Way to blow another one NCAA...

Image courtesy of John Bazemore - AP
I guess we won't be seeing any of this at noon on Saturday.

Here's a link to Tim Tucker's UGA Beat Blog on the AJC regarding the NCAA rejecting UGA's appeal of A.J. Green's case. The phrase "I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire" has never applied so much in my life. Well maybe that statement is completely true but still, anyone who can honestly say the NCAA is fair and is there to "protect student athletes" can honestly kiss my @$$. Yeah, I said it, the NCAA sucks. Marcel Dareus of Alabama gets two games for $1,800 in benefits, A.J. Green of Georgia gets 4 games for selling personal property for $1,000, then donating that $1,000 to charity BEFORE an NCAA penalty is even talked about.

Enough said...

Someone is arrested and it's not a UGA player! Score!!! and McPeters' week 3 picks

What a mug shot eh?!? Looks like Chris Rainey and Mel Gibson should have a conversation to see who's death threats are scarier. More on Rainey and Florida's chances in Knoxville later.

It's too late for Thursday night game again, darn. Overall record on the season is a modest 7 – 4. Admittedly, my disdain of the Big Ten got the best of me last week. I guess that’s what happens when you talk to a rabid Ohio State fan who swears on his life that Ohio State is the greatest team in the greatest conference that has ever played in the history of any sports at all. This guy would’ve put a hand on the bible and told me the Ohio State football team could’ve conquered Mount Olympus and that the mounting record of never losing to an in-state school is just amazing, something un heard of, something that even Tebow couldn’t live up to. This week should be a bit more sensible. On to the picks…

UGA vs Arkansas

I hope that Bobo will open up the offense for Murray. The kid is good and has put up pretty impressive numbers through two games this season. He’s 31 for 47 with 392 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, which if you saw the play, was a dropped pass directly in Kris Durham’s chest. He’s also scrambled 10 times for 27 yards and another touchdown. Not bad for a redshirt freshman who was such a huge “unknown”. Just my opinion, but the number 3 rated QB in a class should never be an “unknown”. At Florida, Brantley was the “heir apparent”. At Georgia, Murray was the “big if”. Thus far, Murray has outperformed expectations and the O-line and running game have been the bigger ifs.

On the other side of the field, Ryan Mallett is the best QB in the SEC, possibly the country. He’s thrown for 701 yards (49 of 67), 6 TDs and 2 INTs. Payton Manning wouldn’t mind those numbers through two games. Add in a passer rating of 184.6 and you’re looking at an elite QB. This is no surprise. Further, the Hogs are fielding four very capable running backs and an experienced group of wide receivers. This is going to be a huge test for both teams.

UGA, without AJ Green still can, and will, pull this one out. Not only do they have to win to have a realistic chance of staying in the SEC East title hunt, but UGA is playing at home, with a huge home crowd, and with both projected “starting backs” in the line-up. Here’s the deal, both teams have a lot to prove on defense. The difference is that UGA’s pass defense hasn’t been suspect and Arkansas hasn’t truly had a running back step up to claim the position. Mallett is going to be forced to pass and he’s going to have Deangelo Tyson and Justin Houston in his face all day. It’s hard to pass for 400 yards from your back and UGA’s defense should be adjusted enough to handle a one dimensional attack this week. Further, UGA still has the best special teams in the nation. Expect a game similar to last year’s shoot out and UGA pulling it out in the end.

Prediction – UGA 31 vs Ark 28

Texas vs Texas Tech

Tuberville is back to coaching and he has a very talented team at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are spreading the ball, as usual, in the passing game, but are finding a running game as well. Give Tubs a year or two to recruit a big time running back and they are well on their way to competing for a Big 12 title or two. For Texas, this is Garrett Gilbert’s game to step up. It’s his first true test on the road and it’s in a hostile environment. This rivalry is heated and though Texas is the higher ranked team, Texas Tech has a huge opportunity to pull off an upset. The Red Raiders have a rejuvenated coach, an extremely talented secondary, and a QB who understands Coach Tub’s system. If Texas Tech’s line can stop the D from putting Potts on his back too often, Texas Tech will pull this one out. Like the UGA ARK game, I expect this one to put some points on the board. TT will need it’s Defensive front to step up and hold down the Texas running game while the Red Raider secondary does its job, but I think the Red Raiders pull this one out and upset Texas at home.

Prediction – TT 42 vs Texas 28

UF vs Tennessee

In what may be one of the most interesting games of the week, a seemingly over hyped Florida team travels to Knoxville to take on a underappreciated Tennessee team that has a new coach, a new QB, and a new attitude. Derek Dooley is sure to fire up the Volunteers and let them know they are out to set the world on fire. With all of the off the field issues that both programs are having, Florida losing a talented Chris Rainey to his Mel Gibson-esque stalking incident, the lack of production from God’s Gift Part Deux, and the inability of the Florida O-Line to function without both Pouncey twins, it seems that the recipe for an upset is in the works. The problem is that Tennessee hasn’t exactly been the picture of consistency either. Lame Kiffin really left his stamp on the Tennessee program and unfortunately for Dooley, it is going to take time to overcome. If Florida doesn’t win this game, we may see another Brett Favre come from Urban Meyer. This game could go either way, but I’m not ready to pick a Tennessee team to win much of anything with all of the questions at hand. Despite another underwhelming performance from the heralded John Brantley, look for Jeff Demps and the Florida D to step up enough to win this one in Knoxville.

Prediction – UF 17 vs UT 7

Iowa vs Arizona

During week one, I made the statement that Iowa may be Ohio State’s toughest game this year. I’m not backing down from that statement yet. These corn-fed Midwestern boys are here to play and ready to put Iowa back on the map. Stanzi looks good thus far and Arizona doesn’t seem to have the team, nor the talent, to hang with a very tough and very well rounded Iowa team. Arizona has a program that is ranked at the moment, but look for that to change after the Iowa D suffocates Arizona’s Offense. Iowa may not run for 251 yards as they did last week, but Arizona is not the right team to stop the Hawkeyes rushing attack. Iowa wins at Arizona and climbs up the polls again this week.

Prediction – Iowa 21 vs Arizona 10

Clemson vs Auburn

The ACC had a terrible week last week. GA Tech and VA Tech, the two most stable programs in the ACC over the last 5 or so years both lost to what was considered cupcake opponents. Clemson may be 2 and 0, but they haven’t had to handle the likes of a QB as talented, nor as experienced as Cam Newton. The 6’6” monster is going to have a field day against this Clemson D. Auburn’s D is going to make Willie Parker wish he would’ve left Clemson early and Dabo Swinney is going to be welcomed to the SEC for 2010. Without C.J. Spiller, Clemson is not the team it was. I’m hoping for a good game, but I expect Newton to continue making his case for Heisman and showing why he and Michigan’s Denard Robinson are the two most explosive players in the college football game at the moment. Auburn rolls over Clemson at home.

Prediction – Auburn 31 vs Clemson 14

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A GREAT LOU HOLTZ IMPERSONATION

I hate redneck humor but this shit is pretty funny. The guy absolutely nails the impersonation of Lou Holtz. I wish Rick and Bubba would shut up so I can hear it better but it is what it is. ESPN needs to get this guy in studio right away. Play a little game on the real Holtz. Sit the fake Holtz next to Mark May and do one of those back and forth arguments and see how the real lisper reacts to it. Or you can get the fake Holtz and put him in Erin Andrews dressing room with a hand held camera and see what happens. Laughs and violence surely would ensue.

DEREK JETER HAS BEEN TAKING LESSONS FROM MINKA KELLY

I'm not going to hate on Derek Jeter too much. Sure he is a pussy for faking a hit by pitch last night in a crucial game against the Tampa Bay Rays and taking first base when he damn well knew he shouldn't have but the guy nails Minka Kelly on a regular basis.

Actually scratch that. I fucking hate Derek Jeter. The guy must be Captain Clutch if he can slide in safely with her every night.

In case you were wondering Jeter did score after Curtis Granderson hit a homerun in the next at-bat. Too bad the Rays came back to win and take sole possession of first place in the AL East. Since the Orioles have been out of it since 1998 and the Braves are having their usual September shutdown and more than likely will miss the playoffs in Bobby's last season I will be rooting for the Rays to win it all this postseason. Gotta root for the little guys who play great fundamental baseball and rely on pitchers who don't make $15 million plus a year like the Yankees starting rotation.

KYLE BUSCH HAS A LOT OF MONEY...

Because there is no way he lands his fiance Samantha Sarcinella without a lot of green in his pocket. You be the judge...


Apparently this Busch guy is a very successful Nascar driver which means he goes really fast and doesn't take right turns. He also knows how to wine and dine a female. Their first date was at a TGI Fridays. Very romantic for a Nascar driver I may say. I take it Chili's had a 15 minute wait.



Oh yeah, she's melting right in his pocket. Better have a prenup buddy.

SOUTH CAROLINA RB MARCUS LATTIMORE INVESTIGATED FOR DAWG ABUSE

You can't make up shit like this Georgia fans. Oh wait, yes you can.

COLUMBIA—The Humane Society of Georgia today released a statement in reaction to the news that Marcus Lattimore, Running Back of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, is being investigated for alleged animal abuse.

Yesterday, a search warrant was issued for a property owned by Lattimore, in Columbia,SC. According to reports, law enforcement authorities discovered dawgs in a state of apparent confusion, anger, and pain. The Georgia Animal Abuse Taskforce was on the scene. Officers discovered up to 80 dawgs, several with wounds believed to be from cock fighting, according to sources. Authorities allege that on at least 37 different occasions, Lattimore has engaged in beating and torturing dawgs, including multiple instances of running over, and even dragging dawgs behind him as he runs.

"The Humane Society of Georgia has heard troubling reports for some time that Lattimore has been involved in organized dawg beating, and we fear that this investigation may validate that very disturbing allegation," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of Georgia. "We urge law enforcement to aggressively investigate this matter, and we further believe that anyone who continuously beats dawgs deserves to be fully prosecuted for their crimes. Dawg beating is a barbaric activity that causes immense player, coach, and fan suffering and fosters sorrow in our Georgia communities. We urge any concerned citizens to go to GamecockCentral.com for more information.“

If WR A.J. Green doesn't win his appeal tomorrow then we could be looking at more Dawg abuse by the hand of a Mallett this Saturday. The Georgia offense is putrid without him. Georgia is currently dead last in rushing in the SEC after two games. No Green=no chance in the SEC East. All because he sold his fucking jersey. What a joke.

DAYNE CRIST: "I'M 100% NOW!"

Photo courtesy of UHND.com

Today Notre Dame starting quarterback Dayne Crist (otherwise known as the last chance for a winning season for the Irish) said "I'M 100% NOW" which means he will be ready to go for Michigan State this week. Crist was knocked out after the first series in which he rushed for a touchdown and came away with a hit to the head that caused blurry vision throughout the first half. He came back in the second half and led a spirited comeback from 21-7 down to take the lead at 24-21 with 3 minutes to go. After that Shoelace took over.

Having Crist back completely healthy is huge going into a pivotal game in East Lansing. The Irish offense looked awful without him and the two backups in Tommy Rees and Nate Montana clearly aren't ready to lead them at this point. With the Irish looking to seize momentum in their first road game start for Crist they will need him to play the whole game, not just a half. Sparty has been a thorn in the Irish side for decades and night games in East Lansing have turned into nightmares quite often.

A healthy Crist means the Irish have a fighting chance. Right now the spread sits at Michigan State favored by -3.5. My bet is the Irish to bounce back and win outright Saturday night.

FLORIDA WR CHRIS RAINEY IS IN CRAZY LOVE

Look at those glistening adoring eyes. Those are Gator eyes ladies. He loves you so much that he could text you this beautiful sonnet at 12:22 A.M: "Time to Die [expletive] u and ur???"

See the heart wants what the heart wants for Gators WR Chris Rainey. If he can't have your love then nobody deserves it. Sounds plausible right? Oh wait, what he did was apparently "stalker"-ish according the Gainesville Po-Po and they locked him up. And now if you are head coach Urban Meyer you have to kick him off the team for at least a quarter right? I mean you can't start losing a player of Rainey's ability going into the Tennessee game. Morals and laws be damn. I got money on the Gators.

Hugs are in order. A simple apology and then a start this Saturday for Rainey will solve all of my problems... I mean the whole stalking crazy boyfriend act.

In other words Rainey is fucked. But that is just love man.

Pissed off mugshot via BaltimoreSun

RAY LEWIS DESTROYS DUSTIN KELLER

Is there any doubt that Ray Lewis is the greatest defensive player to ever play in the NFL? The guy is in his 15th season and still dominates the league. It's astonishing what he can do at his age 35 season. For all intended purposes inside linebackers who crush skulls 16-20 games a season should not be playing the way Ray does. He is the Ray-vens.

I hope you put some money on the Ravens last night at +1. It got close there with Baltimore turning over the ball three times but the Jets couldn't move the ball at all last night. Mark "Checkdown" Sanchez isn't ready to be an elite quarterback by any means but the rest of the Jets didn't help with all the penalties. I know it's only the first weekend of games but it looks like my prediction of Packers vs. Ravens SuperBowl is as good as any right now.

TAKE THE RAVENS +1 OVER THE JETS

I know it's the first game of the season and the preseason doesn't mean shit but I think the Baltimore defense is going to force Mark Sanchez to scramble a lot and throw into coverage. The Ravens don't have Ed Reed back there tonight but Zibby and Landry will get their hands on some errant Sanchise throws. I'm looking forward to seeing Ray Lewis blitz and go against the Terminator John Connor. If Connor can pick up the blitz like he did in preseason and showed on Hard Knocks then it could be one of those perfect storms. Two incredible forces colliding and causing the East Coast to shift.

This will be a low scoring game. The Jets probably have the best defense in the league but I think the Ravens will get at least two touchdowns tonight. The Jets won't put a lot of points on the board unless they come from Raven's miscues. Joey Flacco will outshine the Sanchise tonight on the big stage.

Prediction: Baltimore 17 Jets 13

SUCKS TO BE A DETROIT LIONS FAN

I know the rules are the rules but this has to sting any ref who has to make this call. Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson caught the ball. There is no doubt. He got three feet down and had possession. But the rules state you must have the ball firmly even after falling to the ground whether in bounds or out. Damn. So instead of beating the hated Bears in Chicago and finally winning a road game despite Matthew Stafford getting knocked out with a shoulder injury the Lions are back to familiar territory: a loss.

What do you think about the rule? Should it be changed or is it good the way it is?

NEW AXE COMMERCIAL: WASH YOUR BALLS

This might be the greatest fake infomercial I have ever seen. I'm surprised it would ever air in the US of A considering how conservative we are. Nothing like a clean set of balls to start off your day right.

Video HT to Josh

THIS IS HOW MY WEEKEND FELT

Watermelon Facial - watch more funny videos

What an absolutely frustrating weekend of football. First all three Georgia teams (UGA, TECH, and Georgia State) lose and look horrible in the process. Second Notre Dame loses to Denard "ShoeLace" Robinson at home. The guy had over 500 total yards of offense. Fuck he's good. And then third the Atlanta Falcons lose in overtime to the Pittsburgh Steelers because Matt Ryan can not stop locking into receivers.

It was like a melon to the face all weekend long. The Notre Dame loss stung the most of course. They looked great with their first possession as they marched down the field at ease against a weak Michigan D. And then Dayne Crist gets some mysterious injury/concussion/the football Gods hate ND ailment. The backups Tommy Rees and Nate Montana come in. Holy shit it looks like 2007 all over again and I'm literally on the edge of throwing up. Turnover after turnover and Michigan takes advantage to go up 21-7 at half. "No Dayne no win" is what I tell everybody who will listen (my dogs). Then all of a sudden Dayne is back in the second half. He looks great. They go down and score immediately and all of a sudden we have ourselves a ball game. The defense steps it up and "contains" Shoelace after he ripped off 178 yards rushing in the first half. When Notre Dame is given chance after chance (two huge missed field goals by the Michigan kicker) they still can't take advantage until Dayne hits Kyle Rudolph for a 96 yard touchdown pass with 3 minutes to go in the game. I'm screaming my fucking head off. Notre Dame has finally taken the lead and all of a sudden I get about 2000 texts saying what a play and game. But as a Notre Dame fan you know it's far from over especially when it comes to Michigan. Shoelace takes over. He can't be stopped and they march down the field and score with 30 seconds left in the game. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK. But then Notre Dame gets good field position and Dayne hits Michael Floyd for two completions to put us within striking distance. We need a touchdown to win because Brian Kelly elected not to kick a field goal at the end of the first half and instead went for the touchdown. It failed of course when Nate decided to throw it to the guy in the third row instead of one of his receivers. Hindsight is a bitch and now it appears to have fucked them. So no game tying field goal but instead Dayne has the chance to put himself in the history books. All he has to do is lob it up to one of his many talented and tall receivers and hope they come down with it against a very porous and undersized Michigan secondary. And then what happens? No clue. I blacked out and don't even want to talk about it.

Straight melon to the face all thanks to Shoelace. I said on Friday that one player can't win a game in college football. I was wrong. Robinson lived up to everything the pundits were saying last week. Notre Dame couldn't stop him and it's the reason why they lost. If you are a Notre Dame fan please stop with the "it's not fair because Dayne was out for almost a hole half" excuse. Michigan won the game fair and square. They had no turnovers and ND had three. Ballgame right there. I will give a ton of credit to Notre Dame for fighting back and making it a ball game. They didn't quit and you could tell this is a much different team from last year with their expressions after the game. They looked pissed off. They looked hungry. They didn't want to sing the Alma Mater at the end. You could tell in their eyes. They just wanted to win.

It's about time.

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FAIRCHILD'S PICKS WEEK 2

Try to ignore McPeters picks below. I think he has been hanging with the wrong crowd too much. Granted he is a UGA guy so the likelihood of him being arrested for a traffic violation is significant. It's time to step up to the big boy table. Here are my picks:

UGA vs USC(-3)
All week I have been hearing about how the Bulldogs defense is back and how the South Carolina defense won't be able to stop Caleb King and Washaun "The Impala" Ealey. Well, I'm sick of it. Listen Georgia fans. You beat the Ragin Cajuns. Big fucking deal. The Gamecocks have the best runningback in freshman Marcus Lattimore that the Dawgs defense will face all year. If you can stop him then you can force QB Stephen Garcia into some mistakes eventually. I don't see either happening. It's the first road game for QB Aaron Murray in a very hostile situation in Columbia. I'm not going to say he is going to have the deer in headlights look but I will say he is going to get his bell rung a couple of times if he tries to tuck the ball and run like he did last week. The Cocks defense wins this game.

Prediction – Cocks 23 vs UGA 19

Notre Dame(-3.5) vs Michigan
Did McPeters actually pick the Skunkbears to win by 11 at ND? Holy shit! If you are looking for a Meth dealer I know a great guy apparently. Listen McPeters. The Wolverines front 4 on defense is great but their linebackers and most importantly their secondary is garbage. They can't cover shit. Michael Floyd is going to have a huge game today and Dayne Crist will get more comfortable as he doesn't have to worry about getting stripped by Ryan Kerrigan this week. Denard Robinson is a hell of an athlete and he looked amazing last week but one guy can't win a football game alone. The forecast looks like it's going to be another wet one and as always this game will come down to the wire. Michigan's D won't be able to stop a consistent Irish offense that continues to pound 6-9 yards per play.

Prediction – Notre Dame 27 vs Michigan 23

OSU(-8.5) vs Miami
Why does everybody insist Miami is back to being an elite program? I don't see it at all. Their offensive line is going to get destroyed today by Cameron Heyward and company. Back in 2002 when these teams faced off in the BCS Title game the Hurricanes had elite players across the board. They don't have those same players anymore people. They don't have a McGahee or a Shockey or a Portis or a Andre Johnson or a Ed Reed or a Sean Taylor. I feel bad for Jacory Harris today. He's in for a rude awakening in the Shoe. Buckeyes win big.

Prediction – Buckeyes 28 vs Miami 16

FSU vs OU(-7)
The Sooners are going to ride Demarco Murray all day long. The Semenholes can't contain him. The Sooners don't lose home games under Bob Stoops. The Criminoles have a Jimbo coaching them and a Christian QBing. This isn't bible camp. This is a college football game.

Prediction – Oklahoma 31 vs. FSU 20

PSU vs ALA(-12.5)
This game will be over by the end of the third quarter. You don't bring a freshman QB with inferior talent and coaching into Tuscaloosa and expect to hang within 2 scores unless you create a lot of turnovers and/or Alabama has an off day. Bama won't do either today. GameDay is there and the focus will be to show the world how dominate the Tide can be when facing a top 20 team.

Prediction – Bama 38 vs. State Penn 10

Oregon(-11.5) vs. UT
The battle of the hideous uniforms. This game will be such an eye sore on television I probably won't even watch. Knoxville is a tough place to come in and whoop up on the home team so I think it will be closer than what others think. Oregon isn't going to put up 72 and shut out the Vols. I expect a high scoring game battle to the very end.


Prediction – Oregon 35 vs Vols 31

McPeters' Picks Week 2

Image Courtesy of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News

Hey Buckeyes... Remember this?!?! Just putting it out there...

Last weekend, I was 4 and 1. I really wanted Vandy to pull one out. I guess it's new coach, same Vandy. On to the next one.

So I’m too late for the Thursday night game, shoot me. I also picked 6 games instead of 5 so shoot me twice. For the record, I would’ve picked 7 and that would’ve been Auburn over MSU and said it would be a close one, but who cares, on to the weekend.

UGA vs USC

Dawgs all the way. I know that UGA is missing AJ Green and I understand that takes away the best playmaker on the team, possibly the best in the country, but it doesn’t take away the team. South Carolina is still missing Saunders so let's not handicap the Dawgs without looking at what the Cocks are playing without.

This will be a test to the UGA defense, the young receivers, and running backs for the Dawgs, but South Carolina is over matched. Everyone wants to talk about Stephen Garcia, Alshon Jefferies, Marcus Lattimore, and Stephon Gilmore. Yes, those guys had great games last week. So did Kris Durham, Jakar Hamilton, Justin Houston, Aaron Murray, etc. We can go at this for days. South Carolina beat up on a team that hasn’t been relevant since Brett Favre was their Quarterback and let’s be realistic, that was before Spurrier was even a QB at Florida and Spurrier is not a young man by any stretch of the imagination. Georgia beat UL Lafayette last weekend and looked good doing it, but some Georgia high schools could take on the Ragin Cajuns.

USC has a genius of an offensive mind in Spurrier, but hasn’t had the talent to play consistently and now that they do, they are freshmen and sophomores too. Ellis Johnson is also a genius, UGA would’ve loved to hire him, but don’t discount Todd Grantham and the 3-4 at UGA quite yet. Grantham came along under some of the best defensive mindsets to ever coach and has been very successful in both college and the NFL so it’s not a far stretch to say he will have a game plan in place to put Garcia on his ass and make Lattimore wish he would’ve selected UGA over USC.

The problem here isn’t a lack of talent or coaching on either side of the ball, the issue is going to be the athletes that step on the field and position for position, the only place USC may have an advantage at QB, but only because of the inexperience of Murray. Garcia is a head case and Connor Shaw may be good, but if the “experts” say that Murray isn’t ready for this game, after a full year and a half of seasoning with Richt’s system, there is no way in hell a true freshman is ready to step up. This game is going to be close, it always is, but USC has never beat UGA in Columbia under Spurrier and Richt isn’t going to let Spurrier’s punishment for owning his Dawgs at Florida stop this year.

Prediction – UGA 24 vs USC 16

Notre Dame vs Michigan

For the record, I hate the Little 11, Big 10, mediocre mania, or whatever you want to call the new “SuperConference”. I still don’t know that Notre Dame quite has what it takes to handle Denard Robinson. I could care less if the rest of the Michigan team even steps on the field, that guy is incredible. Sorry Tate, you should transfer, you’re a great QB, but you play at a school where they use a QB as a third running back. Go to Notre Dame, they could use a new QB after Crist is done.

Notre Dame looked better last week against Purdue than they have in a couple of years. The new 3-4 defense looked great and I have no doubt that Brian Kelly is going to do a hell of a job once he gets the Irish used to his playing style, but this year is not the year Irish fans. I hope the Leprechauns pull one out. I like ND, I want ND to win, I’ll be pulling for ND all the way on Saturday, but being realistic, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Sorry Matt, but I have to go with UM. I did pick ND in our pool though, I couldn’t go against you twice after all.

Prediction – ND 17 vs UM 28

OSU vs Miami

Let me repeat a very important fact, I cannot stand watching the Little 11 play any sport. The conference is mediocre, the teams are heavily over rated, and just because ESPN likes you, doesn’t mean you’re good. If you are a Little 11 fan, shut up, no really, just shut up. Don’t come to me telling me how the “Big 10 is the best conference in the whole galaxy” and how “Ohio State is an elite team because they beat every other team in Ohio and have never lost a game to an in-state school”. Miami is not Toledo, Miami of Ohio, or Moorehead State. You’re facing a much more focused Miami team than they have been in several years. Randy Shannon has this team of what used to be viewed as undisciplined thugs turned into a team of the legitimate talented young men that they all showed promise of being. Miami will win this game and will not leave a doubt about the fact that they are back and they are hungry for the respect that they have lost.

Terrell Pryor is a great athlete, but he can’t do it alone. This game may define his year and his Heisman hopes. Miami is not going to walk away a loser and will avenge their 2003 Fiesta Bowl loss convincingly.

Prediction – OSU 14 vs The U 31

FSU vs OU

I can’t believe that I’m saying this as a positive, but this isn’t Bobby Bowden’s team anymore. What used to be a powerhouse had become average in the last few years. The tradition of great football at Florida State had become just a tradition talked about at Thanksgiving. I remember sitting on the couch with my roommate in college talking FSU football. Sean is a huge FSU fan and it was great to be able to hold that over his head the last few years, but not anymore.

Christian Ponder is a great QB and is out to prove it this year. Landry Jones looked awful in week one, but Demarco Murray is an animal. If the FSU D can contain the Ohio State running backs, this game will be over early. The Big 12 has stepped up its game as a conference and the early rankings this year back that up. Personally, I think FSU has the ability to be much better than advertised and a sleeper on the National Level. I think this year is FSU’s year to put itself back into the spotlight and make a BCS bowl bid after winning the ACC. FSU handles OU in a close one.

Prediction – FSU 21 vs OU 17

PSU vs ALA

I know I’ve said it twice, but the third time is a charm. I hate the Little 11. Alabama rolls. Robert Bolden is made to look like he’s still in high school. Richardson and Eddie Lacy run for career highs. Greg McElroy and Julio Jones light up the PSU defense and Nick Saban and Kirby Smart show Penn State what a true elite team in an elite conference looks like. If you have doubts, go back and watch what the SEC has done to Ohio State, who most fans would agree is much better than PSU, in the last few National Championship games and other BCS bowls. Alabama rolls all over PSU and the game is over by halftime. If it’s not, it should be. Penn State is over matched and Joe Pa may retire after this loss.

Prediction – UofA 42 vs. PU… I mean Penn State 17

Oregon vs. UT

This one is going to be ugly. Welcome to major college football Coach Dooley. While I pray you can bring some class back to Tennessee, and thus far you have done your part, Oregon’s offense looks to be too much of a mismatch. The Ducks are scary fast, scary disciplined, and scary good. If nothing more than the fact that the Ducks have a ridiculous amount of uniform combinations to choose from and will no doubt look better than the puke orange Tennessee uniforms, I have got to go with Oregon.

I don’t often pick against SEC teams, especially those with a storied history, but UT has a new coach, too many new faces, and too many issues still hanging around from LaMe Kiffin. Sorry UT, this week you lose the game by more touchdowns than you’ve lost teeth and that’s saying a lot. The Ducks go back to Oregon touting how good the Pac-10 is and D.D. learns a few lessons in the process.

Let’s face it, Dooley is building a team and if he’s anything close to what his father was, which by all indications he is as amazing of a person as the great Vince Dooley himself, D.D. will have UT back on the map and quickly. Kudos to UT for stepping up the non-conference schedule despite playing in a brutal conference within a much improved SEC East. Florida, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina may all be in bowl games this year. UT will have their day, it just won’t be Saturday.

Prediction – Oregon 35 vs UT 14

A LITTLE SOMETHING TO GET YOU FIRED UP FOR GEORGIA-SOUTH CAROLINA TOMORROW

South Carolina QB Corey Jenkins had no fucking clue what had just happened. Georgia DE David Pollack intercepted/stripped/stole the ball from him in one big swoop. Hopefully tomorrows game at noon has the drama of this 2002 clash.

A LITTLE SOMETHING TO GET YOU FIRED UP FOR NOTRE DAME-MICHIGAN TOMORROW

The Reggie Brooks "Unconscious" touchdown run against Michigan in this 1992 classic was one of the greatest runs I have ever watched live. The will and determination Brooks displayed is something the Fighting Irish are going to have to show tomorrow against a tough Michigan team.

Go Irish!!!