Chris Fowler picks the Bulls

[Bulls Are We]

Charles LeClaire/Getty Images

Randy Edsall and UConn have received two lucky calls. Can they keep rolling on Saturday?

Bulls (still) on parade … And 'Neers vs. Knights

USF, still ranked an average of fifth by the BCS computers, is a narrow favorite at UConn. All of a sudden, the Huskies' home field commands respect?

No team has benefited more from officials' miscues than UConn. First, the Big East office issued a statement following UConn's win over Temple admitting that the crew blew a would-be Owls' touchdown pass. Then, the conference had to acknowledge the mind-boggling oversight on Friday that allowed Huskies punt returner Larry Taylor to signal fair catch, then scamper past a confused Louisville team for the decisive touchdown.

The way things are going, coach Randy Edsall should sprint to nearby Mohegan Sun and start throwing down chips on the roulette wheel. Sure, that game gives the worst odds in the house, but it wouldn't matter. UConn is on a roll. Until Saturday night. I can't see the Huskies beating the Bulls (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET), who are still very much in the hunt for the conference title and the BCS bid.

If West Virginia wins at Rutgers (and I like the chances of that), USF would have the inside track.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=fowler_chris&id=3078357

[Bull Matrix]

It was the MAC officials that had to appoligize to Temple, not the BIG EAST office.

[TRUTH D. Antagonist]

funny how nobody has a problem labelled UConn as the "refs' team," yet nobody says **** about Rutgers refs giving it to us in the yang with no vaseline.

[bulldad10]

And even though the fair catch call was terrible, I would hardly call it the decisive touchdown.  It happened in the 3rd quarter and tied the score.  Not to mention UL went up 10 points (17-7) after that.

I like that he picked the Bulls though!  8)

[kastofsna]

wait i thought Chris Fowler hated us? oh wait he's just giving his opinion and doesn't hold any sort of nonsensical grudge against us, noted

[mellobull]

And even though the fair catch call was terrible, I would hardly call it the decisive touchdown.  It happened in the 3rd quarter and tied the score.  Not to mention UL went up 10 points (17-7) after that.

I like that he picked the Bulls though!  8)

  think of this if you will: if you take 7 from 21 you get 14 which would make the game  Ville 17-14 as the final outcome  so how could that not had an effect? just curious

[BullDoug]

funny how nobody has a problem labelled UConn as the "refs' team," yet nobody says **** about Rutgers refs giving it to us in the yang with no vaseline.

Mark May mentioned it in "On the Mark.  Off the Mark" at halftime last nite.

[Brad]

And even though the fair catch call was terrible, I would hardly call it the decisive touchdown.  It happened in the 3rd quarter and tied the score.  Not to mention UL went up 10 points (17-7) after that.

I like that he picked the Bulls though!  8)

  think of this if you will: if you take 7 from 21 you get 14 which would make the game  Ville 17-14 as the final outcome  so how could that not had an effect? just curious

Some think bad calls only matter if they happen at the end of the game.  Then there's also the group that doesn't think bad calls affect a game at all if you don't win, complete 100% of your passes, give up zero sacks, have no dropped balls, and most of all succumb to no trickeration.  Meets that criteria and you can talk about bad calls. 

[Brad]

Haha, ahem, from the comments section on that page:

TebowTears (17 hours ago)                    Report Violation | Ignore User

Fowler, do you Flutie and James sit around and talk about that crappy play-by-play on the USF TD that was called back for an illegal forward pass (outside of New Jersey it's called a fumble)? You guys changed positions more than John Kerry on it while the nation waited for a bunch of guys decided fate, instead of letting the game play. I give you credit though for observing the player was hit therein causing the fumble turned forward pass via a roll on the turf..Anyway, what a funny moment of TV that was, here's to a good pla-by-play for UConn

[bulldad10]

And even though the fair catch call was terrible, I would hardly call it the decisive touchdown.  It happened in the 3rd quarter and tied the score.  Not to mention UL went up 10 points (17-7) after that.

I like that he picked the Bulls though!  8)

  think of this if you will: if you take 7 from 21 you get 14 which would make the game  Ville 17-14 as the final outcome  so how could that not had an effect? just curious

Some think bad calls only matter if they happen at the end of the game.  Then there's also the group that doesn't think bad calls affect a game at all if you don't win, complete 100% of your passes, give up zero sacks, have no dropped balls, and most of all succumb to no trickeration.  Meets that criteria and you can talk about bad calls.   

Wait a minute.  I didn't say the call didn't matter, or that it had no effect on the game.  I am only talking about him calling it the "decisive" touchdown.  That one play did not decide the game.  Did it have an effect? Absolutely.  Decisive?  That would be the final TD that UL gave up.