Is There a Media Bias??

For the second straight year a contraversial BCS Championship game involved a team from the SEC. The South, and particularly the SEC, have been very active in the National Title hunt. Some people complain that there is a bias in the media against the SEC, the South, or certain teams. Yet with these facts, some find it hard to find one.

But I still say that to some degree or another, there is a bias. When a team such as Ohio St. or USC get into the NC game it is considered hands down and no-two-ways-about-it that they will get in. People still complained when Florida got in, and some people do not think LSU should have got in this year. Of course, if LSU did not get in, then UGA from the SEC would have had a good argument (I think that they do anyway). UAT was given tough player restrictions when the players were found to have false use of textbooks, and the media talks much more about Big 12 or Pac 10 than they do the SEC. Of course, it was a given AU would be left out of the championship game in '04. The media rejects a playoff system to give perhaps up to three SEC teams a year a chance at the Big Show. Although the SEC has been present in the NC game now three years out of the past five, and all three of these years were contraversial, we should consider the strength of the SEC, and the negatives the media gives them compared to the positives the media gives other schools.

AU was left out in '04, and the media did not feel bad for AU. When USC was left out in '03, the media declared them the AP NC's, and rode them on #1 all through '04. When UF went in the NC game contraverisaly last year, the media complained it was not Michigan (even though they already lost to Ohio St., who was definetely in the game). UF wound up beating Ohio St. real bad. This year, it was a given Ohio St. would be in, and it was a toss-up between about six other teams, of which the SEC had two. LSU went in with Ohio St., and UGA got a no-win situation with a Hawaii team.

I also recently saw a TV special with the fifty greatest plays in college football. The only AU play was Punt Bama Punt. But I saw plenty of plays listed that were not as good as other AU plays. What about Bye Bye Bo, Go Crazy Cadallac, Kenny Irons breaking through ten players again LSU, the contraversial tip play against LSU in 06, Nix to Saners - '93 version or '94 version, etc. I wouldn't expect all of those on there, but I do believe that AU was deservant of more than one play, especially after seeing other plays they had on.

And so I won't be hypocritical, I admit that yes, I am biased too. But not many people see this blog, and those who do are probably SEC junkies anyway. And besides, I am not getting paid a living for writing these. It's just fun : )

What do you think?

War Eagle

December 24, 2007

Merry Christmas!!!

Ryan Hampton

College Football Now

Well...we are ALMOST to the end of a wacky season of college football. We still have the bowl games, which are up for grabs. Who's going where? Who will be in the NC game? It appears that it will be Ohio St. vs. LSU in the NC game, although that has not been announced officially yet. But my opinion is not always the opinion of the voters. I believe that if Ohio St. goes, then UGA should go. UGA does have two loses, and they did not play Saturday. LSU did and one their conference. But if Ohio St. moves from #3 to #1 with #1 & #2 both losing Saturday, then UGA should in theory, move from #4 to #2. Granted UGA has the extra loss, but so does LSU, and both LSU and UGA's schedule is harder than Ohio St's. Really, the top teams is opinionated, and so hard to tell. I would like to see a playoff, but I'm not sure if that will be happening any time soon or not. But still, it's a nice thought. Without further to do, I will give you my top 40.

1. Ohio St.
2. Georgia
3. LSU
4. Oklahoma
5. Virginia Tech

6. USC
7. Kansas
8. West Virginia
9. Missouri
10. Florida

11. Arizona St.
12. Hawaii
13. Illinois
14. Boston College
15. Clemson

16. Tennessee
17. Texas
18. Wisconsin
19. South Florida
20. Auburn

21. Virginia
22. Cincinatti
23. Arkansas
24. Bringham Young
25. Kentucky

26. Boise St.
27. UConn
28. Texas Tech
29. Penn St.
30. Mississippi St.

31. Oregon
32. Michigan
33. Troy
34. Air Force
35. Georgia Tech

36. Florida Atlantic
37. UCF
38. Oregon St.
39. Wake Forest
40. Utah

Bowl predictions (what I would like to see, not what I think will happen): Ohio St. vs. UGA; LSU vs. USC; Oklahoma vs. Virginia Tech; Kansas vs. Illinois; Missouri vs. West Virginia; Tennesse vs. Clemson; Florida vs. Hawaii; Auburn vs. Virginia. I could go on and on with bowl games but that is what I would really like to see, with Ohio St. vs. UGA in the big show.

So there's that. My polls may not be perfect, although I do not know if there is a perfect poll with this year's college football. It is similar to the main poll's, though slightly different. Anyway, let me know what you think about my posts. That's my word, and as always, I have the final word.

What do you think?

War Eagle!

Ryan

Recapping the Iron Bowl and the Rest of the Season

What a year of college football! And we still have a little bit left to go. Maybe this can be a sign of things to come - and that's not a bad thing. I want to see the unbelieveable, unpredictable, and games in which the honest and wise person will not in the least claim to know who will win.

What an Iron Bowl - well, sort of. Maybe it was dull for what we think of as the "classic Iron Bowl," but no Iron Bowl is really all that dull. Hey Auburn's Defensive player Jeraud Powers got bit by a security dog! And Auburn is at home! A sure TD for Alabama turned out to be an interception for Auburn. Overall, it was two mediocre teams playing pretty good ball for their standards. Not great, great football, but certainly some hard hitting, great effort, and not "too" many penalties - although the penalties that came proved costly.

In the mean time, LSU lost. Tennessee pulled out a win after Kentucky's impressive comeback. In the process, Tennessee clinched a trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game, and LSU's Championship hopes are dashed. Georgia finished off their season great with another victory to Georgia Tech. Georgia won their last six games. Ohio St. without playing keeps their National Title hopes alive. West Virginia and Missouri, with their impressive win against high-powered Kansas, moves up to take over as the front-runners in the National Championship hunt. But they both play another game. Believe it or not, there is a *reasonable* chance that Ohio St. can play against Georgia in the National Title game. This would be yet another Big 10, SEC matchup, and Ohio St.'s second straight trip to the big show. Of course, this is a somewhat small chance, but a reasonable one, especially considering what has already happened this year.

So with all this and all of the other games in mind, may I give you my Top 40.

1. West Va.
2. Missouri
3. Ohio St.
4. Georgia
5. Kansas

6. LSU
7. Virginia Tech
8. U.S.C.
9. Oklahoma
10. Florida

11. Tennessee
12. Boston College
13. Arizona St.
14. Illinois
15. Clemson

16. Hawaii
17. Oregon
18. Wisconsin
19. Cincinnati
20. Texas

21. Auburn
22. Arkansas
23. Troy
24. Kentucky
25. South Florida

26. Virginia
27. BYU
28. Mississippi St.
29. Michigan
30. Texas A & M

31. Texas Tech
32. Conneticutt
33. Boise St.
34. Penn St.
35. Wake Forest

36. Kansas St.
37. Michigan St.
38. California
39. Oklahoma St.
40. Air Force

Well there you go. Some of it is just educated guesses, I admit. But hey, it's like that for most everyone, right?! Anyway, that's my word, and as always, I have The Final Word.

What do you think?

War Eagle!

November 25, 2007

Ryan Hampton

Just A Few Hours Away!

Just a few hours away until the Iron Bowl! Man, anything can happen this year, so I really can not tell you for sure who will win. But of course, I am a biased AU fan, and I think AU is playing a little better now, and should be rested up with the week off. I pick AU, as I did last blog. I believed I picked 24-14 AU, and I'll stay by that. What a game yesterday evening with LSU vs. Ark!! Oh, and Franchonie left on a good note from TAM with their win over Texas. Anyway, we'll have to find out what happens tonight with the AU vs. UAT game!

The difference in the Iron Bowl and the other games is this: With a loss to any other team, you can find redemption the next week. Against your arch-rival in the Iron Bowl, you have to wait until the next year.

War Eagle!!

Ryan

Iron Bowl, et al

Sorry I have not gotten back to my predictions, nor recap them. I have been fairly busy lately. I was sick, went on a campout, and have been trying to catch up school. I did not do so well on my latest predictions. I picked AU over UGA (but then again I'm biased and can't help it). I predicted UAT over MSU (and would have over LA MONROE!!!). I predicted Ohio St. over Illinois. I missed other games as well. But hey, I said Ohio St. was destined for a loss. I predicted MSU to give UAT a good game- and that they did. I got some of my games right, and in this year, getting over 50% is not real easy. I did have a hunch that La Monroe (La Monroe!!), would give UAT a scare...but a WIN??? You don't know- and that is something I have been saying for a while.

But what about the Iron Bowl?? I am biased, I admit, and I will pick AU. But I do not think that this will be easy, and I will not be surprised if UAT wins. It really depends on a few things: The coaching (could go either way, unpredictable), the quarterbacks (once again, defintely unpredictable), and the turnovers (which is based largely on the unpredictable quarterbacks and coaches. The winner of the turnover game may be the team with the best QB (in terms of least turnovers). And the team with the best QB may be the best coached team for Saturday. UAT could have been Saving (or Saban) up for AU as perhaps they did to UT, but there is a certain amount of talent level that must be present as well which is absolute for all games- and it doesn't take much talent at the level of UAT to beat a team like...say...LA MONROE!! But then again, just a few weeks ago, UAT was on top of their game it seemed. AU started slow, began looking strong, and then kind of went good but dry, and then got whipped against UGA. Could Tubberville had been distracted by TAM offers (if there were any)? He said that "That ain't got nothing to do with it," implying it must have something to do with it, because it doesn't has nothing to do with it.

Anyway, I don't have much time to write these things...so forgive this rambling on, and lack of writing skills. I just wanted to get back before the Iron Bowl game this Saturday. Oh yeah, Happy Thanksgiving!

AU: 24
UA: 14

What do you think?

War Eagle

November 21, 2007

Ryan Hampton

Predictions For This Weekend

Well we are almost to the end of the football season. It has flown by. Usually by this time of the year we know who the good teams are, who the so-so teams are, and who the bad teams are. This year, we're still not real sure. We can though, come up with educated guesses to the winners of games, and to the rankings. Well, with that in mind, here are my predictions:

Auburn vs. Georgia: This is shaping out to be a good game. Auburn plays in Athens, but they have been good their in the past as well. Auburn plays good on the road. But Georgia is playing hot, with a win against Florida, and then a win against an impressive Troy team. I think Auburn has a good defense, that should keep them in any game this season. But Auburn's offense is pretty dull. But a much safer Brandon Cox, and a talented and fresh running game may, just may, be enought. We'll have to find out on Saturday. My prediction...

Auburn: 20
Georgia: 10

USC vs. California: Wow! Who knows with this game! Both teams are somewhat struggling, but still have a lot of talent. I'm not a big Pac10 fan, admitably, being from Central Alabama, so this is somewhat of a guess. But as of now, I am leaning to USC. My prediction...

USC: 35
California: 24

Ohio St. vs. Illinois: Ohio St. is due for a defeat. But they are showing each week to be a good team, playing as if they deserve the number one ranking. I think that they will eventually lose, but I'm not sure as if it will be Saturday. My prediction...

Ohio St.: 38
Illinois: 17

Alabama vs. Mississippi St.: Mississippi St. beat Alabama last year, and is improved this year. But Alabama is improved too. I am not so sure Nick Saban is destined for an upset- at least not this Saturday. Look for Mississippi St. to play tough a while, and hang in a while, but Alabama to pull it off. My prediction...

Alabama: 31
Mississippi St.: 17

Virginia Tech vs. Florida St.: Wow! What a big ACC matchup this is turning out to be. Florida St. is playing hot, but Virginia Tech is not so bad themselves, ranked at number eleven in the nation (twelve in my poll). The question is, could Florida St. stay hot, or did the "over-prepare" for Boston College. I think that is a good and fair question. I think that they will play good. The question is, though, are they good enough for Virginia Tech. Expect a good game. I pick Virginia Tech in this game. My prediction...

Virginia Tech: 24
Florida St. 17

Michigan vs. Wisconsin: This should be yet another good game. But Michigan is playing hot now, where as Wisconsin is playing just "so-so." For some reason, my gut however is telling me Wisconsin. But I think that Michigan is a better team- at least playing better. My head tells me Michigan. I am tempted to make this my upset pick. But I don't think I will. I may regret this, but I predict Michigan to win this game. My prediction...

Michigan: 30
Wisconsin: 20

Florida vs. South Carolina: Another good SEC game here. South Carolina has not been so hot lately, but I keep thinking that they should come on strong. But Florida looked impressive last Saturday over Vanderbuilt. Expect a good game, but I pick Florida. My prediction...

Florida: 28
South Carolina: 14

Tennessee vs. Arkansas: Wow, what a big SEC game this should be. Tennessee is part of the wild, wild, and wacky SEC East. Both are looking great. McFadden looked unstopable last Saturday as he got back in the heisman race. But I think that Tennessee is the better team, with the SEC East to play for. My prediction...

Tennessee: 28
Arkansas: 21

And my upset of the week...I predict...Texas Tech over Texas. I don't know why I predict this, but I have a gut feeling going with Texas Tech this week. I think that they are hungry to beat Texas. The upset I mentally picked last week (I did not write this down so take my word for it!) was Florida St. over Boston College. I was right, so maybe I'll be right here.

Texas Teck: 27
Texas: 17

What do you think?

War Eagle!!

November 8, 2007

Ryan

Recapping the Weekend and My Predictions

Well it was another good weekend of college football. I was 5-1 on my predictions. I was right in predicting that LSU vs. UA would be close for a while, but LSU would pull it out. I did not expect UA to score 34 points on LSU, but then again, a struggling Auburn offense scored 24 on LSU on the road.

I was right by saying that Troy would play UGA closer than many thought. I predicted 35-21 UGA, and it turned out 44-34 UGA. I predicted Troy score at least 20 (I was right) and UGA score less than 40 (I was wrong). I think that Troy is not a bad team, and I think UGA is looking pretty good for the AU game this weekend at home.

I predicted Florida over Vanderbuilt, but I did expect Vanderbuilt to put up a better fight against the high-powered Gators. Still, I got the prediction right as far as who would win, but then again, most people probably did.

I was close on the Ohio St. vs. Wisconsin score. Ohio St. won as I predicted. I predicted 33-21 Ohio St. The final was 38-17 Ohio St. Okay, it was not real close, but it was reasonable close.

My prediction of Kansas over Nebraska was about right, as long as you multiply the score by about two! Seriosly, I predicted Kansas with 35 points, and they scored over double that! Still, just magnified by about two, I predicted the game pretty accurately. I predicted 35-21 Kansas, and it turned out 76-39 Kansas.

And finally, the only one I missed, as far as the winner goes at least, the South Carolina vs. Arkansas game. I predicted South Carolina to win it in a defensive struggle. Arkansas won in and offensive struggle. McFaddin was lights out, and perhaps put himself back into the heisman campaign.

Also, take my word for this or not, by my I mentally picked Florida St. to beat Boston College. Like I say, you don't have to take my word- I did not officially predict this, but it was my gut feeling.

So after this week, I need a top...25, 30, 35, 40, whatever...whatever I go to! So here it is...

1. Ohio St.
2. LSU
3. Oregon
4. Kansas
5. Oklahoma

6. West Virginia
7. Arizona St.
8. Missouri
9. Conneticutt
10. Georgia

11. Michigan
12. Virginia Tech
13. USC
14. Boston College
15. Florida

16. Texas
17. Auburn
18. Hawaii
19. Boise St.
20. Alabama

21. Clemson
22. Tennessee
23. Arkansas
24. Kentucky
25. Troy

26. Florida St.
27. Virginia
28. California
29. Wisconsin
30. Cincinatti

31. South Carolina
32. Wake Forest
33. South Florida
34. Kansas St.
35. Georgia Tech

Well there ya go. When I have more time, if I have more time, I'll try to put in my predictions for this weekend. So stay tuned! Thanks,

Ryan