Let's just get to it. From the "College Football Rules Studios," here we go...
Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin (17) scores a second-quarter touchdown on a 2-yard run on Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998 in Knoxville, Tenn. Trying in vain to bring Martin down is Alabama's Trevis Smith (48). (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)It's here - thank the heavens
College football starts tonight. Tell your significant other that you'll be available for weekend activities again in December and buckle up.
Since Friday is our mailbag day, let's cover a lot of ground with our "Off the top of the 5-at-10 weekend predictions." This will be a Thursday fixture from now until the SEC title game. We'll pick as many as six games and no fewer than three (against the spread mind you) and keep a running tally. We used to dabble in the fine black arts that is the gambling world, before we became bona fide. (Yep, he's a suitor.)
And since this is the first weekend of the season, we'll allow any and all predictions in comments (with the caveat that if you cast - and hit - the biggest prediction, we'll hook you up with some prize down the road).
On to the games:
A Tennessee football fan cheers on the Volunteers Sept. 9, 2006, in Knoxville, Tenn. . Head coach Phillip Fulmer has said that the Vol's losing season in 2005 was an aberration, and the Volunteers are so far proving him right this season with a potent offense that's doing a pretty good impression of the days of Heath Shuler and Peyton Manning. (AP Photo/ Mark Humphrey)-Mississippi State covers the 29 against Memphis tonight. We could force some witty tidbit here, but suffice it to say that Memphis is bad. Real bad.
-We like TCU minus the 4.5 Friday night against Baylor. No Andy Dalton, no problem for the Horned Frogs, who may have one of the nation's top defenses.
-Alabama covers the 38 and goes over the 45.5 by themselves Saturday against Kent State. One of the great things about gambling in the 1990s (uhh, that is if we did gamble in the 1990s - allegedly) was picking Florida and Spurrier to cover big numbers against mediocre foes. It wasn't so much that Spurrier would keep his foot on the gas as it was that the Gators' third- and fourth-strings back then were better than the other team's starters. Same goes for this 'Bama bunch. Add in two guys competing to be the starting quarterback and this is the leader in the clubhouse for "Tail-whipping Game of the Weekend." (Brought to you by Golden Flake, Co-Cola and YellaWood.)
Here are our thoughts on the big questions as the season starts:
SEC champion (and in turn BCS champion): Alabama
BCS runner-up: FSU
Heisman winner: Andrew Luck, Stanford
Defensive player of the year: Tank Carder, TCU
Team outside the top 10 this morning that could crack the title game: Virginia Tech
Three quarterbacks you will know well before October: West Virginia's Geno Smith, Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas and Clemson's Tajh Boyd
Houston Texans running back Arian Foster stretches before a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Twitter: Friend or foe
Big-time running backs Arian Foster and Chris Johnson can avoid tackles way, Way, WAY better than they can avoid social media controversy.
Earlier this week Foster, who suffered a hamstring injury during a Houston Texans' preseason game, thanked fans for their well-wishes and told the people that wanted him to get better to help their fantasy teams to get a life. Yeah, people in various entertainment fields (and football is a sport, but it's a $9 billion industry because it's entertainment, too) should never question the motives of their fans. Be happy people are concerned about your well-being Arian and move along. If too many of the fantasy footballers out there "get a life," as you instructed, then maybe the next time a labor issue pops up the NFL will be splitting a smaller pie.
Wednesday, Foster sent out the MRI of his injured hamstring for all the Twitter world to view. Uh, Arian, why don't you stop tweeting for a while, huh Champ?
Not to be outdone, Titans running Chris Johnson, who has not reported to practice and is mired in a contract squabble, sent out the following Tweet: "I don't have a regular job so don't compare me to you and I can care less if uthink I'm greedy."
Johnson also tweeted to "fake Titan fans" to shut up. Chris, my man, you're right, we don't know what it's like to have a seven-figure deal offered to you and think it's not enough. You're right, we don't know what it's like to decide you don't want to work for the wage you agreed to and not be fired. You're right, we don't know what it's like to have to work one year and make more than most folks do in a career.
But you know what you don't know? You don't know when to shut up. Apparently, you also don't know or realize that the Titans are going to be a bad team with or without you, so why should they pay through the nose for a speed back that is one injury away from being a specialist.
Sidenote: If you were the coach of an NFL or college football team, would you allow twitter? Just curious.
Atlanta Braves' Chipper Jones hits a homerun against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball game, Friday, Aug.19, 2011, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)Chipper and the boys
The Atlanta Braves disposed of the Washington Nationals 3-1 on Wednesday in a workman-like (and much-appreciated) 2 hours and 12 minutes. Well played, indeed.
We have a few things to discuss from last night's quickly played win (and again, with a full weekend of high school and college football on tap, quick baseball games are a blessing):
- Larry Wayne Jones, you may know him as Chipper, hit homer No. 450 last night. He ranks 34th all-time in homers, and the 5-at-10 owes Jones a tip of the fedora. In spring training, we never believed L-Dub would have put together this type of season - he's hitting .276 with 14 homers - after all the injuries he's played through in recent years. In fact, Jones has talked about returning and at this pace that would be a good thing for the Braves.
- Derek Lowe hit his first career home run - he even said he never hit one in little league. Read our ace columnist Mark Wiedmer's report HERE. Wow. More importantly though, it was Lowe's third strong start in a row and that's blessed news for Johnny Braves Fan heading into the postseason. Stat geek warning (if you prefer you can skip to the next item): According to Elias, Lowe is just the third major league pitcher to hit his first home run after turning 38. The other two are Randy Johnson (he was 40 in 2003 when he did it) and Preacher Roe (38 in 1953 when he did it).
- OK, we're back. Craig Kimbrel set the MLB record for saves by a rookie with 41. In typical overpowering fashion, Kimbrel faced three batters and struck out two. He has not allowed a run since Flag Day. Dude is money.
Texas A&M's Mike Kazmierski (92) celebrates with members of the corps after defeating second-ranked Nebraska in College Station, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 10, 1998. Texas A&M won 28-21. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)This and that
- Texas A&M officially announced its plans to break up with the Big 12. Any guess on where they might be headed? That said, if Texas A&M is going to join the SEC in 2012, the league will have to have another new member ready to jump. A divisional schedule with 13 teams seems more difficult to decipher than Mandarin logarithms. If the SEC just adds one, here's saying they make Virginia Tech say no. The 5-at-10 hopes the SEC goes big and grabs Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Kansas. Yes, Kansas. Because while we all are super jacked-up about the start of football, if the SEC adds Kansas, the future basketball contracts - Kansas vs. Kentucky alone is enough for a nine-figure TV deal - will escalate dramatically.
- Pay close attention to the waiver wire this weekend. NFL teams have to trim their rosters from 80 to 53 by Saturday. Ouch.
- The attorney that represents one of the people involved in the bar fight last month with a slew of LSU football players believes there is more warrants in the future of the Tigers football program. "Other arrests could be made in this case that are just as serious as the two already made," attorney Michael Bienvenu told the AP. "This isn't over." The two Bienvenu mentioned are starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson and reserve linebacker Josh Johns. There is no word if the other Tigers of interest have J.J. initials, but we're certain that CSI: Baton Rouge will explore every angle.
Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones signs autographs for fans before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)Today's question(s)
Too many questions today. Simply too many.
In fact, in honor of the free-for-all Thursday feel, the options are limitless:
- In honor of Chipper Jones hitting homer No. 450, who is on your Mount Rushmore (only get four) of Atlanta Braves?
- In honor of SEC expansion, who do you want the SEC to add other than Texas A&M?
- In honor of the start of college football, who wins in the two big games Saturday: LSU vs. Oregon and Boise State vs. Georgia?
- Heck, ask yourself a question and then answer, we don't care and, as Bluto said in "Animal House" - "Grab a beer, don't cost nothing."
Discuss.