Aloha ACC...Aloha Big East

Wow.  Don't say we didn't warn you.

Here we were worrying about the hornet's nest Brian Kelly drop-kicked to ignite his latest QB controversy.  Instead, Jack Swarbrick delivered a roundhouse kick to the potentially divisive situation that would make Chuck Norris blush.  A headache of headlines became mere afterthought in the wake of the sensational news that Notre Dame bid adieu to the BEast for the greener pastures of the ACC.

Pick your cliche decision-making rationale: conference stability, brand market exposure, bowl game options, Olympic sport competition, academic fit of peer institutions.  At the end of the day, the whole package proved too great to pass.  A standing ovation is due Swarbrick and his staff for having the creativity and cajones to orchestrate this deal.

The move is terrific on many levels for ND, which we'll dig into deeper in the coming days.  Too bad this news cycle completely dwarfs a top 10 vs. top 20 matchup with a historic rival.  Sorry Sparty, but whatever extra hype and bluster this year's Rose Bowl-caliber squad is due has been usurped by the Bolting Conference Boogie.  We all know the music never stops at the NCAA Realignment Dance Marathon.  Thankfully, our new do-si-do partner is in great shape, sexy as hell and looking to settle down for a while.

A match made in program heaven.  

WeIs Roundtable Week 4 Picks: Let the Shakedown Process Begin

Thank goodness we have some games to dissect and enjoy to take our mind off the realignment maelstorm swirling around the college football universe.  But before we get there, what would another day be without a new conference applicant?  Today finds East Carolina responding to the Big East's vacant bedroom Craigslist ad, hopeful they get glowing recommendations from their hostel mates in the open-door policy Conference USA.  

Back to the games - four solid top 20 matchups with several other conference gut-checks.  We'll learn a good deal about who means business and who's just window shopping this season.  On to the picks:

Oklahoma State (+3) at Texas A&M

Dan: Oklahoma State (+3)

Great afternoon football game, even though I am sure the announcers will spend more time talking about conference realignment (I am already so tired of this story), than the game on the field. Sherman has the Aggies rolling early this season, but Oklahoma State has had better competition so far. I will take that experience, the recent consistency of the Cowboys, and the points in this match-up. 

Oklahoma State 38 Texas A&M 35

Jeremy: Oklahoma St. (+3)

The matchup of two Big XII media darlings  who haven't managed to win any games of serious consequence in the recent past.  Should be a fun game to watch as both teams can put up some serious offense.  Even though they're on the road, I think the Cowboys have the better talent and I'm taking them to win outright.

Oklahoma St. 38  Texas A&M 31

Jimmy: Oklahoma State (+3)

I'm buying what Mike Gundy is selling.  Weeden, Blackmon & Randle are pure dynamite.  And the offensive fireworks will come in droves.  I just don't think the Aggies can keep up, even with the 12th Man advantage in Kyle Field.  You gotta imagine all Big 12 teams will play TAMU with a little extra motivation for getting greedy in jumping ship to the SEC.  It doesn't matter that every other member is in panic mode looking to secure a conference safe haven.  A&M is painted as the bad guy ruffling all of their feathers -- okay, maybe just Baylor.  

If all else fails at halftime, Gundy can rally his team with a "Remember the Alamo" type speech to lay a final whooping on those Agriculturists and Mechanicalites on their way out the conference door.  That, or deliver the patented Gundy motivational speech.  ("This was brought to me by a mother...of children" -- never gets old and you hear something new every time).  I wonder how often his players cut jokes about that.  I digress.  Cowboys win in a shootout.   

Oklahoma State 63  Texas A&M 60 2OT (why not?)

Mike: Texas A&M (-3)  Lock of the Week

Both teams have started the season with their usual pattern of beating up on undermanned non-conference opponents.  Without any true tests thus far, therefore, it is difficult to gauge whether either of these teams will live up to their considerable hype.  After last year’s contest in Stillwater, I was favorably impressed with A&M defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, who was able to slow the high powered Cowboy offense, albeit in defeat.  DeRuyter should be able to replicate his effort again at home and the improved A&M offense will encounter little resistance from the Oklahoma State defense.

Texas A&M 44 Oklahoma State 28

Phil: Oklahoma St. (+3) 

Anytime I can get the likes of Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon as an underdog, I like my chances. Both guys are way too experienced to get rattled on the road, even if it is the SEC worthy, rowdy "12th man" of College Station.  Texas A&M has firepower itself, but I like the Pokes in this high scoring Big 12 affair.

OK St 48  TAMU 44

LSU (-6) at West Virginia

Dan: LSU (-6)  Lock of the Week

Six points is not enough. I figure the Tigers will only need couple TD to get the cover. Their defense alone might hand them that, and surely their relatively meager offense can find the endzone once or twice against a big east defense. 

LSU 23 WVU 6

Jeremy: LSU (-6)

The Bayou Bengals have already shut down one explosive spread offense this year but this game in Morgantown could present an even greater challenge than the Ducks.  I just can't pick against the SEC here.

LSU 24  WVU 17

Jimmy: West Virginia (+6)

Too many points for what figures to be a truly inhospitable atmosphere for LSU with Gameday on campus and an 8pm start.  The Mountaineer faithful will be booze-fueled (and will keep fueling in the stadium) and hellbent on making Jarrett Lee's night miserable.  Geno Smith will have his hands full creating offense where Chris Relf and Darron Thomas have struggled.  But Smith relies more on his versatile receiver options than his ground game.  Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and Ivan McCartney should spring for some big plays to make this an ultra-exciting contest.  Still like Les Miles to pull a rabbit out of his hat in the end, but it will come down to the wire.

LSU 23  West Virginia  21

Mike: West Virginia (+6)

Having watched LSU’s dominating performance at Mississippi State, it is hard to imagine that there is a better defense in the nation.  Under new coach Dana Holgerson, West Virginia’s offense appears to be hitting its stride, but the Mountaineers will almost surely struggle to move the ball against LSU.  On defense, however, West Virginia looks to be characteristically solid with longtime coordinator Jeff Casteel remaining at the helm.  I expect the Mountaineer defense to hold LSU in check, thereby allowing them to cover the spread in another tight defensive victory for the Bayou Bengals.  As a final note, can you imagine the scene in Morgantown for a night game with these two fanbases?  Good Lord.

LSU 16 West Virginia 13 

Phil: LSU (-6)  Lock of the Week

LSU has delievered as my lock of the week twice already this season, and I see no reason that it shouldn't continue. I was interested to see Thursday night how Miss St looked against the LSU D, hoping that it would prove Auburn's D was not so porous.  Sadly, the Bullpups could barely manage a first down against the bayou bengals, and then to follow suit, Auburn's D was horrendous 2 days later at Clemson. I like Geno Smith at QB, and I'm sure Holgerson will have some tricks up his sleeve, but at the end of the day, LSU is entirely too talented, and they always get up for the big game.  They will pound the rock on the ground, use play action, and I look for the return of Russell Shepherd to ignite some big plays. LSU is the real deal.

LSU 24 WVU 16

Florida State (-3) at Clemson

Dan: Clemson (+3)

FSU feels a bit in disarray after last week’s game. If E.J. Manuel doesn’t play, then the Seminoles are in big trouble. Even if he does play, if his shoulder limits his mobility, FSU could struggle on this trip to Death Valley. I was pretty surprised with Clemson’s performance last week, and think threaten to win the ACC this year. 

Clemson 21 FSU 17

Jeremy: Clemson (+3)

This pick is mainly based upon the assumption that EJ Manuel will be at least somewhat limited on Saturday.  FSU looked amazing flying all over the field last weekend against Boomer Sooner, but this is a classic letdown game, with a Clemson team primed to make their second big statement in a row at home.  

Clemson 20  FSU 17

Jimmy: Florida State (-3)

From a mentality perspective, one team is riding an emotional high after knocking off the defending champs while the other is licking their wounds from a hard fought prime time loss on their home turf to the #1 team in the country.  To make matters worse, FSU doesn't know how much pain QB EJ Manuel will be in as he tries to help the team in returning.  The emotional component is what sets the college game apart from its pro counterpart.  I don't think it can be overlooked in this game.  The Seminole defense did a pretty remarkable job limiting the high-powered Sooners offense.  Tajh Boyd better not think he'll be repeating last week's career performance.  FSU should be able to contain Boyd, Sammy Watkins and Andre Ellington.  This should be a slugfest, but I still like Jimbo Fisher's team to rebound on the road.

FSU 19  Clemson 13

Mike: Florida State (-3)

Clemson just scored an enormous win over Auburn and now they get to face a wounded FSU team that just lost a physical game during which their starting QB was injured.  Will the Tigers show some killer instinct and seize control over their destiny in the ACC Atlantic Division?  I doubt it.  Look for Tajh Boyd to take a big step backward this week against a talented FSU secondary, which will allow the Seminoles to grab a big road win in their conference opener.

Florida State 24 Clemson 17

Phil: FSU (-3)

This is perceived as a big game, as Clemson is off a win over the defending champs, and FSU postponed its return to the top after being beaten by Oklahoma at home. Those who have visions of Clemson knocking off the Seminoles need to slow down. The ability to tackle by the Noles will be vastly better than Auburn, and I can almost guarantee that Tahj Boyd will not again look like a Heisman Trophy candidate. Although, if Clemson can pull the upset, Sammy Watkins needs to touch the ball early and often. Either way, I like the Noles.

FSU 30 Clemson 21

Arkansas (+13.5) at Alabama

Dan: Arkansas (+13.5)

This line feels just about right, and is probably the toughest call for me. Alabama may win this by two touchdowns, but in the end I just can’t lay 13.5 points in a touch conference match-up like this.

Alabama 28 Arkansas 17

Jeremy: Arkansas (+13.5)  Lock of the Week

Petrino vs. Saban is always a great matchup.  This is just too many points, even in Tuscaloosa.  

Alabama 23  Arkansas 17 

Jimmy: Alabama (-13.5)  Lock of the Week

Until I see the Tide not dominate an opponent, I’m expecting the Sabanator to keep rollin.  Arkansas may hang around for a little bit with Tyler Wilson's multi-faceted arsenal.  But Bama can pound the ball with Richardson and Lacy and limit Arkansas' possessions.  They may not completely manhandle the Razorbacks, but they'll win decisively.

Alabama 37  Arkansas 20

Mike: Alabama (-13.5)

Arkansas, led by first year Tyler Wilson, has been impressive on offense in the early season, but they are about to experience an extreme class jump against the Crimson Tide defense.  I suspect that the Hogs are a tad overrated and I believe that a dominating defense can take any offense out of its comfort zone, so I am expecting a major step back for Wilson and the Razorback offense this week.  Alabama should be able to run the ball effectively at home as well, which will relieve some pressure on A.J. McCarron and Philip Sims.

Alabama 30 Arkansas 7

Phil: Arkansas (+13.5)

Bobby Petrino has had this game circled since Ryan Mallet puked away his two TD lead at home for the Hogs last year. I am optimistic that he has something special planned and that he will have a good game plan upon his arrival to T-Town. This will be the best team Bama has played this year (lets face it, Penn St is brutal) and we will really get to see how good that D is, and more importantly, how good AJ McBrodieroy is. I don't know if Bobby P can get the big win on the road, but I am sure as hell rooting for him.

Arkansas 23 Bama 20

Bonus Picks

Dan: Oregon (-15) @ Arizona

Contrasting directly with my commentary on Alabama v. Arkansas above, I like the Ducks in a fairly large spread to cover on the road. Oregon may have gotten manhandled against LSU, but back home on the west coast, they are in charge. Arizona is in the midst of a brutal stretch (Oklahoma State, Stanford, Oregon, USC), and has lost by an average of 25 points in the first two games of that stretch. I expect their woes to continue with the Ducks in Tucson for the rout. 

Oregon 38 Arizona 14

Jeremy: North Carolina @ Georgia Tech (-6.5)

After a lackluster 2010, the Yellow Jackets seem to have fallen off the map a bit.  Paul Johnson is still one heck of a coach, and this isn't near enough points for Tech's explosive offense at home.

Ga Tech 31  UNC 20

Jimmy: Rice @ Baylor (-19.5)

Really like Art Briles and the Bears to keep mauling the patsy portion (TCU excluded) of their schedule.  Robert Griffin III, Kendall Wright and Terrance Ganaway are a lethal trio that feasts on weak defenses.  The Bears program hibernated for a looong time.  Consistent offensive fireworks highlighting Heisman hopeful RGIII is the quickest way to impress voters and change the program's perception.  In the process, I'm riding Griffin's coattails and enjoying fantasy stalwarts Wright and Ganaway on my squad.  

Baylor 56  Rice 26

Mike: Western Michigan (+13.5) @ Illinois 

This is the ideal set of circumstances for a classic Zooker game:  Illinois is undefeated, ranked, coming off a big win and facing a well coached MAC opponent with enough ability to spring an upset.  I will not be surprised if the Broncos win this game outright.  

Western Michigan 24 Illinois 23

Mike’s BONUS BONUS PICKS! (Not for standings (unless successful))

Georgia @ Mississippi (+10) 

Battle of two embattled coaches here.  I think the Rebs will rally around the Right Reverend, Houston Dale Nutt, and play the role of frisky home underdog.

Georgia 28 Ole Miss 24

NC State (+7.5) @ Cincinnati

Another underdog play for your Thursday night.  The Pack stubbed their toe in the conference opener against an underrated Wake Forest team, but they should be able to hit their stride offensively against Cincinnati.  

Cincinnati 35 N.C. State 31

Phil: Vandy (+16) @ South Carolina 

What a week for the Commodores! After forcefully relegating Ole Miss to the SEC cellar (pending their matchup with defenseless Auburn), they now find themselves (only) a 16 point dog to South Carolina. Progress! USC struggled with pesky Navy (I have seen that somewhere before), but ultimately had the smarts to ride the Lattimore train to victory. (wish Auburn would feed Dyer the rock like that). I think that they will take notice of Vandy's success and not get caught sleeping for the 2nd week in a row, but I also think that Vandy is not a bad team.

South Carolina 28 Vandy 21

Last Week

Dan: 2-4 (+ Lock of the Week)

Jeremy: 3-3 (-)

Jimmy: 3-3 (+)

Mike: 3-3 (+)

Phil: 3-3 (+)

Season To Date:

Dan: 9-8-1 (3-0)

Jeremy: 9-8-1 (1-2)

Jimmy:8-8-2 (2-1)

Matt: 2-4 (0-1) 

Mike: 8-9-1 (1-1-1)

Phil:5-11-1 (1-1-1)

To Be or Not to Be - That is the Independence Question

This day was bound to come at some point.  The "prime domino" (akin to the prime mover from Philo 101) has fallen with the surprise announcement that Pittsburgh and Syracuse are bolting to the ACC in 2014.  ND Nation can save the William Wallace / Patrick Henry independence till we die speeches.  It's been a nice ride (124 years, 1887-present) of galloping around the football world like an unsaddled stallion.

Let's be honest, as much as we wish, hope and convince ourselves that Brian Kelly will deliver the Irish back to the promised land of a national title game, the drought is near the end of its 2nd decade in South Bend.  Some of you will count 3 BCS trips in the 2000s as proof that the program can still get close going it alone.  Those seasons were fools gold in my opinion as we were embarrassed in two games and outclassed in the third.  There's still plenty of incentive to keep our comfortable arrangement with the Big East (what's left of it), count our NBC ducats and enjoy our bowl game revenues to ourselves like an only child after Halloween.  But watching the swiftly changing landscape of conference re-alignment and a possible murky future for the BCS, it would be hubris of Notre Dame not to make the difficult, gut-wrenching, sky-is-falling decision to join a conference as a full-fledged member.  That same decision can also be described as prudent, lucrative, necessary and in the school's best interest.

1988 might possibly be the heyday of independent football considering 4 of the top 5 teams were sans conference.  Take a look.  ND (#1), Miami (#2), FSU (#3), West Virginia (#5) and Syracuse (#13) were all ranked.  Joe Paterno had his first losing season two years after winning the national title.  Frank Beamer was in his 2nd year coaching independent Va. Tech.  Brett Favre led Southern Miss to a 10-2 record.  South Carolina, Pitt, Rutgers, Boston College and Cincinnati were also among 24 total independent schools playing football.  Just 3 years later (1991), the number of independents had dwindled to 16, and by the end of the decade (1999), Notre Dame was the only major program still trumpeting its freedom.  None of the other 6 programs in conference purgatory were good enough to be ranked by season's end (Bob Davie's cue to bow).

The yacht ND was riding in with plenty of company in 1988 has become a canoe taking on water with only one oar.  The only relevant football program embracing independence, besides Navy and Army (god bless 'em), is the "born-again" BYU program that divorced the Mountain West for a bachelor existence once again.  Football independence has gone the way of the dinosaur and ND risks being frozen in an ice age of its own doing.

Syracuse and Pittsburgh leaving for the ACC signals a gamebreaker in conference re-alignment.  With the Big 12 in a tenuous state and the ACC shopping for a 15th and 16th member, ND's traditional poker face staring down conference overtures should be on the verge of cracking.  I realize and appreciate that AD Jack Swarbrick's decision is extremely complex with several layers of cause-effect ripples to consider.  But let's play some guess work at the 4 main options ND faces:

1) Join ACC - Create the 1st super-conference of 16 teams with Rutgers or UConn.  Enter recruiting battles with Miami, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech.  Play in the best basketball conference with the defections of Pitt and Cuse joining the hot bed of the North Carolina schools.  Most important (if/when Fr. Jenkins announces any such move), the academic fraternity of peer institutions Duke, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami, UNC, Virginia and Wake Forest all rank in US News and World Report's top 50 schools.  The Big Ten only has 5 in the top 50 and 1 in the top 25 compared to 3 ACC schools in the top 25.  The biggest drawback is the travel for all of the other sports with Pittsburgh being the closest in geography.

2) Join Big 10 - Give in at long last to the natural geographical fit with plenty of built-in rivalries already in existence.  Nothing sexy about this choice.  There would likely be another school that would have to join to keep division balance (maybe Kansas, West Virginia or Iowa State).  But it certainly doesn't send a huge message to the rest of the country.  It's more like having three prom hopefuls reject you and meekly asking the Quiz Bowl captain if she's going with anyone.  Makes plenty of sense for all other sports, but football should be making these decisions.

3) Do Nothing A - Stay the course as an independent with a new Big East for everything else.  This may be a hope and a prayer that the Big East doesn't fold into a conference black hole as the super-conference power play picks up steam over the next few years.  It wouldn't be the same with Pitt and Syracuse gone, but it's what we know and we won't be bullied into making any rash decisions.

4) Do Nothing B - Stay the course as an independent and be a fly on the wall as the four super-conferences develop, leaving a nomadic tribe of new conference-less football mates.  This list could include TCU, Cincy, and USF with Boise State dominating the mid-majors for the next 77 years.  With no more Big East, ND may be able to put together a Catholic League or a basketball specialty league with the likes of Marquette, DePaul, Georgetown, Villanova, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John's, and maybe lure Xavier, Temple, Dayton, Temple and Creighton as well.  This would be a respectable basketball conference and may even work for all other sports, though not all these schools carry all the sports as ND.  This is purely a reactive plan instead of taking a proactive approach that is in their hands right now.

For fun, I teased out what such a 4 League super conference would look like.  My guesses have Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech joining the "West Coast" league; Kansas, West Virginia, Iowa State and Kansas State joining the "Midwest"; Texas A&M, Baylor, Louisville and Missouri joining the "Southeast"; and UConn and Rutgers (but pumped as all get out if Swarbrick beats one of those schools to the punch) in the "East Coast."  That would leave TCU, CIncy, South Florida and ND/UConn/Rutgers as the odd teams out from the current BCS picture.

It's a fascinating universe the NCAA has created with schools money-grabbing to ensure a pie slice of bigger and bigger tv revenues.  Staying tuned to see how it all shakes down.