Brad Carroll's GameDay

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE NFL DRAFT ... ESPECIALLY FOR THIS HUGE JETS FAN

2009-04-25T11:37:00.012-04:00

There is only one thing that can completely overshadow a Yankees-Red Sox series and that’s the NFL Draft. There is nothing quite like it, especially if you’re a Jets fan, as they always seem to be in the thick of things. Even when they’re not drafting in the top 10, they are always the talk of the draft.

Today is no different. There is a lot of buzz that the Jets will trade up to either the Browns’ No. 5 or Jaguars’ No. 8 to draft USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. If that happens, Radio City Music Hall will explode. As anyone who follows the draft knows, Jets fans are always the stars of the first day. They pack the house and when the Jets are on the clock it is the most exciting time of the draft. And, unfortunately, the reaction is almost always shock and awe – as in what the hell were the Jets thinking?

Even though I get sucked in year in and year out, the end result is always disappointment. Here are some draft stories from the recent past:

2006: The Houston Texans shock everyone and sign NC State defensive end Mario Williams the night before the draft, passing up USC running back Reggie Bush, the most explosive player to come out of college in years. Jets fans, of course, think Christmas just came early as there is now a great chance they will get Bush at the No. 4 slot. The only hurdle will be the Saints picking at No. 2, but they have a prime Deuce McAllister on the roster – no need for Bush. I couldn’t sleep that night as the anticipation of adding a player like Bush to the Jets was almost too much to take. The phone lines were burning up as I was fielding and making more calls than the Jets that day. So, after a downright painful several hours, the Saints were on the clock and the butterflies were going crazy. And they, of course, draft ...

You can hear the crowd going crazy in the place from the very beginning ... and those aren’t Saints fans going crazy as the comish is walking to the podium if you couldn’t tell. Then, when Bush’s name is announced, the air was immediately let out of the building. Virginia tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson then goes to the Jets with the No. 4 pick and Ohio State center Nick Mangold is drafted by the Jets at No. 29. Today, I would take Ferguson and Mangold in a heartbeat over Bush, who has been a huge disappointment with the Saints. The Jets have one of the best offensive lines in the league right now. Still, imagine if the Saints pass on Bush ... the building would have exploded. But these are the Jets ...

2007: The Jets actually do some good things here – shockingly. They trade up in the first round to get the No. 14 overall selection and almost everyone in the building and at home is hoping the Jets take Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. After the announced trade, I quickly turned into a Quinn fan after not being impressed during his college career. I settle on wanting Quinn as the Jets' franchise quarterback ... and they draft ...

The crowd wasn’t happy with Pittsburgh cornerback Darrelle Revis, as Quinn was the sexier pick. But Revis has become one of the best corners in the league. The Jets trade up again in the second round and draft Michigan linebacker David Harris, a move I love because I'm a big Wolverines fan. Harris had an awesome rookie season before taking a step back last year. Even though the crowd booed, this was a good day for the Jets, even though the trades ended up leaving them with only four total picks. That included a total bust in tackle Jacob Bender in the sixth round and seventh-rounder receiver Chansi Stuckey, who may finally get a chance to play this season.

2008: This, of course, is the draft that is freshest in everyone’s mind and is responsible for, perhaps, my most famous blog ... which was written on another website. It was entitled simply, “Why I Hate The Jets.” But that came way, way later on the day. The big name in the 2008 draft was Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, a player I absolutely loved in college. He was simply awesome, as he did everything and anything. He was a dynamic running back, he played quarterback, he probably played defensive end; just an unbelievable talent. He was the “it” player of the draft and, of course, the Jets were in prime position again to get him as they were drafting No. 6 overall. The only team standing in the Jets’ way of grabbing McFadden is the Oakland Raiders at No. 4. But the Raiders won’t take McFadden … they have LaMont Jordan, Justin Fargas and 2007 draft pick Michael Bush in their already crowded backfield. McFadden is going to be a Jet … the anticipation is building … so …

Again, the entire building loses its air in a heartbeat as the Raiders break the Jets fans’ hearts once again. The Jets end up with ...

The crowd goes wild as Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston is the Jets' pick. The crowd was actually chanting "Ver-non Ghol-ston" the entire time the Jets are on the clock. So, even though they don't get McFadden, it's a great day for the Jets. Gholston did nothing in his rookie season, but before anyone says he’s a bust, let’s see what he does this year with new coach Rex Ryan. Then, we can talk. But the guy needs a chance and he didn't get that with former coach Eric Mangini.

So, it was a nice first round for the Jets and their fans. I didn't get exactly what I wanted, but I'm happy ... wait, what?, the Jets have just made a trade back into the first round. Oh man, this is going to be awesome. Every single wide receiver is still on the board. I’ll take any of them, I don’t care. And look at the quarterbacks … Chad Henne, Brian Brohm are still there. Any one of those players, I remember telling myself, and I’ll be happy, ecstatic. Just pick one of about seven players and I’ll go wild. And the Jets pick ...

Anyone who was in the New Britain's offices that day probably remember this moment better than I do, because as soon as the pick was made the anger built so fast I don't even remember what happened. I do know that I left the newsroom for about an hour and a half, fielding and making phone calls about how stupid and clueless the Jets were. "Another freaking tight end?" was about all I can remember saying, although I'm sure there were a lot of curse words thrown in between every word. Any Jets fan knows their history of drafting tight ends, so this was just about as bad as it got. Keller did have a great start to the season and I'm a big fan of his now, but we didn't need him at the time. We needed a wide receiver – we still need a wide receiver. It didn’t make sense. But these are the Jets. Here is a sampling of the infamous blog I wrote that night … this is just the end because after reading it again, some of it is just out of control.

“I hate the Jets. The crowd booed the pick. Unbelievable. I thought they were actually turning the corner. One fan in the crowd held up a sign that said THE JETS DRAFT DAY BLUNDERS END HERE ... Yeah, right. We're the freaking Jets. We freaking suck. A Tight End ..... anybody remember Johnny Mitchell, Kyle Brady, Anthony Becht, Doug Jolley ... all first round picks or a guy acquired for a first round pick. I'm so angry. Same old freaking Jets.”

So, now that you’ve had a glimpse into the mind of a Jets fan in just the past few years, I’m sure you will have a better understanding of us. It's not our fault we're the craziest fans in the NFL, it's our team's fault. Here is one more piece of video as proof.

But this year will be different. I'm not going to buy into the hype. I'm not going to get excited about possibly getting Mark Sanchez or even Anquan Boldin or any of the big names. I’ll be happy to sit back and see who the Jets take at No. 17. It’ll be a nice, relaxing day. Wow, that feels good. I’ll just take in the draft like any other football fan.

Wait ... What? ... The Jets are rumored to be moving up to get Sanchez? ... Holy crap! ... This is going to be awesome! ... Finally, the Jets’ history will be turned around! ... Here we go! ... Only three hours until draft time! ... J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!!!!!

BENGALS WR CHRIS HENRY DIES MORNING AFTER FALLING FROM TRUCK DRIVEN BY FIANCEE

2009-12-17T13:44:00.007-05:00

Bengals WR Chris Henry died this morning from injuries suffered Wednesday after falling out of the back of a truck driven by his fiancee. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Henry died at 6:36 a.m. Thursday. He was 26 years old.

"We knew him in a different way than his public persona," Bengals owner Mike Brown said. "He had worked through the troubles in hi slife and had finally seemingly reached the point where everything was going to blossom. And he was going to have the future we all wanted for him. It's painful to us. We feel it in our hearts, and we will miss him."

Henry was suspended five times by the NFL.

"We are greatly saddened by today's tragic news about the loss of Chris Henry," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris' family, including his Bengals family. We have been in contact with the Bengals to offer our support through this difficult time. I ask you to keep Chris Henry and his family in your thoughts today."

From the Associated Press: Henry was rushed to the hospital Wednesday after being found on a residential road. Police said the dispute began at a home about a half-mile away, and Henry jumped into the bed of the pickup truck as his fiancee was driving away from the residence.

Police said at some point when she was driving, Henry "came out of the back of the vehicle." Police have not released the 911 tapes, and Harrington wouldn't say if the woman, whom police would not identify, was present at the scene when police arrived.

Henry is engaged to Loleini Tonga and the couple has been raising three children.

BENGALS WR CHRIS HENRY SUFFERS LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES FROM ACCIDENT

2009-12-16T18:49:00.005-05:00

Here is the Associated Press report on Bengals WR Chris Henry, who was reported to have died on cbssports.com, but now only says he has suffered life-threatening injuries as the result of a truck accident.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry was seriously injured Wednesday after falling out of the back of a pickup truck during a domestic dispute with his fiance, according to police.

Henry was found on a road in Charlotte "apparently suffering life-threatening injuries," Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said in a statement. Henry was transported to Carolinas Medical Center, where his condition was not immediately known.

Police said Henry jumped into the bed of the pickup as his fiance, who was not identified, was driving away. The domestic dispute continued, police said, and Henry eventually fell out of the truck.

Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said he had little information other than Henry was badly hurt.

"We are aware he was in an accident and that his injuries are very serious," Brennan told The Associated Press. "We are obviously staying in touch with the situation and are ready to offer whatever assistance we can."

Henry was sidelined for the season after suffering a broken left forearm in the Nov. 8 game against Baltimore.

Henry is in the final year of his contract with the Bengals, who let him go after his fifth arrest following the 2007 season. Owner Mike Brown then brought him back a few months later, signing him to a two-year deal, and Henry had stayed out of trouble since his return.

A deep threat, he was fourth among Bengals receivers this season with 12 catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns at the time of his injury.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY REWIND: INGRAM SAVES US WITH HIS HEISMAN TROPHY VICTORY

2009-12-16T14:11:00.004-05:00

I'll do a quick rundown here for College GameDay Rewind, as there was only two selections on the docket. First, Navy could do nothing in the first half before finally waking up and rolling to victory over Army on Saturday. And even though the score ended 17-3, giving the pick a push, it was a victory just getting to that point. Army led 3-0 at the half, so things didn't look good for the pick. But Navy scored 10 in the third and added the tying touchdown in the fourth to get the push. I'll take it. Later that night, Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy, which was actually a big deal for the "money" breakdown. If Ingram would have finished second or lower, it would have cost both Craig and I $250. But Ingram gets the trophy, and we both get to add a c-note. So here are the final numbers for the regular season. We'll kick off the bowl season soon, with most of the early picks being held on the blog only.

My Weekend: 0-0-1 (spread); 1-0 (overall); 0-0 (upset picks)
My Season: 50-49-2 (spread); 79-22 (overall); 8-5 (upset picks)
My Money: DOWN $290
Craig's Weekend: 0-0-1
Craig's Season: 46-53-2
Craig's Money: DOWN $1,130

(AP photo)

FLORIDA TIGHT END AARON HERNANDEZ (BRISTOL CENTRAL) NAMED FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN

2009-12-15T14:36:00.008-05:00

Bristol's Aaron Hernandez was named first-team All-American on Tuesday. Hernandez, a tight end with Florida, had 59 receptions for 739 yards and 4 touchdowns this season. He has 102 catches for 1,271 yards and 11 touchdowns in his three-year career. The 20-year-old junior could play his final college game for the Gators on January 1 against Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl. It would surprise no one if the former Bristol Central High star turns pro after the season. Hernandez won the John Mackey award as the nation's top tight end a few days ago.

Here is the rest of the offense: QB Colt McCoy, Texas ... RB Mark Ingram, Alabama ... RB Toby Gerhart, Stanford ... WR Golden Tate, Notre Dame ... WR Jordan Shipley, Texas ... OL Mike Johnson, Alabama ... OL Charles Brown, USC ... OL Bryan Bulaga, Iowa ... OL Maurkice Pouncey, Florida ... OL Russell Okung, Oklahoma State ... K Kai Forbath, UCLA ... KR C.J. Spiller, Clemson.

Here is the defense: DE Jerry Hughes, TCU ... DE Von Miller, Texas A&M ... DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma ... DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska ... LB Brandon Spikes, Florida ... LB Sergio Kindle, Texas ... LB Rolando McClain, Alabama ... CB Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State ... CB Joe Haden, Florida ... S Kurt Coleman, Ohio State ... S Eric Berry, Tennessee ... P Drew Butler, Georgia ... PR Antonio Brown, Central Michigan.

(AP photo)

FREE AGENT PITCHER JOHN LACKEY CLOSE TO SIGNING WITH RED SOX; MATSUI TO ANGELS

2009-12-14T13:03:00.005-05:00

John Lackey is close to signing with the Boston Red Sox. He is apparently undergoing a physical today in Boston, so the deal is likely already done. It's a big signing for the Red Sox, as with their offense, the team might have to win a lot of 2-1 games this season. I'll have more when it becomes official.
UPDATE: The Lackey to Boston signing is all but done. As is the Red Sox signing of Mike Cameron, who most likely ends the Boston career of Jason Bay. The only ones loving that player swap is Yankees fans. The more shocking news was that Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui signed a one-year deal with the Angels on Monday. He obviously wasn't willingly to wait for the Yankees to make a decision on his future. And, finally, the biggest news of the day was the Phillies acquiring Roy Halladay and the Mariners getting Cliff Lee. There is still work to be done on the deals, though.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY SPECIAL: PICKING ARMY-NAVY AND BREAKING DOWN THE HEISMAN RACE

2009-12-11T14:56:00.005-05:00

Here's a blog special Brad Carroll's GameDay pick of the Army-Navy game and the Heisman Trophy winner.

Last Week: 4-4 (spread); 6-2 (overall); 2-0 (upset picks)
This Season: 50-49-1 (spread); 78-22 (overall); 8-5 (upset picks)
Craig's Last Week: 4-4
Craig's Season: 46-53-1

Navy vs. Army 2:35 p.m. CBS
The Skinny: I'm actually glad the annual Army-Navy will get an entire Saturday to its self, as it is the only college football game on the schedule this weekend. The game is always a big deal, but with an early kickoff in the past, it was easy to get lost with a full-slate of games. So, the Navy offense will be on display Saturday with quarterback Ricky Dobbs leading the way for a eight-win team. The Mids, who beat Notre Dame and play Missouri in a New Year's Eve bowl game, should have no problem getting the win over five-win Army. The only scary thing about a Navy pick against the spread is giving two touchdowns in a rivalry game. Still, with both teams pumped to play, the better team will win out in the end. So, Navy is the pick. The Pick: Navy (-14) wins it 35-17. Craig goes with Navy as well.

Here's a breakdown of the Heisman Trophy contenders, in order of my picks:
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama, -250: After his performance against Florida in the SEC Championship, he likely clinched his spot at the podium. The only player more worthy of winning the Heisman would be Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh, but we know a defensive player won't win it. So, Ingram is the pick, risking $250 to win $100.

2. Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, +700: The most dominant defensive player in the country, Suh proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt during the Big 12 Championship against Texas. Suh had 4.5 sacks in the game and almost led the Cornhuskers to the upset victory. I'm hoping he pulls off the upset here and wins the Heisman.

3. Toby Gerhart, Stanford, +200: Gerhart could win the Heisman, as a lot of voters have picked him No. 1 on their ballots. I guess this is the perfect example of the East Coast bias in the Heisman voting, as Gerhart doesn't get the national spotlight all of these other finalists get. If he wins, it wouldn't be a shock.

4. Colt McCoy, Texas, +300: McCoy blew his chances with a sub-par showing in the Big 12 Championship, including his boneheaded mistake at the end of the game, when he almost cost his team a shot at the national championship. He should have no shot at winning.

5. Tim Tebow, Florida, +2000: Tebow has no shot to win. Or, should have not shot to win. If he gets any top-three votes, we all know those voters didn't watch much college football this season.

Here is Craig's Heisman Trophy Picks:
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama
2. Toby Gerhart, Stanford
3. Colt McCoy, Texas
4. Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
5. Tim Tebow, Florida

NOTRE DAME NOW INTERESTED IN UCONN COACH RANDY EDSALL? EXCUSE ME FOR LAUGHING

2009-12-09T16:16:00.007-05:00

The latest name to be mentioned as a possible candidate for the opening at Notre Dame is UConn coach Randy Edsall, according to an ESPN.com report. After I finished laughing, I decided to check out the message boards and, luckily, fans are treating this rumor with just as much laughter as I did. The nicest comment was made by someone who said that Edsall would be a great choice ... because he's a Cincinnati fan and doesn't want to lose Brian Kelley. Anyway, thought I would throw this up here for my readers that follow the UConn Huskies. I wouldn't worry, but then again, Notre Dame hasn't made the best decisions in hiring coaches, have they?

COLLEGE GAMEDAY REWIND: NO FANTASY ENDING, BCS STINKS, AND GATORS LEFT IN TEARS

2009-12-08T01:58:00.011-05:00

As most of you know, I played in a total of five fantasy football leagues this year. And going into Monday Night Football, which ends the regular season, I was guaranteed a playoff spot in three of those, eliminated in one, and needed just a victory in another to make that bracket. So, needless to say, Monday night was big in the latter league.
And to start the night, it was looking real good. Needing the threesome of Ray Rice, Ryan Grant and Greg Jennings to combine for just 32 points - less than 11 points per - I would keep the six-seed and make it 4-of-5 in playoff appearances. Sounds like a slam dunk, right? Yeah, I thought so too.
If you watched the game, you know the story. Rice did absolutely nothing, putting together just 5.5 points, 13 less than his season average. He also lost a goal-line touchdown to Willis McGahee ... why the stinking Ravens bring in McGahee to steal Rice's scores is beyond me. And it cost me. At least the Ravens lost, meaning the Jets have an even better shot at putting together a final run at the wild card.
Anyway, Grant was even worse than Rice, scoring just four points, which was nine below his average. I can tell you this for sure, I will never draft Grant again in any league I play in. He is on The List. Jennings did do his part, scoring 10 points, which is still a point below his average.
So, I was eliminated in what I consider shocking fashion - I still can't believe it. I never thought I would walk away with a loss, but here I am 12.5 points short. Needing just 32 points, I thought this was a gimmie. Just thinking about it makes me depressed and angry ... as horrible a night it was, I still only lost by 12.5 points. It just makes everything worse. In the end, I settle for 3 playoff appearances in 5 leagues. Still good, but the timing is horrible.
In my fantasy league, the one I consider the most important, I got the top-seed and a first-round bye. In the sports writer's league, I get a wild card spot despite having the second best record. I play the Middletown Press sports editor in the first round. Still, it's hard not to get hung up on the loss Monday night.
Switching to college football, the BCS game matchups came out on Sunday night, and all I saw was a bunch of boring games. The main piece of garbage spit out by the BCS was the Fiesta Bowl picking TCU and Boise State to play each other in its game. I hate to break it to the BCS, but this is an embarrassment. Nobody wants to watch two Cinderella's play each other - it ruins everything. Cinderella is supposed to be there to knock off the giants of the sports world. TCU should be playing Florida and Boise State should be playing Cincinnati. In those matchups, everyone outside of Florida and Cincinnati supporters will be rooting hard for TCU and Boise State. Now, who do you root for when TCU and Boise play each other? Do you even care who wins? I don't. I would have been the biggest TCU and Boise State fan in the world if they were going against the establishment. But now it's all ho-hum. Nobody will care if TCU wins and vice versa. And, worst yet, is that nobody is going to watch the game. The BCS should be embarrassed over this decision.
GameDay will continue through the bowl games, so look here first for the early games, and later in both print and here for the big bowl games. For this upcoming weekend, without looking at the schedule, I believe it's only Army-Navy on the docket. So, I'll pick that game exclusively on the blog. So, look for that here on Friday afternoon.

Now, finally, on to College GameDay Rewind:

My Weekend: 4-4 (spread); 6-2 (overall); 2-0 (upset picks)
My Season: 50-49-1 (spread); 78-22 (overall); 8-5 (upset picks)
My Money: DOWN $390
Craig's Weekend: 4-4
Craig's Season: 46-53-1
Craig's Money: DOWN $1,230

No. 5 Cincinnati -2 at No. 14 Pittsburgh
My Pick: Cincinnati 33, Pittsburgh 27
Actual Score: Cincinnati 45, Pittsburgh 44
I'm glad Cincinnati hasn't gotten respect in the polls and BCS despite being an undefeated team from a big conference. The Bearcats don't deserve to be a Top 5 team and this game proved it. Cincinnati should have easily won this game, as it needed to make a big impression on the voters in order to skip over TCU. But the result was a one-point win over Pittsburgh. It's too bad Cincy can't play Boise or TCU in a bowl game as the Bearcats would get beat by either. Craig and I both start off with a loss in the pick of Cincinnati.

No. 18 Houston -2.5 at East Carolina
My Pick: Houston 35, East Carolina 24
Actual Score: East Carolina 38, Houston 32
Houston quarterback Case Keenum threw for 527 yards and five touchdowns but it wasn't enough to beat East Carolina. Keenum's three picks killed the Houston pick. I thought this one was the easiest pick of the day, but alas, I was wrong. Craig and I both take the loss.

No. 24 West Virginia +1.5 at Rutgers
My Pick: West Virginia 28, Rutgers 21
Actual Score: West Virginia 24, Rutgers 21
The Mountaineers come through with the upset pick and finally gets both Craig and I on the board in the early games. We both are 1-2 going into the big SEC Championship game.

Arizona +7 at No. 20 Southern Cal
My Pick: Southern Cal 41, Arizona 30
Actual Score: Arizona 21, Southern Cal 17
It's gotten so bad in Southern Cal that the Trojans aren't even ranked in the Top 25 this week. Technically, that means No. 25 Central Michigan is better than USC. Wild, wild, wild stuff. Craig and I drop to 1-3 by going with the Trojans.

No. 1 Florida -5.5 vs. No. 2 Alabama
My Pick: Alabama 28, Florida 27
Actual Score: Alabama 32, Florida 13
I gotta say, I enjoyed this game immensely. Not only did I finally get the upset of Florida right, it wasn't even close. So, after all these weeks of me writing that Alabama would beat the Gators in the SEC title game, I get to celebrate a bit. Alabama RB Mark Ingram won my vote for the Heisman with a great game as well. On a down note, Florida QB Tim Tebow should be respected for his will to win, but the fact that he was on the verge of tears at the end of the game is a little much. This was a 19-point loss that was cemented several minutes before the final gun, so Tebow should have come to grips with what was happening. There is no reason to tear up there and it left me with an awkward feeling seeing a soon-to-be professional football player crying. That just can't happen. Anyway, Craig and I both get victories to move to 2-3 going into the three late games.

South Florida +7.5 at Connecticut
My Pick: Connecticut 23, South Florida 20
Actual Score: Connecticut 29, South Florida 27
Connecticut almost blew another inexplicable game, but instead got a dramatic ending to go its way for once. It was nice watching snow fall in Connecticut while I was home on Long Island, which didn't have a trace of the white stuff. Living and driving in Connecticut for a while now has made me hate snow, so I was happy to miss it. I was happy to get the victory here as well, to move to 3-3 on the day. Craig took the loss with UConn to drop to 2-4.

No. 12 Georgia Tech -1 at No. 25 Clemson
My Pick: Georgia Tech 24, Clemson 17
Actual Score: Georgia Tech 39, Clemson 34
This one got way too close for comfort, but Georgia Tech managed to finally win the game late to seal the victory. I get the win to improve to 4-3 on the day while Craig moves to 3-4 with just the Big 12 championship game to be decided.

No. 3 Texas -14 vs. No. 21 Nebraska
My Pick: Texas 38, Nebraska 10
Actual Score: Texas 13, Nebraska 12
Why, why, why couldn't Nebraska have beaten Colorado easily the week before? If the Cornhuskers did, I would have went with them in this game. But Nebraska struggled and I switched my pick to Texas and it cost me. Nebraska nearly pulled off the shocker and if Texas QB Colt McCoy took just one more second to look around on the final play before the field goal, the Huskers would have done it. By the way, McCoy says that he knew all along how much time was on the clock and that he knew there was two or three seconds left even though the clock read zero. Interesting, but at best, there would barely be one full second left. More likely is that McCoy got lost on the field and didn't realize how much time was left. He was just extremely lucky that his pass landed out of bounds with one second left. To say that he knew exactly what was going on seems like a extreme exaggeration. I lost a lot of respect for McCoy after that interview on ABC following the game. I hope he doesn't win the Heisman, because he doesn't deserve it, especially after his explanation of the final play. With one game to go in the regular season battle for Carroll supremacy, I lead Craig by four games. Craig pulled into a tie for the day with his Nebraska pick to end the day at 4-4. I drop to 4-4 with the Texas pick. There is still a whole lot of bowl games to pick, so the battle is far from over. Check back to see how it all shakes out.

(AP photos)

GAMEDAY LIVE: BERLIN VS. BETHEL

2009-12-06T13:21:00.025-05:00

Class M State Championship
BERLIN 46, BETHEL 6
FINAL

Berlin Redcoats win Class M State Championship

(Staples and Cheshire go to overtime in Class LL State championship tied at 21. Update: Cheshire wins in overtime.)

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
B-Max DeLorenzo 2 run (Devin Silverman kick), 7:07
B-DeLorenzo 3 run (Silverman kick), 1:19
Second Quarter
B-Silverman 36 field goal, 3:56
B-DeLorenzo 35 pass from Dan Hackett (Tom Undercuffler pass from Hackett), 1:48
Third Quarter
B-DeLorenzo 6 run (Silverman kick), 4:51
BH-Javier Reyes 71 pass from William Rameriz (pass failed), 3:27
Fourth Quarter
B-Dave Campagna 1 run (Silverman kick), 11:22
B-Taylor Tavarozzi 4 run (Silverman kick), 9:32

BERLIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL GAME MOVED TO SUNDAY AT 2 PM IN WATERBURY

2009-12-05T15:57:00.005-05:00

Tonight's Class M State Championship football game between Berlin and Bethel in Waterbury has been postponed to Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. The game was to be played tonight at 7 p.m. If you can't make it to the game, check back here tomorrow for live updates all afternoon long in GAMEDAY LIVE. We got you covered.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY COLUMN: ALABAMA WILL PLAY TEXAS IN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

2009-12-04T15:31:00.005-05:00

Executive Sports Editor Brad Carroll takes a look at the top games of the day
Last Week: 3-5 (spread); 7-1 (overall); 0-0 (upset picks)
Craig's Week: 4-4 (spread)
This Season: 46-45-1 (spread); 72-20 (overall); 6-5 (upset picks)
Craig's Season: 42-49-1 (spread)

No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama 4 p.m. CBS
The Skinny: It wasn't easy, but both Florida and Alabama made it to the SEC title game undefeated and the reward for one will be the chance to play for a national championship. Florida has been getting past opponent after opponent with smoke and mirrors, and even though I thought the Gators would trip somewhere in the season, they haven't. Alabama was my pick early on to win the national title and I haven't seen anything to change that opinion. The Pick: Alabama (+5.5) wins it 28-27.

No. 3 Texas vs. No. 21 Nebraska 8 p.m. ABC
The Skinny: I've been waiting a couple weeks now for this matchup because I was thinking hard about going with Nebraska to pull off the upset. Then came last week when the Cornhuskers didn't impress me at all in a win over Colorado. Now, I've switched completely. Speaking in terms of the spread, Texas should be able to, at the least, get a push by winning by 14 points. More realistically, the Longhorns could and should win by 28 or more. The Pick: Texas (-14) wins it 38-10.

No. 5 Cincinnati at No. 14 Pittsburgh 12 p.m. ABC
The Skinny: All you need to know about the Big East is that undefeated Cincinnati can’t even jump mid-major TCU in the rankings. That is an indictment on the conference. And the Bearcats haven’t done anything to increase their image, as they allowed 36 points to Illinois last week in a win. Pittsburgh is coming off a loss at unranked West Virginia. The Pick: Cincinnati (-2) wins it 33-27.

No. 12 Georgia Tech vs. No. 25 Clemson 8 p.m. ABC
The Skinny: Speaking of conference’s that need an infusion of great teams, here is the ACC Championship featuring two squads out of the Top 10. Georgia Tech and Clemson are both coming off losses last week that exposed the team’s weaknesses and, worst yet, the conference’s weaknesses. It’s a sad state of affairs at the ACC, but at least its basketball season. The Pick: Georgia Tech (-1) wins it 24-17.

No. 18 Houston at East Carolina 12 p.m. ESPN2
The Skinny: I know this is the Conference USA Championship game, but I can’t find any reason why Houston won’t roll to an easy victory, despite the spread being less than a field goal. The Cougars are averaging 51.5 points per game over their last four, which includes a bad loss at Central Florida. East Carolina won’t be able to stop the Houston offense. The Pick: Houston (-2.5) wins it 35-24.

Arizona at No. 20 Southern Cal 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Skinny: USC has taken such a big drop this season from its usual lofty status among the Top 5 that I’m going to knock it down another peg and share this space with a GameDay bonus pick. So, we’re adding No. 24 West Virginia at Rutgers (12 p.m., ESPN). In short, West Virginia will pull off the minor upset. The Picks: Southern Cal (-7) wins it 41-30 and West Virginia (+1.5) wins it 28-21.

South Florida at Connecticut 8 p.m. ESPN2
The Skinny: We’ll see if the most overrated coach in the nation, Randy Edsall, can keep the ND momentum. The Pick: UConn (-7.5) wins it 23-20. Here are Craig Carroll’s picks for the week: Alabama, Nebraska, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Houston, USC, West Virginia, UConn. College GameDay Rewind at bradcarrollgameday.blogspot.com.

(AP photo)

HOFSTRA SCUMBAGS (I MEAN ADMINISTRATORS) GET THEIR WISH AS FOOTBALL PROGRAM IS KILLED

2009-12-03T17:36:00.008-05:00

It's only fitting that the day the Hofstra University scumbags (I mean administrators) decided to shut down the football program that I would be driving back home to Long Island. It gave me the chance to hear everything I needed to hear about the situation, and I didn't like any of it. The so-called president of the school, Stuart Rabinowitz, did nothing to convince me, someone who spent his entire college career at the school with and around the football team, that this was the right decision. I've heard from people that the so-called president has been trying for years to cut the football program, and in interviews, it's not hard to believe. The so-called president says it's about the cost of the program and the fact that there wasn't enough community interest. While that may be true, the fact remains the attendance for games is about the same it's always been. While I didn't hear the whole interview between the so-called president and Mike Francesa (who tossed softballs at his so-called friend), I left with two major themes. One, is that I left the interview thinking attendance for games was just 500. That would be reason enough to cancel the program. But I've since learned that the attendance is more than 4,200 and the 500 number is the amount of students that go to games. Francesa was tossing around that number a lot, I just hope the so-called president wasn't doing the same, because that is a bunch of you know what. Two, this decision is about money, and money only. The so-called president wants money to go from the football program to fund his educational programs that weren't getting the support otherwise, obviously. This joke of a president, who luckily wasn't there when I was because I would make it my mission to expose him, could care less about sports at the school and I wouldn't be surprised if he continues to cut sports program after program. The so-called president talks a big game about caring about the coaches and players, but if he really did care, why didn't he call the head football coach with the news the program was killed? When asked by Francesa when the football coach found out, the so-called president said probably Thursday morning. Probably? You mean you didn't take two seconds out of your celebration to call the head football coach? Wow, what a great leader you are. Today, Hofstra just isn't the same, not only because the football program is gone, but the man in charge at the school is a sports-hating scumbag.

A couple of quotes from former players:

"I didn't see it coming at all," Kyle Arrington of the Patriots said. "All the money our school has, a priviate school, it just doesn't make sense to me. I don't know what to say. It kind of hurt me a little bit. It's terrible. It makes me not even want to go back there. It's like I didn't play there."

"I am both saddened and shocked to hear the news that the Hofstra University football program has ceased," Marques Colston of the Saints said. "I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the university, my coaches and my former teammates and I am sure that they share in my disappointment."

(AP photos of coach Dave Cohen, top, and quarterback Bryan Savage from 2007)

COLLEGE GAMEDAY REWIND: YANKEES SHOULD PASS ON BLUE JAYS ACE HALLADAY

2009-12-02T18:33:00.005-05:00

As the Yankees seemingly turn up their interest in trading for Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, I’m hoping the team ends up not pulling the trigger for perhaps the best pitcher in baseball. The Blue Jays would probably want three of these four players: Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and prospects Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero. That, to me, is just too much to give up. And I realize this is close to the same situation that was in front of the Yankees a few years ago when they could have had Johan Santana for Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Melky Cabrera – which looks like a no-brainer now.

But giving up the team’s future for Halladay just doesn’t make sense right now. We all know what Chamberlain and Hughes have to offer, but Jackson is the Yankees centerfielder of the future and Montero is the heir apparent to Jorge Posada behind the plate. That is four positions on the team that could possibly be gone and replaced with Halladay. But the bigger issue is that the Yankees just don’t need another front-line starter. With CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett at the top and Hughes, Chamberlain, Andy Pettitte and, at some point, Chien-Ming Wang, the need isn’t there. Sure, it would be great to add Halladay to the rotation, and the Yankees would be darn near impossible to beat next year, but it shouldn’t happen. And just because the Red Sox might trade for Halladay doesn’t mean the Yankees should panic. The Red Sox have no offense and would be a fringe playoff team yet again even with Halladay paired up with Josh Beckett. Plus, the Red Sox would probably have to give up young pitcher Clay Buchholz. Hopefully the Yankees stick with what they have and continue to not only build a championship team from the outside, but from within the organization as well.

Now, on to College GameDay Rewind:

My Weekend: 3-5 (spread); 7-1 (overall); 0-0 (upset picks)
My Season: 46-45-1 (spread); 72-20 (overall); 6-5 (upset picks)
My Money: DOWN $350 (season)
Craig's Weekend: 4-4 (spread)
Craig's Season: 42-49-1 (spread)
Craig's Money: DOWN $1,190 (season)

Illinois +21 at No. 5 Cincinnati
My Pick: Cincinnati 42, Illinois 14
Actual Score: Cincinnati 49, Illinois 26
This was the exact game that Cincinnati couldn’t afford to have in its quest for a national championship. With a cupcake Big 10 squad waiting to get blown out, Cincinnati allowed the Illini to score 36 points – 36! How is that even possible? Luckily for the Bearcats, they scored 49 to take the win. But the damage is done. Cincinnati did nothing to increase the Big East’s stature in the national eye as it barely got past a 3-8 team from the Big 10. So, the bigger news is that I start off with a loss in the early Friday game, while Craig gets the victory.

No. 2 Alabama -10.5 at Auburn
My Pick: Alabama 27, Auburn 23
Actual Score: Alabama 26, Auburn 21
Even after Alabama took the lead late in the game, Auburn had the chance to go downfield and pull off the upset. But yet another coaching blunder (or blunders) cost another team a shot at victory. We saw it last week, as coaching indecision cost LSU a game and almost cost UConn against Notre Dame. This week, it was Gene Chizik who couldn’t get his team to move quickly enough in the final moments, costing the Tigers big time with his horrible coaching style. The quarterback, if you didn’t watch, was looking to the sideline after every single play – even though time was winding down. That is just inexcusable. How does Chizik not have a play ready? How doesn’t he have several plays ready to go? It makes no sense. Not including a spike play, Auburn ran just six plays in 1:24. That is hard to understand. And Alabama was the beneficiary as it knocked down a desperation heave into the end zone with no time left. Still, Craig and I both went with Auburn and the pick paid off. I move to 1-1, while Craig starts 2-0.

Nebraska -10.5 at Colorado
My Pick: Nebraska 24, Colorado 3
Actual Score: Nebraska 28, Colorado 20
Nebraska just couldn’t get anything going on offense and it cost me in my retro pick of the Cornhuskers. I actually thought Nebraska would come out with a big effort in anticipation of its huge matchup with Texas in the Big 12 Championship. Obviously, I was wrong. Craig and I both take a loss. I move to 1-2, while Craig is 2-1.

No. 9 Pittsburgh Pk at West Virginia
My Pick: West Virginia 24, Pittsburgh 23
Actual Score: West Virginia 19, Pittsburgh 16
This was the second blow to the Big East on Friday night, as Pittsburgh failed to prove its No. 9 ranking was warranted. This wasn’t as tough a pick for me as you might have thought, as West Virginia is always tough to beat at home. With my West Virginia pick, I go to 2-2 on the day, while Craig falls to 2-2 as well going into Saturday’s games.

Florida State +24.5 at No. 1 Florida
My Pick: Florida 31, Florida State 21
Actual Score: Florida 37, Florida State 10
Not much to say as Florida State just couldn’t match up with the Gators and took the big loss. Too bad Bobby Bowden didn’t decide to “retire” last week, as the Seminoles might have actually showed up with some fire. But, alas, it’s a loss for both Craig and I as we both come in with 2-3 records.

No. 19 Miami -6.5 at South Florida
My Pick: Miami 31, South Florida 24
Actual Score: Miami 31, South Florida 10
Finally, Miami came through with a big win for me, easily taking down South Florida. Craig and I both get wins and both jump up to 3-3 on the weekend.

Georgia +7.5 at No. 7 Georgia Tech
My Pick: Georgia Tech 33, Georgia 20
Actual Score: Georgia 30, Georgia Tech 24
When even my tried and true theory of going against Georgia doesn’t go in my direction, you start to wonder what it’s going to take to get back on a winning track. Georgia ran over Georgia Tech to pull off the upset and give me another loss on the day. At 3-4 with one game still in play, the confidence is admittedly falling rapidly with each incorrect pick. After such a strong start to the season, I truly can’t believe the turn for the worse my picks have taken. Luckily, Craig is having a horrendous season all-around, and I still hold a comfortable lead. Craig also took a loss with Georgia Tech to equal his record at 3-4.

Notre Dame +10 at Stanford
My Pick: Stanford 38, Notre Dame 24
Actual Score: Stanford 45, Notre Dame 38
Yes, put another loss on my docket, as I finish 3-5 on the day after Stanford couldn’t put forth a winning number. Craig, on the other hand, went with the Irish and gets his record to 4-4 for the weekend. He ends up gaining a game in the standings, and trails me by four games heading into GameDay’s final stretch of the season. Charlie Weis, as you know by now, got fired after this loss and won’t be out of work for long, as an NFL team will hire him quickly as offensive coordinator.

(AP photo)

GAMEDAY LIVE: ST. PAUL AT NEW CANAAN

2009-12-01T18:31:00.018-05:00

NEW CANAAN 14, ST. PAUL 13
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
NC-Kevin Macari 49 punt return (Colin Shapiro kick), 9:54
Second Quarter
None
Third Quarter
NC-Cody Newton 6 pass from Turner Baty (Shapiro kick), 9:16
SP-Chris Bachand 2 run (Guan Park kick), 6:28
Fourth Quarter
SP-Travis Thomas 6 pass from Tanner Bachand (pass failed), 0:49

GAMEDAY LIVE: BERLIN VS. AVON

2009-12-01T18:32:00.019-05:00

BERLIN 35, AVON 28
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
B-Dan Hackett 2 run (Devin Silverman kick), 6:44
B-Max DeLorenzo 42 run (Silverman kick), 4:38
Second Quarter
B-Zach Parsons 49 fumble return (Silverman kick), 10:40
B-DeLorenzo 8 pass from Hackett (Silverman kick), 6:02
A-Ross McDonald 2 run (Austin Kick kick), 1:52
B-DeLorenzo 67 run (Silverman kick), 1:29
A-McDonald 62 run (Kick kick), 1:09
Third Quarter
None
Fourth Quarter
A-McDonald 8 run (Kick kick), 10:35
A-McDonald 2 run (Kick kick), 3:57

GAMEDAY LIVE: CHAT TODAY AT 1:30 PM

2009-12-01T13:37:00.000-05:00

GAMEDAY LIVE CHAT

COLLEGE GAMEDAY COLUMN: HERE'S HOPING FSU AND AUBURN CAN PULL THE UPSETS

2009-11-26T23:37:00.004-05:00

Executive Sports Editor Brad Carroll takes a look at the top games of the day
Last Week: 4-3 (spread); 5-2 (overall); 0-1 (upset picks)
Craig's Week: 3-4 (spread)
This Season: 43-40-1 (spread); 65-19 (overall); 6-5 (upset picks)
Craig's Season: 38-45-1 (spread)

Florida State at No. 1 Florida 3:30 p.m. CBS
The Skinny: Do I dare take the result that I desperately hope for Saturday afternoon in The Swamp? It would be great if Florida State could somehow reverse its recent horrible past against the Gators and pull off an upset that would shake up the BCS once and for all. But can it happen? Probably not. Florida has won the last two meetings 45-12 and 45-15, so it would take a monumental effort from the Seminoles. Still, I believe FSU will put up a fight. The Pick: Florida (-24.5) wins it 31-21.

No. 2 Alabama at Auburn 2:30 p.m. CBS
The Skinny: This Friday battle is another game that could shake up the BCS. If Auburn can pull off the upset in the Iron Bowl against its bitter rival, TCU could sneak into the national title game if Alabama then bounces back and beats an undefeated Florida in the SEC championship. It’s asking for a lot, I know, but I can dream. Alabama won 36-0 last year, but the rest of the recent history says the game will be close. And I’m sticking with history. The Pick: Alabama (-10.5) wins it 27-23.

Illinois at No. 5 Cincinnati 3:30 p.m. CBS
The Skinny: I realize that Cincinnati is ranked fifth in the country, but I still believe that if the Big East wants some true credibility, than the Bearcats are going to have to put a whooping on the Big 10’s Illinois Friday afternoon. The Big East needs a big win in the worst way, and with starting quarterback Tony Pike back for the Bearcats, they should be able to get it. The Pick: Cincinnati (-21) wins it 42-14.

Georgia at No. 7 Georgia Tech 8 p.m. ESPN2
The Skinny: With ABC sticking with the Notre Dame-Stanford game in primetime Saturday, I’m going to give you a very special GameDay DoublePlay. So, not only will I pick Tech-Georgia on ESPN2, I’ll throw in the Irish-Cardinal game as a bonus. You can thank me later if they both win. If they don’t, well, you know where to send the hate mail. The Picks: Georgia Tech (-7.5) wins it 33-20. Stanford (-10) wins it 38-24.

No. 8 Pittsburgh at West Virginia 7 p.m. ESPN2
The Skinny: If I haven’t mentioned it already, it is Rivalry Week in college football, and this one, while it may not get the same hype as others, is as fierce as it gets. The last time these two met in Morgantown the Panthers, at 4-7, upset second-ranked West Virginia to cost the Mountaineers a shot at playing for a national championship. Look for some payback Friday night. The Pick: West Virginia (Pk) wins it 24-23.

No. 19 Miami at South Florida 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Skinny: Miami is saying all the right things heading into this new rivalry game with South Florida that will end each other’s regular season for the next five years. The Hurricanes are focused on reaching the 10-win plateau for the first time since 2003 and, later on, winning a bowl game for the first time since 2006. Hopefully, the Canes aren’t looking past USF. The Pick: Miami (-6.5) wins it 31-24.

Nebraska at Colorado 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Skinny: Nebraska will hope for a nice tuneup Friday for its Big 12 title game with Texas. The Pick: Nebraska (-10.5) wins it 24-3. Here are Craig Carroll’s picks for the week: Florida State, Auburn, Illinois, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Miami, Nebraska. Check out College GameDay Rewind at bradcarrollgameday.blogspot.com.

(AP photo)

GAMEDAY LIVE: THANKSGIVING WEEK SCOREBOARD

2009-11-26T14:46:00.003-05:00

Local Results
Wednesday
New Britain 27, Berlin 13
Thursday
Bristol Eastern 46, Bristol Central 13
St. Paul 25, Rocky Hill 7
Cheshire 24, Southington 11
Newington 20, Wethersfield 10
Northwest Catholic 41, Plainville 7

GAMEDAY LIVE: ROCKY HILL AT ST. PAUL

2009-11-26T10:24:00.018-05:00

ST. PAUL 25, ROCKY HILL 7
FINAL

NOTE: With the St. Paul victory, and New Canaan's 14-7 victory over Darien, the Falcons have qualified for the Class MM state playoffs. It will be the school's first playoff game since 1976.

Check out tomorrow's Bristol Press for full coverage

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
RH-Bryan MacDonald 4 run (Joey Cavallaro kick), 2:51
Second Quarter
SP-Chris Bachand 5 run (kick failed), 4:50
SP-Bobby Romano 1 run (conversion failed), 0:05
Third Quarter
SP-Tanner Bachand 51 run (conversion failed), 6:31
Fourth Quarter
SP-Byron Jones 11 pass from Tanner Bachand (Guin Park kick), 5:28

GAMEDAY LIVE: NEWINGTON AT WETHERSFIELD

2009-11-26T10:10:00.018-05:00

NEWINGTON 20, WETHERSFIELD 10
FINAL

Check out tomorrow's New Britain Herald for full coverage

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
N-Jeremy Rodriguez 79 run (kick failed), 11:36.
N-Anthony Szwez 28 pass from Jonathan Snyder (kick failed), 0:41
Second Quarter
W-Jon Karanian 22 field goal, 2:28
Third Quarter
None
Fourth Quarter
N-Snyder 17 run (Malik Golden pass from Snyder), 5:44
W-Robert Charbonnea 34 pass from Tyler Murphy (kick good), 3:52

GAMEDAY LIVE: NW CATHOLIC AT PLAINVILLE

2009-11-26T10:12:00.014-05:00

NORTHWEST CATHOLIC 41, PLAINVILLE 7
FINAL

Check out tomorrow's New Britain Herald for full coverage

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
NW-Ross Morgan 36 run (kick failed), 8:07
NW-Ted Terion 30 pass from Jack Murphy (pass failed), 4:49
NW-Justin Strid 2 run (pass good), 2:04
Second Quarter
NW-Anthony Carter 6 run (kick good), 9:37
NW-Carter 1 run (kick good), 7:20
NW-Alex Lorenzo 26 interception return (kick good), 0:03
Third Quarter
P-Kevin Waite 1 run (Wells kick), 5:34
Fourth Quarter
None

COLLEGE GAMEDAY REWIND: LES MILES IS STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO COACH

2009-11-26T01:20:00.004-05:00

It’s been a very busy few days for me at both the Bristol Press and New Britain Herald, with tons and tons of Thanksgiving week football preview and game coverage. And it continues tomorrow as well – oh, yes, I’m working on Thanksgiving. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the papers and thank you to those who have complimented the sports sections in recent days – it definitely lets us know all the hard work is not being done for nothing. Anyway, we’re going to have a quick turnaround here at College GameDay. Today (which is actually Thanksgiving already) it’s College GameDay Rewind and then later Thursday, I’ll get my College GameDay picks column up a day early in anticipation of Friday’s games. The paper version of the column will be published on Friday as well, one day earlier than usual.

For the Carroll Showdown this year, I increased my season-long lead over Craig to 5 games. The money is not what either of us wanted or hoped for at the beginning of the season, so hopefully that changes in the near future. Luckily, I had a winning week to knock off some of the deficit. Craig wasn’t as lucky, as he took another hit.

Now, on to College GameDay Rewind:

My Weekend: 4-3 (spread); 5-2 (overall); 0-1 (upset picks)
My Season: 43-40-1 (spread); 65-19 (overall); 6-5 (upset picks)
My Money: DOWN $100 (season)
Craig's Weekend: 3-4 (spread)
Craig's Season: 38-45-1 (spread)
Craig's Money: DOWN $1,150 (season)

No. 9 Ohio State -12 at Michigan
My Pick: Ohio State 28, Michigan 12
Actual Score: Ohio State 21, Michigan 10
I should have known that the one time Michigan actually sticks around in a game is when I pick against the Wolverines. I’m not surprised at all by the result, just the fact that for the first time in several years I went against Michigan and I get burned. Oh well, Craig and I both start 0-1.

Minnesota +10.5 at No. 15 Iowa
My Pick: Iowa 28, Minnesota 10
Actual Score: Iowa 12, Minnesota 0
Iowa has been a frustrating team for GameDay this year, but finally came through with a victory against Minnesota. The Gophers had the ball deep in Iowa territory late, but the Hawkeyes defense came up big to secure the shutout and the victory for us. I even out my record at 1-1, while Craig is still cursing that last drive and his 0-2 record.

Connecticut +6 at Notre Dame
My Pick: Notre Dame 35, Connecticut 24
Actual Score: Connecticut 33, Notre Dame 20 (2 OT)
While this was the biggest win in the history of UConn football, which is great, it was also probably the worst loss in Notre Dame history. That says a lot about both programs. After this loss, Charlie Weis has to be a goner, especially after I trusted him and the Irish to win by just a touchdown against an inferior opponent. But they couldn’t do it and a major shakeup should happen in the offseason. UConn coach Randy Edsall gets off the hook for some horrible time management at the end of regulation when he settled for a 40-plus yard field goal that was missed by Dave Teggert. UConn had plenty of time to run the ball to get closer for the shaky kicker. I fall to 1-2 with the loss, while Craig gets on the board with a victory to move to 1-2.

No. 13 Penn State -3 at Michigan State
My Pick: Penn State 31, Michigan State 24
Actual Score: Penn State 42, Michigan State 14
I was sweating this pick out from the time I wrote it down to the halftime buzzer, as the score was tied at seven. But Penn State put a whooping on Michigan State after the break and rolled to an easy win. Craig and I both get wins and both improve to 2-2.

Virginia +21 at No. 18 Clemson
My Pick: Clemson 41, Virginia 14
Actual Score: Clemson 34, Virginia 21
Clemson really disappointed me in this game, as they never could pull away from a bad Virginia team. The Clemson defense didn’t allow a point after halftime, but three first-half scores did the pick in. Craig and I both get losses this time and both drop to 2-3.

No. 10 LSU +4.5 at Mississippi
My Pick: LSU 23, Mississippi 21
Actual Score: Mississippi 25, LSU 23
What a frustrating ending for LSU and its fans, huh? Les Miles should still be kicking himself for not preparing his team for the likelihood that the Tigers could have gotten one more play during the final moments against Ole Miss. If you don’t know what happened, LSU first wasted 17 seconds before calling timeout on a 4th-and-26 play at the Ole Miss 26. Finally, the team got a timeout with nine seconds left. Then, LSU completed a desperation heave to the six with one second left to give the team a final chance. But nobody on the LSU team was prepared, as the quarterback looked lost while looking to the sideline, while the referee was about to start the clock. Miles had no idea what to do either and the ref blew the whistle and the Tigers never even got a real play off. It was a horrible end to an otherwise tremendous finish. Again, it comes down to players and coaches not knowing the simple things, and things that probably every fan at home was screaming about. Still, we both get victories, and both of us improve to 3-3 with one game to play. I did lose my upset pick, but I’ll take the more important spread pick any day.

Kansas +27.5 at No. 3 Texas
My Pick: Texas 55, Kansas 14
Actual Score: Texas 51, Kansas 20
Texas came through with a big victory to give me a winning week at 4-3. Craig went with underdog Kansas and dropped another game in the Carroll race; he finished at 3-4. I was just getting updates on this game as the Oregon-Arizona matchup was far more interesting and one I should have put up instead of Texas-Kansas. But, alas, it’s that darn East Coast bias.

(AP photo)

GAMEDAY LIVE: BERLIN AT NEW BRITAIN

2009-11-25T18:23:00.017-05:00

THE WISHBONE BOWL
NEW BRITAIN 27, BERLIN 13
FINAL

LOOK FOR FULL COVERAGE IN THE HERALD TOMORROW

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
NB-Chris Linares 29 pass from Rafal Garcarz (Garcarz kick), 11:07
NB-Garcarz 2 run (kick failed), 5:36
Second Quarter
None
Third Quarter
NB-Kaiuway Boima 5 run (pass failed), 6:18
B-Mason Powers 16 pass from Dan Hackett (pass failed), 1:24
Fourth Quarter
NB-Boima 68 run (Tebucky Jones pass from Garcarz), 8:58
B-Brian Malloy 17 pass from Hackett (Devin Silverman kick), 0:01

COLLEGE GAMEDAY COLUMN: YES, IRELAND GOT SCREWED ... PLUS, SOME FOOTBALL PICKS

2009-11-20T22:17:00.004-05:00

Executive Sports Editor Brad Carroll takes a look at the top games of the day
Last Week: 3-4 (spread); 6-1 (overall); 0-0 (upset picks)
Craig's Last Week: 4-3 (spread)
This Season: 39-37-1 (spread); 60-17 (overall); 6-4 (upset picks)
Craig's Season: 35-41-1 (spread)

Kansas at No. 3 Texas 8 p.m. ABC
The Skinny: While Texas continues to roll all the way to the Big 12 title game, Kansas is dealing with controversy — and it has little to do with its five game losing streak. Former Jayhawks players have claimed that coach Mark Mangino mainly mentally abused them and other players while at Kansas, using their backgrounds against them when things would go wrong. With or without the in-fighting, Texas rolls to a blowout victory. The Pick: Texas (-27.5) wins it 55-14.

No. 9 Ohio State at Michigan 12 p.m. ABC
The Skinny: There is little on the line in this matchup, other than the bragging rights that come with beating each’s main rival. But with how Michigan is playing, losing four in a row and seven of its last eight, it would be hard for the Buckeyes to even get up for sticking it to the hapless Wolverines. Ohio State has already clinched its spot in the Rose Bowl, but would like to win an outright Big 10 championship, which should be enough to rally for an easy win. The Pick: Ohio State (-12) wins it 28-12.

No. 10 LSU at Mississippi 3:30 p.m. CBS
The Skinny: It’s been a long while since I’ve picked an upset, so this seems like the perfect time to do it. LSU has beaten Ole Miss four straight times on the road and while it has no shot at a national title or even SEC championship, the Tigers are still hoping for a strong finish. The major question here is if LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson can play, but it looks like he will. The Pick: LSU (+4.5) wins it 23-21.

No. 13 Penn State at Michigan St 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Skinny: Switching gears, I know a lot of readers out there have no care about the controversy surrounding the Ireland-France World Cup qualifier, but for this Irishman, the depression that followed after the game and the anger that has grown later was greater than anything I’ve felt in a long time. There is no “wait till next year” refrain in national soccer. There is no next year. The Pick: Penn State (-3) wins it 31-24.

Minnesota at No. 15 Iowa 12 p.m. ESPN
The Skinny: Ireland and its fans will have to wait four years to even get the opportunity to play in a game of this magnitude again. And to lose in the fashion that Ireland did only makes things worse. Which brings me to Thierry Henry, the cheat from France. Henry has tried his best to save face from his disgraceful performance in the game, where he committed two handballs. The Pick: Iowa (-10.5) wins it 28-10.

Virginia at No. 18 Clemson 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Skinny: Henry said that he told the ref that he cheated — after the game. Yesterday he said that the game should be replayed — after FIFA ruled that their would be no rematch between Ireland and France. He still claims that his handballs were instinctive and not on purpose. I hope everyone sees right through this fraud and treats him like the cheat he is. The Pick: Clemson (-21) wins it 41-14.

Connecticut at Notre Dame 2:30 p.m. NBC
The Skinny: And, yes, the entire French side should be ashamed of making it to the World Cup. The Pick: Notre Dame (-6) wins it 35-24. Here are Craig Carroll’s picks for the week: Kansas, Ohio State, LSU, Penn State, Minnesota, Clemson, UConn. Check out College GameDay Rewind at bradcarrollgameday.blogspot.com.

(AP photo)