Post by trnyerheadncough on Oct 29, 2014 13:09:31 GMT -5
"It's an art opening for this Dutch guy, Jost. His art sucks, but he used to sell me really good pot."
[pause]
"Oh, man, I'm so friggin' horny."
Welcome back sports fans. We’re in the home stretch. Fresh off the first ever playoff poll, we hit the ground running with 15 games that all should help lead the way to clarity as to who will make the final 4.
I have enough time this week, so I’ll give a few thoughts. But with Mark way out front, I don’t want to tip my hand….. "RAINDANCE!!!!"
THURSDAY GAME
FSU -4 at Louisville: Arguably the biggest game left on their schedule, the Noles have a serious Thursday night hurdle, where the Cardinals have been pretty stout, winning 16 of their last 18 home games. The two losses? UCF by 3 last year, and UConn by 3 in 2012. But this here is a different animal, and FSU is the best team they’ve played in quite a long time. Additionally, it should be noted that although Louisville is 6-2, without a doubt the two best teams they’ve played? Virginia and Clemson. Record against them 2? 0-2.
Granted, both of those were on the road, and both were games that they had a chance to win down the stretch, and given FSU’s woes on defense (and their own strength on offense), this will undoubtedly be a tight game down the stretch.
That said, love him or hate him, you simply cannot deny that Jameis Winston is a winner, and as long as he’s under center, you have to give the Noles the nod over just about anyone in the nation, certainly over Louisville. It wouldn’t shock me to see this come down to a kick, and FSU has the best in the nation there as well, but as usual, I don’t pick against my Noles, no matter what my head might say.
SATURDAY GAMES
Auburn +2 ½ at Mississippi: Well, it took a few games, but the ugly Bo Wallace finally made an appearance last Saturday, throwing a head scratching interception in Tiger Stadium to lose the game. Now the Rebels are back in the friendly confines of Oxford, where they welcome an Auburn team that was taken to the wire against a stubborn South Carolina squad.
To be honest, I’m not going to put much stock into that Auburn game. Like Georgia, the old ball coach just sort of has a way to get his team ready for those big games that you know he REALLY wants to win. He doesn’t win them all, but the Gamecocks come out inspired and fight tooth and nail to get it done.
Ole Miss, on the other hand, has to be kicking themselves. Hell, even the inept Gators were able to go double digits on the Tigers a few weeks ago. The sad part is, if it weren’t for 4 turnovers, the game would have been a lot uglier. I said early in the season that I wouldn’t want any part of LSU in mid-November. Looks like they’re rounding in to shape a little quicker than expected, but you had to think that at least 1 of those Mississippi teams was a touch overrated. I think the Rebs blinked first.
I’m taking Auburn and the points.
Arkansas +10 ½ at Mississippi State: And now, the other Mississippi school, the Bulldogs host the 4-4 Arkansas Razorbacks, who STILL don’t have a win in conference play for 2 years now. Still, you can’t discount the Arkansas heart, as they keep plugging away. At the same time though, a look into their schedule a bit more has me nervous about taking the underdogs…who, at first glance, were going to be my pick. TAMU is a farce, so I don’t bother with that one. The question becomes, which Arkansas team is the truth? The one that played Alabama to the wire…or the one that got the shit beaten out of it by Georgia, or lost handily to Auburn? Truth be told, I ain’t sure. I suppose you could chalk up the Georgia beatdown to a hangover coming off of the heartbreaker to Alabama.
If I’m not sure, I’ll go over to the other side. MSU should have failed to cover against Kentucky…hmm… I don’t know. I kind of think MSU starts getting a little tight with the pressure of being #1 in the inaugural CFP poll. Arkansas is due to come up and bite someone. I don’t know if they’ll win, but 10 ½ is enough to make me jump. Razorbacks
Georgia -13 v. Florida: The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. At least it isn’t the world’s largest outdoor MASH unit, which it was last year. Georgia is rolling, and is doing so without Todd Gurley. Florida is reeling, losing 3 of their last 4 (and could have…and maybe should have…lost that 4th to Tennessee), but that defense is still that defense, and they’ve finally gone ahead and made Harris the starter. It’s gotta be an upgrade to Driskel, but the kid’s still a true frosh, and he’s going to make mistakes against Pruitt’s defense, which attacks with different blitzes and disguised coverage.
Florida’s pride is on the line, and Georgia is one of the teams they hate most of all, but I don’t see that pride carrying over for the whole game. I expect it to be close for the first half, but Georgia is a whole lot better than Florida is, and the Gators fade down the stretch of this game. Georgia.
Stanford +7 ½ at Oregon: For the first time in half a decade, it seems like, this game is not one of those “OH MY GOD, WE’VE GOTTA TUNE IN FOR THIS ONE!!!” kinda games. Stanford has 3 losses. All of them to the only ranked teams they’ve played. Now here’s a 4th, which they’re going on the road, who needs to be railroading teams to impress them enough to get into the playoff. This isn’t the Stanford team of last year, the year before, or the year before. The defense is good, and although the half point scares me some, I’ll lay it because I think Oregon is too good at home. Ducks.
Oklahoma State +14 ½ at Kansas State: This game was a lot more attractive two weeks ago before the Cowboys have scored 9 and 10 points respectively in their last two games, while at the same time giving up 42 and 34 points, respectively. Daxx Garman may throw a pretty long ball, but if it is to the other team….that’s bad. He’s thrown 4 picks in the last 2 games.
Kansas State, on the other hand, has come on strong, surprisingly blanking Texas after that huge win in Norman. One team going in one direction, the other team going in the other direction. Again, the half point scares me, but I’ll take the Wildcats.
Virginia +3 ½ at Georgia Tech: The Ramblin’ Wreck is at 6-2, with the 2 losses being heartbreakers to North Carolina and Duke. Virginia is 4-4, and although they play with heart, they simply don’t have the horses. Both of these teams are playing to hold on to a shred of hope at the coastal crown (especially now as Duke has beaten them both), but we needed another ACC game, and FSU has taken firm control of the Atlantic.
I’ll take Georgia Tech and lay the points.
Arizona +6 ½ at UCLA: I have one question. What is the over on this game??? Number 12, getting 6 ½ points against UCLA? Yeah, maybe it’ll be a track meet. If it is, I like the Wildcats’ chances, as they seem to pull out these track meets in game after game. Plus, I think UCLA is vastly overrated. Arizona.
Utah +5 ½ at Arizona State: Some pretty doggone good games in the PAC-12 this weekend. Bottom line, both of these teams just find a way to win. Utah might be the least talked about 1 loss team in the land, but they play solid defense and get it done. Arizona State has really started to play some good football, with the defense catching up to that offense. Sun Devils.
TCU -5 ½ at WVU: I’m not going to lie. Outside of FSU, the team that I find myself most pulling for is West by god Virginia. I’m happy for Clint Trickett, who has having an outstanding season, and the Mountaineers are fun to watch as they can score on anyone and everyone. This week, it’s the horny toads who bring their own fireworks to Morgantown. What is the over on this game?!?!? Just looked…72 ½. That isn’t going to be enough, IMO.
Something special goes on in Morgantown. TCU is playing only its third road game this year, and one of the first 2 was at SMU. The other was at Baylor, where they lost. If WVU can get into another track meet, I like their chances. Mountaineers.
Maryland +3 ½ at Penn State: This week in the Big 10 is pretty weak. Penn State came up a little short in overtime against the Buckeyes. Maryland is 5-3, but hasn’t played particularly well away from home. Did Penn State blow their wad? Doubtful… Penn State.
Northwestern +4 at Iowa: And….boredom sets in. Last 4. Northwestern has dropped 2 in a row after showing signs of life. Iowa has had a somewhat disappointing season, but is still a solid football team. I’ll take the home team and give the points. Iowa.
Duke +3 ½ at Pitt: Duke…quietly 6-1 and ranked again. Getting points. I like the Blue Devils.
USC -7 at Washington State: Strange things happen on the Paloose. Wazzu State.
Tennessee +7 at South Carolina: South Carolina can score a lot of points. Definitely more than the Volunteeers. Gamecocks.
Good luck all. "WHITE CHOCOLATE!!!!"
[/b][/b]
[pause]
"Oh, man, I'm so friggin' horny."
Welcome back sports fans. We’re in the home stretch. Fresh off the first ever playoff poll, we hit the ground running with 15 games that all should help lead the way to clarity as to who will make the final 4.
I have enough time this week, so I’ll give a few thoughts. But with Mark way out front, I don’t want to tip my hand….. "RAINDANCE!!!!"
THURSDAY GAME
FSU -4 at Louisville: Arguably the biggest game left on their schedule, the Noles have a serious Thursday night hurdle, where the Cardinals have been pretty stout, winning 16 of their last 18 home games. The two losses? UCF by 3 last year, and UConn by 3 in 2012. But this here is a different animal, and FSU is the best team they’ve played in quite a long time. Additionally, it should be noted that although Louisville is 6-2, without a doubt the two best teams they’ve played? Virginia and Clemson. Record against them 2? 0-2.
Granted, both of those were on the road, and both were games that they had a chance to win down the stretch, and given FSU’s woes on defense (and their own strength on offense), this will undoubtedly be a tight game down the stretch.
That said, love him or hate him, you simply cannot deny that Jameis Winston is a winner, and as long as he’s under center, you have to give the Noles the nod over just about anyone in the nation, certainly over Louisville. It wouldn’t shock me to see this come down to a kick, and FSU has the best in the nation there as well, but as usual, I don’t pick against my Noles, no matter what my head might say.
SATURDAY GAMES
Auburn +2 ½ at Mississippi: Well, it took a few games, but the ugly Bo Wallace finally made an appearance last Saturday, throwing a head scratching interception in Tiger Stadium to lose the game. Now the Rebels are back in the friendly confines of Oxford, where they welcome an Auburn team that was taken to the wire against a stubborn South Carolina squad.
To be honest, I’m not going to put much stock into that Auburn game. Like Georgia, the old ball coach just sort of has a way to get his team ready for those big games that you know he REALLY wants to win. He doesn’t win them all, but the Gamecocks come out inspired and fight tooth and nail to get it done.
Ole Miss, on the other hand, has to be kicking themselves. Hell, even the inept Gators were able to go double digits on the Tigers a few weeks ago. The sad part is, if it weren’t for 4 turnovers, the game would have been a lot uglier. I said early in the season that I wouldn’t want any part of LSU in mid-November. Looks like they’re rounding in to shape a little quicker than expected, but you had to think that at least 1 of those Mississippi teams was a touch overrated. I think the Rebs blinked first.
I’m taking Auburn and the points.
Arkansas +10 ½ at Mississippi State: And now, the other Mississippi school, the Bulldogs host the 4-4 Arkansas Razorbacks, who STILL don’t have a win in conference play for 2 years now. Still, you can’t discount the Arkansas heart, as they keep plugging away. At the same time though, a look into their schedule a bit more has me nervous about taking the underdogs…who, at first glance, were going to be my pick. TAMU is a farce, so I don’t bother with that one. The question becomes, which Arkansas team is the truth? The one that played Alabama to the wire…or the one that got the shit beaten out of it by Georgia, or lost handily to Auburn? Truth be told, I ain’t sure. I suppose you could chalk up the Georgia beatdown to a hangover coming off of the heartbreaker to Alabama.
If I’m not sure, I’ll go over to the other side. MSU should have failed to cover against Kentucky…hmm… I don’t know. I kind of think MSU starts getting a little tight with the pressure of being #1 in the inaugural CFP poll. Arkansas is due to come up and bite someone. I don’t know if they’ll win, but 10 ½ is enough to make me jump. Razorbacks
Georgia -13 v. Florida: The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. At least it isn’t the world’s largest outdoor MASH unit, which it was last year. Georgia is rolling, and is doing so without Todd Gurley. Florida is reeling, losing 3 of their last 4 (and could have…and maybe should have…lost that 4th to Tennessee), but that defense is still that defense, and they’ve finally gone ahead and made Harris the starter. It’s gotta be an upgrade to Driskel, but the kid’s still a true frosh, and he’s going to make mistakes against Pruitt’s defense, which attacks with different blitzes and disguised coverage.
Florida’s pride is on the line, and Georgia is one of the teams they hate most of all, but I don’t see that pride carrying over for the whole game. I expect it to be close for the first half, but Georgia is a whole lot better than Florida is, and the Gators fade down the stretch of this game. Georgia.
Stanford +7 ½ at Oregon: For the first time in half a decade, it seems like, this game is not one of those “OH MY GOD, WE’VE GOTTA TUNE IN FOR THIS ONE!!!” kinda games. Stanford has 3 losses. All of them to the only ranked teams they’ve played. Now here’s a 4th, which they’re going on the road, who needs to be railroading teams to impress them enough to get into the playoff. This isn’t the Stanford team of last year, the year before, or the year before. The defense is good, and although the half point scares me some, I’ll lay it because I think Oregon is too good at home. Ducks.
Oklahoma State +14 ½ at Kansas State: This game was a lot more attractive two weeks ago before the Cowboys have scored 9 and 10 points respectively in their last two games, while at the same time giving up 42 and 34 points, respectively. Daxx Garman may throw a pretty long ball, but if it is to the other team….that’s bad. He’s thrown 4 picks in the last 2 games.
Kansas State, on the other hand, has come on strong, surprisingly blanking Texas after that huge win in Norman. One team going in one direction, the other team going in the other direction. Again, the half point scares me, but I’ll take the Wildcats.
Virginia +3 ½ at Georgia Tech: The Ramblin’ Wreck is at 6-2, with the 2 losses being heartbreakers to North Carolina and Duke. Virginia is 4-4, and although they play with heart, they simply don’t have the horses. Both of these teams are playing to hold on to a shred of hope at the coastal crown (especially now as Duke has beaten them both), but we needed another ACC game, and FSU has taken firm control of the Atlantic.
I’ll take Georgia Tech and lay the points.
Arizona +6 ½ at UCLA: I have one question. What is the over on this game??? Number 12, getting 6 ½ points against UCLA? Yeah, maybe it’ll be a track meet. If it is, I like the Wildcats’ chances, as they seem to pull out these track meets in game after game. Plus, I think UCLA is vastly overrated. Arizona.
Utah +5 ½ at Arizona State: Some pretty doggone good games in the PAC-12 this weekend. Bottom line, both of these teams just find a way to win. Utah might be the least talked about 1 loss team in the land, but they play solid defense and get it done. Arizona State has really started to play some good football, with the defense catching up to that offense. Sun Devils.
TCU -5 ½ at WVU: I’m not going to lie. Outside of FSU, the team that I find myself most pulling for is West by god Virginia. I’m happy for Clint Trickett, who has having an outstanding season, and the Mountaineers are fun to watch as they can score on anyone and everyone. This week, it’s the horny toads who bring their own fireworks to Morgantown. What is the over on this game?!?!? Just looked…72 ½. That isn’t going to be enough, IMO.
Something special goes on in Morgantown. TCU is playing only its third road game this year, and one of the first 2 was at SMU. The other was at Baylor, where they lost. If WVU can get into another track meet, I like their chances. Mountaineers.
Maryland +3 ½ at Penn State: This week in the Big 10 is pretty weak. Penn State came up a little short in overtime against the Buckeyes. Maryland is 5-3, but hasn’t played particularly well away from home. Did Penn State blow their wad? Doubtful… Penn State.
Northwestern +4 at Iowa: And….boredom sets in. Last 4. Northwestern has dropped 2 in a row after showing signs of life. Iowa has had a somewhat disappointing season, but is still a solid football team. I’ll take the home team and give the points. Iowa.
Duke +3 ½ at Pitt: Duke…quietly 6-1 and ranked again. Getting points. I like the Blue Devils.
USC -7 at Washington State: Strange things happen on the Paloose. Wazzu State.
Tennessee +7 at South Carolina: South Carolina can score a lot of points. Definitely more than the Volunteeers. Gamecocks.
Good luck all. "WHITE CHOCOLATE!!!!"
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