Well...South Carolina made a nice comeback on Tennessee last night, but Tennessee pulled it out in overtime with a field goal. Now, here is my wacky Top...however far I go!
1. Ohio St.
2. Boston College
3. LSU
4. Oklahoma
5. West Virginia
6. Oregon
7. Arizona St.
8. Kansas
9. Missouri
10. Virginia Teck
11. USC
12. Hawaii
13. Texas
14. Georgia
15. Florida
16. UConn
17. South Florida
18. Michigan
19. Auburn
20. Alabama
21. Tennessee
22. South Carolina
23. Kentucky
24. Troy
25. Kansas St.
26. Virginia
27. California
28. Wisconsin
29. UCLA
30. Boise St.
31. Penn St.
32. Texas A & M
33. Mississippi St.
34. Vanderbuilt
35. Georgia Tech
36. Rutgers
37. Texas Tech
38. Arkansas
39. Bringham Young
40. Wake Forest
There you go. But don't take my word for it. It's hard- especially this year in the wacky world of college football. But I think it's fairly accurate. Key games this week: Alabama vs. LSU, Georgia vs. Troy (this could be closer than some think), and Ohio St. vs. Wisconsin. I'll write again soon.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
What Do You Know?
Well what do you know? Saturday is not over and we already have another wacky week of college football. Not that it should be a surprise to anyone, but to some people, it probably is.
Not that it's a bad thing. If we knew who would win the games, then there would be basically no point in playing them. Last blog I wrote of how all the wacky things attracts people more to football than baseball. Granted, one does not know what will happen in baseball either- it is about as unpredictable as football. But football's upsets and wacky Saturday's are always more interesting. Stupid calls work for some coaches (Les Miles), and quick thinking coaches save their teams victories (Nick Saban over Ole Miss). Teams who lose to yesterday's nobodies could very possibly turn around and defeat the defending national champions (as did Auburn). Tennessee got hammered by Florida and Alabama, but yet hammered Georgia- who then beat Florida by twelve points. South Carolina was the first team to play LSU "reasonably" close, until the Florida game, but yet they lost to Vanderbuilt and are currently getting beat bad by Tennessee. South Carolina also beat Kentucky who is the only team to have beaten LSU. But did I mention that they lost today to Mississppi St. Need I say more?
Yes, this is an interesting year, and some would call it one for the ages. But I don't really think so. Not that it is not more interesting than other years, but that we should be seeing the same stuff happen in the years to come- for a good while. It's all part of the wonderful but yet wacky game of good ol' college football. Perhaps all we need now is a playoff, although that is still up for debate.
Stay tuned for upcoming blogs. I'll try to post some this week. Topics include: Was that a cheap-shot from Auburn on Ducet against LSU 10/20, or just a sloppy play with a bad ending, my college football rankings, and my college football predictions- although it is hard to predict games these days!
What do you think?
God bless you all!
War Eagle
October 27, 2007
Ryan Hampton
Not that it's a bad thing. If we knew who would win the games, then there would be basically no point in playing them. Last blog I wrote of how all the wacky things attracts people more to football than baseball. Granted, one does not know what will happen in baseball either- it is about as unpredictable as football. But football's upsets and wacky Saturday's are always more interesting. Stupid calls work for some coaches (Les Miles), and quick thinking coaches save their teams victories (Nick Saban over Ole Miss). Teams who lose to yesterday's nobodies could very possibly turn around and defeat the defending national champions (as did Auburn). Tennessee got hammered by Florida and Alabama, but yet hammered Georgia- who then beat Florida by twelve points. South Carolina was the first team to play LSU "reasonably" close, until the Florida game, but yet they lost to Vanderbuilt and are currently getting beat bad by Tennessee. South Carolina also beat Kentucky who is the only team to have beaten LSU. But did I mention that they lost today to Mississppi St. Need I say more?
Yes, this is an interesting year, and some would call it one for the ages. But I don't really think so. Not that it is not more interesting than other years, but that we should be seeing the same stuff happen in the years to come- for a good while. It's all part of the wonderful but yet wacky game of good ol' college football. Perhaps all we need now is a playoff, although that is still up for debate.
Stay tuned for upcoming blogs. I'll try to post some this week. Topics include: Was that a cheap-shot from Auburn on Ducet against LSU 10/20, or just a sloppy play with a bad ending, my college football rankings, and my college football predictions- although it is hard to predict games these days!
What do you think?
God bless you all!
War Eagle
October 27, 2007
Ryan Hampton
Monday, October 22, 2007
Who Cares Anymore?
I used to get into baseball a good bit. Then, after playing baseball, it kind of wore off, to where I was not "into" it until the postseason- and I would root for the braves in the post season, because like every year they would make it (although now they don't). But now, even with a game seven between the Red Sox and the Indians, I hardly find myself getting into it at all. I don't know exactly how it got to how it is now, and I'm not even sure exactly how it is now. Baseball is almost like nascar to me. There is nothing sinful about it- it's just boring until the very end of the game/race, and it is only exiting then if it is close. But honestly, I would probably rather watch the last five laps of racing then the last inning in a tied baseball game.
Baseball used to be America's sport and pastime. Baseball lovers today probably still say it is. But American's aren't showing it. SportsCenter seems to give baseball a fair amount of respect relative to the way the typical American. Baseball can be interesting. There are hidden strategies involved. It is detailed but yet organized and rational. But the only thing that seems like it would have much exitement in a play itself would be a 'play at the plate,' a grandslam, or something to that effect. Many American's would much rather see a stupid coaches stupid calls work (as with LSU), half of the top ten ranked teams losing to "mid-majors" on a given weekend (as is happening some this year), a quarterback who has struggled make an amazing fourth quarter drive only to see it go to naught by the opposing team's insuing drive (as with Auburn's Brandon Cox), a team wipe out a team who wiped out a team who beat the original team (Alabama, Tennessee, Geogia), an eighteen year old kid beat the defending national champions by the strength of his foot (Auburn's Wes Byrum over Florida), or simply hear Lee Corso say "Not so fast, my friend!" I am by all means in that crowd.
College football is played for honor, pride, and love. Proffessional athletics, particularly MLB, seems to be played for fortune and fame. In college football we ponder over the nagging question of who number one is. In MLB, we ponder over who has been on stereroids.
I do not write this to put down baseball fans, the game in general, or any particular MLB player. There is still a small part of me that enjoys the game of baseball, especially when it gets to the nitty gritty. But until baseball, particularly MLB shows me something more exiting than paint dry- well, okay, to be fair, more exiting than watching somebody paint- I will by all means care much more about the pride and glory of college football than the fortune and fame of MLB.
What Do You Think?
Ryan
Baseball used to be America's sport and pastime. Baseball lovers today probably still say it is. But American's aren't showing it. SportsCenter seems to give baseball a fair amount of respect relative to the way the typical American. Baseball can be interesting. There are hidden strategies involved. It is detailed but yet organized and rational. But the only thing that seems like it would have much exitement in a play itself would be a 'play at the plate,' a grandslam, or something to that effect. Many American's would much rather see a stupid coaches stupid calls work (as with LSU), half of the top ten ranked teams losing to "mid-majors" on a given weekend (as is happening some this year), a quarterback who has struggled make an amazing fourth quarter drive only to see it go to naught by the opposing team's insuing drive (as with Auburn's Brandon Cox), a team wipe out a team who wiped out a team who beat the original team (Alabama, Tennessee, Geogia), an eighteen year old kid beat the defending national champions by the strength of his foot (Auburn's Wes Byrum over Florida), or simply hear Lee Corso say "Not so fast, my friend!" I am by all means in that crowd.
College football is played for honor, pride, and love. Proffessional athletics, particularly MLB, seems to be played for fortune and fame. In college football we ponder over the nagging question of who number one is. In MLB, we ponder over who has been on stereroids.
I do not write this to put down baseball fans, the game in general, or any particular MLB player. There is still a small part of me that enjoys the game of baseball, especially when it gets to the nitty gritty. But until baseball, particularly MLB shows me something more exiting than paint dry- well, okay, to be fair, more exiting than watching somebody paint- I will by all means care much more about the pride and glory of college football than the fortune and fame of MLB.
What Do You Think?
Ryan
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Top 35 For the week of October 14
1. Ohio St.
2. South Florida
3. Boston College
4. Oklahoma
5. L.SU.
6. South Carolina
7. Kentucky
8. Florida
9. West Virginia
10. Oregon
11. California
12. Virginia Tech
13. Arizona St.
14. U.S.C.
15. Kansas
16. Texas
17. Auburn
18. Missouri
19. Hawaii
20. Cincinatti
21. Michigan
22. Kansas St.
23. Tennessee
24. Georgia
25. Texas Tech
26. Penn St.
27. Wisconsin
28. Wake Forest
29. Troy
30. Alabama
31. Georgia Tech
32. Rutgers
33. Florida St.
34. Boise St.
35. Maryland
2. South Florida
3. Boston College
4. Oklahoma
5. L.SU.
6. South Carolina
7. Kentucky
8. Florida
9. West Virginia
10. Oregon
11. California
12. Virginia Tech
13. Arizona St.
14. U.S.C.
15. Kansas
16. Texas
17. Auburn
18. Missouri
19. Hawaii
20. Cincinatti
21. Michigan
22. Kansas St.
23. Tennessee
24. Georgia
25. Texas Tech
26. Penn St.
27. Wisconsin
28. Wake Forest
29. Troy
30. Alabama
31. Georgia Tech
32. Rutgers
33. Florida St.
34. Boise St.
35. Maryland
Sunday, October 7, 2007
My Top 35
Here is a look at the top 35 from my blog, The Final Word:
1. L.S.U
2. Ohio St.
3. California
4. Boston College
5. South Florida
6. West Virginia
7. Oklahoma
8. South Carolina
9. Florida
10. U.S.C.
11. Oregon
12. Kentucky
13. Virginia Tech
14. Missouri
15. Texas
16. Cincinnati
17. Hawaii
18. Illinois
19. Auburn
20. Wisconsin
21. Kansas
22. Arizona St.
23. Georgia
24. Tennessee
25. Florida St.
26. Purdue
27. Kansas St.
28. Michigan
29. Rutgers
30. Texas A & M
31. Alabama
32. Colorada
33. Penn St.
34. Mississippi St.
35. Clemson
What do you think?
War Eagle!
Ryan
1. L.S.U
2. Ohio St.
3. California
4. Boston College
5. South Florida
6. West Virginia
7. Oklahoma
8. South Carolina
9. Florida
10. U.S.C.
11. Oregon
12. Kentucky
13. Virginia Tech
14. Missouri
15. Texas
16. Cincinnati
17. Hawaii
18. Illinois
19. Auburn
20. Wisconsin
21. Kansas
22. Arizona St.
23. Georgia
24. Tennessee
25. Florida St.
26. Purdue
27. Kansas St.
28. Michigan
29. Rutgers
30. Texas A & M
31. Alabama
32. Colorada
33. Penn St.
34. Mississippi St.
35. Clemson
What do you think?
War Eagle!
Ryan
Monday, October 1, 2007
One Turning Tide
This past weekend was a day of upsets in the world of college football. Five of the then top ten teams lost to teams they were not supposed to lose to. Auburn, who lost to Mississippi St., beat Florida Saturday night off of the foot of eighteen year old Wes Byrum. South Florida, who was hardly heard of ten years ago, is now number six in the nation after shocking West Virginia Friday night.
Of course, being from Alabama, it is inevitable that the Auburn and Alabama games gain the most attention in the local media, and even in this very blog. I find it somewhat funny that two weeks ago, folks from Alabama, and perhaps around the whole nation for that matter, was saying that the "Tide has turned." Bama is back to a power-house program, while Auburn is back to a mediocre level. But my oh my how the tide has quickly turned again.
But I’m not surprised. I didn’t necessarily pick Auburn to beat Florida, but I did not pick them to lose either. I am not surprised Auburn now looks better- a lot better- than they did two weeks ago.
And this is not just jargon I’m all of a sudden using to make me sound good either. I predicted that Auburn would get better- even after losing to Mississippi St., I gave hope for Auburn- or at least attempted to. I never said as a fact that the Tide has turned.
Now do not get me wrong. I am not saying that Auburn will win the rest of their games. I am not saying that Auburn will beat Alabama, although I almost predicted it in a blog once, but chose not to. But I did say that there is hope for Auburn. I implied that they would get better. I implied that Alabama, though perhaps improved, is not a great team. I made very clear in the last blog that the college football playing field amongst teams is being leveled. Fifteen years ago, as hard as it was then, predicting the outcome of college football games was much easier. Now we really do not know. Who would have thought that Kentucky would be number eight in the nation, and that South Florida would have been number six?! Who would have thought Notre Dame would still not have a win? Who would have thought Auburn would lose to Mississippi St., but then beat Florida, who romped all over Tennessee? Who would have thought that Appalachian St. would have beaten Michigan? Not many people would have thought many of these.
And after all of this, people still bet so much money on college football- not just the victors, but the margin of victory. Please. This past weekend attested to the fact that you really don’t know what will happen. That’s why we play the game. That’s why it’s interesting. That is why people lose money.
I find it interesting to predict games, and it is possible to know what you are talking about when doing so. I find it fun to have small bets of lunches, ten dollars, and the such with good friends. But I find it interesting to watch people play smash mouth football all to know that they won when the clock reaches zero. And this is much more interesting when we don’t know the outcome before the game. More and more, this is the way it is becoming, and that is good.
So it’s time we stop our immature ranting of a turning tide. If it turned two weeks ago, it turned Saturday night by the foot of an eighteen year old- Wes Byrum. And the chances are it’ll turn again soon.
What do you think?
War Eagle!
October 1, 2007
Ryan Hampton
Of course, being from Alabama, it is inevitable that the Auburn and Alabama games gain the most attention in the local media, and even in this very blog. I find it somewhat funny that two weeks ago, folks from Alabama, and perhaps around the whole nation for that matter, was saying that the "Tide has turned." Bama is back to a power-house program, while Auburn is back to a mediocre level. But my oh my how the tide has quickly turned again.
But I’m not surprised. I didn’t necessarily pick Auburn to beat Florida, but I did not pick them to lose either. I am not surprised Auburn now looks better- a lot better- than they did two weeks ago.
And this is not just jargon I’m all of a sudden using to make me sound good either. I predicted that Auburn would get better- even after losing to Mississippi St., I gave hope for Auburn- or at least attempted to. I never said as a fact that the Tide has turned.
Now do not get me wrong. I am not saying that Auburn will win the rest of their games. I am not saying that Auburn will beat Alabama, although I almost predicted it in a blog once, but chose not to. But I did say that there is hope for Auburn. I implied that they would get better. I implied that Alabama, though perhaps improved, is not a great team. I made very clear in the last blog that the college football playing field amongst teams is being leveled. Fifteen years ago, as hard as it was then, predicting the outcome of college football games was much easier. Now we really do not know. Who would have thought that Kentucky would be number eight in the nation, and that South Florida would have been number six?! Who would have thought Notre Dame would still not have a win? Who would have thought Auburn would lose to Mississippi St., but then beat Florida, who romped all over Tennessee? Who would have thought that Appalachian St. would have beaten Michigan? Not many people would have thought many of these.
And after all of this, people still bet so much money on college football- not just the victors, but the margin of victory. Please. This past weekend attested to the fact that you really don’t know what will happen. That’s why we play the game. That’s why it’s interesting. That is why people lose money.
I find it interesting to predict games, and it is possible to know what you are talking about when doing so. I find it fun to have small bets of lunches, ten dollars, and the such with good friends. But I find it interesting to watch people play smash mouth football all to know that they won when the clock reaches zero. And this is much more interesting when we don’t know the outcome before the game. More and more, this is the way it is becoming, and that is good.
So it’s time we stop our immature ranting of a turning tide. If it turned two weeks ago, it turned Saturday night by the foot of an eighteen year old- Wes Byrum. And the chances are it’ll turn again soon.
What do you think?
War Eagle!
October 1, 2007
Ryan Hampton
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
