BustedPlay

Jeff Jagodzinski is a pretty good coach. Part of that may be because he had Matt Ryan last year, but hey, he also did okay this year with Crane at the helm (that backup for the bowl game…. there’s not many coaches that could work with that).

So it’s no surprise that the Jets are interested in him for their vacant coaching job. The problem? If Jagodzinski interviews — is scheduled for later this evening — he is to be terminated immediately.

While Boston College football coach Jeff Jagodzinski proceeds toward a scheduled interview with the New York Jets, athletic director Gene DeFilippo made it clear Monday that doing so will bring an end to the coach’s brief tenure in Chestnut Hill.

“Jeff is a very good man and an excellent football coach,” DeFilippo said. “He did a wonderful job for us while he was here at BC. I wish Jeff would not take this interview and would remain as head coach at BC.”

So if you’re ever applying for the BC job, don’t mention advancement to the NFL as reasons you’re interested. It won’t go over well.

Opening weekend of college football is just about done, but the game I’ve really been looking forward to — when my Vols head to California to face UCLA — will close the weekend tonight (and Rutgers and Fresno St. are about to go at it right now).

With that said, here’s a few thoughts on what’s transpired thus far.

Jackonsville State 14, Georgia Tech 41: The Jackets were able to run for 385 yards in its first game running the triple option. You don’t watch a D-I school beat Jackonsville State and say a system will work, but if Thursday night was an indication, then the system will work.

UGA 45, Georgia Southern 21: This isn’t the kind of game you want to see from the No. 1 team in the nation. That offensive line of Georgia has got to be a question mark.

Youngstown State 0, Ohio State 43: The biggest thing about this game wasn’t the score but the health of Chris Wells. If he’s out for a duration of time, and from what I saw from USC, you’ve gotta give the Trojans the nod during their showdown in two weeks.

USC 52, Virginia 7: Ouch. The ACC really showed that they’re an inferior conference this weekend.

Chattanooga 2, Oklahoma 57: Sadly, the score wasn’t even this close. It was 50-0 at halftime, and then the reserves came in.

Hawaii 10, Florida 56: They didn’t look as sharp as I expeted, but keep in mind that Percy Harvin is still out, but expected to play next week against Miami.

Illinois 42, Missouri 52: Chase Daniel had 323 yards and 3 touchdowns. As good a start as that was, he was outplayed by Juice Williams, who had over 400 yards throwing and 5 TD’s.

Appalachian State 13, LSU 41: There wasn’t going to be another miracle this year. Not against that defensive size and speed.

Villanova 21, West Virginia 48: They’re one of the teams I’ve said will play in the BCS Title game. It wasn’t the best showing, but a win’s a win.

Alabama 34, Clemson 10: Again: The ACC just didn’t show up. The Clemson game was never close, and Tommy Bowden proves again why you can’t rely on Tommy Bowden. You can’t say Alabama has more talent, but they sure did look like it Saturday night.

Louisiana Monroe 0, Auburn 34: I watched this game, and though the score shows a blowout, this game was a lot closer. Auburn’s offense never did click, and that’s hopefully just some rust in the new spread system they’re implementing.

Northern Arizona 13, Arizona State 30: Does anyone really think Arizona State will beat UGA? I hope they do, but I’m not really buying into it.

Virginia Tech 22, East Carolina 27: Again: Wake up, ACC.

Washington 10, Oregon 44: Say goodbye to Ty Willingham. He’s on thin ice as is, and losing by 34 points in the opener isn’t the way to start the season.

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There were a lot of people wondering about Matt Ryan, his arm strength, his accuracy, etc., given that he hadn’t thrown, but any doubters may soon become believers. Ryan threw in front of pro scouts today at Boston College, and he did nothing to hurt his draft stock.

Ryan worked out at BC’s biggest Pro Day ever, throwing to former teammates for a mini-combine of 42 scouts and other personnel evaluators from 22 NFL teams. He completed 48 of 52 passes — three drops, one overthrown — from three-, five- and seven step drops, from the pocket and on the run, throwing to both sides of the field.

“I made every throw you need to make in the NFL,” said Ryan, who skipped the Senior Bowl and ran but didn’t throw at last month’s NFL combine in Indianapolis. “I thought it went well. It was the first opportunity I’ve had to throw in front of the scouts live.”

It’s hard to say where Ryan will fall. The Dolphins need him, but the Dolphins are good at not drafting players they need (they took Ted Ginn last year, which was about the last thing they needed). Up next is St. Louis, who’s not taking him, and it’s not certain the Falcons would draft him if he’s available. The Raiders took JaMarcus Russell, and the Chiefs actually seem content having a bad quarterback run things.

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With the draft coming up, I’m going to try and mock this thing as best I can; and, based on Mel Kiper’s past predictions, I can probably do better. You’ll see his mock drafts all over the web the next few months, but be advised: One, the guy’s a terrible judge in talent and, two, he’s seldom right. We’ll see how I do, but I can’t imagine doing much worse.

Today’s pick: Miami Dolphins, who hold the No. 1 selection.

-The Dolphins have publicly said they’ll shop the first draft pick, and why not? The only real “Star” potential is Darren McFadden, and there’s not a whole lot of point in wasting a number one pick on a running back when you spent a number two pick on a running back three years ago.

The experts are saying Miami goes for Glenn Dorsey, Freak Man Child from LSU, but I’m thinking differently; do you really take a number one pick and use it on a franchise DT, no matter how big or dominant he is? Outside of Albert Haynesworth, is there a DT that makes such a big difference when he’s on the field that you’ll invest the next 10 years of your franchise on him?

I’m not saying Glenn Dorsey will be a bad player. Truth is, he’ll probably be one of the best players in this draft. But with the number one selection, and with Cleo Lemon as their current starter, I can’t see them passing up the opportunity to get a franchise QB who get that city buzzing again.

Insert: Matt Ryan. The skeptics will say he wasn’t that great his senior year (he started off well, but he slid at the end), but the skeptics then haven’t taken a look at BC’s depth chart at WR. He was working with next to nothing, and seven weeks into the season had his team positioned to make a National Title run. Get him some receivers in Miami to go with Ted Ginn and Ronnie Brown, and the Tuna’s got himself a start.

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Here’s how I’m doing:

Last week: 2-2
On the season: Still got a ways to go
What I would’ve been had BC just scored two more points: 3-1

This week’s locks:

-South Florida @ Rutgers (+2): Based on how this season has gone thus far, Rutgers upsetting and someone else being thrust into the BCS Title game picture would only be fitting. Next up: Boston College. Rutgers win in an upset.

-Louisville (-3) @ Connecticut: I don’t have to look at who Connecticut has played to know their record is a bit inflated. I said last week Louisville as a ten point underdog was ridiculous. This week is no different. A three point favorite? Not with that offense. Connecticut is still a basketball school. And to be honest, I’d take Louisville there, too. Brian and the Boys cover the three, win by two touchdowns.

-Vanderbilt @ South Carolina (-13): I’m a real sucker for a team that’s ranked in the top ten and is favored by less than two touchdowns against a team that. . . well, stinks. They played Georgia close, sure; but Georgia hasn’t exactly been a beacon of brilliance the last few weeks. Take SC in a blowout.

-Tennessee (PICK) @ Alabama: I’m a Vols fan. They’ve got an offense. I know it’s a rivalry game, I know it’s in Tuscaloosa. All that said, the Tide sucks. UT rolls.

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I promised to take some time off betting the college ranks. I was cold. I couldn’t get anything right. Every game I bet, it went the other way. It was like someone flipping a coin in the air and me calling heads every time, for it only to land on tails ten in a row. What are the odds, ya know? Betting’s supposed to have some skill, and here I was, watching and analyzing games, and unable to win anything that was, in short, a 50/50 shot.

I’m back. I’ve watched this unpredictable college season — USC losing to Stanford, Cal ranked No. 2, BC No. 4 — and I think I have a grip on this whole thing.

So I’m going to bet four or five games this weekend. I’ve looked into it, and I feel confident again. Being confident in betting is important; it’s like baseball, kind of: Get on a streak, and it seems to stretch game after game. Hit a slump, and there’s nothing you can do to break it.

Here we go.

-Louisville(+10.5) @ Cincinnati: I know the Cardinal have struggled, but at the beginning of the season could you ever imagine Louisville being a ten point ‘dog, period, let alone to Cincinnati? Me neither. I know they’ve sucked. And they probably won’t win. But Louisville covers the ten-and-a-half.

-Georgia (-7) @ Vanderbilt: Take that UT game for what it’s worth, but remember this: Last year, the Bulldogs gave up 51 points at home to the Vols, and they weren’t that bad of a team. Past that, Vandy beat UGA on Homecoming last year, and that taste is still very fresh in every Georgia players’ mouths. 7 points? Try 21. I hate ‘em, but the Dawgs cover.

-Tennessee (-6) @ Mississippi State: I’m thinking the Vols’ mojo may be back. And even if it isn’t, last time I checked it doesn’t take a lot of mojo to beat The Rebels.

-Boston College (-14) @ Notre Dame: Being that they’re stepped on annually by Notre Dame, BC isn’t over-looking this game. Matt Ryan will toss 4 TD’s, which is 4 more than the ND offense will score. Eagles cover, win in a blowout.

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