 2015. Thank you to everyone who has been a reader and hope you enjoyed your stay. I may post things sporadically but I will not make regular full posts like the last two seasons. Keep watching football and happy Saturdays!

New Mexico Bowl: Arizona (7-6) over New Mexico (7-6), ~~28-21~~ 45-37

Las Vegas Bowl: 22 Utah (10-3) over BYU (9-4), ~~19-16~~ 35-28

Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State (11-2) over Ohio (8-5), ~~35-21~~ 31-29

Cure Bowl: San José State (6-7) over Georgia State (6-7), ~~35-28~~ 27-16

New Orleans Bowl: Arkansas State (9-4) over Louisiana Tech (9-4), ~~41-34~~ 47-28

Miami Beach Bowl: South Florida (8-5) over 25 Western Kentucky (12-2), ~~34-27~~ 45-35

Potato Bowl: Utah State (6-7) over Akron (8-5), ~~20-14~~ 23-21

Boca Raton Bowl: Temple (10-4) over Toledo (10-2), ~~27-20~~ 32-17

Poinsettia Bowl: Boise State (9-4) over Northern Illinois (8-6), ~~31-14~~ 55-7

GoDaddy Bowl: Bowling Green (10-4) over Georgia Southern (9-4), ~~38-24~~ 58-27

Bahamas Bowl: Western Michigan (8-5) over Middle Tennessee (7-6), ~~45-42~~ 45-31

Hawaii Bowl: San Diego State (11-3) over Cincinnati (7-6), ~~34-24~~ 42-7

St. Petersburg Bowl: Marshall (10-3) over Connecticut (6-7), ~~21-17~~ 16-10

Sun Bowl: Washington State (9-4) over Miami (8-5), ~~38-34~~ 20-14

Heart of Dallas Bowl: Washington (7-6) over Southern Mississippi (9-5), ~~31-21~~ 44-31

Pinstripe Bowl: Duke (8-5) over Indiana (6-7), ~~40-34~~ 44-41 (OT)

Independence Bowl: Virginia Tech (7-6) over Tulsa (6-7), ~~35-24~~ 55-52

Foster Farms Bowl: Nebraska (6-7) over UCLA (8-5), ~~30-27~~ 37-29

Military Bowl: 21 Navy (11-2) over Pittsburgh (8-5), ~~35-28~~ 44-28

Quick Lane Bowl: Minnesota (6-7) over Central Michigan (7-6), ~~24-20~~ 21-14

Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force (8-6) over California (8-5), ~~41-38~~ 55-36

Russell Athletic Bowl: 10 North Carolina (11-3) over 17 Baylor (10-3), ~~45-28~~ 49-38

Arizona Bowl: Colorado State (7-6) over Nevada (7-6), ~~31-24~~ 28-23

Texas Bowl: 20 LSU (9-3) over Texas Tech (7-6), ~~38-31~~ 56-27

Birmingham Bowl: Memphis (9-4) over Auburn (7-6), ~~35-30~~ 31-10

Belk Bowl: Mississippi State (9-4) over North Carolina State (7-6), ~~38-24~~ 51-28

Music City Bowl: Texas A&M (8-5) over Louisville (8-5), ~~31-24~~ 27-21

Holiday Bowl: Wisconsin (10-3) over 25 USC (8-6), ~~24-17~~ 23-21

Peach Bowl: 9 Florida State (10-3) over 18 Houston (13-1), ~~30-23~~ 38-24

Orange Bowl: 4 Oklahoma (11-2) over 1 Clemson (14-0), ~~41-38~~ 37-17

Cotton Bowl: 3 Michigan State (12-2) over 2 Alabama (13-1), ~~24-21~~ 38-0

Outback Bowl: 23 Tennessee (9-4) over 13 Northwestern (10-3), ~~27-14~~ 45-6

Citrus Bowl: 19 Florida (10-4) over 14 Michigan (10-3), ~~14-10~~ 41-7

Fiesta Bowl: 7 Ohio State (12-1) over 8 Notre Dame (10-3), ~~24-17~~ 44-28

Rose Bowl: 5 Iowa (12-2) over 6 Stanford (12-2), ~~17-14~~ 45-16

Sugar Bowl: 12 Ole Miss (10-3) over 16 Oklahoma State (10-3), ~~38-31~~ 48-20

Gator Bowl: Georgia (10-3) over Penn State (7-6), ~~20-17~~ 24-17

Liberty Bowl: Arkansas (8-5) over Kansas State (6-7), ~~35-24~~ 45-23

Alamo Bowl: 15 Oregon (9-4) over 11 TCU (11-2), ~~42-21~~ 47-41 (OT)

Cactus Bowl: Arizona State (6-7) over West Virginia (8-5), ~~41-35~~ 43-42

Championship: 2 Alabama (14-1) over 1 Clemson (14-1), ~~27-20~~ 45-40

Bowl Record: 24-17 (59%)

Season Record: 305-99 (75%)

Bowl Predictions: National Championship

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

This year's Clemson Tigers are the best in over three decades.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Later tonight, a new national champion will claim their crown in Glendale, Arizona. Once again, this season's winner will come from Dixie. The Alabama Crimson Tide can claim their 16th national title and their first since 2012 while the Clemson Tigers can earn their second title since winning it all in 1981. These two storied programs have met on 15 occasions since the turn of the last century. Clemson won the first game in 1900 as well as the following two in 1904 and 1905, but Alabama has won all 12 games since 1909. Alabama enters their final game with a 13-1 record while Clemson is a perfect 14-0. Recap how both teams got to the playoffs in my previous post.

Clemson's defense excelled in the Tigers' 37-17 victory over Oklahoma. Although outplayed throughout the game, the Sooners had kept the game close until halftime (the Sooners actually led 17-16 at the break). However, the Tigers continued to dominate and shut out the Sooners for the remainder of the game. Oklahoma was limited to just 67 rushing yards all game. Clemson moved the ball effectively, and oftentimes at will, against the Sooner defense. The Tigers put up a total of 530 offensive yards, mostly on the ground, against the Big 12's best defense.

Just as, or more, impressive was Alabama's 38-0 shutout of Michigan State. Similar to the day's earlier game, Alabama was the better team through all 60 minutes, although Michigan State kept the game competitive during the first half. The Crimson Tide asserted themselves after halftime, putting up 28 unanswered points in the final two quarters. The Tide gained 440 yards on offense, 201 more than the Spartans. Crucially, Michigan State was held to just 29 rushing yards.

The Tide can continue their dynasty with another
championship. Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

As it should be, the nation's two best teams are meeting in the season finale. Both squads have great defenses and playmakers on offense. The Crimson Tide feature Heisman-winning running back Derrick Henry, but he'll need a spectacular performance to gain yardage on the Tiger defense. He will be aided by a threatening Crimson Tide passing attack. Clemson will be led by Heisman runner-up Deshaun Watson, who has a bevy a talent surrounding him. They'll be up against what may be the country's best defense and an incredible front seven.

Hopefully, this will be an excited game decided in the final minutes. Superior defense may be what wins another championship for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

2 Alabama (13-1) over 1 Clemson (14-0), 27-20

Bowl Predictions: After New Year's

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Jacksonville's bowl game could be the lowest-scoring of the
entire season. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Today is the final day of college football before the championship game. Surprisingly, none of yesterday's games were competitive. Hopefully, at least a couple exciting games await us over the next few hours.

Gator Bowl: Georgia (5-3 SEC East) and Penn State (4-4 Big Ten East) face off for the first time since the 1983 Sugar Bowl, in which the Nittany Lions defeated the Bulldogs and captured their first national championship.

Georgia began their season with four wins over inferior competition. The Bulldogs then ran into the buzzsaw that is the Alabama defense. After a decisive defeat at the hands of the Tide, the Bulldogs suffered a come-from-behind victory by Tennessee. After beating Missouri 9-6, the Bulldogs dropped another game to Florida, dooming their efforts through turnovers. Georgia finished the year beating their last four opponents, although they seemed to limp by Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech.

Penn State started the year with the program's first loss to Temple since the Second World War. After five-straight wins, the Nittany Lions were handily defeated by Ohio State. Penn State slipped by Maryland and shut out Indiana before entering their final three-game stretch. Facing tough competition, the Nittany Lions lost these three games against Northwestern, Michigan, and Michigan State (the latter two in lopsided fashion).

Defense should dominate this matchup between the Bulldogs and the Nittany Lions. Georgia has a respectable running game, but in all other aspects neither offense is particularly formidable. Both teams tend to play at a similar level. Georgia's defense should be a key advantage.

Georgia (9-3) over Penn State (7-5), 20-17

Liberty Bowl: At different points of the season many would have doubted that Arkansas (5-3 SEC West) or Kansas State (3-6 Big 12) would be playing in a bowl. The Razorbacks started the year losing four of their first six games (losing to Toledo, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and Alabama, but also beating Tennessee). Arkansas finished the year winning five of their last six. During this run, the Razorbacks conquered Auburn, Ole Miss, and LSU; their lone loss was by a single point to Mississippi State. Kansas State won their first three games (including a win over Lousiana Tech), but dropped the following six. During their mid-season losing streak, the Wildcats lost close games to Oklahoma State, TCU, and Baylor, but were also shut out by Oklahoma (55-0). At this point the Wildcats' record was 3-6; however, winning their final three over Iowa State (by three points), Kansas, and West Virginia (by a single point) ensured they would be granted a bowl invitation. Arkansas has played better during the later half of the year and has generally played better than Kansas State for much of the season. The Razorbacks will probably pick up another win here.

Arkansas (7-5) over Kansas State (6-6), 35-24

Oregon can earn their eighth-consecutive 10-win season with
a win over TCU in San Antonio. Cole Elsasser/Emerald

Alamo Bowl: Two of the country's most productive offenses go head-to-head when Oregon (7-2 Pac-12 North) meets TCU (7-2 Big 12).

Oregon began the year splitting their first six games, following each win with a loss. In the Ducks' second game, they fell after a spirited effort against Michigan State. A couple weeks later, Oregon lost in a rare blowout against Utah. After another win, the Ducks were defeated in overtime against Washington State. Since then, Oregon's had a perfect record, winning all six of their final games. Three of these games were close (Washington, Arizona State, and Stanford), but the wins over Cal and USC were accomplished with relative ease. All five of these aforementioned teams were invited to bowl games.

In contrast, TCU began their season with a winning streak, running through their first eight games without a loss. These wins weren't always easy, with the games against Minnesota, Texas Tech, and Kansas State all being close. After impressively crushing West Virginia, the Horned Frogs lost their first game, and fairly decisively, against Oklahoma State. The next week, the Frogs struggled to get by Kansas at home. TCU put up an admirable effort against Oklahoma, losing by just one point after a late two-point conversion failed. The battered Horned Frogs finished their year with an overtime win over rival Baylor.

At one point in the season, TCU would have been favored heavily over the Ducks. Now, the Horned Frogs have been hampered by injuries and suspensions, the pendulum of fate has swung in Oregon's direction. Expect the Ducks to have superior personnel at hand.

15 Oregon (9-3) over 11 TCU (10-2), 42-21

Cactus Bowl: The season's penultimate game may feature two of its less predictable teams, Arizona State (4-5 Pac-12 South) and West Virginia (4-5 Big 12). During their first four games, the Sun Devils were soundly beaten by both Texas A&M and USC. In their fifth, they dominated a then-hot UCLA Bruins squad. Later on, ASU lost three straight, was effectively handled by Utah and Washington, but lost a heartbreaker to Oregon. The Sun Devils reached bowl eligibility with solid wins over Washington and Arizona, but fell a couple points short in the season finale against Cal. The Mountaineers started strong with a 44-0 shutout of Georgia Southern, but would often struggle through the remaining season. West Virginia suffered through four-straight losses mid-season (against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, and TCU), but only came close to beating OK State. The Mountaineers followed this with four solid wins (including a narrow victory over Texas Tech), before dropping the finale against Kansas State by one point. The game could easily go either way. More experience with tougher teams might give a slight edge to Arizona State.

Arizona State (6-6) over West Virginia (7-5), 41-35

Bowl Predictions: New Year's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

The new year begins with 10 ranked teams playing in five featured bowl games. Enjoy excellent defense as 2016 begins.

Despite some setbacks, 2015 may be considered a success for
Tennessee if they manage to defeat Northwestern.
Adam Lau/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP

Outback Bowl: The first game of 2016 will be played by Tennessee (5-3 SEC East) and Northwestern (6-2 Big Ten West) in Tampa.

Tennessee fans may ask "what if?" after a season with so many close call. Early in the season, Tennessee relented second-half comebacks to Oklahoma, Florida, and Arkansas, while later on they were defeated by Alabama after a late touchdown put the Tide ahead. Just a three plays separated the Volunteers from potential playoff contention. Tennessee finished their season on a strong note, however, winning their final five games.

Northwestern's latest season stands out as one of the best of the last several decades. The Wildcats started the season winning five-straight, including a 16-6 win over Stanford at home. Northwestern lost their next two games to Michigan and Iowa by a combined score of 78-10. Never the flashiest team, the Wildcats proceeded to earn narrow victories over Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Illinois to finish the season.

Northwestern has an excellent defense and a good running game. Tennessee's defense isn't quite as dominant, but their running game is also strong and the Volunteer offense is generally better than their Northwestern counterparts. Tennessee should have the overall edge.

23 Tennessee (8-4) over 13 Northwestern (10-2), 27-14

Citrus Bowl: A couple of the nation's best defenses go to battle this afternoon in Orlando. Both Michigan (6-2 Big Ten East) and Florida (7-1 SEC East) are led by first-year head coaches who guided their teams into the national conversation during the season.

Michigan opened their season with a hard-fought loss to Utah on the road. Over the course of the next five games, the Wolverines outscored opponents 160-14, blowing out Oregon State, UNLV, BYU, Maryland, and Northwestern (shutting out the final three). This winning streak was broken by Michigan State, who beat the Wolverines on a miracle punt-block return as time expired. Michigan won their next four games against conference opponents before losing badly to Ohio State in the season finale.

Florida had a surprisingly good start to the year, winning the first six games of the season. While the Gators struggled to beat East Carolina and Kentucky, they also pulled a remarkable comeback victory over Tennessee and routed Ole Miss in the Swamp. The Gators suffered a narrow loss to LSU before defeating rival Georgia 27-3 in Jacksonville. In Florida's next three games, they had a difficult time scoring against Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and Florida Atlantic. These offensive woes continued into the home finale, as the Gators could only manage to score a safety against Florida State. Florida lost 29-15 to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.

The strength to both teams is their defenses. Both teams prefer passing the ball to running it, although neither team (especially Florida) is particularly strong offensively. Florida might have a slightly better defense. If the Gators hope to win, they will need much help from their defense and special teams to score.

19 Florida (10-3) over 14 Michigan (9-3), 14-10

Fiesta Bowl: Two of the best teams in the country, Notre Dame and Ohio State (7-1 Big Ten East), play tonight in Glendale.

Notre Dame's 10-win season is another to be proud of for Irish fans. Notre Dame began the season with four-straight wins before coming short of a comeback against Clemson on the road. Over the next several weeks, the Irish defeated Navy, USC, Temple, and Pitt. After two more wins, the Irish dropped a heartbreaker in their season finale against Stanford in Palo Alto.

The defending national champions had another good year, even if they did not win their conference or make it to the playoffs. The Buckeyes won their first 10 games; during this run, Ohio State narrowly defeated Northern Illinois and Indiana, but easily beat Western Michigan and Penn State. Against their most difficult opponent of the season, Michigan State, the Buckeyes faltered, losing 17-14 at home while being thoroughly outplayed. The Buckeyes rebounded with a lopsided rout of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Both teams are similarly talented. Both offenses are comparably productive, although while the Irish have a balanced attack, the Buckeye offense skews heavily towards the ground game. Although Notre Dame is good defensively, Ohio State is probably better. That defense should lift Ohio State to another victory here.

7 Ohio State (11-1) over 8 Notre Dame (10-2), 24-17

The Hawkeyes must face the challenge of defending one of
the nation's best running backs in Christian McCaffrey.
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Rose Bowl: Once again, Pasadena promises another outstanding matchup of Big Ten and Pac-12 heavyweights. This year, Iowa (8-0 Big Ten West) will meet Stanford (8-1 Pac-12 North) for all the roses.

Due to their two losses, Stanford was the only conference champion from one of the high-tier conferences not invited to the playoffs. One of those fateful losses came at the very beginning of the season, with a 16-6 defeat to Northwestern in the opener. Stanford proceeded to dominate the Pac-12 in all but two games (a narrow win over Washington State and a close defeat against Oregon). The Cardinal often made short work of such competition as USC, UCLA, and Cal. Stanford also won a close game over Notre Dame. The Cardinal crushed Southern Cal in the Pac-12 title game.

Despite their failure to capture the Big Ten title, this season was Iowa's best in at least a decade. The Hawkeye's won a school-record 12 games in 2015, and just missed out on a 13th. Iowa did not play one of the nation's strongest schedules, but did defeat Wisconsin (10-6) and Northwestern (40-10). The Hawkeyes led Michigan State until late in the fourth quarter of the Big Ten Championship Game.

Both squads possess good defenses and run-heavy offenses. Both teams play well against good competition. So, all signs point to this being an closely fought game. Iowa can win with an exceptional defensive performance.

5 Iowa (12-1) over 6 Stanford (11-2), 17-14

Sugar Bowl: Two great quarterbacks will duel when Ole Miss (6-2 SEC West) faces Oklahoma State (7-2 Big 12) tonight at the Louisiana Superdome.

Ole Miss began their season well, scoring more than 140 combined points in their first two games. Then it got better, when the Rebels downed Alabama 43-37 in Tuscaloosa. After another win, the Rebels walked into the Florida Gators. Things didn't go Ole Miss's way, and the Rebels fell, 38-10. A few weeks later, the Rebels lost again, this time to Memphis. Ole Miss beat Texas A&M and Auburn in their next two weeks, The Rebels lost to Arkansas 53-52 in overtime the following Saturday, a loss that ultimately eliminated them from SEC title contention. The Rebels ended their year strong with solid wins over LSU and Mississippi State.

Oklahoma State started their season winning their first 10 games. The Cowboys avoided most of the Big 12's best teams during this run and did not have a difficult out-of-conference schedule; however, they did beat TCU by 20 points. Oklahoma State ended their season with two losses to Baylor and Oklahoma (the latter game in a blowout).

Oklahoma State has one of the nation's best passing attacks, but will be facing one of their most difficult opponents in Ole Miss. The Rebels also have a good passing game, but are better at running the ball and playing defense. Poor bowl preparation could hinder the Rebels, even if they are the better team.

12 Ole Miss (9-3) over 16 Oklahoma State (10-2), 38-31

Know Your Opponent: Michigan

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 13:00:00 +0000

The crater-like Michigan Stadium is the second largest
stadium in the world. Only May Day Stadium in Pyongyang
surpasses the massive structure in capacity. Wikimedia Commons

The Gators take on the winningest program of all-time when they face the Wolverines from the University of Michigan on New Year's Day. In 1817, two decades before the Territory of Michigan became a state, Judge Augustus Woodward established what he called the "Catholepistemiad, or University, of Michigania" in the fledgling frontier capital of Detroit. The territorial government reduced the cumbersome, latinesque name to the "University of Michigan" in 1821. Although called a university in name, in its earliest decade, the University of Michigan only existed as a primary school and a classical academy. By 1827, both schools had ceased operation, and the "university" became nothing more than a legal entity. As Michigan prepared for statehood in 1835, a constitutional convention embraced the Prussian model of education, in which the state assumed administrative responsibilities over all levels of schooling. In 1837, a new University of Michigan was created in Ann Arbor, a small village that had recently lost the bid to Lansing to become the new state capital. Seven men attended the first classes in 1841, and eleven participated in the first graduation of 1845. The medical school admitted the university's first black student in 1853, while the first woman was enrolled in 1870. Nearly 44,000 students are part of today's student body, including over 28,000 undergraduates. Academically, the University of Michigan is considered to be in the highest tier of public universities. Maize (a shade of yellow) and blue were adopted as the school's official colors in 1912, although they had been used by students since just after the Civil War.

The Michigan Wolverines are among the most successful programs in college football. The Wolverines played their first game in 1879 against Racine in Chicago; this happened to be the first American football game (although it more resembled rugby at that time) played west of the Appalachian Mountains. Michigan defeated Racine that day, the first of what now amounts to 924 victories in program history. No other school has more (Notre Dame ranks second, with 892 wins-to-date). The state of Michigan has long carried an association with the wolverine, so the nickname "Wolverines" for Michigan students and alumni long predates their first football game. In 1896, Michigan became one of seven schools to charter the Western Conference, which would later become known as the Big Ten Conference. The Wolverines left the conference after the 1906 season, but rejoined it in 1917 and haven't left again since. Michigan leads all Big Ten schools with 42 conference titles (Ohio State is second with 35 while Minnesota is third with 18). The Wolverines won their first conference title in 1898 and their most recent in 2004. Michigan holds a winning record head-to-head against all other Big Ten members, past and present, other than recent expansion teams Rutgers and Nebraska. In fact, except for Cornell, Michigan holds a winning record against every team they've played more than 10 games against. Michigan claims to have captured 11 national championships, although just three are recognized by modern consensus sources and two by the AP. The Wolverines play their home games at the largest stadium in the United States and the second largest on Earth, Michigan Stadium. Affectionately nicknamed "The Big House", Michigan Stadium can seat in excess of 109,000 spectators at one event. Before it's capacity was reduced in 2015, the largest crowd to attend a game numbered 115,109; they witnessed the Wolverines defeat Notre Dame 41-30 on September 7, 2013.

Hired in 1901, Fielding Yost established Michigan's permanent tradition of excellence. Between 1901 and 1905, Yost's Wolverines would go 55-1-1 against all opponents, outscoring them by a total of 2,821 points to 42 (or by an average score of 49-1). On New Year's Day, 1902, Yost led his Wolverines to a victory over Stanford in the first-ever bowl game, the 1902 Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Yost coached the Wolverines until 1923, before taking a one-year hiatus and returning for a final two seasons. During his tenure, the Wolverines compiled a 165-29-10 record, won ten Big Ten titles, and laid claim to six national titles. Eight of Yost's squads completed their seasons undefeated (five were also untied). Had Michigan not left the Big Ten for a span of a decade, Yost certainly would have led them to more conference titles. Yost played center Germany Schultz behind the line, and is thus credited with inventing the linebacker position. Yost stepped down from head coaching to become Michigan's full-time athletic director after 1926. He would remain AD until 1940.

Under Yost, the Wolverines were credited with earning the 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, and 1923 national championships. Coach Harry Kipke led the Wolverines the national titles in 1932 and 1933. The Wolverines won title a title in 1947 under Fritz Crisler and another in 1948 with coach Bennie Oosterbaan. Their last national title came in 1997 with Lloyd Carr. Only the 1948 and 1997 titles are recognized by the AP. Among all these tremendous teams, the 1947 squad may have been the finest. The '47 Wolverines went unchallenged throughout much of the year, obliterating their competition by a combined score of 345-53. The Wolverines shut out five opponents – Michigan State (55-0), Pitt (69-0), Indiana (35-0), Ohio State (21-0), and Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl (49-0). The demolition of USC remains tied with the 1902 game (also won by Michigan) as the most lopsided Rose Bowl in history.

Charles Woodson had a remarkable knack for interceptions.
The shut-down corner, who also played offense and special
teams, was key to the 1997 Wolverines' undefeated season.
Damian Strohmeyer/SI

Three Michigan Wolverines have been awarded the Heisman Trophy. In 1940, halfback Tom Harmon rushed for 844 yards (106 per game) and led the nation in points scored before winning the statue. The electric returner and wide receiver Desmond Howard remains one of the trophy's most iconic winners. Howard won the Heisman in 1991 and to-date is the last receiver to have won the award. Charles Woodson, who played both returner and cornerback, stands today as one of the sport's greatest athletes. Woodson, who picked up the Heisman in 1997, is the only primarily defensive player to have won the award since 1950. Woodson is also the last player not a halfback or quarterback to have won the Heisman.

Michigan and Ohio State share one of the greatest and most famous rivalries in athletics. Since they first met in 1897, the Wolverines and the Buckeyes have contested their border war on 112 occasions and every year since 1918. Much of a coach's legacy at either school is determined by their record against the hated school from across the state line. It's common practice for fans of both schools to vandalize the others' campus during football season and throughout the year. Both schools have horded much of the football success and glory produced in the Midwest. Combined, the two programs account for 77 Big Ten titles in a conference that has existed for 120 years. Michigan leads the series with 58 victories to Ohio State's 47 (six games have ended as draws). However, in recent times, the rivalry has leaned in the Buckeyes' favor, with Michigan winning just twice since 2001. For some Wolverine fans, the rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State is of equal (or even greater) importance. The in-state rivals first played in 1898 and have met annually since 1907 (barring a two-year hiatus during the Second World War). The Wolverines and the Spartans have played 109 games, with Michigan's 68 wins leading Michigan State's 35 (five games have tied). Michigan utterly dominated the rivalry until 1950, when the Spartans surpassed the Wolverines for a period of two decades.

The Gators and the Wolverines have a short history, having only played twice during the 2000s. Michigan, under coach Lloyd Carr, won on both occasions. Michigan outplayed Florida in the 2003 Outback Bowl, winning 38-30. The Wolverines outscored Tim Tebow's Gators 41-35 in the 2008 Citrus Bowl and Coach Carr's final game (this was also the only bowl game Urban Meyer lost as head coach of the Gators).

Supposedly, John Philip Sousa remarked that "The Victors" was the "greatest college fight song ever written". If it is not the greatest, it ranks among them, with its simple and memorable chorus. President Gerald Ford, who played center for the Wolverines in the early 1930s, often requested "The Victors" be played in lieu of "Hail to the Chief" at presidential appearances. The fight song was played at Ford's state funeral in 2007.

Bowl Predictions: Before New Year's

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 13:00:00 +0000

The end is nigh for 2015, but the college football season is just reaching its climax.

Memphis and Auburn met twice before during the mid-
Seventies. The Tigers from Tennessee won both games.
Joe Murphy/Getty Images

Birmingham Bowl: The Tigers will tussle when Auburn (2-6 SEC West) plays Memphis (5-3 American West) at Legion Field.

Auburn entered the season as one of the favorite teams to win the SEC and make the playoffs. They didn't end up anywhere near those expectations, barely managing to reach bowl eligibility. It became apparent that Auburn wasn't the juggernaut some expected after they needed overtime to defeat Jacksonville State on the second Saturday of the season. Auburn was competitive against many of their SEC opponents, but usually proved to be the lesser team by the time the clock expired. However, Auburn is better than the typical six-win team. Each of the Tigers' six losses came to a team that became bowl eligible. The Tiger's best performance was a 26-10 defeat of Texas A&M.

Memphis had a very good year, even if the events of November left some fans disappointed. Memphis won their first eight games of the season before losing three straight and ending the year with a 63-0 win over SMU. During their win streak, the Tigers managed to beat Bowling Green, South Florida, and, most impressively, Ole Miss. Navy snapped the streak with a dominant performance in the Liberty Bowl. Next, the Tigers lost a heart-breaker at Houston. Finally, Memphis was badly beaten by Temple.

Auburn is a flawed team, particularly struggling in the passing game. However, their roster is full of talent and can play up to their competition. Memphis plays better offense than they do defense and have one of the country's best quarterbacks. However, twice they have collapsed after failing to overcome adversity. If Memphis can avoid mistakes, they should find a way to win.

Memphis (9-3) over Auburn (6-6), 35-30

Belk Bowl: An intriguing quarterback battle awaits before Mississippi State (4-4 SEC West) and North Carolina State (3-5 ACC Atlantic) do battle. Dak Prescott leads his Bulldogs while Jacoby Brissett heads the Wolfpack. Prescott has been the rock of this Mississippi State team, leading not only in passing yards but in rushing yards as well. Good defense has also been key to the Bulldogs' success. Brissett and NC State have been more erratic, winning just three of their last eight games after winning their first four against a relatively weak beginning slate. The Bulldogs have been a better team this season, and should be better again this afternoon.

Mississippi State (8-4) over North Carolina State (7-5), 38-24

Music City Bowl: Louisville (5-3 ACC Atlantic) and Texas A&M (4-4 SEC West) meet this year in Nashville. Both teams have had similar seasons, respectable but not spectacular. A&M began their season with a five-game winning streak, beating Arizona State, Arkansas, and Mississippi State along the way. Their performance declined over the second half of the season, winning only three of their final seven. By contrast, Louisville's season started by losing their first three games before winning seven of their last nine. It should be noted, however, that three of the Cardinals' five losses were to Houston, Clemson, and Florida State (the other two were to Auburn and Pitt). The losses to Houston and Clemson (who have one loss between them) came by a combined six points. Both teams utilize balanced offenses that lean towards the pass but also rely on good defense in their best performances. The Aggies may have the edge in talent that gives them the advantage here.

Texas A&M (8-4) over Louisville (7-5), 31-24

Wisconsin has lost all six of the previous matchups in the
series against USC. Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Holiday Bowl: USC (6-3 Pac-12 South) and Wisconsin (6-2 Big Ten West) won't win roses, but can win in San Diego this postseason. This is the first time since 1963 that the two schools have met in a bowl game.

Wisconsin finished the season with nine wins, although this may not be as impressive as it sounds. Not a single of those nine teams the Badgers defeated finished this season with a winning record. However, Wisconsin's defense performed admirably in their losses to Iowa and Northwestern. Their other loss was to playoff-team Alabama.

USC's season went like a Disneyland roller coaster with its highs and lows. Often lopsided losses to Stanford, Washington, Notre Dame, and Oregon were partially offset with blowout wins over Arizona State, Utah, and UCLA. The Trojans also beat Cal. USC ended the season losing badly to Stanford in a rematch Pac-12 title game.

Unusual for recent times, Wisconsin's running game has been rather middling this season, while their passing attack has taken the more important role in their offense. The Badger defense is very good, having allowed fewer points than any other team in the country. USC's defense isn't quite as strong, but can't hold a game on their own. The Trojans, who also have a more pass-heavy offense, need good play from their quarterback to compete against the best opponents. Either team can win this game, but Wisconsin needs to contain the Trojan offense to come out victorious.

Wisconsin (9-3) over 25 USC (8-5), 24-17

Peach Bowl: Two teams with an old history meet when Houston (7-1 American West) and Florida State (6-2 ACC Atlantic) kick off in Atlanta. Both schools began their programs around the same time (Houston in 1946 and FSU in 1947) and played regularly between 1960 and 1978. Of the sixteen games the two schools have played, Houston has won 12, FSU has won twice, and two games have ended in ties. Among all the teams FSU has played at least eight times, the Seminoles have the lowest winning percentage against Houston. This is the first time the teams will play another in a bowl game.

Houston's season will be remembered as one of the best in school history. The Cougars won all their games but one on their way to an American conference title. Somehow, the Cougars managed to lose 20-17 against Connecticut late in the season. However, wins against Louisville, Cincinnati, Memphis, Navy, and Temple testify to the Cougars' claim to being the best team in the state of Texas.

Florida State's claim to being the best team in the state of Florida is without dispute. On their way to another 10-win season, the Seminoles defeated Miami, South Florida and Florida (the latter two in conclusive fashion). Like Houston, FSU also lost inexplicably at one point, during their last trip to Atlanta (a 22-16 loss to Georgia Tech). The only other loss FSU suffered was to semifinalist Clemson on the road. The Seminole offense, led by star running back Dalvin Cook, improved after making a quarterback change mid-season.

For Houston, the key to winning involves the containment of Cook while establishing their own running game. Both teams are equipped with very good defenses (particularly Florida State) and capable, balanced offenses. The Florida State defense will need to be on their game to stop Houston's play-making quarterback.

9 Florida State (10-2) over 18 Houston (12-1), 30-23

Orange Bowl: The first of the national semifinal games will be played by two teams that met in last year's Russell Athletic Bowl. Top-ranked Clemson (8-0 ACC Atlantic) defeated Oklahoma (8-1 Big 12) by a score of 40-6 just over a year ago in Orlando. This year, a different outcome is expected.

Clemson is the only undefeated team in the country after a fantastic, nearly error-free season. Only four opponents (Louisville, Notre Dame, South Carolina, and North Carolina) held Clemson to a margin-of-victory smaller than 10 points. Oftentimes, the Tigers seemed to run and pass at will while their defense smothered opposing offenses. Clemson's list of weakness is as short as any team in the country.

Oklahoma also had a great season, marred by just one (albeit embarrassing) loss. The Sooners' good fortune began with a remarkable comeback overtime win over Tennessee on Rocky Top. However, a 24-17 loss to Texas left many wondering whether the Sooners were a nationally competitive team. OU struck back, crushing their next four opponents, before beating Baylor and TCU in competitive games. The Sooners ended their year with a blowout win over archrival Oklahoma State.

Not only has the Sooner offense been nearly unstoppable for most of the year, but their defense has been difficult to move against as well. However, if any team can beat Oklahoma (besides Texas), it is Clemson.

4 Oklahoma (11-1) over 1 Clemson (13-0), 41-38

The Big Ten Champions have frequently defied expectations
this season. Aaron Doster, USA TODAY Sports

Cotton Bowl: The second semifinal game will likely be a more defensive affair. Alabama (7-1 SEC West) and Michigan State (7-1 Big Ten East) managed to make it through two of college football's toughest divisions with just one loss apiece. Like Clemson and Oklahoma, these two schools last met in a blowout in Orlando (Alabama won the 2011 Citrus Bowl, 49-7).

Alabama opened the season with a solid win over Wisconsin. However, just a couple weeks later, the Crimson Tide fell at home to Ole Miss, 43-37, after a host of turnovers doomed their efforts. The Tide pounded their next five opponents before needing a late score to overcome Tennessee. From then out, Alabama impressed, battering LSU, Mississippi State, and Auburn on their way to a 29-15 win over Florida in the SEC title game.

Michigan State began their season with eight-straight victories, however, it never seemed to be easy. The Spartans won close games over Oregon, Purdue, Rutgers, and, most remarkably, Michigan during this run. A one-point, controversial loss to Nebraska (who ended the season with seven losses) ended the Spartans' undefeated season. But Michigan State kept battling, as they went on to defeat Ohio State 17-14 in the Horseshoe with an impressive defensive performance. In their last appearance, the Spartans beat Iowa with a late, game-sealing touchdown drive in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Neither Alabama or Michigan State possesses a high-output offense comparable to those of the other semifinalists. However, both play competently, with Alabama having a very good ground game and Michigan State playing very well at the quarterback position. Both defenses rank among the best in the nation. In many aspects, the Crimson Tide appear to have an edge. However, Michigan State seems to excel at finding ways to win. The Spartans will need to hit all their strengths to advance to the national title game.

3 Michigan State (12-1) over 2 Alabama (12-1), 24-21

Bowl Predictions: Monday and Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 13:00:00 +0000

The final week of bowl season begins with a half-dozen games in two days.

An old rivalry revives when Navy and Pitt hit the gridiron.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Military Bowl: Navy (7-1 American West) and Pitt (6-2 ACC Coastal) meet for the 40th time when they kick off in Annapolis this afternoon. The two schools played regularly between 1954 and 1989, when both teams were nearby independents. Pitt leads the series with 22 wins to Navy's 14 (three occasions have the teams tied). Incidentally, this year's game will be played on Navy's home field.

Pitt's season has varied, although they usually play opponents closely, regardless of quality. The Panthers nearly beat Iowa and North Carolina, but struggled against Virginia and Georgia Tech. Excellence may not define Pitt, but competence does.

Navy's ten-win record reflects the Midshipmen's success this year. During the season, Navy sunk South Florida and Memphis, but were easily defeated by both Notre Dame and Houston (their two best opponents). Navy swept their two academy rivals, even if they were outplayed by Army in the regular season finale.

Pitt should have their hands full against Navy's highly effective triple-option offense. The Panthers will need a good performance from their own running game to keep up. However, this game should be competitive barring an outbreak of turnovers or catastrophic errors.

21 Navy (10-2) over Pittsburgh (8-4), 35-28

Quick Lane Bowl: Detroit hosts two comparably average teams in Central Michigan (6-2 MAC West) and Minnesota (2-6 Big Ten West). Despite their seven losses, Minnesota was granted bowl eligibility due to a shortage of six-win teams. However, perhaps the Golden Gophers should not be dismissed as one of the bowl season's worst teams. The Gophers narrowly lost to TCU, Michigan, and Iowa, although they failed to pick up any impressive victories. Central Michigan also played respectably against good opponents, nearly upsetting Western Michigan and Toledo. The Chippewas' best outing as a 29-19 win over Northern Illinois. Both teams share a similar style; they lack great offenses but each field good defenses. Both teams have trouble moving the ball on the ground (although Central Michigan's more unbalanced with a better passing attack and an inferior ground game). Experience and coaching could be the advantage that gains Minnesota another win.

Minnesota (5-7) over Central Michigan (7-5), 24-20

Armed Forces Bowl: Offenses will take the spotlight when Air Force (6-2 MW Mountain) faces California (4-5 Pac-12 North) in Fort Worth. Air Force, with their difficult-to-stop triple-option, has one of the country's most productive rushing attacks. Cal's West Coast offense is one of the most prolific aerial attacks. The Golden Bear offense is more balanced, as their ground game is better than the Falcons' passing game. However, the Air Force defense has played better than Cal's this year. Expect a close game that could be decided by a late score.

Air Force (8-5) over California (7-5), 41-38

Baylor ended the regular season with an embarrassing loss but
can enter the off-season with a solid bowl victory.
JAY JANNER / AMERICAN-STATESMAN

Russell Athletic Bowl: North Carolina (8-0 ACC Coastal) and Baylor (6-3 Big 12) will take the field in Orlando with 20 wins between them. However, this might not be the close game between two successful teams one might hope for.

North Carolina began their season with a turnover-plagued loss to South Carolina. After this inexplicable loss, the Tar Heels reeled off 11-straight wins and won the ACC Coastal. During their run of victories, UNC's performances varied, interspersing solid victories with narrow wins and magnificent blowouts. Clemson ended the Tar Heels' win streak with a 45-37 victory in the ACC title game.

Baylor won their first eight games, but injuries took their toll by the season's end. The Bear's first taste of defeat was against Oklahoma, although they managed to recover with a win over Oklahoma State the next week. An overtime loss to TCU knocked the Bears out of Big 12 title contention while a shocking loss to Texas ended Baylor's regular season on a sour note.

North Carolina has a good defense and an even-better offense. Baylor once had a great offense, but injuries have damaged their ability to compete. UNC should take care of Baylor.

10 North Carolina (11-2) over 17 Baylor (9-3), 45-28

Arizona Bowl: Unusually, two teams from the same conference will meet each other in a bowl game. Colorado State (5-3 MW Mountain) and Nevada (4-4 MW West) are both from the Mountain West, but are from opposite divisions and did not play another this season. Colorado State has won 11 of 13 games in this series and 10 of 12 over the last 18 years. Both teams may below below average in the FBS, but should be fairly evenly-matched. A more balanced offense should favor the Rams over the Wolfpack.

Colorado State (7-5) over Nevada (6-6), 31-24

Texas Bowl: LSU (5-3 SEC West) and Texas Tech (4-5 Big 12) will kick off in Houston for the day's final game.

LSU began the season winning their first seven games. The key to the Tigers' success was their running game, which averaged well over 200 yards per game during this stretch. Their most impressive wins came against Mississippi State on the road and Florida at home. The Tigers even defeated Western Kentucky in a 48-20 rout (the only embarrassing result in an otherwise stellar season for the Hilltoppers). By this time, the Tigers were ranked second in the polls, but then came the Alabama game, in which the Tiger offense was shut down and LSU fell, 30-16. The shell-shocked Tigers dropped their next two games to Arkansas and Ole Miss and were soundly beaten on both occasions. LSU recovered in their season finale, beating Texas A&M 19-7.

By comparison, Texas Tech's season went up-and-down. The Red Raiders beat their first three opponents, including Arkansas, before losing the next two against Baylor and TCU. Tech then beat Iowa State and Kansas, but followed this with losses to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia. The Red Raiders out-dueled Kansas State and Texas in their final games to end the regular season with seven wins.

This game will feature a sharp contrast of offensive styles. Texas Tech utilizes an extremely prolific air raid offense, while LSU prefers a traditional, smash-mouth running game. It's unlikely that LSU can completely contain Tech's high-powered offense, although their superior defense should give them the edge in this matchup.

20 LSU (8-3) over Texas Tech (7-5), 38-31

Bowl Predictions: After Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Marshall has finished with 10 or more wins in each of the last
two seasons. They must defeat UConn to make it three years
in a row. Falecia Collier/Collier Photography

This Saturday is a big day for college football, with six bowls on our docket. None of the teams are ranked, but its another day full of football, so I'm not complaining. Let's preview what'll be going on.

St. Petersburg Bowl: UConn (4-4 American East) will seek to earn their first winning season since 2010 when they find Marshall (6-2 C-USA East) at Tropicana Field. Anticipate a defensive struggle, as both teams play better defense than they do offense. However, the Thundering Herd's superior scoring attack should raise them above the Huskies in this matchup.

Marshall (9-3) over Connecticut (6-6), 21-17

Sun Bowl: Those who love passing offenses shouldn't miss Washington State (6-3 Pac-12 North) face Miami (5-3 ACC Coastal) in El Paso. Both schools possess prolific aerial attacks, particularly Washington State (who's passing game is ranked highest in the country), although both are paired to mediocre ground games (Washington State's is ranked worst in the nation). Both defenses are comparably average. All accounted for, hope for two similarly built, fun-to-watch, and evenly-matched teams to play close into the final quarter.

Washington State (8-4) over Miami (8-4), 38-34

Heart of Dallas Bowl: Expect something different when Washington (4-5 Pac-12 North) plays Southern Miss (7-1 C-USA West). Washington finished with a losing record in one of the best conferences, the Pac-12, while Southern Miss won their division of Conference USA, a lower-tier FBS conference. Against another, strength will face strength. The Huskies's strength is their resilient, steadfast defense, who frustrated all of the Pac-12's most high-powered offenses. The Golden Eagles excel offensively, running effectively, but passing even better. Offensively, Washington has not been so efficient on offense, so expect them to have issues with Southern Miss's respectable defense. If the Husky offense puts together a decent game, their defense should have enough to ensure a victory.

Washington (6-6) over Southern Mississippi (9-4), 31-21

Pinstripe Bowl: Duke (4-4 ACC Coastal) and Indiana (2-6 Big Ten East) are playing an intriguing ballgame, but not on the basketball court. In fact, it will be in Yankee Stadium, but it won't feature a baseball diamond. The Hoosiers have one of the Big Ten's best offenses, but they are attached to one of the weakest defenses from the conference. In sharp contrast, Duke does not excel at any certain aspect, but they are well-coached and lack a great weakness like Indiana. This game could swing any number of ways, although better preparation could give the Blue Devils an advantage.

Duke (7-5) over Indiana (6-6), 40-34

The Hokies can send Coach Beamer out a winner if they
manage to slow down the Tulsa passing game.
James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Independence Bowl: Frank Beamer will end his career in Shreveport, where Virginia Tech (4-4 ACC Coastal) meets Tulsa (3-5 American West). Beamer's fist bowl game was held at the same site in 1993, when the Hokies defeated Indiana 45-20. This year's edition of the Virginia Tech Hokies is not one of the best from Beamer's tenure. However, they won't face one of their best opponents when they play the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa has one of the country's most productive passing attacks; in all other aspects, they are highly flawed. Virginia Tech is also flawed, although to a lesser extent. The Hokies should come out on top given a few playmakers have good days.

Virginia Tech (6-6) over Tulsa (6-6), 35-24

Foster Farms Bowl: The day will end with an odd game between Nebraska (3-5 Big Ten West) and UCLA (5-4 Pac-12 South). Due to a shortage of six-win teams, the Cornhuskers have made it to a bowl despite finishing the season with just five wins against seven losses. However, don't consider the Huskers to be one of the worst or least-talented bowl teams. Nebraska has suffered many close losses this season, many within the game's final minute. Yet, they also managed to defeat playoff semifinalist Michigan State in controversial fashion. UCLA began the season with much hope, but finished seemingly far from their aspirations. Despite winning eight games, three blowout losses (and a fourth loss to Washington State) have left the Bruins somewhat disappointed. The Bruins should still be the better team to take the field in Santa Clara. However, they might be lacking in motivation playing seven-loss Nebraska. A disparity in motivation and preparation could favor Nebraska enough to give them the edge.

Nebraska (5-7) over UCLA (8-4), 30-27

Bowl Predictions: Before Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 13:00:00 +0000

It's the most wonderful time of the year. That's because it's bowl season, and we'll have college football on television just about every day from Saturday until the second Monday of January. Follow my picks live at ESPN's Bowl Mania.

The Lobos knocked off Boise State for the first time in school
history earlier this season. Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

New Mexico Bowl: Arizona (3-6 Pac-12 South) and New Mexico (5-3 MW Mountain) are set to clash in this season's first bowl game. The two schools had long shared a border rivalry and a conference, but have only played irregularly since 1977. This year's game will be the 67th meeting between the Wildcats and the Lobos, and the first since 2008. Arizona leads the series 43-20-3 overall, although the two schools have split the last 26 games with 13 wins each. The Lobos are ending an eight-year bowl drought with their appearance in a bowl this season. Incidentally, New Mexico will be playing this game at their home field, University Stadium, in Albuquerque.

Arizona has been one of this season's more disappointing teams. Coming off a successful 2014 campaign and returning several key players, the Wildcats were ranked for the first four weeks this season. Injuries took some toll, but the Cats usually faltered on the biggest stage. On their worst days, the Wildcats dropped blowout losses to UCLA, Stanford, Washington, and Arizona State. A double-overtime win over Utah, which granted them bowl eligibility, was undoubtedly the brightest moment in Arizona's season.

After nearly a decade of losing seasons, the up-and-down year of 2015 ended as a surprising success for the New Mexico Lobos. The Lobos lost badly to Tulsa and Arizona State but managed to upset both Boise State and Air Force by capitalizing on turnovers. UNM ended just one win shy of winning their division and making an appearance in their conference championship game.

The strength of Arizona is their prolific offense, although their performance has been seriously diminished at times when quarterback Anu Solomon, who has suffered from periodic injuries, is not on the field. New Mexico relies heavily on their steady rushing attack, as they generally don't excel in other aspects of the game. The outcome of this game will likely be decided by how well Arizona copes with their injuries and personnel shortages.

Arizona (6-6) over New Mexico (7-5), 28-21

Las Vegas Bowl: Another rivalry returns when Utah (6-3 Pac-12 South) and BYU reignite the Holy War in Nevada's Sin City. Barring a break period during the Second World War, the Utes and the Cougars had played every season from 1922 until 2013. The series was slated to pick up again next season, but the bowl planners ended up renewing the game a year early. Utah leads the overall series 54-31-4.

Good defense carried Utah to a nine-win record and a tie for first place in the Pac-12 South. The Utes began their season with six-straight victories, including wins over Michigan, Oregon, Cal, and Arizona State. For a week, the Utes were ranked third in the country. However, with the following week came a blowout loss to USC and the Utes have been out of the spotlight since. Narrow losses to Arizona and UCLA prevented Utah from appearing in the Pac-12 title game in December.

Like the Utes, the Cougars compiled a 9-3 record, although they managed it as an independent. BYU started their season with a fantastic Hail Mary-finish against Nebraska. The next week they won in remarkably similar fashion against Boise State. The Cougars then lost to UCLA before being shutout by Michigan in Ann Arbor. BYU won seven of their last eight, only losing to Missouri.

This game should be a defensive struggle. Both squads have reasonably good defenses paired to unbalanced and flawed offenses. Having battled through a tough Pac-12 schedule, the Utes may be slightly more prepared to win this bowl game.

22 Utah (9-3) over BYU (9-3), 19-16

Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State (7-1 Sun Belt) will be making their first bowl appearance in history when they face Ohio (5-3 MAC East) in Montgomery. Ohio has done well this season, but App State has had an unqualified success. The Mountaineers have ten wins and just two losses (to undefeated Clemson and Sun Belt Champion Arkansas State) in their second season as FBS members. The key to App State's success has been an efficient, run-based offense and good defense. Ohio has no major weakness nor any tremendous strengths. Appalachian State should come out with another win here.

Appalachian State (10-2) over Ohio (8-4), 35-21

Cure Bowl: After winning just two games over the previous three years, few would have anticipated Georgia State (5-3 Sun Belt) would reach six wins and a bowl game before this season. The Panthers will be appearing in their first bowl game in history after beginning their football program in 2010. Their first bowl opponent will be San José State (4-4 MW West), who, due to a shortage of six-win teams, have been granted bowl eligibility despite finishing with just five wins. Georgia State began this season poorly, winning just two of their first six games. The low-points came in a 23-20 loss to miserable Charlotte and a 41-33 loss to FCS-team Liberty. The Panthers rebounded with three-straight conference wins. Then, in their final game of the regular season, the Panthers demolished in-state rival Georgia Southern 34-7 to become bowl eligible; so far, this stands as the greatest victory in the young programs's history. Although they lack a winning record, San José State may not be the worst bowl team this year. The Spartans had a few narrow losses and two were to Auburn and BYU. The Spartans' 10-point win over New Mexico was their most impressive. Watch this game to see Georgia State's entertaining air raid offense. The Panthers will have their work cut out for them again to keep up with SJSU's more balanced offensive attack.

San José State (5-7) over Georgia State (6-6), 35-28

Arkansas State was easily the most excellent team in the Sun
Belt. The Red Wolves defeated their conference opponents
by an average score of 49-28. Stephen B. Thornton

New Orleans Bowl: Yet another old rivalry will be revived when Arkansas State (8-0 Sun Belt) plays Louisiana Tech (6-2 C-USA West). The Red Wolves (then known as the Indians) played the Bulldogs regularly from 1956 to 1998 but haven't met again since. Louisiana Tech leads the series 25-12 overall.

Arkansas State has established itself as the most consistently successful Sun Belt program of the last half-decade. That's why it wasn't so surprising to see the Red Wolves run undefeated through their conference schedule on their way to a nine-win season. Arkansas State's three losses came to USC, Missouri, and Toledo, although only the loss to Missouri was close. The Red Wolves won every conference game by at least 10 points.

Louisiana Tech had a good year as well, even if they didn't match the success of Arkansas State. The Bulldogs lost four times, including close games to Western Kentucky and Kansas State. Louisiana Tech lost out on a chance to meet WKU again in the C-USA title game when they were blown out by Southern Miss in the regular season finale. An impressive 45-16 win over Middle Tennessee was the high point of the Bulldogs' season.

The Red Wolves depend on their reliable ground game to outscore opponents. Louisiana Tech passes the ball with similar efficiency. Neither team is particularly excellent on defense, so we should see a high-scoring game if we're lucky.

Arkansas State (9-3) over Louisiana Tech (8-4), 41-34

Miami Beach Bowl: Western Kentucky (8-0 C-USA East) meets South Florida (6-2 American East) in one of the more intriguing early bowl games. South Florida's head coach, Willie Taggart, who grew up in nearby Bradenton, will be facing the school he formerly coached and his alma mater, Western Kentucky. Taggart left WKU in 2012 to accept the South Florida position.

Western Kentucky has had their best season as an FBS team this year, winning 11 games and going undefeated in conference play. The Hilltoppers' two losses were a close game against Indiana and a blowout loss to LSU (although even that game was close at the half). Louisiana Tech was the only C-USA team to challenge WKU; every other conference team was felled by 16 points or more.

South Florida was a team that seemed to improve as the year went on. The Bulls started the season 1-3, with respectable losses to Florida State and Memphis as well as a more inexplicable defeat against Maryland. USF went on to win seven of their final eight, including blowout victories over Temple and Cincinnati.

Western Kentucky possesses one of the nation's most productive passing attacks. The running game and defense haven't been too important when the Hilltoppers put 50 or more against their average conference opponent. South Florida is as reliant on their ground game as Western Kentucky is on the pass, although they aren't quite so prolific as the Hilltoppers on offense. However, the Bulls' defense is superior to WKU's. Like any team, the Bulls must limit the Hilltopper offense to defeat them.

South Florida (8-4) over 25 Western Kentucky (11-2), 34-27

Potato Bowl: This year, Boise hosts Akron (5-3 MAC East) and Utah State (5-3 MW Mountain) for its bowl game. The Zips will be making their first bowl appearance since 2005. To become eligible, the Zips needed one of the MAC's better defenses. The Akron offense was less formidable, ranking near the bottom of the FBS. Utah State is a very average team in most respects, though to their credit the Aggies blew out Boise State and played close in losses against Utah, New Mexico, and Air Force. The Aggies seem to play better against their best competition, so look for them to have the edge against Akron.

Utah State (6-6) over Akron (7-5), 20-14

Toledo lead the all-time series against Temple 7-3. This is
the first time the two schools will meet in the postseason.
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Boca Raton Bowl: It seems appropriate for Temple (7-1 American East) and Toledo (6-2 MAC West) to play each other this postseason. Both teams had historically good seasons and were ranked for a good portion of the year. Both teams upset a major out-of-conference opponent. But neither ended up champions of their own conference.

Temple won their first seven games this year, including a dominant 27-10 victory over Penn State. The Owls then lost a close game against Notre Dame and later were blown out by USF. However, they followed their loss to South Florida with wins over Memphis and UConn, advancing them to the American title game. Temple ended up losing to Houston, foiled by costly turnovers.

Toledo also won their first seven contests, most notably a 16-12 win against Arkansas. The Rockets' first fell to Northern Illinois and ended their season with another narrow loss to Western Michigan. Toledo was one win away from appearing in the MAC title game against a Bowling Green team they handled easily earlier this season.

Both teams have serviceable offenses, but their two strengths are their defenses. Another strong showing by the Owls defense could keep the Rockets from lifting off.

Temple (10-3) over Toledo (9-2), 27-20

Poinsettia Bowl: Boise State (5-3 MW Mountain) and Northern Illinois (6-2 MAC West) will both be looking for their ninth win of the year Tuesday in San Diego. A win could make up for two somewhat disappointing season endings. The Broncos always enter a season with high expectations, but ended up losing to BYU, Utah State, New Mexico, and Air Force. Although the Broncos did defeat Washington, Virginia, and Colorado State, they ended no where near their preseason goals. NIU began the year 2-3, with close losses to Ohio State, Boston College, and Central Michigan. They followed this with seven straight wins before dropping a close game to Ohio. Injuries, particularly to the quarterback position, had reduced the Huskie offense dramatically, and NIU has easily defeated by Bowling Green in the MAC title game. Boise State should have more pieces in place and enough to beat Northern Illinois.

Boise State (8-4) over Northern Illinois (8-5), 31-14

GoDaddy Bowl: Bowling Green (7-1 MAC East) and Georgia Southern (6-2 Sun Belt) match up for this season's bowl in Mobile. Bowling Green ended a great ten-win season with a win over Northern Illinois and a MAC championship. The Falcons' three losses were a blowout against Tennessee, a close loss to Memphis, and a sizable defeat against Toledo. However, most conference opponents were handily vanquished by the Falcons' ruthless aerial attack. Georgia Southern started the year inauspiciously, being shutout by West Virginia 44-0. The Eagles won seven of their next eight (losing in a blowout to Appalachian State) before losing a heartbreaker in overtime against Georgia. The Eagles won one more game before ending the regular season with an embarrassing loss to Georgia State. Georgia Southern's triple option offense can be difficult to stop, however, Bowling Green should be one class above the Eagles this year.

Bowling Green (10-3) over Georgia Southern (8-4), 38-24

Bahamas Bowl: Football heads to the archipelagos for Christmas Eve's two bowl games. Middle Tennessee (6-2 C-USA East) and Western Michigan (6-2 MAC West) will go to battle in Nassau. Middle Tennessee began the year 3-5 before winning their last four (including a 27-24 win over Marshall). Among the Blue Raiders' five losses were blowouts against three good teams (Alabama, Western Kentucky, and Louisiana Tech) and two close losses against Illinois and Vanderbilt. The Broncos were also blown out three times against good or decent teams (Georgia Southern, Ohio State, and Bowling Green) but lost respectably against Michigan State and Northern Illinois. The Broncos ended their regular season on a high note with a narrow win over Toledo. Both teams feature the passing game as a strength. Middle Tennessee has a better defense, although it's just in the top half of Conference USA. This could have the potential to be another high-scoring barnburner in New Providence.

Western Michigan (7-5) over Middle Tennessee (7-5), 45-42

Hawaii Bowl: San Diego State (8-0 MW West) and Cincinnati (4-4 American East) head to Oahu to take part in the island's annual bowl game. San Diego State started the season poorly, losing their first three games against FBS competition (two blowouts against Cal and Penn State and an embarassing home loss to South Alabama). However, the Aztecs ended their season with a nine-game winning streak (shorter than only Clemson's and Alabama's) and a win over Air Force in the Mountain West title game. Cincinatti had a more up-and-down season. The Bearcats followed their narrow loss to Memphis with a good win over Miami. After that came a loss against BYU, but that was followed by a blowout win over UConn. Cincinnati suffered a heartbreaking loss against Houston but were dominated by South Florida. San Diego State's strength is the Mountain West's best defense and a pounding ground game. Cincinnati prefers to throw the ball (which they do very well), but lack a particularly strong defense. Defense and game management should favor the Aztecs again in this matchup.

San Diego State (10-3) over Cincinnati (7-5), 34-24

Saturday in Review: Championship Week

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Bowling Green won their title game by a wider margin than
any other conference champion. The Falcon defense played
better than expected, holding the often prolific NIU offense to
just one touchdown (the Huskies also scored off a pick-six).
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The champions of 2015 have claimed their crowns, the bowl schedule has been arranged, and all that's left of the regular season is the Army-Navy game this upcoming weekend. Only one team, Alabama, repeated as a conference winner, but there weren't many upsets this last Saturday or champions that would have surprised us this preseason.

Bowling Green sealed up the MAC with a dominating performance over Northern Illinois. In total offensive yards, the Falcons almost doubled the Huskies, who were relying on a third-string quarterback due to injuries. The win marked Bowling Green's 12th MAC title.

Early, critical takeaways helped Houston defeat Temple for the American title. The Cougar defense bent, but didn't break while holding the Owls to a season-low in points scored. Good ball control by Houston, who did not commit a turnover, also negated one of Temple's usual advantages.

The biggest upset of the week wasn't in a championship game. It was when Texas knocked off Baylor, who were forced to use a fourth-string quarterback after an unfortunate string of injuries. The Bear passing game, usually something fearsome, looked totally inept, even though their rushing attack ran all over the Longhorn defense. Turnovers and missed field goals ultimately doomed Baylor and eliminated them from contention for a top bowl game.

Western Kentucky pulled away late from Southern Miss, winning their first conference title since joining the FBS in 2008. In the end, the Golden Eagles couldn't keep up with the Hilltopper offense. The Hilltoppers' Conference USA title was their first conference championship of any kind since 2002, despite being quite competitive through most of the last decade.

Arkansas State clinched sole possession of the Sun Belt title with their blowout win over Texas State. In the last five seasons, the Red Wolves have topped their conference four times.

The Alabama defense was too strong for Florida, as the Crimson Tide captured the first back-to-back SEC title since Tennessee in 1998. The Gator defense played well, considering they were on the field for over 43 minutes, but the offense couldn't get enough going to hang on with the Crimson Tide. Thanks to a punt return touchdown early in the second quarter, the Gators actually led until late in the first half. However, the Alabama defense held Florida to just three yard during the second and third quarters, and the Alabama offense was eventually able to wear down the Gators. The Crimson Tide held the Florida offense to just seven first downs and did not allow a third down conversion all game. Alabama has now won four of eight championship games against Florida and are one title shy of tying the Gators for most SEC Championship Game victories.

Clemson's Deshaun Watson had his way with UNC, throwing
for 289 and running for 131 against the Tar Heel defense.
Jeff Siner - charlotteobserver.com

The San Diego State Aztecs returned to the top of the Mountain West with their narrow win over Air Force. The game was closely-contested throughout, with it ultimately being decided by a fourth-quarter field goal. The Aztecs held strong late in the game, smothering the Falcons' final attempts to score.

Stanford became California's second in-state conference champion after their victory against USC in the Pac-12 title game. The Trojans were unable to contain Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey, who accumulated 207 rushing yards, 149 return yards, 105 receiving yards, 11 passing yards, and touchdowns of all three offensive types against the USC defense and special teams.

The breaks mostly went Carolina's way, but Clemson was able to overcome UNC for their first ACC title since 2011. A controversial call overturned a late onside kick recovery by North Carolina, but Clemson generally outplayed the Tar Heels through most of the night. Due to the conclusion of the Big Ten title game, the Tigers will enter the postseason as the only unbeaten team in the FBS.

Michigan State reigns as champions of the aforementioned Big Ten after a thrilling victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes in Indianapolis. An epic defensive struggle, the game was led 13-9 by Iowa with 9:31 remaining. Then ensued a remarkable nine minute, four second drive in which the Spartans punched in the game-winning touchdown while leaving just 27 seconds left for Iowa to retaliate. The Green and White defense wouldn't let that happen, and the Spartans earned their spot for a playoff appearance.

Championships:

MAC: Bowling Green (10-3) over Northern Illinois (8-5), ~~37-30~~ 34-14
American: 22 Temple (10-3) over 19 Houston (12-1), ~~24-17~~ 24-13
Conference USA: Western Kentucky (11-2) over Southern Mississippi (9-4), ~~45-41~~ 45-28
SEC: 18 Florida (10-3) over 2 Alabama (12-1), ~~14-13~~ 29-15
Mountain West: San Diego State (10-3) over Air Force (8-5), ~~28-21~~ 27-24
Pac-12: 7 Stanford (11-2) over 20 USC (8-5), ~~31-24~~ 41-22
ACC: 10 North Carolina (11-2) over 1 Clemson (13-0), ~~34-31~~ 45-37
Big Ten: 4 Iowa (12-1) over 5 Michigan State (12-1), ~~28-24~~ 16-13

State of Florida:

Florida Atlantic (3-9), END OF SEASON
9 Florida State (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Miami (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
South Florida (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
UCF (0-12), END OF SEASON
FIU (5-7), END OF SEASON

Southeastern Conference:

Arkansas (7-5), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Auburn (6-6), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Georgia (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Kentucky (5-7), END OF SEASON
21 LSU (8-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
13 Mississippi (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Mississippi State (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Missouri (5-7), END OF SEASON
South Carolina (3-9), END OF SEASON
25 Tennessee (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Texas A&M (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Vanderbilt (4-8), END OF SEASON

Top 25:

12 Baylor (9-3) over Texas (5-7), ~~49-13~~ 23-17
3 Oklahoma (11-1), END OF REGULAR SEASON
6 Ohio State (11-1), END OF REGULAR SEASON
8 Notre Dame (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
11 TCU (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
14 Northwestern (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
15 Michigan (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
16 Oregon (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
17 Oklahoma State (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
23 Navy (9-2), BYE
24 Utah (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON

Championship Week Record: 4-5 (44%)
Season Record: 281-82 (77%)

Saturday Predictions: Championship Week

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Since beginning their football program in 1894, Temple has
never won a true conference title. Their game against
Houston on Saturday is an opportunity to pick up their first.
Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire

This weekend, all the heavyweights from eight conferences across the nation collide to decide their champions. Besides several teams from the Sun Belt and Big 12 (who do not have championship games), the only active teams will be the division winners. Our first game will be played tonight at Ford Field in Detroit. There, Bowling Green will face Northern Illinois for the MAC Championship. This is the only rematch from last year's conference championships (in fact, Alabama is the only other team in the country to repeat as a division winner). In 2014, Northern Illinois ran away with a 51-17 victory over the Falcons. This year, Bowling Green appears to be a better team and is actually favored in this matchup. However, don't be surprised to see the Huskies pull an upset; the NIU program is accustomed to winning big and important games (the Huskies have appeared in all five of the previous MAC title games and have won three of them). Bowling Green's prolific offense should give them the edge as long as they avoid errors.

Saturday begins with two championship games kicking off at noon. First, Temple will be taking on Houston at TDECU Stadium (the Cougars' home field). This contest pits Temple's stout defense against Houston's stellar offense. The Owl defense must avoid the lapses that doomed them against South Florida, while the Cougars will look to keep away from the kinds of turnovers that lost them the game against UConn. Houston could win this game big if Temple makes too many errors on defense. If the Owls keep the Houston offense in check, they will have the advantage in this game.

Meanwhile, Southern Miss will battle Western Kentucky for the Conference USA title. WKU will host this game on their campus at L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green. Both teams have high-powered offenses that specialize in the passing attack. Other than two games against SEC defenses (Vanderbilt and LSU), Western Kentucky has scored at least 35 points in every game this year. Similarly, Southern Miss's offense has been nearly unstoppable since mid-October, having outscored their last six opponents by an average margin of 48 to 16. So look out, we could have a barn burner on our hands in this game.

At 4:00, eyes will turn towards the Georgia Dome in Atlanta to watch the SEC Championship Game. The highly-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will be heavily favored over their opponents, the Florida Gators. The Alabama offense doesn't dazzle, but it works and does feature a powerful running game with one of the nation's best backs in Derrick Henry. They'll have to work hard against a Gator defense that is among the most talented and best coached in the country. However, Alabama also sports one of the best defenses in the land. Florida, on the other hand, has struggled immensely on the offensive side of the ball for much off the year and especially in the month of November. The Gators' offensive failures are highlighted by their redzone ineptitude, which ranks among the five worst in higher-level football. It's a tall task, but Florida has to make a few plays in critical scenarios and play top-level defense to stand a chance against the Tide.

San Diego State had an inauspicious 1-3 start to the season,
with blowout losses to Cal and Penn State as well as a loss to
South Alabama at home. However, they have rebounding
impressively and haven't come close to losing since early
October. Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The next championship game begins later on, when Air Force heads to Qualcomm Stadium to take on the San Diego State Aztecs for the Mountain West title. The Aztecs will get to host the Falcons after a tremendously successful season in which they went undefeated in conference play. SDSU has won eight consecutive games all by a margin of at least two touchdowns. The key to San Diego State's success has been a strong rushing attack and good defense. Air Force has not been nearly so dominant, although when they play their best football they're as good as any in the conference. Air Force wins games when their option offense is running on all cylinders and their defense plays smart ball. Don't look for the ball to move much through the air in this game, but do expect a classic battle between two solid teams.

Shortly after that game starts, Stanford and USC will kick off in Levi's Stadium of Santa Clara. The Pac-12's two private schools from California have come out on top and will face each other for the second time this season (Stanford won 41-31 at the Coliseum in September). USC has improved since that early loss, although they still have their vulnerabilities. Stanford is still a strong team that's prides itself on its running game and ball control. Beating a talented team twice in one season is difficult, although Stanford has to capability to do it.

Two championship games will begin at 8:00. Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte will host the ACC Championship Game, where North Carolina will play undefeated Clemson. Since inexplicably losing their season opener to South Carolina in the same stadium, the Tar Heels have won 11-consecutive contests (at times in very impressive fashion). UNC has both one of the nation's best offenses and one of the better defenses. Clemson has had a similar season, except they haven't lost once. The Tigers are very good on both sides of the ball. Both teams are proficient running and passing the ball. This could be one of the best games of the year between two of the best teams, so the winner will emerge with one of the best victories on their way to the playoffs.

Indianapolis and Lucas Oil Stadium will host the other unbeaten team, Iowa, and their challenger, Michigan State, in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Hawkeyes have managed to stay perfect by depending on their pounding ground game and good defense. Michigan State has lost just once (in rather flukish fashion), but have had many close escapes. The Spartans tend to play to the level of the opposing team but have an offense and a defense capable of winning most games against most opponents. Unlike the Hawkeyes, the Spartans are more dependent on their passing game when on offense. All the trends this season point to this game being very close and hard-fought. The winner will be a worthy contender in the playoffs.

Finally, keep an eye on the happenings in the Sun Belt, whose champion will be decided this Saturday. If Arkansas State defeats Texas State (in all likelihood, they will), the Red Wolves will win the conference outright. However, in the event Arkansas State loses, they may share the title with up to two other teams. If Georgia Southern beats Georgia State, the Eagles will earn a share of the title, while if Appalachian State knocks out South Alabama, the Mountaineers will get part of the championship.

Championships:

MAC: Bowling Green (9-3) over Northern Illinois (8-4), 37-30
American: 22 Temple (10-2) over 19 Houston (11-1), 24-17
Conference USA: Western Kentucky (10-2) over Southern Mississippi (9-3), 45-41
SEC: 18 Florida (10-2) over 2 Alabama (11-1), 14-13
Mountain West: San Diego State (9-3) over Air Force (8-4), 28-21
Pac-12: 7 Stanford (10-2) over 20 USC (8-4), 31-24
ACC: 10 North Carolina (11-1) over 1 Clemson (12-0), 34-31
Big Ten: 4 Iowa (12-0) over 5 Michigan State (11-1), 28-24

State of Florida:

Florida Atlantic (3-9), END OF SEASON
9 Florida State (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Miami (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
South Florida (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
UCF (0-12), END OF SEASON
FIU (5-7), END OF SEASON

Southeastern Conference:

Arkansas (7-5), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Auburn (6-6), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Georgia (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Kentucky (5-7), END OF SEASON
21 LSU (8-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
13 Mississippi (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Mississippi State (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Missouri (5-7), END OF SEASON
South Carolina (3-9), END OF SEASON
25 Tennessee (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Texas A&M (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
Vanderbilt (4-8), END OF SEASON

Top 25:

12 Baylor (9-2) over Texas (4-7), 49-13
3 Oklahoma (11-1), END OF REGULAR SEASON
6 Ohio State (11-1), END OF REGULAR SEASON
8 Notre Dame (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
11 TCU (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
14 Northwestern (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
15 Michigan (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
16 Oregon (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
17 Oklahoma State (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
23 Navy (9-2), BYE
24 Utah (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON

Know Your Opponent: Alabama

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 13:00:00 +0000

The 1963 Florida Gators pulled off one of the most shocking
upsets of the year when they took down Alabama in
Tuscaloosa. The Gators came into the game struggling with a
1-1-1 record and were heavy underdogs against Bear Bryant's
third-ranked Alabama powerhouse. The Tide had not lost a
home game since 1957 and hadn't surrendered more than
seven points since 1960. However, on that day, Ray Grave's
Gators were inspired. The Gators took the lead at Denny
Stadium after kicking a field goal on their first drive. In the
final quarter, Gator halfback Dick Kirk took a hand-off 42
yards for the score, putting the Gators up 10-0 late in the
game. The last drive by quarterback Joe Namath prevented
the Tide from being shutout, but it was too late, and the
Gators won, 10-6. The Seminole

The Gators are returning to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game for the first time in six years. This season, their opponents from the SEC West are the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama. Plans to establish a public institution of higher education in Alabama date back to 1819, before the territory was admitted to the Union. It was built in Tuscaloosa, then the capital of Alabama, and opened its doors in 1831. Anticipating the breakout of the Civil War, the Alabama state legislature converted the university into a military school in 1860. The academy trained Confederate troops until Tuscaloosa was captured by Union forces in April, 1865. Due to its role in the rebellion's war efforts, the Federal army razed the entire campus aside from a few buildings. The university reopened in 1871 and promptly abandoned its martial focus. The university began enrolling women in 1892, after the lobbying of noted reform advocate Julia Tutwiler. Today, over 37,000 students are enrolled at Alabama, with almost 31,000 being undergraduates. The school colors are crimson (a slightly purplish red) and white.

The Crimson Tide are unquestionably the most successful college football program in the American South and, arguably, in the entire country. Few schools can truly rival the accomplishments of the Tide. Alabama's first gridiron team was fielded in 1892 and sported distinctive crimson stockings. Around the turn of the century, a sports writer likened the Alabama football team to a moving tide, the way it gradually willed itself down the field. Since 1907, the team has embraced the moniker "Crimson Tide". In 1921, Alabama became a founding member of the Southern Conference and won four SoCon titles during their 12-year tenure. Since 1933, the Tide have been charter members of the Southeastern Conference; the Crimson Tide have won 24 SEC championships, more than any other school and 11 more than Tennessee (who are second among SEC teams). Alabama won the first-ever SEC championship in 1933 as well as the most recent, in 2014. The Crimson Tide also hold a winning record against every conference opponent. Even more impressive, Alabama claims 15 national titles, although only 10 are recognized by consensus sources and nine by the AP. The Tide play in one of the country's largest venues, Bryant-Denny Stadium. Bryant-Denny can host just under 102,000 spectators. The field was originally named "Denny Stadium", after George H. Denny, president from 1912 to 1936. In 1975, the state legislature added the name of Paul "Bear" Bryant, then the coach of the Crimson Tide, to the name of the stadium.

As a college student in the 1930s, Bear Bryant had been a player for the Crimson Tide and was a part of two SEC titles, one Rose Bowl victory, and a national title. After the Second World War, Bryant became a successful head coach at Maryland, Kentucky, and Texas A&M. During his time with the Aggies, his alma mater had fallen on hard times. Alabama suffered through an 0-10 winless season in 1955 before winning just four games across the next two seasons. Bryant arrived in 1958 and won five games in his inaugural season. From that point until his retirement at the end of the 1982 season, Bryant led his Tide to 13 conference titles and six national championships. No Bryant-coached team at Alabama ever finished its season with a losing record. To this day, Bryant remains the winningest head coach in Alabama and SEC history, recording a 232–46–9 record with the Tide during his 25-year stint. Four weeks after his final game, Bryant died of a heart attack.

Alabama's 10 national titles recognized by either the AP or Coaches' polls were won in 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, and 2012. In addition, Alabama has enjoyed 10 undefeated seasons and nine perfect, untied seasons over its history. Of the previously mentioned national champions, four (1961, 1979, 1992, and 2009) went undefeated. Among all these great teams, the 1979 and 2009 squads may be remembered as the greatest. The 1979 team, Bryant's last national title squad, dominated most opponents with its suffocating defense on its way to a perfect 12-0 season. The 2009 team managed to go undefeated through a very difficult schedule, overpowering other teams with its sturdy defense and powerful offensive line. Surprisingly, the Tide have produced just one Heisman winner, Mark Ingram in 2009.

The 1963 Gators ended their season 6-3-1, but key wins over
Alabama, Georgia, Miami, and Florida State ensured they'd
be remembered fondly. Alabama would go on to lose just one
more game that season, a two-point loss to Auburn. Ray
Graves would only coach against Alabama and Bear Bryant
once more. In 1964, Grave's Gators would come within three
points of upsetting the Tide again at Denny Stadium; no other
team would come so close to defeating Alabama in the
regular season of their national title year. The Seminole

Among all the opponents of the Crimson Tide, two stand out as their greatest rivals. Alabama and Auburn first met in 1892, the first multi-game season for both teams. As tensions rose between the two schools and programs, the rivalry became untenable and was cancelled after 1907. Despite both being founding members of the Southern and Southeastern conferences in 1921 and 1933, respectively, the political climate in the state of Alabama prohibited the meeting of the two state schools separated by just 157 miles. Finally, in 1948, the state legislature threatened to withdraw funding for both schools unless they renewed their series. The rivalry resumed and has been played annually since. Traditionally, the rivalry had been played at Legion Field in Birmingham, although by 2000 it was a home-and-home series. Its history in Birmingham, well-known for its steel industry, led to the rivalry being nicknamed the "Iron Bowl". Overall, Alabama leads the series 44-35-1. Alabama and Tennessee have played every year since 1928 (barring the war year of 1943) and 97 total times since their first contest in 1901. The two schools rank first and second in overall conference wins as well as in conference championships. Power has swayed back and forth between these two southern powers, as the series is characterized by streaks of dominance. Currently, the Crimson Tide lead the series, 52-38-7.

The Gators and the Tide have played a total of 38 games; the first was in 1916. Despite this long history, they have never met on a consistent basis. Of the 13 SEC charter members, Florida has only played Mississippi, Sewanee, and Tulane on fewer occasions. However, the teams have met on many occasions in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama leads the series with 24* wins to Florida's 14. On the seven occasions the teams have met for the conference championship, the Gators have won four times. The two schools met in the first-ever conference title game in 1992, with Alabama winning 28-21 at Legion Field on their way to the national title. However, the Gators would win the next four SEC title games (including three over Alabama) in a streak that has yet to be matched.

*Excluding the vacated victory in 2005, Alabama has 23 victories over Florida.

Saturday in Review: Week 13

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Iowa, Clemson, and McNeese State are the last remaining
unbeaten teams in Division I. Nati Harnik - AP Photo

Unfortunately, the penultimate week of the regular season went by with fewer close games than expected (and more blowouts). All conference divisions have been won, so now we await Championship Saturday. But first, let's review the events of last week.

USF made short work of UCF, more than doubling the Knights in total offensive yards and first downs. The 44-3 victory was the Bulls first in the series since 2008 and clinched UCF's first winless season since 2004. UCF, Kansas, and Austin Peay were the only teams in Division I to finish the season without a win.

Iowa's aggressive defense was too much for Nebraska, and the Hawkeyes finished their regular schedule with a perfect 12-0 record.

TCU upended Baylor on a rain-soaked, defensively-dominated evening in Fort Worth. It took two periods of overtime for the Frogs to top the Bears, 28-21.

Houston clinched the American West with a dominant win over Navy. The Cougar offense was forced to punt just once in their 52-point performance.

Toledo's loss to Western Michigan clinched the MAC West for Northern Illinois. The Huskies will face Bowling Green in the conference title game.

Miami jumped to a big lead over Pitt and held off the comeback, winning their fourth game in the last five weeks. The Hurricanes will enter bowl season with eight wins.

Western Kentucky topped Marshall 49-28 to clinch the C-USA East title. WKU will face Southern Miss in the upcoming championship game. The Golden Eagles took care of Louisiana Tech on Saturday, forcing seven turnovers in their 58-24 rout of the Bulldogs.

South Carolina gave it their all, but it wasn't enough against Clemson. The Gamecocks kept the game close until Clemson built an insurmountable lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Erratic play at the quarterback and placekicker positions have
plagued Florida for weeks. It inevitably resulted in
catastrophe against the Seminoles. Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Florida State defeated Florida to win their tenth game of the season. The Seminoles held the Gators scoreless until halfway through the final quarter, when they surrendered a safety after a botched snap. The Gator defense effectively contained the FSU offense until late in the game, but the offense simply could not convert in critical situations. Although he avoided turnovers, quarterback Treon Harris was abysmal, missing open targets even when given time by his offensive line. Florida State, on the other hand, made a few key plays that led to scores and decided the game. The 27-2 victory was FSU's fifth in six years over the Gators, and their third-consecutive win at Florida Field (the last three games have been decided by an 85-16 score in Florida State's favor).

UNC beat NC State and will head into the ACC Championship Game with 11-straight victories. The Tar Heel running game exploded for 374 yards against the Wolfpack, with running back Elijah Hood gaining 220 of those yards.

It wasn't pretty, but Georgia outscored Georgia Tech for head coach Mark Richt's 13th win in 15 games against the Yellow Jackets. However, the performance was not enough to preserve Richt's job, as the Bulldogs' longtime coach separated from the program last Sunday.

Temple shut down UConn to clinch the American East. The Owl defense held the Huskies to just 138 total offensive yards. Temple will face Houston in the conference title game.

Oklahoma earned the Big 12 title with a blowout win over Oklahoma State. Once again, the Sooner defense and running game proved key in their victory.

Michigan kept it close for a half, but Ohio State ran over the Wolverines in the second half. However, Michigan State's lopsided win over Penn State ensured the Spartans will face Iowa in the Big Ten title game.

Down 35-29 with just 6:30 left, Notre Dame drove 88 yards down the field, scored the touchdown and took the one-point lead with only 30 seconds left. But Stanford struck back, knocking the game-winning 45-yarder through as time ran out. Stanford's win over Notre Dame likely knocks the Irish out of the playoff picture while keeping the Cardinal's slim hopes alive.

The Trojans have gone 5-1 in conference play since firing
their last head coach and will now face their in-state rival in
the Pac-12 Championship Game. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

A strong second-half performance allowed USC to pull away from UCLA in the Coliseum. The Trojans have now clinched the Pac-12 South and will play Stanford in the title game. USC lost 41-31 at home to the Cardinal earlier this season.

Although the game was close for a full three quarters, Alabama's defense held off Auburn at the end. The Tide won the SEC West with the victory and will play Florida in Atlanta.

Ole Miss won their ninth game of the year in a 38-27 victory over Mississippi State. The Bulldogs' two turnovers (which both led to Rebel touchdowns) were key to their downfall in the Egg Bowl.

The LSU defense contained Texas A&M in their 19-7 win over the Aggies at Tiger Stadium. During the game, LSU's administration decided to retain head coach Les Miles at his position.

State of Florida:

South Florida (8-4) over UCF (0-12), ~~42-14~~ 44-3
Pittsburgh (8-4) over Miami (8-4), ~~27-24~~ 29-24
Florida Atlantic (3-9) over Old Dominion (5-7), ~~20-13~~ 33-31
12 Florida (10-2) over 13 Florida State (10-2), ~~21-17~~ 27-2
FIU (5-7), END OF SEASON

Southeastern Conference:

Arkansas (7-5) over Missouri (5-7), ~~28-14~~ 28-3
Georgia (9-3) over Georgia Tech (3-9), ~~24-14~~ 13-7
Kentucky (5-7) over Louisville (7-5), ~~34-30~~ 38-24
1 Clemson (12-0) over South Carolina (3-9), ~~52-20~~ 37-32
2 Alabama (11-1) over Auburn (6-6), ~~35-14~~ 29-13
Tennessee (8-4) over Vanderbilt (4-8), ~~17-10~~ 53-28
18 Mississippi (9-3) over 21 Mississippi State (8-4), ~~38-35~~ 38-27
LSU (8-3) over Texas A&M (8-4), ~~31-17~~ 19-7

Top 25:

3 Oklahoma (11-1) over 11 Oklahoma State (10-2), ~~31-24~~ 58-23
Nebraska (5-7) over 4 Iowa (12-0), ~~24-21~~ 28-20
5 Michigan State (11-1) over Penn State (7-5), ~~27-13~~ 55-16
9 Stanford (10-2) over 6 Notre Dame (10-2), ~~35-27~~ 38-36
19 TCU (10-2) over 7 Baylor (9-2), ~~45-42~~ 28-21 (OT)
10 Michigan (9-3) over 8 Ohio State (11-1), ~~28-21~~ 42-13
14 North Carolina (11-1) over North Carolina State (7-5), ~~31-21~~ 45-34
15 Navy (9-2) over Houston (11-1), ~~35-31~~ 52-31
16 Northwestern (10-2) over Illinois (5-7), ~~20-17~~ 24-14
17 Oregon (9-3) over Oregon State (2-10), ~~49-21~~ 52-42
Washington (6-6) over 20 Washington State (8-4), ~~23-21~~ 45-10
22 UCLA (8-4) over USC (8-4), ~~31-27~~ 40-21
23 Utah (9-3) over Colorado (4-9), ~~24-10~~ 20-14
24 Toledo (9-2) over Western Michigan (7-5), ~~37-30~~ 35-30
25 Temple (10-2) over Connecticut (6-6), ~~31-17~~ 27-3

Week 13 Record: 19-8 (70%)

Season Record: 277-77 (78%)

Saturday Predictions: Week 13

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Smith) — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Historically, the Red Raiders have been dominated by the
Longhorns; currently, they have lost the last six-straight. Tech
could turn the tide if they find a way to pass against the Texas
defense.

The culmination of our regular season is at hand, for we have arrived at "Rivalry Week". College football's saved the best for last, as nearly the entire Top 25 is at risk of upset this weekend. Schools will gain annual bragging rights and teams will earn conference and divisional championships. There will be many hard-fought, emotional games played over the next few days, and not all will be discussed in this preview. As always, keep an eye out for developing thrillers across the country.

The action starts tonight, this Thanksgiving, when the South Florida Bulls take on their rivals, the UCF Knights. The Bulls have won six of their last seven while the Knights have lost each of their 11 games this season. Understandably, USF is favored by several touchdowns, even on the road. UCF should be too young and their roster too shallow to compete with USF this year. At the same time, Texas Tech will battle Texas in Austin. Texas has been inconsistent but mostly mediocre this season, while Tech has also been inconsistent but mostly good. An inspired effort could lift the Longhorns to victory, but Tech should be at an advantage.

You can spend your day after feasting watching football from noon until midnight. Pitt hosts Miami at midday, hoping to win their ninth game of the season. The Hurricanes have struggled this season, but can still give the Panthers a fight if they're not properly prepared.

Marshall heads west to face the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in a matchup of two of Conference USA's best teams. The Thundering Herd will attempt to contain WKU's prolific offense.

Houston hosts a huge game against Navy to decide the winner of the American West. Houston will be looking for some answers after dropping their first game of the year last week against UConn. Likewise, Navy has lost just a single game (to Notre Dame) and has an excellent team this season. All of Navy's wins have come by 10 points or more (the only time Navy won by as little as 10 was against UConn). Houston may find it difficult to stop Navy's option-attack offense.

The final Friday noon game to look out for features Western Michigan and Toledo. Toledo can clinch the MAC West with a home win against the Broncos. Despite their five losses, WMU is one of the MAC's tougher teams, and should provide a challenge for the Rockets.

At 2:30, Missouri visits Fayetteville, Arkansas for the first time in history. Mizzou is fighting for bowl eligibility, but should have a hard time reaching it. Despite possessing an excellent defense, the Tigers might not have enough on offense to challenge the Razorbacks.

Washington is just one of many teams that must win this
weekend to ensure their bowl eligibility.
AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez

Washington and Washington State are in a similar situation. The Huskies are trying to become bowl eligible, but must overcome their below-average offense against a more balanced rival. Home-field-advantage might inspire the Husky defense to play well against Wazzu's dangerous passing attack.

Looking to enter the Big Ten Championship Game undefeated, the Iowa Hawkeyes have one final hurdle in the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Hawkeyes are not unbeaten without reason – their steady defense and conservative-but-effective offense have been a recipe for success. The Huskers are another team looking to reach bowl eligibility with a win in their season finale. Heartbreak has oft-struck the Cornhuskers this season, although their season should also be remembered for a shocking upset against Michigan State. Nebraska may need their best defensive performance of the year to complete another incredible coup.

Friday's final game of particular interest will pit Baylor against TCU. TCU has already been eliminated from contention for part of the Big 12 title, but can ruin rival Baylor's hopes for a conference title (or potential playoff bid) with a victory in their home finale. Injuries to key players have plagued both teams. The Bears have fewer such injuries, but have been hit hard at the quarterback position. The Frogs can upset the Bears if their quarterback excels once again.

Saturday arrives and with it the big game between Michigan and Ohio State. The Buckeyes will head to Michigan Stadium fresh of their loss to Michigan State. The Spartan defense dominated Ohio State, and the Wolverines will be keen to reproduce their in-state rival's performance. As a matter of fact, the strength of both teams is their defenses, so expect a physical and low-scoring contest. Only the winner can have any hope of winning the Big Ten East.

Two pairs of SEC and ACC teams will face another for their yearly rivalries. In Atlanta, Georgia will look to extend the misery of Georgia Tech's 2015 season. The Yellow Jackets have only won three games this year, but could find some relief upsetting their arch-nemeses from Athens. Both teams depend heavily on the run, although Georgia has the better defense. In Lexington, Kentucky and Louisville will battle for the title of "best in the Bluegrass". Before their win last week, Kentucky had lost five games in-a-row. Louisville, on the other hand, has won six of their last eight. In addition, Louisville has not lost to Kentucky since 2010. However, this game tends to bring the best out of the Wildcats, so watch for another close game here.

Soldier Field will host this year's game between Northwestern and Illinois. The Wildcats are ranked while the Illini, like so many teams, are a win away from reaching bowl eligibility. The Illini have lost five of their last six, but can make this season some type of success with one win over their in-state rivals. Although the Wildcat offense is mediocre, their defense should cause problems for Illinois.

Michigan State must defeat Penn State to earn a spot against
Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Michigan State can clinch the Big Ten East with a victory over Penn State. The Spartan defense should hold the Nittany Lions in check, although PSU is certainly capable of keeping the game close and sneaking out a win in East Lansing. If MSU loses, the winner of the Michigan-Ohio State game will advance the the conference title game.

In the western division of the conference, Minnesota will look to snap an 11-game losing streak against their border-rivals, the Wisconsin Badgers. A win would also grant the Golden Gophers bowl eligibility. Wisconsin has a good defense, but will nonetheless be vulnerable on the road against a spunky Gophers team. An improbable victory may end a decade of heartbreak for the Land of 1,000 Lakes.

North Carolina has won 10 consecutive games and hopes to possibly earn a playoff bid. Their rivals from Raleigh will look to spoil their hopes. NC State has not played as well as the Tar Heels this season, but can earn a memorable win for their program by defeating UNC. The Tar Heels have one of the ACC's best offenses, so the Wolfpack defense will need their best performance to earn a win.

While Alabama can clinch the SEC West with a win in the Iron Bowl, the winner of the USC-UCLA game will earn a berth to the Pac-12 title game. These cross-town rivals have gone up and down this season, varying from big wins to embarrassing losses. UCLA's slightly superior defense and running game may prove the difference between these two evenly-matched squads.

Temple clinches the American East and the right to play the winner of the Navy-Houston game if they manage to get by UConn at the Linc. Both teams possess good defenses, although Temple has a superior, if not exactly stellar, offense. The key to Temple's success is scoring off good opportunities and field position. They'll likely find a way to get it done against UConn, but don't be too surprised to see another good showing from the Huskies.

Two bitter rivals do battle for the Egg Bowl trophy when Ole Miss faces Mississippi State in Starkville. Both teams have fared well this year against difficult schedules, but this game is as (or more) important than any that have preceded it. Both schools posses what are probably the two best quarterbacks in the SEC, but they will both face competent defenses. However, if both gunslingers find "their zone", this could turn to a barn burner. Ole Miss could find an edge if they can get the ball to their speedy playmakers.

The Gators must exploit their opportunities to upend the
Seminoles in Gainesville. Rob Foldy/Getty Images

The Swamp will host Florida and Florida State for the 60th edition of their Sunshine State rivalry game. The Gators have one of the nation's better résumés, having swept their division and gone undefeated at home. However, they have hardly impressed in recent weeks with narrow wins over Vanderbilt and Florida Atlantic (who have six wins combined). Moving the ball and scoring in the redzone has been a particular trouble for the Gators, who also have inconsistent placekickers. Yet, the Gator defense, regarded as one of the best in the country, has kept every game close and has been key in Florida's 10 victories. The Seminoles also have a great defense, and are strong at every position at that side of the ball. However, FSU is also known to struggle at times with their offense, particularly when playing away from Tallahassee. Florida will have to limit Florida State's phenomenal running back and win the battle of field position to gain an edge over the Seminoles.

LSU is set to combat Texas A&M in the former's famed Tiger Stadium. LSU has unexpectedly lost three consecutive games, and rumors of their coaches' job security swirl around their program. The Aggies are not one of the SEC's best teams, but could take advantage of LSU's apparent fall from grace. On the other hand, LSU might rally in their moment of crisis and win an emotional game for their head coach. To do this, LSU must find some sort of success on offense; the failure to do so has been their downfall in their last three losses.

But the intriguing matchups don't end there. Notre Dame and Stanford both have long-shot hopes of being granted a playoff berth, but must get past the other to get there. The Cardinal will host the Irish after winning their last game against rival Cal. Stanford usually finds ways to win games with their steady ground game and solid defense. Notre Dame has respectable units on both sides of the ball, which is remarkable considering the number of injuries they've overcome. This should be another close game between these two high-quality programs.

Bedlam breaks loose when Oklahoma and Oklahoma State draw their guns. This year, these two in-state rivals are fighting for at least a share of the Big 12 title (and the title outright if TCU beats Baylor). This may also coincide with the first playoff berth for a Big 12 team. Both teams are best on the offensive side of the ball, with particularly good passing attacks by both squads. Unlike the Cowboys, the Sooners complement their aerial attack with a potent ground game. The Sooners also have a better defense, so they will have a marked advantage in this ballgame. Even home-field-advantage may not be enough for the Cowboys this year.

State of Florida:

South Florida (7-4) over UCF (0-11), 42-14
Pittsburgh (8-3) over Miami (7-4), 27-24
Florida Atlantic (2-9) over Old Dominion (5-6), 20-13
12 Florida (10-1) over 13 Florida State (9-2), 21-17
FIU (5-7), END OF SEASON

Southeastern Conference:

Arkansas (6-5) over Missouri (5-6), 28-14
Georgia (8-3) over Georgia Tech (3-8), 24-14
Kentucky (5-6) over Louisville (6-5), 34-30
1 Clemson (11-0) over South Carolina (3-8), 52-20
2 Alabama (10-1) over Auburn (6-5), 35-14
Tennessee (7-4) over Vanderbilt (4-7), 17-10
18 Mississippi (8-3) over 21 Mississippi State (8-3), 38-35
LSU (7-3) over Texas A&M (8-3), 31-17

Top 25:

3 Oklahoma (10-1) over 11 Oklahoma State (10-1), 31-24
Nebraska (5-6) over 4 Iowa (11-0), 24-21
5 Michigan State (10-1) over Penn State (7-4), 27-13
9 Stanford (9-2) over 6 Notre Dame (10-1), 35-27
19 TCU (9-2) over 7 Baylor (9-1), 45-42
10 Michigan (9-2) over 8 Ohio State (10-1), 28-21
14 North Carolina (10-1) over North Carolina State (7-4), 31-21
15 Navy (9-1) over Houston (10-1), 35-31
16 Northwestern (9-2) over Illinois (5-6), 20-17
17 Oregon (8-3) over Oregon State (2-9), 49-21
Washington (5-6) over 20 Washington State (8-3), 23-21
22 UCLA (8-3) over USC (7-4), 31-27
23 Utah (8-3) over Colorado (4-8), 24-10
24 Toledo (9-1) over Western Michigan (6-5), 37-30
25 Temple (9-2) over Connecticut (6-5), 31-17