- Orange Bowl- and I'm talking about the one that has Cincinnati vs. V Tech. Is anyone even gonna watch that game? I don't plan to.
- Rose Bowl- USC/Penn St. USC has an immediate home field advantage. I'm not sure if Penn St. even travels well. USC has the talent on paper but they can't overlook JoePa. Penn St. plays sound, mistake free, fundamental and boring football. If the Trojans show up and play their A game though, it won't be close.
- Fiesta Bowl- Texas/Ohio St. Texas is the more talented team. They play the best defense of anybody in the Big 12 (not exactly saying much). Buckeyes defense will have to be big and force a low scoring game for them to have a chance. If Texas shuts down Beanie Wells and forces Terrelle Pryor to beat them with his arm, Buckeyes could be in trouble.
- Sugar Bowl- Alabama/Utah. Automatic home field advantage for Bama. Not only do they travel well and don't have far to go, Utah does not travel well. I expect to see about 100 Utah fans in attendance tops. I see a similar result to the Georgia/Hawaii Sugar Bowl last year. Bama is going to beat this team up physically and on the score board...and they're faster.
- BCS Championship- Oklahoma/Florida. Oklahoma's defense has not seen an offense with this much speed. Florida is the fastest team in the country and they're hungry. Oklahoma's offense has not seen this good of a defense all year either. The Big 12 has decided that defense is a liability. On the other hand, Florida has seen defenses just as good and much better than what Oklahoma has. Florida's defense has not seen this high powered of an offense...the closest being Alabama and Georgia. My initial thoughts are Florida by about 10-15.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Thoughts on the College scenario
Well, we are all doing what the BCS folks want us to do, talking about the jacked up BCS! Seriously! That is one of their arguments in favor of the current system! It's so screwed up we are all talking about it, so it must be good! There is not a single coherent, well thought out argument that can be made in favor of the current system in college football. I once heard Lee Corso argue in favor of the BCS by basically stating that the men in control want it this way, so we are going to have to deal with it! Great! It's settled! Now with that being said...
- I can't argue with Oklahoma potentially being in the championship game. They are a great team, I cannot see Mizzou beating them this week and I do think a team from that Big 12 South deserves to be there. Do I think Texas Tech and Texas deserve it just as much? Absolutely. How do you figure out a three way tie?
- The real national championship is this weekend in Atlanta between Alabama and Florida. I think Florida wins, and Bama gets the Sugar Bowl. I feel sorry for the other team that gets invited to the Sugar Bowl! I could also see Bama beating Florida...don't be surprised.
- Virginia Tech beats Boston College in the most meaningless conference championship. No team from the Big East or ACC deserve to be in a BCS bowl. I hope they just pit V Tech/BC and Cincinnati against each other in the Orange Bowl.
- USC blows boring Penn St. out of the water in the Rose Bowl.
- I see Ohio St. getting an at-large bid, either the Fiesta Bowl against Utah or the Sugar Bowl against Florida/Alabama.
- I can't argue with Oklahoma potentially being in the championship game. They are a great team, I cannot see Mizzou beating them this week and I do think a team from that Big 12 South deserves to be there. Do I think Texas Tech and Texas deserve it just as much? Absolutely. How do you figure out a three way tie?
- The real national championship is this weekend in Atlanta between Alabama and Florida. I think Florida wins, and Bama gets the Sugar Bowl. I feel sorry for the other team that gets invited to the Sugar Bowl! I could also see Bama beating Florida...don't be surprised.
- Virginia Tech beats Boston College in the most meaningless conference championship. No team from the Big East or ACC deserve to be in a BCS bowl. I hope they just pit V Tech/BC and Cincinnati against each other in the Orange Bowl.
- USC blows boring Penn St. out of the water in the Rose Bowl.
- I see Ohio St. getting an at-large bid, either the Fiesta Bowl against Utah or the Sugar Bowl against Florida/Alabama.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Thoughts on Saturday's games...
- I was hoping Oklahoma would beat Texas Tech. I wasn't sure they would...but wow! 65-21? Are you kidding? I wanted OU to win to add confusion to the BCS picture. Who wins the Big 12 South? Texas, TT, and OU all beat each other and they each have one loss! Obviously, there is one week to go...Texas has A&M, Tech has Baylor and OU has Oklahoma St. Unless a couple of these teams get upset next week, it should be interesting hashing this out. Although, Oklahoma St. could upset OU and A&M has been known to pull the upset on UT a time or two. At this point, Oklahoma looks like the best one-loss team in the country.
- I've been watching the OSU/Michigan rivalry for 13 years. I've never seen the Buckeyes put that much of a drubbing on Michigan. I saw Michigan do it to Ohio St. a couple of times in the late 90's. This is the first time OSU has won 5 in a row in this storied rivalry. Michigan still has the all-time edge, but Ohio St. is catching up. Ohio St. is losing a lot of starters next year and Rich Rodriguez will start really recruiting in Michigan. I look for it to even out more next year. Ohio St. will most likely play in the Capital One Bowl against an SEC team, probably Georgia.
- I didn't get the memo that Tennessee would beat Vandy today! Did anyone else get this memo? Now I suppose they'll beat Kentucky next week?
- What's up the ACC??? Nobody wants to win that conference! Clemson beats Virginia, NC State massacres North Carolina. Wake loses to BC. Florida St. may be the team to beat.
- If USC somehow manages to get into the BCS championship, Oregon St. will most likely end up in the Rose Bowl against Penn St.
- Congrats to Utah to most likely getting into a BCS bowl for the second time in 4 years. I see them most likely in the Fiesta Bowl against a Big 12 team, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, take your pick. What a disappointment for BYU! The BYU fans must be crushed! Weeping & wailing! Gnashing of teeth! Boise St. was probably disappointed as well.
- I'm glad Houston Nutt is still in the SEC and coaching Ole Miss! I wish Tennessee would've fired Fulmer a year ago, so the Vols could've hired him! He is one of my favorite coaches.
- I've got Florida and either USC/one of the 3 from the Big 12 South in the BCS Championship. Penn St. vs. USC/Oregon St. in the Rose Bowl. One of the 3 from the Big 12 South vs. Utah in the Fiesta Bowl. Cincinnati vs. Florida St. in the Orange Bowl....snoozer. For the Sugar Bowl, I've got Alabama vs. one of the 3 from the Big 12 South or dare I say it...Boise St? Two BCS busters??? Would we want another WAC/SEC matchup in the Sugar Bowl after last years debacle between Georgia and Hawaii? Stay tuned...
- I've been watching the OSU/Michigan rivalry for 13 years. I've never seen the Buckeyes put that much of a drubbing on Michigan. I saw Michigan do it to Ohio St. a couple of times in the late 90's. This is the first time OSU has won 5 in a row in this storied rivalry. Michigan still has the all-time edge, but Ohio St. is catching up. Ohio St. is losing a lot of starters next year and Rich Rodriguez will start really recruiting in Michigan. I look for it to even out more next year. Ohio St. will most likely play in the Capital One Bowl against an SEC team, probably Georgia.
- I didn't get the memo that Tennessee would beat Vandy today! Did anyone else get this memo? Now I suppose they'll beat Kentucky next week?
- What's up the ACC??? Nobody wants to win that conference! Clemson beats Virginia, NC State massacres North Carolina. Wake loses to BC. Florida St. may be the team to beat.
- If USC somehow manages to get into the BCS championship, Oregon St. will most likely end up in the Rose Bowl against Penn St.
- Congrats to Utah to most likely getting into a BCS bowl for the second time in 4 years. I see them most likely in the Fiesta Bowl against a Big 12 team, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, take your pick. What a disappointment for BYU! The BYU fans must be crushed! Weeping & wailing! Gnashing of teeth! Boise St. was probably disappointed as well.
- I'm glad Houston Nutt is still in the SEC and coaching Ole Miss! I wish Tennessee would've fired Fulmer a year ago, so the Vols could've hired him! He is one of my favorite coaches.
- I've got Florida and either USC/one of the 3 from the Big 12 South in the BCS Championship. Penn St. vs. USC/Oregon St. in the Rose Bowl. One of the 3 from the Big 12 South vs. Utah in the Fiesta Bowl. Cincinnati vs. Florida St. in the Orange Bowl....snoozer. For the Sugar Bowl, I've got Alabama vs. one of the 3 from the Big 12 South or dare I say it...Boise St? Two BCS busters??? Would we want another WAC/SEC matchup in the Sugar Bowl after last years debacle between Georgia and Hawaii? Stay tuned...
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Saturday Picks...
Not really any good matchups this week, which is surprising considering how late in the season we are.
- Ohio St. over Illinois
- Navy over Notre Dame for the second year in a row.
- Texas over Kansas big
- Florida over Spurrier big
- North Carolina over Maryland
- Air Force over BYU
- Washington over UCLA for their first win of the season!
- Oregon St. over Cal
- Georgia over Auburn
- Northwestern over Michigan
- And finally, Bye week over Tennessee big!
Here's to next week which will be much more exciting: Ohio St./Michigan, Mobilhoma/Texas Tech, Utah/BYU
- Ohio St. over Illinois
- Navy over Notre Dame for the second year in a row.
- Texas over Kansas big
- Florida over Spurrier big
- North Carolina over Maryland
- Air Force over BYU
- Washington over UCLA for their first win of the season!
- Oregon St. over Cal
- Georgia over Auburn
- Northwestern over Michigan
- And finally, Bye week over Tennessee big!
Here's to next week which will be much more exciting: Ohio St./Michigan, Mobilhoma/Texas Tech, Utah/BYU
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Fulmer's out
So Phil Fulmer has been forced out at Tennessee. No big shock, other than I thought it would happen at the end of the year and not in the middle. The team has clearly quit on him, though some players have reacted very emotionally to the news of his termination. He is in his 17th and final season as the head coach.
Fulmer does deserve credit for his accomplishments. His fantastic recruiting in the 90's turned the Vols into a national powerhouse that won back to back SEC titles and the BCS championship in '98, defeating Florida St. in the Fiesta Bowl. Many of his top players during the 90's and into this decade are or very recently were playing on Sunday's. Peyton Manning, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, Charlie Garner, Jason Witten, Donte Stallworth, Peerless Price, Leonard Little, Al Wilson, John Henderson, Gibril Wilson, Albert Haynesworth, Shaun Ellis...to name the major ones. Fulmer has a great career winning percentage and managed to beat Alabama and Georgia more often than not. He had a hard time with Florida during the Spurrier era and will have never beaten Urban Meyer, but he did have success during the Ron Zook era. His major strength as a coach was recruiting talent.
However, his talent had come into question recently. He was never an x's and o's coach, and during the heyday, Tennessee usually beat opposing teams on sheer talent. During the 90's, Tennessee and Florida were the predominant programs in the SEC. But things have changed over the last few years in the SEC. Enter coaches like Nick Saban, Les Miles, Urban Meyer, Mark Richt, Tommy Tuberville and that pesky Spurrier, and Fulmer's had his hands full recruiting lately. Essentially, Fulmer hasn't been able to recruit as well because of the influx of coaching talent in the SEC. Add the fact that these new coaches can all outcoach him and you have a declining program. A change needed to happen. David Cutcliffe, Spurrier, Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher and Butch Davis have been mentioned as possible candidates. We'll see what happens.
Fulmer does deserve credit for his accomplishments. His fantastic recruiting in the 90's turned the Vols into a national powerhouse that won back to back SEC titles and the BCS championship in '98, defeating Florida St. in the Fiesta Bowl. Many of his top players during the 90's and into this decade are or very recently were playing on Sunday's. Peyton Manning, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, Charlie Garner, Jason Witten, Donte Stallworth, Peerless Price, Leonard Little, Al Wilson, John Henderson, Gibril Wilson, Albert Haynesworth, Shaun Ellis...to name the major ones. Fulmer has a great career winning percentage and managed to beat Alabama and Georgia more often than not. He had a hard time with Florida during the Spurrier era and will have never beaten Urban Meyer, but he did have success during the Ron Zook era. His major strength as a coach was recruiting talent.
However, his talent had come into question recently. He was never an x's and o's coach, and during the heyday, Tennessee usually beat opposing teams on sheer talent. During the 90's, Tennessee and Florida were the predominant programs in the SEC. But things have changed over the last few years in the SEC. Enter coaches like Nick Saban, Les Miles, Urban Meyer, Mark Richt, Tommy Tuberville and that pesky Spurrier, and Fulmer's had his hands full recruiting lately. Essentially, Fulmer hasn't been able to recruit as well because of the influx of coaching talent in the SEC. Add the fact that these new coaches can all outcoach him and you have a declining program. A change needed to happen. David Cutcliffe, Spurrier, Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher and Butch Davis have been mentioned as possible candidates. We'll see what happens.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Sunday picks
- Bills over Jets. This will be a big win for the Bills against a scrappy Jets team.
- Bears over Lions in a laugher.
- Jaguars over Bengals in Cincy. Easy pick
-Browns over Ravens in Cleveland. I don't know why...I just think the Browns are going to win this one.
- Packers over Titans. No more unbeatens after today. The Pack's defense is a bad matchup for the Titans offense.
- Cardinals over Rams. Kurt Warner returns to St. Louis triumphantly.
- Vikings over Texans. I don't know why. The Texans have been relatively hot, but I think the Vikings win today.
- Bucs over Chiefs in Kansas City. Easy pick, though it probably won't be a blow out.
- Dolphins over Broncos. Denver defense? Meet Ronnie Brown and the Wildcat offense!
- Falcons over Raiders. Matt Ryan picks the defense apart and Michael Turner runs all over them.
- Giants over Cowboys in a laugher. This won't even be close.
- Eagles over Seahawks. Because it's in Seattle it will be close.
- Colts over Patriots. Manning picks this secondary apart today.
- Redskins over Steelers in a close game. The Redskins don't make many mistakes and if they can pressure Big Ben like the Giants did last week they should win. This is going to be a physical game!
- Last week- 9-5
- Bears over Lions in a laugher.
- Jaguars over Bengals in Cincy. Easy pick
-Browns over Ravens in Cleveland. I don't know why...I just think the Browns are going to win this one.
- Packers over Titans. No more unbeatens after today. The Pack's defense is a bad matchup for the Titans offense.
- Cardinals over Rams. Kurt Warner returns to St. Louis triumphantly.
- Vikings over Texans. I don't know why. The Texans have been relatively hot, but I think the Vikings win today.
- Bucs over Chiefs in Kansas City. Easy pick, though it probably won't be a blow out.
- Dolphins over Broncos. Denver defense? Meet Ronnie Brown and the Wildcat offense!
- Falcons over Raiders. Matt Ryan picks the defense apart and Michael Turner runs all over them.
- Giants over Cowboys in a laugher. This won't even be close.
- Eagles over Seahawks. Because it's in Seattle it will be close.
- Colts over Patriots. Manning picks this secondary apart today.
- Redskins over Steelers in a close game. The Redskins don't make many mistakes and if they can pressure Big Ben like the Giants did last week they should win. This is going to be a physical game!
- Last week- 9-5
Thoughts on Saturday...
- Looks like Texas came out flat. They finally got some life in the 4th quarter but it was too little too late. Texas Tech didn't even play that great, but it was good enough to beat the #1 team in the nation. Big game next week for Texas Tech against Oklahoma St. For Texas, you can only keep the momentum for so long when you're having to play so many great teams in a row.
- Alabama should move up to #1, with Penn St. moving up to #2. Texas Tech may now pop into #3.
- Vengeance is a dish that is best served cold and it was very cold in Jacksonville yesterday for the Dawgs. It was actually a pretty close game in the first half, but Georgia had too many miscues...failed onside kick, two missed field goals and turnovers galore. Florida's defense pinned their ears back in the second half and just went after Stafford.
- Matthew Stafford reminds me of John Elway in the way he throws the ball and tries to zing it into spots. He's not as mobile, but he has an NFL arm. Pro scouts are drooling over him! He's widely considered the best "pro-style" qb right now.
- Looks like we may see a third consecutive SEC vs. Big 10 national championship. Penn St. has the clearest road. Their remaining games are Iowa, Indiana and Michigan St. All very winnable games for JoePa. Florida, the hottest team right now, has Vandy, Spurrier, Citadel and Florida St. and then the SEC Championship, most likely against Alabama. Florida is good enough to win all of those games. Texas Tech still has Oklahoma St. and Oklahoma to play...they will lose at least one of those games if not both. Alabama has Miss St., LSU and Auburn, then the SEC Championship. Bama will go to Atlanta undefeated but lose to Florida.
- Alabama should move up to #1, with Penn St. moving up to #2. Texas Tech may now pop into #3.
- Vengeance is a dish that is best served cold and it was very cold in Jacksonville yesterday for the Dawgs. It was actually a pretty close game in the first half, but Georgia had too many miscues...failed onside kick, two missed field goals and turnovers galore. Florida's defense pinned their ears back in the second half and just went after Stafford.
- Matthew Stafford reminds me of John Elway in the way he throws the ball and tries to zing it into spots. He's not as mobile, but he has an NFL arm. Pro scouts are drooling over him! He's widely considered the best "pro-style" qb right now.
- Looks like we may see a third consecutive SEC vs. Big 10 national championship. Penn St. has the clearest road. Their remaining games are Iowa, Indiana and Michigan St. All very winnable games for JoePa. Florida, the hottest team right now, has Vandy, Spurrier, Citadel and Florida St. and then the SEC Championship, most likely against Alabama. Florida is good enough to win all of those games. Texas Tech still has Oklahoma St. and Oklahoma to play...they will lose at least one of those games if not both. Alabama has Miss St., LSU and Auburn, then the SEC Championship. Bama will go to Atlanta undefeated but lose to Florida.
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