Lincoln Riley to USC is Good For The Pac 12, Despite Your Gut Saying Otherwise

 So here we are. The last day in November. The College Football coaching Carousel is nuts right now. Lincoln Riley  heading to USC is not bad for the other 11 teams in College Football, I actually believe it benefits the Pac 12 and the College Football landscape in general. 

Take the SEC for example for the last 15 years. Florida, Alabama, LSU and now Georgia have all taken major stab at being the best team since the 2001 Miami Hurricanes. All of those teams since 2006 have had there share of disappointment. Alabama went 6-7 in 2006 if you can believe it. 

The point is, these strong programs have elevated the performance of their rivals to the point Alabama might go 10-2 and be in the College Football Playoff. The Pac 12 is weak this year and it has been since about 2005. The year Oregon went to the BCS National Championship game in 2011, Washington went 6-6 and got a invite to the Holiday Bowl. Traditionally, the conferences second biggest bowl game. 

It's hard to improve when your conference is looked at like an afterthought unless USC is in the Top 10. Riley might steal a few recruits that Oregon would have got over the years but Oregon will have an easier time recruiting nationally if the Pac 12 is a strong conference. Things will even themselves out. 

Kalen DeBoer is another hire by Washington that will make Oregon's SOS higher. Remember the year when Auburn beat Alabama and Alabama still won the National Title? It was 2017. Not saying Oregon fans want to lose to Washington and still win the Natty but most Ducks fans I imagine would take that trade off. 

Oregon is 10-2 this year and the general consensus is that we have underachieved. Believe me I understand there have been frustrating times but the feeling should also be welcomed. Over 100 schools would love to have a year Oregon is having. 

I can't tell you what will happen Friday night but just know that good things will continue to happen. We had a 4-8 year in 2016 and recovered fast. If Cristobal leaves, we will find someone better. Stop worrying and enjoy the ride. We have it pretty good!

Canada is Creating Their Own Version of the "Jamaican Bobsled" Team

This isn't supposed to happen. We saw something last night that was legendary and amazing all at the same time. A Canadian team made Mexico look extremely average for the first 65 minutes of the game last night. 

In past cycles, this game would have ended 2-2. This feels like a different team though. At Honduras is our next huge task. As spectacular as we have been, we still have extremely big games in front of us. I think seven points will be enough as long as we get at least one in Panama. 

Our two remaining home games are must win games if we can't win on the road. The margin is still razor thin. This sucks because I want to enjoy being in 1st place but can't. We are so close. 

I'm assuming that Panama win their next two home games and lose their next three on the road and will have 20 points entering the last game. Canada has only two home games left. 

My feeling is that if we lose to Honduras, the odds of us beating USA and El Salvador will go up. Need bear minimum of 3 points right now. I would sign up for four points next window right now. Reason being is We just need to out point Panama by one right now because we have a superior goal differential. I don't expect to lose in Panama by three or more goals. Therefore, a seven or more goal differential should be enough. 

If we only tie all three games than getting a point in Costa Rica will be important. I think Canada can beat Costa Rica down their as Costa Rica isn't the same team they were when they got to the Quarterfinals in 2014. 

Our speed scares teams. We are rewriting how to be good at soccer. The title wave of success will come. However, it won't be the same during a three team group World Cup in the future. We need it now. 

I'll be honest, I will have a tough time focusing on work until late January. The anxiety is high. If Canada can qualify for the World Cup, it will be Canada's greatest fairytale. 

College Football is a Quadopoly and That Needs to Change

 The College Football Playoff Committee reveled their first bracket of what the CFB playoff would look like if the season had ended last week and there were a few glaring things that stood out to me that have made me question why I even watch college football. 

One thing that stands out is that Alabama is siting pretty at #2. I think one of the reasons I love sports is that most leagues, the best teams don't always get in. The NCAA Tournament doesn't have the best 68 teams. The NFL Playoffs aren't the best 14 teams and so on. That's what makes qualifying for the playoffs so fun. 

The Alabama situation will play itself out. Either they beat Georgia and are worthy or they will have two losses and will likely be out considering no two loss team has ever made it. Unfortunately, they will likely put them in and make an exemption because the committee has favoritism. 

I have criticized the committee ever since they snubbed TCU and it is completely obvious that they are only after money and they want the big schools in. 

The other glaring mistake was putting Cincinnati at #6. They look unbelievable when they are firing on all cylinders and won At Indiana and At Notre Dame. So what else do they need to do. The Group of five might as well form their own CFP if they don't get in this year. This year feels like their best chance with all the crazy upsets. 

Wake Forest - To me this feels like a slap in the face to the ACC more than anything. It also ties into the favoritism that the committee shows. If it was Clemson that had the same resume than that team would be closer to #4. If they win out it will be a historical season for them but getting into the Top 4 will be hard. 

The last team that is interesting is Oregon. Might be the most controversial team in the Top 10. Despite their win over Ohio State they haven't looked that great. However, the comittee recognized some key things that a team like Wake Forest might not have gotten. For one, Fresno State is a good win. What looked like a underwhelming win has now worked in their favor as the Bulldogs have proved to be a very talented team. 

Oregon also has the swagger of the National eye as their connection with Nike really benefits them in getting in marquee games. Other teams love to hate them and they are one of the most talked about teams in college football. 

For instance, look at the teams that have competed for a College Football Playoff. Only Michigan State is the only non football powerhouse. 

APP	School	Conf	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
6	Alabama	SEC	SF	CH	RU	CH	RU		CH
6	Clemson	ACC		RU	CH	SF	CH	RU	SF
4	Ohio State	Big Ten	CH		SF			SF	RU
4	Oklahoma	Big 12		SF		SF	SF	SF
2	Notre Dame	Ind./ACC					SF		SF
1	LSU	SEC						CH
1	Oregon	Pac-12	RU
1	Georgia	SEC				RU
1	Florida State	ACC	SF
1	Michigan State	Big Ten		SF
1	Washington	Pac-12			SF

       

The College Football landscape is controlled by four main teams. For me it sucks because teams like TCU, Baylor Wake Forest and Cincinnati need way bigger pieces of pie.