Thursday Thoughts, 2010 Week Nine

Bad News for MWC, Good News for BYU
It has been unofficially announced that Nevada and Fresno State will remain in the WAC for the 2011 season.  This means that the MWC will only have 8 schools next season, meaning they will play only 7 conference games.  Up until this point, MWC schools have always played 8 conference games.  That means that all 8 schools will have to scramble to find an extra non-conference game next season.  Could that open the door for BYU to find another game or two?  Possibly.
SDSU and TCU have both stated that they have no desire to play BYU again.  I have said before that I think Air Force and CSU would be the only schools that would be interested in playing BYU.  I would probably add Wyoming, New Mexico, and UNLV to that list now, especially since it is BYU's "turn" to go play them on the road.  If BYU could get a home game with Air Force or CSU and add a road game (probably coupled with a 2013 home game) against one of the latter 3 schools, that would put 12 games on BYU's 2011 schedule: 7 home games and 5 road games.  At that point the schedule could be full.
BYU could still add a 13th game, probably with an FCS school.  I would recommend San Diego, one of their WCC brethren (the only WCC school that still has a football program).  Holmoe has said he wouldn't schedule 13 games in 2011 if it didn't make sense: what could make more sense than adding two familiar, regional opponents, and helping one of your conference opponents with a little cash revenue.  That makes sense to me.

What the Uribe?
I had Juan Uribe on my fantasy baseball team most of the season.  Now, the fantasy season is over, so he's decided to have a phenomenal streak at the plate in the playoffs, the likes of which I didn't see from him all season.  I didn't realize I was holding the guy back so much.  With my mad fantasy skills of making players continually play below their potential, next year, I'm taking all Yankees!  Go Sox!

Game One was Awesome!  Encore!
While it wasn't the pitcher's duel everyone expected, it sure was a fun game!  18 runs, 6 errors, 12 pitchers, and all the enthusiasm of a school-yard game.  Watching from the safety of my couch, I could tell these guys were excited (and very nervous) about their first time on that big of a stage.  I watched 6 of the 9 innings of the game.  I picked the wrong 6 innings!  I only saw 3 runs scored...I am very much missing my DVR.  Nothing beats watching a baseball game on fast-forward: in 45 minutes you get all of the action, without any of the lame commentary by Buck and McCarver!

I Love October
So much going on in the sports world in October.  MLB playoffs going on.  NFL season in full swing.  College football still going strong.  NBA kicks off.  One of my favorite parts of it: Rockies fans being sad as their late-season push is doomed again by another pathetic start to the season, Bronco fans lamenting yet another poor showing, Thuggets fans getting their hopes up just in time for another crushing playoff defeat, Colorado Avalanche fans getting upset with another overtime loss (23 seconds into the extra period, mind you), and fans of the CU Buffs calling for their current coach to be fired because they still haven't been relevant for 20 years no matter who is at the helm.  It's a great time in Denver!  We have all the major sports.  The fans of those teams blindly cheer for them.  And all they can really talk about is the Broncos and Avs teams of the late 90's.  Reminds me of the North Side of Chicago (except we're talking about our Bulls of the 90's and the Cubs of the 1890's)!

Elimination Saturday
A lot of teams are facing must win-situations this weekend.  That makes for desparation, which makes for good college football.  Nebraska must beat Mizzou to stay alive in the Big XII North race.  The loser of Florida-Georgia is out of the SEC East race.  Stanford must win on the road at Washington to have any chance at the Rose Bowl, and Washington must beat Stanford to have any realistic shot at a bowl game.  NC State needs to take out Florida State to keep pace in the ACC Atlantic.  West Virginia must win at perennially overrated UConn for a shot at the Big East title.  Michigan State at Iowa has huge Big Ten implications (and if Iowa pulls it out, there will be a mammoth logjam at the top of the Big Ten standings with 4 or 5 teams sitting with only 1 loss).  BCS #1 Auburn must hit the road for the second time this season (must be nice).  Baylor travels to Texas trying to put a stranglehold on the Big XII South top spot.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Oregon is at USC.  Utah at Air Force, ahead of a showdown with TCU next weekend.  You read it here first: desparation makes for great Saturdays!  There is going to be a lot of desparation the next month!  Buckle up and enjoy the ride!