From the "Talks to much" studios, let the games begin.
Fab 4 picks
Last week we won three games by half a point. Hey, as Yogi might have said if he partook in the entertainment arts, "A half a point is worth way more than it used to be."
So with that knowledge and a little bit of fun - remember these picks are for entertainment purposes only - let's move to the Fab 4 (plus 1-plus 1 more) picks.
Staff Photo by Dan Henry
Richmond's coach Mike London looks at the scoreboard during the second quarter.Boise State minus-2 over Virginia. The Broncos are used to the travel and the stage. Virginia put a lot of chips in the disappointing loss to Notre Dame two weeks ago, and the Cavs showed the wear and tear in a sleepwalking performance against William & Mary last week. (William played great and Mary really overachieved.) Boise State is physical and has more at stake. Yes, road favorites in night games can be troubling, but there's a real chance beating against UVa and potential dead-coach-walking Mike London may become an entertaining trend to follow.
Tennessee-Florida under 50. We think Tennessee ends the streak. But we thought that last year (and the year before that, to be frank - or billy or jimmy or any one else you may know). So we're a little gun-shy about backing the Vols in what likely will be a pick 'em game come kickoff. We are not gun-shy about the total, however. Defense will be at a premium, and each team will be a little guarded. Again, we think the Vols win, but we really believe this will be a 20-14 game one way or the other.
Texas A&M minus-7 over Arkansas. Buy the half - shoutout Yogi - of course and relax. This is a neutral site game in name only since the Hogs have sputtered and the Aggies have surged out of the gate. This only really has the potential to get one-sided early, and against a dizzying A&M pass rush led by future first-round pick Myles Garrett, that spells really bad news for Arkansas.
Bowling Green minus-1 over Purdue. Bowling Green leads the free world in passing offense at more than 455 yards per game - more than 50 yards per better than Texas Tech and Baylor, which rank second and third. Purdue is 76th in pass efficiency defense. That's not a real good match-up for the Boilermakers, who made need a few boilermakers after this one. (Side note: When your nickname can double as your cocktail of choice, well, that's a plan for the weekend, you know?)
Navy minus-6 over UConn. The Huskies scared the whiskers off the Missouri Tigers last week. Navy don't scare. They run. A lot. Through two games - both wins - Navy has thrown 13 total passes and has 11 rushing touchdowns. Read that again. Now know that Navy has put up 48 and 45 points in its two wins; UConn has scored 48 points total in three games. You're welcome.
Alabama minus-38 over Louisiana-Monroe. Normally, Alabama in a paycheck game does just enough in a vanilla plan to beat an overmatched foe 38-7. This week, though - after the turnover-plagued home loss to Ole Miss - this has the feel of a bloodbath in Tuscaloosa. Alabama certainly has a bad taste in its mouth after suffering its first loss and losing control of its destiny. And this overmatched foe - Louisiana-Monroe - actually beat Alabama in the last meeting between two. This one feels like it could get out of control in a hurry, and remember La.-Monroe allowed 51 to Georgia in 51 minutes.
Last week against the spread: 4-2 (67 percent)
Season against the spread: 9-7 (56 percent)
UT coach Butch Jones walks onto the field in the game against Western Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.---
SEC items of interest
1. Butch Jones in the moment. This is the biggest game of Butch Jones' career in Knoxville, and it has nothing to do with it being the next game. Cliches, mumbo-jumbo and gobbledygook aside, Jones and Tennessee must win. It's been a decade since the Vols have topped Florida, and other than 2012, these have been by and large mediocre Florida teams since Tim Tebow left the program in 2009. Butch is an elite recruiter. He has been an amazing bridge builder. He has been a wonderful ambassador for the program. But he has yet to land a signature win. Yes, he beat a ranked South Carolina team a couple years ago, and that was meaningful. But this is more than that. This is defining moment, whether Butch wants to acknowledge it or not. And that definition, and the emotional ripples that will follow, will be clear come Saturday evening.
2. Sean White to the main stage. Jeremy Johnson's Hesiman train was derailed even before it really got started in an erratic performance in the season-opener against Louisville. Now Johnson's time as the Auburn starting quarterback has been put on hold after throwing six picks - and it could have easily been way more - and a slew of fumbles have sent him down the depth chart. Enter White, the undersized, over-achieving former four-star recruit that is being summoned to save the Tigers season against Mississippi State. No pressure, right kid?
Alabama quarterback Jake Coker warms up for an NCAA college football game against Mississippi on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.3. Alabama rebound. Ball security killed Alabama last week, as the Tide lost the turnover battle 5-0. Quarterback uncertainty didn't help, either. Here's a belief that Alabama gets well in a big way and a lot of people get to touch the ball in a lot of ways.
4. Ole Miss rebound. On the other end of the spectrum, Ole Miss has to regroup and refocus after a week of hearing how special they are. If your are a supporter of the Rebels, you are glad the adjustment comes against a Vandy team that would struggle scoring against the Ole Miss second-team defense. Still, sleep-walking can be dangerous, no matter who is on the other side.
LSU running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs past Auburn defensive back Blake Countess (24) on a touchdown run in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. 5. Leonard Fournette, Grayson Lambert encores. After near-perfect performances last week, the LSU tailback and the Georgia quarterback have less-daunting challenges this week. Fournette and the Tigers go to Syracuse; Lambert leads Georgia against a Southern team that only matches up in marching bands. What can produced after head-turning Saturdays six days ago? We believe each will be fine, even if they are not as spectacular as they were this time last week.
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Golf postseason
The Fed Ex Cup playoffs end this weekend in Atlanta, and the current format, warts and all, will stand.
The debate about changing the format has merit, considering that Jason Day has dominated the last couple of months - in his last eight starts he has four wins and his worst finish is a T12.
Jason Day of Australia, watches his tee shot on the first hole during the final round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Conway Farms Golf Club, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, in Lake Forest, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) But, this is sports, and you have to be the last guy standing, so the playoffs format and the points system have some merit, too.
Here's the scenario for each of the 29 golfers (Jim Furyk WD'ed with a wrist injury), including Baylor School grad Harris English, and how they could win the $10 million prize this weekend at East Lake.
Fore please, rich dudes now driving.
Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce (34) drives to the basket past Orlando Magic guard Jason Richardson (23) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Wednesday, April 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)---
This and that
- Jason Richardson retired. You may say so what? We say, dude was pretty doggone good player. He averaged more than 17 a game over his 13-year career, shot 37 percent from 3, and would dunk on you like few others.
- Another day, another problem for Seattle. Yes, they got Pro Bowl safety Kam Chancellor back from his holdout, but now tight end Jimmy Graham is bellyaching about lack of targets and his role. Seems like a lot of drama could make them sleepless in Seattle. (You liked that didn't you, Chas?)
Atlanta Braves pinch-hitter Freddie Freeman, right, watches a two-run double in front of New York Mets catcher Travid d'Arnaud during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in New York.- Hey, the Braves beat the Mets and actually won a series against someone other than the Phillies. Freddie Freeman's ninth-inning three-run jack was the big blow.
- The NCAA is potentially trying to take a year of eligibility away from student-athletes for playing Fan Duel or Draft kings, because the NCAA believes they are gambling sites. This is the latest ruling that shows the meteoric rise of the daily fantasy sites caught everyone unprepared.
- Giants-Redskins play tonight, and every NFC East game has an eerie feel of intrigue because that division is so wide open.
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Today's question
Mailbag. Yes, mailbag.
Rushmore, yes, we'll have a Rushmore.
Today, Mean Joe Greene turns 69 today.
Rushmore of best football nicknames. Whatcha' got?