sMAC

Ok, I am over it, at least for the next three days. By 8:00pm last Saturday Michigan State was the only Big Ten team without at win, for that Sat. My early prediction of Eastern Michigan up rising was a late field goal from being true, Wisconsin was lead by faith into a big OT win, Iowa rebounded with a big win, Minn. shot down AF and Michigan is back in the national championship hunt. You laugh, but every web-site that covers college football has Rich Rod as coach of the year and Forcier being a Frosh Heisman winner. Stop shrugging that comment off UofM fans because you are saying it under your turtle necks.

Back to the rambling, even though my Sparty's crumbled like a bag a of chips, I did well in my pools. I am slowly gaining strength, I called a Uconn win (because we play with .5, no pushes), which didn't happen, however the win by a safety wasn't enough for UNC to win by 4.5. I picked South Carolina because I didn't think Georgia would win by more then a TD, I was right. So it wasn't that bad.


Now, they may be calling it revenge week, I am calling it, "Whooooooooo Are you...Who, Who?". This will make or break some teams. Cincy goes to Oregon (State) and with a win Cincy takes a step closer to "buster" even though they are BCS its knowns as a weaker BCS conference. I think this is a bigger game then the BYU game, BYU is America's fav to bust up this BCS system. Look at it though, if BYU wins and doesn't bleep up, they go undefeated. But if Cincy wins, and goes without a bleep,they already beat one contender in their BCS league and will play a Big Ten team, among other BCS players WVU, Pitt, L'ville, and South Fl. Teams all better then UNLV, San Diego State, Wyoming, and New Mexico, who play in a non-BCS conf. I keep hearing, well BYU will have beat Sooners (who could finish 9-3 now) and FSU, seriously, FSU! They lost their first game and almost lost to a FBS team. They could finish second to last in their division within their conference, making them finishing 9 of 12 in their conference. Tradition and past years amazing records doesn't get you into the BCS bowl series, ask UGA, Texas, USC, or any other big football school that hasn't got in. If BYU wins it could be a big of win as if they beat Colorado State!

Why else is it my "Who are you week?" You may laugh at me but, EMU goes into Michigan and if Michigan wants to make people really wonder about their season, blow out the Huron, woops Eagles. Laugh, English knows some of these guys, right. who are already saying that want to make him proud. He's motivated to show that he should of been looked at more for this job, he was L'ville's D cord. last year. which played against WVU that was still running Rich Rod's system. Granted Pat White ran for a ton of yards but he had a few more years then TF. Then State plays ND right after this game which could show; how bad State is, how much that ND game wasn't as big as they thought (especially if UM doesn't blow out EMU).

Best Game you won't see: Last week I called WVA vs ECU for this game and I was pretty right. WVU lead ECU by 1 at half and then WVU went to score 14 in the 2nd half, while shutting out ECU to win. This week I see UCONN vs Baylor. Baylor had a week off their upset at Wake Forest and UCONN lost a hard game against UNC. If Baylor wins they have two weaker games after this and could go into Oklahoma 4-0 and Sooners could be 2-2 or 3-1 (Bradford, is supposed to be out 2-4 weeks = 2 weeks would put him out of Miami game and if 4 weeks that could take him to the Baylor game).

Upset Special: Shhh, I called Houston win and New Hamp over Ball State. I said Clemson and Purdue, which both almost came close. I am giving you Navy over Pitt, Idaho over SDSU, K'State over UCLA and last but not least....Shock makes into in the WNBA championship! House Divided here (Shock play ATL right now)! But my real one I am keeping close to my heart!

Week 1

Thank you "U" and FSU for ending my Labor Day weekend with a memorable game. In what was an overload of college football, I was able to watch this game from kickoff to last incomplete pass. Leave it to the ACC to cap this first week with the best game, whose conference saw Duke and UVA lose to FCS teams and have the inability to beat anyone who matters.

For me, I am in three pools, and had as good of a weekend as did the ACC. My straight up pick pool with confidence went 7-7 (I gave Sooners 14, Ill 13, UGA 6), which could of gone the other way, but my plea for a Bama and Baylor wins went unheard. I did ponder the BYU upset, but nobody slipped me the memo that Bradford would get hurt.

Then there was my straight up picks, no confidence or spread at risk. I went 14-2, thank you Iowa and 2 blocks, and OSU's hardest 2 points. Don't tell anyone, I said BAMA! but again I missed the Bradford memo!

Pop, there goes my spread! Yes, welcome to my first time betting with spread. 4-8! Who would of thought Kiflin wouldn't let up on the gas, a under .500 coach would of pulled that big of win in Auburn and Vandy could shut out anyone. Then I fell into the SEC thought of our top teams are better then anyone, any where. Thanks, LSU, all those miles away were to much.

NEXT WEEK:

Again Big Ten's name sake is on the line. The two biggest rivals take part in the weekends two biggest games for the Big Ten. This might be the only time they cheer for each other. If OSU and UofM can't win, its over for the B10. But, like a double edge sword, if they both win, it's a USC team with a Frosh and ND in its down years.

UGA faces USCarolina, this is a huge game for both teams. Either team couldn't put many points up in the first week. If either of these teams go 0-2, look for fans to call for change. Even after two decent years for UGA people are sniffing around for possible greener grass.

You would think UCLA vs Tenn would be another big game to determine conference strength, but nope. Ucla and Tenn are teams going into two different directions. Stanford vs Wake, is a good game to determine if the P10 is possible gaining strength or if ACC can prove worth. Surprise, Western Mich. vs IU, yes, here is why. IU struggled against a very decent FCS team and WMU was blown out by UofM. So, if IU wins, it's a positive should of...if Western Wins, the bottom of the B10 is strong as the top of the MAC, which is like explaining to SEC fans that Georgia Southern belongs in the SEC.

Best game you won't watch: ECU vs West Virgina. ECU almost blew it against App. St and the team formerly known as Rich Rod struggled against Liberty.

Upset Special: New Hampshire over Ball St., Purdue vs Ducks, Houston vs Ok St., Clemson vs GT ( ps: My son and I ran around the GT football field this summer when some at the stadium left a gate open! Top Ten Father - Son moment)!

MAC

With just a week until the kick off of the 2009-2010 college football season I am going to knock out the BEST preview and predictions. I am in three college pick pools this year, last year I finished in the top 3 of all of them. Due to some conference and team bias I missed being number one ( I am in a pool with a SEC fan).



To Start the Preview I am going to start with the MAC. To me the MAC is one of the biggest players in D-1 or Bowl Division Series, despite not having a team in thought of "sneaking" into the BCS bowls. The MAC is a player because they schedule SEC teams and create bumps in the Big Ten. It's pretty funny listening to the pundits down here rip the Big Ten's Schedule. They think that since a couple SEC teams are going against top tier teams in the big 12 / pac 10 teams they all are playing these great schedules. Well, the Gators open with Charleston Southern and Ole' Miss opens with Memphis. This is the first year since I've been down in Georgia they aren't opening against Georgia Southern. The Mac put five teams into a bowl game last year and are regulars in Big Ten schedules. The MAC is just like your MWC and WAC but play in the Mid-West and compete with the Big Ten like the other two compete with Pac-10 and Big 12. The only non-automatic BCS conference that the SEC competes with is the Sun Belt (the ACC is like a 2nd cousin to the SEC; Gators play FSU and UGA plays Tech for the same reason you go to family reunions, you have to). So here it goes;



Records: This is not the year the MAC produces an undefeated team nor one loss team. Just based on non-conference and with the competitiveness among the conference no team will have less then a three loss season. Central opens against Zona, then MSU, and then faces BC (which they could win, but they have Buff and Western too). Buffalo, last year MAC conference championship team plays Pitt (at home, which could cause Pitt trouble), @ UTEP, @ UCF, then starts the conference run @ Temple (hail mary) and then visits Western. Don't look for Ball State to be even close to what they were, coaching changes, and they lost basically everyone.



The Obvious: Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Buffalo are the ones to look at. They are all returning off a bowl game and bringing QB's back with great experience. Western has the more favorable schedule, they open at Michigan where they could make a quick statement. Then they go play a weak IU team. I'd think WMU could break into the top 25 with two road wins vs big 10 teams. They have CMU and Buff at home, the only unfortunate thing is they play MSU at Spartan Stadium, instead at Ford Field. WMU upset the Fighting Illini at Ford Field, in one of the most under played / under sought games last year. CMU is the Tebow of the MAC and has been there before. The MAC has 5 new coaches, but remember, the MAC is a breading ground of coaches. Saban and Urban both coached in the MAC and now hot prospect Kelly. Buff's Gill is the next hot coach if he can win, never believe a coach when they say they are here to stay.



Look Out: Eastern Michigan; Why? They uprooted CMU two years in a row and their new head coach. Here is why, English has a pretty good balance of young guys and vets. If and I strongly emphasis If they can beat Army at home and go into Northwestern and win they'd be 2-0. English is familiar with NW, being the brains of the UofM Def. The third game is a visit back to the team that wanted nothing to do with him. Toledo shocked them at the Big House and don't tell me it's different this year ( look for this during the big ten preview). Eastern could very well come out 2-1, before opening with the other up and coming Temple. Like I said the MAC is a coaching breeding ground. He improved L'ville's D last year, their head coach is the reason they struggled. UofM's D was not the same last year as it was with him. Eastern Michigan makes a statement this year with a upset victory at ARK. (Why? English practiced a whole year with ARK.'s new QB, Mallet).

East: Buff
Temple
BGSU
Ohio
Akron
Kent State
Miami (OH)

West: Central
Western
Eastern
Northern Ill.
Toledo
Ball State

Conf. Champs: Central

Bowl Teams: CMU, WMU, Buff, Temple, Eastern

Update

It's been a long time but I am getting back on the horse. Here are a few things to look forward to:

The Rose Garden: The Beloved Fred Rose is going to add some flavor and hopefully some solidarity to the blog.

College Football Pre-Season Review: I am working on the MAC first.


The D report: It's funny how scared people are of a white boy with two kids, when he sports a hat or shirt with the old English D on! But that has nothing to do with it!


Tied together: I will make more connections of the south the the north: It's pretty funny explaining hockey to southerners!

Jump on...

Yes! We did Detroit! Ha Ha Ha (tongue sticking out at you with thumbs implanted into my cheeks, while my other 18 fingers wiggle at you!) We got Matthew Stafford! Mr. Late Night, with appearances on Fallon, Letterman, and I think Chelsey Lately ( E!), is now Mr. Lion. Welcome to the class of former Mr. Lion QB's, (Pete, Ware, and Harrington).

However, my excitement doesn't fall there. As documented, Stafford was not who I thought the Lions should invest into. My excitement lays with the Lions finally following the "plan". Lions staff laid out a full fledged plan, compared to Millen' previous drafts of throwing darts at the board, hoping the BEST athlete would pan out. This year stated they'd draft the anti-Millen, a player who fits their needs and system. Did anyone see Jesus in that draft? I don't think David Cooperfield was in the third round. Did Barry Sanders re-enter the draft after visiting the fountain of youth (I am sure he'd hold out if the Lions drafted him).?

So back to the plan, come on, you know we both thought taking a TE in the second round and another TE in the 7th was the apart of the plan. I am proud of the Lions taking 2 TE's in this year draft, which was supposedly one of best TE drafts in many years and one of the weakest OB drafts. If I were GM, CEO, Pres. or whatever I would of formulated my plan around one of the best aspect of the offense, the TE. Take a good look at our WR on the roster now, Travis Taylor (9 yrs.), Bryant Johnson (7 yrs.), and Ronald Curry ( 8 yrs.) are our most experienced WR's contract wise. With that loaded WR core there was no need to deepen or even risk a higher WR pick, with a young WR.

Especially when the young guns are Free Agent Demir Boldin, Eric Flower (1), Chris Hannon (1), Steve Sanders (1), Franklin Williams (2), Adam Jennings (4), and Calvin Johnson (3)! So, let's get some up the middle guys catching and pass blocking guys in the draft. We needed TE to replace Jake Nordin (1), Sean Conover (4), Will Heller (8), Casey FitzSimmons (B.C.) and no better then a second round pick and seventh round pick to back the other small school TE we have out of Bucknell and Nothern Ill. P.S., I heard either TE was that outstanding at blocking, which I guess is fine for a young QB or old.



Did you know the Falcons are laughing at us and thanking us! The Lions had the first pick of day two, but the Lions followed the plan and thought to trade it. It was predicted for us to pick Lawrence Sidbury DE, but we traded. Well, he fell to the fourth round and to the Falcons. Yeah, it didn't make sense to me either to draft a DE to upgrade the Lions DE's of; Ikaika Adma Francis (3 Hawaii), Cliff Avrill (2 Purdue), Rudolph Hardie ( 1 Howard), Dewyone White (7 ), and Jared DeVires (11 Iowa). Why did I put there colleges? Well, it's supposedly one of the biggest down falls to Sidbury was he playes at Richmond. Richmond played on a highly competitive team that won and he dominated.



Then all the talk down here is how the Falcons ( Matt Ryan, shhhhhh) stole this pick! I hope our new WR out of PSU lifts our specials teams! I don't think this new Falcon Admin. has a clue how to change a franchise. Oh, hold up, wait a minute, they do!

Since the Lions had no choice really to take Stafford, I don't blame them. After numerous discussion with Lions' fans, I think we are all in agreeing. We've have come to accept this pick. If he pans out great, if not, oh well! I don't blame the Lions for this pick this year and I don't think it should be held against them if he doesn't pan out. No other team would trade to get him because they didn't want to pay him what we did. It's ridiculous he has the highest guaranteed money ever. I wish I'd get paid that money guaranteed without ever teaching a kid to read. Imagine a school district paying a teacher a sum of money without doing a damn thing. You really think a community would go for that? That's another point, however.

Well, I just hope this plan isn't similar to how the Ford's are planning on saving their most important franchise. Don't worry Stafford and our 2 new TE's, the Lion's have been failures for years, but Ford Detroiter's haven't!

Merry Draft Eve

It's picture perfect for the Lion fans. For people outside of the Lions fan base, last year was the worse NFL football year for any team in history. Well, for us Lion fans last year wasn't the worst year for the Lions. As a Lion fan of recent history (Super Bowl era) it's real hard to determine which year was the worst year, since there are so many. This year was like an addict hitting rock bottom, but nobody can really figure out the intervention.

For every horrible year we had there was the uplifting possibility of the draft, be quiet, every Millen intervention brought hope. This weekend is like the Super Bowl for Lions fans, yes Thanksgiving is a wonderful football experience but right now everyone outside of the Mitten is calling for the NFL to pull the plug on that tradition. This weekend we are usually calling each other discussing which player is going to take us to the next level, which player will make it okay. How right we were, the next level, WIN LESS! Millen Anonymous was not working.

Now, the night before this year draft I should be calling everyone in anticipation of the next great pick. I should be excited like Dolphin fans of last year. Instead I am discussing with my wife about buying Falcon tickets and pondering her theory about the Lions taking on the Vick Experience.

So why I am not calling you or you are not calling me figuring out this years intervention? Well, because, nobody cares! Detroit is split, the only thing they know is they don't want Sanchez. Hmmm, they might want Stafford but they don't want the second best QB possible a better QB then Stafford. If Lions don't take Stafford, he could go after Sanchez. It's not a debate about whose better right now, it's the fact that nobody else wants Stafford at number 1. This is what kills me!

I really don't care if Stafford turns into the next John Elway ( I really don't want to wait another 20 years before we win 2 super bowls). I don't care if ESPN shows all his great clips of arm strength. Hey, Detroit, I watched a lot of Georgia games on the Lincoln Financial, Detroit's equivalence to Channel 20. He does have a gun, but his gun was throwing way over receivers, he wasn't throwing over their heads, he over throw their routes. Watch those ESPN clips closely, look at the coverage he is throwing into double coverage and the receivers going UP and pulling the pass down. Stafford has good stats, but he doesn't find his rhythm until the second half, want proof, watch the last year's capital bowl. Stafford was MSU's best player in the first half, so MSU focused on the run game and opps Stafford found his receivers.

Stop, don't go there. The Lions will be so far behind in the first half that Stafford's second half magic won't help. Stafford took over in the second half because Knowshun would own the first half that the adjustments other teams made were to focus on the run game. So teams pulled their safeties and corner backs up, which allowed Stafford to go deep. I wish and hope Kevin Smith could create that, but he's a pounder. Stafford is 15 years too late, he'd be a great pick if we had Barry.

Even though it makes some sense to draft Stafford, why isn't any team trying to make a move with us. Why, less then 24 hours to the first pick we haven't signed him? Go ahead tell me the fact no team wants to pay that money for a first pick. Okay, hold on, so let me get this right, no team wants to pay that kind of money for the number one pick. Am I the only one that thinks that this is poetic justice for the Lions? Teams are willing to move up to get Sanchez, which could be 5 or 10 picks less then the Lions. If the Lions don't pick Stafford then it makes teams with lower picks us ponder who to take, but supposedly it's a no brainier for us? Shh, I'm not a Sanchez lover either. But someone explain to me why we are the only team that HAS to take him, when nobody else wants him.

Okay let's put this into perspective. We are going to prom and we got the in on asking the best date possible. Wouldn't you think it'd be a no brainier and all of the boys in our group would be jealous? They'd be in our ear talking about how the wished they could have our date and would do anything to switch. All we'd hear is man, how lucky we'll get and how much she'll put out!

Instead, its like our parents made the match for us with the family friends girl. Yeah she's cute and it could work out. After we announce our date all the other boys are fine with it, nobody is truly jealous or willing to switch dates. Then to make matters worse, all the boys are taking their dates to places that are fancy but fit high school guys budgets, were we have to take our date to a place that fits the budget of Tiger Woods and hot as the latest Lindsey Lohan binge!

Then after all that wine and dinning, she tells us or its announced she will not put out until next year prom. We look around and we don't see our bro's cause their dates are all on the 50 yard line getting down and dirty with them.

Since the NFL league is a copy cat league the Lions need to look at a few things.
1) passing on a pick might not hurt you, ask the Vikings
2) Titans took Vince and he's still sitting behind contract extended Kerry Collins. Ask Texans how Mario's world is
3) Matt Ryan started his career against the Lions, the Lions play the Saints in NO, if the Lions played themselves then maybe Stafford would be the right pick.
4) Last year was a stronger QB draft, Hoyer, out of MSU could be the 4th QB picked. So, the QB Stafford played in the Capitol Bowl Game could go 3 QB picks after him. Then again, Hoyer did play against Matt Ryan before he went to Atl.

ps: Lions take Stafford as of 12:11am.

It's time...

It's that time again, the pollen count is higher then days left in the school year and the basketball season is over. Even if the Pistons were good you wouldn't be that concerned until late May early June and I am really not holding my breath on the Hawks either.

Then there is Spring football which is a like Indian Summers. Yeah its nice but, seriously does it really mean anything towards the real season. Yeah get out and enjoy it, but its a tease. Yet, southerns love it like sweet tea and fried chicken. I guess their love for spring games is like northerners explaining their love for hockey in early June ( Go wings!).

Now back to the real time of year, the baseball season. It's the only sport that is played everyday of the week and all day of its season. You can catch a game at 1:00E, then a 4:00W, followed by a 7:00E and finally a 10:00W. Basically, you can catch that first game at the pool, hear that second game at the grill, wind down the day and enter the night with that third game in the garage and fall asleep to that last game.

Although, at this time last year, I was actually more excited about the green/white game then the baseball season. The Tigers were as good as the Nationals and the Braves season was up in arms. This year the Tigers are tied for first, yes its a three way tie but that could very easily change soon and the likeliness of that is actually pretty good too. Not like last were I was saying let's see where they are at the All-Star game.

The Tigers are 7-5, tied for first in the Central with KC and Chicago. But the Tigers are +18 in run difference, which is highest in the central. Why is that good? Toronto is +29, first in the East at 10-4 and Seattle is +10 at 8-5, first in the West. The Tigers won the series against the Mariners and lowered that difference a big bit and the Tigers really didn't contribute to the difference to the Jays as much as other teams did. Last the at this time the run difference was -39 for the Tigers, compare that this year to the Nationals who are at -21 and Baltiomore is at -29. That makes sign that things are little better on both sides of the plate for the Tigers.

Last year the Tigers opened the season against the Royal and were swept. The Tigers are 4-1 at home, losing 1 of those game to the White Sox. The White Sox's owned us of late, so to split that series early is great for our confidence, especially after losing the first game in the series.

Something even more intriguing this time of year is that Inge isn't leading all our hitting stats. Actually, it's the man who is paid to do so, Miguel Cabrera. Miguel is leading the team with HR's (4), BA (.489), RBI's (12), and OBP (.538). Last year at this time he was cold as, well the weather in the north right now. Miguel is putting MVP numbers up, because the hits have been useful and helpful. The home run on opening day to me was a big bail out ( had to put some stupid bail out reference in a Detroit related "article").

Even though the hitting is doing well, the pitching isn't looking to bad either. I said prior to the season that Verlander was the scariest part of the rotation. When Team USA doesn't even want you to play for them, there has to be some sign of WTF? The up side is, he's striking out guys, 20 to be exact. But a ERA of 7.88 and 0-2 record isn't going to carry us. What could carry us and I use the word could strongly, is Galarraga's 2-0 record and 0.68 ERA (technically he's our ace since Jim set it up for him to be our home opener starter) and the Bobby and Rodney show. Combined Bobby and Rodney's ERA is 0.00 in a combined 11 appearances. Rodney has 3 saves already, I don't know if he had saved 1 by now.

Now, the Tigers take on a hurting Angles team. If they can take the series there, they'd head into an actual meaningful early season series with the Royals. Don't tell me early season series can't be meaningful. Look at how this division has played out in recent years. Hell, we lost the Division Championship in the last series of the year in 06. Before playing us the Royals face Cleveland who could of turned it around in NY and White Sox's face Baltimore and red hot Blue Jays.

So if the Tigers can play at .500 or better in the next couple road series before coming home for a few series they'd be on the right track. The Division is up in the air and the Eastern and Western leaders right now aren't the teams predicted to win it. My hopes aren't high right now, but at least they are crushed now like they were last year at this time!

Baseball Preview

I just erased my whole blog, again(3x's). Listen, I know a whole lot of you laugh (Jordie) at my blog. I know you think its funny Dillon even writes a Blog. But, tonight, I am serious. More serious then Lupe Izzo's mean stare( I did it for you).

I'm tired of the whole Spartan nation is for the Detroit Nation idea. Why, because the media is wrapping its arms around something that was already there. CNN, CBS, HLN and whoever else, don't give me this BS, that State is caring a state.

Even Drew Sharp jumped onto the State is Detroit's team notion. I 'm sorry Mr. Hater, get off it. Don't pick us ESPN because it moves the state. Even that man-women Jachobson ( ESPN First - Take) had a radio bit about being Green (she's a scUM).

No, it's not a State fan getting up on his high horse and riding that wagon into the National Championship. If you are a UofM fan and now cheering for State that's fine. My dad, who wouldn't even wear his State Dad sweatshirt that I bought him for Christmas my first year bought a State shirt and wore that, which shows you how its all about MICHIGAN now. Trust me I had more UofM fans along with State fans high fiving me at the Braves games the last two nights to prove my point.

It's the media's idea that we were defeated, yes down, but we Michigan hasn't thrown in the towel. Seriously, do you know us. You don't! Stop using State as a Band Aid. State isn't the Band- Aid. Just cause you use some Anti-Bacterial hand sanitizer doesn't mean you cleaned yourself. That's what the media is playing State as. I'm not having it.

I'm a huge Spartan Fan. My 3 yr. old's favorite color is green and white and after anyone says Go he says Green. My 3 month smiles at the first clap of the fight song. In what should be the greatest of my glory, I am pissed. My Spartans are a Band Aid, to Detroit. We're not even close. You don't know us. We are Michigan! Go Green! Go White! Go Maize! Go Blue! Go Honolulu Blue! Go Orange! Go Red! Detroit Basketballllllllllllll!

I'd already planned to show my wife how the D can host a party on Monday. Then on Friday show here how the whole STATE of Michigan opens a season and celebrates Good Friday. It didn't take any MAGIC or a Spartan effort to show her that. Now that it happens that Monday will be a official day of Spartanhood in Michigan. Get off it!

Go MICHIGAN!
GO DETROIT!

All it took was a STATE 0f proudness in Michigan. Go US!


ps: just like last year we'll pitch good but get no hits. Then we'll hit good and pray for the bullpen! we finish 3rd!

March's Biggest Winner

Oh my dear lord, after I ripped the SEC a new rim, I get another chance to slam it down their basket holes again. If not being able to produce a sweet 16 team was enough, your best and biggest basketball team f*%$ed up ( no other words sorry).

This is a perfect example of why this is called the "Down South Report", I am here to tie two regions together with "unbiased" sports reporting. If you laughed at the unbiased reporting, so did I as UK explained their firing of Gillispe.

I admit, if State lost to VMI, Ole Miss, UGA (this year and prior to last years miracle on hardwood), Gardner -Webb, Houston and then follow up last years 11 seed with an non-invite to the dance I'd be pissed too.

However, UK, it's your own damn fault.

Even in this bad economy you hear crickets chirping. Your best candidates are either staying at current jobs or taking other jobs in the sec. Monster Jobs.com can't even find an app. for you.

UK, or maybe, UKKK, oh I went there! Tubby leave!

If you haven't and I am sure you didn't, listen to the UK Ad. explain this firing. It's great, he said everything right besides, opps I f*$%ed up by not keeping Tubby. I should of put out the fire with Tubby and made it right a couple years ago. If he had done that, I am sure Kentucky would have beat VMI in its opener this year and Gardner - Webb in its opener last year. I am sure if they were a 11 seed last year, they'd be a better 5 seed this year like LSU. Why you ask?

Well, he took a bottom feeder Minn. and grabbed the nation by it's balls. Opps, I did it again. Yes, he did, it started last year when he knocked Indiana off it's basketball pedestal in the big ten tourney. Then he came around with a hard jab and took UMinn to the the tourney, while UK went to the NIT. Trust me, I'd take that Meeks kid in a minute over...ummm...that one kid...oh yeah, I don't know any kid on Minn. Oh, Wait! I do! Ralph Sampson the III.

Shut up if you argue that Tucky went farther in the NIT then Minn did in the dance. Nobody cares about the NIT unless you're a mid major, a smaller power conference school ( UofM, Penn St., Auburn, Baylor), or a New York college. Point being, since UK doesn't fit those, they fired their coach, highlighting my point.

Tubby is ranked higher then Kevin McHale in Minn. and Kentucky can only name their football coach as a more famous person in their state. Why is that bad? Well, Kentucky is the SEC's door mate to greatness and their coach has a football field in Oregon named after him.

Besides that, Tubby took this often over looked big ten team to Arizona and beat number 1 seed L'ville, he wonda national championship in '06, six years after Izzo (or any other Big Ten coach) and he won 2 more games then Gillispie in their compared last seasons.

So why is Tubby the biggest winner. He's been rumored as a coach at a crappy ACC team, to do what he did at Minn., his former school lost in the NIT and he lost in the actual dance, he didn't loose to VMI and Gardner-Webb, he beat L'ville, oh and he still has a job!

Tucky, good luck! The coach you wanted, again, is staying put. The coach you wanted next took the Bama job (ps: left a VCU job better then yours) and despite Gus Johnson's great reporting of Izzo's unhappiness, you're not that lucky to get another good coach! Mizzou's coach would rather go to UGA then you guys.

I hope Tubby is sitting in a chillful 40's Minn. night, smoking a fine cigar, with a nice warming drink in hand (tobacco from a nice southern state and sipping on Kentucky's finest whiskey fielding calls) as Kentucky scrambles for shelter from this cold chilly coach hunt.

PS: I have nothing going on!

Round 2 EVE

Yikes! Like Hanukkah, the first two nights have been crazy! Full of surprises, locks (haha) and shining moments. So where does your bracket sit right now, in the trash? Back pocket, ready to be pulled out and placed in your co-worker's, friend's, brother's, grandmothers' face? Does your bracket compare to the presidents ( I wonder if Bush has knocking off Duke too)? Better yet, how is it doing compared to Mine?

I went 6-2 in the East. I missed the 7-10 and assumed to much on Portland St. However, I had Ok. St. and Wisconsin, not to mention UCLA over "sleeper" VCU.

I went 6-2 in the West. I missed WKU but my other loss I said you could split that game. Clemson loss to UofM, which is a big win for the B10, especially against an ACC team (2-0 in the tourney).

I went 7-1 in the West. The game I missed I said was a split, Cal lost to Maryland. I had AM and everything else was pretty easy.

Then there was the Mid-West, 3-5. However, I said you could split 2 of those 5 games. I just picked the other. I did say Cleveland State would chase Wake, I just didn't think they'd catch them, tie their shoes together and play monkey in the middle with them.

Round 2:
Despite my 10 misses, 14 of my sweet 16 are still alive. Wake's beating and my belief that Portland State fans would have should up in Boise like Michigan fans, Sienna fans, North Dakota fans and Cleveland State fans did, it's not all bad.

With that I am not going to change much. In the back of my head I didn't trust Wake and assumed that many people picked them to go as far if not farther then what I had. That's why I had L'ville taking them down. If anything, the path for L'ville is more golden then Dorthy's path to OZ. Wisconsin played a good FSU team, and I look for them to carry the torch for Portland State and knock the X-men out! Yes Jordie, In Bo I Trust!

For those people playing round by round brackets here is something I noticed.

East: Ok St. lives by the 3 and could die by the 3. Pitt lives inside, so that could play a factor. Experience and leadership is a big factor so don't be surprised if UCLA knocks Nova off at home.

South: Harden has a big game they knock off the Orangemen. WKU could see their way into another sweet 16.

West: This region will play out as is. Marq. would and could be the biggest "upset" as long as they don't fall into the Mizzou style of play.

MW: Kansas, L'ville and MSU are very excited! The only team who could have and issue is STATE, yes, I said it.

Hopefully, Saturday and Sunday will play out like a nice round of dreidel and my picks don't fall on Nun and lands with Gimel!

final 4

MSU vs Uconn

Duke vs Sooners

Here I am stuck with 3 2 seeds and 1 1 seed:

Uconn knocks out Msu because I am not going to Michigan that Monday of the Championship. Sooners knock out Duke and Blake does what Sam Bradford didn't do and Courtney Paris couldn't do, win a national championship!

Final $

best for last

HAHAH pistons loss and you will get that once you finish this blog

MIDWEST

L'Ville
OSU ( who doesn't love an upset but it's basically at OSU)

Utah ( you could split this pick)
Wake ( but Cleveland state chases them down)

WVA
Kansas (However, if any 3 seed goes its here based on location)

BC (split pick )
MSU

Sweet 16

L'ville ( very hot right now, but its in Ohio and they lost to Minn in Arizona, I am putting it into writing that if OSU wins it wouldn't surprise me, tickets are like 250 right now)
Wake

Kansas
Msu ( yes we do it again, Jayhawks are young)


Elite 8:

L'ville (osu if they happen to make it)
MSU

Region:

MSU ( had L'ville lost some time prior to the tourney then L'ville)

west

Rockets are up 10 and you are reading the blog in reverse order

West

Conn
AM (based on stats and location doesn't matter)

Purdue
Wash

Marq
Mizzou

Cal ( you can split this but stats show Cal, location shows Maryland)
Memphis

Sweet 16

Conn
Purdue ( you can split this pick, stats say Purdue but location says Wash but I. Thomas is to young and Kramer is a better defender)

Mizzou (lock down d)
memphis

Elite 8

Conn
Mizzou (seriously Memphis is going to go 31-0 to win it at all since their last loss?)

Regional Winner

Uconn

South

now the Pistons have reached double overtime and another "great" Q~use Uconn reference!

time for the South

Unc
Lsu (location and stats)

Ill (Chester is hurt but he only puts about 5 pts a game up, WKU beat 5 seed last yr. named Drake, who aren't even in this year)
Zags

ASU
Orangemen

Clem (its a split on this, stats, location, split your brackets)
Sooners

Sweet 16

Unc (home sweet home
Zags

Asu (you can go either way but Big East Tourney is fools gold for Q~use)
sooners

Elite 8

UNC
Sooners

Regional winner

Sooners (based on a toe )

Tourney!

As of 12:13 am, with the Pistons toying with my heart with a OT game against the Rockets ( AI, Sheed and RTPless team) I am waving my white flag. I am writing in my picks! Those with financial outcoming riding on this with me, we'll debate before 11am.

EAST ( I am starting in 2nd round)

Pitt
Okl St

Wisconsin (FSU is the worse 5 seed and farthest from home)
Portland St. ( Same applies to X-men)

UCLA ( Despite being far from home their stats make them the best 6 seed, also if they discuss your team prior to the tourney you aren't a sleeper team sorry VCU)
Nova (home sweet, home)

Minn (stats rank them higher then texas)
Duke (like nova)

East Sweet 16:
pitt
portland state

Nova (thanks to home sweet home, UCLA will make it close)
Duke (thanks to home sweet home)

Elite 8 East

Pitt
Duke

Regional winner

Duke

Thanks SEC

****

Pop! You hear that? Well, I did! It's a bubble being busted! No, not St. Mary's or Va. Tech or Penn St. It's the bubble surrounding the SEC!

SEC, the captain of the BCS. Georgia, LSU, Gators, Bama! Tim the Tool Man Taylor is perking his lips going " Ughh-Ohhhh." Lsu, Gators, Dawgs, Tenn. all have big BCS football wins! I hear it all the time, from everyone down here, we are football nation!, we produce great athletes. ESPN should have game down here every week, even if its Miss. State vs Vandy. It's the BCS power house. It's a good debate and I am sure ESPN (which is great for football coverage) would agree, however, BCS has its name attached to basketball. They measure SOS and RPI basically based on BCS conferences, because they are the conferences with the deepest talent. Well, almost all of them.

Well, SEC, you messed that up! No it wasn't Bama losing to the Utah or the Heisman winner losing to Michigan in the Capital One Bowl two seasons ago. It was the claim of Basketball to BCS conferences.

SEC you put one more team into the big dance this year then the Horizon (some of those schools don't even have football teams), yeah Cleveland knocked Butler off to give them two. Well, Miss. State won your conference tourney, to get get your third spot. Actually you may have knocked one of your own top teams out with Miss State's win. Miss St. finished behind the University of South Carolina, which shared a Co-Championship with Tenn ( Gamecocks didn't make it and get a spot in the NIT because they won a share regular season championship, of the EAST). Miss St. finished behind Auburn which came out of no where (there isn't a comparison for it that's how far they came) and didn't make the big dance!

Stop! Don't Give me the We won Back to Back with the Gators. All I have to say is that your Tourney champions from last year were Cinderella's cousins and finished 3-13 this year (in the sec). Come on! Your days of Kentucky rich tradition are gone, oh by they way, you let that coach go and he's got a team Minn. (big ten, ouch) in the tourney.

Back to the point. An area proud in athleticism, talent, and such lacks that in basketball now. The SEC doesn't even have it's team richest in basketball tradition in the dance, the regular season champs are seeded 9 and 8 ( Gamecocks split a championship with Tenn and didn't get the invite). Seina (MAAC) are ranked as high as of your East SEC champs/ tourney runner ups. Again, defending tourney champs from the prior year finished 3-13 and were knocked out in the first round. What's worst about that is their in-state rivials beat a top 10 team in their tourney (GT beat Clemson and almost beat FSU, ACC runner up).

If I were the MWAC, WAC, MAC and other football conferences which has a possible two or three teams out of all the mid-level conferences threaten the BCS each year. I'd use this as a point to break up the system or idea how BCS are power conferences. The point of the fact that the conference with the "choke hold" on the BCS can't produce a powerful consistent basketball team. Utah and BYU, teams that were the mainstream of opponents of the monolopizims of BCS conferences have teams ranked higher then the SEC or as high as one of its regular season champs.

So basically my rant is to say thank you! Thanks for taking Penn State out of the tourney! Your mid-level basketball conference took a decent team out of the tourney. Your conference is so good that your top two teams, if they win their first game will play number 1 seeds day 2. Then your tourney winner is a 13 seed! Which actually has the best chance of an uspet!

Heal-Toe, Heal-Toe- Docey- Doe

Less then a month ago I made my field of 64 (not 65). I debated on doing the Joe L. (espn) way and updating my bracket daily and hourly as tournaments played out. Then I remembered I had a family and a brother visiting for NASCAR, plus a glimpse of sprummer (spring and summer) so going outside was mandatory and oh and I am not paid.
Well, Sunday is here and the results are in. Remember the predications were based on pre-tournaments games, before Pitt beat U-Conn twice, Auburn made us realize the SEC is horrible, and well Senior Night. My Big Dance picks were also predicting conference tournaments.

My Teams in: 46
Number of Correct Teams in Region: 14
Number of Correct Seeds: 8
+/- seeding: 18

PS:
-I had Binghamton in
- Oakland had a lead over North Dakota till about 10 seconds left
- Cleveland State beat Butler not Green-Bay
-Buff lost to Akron (yes, I had 2 MAC teams in I am a from there)
- Citadel was my winner of SoCon tourn. (that's Davidson's Conf)
- ****SEC Gamecocks, Gators, and Kentucky folded, thanks A**holes! So did Tenn, which let Miss State knock out Penn St.
-If the big east was as strong as they said Cincy and Providence would have made something at the end! Then we could of heard Dicky V cry for four days!
- Miami and Va Tech missing it proves that the ACC is better then the Big East ( DePaul didn't win a regular season Big East game knocked out a bubble team from the conference, that's not strong, ask Indiana)

**** see previous blog!

Sorry Mr. Big Shot

A possible Outright Regular Season Big Ten Championship on the line tonight for my beloved Spartans, so of course my focus is turned to ESPN. Then the time for Tip-Off drew closer. Much to my surprise I found myself pondering and focusing on the weight of the Pistons game. The D's beloved point guard comes home, well not really home, the other D is his home. Anyway, Chauncey made his return, and many fans focused on this game for a couple reason. One reason was to as Sheed put it, "Pay homage," and the other to see how the Pistons would play. A possible 3 game win streak sparks some interest.

If the Pistons had not beat the Magic and Celtics on the road as apart of that streak I imagine that whole Denver team would have felt like it was return "home". A Palace full of jerseys with the number 1 on them, but with Billups stitched above it and jerseys with number one and Iverson would be missing, just like A.I. I had to listen to the game so I wasn't able to see but I am sure there were plenty of Billups jerseys none the less.

This game meant something, the Stones just beat 2 of the top 3 teams in the East and on the road (yes, in the lost to LeBron and Wade early in the week). Now they are home, where they were under .500, to play against the West's 3rd best team (standings). A game that would be full of emotion, for a team that lacked that for a long time.

So, to me this was a big game for the Stones. Would they show up to make a statement they can win without their leader and against him? Would they show up and win 3 in a row? Could they win at home? Could they win 3 in a row against 3 top teams in the league? Would they regain confidence in themselves and with their fans?

Well, not only did they answer all those questions with a win. They overcame a 10 point deficit at halftime, which showed guts that had been missing. As I listened more closely after the Spartans grabbed another banner, I got a the sense that the fans were in it also, something I hadn't heard and seen in the last few games.

Now, hopefully the Stones can take this confidence into the next few games and make another mini-statement . To do that they can't sleep on a bottom dweller in the West, Golden State. Then they need to come down here to ATLANTA for a meaningful game against the Hawks (wow, I just said meaningful game against the Hawks). Win here and go back home to play the Magic again, now we are talking playoffs more seriously!

To say they "have" to go 3-0 in that span is a little much, but they should go at least 2-3. By the way that 2-3 needs to be wins against Atl and GS.

Ball Rolling

Test Blog! I am testing the contacts (which only allows me 10). I need help, I am really hoping to start something here. I am hoping to create a place to chat about Sports and sports connection to the D and no I won't join face book! We are placed all around the country but our love for sports was and has been a strong bolt in our friendships. I am looking for you guys to possibly do a few things, such as, be a follower, fwd the blog on to others, share comments, vote on the polls, just read it every once in a while and such. I know you are all busy as I am, but I have a passion for sports and find myself doing aimless research! Now I want to put it to use! Argue, tease, agree, poke fun, laugh at it over a beer (zima) in a bar, I don't care I am just looking to make it work.

A couple of you replied in e-mails and someone created a name to make a comment, which is great! Just Keep reading and fwd it on!

This a perfect time to start because the Tourney is soon, prep for the draft, spring training and such. Thanks again!

My field

I know Uconn lost and Msu lost but there is more time to play. So, I created my 64 teams, whom I think will be dancing. I didn't look at Strength of schedule or RPI, I just looked at records, rankings, who you beat. I admit I really don't know much about the Colonial or Metro Atlantic but I looked at the top teams, "studied" who they played and beat within the conference and selected the team I thought would win their tournament. Remember that's all those smaller conference teams have to do, win their tournament. So here is my selections;

EAST
1) Uconn
16) Bingamonton
8) Gamecocks
9) Minn.
5) Washington
12) Buffalo
4) Nova
13) Bama State
6) Illinois
11) BC
3) Wake
14) UNIllionis
7) Q'use
10)Kentucky
2) Duke
15) Oakland

West
1) Sooners
16) Morgan State
8) Ohio State
9) Dayton
5) Zags
12) Citadel
4) ASU
13) Portland State
6) Mizzou
11) BYU
3) Xavier
14) Robert Morris
7) Utah State
10) Penn State
2) Pitt
15) Cornell

MidWest

1) UNC
16) UNC-Ash
8) Texas
9) VaTech
5) Jayhawks
12) Tenn
4) UCLA
13) BGSU
6) Boil makers
11) Zona
3) Marq
14) Tenn- Martin
7)Miami
10) Providence
2) MSU
15) Green Bay

South

1) Memphis
16) Texas AM- CC
8) Gators
9) Cal
5) LSU
12)Cincy
4) Butler
13) Belmont
6) FSU
11) Badgers
3) Clemson
14) American
7) Texas
10) Davidson
2) L'ville
15) Siena

I am back and I have a crazy theory! Thanks to ESPN's little trade machine, I might be on to something. Hey Stern I have a four team trade proposal with Stones, Hawks, Blazers and Heat. All players are on 1 to 2 years left on their contract, one player the Stones want and the other will be gone next year. And No, Wade is not apart of this crazy idea.
Thanks to a free NBA League Pass preview and few national televised games I was fortunate to watch the Pistons play. Usually I listen to sweet sound of Mahorn call a game via X-M. Instead of watching a team struggles to find themselves in my head where Rip and A.I struggle contently get to one another and Wwhere I also watched Amir's youth develop in my head like a proud parent, my eyes opened my head to a sluggish team with about as much chemistry as I gathered in my C+ in high school. And as Sheed says "Ball don't lie!"
So as good as the idea was of AI coming to the D was, its time has faded. I have invested about as much faith in AI as he does in having practice on a holiday. Rip and I have a bond, a bond I remember every time I look at my celebration scar on my toe! So I decided to play with that trade machine with AI leaving the D and this is what I worked out;

Stones Get: Shawn Marion and Steve Blake
Hawks Get: A.I
Blazers Get: Mike Bibby
Heat Get: Marvin Williams and Raef LaFrentz

Why this works;

Stones: Stuckey get a well traveled back up as opposed to a younger Bynum (whose not that bad). Rip gets to play and gets that trust and confidence he needs. Marion is 6-7, Tay is 6-9 and Amir is 6-9 so the stones don't lose height but gain a shooter at the 4 and Tay can play D, he built his career on that. Then Marion brings a little more explosiveness to the 3. Then Amir can come off the bench to give that spark he usually did off the bench.

Hawks: I know Bibby was a PG and AI is a SG but Joe Johnson is a bigger SG. Remember Eric Snow was bigger SG during that 76er run with AI. Plus this team is a little faster then Sheed and Stones and I think that's better for AI. The loss of Marvin lets a bigger body of Horford to Move into PF and quicker J.Smith to get outside at the 3.

Blazers: Who doesn't love Steve Blake and Roy as their back court! But Bibby and Roy sounds a little better I think Bibby would love to come back West anyways and show he still has something to give. Raef leaving town would be no different then one Starbucks closing, cause there is another one a block up the street (Joel Przybilla).

Heat: Heat give up some money and get some more youth. I think with Marion gone, Beasly would feel a little more pressure to work. Beasly would now have to compete with a player his age instead of "developing" behind a veteran. Reaf would stay at a 4th string C but he's got experience at

It's just an idea, I am no Joe D., but either has been the AI experience!

Stafford Files

Excuse me! Ummm over here! Hey, Hey, look over hear. Stafford, Stafford listen up quickly its not to late! I did some research! Stafford Stop!!!!! Someone send this to Stafford, NOW! Tell him to wait and see if the Lions turn it around like the Falcons or Dolphins and don't have the number one pick!

Stafford here is a quick, but excruciating look at the history of the Lions. This is also for any dawgs fan looking forward to an "alumni" going pro, especially as the number one pick.

Stafford, this starts in 1989. However, I jump a year ahead. In 1990 the Lions drafted Heisman winner Andrea Ware, great, sounds like a club who drafts winners. Well, Ware was ranked by ESPN as the number one Heisman BUST! Wondering what that has to deal with you Stafford, look at the history of this franchise that could pick you.

1989 Lions draft USC draft pick QB Rodney Pete, who was selected ALL-ROOKIE football digest. In 1989 Lions also drafted a small running back named Barry Sanders and DB Ray Crockett. Looks like the Lions have established a great foundation. Seems like a franchise that would support your strong arm and surround you with a strong running game you are accustomed to.

That brings me back to Andrea Ware, one year later after drafting Pete, the Lions drafted that Heisman winner Andrea Ware. WOW, back to back great draft picks right? Woops, I forgot to mention that Ware was a quarterback. So back to back years Lions draft a quarterback. Reminds me of a time were we drafted consecutive Wide Receivers. Oh, Hey Lion fans, did you know that Scott Mitchell was drafted in the same year by the Dolphins.

Stafford, Mitchell was a Free Agent Lions brought in after a remarkable year he had filling in for Marino. Lions fans and his performance ran him out of town, well, I shouldn't say ran (by the way Lions drafted Rob Hinckley three picks before Mitchell, which was the same year we drafted Ware, yeah right, who cares).

Now, we have two young quarterbacks biding for playing time. But guess what the Lions do after a couple years, they bring in Eric Kramer (not drafted by Lions, but a FA) and he ends up guiding them to the playoffs. Our QB's of the future are warming benches now. Did I mention our second round pick the year before ('92) we brought in Kramer was Jason Hanson, Lions kicker to date. Stafford, you catching a clue yet? Not yet, okay, hold on.

Lions next quarterback pick before the sixth round doesn't come to Rutgers quarterback Mike McMahon (didn't have a college winning record) in 2001. Then go back to the 1999 draft where Lions passed on Culpepper, who is the number one quarterback on the Lions roster now!

Stafford I hope you aren't thinking well I am going to change that. The reason I say that, the Lions drafted Joey Harrington in 2002, the year after McMahon. Now with two young QB draft picks on their depth chart again they go and draft some skill players. The Lions draft Michigan State's Charles Rogers and USC Mike Williams. Not to mention Roy Williams WR and RB Kevin Jones. Last time they did that, Barry panned out but QB's didn't.

Williams squared gone! Jones and Rogers gone! So Stafford as you can see the Lions will try and support you with some skill players. But if they don't work out, they will go and draft you a back up or a kicker.

Then Lions did it again in '05, by drafting QB Dan Orlovsky, Dawg fans or Stafford if you don't know who he is just You-Tube his name. He is running out of bounds to get safetied against the Vikings.

Convinced to be the number one pick yet? I forgot to mention they drafted Drew Staton a couple drafts back in the second round after Orlovsky and Harrington. Did I mention Stafford the Lions also have Drew Henson on the depth chart. He played with Tom Brady at UofM and for the Yankee's. He was cool till Matt Cassell came around and actually played well in the NFL.

As you reportedly said it was okay to be drafted by the Lions. Think! You will be joining a roster with a former second round QB pick from '07, fifth round QB pick in in 05' and FA Drew Henson and Culpper. That roster doesn't have the '02 first round QB pick on it anymore. See, Stafford you don't fit.

You don't even have to throw a pass, run a 40, lift a weight, take a test or anything to see you don't fit in Detroit. If you want the money then fine! If you want to play then no! The Lions have never surrounded a drafted QB with skill players or skill players with a drafted QB. If they don't like you after a year or two they have proved to draft another QB!

I am not a Sam Bradford or a Tim Tebow fan or even hope they become Lions. Yet, for your own sake Stafford, if they stick around another year in college, the Lions wouldn't blink an eye at drafting one of them. Even if you are on the Lions depth chart.

Stay Stafford! Not because I am a dawg fan, because I am the farthest from. I am not even a fan of the QB's mentioned prior. I am a Lions fan and I'd hate to see anyone else suffer!

Big Deal

Just a quick follow up on previous blog on Big 12. Sooners lost, so the big 4 of the big 12 goes 1-3. One of those losses was by another SEC team. The high school anology I mentioned before played out to be this; Florida Beat Oklahoma, Ole Miss beat Florida, Ole Miss beat Texas Tech, Oklahoma beat Texas Tech, Texas Tech beat Texas, Texas beat Oklahoma! As I ask all of my students, " what is the lessoned learned here?" My answer, with all bias installed, Big 12 is not a big deal. Welcome Texas Tech, Texas and Oklahoma to Big 10 country! But, thanks Big 12 for taking the heat off the big 10 this year!

Big12; A Big Impact or no Big deal

The Longhorns did what they needed to do last night, right. They beat the Big 10's BCS whipping post, dem ole' Buckeyes! Longhorns didn't necessarily take the Buckeyes out to the pasture and put an end to them like thought. The Longhorns were one call and one tackle away from being apart of a possible crumble of the big 12's top 4.

Yes, top 4, Oklahoma State's only season losses were to the Sooners, Red Raiders and Longhorns. Then those top 4 teams played in bowl games. Texas Tech's folded in their home state and put more air into the SEC bubble. Oklahoma State's loss helped the Pac-10 go undefeated in the bowl season. So when 2 of those big 4 went 0-2, I wondered, Big 12 or Big deal?

Then last night, Longhorns did what everyone expected, win. But, the Buckeyes pulled out a great "moral" victory and gave a possible moral loss for the Big 12. The talk or possible belief was when Texas blew out OSU and Sooners possible fell to the Gators, Texas would then be apart of National Championship consideration. Does Texas still deserve that consideration?

Well, they didn't exactly blow out OSU, they had to make a come back after pulling ahead by 11. The only team the Longhorns lost to, lost in their bowl game to a team that beat one opponent in the Championship. The other opponent in the Championship, the longhorns beat. So does that play into any consideration?

But, it doesn't matter till the outcome of Thursday. As we approach the eve of the BCS championship, the Big 12 family has to be worried. This can't be like New Year's Eve or Christmas Eve wondering what prosperous things await. Big 12 needs to be concerned what happens if the Sooners lose, they don't just lose a game, they lose a lot of the glitter the conference gained over the regular season.

A Sooner loss means the Big 12's big 4 would be 1-3 in bowl games. The only win wasn't a blow out that people spoke about and it was against the 1-6 Big 10. The other guns in the big 12 beat two Big 10 teams and the kamikaze called Clemson. That equation to me would equal disappointment. Even if the Sooners win, they can bask in a tarnished National Championship. All the Big 12 has to thank is a hot USC team that everyone loves, undefeated Utah that everyone wishes could have a piece of too, a team within their conference with the same record (and beat the Champs), oh and a .500 record of the top 4 teams!

I am going to say No Deal, No Big Deal to the Big 12.

The Big 5.5

A move from the Dirty D to the Dirty South introduced me to the world of the SEC. For about four years I have tried to defend the big 1o or as they say down here the big 11. The 08-09 bowl season has proved me to be half right in my everlasting defense. The 1-5 record (as of the 4 qrt. of the OSU / Texas game) is not what I am talking about. I am talking about the tale of two football halves.

*Wisconsin down 14-3 at the half, do able right. Not after FSU added 28 points in the second half.
*Gophers were outscored 21-0 in the 2nd and 3rd qrt. and would of tied J'hawks had the only took 1 and 4 qrt. score.
* Spartans took a 6-3 lead into the half against the team formerly known as #1, then Stafford decide to try out for the Lions.
*Psu won the second half of the Rose Bowl, to bad they let USC score 24 points (in the 2nd qrt.).
* Thanks to Iowa's 1st half smack of the other USC, the second half tie didn't matter.
1/2*Northwestern held their head high for both halves, but that little thing called OT

That's the Big 10's bowl season in half a nut shell!