Fab 4 picks
OK, we started the season on a see-saw with a fat kid.
It was one-sided and it was no fun.
We're moving - albeit slowly - closer to .500, which carries more weight this year than any other.
But we're about to move into November and we need some good fortune.
Or a fortune teller.
With that, let's try to count on what we know.
Georgia minus-13.5 over Florida. Yes, it's a rivalry, but my belief is strong that a) Georgia is two TDs better than anyone in the country that is not coached by Nick Saban and b) Georgia's defense is historically good.
Ole Miss plus-2.5 over Auburn and over 66. Auburn is traditionally awful after a bye week after a good performance. If Coach Bryan Harsin changes that M.O., well, his team will have a shot. Yeah, I went there.
Kentucky minus-1.5 over Mississippi State. Yes, the cowbells are an issue in Starkville, but simply put UK > than the Fightin' Leaches, especially with two weeks to prepare.
Utah State mince-5 over Hawaii. Any time Hawaii comes to the mainland, my interest is piqued. When it comes to the mainland and plays a 3 p.m. Eastern game - that's 9 a.m. island time friends - then I'm in.
Texas plus-3 over Baylor. More of a feel-pick than anything, and this one feels like a) Steve Sarkisian knows the importance of this one after disappointing come-from-ahead losses to OU and Oklahoma State, and b) the Longhorns know the importance, too, after having an off week to stew about said losses.
Last week: 4-4 against the spread (50%)
This season: 28-30 against the spread (48.3%)
Game 2 and much more
So the World Series has some storylines.
Yes, the series is even at 1 after the Astros hammered Max Fried. That's one.
Yes, Max Fried's continued postseason struggles are disconcerting. That's two.
The TV numbers for Game 1 were released, and well, it's a mixed bag of half-full, half-empty depending on how you want to slosh the liquid in the glass that is about in the middle of the container.
The good: More than 11 million viewers for Game 1 in arguably the worst national match-up for baseball that did not include the Brewers or the Rays among this playoff field. That's up more than 17% from last year.
The bad: Everything is up from the crowd-less broadcasts of the COVID-tainted 2020 and Tuesday was the second-lowest World Series Game 1 ever.
That's three.
Now a couple of stories from the good folks at USA Today.
Columnist Bob Nightengale explains here why he will not use 'Braves' since it's offensive. OK, and he has his own column - not unlike I have mine - but can you pick and choose the facts you want to use and the ones you want to ignore professionally for personal reasons?
Curious about your thoughts on this, and according to this column, it's not a new stance for Nightengale, just one he is making official and explaining now.
That's four.
According to something called Umpire Auditor, the home plate umpire in Game 1 missed 11 calls. Ten of those misses, as noted here by a USA Today story, favored the Astros.
Yes, the Braves won, but in the high-leverage gambling world that is our current sports realm, stats like that are perplexing, no?
That's five.
Now for some good news
Yeah, I prefer to write about the good stuff. We all should really.
It may not sell as well or generate as much back-and-forth, but it's one of the great things about being in sports rather than news.
In fact, one of the many great Earl Weaver quotes that I remember was that the former Baltimore Orioles manager said he turned to the sports page first, because that recorded man's accomplishments. The rest of the paper wrote about failures.
That's not entirely true, of course, but you get the idea.
So with that, let's turn to this video from a high school football game in Alabama.
And before we explain, know this: I'm a sucker for the endings of sappy sports movies. And when you add in some dad storylines, well, pass the Kleenex Mrs. Sportsfan, because it's going to get big-time dusty wherever I am. (Side note: My 11-year-old daughter asks if my eyes are sweating. She gets me. Shut it, Spy.)
And, well, all of those caveats and mea culpas are dwarfed when we get to the stories about soldiers returning home and surprising their kids.
And yes, this video is about a dad returning home, dressing as a high school referee and surprising his son before kickoff.
And yes, my eyes are sweating.
This and that
- Here's Paschall's picks heading into a potentially fun weekend of college football. Side note: Bye weeks are underrated. I used to hate them because Auburn was not playing, but the lack of stress and scheduling and attention to game details - before and during - is refreshing. At least for the older me these days.
- So, UT third-string QB Harrison Bailey is entering the transfer portal. Not sure anyone should be surprised by that revelation, you know?
- Wow, U.S. home prices have passed an average of $400,000 for the first time in history according to this. Not to be Mr. Doomsday or anything and I'm not saying stock up on dried goods and gold bars, but buckets it's hard to see our economy sustaining this pace.
- And here's something you don't see every day. A jury awarded $10 million to a fired former executive who sued for discrimination. The fired former exec was a white a male.
- So here are more details about the behind-the-scenes moves being made by a new Saudi-backed golf league that reportedly will hire Greg Norman as its commissioner. Hmmmmmm.
- Speaking of lawsuits, a few months ago we mentioned the lawsuit by the toddler in the iconic photo that became the cover for Nirvana's album Nevermind. Well, this is another twist. Not sure how mad the now-grown man can be about being used in the photo, since he got a Nevermind tattoo, according to this story.
- Final chance to nominate your favorite college football stadium environment. Whatcha got?
Today's questions
Fire away, friends. We have some mailbag space available, and for those lucky 10 or so still paddling in the Eliminator Pool, remember your picks.
Big picture because this story made the rounds with Lord Saban's 70th birthday on the horizon this weekend:
How much longer do you think Saban will coach at Alabama?
I think with the way he has it rolling he'll go at least five more years, and maybe longer.
As for today, happy birthday to my best friend from childhood, Brent Rhodes. He's not quite as famous as fellow Smyrna native and Campbell High grad Julia Roberts, who is 54 today.
The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on this day in 1886.
Bill Gates is 66. Yeah, I thought he was a little older than that too.
Rushmore of "gates," and be creative.
Have a great day, friends.