Conference Championship Open

Conference Championship Week is now open.  I will advance the week on Tuesday (10/21).

The college football season is nearing its end as the regular season has been completed.  While most teams sit at home preparing for possible bowl games and others clean out their lockers for the last time this season, a handful of teams will do battle this weekend to determine the champions of their respective conferences.  Here's a peek at those games involving AALoA teams:



After losing their season opening at home to Air Force the Sun Devils have ripped off 11 straight including a 39-31 November 16th victory over the Oregon Ducks.  We usually think of the Ducks as the high powered offense but its the Sun Devils that enter with the #1 scoring offense, #1 total offense and #1 passing offense in the country.   Arizona State still has hopes of squeaking into the BCS Championship so they have to take care of business vs the Ducks while Oregon would love to head to the Rose Bowl after a two loss regular season.



After a dismal 3-9 season Air Force brought in a new Offensive Coordinator in TomBarry DiClemente to move away from the triple option attack.  He has done so with success as the Air Force offense comes into the game ranked #6 nationally in scoring and #3 in total offense.  The initial expectations were to be bowl eligible but they have far exceeded those expectations finishing 11-1 including going undefeated in league play (which includes a one sided victory over Fresno State).  The Falcons have more than just a MWC Championship to play for as they have moved into position for a possible BCS Bowl game berth.



The Owls of Florida Atlantic, looking to turn around the program turned to a home grown candidate in Coach Nike to lead the program.  He's done an outstanding job leading the Owls to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Conference Championship Game.  Florida Atlantic comes in with the nations #1 ranked rush defense and a steady offense.  Can they stay unbeaten in league play?

The Air Force Falcons defeated the Fresno State Bulldogs 35-17 to claim the MWC Championship.  The win moves the Falcons to 12-1 (10-0 MWC) on the season and keeps their hopes alive for a possible BCS Bowl game berth as an at-large team.

The news was not all good, however, as Air Force lost their leading rusher Devon Rushing to a torn hamstring.  Whatever bowl game the Falcons are invited to, their leading rusher won't be dressing for that game as his season is done.

Now this was the type of game I expected when we played Oregon the first time. Big plays by both offenses and the offense that made the least amount of mistakes would win in a shootout. We took advantage of 3 fumble recoveries and scored just enough to hold off Oregon in Las Vegas. Watching the ticker we noticed that FSU held on to beat Miami so there went our chances of making it to the BCS championship game. 

This makes us look back at the early season loss to Air Force with extreme regret. It's a game we should have won but didn't and now we're paying for it. Hopefully the computers will reward us for our strength of schedule, conference prestige, the fact that we went undefeated in conference play, and our beating Oregon twice by putting us over Houston into the #2 BCS spot. 

FAU rolls over LA Tech 48-17 in a game that was never close , to gain the C-USA crown! The Owls move on to 11-2, bowl bound and hopefully hitting the Top 25(at 27 last two weeks) in Coach Nike's first season.

Player of the Game:
QB Jaquez Johnson 21/26 250Yds 5TDs 0ints