A few weeks ago, the people over at kontrolfreek.com (a video game controller accessory maker) sent me their new product, the TD Freek. You can use the TD Freek on either PS3 or XBox 360 controllers (I only tried it on PS3). According to the manufacturer's description, "TD Freek was created for all of you armchair quarterbacks who dream in X's and O's and love the sound of crunching pads. A must-have for fans of Madden and NCAA Football, the TD Freek helps you gain the upper thumb during tense situations, like fourth and goals, when precision is a must." After playing dozens of games with the TD Freek on NCAA Football 11, I am ready to give you the full ITB review below (just in time for college football season).

We're back and this is the first Live Chat where we actually get to discuss the football that is going on, ON THE FIELD. But of course that would be too good so we're going to have to hit on some quick off the field issues as well, starting with the Jeremiah Masoli case where he was denied a transfer waiver by the NCAA. Clay Travis makes an excellent argument for why the NCAA did the right thing in denying Masoli.

However, I don't agree with Clay. Tony Barnhart of the AJC has a great take on the rule that really cleared up the need for me to wordify on this subject beyond this chat discussion. The issue isn't what Masoli did at Oregon or before he got to school. The issue here is that the rule makes zero discussion of the role discipline plays, it simply tells how a player gets the waiver; classroom success. Something Masoli, for all his troubles, did have.

Another topic we've got on the docket is the Ohio State-Michigan game and the role that will play in the Big Ten's move towards divisions. Some folks hate moving the game, others equate this to the ACC selling their souls for the hopes of getting Florida State and Miami in the championship game. No matter where you stand I'm sure there will be plenty to debate.

Finally after we sift through all the housekeeping we'll be down for talking football. Bring whichever games you want and we'll break them down and if you don't bring any games you'll be subjected to hearing us further wax philosophical on this week's Slate of Eight.

If you haven't heard the podcast you might want to listen and brush up your knowledge so you don't bring no weak 'week one' action. Don't sing it folks, bring it.

Enjoy the livechat and be sure to bring the UNC-LSU smack if you so dare.

This is the inaugural edition of ITB's Slate of Eight and we bring on friend of the program Aaron Torres from fellow Bloguin site Aaron Torres Sports stops by to kickoff the season. Since this is the first edition let me explain how this works:

We've selected eight games. To be more specific we've selected the eight games that, regardless of your allegiance, location or rooting interest, every college football fan should tune in to watch. For some games the sheer magnitude of the contests might be enough to make them a must see. Others have very intriguing match ups while a couple games feature great storylines that will help shape not only the 2010 season but the future of programs going down the road.

The ITB Slate of Eight, Week One Edition:

Utah - Pitt
Southern Miss - Sakerlina
UConn - Michigan
Oregon State - TCU
Purdue - Notre Dame
Cincinnati - Fresno State
North Carolina - LSU
Virginia Tech - Boise State

Give the show a listen folks as we squeeze a ton of predictions, discussion, information and thoughts into the show just for you to consume as game time quickly approaches. We'll do this weekly and there will be a running tab as I take on my weekly co-host when we pick games. You've got us on the record and make sure that you're playing along with us in the "home version of the game" by joining the ITB Pick'em Pool over at Fun Office Pools (password: inthebleachers)!

To listen to the show click here or subscribe to one of the methods listed below.

If you want the podcast you must subscribe to the Feedburner, but if you want to subscribe to the blog please use the RSS Feed. This is for iTunes to be able to archive the shows. You can also search for "In The Bleachers"on iTunes and subscribe to the podcast that way.

Got a question? Email it in to InTheBleachers @ GMAIL (dot) COM

Hit us up on Twitter @InTheBleachers!

So yesterday, yes on a Sunday, I spent the day knocking out my conference predictions which was a monumental task since mostly on weekends I lay around watching fantastic films and eating popcorn. Today folks we here and In The Bleachers go that extra mile. We don't just pick a BCS Title game for you, no, that would be too easy. Too predictable. We here at ITB strive to give you the very best. To drop knowledge and TRUTHBOMBS to get you thinking as we fully prepare you for the 2010 college football season.

With that in mind we are going to give you all 10 BCS selections. Just like our conference predictions from yesterday these are guaranteed to be 100% correct at the moment. They're accurate because they definitely could happen right now. We're going with the real formula folks so this is our defacto "selection" process in deciding who plays in each game and you'll get our at-large picks as well.

Read more to get the scoop on your friends for who will be playing in each of the five BCS games...

Everyone Loves A Good Investigation: North Carolina held a press conference which told us that there is an academic cheating investigation in addition to the ongoing investigation by the NCAA over possible improper contact with agents. Beyond this scant information, we learned nothing about this academic investigation. We did learn that UNC really doesn't seem to know how to handle such events. The person of interest at the center of the academic investigation is Butch Davis' nanny (ok, she probably isn't a nanny, but this is trash talk week due to the LSU v. UNC game). In any event, reviewing the lengthy list of UNC starters/potential starters relegated to the scout team, the vaunted Tar Heels defense could be decimated just in time for the game this Saturday against LSU. Bonne chance!

Another Exercise in "Indefinite" Suspensions: Trojans Head coach Lane Kiffin already has a thin squad for the 2010 season (70 players on scholarship). Kiffin has decided to whip out the "indefinite" suspension card again (last time starting FB Stanley Havili enjoyed a day off during his indefinite suspension for breaking the cheekbone of starting DB T.J. Bryant). The recipient this time around is Freshman Safety Patrick Hall. The Trojans are bringing 80 guys to Hawai'i to face the Warriors on Thursday. A walk-on has replaced Hall on the travel squad.

NFL Preseason Blitz (Rookie tracking continues and Favre demands attention): Rams Rookie QB Sam Bradford did well against the Patriots going 15/22 passing for 189 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INT. The Rams won 36-35. Colt McCoy is still playing like he should get cut by the Browns. He was 10/14 for 76 yards which isn't bad. However, he didn't feel Lions Rookie DE Willie Young coming and Young slapped the ball out of McCoy's hand--this was another huge play for the 7th round draft pick which will go a long way toward earning him a roster spot. The Lions recovered the fumble and scored the TD which put the game away seven plays later. McCoy was able to get the Browns from their own 20 to the Detroit 36 with 1:08 remaining when he overthrew a pass which would have converted the fourth down. What made this telling picture happen was none of the above narrative. Instead, it was McCoy's Hail Mary attempt that sailed out of bounds on the final play of the game. Tim Tebow threw his first TD as a Bronco in Denver's 34-17 pasting of the Steelers. He also spotted the Steelers 7 with a near pick six which turned into a TD two plays later. Brett Favre was rusty awful (8 series played, 2 INT, 1 pick six, 2 fumbles [1 lost], no TD), yet the Vikings still won the game against the Seahawks 24-13. Last but not least, Saints Rookie RB Chris Ivory continues to play his way onto the roster, having put together this little number during the win against the Chargers...

It's Finally Game Week. THE SEASON STARTS THURSDAY. Maintain, dear readers, maintain.

I've been kicking around how to get this information out to the public for about three plus weeks now. Debating between a daily roll out, giving each conference prediction a spotlight post and then I realized something. When people want some in depth analysis of your own team you head over to your favorite beat writer, respective team blog or team fan site. No sense in knocking out some fancy schmancy countdown.

Thus we've waited until the witching hour, the season is upon us and, mostly for the right to say I TOLD YOU SO, here are the In The Bleachers 2010 predictions. All neatly packaged, quickly explained and 100% accurate as of right now. We knock out the conference division and championship predictions. Eat that fools.

Is there rhyme or reason to this lay out? Sort of. We roll alphabetical but in a sort of "fair" pattern where we will alternate between the BCS leagues and non-BCS leagues. So what you're getting is ACC-CUSA-Big East-MAC and so on and so forth. Expect a few twists and turns as we run through this PREDICTINATOR!

As you read this and make you're predictions against ours be sure to sign up for the In The Bleachers Pick'em Pool (password inthebleachers) to take on Pat and Michael for mediocre gifts of gratitude.

Read more for our predictions...

Folks we are closing in on the start of the season as we ease through the single digits remaining in the countdown and that means giddiness is at an all time high. In our infinite quest to give you the best of the college football world we're going to spend this afternoon's livechat going all positive for the 2010 football season. That means . . .

IN THE BLEACHERS 2010 FAVORITE THINGS!

Yes folks, we're going all Oprah on the college football world today and no that doesn't mean our weight will balloon and shrink at random intervals or we'll be sexually ambiguous with no real clue as to who our long term partner is. It also doesn't mean we'll control the minds of droves of housewives, though that would be nice in certain cases.

It means we're going to kick out our favorite things for the season and give you folks an idea of the best gifts the approaching year has to offer. We're talking both on the field and off the field so bring all your selections to the livechat and we'll discuss the things we're most looking forward to for the season.

On the field we'll be giving you our favorite plays, players, schemes and ultimately our favorite team for the 2010 season. Off the field get ready for the real fun as we hit food, clothes (NO MORE WEARING JERSEYS EVER!), gadgets, fanbases and of course the always hotly debated and tremendously enjoyable discussion of drinks (BRING THAT CRAFT BEER NOISE AT YOUR OWN RISK!).

That's right folks livechat will be a fun one before we kickoff with game week next Wednesday so get excited and let's have some fun. Sort of that last party before the school year or, even better, that Saturday before classes start in college when freshmen don't know much except everything the older kids do looks awesome and warming up for next week's tailgates is a brilliant idea.

This evening on the podcast we have L.A. Times columnist TJ Simersstop by to discuss the Lane Kiffin article that he penned for his column today. Simers' article Is USC's Lane Kiffin really Mr. Misconduct, or just misunderstood is an interesting read that delves into both the man and the father-son dynamic that exists between Lane and his father Monte. The polarizing columnist holds true to formfrom rehashinghis first encounter with Kiffin to the discussion of Tennessee fans dwelling onKiffin's job move.

Kiffin and Simers' first encounter was a "cantankerous" event per TJ as he challenged the fresh faced 35 year old coach over the accusations of Ed Orgeron contacting Tennessee recruits as they arrivedat Southern Cal. Talk turns as Simers discusses Kiffin through the eyes of his father, a man that it universally respected and admired in the football world. Monte gave TJ Simers some interesting insight into the young head coach while quietly getting his son's back and making sure to rebuke the rumors that Lane is a cheater.

As we talk more Kiffin we discuss the Tennessee aspect of the transition andthe hatred that grew from Lane's transgressions. Simers describes the leaving after one year as more an affirmation of Kiffin's "bratty nature" than one moment that swayed folks against Lane. TJ does makes his perspective on the folks who remain enraged over the departure of Kiffin clear; not only does it reflect poorly on them in his eyes but there's a clear misunderstanding of Kiffin's affinity for USC.

We end a more positive note discussing Kiffin's future as the new USC head coach, the rookie AD Pat Haden working with the 35 year old coach to repair the image of the men of Troy. Simers does end with another barb at the good folks of Tennessee that admittedlyleaves your host somewhat speechless.

To download the show directly click hereor subscribe to one of the methods listed below.

If you want the podcast you must subscribe to the Feedburner, but if you want to subscribe to the blog please use the RSS Feed. This is for iTunes to be able to archive the shows. You can also search for "In The Bleachers"on iTunes and subscribe to the podcast that way.

Got a question? Email it in to InTheBleachers @ GMAIL (dot) COM

Hit us up on Twitter @InTheBleachers!

Folks we've got PODCAST CROSS POLLENATION going on today as Ty Hildenbrandt from The Solid Verbal stops by to talk college football with In The Bleachers. Ty joins us sans normal co-host Dan Rubenstein to wax philosophically about everything from the AP Top 25 and BYU to the UNC-LSU Chick-fil-A Kickoff and Dragon Con.

We start our chat by hitting on the AP Top 25 and Ty and I have some instant disagreement over both the first place vote given to Oklahoma and the state of the Florida program as the Gators come in ranked #4 by the media. We get back on track discussing the Georgia Bulldogs and USC before going all non-BCS for you listeners out there. Boise State, TCU are sitting in a great position for non-AQ teams as the ball is in their court for a legitimate title shot.

Talk shifts to BYU and their sudden posturing for independence. Neither of us were on board with this from the outset however as you'll hear, one of us has slowly come around on the idea based upon the difference between the Cougars and every other FBS program in America.

As we get closer to the end of this delightful collaboration Ty gives his thoughts on the UNC-LSU showdown in Atlanta; ugly is the diagnosis with a slight edge to the Heels. We discuss The Solid Verbal's first ever Verbacon to be held in Lincoln, Nebraska this year as well as another "con" that I'll be privy to in Atlanta; Dragon con. Be sure to tune in as I let folks know I am cruising the streets of the ATL looking for Xena's, Storm's and Viper from Doomsday look-a-likes for photo ops.

Folks make sure you head over to Fun Office Pools to register for the In The Bleacher's Pick'em Pool, password "inthebleachers" AND check out Ty and Dan's Solid Verbal Pick'em Pool hosted over at CBS Sports. It should be a fun season folks and user participation is encouraged. ITB's pool will have prizes, mediocre prizes, but you will get things in the mail nonetheless. Speaking of feedback be sure to rate the podcast when you subscribe via iTunes.

To listen to the show click here or subscribe to one of the methods listed below.

If you want the podcast you must subscribe to the Feedburner, but if you want to subscribe to the blog please use the RSS Feed. This is for iTunes to be able to archive the shows. You can also search for "In The Bleachers" on iTunes and subscribe to the podcast that way.

Got a question? Email it in to InTheBleachers @ GMAIL (dot) COM

Hit us up on Twitter @InTheBleachers!

Welcome Back Brett

NCAA Meddling: The Alfy Hill Saga. The NCAA clearinghouse decided to put Hill's eligibility at Alabama on hold. Then, they went ahead and declared that some online courses Hill took in high school no longer count and that he is ineligible. Hill now has to sit out a full season as a non-qualifier and try to earn his eligibility back. He will be waiting around closer to home as he has started the process of transferring to East Carolina. Now for the fun part. The NCAA had previously reviewed Hill's transcripts, approved the classes and let him get to camp at Alabama and practice before this reversal on his eligibility. According to Hill's high school coach, the same classes which Hill took had been used and approved in the past. On top of that fact, Alfy Hill took three classes at Alabama during the summer and got an A and two B's. This is a dumb decision by the NCAA. There is no other way to slice it. It doesn't matter what you think about Saban or the University of Alabama. This story is about the NCAA needlessly screwing around with a young man's college career, and not just the football part of it, either.

More NCAA Prodding: The NCAA was already investigating South Carolina TE Weslye Saunders over potentially having dealings with an agent. Saunders was staying at the Whitney Hotel, located five minutes from the South Carolina campus (free complimentary limo service!), and recently told he needed to vacate the premises by school officials. Saunders was not the only South Carolina player staying at the hotel. The NCAA is trying to determine whether or not the student-athletes received a improper benefit by receiving a reduced rate.

Expansion is BACK: Just when we thought that expansion talk had been squashed for awhile, BYU floated the football independent balloon (John Henderson at the Denver Post was not impressed), as we addressed in last Wednesday's live chat. Shortly after the live chat ended, the MWC announced that Fresno St. and Nevada had been offered invitations to join the MWC and had accepted. Utah State claims they were the first target of the MWC expansion plan but politely declined. As being in the WAC is now looking worse and worse (Hawai'i is considering football independence which would shrink the league to five schools), Utah State may be trying to get a mulligan. BYU has until September 1 to decide if they are leaving the MWC or not. Stay tuned.

Preseason Quarterbacking: Brett Favre, pictured above getting acquainted with 49ers LB Patrick Willis, made it exactly four plays in Sunday's Vikings-49ers game. He was not injured, but that's precisely why Vikings head coach Brad Childress was not going to put Favre back in the game. This weekend's preseason games presented a good opportunity to check out last year's high profile college QBs (except for Tebow who is still smarting after scoring this TD) in their NFL roles all at the same time (if you have the right media setup). The results were not so pretty. Cleveland's Colt McCoy followed up a 2 INT game against Green Bay last week with a dreadful and brief outing against St. Louis going 0/2 passing, taking 2 sacks and not being fast enough to run anywhere. Rams rookie QB Sam Bradford was involved in the game as well. He finished 6/14 for 24 yards. This is an improvement for Bradford who was sacked 4 times and fumbled once in his first preseason game. Jimmy Clausen led the Panthers to their only points of the game (a FG) against the Jets. Clausen was 9/22 passing for 72 yards. His INT on a drive that could have given the Panthers a very late lead pretty much iced the game for the nearly as hapless Jets. Expect to see some of this game, accompanied by Rex Ryan's colorful language, on an upcoming episode of Hard Knocks. Clausen fumbled and took 2 sacks in both preseason games thus far and is only 17/37 passing with zero TDs and 2 INTs.

10 Days Until College Football Kicks Off.