Sure, the NCAA preaches sportsmanship and quality competition, but that doesn’t mean that it shows up on the field 100 percent of the time.

Who doesn’t enjoy a little bit of carnage every now and again, spicing things up?  Well, just as long as no one is seriously hurt, of course.

College football has seen its share of unleashed fury over the years – some in the form of quick outbreaks and others… nasty, violent brawls.

So, which were the nastiest?

Well, the forthcoming “dirty dozen” may not all be the worst of all-time, but they are the most recent to be caught on video (and displayed via You Tube).

Without further ado… here they are in no particular order – though the worst are saved for last:

“The Dirty Dozen”: 12 of College Football’s Nastiest, Filthiest Brawls

Notre Dame and Miami (1988)

The game – a 31-30 victory by Notre Dame – was considered one of the best games in the 1980’s.  Also referred to as “The Catholics vs. The Convicts”, the teams started up quite the frenzy before opening kickoff, igniting a pre-game fight in the tunnel.

Notre Dame and USC (1971)

The result of this game was a 28-14 upset victory by unranked USC over the Irish, who headed into the game ranked 6^th in the country.

However, this game wound up being more famous for the approximately 20-minute delay due to an on-the-field brawl.

Miami and South Carolina (1987)

This brawl started on a routine pass play where the pass protection broke down, South Carolina’s quarterback scrambled back, and instead of being sacked – he was slung to the turf like a rag dolll.

The result of that play was some pushing and shoving, a few bodies flailing for the ball and the next thing you know, the benches had cleared.

LeGarrette Blount (Oregon) vs. Byron Hout (Boise State) – 2009

OK, so this wasn’t much of a brawl – but it was last season and fresh in everyone’s mind.

Blount – who talked a lot of trash pre-game – couldn’t hold up his end of the bargain as Boise State manhandled the Ducks.

In the end, Hout couldn’t resist opening his mouth during the post-game, and the result was Blount delivering a cheap shot and losing his cool later – eventually leading to a team suspension.

Ole Miss and Mississippi State (1997)

Don’t let the soft-boiled Egg Bowl name fool you – these two teams hate each other, especially during the 1997 game, which started out as a pre-game brawl and ended with a 15-14 victory by Ole Miss.

It isn’t the highest quality video, but you get the idea – that a few shells were definitely cracked during this rivalry grudge match.

UCLA and USC (2009)

Rick Neuheisel and Pete Carroll brought fire back to this rivalry, especially in last year’s match – when a late-game timeout by UCLA turned into a long bomb for a TD by USC.

After all was said it done, the teams were on the field ready to fight – and while this didn’t turn into much of anything, it certainly could have.

Western and Eastern Arizona (2009)

Sure, they’re smaller football schools – but judging by the video, “you throw out the records when these two face each other”, as the popular phrase goes.

It all appeared to be a routine scrub, until a few cheap shots by players on each team resulted in a much more aggressive dogpile of players that seemed to migrate across the field toward the end zone.

Maritime and Kings Point College (2007)

Here’s yet another scrum between smaller schools, though it’s almost “Oregon Blount-like” in nature – except when the one player landed the punch, his opponent was borderline laid out.

I mean, that guy didn’t have a chance – he fell like a load of bricks.  If that kid didn’t make it in football, then he should’ve also considered boxing for a second career.  Here’s the video:

Georgia and Georgia Tech (2008 and then some)

This video features more of a montage instead of a single melee, which just goes to show that the hatred runs pretty deep in this in-state rivalry between the Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets.

If you don’t buy it, then take a look for yourself.

Houston and Hawaii (2003)

Hawaii also had a major brawl with Cincinnati during the 2002 season, so it’s safe to say that the Warriors were a bit of a feisty bunch over recent years – not what you would expect from a place where so many travel to for laid-back vacations.

The 2003 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl wasn’t just a wild one for the brawl that occurred once the game was over, but also for the game itself – a 54-48 win by Hawaii.

Clemson and South Carolina (2004)

Lou Holtz – South Carolina’s coach at the time – did the best he could to keep this brawl from happening, but there just was too much boiling over from a rivalry like this that has been going on for as long as it has.

The incident happened with less than six minutes to go in the game, and has often been referred to as one of the worst moments in the rivalry’s history.

In fact, each of the schools reacted to the incident as such – with both administrations swiping away postseason berths, while also each suspending six players apiece.

Florida International and Miami (2006)

This was arguably one of the worst brawls in college football history – featuring kicks to the head with cleats and players using helmets as a weapon.  Certainly, a number of charges and suspensions were added after the dust settled – 31 to be exact.

FIU also dismissed a few players from the team entirely.

The video shows just how bad it was – and quite honestly, this was the most fight each of these teams showed that during particular season.  It’s just a shame that it had to be in this negative of a manner.

* Also posted to my B/R page

Freshmen in college, rookies in the NFL – they all get hazed to some degree.

So what about rookie coaches in college football?  They get a deal, a few years to prove their worth and then either find barrels of success or get hazed themselves – leading to a swift kick in the tailpipe, a clean desk and a set of walking papers.

That takes us to 11 rookie coaches – all in a new town, heading up a new program within the BCS system.  The question remains: will it be the success or the swift kick in the you-know-what?

Which Rookie Coach Will Have the Worst 2010 season?

11. Jimbo Fisher – Florida State

Think the weight of filling the shoes of a coaching legend will be added pressure?

Stop it.  Bowden had been the driver of a “cash for clunker” set on cruise control for the last few years.

Jimbo Fisher will be fine – securing a top ten recruiting class and bringing new hope to Tallahassee.

The schedule will be a challenge though, with road games against Miami (FL) and Oklahoma, plus BYU, Clemson and Florida at home.

10. Skip Holtz – South Florida

Holtz is taking over a program buried in controversy left behind by Jim Leavitt.

But that won’t mean a thing, as Skip has gotten the best out of minimal talent for years – leading East Carolina to four straight bowl games and back-to-back nine win seasons.

That, plus he knocked off Boise State in 2007 and both Virginia Tech and West Virginia during the 2008 season.

The move from Conference USA to the Big East won’t be that big of a jump considering Holtz will be joining the red-headed stepchild of the BCS power conferences.

9. Brian Kelly – Notre Dame

(AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

Sorry, Charlie – but Coach Kelly is going to make you a distant memory soon.

Brian Kelly was 34-6 as a coach at Cincinnati, and he also led Central Michigan to the top of the MAC in his previous job with the Chippewas.

Now he trades talent that was 60^th in recruiting for a top 15 class, plus a school that wants to win more than any in college football.

When it all comes down to it, everyone in South Bend – including Touchdown Jesus – will have their eyes on Dayne Crist, recovering from a knee injury and carrying Coach Kelly’s success in his own two hands.

8. Derek Dooley – Tennessee

For those that want to point out (and hate on) the fact that new Vols coach Derek Dooley had a career coaching record of 17-20 with Louisiana Tech, I have two words for you: Gene Chizik.

In his first season at Auburn, Chizik was 8-5 (after going 5-19 in two years at Iowa State).  Sometimes, you just need a chance – and some talent.

That’s exactly what Dooley has, left some players via recruiting masterminds like Ed Orgeron – plus a top ten recruiting class (9^th via Rivals.com).

Don’t worry Rocky Top: soon you’ll be dropping the ‘Eff-U’ for “Lane Who?”

7. Lane Kiffin – USC

There’s no expectation that Kiffin will be bringing home any humanitarian awards in the upcoming months – but the point of the matter is this: Kiffin has legendary defensive-minded Dad in tow, plus aforementioned recruiting machine Ed Orgeron.

On top of that, the Trojans have a boatland of talent still in play.  The issue last season was the defense, and Monte Kiffin will improve on that.

So, it should be a solid year for USC – and oh yeah, because this is his dream job – Kiffin may not even leave before the year is over with.

6. Joker Phillips – Kentucky

With Calipari and Co. roaming the campus, it’s likely that fans may see their new football coach and say, “Who’s this Joker?”

OK, so unlikely, considering Phillips was a former wide receiver, and a coach on the staff for the last half dozen years.

But this Kentucky football team should take a backseat to no one – making four bowl games in the last five seasons.

Still, Joker’s first season is no laughing matter, with road tests at Florida and Tennessee.

5. Butch Jones – Cincinnati

With Brian Kelly off to Notre Dame, Butch Jones takes over for the Bearcats.

Cincinnati is going to miss players like Tony Pike and Mardy Gilyard.

Even though Zach Collaros and Isaiah Pead are still around to shoulder some of the load, a schedule that has a road opener at Fresno State and Oklahoma three weeks later – this year likely could result in the Bearcats heading back in the Big East pack by season’s end.

4. Mike London – Virginia

Al Groh’s rollercoaster career at Virginia is over, leaving Mike London to take his place.

In two years at Richmond, London was 24-5, incliuding an FCS Championship.

2010 is going to be a challenge, not only losing a lot of senior leadership at the LB, QB and TB positions, but also a recruiting class that was ranked lower than schools such as Colorado State, Hawaii and Memphis (per Rivals.com).

Add in a rematch with his former team, plus a trip to USC the following week, and it will be London’s career record falling down.

3. Turner Gill – Kansas

Mangino leaves a black cloud over the program, a number of seniors have moved on (headlined by QB Todd Reesing) and the team finished the season with seven straight losses.

Piece of cake, Turner – after all, you had some success at Buffalo.  That’s some success – building from a two-win season to 8-6 and the International Bowl in 2008.

But we’ll see how Gill adjusts from the MAC to the Big 12 conference – especially when he has to travel to Nebraska on November 13^th.  It’ll get ugly before it gets pretty.

2. Charlie Strong – Louisville

It seems so long ago that Louisville consistently churned QB’s through to the NFL.

Coach Kragthorpe left the Cardinals in shambles, having zero winning seasons over a three-year span, finishing no higher than 5^th in the conference.

Enter Charlie Strong, who has been surrounded by great staff and players at Florida – so he should right the ship, but it won’t happen right away.

In fact, midway through an ugly 2010, he’ll likely wish he pulled a Billy Donovan or Urban Meyer, retracting the Florida depature in the first place.

1. Tommy Tuberville – Texas Tech

Tuberville is going to switch and adjust to the spread offense, similar to the one that Leach previously used at Texas Tech.

The key difference: He wants defense, too.

Tommy T. plans to mainly use a 3-4 defense – and due to the adjustments – required a number of defensive recruits to come on board in a short period of time.

In the end, the major adjustment to the system – combined with a schedule that features Big 12 powers Oklahoma, Texas and Oklahoma State – will lead to multiple headaches in year one.

If the changes don’t translate into victories quickly, Tuberville may find himself back on the golf course sooner rather than later.

* Also posted to my Bleacher Report page

Put on that game face.  Football is coming.

I CAN’T HEAR YOU.

Aren’t you in pain from a summer of So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Got Talent?  Sure you are, but quit crying over that open wound left from excessive Gosselin gossip.

RUB SOME DIRT ON IT.

College football is just a hair over two weeks away – a stone’s throw from a heck of an opener between #14 Oregon and #16 Boise State – on the “Smurf Turf”.  If the coma-inducing jerseys and field aren’t enough, just look at the talent and implications of game one, as the Ducks could easily challenge USC for the Pac-10, while the Broncos could be this year’s BCS darling.  Heck, one dream alone can be crushed before the opening weekend.

Can I get a “Statue of Liberty” play?  Don’t roll your eyes at me, Bob Stoops.

If the Thursday opener on September 3rd isn’t enough, then look no further than two days later, when #5 Alabama faces #7 Virginia Tech, #3 Oklahoma takes on BYU, and #13 Georgia clashes with #11 Oklahoma State.

OK, so to rehash, that’s an intense Nick Saban leading ‘Bama against the Hokies and Frank Beamer, two Heisman candidates facing off in Max Hall (BYU) and Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), and a Stafford-free Georgia squad going against the Cowboys and Mike Gundy… the man, who’s now 41.

Are you fired up now, football fan?

If not, then look at the implications of these big games – not just to each school playing in these games, but other conferences.  Take the Big Ten for example, a conference that opens the season with three teams in the Coaches Top 25 (#6 Ohio State, #8 Penn State, and #21 Iowa).

Fine, the Nittany Lions open with Akron – not exactly a blockbuster movie with shoot ‘em up action, I get it.  The Buckeyes have Navy – yeah, the Midshipmen will likely be sunk.  Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes have Northern Iowa – right, not the sexiest matchup on paper.

But it’s football, it’s big time games, it’s big time matchups with major implications.

BCS implications – because a number of the prognosticators have the likes of Oklahoma, BYU, Boise State, Oregon, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, and Alabama, all in heavy contention for a BCS berth by season’s end.

When top-notch teams face off this early, some dreams could take a major hit, heck, just ask Clemson last season.  The result is a doorway for teams in the polls (like the aforementioned Big Ten trio) to move on up – as well as open the doorway for other unranked teams such as Michigan State, Illinois, or even Minnesota.

This is your TV now, football fan.  Mowing the lawn can wait, are you kidding me?

I want you to grab your leather chair.  I want you to get an ice-cold beer.  I want you to have the remote in your hand, and no one else’s.

Your time is now.

Turn on that high-def channel and suck yourself in – put yourself there trampling through the grass, the mud, the rain, the snow – the elements.

I want you to grab your tailgate gear, toss it in your truck, litter the back of your car with school pride, and take off for the stadium. I want you to toss a steak on the grill, and cook it up until the neighbors salivate in unison around you.

Nittany Lions fans, can I get a “WE ARE PENN STATE”?  Michigan crew, can I get a “Go Blue”?  Buckeye faithful, can I get a, “O-Hi-O”?

This is your time, football fan.

Football is upon us, so get up off your feet and make some @#$% noise already!

Originally posted to KP’s Blog (via Fox Sports) on April 20, 2009

Popular game. Annoying game. It’s a game where you are forced to provide all the answers. Yes, my friends, it’s 20 questions… only this time, the answer is “The NFL Draft”.

And here are the questions that should lead up to this weekend’s answer…

20 Questions… NFL Draft Style

1 – Who will the Lions take with the number one pick?
All signs are pointing in the direction of Matthew Stafford, but this draft is likely going to surprise, and that shock could spark at the very top in Detroit.

2 – Which quarterback will be better in the NFL, Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez?
Or better yet, maybe Josh Freeman, or a diamond in the rough near the draft’s final rounds…

3 – What will the New York Jets do about their quarterback situation?
Will a Sanchez or Stafford fall, or will the Jets trade up, or avoid a QB entirely in the early going?

4 – Will the Denver Broncos add a quarterback, or stick with Kyle Orton and Chris Simms?
Personally, if I’m the Broncos, I stick with these two for now, and instead focus on improving the team’s defense, which struggled last year.

5 – Will Braylon Edwards get traded to the Giants?
It’s been a popular rumor, where Edwards could get dealt to the Giants to replace Plaxico Burress. The real question is, can Edwards cure that case of the “dropsies”?

6 – Will the Redskins make a move to draft Mark Sanchez, and if so, what happens with Jason Campbell in DC?
One thing is for certain… Campbell has handled the trade rumors a lot better than Jay Cutler did.

7 – Will the Eagles gun for a playmaker to make McNabb happy, a.k.a. a deal for Anquan Boldin?
Boldin is on the market and a lot of teams are interested in him, for good reason. If I’m the Eagles, I go for it, giving Donovan that weapon he’s needed since “you know who” left.

8 – What will the negative news surrounding B.J. Raji and Andre Smith do for each player’s draft stock?
There was a rumor on Raji failing a drug test, which has been mentioned as being false. Then there’s Smith, whose story started while reporting to the Combine out of shape, and not working out at it. How will each story affect each player’s draft stock?

9 – How much will Michael Crabtree’s injury affect where he is selected in the draft?
Some have compared him to Andre Johnson of the Texans. Either way, Crabtree is a “can’t miss” talent, and I still expect him to get taken in the top five.

10 – Will all three of USC’s starting linebackers from last year be selected in the first round?
It’s unheard of to see an entire unit get taken in the first round of the draft, but it could happen with last year’s USC starting linebacker trio of Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews, and Brian Cushing.

11 – When drafted, where will Brian Orakpo and Aaron Maybin play, defensive end or outside linebacker?
Orakpo is freakishly strong while Maybin is considered super quick but slightly undersized, but the question remains, which system will each fall into and how will they perform once there?

12 – How soon will the slasher types like Penn State’s Derrick Williams and West Virginia’s Pat White go, and how will each fit with his respective team?
Both are former quarterbacks (Williams in high school) that can run, throw, return kicks… whatever is needed. Perhaps one would fit well in a wildcat-like system.

13 – Will draft prospect Demetrius Byrd be OK after being in a serious auto accident?
The former LSU receiver was considered one of the top twenty receivers on the draft board, and hopefully the young man will make a full recovery. Get well soon Demetrius.

14 – Which running back will go first, Knowshon Moreno or Chris Wells?
One mock draft has “Beanie” Wells going to the Saints. Can you imagine a duo of Wells and Bush in the New Orleans backfield? Nasty… that is, if each were able to stay healthy.

15 – What kind of impact will the second tier of running backs have?
There are only a few projected first rounders, but what about some of the second tier players such as Donald Brown (Connecticut) and Shonn Greene (Iowa)? Each could have very productive NFL careers.

16 – Is Wake’s Aaron Curry really the safest bet in this draft?
This draft seems as up in the air as any in recent memory, but the common thought is that Curry is the draft’s safest bet. The question remains, will he be when we look back on this draft ten years from now?

17 – Who will be the biggest steal of this year’s draft?
There’s one every year, and the biggest steal in my mind from last year was Washington safety Chris Horton, who was selected in the seventh round (249th pick), and had 76 tackles his rookie season.

18 – How many wide receivers will be selected in the first round?
This year’s receiver group is chock full of talent, while last year, not one WR was taken in the first round. Crabtree is the unanimous top gun, but who else will go in the first? A few likely options include Jeremy Maclin, Hakeem Nicks, Percy Harvin, Kenny Britt, and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

19 – What surprise deals will come from out of nowhere on draft day?
It happens every year. Trades from out of nowhere. Trading up, trading down, trading for veterans. There’s always one shocker, do you have an off-the-wall prediction for one?

And finally…

20 – What off-color occurrence will we be presented with during the draft?
C’mon you know the drill. That one player sporting the extra vibrant duds, or maybe another situation like the Vikings, who six years ago missed making their pick because time expired. What will we see this year, if anything?

Don’t question it, the answer is the NFL Draft – and it’s the taste of football we crave while waiting for another season to get started…

If there’s something strange in your Midwest Region.
Who you gonna call? BRACKET BUSTERS!

If there’s something weird in Carolina’s hood.
Who you gonna call? BRACKET BUSTERS!

I ain’t afraid of mid-majors
I ain’t afraid of no underdog

If you’re seeing things that kill your bracket dead
Who can you call? BRACKET BUSTERS!

A seven foot man dunking on your head
Oh, who you gonna call? BRACKET BUSTERS!

If your Final Four’s gone, pick up the phone
And call… BRACKET BUSTERS!

I ain’t afraid of Cinderella
I ain’t afraid of buzzer beaters
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Who you gonna call? BRACKET BUSTERS!

If you’ve had a dose, and your Champ is toast
You’d better call… BRACKET BUSTERS!

Let me tell you something
Bustin’ makes me feel good

Don’t get caught in one-on-one, oh
When it comes through the paint
Unless you just want free throws
I think you better call…

WHO WE GONNA CALL?

BRACKET BUSTERS!

“Exceed the Seed (Bracket Busters)” – by KP (Spoof of Ray Parker Jr.’s “Ghostbusters”)
By now, many of you have already filled out a bracket, and therefore have your own Cinderellas in place. Let’s compare, shall we? I present you with my list of “Bracket Busters”, including a six pack of teams that I think can “exceed their seed”, potentially resulting in a lot of crumbled brackets in the very near future.

KP’s Bracket Busters for 2009 *

Mississippi State Bulldogs
(#13 – West Region)

There’s a little term out there called momentum, and that’s what the Bulldogs have after winning six straight (including four by nine points or more), plus earning a tournament bid by winning the SEC conference tournament. Forget the little things, what about a big man by the name of Jarvis Varnado? Varnado leads the team in scoring, while adding nine boards a game and rivaling Uconn’s Hasheem Thabeet as the best blocker in the nation. And oh yeah, the Bulldogs are among the country’s best in field goal percentage defense, while also draining an average of eight or more triples a game. In my eyes, it all adds up to a shocking first round upset of the Washington Huskies.

Wisconsin Badgers
(#12 – East Region)

Everyone is high on Florida State, and why not, they’ve had a great year, one that’s been quite a surprise to many. But hear this about FSU: Its a scrappy defensive team that has one star scorer, Toney Douglas, who averages over 21 points a game. Besides Douglas, no one other Seminole player averages in double figures.

Enter the Badgers, a defensive minded team led by head coach Bo Ryan. This is a team with some veteran leadership and March Madness experience. Ignore the six game losing streak earlier in the season. Heck, none of those losses were by double digits, three of them were by three points, and two others went to overtime. All in all, Wisconsin has the defensive ability to shut down Douglas and force others to beat them. And that’s why I have Wisconsin not only upsetting FSU, but also moving on to shock Xavier and make the Sweet 16.

Arizona Wildcats
(#12 – Midwest Region)

Arizona may be the team that every critic says should not have made this year’s dance, but now that the Wildcats are here, all that talk is simply just fuel to motivate the players – a group that includes a few future NBA talents, including Jordan Hill (18.5 PPG and 11 RPG), Chase Budinger (17.9 PPG and 6.3 RPG), and Nic Wise (15.1 PPG and 4.6 APG).

Sure, Utah has some balance, featuring four players who average in double figures, led by giant center Luke Nevill. But there’s just something about being rejuvenated with a madness invite, and even though the Wildcats dropped five of six to end the year, they have enough talent to turn on their game at any time – and that time is now with a 12-5 upset of the Utes.

Virginia Commonwealth Rams
(#11 – East Region)

VCU has been here before, and so has senior Eric Maynor, who hit the game winning shot that sank Duke in the tournament a few seasons ago. Returning to the tournament again, Maynor is among the nation’s highest scorers, averaging 22.4 a game, while also dishing the rock for over six assists per game. The Rams also have Larry Sanders, the talented forward who averages over 11 points and eight boards a game.

Enter UCLA, a team that in recent years lives in the Final Four. But this year, the Bruins have been inconsistent. Sure, Ben Howland still has a talented bunch that plays solid defense, but VCU found a way against a Duke team that always plays sound defense. And that’s why I see another “Maynor Miracle”, putting a dramatic end to UCLA’s impressive tournament streak.

Clemson Tigers
(#7 – South Region)

How is it that this Clemson team can start out at such a blistering pace each year, only to fade down the stretch every single time? The Tigers finished out by losing four of five, dropping their seed down to the seven slot. But this team can play, and blowout victories over tournament teams such as Duke and Maryland prove it. The question is, which Tiger team will show up when the madness begins? The Jekyll or the Hyde? One thing’s for certain, the talented trio of Trevor Booker, K.C. Rivers, and Terrence Oglesby can beat anyone on a given day.

And in the first round, Clemson and Michigan should put up a fireworks display, as both are solid three-point shooting teams. With Oklahoma reeling ever since Blake Griffin left with a concussion, anything is possible. Sure, Griffin is likely the top pick in upcoming draft, but the supporting cast has been iffy in recent weeks, and OU has been losing with Griffin in the lineup, too. Maybe it’s fatigue, who knows, but this isn’t the same Sooners team from weeks ago, and that’s why I have a talented Clemson team catching fire and knocking out the Sooners in the second round.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons
(#4 – Midwest Region)

People should recall that this Wake team was once #1 in the country, and has impressive victories over Duke, Boston College (twice) Clemson (twice), BYU, Florida State, and North Carolina. They loosely remind me of a championship Syracuse team from a few years back, mostly from the perspective that they are a young and talented group that came in slightly under the radar, just below the top tier of teams. With the ‘Cuse, it was Carmelo Anthony, Hakim Warrick, and Gerry McNamara. On this young Wake team, it’s Jeff Teague, James Johnson, and Al-Farouq Aminu.

Do I have the Demon Deacons winning the title? Nope… but I do have them upsetting Louisville to advance to the Elite 8. Don’t think it’s possible? Look at Wake, a team that’s among the best in the nation in rebound margin, a.k.a. second chances. Now look at Louisville, a very talented team, but one who shoots poorly from the line (around 64%), while also having some significant lapses during the season, including a 33-point loss to Notre Dame and a 14-point loss to Western Kentucky. After ten straight wins, they could be due to fall soon, and Wake has the talent to knock them out if they can catch the Cardinals on the right day.

Who are your Cinderellas for 2009?

Don’t forget… if you need ‘em, the Bracket Busters are just a phone call away.

* This is similar to KP’s post of the same title from last season, where he was able (or lucky) to predict over 2/3 of his upsets correctly.