I am currently engrossed in Rocky III, patiently awaiting the USC-ASU game.
Mr. T might be the baddest dude to walk the planet in a long time.
I did some research on Laurence Tureaud and he lived an awesome life. On his business card read "Next to God, there is no greater protector than I." How money is that?
We have a great lineup this weekend, isn't Rivalry Week the best invention ever? There are a few games that have pretty attractive lines…
-Virginia Tech-Virginia
-Georgia-Georgia Tech
-Texas-Texas A&M
-Boise-Hawaii
Alright, Mickey just died. I'm bummed. I gotta go…enjoy the games. Someone text message me scores between the hours of 4 and 5.
| Game | Line | Pick | Notes |
| Boise State @ Hawaii | Haw -3.5 | Boise State | I've long waited to make this pick. |
| Missouri @ Kansas | Kansas -2 | Missouri | If Kansas proves me wrong, I'll start believing. I promise. |
| Arkansas @ LSU | LSU -12.5 | Arkansas | Arkansas hasn't really lived up to expectations, but Darren McFadden has really loved playing the Tigers the last two years. LSU will win, 37-27. |
| Texas @ Texas A&M | Texas-5.5 | Texas | This is one of my locks this weekend. The Longhorns can still make the title game with an OU loss, so they'll be sure and lock this one up. |
| Virginia Tech @ Virginia | VT -3.5 | Virginia Tech | Another one of my locks. Unless Virginia's D can score a touchdown or two, this game won't be close. |
| Tennessee @ Kentucky | UK -3 | Kentucky | Tennessee, much like Virginia, has benefited from close wins and a rather lax schedule. UK will be ready to roll. |
| Connecticut @ West Virginia | WVU -17 | WVU | WVU is the class of the Big East, as long as it takes care of the ball. Limit mistakes and the 'Eers will win by three scores. |
| Georgia @ Georgia Tech | UGA -3.5 | Georgia | The best team in the SEC East can beat GT in so many ways, beginning with the running game. The Dawgs should be playing for the title. |
| Oregon @ UCLA | Oregon -2 | UCLA | Writing this prior to the USC game, I just have a feeling the Trojans will be back in the Rose Bowl -- which requires an Oregon loss. And I'm anything but a Brady Leaf believer. |
| Okalhoma @ Oklahoma State | OU -12.5 | OU | This game has been awesome to watch three of the last five years, but Oklahoma has everything to lose and isn't willing to do it. Time to run the ball. |
| Florida State @ Florida | UF -13.5 | Florida | Florida is leaps and bounds better than a FSU team in disarray. Tim Tebow needs to put the stamp on his Heisman resume and find the end zone 4-5 times. AND THROW UP THE POSE, TIM! |
| Clemson @ South Carolina | Clemson -3 | Clemson | The Tigers blew it last week and have to be very salty about it. What better opponent to unleash their frustrations on than SoCo? |
| Alabama @ Auburn | Auburn -6 | Auburn | Generally the Iron Bowl is the game I look most forward to this weekend, but this year interests me very little. I wonder if Saban's moronic comments have anything to do with it. But as far as the game, Bama won't be able to move the ball against the Tigers. |
Comments (24)
Adam, I totally agree with you on the Missou Tigers getting the best of Kansas this weekend. I'm not so sure about Kentucky over Tenn or Arkansas over LSU.
I don't think there's any chance Arkansas will get 27 points against LSU.
Kentucky - Tenn, I'm hoping you're right, but I just don;t think Rich Brooks squad has it in them, unless they're going to win it for the late Johnny Ray.
Enjoy that wedding and your trip to Pittsburgh!
This blog deserves a historical marker attached to it. For the first time ever, the words "WVU" and "class" were used in a sentence together, that did not include either "lacks" or "no". Breaking new ground on Campus Confidential.
Jeremy,
Better be careful with those WVU comments or else me and my buddies will come over and burn your couch :-) :-)
Adam,
I'm sitting here watching the 3rd OT of the LSU - Arkansas game. I'm in a disagreement with a buddy about the wisdom of Nutt deciding to start the OT on defense. My buddy says you always pick "D" so you know whether you need 3 or 7. I'm thinking when your the underdog and run a better offense than a defense - it often makes sense to go on offense first. Make the other guy play catch-up.
What do you think?
B&G,
Well, you got what you asked for, WVU with total control of their own destiny. Make sure you send that thank you card to Mr. McFadden.
Considering Houston Nutt's Faux Pas last year in leaving WVU off his season ending ballet, I has a tough time rooting for Arkansas today... It was a great Win for WVU, but a better win for Ohio State. That "Terrell Pryor Bowl" is looking better with each game.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2005-12-06-notes_x.htm
By the way Adam...nice call on the LSU - Arkansas game... certainly surprised me.
The way things are going, is it possible that USC & Ohio State could end up playing for the championship? Heck, maybe even Hawaii & Kansas or Missouri or LSU or Oklahoma. You guys get the point. Of course, just think how great all of these arguments would be if there was a playoff. What do I know, clearly, nothing, I am still smarting from the beating last night. The only thing at this point is will Hawaii-Boise State be higher scoring than Colorado-Nebraska?
Oh, B&G, I think that Arkansas got a few more than 27 today. Best of luck to the B&Gers.
Oh, by the way, with all of the upsets again, and the weekend is just starting (A&M/Arkansas), if Hawaii wins out, they have to go to a BCS game, don't they?
Hey Paul, I congratulated Adam at 20:05 and issued a mea culpa... what more do you want?
I would have offered to eat my notebook.. but Glauber already has the corner on that line :-)
B&G, give me a few minutes, I might be able to think of something. How about giving me carte blanche to strangle the morons who run ESPN (I know morons & ESPN is repetitive) every time they do an interview in the middle of these football games. I was sick of them last night in ASU game (couldn't they wait until the game was decided as opposed to the second quarter) and why do I care about Al Groh in the middle of a 13-7 Hawaii/Boise State game?
Good question Re: Al Groh, as Adam has already pointed out, even Virginia fans don't seem to care much :-)
That was an intense BSU-Hawaii game last night. Imagine 15 games played like that in a 16 team playoff.
Well, I would love to see a few more upsets today. Let's see things really get thrown for a loop. Only problem with that is the only thing it would do is clear the way for an undeserving Ohio State to play in the championship game.
The Big 11 was so weak this year, at least compared to other conferences. But they travel well, so they will get seven to eight bowl bids, and we will all have to endure the garbage of the fans of that conference talking about how good they are, look at all of our bowl bids.
B&G, looks like your guys will be playing Kansas, Missouri or Ohio State for the championship.
Of course, I am also looking for Hawaii to get a BCS game as well. So I am rooting for anything that helps that, except if it hurts ASU, of course. It would also seem that Oregon, without Dixon is done.
Adam,
Just getting caught up on all of your blogs for the week, and I think you're forgetting that in 2004, the Virginia at Virginia Tech game meant a lot. Had Virginia beaten us, the Cavs would have clinched at least part of the ACC Championship. Luckily that didn't happen, we enjoyed a victory the next week in Miami (even though the other sports writers in the booth ticked us off), and we went on to the Sugar Bowl.
B&G,
Congratulations on the now all but sealed National Championship berth. I'm not looking forward to Christmas because my fiance's family members are not very gracious fans. They'll rub it in my face the whole time I'm there. In fact, Rob already alerted me that they were thinking about wrapping up a WVU jacket and trying to pass it off as my gift. I think he talked them out of it though. My dream of a Virginia Tech/West Virginia Orange Bowl seems to be nothing more than a dream. UCONN proved itself a fraud today. I think the way the Hokies are playing now, they would match up well with the Mountaineers. I really wish there was a playoff.
Jana
Thanks Paul... I've been a Mountaineer fan for over 30 years... it's nice to finally be in the national spotlight.
Jenna, good luck with the in-laws! Please understand where they're coming from, for years we West Virginians have fought against the deliverance stereotype Finally, we have a chance to bark back.
The resentment runs very deep though, and I'm not sure my Mountaineer brothers can be gracious in their celebrations.
Just realize though, there's a Pitt Panther team just itching to spoil the party.
B&G, I can't see how Pitt will be able to stop WVU, but I understand the mindset, I never feel that ASU will win against that team from 100 miles to the south, part of that is because in all of the time I was there, and I saw most of them in person, ASU never won. From 82-90, ASU was 0-8-1 in the final regualr season game. Not to mention I am a Giants' fan, who describe in painful detail, where & what I was doing the day Joe Pisarcik brought into vogue the "kneel down" play at the end of games.
Jana,
I just realized I've been spelling your name wrong... sorry about that :-)
Jana, By the way... it used to be that VT - WVU was a given every year... then your side decided to defect to the that "other" conference.
There are going to be a lot of people talking about the relative strength of the various conferences - particularly if Ohio State gets back into the picture by way of a Mizzou loss to Oklahoma next week.
I find the strength of schedule argument so amusing this year, when - what is it? - 12 top 5 teams lost to non-ranked opponents.
B&G, you make a valid point, but as long as they use it in the computer rankings, it is an argument that has to be brought up, if not, then should not Hawaii, if they beat Washington, next week, be one of the teams playing in the title game? Don't see that argument being made anywhere, in a BCS game, yes, title game, no. I just don't think Ohio State is that good. They certainly are not as good as LSU, and they will have the same record basically if LSU beats Tennessee in the SEC championship game. Who would deserve to be there more? And if Missouri loses to Oklahoma, then Ohio State will likely be the Mountaineers opponent in New Orleans (I know, they have to beat Pitt, first). And I do not think that OSU is one of the best two teams in the country.
Paul,
It's the most flawed stat in sports (And beating +/- in hockey is quite a feat!).
Think about it, it's the only stat I know of in sports where losing raises your stature!
The top ten teams in SoS:
1. Duke (1-10) 0.409
2. Mississippi (2-8) 0.359
3. Syracuse (2-9) 0.349
4. Baylor (2-9) 0.340
5. Stanford (3-7) 0.319
6. Florida Intl (0-10) 0.294
7. Notre Dame (2-9) 0.292
8. North Carolina (2-8) 0.276
9. Mississippi State (5-5) 0.261
10. Iowa State (3-8) 0.252
B&G, I did not say I disagree with you, just as long as the computers use it, you can not discount it. Meanwhile latest BCS, has Missouri #1 & WVU in the dreaded #2 spot.
Paul, I agree with you re: LSU being stronger than Ohio State.
In fact, I've been on record here in the Blog as saying LSU would be the toughest draw for WVU (Kansas would have been 2nd toughest in my estimation based on their disciplined style of play).
I think WVU-Mizzou wouldn't give the BCS Championship game the historical "cred" that WVU-Ohio State would. I just don't want to see Ohio State in the championship game for one reason, Terrell Pryor.
Everything I'm hearing from my old buddies in Pittsburgh is that Terrell has virtually limited his choices to OHio State and WVU.
Tressel has already promised Terrell he'll let him play B-Ball (Dumb move on Terrell's part IMHO) - But I can't see coach R-Rod allowing it. Having said that, Terrell's physical style fits perfectly with Huggins (The WVU B-Ball coach) style of coaching.
I'm going to be nervous all week leading up to this weeks Backyard Brawl.There's ABSOLUTELY no love lost between these two schools and their fans.
Funny story, the first time I ever went to Morgantown was 1979. I has just gotten out of the service and my younger brother was in his Sophomore year at WVU. It was August and football season hadn't even started. The Pitt game was three months away. The first thing I remember noticing was a huge sign in the window of a Frat House. "BEAT PITT".
Frank Cignetti, former WVU football coach once said that at WVU you could be forgiven for a one win season if that win came against Pitt.
I still joke to this day that my two favorite college football teams are WVU and who ever is playing Pitt. :-)
This weeks Backyard brawl scares me, it would scare me if Pitt were 0-10.