National Signing Day 2013

Alex Collins and his father (sans mother) signing his Letter of Intent. Collins said he wore a camo suit "for the fans."

Usually at this point in the game, 24 hours later, writing a National Signing Day column is considered late. Thanks to Alex Collins' mama drama, deadline has been extended. This day seems to get wilder and more unpredictable as the years pass, and as social media continues to grow along with college football's importance nationwide, there is no where but zany for it to go. Here are a few things that stuck out to me looking back at this year's big day:

ALEX COLLINS' MOTHER STOLE THE SHOW- It would not be Arkansas football if there wasn't a circus involved, and thanks to Collins' mother we got a party. Collins, a Miami native, was all set to sign his Letter of Intent to play football at Arkansas, a decision he made on Monday night on national television. It should have been a time to honor the hard work he has put in earning a scholarship and a time to celebrate his decision.

However, as has been well reported, his mother came to the signing ceremony at Collins' school and took the binding paperwork because she wants him to play at Miami University in Florida. What makes this story even more difficult to understand is that Collins does not even live with his mother.

This afternoon he signed official paper work, cosigned by his father, which officially makes him a Razorback. His mother on the other hand has hired lawyers from a Johnny Cochran law firm to try and prevent his move to Arkansas. Her reasoning per her lawyer: "her only concern is Alex's well being." Give it a break, lady.

THE OLE MISS SURPRISE- Don't get me wrong. I loved my experience at The Grove and weekend in Oxford when the Rebels hosted Samford in 2010. But before Rebel fans get too excited about the future, thinking under coach Hugh Freeze you will challenge the SEC West big boys, namely Alabama, let's take a look at what happened in order for you to land the No. 7 class in 2013.

Ole Miss landed the No 1 recruit at the following positions: defensive end (Robert Nkemdiche), offensive lineman (Jeremy Tunsil), wide receiver (Laquan Treadwell), and a top-notch defensive back (Antonio Conner).

Nkemdiche has an older brother already at Ole Miss, who did some serious recruiting, and a mother who made it public that she wanted her boys to play together. Conner is from South Panola High, a Rebel stronghold for years. These two would have made a good class for Ole Miss alone on most years. They also recruited other top players and sold them on the idea that this could be the class to change the Rebel's fortune, instead of going to Alabama and continuing their championship tradition.

It was a perfect storm, but before we crown them Division Champs, know that other schools in the division have been doing this kind of work for five-plus years.To rise to the top it will take more than one class of stars to change the culture. Coach Hugh Freeze applied the full-court press to haul these guys in. SI.com writer Andy Staples reveals one of Freeze's assistant coaches exchanged more than 800 Facebook messages with Tunsil and another 400 with his girlfriend to help culture their relationship which turned into a commitment. Hard work paid off to bring this class (three 5-stars and 9 4-stars) to fruition.

TIE-DYE SCREAMS SWAG- There was nothing this year that compared to Isaiah Crowell pulling out a bulldog puppy to declare he would attend Georgia a couple of years ago. There was some impressive fashion from some commitment ceremonies though:

WR Stacey Coley (above) commits to Swag U. The only way this gets better is if a Vanderbilt or Stanford commit had donned a "Nerd" hat at their commitment ceremony.

DL Montravious Adams (above) commits to Auburn and proves tie-dye is alive and well. And yes, that is a picture of himself on his shirt. Love his humbleness.

ONE CONFERENCE IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER- Not that long ago the Big 12 was being compared to the SEC. There were some who thought it might be able to challenge the SEC for dominance in college football. Hindsight is 20/20 and we know that thought is comical. Thanks to conference realignment (Texas A&M and Nebraska leaving), Texas and Oklahoma's steady decline, and now recruiting we know who stands above the other.

Not one 5-star prospect according to Rivals.com chose to play football in the Big 12, meaning the Big East, the conference just waiting its demise, had more top players commit to it than Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and the like. Kentucky--yeah that one--would have had the fourth-best class in the Big 12. These are signs your conference no longer has the gravitas it once did.

The SEC went out and collected seven of the top 11 spots in the team rankings, according to 247sports.com. Which means what former LSU receiver Russel Sheppard tweeted may be all the more true:

From the looks of the recruiting classes the #SEC will win the next 4 National championships again !!!!
— Russell Shepard Jr.. (@LSUShep10) February 6, 2013

Clemson RB coach Tony Elliot

Speaking of other conferences, Clemson does some serious recruiting, taking prospects from Florida and Georgia just like the big boys year in and year out.

Coach Dabo Swinney knows what he is doing in getting high schoolers interested in his program. Is running backs coach Tony Elliot the secret into their minds? Notice the Twilight posters surrounding him:

It was a great day, and one that started early for this college football fanatic. I made sure to go to bed early the night before and was up at 5:30 a.m., waiting for the first faxes to be sent.

Yes, they still use fax machines which is a whole other issue: The NCAA at its finest, only 20 years behind the curve.

Column from National Signing Day 2012

The Weekend That Was: Where's the Defense?, UGA Wins Again, Texas & Alabama Hype, My Own Solid Weekend

Much has been made of the absurd stats from Saturday's games. The West Virginia-Baylor game is getting all of the publicity, but there were plenty of others that looked more like video games than actual competition. Here are a couple that jump off the box scores.

West Virginia's Geno "Heisman" Smith

 656 -- Yards passing by the Mountaineer's Geno Smith. It ranks fifth all-time for a single-game in Division I. Smith also finished with more touchdowns (8) than incompletions (6) on the day.

581 -- Passing yards from the Bears' Nick Florence in their losing effort to West Virginia, passing Robert Griffin III single-game mark.

557 -- Total yards accumulated by Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, breaking the old record of 540.

314 -- Receiving yards accumulated by Baylor's Terrance Williams to set the Big 12 record. Mountaineer reciever Stedman Baily had 303 yards and five touchdowns, which would have been the record if not for Williams' performance.

222 -- Rushing yards from Air Force's Cody Getz in a win over Colorado State. He becomes the first Falcon to record four 100-yard games to start the season and the first with two 200-yard games since 2007

133 --Total points recorded in the WVU-Baylor game on 1,507 yards of offense.

4 -- Games in which the teams combined for 1,000+ yards of total offense (Texas-Oklahoma State, Tennessee-Georgia, Baylor-West Virginia, and Miami (Ohio)-Akron).

If the old adage is true that defense wins championships, then many teams are much further away than they want to be from holding the crystal ball in January.

DOGS BETTER VOLS: With the win over Tennessee on Saturday, the Bulldogs were able to prove they can not only finish close games, but that their trip to South Carolina this week becomes the de facto SEC East Division Championship, a prelude to the SEC West Championship on November 3rd.

Sure the Dawgs "escaped" this weekend with the win, but the bigger question is what to make of Tennessee. There is no one part of the game which can definitively be fixed and make this a contending team. In the same light, there is no one thing making them unable to compete. It is a mixture of both and undoubtedly a perplexing situation to be in for Volunteer fans.

As close as you can get for free, close enough to hear the
opening score and get chills.

The offense scored 44 points on the road in a hostile environment. The defense gave up more points, but made critical stops when they needed to. Big plays hurt the Tennessee defense, but their big plays helped the offense. Coach Derek Dooley gave his team a chance to win, but the arm that makes their offense go in Tyler Bray threw three interceptions, not a coaching error. It is not bad enough to start over, but it is hard to justify continuing down the same path.

I had the good fortune to be in Athens on Saturday. After covering a game for The Times on Friday night, I left for the Classic City and met my sister and a few friends downtown, which is worth almost all of the positive adjectives given to it.

Gameday came and we tailgated, as any good SEC fan should do. If you have never experienced an Athens tailgate, you should. There are few places around the country that do it better than the folks in red and black. My sister and her friends made their way into the game, and since I had no interest in paying $150 to see the game, I enjoyed the pregame and first Bulldog scoring drive from a different perspective.

Being the old man I am, I was ready to get out of town and head back to Gainesville to watch the second half and beat the traffic. I was fortunate enough to see some friends to watch the game with, ready for it? With all that Athens' downtown offers, where did we meet to watch the game? 20 miles outside of Athens at a Beef O'Brady's. So when you watch that terrible bowl game this December, you can blame me for supporting the company and keeping the bowl game alive. It was a good time nonetheless.

WHAT ALABAMA COULD BE, NOT YET: I am not buying Alabama like the rest of you. I have no problem admitting the Tide is the best team in the country, but I am not oohing and ahhing like the rest of you over their dominance. Yes, they have won in convincing fashion and their defense looks outstanding, but who have they played?

Michigan's two wins are UMass and a close one at home against Air Force. Ole Miss' only opponent worth mentioning was Texas, a 66-31 loss for the Rebels. By the end of the season they could be as good as last year's team, but not yet. And for the love of the "Bear," can we stop comparing them to an NFL team?

LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

- Arkansas has given up on the season. There is no doubt about that, as it becomes more apparent  every time they take the field. Call me a homer, but take your shots now. This is an anomaly and historically bad. I am realistic and know that Arkansas, no matter how much badly I want it, is probably not going to ever be a perennial football powerhouse, but it is a better team than this. SEC teams who get an extra win because Arkansas is down, enjoy it now.

- There has been a lot written about Florida State and Notre Dame's rise back to the good ole days. What about Texas? Sure, it has only been three years since they were in the national championship, but these last few years have been horrendous on Texas standards. They seem to have figured out the offense and we know with the recruiting classes they sign the talent level is only going up.

PERSONAL NOTE: I do not normally talk about my own experiences from the weekend on these types of columns. However, since my weekend did involve being in Athens for the Tennessee-Georgia game this week I figure I will go ahead and throw this in there. It was a great time all-around. The whole weekend, not just Saturdays, which in the especially fall are usually pretty good.

For those of you around my age, and even moreso those of you in school, unfortunately eating alone is a  more common experience than not, an unfortunate part of this transient period. This weekend was the exception.

Food is an essential part of life, but the socialization of meal times can be of greater importance to me. The one meal I had alone was my Friday night pregame meal before I went and covered a high school game for the The Times, and I did not have a meal with the same group of people twice this weekend. I ate with family, new friends and old friends in places I had never been before.

From downtown Athens, to tailgating, to a Beef O'Brady's in Jefferson, to church and a Sunday School party. It was solid.

Thanks to all who had a part in making this weekend a good one. I am looking forward to some more soon: The ole Silver Anniversary of my life and Samford Homecoming are around the corner.

Bet you can't tell which two came from the same gene pool. Props to you Mama and Daddy.

SEC West Power Rankings

The SEC West is without a doubt the toughest division in college football this season and ranks way up there on the list of All-Time Toughest Divisions.

6. Ole Miss- In Oxford they should substitute one of the "i"s in the school's name for an "e," The football program is more of a "Mess"issippi. The only thing for Rebel fans to look forward to is the unveiling of their new Black Bear mascot. One day, Mississippi will get away from the "get a transfer quarterback and use him for a year" plan (Jeremiah Masoli experiment). The Rebels will most likely go with transfer Barry Brunetti over junior college transfers Randall Mackey or Zack Strount. On the defensive side of the ball the Rebels have lost their leader, LB D.T. Shackelford to a torn ACL at a position where they already lacked depth.

Head coach Houston Nutt gave Mississippi two straight Cotton Bowls and started out to high. He will have one more year after 2011 to prove he is capable of coaching in the SEC.  I am scared for Rebel fans he will have some success and hold on to his job and earn an extension.

5. Auburn- The fall in expectations of the defending national champions is of epic proportion. With five returning starters (offense and defense) from last season, inexperience will plague the Tigers this season. The offense will be in the hands of QB Barrett Trotter, a huge step down in capabilities from the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. Auburn will still move the ball thanks to retaining offensive coordinator Gus Malzhan with a huge contract.  They also have plenty of talent at running back with Michael Dyer and Onterio McCaleb. The defense lost the most dominant lineman in college football, DT Nick Fairley, to the NFL Draft and defensive coordinator Ted Roof will work hard to earn his money as well.

Auburn has a talented enough team to make to a second tier bowl game. The Tigers will be overlooked by some teams and create a few upsets.

4. Mississippi State- The boys in Starkville have their program going the opposite way from their rivals, "The School Up North." Bulldog fans could not be more thrilled with their head coach and the direction of the program, with 12 of the top 20 crowds at Davis Wade Stadium since coach Dan Mullen has arrived. RB Vic Ballard is an underrated back in the SEC. QB Chris Relf can lead Mullen's offense, and WR Chad Bumphis, when healthy can make big plays with his speed. The defense is losing its three starting linebackers from last season, but will have a talented secondary.
Enormous strides in a coach's second year are becoming the norm. The Bulldogs need to avoid a third year setback, which could be tough in the SEC West. State will make it will make it to a New Years Day bowl once again if they can win games they should win and sprinkle in an upset or two.

3. LSU- Before the QB Jordan Jefferson was arrested the Bayou Bengals were barely hanging on to the number two position in the power rankings, but trusting the offense to Jarett Lee makes LSU even more of a gamble. Athletic playmakers are abundant on both sides of the ball as the Tigers consistently recruit at the top of the game. Two former five star recruits at receiver should help Lee's transition into the starting role. On defense, there is no reason to see a drop-off from one of the deepest clubs in the league. Two huge sophomore DTs, a potential All-American at LB in Ryan Baker, and the best cornerback tandem in the NCAA will be a force.

The schedule is not nice to the Tigers as they go to Dallas to take on Oregon, travel to West Virginia and go through the SEC West gauntlet. No National Championship for this crew, but they will contend for the SEC title.

2. Arkansas- The loss of RB Knile Davis to a broken ankle is less of a blow to the Razorbacks than LSU losing Jefferson. With Davis gone, there are definite questions, but Arkansas has RBs Ronnie Wingo and Dennis Johnson which have had glimpses of hope. QB Tyler Wilson will try and replace Ryan Mallet and if he does the Hogs will continue to run one of the strongest offenses in the league. Questions arise on the offensive line. Luckily for Wilson, he has the nation's best receiving corps to throw to. On the opposite side of the ball, coach Bobby Petrino has his deepest and most talented lineup since he has been in Fayettville. Petrino's defensive line finally looks more like one that belongs in the SEC with a threat to quaterbacks in DE Jake Bequette. Three-time team leading tackler LB Jerry Frankin returns along with FS Tramain Thomas to a more experienced backfield.

A week four stop in Tuscaloosa could make or break the Razorbacks' chances at a date in Atlanta with an SEC East team.

1. Alabama- The best defense in the SEC returns eight starters and should be the best in the nation this season with a chance at four All-Americans. LB's Dont'a Hightower and Courtnet Upshaw are the best linebacking duo in the nation. On the line, Marcell Dareus is gone and will be missed, but what has become Saban's move the coach will just plug in another player and he will thrive. Look out for DT Josh Chapman. Athletes are everywhere as the secondary returns all four starter including the best safeties tandem in the nation, SS Mark Barron and FS Robert Lester. The starting quarterback battle between A.J. McCarron and Phillip Sims has not settled. The offense will lean heavily on RB Trent Richardson, who will finally get his time to be the star for the Crimson Tide after Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram graduated. Alabama will miss WR Julio Jones and his deep threat ability more than most fans may realize.
The Tide should have a shot at the SEC Championship, but Crimson Tide fans are not happy with just a league title. Watch out for Alabama to be in the mix to win the BCS National Championship and extend the SEC's streak to six straight championships. 

Best College Football Weekend

I am coming to you live from Vicksburg, Mississippi. Because I am on vacation I am trying to work when I can. I will be updating this as I can, but here is the work I have done so far.

Auburn vs. Alabama- I have had more trouble trying to justify a winner in this match-up more than any all season. Alabama is the favorite, according to Vegas, has home field advantage, and their Head Coach Nick Saban has had extra time to prepare for this game. Auburn, on the other hand, though lacking any as semblance of a defense all season, has not been stopped. But Auburn has yet to play a good team on the road and has struggled against the run, the Tide’s specialty. It is because of this I am going to take the Alabama Crimson Tide. Auburn fans will simply not be heard. Heck, the Auburn band has been moved to the upper deck! These people just don’t like each other. Alabama will rely heavily on the run but Alabama QB Greg McElroy will have to make a few important 3^rd down conversion passes to Julio Jones. The Tide win in a close one, and Tuscaloosa implodes from the celebrating.

LSU vs. Arkansas- A huge game that will shape the BCS bowl picture as much as any adds to what is already one of the best young rivalries. With a win both teams figure to lock up a bid to the Sugar Bowl. For Arkansas and LSU, success of the season rides on this game. Arkansas fans have felt all year that this year was crucial in the turnaround under Head Coach Bobby Petrino. Can the Hogs deliver results after such high expectations? The previous 5 games have been decided by less than 13 points so expect a tight one. The game will come down to whether or not a stout LSU defense can stop an Arkansas offense that has been rolling. In one of the most fun match ups all weekend two top 10 NFL prospects will go head to head as Arkansas QB will try to pass on LSU CB Patrick Peterson. The Rock will be doin just that this afternoon, rockin' as the Razorbacks figure out the LSU defenses and, depending on the unpredictable computers, lock up a bid to their first BCS Bowl.

Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss- For the first time in my life I will spend the day in Mississippi on the day of the Egg Bowl. Nationally, this game does not get the recognition that some rivalry games get, but don’t tell the folks from Mississippi that. Heck, the Bulldogs Head Coach Dan Mullen will not even say the words “Ole Miss,” in stead calling them “the team from up North.” I am watching the game with die hard State fans and one thing is certain, it is always good when Ole Miss loses, but so much better when State has the pleasure of giving them the loss. With that said, the only factor that makes this game close is the game is played in Oxford. Mississippi will have a hard time stopping the counter attack of State QB Chris Relf and RB Vick Ballard and really has no offensive threat of their own. Ole Miss QB Jeremiah Masoli was supposed to save the season for the Rebels but has failed miserably. The hurt continues today in an intense atmosphere, and State people have bragging rights for another year.

Arizona at Oregon- The game tonight in Autzen Stadium is the last true test the Ducks of Oregon will face before the national championship. Senior night versus a good Arizona Wildcats team that is coming of of two conference losses will be tough but doable for Oregon. Arizona beat Iowa earlier this year at home and has shown flashes of things to come from Head Coach Mike Stoops. The flashes will not be enough tonight as  Oregon running back LeMichael James leads this high scoring offense to another victory.

Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State- The Battle for Bedlam has extra meaning this year as the two teams involved are fighting for a spot in the Big 12 Championship. The rivalry has been dominated by big brother Oklahoma, winning 80 of the 104 games. Oklahoma State is seeking the teams first 10 win season in school history in what was supposed to be a "rebuilding year," but I think they will have to wait until their bowl game to get it. The Cowboys will not handle the pressure of the beating the Sooners, who have been there done that. It is a struggle, but Oklahoma QB Landry Jones, with the help of a big performance from RB Demarco Murray, will pull out the W.

Other Picks (in bold):

Boise State at Nevada

Michigan State at Penn State

Florida at Florida State

Kentucky at Tennessee

South Carolina at Clemson

Oregon State at Stanford

Notre Dame at USC

Michigan at Ohio State

How I See It...

It being the college football weekend. The one that is already underway if you include Alabama's absolute drubbing of Georgia State, not that it wasn't expected. Really though the Tide could have scored 100 if they wanted. So with that game, the Washington win over UCLA already happening, and that I am not going to mention the Boise State game tonight I will predict the football games on Saturday.

Arkansas vs. Mississippi State- This game is becoming more and more important. Yes, it is essential for the Hogs to win and keep their BCS bowl game hopes alive but there is more behind this game. In my family, everyone, except me, went to Arkansas and most of the family still lives in the state, and we are all huge Razorback fans. In Lexie's house, everyone, except her, went to Mississippi State and still lives in Mississippi. They are all "State people." (which are GREAT people) Though I am banned from talking to Lexie's mother during the game, I know she will have her cowbell out and ringing it loud enough to scare the Sambo, their dog, under the bed. I know my family will be decked out in their red and calling the hogs proudly.  I am so glad that Lexie and I can agree on our team, the Bulldogs... from Samford University , of course. As far as the game goes I do see it being a good game but the offensive fire power will be too much in the end.  The score will be a little more lopsided than the game will be but the Razorbacks improve to 4-1 on the road and one win away from a 10 win season.

LSU vs. Ole Miss- Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt does not want to admit it but he has had LSU's number in the past few years. Starting with his days at Arkansas, his teams have consistently played well against the Bayou Bengals. Seeing that Nutt has not had his typical one big upset a year yet many "experts" are seeing this as an easy upset pick. Not this expert. Expect to see Lucky Les win again this weekend. The Tigers run well and run often against a weak Mississippi run defense. Watch Jerimiah Masoli try and make sense of why he is in Mississippi after all.

Ohio State vs. Iowa- Even with Iowa losing last weekend to Northwestern this game still will help determine the Big 10 champ and bowl pecking order. I know that Iowa is a tough place to play especially after a loss but Ohio State is playing for too much for that to get in the way. I do believe that Terelle Pryor will have to be able to move and throw the ball because Iowa DE Adrian Claiborne will be getting after him and show why NFL scouts are excited. Ohio State wins a close one.

Virginia Tech vs. Miami- In a game that Virginia Tech can clinch it's half of the ACC and lock its place in the ACC Championship Game, I expect them to do just that. Granted, Miami has been dealt tough cards to play with this season, but they have just not been able to be consistent against the adversary. Virginia Tech on the other hand has been able to bounce back after losing their first two games, one of which was James Madison. This Hokie team is playing like everyone thought they would at the beginning of the year and they continue to do so this Saturday.

Other picks (in bold):

Army vs. Notre Dame- Coolest setting this year, Yankee Stadium. ND vs. Army circa 1918.

Illinois at Northwestern- 2^nd coolest setting this year, Wrigley Field. Too bad the base ball field is not big enough.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/ncf/news/story?id=5824661

Stanford at California- This rivalry is not even close. Forget the comparisons to the

Oregon game. This game gets ugly.

Tennessee at Vanderbilt- It’s truly amazing that the Vols can still go to a bowl game.

Wisconsin vs. Michigan- Belima has another hard time keeping the score reasonable as the Badgers put up big numbers again this week against a weak Michigan defense.

Nebraska at Texas A&M
Connecticut at Syracuse

Oklahoma at Baylor

USC at Oregon State

Florida State at Maryland

Duke at Georgia Tech
Pittsburgh at South Florida

How See the College Football Weekend

Back again and trying to improve on last week's terrible start. Oh well that is why they play the game, for me to talk about it. Sarcasm. Either way I like to think so. Studying for my Anatomy Lab exam might be what I should be concentrating my efforts towards. No worries parents and grandparents, I studied earlier today so I would have time for to write to my faithful followers.

LSU vs. Auburn- Seriously can any one stop Auburn quarterback Cam Newton? If LSU does they win the game easily. Besides Newton please tell me how Auburn would have scored any points this season. Nope, you can't do it. Like I said last week I know have complete respect for him but am not ready to crown the War Eagles (I know Auburn fans. It's so the two teams are not confused.) the SEC West champion, much less the winner of the whole league and I know that the Bayou Bengals will have to say something about it too. All this said, or written, for my more literal readers, I don't see the Mad Hatter being able to rub the rabbit's foot and pull out a win here.

Alabama vs. Tennessee- Remember when the 3rd Saturday of October meant something? It is OK if you don't. It's been a few years. Since Nick Saban has arrived to Tuscaloosa he has handled the Volunteers all three years. Last year's epic game in which Terrance Cody blocked a potential game-winning kick to win the game was just that, epic. I don't see this one being nearly as close as the Crimson Tide continues to get their roll on and handles this road game easily.

Mississippi vs. Arkansas- This game has started to mean something since the head coach of the Rebels is the former Razorback coach. Yet again, Houston Nutt will get a hearty welcome from his former home crowd. By hearty I mean the loathing will come straight from the heart. Petrino, who was berated earlier this week by a former co-worker during his stint with the Atlanta Falcons, the Cincinatti Bengals Defensive Coordinator, will be looking to show his home crowd that he couldn't be happier in Fayetteville. Arkansas' Ryan Mallet is back from his concussion and has a big week against a subpar pass defense from Ole Miss.

Oklahoma vs. Missouri- The matchup in Columbia is the home to College Gameday, which always bring a little extra excitement to the air. Add in two undefeated teams, one of which is the new BCS number one, and you have as big of a weeknd as you can have in Missouri (outside of Branson of course, Grannie). I am not a believer in the Tigers yet but this would boost nationwide credibility. I can't say that I see it happening though. Heisman candidate, DeMarco Murray runs wild and Oklahoma gets a big win to boost their already top BCS score.


Wisconsin vs. Iowa- Here is Wisconsin's or Iowa's chance to make some serious headway in their quest for the Big 10 title. This will be one of the hardest hitting games of the weekend with both clubs having serious size on the line. I was again impressed by John Clay and the Badger running game that I think they can pull out a tough road game against the most consistent team in America. Wisconsin goes on the road for a mini-upset and separates themselves as the team to beat in the Big 10.

Other Winners (in bold)

North Carolina vs. Miami
South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt
Georgia vs. Kentucky
Notre Dame vs. Navy
Georgia Tech vs. Clemson
Michigan State vs. Northwestern
Syracuse vs. West Virginia
UAB vs. Mississippi State
Whoever Boise State plays vs. Boise State


I have mostly visitors winning which makes me a little nervous but I am ready for Saturday. Who's with me?

Some picks for Saturday

Fall may be my favorite time of the year. It's a relief to be able to walk outside and not start sweating immediately. It's always fun to celebrate another year of life, but even better than these things is college football. Week to week, trying to predict what will happen and then watching the drama unfold is easily one of my favorite things. I thought about doing all of the SEC games but then I would have limited my blog. So I will dabble in all leagues. Where I am from and how I have been raised will influence which teams I write about. I know I will tend to talk more about the SEC. Here is how I see some of the games this weekend unfolding.

Arkansas vs. Auburn- One of the biggest games of the year in our household. The old man always says Arkasnas can lose every game but the Auburn one and he will be happy. It is the SEC game of the week for a reason. The game is almost as big as the pair of 6'6 quarterbacks matiching up. Ryan Mallet and Cam Newton could be deciding the SEC Offensive MVP this weekend on the plains. I don't see Auburn's secondary stopping Mallet. Arkansas has proved that they have a much improved defense from last year. Arkansas MUST be able to run the ball, block Auburn DT Nick Fairley to give Mallet time, and score some points in the 4th in order to win. To take a line from my Dad, I see the Hogs rumbling down from the Ozarks and spoiling the home teams party.

Alabama vs. Mississippi- This one could get very, very ugly. Julio Jones will not have to worry too much about his hand because Saban may not even pass the ball after what happened last week, running for less than 50 yards in the 2nd half. (And they tried to compare that RB tandem to McFadden and Jones... please) He is looking to take out his anger on somebody and poor somebody is Ole Miss. I don't see him taking out the starters until Alabama is up by 50. The black bear will not be roaring this week.

Florida vs. Mississippi State- Yet another Mississippi school at the wrong spot in the schedule. Florida misses Dan Mullen and his offensive creativity. State, on the other hand, is loving their new commander and chief. But he still does not have the players he had as the UF offensive coordinator. No way Urban Meyer loses three in a row and may show off some of his speed to Mullen. Look what you used to have. State might can hold it close but the Gators stop the bleeding and win one.

South Carolina vs. Kentucky- Upset special… Randal Cobb is one of the most fun players to watch in college ball and gets a chance to show off his skills again. After the emotional victory last week there is no way planning for Kentucky was the main focus. USC matched up great against Alabama because they stop everything that happens in the middle but Kentucky tries to spread everything wide. Cobb goes wild and comes away with the win.

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin- We’ll see how OSU handles being back in the number one spot. They will take care of a “What in the world happened to Wisconsin Badger” team. So much promise at the beginning of the year but a frustrating loss to a much improved Michigan State team has those in Madison wondering how the season will unfold. OSU knows they control whether or not they play for the ‘ship and will play like with fire. Defense is too good to let Wisconsin RB John Clay, a player scouts are drooling over (or at least I would be if I was one), do too much damage.

Furman vs. Samford- Rivalry game in the Magic City this week. The Bulldogs looked good in a game versus Western Carolina last week and look continue the momentum. Playoffs for the Dogs? As a proud alumnus I certainly hope so. Look for Chris Evans to continue to add to what is already the most rushing yards in school history in a little bit of an upset against the No. 26 team in FCS. Samford Bulldogs improve to .500 in the conference.

Other Winners (in bold)-

Boston College vs. Florida State

Georgia vs. Vanderbilt

Illinois vs. Michigan State

Southern Cal vs. California

Maryland vs. Clemson

Iowa vs. Michigan

Texas vs. Nebraska

Miami (FL) vs. Duke
Who ever Boise State plays vs. Boise State