Game Week
Like an oil rig in the Gulf, we're going to blow this sh*t up...
Well gang, we had a slew of games on last night - finally was able to find the Utah/Pitt game (only one I was really looking forward to seeing), watched some of second quarter and most of second half; turned it off when Utah went up by 11; texted by Stump with his multiple exclamation point signature texts "are you watching versus!!!", only to find I had missed arguably the most exciting 5 minutes of football we'll see this season. Yep, college football is in the air.
Hey Wanstadt, how about nutting out a game in the fourth quarter....just once. And memo to the Pitt QB - what the hell were you doing on that first play of OT? If you were trying to burn a hole in your receiver's head with your eyes, mission accomplished. Hell, I thought he was throwing to the defensive back. Horrible, horrible decision.
Now, on to this weekend...
Texas at Rice
Remember....like 1990 or 91 when Texas went to Rice and played on a Sunday night in the rain? I can't help to remember that every time the Horns travel to Houston. Anyway, Texas ain't going to lose so let's get that out of our heads right now.
Look, it's Rice and even on a good year, they just don't have the weapons and talent to compete with Texas, but I am very intrigued as I have absolutely no idea what to expect from the offense. I'll tell you this - I'd bet my right arm is a boring ass game: Texas is breaking in a new QB (who's never started a game at this level mind you), trying to focus more on the running game, transforming the offensive line identity, and looking for a leader in the receiving corps. Could get interesting, but there's a lot of "looking and confirming" going on - especially at receiver and offensive line.
Very happy to see Cody "Gimme the Rock" Johnson get the nod as the number one RB. He's leaned up quite a bit and hopefully more durable and won't fatigue like he has. I think he's still around 2 and a half bills, but supposedly he's a lean machine. I love the way he runs in the downhill style, and not shocked by his starting, but fatigue has killed him the last years. And Fozzy and Newton coming in for relief/special formations? I'll take it - those guys are fast, quick guys, but can't pound like Johnson. And frankly, if we're putting up 200+ yards on the ground a game, I don't care if it's 2 or 4 guys doing it as long as we're getting. I know this for a fact - the days of our QB rushing for 100 yards are over....which isn't a bad thing.
VERY intrigued with the O-line - easily the biggest question mark and not just because of the new faces, but because when you move from a zone blocking, pass-happy offense to a smash-mouth run blocking offense, it's quite a shift. The good news is it's typically less thinking and more hitting the guy across from you in the mouth. We'll see just how tough this offensive line is as there have been some question marks in the past (oohhh, I don't know, namely last year's Big 12 title game?). I imagine they'll be able to hit Rice in the mouth pretty good, but we don't play Rice every week.
I'm not even going to talk defensive backfield. I'll go out on a limb and say that this will be the unquestioned, top rated secondary in the country, hands down this year. Muschamp is a freak - lose Earl Thomas to the first round of the NFL and come back with a BETTER unit? Ridiculous.
Defensive player I'm most interested in seeing - Sam Acho. He's going to be talked about a lot - he can play a rushing end or tackle, and do them both well. Got a couple of freshman I've heard quite a bit about this summer, but we've heard that stuff before...they'll get some shots. Concern number one is depth - if we lose anyone on the D-line with significant injuries, it will test this unit quite a bit.
Not at all worried about Gilbert, he'll do some stupid things this year, but he'll be fine. Very fine.
Texas - 41
Rice - 12
What, you mean there are other games? Don't worry, I won't try and BS my way through the lesser games (most of them). BUT, there are some gems...
TCU vs Oregon State
This is a good game on paper - Oregon State is kind of a darling stretch team this year (yours truly picked them to win the Pac 10...only because I don't trust anyone else to) and this game will certainly test that. A good showing here would go a long way. A win would go a REALLY long way. On the flip side, if TCU wants to be a mainstay in the BCS bowl carousel, a win here is an absolute must. TCU's defense is it's staple and has been under Patterson, but they are returning almost every starter from a pretty solid offense last year, including their QB Dalton (I can't say his name without thinking of Swayze in Roadhouse walking out of the tunnel). Meanwhile, Oregon State has the Rodgers brothers who are pretty electrifying (or should I say, can be).
Closer than most think with TCU barely edging out a victory against a resilient and tough Beaver team.
TCU - 27
Oregon State - 21
North Carolina vs LSU
Who's not suspended in this game? Anyone? Pressure of Butch Davis to clean up the program (LOTS of off-field issues of late) as well as take the next step on the field. Will be tough without a slew of players. Meanwhile, you think that Les Miles honeymoon has worn off yet? Uhhh, yeah, it has. Write this down - if Les Miles loses more than 3 games and doesn't win the west division - he's out. Period. I think he'll lose more than 3, but I think he wins this one - too many distractions for the Heels right now. It will take the coaching job of his lifetime for Davis to get his guys focused for this game. Les Miles' competence level as a coach aside, he's got better talent.
LSU - 26
North Carolina - 13
And then we have the big daddy of the weekend....
Boise State vs Virginia Tech
So I'm going to be honest - I'm quickly moving into that camp of let's give Boise State some credit - my sports-talk radio consumption has sky rocketed of late with my extra extended commute now and whether it's national or local I'm hearing nothing but hate for the Broncos. Here's my question - what do they need to do? Play a tougher schedule, you say? OK, well guess what, they can't control their conference schedule and NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO PLAY THEM EITHER!! It's not like Texas, Bama, Florida, Miami, USC, et al are lining up to play the Broncos, not in this day and age. And don't they win almost every game they play when they DO play the bigger teams? And let's not forget that the SEC has Vandy, MSU, Ole Miss and S. Carolina (not great teams). Big 12 has Iowa State, Baylor, Colorado, Kansas State in their conference. And on, and on. My point is don't hate just because of that. How many times have Texas fans bitched because of our non-conference schedule? Right.
Virginia Tech is a good, solid football team and I think they'll be pretty good this, but here's what I know about them: they start slow and their QB play is more times than not based on potential vs results. However, the Hokies come powered with a trio of damn-good running backs (albeit I think one is a freshman so we'll see) with experience and speed. Meanwhile, they also have Tyrod Taylor back behind the center so that experience alone should propel them to better days at the skill positions. And the Hokies' place at the top in special teams seems permanent - that's always an area where VaTech can win any given game. BUT, the Broncos are bringing back 21 starters. That's nuts. The Broncos are here to stay and they're a good team. I picked them to win it all this year and I'm sticking with it - but it all comes down to this game - lose this one and you're out of the picture. Period. I'm done betting against Boise State.
Boise State - 29
Virginia Tech - 20
Now that we've got those out of the way, a couple of sleeper games...
Texas Tech vs SMU
VEEEERY interesting game for the Red Raiders here - breaking in a new coach without trying too hard to break in a new offensive scheme. I've always been a big Tubberville fan and I still say this was a big upgrade for the Red Raiders. I will give them credit for trending their defensive improvement in the right direction over the years and I see this move as a catalyst to keep that going and even accelerate it. Tommy knows defense.
Don't laugh at this, but SMU is not the same slouch team that we all know. June Jones was a great hire for them and if nothing else, he'll have those guys competing. And didn't these guys go to a bowl game last year? Maybe I'm wrong, but either way, they're much more competitive than they have been in the past.
I won't keep betting on Tech to throw up 60 anymore, but they'll definitely win this game.
Texas Tech - 36
SMU - 24
Connecticut at Michigan
How tight do you think RichRod's ass is going to be puckered up for this game? I'm betting diamond making tight. Let me go out on a limb here - if they lose to a VERY dangerous Connecticut team, RichRod could be looking for new labor on Labor Day. I'm not kidding. I'm betting he turns things around and the Wolverines make a BIG turnaround this year, but this one is scary early on.
Michigan - 31
UCONN - 21
UCLA at Kansas State
This is interesting as a Texas fan because we get both of these teams this year. This will show one thing and one thing only - how these teams will compete. I'll go out on a limb and say that the Bruins come in and take one away from the Wildcats. Not even going to try and predict a score here....
Other Random Sports Talk
Well gang, we had a slew of games on last night - finally was able to find the Utah/Pitt game (only one I was really looking forward to seeing), watched some of second quarter and most of second half; turned it off when Utah went up by 11; texted by Stump with his multiple exclamation point signature texts "are you watching versus!!!", only to find I had missed arguably the most exciting 5 minutes of football we'll see this season. Yep, college football is in the air.
Hey Wanstadt, how about nutting out a game in the fourth quarter....just once. And memo to the Pitt QB - what the hell were you doing on that first play of OT? If you were trying to burn a hole in your receiver's head with your eyes, mission accomplished. Hell, I thought he was throwing to the defensive back. Horrible, horrible decision.
Now, on to this weekend...
Texas at Rice
Remember....like 1990 or 91 when Texas went to Rice and played on a Sunday night in the rain? I can't help to remember that every time the Horns travel to Houston. Anyway, Texas ain't going to lose so let's get that out of our heads right now.
Look, it's Rice and even on a good year, they just don't have the weapons and talent to compete with Texas, but I am very intrigued as I have absolutely no idea what to expect from the offense. I'll tell you this - I'd bet my right arm is a boring ass game: Texas is breaking in a new QB (who's never started a game at this level mind you), trying to focus more on the running game, transforming the offensive line identity, and looking for a leader in the receiving corps. Could get interesting, but there's a lot of "looking and confirming" going on - especially at receiver and offensive line.
Very happy to see Cody "Gimme the Rock" Johnson get the nod as the number one RB. He's leaned up quite a bit and hopefully more durable and won't fatigue like he has. I think he's still around 2 and a half bills, but supposedly he's a lean machine. I love the way he runs in the downhill style, and not shocked by his starting, but fatigue has killed him the last years. And Fozzy and Newton coming in for relief/special formations? I'll take it - those guys are fast, quick guys, but can't pound like Johnson. And frankly, if we're putting up 200+ yards on the ground a game, I don't care if it's 2 or 4 guys doing it as long as we're getting. I know this for a fact - the days of our QB rushing for 100 yards are over....which isn't a bad thing.
VERY intrigued with the O-line - easily the biggest question mark and not just because of the new faces, but because when you move from a zone blocking, pass-happy offense to a smash-mouth run blocking offense, it's quite a shift. The good news is it's typically less thinking and more hitting the guy across from you in the mouth. We'll see just how tough this offensive line is as there have been some question marks in the past (oohhh, I don't know, namely last year's Big 12 title game?). I imagine they'll be able to hit Rice in the mouth pretty good, but we don't play Rice every week.
I'm not even going to talk defensive backfield. I'll go out on a limb and say that this will be the unquestioned, top rated secondary in the country, hands down this year. Muschamp is a freak - lose Earl Thomas to the first round of the NFL and come back with a BETTER unit? Ridiculous.
Defensive player I'm most interested in seeing - Sam Acho. He's going to be talked about a lot - he can play a rushing end or tackle, and do them both well. Got a couple of freshman I've heard quite a bit about this summer, but we've heard that stuff before...they'll get some shots. Concern number one is depth - if we lose anyone on the D-line with significant injuries, it will test this unit quite a bit.
Not at all worried about Gilbert, he'll do some stupid things this year, but he'll be fine. Very fine.
Texas - 41
Rice - 12
What, you mean there are other games? Don't worry, I won't try and BS my way through the lesser games (most of them). BUT, there are some gems...
TCU vs Oregon State
This is a good game on paper - Oregon State is kind of a darling stretch team this year (yours truly picked them to win the Pac 10...only because I don't trust anyone else to) and this game will certainly test that. A good showing here would go a long way. A win would go a REALLY long way. On the flip side, if TCU wants to be a mainstay in the BCS bowl carousel, a win here is an absolute must. TCU's defense is it's staple and has been under Patterson, but they are returning almost every starter from a pretty solid offense last year, including their QB Dalton (I can't say his name without thinking of Swayze in Roadhouse walking out of the tunnel). Meanwhile, Oregon State has the Rodgers brothers who are pretty electrifying (or should I say, can be).
Closer than most think with TCU barely edging out a victory against a resilient and tough Beaver team.
TCU - 27
Oregon State - 21
North Carolina vs LSU
Who's not suspended in this game? Anyone? Pressure of Butch Davis to clean up the program (LOTS of off-field issues of late) as well as take the next step on the field. Will be tough without a slew of players. Meanwhile, you think that Les Miles honeymoon has worn off yet? Uhhh, yeah, it has. Write this down - if Les Miles loses more than 3 games and doesn't win the west division - he's out. Period. I think he'll lose more than 3, but I think he wins this one - too many distractions for the Heels right now. It will take the coaching job of his lifetime for Davis to get his guys focused for this game. Les Miles' competence level as a coach aside, he's got better talent.
LSU - 26
North Carolina - 13
And then we have the big daddy of the weekend....
Boise State vs Virginia Tech
So I'm going to be honest - I'm quickly moving into that camp of let's give Boise State some credit - my sports-talk radio consumption has sky rocketed of late with my extra extended commute now and whether it's national or local I'm hearing nothing but hate for the Broncos. Here's my question - what do they need to do? Play a tougher schedule, you say? OK, well guess what, they can't control their conference schedule and NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO PLAY THEM EITHER!! It's not like Texas, Bama, Florida, Miami, USC, et al are lining up to play the Broncos, not in this day and age. And don't they win almost every game they play when they DO play the bigger teams? And let's not forget that the SEC has Vandy, MSU, Ole Miss and S. Carolina (not great teams). Big 12 has Iowa State, Baylor, Colorado, Kansas State in their conference. And on, and on. My point is don't hate just because of that. How many times have Texas fans bitched because of our non-conference schedule? Right.
Virginia Tech is a good, solid football team and I think they'll be pretty good this, but here's what I know about them: they start slow and their QB play is more times than not based on potential vs results. However, the Hokies come powered with a trio of damn-good running backs (albeit I think one is a freshman so we'll see) with experience and speed. Meanwhile, they also have Tyrod Taylor back behind the center so that experience alone should propel them to better days at the skill positions. And the Hokies' place at the top in special teams seems permanent - that's always an area where VaTech can win any given game. BUT, the Broncos are bringing back 21 starters. That's nuts. The Broncos are here to stay and they're a good team. I picked them to win it all this year and I'm sticking with it - but it all comes down to this game - lose this one and you're out of the picture. Period. I'm done betting against Boise State.
Boise State - 29
Virginia Tech - 20
Now that we've got those out of the way, a couple of sleeper games...
Texas Tech vs SMU
VEEEERY interesting game for the Red Raiders here - breaking in a new coach without trying too hard to break in a new offensive scheme. I've always been a big Tubberville fan and I still say this was a big upgrade for the Red Raiders. I will give them credit for trending their defensive improvement in the right direction over the years and I see this move as a catalyst to keep that going and even accelerate it. Tommy knows defense.
Don't laugh at this, but SMU is not the same slouch team that we all know. June Jones was a great hire for them and if nothing else, he'll have those guys competing. And didn't these guys go to a bowl game last year? Maybe I'm wrong, but either way, they're much more competitive than they have been in the past.
I won't keep betting on Tech to throw up 60 anymore, but they'll definitely win this game.
Texas Tech - 36
SMU - 24
Connecticut at Michigan
How tight do you think RichRod's ass is going to be puckered up for this game? I'm betting diamond making tight. Let me go out on a limb here - if they lose to a VERY dangerous Connecticut team, RichRod could be looking for new labor on Labor Day. I'm not kidding. I'm betting he turns things around and the Wolverines make a BIG turnaround this year, but this one is scary early on.
Michigan - 31
UCONN - 21
UCLA at Kansas State
This is interesting as a Texas fan because we get both of these teams this year. This will show one thing and one thing only - how these teams will compete. I'll go out on a limb and say that the Bruins come in and take one away from the Wildcats. Not even going to try and predict a score here....
Other Random Sports Talk
- Nice game by Colt last night. Very nice. 100% completions, no picks. Maybe he'll start, who knows...hahahahahahahahahaha
- Since when did it become part of an "unspoken rule" in baseball to NOT steal when you're down by 11. Baseball is so f'ng dumb sometimes.
- Speaking of baseball - who the hell is going to win the World Series this year? Yankees? Rangers? Reds? Someone throw me a bone here. I've got to bet on the Yanks as they have the best team so put me down for a C-note on the Yanks.
- OK, one more CFB game note - Purdue vs. Notre Dame anyone? Anyone want to touch that one?
- Memo to folks outside of Buffalo: CJ Spillar is good. Real good.
- To hell with Lebron - we may be seeing the quietest "air apparent" campaign in the NBA ever. Move over, here comes Durant!!! Portland front office suicide watch is still at defcon 5.
- That's enough Roddick. OK, quick, top "this could be their breakthrough year, but it never seems to happen" athletes: 5) Roy Williams, 4) Sebastian Telfair, 3) Matt Lienart, 2) Andrew Bogut, and our new winner, 1) Andy Roddick.
- Oh yeah, I like where this whole Manny to join Guillen in Chi-town idea. I'm sure there's a reality show in the works here....if there's not, there should be.
- Words you don't want to hear as a former college national champion and heisman winner: "thanks for all that you've done, but we're going with Derek Anderson as our starter".
- Biggest difference between UFC and Boxing these days: When there's a fight that people want to see in UFC/MMA, more times than not it happens. I mean vast majority of the time. There's one match and one match only that boxing fans want to see: Pacquiao vs Mayweather and it can't happen. Ridiculous - I blame every single person involved. Boxing has no Dana White and that's a problem. Look, I've heard some call White a dictator and micro manager and maybe he is, but he's got one hell of a top seller going now, so why would he stop? I still like boxing a lot, but they need to learn a few things from some of the things that the UFC is doing - your old, core audience is a dying breed, you better adapt. And quick.
posted by The Bearden Wonder at 12:31 PM
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