State's run to the Final Four was fun The hiatus is almost over. The college football season ended in January and its been the never ending NBA and NHL seasons ever since. OK March Madness was fantastic with the Spartans making the Final Four and the NBA finals were fun. Beilein bolting for the NBA put a smile on my face too.
But enough is enough. It’s time for some football!
It’s only six weeks until college football has another soft opening and less than four months until GO JUMBO. Won’t be long now. Time to start preparing for another profitable year of football investing.
First let’s start with some news coming from Big Al. UConn has decided to leave the American conference and join the Big East. That works for most sports. Men’s and women’s basketball will revive some classic rivalries. But football? There is no Big East football. So where are the Huskies headed? Likely as an independent at first. But that is a difficult long term solution. Unless you are the Domers with your own TV contract, you need the conference TV tie ins and the cash the generate.
But enough is enough. It’s time for some football!
It’s only six weeks until college football has another soft opening and less than four months until GO JUMBO. Won’t be long now. Time to start preparing for another profitable year of football investing.
First let’s start with some news coming from Big Al. UConn has decided to leave the American conference and join the Big East. That works for most sports. Men’s and women’s basketball will revive some classic rivalries. But football? There is no Big East football. So where are the Huskies headed? Likely as an independent at first. But that is a difficult long term solution. Unless you are the Domers with your own TV contract, you need the conference TV tie ins and the cash the generate.
And Toronto's win earned me some extra seed money for GO JUMBO No matter where they go it will be a demotion from the American. The conference has made some strides in getting marketed as a Big Six conference. Central Florida has been on the cusp of making the playoffs and Houston, with new head coach Dana Holgorsen could get the Cougars in as well.
The two likely conferences are the MAC and the CUSA. UConn has been playing MAC schools lately but it’s a geographic mismatch. It’s a stretch to call Buffalo mid American. Connecticut is way to far east. My guess is they will drop to the CUSA. Not sure what Big Al is up to but this seems like a bad move.
One way to improve your returns on your football investing is to keep an eye out for teams that tank during the season. Teams that start full of enthusiasm “this is the year!”, quickly hit some adversity and then go into a death spiral. They have a habit of losing and their coaches are on the hot seat already. Here are the teams that are most likely to have new head coaches next year.
The two likely conferences are the MAC and the CUSA. UConn has been playing MAC schools lately but it’s a geographic mismatch. It’s a stretch to call Buffalo mid American. Connecticut is way to far east. My guess is they will drop to the CUSA. Not sure what Big Al is up to but this seems like a bad move.
One way to improve your returns on your football investing is to keep an eye out for teams that tank during the season. Teams that start full of enthusiasm “this is the year!”, quickly hit some adversity and then go into a death spiral. They have a habit of losing and their coaches are on the hot seat already. Here are the teams that are most likely to have new head coaches next year.
4-8 gets you an extension in Champaign Lovie Smith - Illinois- He came in with such high hopes. Former HC of the home town Bears, defensive master mind. It seemed like a logical fit. But after three seasons of rebuilding Lovie is 9-27 including a 63-0 whoopin’ by Iowa late last year. Amazingly, his 4-8 record last year, his best, earned him a contract extension. The fan base will likely remove the AD as well as Lovie.
The Illini could even start out 3-0 next year with 2 MAC schools and even more decrepit UConn to start the season. If so, fade the Illini fast after that. Illinois is a train wreck in the making.
Going to miss the epic beard though
The Illini could even start out 3-0 next year with 2 MAC schools and even more decrepit UConn to start the season. If so, fade the Illini fast after that. Illinois is a train wreck in the making.
Going to miss the epic beard though
In its 150th season, Rutgers still hasn't figured out how to play football Chris Ash - Rutgers - He looked like he might have gotten things turned around when he went 4-8 in 2017 but things came crashing down with a 1-11 campaign last year, making Ash 7-29 after three years, with only 3 Big Ten wins.
How bad was it for Rutgers last year? They were 127th in offense and dead last in scoring. They even got blown out by Kansas 55-14. Rutgers doesn't expect to be Ohio State from whence he came, but even Dobby has standards.
Rumor was that he was going to be canned in December but was given one more year. He has a couple of winnable games in UMass and Liberty, gets to play Lovie in Champaign and Maryland could be a train wreck under new HC Mike Locksley but after that he's in the Big Ten East. A bowl season will be a miracle.
How bad was it for Rutgers last year? They were 127th in offense and dead last in scoring. They even got blown out by Kansas 55-14. Rutgers doesn't expect to be Ohio State from whence he came, but even Dobby has standards.
Rumor was that he was going to be canned in December but was given one more year. He has a couple of winnable games in UMass and Liberty, gets to play Lovie in Champaign and Maryland could be a train wreck under new HC Mike Locksley but after that he's in the Big Ten East. A bowl season will be a miracle.
Sorry Randy, you really can't go home again Randy Edsall - UConn - Edsall 1.0 at UConn was legendary, Two Big East titles and a Fiesta Bowl appearance against Oklahoma.
Edsal 2.0 has been an unmitigated disaster. Last year's defense was so bad it actually set the all time records for yards allowed and points surrendered. The Huskies would have been winless save for a win over FCS Rhode Island.
The goodwill from 1.0 earned him one more year but if the move from the American conference is any indication, UConn might not only be giving up on Edsall but maybe football all together. Watch for the loser of the UConn Illinois game to go into a classic tail spin
Edsal 2.0 has been an unmitigated disaster. Last year's defense was so bad it actually set the all time records for yards allowed and points surrendered. The Huskies would have been winless save for a win over FCS Rhode Island.
The goodwill from 1.0 earned him one more year but if the move from the American conference is any indication, UConn might not only be giving up on Edsall but maybe football all together. Watch for the loser of the UConn Illinois game to go into a classic tail spin
2020 could find Davie on the sidelines in a different capacity Bob Davie - New Mexico - 2018 will not be remembered fondly in the Davie household. Davie started the year with a 30 day suspension for physically abusing players and reportedly telling some players to "get some dirt" on a woman who had reported that a football player had raped her.
When he did return to the sidelines he promptly went 3-9. His second straight 3-9 season. Davie has now had 5 losing seasons in seven years and a 33-54 overall record in Albuquerque.
There are enough cupcakes on the schedule, Sam Houston State, New Mexico State, Liberty and San Jose State to make for a shot at a bowl. But with a team that has both on and off the field issues, next year could find Davie back in the broadcast booth after the season.
When he did return to the sidelines he promptly went 3-9. His second straight 3-9 season. Davie has now had 5 losing seasons in seven years and a 33-54 overall record in Albuquerque.
There are enough cupcakes on the schedule, Sam Houston State, New Mexico State, Liberty and San Jose State to make for a shot at a bowl. But with a team that has both on and off the field issues, next year could find Davie back in the broadcast booth after the season.
You'll be going soon enough Brent Brent Brennan - San Jose State - 6-4-2-1, that's the record of the West Coast Spartans. Not exactly the trajectory most fans are looking for.
Brennan is responsible for the last two years giving him a 3-21 record. To add insult to injury, 19 of the 21 losses have been by double digits.
Brennan came in with a thin resume, his previous coaching at SJSU as an assistant coach apparently earned him the nod. Few coaches have used SJSU as a stepping stone after all. But he has taken a bad team and made it even worse. Last years rushing attack was the dead last in the nation.
A loss on Oct 5th to New Mexico could be the final nail in his coffin.
Brennan is responsible for the last two years giving him a 3-21 record. To add insult to injury, 19 of the 21 losses have been by double digits.
Brennan came in with a thin resume, his previous coaching at SJSU as an assistant coach apparently earned him the nod. Few coaches have used SJSU as a stepping stone after all. But he has taken a bad team and made it even worse. Last years rushing attack was the dead last in the nation.
A loss on Oct 5th to New Mexico could be the final nail in his coffin.
Where have all the points gone Phil? Philip Montgomery - Tulsa - Just a few short years ago, Montgomery was considered a star in the rising. Then his former boss Art Briles became a pariah and, worse, his teams have faltered badly. Things got off to a good start. In year two he went 10-3 with a bowl win but the last two years have been disastrous, going 5-19.
And the way he has done it has done him no favors. The former offensive wunderkind saw his Golden Hurricanes finish 103rd in the nation in scoring last year. Defenses and the rules have caught up and Montgomery has not adjusted.
If he were to lose to San Jose State at home he might not finish out the season.
And the way he has done it has done him no favors. The former offensive wunderkind saw his Golden Hurricanes finish 103rd in the nation in scoring last year. Defenses and the rules have caught up and Montgomery has not adjusted.
If he were to lose to San Jose State at home he might not finish out the season.
Somebody called Urban Meyer is on the phone - you heard of him? Clay Helton - USC - It's USC, so depite going 21-6, with a Rose Bowl win and PAC 12 title in hs first two years, last years 5-7 debacle had the long knives out for Helton. It was the fist losing season and (non banned) bowless season since 2000.
The misfiring on hiring Kliff Kingsbury, who signed on as OC and then bolted for an NFL head coaching spot further enraged the fan base. They figured they should have made Kingsbury their HC rather than HC in waiting before firing Helton. And rumors abound that former QB Sam Darnold quit on Helton during his last two years there.
Let's call this what it is. It's a transition year while USC tries to bring in Urban Meyer.
The misfiring on hiring Kliff Kingsbury, who signed on as OC and then bolted for an NFL head coaching spot further enraged the fan base. They figured they should have made Kingsbury their HC rather than HC in waiting before firing Helton. And rumors abound that former QB Sam Darnold quit on Helton during his last two years there.
Let's call this what it is. It's a transition year while USC tries to bring in Urban Meyer.
Go to a NC title game and what does it get ya? Squat! Gus Malzahn - Auburn - Unlike Rutgers, standards are pretty high in Auburn. Sure, Malzahn almost won a National title in 2013 but since then its been a rough road. The Tigers have lost at least five games in four of the last five years, losing four in 2017. Since 2013, Auburn has lost 25 games, In the SEC west only Ole Miss and Arkansas have lost more
And it's not like Alabama and LSU are going anywhere. Texas A&M under Jimbo looks to be on the rise too. Another five loss season will likely be the end of Malzahn at Auburn. Don't be surprised if then he ends up at Arkansas.
And it's not like Alabama and LSU are going anywhere. Texas A&M under Jimbo looks to be on the rise too. Another five loss season will likely be the end of Malzahn at Auburn. Don't be surprised if then he ends up at Arkansas.
Remember the 2019 GO JUMBO trip is Oct 26th at the Westgate Superbook
And don't forget your drink coupons!
And don't forget your drink coupons!
