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beano cook

  (3:01 PM)

Good afternoon and welcome. I was fortunate enough to pick Auburn last week, so my record now is 4-3. I will make another game prediction at the end of the chat this afternoon.

Chris (Fullerton, CA)

What would you think about Boise-USC in the Fiesta and TCU-Florida in the Sugar?

beano cook

  (3:02 PM)

It is a little early for that. I don't think USC will be in a BCS bowl. It is a private institution and the fans don't travel. After giving up 47 last week, I don't think a BCS bowl is in Pete Carroll's future, at least this season.

Rob (New Castle, Pa.)

Hey Beano, Pete Carroll and Dean Smith, great coaches or great recruiters that underacheived on game day. Both recruited the top talent available each year and Pete seems capable of losing games each year that he shouldn't and Dean only one 2 NC over his career. Seems like underachieving to me.

beano cook

  (3:04 PM)

All he did, Pete Carroll, was win seven Pac-10 titles and two national championships, and lost in a third.I know a lot of schools that would take that record. It is easy to pile on a guy after a loss. As for Dean Smith, all I can say is, get a life.

beano cook

  (3:05 PM)

A lot of schools would take Dean Smith's record too...

Tom (Atlanta)

Bigger injustice: 10-2 Notre Dame in the BCS over Boise State, or a 4 or 5 loss unranked ACC team in the BCS (assuming Georgia Tech is beat in the ACC Championship game)?

beano cook

  (3:06 PM)

Number one, the ACC champion will probably be Georgia Tech, which has lost one game so far this season. As for Boise State, I believe Chris Peterson's team will be in a BCS bowl.

Jordan (Pasadena Tx)

does Colt McCoy have the most favorible schedule compared to other candidates to help his Heisman chnaces?

beano cook

  (3:08 PM)

By the way, as of right now, I feel one open BCS spot will go to the SEC. The other four teams battling for the three positions are TCU, Boise State, Notre Dame and Penn State. Arguably, but he has played tough games already. The Heisman Trophy is basically down to three players -- McCoy, Tim Tebow, Mark Ingram.

beano cook

  (3:08 PM)

That is my opinion. Case Keenum would be the fourth choice. He may win it, since Ware won it.

Brett union sc [via mobile]

How will south Carolina finish their season?

beano cook

  (3:10 PM)

The Gamecocks have difficult games. Clemson is not easy, even at home, and the SEC is the toughest conference in the nation. Florida on the 14th will be an interesting game.

Kyle (Ohio)

Player A: 53 Tackles 1 sack 3 Interceptions 3 Forced FumblesPlayer B: 55 Tackles 0 sacks 1 Interception 0 Forced FumblesPlayer A is Kurt Coleman of the Buckeyes and Player B is Taylor Mays. Kurt Coleman wasn't on the list of finalists for the Thorpe Award despite having better numbers and being the leader of the one of the best defensive units in the country. They both missed 1 game this season. Also, someone from Kansas is on the list. I wasn't even aware Kansas had a defense. Why is Coleman getting no respect?

beano cook

  (3:11 PM)

My three finalists would be Mays, Joe Haden of Florida and Eric Berry of Tennessee. That is just my opinion. I really feel Haden is underrated and doesn't get enough respect. You can make an argument for a number of others, including Coleman. Sometimes player stats don't tell the whole story.

COREY (MS)

Does Mickey ANdrews Departure at FSU a sign this is it for BOwden???????????

beano cook

  (3:12 PM)

No. I think Bowden will be the coach next year and that 2010 would be the final season, if I had to make a prediction.

Jon (High Point, NC)

Ever decade has seen college football involve in another direction. In the 2000's how has college football changed both good and bad and how do you see it changing in the next decade?

beano cook

  (3:14 PM)

I think we will eventually have a plus-one in the BCS, three games that help determine the national title. I just see it getting bigger and bigger and more expensive to run a program. More and more programs will bend the rules to win. By the end of the next decade we will have a $6 million coach in college football.

Phil (Chicago)

If Jimmy Clausen has Florida or Texas' defense Notre Dame is undefeated and he is the leading candidate for the Heisman. Why is he penalized because his teams defense is horrible?

beano cook

  (3:16 PM)

That's the case for a lot of players. Clausen has a lot of advantages, and one of them is playing for Notre Dame. If he led the Irish to a touchdown against USC in the final seconds, he would be right up there. He had a great fourth quarter and I am not saying he is a great player. I was picking the three leading candidates for the Heisman. Clausen is not that far behind, but I don't see how you can argue against the three I mentioned.

jeff (IOWA)

beano,What is your take on my beloved Hawkeye's?? Thanks JEFF

beano cook

  (3:19 PM)

Iowa is lucky to have officials make bad calls against the opponents. I happen to like Iowa and Kirk Ferentz, and if it goes 12-0 and doesn't play for the national title it would not shock me. The Big Ten policy against a plus-one might come back and hurt them. An Iowa-Oregon Rose Bowl would be delicious, Remember, the only way Iowa plays for the national championship is if one unbeaten among the big three is left.

Josh (Grants Pass, OR)

If Boise State and Oregon both win out can the Ducks possibly move past Boise or are they limited by their one and only loss?

beano cook

  (3:20 PM)

I think they are limited. Head-to-head should mean something. For Oregon, Stanford will not be easy this Saturday and neither will Arizona on the road, and there is always the rivalry against Oregon State.

Mike Roch (uptown)

Why is debating college football so addicting? I should be studying!!

beano cook

  (3:21 PM)

It is addictivem you are right. You should be studying anyway. You watch college football on TV Saturday and you see so many different things. When you watch pro football on Sunday, you see a lot of the same things.

Chuck (Amarillo, TX)

Beano how can you say Earl Thomas from texas is not going to be a finalist that kid is amazing!

beano cook

  (3:22 PM)

Thomas certainly is a strong candidate as well.

Bigwavedave (Catonsville, MD)

B.C.Nice chattin with ya! You have seen many, many, many years of College Football. Officiating has always been questioned, but with the huge money/prestige/recruiting that is on the line for the major conferences do you believe that the officials (particularly the replay officials that can remain un-seen and mostly anonymous) make calls that help the conference leaders stay un-beaten and make it to the NC game or a BCS bowl. I cannot imagine what the Iowa replay official was thinking when he overturned that touchdown, besides I need to help Iowa win this game.

beano cook

  (3:24 PM)

I don't want to answer this because I don't want to be sued for libel.

Matt (Philadelphia)

Beano, need a clarification on something from your podcast a couple weeks back. In 1969, did Penn State simply choose not to play the Texas-Arkansas winner in the Cotton Bowl? If so why was Paterno so mad?

beano cook

  (3:25 PM)

The players voted 33-30 to play Missouri. Penn State turned down the bid to play the highest ranked team available. The following year Notre Dame did not. For the millionth time, Penn State has a complaint about 1994, but none whatsoever about 1969.

Andy (Cincinnati)

Beano, Would love to hear your thoughts on the late great Iowa coach Forest Evashevski and how you think he would react to the Hawkeye doubters this season?

beano cook

  (3:28 PM)

I was very familiar with him and knew him well. He played at Michigan with Tom Harmon and was co-captain of the 1940 team. The tie in 1953 coast Notre Dame the national title. In 1956 and '58 he won the Rose Bowl and a 1957 loss to Ohio State cost Iowa part of the national title. Outstanding coach and it is no easy to win at Iowa. It is still tough. He did win there. He engage in small talk, he liked to get to the point.

Jake (IC, IA)

This is a joke about the Indiana replay. Look at the video and stop bitching about how Iowa got lucky. The Big Ten replay official did one hell of a job to make the right call. IT WAS THE RIGHT CALL, JUST LOOK AT THE VIDEO

beano cook

  (3:29 PM)

I said Iowa got the calls. I think Iowa would have won, but it doesn't excuse the bad calls against Indiana.

Tim (Alexandria, VA)

Beano,Do you say Florida is lucky like Iowa? They have had two games where LATE bad calls have aided them winning? Why does Iowa always get the qualifier?

beano cook

  (3:29 PM)

I said there was a bad call in the Arkansas game that hurt its chances against Florida.

Wayne (Carlisle, PA)

Beano, OSU or PENN STATE? and why?

beano cook

  (3:30 PM)

I think Penn State will win.

beano cook

  (3:31 PM)

If you are an Ohio State fan, you won't enjoy the outcome of the game, but if you have time, go to the Nittany Lion in and try the lobster bisque. It is the best east of the Mississippi and maybe even west. I have had lobster bisque in 20 different places and that is the best I have ever had.

mike (Tuscaloosa, Al)

What do you think the fate of my crimson tide is and how are they going to get there?

beano cook

  (3:33 PM)

They should beat LSU but they may not. If they don't win this weekend, it is doubtful that they will play for the national title. Take it one game at a time.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Mr. Cook: This may actually be a trick question but in your opinion, which is the best team in the Big Ten right now.

beano cook

  (3:35 PM)

I am not going to go against Iowa. The Hawkeyes won at Penn State, at Wisconsin, at Michigan State, and came from behind against Indiana. The Big Ten is not the SEC! Penn State is the only other team to merit any consideration.

Matt (Bham)

Hey Beano, I was at the Auburn game you bet on. I think they will go 8-4. Do you think they will be even more improved next year?

beano cook

  (3:37 PM)

I did not bet on it, just made the pick for the chat. I am 4-3 now, so if you have a girlfriend next to his wife, you can't buy her much. As for Auburn, 8-4 is possible but 7-5 may be more likely.

Snyde (Jville)

So does Urban get a suspension from the SEC for criticizing officials?

beano cook

  (3:38 PM)

The SEC will eventually suspend someone. There have been reprimands.

Clay (Phoenix)

Hey Beano, what are your thoughts on PETE CARROLL suggesting that USC has not come down much, but rather, the PAC 10 has moved up to them? Do you foresee a trend like this year with teams challenging USC and beating them? Or is this just a down year for the TROJANS? Personally, I see them as a top 5 team next year, easily.

beano cook

  (3:39 PM)

That is what you say after you lose 47-20. For the conference to get better, Washington and UCLA have to be winning. I feel Oregon will continue to keep on winning.

Bill (Chicago)

Where to the Michigan Wolverines go from here? Is it coaching? talent? Both?

beano cook

  (3:41 PM)

Michigan can still go to a bowl. This season is not over and this is the 40th anniversary of the big upset over Ohio State. It was not a good loss against Illinois.

brian (oregon )

why will florida not play outside of the southeast?

beano cook

  (3:42 PM)

Florida is smart. The Gators don't have to, and they play Florida State every year. Usually the Seminoles are better than they have shown this season.

Robin (Indiana)

What are your comments about Ohio State paying $1 million to get out of their contract for playing Cincy in the Paul Brown Stadium this year?

beano cook

  (3:42 PM)

I did not know that.

Lawrence (La Crescenta, CA)

Do you think most voters in the AP, Coaches', and Harris Polls have a "boxing mentality" where if a team is the reigning champion and undefeated they should be ranked #1?

beano cook

  (3:43 PM)

If you are the defending national champ, you should have to lose before you drop.

Steve (Harrisburg)

There are alot of rumors about Jon Gruden going to Louisville... I dont see him as a college head coach. Has he had any other college coaching jobs outside of Pittsburgh?

beano cook

  (3:45 PM)

I don't believe he had an offer at Pittsburgh. I have heard some people say he would be a good college coach as a teacher of the game, but it is hard to say. He may be enjoying his time in the Monday Night Football booth enough to say he doesn't need the headaches of recruiting or dealing with spoiled athletes.

Kumar (Trenton, NJ)

Do you think LSU should stand for "Lucky State University" because they did not have to face Georgia and/or USC in 2007 and they did not have to face USC in 2003 to win national titles in those respective years?

beano cook

  (3:47 PM)

Look, first off, Georgia is not on their schedule every year. It rotates, and LSU has nothing to say about its conference games. LSU won its two national titles, so live with it. I will say when Oklahoma played LSU for the national title there was a big advantage playing in the Sugar Bowl in their home state, same for the Ohio State. Miami did vs Nebraska in the Orange Bowl for the 1983 national title.

Jamie (Pitt)

Steve meant that Jon Gruden was an assistant coach at Pitt a while back

beano cook

  (3:48 PM)

I know he was at Pittsburgh back in the 80s, and he was never interested in the head coaching job there.

vatsa (no man's land, TX)

Dear Beano, glad to see you on chats.Do you think the term "student athlete" is a joke nowadays? No class, no sportsmanship, eye gouging, punching, cheating, drunk driving and what not?

beano cook

  (3:50 PM)

I don't think student-athlete is a little different than it was 50 years ago. You may be exagerrating on it a bit.

George (Orlando)

Prediction on Okla-Neb?

beano cook

  (3:51 PM)

I am not making a pick on that game. It has been a rough season for Oklahoma, but the Sooners should still be in a good bowl game.

Rick (Florida)

Gator fans would love to play Iowa...If they would play who wins and by how much?

beano cook

  (3:51 PM)

Ask me in a few weeks. If they play, I will make a prediction then.

beano cook

  (3:52 PM)

If Iowa wins the national title, it will be the biggest thing since the great musical, The Music Man. Maybe Field of Dreams.

beano cook

  (3:53 PM)

Tom Arnold would fall short on the list.

Roger (Dallas)

Do you think getting Michael Floyd back will be the difference for the Irish against Pitt? How will teams defend both he and Tate now that Weis moves Tate all over the formations?

beano cook

  (3:54 PM)

I think he will certainly help. It is tough to defend both Floyd and Tate, and then there are other weapons.

mason (dallas)

biggest upset you have ever seen?

beano cook

  (3:54 PM)

1980 Miracle on Ice or Truman over Dewey.

beano cook

  (3:56 PM)

Time for the pick. I am 4-3 and need a win. I am doing something I seldom do, pick a favorite of double digits...Notre Dame 31, Navy 10. See you next week.