I am ready for some football

There are two times each year when the credit card comes out without hesitation. At Christmas time, the latest version of "World Wide Soccer Manager" (formerly "Championship Manager") is released and in the dog days of summer, "NCAA Football" fills that need we have been feeling since 10 minutes after the Super Bowl ended.\nThe 2007 version of "NCAA Football" is the best one yet.\nI know, I know, people say that every year, but then after a few days of playing, money plays are found and holes in the A.I. are exposed. \nBut I think this time EA has actually fixed last year's problems, added new features and not broken anything.\nThe biggest gameplay change from last year is the kicking meter. It is no longer a sure bet on a 50+ yarder. Even with a bit of practice, I can't consistently kick field goals longer than 35 yards. Oh, wait…either can most college kickers.\nThe AI is good, even bordering on great. They go for it on 4th down when it makes sense and they play conservatively when it makes sense. The players react to the play, diving for balls that would otherwise be just out of reach, filling the gaps when someone misses a block and using the sidelines to their advantage, so they appear to be football players not foosball players. \nThe game feels like college football. Good teams win (most of the time), mismatches end up in lopsided scores (most of the time), and five star recruits go to the powerhouse teams (most of the time). \nAnd it is that "most of the time" that makes the game so much fun. If you hit the holes just right, avoid throwing in to double coverage, and mix up your plays, you have a chance to win. But if you make a mistake, you can be sure that your opponent will take advantage of it. \nBut to answer the most pressing question. Other than the fact that Memorial Stadium is always a sell-out, the game is realistic. In the seasons I simmmed, the Hoosiers start off with wins over the easy teams, find a way to beat a team like Wisconsin and then break the hearts of the fans by losing a game or two that they could have won with a bit more discipline. \nAccording to EA, Indiana won't be bowling in 2006.