National University Catalog

Let me start by introducing myself: I am a statistician by profession, as well as a computer programmer and football analyst.  Two years ago, I began researching game theory and how to predict college football games.  For the 2008 and 2009 season, I created an algorithm based on similar games model to predict the winner of each FBS vs. FBS game as well as prediction against the spread. My similar games model takes six years of data to rank each of the 120 FBS football teams.  A team is ranked based on how they fare against how they should fare.  For example, based on a team's rank and whether they are home or away will determine what they should win or lose by.  Therefore, a team who wins but not by as much as they should or by allowing too many points can actually lose rank even though they won.  The same is true for a team that loses but does not lose by much or does not allow many points.  Unfortunately, though, is my predictor does not take into account player suspensions or injuries. So based on this ranking, I look at the most current two to three years of games and find the closest matching 15 games.  Then, I predict the outcome of the current game from these 15 games' outcomes.  I base my factors of matching on in or out of conference matchup, the rank of the home team vs the rank of the away team, neutral site ...

The Big Ten's announcement of the divisional format Wednesday night offered the first official glimpse at how the conference will be shaped going forward.Now it's time to predict how it will play out on the gridiron.Throughout the post-expansion process, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany repeated the Big Ten's desire to protect old rivalries in the new format, which worked better in some cases than in others.Most notably, Iowa will no longer have a protected rivalry game with Wisconsin. Instead, the Hawkeyes will meet cross-divisional foe Purdue every season going forward.Despite being separated, Ohio State and Michigan will continue to square off annually on the final game of the regular season.That's the good news. The bad news is the possibility of a rematch the very next week in the Big Ten Conference Championship game.With this new format set to begin in 2011, here's a very early look at how the teams might finish in the first season of divisional play.Begin Slideshow

TAMPA—This is it. This is the year it finally happens. Miami. Florida State. ACC Championship. While it has taken nearly seven years for Florida State and Miami to get their acts together simultaneously, it would appear that Commissioner John Swofford's dream-matchup of the Hurricanes and the Seminoles may finally come true—in his own North Carolina back yard no less. In a season where expectations are remarkably high in both camps; both the 'Noles and 'Canes seem to have their teams well prepared for the upcoming gauntlets that each will face. While Miami faces an early test against the 2nd Ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on September 11th, the Seminoles will be preparing for a similar daunting task against the 5th Ranked Oklahoma Sooners. Many fans may remember that both the Buckeyes and the Sooners defeated Miami and Florida State respectively, in the 2000 and 2002 BCS National Championships. Miami, still seeking revenge for the questionable "call" that cost them a repeat title, will have to travel to one of the most hostile settings in Columbus' Horseshoe Stadium. Meanwhile, the Seminoles must travel to Norman's Memorial Stadium, where the Bob Stoops' Sooners have not lost, in over two years. The good news? By and large, unless considering overall wins, these games do not matter. Unless FSU and/or Miami are planning to play for a BCS title this season—which would be overly optimistic by any pundit's predictions, FSU and Miami fans can consider the early season juggernauts a good learning lesson, and a good ...

Here's a look at the 2010 Ohio State Buckeyes' football schedule, plus where you can catch each game on TV this season. 9/2-   Ohio St.  v. Marshall- 7:30 P.M., Big Ten Network 9/11-  Ohio St.  v. Miami (FL)- 3:40 P.M. , ESPN 9/18-  Ohio St. v. Ohio- 12:00 P.M. , Big Ten Network 9/25-  Ohio St. v. Eastern Michigan- TBD 10/2-  Ohio St. @ Illinois- TBD 10/9-  Ohio St. v. Indiana- TBD 10/16- Ohio St.@ Wisconsin 7:00 PM ET ESPN/ ESPN 2 10/23- Ohio St. vs Purdue 12:00 PM ET  10/30- Ohio St. @ Minnesota 8:00 PM ET ESPN/ ESPN 2/ ABC 11/13- Ohio St. v. Penn St. - TBD  11/20 - Ohio St. @ Iowa- TBD  11/27 Ohio St. V. Michigan- TBD Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

The 2009 season is over. The accolades for the National Championship run are complete. There was an additional small reward over the summer with the release of a movie that center staged Alabama's Football program and their new favorite citizen, Nick Saban. But if you paid any attention to the ESPN series that put Coach Saban front and center of the educational process that takes place on the practice field, then you know that despite their young age, the talented players on defense for Alabama will be taught what they need to succeed. Plain and simple, the time is ready to get it on! Attrition occurs every year during the fall camp. New talent percolates to the forefront and players who were patient, worked hard as a scout team player, ate the right things, and camped in the weight room during the offseason have seen the extra effort pay off. For players like DeQuan Menzie, Damien Square, Dont'a Hightower, and a few others coming off critical injuries, it's time to enjoy the success of rehabilitation. It's time to feel the peacefulness that comes from enduring the extremes on the emotional roller coaster. Highs and lows are put aside for the even tempo of a life back to normal and the confidence that comes from knowing that your coach has listed you as a starter. No real surprises in the starting lineup and depth chart for the Crimson Tide. What is amazing is that at nearly every position, this ...