Faith

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 10:12. Think of that for a minute, 'being sure of what we hope for'. God wants us to have faith by trusting that he will provide for what we need. God gave us three things: faith, hope and love...the greatest is love; 1 Corinthians 13:13. Hope is defined as [the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best]. We 'hope' things will turn out for the best, and we can express 'faith' by placing that hope in God.

Throughout 2011 the one lesson that keeps coming back to me is Faith. When we moved to Georgia in 2008 the financial meltdown ensued. From that point forward it has been a struggle to maintain our small construction company. There has been gaps between jobs that have lasted 2-3 months. I have had the feeling that I want to store up savings so when things get really bad we'll have something to fall back on. We rented an apartment and then a house for the first 3 years we lived here and I was happy about that because there was no pressure of having to make a mortgage payment. I missed several paychecks, and I would dream about finding a project that would provide us with guaranteed paychecks for the next six months. That way I wouldn't have to worry. Coming into 2011 I had been married for 3 and a half years but I didn't really want to think about having kids because I didn't think I was doing a good enough job providing for just two people.

Then 2011 happened and my world was turned upside down. My wife suffered through illness, I missed paychecks, I could barely see more than a week into my future. Everything was uncertain. But that's when I knew, you have to turn your worries over to God. Matthew 6:25 says, "therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear". Verse 26 & 27: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

The fact is, I may want to control my life, but I am not in control at all. And I know that if I let God take the wheel everything will work out. It's scary to do, after all you have to be certain of what you do not see; but as the passage says in Hebrews that is part of what faith is.

As the year moved along I realized that I had to rely on God to make things work together for good, I could not do it. And then I learned another lesson about faith, 'just do it'. I was in a Bible study and a woman said, 'we all look for a sign from God about whether or not we should do something, but unless you're struggling with a moral issue than you just have to step out on faith and do it'. That was huge for me and my wife. What we realized was that while we were praying for signs we were also procrastinating to take leaps of faith.

We had used up almost all our savings for various reasons by the summertime, but we found a way we could purchase a house. And with no projects on the books at work we made an offer and signed a contract to buy one. A week later, we landed a big project. That's just how God works. If you trust in him, having faith that he will provide, then he will. He will open a door when you need it. He will close a door when he doesn't want you to go there. It seems like every week that point keeps getting driven home to me: keep the faith. Once you take that huge monkey of 'worry' off your back, it is amazing. Having faith that God will provide for you and your family is the most comforting feeling in the world.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28


JB

The Polls - Week 14

Things are basically set up for an LSU/Alabama rematch. But I could see a scenario where Oklahoma State gets in. OSU is #2 in half of the computers and #5 in the coach's and Harris poll. If they beat Oklahoma pretty good (2 touchdowns or more) and Virginia Tech loses to Clemson I think the Cowboys will get the majority of 3rd place votes, and they will likely be #2 in all the computers with the boost to their strength of schedule beating #10 Oklahoma. That could be enough for them to jump Alabama. I don't think there is any reason for LSU to not be #1 after next week. Unless Georgia beats them by 5 touchdowns they have gone through the gauntlet this year and creamed just about everyone they've played so they have earned the right to play in the BCS Title Game no matter what happens in the SEC Championship.

As for who should play LSU, it should be Alabama because they are undoubtedly the second best team in the country. But, I know there are plenty of non-SEC fans who have "SEC-fatigue" and really do not want to see that game whether it's a rematch or not. So, to be honest, I would rather have Oklahoma State play LSU instead just so the Tigers could crush them. The first Alabama/LSU game was a classic to me, and I'd like to see another one, but I'd rather see an SEC team crush the best team from 'the field' just so the SEC could continue it's dominance in the title game.

If LSU wins the SEC Championship, they should be guaranteed at least a share of the national championship. I don't remember anyone being as dominate against as tough of a schedule as they have been this year. If Alabama or Oklahoma State beats them in the BCS Title Game it should be a split national title.

1. LSU, 12-0 (1): W vs. #3 Oregon, W vs. Northwestern State, W at #16 Mississippi State, W at #19 West Virginia, W vs. Kentucky, W vs. #22 Florida, W at Tennessee, W vs. #15 Auburn, W at #2 Alabama, W vs. Western Kentucky, W at Ole Miss, W vs. #3 Arkansas

2. Alabama, 11-1 (2): W vs. Kent State, W at Penn State, W vs. North Texas, W vs. #8 Arkansas, W at #17 Florida, W vs. Vanderbilt, W at Ole Miss, W vs. Tennessee, L vs. #1 LSU, W at Mississippi State, W vs. Georgia Southern, W at Auburn

3. Oklahoma State, 10-1 (3): W vs. LA-Lafayette, W vs. Arizona, W vs. Tulsa, W at #11 Texas A&M, W vs. Kansas, W at #22 Texas, W at Missouri, W vs. #24 Baylor, W vs. #16 Kansas State, W at Texas Tech, L at Iowa State

4. Oregon, 10-2 (8): L vs. #4 LSU, W vs. #9 Nevada, W vs. Missouri State, W at Arizona, W vs. Cal, W vs. #19 Arizona State, W at Colorado, W vs. Washington State, W at Washington, W at #3 Stanford, L vs. #16 Southern Cal, W vs. Oregon State

5. Arkansas, 10-2 (6): W vs. Missouri State, W vs. New Mexico, W vs. Troy, L at #6 Alabama, W vs. #13 Texas A&M, W vs. #9 Auburn, W at Ole Miss, W at Vanderbilt, W vs. #11 South Carolina, W vs. Tennessee, W vs. Mississippi State, L at #1 LSU

6. Stanford, 11-1 (4): W vs. San Jose St., W at Duke, W at Arizona, W vs. UCLA, W vs. Colorado, W at Washington State, W vs. #25 Washington, W at #21 Southern California, W at Oregon State, L vs. #5 Oregon, W vs. Cal, W vs. #24 Notre Dame

7. Houston, 12-0 (8): W vs. UCLA, W at North Texas, W at LA Tech, W vs. Georgia State, W at UTEP, W vs. East Carolina, W vs. Marshall, W vs. Rice, W at UAB, W at Tulane, W vs. SMU, W at Tulsa

8. Virginia Tech, 11-1 (5): W vs. App. State, W at East Carolina, W vs. Arkansas State, W at Marshall, L vs. #11 Clemson, W vs. Miami (FL), W at Wake Forest, W vs. Boston College, W at Duke, W at #17 Georgia Tech, W vs. North Carolina, W at #22 Virginia

9. Southern California, 10-2 (9): W vs. Minnesota, W vs. Utah, W vs. Syracuse, L at Arizona State, W at Arizona, W at Cal, W at Notre Dame, L at #3 Stanford, W at Colorado, W vs. Washington, W at #4 Oregon, W vs. UCLA

10. South Carolina, 10-2 (14): W vs. East Carolina, W at Georgia, W vs. Navy, W vs. Vanderbilt, L vs. #14 Auburn, W vs. Kentucky, W at Mississippi State, W at Tennessee, L at Arkansas, W vs. Florida, W vs. The Citadel, W vs. #13 Clemson

11. Michigan State, 10-2 (11): W vs. Youngstown State, W vs. Florida Atlantic, L at Notre Dame, W at Central Michigan, W at Ohio State, W vs. #11 Michigan, W vs. #4 Wisconsin, L at #13 Nebraska, W vs. Minnesota, W at Iowa, W vs. Indiana, W at Northwestern

12. Oklahoma, 9-2 (13): W vs. #24 Tusla, W at #14 Florida State, W vs. Missouri, W vs. Ball State, W vs. #12 Texas, W at Kansas, L vs. Texas Tech, W at #9 Kansas State, W vs. Texas A&M, L at #24 Baylor, W vs. Iowa State

13. Boise State, 10-1 (7): W at Georgia, W at Toledo, W vs. Tulsa, W vs. Nevada, W at Fresno State, W at Colorado State, W vs. Air Force, W at UNLV, L vs. TCU, W at San Diego State, W vs. Wyoming

14. Georgia, 10-2 (12): L vs. #9 Boise State, L vs. #22 South Carolina, W vs. Coastal Carolina, W at Ole Miss, W vs. Mississippi State, W at Tennessee, W at Vanderbilt, W vs. Florida, W vs. New Mexico State, W vs. Auburn, W vs. Kentucky, W at #23 Georgia Tech

15. Kansas State, 9-2 (16): W vs. Eastern Kentucky, W vs. Kent State, W at Miami (Fl), W vs. #12 Baylor, W vs. Missouri, W at Texas Tech, W at Kansas, L vs. #11 Oklahoma, L at #4 Oklahoma State, W vs. Texas A&M, W at Texas

16. Wisconsin, 10-2 (15): W vs. UNLV, W vs. Oregon State, W at Northern Illinois, W vs. South Dakota, W vs. #10 Nebraska, W vs. Indiana, L at #16 Michigan State, L at Ohio State, W vs. Purdue, W at Minnesota, W at Illinois, W vs. #21 Penn State

17. Baylor, 8-3 (19): W vs. #2 TCU, W vs. Stephen F. Austin, W vs. Rice, L at Kansas State, W vs. Iowa State, L at #23 Texas A&M, L at #6 Oklahoma State, W vs. Missouri, W at Kansas, W vs. #7 Oklahoma, W vs. Texas Tech

18. Michigan, 10-2 (20): W vs. Western Michigan, W vs. Notre Dame, W vs. Eastern Michigan, W vs. San Diego State, W vs. Minnesota, W at Northwestern, L at #24 Michigan State, W vs. Purdue, L at Iowa, W at Illinois, W vs. #19 Nebraska, W vs. Ohio State

19. TCU, 9-2 (19): L at Baylor, W at Air Force, W vs. La-Monroe, W vs. Portland State, L vs. SMU, W at San Diego State, W vs. New Mexico, W vs. BYU, W at Wyoming, W at #6 Boise State, W vs. Colorado State

20. Clemson, 9-3 (21): W vs. Troy, W vs. Wofford, W vs. #1 Auburn, W vs. #14 Florida State, W at #9 Virginia Tech, W vs. Boston College, W at Maryland, W vs. North Carolina, L at Georgia Tech, W vs. Wake Forest, L at N.C. State, L at #12 South Carolina

21. Nebraska, 9-3 (20): W vs. Chattanooga, W vs. Fresno State, W vs. Washington, W at Wyoming, L at #5 Wisconsin, W vs. Ohio State, W at Minnesota, W vs. #10 Michigan State, L vs. Northwestern, W at #20 Penn State, L at #20 Michigan, W vs. Iowa

22. West Virginia, 8-3 (22): W vs. Marshall, W vs. Norfolk State, W at #21 Maryland, L vs. #1 LSU, W vs. Bowling Green, W vs. UConn, L at Syracuse, W at Rutgers, L vs. Louisville, W at Cincinnati, W vs. Pittsburgh

23. Penn State, 9-3 (20): W at Indiana State, L vs. #8 Alabama, W at Temple, W vs. Eastern Michigan, W at Indiana, W vs. Iowa, W vs. Purdue, W at Northwestern, W vs. Illinois, W at Ohio State, L at #20 Wisconsin

24. Southern Miss, 10-2 (24): W vs. Louisiana Tech, L at Marshall, W at SE Louisiana, W at Virginia, W vs. Rice, W at Navy, W vs. SMU, W at UTEP, W at East Carolina, W vs. Central Florida, L at UAB, W vs. Memphis

25. Arkansas State, 9-2 (NR): L at Illinois, W vs. Memphis, L at #13 Virginia Tech, W vs. Central Arkansas, W at Western Kentucky, W at LA-Monroe, W vs. FIU, W vs. North Texas, W vs. Florida Atlantic, W at MTSU


Florida State is ranked 25th in the AP.



SEC Power Rankings:

1. LSU (BCS Title Game)
2. Alabama (BCS Title Game)
3. Arkansas (Cotton Bowl)
4. South Carolina (Outback Bowl)
5. Georgia (Capitol One Bowl)
6. Auburn (Chick-Fil-A Bowl)
7. Florida (Gator Bowl)
8. Mississippi State (Music City Bowl)
9. Vanderbilt (Liberty Bowl)
10. Kentucky
11. Tennessee
12. Ole Miss



JB

More Tim Tebow

If you watch a lot of sports then there is plenty of Tim Tebow talk. Here's some more.

Since Day one I have thought Tim Tebow would be a success in the NFL. I certainly didn't think he would take a 1-4 Broncos teams and turn them into a 6-5 team that is the first team out of the playoff race going into December...so he has even surprised me.

His first start this year was against an 0-5 Dolphins team in Miami. I was especially anxious to see the game since he had been named the starter two weeks prior (bye week), but I couldn't since it wasn't on locally. The Broncos won the game in overtime and I saw the highlights, and heard everyone blast him for how poor he played despite the win...which of course was only due to the Dolphins being horrible they said. Since that game the Dolphins are 3-2.

In his second game the Lions thrashed the Broncos 45-10. Statically, he had his best game: 18 of 39 (50%) for 172 yards and one touchdown. He threw a lot, and they lost. Albeit teams throw a lot when they are behind. He threw his only INT of the year in this game. The Lions are 7-4 this year.

Game #3 was on the road vs. the Raiders. This game I did get to see, and after hearing all the critics for two weeks I was glad I could see for myself. What I saw was that Tebow looked just like he did at Florida. He threw for 124 yards and rushed for 118. Granted it was only Carson Palmer's second game back from his sofa (but he had a bye week before this) and the Raiders committed a ton of penalties the Broncos still won by two touchdowns....and scored 38 points - tied for the most Oakland has given up all year. The Raiders are 7-4, first place in the AFC West.

Then the Broncos played at Kansas City. This is the game where everyone cringed because they won despite Tebow only completing 2 passes. The Chiefs had won 4 out of 5 games coming in but they couldn't win at home even though Knoshawn Moreno and Willis McGahee went down with injuries in the first quarter. Tebow goes to 3-1 as the starter.

The second game I was able to watch was the Thursday night game vs. the Jets. The Jets pride themselves on defense, and they were able to shut down Tebow for most of the game....lots of 3 and outs. But then it came to "Tebow Time" and down 13-10 he leads the team on a 95 yard drive to win the game. That final drive was great to watch, and everyone knew what was going to happen. Everyone who was watching that game just knew Tebow would get it done. The Jets are a good team too, now 6-5.

And then yesterday, the Broncos go to San Diego to face the Chargers who had lost 5 in a row. Tebow fought the entire game, brought the team back from a 10-0 deficit and won in OT 16-13. He had 22 carries, the most in over 50 years for a quarterback, and he had a passer rating 20 points higher than Philip Rivers (who for the last 5 years everyone has said is a Top 5 NFL QB). Now he's 5-1 as the starter.

Just like I said in my October 20th post, he is proving the doubters wrong. He is unconventional, but he just wins. He has 8 touchdowns to 1 interception. That is reminiscent of his Florida stats when he would throw for 30+ TDs and have 3 INTs. The fact is he doesn't turn the ball over and he is clutch. He runs the ball and has some good running backs who milk the clock thereby helping the defense out as they don't have to be on the field as long. Von Miller is a stud and the Broncos defense gets better every week.

The Jets got burned when they blitzed and Tebow ran them over. The Chargers stuck to a 3 man rush and Tebow picked his spots to make the play when they needed it the most. The defense knows what's coming and they still can't stop it. They try to contain him in the pocket and he throws a good pass or breaks out for a positive play. They try to put pressure on him and he throws it away or takes off running for a huge play. NFL defensive coordinators are scratching their heads about defending a guy who can't play quarterback? Well, he can. He's doing it. And I'm pulling for him wholeheartedly.

If you're still not convinced that Tebow is a good quarterback, then take a look at his stats compared to John Elway through the first nine games of their careers. This should convince everyone that it's way too early to say he 'can't play'.



JB

John Mayer

My Top 10 John Mayer songs:

10. "In Repair", 2006

9. "Gravity", 2006

8. "Say", 2007

7. "Vultures"

6. "Heartbreak Warfare", 2009







5. "In Repair", 2006



4. "Edge of Desire", 2006








3. "St. Patrick's Day", 2001

2. "Something's Missing", 2003

1. "Assassin", 2009


JB

Week 13 Preview

Happy Thanksgiving!

Instead of having the order be game times I'll make the order for this week which rivalry is the biggest, starting with the least...

8. Vanderbilt at Wake Forest - I'm not even sure if this constitutes a rivalry, but they are playing this weekend. Both schools are academic-first. And both have decent teams this year. Everyone has felt like Vandy would make a bowl this year, but here we are, last game of the season and they only have 5 wins. Wake is already bowl eligible at 6-5. The 'Dores are a handful of plays away from being 9-2 this year. James Franklin has done a great job. I think they muster enough to get the job done and make a bowl game.

7. Tennessee at Kentucky - 26 straight losses to the Vols for UK. Ouch. That streak is just embarrassing. Kentucky has not beaten Tennessee since I've been alive. In 2007, it took triple overtime to UT to beat the Cats, but they did. If only UK would've pulled that one out Georgia would have won the East, and being the hot team they were, they may have beaten LSU in the SEC Championship Game and won the National Title. But it didn't happen. Because Kentucky can't beat Tennessee. Why would this year be any different? Tennessee wins.

6. Arkansas at LSU - This is the biggest game of the week no doubt. In the rivalry department it's not that big...it was kind of manufactured when Arkansas joined the SEC. One of Arkansas' players died on Sunday, and that will no doubt have a profound effect on the emotions of this game. How will they respond? There is a chance, considering that, playing in Death Valley, and LSU being the best team in the country that UPig gets blown out. I think the Hogs will hang tough though. They should matchup pretty well against LSU's defense. And if Arkansas' defense plays as well as they did last week vs. MSU then this will be a great game for sure. Wright, Adams, and Co. did not have a good game when they played Alabama, and this secondary is just as good. That is the key to the game right there. Arkansas is 1-2 in true road games this year. And those two wins were a 5 point come from behind win over Ole Miss and a game they should have lost to Vanderbilt. LSU 35 Arkansas 24

5. Georgia at Georgia Tech - "Clean Old Fashioned Hate". Although it really could be said GT fans hate UGA fans and really really want to beat them. It hasn't happened often while Mark Richt's been in Athens. This game could absolutely go either way. It's probably good Georgia is facing a good team before they walk into the Lion's den next week...Auburn didn't bring much to the table 2 weeks ago. The Dawgs defense has a lot of athletes and I think their 3-4 scheme is a good fit for the triple option. This one is close, but Georgia pulls it out 28-21.

4. Clemson at South Carolina - Two 9-2 teams from the Palmetto State? The Gamecocks have only had one 10-win season in their history (1984) and they've never had an 11-win season which they could accomplish with a win here and in a bowl game. The Tigers are looking for their first ACC Title since 1991 next week in the ACC Championship Game, but the season would be as special without a victory over USC who they've lost two in a row to. South Carolina has done well to go 3-1 without Marcus Lattimore, but Clemson is a solid team and should be able to win this game unless they lay an egg like they did last week. If Sammy Watkins plays, Clemson will certainly win the game.

3. Ole Miss at Mississippi State - This game presents MSU with a chance to win the Egg Bowl for the 3rd time in a row, something they haven't done in 70 years. And go to a bowl game. And make this Ole Miss' worst season ever losing 10 games. There is no reason why Ole Miss should make this close as MSU is better and it is in Starkville. State 41 Ole Miss 13

2. Florida State at Florida - This game has really been reduced to almost nothing. Neither team has anything on the line except bragging rights. Bowl are bowl-eligible, but barely. Both have quarterbacks with nagging injuries. This has been a pathetic year for two successful programs in recent years. The game is in the Swamp, and I'll go with the Gators to pull out a close one.

1. Alabama at Auburn - The Tigers certainly don't look like they can compete with the Tide. But you probably thought that two years ago and the game went down to the wire. This is the best rivalry in all of sports. On paper, the 21 point spread is accurate, but I think Bama only wins by 10.


JB

LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas Scenarios

Is the SEC the best conference, hmmm...let me see. 5 straight national championships. 4 different national champions during that span. 5 different #1 teams during that span. And now, 1. LSU 2. Alabama and 3. Arkansas.

1. LSU beats Arkansas, Alabama beats Auburn - LSU plays in the SEC Championship Game and Alabama sits at #2. If LSU wins the SEC they stay at #1 and play Alabama for the BCS Title. If they lose to UGA I think they just move to #2 and still play Alabama for the BCS Title. LSU's resume is just too strong to deny them. In this scenario they will have beaten 3 top 10 teams (Oregon, Alabama, and Arkansas).

Most likely BCS Title Game........#1 LSU vs. #2 Alabama


2. LSU beats Arkansas, Alabama loses to Auburn - I imagine this is the scenario everyone who hates the SEC is hoping for. LSU plays in the SEC Championship Game, and even if they lose it I think it would be a long shot for anyone other than Okie State to jump them since Stanford won't win the PAC 12 and VT's schedule is so weak.

Most likely BCS Title Game........#1 LSU vs. #2 Oklahoma State


3. Arkansas beats LSU, Alabama loses to Auburn - Then Arkansas probably jumps to #1, LSU is #2 and Alabama is #5 or 6. Either way, it would be the head-to-head between ARK and LSU in this case and ARK goes to the SEC Championship Game. If they win the SEC and Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma then there is a slight chance they play OSU for the BCS Title....maybe 25%, otherwise I think they have a re-match with LSU. If ARK loses to UGA then it will be LSU vs. Oklahoma State or Virginia Tech or Stanford.

Most likely BCS Title Game........#1 Arkansas vs. #2 LSU


4. Arkansas beats LSU, Alabama beats Auburn - Now we're talking...chaos! The only way to keep Alabama out of the SEC Championship in this scenario is for Arkansas to remain #3 or Bama slip to #3. But those are both unlikely, you have to figure if Arkansas goes to Death Valley and wins LSU will be #3. So Alabama goes to the SEC Championship Game. If they win they will almost certainly be in the BCS Title Game as SEC Champion. The argument would rage between ARK and LSU for #2...should it be head-to-head or resume? Surely head-to-head will win out. If Alabama loses then you have to figure it would be an LSU/ARK re-match similar to scenario #3.

Most likely BCS Title Game........#1 Alabama vs. #2 Arkansas


Think about that last one for a minute. We all know the tiebraker rule - top two teams in the BCS head-to-head, but is there a logical way to sort out those teams to determine the fairest #1,2,3? This is a crazy situation, so fairness based on resume is the only way to do it I think. Right now it seems like Arkansas is the weakest of the three, but if they beat LSU that won't be the case. Here is what the resumes would look like:

Alabama: Beat #19 Penn State (possible Big Ten 'Leaders' division champs) in Happy Valley. Played Arkansas and LSU at home. Opponents from SEC East: at Florida, Vanderbilt, Tennessee.

LSU: Beat #10 Oregon (probable PAC 12 North division champs) at a neutral site and West Virginia (possible Big East champs) in Morgantown. Played Alabama on the road and Arkansas at home. Opponents from SEC East: Kentucky, Florida, at Tennessee.

Arkansas: Beat Texas A&M at a neutral site. Played Alabama and LSU on the road. Opponents from SEC East: at Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Tennessee.

If I'm looking at those 3, I have to say #1 LSU, #2 Arkansas and #3 Alabama. And in that case ARK would go to Atlanta and deservedly so having just beaten LSU in Baton Rouge. Nonetheless this gives more merit to a playoff. I've been a proponent of a 4 or 8 team playoff for years. Based on what's happened this year...motion for an 8 team playoff. All conference champions with a caveat that if you are in the Top 5 and not a conference champion you get an at-large selection...and the lowest ranked conference champions are not selected as equaled to the number of at-large selections.

There are a couple of scenarios where the BCS Title Game is made up of two SEC teams that did not even win the conference:

1. LSU and Alabama win this week, LSU loses to UGA next week but still holds onto #2. UGA is SEC Champ and goes to Sugar Bowl.

2. Arkansas and Alabama win this week, Alabama loses to UGA next week and LSU and Arkansas play for the BCS Title. UGA goes to the Sugar Bowl and Bama slips to the Capitol One Bowl.


JB

The Polls - Week 13

1. LSU, 11-0 (1): W vs. #3 Oregon, W vs. Northwestern State, W at #16 Mississippi State, W at #19 West Virginia, W vs. Kentucky, W vs. #22 Florida, W at Tennessee, W vs. #15 Auburn, W at #2 Alabama, W vs. Western Kentucky, W at Ole Miss

2. Alabama, 10-1 (2): W vs. Kent State, W at Penn State, W vs. North Texas, W vs. #8 Arkansas, W at #17 Florida, W vs. Vanderbilt, W at Ole Miss, W vs. Tennessee, L vs. #1 LSU, W at Mississippi State, W vs. Georgia Southern

3. Arkansas, 10-1 (3): W vs. Missouri State, W vs. New Mexico, W vs. Troy, L at #6 Alabama, W vs. #13 Texas A&M, W vs. #9 Auburn, W at Ole Miss, W at Vanderbilt, W vs. #11 South Carolina, W vs. Tennessee, W vs. Mississippi State

4. Oklahoma State, 10-1 (5): W vs. LA-Lafayette, W vs. Arizona, W vs. Tulsa, W at #11 Texas A&M, W vs. Kansas, W at #22 Texas, W at Missouri, W vs. #24 Baylor, W vs. #16 Kansas State, W at Texas Tech, L at Iowa State

5. Oregon, 9-2 (9): L vs. #4 LSU, W vs. #9 Nevada, W vs. Missouri State, W at Arizona, W vs. Cal, W vs. #19 Arizona State, W at Colorado, W vs. Washington State, W at Washington, W at #3 Stanford, L vs. #16 Southern Cal

6. Stanford, 10-1 (4): W vs. San Jose St., W at Duke, W at Arizona, W vs. UCLA, W vs. Colorado, W at Washington State, W vs. #25 Washington, W at #21 Southern California, W at Oregon State, L vs. #5 Oregon, W vs. Cal

7. Houston, 11-0 (8): W vs. UCLA, W at North Texas, W at LA Tech, W vs. Georgia State, W at UTEP, W vs. East Carolina, W vs. Marshall, W vs. Rice, W at UAB, W at Tulane, W vs. SMU

8. Southern California, 9-2 (10): W vs. Minnesota, W vs. Utah, W vs. Syracuse, L at Arizona State, W at Arizona, W at Cal, W at Notre Dame, L at #3 Stanford, W at Colorado, W vs. Washington, W at #4 Oregon

9. Michigan State, 9-2 (11): W vs. Youngstown State, W vs. Florida Atlantic, L at Notre Dame, W at Central Michigan, W at Ohio State, W vs. #11 Michigan, W vs. #4 Wisconsin, L at #13 Nebraska, W vs. Minnesota, W at Iowa, W vs. Indiana

10. Oklahoma, 8-2 (12): W vs. #24 Tusla, W at #14 Florida State, W vs. Missouri, W vs. Ball State, W vs. #12 Texas, W at Kansas, L vs. Texas Tech, W at #9 Kansas State, W vs. Texas A&M, L at #24 Baylor

11. Virginia Tech, 10-1 (6): W vs. App. State, W at East Carolina, W vs. Arkansas State, W at Marshall, L vs. #11 Clemson, W vs. Miami (FL), W at Wake Forest, W vs. Boston College, W at Duke, W at #17 Georgia Tech, W vs. North Carolina

12. South Carolina, 9-2 (14): W vs. East Carolina, W at Georgia, W vs. Navy, W vs. Vanderbilt, L vs. #14 Auburn, W vs. Kentucky, W at Mississippi State, W at Tennessee, L at Arkansas, W vs. Florida, W vs. The Citadel

13. Clemson, 9-2 (18): W vs. Troy, W vs. Wofford, W vs. #1 Auburn, W vs. #14 Florida State, W at #9 Virginia Tech, W vs. Boston College, W at Maryland, W vs. North Carolina, L at Georgia Tech, W vs. Wake Forest, L at N.C. State

14. Boise State, 9-1 (7): W at Georgia, W at Toledo, W vs. Tulsa, W vs. Nevada, W at Fresno State, W at Colorado State, W vs. Air Force, W at UNLV, L vs. TCU, W at San Diego State

15. Georgia, 9-2 (13): L vs. #9 Boise State, L vs. #22 South Carolina, W vs. Coastal Carolina, W at Ole Miss, W vs. Mississippi State, W at Tennessee, W at Vanderbilt, W vs. Florida, W vs. New Mexico State, W vs. Auburn, W vs. Kentucky

16. Kansas State, 9-2 (16): W vs. Eastern Kentucky, W vs. Kent State, W at Miami (Fl), W vs. #12 Baylor, W vs. Missouri, W at Texas Tech, W at Kansas, L vs. #11 Oklahoma, L at #4 Oklahoma State, W vs. Texas A&M, W at Texas

17. Baylor, 7-3 (21): W vs. #2 TCU, W vs. Stephen F. Austin, W vs. Rice, L at Kansas State, W vs. Iowa State, L at #23 Texas A&M, L at #6 Oklahoma State, W vs. Missouri, W at Kansas, W vs. #7 Oklahoma

18. Michigan, 9-2 (20): W vs. Western Michigan, W vs. Notre Dame, W vs. Eastern Michigan, W vs. San Diego State, W vs. Minnesota, W at Northwestern, L at #24 Michigan State, W vs. Purdue, L at Iowa, W at Illinois, W vs. #19 Nebraska

19. TCU, 9-2 (19): L at Baylor, W at Air Force, W vs. La-Monroe, W vs. Portland State, L vs. SMU, W at San Diego State, W vs. New Mexico, W vs. BYU, W at Wyoming, W at #6 Boise State, W vs. Colorado State

20. Wisconsin, 9-2 (15): W vs. UNLV, W vs. Oregon State, W at Northern Illinois, W vs. South Dakota, W vs. #10 Nebraska, W vs. Indiana, L at #16 Michigan State, L at Ohio State, W vs. Purdue, W at Minnesota, W at Illinois

21. Penn State, 9-2 (20): W at Indiana State, L vs. #8 Alabama, W at Temple, W vs. Eastern Michigan, W at Indiana, W vs. Iowa, W vs. Purdue, W at Northwestern, W vs. Illinois, W at Ohio State

22. Virginia, 8-3 (24): W vs. William & Mary, W at Indiana, L at North Carolina, L vs. Southern Miss, W vs. Idaho, W vs. #12 Georgia Tech, L vs. North Carolina State, W at Miami (FL), W at Maryland, W vs. Duke, W at Florida State

23. Georgia Tech, 8-3 (25): W vs. Western Carolina, W at MTSU, W vs. Kansas, W vs. North Carolina, W at North Carolina State, W vs. Maryland, L at Virginia, L at Miami (FL), W vs. #4 Clemson, L vs. #15 Virginia Tech, W at Duke

24. Notre Dame, 8-3 (22): L vs. South Florida, L at Michigan, W vs. #12 Michigan State, W at Pittsburgh, W at Purdue, W vs. Air Force, L vs. Southern Cal, W vs. Navy, W at Wake Forest, W vs. Maryland, W vs. Boston College

25. Nebraska, 8-3 (22): W vs. Chattanooga, W vs. Fresno State, W vs. Washington, W at Wyoming, L at #5 Wisconsin, W vs. Ohio State, W at Minnesota, W vs. #10 Michigan State, L vs. Northwestern, W at #20 Penn State, L at #20 Michigan


SEC Power Rankings:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Arkansas
4. Georgia
5. South Carolina
6. Auburn
7. Florida
8. Mississippi State
8. Vanderbilt
8. Tennessee
11. Kentucky
12. Ole Miss


JB

Jimmy Buffett

My Top 10 Jimmy Buffett songs:

10. "Take Another Road", 1989

9. "Fins", 1980

8. "He Went to Paris", 1973









7. "A Pirate Looks at Forty", 1974










6. "Grapefruit, Juicy Fruit", 1973

5. "Come Monday", 1974

4. "Havana Daydreamin", 1976

3. "Creola", 1986

2. "One Particular Harbour", 1983

1. "Tin Cup Chalice", 1974


JB

Week 12 Preview

Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, and Auburn all face FCS schools and they will all win easily.

Kentucky at Georgia - Has there ever been an easier game to clinch a division? And at home no less? This is a microcosm of how easy UGA's schedule has been. If they wouldn't have allowed two defensive scores and a fake punt touchdown to South Carolina they would've won that game. Then if they wouldn't have scheduled Boise State they'd be 10-0 and ranked #3 right now. The Dawgs are a 30.5 point favorite. I would be surprised if they don't cover.

Mississippi State at Arkansas - Finally my Bulldogs make the game of the week. Both teams matchup very well against one another. I think we're in for a game like last years double overtime thriller instead of the 13 point spread Vegas has. As long as State can keep Joe Adams from getting too many yards on special teams this game comes down to late in the 4th quarter. I'm picking MSU 31-30.

LSU at Ole Miss - The Rebels are suspending players, they've fired the coach, the mascot is putting a box over his head. It's getting ugly. Now they face the best team in the nation...30 point spread. It's up to LSU to determine how much they want to beat them. If LSU is really Ole Miss' rival like the Rebs say, it will be 40+.

Vanderbilt at Tennessee - I am very surprised Vandy is favored (-1.5) in this game. But to my surprise they were also favored in Fulmer's last year, 2008. The 'Dores did beat the Vols in Knoxville '05 when Jay Cutler was the QB. The time before that was 1982, however, there have been plenty of very close games including several when UT was in the Top 5 in the 1990s. My instinct says to pick Tennessee because they have a spell over Vandy they can't ever beat them no matter the circumstances. But the Vandy team is really good behind Zac Stacy's great running and Jordan Rodgers great quarterback play. I don't think UT can score enough points. VU 28 UT 21


JB

Bowl Projections

BCS Title Game: LSU - The Tigers are #1 and undefeated, they will be in New Orleans if they continue to win.

Sugar Bowl: Alabama - The Tide could possibly force a rematch if Oklahoma State loses, but since they play Oklahoma in Stillwater I'll assume they go undefeated and Bama lands here.

Capitol One: Georgia - If UGA beats Georgia Tech in Atlanta they will end up here, if not they may go to the Outback Bowl. This is, of course, assuming they lose in the SEC Championship Game. If they are able to win the SEC Championship they will go to the Sugar Bowl and force either Bama or LSU to the Capitol One. If they win the SEC and Oklahoma State loses then the SEC would probably get 3 teams in the BCS (Bama vs. LSU in BCS Title) and everyone would move up in the bowl pecking order.

Cotton Bowl: Arkansas - If the Hogs lose at LSU then they land here. How about this scenario: 1. Arkansas beats LSU 2. Alabama wins the West by virtue of head to head between two top SEC teams in BCS 3. Georgia beats Alabama in SEC Championship and Arkansas ends up in BCS Title Game vs. Oklahoma State OR 4. Okie State loses to Oklahoma and Arkansas plays LSU or Oregon in BCS Title Game.

Outback Bowl: South Carolina - If USC can beat Clemson at home and Georgia loses to GT then the Gamecocks could be in the Capitol One bowl...otherwise they land in Tampa.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Auburn - The records fall off quite a bit after USC, but Auburn is likely to be the only 7-5 team.

Gator Bowl: Florida - The Gators end their worst season in many years with a trip to Jacksonville. This is an easy choice for the Gator Bowl...the University of Florida is the 'Gators' and their campus is about 70 miles away.

Music City Bowl: Mississippi State - If Tennessee is available, they might pick them...but UT came there last year and their fans aren't crazy about a 6-6 season, while MSU fans are happy to go bowling and travel well. Even though Vanderbilt seems like a logical choice being in Nashville, their fans can't even fill up their own 40,000 seat stadium.

Liberty Bowl: Tennessee - This is only if the Vols can get to 6-6...they have to beat Vandy this week. This would give UT fans in Memphis a chance to see the team in person, and a down year for them is still a better draw than an excellent year from Vanderbilt.

BBVA Compass Bowl: Vanderbilt - If Vandy can beat Tennessee and Wake Forest then they can wind up in the Gator Bowl and push everyone else down a rung. But if they are 6-6 then they will get last choice since their fans don't show up.


JB

The Polls - Week 12

1. LSU, 10-0 (1): W vs. #3 Oregon, W vs. Northwestern State, W at #16 Mississippi State, W at #19 West Virginia, W vs. Kentucky, W vs. #22 Florida, W at Tennessee, W vs. #15 Auburn, W at #2 Alabama, W vs. Western Kentucky

2. Alabama, 9-1 (3): W vs. Kent State, W at Penn State, W vs. North Texas, W vs. #8 Arkansas, W at #17 Florida, W vs. Vanderbilt, W at Ole Miss, W vs. Tennessee, L vs. #1 LSU, W at Mississippi State

3. Oklahoma State, 10-0 (2): W vs. LA-Lafayette, W vs. Arizona, W vs. Tulsa, W at #11 Texas A&M, W vs. Kansas, W at #22 Texas, W at Missouri, W vs. #24 Baylor, W vs. #16 Kansas State, W at Texas Tech

4. Oregon, 9-1 (4): L vs. #4 LSU, W vs. #9 Nevada, W vs. Missouri State, W at Arizona, W vs. Cal, W vs. #19 Arizona State, W at Colorado, W vs. Washington State, W at Washington, W at #3 Stanford

5. Arkansas, 9-1 (6): W vs. Missouri State, W vs. New Mexico, W vs. Troy, L at #6 Alabama, W vs. #13 Texas A&M, W vs. #9 Auburn, W at Ole Miss, W at Vanderbilt, W vs. #11 South Carolina, W vs. Tennessee

6. Clemson, 9-1 (7): W vs. Troy, W vs. Wofford, W vs. #1 Auburn, W vs. #14 Florida State, W at #9 Virginia Tech, W vs. Boston College, W at Maryland, W vs. North Carolina, L at Georgia Tech, W vs. Wake Forest

7. Oklahoma, 8-1 (5): W vs. #24 Tusla, W at #14 Florida State, W vs. Missouri, W vs. Ball State, W vs. #12 Texas, W at Kansas, L vs. Texas Tech, W at #9 Kansas State, W vs. Texas A&M

8. Stanford, 9-1 (8): W vs. San Jose St., W at Duke, W at Arizona, W vs. UCLA, W vs. Colorado, W at Washington State, W vs. #25 Washington, W at #21 Southern California, W at Oregon State, L vs. #5 Oregon

9. Houston, 10-0 (11): W vs. UCLA, W at North Texas, W at LA Tech, W vs. Georgia State, W at UTEP, W vs. East Carolina, W vs. Marshall, W vs. Rice, W at UAB, W at Tulane

10. South Carolina, 8-2 (14): W vs. East Carolina, W at Georgia, W vs. Navy, W vs. Vanderbilt, L vs. #14 Auburn, W vs. Kentucky, W at Mississippi State, W at Tennessee, L at Arkansas, W vs. Florida

11. Boise State, 8-1 (10): W at Georgia, W at Toledo, W vs. Tulsa, W vs. Nevada, W at Fresno State, W at Colorado State, W vs. Air Force, W at UNLV, L vs. TCU

12. Georgia, 8-2 (13): L vs. #9 Boise State, L vs. #22 South Carolina, W vs. Coastal Carolina, W at Ole Miss, W vs. Mississippi State, W at Tennessee, W at Vanderbilt, W vs. Florida, W vs. New Mexico State, W vs. Auburn

13. Michigan State, 8-2 (13): W vs. Youngstown State, W vs. Florida Atlantic, L at Notre Dame, W at Central Michigan, W at Ohio State, W vs. #11 Michigan, W vs. #4 Wisconsin, L at #13 Nebraska, W vs. Minnesota, W at Iowa

14. Virginia Tech, 9-1 (9): W vs. App. State, W at East Carolina, W vs. Arkansas State, W at Marshall, L vs. #11 Clemson, W vs. Miami (FL), W at Wake Forest, W vs. Boston College, W at Duke, W at #17 Georgia Tech

15. TCU, 8-2 (19): L at Baylor, W at Air Force, W vs. La-Monroe, W vs. Portland State, L vs. SMU, W at San Diego State, W vs. New Mexico, W vs. BYU, W at Wyoming, W at #6 Boise State

16. Southern California, 8-2 (18): W vs. Minnesota, W vs. Utah, W vs. Syracuse, L at Arizona State, W at Arizona, W at Cal, W at Notre Dame, L at #3 Stanford, W at Colorado, W vs. Washington

17. Kansas State, 8-2 (16): W vs. Eastern Kentucky, W vs. Kent State, W at Miami (Fl), W vs. #12 Baylor, W vs. Missouri, W at Texas Tech, W at Kansas, L vs. #11 Oklahoma, L at #4 Oklahoma State, W vs. Texas A&M

18. Wisconsin, 7-2 (15): W vs. UNLV, W vs. Oregon State, W at Northern Illinois, W vs. South Dakota, W vs. #10 Nebraska, W vs. Indiana, L at #16 Michigan State, L at Ohio State, W vs. Purdue, W at Minnesota

19. Nebraska, 8-2 (17): W vs. Chattanooga, W vs. Fresno State, W vs. Washington, W at Wyoming, L at #5 Wisconsin, W vs. Ohio State, W at Minnesota, W vs. #10 Michigan State, L vs. Northwestern, W at #20 Penn State

20. Michigan, 8-2 (20): W vs. Western Michigan, W vs. Notre Dame, W vs. Eastern Michigan, W vs. San Diego State, W vs. Minnesota, W at Northwestern, L at #24 Michigan State, W vs. Purdue, L at Iowa, W at Illinois

21. Southern Miss, 9-1 (22): W vs. Louisiana Tech, L at Marshall, W at SE Louisiana, W at Virginia, W vs. Rice, W at Navy, W vs. SMU, W at UTEP, W at East Carolina, W vs. Central Florida

22. Georgia Tech, 7-3 (NR): W vs. Western Carolina, W at MTSU, W vs. Kansas, W vs. North Carolina, W at North Carolina State, W vs. Maryland, L at Virginia, L at Miami (FL), W vs. #4 Clemson, L vs. #15 Virginia Tech

23. Penn State, 8-2 (21): W at Indiana State, L vs. #8 Alabama, W at Temple, W vs. Eastern Michigan, W at Indiana, W vs. Iowa, W vs. Purdue, W at Northwestern, W vs. Illinois

24. Baylor, 6-3 (25): W vs. #2 TCU, W vs. Stephen F. Austin, W vs. Rice, L at Kansas State, W vs. Iowa State, L at #23 Texas A&M, L at #6 Oklahoma State, W vs. Missouri, W at Kansas

25. Virginia, 7-3 (NR): W vs. William & Mary, W at Indiana, L at North Carolina, L vs. Southern Miss, W vs. Idaho, W vs. #12 Georgia Tech, L vs. North Carolina State, W at Miami (FL), W at Maryland, W vs. Duke


Teams that are ranked in the AP that aren't in my poll: Florida State (23) and Notre Dame (24).


SEC Power Rankings:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Arkansas
4. Georgia
5. South Carolina
6. Auburn
7. Florida
7. Mississippi State
7. Vanderbilt
10. Tennessee
11. Kentucky
12. Ole Miss


JB

Kenny Chesney

My Top 10 Kenny Chesney songs:

10. "Old Blue Chair", 2005

9. "Don't Happen Twice", 2000










8. "When I Close My Eyes", 1996









7. "Better As A Memory", 2007

6. "Anything But Mine", 2004

5. "Baptism", 1999

4. "The Road and the Radio", 2005

3. "On the Coast of Somewhere Beautiful", 2002

2. "All I Need to Know", 1995

1. "What I Need to Do", 1999


JB

Week 11 Preview

Hold the phone - a week 11 preview on 11/11/11? Now, how did that work out?


Just quick picks today...

South Carolina over Florida

Vanderbilt over Kentucky

Auburn upsets Georgia

Arkansas over Tennessee

Alabama over Mississippi State

LSU over Western Kentucky

Louisiana Tech over Ole Miss

Oregon over Stanford


JB

The Polls - Week 11

The LSU/Alabama game lived up to the hype for me. A lot of people called it boring, or an exhibition of bad quarterback play, but I thought it was very entertaining game. When it's a shootout, like Okie State had with KSU, no one play could mean the entire game, but with a 9-6 defensive SEC struggle, you hang on every play because a big one could mean the game. I keep LSU and Alabama #1 and 2, but if OSU or Stanford go undefeated then I agree they deserve a shot at LSU in the BCS Title Game. No, they will not be one of the two best teams in the country in my opinion, but they do play in a legitimate conference and deserve a chance - one in which Bama already had, at home no less.

1. LSU, 9-0 (1): W vs. #3 Oregon, W vs. Northwestern State, W at #16 Mississippi State, W at #19 West Virginia, W vs. Kentucky, W vs. #22 Florida, W at Tennessee, W vs. #15 Auburn, W at #2 Alabama

2. Alabama, 8-1 (4): W vs. Kent State, W at Penn State, W vs. North Texas, W vs. #8 Arkansas, W at #17 Florida, W vs. Vanderbilt, W at Ole Miss, W vs. Tennessee, L vs. #1 LSU

3. Stanford, 9-0 (3): W vs. San Jose St., W at Duke, W at Arizona, W vs. UCLA, W vs. Colorado, W at Washington State, W vs. #25 Washington, W at #21 Southern California, W at Oregon State

4. Oklahoma State, 9-0 (2): W vs. LA-Lafayette, W vs. Arizona, W vs. Tulsa, W at #11 Texas A&M, W vs. Kansas, W at #22 Texas, W at Missouri, W vs. #24 Baylor, W vs. #16 Kansas State

5. Oregon, 8-1 (6): L vs. #4 LSU, W vs. #9 Nevada, W vs. Missouri State, W at Arizona, W vs. Cal, W vs. #19 Arizona State, W at Colorado, W vs. Washington State, W at Washington

6. Boise State, 8-0 (5): W at Georgia, W at Toledo, W vs. Tulsa, W vs. Nevada, W at Fresno State, W at Colorado State, W vs. Air Force, W at UNLV

7. Arkansas, 8-1 (8): W vs. Missouri State, W vs. New Mexico, W vs. Troy, L at #6 Alabama, W vs. #13 Texas A&M, W vs. #9 Auburn, W at Ole Miss, W at Vanderbilt, W vs. #11 South Carolina

8. Oklahoma, 8-1 (7): W vs. #24 Tusla, W at #14 Florida State, W vs. Missouri, W vs. Ball State, W vs. #12 Texas, W at Kansas, L vs. Texas Tech, W at #9 Kansas State, W vs. Texas A&M

9. Clemson, 8-1 (9): W vs. Troy, W vs. Wofford, W vs. #1 Auburn, W vs. #14 Florida State, W at #9 Virginia Tech, W vs. Boston College, W at Maryland, W vs. North Carolina, L at Georgia Tech

10. Houston, 9-0 (11): W vs. UCLA, W at North Texas, W at LA Tech, W vs. Georgia State, W at UTEP, W vs. East Carolina, W vs. Marshall, W vs. Rice, W at UAB

11. South Carolina, 7-2 (15): W vs. East Carolina, W at Georgia, W vs. Navy, W vs. Vanderbilt, L vs. #14 Auburn, W vs. Kentucky, W at Mississippi State, W at Tennessee, L at Arkansas

12. Georgia, 7-2 (14): L vs. #9 Boise State, L vs. #22 South Carolina, W vs. Coastal Carolina, W at Ole Miss, W vs. Mississippi State, W at Tennessee, W at Vanderbilt, W vs. Florida, W vs. New Mexico State

13. Michigan State, 7-2 (13): W vs. Youngstown State, W vs. Florida Atlantic, L at Notre Dame, W at Central Michigan, W at Ohio State, W vs. #11 Michigan, W vs. #4 Wisconsin, L at #13 Nebraska, W vs. Minnesota

14. Southern California, 7-2 (18): W vs. Minnesota, W vs. Utah, W vs. Syracuse, L at Arizona State, W at Arizona, W at Cal, W at Notre Dame, L at Stanford, W at Colorado

15. Virginia Tech, 8-1 (10): W vs. App. State, W at East Carolina, W vs. Arkansas State, W at Marshall, L vs. #11 Clemson, W vs. Miami (FL), W at Wake Forest, W vs. Boston College, W at Duke

16. Kansas State, 7-2 (17): W vs. Eastern Kentucky, W vs. Kent State, W at Miami (Fl), W vs. #12 Baylor, W vs. Missouri, W at Texas Tech, W at Kansas, L vs. #11 Oklahoma, L at #4 Oklahoma State

17. Georgia Tech, 7-2 (20): W vs. Western Carolina, W at MTSU, W vs. Kansas, W vs. North Carolina, W at North Carolina State, W vs. Maryland, L at Virginia, L at Miami (FL), W vs. #4 Clemson

18. Wisconsin, 6-2 (19): W vs. UNLV, W vs. Oregon State, W at Northern Illinois, W vs. South Dakota, W vs. #10 Nebraska, W vs. Indiana, L at #16 Michigan State, L at Ohio State, W vs. Purdue

19. Auburn, 6-3 (24): W vs. Utah State, W vs. #14 Mississippi State, L at Clemson, W vs. Florida Atlantic, W at #15 South Carolina, L at #11 Arkansas, W vs. Florida, L at #1 LSU, W vs. Ole Miss

20. Penn State, 8-1 (12): W at Indiana State, L vs. #8 Alabama, W at Temple, W vs. Eastern Michigan, W at Indiana, W vs. Iowa, W vs. Purdue, W at Northwestern, W vs. Illinois

21. Nebraska, 7-2 (19): W vs. Chattanooga, W vs. Fresno State, W vs. Washington, W at Wyoming, L at #5 Wisconsin, W vs. Ohio State, W at Minnesota, W vs. #10 Michigan State, L vs. Northwestern

22. Texas, 6-2, (21): W vs. Rice, W vs. BYU, W at UCLA, W at Iowa State, L vs. #2 Oklahoma, L vs. #9 Oklahoma State, W vs. Kansas, W vs. Texas Tech

23. Southern Miss, 8-1 (25): W vs. Louisiana Tech, L at Marshall, W at SE Louisiana, W at Virginia, W vs. Rice, W at Navy, W vs. SMU, W at UTEP, W at East Carolina

24. Michigan, 6-2 (22): W vs. Western Michigan, W vs. Notre Dame, W vs. Eastern Michigan, W vs. San Diego State, W vs. Minnesota, W at Northwestern, L at #24 Michigan State, W vs. Purdue, L at Iowa

25. Cincinnati, 7-1 (23): W vs. Austin Peay, L at Tennessee, W vs. Akron, W vs. N.C. State, W at Miami (OH), W vs. Louisville, W at South Florida, W at Pittsburgh



SEC Power Rankings:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Arkansas
4. South Carolina
5. Georgia
6. Auburn
7. Florida
8. Mississippi State
8. Vanderbilt
10. Tennessee
11. Kentucky
12. Ole Miss

Ole Miss fans got what they wanted this week with Pete Boone and Houston Nutt stepping down. Nutt's time in Ole Miss can be looked at like this: he took a losing team with good athletes, made them a winner, then blew it up...and it's in worse shape now than when he got there 4 years ago despite two Cotton Bowl victories. One of the quickest rises and falls I can ever remember (Charlie Weis at ND being a close second). I will say this for Nutt, he had a $6 million buyout coming his way and he desperately wanted to succeed, but the hole he dug was too great. My hope is that they make the wrong hire, and go even further down the toilet...into an oblivion that takes 20 years to get out of.


JB

Joe Paterno Should Be Fired Today

Jerry Sandusky, Penn State assistant coach for 30 years (23 as D-coordinator) under Joe Paterno, has been charged with 40 counts of molesting eight young boys over a 15-year period. He founded a children's charity, The Second Mile, to help young boys...but as we now know that was just his avenue to find potential prey. This story involves Sandusky which makes it high-profile, but it also ropes in Joe Paterno and the Penn State administration.

In 2002, a graduate assistant eye-witnessed Sandusky performing sexual acts on a 10-year-old boy in the shower section of the Penn State football locker room. The graduate assistant reported it to Paterno, and he reported it to the PSU administration. According to the Pennsylvania legal system, JoePa acted in full accordance to the law, and the grand jury has praised him for his cooperation. Meanwhile, the administrators (A.D. Tim Curley and V.P. Gary Schultz) have been charged with perjury and failure to report suspected child abuse. But why is Joe Paterno getting a pass?

Paterno seems to intimate he only thought it was 'horseplay' or just inappropriate activity from Sandusky in the 2002 incident. Well, that could be anything. When the grad assistant told him about it, did he write it down? Was there a formal complaint issued to Joe Paterno or the Penn State administrators? Or is this a game of telephone - the G.A. says this, JoePa says this, and by the time it gets to the top the story is much different than when it started out? This happens a lot, so why is Paterno getting a pass? What if the administrators did not get the full story and did not see a reason to contact the authorities? Then Joe Paterno - and the G.A. are at fault, aren't they?

Or what if there was a formal, written report which stated the accounts of Sandusky's actions by the G.A. Then JoePa handed that report to the administrators and they did nothing. Then it is certainly on the PSU administration for a complete cover-up. Even if Sandusky is completely innocent (which there is no way), then they covered it up from the police. But what about Paterno? If, after getting a full and graphic report that should have infuriated him to the nth degree, wouldn't he want to follow up on that to make sure matters were being taken care of? He should've taken this matter to the police! Not only that, but having known this report he still let Sandusky come around the Penn State program in the years that followed the incident.

Bottom line, either way, there is no 'out' for Joe Paterno in my book. He should be fired from Penn State today and his name should be stripped from anything associated with PSU. Even if Pennsylvania law is so convoluted that it has statutes that say he isn't responsible for reporting it to the police as long as he reports it to the administration, then doesn't he have a moral obligation to do so? This isn't stealing, cheating, or even murder...this is child abuse, and in my opinion, and most everyone else's there is nothing worse.

I've never had anything against JoePa, although I've always thought he should've retired a while ago. But that is neither here nor there, this is a horrible offense and he should either resign or be fired without further delay. If, or when, Sandusky is found guilty he should be mutilated on national television. In all seriousness, what he did is the most disgusting, horrifying thing anyone can possibly do. In a terrible turn of events, he can only face life in prison in Pennsylvania. I would prefer that he be beaten with the blade of an ax until death.


JB

Georgia Suspensions: A Product of Athens

Georgia's Isaiah Crowell, Ken Malcome and Carlton Thomas were all suspended for this past weekend's game vs. New Mexico State...all of them tailbacks. Isaiah Crowell has now missed 5 quarters so far this year with suspensions. After Washaun Ealey was kicked off the team this past spring, then Caleb King was booted for being ineligible academically, there doesn't seem to be much discipline in UGA's backfield. In fact, there doesn't seem to be much discipline for any of the athletes: football, basketball, even the former athletic director.

Mark Richt is a stand-up guy. He's done a lot to help Georgia and their 'most-obnoxious-fans-in-the-SEC' tone down their rudeness, drunkenness, and outright stupid comments from occurring every minute to now just occurring every other minute. Richt is a strong Christian, a really good person, and one of the reason Georgia has picked up a few more fans and a few less haters in recent years. But even though he's tried to provide a fine example for his players, arrests and suspensions are all too common.

My reasoning for this: Athens, GA. To me, there are 3 different kinds of SEC college towns. 1. Preppie, clean-cut & southern (Ole Miss, MSU, Alabama, Auburn) 2. Drinking (LSU, Georgia, Florida) 3. Other (South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Arkansas) The common theme between the schools in category two is, they are in a relatively large town. Georgia is probably #1 when it comes to a drinking town. They are also artsy-which is dumb. I've been to Athens at least 5 times in the last decade...and I've been to Knoxville, Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Baton Rouge, Oxford, Starkville, Nashville about as much (+ or -). Athens is just different. It's all about drinking, all the time. Seriously.

If you've been to Auburn and Athens, is it really any wonder why Auburn kids don't get arrested as much as Georgia ones? Not to say that the college students in my #1 or #3 categories do not party - but it's just not like Athens. When everyone around Crowell & Co. is drinking like fish and probably doing other things, what are the chances he will do it? Pretty good. That is why I think Georgia players have so many 'discipline' issues. I don't think Crowell is necessarily a bad kid, but he should understand the potential he has and if he wants to be successful he had better clean it up.

JB

Led Zeppelin

My Top 10 Led Zeppelin songs:

10. "Heartbreaker", 1969

9. "Over the Hills and Far Away", 1973

8. "Ten Years Gone", 1975

7. "The Song Remains the Same", 1973

6. "When the Levee Breaks", 1971

5. "In the Light", 1975

4. "The Battle of Evermore", 1971











3. "Bring It On Home", 1969












2. "Stairway to Heaven", 1971

1. "Since I've Been Loving You", 1970


JB

Week 10 Preview

My complete breakdown of the LSU/Alabama game can be found in yesterday's post.

Vanderbilt at Florida - Could Florida really suck so bad they lose 5 in a row? Vandy has not beaten Florida since 1988....but this could be the year. A close call with Georgia, then again vs. Arkansas. One lingering problem though...Vandy is 4-2 at home including those two close ones and they've been outscored 45-3 on the road. Granted that was at South Carolina and Alabama. This game is in the Swamp. Florida is a 13.5 point favorite, which is a tad bit surprising. If both teams play like they did last week...Vandy gets it done. In '05 Jay Cutler to Florida into overtime in the Swamp, but lost. I like the moxy James Frnaklin gives the 'Dores. If UF loses they could be on their way to a losing record this year. Wow. I think that gives them a sense of urgency. Vandy hangs tight for 3 quarters, but Florida wins by 10 points.

New Mexico State at Georgia - UGA has suspended 3 running backs including Crowell and Samuel is out with an ankle injury. UGA wins easily though.

Ole Miss at Kentucky - The battle for the cellar. I've had these two ranked as #11 & 12 in the SEC since Week 2. Ole Miss should win this game. UK simply is not good. They have some players but are not well-coached at all. Ole Miss has more players and they are simply a mess, including very poor defensive coaching. Both teams rank near the bottom in every category in the SEC. UK's offense vs. Ole Miss' D should be a battle of ineptitude. I don't know who to pick, it's just so bad. But with Maxwell Smith showing he can take what the defense gives him last week vs. MSU, maybe he can do that here and score some points for the Cats. Extending Ole Miss' SEC losing streak couldn't make me happier, especially against a horrible team like Kentucky. UK 23 UM 20

MTSU at Tennessee - Quietly here in the background of the SEC the Vols desperately need this win. They have nothing going for them and haven't score a touchdown since the first half vs. LSU...that's 10 quarters! And they only scored 1 touchdown in that half...before that game they only scored one touchdown vs. Georgia. This is a chance to get right again. UT 31 MTSU 17

South Carolina at Arkansas - This is a huge game but no one is talking about it. For one, the LSU/Bama game is this week...and played at the same time. 2. USC is without Lattimore and ARK has played down to their competition the last two weeks. But not only is this game for #3 in the SEC, but South Carolina is still in the driver's seat in the East. I picked USC in this game before the season, but I can't stay with it without Lattimore or Garcia. In Fayetteville the Hogs are tough. UPig 35 USC 24

UT-Martin at Mississippi State - MSU 45 Skyhawks 10

Kansas State at Oklahoma State - This has got to be OSU's magical year, all their biggest games are at home. They win here by two scores.

Upset of the week: Washington over Oregon, 27-24.


JB

The National Championship Game

Well, really its LSU vs. Alabama, but isn't it the National Championship Game? These are clearly the two best teams in college football. Won't whoever makes it to #2 at the end of the regular season be a lesser team than either of these two? I think so. So this isn't a national semi-final. This is it. If the winner somehow gets upset during SEC play after this game..they should still make it to the BCS Title Game...because they have already won, this, the National Championship Game.

Here's how I see the matchups. When I say advantage, I only mean slight.

Quarterbacks: LSU
Runningbacks: Alabama
Receivers: LSU
Offensive Line: Alabama
Defensive Line: LSU
Linebackers: Alabama
Cornerbacks: LSU
Safeties: Alabama

Alabama's offensive line vs. LSU's defensive line: Alabama has the most experience, and best O line in the SEC...which means the country. LSU probably has the most athletic defensive line in the SEC. I won't say they are the most disruptive - I might give that to South Carolina - but they will present Bama's O line with their toughest challenge yet. Advantage: BAMA

LSU's offensive line vs. Alabama's defensive line: Bama's D-line is the weakness of their defense. That is to say their D-line is not the best D-line in the country. LSU's offensive line has performed extraordinarily well when you consider they lost Josh Dworaczyk before the season and have had plenty of nagging injuries since, and they are probably the 2nd best line in the SEC. Advantage: No one

Alabama's receivers vs. LSU's corners: If the Tide had Sammy Watkins and Justin Blackmon then they'd have the advantage. But they don't. If Tyrann Matthiu and Mo Claiborne are playing bump-and-run all night on Maze and Hanks, I'm not sure McCarron can get them more than 3 catches combined. I'm not sure, if I'm Bama's coaching staff, I even want to attempt throwing at them more than 10 yards downfield. Advantage: LSU

LSU's receivers vs. Alabama's corners: Bama has really good cornerbacks, Dre' Kirkpatrick and DeQuan Menzie are good, real good. But LSU counters with Rueban Randle, Odell Beckham, and throw in Russell Shepard too. This one looks like a dead heat to me. Advantage: No one

LSU's QBs vs. Alabama's QBs: realistically it's Lee & Jefferson vs. McCarron, I doubt Sims gets in the game. LSU's QBs have been in and out of games for 4 years (Jefferson getting 60% of that time). McCarron has had this year and some garbage time last year. How many big games has McCarron played in? None. I can't count on my hands how many Lee and Jefferson have. There is no doubt LSU has the advantage here. Maybe McCarron will be much better than both of them combined in a year or two...but they are about the same right now, and LSU has more experience...and depth. If Lee or Jefferson goes down, the other one comes in. If McCarron goes down, Sims comes in for Bama, and he's a freshman with about 60 minutes of total playing time. Advantage: LSU

Alabama's offense vs. LSU's defense: You have to figure LSU is going to take away any kind of vertical passing game for the Tide. They've got lock-down NFL corners on both sides and Bama doesn't have the top flight receivers to flat out beat them. So you know Trent Richardson and Bama's offensive line is the key for them. I think Bama will win up front 50-60% of the time if the offense is balanced. If A.J. McCarron cannot throw the ball at all then LSU is going to bring their safeties up and not allow the running game to get more than 3 yards per carry. McCarron will have to hit the slot receivers dead on and hope for a 7 yard gain. Richardson will have to fight and claw to get close to 100 yards. And while the key to moving the ball is getting behind Richardson, the key to not losing the game is McCarron testing LSU's secondary downfield, getting it picked off and LSU taking it to the house for an unexpected score. Advantage: LSU

LSU's offense vs. Alabama's defense: In an unnerving outlook, I think LSU needs to throw the ball to move it rather than run like Alabama. I say unnerving because Alabama probably has about as good of a secondary as LSU, and we've all seen what Lee and Jefferson have done in past seasons. Can Ware or Ford be the workhorse to take a beating and keep on carrying the football? Randle and Beckham are major downfield threats and Lee has shown the ability to hit them downfield. On 3rd and long, will Miles take a shot deep knowing that a possible interception could be the same as a punt. Taking a chance on a big play could be a big momentum swing. On the other hand, I pretty much expect Bama to get a fumble or INT and either take it all the way back or give their offense prime field position. Advantage: BAMA

Trent Richardson is averaging 6.6 yards per carry and Eddie Lacy is averaging 8.0. Behind their offensive line, they know how to pound the football. I think LSU cuts those averages in half. LSU counters with Spencer Ware (4.0 YPC) and Michael Ford (5.6). Alabama is giving up 1.8 YPC...ouch.

Alabama has had some problems with slow starts and short kickoffs. The short kickoffs could loom huge if LSU is able to return the ball to the 50 and get a score out of it. Both of these defenses should win most of the time, even though the respective offenses are pretty good. I'm looking for a defensive score by each team...or at least a turnover that gives the offense very good field position. The game could be won on special teams...perhaps by who can make their field goals.

LSU looks like the tougher team who plays with reckless abandon. Alabama seems well coached, and performs like a well-oiled machine. This is a tough game to pick, and Bama seems like the logical choice being at home. Nick Saban is undoubtedly the better coach. Les Miles, though, might be the best coach for the guys he has.

LSU 17 ALABAMA 16


JB

GOP 2012 Part II

When I first spoke of the Republican race on June 7th, Rick Perry had not yet entered and I thought Tim Pawlenty had a chance. Well, Pawlenty dropped out rather quickly. And Perry was ahead in the polls for a while, but has since seen a sharp decline.

I said on June 7th that the ideal ticket for me would be Gingrich/Cain...and I still stand behind that. Of course, the actually likelihood may be a flipped version of that since Cain has basically doubled the support Gingrich has. I am surprised by how well Herman Cain has done. I really like him though.

There are 8 candidates right now that are at least getting one point in the polls. Of those, we can throw out Huntsman, Santorum, and Bachmann. I don't think any of them have made it to 5% yet, and I'm sure once the primaries start they will be quick dropouts. Ron Paul has more support, but he is almost un-electable so I don't think he stands a chance at getting nominated - but I guess you never know. So that leaves four candidates who I think stand a chance to get nominated: Cain, Romney, Perry, and Gingrich.

Cain - He is a businessman who is a Washington outsider. That makes him appealing. I think he could beat Obama. For one, he is black...so that should take away at least some of the black vote. Liberals are puzzled at what they can do to him. The tea party, which they have labeled as racist, support Cain. A conservative black man? They don't know what to do.

Romney - Everyone says he is the most electable. So people are going to have to decide, do they want him to be the nominee because he's the most electable - and we'll just hold our noses and vote like we did for McCain, or should we nominate someone who will be a good president.

Perry - I like Perry, but I don't know if he can get past the bad debating. Perhaps he would make the best president. He is solid and has been a very successful governor. But Obama would torch him in a debate, and I think that would cost him the election. Obama has a way of saying a bunch of nothing, but making it sound like he said something...then making the other person look stupid. I don't know if Perry could handle it.

Gingrich - Policies, check. Resume, check. He's unquestionably the smartest guy among these four. He could debate Obama...and he would say a bunch of substance, and something the American people could buy into. But then there's his social past, and he's kind of a loose canon. So, not the perfect candidate...and I don't know if people think he'd be a good president as much as he is a lawmaker...but I do think he could win if nominated.

I think any of the above four could be nominated, and could win. Likelihood of winning the election if nominated: 1. Romney 2. Cain 3. Gingrich 4. Perry. Who would I like to be president: 1. Gingrich 2. Perry or Cain 4. Romney. There is no perfect candidate, but I think we've got enough good ones that would do a far superior job that Obama is. Hopefully the American people will see that.

I don't know how to create a link on here, but copy and paste this to your address bar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtjfMjjce2Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player

JB

The Polls - Week 10

Well, this experiment, while not finished, should be concluded. The fact is, that it doesn't really matter where you start, you will end up in the right place. I still think the #1 team from the previous year should have to be knocked off their throne...but there's no sense in continuing this experiment any longer. So, that means this poll will reflect how I would vote for the Top 25.


1. LSU, 8-0 (1): W vs. #3 Oregon, W vs. Northwestern State, W at #16 Mississippi State, W at #19 West Virginia, W vs. Kentucky, W vs. #22 Florida, W at Tennessee, W vs. #15 Auburn

2. Alabama, 8-0 (2): W vs. Kent State, W at Penn State, W vs. North Texas, W vs. #8 Arkansas, W at #17 Florida, W vs. Vanderbilt, W at Ole Miss, W vs. Tennessee

3. Stanford, 8-0 (4): W vs. San Jose St., W at Duke, W at Arizona, W vs. UCLA, W vs. Colorado, W at Washington State, W vs. #25 Washington, W at #21 Southern California

4. Oklahoma State, 8-0 (3): W vs. LA-Lafayette, W vs. Arizona, W vs. Tulsa, W at #11 Texas A&M, W vs. Kansas, W at #22 Texas, W at Missouri, W vs. #24 Baylor

5. Oregon, 7-1 (6): L vs. #4 LSU, W vs. #9 Nevada, W vs. Missouri State, W at Arizona, W vs. Cal, W vs. #19 Arizona State, W at Colorado, W vs. Washington State

6. Boise State, 7-0 (5): W at Georgia, W at Toledo, W vs. Tulsa, W vs. Nevada, W at Fresno State, W at Colorado State, W vs. Air Force

7. Arkansas, 7-1 (8): W vs. Missouri State, W vs. New Mexico, W vs. Troy, L at #6 Alabama, W vs. #13 Texas A&M, W vs. #9 Auburn, W at Ole Miss, W at Vanderbilt

8. Oklahoma, 7-1 (7): W vs. #24 Tusla, W at #14 Florida State, W vs. Missouri, W vs. Ball State, W vs. #12 Texas, W at Kansas, L vs. Texas Tech, W at #9 Kansas State

9. Clemson, 8-1 (11): W vs. Troy, W vs. Wofford, W vs. #1 Auburn, W vs. #14 Florida State, W at #9 Virginia Tech, W vs. Boston College, W at Maryland, W vs. North Carolina, L at Georgia Tech

10. Nebraska, 7-1 (9): W vs. Chattanooga, W vs. Fresno State, W vs. Washington, W at Wyoming, L at #5 Wisconsin, W vs. Ohio State, W at Minnesota, W vs. #10 Michigan State

11. South Carolina, 7-1 (10): W vs. East Carolina, W at Georgia, W vs. Navy, W vs. Vanderbilt, L vs. #14 Auburn, W vs. Kentucky, W at Mississippi State, W at Tennessee

12. Houston, 8-0 (14): W vs. UCLA, W at North Texas, W at LA Tech, W vs. Georgia State, W at UTEP, W vs. East Carolina, W vs. Marshall, W vs. Rice

13. Michigan State, 6-2 (15): W vs. Youngstown State, W vs. Florida Atlantic, L at Notre Dame, W at Central Michigan, W at Ohio State, W vs. #11 Michigan, W vs. #4 Wisconsin, L at #13 Nebraska

14. Virginia Tech, 8-1 (12): W vs. App. State, W at East Carolina, W vs. Arkansas State, W at Marshall, L vs. #11 Clemson, W vs. Miami (FL), W at Wake Forest, W vs. Boston College, W at Duke

15. Michigan, 6-1 (13): W vs. Western Michigan, W vs. Notre Dame, W vs. Eastern Michigan, W vs. San Diego State, W vs. Minnesota, W at Northwestern, L at #24 Michigan State, W vs. Purdue

16. Kansas State, 7-1 (17): W vs. Eastern Kentucky, W vs. Kent State, W at Miami (Fl), W vs. #12 Baylor, W vs. Missouri, W at Texas Tech, W at Kansas, L vs. #11 Oklahoma

17. Georgia, 6-2 (18): L vs. #9 Boise State, L vs. #22 South Carolina, W vs. Coastal Carolina, W at Ole Miss, W vs. Mississippi State, W at Tennessee, W at Vanderbilt, W vs. Florida

18. Arizona State, 6-2 (20): W vs. UC Davis, W vs. #17 Missouri, L at Illinois, W at #25 Southern California, W vs. Oregon State, W at Utah, L at #10 Oregon, W vs. Colorado

19. Southern California, 6-2 (21): W vs. Minnesota, W vs. Utah, W vs. Syracuse, L at Arizona State, W at Arizona, W at Cal, W at Notre Dame, L at Stanford

20. Wisconsin, 6-2 (19): W vs. UNLV, W vs. Oregon State, W at Northern Illinois, W vs. South Dakota, W vs. #10 Nebraska, W vs. Indiana, L at #16 Michigan State, L at Ohio State

21. Georgia Tech, 7-2 (22): W vs. Western Carolina, W at MTSU, W vs. Kansas, W vs. North Carolina, W at North Carolina State, W vs. Maryland, L at Virginia, L at Miami (FL), W vs. #4 Clemson

22. Auburn, 6-3 (25): W vs. Utah State, W vs. #14 Mississippi State, L at Clemson, W vs. Florida Atlantic, W at #15 South Carolina, L at #11 Arkansas, W vs. Florida, L at #1 LSU, W vs. Ole Miss

23. Penn State, 8-1 (16): W at Indiana State, L vs. #8 Alabama, W at Temple, W vs. Eastern Michigan, W at Indiana, W vs. Iowa, W vs. Purdue, W at Northwestern, W vs. Illinois

24. Southern Miss, 7-1 (NR): W vs. Louisiana Tech, L at Marshall, W at SE Louisiana, W at Virginia, W vs. Rice, W at Navy, W vs. SMU, W at UTEP

25. Texas, 5-2, (NR): W vs. Rice, W vs. BYU, W at UCLA, W at Iowa State, L vs. #2 Oklahoma, L vs. #9 Oklahoma State, W vs. Kansas


Cincinnati is ranked #23 and West Virginia is ranked #24 in the AP, but neither one of them has beaten anyone, and they were both demolished by SEC teams.


SEC Power Rankings:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Arkansas
4. South Carolina
5. Georgia
6. Auburn
7. Florida
7. Mississippi State
7. Vanderbilt
10. Tennessee
11. Ole Miss
12. Kentucky

Expansion: I say forget Missouri. They can't make up their mind about whether or not they really want to be in the SEC, then revoke the offer. I understand the reasons why Mike Slive wants Mizzu, but they are not a cultural fit and they would rather go to the Big Ten. I think the best choice in this situation is Virginia Tech. They make perfect sense to me. An SEC-like school, which ventures the SEC into a new state. No, they don't have two major markets like Missouri, but who cares. The problem is, I don't know if they could be taken away from the ACC. But if they could, I think that is the best choice to make since Florida and South Carolina are against adding Florida State and Clemson.


JB