2013 SEC Predictions

EAST

1. South Carolina, 11-1 (7-1) - I think the Gamecocks get back to Atlanta. Their schedule sets up a little better this year as Arkansas appears to be down and that's a game they always struggle in. This isn't a spectacular team, but they are solid and have been used to winning.

2. Florida, 10-2 (6-2) - The Gators are good once again, although I think they take a slight step down on defense, with a slight uptick on offense. They win the world's largest outdoor cocktail party (because jawja ain't winnin' 3 in a row) giving them the tie-breaker for 2nd place.

3. Georgia, 10-2 (6-2) - UGA has done to them what they did to USC the last two years - win that matchup only to go on to lose two conference games and be overtaken in the standings. The schedule is much more difficult this year.

4. Tennessee, 7-5 (4-4) - The Vols aren't back yet, just back to a bowl game. That game at Oregon is no good but the schedule isn't terribly difficult.

5. Vanderbilt, 7-5 (3-5) - Not really a step down. I think they win the opener vs. OM and go on to another solid season.

6. Missouri, 5-7 (1-7) - There is a good possibility they will upset one of the east teams this year, and maybe even OM who they have a off week to prepare for, but I can't pull the trigger on one. Gary Pinkel gets fired after the season.

7. Kentucky, 3-9 (0-8) - Plenty of excitement, not enough guns in Lexington.

WEST

1. Alabama, 12-0 (8-0) - The 2-time defending national champs have been given a cake walk to an undefeated season.

2. LSU, 10-2 (6-2) - The Tigahs have a brutal stretch from Week 4-8, so I've got them dropping one even though they are probably better than all the teams they play.

3. Texas A&M, 10-2 (6-2) - If Manziel plays I see them getting to 10 wins. The Bama game will be really tough though, and I don't give them much of a shot at Death Valley.

4. Mississippi State, 8-4 (4-4) - I don't see State beating both Oklahoma State and Auburn, or losing both either, so I went with a win over OSU. The Arkansas game was a tough call, but I gave the Dawgs the benefit of the doubt.

5. Ole Miss, 6-6 (3-5) - The first 7 games are so tough, it will be tough to get out better than 2-5.

6. Auburn, 6-6 (2-6) - They will be much better this year, lots of close games.

7. Arkansas, 3-9 (0-8) - I can't believe this is what I'm coming up with for the Hogs, but I am.

SEC Champ: South Carolina - just because I don't want Bama to win yet again.

Changes I Would Like to Make to College Football

There is something I've been advocating for several years, and that's a preseason college football game. I'd like to do away with the FCS game pretty much every team plays, and make it into an optional preseason game. I would've played it today, the Saturday before the traditional first weekend of the year - Labor Day weekend. If you win the game it counts towards your record. But you have to reach seven wins to get to a bowl, so 7-6 if you play the preseason game, 7-5 if you don't. I'm sure everyone would schedule the game because it would most likely sell out, providing more money, and of course some live action for the start of the year.

The next thing I'd do is branch off from the NCAA and create some type of College Football Association that only includes the power 5 conferences, and about 70-75 teams. And I'd play 10 conference games to create exciting games every weekend. For the other two I'd play a homecoming game against the lower division - which would essentially be what is now the Sun Belt/MAC/WAC, etc., and then a rotating game vs. another 'CFA' conference school for the opening weekend. It would be something cool that people would look forward to. Every year each conference would be slotted to play another conference; for example SEC #3 vs. PAC 12 #3, Big 12 #2 vs. Big Ten #2, etc. from the previous year. It would make for interesting one time only matchups.

And finally, an 8 team playoff. I do like the new 4-team, but as a fan the thought of a Saturday in December with 4 playoff games in it is too much to pass up. It would be awesome. And the way I'd do it is just create a formula or selection committee to pick the top 8 teams regardless of conference. The first round would be played on campus, and if you were in the top 8 and also won your conference you get to host - so that is the reward for a conference championship. From the semifinals on I'd just play it out like they are planning to with the 4-team playoff.

JB

Jason Heyward vs. Jeff Francoeur

This afternoon I was watching the Braves game when Jason Heyward was hit in the jaw with a pitch. He came out of the game and was spitting up blood, and as I write this I still don't know what happened for sure. But I do know I was nervous about the possibility of losing him. And I began to reflect on his career so far, how it hasn't quite been what was expected since he busted open the MLB gates back in 2010. That's 4 years in the big leagues - the same amount of time as one of my favorite Braves players, Jeff Francoeur played in Atlanta. So I thought, I'd like to see a comparison of the two - because Frenchy's time was often criticized while JHey not so much.

Heyward

In 522 games with 1853 at-bats: 72 HR, 233 RBI with a .260 average,.351 OB%, 43 SB and 286 runs.

Francoeur (who I wasn't aware is now playing with the Giants)

In 631 games with 2453 at-bats: 78 HR, 359 RBI with a .265 average, .308 OB%, 14 SB and 310 runs.


The first thing that jumps out is games played. Frenchy was much more durable than Jason has been. JHey has played in 85% of team games during his first 4 years, whereas Jeff played in 98% of team games (and that 2% was him getting benched for slumping).

So over roughly the same time period, Heyward has played in 109 less games but way less RBI (126). Francoeur's average is actually better as well. Heyward's considerably higher OB% has led to more runs per game played, .54 to Frenchy's .49, but there's not too much difference...at least not as much as you'd think considering 2010-present has been a much better stretch of Braves teams than 2005-2009.

And on top of all that, Francoeur won a Gold Glove in 2007, and was always among the league leaders in outfield assists.

When Francoeur left I was glad. He was so frustrating. And Heyward's patience at the plate seems to give him more leeway, but the numbers don't bear out that he's really that much better. Maybe there are saber-metrics that say Jason is better, I don't know and don't care. I'd probably rather have JHey in there for whatever reason. But it's interesting to see the comparison, after Atlanta had enough of the hometown hero, the guy who was supposed to be the next great Brave hasn't panned out much better so far.

The Kennedys

The Kennedys have always been interesting to me. I recently watched the mini-series, The Kennedys - it was pretty good.

The family of Joseph and Rose Kennedy is obviously the biggest interest as it includes so many famous and influential people, several that the miniseries didn't, or couldn't even touch on. It might have made a better TV show, or at least a one-season show that detailed more in-depth the family.

Joesph Kennedy - the father, he was the 1st chairman of the SEC and also ambassador to the UK under FDR. He got rich off the stock market, liquor trade and revamping Hollywood studios.

Rose Kennedy - lived to be 104 years old.

But the children's lives are what is so interesting - all of them had something unique in their lives, and they were struck with tragedy after tragedy.

Joesph, Jr. - he was being groomed to become the president by his father, but was killed in a plane crash during World War II at age 29, in 1944.

John - obviously the most famous Kennedy as he was President of the United States from 1961-1963 before being assassinated. He had four children, but the first was stillborn and the fourth only lived three days. JFK, Jr. died at age 38 in a plane crash. Caroline Kennedy is still living and is a lawyer.

Rosemary - she had mental health problems where she was unable to progress past the intelligence of a young child, then underwent a lobotomy at age 23 and was permanently incapacitated until she died at age 86.

Kathleen - she married some English royalty but against the wishes of her parents. He died in WWII, and then she later died in a plane crash in 1948, at age 28. She is rarely talked about, I guess because of her family's disapproval - her father is the only one to attend her funeral.

Eunice - she started what ended up becoming the Special Olympics in the 1960s. Her husband was the vice presidential candidate in 1972, and her daughter is Maria Shriver, who was married to actor/Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. She lived a full life, dying at age 88.

Patricia - she was considered one of the smartest of the bunch but never really did much other than travel and work in Hollywood.

Robert - Attorney General under JFK, then a senator from 1965 until his assassination in 1968 while running for president. He had 11 kids.

Jean - still living today, she was Ambassador to Ireland in the 1990s under President Clinton. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, which is the highest civilian honor.

Edward - known as "Ted", he was a lifelong politician, serving as a senator from Massachusetts from 1962 until his death in 2009 at age 77. He ran for president against incumbent Jimmy Carter in 1980 but lost in the primaries.

A Message for State Fans

In case you missed it, the NCAA has some questions about Ole Miss' recruitment of Chris Jones. Add this to the list of things that have and will come out regarding their football program, and violations of NCAA rules.

But I'm not here to talk about Ole Miss. I'm here to talk about State.

I've seen enough of MSU fans wallowing in self-pity over the past. What OM gets, what we don't. What Auburn gets. What we don't. How we shouldn't be slinging mud when we are the ones on probation.

Nonsense.

We are on probation because Ole Miss started it. It's too bad it has to be a war, but the shots have been fired - pick a side.

You are either in or out. You are for us or against us. Don't ride the fence. Put on maroon, or walk out the door. If you feel like they need to be defended, please keep your mouth shut.

Thank you to all the State fans who stand strong and are not swayed by the excuses and lies developed by those in Oxford. Thank you to all those who stand by your school through thick and thin, you are true maroon. For those not afraid to stand up to them, I applaud you.

This is going to get even uglier. Ole Miss danced with the devil and they will pay the price. Don't give in to their fabrications and propaganda.

This message is surely to be read by Rebs and picked apart. They will tell you I'm no good and I just make stuff up to hurt them. They will attack and attack and try to intimidate, wash and repeat every day. They are running scared because they are about to get caught. Stay strong, Dawgs, stay strong.

Hail State. All day, every day.

Chicken Fried Rice

A few months ago I was hungry but didn't have much in the fridge or pantry to eat. But I did have a piece of chicken, rice and soy sauce so I thought I'd try to figure out how to make chicken fried rice. What I discovered was it's like a po-boy in that you can just throw in a bunch of ingredients you have, and it's really good.

The great thing about chicken fried rice is that you don't have to have all these ingredients to still make it and it be good. And most of the main ingredients you probably have in your house all the time so at any point you should be good to go. I've bolded the ingredients you must have.

Ingredients

Vegetable oil

Boneless skinless chicken breast (take it out if you only want fried rice)

White rice

Egg

Onion

Garlic

Carrots

English peas

Green onion

Soy sauce

Butter

First boil the white rice. Cook it completely, and it should take about 15-20 minutes. While you are doing that put about two tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium to high heat. Cut the chicken breast into cubes and place into the skillet, cooking for about 2 minutes on each side.

Chop up about 1/4 of a large onion and 3-4 garlic cloves (you can just use the pre-chopped garlic if you want to). Place onion and garlic into the skillet after chicken is cooked. After a few minutes put the rice in the skillet and reduce to medium heat.

While you are doing all this, whisk an egg and place it in a small skillet. Allow it to cook like you would an omelet, and once it has turn the heat off and cut the egg into small pieces.

If you want to use carrots, English peas or green onion, then put them in along with the egg. Put in a teaspoon of butter continuing to stir.

Put in enough soy sauce so that the rice turns a nice light brown while you are stirring it. Once it has reached that color, pack down the rice on the skillet and let it sit for 2-3 minutes. Flip the rice and let it sit on the other side for 2-3 minutes - this will allow the rice to sear a little and just creates a better texture.

Yum Yum Sauce

If you are going to have chicken friend rice, you need some yum yum sauce to go with it. It's really simple.

Melt a teaspoon of butter in a bowl. Add a tablespoon of mayonnaise, 1/4 teaspoon of ketchup and 1/4 teaspoon of sugar and stir until you get a good consistency - you may need to add mayo or ketchup to get the right light pink color. I like to just pour that yum yum sauce all over the rice.

This recipe feeds 3 people, two if you're really hungry.

Long Layoff

I definitely haven't posted on here in a while. Having a baby has taken up most of my time, and I've spent my blogging time on M&WN and FWtCT.

Being a dad has been pretty good. I've gotten the hang of it pretty well. There's nothing like a baby smiling back at you. There also nothing like a baby crying non-stoop and you just want silence, ha. But that's life, things change and you move forward, wouldn't have it any other way.

I've got a few things I'd like to write this month, and I'll put my SEC predictions on here before the year starts.