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College football as we presently know it is about to change. When earlier reports of the Big 10 (11), likely to expand beyond the expanses of its name again, this time everyone took it very seriously. The Big Ten Network has become a cash cow only a few would have imagined at its inception. That forced the SEC (with its better overall sports programs) to jump into bed with ESPN and other entities to “keep up with the Jones”.
The Big Ten has always thought its importance was more than everyone else’s and targeted Texas and other Big 12 schools, like that conference was from the local Goodwill and they could pick and choose what they wanted and everyone would idly sit by and wait and see what the Big Ten wanted to do.
That might have worked 50 years ago, no more. The Pac-10 went on the aggressive and word leaked this past week they wanted half the teams from the Big 12, quickly making it the Little Six.
Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado would join Arizona and Arizona State in league that could be known as – The 16 Pac(k) Conference. (Sponsored by Bud Light of course) As noted at ESPN, there was some indication on Sunday that Baylor could replace Colorado under pressure from the Texas State Legislature.
This places the Big 12 in a world of hurt. Commissioner Dan Beebe is trying to rectify the situation by keeping Texas, since they are the linchpin, however he seems less inclined to force their hand knowing the Longhorns can do about whatever they want and instead is trying to hang on to Missouri and Nebraska from moving to the Big 13 and counting.
For sports bettors, this will really turn the college sports world upside down. The haves and have not’s will further separate in this revised two class system. Much like the middle class of our country heading downward, the same will be true of sports programs that are presently average. What chance would an Arizona or Arizona State have in football with the Longhorns, Sooners and to a lesser degree the Cowboys from Okie State in the same division? Yes they would have more money, with that satisfaction lasting maybe three years, but what about five seasons of 4-5 to 2-7, with faltering attendance and the revenue gains start going backwards?
And what about the Big 12, if they would manage to survive, Beebe would have to do a Mike Tranghese, the former commish of the Big East and go do some raiding of his own. That might include a quasi- Southwest Conference division of the Big 12, chasing down TCU, Houston, Rice, and SMU and adding possibly Memphis (for basketball purposes), while beating the Christmas rush and snagging Boise State to give the football a quick boost before the Mountain West Conference makes a move.
While it is true more than enough college football bettors will just want to see a number assigned to any matchup and give a you know what about expansion or reduction, or whatever happens, it will impact many conferences and teams positively and negatively. Stay tuned for further developments and look for the ******* Edge Football 2010 Annual on store shelves starting on June 29.
Got a good laugh about defending national champion Alabama asking the SEC to review the schedules of other teams and politely move a few conference games around so the Crimson Tide doesn’t have to play six teams coming off a bye week. I have nothing against Alabama, but that is WEAK.
Other things to think about this summer in college football.
Will Rich Rodriquez of Michigan be able to save his job after two years of 8-16 and even worse 6-17 ATS record?
How will oddsmakers view the Oregon Ducks, after being thought as a national contender, with former quarterback Jeremiah Masoli out for the year after arrest?
Is Boise State really poised to do a BYU (1984) and become a national champion? We’ll have the first answer on Labor Day when they face Virginia Tech.
Will new head coach Brian Kelly be able to make an immediate impact at Notre Dame?
The Big Ten has always thought its importance was more than everyone else’s and targeted Texas and other Big 12 schools, like that conference was from the local Goodwill and they could pick and choose what they wanted and everyone would idly sit by and wait and see what the Big Ten wanted to do.
That might have worked 50 years ago, no more. The Pac-10 went on the aggressive and word leaked this past week they wanted half the teams from the Big 12, quickly making it the Little Six.
Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado would join Arizona and Arizona State in league that could be known as – The 16 Pac(k) Conference. (Sponsored by Bud Light of course) As noted at ESPN, there was some indication on Sunday that Baylor could replace Colorado under pressure from the Texas State Legislature.
This places the Big 12 in a world of hurt. Commissioner Dan Beebe is trying to rectify the situation by keeping Texas, since they are the linchpin, however he seems less inclined to force their hand knowing the Longhorns can do about whatever they want and instead is trying to hang on to Missouri and Nebraska from moving to the Big 13 and counting.
For sports bettors, this will really turn the college sports world upside down. The haves and have not’s will further separate in this revised two class system. Much like the middle class of our country heading downward, the same will be true of sports programs that are presently average. What chance would an Arizona or Arizona State have in football with the Longhorns, Sooners and to a lesser degree the Cowboys from Okie State in the same division? Yes they would have more money, with that satisfaction lasting maybe three years, but what about five seasons of 4-5 to 2-7, with faltering attendance and the revenue gains start going backwards?
And what about the Big 12, if they would manage to survive, Beebe would have to do a Mike Tranghese, the former commish of the Big East and go do some raiding of his own. That might include a quasi- Southwest Conference division of the Big 12, chasing down TCU, Houston, Rice, and SMU and adding possibly Memphis (for basketball purposes), while beating the Christmas rush and snagging Boise State to give the football a quick boost before the Mountain West Conference makes a move.
While it is true more than enough college football bettors will just want to see a number assigned to any matchup and give a you know what about expansion or reduction, or whatever happens, it will impact many conferences and teams positively and negatively. Stay tuned for further developments and look for the ******* Edge Football 2010 Annual on store shelves starting on June 29.
Got a good laugh about defending national champion Alabama asking the SEC to review the schedules of other teams and politely move a few conference games around so the Crimson Tide doesn’t have to play six teams coming off a bye week. I have nothing against Alabama, but that is WEAK.
Other things to think about this summer in college football.
Will Rich Rodriquez of Michigan be able to save his job after two years of 8-16 and even worse 6-17 ATS record?
How will oddsmakers view the Oregon Ducks, after being thought as a national contender, with former quarterback Jeremiah Masoli out for the year after arrest?
Is Boise State really poised to do a BYU (1984) and become a national champion? We’ll have the first answer on Labor Day when they face Virginia Tech.
Will new head coach Brian Kelly be able to make an immediate impact at Notre Dame?
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