UNLV Rebels (7-5) vs. North Texas Mean Green (8-4) Wednesday, Jan. 1, 12:00 p.m. EST, ESPNU Line: North Texas by 7.0 How UNLV got here: After opening the season 0-2, it looked like it was going to be a typical season for the Rebels. It also looked like the Bobby Hauck era would end. But then […]

Virginia Tech Hokies (8-4) vs. UCLA Bruins (9-3) Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2:00 p.m. EST, CBS Line: UCLA by 7.0 How Virginia Tech got here: Frank Beamer and the Hokies made the mistake of agreeing to open the season against Alabama at a neutral site. The Tide were a little sloppy but still took it to Tech […]

Arizona Wildcats (7-5) vs. Boston College Eagles (7-5) Tuesday, Dec. 31, 12:30 p.m. EST, ESPN Line: Arizona by 6.5 How Arizona got here: After a surprising first season under Rich Rodriguez, many Arizona fans were probably hoping for a better 2013. But the Wildcats had a number of key holes to fill so this season wasn’t […]

Middle Tennessee State (8-4) vs. Navy (8-4) Monday, Dec. 30, 11:45 a.m. EST, ESPN Line: Navy by 6.5 How Middle Tennessee State got here: Middle Tennessee lost two of its first three Conference USA game, which made it basically impossible to get back into the race for a conference championship. After a three-game losing skid, […]

Arizona State (10-3) vs. Texas Tech (7-5) Monday, Dec. 30, 10:15 p.m. EST, ESPN Line: Arizona State by 13.0 How Arizona State got here: ASU enjoyed some signature victories in Todd Graham’s second season in Tempe. The Sun Devils defeated Wisconsin (32-30), USC (62-41), Washington (53-24) and UCLA (38-33).  The win over the Trojans cost […]

Miami Hurricanes (9-3) vs. Louisville Cardinals (11-1) Saturday, Dec. 28, 6:45 p.m. EST, ESPN Line: Louisville by 3.5 How Miami got here: Al Golden’s team went through streaks — both good and bad — this fall. The Hurricanes opened the season with seven consecutive victories, including a surprise 21-16 win over Florida. A lambasting at […]

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-6) vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-4) Saturday, Dec. 28, Noon EST, ESPN Line: Notre Dame by 17.0 How Rutgers got here: The Scarlet Knights didn’t wrap up a spot in a bowl game until they rolled South Florida in the season finale, 31-6.  Rutgers had blown three opportunities before, including a […]

Boston College's Andre Williams rushed for over 2,000 yards. Photo: USA Today Sports, edited by Crystal Ball Run Six finalists for the 2013 Heisman Trophy were announced Monday evening. Crystal Ball Run will be taking a look at each finalist. | AJ McCarron | Jordan Lynch | Johnny Manziel | Tre Mason | Andre Williams | Jameis Winston | Andre Williams, Boston College running back 2,102 rushing […]

Arizona State enters the Pac-12 championship game as a slight favorite, but don’t forget that Stanford whipped the Sun Devils in September 42-28 — and the game wasn’t even that close as ASU scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. Now the Sun Devils get a chance at a bit of redemption and what better […]

The Big 10 has a history of outstanding coaches walking the sidelines. From Woody Hayes to Bo Schembechler and Joe Paterno to Amos Alonzo Stagg, it’s clear the conference has sported some of the games greats. This weekend’s conference championship game will have two of the best currently coaching, but both will likely etch their […]

As Marshall was putting the finishing touches on a 59-28 victory over East Carolina, let’s hope coach Doc Holliday took a few minutes to relish the moment. It took Holliday 30 years of coaching at West Virginia (twice), North Carolina State and Florida before he finally got his shot at running his own program. Holliday’s […]

Ole Miss (7-4, 3-4) at Mississippi State (5-6, 2-5) Thursday, Nov. 28, 7:30 PM EST, ESPN Line: Even The Egg Bowl will have plenty of intrigue on Thanksgiving night, especially for Dan Mullen who is trying to avoid his first losing season since his first year in Starkville, Miss. So what if Ole Miss hands […]