Pregame Warm-Up Pod Cast: Week 9

It’s Friday morning and Jon Dove from NFLMocks.com, Michael Felder from InTheBleachers.net and Jason Madson are back for another pod cast. This week we discuss wearing another man’s jersey, I do it all the time!  The beer draft is explained by Jon Dove. We also discuss which coaches, or assistant coaches, would make good head coaching candidates.  In the Week 9 Conference Talk we hit on topics like the Mizzou @ Nebraska showdown, who is a better Heisman candidate: Terrelle Pryor or John Clay, East Carolina @ UCF discussion, we talk about the QB play in the Stanford @ Washington game, talk about some BCS hypotheticals, make our weekly picks and finish off the show with the “World Famous” Prospect Quick Fire, Blaine Gabbert is among the prospects we discuss.  Enjoy!

Conference USA Report: Week 8

Last week gave us some big time wins and heartbreaking losses in the Conference USA. 

East Carolina had a big win against the more talented NC State Wolfpack, 33-27 in OT.  The Pirates missed a field goal in OT, but sealed the win when true freshman safety Damon Magazu intercepted a Russell Wilson pass at the goaline. 

The Rice Owls jumped out to a huge lead on the Houston Cougars, leading 27-7 at one point.  Then the Cougs woke up and even took a 31-27 lead late in the 4th quarter.  That lead wouldn’t last as Rice QB Nick Fanuzzi hit Vance McDonald for the go ahead TD, Rice won 34-31.

The Southern Methodist Mustangs traveled to Annapolis for a showdown with the Navy Midshipmen.  SMU started off the game hot, leading 14-0 at halftime.  Kyle Padron was throwing and even running the football at will and the Mustang D was looking good.  Then the 3rd quarter started and it was a different story.  Three unanswered scores for Navy made it 21-14 in the 4th, until Kyle Padron threw his 3rd TD of the game.  The Midshipmen would strike back taking a 28-21 lead late in the 4th, but the Mustangs had a shot.  The game ended with an SMU Hook ‘n Ladder attempt.  Navy wins 28-21.  The game changed on 2 Padron turnovers, a fumble and INT, both converted into TD’s by Navy.

UAB pulled off a huge upset over the UTEP MIners, 21-6.  The Miners couldn’t do anything on the offensive side of the ball, while the Blazers did what they wanted on offense after halftime.  UTEP led 6-0, until the Blazers went on a scoring spree late in the 2nd half.  UAB QB Bryan Ellis threw for 272 yards and 3 TD’s.

Ranking the C-USA

1.  East Carolina Pirates They pulled off a huge win over NC State, now they get a little easier test when Marshall comes to Greenville.

2. Southern Miss Golden Eagles They get to the bye week after beating down Memphis.  UAB comes to town Oct 30.

3. SMU Mustangs How will they respond after the tough loss to Navy?  A win at home against Houston would push them to 4-0 in CUSA, that would help them get over it.

4. UCF Knights I continue to be impressed by the Knights defense.  They get a tough Rice team at home this week in what should be a good game.

5. Houston Cougars David Piland isn’t Case Keenum, but he filled in well last week.  If the Cougars can get Beall going on the ground, they have a good shot against SMU.

6. Tulsa Golden Hurricane The Golden Hurricane got back to their offensive ways against Tulane, and head into the bye week fresh off a win.  They head to Notre Dame on Oct 30 for a huge road game with the Fighting Irish.

7. UTEP Miners  After a tough loss to UAB, the Miners should put one in the W column this week when Tulane rolls into town.

8. UAB Blazers I hope the Blazers took time to enjoy their win over UTEP, because they travel to Mississippi St this week .  It won’t be pretty.

9. Rice Owls After the big win over Houston last week, they head to UCF for a battle with the Knights. 

10. Tulane Green Wave Tulane is a team I wouldn’t want to play if I were a contender.  They will always battle, regardless of the score.  They just need more talent on their roster.

11. Marshall Thundering Herd  They were over matched last week against UCF and I see more of the same this week when they travel to ECU.

12. Memphis Tigers This team needed a bye after getting destroyed the past few weeks.

Week 8 Picks

Rice @ UCF

The UCF defense should control this game like they have throughout the season.  Rice has some nice weapons in QB Nick Fanuzzi, RB Sam McGuffie and a handful of good WR.  The story of this game might be the season ending knee injury to UCF QB Rob Calabrese.  Jeff Godfrey will be the lone QB in the Knights QB rotation.  I still like the Knights to win 27-7.

Houston @ SMU

This game is going to fun to watch.  Offense will be king as the Mustangs and Cougars can score the ball in bunches.  The key to this game will be Cougs running backs Bryce Beall and Michael Hayes.  Get these 2 going and Houston has a great shot to win.  I’ll take my chances with the Mustangs though, 34-28.

Marshall @ ECU

ECU should dominate this game from start to finish.  The Pirates QB Dominique Davis had an enormous game last week and I expect more of the same.  He has been fun to watch this season.  ECU wins big, 40-17.

UAB @ Mississippi St

Miss State is going to roll in this game.  They are just too much for the Blazers to handle.  Miss State wins 52-10.

Tulane @ UTEP

I like UTEP to get back on track in this West division battle.  UTEP wins 31-20.

Written by Jason Madson.  Follow him on Twitter @isbnJMAD.

PGWU Podcast: Week 7

It’s week 7 in college football and its Friday, that means another pod cast from The Pregame Warm-Up.  This week we discuss Boise St playing in the SEC, Exploiting Iowa’s Defense, Can Michigan State finish the year undefeated? Why is TCU’s Defense so dominant? Will South Carolina suffer the hangover against Kentucky and many other big games in the PGWU Conference Breakdown.  We make our picks in the Pick ‘Em segment and discuss a handful of NFL Draft prospects in the PGWU Prospect Quick Fire.  Enjoy.

PGWU Podcast-Week 6

This week we spend a lot of time talking about big games and news in each conference, especially the ACC and SEC.  We also make our picks in the Pregame Warm-Up Pick ‘Em segment and break down a handful of potential pro prospects for the NFL Draft in the “World Famous” Prospect Quick Fire.  Enjoy!

Around C-USA Week 6

Tulane traveled into New Jersey as a team that hadn’t won a road game since early last season, and left with a huge upset win.  I know Rutgers hasn’t been a force this season, but Tulane has been far from it.  The rest of the Conference played out as many expected it to.  SMU and Tulsa continue to put up points in bunches, Southern Miss looks like a dominant contender for the league title and North Carolina beat the Pirates of ECU soundly.  Lets take a look at some of last weeks Top Performances.

Week 5 Top Performances

Tulsa QB GJ Kinne continues his dual threat dominance.  He threw for 214 yards and 2 scores, while gaining another 34 yards on the ground and 1 TD.  He has really taken to the hurry up, no huddle offense this season.

The trio at SMU consisting of QB Kyle Padron and WR’s Cole Beasley and Aldrick Robinson had a monster game.  Padron threw for 371 yards and 3 scores, with a 75 % complection percentage.  He is good!  Beasley and Robinson combined for 14 receptions 306 receiving yards and 2 scores.  In this same game, Owls running back Sam McGuffie also had a pretty good day with 96 rushing yards and 45 yards receiving.

Austin Davis didn’t really fill up the stat book on Saturday for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, but the QB did have 4 total TD.  He threw for 1 score and rushed for 3 more in the blowout victory over Marshall.

Conference USA Top to Bottom

1. 1. Southern Miss (4-1)  I know they played Marshall, but they looked like the best team.
2. 2. East Carolina (2-2)  Had to drop them off the top after the blowout loss.
3. 3. Houston (3-1)  If they can keep the pressure off Broadway with the running game, they should be fine.
4. 4. SMU (3-2)  Offense is king here, and they have the weapons to compete.
5. 5. UTEP (4-1)  Trevor Vittatoe continues to lead this team to wins.
6. 6. UCF (2-2) After the tough loss to KState and a bye week, how will they respond?
7. 7. Tulsa (3-2) GJ Kinne is the real deal, but can they stop anybody on Defense?
8. 8. Rice (1-4)  We saw a glimpse of the potential offered by Sam McGuffie, will it continue?
9. 9. UAB (1-3) UAB has found a QB mix that works, UCF should be a good match up.
10. 10. Marshall (1-4) The bye week came at a good time for the struggling Herd.
11. 11. Memphis (1-4)  Heading to Lousville isn’t the best situation for the Tigers right now, especially after losing their starting QB to a concussion.

Week 6 Matchups and Picks

UAB @ UCF   Both teams will be using 2 quarterbacks in different fashions for tonight’s game, does that mean neither team has one?  I like the way the UCF defense has been playing, so I will take the Knights 27-10.

Memphis @ Louisville   Memphis just needs to hope they get some lucky bounces in this game.  The young Cardinals have more talent than do the Tigers, but experience is lacking.  I like the Cardinals at home 33-17

East Carolina @ Southern Miss  This is one game that every football fan should watch, or atleast DVR and watch later.  The top 2 teams in the East Division square off in what should decide the divisions champ.  This game is going to feature the 14th ranked ECU passing attack and the 16th ranked Southern Miss Defense.  Defense will prevail in the Golden Eagles Homecoming game, SoMiss wins 22-20.

Mississippi State @ Houston  Houston gets a big time test to come to their house on Saturday, and I don’t like their chances.  It’s not a CUSA game, so a loss won’t kill them.  I think the Bulldogs will be the more physical team and take this game from the Cougars easily.  I like Miss St, 28-17.

Army @ Tulane Army lost a tough game to Temple last week, but have been pefrect on the road so far this season.  Tulane is coming off a huge upset victory over Rutgers.  I like the Army option attack lead by QB Trent Steelman, who had a hand in all 5 Black Knight TD’s last week.  The Black Knights should take this game, 30-21.

Tulsa @ SMU   This game is going to be a good one, with 2 of the top QB’s in the C-USA with GJ Kinne and Kyle Padron.  Watch the scoreboard light up in this game, as I like SMU to take it 41-34.

Rice @ UTEP   UTEP should take this game easily at home, Rice just doesn’t have to firepower to keep up with Trevor Vittatoe and company.  I’ll take the Miners, 31-23.

Written by Jason Madson @isbnJMAD on Twitter

PGWU Podcast: Week 4

This week we discuss the legal troubles at Florida, talk about the big stories in each conference in The Breakdown, make our selections in the PGWU Pick’Em segment and finish the show off with the World Famous Prospect Quick Fire. Enjoy!