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Pity the poor Pac-10; its revenues are barely half of the SEC, Big Ten, and, shudder, the ACC.

As a result, the Pac-10 is exploring a route that has already made it rain on the SEC and the Big Ten, starting their own network. The Big Ten started their own network in conjunction with FOX and netted $66 million from the network last year. Rather than start their own network, the SEC partnered with CBS and ESPN. Beginning this year the SEC will bring in -- wait for it -- $205 million a year just from television rights. Why does that matter? The Pac-10 conference had revenues of just $88.78 million in 2007. Yep, by 2009, the SEC will triple the Pac-10 in sports revenue. That's a huge deal in the arm's race that is major collegiate sports.

Fortunately, as a lover of all things college football, I'm here to help the Pac-10 ensure their network is a hit. How do we do that? Programming, baby, it's all about the programming.

Christmas decorations begin in late August, and now the ClayNation Hypesman Watch (CHW) is here in the first week of May. It's part of a new term, I just coined: Heisman Creep. (And it has nothing to do with Maurice Clarett). We're going to try something radical here, every other week or so we'll drop in and give you a top 10 list for Heisman candidates. Even though most of them are finishing their spring finals right about now. The goal is to ridicule the Heisman obsession, keep us entertained, and write about the Heisman in a way no one else is.

And, plainly, it's never too early to start debating the most over-hyped award this side of a kindergarten valedictorian.

College Football Spring Storylines 2009 looks at the key developments and big news from spring ball.

Since 2002, the Pac-10 has been derisively called USC and the nine dwarves. Its more than a little unfair, but that's the prevailing wisdom. Although the conference is consistently among the deepest and most competitive around, USC's monopolized that top spot. Any chance of that changing this year begins with decisions those programs make this spring.

Sad news out of Tempe where Arizona State has announced that former football coach Bruce Snyder has died at the age of 69. Snyder was diagnosed with cancer last June. Snyder coached nine seasons with the Sun Devils (1992-2000) and 20 overall. His 58 victories at ASU are second only to Frank Kush's 176.

Snyder also coached at Utah State and California before joining the Sun Devils. His signature season was in 1996 when ASU held a 17-13 lead over Ohio State in the Rose Bowl before surrendering a last-second touchdown that spoiled their chance at a national championship. He left after 2000 but was remembered for coaching a slew of NFL players, All Americans and ASU greats Pat Tillman, Jake Plummer and Terrell Suggs.

A few days ago, defensive back Byron Moore pulled his verbal commitment from Southern Cal -- his family even saying that the Trojans were out of the running for his letter of intent -- and began considering Notre Dame, California, LSU and Colorado.

At least, that's what everyone was led to be believe. On Wednesday, Moore reverted back to his initial decision and signed with Pete Carroll and the Trojans.

San Francisco's Emerald Bowl: not known for highlighting college football's best teams. But the bowl has been the lucky recipient of some formerly great ACC programs hitting the skids and adding some marquee value. Florida State won in 2006 against a terrible UCLA team. And in 2008, 7-5 Miami showed up to face a pretty marginal Cal squad led by Nate Longshore, a quarterback with "issues" to say the least.

But unlike FSU, Miami found a way to lose the game. They lost despite Longshore's utter ineffectiveness (10-21, 121 yards). They lost despite getting good play from freshman quarterback Jacory Harris -- the over-enthusiastic ESPN commentors were calling it his 'coming out party' which might warrant an excessive celebration penalty -- and good running from Graig Cooper, who averaged 5.3 YPC, but received only a mystifying 12 carries.

It came down to turnovers and terrible clock management. At the end of the first half, down 14-7, Miami was intercepted at their own 43-yard line; Cal promptly went four and out. Getting the ball back with 1:18 remaining and three timeouts, Shannon appeared to be running out the clock: fair enough, given that his freshman quarterback had just turned the ball over in Hurricane territory. But wait... no! After three passes resulted in a first down, Shannon called a timeout with :04 remaining. Hail Mary time, right? Nope: Harris completed a 3-yard pass to Graig Cooper. Miami walked off the field with two timeouts remaining with the ball on Cal's 49-yard line.

FanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

This much we knew -- speedy Cal tailback Jahvid Best rushed for over 500 yards in his last two games. So, too, did Miami. So, too, did his coaches. Among the two parties, only his coaches were able to hold him back at any point Saturday evening in a 24-17 close-fought Cal victory over Miami.

Best strung together a series of highlights runs among his 20 carries totaling an Emerald Bowl record 186 yards and two touchdowns. Cal's offense and oft-booed quarterback Nate Longshore was helpless without him, but Cal's coaches seemed reluctant to ride their star. The game's announcers got a gem of a quote from Miami's defensive coordinator basically calling Best Cal's entire offense. He also said backup quarterback Kevin Riley outperformed declared starter Nate Longshore this year, but that's for another time.

The suspension-addled, heavy underdog Miami Hurricanes win this game if Best hadn't played as he had.

Christmas is over, Hannukah's coming to a close, its not quite New Years Day but Saturday remains the traditional day of celebration of college football and we're here to discuss this special Saturday, a real holiday for college football fans everywhere.

We've seen West Virginia and North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, Wisconsin and Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl and we're now watching the day's headliner, Cal and Miami clash in the Emerald Bowl. Oh, happy day! Cal's electric tailback Jahvid Best, who piled up 500+ rushing yards in his last two games, is the headliner here. Miami will be without co-starting quarterback Robert Marve but it should be a blessing as Jacory Harris can play an entire game and maybe find a real rhythm and take over the Hurricane offense.

Grab some popcorn or reheat some leftovers, tune your television to ESPN and direct your computer to our live blog starting at 8 PM Eastern. Live blog after the jump.

Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the Emerald Bowl (San Francisco, California), which pits Miami against California.

Overview/Matchup: While the Emerald Bowl isn't an ACC Championship, much less a BCS berth, give Randy Shannon credit -- this Miami team looked completely and utterly doomed heading into October following devastating losses to North Carolina and Florida State. Sure, ending the season with back to back L's against Georgia Tech and NC State wasted the good run, but he certainly saved his reputation. The news gets worse for him though, as the 'Canes were horrible against the run during their last two games, and guess what Cal running back Jahvid Best ran for over the final two weeks of the season? Yeah, just a casual 512 yards. Ouch, babe.

Hotels: The Ritz-Carlton at Nob Hill is one of the finest hotels in the United States. Our reviewers, as well as our CEO, have always been impressed with the property. The Hilton San Francisco is also a fine establishment for those in the midrange category. The hotel is positively enormous, designed primarily for conferences and large groups. Although its size may be a detractor, it does have its advantages. There are a number of stores and restaurants in, or attached to the property. For bargain rates and great proximity to the stadium try the Civic Center Inn.

A trip to San Francisco might not be high on the list of rewards for fans of a team from Berkeley, but those California fans who make the short trek should be treated to a pretty good bowl game.

The Cal Golden Bears finished fourth in the Pac Ten this season, going 6-3 in league games and finishing 8-4 overall. Ken from Excuse Me For My Voice makes a good point when he mentions that only one Pac Ten team is playing in a New Year's Day bowl. I mean, whoopie for the Holiday Bowl in that they get the second-best team from the league, but the Pac Ten has to start doing a better job negotiating their bowl tie-ins. The fourth-best team from the Big Ten is playing in the highly-visible Outback Bowl, while the fourth-best team from the Pac Ten is stuck in the Emerald Bowl.

Miami comes from the ACC, where they went 7-5 overall and 4-4 in league play. While they don't have the swagger of past Hurricane teams, they certainly are an improved football team this year. Canes Rising is all over the play of their defense because of their lack of turnovers and red-zone production, and Miami sure didn't finish the season with a boom, but there is good reason for hope. Randy Shannon has recruited well so far, and he needs to be given time to get his recruits some experience.

More on the matchup after the jump.