I'm exhausted from moving all week, don't feel like writing a paragraph on each game. So I'll just pick the games...but I'll pick against the spread...
Mississippi State (+6.5) over Georgia
Arkansas (+2.5) over Texas A&M
LSU (-30.5) over Kentucky
Buffalo (+28.5) over Tennessee
Auburn (+10) over South Carolina
Alabama (-3.5) over Florida
Ole Miss (+3.5) over Fresno State
Clemson (+7) over Virginia Tech
Wisconsin (-9) over Nebraska
JB
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
MLB Playoffs
I placed this post for this date about a month ago, when I thought for sure the Braves would be in the playoffs. But then they managed to completely blow a 10 game lead in the wild card. They played awful down the stretch...it's difficult to see that happen when you've been watching them play all spring and summer, then they blow it at the end of the season. But I guess the Red Sox also collapsing, even worse, softens the blow a little...at least the Braves weren't the only team. Plus the Braves would've been swept in the first series anyway the way they were playing.
I go ahead with my predictions anyway:
NLDS
Phillies over Cardinals in 5 games
Brewers over Diamondbacks in 4 games
ALDS
Rangers over Rays in 4 games
Yankees over Tigers in 4 games
NLCS
Phillies over Brewers in 6 games
ALCS
Rangers over Yankees in 7 games
World Series
Rangers over Phillies in 6 games
JB
I go ahead with my predictions anyway:
NLDS
Phillies over Cardinals in 5 games
Brewers over Diamondbacks in 4 games
ALDS
Rangers over Rays in 4 games
Yankees over Tigers in 4 games
NLCS
Phillies over Brewers in 6 games
ALCS
Rangers over Yankees in 7 games
World Series
Rangers over Phillies in 6 games
JB
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
If I Were in Charge of the Big 12...
I don't really care what happens to the Big 12. Whether they stay a conference or not, I really only care about the SEC. But if I were in charge of the Big 12 I think there is something I'd be pushing...and that's major conference expansion.
As we all know, the Big 12 is hanging by a thread and just staying together would be an accomplishment. But since the PAC 12 has denied Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech, the conference still has life. Texas A&M has officially joined the SEC, so they now have 9 teams in the Big 12. I would make a strong push towards 16 teams if I were them.
Everyone is talking about four 16-team super-conferences. The Big 12 should be making it's way towards becoming the first. It's easy to me. You've already got nine. Add West Virginia, Cincinnati and Louisville since the Big East is falling apart. That makes 12. Then add TCU, Boise State, BYU and SMU. Then go ahead and change the name to the Big 16. This would also serve as a way to include TCU and especially Boise State into the BCS.
We all know Texas is the main problem. While the PAC 12 says they didn't admit those four teams because of academics, the real problem is the Longhorn Network. Many people say Texas has strapped itself financially alongside having the Longhorn Network so they can't live without. If this is too much of a sticking point then drop Texas and add Houston to the Big 16. This would still be a strong league, most likely stronger than the ACC. Now of course, if Texas were to drop the Longhorn Network to keep the Big 12 together, chances are OU, TT, and OSU would pack their bags again for the PAC 12 to form the PAC 16...and this is moot. But I don't think Texas is going to drop it.
The assumption is that the four 16-team super-conferences will break off to form a division separate from the current FBS. If this Big 16 were to happen, it would give us five solid conferences, and the one with the least would be the ACC. Fearing a fall into obscurity Florida State, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Miami and maybe N.C. State try to join the SEC. The SEC accepts FSU, VT, and Clemson, but reject GA Tech and Miami since their big city location doesn't fit with the style of SEC schools.
So that makes two 16-team super-conferences (Big 16 & SEC), two 12-team conferences (PAC 12 & Big Ten) and one 14-team conference (ACC - I think they add UConn, Rutgers, and South Florida after losing those three schools to the SEC). Notre Dame and possibly Texas are left as independents. The BCS now realigns and only considers the SEC, Big 16, PAC 12, and Big 12 BCS conferences with a caveat for the ACC and Notre Dame/Texas that if they are in the Top 5 they are invited in. The Rose Bowl goes back to the traditional Big Ten vs. PAC 12 champ. The Sugar Bowl and Fiesta Bowl rotate hosting the SEC vs. Big 16 champ. The ACC Champ or Notre Dame/Texas plays the top at-large in the Orange Bowl. Recalculate the polls after the BCS and have the BCS Title Game at one of the four locations like there is now.
Example using current rankings:
Rose Bowl: #6 Stanford vs. #7 Wisconsin
Sugar Bowl: #1 LSU vs. #2 Oklahoma
Orange Bowl: #3 Alabama vs. #4 Boise State
Fiesta Bowl: #5 Oklahoma State vs. #8 Nebraska
*Maybe 1 in 5, or 1 in 4 years would have #1 vs. #2 facing each other like this...so maybe a rule is put in place so that if after these games are played there is a unanimous #1 (95% of the vote--save the doufus trying to create a game) then that's it, a champion is crowned. In this case it would be LSU (because no way OU could beat them). This isn't perfect, but like I've always said, I'm for a playoff...but this is better than nothing.
Recap: (2) 16-team, (1) 14-team, and (2) 12-team conferences, plus (2) independents makes 72 Division 1-A schools. If you're not in one of those conferences then you are in Division 1-AA.
JB
As we all know, the Big 12 is hanging by a thread and just staying together would be an accomplishment. But since the PAC 12 has denied Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech, the conference still has life. Texas A&M has officially joined the SEC, so they now have 9 teams in the Big 12. I would make a strong push towards 16 teams if I were them.
Everyone is talking about four 16-team super-conferences. The Big 12 should be making it's way towards becoming the first. It's easy to me. You've already got nine. Add West Virginia, Cincinnati and Louisville since the Big East is falling apart. That makes 12. Then add TCU, Boise State, BYU and SMU. Then go ahead and change the name to the Big 16. This would also serve as a way to include TCU and especially Boise State into the BCS.
We all know Texas is the main problem. While the PAC 12 says they didn't admit those four teams because of academics, the real problem is the Longhorn Network. Many people say Texas has strapped itself financially alongside having the Longhorn Network so they can't live without. If this is too much of a sticking point then drop Texas and add Houston to the Big 16. This would still be a strong league, most likely stronger than the ACC. Now of course, if Texas were to drop the Longhorn Network to keep the Big 12 together, chances are OU, TT, and OSU would pack their bags again for the PAC 12 to form the PAC 16...and this is moot. But I don't think Texas is going to drop it.
The assumption is that the four 16-team super-conferences will break off to form a division separate from the current FBS. If this Big 16 were to happen, it would give us five solid conferences, and the one with the least would be the ACC. Fearing a fall into obscurity Florida State, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Miami and maybe N.C. State try to join the SEC. The SEC accepts FSU, VT, and Clemson, but reject GA Tech and Miami since their big city location doesn't fit with the style of SEC schools.
So that makes two 16-team super-conferences (Big 16 & SEC), two 12-team conferences (PAC 12 & Big Ten) and one 14-team conference (ACC - I think they add UConn, Rutgers, and South Florida after losing those three schools to the SEC). Notre Dame and possibly Texas are left as independents. The BCS now realigns and only considers the SEC, Big 16, PAC 12, and Big 12 BCS conferences with a caveat for the ACC and Notre Dame/Texas that if they are in the Top 5 they are invited in. The Rose Bowl goes back to the traditional Big Ten vs. PAC 12 champ. The Sugar Bowl and Fiesta Bowl rotate hosting the SEC vs. Big 16 champ. The ACC Champ or Notre Dame/Texas plays the top at-large in the Orange Bowl. Recalculate the polls after the BCS and have the BCS Title Game at one of the four locations like there is now.
Example using current rankings:
Rose Bowl: #6 Stanford vs. #7 Wisconsin
Sugar Bowl: #1 LSU vs. #2 Oklahoma
Orange Bowl: #3 Alabama vs. #4 Boise State
Fiesta Bowl: #5 Oklahoma State vs. #8 Nebraska
*Maybe 1 in 5, or 1 in 4 years would have #1 vs. #2 facing each other like this...so maybe a rule is put in place so that if after these games are played there is a unanimous #1 (95% of the vote--save the doufus trying to create a game) then that's it, a champion is crowned. In this case it would be LSU (because no way OU could beat them). This isn't perfect, but like I've always said, I'm for a playoff...but this is better than nothing.
Recap: (2) 16-team, (1) 14-team, and (2) 12-team conferences, plus (2) independents makes 72 Division 1-A schools. If you're not in one of those conferences then you are in Division 1-AA.
JB
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
The Polls - Week 5
1. LSU, 4-0 (1): W vs. #3 Oregon, W vs. Northwestern State, W at #16 Mississippi State, W at #19 West Virginia
2. Oklahoma, 3-0 (2): W vs. #24 Tusla, W at #14 Florida State, W vs. Missouri
3. Stanford, 3-0 (6): W vs. San Jose St., W at Duke, W at Arizona
4. Alabama, 4-0 (3): W vs. Kent State, W at Penn State, W vs. North Texas, W vs. #8 Arkansas
5. Wisconsin, 4-0 (7): W vs. UNLV, W vs. Oregon State, W at Northern Illinois, W vs. South Dakota
6. Boise State, 3-0 (4): W at Georgia, W at Toledo, W vs. Tulsa
7. Oklahoma State, 4-0 (5): W vs. LA-Lafayette, W vs. Arizona, W vs. Tulsa, W at #11 Texas A&M
8. Oregon, 3-1 (9): L vs. #4 LSU, W vs. #9 Nevada, W vs. Missouri State, W at Arizona
9. Virginia Tech, 4-0 (11): W vs. App. State, W at East Carolina, W vs. Arkansas State, W at Marshall
10. Nebraska, 4-0 (8): W vs. Chattanooga, W vs. Fresno State, W vs. Washington, W at Wyoming
11. Clemson, 4-0 (13): W vs. Troy, W vs. Wofford, W vs. #1 Auburn, W vs. #14 Florida State
12. Baylor, 3-0 (17): W vs. #2 TCU, W vs. Stephen F. Austin, W vs. Rice
13. Texas A&M, 2-1 (14): W vs. SMU, W vs. Idaho, L vs. #9 Oklahoma State
14. Auburn, 3-1 (NR): W vs. Utah State, W vs. #14 Mississippi State, L at Clemson, W vs. Florida Atlantic
15. South Carolina, 4-0 (10): W vs. East Carolina, W at Georgia, W vs. Navy, W vs. Vanderbilt
16. Arkansas, 3-1 (18): W vs. Missouri State, W vs. New Mexico, W vs. Troy, L at #6 Alabama
17. Florida, 4-0 (12): W vs. Florida Atlantic, W vs. UAB, W vs. Tennessee, W at Kentucky
18. TCU, 2-1 (20): L at Baylor, W at Air Force, W vs. LA-Monroe, W vs. Portland State
19. Texas, 3-0 (17): W vs. Rice, W vs. BYU, W at UCLA
20. Michigan, 4-0 (19): W vs. Western Michigan, W vs. Notre Dame, W vs. Eastern Michigan, W vs. San Diego State
21. South Florida, 4-0 (16): W at Notre Dame, W vs. Ball State, W vs. Florida A&M, W vs. UTEP
22. Georgia Tech, 4-0 (21): W vs. Western Carolina, W at MTSU, W vs. Kansas, W vs. North Carolina
23. Illinois, 4-0 (24): W vs. Arkansas State, W vs. South Dakota State, W vs. #24 Arizona State, W vs. Western Michigan
24. Arizona State, 3-1 (25): W vs. UC Davis, W vs. #17 Missouri, L at Illinois, W at #25 Southern California
25. West Virginia, 3-1 (22): W vs. Marshall, W vs. Norfolk State, W at #21 Maryland, L vs. #1 LSU
Teams that are currently ranked, but wouldn't make this poll are: Florida State (23).
How about Tulsa's schedule so far this year? They are 1-3, losing to current AP #2 Oklahoma, #5 Oklahoma State, and #4 Boise State...all on the road. They should be well tested for their upcoming CUSA schedule (which they are already 1-0 beating Tulane 31-3).
SEC Power Rankings:
1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Florida
4. South Carolina
5. Arkansas
6. Auburn
7. Tennessee
8. Georgia
9. Mississippi State
10. Vanderbilt
12. Ole Miss
12. Kentucky
JB
2. Oklahoma, 3-0 (2): W vs. #24 Tusla, W at #14 Florida State, W vs. Missouri
3. Stanford, 3-0 (6): W vs. San Jose St., W at Duke, W at Arizona
4. Alabama, 4-0 (3): W vs. Kent State, W at Penn State, W vs. North Texas, W vs. #8 Arkansas
5. Wisconsin, 4-0 (7): W vs. UNLV, W vs. Oregon State, W at Northern Illinois, W vs. South Dakota
6. Boise State, 3-0 (4): W at Georgia, W at Toledo, W vs. Tulsa
7. Oklahoma State, 4-0 (5): W vs. LA-Lafayette, W vs. Arizona, W vs. Tulsa, W at #11 Texas A&M
8. Oregon, 3-1 (9): L vs. #4 LSU, W vs. #9 Nevada, W vs. Missouri State, W at Arizona
9. Virginia Tech, 4-0 (11): W vs. App. State, W at East Carolina, W vs. Arkansas State, W at Marshall
10. Nebraska, 4-0 (8): W vs. Chattanooga, W vs. Fresno State, W vs. Washington, W at Wyoming
11. Clemson, 4-0 (13): W vs. Troy, W vs. Wofford, W vs. #1 Auburn, W vs. #14 Florida State
12. Baylor, 3-0 (17): W vs. #2 TCU, W vs. Stephen F. Austin, W vs. Rice
13. Texas A&M, 2-1 (14): W vs. SMU, W vs. Idaho, L vs. #9 Oklahoma State
14. Auburn, 3-1 (NR): W vs. Utah State, W vs. #14 Mississippi State, L at Clemson, W vs. Florida Atlantic
15. South Carolina, 4-0 (10): W vs. East Carolina, W at Georgia, W vs. Navy, W vs. Vanderbilt
16. Arkansas, 3-1 (18): W vs. Missouri State, W vs. New Mexico, W vs. Troy, L at #6 Alabama
17. Florida, 4-0 (12): W vs. Florida Atlantic, W vs. UAB, W vs. Tennessee, W at Kentucky
18. TCU, 2-1 (20): L at Baylor, W at Air Force, W vs. LA-Monroe, W vs. Portland State
19. Texas, 3-0 (17): W vs. Rice, W vs. BYU, W at UCLA
20. Michigan, 4-0 (19): W vs. Western Michigan, W vs. Notre Dame, W vs. Eastern Michigan, W vs. San Diego State
21. South Florida, 4-0 (16): W at Notre Dame, W vs. Ball State, W vs. Florida A&M, W vs. UTEP
22. Georgia Tech, 4-0 (21): W vs. Western Carolina, W at MTSU, W vs. Kansas, W vs. North Carolina
23. Illinois, 4-0 (24): W vs. Arkansas State, W vs. South Dakota State, W vs. #24 Arizona State, W vs. Western Michigan
24. Arizona State, 3-1 (25): W vs. UC Davis, W vs. #17 Missouri, L at Illinois, W at #25 Southern California
25. West Virginia, 3-1 (22): W vs. Marshall, W vs. Norfolk State, W at #21 Maryland, L vs. #1 LSU
Teams that are currently ranked, but wouldn't make this poll are: Florida State (23).
How about Tulsa's schedule so far this year? They are 1-3, losing to current AP #2 Oklahoma, #5 Oklahoma State, and #4 Boise State...all on the road. They should be well tested for their upcoming CUSA schedule (which they are already 1-0 beating Tulane 31-3).
SEC Power Rankings:
1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Florida
4. South Carolina
5. Arkansas
6. Auburn
7. Tennessee
8. Georgia
9. Mississippi State
10. Vanderbilt
12. Ole Miss
12. Kentucky
JB
Monday, September 26, 2011
BBQ Chicken
Every one can grill some chicken and brush some BBQ sauce on them. But how about making a homeade BBQ sauce that taste unique but delicious.
Take out a sauce pan and put in:
1 cup of butter
1 tablesppon of Worcestershire sauce
some lemon juice
about 5 shakes of the following: onion salt, pepper, accent, poultry seasoning, paprika (if you don't have one of these, just leave it out).
Simmer all those ingredients together on low heat for about 5 minutes. Remove it from the heat and add one egg, then whisk it. Put it back on low heat and baste the chicken while you are grilling it...all the while keeping the sauce on low heat (either on the stove or sitting on top of the grill).
Then you're done, and it should be really good.
JB
Take out a sauce pan and put in:
1 cup of butter
1 tablesppon of Worcestershire sauce
some lemon juice
about 5 shakes of the following: onion salt, pepper, accent, poultry seasoning, paprika (if you don't have one of these, just leave it out).
Simmer all those ingredients together on low heat for about 5 minutes. Remove it from the heat and add one egg, then whisk it. Put it back on low heat and baste the chicken while you are grilling it...all the while keeping the sauce on low heat (either on the stove or sitting on top of the grill).
Then you're done, and it should be really good.
JB
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Third Day
My Top 10 Third Day songs:
10. "Consuming Fire", 2000
9. "Mountain of God", 2005
8. "Call My Name", 2009
7. "City on a Hill", 2000
6. "I've Always Loved You", 1999
5. "Theif", 1996
4. "Carry My Cross", 2005
3. "May You Wonders Never Cease", 2003
2. "Love Song", 1996
1. "Offering", 2003
JB
10. "Consuming Fire", 2000
9. "Mountain of God", 2005
8. "Call My Name", 2009
7. "City on a Hill", 2000
6. "I've Always Loved You", 1999
5. "Theif", 1996
4. "Carry My Cross", 2005
3. "May You Wonders Never Cease", 2003
2. "Love Song", 1996
1. "Offering", 2003
JB
Friday, September 23, 2011
Week 4 Preview
Georgia at Ole Miss - Hot Seat Bowl! Wow, these two head coaches...and coaching staffs are feeling the pressure right now. I would say Houston Nutt is feeling it a little more, at least UGA is improving week-to-week. The Bulldogs are 8.5 point favorites in this one, and for good reason...the Rebs suck. Nutt will have to come up with his best speech this week after the alumni and fans are calling for not only his head but the entire Ole Miss administration. They looked awful at Vandy, and I don't know why they'd be any better here. Georgia has been riddled with injuries, and if it were any other team in the SEC -leave Kentucky- I'd say they lose this week. But the Dawgs have Aaron Murrey and rising star Isiah Crowell, and even behind a patchwork O-line and air at linebacker, I think Georgia wins here. It might be real close, and it might be a blowout.
Arkansas at Alabama - This is the big one this week. I was surprised to see such as big spread in this game at Bama -11.5. I think the game will be closer than than, as evidence my picking this game to be the 2nd best SEC game all year. I had picked Arkansas to win it, but then switched my pick when Knile Davis went down--still I think this game is close. The big matchup for me is Arkansas' WRs vs. Alabama's secondary. Tyler Wilson has thrown for over 300 yards in each game so far, and he's got three very talented receivers...which is huge, giving him three options for guys to get open against such a strong defense--a luxury most QBs don't have. Alabama's defense has not been tested yet. The Penn State was nothing more than a road game in front of a lot of people, they could not match up with the Tide at all. I think this is a tight game all the way down to the wire, and could go the Hogs way if they can get a defensive turnover on Bama's young QB(s). But since it's it Tuscaloosa, I'll go with Alabama to win the game.
Florida at Kentucky - Blow out, Gators are telling jokes on the sideline before the half.
Vanderbilt at South Carolina - This one is very interesting considering USC left all their games in doubt until late or very very late in the game. Vandy is hot and 3-0 just like the Gamecocks but South Carolina has more talent at every position (maybe equal at cornerback) so they should win the game, especially at home.
Florida Atlantic at Auburn - Auburn really needs this game at this exact point, that or a week off. MSU ran 97 plays on them, then Clemson ran 91. Clemson should send MSU a thank you card for tiring down an already weak defense. But FAU is horrible and Auburn will win this game big and catch up on plenty of rest before entering October--one of the most brutal months anyone has ever played.
Louisiana Tech at Mississippi State - State has stood toe-to-toe with some tough competition and been knocked down a couple times...so this is when Mickey gives Rocky some easy fights to get his confidence back up, get on the winning track. MSU gets up big, LA Tech has a decent offense so they make the score respectable, but good win for the Dawgs.
LSU at West Virginia - LSU has already beaten two ranked teams away from Death Valley, so why wouldn't they win this one? They are better than WVU at every position other than QB, but when you've got a defense like they've got, you can compensate for that. LSU will wear-you-out. West Virginia may be ill about being denied by the SEC this week...but...it's not enough. LSU wins by 14.
JB
Arkansas at Alabama - This is the big one this week. I was surprised to see such as big spread in this game at Bama -11.5. I think the game will be closer than than, as evidence my picking this game to be the 2nd best SEC game all year. I had picked Arkansas to win it, but then switched my pick when Knile Davis went down--still I think this game is close. The big matchup for me is Arkansas' WRs vs. Alabama's secondary. Tyler Wilson has thrown for over 300 yards in each game so far, and he's got three very talented receivers...which is huge, giving him three options for guys to get open against such a strong defense--a luxury most QBs don't have. Alabama's defense has not been tested yet. The Penn State was nothing more than a road game in front of a lot of people, they could not match up with the Tide at all. I think this is a tight game all the way down to the wire, and could go the Hogs way if they can get a defensive turnover on Bama's young QB(s). But since it's it Tuscaloosa, I'll go with Alabama to win the game.
Florida at Kentucky - Blow out, Gators are telling jokes on the sideline before the half.
Vanderbilt at South Carolina - This one is very interesting considering USC left all their games in doubt until late or very very late in the game. Vandy is hot and 3-0 just like the Gamecocks but South Carolina has more talent at every position (maybe equal at cornerback) so they should win the game, especially at home.
Florida Atlantic at Auburn - Auburn really needs this game at this exact point, that or a week off. MSU ran 97 plays on them, then Clemson ran 91. Clemson should send MSU a thank you card for tiring down an already weak defense. But FAU is horrible and Auburn will win this game big and catch up on plenty of rest before entering October--one of the most brutal months anyone has ever played.
Louisiana Tech at Mississippi State - State has stood toe-to-toe with some tough competition and been knocked down a couple times...so this is when Mickey gives Rocky some easy fights to get his confidence back up, get on the winning track. MSU gets up big, LA Tech has a decent offense so they make the score respectable, but good win for the Dawgs.
LSU at West Virginia - LSU has already beaten two ranked teams away from Death Valley, so why wouldn't they win this one? They are better than WVU at every position other than QB, but when you've got a defense like they've got, you can compensate for that. LSU will wear-you-out. West Virginia may be ill about being denied by the SEC this week...but...it's not enough. LSU wins by 14.
JB
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