NIU will make a major jump up this week in the computers. Just right now in Colley they've moved up from 20 to 13.

Just that alone takes their BCS number from .3505 up to .3738. Fresno is at .4317. It's going to close a lot more this week quite frankly with Fresno off this weekend.

(11-14-2013 12:03 PM)stever20 Wrote:  NIU will make a major jump up this week in the computers. Just right now in Colley they've moved up from 20 to 13.

Just that alone takes their BCS number from .3505 up to .3738. Fresno is at .4317. It's going to close a lot more this week quite frankly with Fresno off this weekend.

Good game last night against Ball State...

I respect NIU for building a solid MAC program and I can empathize with their desire to play better teams and improve themselves but better teams are lower level P5 teams, not the very best in the sport.

Wether it's fair or not whomever plays NIU, or Fresno, in the BCS game will be disappointed and feel left out being told they will play the team they, and a large part of college football, feel shouldn't be there, can't compete there, and is only there because of a certain rule.

(11-14-2013 12:45 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  I respect NIU for building a solid MAC program and I can empathize with their desire to play better teams and improve themselves but better teams are lower level P5 teams, not the very best in the sport.

Wether it's fair or not whomever plays NIU, or Fresno, in the BCS game will be disappointed and feel left out being told they will play the team they, and a large part of college football, feel shouldn't be there, can't compete there, and is only there because of a certain rule.

well I think one big point is those teams aren't going to be fading away any time soon- they will be included in the access bowls going forward.

It is very interesting as both programs have NFL QB's. Big win for NIU last nite and they have the momentum now, however Fresno State gets to play Boise in a championship game that is certainly sexier than anything the MAC can produce. If Chuckie Keaton from Utah State would not have gotten hurt this would be Fresno's to lose.

All that being said, I think UCF is the best caliber non-BCS team this year...

(11-14-2013 02:46 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  Not impressed tonight with Northern Illinois. Or Ball St. They would finish 4th at best in the American this year.

Both teams would beat Cincy, and Houston, IMO.

No one knows how good Louisville really is - they lost to the only decent team they have played - the rest of the schedule is either mediocre (Ohio, Rutgers) or down right awful

(11-14-2013 02:46 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  Not impressed tonight with Northern Illinois. Or Ball St. They would finish 4th at best in the American this year.

And you know this how?

just looking at things rest of the way with the 2-
Fresno remaining schedule is 74.25- including Boise as CCG opponent. 1 note- if they beat Boise, their 1st win(which is their top win of the year- will get dinged even more)
this weekend- the 3 remaining teams on Fresno's schedules play nobody better than #92 Colorado St(and that's 106 New Mexico)

NIU's remaining schedule is 81.08 if they play Bowling Green. They are guaranteed to get a new opponent in the title game. Of their 3 remaining teams- 2 have already beaten #42 Buffalo and #64 Ohio this weekend.

I think when the numbers come in on Sunday, NIU's remaining schedule could easily pass Fresno's. For one, Bowling Green is actually the weaker of the 2 possible opponents. We'll know more when the new cpu ranks come out and see Buffalo.

(11-14-2013 05:58 PM)LSUtah Wrote:  It is very interesting as both programs have NFL QB's. Big win for NIU last nite and they have the momentum now, however Fresno State gets to play Boise in a championship game that is certainly sexier than anything the MAC can produce. If Chuckie Keaton from Utah State would not have gotten hurt this would be Fresno's to lose.

All that being said, I think UCF is the best caliber non-BCS team this year...

UCF is a BCS team this year. The American is a BCS conference.

(11-14-2013 05:58 PM)LSUtah Wrote:  It is very interesting as both programs have NFL QB's. Big win for NIU last nite and they have the momentum now, however Fresno State gets to play Boise in a championship game that is certainly sexier than anything the MAC can produce. If Chuckie Keaton from Utah State would not have gotten hurt this would be Fresno's to lose.

All that being said, I think UCF is the best caliber non-BCS team this year...

UCF is not a non-BCS team they have an auto bid.

You know regardless of what happened last year I think NIU is a legit top 25 team. There are a lot of teams that FSU would have pounded in a bowl game and there are a lot of teams they have pounded this year.

(11-14-2013 06:04 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(11-14-2013 02:46 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  Not impressed tonight with Northern Illinois. Or Ball St. They would finish 4th at best in the American this year.

Both teams would beat Cincy, and Houston, IMO.

No one knows how good Louisville really is - they lost to the only decent team they have played - the rest of the schedule is either mediocre (Ohio, Rutgers) or down right awful

North Texas beat mighty Ball State. I have a feeling both NIU and Ball State will struggle against anyone with a lot of team speed. After watching them all a few times this season I think Fresno probably has the best chance to put on a reasonably entertaining BCS bowl game. Earlier in the season I thought NIU had improved, but at this point I'm convinced they might not even be as good as they were last year.

My bad. UCF is indeed a BCS team....for 1 year.