College football is about being on campus for the big games... battling conference rivals in fair environments... and competing for greatness. Not so in the Big Ten, I mean eleven soon to be twelve (take that Nigel Tufnel)...where Penn State is playing a road game at Fed Ex Field in Landover, Maryland against Indiana--and the Hoosiers are technically the home team. I guess. Shame on IU for selling out its football program for short money on a sweet payday. Shame on the Big Ten for letting this happen. Shame on Saint Joe Paterno for going along with it-- the bespectacled one is supposed to be better than this. Doesn't he live for the good of the game? How does Bill Lynch sell his program to kids around the midwest-- "yeah... we only play 3 conference home games some years-- the fourth we'll play at a neutral field on our opponents' doorstep...but in a different state". What's next, moving the Wisconsin game to Soldier Field? The Nebraska game to Kansas City? Thank goodness the Nittany Lions aren't in the Big Ten race- if they were, I'd be mad if I was Ohio State, Wisconsin or Michigan State that they got a defacto 5th home conference game. Even so, a Penn State win in this "road" environment could have a factor in the Rose Bowl race-- if Ohio State and Michigan State finish tied or there is a three way tie they go to BCS standings and wins over Penn State would be more valued if the Nittany Lions take this road trip.
Nittany Lion faithful, enjoy your beatdown of a cellar-dweller...
Alma Mater Update-- after reading about "surging Syracuse" in the papers this fall, I now know that it's without irony. The Orange have a shot at winning the Big East (I know that's not what it used to be 10 years ago or even last year)... with an evening affair against Connecticut that has won two games by five points in conference play. The dream continues for a BCS berth (SU needs Pitt to lose twice in order to claim the conference crown). Go Orange!
Maryland meets #25 Florida State-- this is the third time in five years the Terps have had a chance to win the ACC Atlantic with two games to play... and the previous results aren't pretty. Back to back losses to BC and Wake in '06 (allowing 38 points in each game), and a 37-3 humbling by Florida State in '08. But this is a different team, with a more mature coach... and a group that is on the road to redemption. Terrapins triumph, 31-29.
#16 Virginia Tech faces Miami in what used to be the Big East Championship but now stands for "guess who adapted to the ACC better" Bowl. While I've always been quick to jump on the Canes bandwagon the last few years, I've been sold on the Hokies early and often every year as the ACC's flag-bearer-- and Frank Beamer's bunch rarely disappoints...except when it comes to allowing first quarter scores. Hokies cough up 2 early touchdowns but survive, 24-20.
Virginia visits Boston College-- a non-divisional game as the Eagles conference finale? Somebody needs to slap somebody in the league office pronto. BC has won three straight and has one of the top runningbacks in Montel Harris-- yet has had many problems throwing the football this fall. The Eagles are fighting for bowl eligibility-- while the Cavaliers are thinking about Thanksgiving turkey. And brie. Cavaliers come up short, 27-21.
Elsewhere: Navy nips Arkansas State, Georgetown loses to Marist, Howard comes up short against Delaware State, James Madison slips at Maine.
Last Week: 6-0! Closing month reaches PP!
Overall: 43-22.
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