I’ve decided to make my own predictions in honor of all the sportscolumn controversy. But so as to not be accused of plagiarism, I’m only making projections that nobody else will make.
These are my five games of the week- five games you won’t see on television, but that you’d definitely wonder who would win.5. Reasons to fire Darrell Dickey vs. Reasons to rename athletic practice center after him
If you haven’t heard yet, the University of North Texas athletic department has been held hostage by donor Jim McIngvale, an Houston-based furniture entrepreneur. He donated $1 million to the program, which is more than a quarter of the football team’s budget, and stipulated after Dickey’s dismissal that the practice facility be renamed after the coach because he had just suffered a heart attack. The school agreed, prompting Athletic Director Rick Villarreal to have to defend Dickey, the man he just fired. This game is a laugher, both on and off the field.
Renaming 70, Firing 6
4. Butch Davis at North Carolina vs. Barry Alvarez at Miami
Both coaches are set to take over messes, assuming Alvarez does end up replacing Larry Coker in Miami. North Carolina has won before, under Mack Brown, and Davis has already rebuilt Miami from Thug U on probation into a respectable institute denied a trip to the title game by percentage points. Miami has won before, under basically every coach since Howard Schnellenberger, and Alvarez has already built Wisconsin to become a consistent top-25 team. With a bunch of ACC teams set to rebuild, you have to think North Carolina has a chance, but Miami is Miami.
Alvarez 27, Davis 17
3. Temple’s woes vs. Indiana State’s woes
Temple actually won this year, beating Bowling Green to avenge a 70-7 loss in 2005, ending a 20-game losing streak. Indiana State actually won this year, beating Missouri State 28-22, ending a 24-game losing streak. However, ISU may be forced to forfeit the school’s first win since October 2004 for using a player who was ineligible. If a forfeit is ordered, the streak would enter 2007 at 27 games. Seriously though, does anyone care? I do. ISU has it worse. At least it can win this.
Indiana State’s 17, Temple’s 15
2. Bobby Bowden’s ego vs. Steve Spurrier’s ego
Bowden’s ego took a huge hit when he allowed his son to resign after destroying one of the three most storied programs of the previous two decades. Spurrier’s took a hit when he apologized for questioning the objectivity of SEC referees. Florida State got blanked 30-0 against Wake Forest while Spurrier’s Gamecocks got blocked by Florida, 17-16. While Spurrier lost in a game involving the states of South Carolina and Florida for the first time in his coaching career, Bowden was shut out for only the third time in more than 30 seasons. And he lost to Wake Forest. Spurrier’s ego reigns supreme and it isn’t even close. But don’t worry- the visor is still gone early in the second quarter.
Spurrier’s 41, Bowden’s 10
1. Lou Holtz’s former team’s national title hopes vs. Lou Holtz’s former team’s national title hopes
Notre Dame hasn’t beaten anyone. Arkansas really hasn’t either. If Notre Dame can win out, which would include a win against USC, could that be enough? But conversely, if Arkansas wins out, beating Louisiana State and Florida, completing a perfect 9-0 in the SEC, should not the Hogs get into the title game? But really, Arkansas lost to USC and Notre Dame lost to Michigan, so shouldn’t a one-loss USC or Michigan finish ahead of Arkansas or Notre Dame? But really, really, neither team will beat Ohio State, so the answer is:
Arkansas’s 0, Notre Dame’s 0
