Well folks, Thursday night is in the books, and college football season is officially underway. And through just a few games, we’ve already learned a lot.
We learned that Stephen Garcia actually looks like a quarterback this year. And that USC’s defense looks to be in real trouble. We learned that Jacory Harris might throw for 50 touchdowns in 2010. And that it only takes Dave Wannstedt a few quarters to get in mid-season form.
Anyway, with the appetizers out of the way, it’s time to get to the main course. And we’re going to do it by dusting off my Friday picks column, back by the popular demand of none one in particular.
After a slightly above .500 2009 season, I worked hard in the weight room all winter, and expect to do even better this year. I’m even hoping for a New Year’s Day bowl appearance.
As always, the home team is in bold, and the point spreads are provided by our pals at BetUS.com.
If you read my work at all, you know that come the middle of August, I'm a college football introvert.
Nothing else matters. I don't want to go on dates, go to the movies or go to the beach. Baseball becomes a non-existent part of my life until October. I'd much rather spend August locked in my room, figuring out who the backup long snapper at New Mexico State is, and how a change at defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee will impact the Sun Belt race. Don't judge me, that's just how I am.
Well this year has been no different. I feel like I've been writing about college football for six months now, yet somehow, the games haven't even started yet. I've broken down all these teams every way I know how to; the good and the bad, their strengths, weaknesses, whatever. Simply put, I can rattle off Auburn's road schedule easier than I can my own family's birthdays, which is great for you the reader, but bad for my dad who's turning 58 sometime this month.
So with that, here are my college football conference previews. They aren't my usual, long, rambling diatribes, if only because I feel like I've already talked about all these teams from every angle I can. But I do need to get my picks on paper, if only so you have something to make fun of me for at the end of the season.
Also, be sure to check back for the first of my award winning (Ok, maybe not), college football picks column, this coming Friday. Until then, I'll hold you over with a few of my selections for Thursday night, found at the end of this article.
Looking for a reason to be excited about college football season? How about 50 instead? 1. Because With Games Underway: We're finally talking about something other than agents and conference expansion. And not a moment too soon.
2. The Alabama Crimson Tide Going For A Second Straight National Title: We haven't technically had a repeat champion since Nebraska pulled off the feat in the mid-90's (Although USC fans would say otherwise). Regardless, are you betting against Nick Saban? Because I'm sure not.
3. Les Miles Jokes: Nobody likes cracking wise on the LSU coach more than this guy. Believe me. At the same time, if the Tigers don't beat North Carolina this weekend, it could get really ugly in Baton Rouge.
4. The Ron Zook Farewell Tour: Wait, what's that? He hasn't gotten fired yet? Just give it three months.
5. Utah Defensive Tackle Paul Kruger: Why is an obscure defensive tackle from a Mountain West school this high on the list? Because just hearing his name made me think of Mr. Kruger from Seinfeld. Which gave me a reason to watch this video.
6. West Virginia Head Coach Bill Stewart: Who I've decided that from now on, will only be referred to as, "Coach Paul Blart." Who's with me?
I've got a really bad procrastination habit. Most writers do. Mine is especially chronic.
Any excuse I can come up with to avoid doing work, I'm there. Re-runs of Sportscenter? Count me in. Constant Twitter page refreshing? I can't stop. Calling up my family to make small talk? Alright, I've never actually stooped that low, although I have come close.
Yesterday, in the midst of one of those procrastination sessions, I was skimming ESPN.com and came across Matthew Berry's "Bold Predictions," piece on fantasy football. Of course I spent 15 reading it word for word, even though I don't play fantasy football.
Either way, it got me thinking about college football this year. And what were some wacky things that I thought could happen, that no one was talking about? Not stuff like "Alabama is going to lose a game," or "Florida is going to struggle without Tim Tebow." Any clown could tell you that. But what were some really, far out there predictions?
I've got a little secret to confess: I actually like the show Entourage.
Call me crazy. It's ok, sometimes I think I am. Especially after gritting my teeth through another unbearable episode every Sunday night. The show has become a car crashed mixed with one of those really bad American Idol audtions, painful on your eyes and ears, but you just...can't...look...away.
This season has been no different.
Eric has officially turned into Billy Walsh's prophecy: A walking, talking "suit," working for the man, and sipping chardonnay with his fiancee, all while they plan their wedding (Good times. I just hope he turned his penis in to the proper authorities). Turtle's turned every episode into a Dos Equis commercial, and pushed tequila on the American consumer the way a 30-year-old, first time mom pushes pictures of her newborn on unsuspecting friends. And Drama? Well that dude is just pushing 50.
Finally there's Vince, who has slowly but surely become less likeable than Brett Favre throwing football's to high school kids in Mississippi. Which is no small feat. He's dating a porn star, doing drugs and throwing his life away. There may not be a less likeable character on TV.
But as I watched this weekend's past episode, I couldn't help but notice something. How the alcohol/drug/womanizing downfall that Vince is in the middle of, looks eerily familiar. Then I realized where I'd seen it before: This past year with Tiger Woods. A guy who just so happens to be back in the news after finalizing his divorce with Elin on Monday.
After catching a replay of Entourage again last night (again, I don't know why I watched, I guess I'm a masochist) I really started to wonder, who's had a worse year, Tiger Woods or Vinnie Chase?
As we are now just about 10 days from college football season, Aaron continued his month long podcast preview series on Monday, breaking down the Big East with Mark Ennis of CollisionCourseBlog.com. To download this podcast on iTunes, please click here.
This was Aaron's most entertaining preview yet, as he and Mark spent an hour discussing:
- How new Louisville coach Charlie Strong is changing the culture of losing at the school
- What Butch Jones needs to do to maintain success at Cincinnati
- On a bit of a side note, why former Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly will find success at Notre Dame
- How Pittsburgh has finally found stability in the Dave Wannstedt era, and why Mark- hesitantly- has them pegged as his favorite in the Big East
- Why winning the 2008 Fiesta Bowl may have been the worst thing to ever happen to Bill Stewart and West Virginia
- If Stewart can finally get his team over the nine win hump and back into Big East contention
- Why UConn may be the most dangerous team in this conference
On Saturday morning, Twitter officially blew up. Thankfully, it had nothing to do with Justin Bieber.
Nope, Twitter was all a buzz Saturday, as the first AP Poll of the 2010 college football season was released. This two weeks before the start of the actual season.
And despite having no games, exhibitions or in some cases, open practices to base the rankings on, everyone still had an opinion. Why this team was ranked too high. Why that team was ranked too low. Why so and so had no chance of winning eight games, even if they adopted Rich Rodriguez's practice schedule. Basically, anyone who had two opposable thumbs and an internet connection, was sharing their thoughts on the AP Poll somewhere Saturday morning.
As for me, well I wasn't one of those people. Truth be told, I spent most of Saturday morning just thinking. Why people were so excited about the poll to begin with. What these rankings really even mean. And wondering if, (considering that we use these polls- although not the AP- as a barometer to determine who plays for the BCS National Championship) it's time to eliminate them in the pre-season altogether.
When I decided a little over a year about to commit myself to writing about sports, I had no idea what to expect. Would anyone read? Would anyone care? Would I be living in a cardboard box under the train tracks within six months?
While I’m happy to report that I am in fact not living under the train tracks, I have learned a lot over these past 13 months. And one thing that’s surprised me more than anything, is just how much people love to gamble on sports.
Everyone. Young and old. Rich and poor. Degenerates and regular dudes. Basically from what I can gauge, if you’re somewhere between the ages of 18-55, and know what a first down is, you’ve wagered on football sometime in the last calendar year.
Last season, my most responded to articles were my weekly college football picks columns (first one coming in two weeks!). Everybody had an opinion. Why they liked my picks. Why they hated them. Why the pick I made was absolutely, positively the dumbest one they’d ever seen. Until that team covered the following weekend.
Well this year, rather than being caught off guard by all the gambling talk, I’m going to be at the forefront of it. With BetUS.com releasing all sorts of fun college football betting options already, I’ve gone ahead and looked at some of the Over/Under futures bets, and picked out a few that I like, and a few that I don’t. | Of course, by sharing my picks, that almost certainly means I’ll be struck by lightning, or even worse, lose all my money, and end up living under the train tracks. If that happens, it was fun knowing you guys, although I guess I saw it coming.
And finally, as always, feel free to tell me why you agree with my picks, disagree with them, or just think I’m an idiot. It definitely won’t be the first, or last time I’ve heard it.
As we head toward college football season, Aaron continued his look at all six BCS conferences on Wednesday night, when he was joined by Adam Silverstein of OnlyGators.com.
In this action packed preview of college football's top conference, Adam and Aaron discuss:
- Why it will be nearly impossible for Alabama to have a third straight undefeated regular season
- Who are the new faces at Florida that every fan needs to know
- Why Georgia no longer strikes fear in the rest of the SEC
- If Arkansas' comically bad defense has finally caught up with their high scoring offense
- If LSU's Les Miles is really on the hot seat at LSU
- What the differences are between new quarterbacks Cam Newton (Auburn) and Jeremiah Masoli (Ole Miss), both of whom have had trouble with the law
- What Dan Mullen will bring to Mississippi State in Year 2...
Over the weekend I was laying by the pool, taking in some rays and listening to my iPod shuffle, when, after a steady stream of calming, relaxing music, the Colin Cowherd podcast popped up out of nowhere. So much for relaxing, huh?
I'm sure most of you are familiar with Cowherd's work, but for those who aren't, Cowherd definitely knows how to get a debate going. He's equal parts stubborn and contrarian, but never ends a rant without making you think about something differently than you might have previously. Even if you want to strangle him sometimes.
The particular debate Colin had on this day, was whether or not it's acceptable for adults to wear team jerseys, and at what age the act goes from "upbeat fan supporting the team," to "weird old guy who needs to get a life."
While a consensus was never officially agreed upon, it got me thinking: How have the rules of being a sports fan changed over time, and what are they in 2010?
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Well folks, Thursday night is in the books, and college football season is officially underway. And through just a few games, we’ve already learned a lot.
If you read my work at all, you know that come the middle of August, I'm a college football introvert. 
Looking for a reason to be excited about college football season? How about 50 instead?
I've got a really bad procrastination habit. Most writers do. Mine is especially chronic.
I've got a little secret to confess: I actually like the show Entourage.
As we are now just about 10 days from college football season, Aaron continued his month long podcast preview series on Monday, breaking down the Big East with Mark Ennis of 
On Saturday morning, Twitter officially blew up. Thankfully, it had nothing to do with Justin Bieber.
When I decided a little over a year about to commit myself to writing about sports, I had no idea what to expect. Would anyone read? Would anyone care? Would I be living in a cardboard box under the train tracks within six months?
As we head toward college football season, Aaron continued his look at all six BCS conferences on Wednesday night, when he was joined by Adam Silverstein of 
Over the weekend I was laying by the pool, taking in some rays and listening to my iPod shuffle, when, after a steady stream of calming, relaxing music, the Colin Cowherd podcast popped up out of nowhere. So much for relaxing, huh?
Bloguin is the revolutionary blog network specifically focused on helping bloggers get the most out of their websites. We're currently working on building a large network of online communities and hope to expand our blogging coverage to include a wide range of topics. 
The Bloguin Network allows advertisers to promote their products and services to our ever-growing number of visitors. We offer both site-specific ad placements as well as the ability to run a network-wide campaign. If you're interested in working with Bloguin to meet your advertising needs, please contact us.
The Bloguin Network is always looking to expand. We're specifically looking for blogs in the sports, entertainment, and video games field, but are open to adding any type of quality site. If you're a blogger and interested in joining our network, please fill out our application form.
The Bloguin Login gives you full access to everything our network has to offer. Your name and password will work for each and every one of our sites. Signing up is simple, and will allow you to post in all our forums, create member blogs, and access other cool features! What are you waiting for? Create an Account! 