Liz Was A ACC Fan

What is it with my fascination in picking ACC teams to win. Every year I start off the same way thinking “this is the year they are going to do it so I’d better jump on the band wagon before it gets crowded.” And every year it turns out the same with my picks ruined before the third week.

Playing against some of the most competitive people in the cut throat game of office pickem’s, one week can define you as a loser for the rest of the year. This loser thought he had this figured out when he learned to pick against the Big East in big games but no he’s still repeating his mistakes with the ACC.

How do I hate the ACC let me count the ways.
1. Virginia Tech: Beamer ball is fast becoming the new Bowden ball
2. North Carolina: Dennis Erickson’s dreams are going up in smoke without a toke
3. Florida St: It takes more than dreams and a new coach to restore the luster.
4. Miami: At least the fans have the Coral Castle and South Beach to ease their pain.
5. Duke or Wake Forest: One or both of these teams will beat the above mentioned teams.

Well at least the ACC might have learned the lesson I’m still trying to learn. One week can define you as a loser.

Week 1 SEC Rankings

Well week one is out of the way and very few questions were answered considering the ducks that were on the SEC pond. Here is this weeks rankings and the teams rank a lot better than South Carolina hotels rank. This week will provide a lot of answers and provide a good idea of who will challenge for the East.

1. Alabama: Still #1 and will get a chance to cement the ranking for a while with a win over Penn St. It will be interesting to see how Robert Bolden reacts against the Tide defense. He plays good and Penn St has a chance to win the game and the Big 10.

2. Georgia: Aaron Murray looked goodl and he will have a chance to lock up #2 when Georgia takes on SC. The Gamecocks even with the old balls coach ability to choke in big games are a 3 point favorite.

3. South Carolina: Ditto for SC they have a chance to lock up #2 Saturday if Garcia can continue his good play against the Dawgs.

4. Florida: Tell you the truth I might be ranking the Gators to high. At least the guy at Fire Steve Addazio might think so with him at the OC position.

5. Arkansas: The Hogs get another patsy so its to early to move them up even if their offense is firing on all cylinders.

6. Auburn: Auburn gets a chance with Miss St. to show if they are mid SEC or not.

7. LSU: Struggled holding a lead against a Carolina team with 13 count em 13 players suspended. They are a 10 point favorite at Vandy which ought to tell me something.

8. Kentucky: Beat the hated dirty birds but struggled in the second half. You have to wonder if Joker was just playing possum to hide plays.

9. Mississippi State: Had no problems with Memphis but get Auburn this weekend. This game will start clearing the West

10. Tennessee: Put up a lot of points and got some votes in the top 25. We get to see if they can hang with a big boy when Oregon comes calling. 12 1/2 points shows a little SEC bias in Las Vegas.

11. Ole Miss: So much for the defense keeping them ranked high. I have to wonder if playing Jeremiah Masoli so much might be causing a little tension.

12. Vanderbilt: How about 21 points against Northwestern. They are only a 9 1/2 point underdog against LSU.

Good Philosophy, Joker!

Just read where Joker had made the comment that he would emphasize taking speed over skillset at any position. Let me say (for what it’s worth) outside of Kickers and QB, that is exactly the right idea.

Some of you may recall the prime of Nebraska under Tom Osborne. Now, despite the fact that Osborne had his flaws, he had a great philosophy that was the cornerstone of his programs. He recruited speed and then added size. Osborne would take a guy recruited as a big corner, and beef him into a safety. He would take guys recruited as safeties and beef them into OLBs. LBs in DE’s, and DE’s into DTs. Obviously, he had a big head start to doing this, and that didn’t mean he always did that with every player, but it was a general practice. He could preserve some speed and add beef, but it’s hard to add beef AND develop speed.

THAT was what lead to so many of those great Husker D’s. A guy recruited as a 6’2″ 194 lb safety with a 4.48, was a monster at 225 with a 4.5-4.6 (See Danny Trevathan). A LB that was 6’1″ 231 was DE beast at 252.

This is what I felt UK should have done with Micah, two years back. Made him a DE and let him attack the backfield. Might have spared him some knee injuries from the blind sided cut blocks and O line doubles that come with playing the middle.

The nice thing is, I think UK is almost to the point where we can ‘afford’ to make those kind of changes in a player while he isn’t pivotal in the current plan.

Of course, one of the things that Tom DIDN’T have to contend with as much was players telling recruiting coaches “what” they were, which is also something I *think* was involved in Micah’s career. Too many players think they KNOW what they are or what they will allow a team to play them as, and pick accordingly to the school that signs the promise.

At any rate, Joker has the right idea. McDermott is a prime example.

The Dream Lives On

It started out like a first quarter dream for Boise St and a nightmare for Virginia Tech. At the end of the quarter it was 17-0 Boise St. Tech had a total of 5 yards rushing on 9 attempts.

The Boise defense looked totally dominant and the Tech offense totally obscene but after Tyrod Taylor picked up their first first down in the second quarter Tech settled down and trailed at the half 20-14.

They traded leads and at the end of the third it was Tech up 27-26. With 7:38 min left in the fourth Tech added a FG to up the lead to 30-24. They traded possessions and with 2:00 min left Kellen Moore and company got the ball marched down the field aided by a late hit out of bounds and scored like they seem to do any time the game is on the line.

Boise had more passing yards than Tech which isn’t surprising but out rushing Tech while holding them to a 2.9yd average is.

I know it was only a win over Virginia Tech but Boise looks like they could play with anyone. I sure wish we could get their defensive coordinator to teach our defense to tackle like they do.

I can’t believe I’m saying this since I’m still pissed at them for leaving the WAC but anyone for Alabama and Boise St in the national championship game. Unless maybe Hawaii can get lucky and score 1 more than them which would make me a happy man.

Weekend Report

We still have a couple of games today and a big one tomorrow as Boise St takes on Virginia Tech. What did you guys learn after watching the opening couple of days of football? I learned quite a lot although none of it was really unexpected.

I learned that the Cats could win 9 or they could win 5. They are still playing not to lose in the second half rather than to kick ass but still managed a good win over the dirty birds. Special teams play wont cut it when they get to the SEC so they better improve. The receivers looked much better, Hartline played good, Cobb and Locke did as expected and several defensive players are going to be real good this year. Over all they left Joker with a lot of work to do but earned the win.

I learned for the 20th time not to pick a Dennis Erickson team to win because something will cause me to lose. While I’m talking about that game what about LSU, over rated or what. And speaking about over rated how about Florida, mediocre is the best I can say after watching that game and next weekend they have South Florida a team that can very easily cause them to become the 4th best team in Florida. I’ll give Mississippi credit for putting up enough points to win but come on Jacksonville St.

Continuing in that frame of thought how about the Big East. How can they be thought of as a major conference when their best showing was Syracuse beating Akron or W Virginia beating Coastal Carolina.

How about the MWC and the WAC. The MWC big boys beat #15 Pittsburgh, #24 Oregon St. and Heisman favorite Jake Locker and Washington. The WAC had a respectable showing as Fresno St. thumped another Big East team Cincinnati. Utah St. gave a team some are picking to win it all all they could handle before falling to #7 Oklahoma on a late pick. If Hawaii could have tackled they would have spoiled Layla’s stud muffin’s first game but no tackle no win.

Hard to tell about the Big Ten other than Ohio St. Wisconsin had a rougher than expected game with MWC opponent UNLV and Penn St. managed to pick up steam after a slow start against Youngstown St. How about Rich Rodriguez and Michigan? They finally look like they are rolling and just in time to be put on probation.

The SEC is going to be interesting if this weekends games are any indicator. It looks like it might be a rerun of Snow White and the seven Dwarves since no one besides Alabama, Georgia and S Carolina impressed me and Georgia and SC face each other next weekend.

Hats off to my adopted nephew Kawika who got a win in his first game as NAIA Azusa Pacific beat FCS U of San Diego 42-14.

Top 25

#1 Alabama: Hard to pick against this one. The talent is so deep and the confidence level is so high not picking the Tide to starting at #1 would be down right rude.

#2 Ohio State: A media favorite to be in the championship game gets the buckeyes near the top. With a tough schedule and a offense that still has to show they are worthy of a shot at the top. It will be an interesting season and with a good defense they will be a tough nut to crack.

#3 Boise State: Boise State is finally getting the respect their fans think they deserve so they are ranked here. For what they did to the WAC I have to hope that Virginia Tech. grad Gargamel runs off with Smurfette. I wont bet on it though.

#4 Oklahoma: Can Bob Stoops bring them back to the promised land. The talent is there but the schedule is going to require them to be on their toes with Florida St and Cincinnati on their non conference schedule Stoops could be on the hot seat early.

#5 Nebraska: – The “Black Shirt” mentality back in Nebraska football but is their a offense lurking in the shadows. Regardless of the offense expect the corn munchers to win the north and face Texas or Oklahoma in Dallas for the Big Whatever title.

#6 Florida: No Tebow means more exciting offense for Florida. Will Brantley be the quarterback they expect. Probable but they still have to beat Georgia, , SC, Kentucky, Alabama twice and yes Tennessee to go all the way. Thats a hefty weight to put on a quarterback even if he has been behind Tebow and knows where all the rocks under the water are.

#7 Texas: No more Colt McCoy puts Texas in the same position Florida is. Texas got a look at Garret Gilbert during the championship game. Is he Colt McCoy no, but he will suffice to get them wins against Wyoming, Rice, and Florida Atlantic. UCLA will give them a challenge but only Oklahoma and Nebraska stand much of a chance to beat them.

#8 Oregon: Are they really the best in the PAC 10? USC, Washington, Oregon St. and the rest of the PAC 10 don’t think so. Try hard not to pick them to win the title.

#9 Virginia Tech: Beat Boise St. to start the season and they will be 8-0 before they have to play another team of any worth. Sorry Duke but you don’t have it yet.

#10 Iowa: The Hawkeyes have Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State at home and their quarterback back. Unbeaten probably not but last year showed their rabbits foot works.

#11 TCU: Expect TCU to be better this year and with a little luck they will get to play someone besides Boise St. in a BCS bowl.

#12 Arkansas: Ranked to high probably but high octane offense is sold in Arkansas. If they can finally field a decent defense they could unseat Alabama. Considering that Bobby Petrino is their coach expect a melt down against a team they should beat.

#13 Miami: This could be the year The U turns the corner. I’m picking them to win the ACC.

#14 Florida State: How long has it been since the big 3 Florida schools have been ranked this high. Once upon a time the winner of the round robin between the 3 was going to be playing for the title. It could happen again if Florida ever grows a set of big ones.

#15 Wisconsin: They won’t win the Big 10 but expect them to be in every game they play.

#16 Georgia: The talent to win the SEC is there. The only thing lacking is a quarterback. Aaron Murray could be that quarterback but unless hes a stud there will be enough mistakes that someone will surprise them.

#17 North Carolina: All they are waiting on is to see how hard the NCAA comes down of them and who they might have to sit. We should know the sitters soon. Expect LSU to give them a tough game and with very many sitter win.

#18 Pittsburgh: Starting at Utah is a good way to kick off what many or expecting to be a banner year for the Panthers. Win at Utah and they still have Miami, UConn, Notre Dame and West Virginia. This could the year that Dave Dave Wandstedt finally breaks on thru to the other side.

#19 Auburn: A Top 25 team but still in rebuilding mode and not quite ready to challenge Alabama.

#20 Penn State: They have the talent but the Big 10 is hard to win out in. Expect a loss at Alabama and two losses in league play.

#21 Notre Dame: Its surprising what a coaching change can do for a teams ranking. They have been stock piling players and finally have a coach to use them. Unfortunately for them their schedule looks to give them 3 or 4 losses.

#22 LSU: Les had better get out the old walkin shoes because they could easily loose 4 games this year.

#23 Oregon State: This could be a breakout year for Mike Rileys team so I’m gonna hold my thoughts till after this weekends game against a TCU team that could win the PAC 10 outright much less the MWC.

#24 Missouri: A good schedule and a weak north gets them into the top 25. They should have the offense but their defense is suspect. They don’t hit the meat of their schedule till mid October so their defense will have some time.

#25 Utah: Utah has a fair chance to move up with a win over Pittsburgh.

Standing on the ledge with a chance to jump in are Houston and West Virginia.

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