I now sit at 11-13 for the season. I would be over .500 if I just told you the names of the teams I have liked the past two nights. But I did not. What a dope.
So here goes for today:
Louisville -14.5 versus Kentucky. I know it is a lot but they own the series and need blowout wins.
East Carolina +8 hosting Va Tech. Banged up Hokies need to improve too much on offense.
UCLA +3 at Nebraska. Bruins are inspired and Huskers have looked mediocre.
New Mexico +22.5 at Pitt. How is Pitt favored by that many against anyone?
USC -14 hosting BC. Kiffin hangs on one more week.
Oregon -28 hosting Tennessee. Yet another SEC team gets spanked.
Texas A&M +8.5 versus Alabama. Too many points.
Central Florida +5 at Penn State. Hunch game
Mississippi State +6.5 at Auburn. Game should go down the wire.
Vandy +14 at South Carolina. Betting that a third SEC team does not get blown out.
Florida Atlantic +13 at South Florida. Way too many points for struggling Bulls.
Notre Dame -19 at Purdue. Irish 0-2 versus spread. Due
Wisconsin +4.5 at ASU. We'll learn a lot about both teams.
Meanwhile my 2-0 Fordham Rams go up in class today at Temple. Play hard boys.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
More Potential Trouble
Has all of the recent success enjoyed by the SEC been on the up-and-up? Well....does anyone think so? Now we have some finger pointing, with attached evidence, raised against some former SEC football players and the nation shrugs. There is a certain assumption that athletes being paid for their services has been going on since day one and will go on forever. So why bother? But of course there is more to it than that. Whether it is of the sleazy booster payout--ala Oklahoma State--or the sleazy agent payouts, it is typically an advantage to have the word get around that you, a football program, will look the other way as your stars get paid. You will attract more talent, albeit of the mercenary kind, to your school if they know there is money involved. Not every player is for sale and sometimes it blows up in your face in regards to team unity. But generally if you purchase a five star receiver or Heisman winning QB, you are in good shape.
And that has been true forever. But it does not make it right and equipping the NCAA to hammer guys/programs who cheat would be preferable to what we have today. Will that happen? No. But I can dream.
And that has been true forever. But it does not make it right and equipping the NCAA to hammer guys/programs who cheat would be preferable to what we have today. Will that happen? No. But I can dream.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Possible Oklahoma State Violations
Did they or didn't they? I don't know but the potential scandal brewing out in Stillwater highlights one of the biggest problems facing college football since the early days. Can secondary programs keep up with the heavy hitters without bending or breaking the rules?
Now Okie State fans, calm down. I did not mean anything by the word "secondary". The first group, containing the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, Texas, etc. (and, yes, Oklahoma) is not very big. It is very exclusive and can maintain its preeminence by using their considerable prestige and spending boatloads of cash. Sure they can be down--just ask Texas and USC right now how they feel--but they will not be for long because they can buy whatever and whomever they want. It is their ball and if you want to play you have to abide by their rules. Can a school like Oklahoma State, with donors willing to pay for new facilities and coaches (and possibly more), truly become a top ten team by being true to the rulebook?
This issue has come to light in the past, perhaps never more sharply than in the 1980s. After decades of dominance by programs like USC, Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Ohio State, upstart teams like Clemson, Miami and BYU suddenly won national championships. Were we entering a new age of parity? Clemson almost immediately was placed on probation, heightening the fans' and media's distrust of how legit these programs could be. But some of those programs, like Miami, Florida and Florida State were there to stay thanks to a sudden increase in talent in their home state, while other programs, like Oregon, were about to move up in class thanks to an influx of money. But once the dust settled and some punishments--to upstarts and traditional powers--levied, the traditional guys took over once again. By the 2000s Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, LSU and Florida began to dominate the nation's top spot due to the wiser use of their money. North Carolina fancied themselves an up-and-coming program until a then-struggling Texas swiped coach Mack Brown. Nick Saban did not leave a Conference USA program to take over LSU but Michigan State, the ultimate secondary school in the Big Ten. Once he bolted for the NFL, LSU swiped Les Miles from Oklahoma State even though Okie State thought they were just as good as the Tigers. And when guys like Nick Saban and Urban Meyer return to college coaching they do so for only the best jobs: Alabama and Ohio State.
So there may be a scandal brewing in Oklahoma State? No one, sadly, is surprised. The question is, who's next?
Now Okie State fans, calm down. I did not mean anything by the word "secondary". The first group, containing the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, Texas, etc. (and, yes, Oklahoma) is not very big. It is very exclusive and can maintain its preeminence by using their considerable prestige and spending boatloads of cash. Sure they can be down--just ask Texas and USC right now how they feel--but they will not be for long because they can buy whatever and whomever they want. It is their ball and if you want to play you have to abide by their rules. Can a school like Oklahoma State, with donors willing to pay for new facilities and coaches (and possibly more), truly become a top ten team by being true to the rulebook?
This issue has come to light in the past, perhaps never more sharply than in the 1980s. After decades of dominance by programs like USC, Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Ohio State, upstart teams like Clemson, Miami and BYU suddenly won national championships. Were we entering a new age of parity? Clemson almost immediately was placed on probation, heightening the fans' and media's distrust of how legit these programs could be. But some of those programs, like Miami, Florida and Florida State were there to stay thanks to a sudden increase in talent in their home state, while other programs, like Oregon, were about to move up in class thanks to an influx of money. But once the dust settled and some punishments--to upstarts and traditional powers--levied, the traditional guys took over once again. By the 2000s Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, LSU and Florida began to dominate the nation's top spot due to the wiser use of their money. North Carolina fancied themselves an up-and-coming program until a then-struggling Texas swiped coach Mack Brown. Nick Saban did not leave a Conference USA program to take over LSU but Michigan State, the ultimate secondary school in the Big Ten. Once he bolted for the NFL, LSU swiped Les Miles from Oklahoma State even though Okie State thought they were just as good as the Tigers. And when guys like Nick Saban and Urban Meyer return to college coaching they do so for only the best jobs: Alabama and Ohio State.
So there may be a scandal brewing in Oklahoma State? No one, sadly, is surprised. The question is, who's next?
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Austin Angst
We have only played two weeks of football and Texas coach Mack Brown has already made the first panic move of 2013. With the entire coaching staff feeling pressure to return the Longhorns to the national title race--Texas is 21-16 in the three seasons since their most recent national title game appearance following the 2009 season--DC Manny Diaz was demoted after the squad lost to BYU 40-21 Saturday night. Being that the Texas program is the most financially sound in the country they had the wherewithal to have former Texas and Michigan DC Gregg Robinson on hand as an analyst and he now takes over the D.
The Texas defense has underachieved but one game does not make a season. And playing BYU--who ran all over the Horns for 550y--while building a defense that needs to stop the likes of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State is a difficult task. This is generally true of the Big 12 as a whole as their defenses have to be built to play the explosive offenses found in conference which leaves them at times struggling against out of conference foes.
The main problem with the Texas program is one of perception. Fans feel that Texas is not playing to a perceived level of talent and the desire of a fan base spoiled with a 2005 national title and 2009 national runner up spot is to always win 11-13 games. The perception is that coach Mack Brown cannot keep up with newer systems. Of course not recruiting Johnny Manziel as a QB or current flavor of the month Jameis Winston of Florida State at all is putting more nails in the coffin.
The 2013 season can be saved with better play. Knock off Ole Miss Saturday and then hold serve against struggling Kansas State and Iowa State and the Longhorns will be 4-1 entering OU week. Let's see what happens.
The Texas defense has underachieved but one game does not make a season. And playing BYU--who ran all over the Horns for 550y--while building a defense that needs to stop the likes of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State is a difficult task. This is generally true of the Big 12 as a whole as their defenses have to be built to play the explosive offenses found in conference which leaves them at times struggling against out of conference foes.
The main problem with the Texas program is one of perception. Fans feel that Texas is not playing to a perceived level of talent and the desire of a fan base spoiled with a 2005 national title and 2009 national runner up spot is to always win 11-13 games. The perception is that coach Mack Brown cannot keep up with newer systems. Of course not recruiting Johnny Manziel as a QB or current flavor of the month Jameis Winston of Florida State at all is putting more nails in the coffin.
The 2013 season can be saved with better play. Knock off Ole Miss Saturday and then hold serve against struggling Kansas State and Iowa State and the Longhorns will be 4-1 entering OU week. Let's see what happens.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
What Makes You Sicker?
I am not sure what I am tired of more, virtually any aspect of the Manziel story or the claims of the Paterno family. Do we really need a jerk-meter to determine who was worse, Brian Bosworth or Johnny Manziel? Who cares. And as for the Paternos, shut up already. This lawsuit is ridiculous and the fact that you remain so upset about income lost and damage to your name is awful in light of the actual damage done to the real victims in this case. Just go away and take Manziel with you.
Today's Picks
Ouch. I am sitting at 6-9 for the season.
Let's get back on the horse. In the big games I like the dogs, Miami +3.5 against Florida, South Carolina +4.5 at Georgia and Notre Dame +4.5 at Michigan.
I also like Western Kentucky +13 at Tennessee, Middle Tennessee State +17.5 at UNC, Toledo +17 at Missouri, Navy +13 at IU, Washington State +15.5 at USC and San Jose State +25 at Stanford.
All dogs to overcome a dog&#$% start.
Let's get back on the horse. In the big games I like the dogs, Miami +3.5 against Florida, South Carolina +4.5 at Georgia and Notre Dame +4.5 at Michigan.
I also like Western Kentucky +13 at Tennessee, Middle Tennessee State +17.5 at UNC, Toledo +17 at Missouri, Navy +13 at IU, Washington State +15.5 at USC and San Jose State +25 at Stanford.
All dogs to overcome a dog&#$% start.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Let Louisville Season Play Out
I fully understand why the powers that be in college football would want Louisville out of the BCS title game, as they want to keep both spots for themselves. It is selfish but at least understandable especially in light of other greedy moves. But the media? What is in it for them?
From midsummer to today the drum beat has roared. Louisville can go undefeated this year but thanks to a crappy schedule they will not make the championship game. Yes of course if Alabama and say Ohio State go undefeated they would make the title game ahead of Louisville, even though neither of those traditional powers will have played a good schedule. But the further implication is that a 12-0 Louisville would really be behind potential one-loss schools from the bigger conferences. That is both ridiculous and a waste of time here on Labor Day except that the "pundits" know that you have to write an anti Louisville story for every TD pass Teddy Bridgewater throws. You cannot wait until December 1 to explain why a one-loss SEC team that did not win its conference (or even division) is worthy of a title spot ahead of an undefeated team from a "lesser" conference. College football fans need to be programmed from opening week. So while the media know that Louisville looked impressive yesterday against a solid Ohio program they can instead write about how their schedule is not going to hold up. The famous "sight test" they apply to SEC teams--where we are told that you can just look at say Alabama and see that they are better than everyone else--does not apply to schools like Louisville. You cannot look at Louisville and say that they are one of the two best teams in the country even though--based only on one game--they certainly played the part. And after one game neither Alabama nor Ohio State looked like programs deserving special treatment. None of it matters now as it is too early and hopefully not later when the play on the field should be paramount.
From midsummer to today the drum beat has roared. Louisville can go undefeated this year but thanks to a crappy schedule they will not make the championship game. Yes of course if Alabama and say Ohio State go undefeated they would make the title game ahead of Louisville, even though neither of those traditional powers will have played a good schedule. But the further implication is that a 12-0 Louisville would really be behind potential one-loss schools from the bigger conferences. That is both ridiculous and a waste of time here on Labor Day except that the "pundits" know that you have to write an anti Louisville story for every TD pass Teddy Bridgewater throws. You cannot wait until December 1 to explain why a one-loss SEC team that did not win its conference (or even division) is worthy of a title spot ahead of an undefeated team from a "lesser" conference. College football fans need to be programmed from opening week. So while the media know that Louisville looked impressive yesterday against a solid Ohio program they can instead write about how their schedule is not going to hold up. The famous "sight test" they apply to SEC teams--where we are told that you can just look at say Alabama and see that they are better than everyone else--does not apply to schools like Louisville. You cannot look at Louisville and say that they are one of the two best teams in the country even though--based only on one game--they certainly played the part. And after one game neither Alabama nor Ohio State looked like programs deserving special treatment. None of it matters now as it is too early and hopefully not later when the play on the field should be paramount.
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