Although I'm not completely optimistic, I want to atleast hold onto the realistic possibility that some coaches succeed more on the college level than NFL, and the other way around as well. Obviously, KC's defense last year was horrible. But I don't think one could argue that the talent should've indicated a better squad. Let's hope that the schemes that flame out in the NFL can find some success at the college level. I think we'll have some early indicators in the Arkansas game.
Baqui, Wright supposedly tore it up for the scout team last year, but from reading Hurricanes BBSes, Coker is someone who always goes with experience and the fact that Berlin has beaten FSU 2 out of 2 times, there is little doubt that BB is the starter. Yet, people were screaming for Wright to burn his redshirt season (last season) - that is how little faith the Cane faithful had in Berlin AND Crudup. DC has had his chances and he just is mediocre (alot like Ryan Collins who played in the early '90s if you remember him). The hilarious thing is, that Tennessee wanted him badly (along with many others like Texas) but Wright was convinced that Chris Leak was going to Knoxville, thus he signed with Miami. It seemed some other heavily recruited high school QB was thinking about going to Tennessee and also went somewhere else because of Chris Leak.
Agreed on Barnett stealing a game. When everyone doubts him is when he does his best. Honestly, I don't rule out UT or KSU. We seem to do ok against KSU, plus I'm curious how they're gonna be without Roberson personally. As for UT, I just see them coming in expecting an easy win which is when we're at our best. Remember, our team last year SUCKED and we almost beat OU at home because of that. Missou I agree will probably beat us, but Barnett is undefeated against his alma matter. Purify is a stud. He's really picked up the leadership this year too. I was REALLY worried about Calhoun's transfer (I was a big fan of his), but reporteldy the team was so high on Isiaiah Crawford, Brandon Ceasar and incoming frosh Hugh Charles (calling him a potential Darren Sproles type player) that they asked Calhoun to move to WR in February -- when he first declared he was transferring before changing his mind two more times. I'm curious what everyone here thinks of Nebraska. I still think that they're gonna be decent (6-7 wins), but my Grandfather who lives in Nebraska and is as die-hard, bleed red, homer as they come says they're gonna be next to last in the Big XII North. He's really worried about the transition right now. I hope he's wrong. I hope they're last.
An offense that passes it all the time with personnel from a team that's recruited option players for the last . . oh, three decades? http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2004/US/Southwest/02/21/train.collision.ap/story.train.crash.ap.jpg
UH football program on the rise. On that note: I always wondered why UH usually has a better QB than UT or A&M? Sure Ware (Heisman Winner) & Klinger suk azz in the pros but look were they went Mo-town & Cincy. Montana would have suk azz too. Anyway I think Kolb is the best passing QB in TX.
Actually, you might be right. UH's offense is fun to watch. Can't wait for Rice to sh!tstomp them this year in the opening game.
The Owls have a better team this year than you might think. A lot of veteran guys out there. Don't forget they won 4 of their last 5 games to end last season. They've scrapped the stupid idea of trying to pass more, which really screwed up their offense during the first part of last season. This year you will see nothing but the wishbone and its running attack. If you're a betting man, take Rice against the spread at UT. They're going to surprise some people. Possible '94 repeat where Rice humiliated the whorns on national tv? Probably not.
Texas A&M - all I can say is that it should be a lot better than last year. Although we are still young/inexperience on D, we should be a lot faster. Hopefully McNeal will show the maturity that I expect out of him. Murphy should be one of the better WR in the conference and I expect C Lewis to step it up in the backfield.
A&M should consider it a banner year if they manage to squeeze out 5 wins. 9/2 at Utah - L 9/11 Wyoming - W 9/18 Clemson - W 10/2 Kansas St - L 10/9 at Iowa State - W 10/16 at Okla State - L 10/23 Colorado - W 10/30 at Baylor - W 11/6 Oklahoma - L 11/13 Texas Tech - L 11/26 at Texas - L That's five games right there. You know the Clemson game's going to be tough, but I give the Ags the edge since they're playing at home. Colorado might come in there and surprise you if you're not prepared. The last three games are going to get ugly, as the Aggies have very little depth, and they'll be worn down at the end of the year.
Ahh....college football season. The greatest time of year. My wife is from Nebraska, so over the years I've been almost forced to become a Huskers fan. I'm really interested to see them running the west coast offense. I think the fans in Lincoln aren't gonna know what the hell is going on when they see their team actually running something besides the option. They'll probably struggle this year, just because they don't have the offensive weapons to utilize that type of system. The defense should be solid again, but a new defensive coordinator will have something to prove. We usually try to make it up to Lincoln at least once every season to check out a game and visit with in-laws....I'm hoping for the Colorado game, but we'll see. My other favorite teams are FSU and Texas, so I'll be following them very closely. The key to the Seminole's season is the opener against Miami. The Hurricane's have owned us recently, so Rix needs to finally get that monkey off his back and pickup a big win. That guy drives me nuts. Sometimes he can look so spectacular, and sometimes he makes the most idiotic decisions. He's my college football version of Steve Francis . I just don't have much faith in Texas, because it seems every year is the same. Big expectations, but they will lose an early game to an inferior opponent, and then get destroyed by OU. After that they will go on a winning streak, make it to the Holiday Bowl, etc...I'd love for them to prove me wrong this year, and if Vince breaks out I guess anything is possible. God I love this time of year!!!
Something's a little bit different about UT now. I will let you think about what it might be for a while. Here is a hint. It is slightly more relevant than what happened in 1994, when the current seniors were in the fifth grade. Don't forget, Tulsa beat Rice last year, meaning it was a 3-game winning streak rather than a five-game winning streak. And Rice amassed that monumental winning streak against SMU (0-12), Louisiana Tech (5-7), and UTEP (2-11). Rice's five wins came against teams that amassed a combined record of 16-45. If we played this game 100 times, Rice would be lucky to cover the spread three times.
Don't count out the Tigers, even though the Dawgs are loaded. Remember their offensive line surrendered a ton of sacks and is the same group coming back this season. They don't have a feature back (Kregg Lumpkin is lost for the season) and their secondary is thin and inexperienced. The Tigers will have a new, yet veteran QB and are still loaded even with the losses of Lavalais and Mauck. I think the Tigers will go the SEC championship game and beat UGA for the second straight year. And Vandy fans, listen up. You heard it here first: they will win six games this year and go to a bowl game for the first time in forever. They've got the third best QB in the SEC (Cutler) and I have a good feeling about them finally rising out of the cellar. I think if they make it to the Indendence Bowl, Coach Johnson will be beatified. My Bowl Picks (SEC): SEC championship: LSU beats UGA BCS game (possibly championship game)- LSU, Georgia * Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Atlanta, Ga.)- Florida * Outback Bowl (Tampa, Fla.)- Tennessee * Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl (Dallas, Texas)- Auburn 6th and 7th Selections (Listed Alphabetically) - * Music City Bowl (Nashville, Tenn.)- Alabama or Ole Miss * MainStay Independence Bowl (Shreveport, La.)- Vandy or Ole Miss
Right - The stat I was looking for was Rice won 4 out of their last 5. Thanks for the correction. If I were you I wouldn't take your mastery of statistics to vegas by betting on one team to cover the spread 97 out of 100 times. Just a tip.
If I were you, I wouldn't lecture people on statistics after making an absurd recommendation like taking Rice to cover the spread in Austin. And I will take Texas to cover the spread against Rice or any other bottom-feeder in college football in Austin 97 times out of 100, not because I think it's a statistically valid way to choose a winner but because that's how sure I am that Texas will give Rice a similar whipping to last year's.
I don't think any of you guys understand gaming statisics. Has the initial Rice/UT spread been set yet? "The Spread" is determined by the betting pros as the number that will produce even betting on both sides, to even out the take and the payout while the profit is made on the house percentage. It is adjusted as betting imbalances arise so, theoretically the 'game time' spread should go about 50% to either team. You can personally bet ahead of the adjustments in the spread if you feel stongly about the early number but by game time the adjustments to the spread should yield a total betting pool that is balanced for both teams. The truth of the matter is that the professional handicappers are pretty good at match-up assessments. Most anomalies in outcome result from #1 turnovers, #2 injuries and #3 penalties; the unforseeable events that happen during the course of the game. So, bet what you can afford to lose and have some fun. But over the season, even if your somewhat astute, about the best you can do is end up down the 10% house cut.
