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We are yet to see some powerful teams from Big 12 North because so far it seems like forever since the teams of the South have dominated the Big 12. There is no hope of that changing anytime soon however because the gap in the potential of the two division is only increasing if anything. So just like all the recent years, the great teams for the Big 12 are all part of Big 12 South. With teams like Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech ? it seems like the south is the place to be in college football this year. It is definitely the best division there is right now. That also means that the winner of the South title is going to win the Big 12 championship title without a doubt. What happens in South is what we actually have to see, as usual. So let’s take a look at the power packed south teams that have been placed on the top 3 list for the Big 12. Texas Longhorns ? They are amongst the favorite picks for many an expert and analyst this season. But some of them also place them slightly behind their rival Oklahoma.
However, there are still those who believe that they still have a better chance of winning the Big 12 that all the others. Their quarterback Colt McCoy is quite capable of matching Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford. With McCoy being supported by his buddy and wideout Jordan Shipley, the ‘Horns may have a good chance of winning this time round. The entire Offensive line up is back as well. Once coach Mack Brown finds a suitable tailback to stabilize the ever turbulent backfield, the ‘Horns will prove to be an unstoppable force in their current line up. Oklahoma Sooners ? Their Heisman winning quarterback Sam Bradford is making a return this season and it is quite certain that he is looking for payback. The Sooners had a great season last year only to be stopped at the end by Florida during the BCS championship. Before that they were making it look easy but then Florida completely routed them during BCS, proving again that the Sooners lack in the defense section.
Bradford is banking on the fact that tight end Jermain Gresham is returning. Gresham is fully ready for the NFL, making him a powerful player in the team. The tailback DeMarco Murray is also another one to watch out for. Oklahoma State Cowboys ? They are a great team for the ACC or the Big East even and will route the field completely to make it to the BCS bowl. However, they are up against the ‘Horns and the Sooners in the Big 12 and that is what stops them every year. They may still breakout this season with their great offense trio made up of wideout Dez Bryant, tailback Kendall Hunter and quarterback Zac Robinson. Robinson makes for an experienced leader and together the Cowboys have a fighting chance of winning it or at least making it to the finals.

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Technorati Tags: Big 12, College, Football, Teams

The Missouri Tigers represent the football team of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. The team plays in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference and belongs and competes in the Division I of the NCAA FBS college football. The Missouri Tigers started their football career in 1890 when they played against Washington University on Thanksgiving Day in front of 3,000 spectators. They lost 28-0 to the more experienced team. It adopted the nickname ?Tigers?, which came from a civil war band armed guard name Missouri Tigers in 1864. This armed guards protected Columbia both from Confederate guerillas and the marauding Union squads led by Bill Anderson, who was then rumored to be planning on plundering the town. The football team was named after them in honor of those civil war defenders. The football stadium of the Tiger is the Faurot Field in Columbia. Its official mascot is ?Truman the Tiger?, named after Harry Truman, the Missouri-born US President. Truman the Tiger twice won the ?Best Mascot in the Nation?. The Tigers’ most prominent rival are the Kansas. Todate, the team played a total of 25 bowl games and has won eight bowl games. Championships and Important Moments: The Missouri Tigers have 15 conference championships and 1 conference division title. Their conference championships are in 1893, 1894, 1895, 1909, 1913, 1919, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1960 and 1969. Its divisional championship is in 2007, the Big 12 Conference, with Coach Gary Pinkel leading them on. The team played a total of 25 bowl games and has won eleven of them. Missouri had 23 All-American victories. It has 11 members of the College Football Hall of Fame with Johnny Roland to be inducted this year. Quarterbacks in the current Roster: — Chase Daniel ?Blaine Gabbert ? Jimmy Costelo ? Chase Patton Missouri Tigers Recent News: Six of the Tigers’ top eight receivers from last season will be back for the 2008 season. These includes Jeremy Macklin, who set the NCAA single-season freshman record for all-purpose yards (2,776), receivers Tommy Saunders and Danario Alexander. Chase Coffman will also be playing for 2008. Playing in the offensive will be Colin Brown and guard Kurtis Gregory. Senior ends Tommy Chavis and Stryker Sulak both return for next season and so is senior tackle Ziggy Hood. Junior linebacker Sean Weatherspoon who led the defense with 130 tackles, returns after an impressive 2007. Many other players are to return for next season. And with them in the roster of the Mizzou Tigers, the Tigers expect to compete for the Big 12 Championships, a BCS bowl or maybe even for a National title. The Missouri Tigers won their 2nd consecutive North Division Big 12 Conference title on November 15, 2008 in a game against Iowa State. This guarantees them a place in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship. The South Division winner is still to be determined. Fans will be rocking the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on December 6, 2008 at 7:00 p. m. The conference has reserved 8,500 tickets for the University of Missouri.

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Technorati Tags: College, Football, Missouri Tigers, Tickets, Tigers

The Big 12 has provided the nation with several of the very best and most powerful college football teams this season, so it comes as no surprise that the Big 12 Championship football game will be something marvelous to behold. But which teams will you get to see when you purchase Big 12 Championship football tickets from http://www. stubhub. com/big-12-championship-football-tickets/ ? And better yet, who will win the game? Here are some of the teams with the best chances of winning the Big 12 title, and thus, the teams with the best chances of securing a BCS Bowl game bid. 1. Missouri Wondering why Missouri is our top choice to win the Big 12? Getting to the Big 12 Title Game is the most important factor in winning the game (you can’t win it if you’re not there), so after eleven weeks of college football, the Missouri Tigers have the best chance at making it to the game, and thus, a better chance of winning the game than any other team- including undefeated Texas Tech. The Tigers are 8-2 overall with a 4-2 conference record. Their next closest opponents in the North Division of the Big 12 are the two 6-4 overall (3-3 conference) teams, Kansas and Nebraska. With only two regular season games ahead of them, Iowa State on the road and Kansas at home, Missouri would have to have a monumental breakdown not to make the Big 12 title game. Once there, they have a decent shot of upsetting the South Division winner, whoever that might be, because of their offense, which ranks 6th in the nation in overall yardage and fourth in the nation in passing yardage. While Texas Tech gets all the hype, Missouri is no spring chicken when it comes to putting points on the board. They have the fourth highest points per game average at 45. 1, right behind the No. 3-ranked Red Raiders (47. 9). Which brings us to. . . 2. Texas Tech The Red Raiders will probably field more wagers to win the Big 12 than any other team in the division. And why not? They’re the No. 2 overall offense in the country, they beat then-No. 1 and division rival Texas in a shootout a couple of weeks ago and then put up 56 points on a then-one loss team, Oklahoma State, last weekend. They look pretty unbeatable right now, so barring any unforeseen injury to either quarterback Graham Harrell or future NFL receiver Michael Crabtree, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are a very good bet to win the Big 12. The payout you will get from picking this team in a futures bet, however, is probably not as god as you’d see with Texas, Oklahoma or Missouri. 3. Oklahoma Oklahoma plays Texas Tech this next weekend in what should be another dandy of a game. The Sooners can win the South Division title with a home game victory over the Red Raiders, landing them in the Big 12 Championship game. It all depends on the next game. If the Sooners can pull it off, they could see their name on Big 12 Championship football tickets this December. 4. Texas Texas barely lost to Texas Tech the week before last, and with just one loss in conference play so far, they could still get the top spot in the South Division. Of course, that would mean that Texas Tech would have to blow at least one of their last games (preferably to Oklahoma), and then have both Oklahoma and Texas Tech lose their last regular season games. If you’re looking for a long shot, Texas is your team.

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Technorati Tags: Big 12, Champion, Championship, Football, Tickets

Like many of you, I am always looking for a new way to make a buck. Also like many of you, I have looked into a number of opportunities in several fields. For example, I have owned several pieces of real estate. I am currently a landlord and have been for 15 years. I see no reason to believe that I will not be for the next 15. I have bought and held onto a property for years and sold when I thought the market was right or wanted to avoid having to put $10K into it for the next tenant.
I always struggled with making a decent return on the House Flip. Buy and hold has done right by me. I find that no matter how dilapidated a house is, the owner is never so stupid to sell to me at 50 cents on the dollar. When I have been able to buy under-market, the cost of upgrades ate into my profits.
The foreclosure route was not much better. Those foreclosure auctions seem to attract enough of a crowd these days to drive up the price to near market.
Even though I have a preference for buy and hold, everyone who hears that I have invested in real estate wants to here about my experience as it relates to flipping houses.
“How many have you bought and sold this year?”
“uh. . , none but I did last year and I wish I held onto it. “
“No you did the right thing. Where are you looking now? Can I get in?”
People love the flip. Everyone want to flip a house. I can even watch some cable TV shows about flipping houses. If you are a house flipper – power to you. I dislike the pressure of having to move it quickly. I like knowing I will hold onto a property for a and get a better return.
I you want to flip something, I have a better suggestion – sports and concert tickets. Half of you said to yourselves “Ticket scalping?” and the other have asked “Is that legal?”. Yes and yes are the quick answers but let’s take a closer look at the concept and the ability to make money.
Ticket scalping gets a bad rap. Somewhere it got embedded in our minds that we have an inherent right to purchase tickets for our local team or concert directly from the source. Anything that impedes that is an attack on our basic human rights. Hogwash. As an entrepreneur, you have the right to seek out markets where there is a limited supply of a product and the demand exceeds that supply. Tickets fit the bill.
Still not sold? I figured a few of you needed more. I brought up the house flipping scenario for a reason. People love the house flip. Buy under market value, slap a coat of paint on and sell over market value. The value the house flipper brings to the table is upgrading the “curb appeal”. I haven’t met a house flipper yet who wanted to upgrade the heating system. Now what do which is closer to meeting a basic need – shelter or a baseball ticket? Not even close.
Please do not read this the wrong way. I am not attacking house flippers. I love house flippers. I have done it and will do it again. But the general population loves the house flipper and loathes the ticket flipper. One serves a want and one serves a need.
Now hopefully most of you have made the mental switch that it is OK to flip tickets. Lets get down to business and talk about how some people are making money at it and why this is a good thing to look into.
Let’s start with the reasons this is a good market to jump into
Low barriers to entry – You can pick a hot concert touring the country buy some tickets for a few hundred dollars and resell them on line. It is not unheard of to get a 20 – 50% return on a deal like this if the show is popular. While you might not retire on a few hundred dollars profit, there is always someone touring that you can score some tickets to. Not a lot of industries offer an ability to get in and out so quickly without much cost.
Quick Inventory turnover – If you are buying and selling concert tickets, you might be holding your inventory for about three months on the long end. Like Sports? If you are working with sports tickets you might hold them for six months. Regardless, when you are making 20 – 50% returns in a two to six month period, the annual return is that much higher.
Many places to sell – there are several places to sell your tickets online. Each has some pros and cons. eBay of course seems to have the most volume, but you have to deal with your own shipping, listing fees and the expected eBay buyer who decides not to buy after all. Stubhub seems to be the leader of the pack in the non-eBay crowd. They have completed over 12 million transactions. The have higher fees than eBay but they include the shipping, only charge a fee when something sells and take care of all those nasty people who change their mind about buying your product. RazorGator is another place that follows the StubHub model. They just do not get as much traffic.
TicketNetwork and EventInventory each have high volume but these places cater to the full-time ticket broker instead of the person doing this on the side or a newbie. Lastly, if you want to scrape the bottom of the barrel and make extra work for yourself, you can always post your inventory on CraigsList.
Is it Legal? – While there are some restrictions in some states – every where else it is fair game. For example, If I live in New York and the venue seats more than 6,000 people, I can only mark the ticket up by 45%. If I do not live in New York, I can sell the ticket for any amount I choose.
The laws regarding this are old and are written to keep people away from selling tickets outside a stadium. In an online world they are just antiquated. There is a trend in state legislatures to ease up on these laws. With a market size $12 billion dollars, go figure that eBay and StubHub have hired some lobbyists to help ease up on the laws.
Flipping tickets is a good place for an entrepreneur to look into making some cash. At least compare to flipping houses, it has lower startup cost, higher returns and quicker turnover. Everything you want in a business.
Whether you want to dive off the deep end solo or get some help from people who have been there. That help is relatively inexpensive and provides a high value regardless of where you get it from. It is definitely cheaper than a real estate attorney.

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Technorati Tags: Flipping Houses, Tickets

Copyright © 2009 Ed BagleyWhen Mark Dantonio became the new Michigan State University football coach two years ago, he came to the East Lansing Campus with a pedigree that shouted success is on the way. He has not disappointed the Spartan faithful. Michigan State had not done diddly-squat since its 1999 team went 10-2, whipped Florida in the Citrus Bowl, led the Big Ten in total defense, and ranked 7th in the final polls. Times have changed in East Lansing. If diddly-squat shows up since Dantonio has arrived, he is in for a fight. Here is what Dantonio has accomplished since his debut 55-18 victory against UAB (the University of Alabama at Birmingham):Turn a losing program into a winning one by going 7-5 in his first regular season, and getting Michigan State its first bowl appearance in 4 years. Despite being a 5-point underdog to No. 14-ranked Boston College in the Champs Sports Bowl, the Spartans only lost by a field goal, 24-21. Their final 7-6 record included a 4-3 mark against bowl-bound teams, and the Spartans lost the 6 games by a total of 31 points, including two in overtime. All 6 games were decided by 7 points or less. It is called defense. With their 31-14 victory over the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame on the road in 2007, the Spartans became the first visiting team to win 6-straight games in the 77-year history of Notre Dame Stadium. Last year the progress continued as the Spartans went 9-3 in the regular season, beating Michigan and Notre Dame. They lost at California in their opener 38-31, took it on the chin 45-7 against No. 12-ranked Ohio State at home, and let No. 7-ranked Penn State take it to them 49-18 on the road at Happy Valley. Had they beaten Penn State, they would have had a share of the Big Ten title. Michigan State’s 6-2 Big Ten record was its best since the 1999 season, and its 9 wins represented only the 3rd time since 1966 (the year I graduated from Michigan State) that it had won 9 games in a season. Last season’s second step forward led to the No. 19-ranked Spartans facing off against the No. 16-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in the Capital One Bowl; State lost 24-12. Nevertheless, they ended the year with their second straight winning season (7-6 and 9-4)—their first back-to-back winning seasons in 19 years—and their second straight bowl appearance—their first back-to-back bowl appearances in 12 years. That is what is calling “getting after it”. Dantonio really became prominent as the defensive coordinator for Ohio State, where his defensive unit helped the Buckeyes to a 32-6 record in 3 years, and the 2002 National Championship. In the championship year, Ohio State was 2nd nationally in scoring defense (13 points a game) and 3rd in rushing defense (77 yards per game). Coming into this season, Michigan States loses two All Big Ten seniors—tailback Javon Ringer and safety Otis Wiley, and returns All Big Ten junior linebacker Greg Jones. To say Ringer left a hole in the running game would be a gross understatement. He rushed for 1,637 yards (accounting for 97% of Michigan State’s rushing offense) and scored a school-record 22 touchdowns. Ringer, a consensus All American, was drafted by the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. Ringer’s starting spot will be a competitive battle that just may be won by either of two outstanding freshmen—Edwin Baker out of Oak Park High School in Highland Park, or Larry Caper out of Battle Creek Central in Battle Creek. Baker is 5-9 and 200, and Caper is 5-11 and 215. Both are potentially explosive runners with some speed. Replacing senior quarterback Brian Hoyer, an inconsistent 2-year starter, is also an issue. Sophomore Kirk Cousins and redshirt sophomore Keith Nichol have limited experience, appearing in only a combined 8 games. All Big Ten junior Greg Jones had 127 tackles last year, and is arguably the best linebacker in the Big Ten. He must remain tough and healthy for Michigan State to again compete for the Big Ten title. The Spartan offense will also rely heavily on kicker Brett Swenson (22 field goals last year, including one last-minute, game-winner on a weak offense); wide receivers Blair White, Mark Dell and BJ Cunningham; tight end Charlie Gantt; guard Joel Foreman and center Joel Nitchman. Dantonio’s two recruiting classes must produce more new faces on the field this year. New faces better than the players they will replace. In its two biggest games of the year last season—Ohio State and Penn State—Michigan State did not show well and paid for it when the Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll found them absent. Major coaches generally applauded the fact that the Spartans did not take a dive late last season, they won many games they have lost in prior years, but when push came to shove, it was still Ohio State and Penn State on top of the heap. What many boosters may have missed is the fact that Michigan State took one huge step forward in bowl participation. Two years ago they had to settle for the Champs Sports Bowl and a $2. 25 million payout. Last year they moved up to the Capital One Bowl and a $4. 25 million payout. After the 5 BCS bowl games, the Capital One Bowl is the highest paying and most prestigious of the remaining 34 bowl games played last season. Michigan State’s schedule is favorable this year. The Spartans get both Michigan and Penn State at home, and do not play Ohio State. They also play 1-AA Montana State, Central Michigan and Western Michigan. If they cannot beat the latter three teams and Michigan, they have no business going to a bowl game. On a more positive note, while virtually everyone West of the Mississippi River thinks Michigan State could not possibly run the table, there is at least one Spartan in Washington State who thinks otherwise. Never underestimate what Mark Dantonio can accomplish. What if the Spartans beat Notre Dame, Michigan and the rest, and face Penn State at home with an 11-0 mark? That is why college football is so great. It could happen. The odds say it will not happen, but rest assured that if Michigan State plays in a BCS bowl game this season, it will be another giant step forward for Mark Dantonio and his Spartans.

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Technorati Tags: College Football, NCAA

Here we go BCS bowl predection alredy?

The season starts in two weeks. There’s already been a 1-through-120 countdown here.

All that’s missing is the most frivolous of preseason escapades: Trying to project bowl pairings before a game is even played.

Still, it’s a slow day. Well, at least until Maryland’s scrimmage this afternoon tomorrow now that Maryland’s scrimmage was postponed. And in any case, this is something that won’t find any room in the dead-tree edition during our preview week (or so I am assuming).

Fortunately, that 1-through-120 exercise (tweaked slightly since it was posted in July and early August) provides a framework for choosing teams to fill spots. In some cases, there’s also an attempt to avoid sending teams to the same game in consecutive years.

So the real complaints should be with the rankings, since I’ll most stick close to them throughout this little endeavor.

OK, time to start with the five BCS games, then work downward based based on which game has the highest-ranked team in the preseason college football countdown.

* BCS title game (BCS #1 vs. BCS #2): Florida vs. Southern California.

The Blessed Tebow survives the SEC wars with only one loss — which allows the Gators to take a spot opposite the unbeaten Trojans in the national title game.

* Orange (BCS-ACC vs. BCS): Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia

If the Orange Bowl is going to get the champs from the ACC and Big East, it probably won’t do better than this matchup … well, ever.

* Fiesta (BCS-Big 12 vs. BCS): Texas vs. Penn State

First Joe Paterno will refuse to chat with the television rights holder before the game. Then his team will get hammered by a team that was a win away from playing for the national title. Sound familiar?

* Sugar (BCS-SEC vs. BCS): Louisiana State vs. Oklahoma

The Sugar Bowl could have brought Alabama back, but what do you bet the prospect of a similarly excellent bunch from Baton Rouge gets the nod?

* Rose (BCS-Big Ten vs. BCS-Pac-10): Ohio State vs. California

The Rose Bowl loves its tradition. So while California might not be as good as hyped, it could get an invite to Pasadena, a la Illinois two years ago.

* Capital One (SEC #2 vs. Big Ten #2): Alabama vs. Iowa

The Crimson Tide winds up in Orlando, and its horde of fans see a blowout. If memory serves, the last time Nick Saban was in this bowl, he bolted for the Miami Dolphins right afterward.

* Outback (SEC #3/4-East vs. Big Ten #3): Georgia vs. Michigan State

A rematch of last year’s Capital One Bowl, which the Bulldogs won 24-12. A similar result would come as no surprise.

* Humanitarian (WAC vs. Mountain West #5): Boise State vs. Colorado State

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Technorati Tags: College Bowl Games, College Football, Football

I am pointing out the fact that Tennessee and not Georgia is going to the SEC Title game. Remember Tennessee blew out Georgia during the regular season. Georgia got away with one here because they get to go to a BCS bowl and not play the extra game. However, LSU have to win the extra game(the title game) to go to a BCS bowl.

Ok everyone hates this question about the BS BCS but now who is in it?
Sunday I believe it will be
Top 3
1. Mizzou/Kansas
2. WVU
3. Ohio State
West Virginia has a game against a good uconn team. Ohio State is done. And the winner of the kansas and Mizzou plays Oklahoma. So do you think a possible Ohio State/West Virginia game.

It seems to me that there is a rule if the conference champion does not finish in the top 16, a bowl bid is not guaranteed. Can anybody confirm this or fully explain the process? I am really hoping that the Big Least can be shut out of the BCS bowls this year and a deserving non-BCS conference team gets that bid. Is this possible?