AFA Sports   Air Force Academy sports

Every week I’ll share how I voted in the Associated Press college basketball top 25 poll here on the blog. Here’s this week’s ballot:

1. Kentucky

2. Ohio State

3. Duke

4. Syracuse

5. North Carolina

6. Louisville

7. Baylor

8. UConn

9. Missouri

10. Wisconsin

11. Xavier

12. Florida

13. Alabama

14. UNLV

15. Michigan

16. Kansas

17. Cal

18. Memphis

19. Marquette

20. Vanderbilt

21. Pitt

22. Gonzaga

23. St. Louis

24. Harvard

25. Creighton

Here’s a story I wrote for Gazette.com tonight after talking to various people about Air Force’s bowl possibilities.

The one scenario I didn’t get much into in the story was TCU or Boise State going to the BCS. TCU could go to the BCS if Houston loses and it ranks in the top 16 of the BCS standings (TCU is currently 18th). Boise ranks 7th in the BCS standings and an at-large bid isn’t out of the question. If one of those two made the BCS, that would leave four Mountain West teams for four bowls with a MW tie-in, which would make the scenario a lot easier.

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun has agreed to share his ballot for the coaches’ poll with The Gazette this season, and here’s this week’s top 25:

1 LSU

2 Alabama

3 Stanford

4 Virginia Tech

5 Arkansas

6 Wisconsin

7 Oregon

8 Oklahoma State

9 Michigan State

10 Houston

11 Oklahoma

12 Michigan

13 Boise State

14 Georgia

15 South Carolina

16 Kansas State

17 Texas Christian

18 Baylor

19 Nebraska

20 Clemson

21 West Virginia

22 Penn State

23 Southern Mississippi

24 Notre Dame

25 Florida State

Others: Virginia, BYU.

There is a lot on the line today for Air Force as it plays Colorado State in its regular-season finale. A win against the Rams, and the Falcons will be in a bowl game. The bowl picture is murky – Air Force’s top options appear to be the Independence Bowl, New Mexico Bowl or Military Bowl – but the Falcons need to get eligible first.

There won’t be a huge crowd at Hughes Stadium today to watch a Rams team that is 3-7 and definitely won’t be going for a bowl game. The key matchup for Air Force will be containing freshman quarterback Garrett Grayson, who is making his second career start but is very elusive and could give the Falcons’ defense some problems.

Air Force is off to a 3-0 start, and is happy with how it has played so far except one area: 3-point shooting.

The Falcons have made just 9-of-36 3-point shots, and that needs to improve if Air Force wants to win tonight against Colorado, and if it wants to have a winning season. Coach Jeff Reynolds said that has been the most inconsistent part of Air Force’s season so far.

“Absolutely, based on how we shoot it in practice, and we shot it well in our two scrimmages,” “We’re getting open shots, and the guys that are taking them make them in practice. I think it’s just a matter of them getting their feet under them and feeling better about themselves.”

Reynolds brought up the example of freshman Marc Olesinksi, who has been one of the team’s best shooters in practice but has missed all five of his 3-point shots in games so far. The Falcons figure the shots should fall eventually.

“I think it’s just a matter of time,” guard Todd Fletcher said. “We’re all shooters out there. We all make them in practice, we just have to translate it to games.”

Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild made it clear that freshman Garrett Grayson will start for the Rams this week against Air Force. He did not make it so clear if Grayson has surpassed injured sophomore Pete Thomas on the depth chart permanently.

“I want to make sure he gets the chance to play,” Fairchild said at his weekly press conference, according to the team’s website. “I think we owe that to him. We’ll just see if Pete is available.”

Thomas has a knee sprain. On the Mountain West’s weekly teleconference, Fairchild avoided the question about who would be the starting quarterback if both players were healthy.

Grayson brings a different dimension to the offense that Air Force will have to be aware of. Thomas is a big, pocket passer. Grayson can throw the ball well, but can also scramble and make things happen running the ball. He seems to have added a bit of a spark to the Rams.

“I think sometimes when your quarterback runs the ball, that can be a fun thing for guys to see,” Fairchild said at his press conference. “I think just going in and playing well against a very good defense has a lot to do with it. Ultimately guys get excited about good players making good plays.”

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun has agreed to share his ballot for the coaches’ poll with The Gazette this season, and here’s this week’s top 25:

1 LSU

2 Alabama

3 Arkansas

4 Stanford

5 Virginia Tech

6 Michigan State

7 Wisconsin

8 Oregon

9 Oklahoma State

10 Houston

11 Oklahoma

12 Georgia

13 South Carolina

14 Boise State

15 Michigan

16 Kansas State

17 Clemson

18 Texas Christian

19 Penn State

20 Baylor

21 Virginia

22 Notre Dame

23 Georgia Tech

24 Rutgers

25 Nebraska

Others: West Virginia, Southern Mississippi, BYU, Florida State, Auburn, Tulsa

Air Force won’t announce Tim Jefferson as its starting quarterback today yet, but Jefferson was on the field for early warmups throwing the ball around. Jefferson suffered a concussion last week. He practiced this week, and the warmup activity was a sign he’ll start, but it isn’t quite official. Follow me on Twitter @GazetteAirForce – I’ll update his status there as it develops.

Everyone knows the stakes for Air Force today. It needs to win twice to become bowl eligible. It will be interesting to see the level of intensity early in the game, especially on Senior Day.

There hasn’t been a whole lot to report on Air Force’s realignment decision lately. No decision has been made. Not much has changed since a couple weeks ago when I wrote the decision was up in the air and superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould might be leaning towards staying in the Mountain West.

BYU is being courted by the Big East, but that doesn’t seem to directly affect Air Force. The Big East has five football-playing members, and there have been seven schools connected to Big East expansion rumors: Air Force, Navy, Boise State, BYU, SMU, Houston and Central Florida. If BYU joins the Big East, that would perhaps ease some Big East stability concerns for Air Force and also make a proposed Western Division stronger. BYU wouldn’t necessarily take Air Force’s spot in the Big East if it expands to 12 teams, but the Cougars would guarantee a western team to partner with Boise State, which Boise State has said is vital for it to make the jump to the Mountain West. Air Force’s indecision means the Big East had to look at other schools to make sure it had a western partner for the Broncos.

Air Force wants to wait on a decision until after the football season ends, to avoid distractions to the team. Considering nobody has been officially invited to the conference and some things still are up in the air, the academy might be able to hold off for a couple more weeks.

Quarterback Tim Jefferson was able to go through a non-contact practice on Wednesday, and while that doesn’t mean he will definitely start on Saturday, it is a step in the right direction. Jefferson suffered a concussion last week.

“He was able to do some stuff, which is an encouraging sign,” Falcons coach Troy Calhoun said.

Calhoun said by Friday afternoon the staff should have a good idea if Jefferson can play. Calhoun said there were still steps Jefferson needed to go through in his recovery, and he needed Jefferson to be fully healthy in order to play.

“Either you’re able to do everything at a high level or it’s a no go,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun was hopeful after Jefferson was able to practice, so as long as Jefferson keeps progressing, he has a good chance of being in the lineup.

The Falcons should be reasonably healthy for UNLV. Defensive end Harry Kehs (shoulder) made a surprise return to practice, and he has a chance to play Saturday. Defensive end Ben Kopacka could also return from a shoulder injury.

Cornerbacks Anthony Wright and Josh Hall and safety Jon Davis practiced Wednesday and should be able to play.

Left offensive tackle Jason Kons is still “doubtful at best” for this week with neck and shoulder injuries, but could return for the season finale if he’s out this week.