4 posts tagged “college”

BCS

ESPN has created a College Football Playoffs Simulation that allows you to create a 16 team bracket using either the BCS ranking, ESPN Power 16, or custom rankings to determine the champion of college football.  While it is a simulation, it is still fun to see who is victories.  In my first simulation using the BCS rankings the Tennesse Volunteers managed to climb to the cream of the crop as the 16 seed beating OSU, WVU, Illinois, and Missouri in the Championship game.  The Trojans were the final team to make the final four of this college football playoff.  I know its only a simulation, but it is a little ironic that two teams that are not even in a BCS game were in the championship game.  The simulation also shows the probabilities of each team winning each game, and it should be noted that Hawaii was the biggest underdog to USC (81%-19%) followed by the Illini and Oklahoma (21% to 78%).  In my brackets Tennesse was an underdog every single game.

Using ESPN Power 16 the final four was OSU, Georgia, Oklahoma, LSU and the winner was the Georgia Bulldogs.  Now that you have finished reading my simulations, try it out for yourself.  After several other attempts Tennessee won again over USC.  I wonder how this simulation was programmed.

Associated Press

Dear Associated Press,

Welcome Illinois back to your wonderful list of top 25 college football programs.  Illinois has managed to beat two ranked teams in back to back weeks.  Most recently, the Illini took down number 5 Wisconsin and ended the longest winning streak in the nation.  Their only loss came in St. Louis to Missouri, who is still undefeated.  Ron Zook has managed to recruit the top talent in the country, and now the nation is having a chance to see this young players preform.  It is also important for the press to know that Rashard Mendenhall is fifth in the country in rushing yards and third in the county in scoring, averaging almost 7 yards a carry.  I know its pretty ambitious put add his name to the bottom on the Heisman list.  This Illini team is young and believes in Zook's vision.  It has taken almost three years since Zook's arrival to campus but Illinois football is back.

My prediction for this week is that the Illini will be ranked 17th in the nation.  And do not forget Florida won the National Championship with Zook's recruits.

It was the first time I went back to visit campus, and even after a little over a year a lot has changed.  People on campus seem to be talking more about football than basketball, and our football team isn't even that good.  One of the bars I frequently went to is gone.  A new establishments have sprawled across campus.  There are also current projects taking places that will bring new life to campus.  The most impressive buildings I was told about is a new 17 story luxury high rise that is being build on campus, a grocery located around University and Springfield, and the new business building across from Wholers Hall.  While many of my friends have graduated and left the Champaign area, I still have a few friends who were on campus that were more than hospitable. 

U of I

While out one night on campus I ran into several basketball players.  Its nice to see them out, but I would rather see them on the court practicing.  This team is going to have some trouble this year, and I hope they can make the tournament during this rebuilding phase.  Tracy Webster, an assistant coach and the only bright spot for our recruiting team, rejoined his former colleague Billie Gillespie at the University of Kentucky.  I was well aware of his departure but did not realize the huge impact it may have on the illini.  Sadly, I just read this SI.com article titled The Decline of The Illini.  I think its easy to point out that the Illini are going through some tough times, but for one of the nation's most winning programs I do not think we are on the decline.  Illinois is still an elite program and there is some hope for this season.  Weber coached a team to the to the Championship game with only one other loss that season.  Those stars are now in the NBA and Weber has not recruited one player that resembles their skill sets.  The Illini faithful are loyal, but this year may test some of our nerves.