Unfamiliar Territory
That being the Longhorns worried to death about a humiliating beat down at the hands of the Aggies. Sure we've had our upsets in recent years, but I mean when was the last time Longhorn fan was scared about getting utterly embarrassed? It's been a while. Before we dive into the Thanksgiving Classic, let's take a quick peak back to last week for both of these teams.
Texas
Man, too bad we can't play Florida Atlantic every week. You know what I learned about Texas in this game? Nothing. Literally, nothing. The only insight that came from that game was that Florida Atlantic doesn't have near the athletes that Texas has (finally, I get to say that and mean it). Other than that, nada.
Texas A&M
First and foremost, that kid (I think this was his name....could be messing it up) Tony Jared-Allen is a punk and should be suspended for the game. Not because I want him out (I could honestly care less), but because grabbing someone's junk at the bottom of the pile is bush league to say the least. But hey, he's an Aggie, who amongst us is surprised. Next time though Huskers, take a head shot after a play, that'll do the trick. Didn't see it? Check it out.
But I digress. As bad as the officiating was in this game (16 penalties to 2 is bad in any game), sorry Nebraska, but I can't feel too sorry for you because at the end of the day you couldn't put the ball in the end zone. That's inexcusable for a top 10 team. All you had to do was score one touchdown and you would have won even with the absurd penalty discrepancy. I'm just saying.
What I learned about the Aggies is that they are playing with a lot of confidence, have a very strong defense and are running the ball much better. So that's what I learned about the Aggies.
So Does Texas Have a Chance?
A very, very, very tiny one. As Lloyd Christmas said in Dumb and Dumber, "So you're saying there's a chance." Sort of Texas fans....sort of. After thinking long and hard about this, here's what the "chance" comes down to...
Speaking of underdog - and don't take this too lightly when dealing with 18-22 year old kids - but this is the first time in I don't know how long that A&M has been favored against a "quality" opponent in a long, long time. Don't discount the mental affect that has. How will they handle that? And don't say they don't pay attention to that because they do.
I've picked against the Aggies recently - against Baylor and Nebraska - and I'm done doing it. As much as I'll be hoping and praying for my points above to come to fruition, my brain tells me that the Aggies are simply a better team right now - they're more confident and they're playing with more gusto.
Texas A&M - 30
Texas - 19
From the files of "It's Aggie week and I just have to get my jab in"...
I've said this before and I'll say it again (at the risk of being so completely un-PC) - you core guys are soooo gay. What exactly is it about the core that makes someone want to join? Let's pretend like we're in the military including wearing all of the same garb, even though we're not really in the military. And hey, there's nothing wrong with NOT wanting to go into the military. I never did and never will - I'm not knocking people that don't join the military. But joining an organization that PRETENDS like they're in the military including actually calling themselves the core? Wow.
The best thing that Mike Leach ever brought into this world was his rant on the Aggie core - "what if I just started a Pirate organization where we dressed up like pirates and ran around, but actually weren't pirates." Beautiful Mr. Leach. You're crazier than a sh*t-house rat, but that is beautiful.
And please spare me your rebuttal Aggie fan - you know I'm right about this. I could rag on the yell leaders (PS, that's just guy cheerleaders), whoop, all that crap, but everyone and every school has stupid crap like that. But the core? C'mon.
Other Notes, Theories and General Musings Heading into the Weekend
Auburn over Alabama - they're just better right now.
LSU over Arkansas - As much as I want to, I just can't pick against the Tigers right now.
Oregon over Arizona - It's going to be oh-so-close though.
Boise State over Nevada - By 40+
Oklahoma over Okie State - Because Gundy has to step on his you-know-what sometime right?
Penn State over Michigan State - Ending part of the chaos in the Big 10.
Clemson over South Carolina - Classic looking ahead game for Spurrier and company.
NFL Notes
As Don Banks writes each week - my snap judgments on what's going on around the greatest league on the planet.
Still too early to be doing any serious discussions, but the one thing I am a tad miffed about regarding my Lakers is the fact that they didn't pick up big man Eric Dampier - letting Miami snatch him up after Haslem went down. The back court of the Lakers is second to none right now and the way they are jelling with Barnes, Browne and Blake, they are way ahead of schedule in terms of getting them integrated into the offense. But the front court is where the Lakers have had and will have some depth issues - this, of course, assuming that Bynum does his usual bow out in the playoffs. Really would have liked to see them get Dampier for nothing more than depth and solid minutes.
I'm going to keep saying this year and year out until he's out of the league, but what did I say about Greg Oden coming out of college? Had anyone in Portland listened to me, they would have taken Durant and played for at least one finals by now. Greg Oden was such an obvious "Don't take this guy, he won't ever stay healthy" kind of player it was stupid. But oh no, the Blazers just had to take him, clearly still suffering from Sam Bowie-itis. And now, yet again, he's out for the year. I shutter to think of how much money he's been paid compared with how many minutes of basketball he's played. Of course not as much as the Blazers' ownership...
Non-Sports Thoughts for the Week
Texas
Man, too bad we can't play Florida Atlantic every week. You know what I learned about Texas in this game? Nothing. Literally, nothing. The only insight that came from that game was that Florida Atlantic doesn't have near the athletes that Texas has (finally, I get to say that and mean it). Other than that, nada.
Texas A&M
First and foremost, that kid (I think this was his name....could be messing it up) Tony Jared-Allen is a punk and should be suspended for the game. Not because I want him out (I could honestly care less), but because grabbing someone's junk at the bottom of the pile is bush league to say the least. But hey, he's an Aggie, who amongst us is surprised. Next time though Huskers, take a head shot after a play, that'll do the trick. Didn't see it? Check it out.
But I digress. As bad as the officiating was in this game (16 penalties to 2 is bad in any game), sorry Nebraska, but I can't feel too sorry for you because at the end of the day you couldn't put the ball in the end zone. That's inexcusable for a top 10 team. All you had to do was score one touchdown and you would have won even with the absurd penalty discrepancy. I'm just saying.
What I learned about the Aggies is that they are playing with a lot of confidence, have a very strong defense and are running the ball much better. So that's what I learned about the Aggies.
So Does Texas Have a Chance?
A very, very, very tiny one. As Lloyd Christmas said in Dumb and Dumber, "So you're saying there's a chance." Sort of Texas fans....sort of. After thinking long and hard about this, here's what the "chance" comes down to...
- Is it at all possible that the Aggies are over confident? Just a little? I know that sounds crazy - only the most logical and realistic of Aggie fan knows that overconfidence is something that has alluded this team for years and years. BUT, look at the run they are coming off of and tell me you can't see them coming in a bit too cocky. Not only have they won 5 straight games, but they know how down Texas is (and how bad they've been at home). If there has ever been a reason for Aggie to be overconfident, this is it.
- Much like Texas in '08 when they lost to Tech in the final play, the Aggies are coming off of a brutal stretch of games....and coming in on a short week. Since October 16 they've played Missouri, Kansas (yawn), Tech, Oklahoma, Baylor and Nebraska - and now they come to Austin (I know, I know) on short rest. The point is this - these Aggies may not have anything left in the tank - and couple that with the possibility I outlined above and it could spell disaster.
- This is Texas' bowl game. Period. Texas is guaranteed to not play an opponent near as "quality" as the Aggies, even if they fall ass backwards into a bowl game. The point is if there was ever a time during this season when Texas comes out and plays balls out in the name of pride (it would be the first time this year mind you), this is the game it's going to happen. Seniors leaving after the first real disappointing season in over a decade; they've been humiliated at home more times than we care to count this year; the fans have very little faith at this point, etc., etc. The opportunity for redemption is presenting itself tomorrow night on what will be a very cold evening in Austin. Can Texas take advantage, set the tone early and kick mud up Aggies' ass? We shall see won't we.
Speaking of underdog - and don't take this too lightly when dealing with 18-22 year old kids - but this is the first time in I don't know how long that A&M has been favored against a "quality" opponent in a long, long time. Don't discount the mental affect that has. How will they handle that? And don't say they don't pay attention to that because they do.
I've picked against the Aggies recently - against Baylor and Nebraska - and I'm done doing it. As much as I'll be hoping and praying for my points above to come to fruition, my brain tells me that the Aggies are simply a better team right now - they're more confident and they're playing with more gusto.
Texas A&M - 30
Texas - 19
From the files of "It's Aggie week and I just have to get my jab in"...
I've said this before and I'll say it again (at the risk of being so completely un-PC) - you core guys are soooo gay. What exactly is it about the core that makes someone want to join? Let's pretend like we're in the military including wearing all of the same garb, even though we're not really in the military. And hey, there's nothing wrong with NOT wanting to go into the military. I never did and never will - I'm not knocking people that don't join the military. But joining an organization that PRETENDS like they're in the military including actually calling themselves the core? Wow.
The best thing that Mike Leach ever brought into this world was his rant on the Aggie core - "what if I just started a Pirate organization where we dressed up like pirates and ran around, but actually weren't pirates." Beautiful Mr. Leach. You're crazier than a sh*t-house rat, but that is beautiful.
And please spare me your rebuttal Aggie fan - you know I'm right about this. I could rag on the yell leaders (PS, that's just guy cheerleaders), whoop, all that crap, but everyone and every school has stupid crap like that. But the core? C'mon.
Other Notes, Theories and General Musings Heading into the Weekend
- Memo to Bo Pelini....settle down.
- Did you know....it's actually possible that OU can still win the Big 12 South? Just how bad is the Big 12 this year? Quick, tell me the top 3 teams, in order, in this conference? You can't do it in just a few seconds. And any answer you give you won't be too confident in it.
- Same with the Big 10 - they're heading for a situation where 3 teams (Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan State) could tie for the conference championship. Ahhhh tie, the most dreaded word in the sports world (American sports world that is)
- If I get to Vegas sometime in the next 10 months, I'm looking for this bet: Virginia Tech starting pre-season top 10, dropping it's first 2 games and then winning 10 in a row to take the ACC crown (again). Are you kidding me with these guys? Remember, they lost to James Madison.....James Madison.
- By the way, I'm still sticking with Boise State as the most complete team in the country. I'll tell you what haters out there (and there are a lot of you): bring me your bet - I don't care who they play in their bowl game, I'll take the Broncos and any spread that Vegas comes up with. I don't need to see it - I'm taking the Broncos.
- Can you imagine if Boise and TCU finish undefeated and only one of them made a BCS bowl? I'm literally cringing as I write this, but at that point, Congress would have to intervene. When things like this happen in business (and they do a lot), it goes to court and the "bigger" party (usually the one doing the alleged wrong doing) will typically succumb to the court or pressure. Point is - everyone knows this is a farse and yet no one is doing anything about it (because of the money, yes, I know).
- Are we about done suggesting that LSU is just plain lucky? They've got a HUGE game this weekend at Arkansas. I have a hard time picking them to lose. With that said, I still say Stanford is better....if you're comparing one-loss teams that is.
- Quick - tell me who's leading the Big East conference? Can't do it without looking can you....well, neither can I. I know it's about a 2-3 team race. I wonder why people aren't as outraged about the ACC and Big East getting AUTOMATIC BCS bowl bids as they are about Boise State possibly getting into a BCS game (or title game)? Very, very weird.
- Harvard beat Yale last weekend. Just thought someone may want to know that.
Auburn over Alabama - they're just better right now.
LSU over Arkansas - As much as I want to, I just can't pick against the Tigers right now.
Oregon over Arizona - It's going to be oh-so-close though.
Boise State over Nevada - By 40+
Oklahoma over Okie State - Because Gundy has to step on his you-know-what sometime right?
Penn State over Michigan State - Ending part of the chaos in the Big 10.
Clemson over South Carolina - Classic looking ahead game for Spurrier and company.
NFL Notes
As Don Banks writes each week - my snap judgments on what's going on around the greatest league on the planet.
- Poor Peyton Manning - I thought he was going to do it again against Brady the other night. Oh-so-close. Bad, bad throw to seal the deal (and his third pick as well).
- I don't see the Cowboys keeping their "magic" (is that what is?) alive against the Saints this week. The Giants are completely depleted and the Lions are the Lions. These are the Saints and they're playing better than when they started the season.
- Really Eli Manning? Really? Your stupid slide cost you the game.
- VY has to go. I heard Rod Babers go on a rant this morning defending VY. Unreal. I don't care how good he has been (seemed?), you simply can't act like that as a franchise QB. This is going to come down to either Fisher goes or VY goes. And you know what? Fisher's players may not like him but you'd never know it because they don't act like children. And isn't he one of the longest-standing coaches with a team in the league right now? And he has been for a while? Do you think he would be if his players hated him? Sorry VY, I don't have your back here and I won't. And now I hear that you texted an apology to Fisher? Really, you TEXTED an apology? My gosh VY, will you please grow up. I'm not sure who's advising him, but he's doing a piss-poor job of it.
- Call them quiet or not - but the Falcons just may be the best team that folks are talking about. Roddy White may be the best receiver who no one is speaking of and Matt Ryan is playing superb ball right now. Don't count the Falcons out of the NFC...not by a long shot.
- I did a double take at this earlier when I saw this.....the Bears are 7-3.
- As much as I was gushing over Ryan above - the MVP race is Manning, Rivers and Brady (in any order). The difference between these guys and the rest of the league - look at who these guys throw to from week to week and tell me you know anything about them. These 3 guys are simply at another level.
- I can't fathom how Kubiak keeps his job this year - I really can't. And, the fact that he hasn't made a change at D-coordinator is inexcusable. That decision will be made for him. I wonder, if they keep losing, will they make a change mid season?
- Injury or not, Colt has to be the guy going forward in Cleveland. He'll sit this weekend with a bum ankle, but he's got to be the QB of the future unless something drastic happens between now and end of year. And I'll say it again - still shocked at that one.
Still too early to be doing any serious discussions, but the one thing I am a tad miffed about regarding my Lakers is the fact that they didn't pick up big man Eric Dampier - letting Miami snatch him up after Haslem went down. The back court of the Lakers is second to none right now and the way they are jelling with Barnes, Browne and Blake, they are way ahead of schedule in terms of getting them integrated into the offense. But the front court is where the Lakers have had and will have some depth issues - this, of course, assuming that Bynum does his usual bow out in the playoffs. Really would have liked to see them get Dampier for nothing more than depth and solid minutes.
I'm going to keep saying this year and year out until he's out of the league, but what did I say about Greg Oden coming out of college? Had anyone in Portland listened to me, they would have taken Durant and played for at least one finals by now. Greg Oden was such an obvious "Don't take this guy, he won't ever stay healthy" kind of player it was stupid. But oh no, the Blazers just had to take him, clearly still suffering from Sam Bowie-itis. And now, yet again, he's out for the year. I shutter to think of how much money he's been paid compared with how many minutes of basketball he's played. Of course not as much as the Blazers' ownership...
Non-Sports Thoughts for the Week
- You may have seen this on my Facebook posting, but some funny sh*t that Ella said to my wife last week. Rubbing on one of Ciara's legs, she looks up with big eyes and says: "Are you thinking what I'm thinking? You can be a cactus for Halloween because you're so pokey."
- Really North Korea? Really? You know China, you and you alone can make this go away. As the lone "friend" (and I use that word very loosely) to N. Korea you can convince this crazy lunatic to back off. Otherwise, not only will the North Koreans find the USS George Washington on their back doorstep....so will China. And the last thing China wants is any skirmish at all that involves MORE US military presence so close to it's borders. So, Chinese government, your move because I assure this, the carrier group is on it's way and it sure as hell won't slow down simply because you object. You know what a toppled North Korean means? Expansion into Asia by the US. Again, China, is that really what you want?
- So I'm curious as to what exactly happened in the last Executive meeting at the TSA to decide that pat downs and body scans were the wave of the future of airport security. At the risk of being incredibly unpopular, let me suggest that we look at one of the safest airports in the world in the one of the most dangerous parts of the world - Tel Aviv Israel. You know what they don't do? Pat downs and body scans. You know what else they don't do? F'k around.
- I can't wait to not go shopping on Black Friday.
posted by The Bearden Wonder at 2:47 PM
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