Saturday College Football Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 09:18:00 AM EST
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The picks (all 2 units unless otherwise indicated, best bets in BOLD):

TCU -7 over Iowa State (4 units), Georgia Tech +10½ over Clemson, Stanford -10 over Arizona (4 units), North Carolina -6 over Virginia Tech (5 units), Kentucky +10 over Mississippi State, Southern Mississippi +10 over Boise State, Auburn -7½ over Arkansas (3 units), Kansas +25 over Kansas State, Rutgers -7 over Connecticut (3 units), Penn State -3 over Northwestern, Boston College -7 over Army, Navy +8 over Air Force, Indiana +15½ over Michigan State, North Carolina State +16 over Florida State (4 units), Washington +24½ over Oregon (3 units), California +3 over UCLA, Nebraska +3½ over Ohio State (4 units), Miami (Florida) +14 over Notre Dame (7 units), South Carolina -1½ over Georgia (5 units), Texas -7 over West Virginia (5 units), Texas A&M -14 over Mississippi (3 units), LSU -3 over Florida (3 units), Missouri -7 over Vanderbilt (3 units), Maryland -7 over Wake Forest, Washington State +15 over Oregon State, Oklahoma -4 over Texas Tech (5 units), Wisconsin -15 over Illinois.

Open Thread.

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Saturday College Football Open Thread | 46 comments (46 topical)

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Full page ad (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by CoralGables on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 10:31:26 AM EST

taken out in the Ohio State Buckeye student newspaper yesterday,

: Now that (none / 0) (#7)
by Ga6thDem on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 10:44:25 AM EST

is funny! LOL

: /snort (none / 0) (#8)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 10:48:41 AM EST

That makes me feel slightly less dirty for having to root for OSU today.

Testing (5.00 / 1) (#34)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 10:51:08 PM EST

Trying out my new tablet to see if it works! Oh no, autocomplete, that's trouble...

25 games? (none / 0) (#1)
by CoralGables on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 09:37:04 AM EST

Really? No cockroach races to play today?

Who do you like in Furman vs Wofford?(the Terriers averaging 483 yds per game rushing) Or the big match up between Youngstown State vs North Dakota State? (both 4-0)

: Degenerate (none / 0) (#6)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 10:40:01 AM EST

is the word you are looking for but are too polite to use.
Reminds me of a Dick Francis book, "Tip on a Dead Crab." Derives from a story that starts the book, where these guys are in Africa and there are crab races, which crab will be slowest to leave a circle. They get get a tip - one of the crab is a dead.
Obviously, the crab to bet on.

Rep. Paul Broun on evolution (none / 0) (#2)
by Yman on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 09:37:54 AM EST

Broun (Ga.-R. and an M.D.) calls himself a "scientist" and says the Big Bang Theory and Evolution "lies straight from the pit of hell."

... and the earth was created in 6 days and is only 9,000 years old.

Ooops! Don't tell that to the (none / 0) (#4)
by nycstray on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 10:24:45 AM EST

woolly mammoth!


: Maybe one day... (none / 0) (#12)
by desertswine on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 01:36:33 PM EST

we'll be able to clone these things. They haven't been gone all that long and besides it would be fun.

Hope you're wrong 'bout Notre Dame (none / 0) (#3)
by robrecht on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 10:17:22 AM EST

Oregon teams... You predict both will lose??? (none / 0) (#9)
by Cashmere on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 12:13:37 PM EST

I hope I am right predicting that you are wrong on this one... Especially want the OSU Beavs to win.

He's not predicting they'll lose (none / 0) (#10)
by CoralGables on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 12:48:21 PM EST

He's saying if Oregon wins it will be by less than 24½ points, and if OSU wins it will be by less than 15 points.


"What he is saying is . . . ." (none / 0) (#11)
by oculus on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 01:27:55 PM EST

So damn confusing. And what about Mich. at Purdue????


Sorry (none / 0) (#13)
by CoralGables on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 01:42:39 PM EST

a new TL Rule, there is no handicapping a team that counts Mitt Romney as a fan. The Wolverines are now persona non grata.


Come on now (none / 0) (#14)
by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 01:47:39 PM EST

Having so much pity for someone that you can't stop doing something to attempt to lift them just a little can't ruin you. If the Dalai Lama can say one nice thing about George W Bush, certainly the Wolverines cannot be ruined forever....just scuffed


Okay (none / 0) (#15)
by CoralGables on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 02:09:21 PM EST

two somewhat typical Big Ten teams and neither of them ranked. Michigan hasn't won on the road this year and is a 3 point favorite on the road against a Boilermaker squad that hasn't lost at home. Of course the Boilermakers wins have come against the St Mary Immaculate Nunneries, the St Ohlman's School of the Blind Service Dogs, and the St Peter and Paul Street Urchins.

Both have managed a loss against the Golden Domers.

If you have to wager, take the Spartans -3 and hope no shoelace wonder can throw no more than two picks...but gawd they both look bad.


Does Michigan's quarterback not wear (none / 0) (#20)
by oculus on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 06:55:28 PM EST

shoelaces? Velcro? He won today and did NOT have to carry the entire team on his back. Spartans?????


Yea Wolverines (none / 0) (#23)
by CoralGables on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 07:49:10 PM EST

those cold weather teams confuse me and I had to hurry and get to the Gator watching spot without the preview. I'm old and senile and my daughter has reservations to put me in a home. Wolverines, Spartans, you knew who I meant.


But what about the shoelaces? (none / 0) (#25)
by oculus on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 07:58:25 PM EST

: Someone else will have to update (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by CoralGables on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 08:05:38 PM EST

if he still doesn't. When he came out of high school and when he started at Michigan he didn't tie his shoes and no coach had the balls to tell him to grow up.

Back home in Deerfield Beach, Fla., everyone knows Denard Robinson as "Shoelace."
Robinson said he got the nickname as a pee-wee football player because he never tied his shoes. Still doesn't, either.
"He ain't tied his shoes one time since he's been here," quarterbacks coach Rod Smith said.
Smith said he first heard of Robinson's nickname during a trip to Florida last year.
"We went down to recruit Denard and we're calling him Denard, and his coach yells, `Hey, Shoelace,'" Smith said. "`Who's Shoelace?' 'Well, that's Denard.' 'Why do you call him Shoelace, coach?' 'Well, he's never tied his shoes since like the eighth grade.' He always walks around with his shoelaces untied

You've gone pro analyst (none / 0) (#32)
by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 09:29:04 PM EST

: Ha (5.00 / 1) (#35)
by CoralGables on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 11:18:40 PM EST

I'm 1-0 on the season :)
My possible picks for the National Championship are dropping fast. Five gone in just 2 weeks.

by CoralGables on Sun Sep 23, 2012 at 12:00:27 PM EST
If I was predicting, the championship game would match up with one from each side:
Alabama or Georgia or LSU or South Carolina or Florida
vs
Oregon or Florida State or Notre Dame or Kansas State or Stanford or Ohio State
Only the bold are still alive. I forgot Ohio State was on probation so they are done even though still undefeated, and now I'm wondering if I blundered leaving West Virginia off the list.

Thanks ! For the clarification! (none / 0) (#29)
by Cashmere on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 08:28:58 PM EST

My Beavs did win... but it was UGLY and only by 13.. So I guess BTD was right.

Now for the Duck game -- Cannot wait!


Oregon teams win today. (none / 0) (#37)
by caseyOR on Sun Oct 07, 2012 at 12:48:47 AM EST

Oregon Ducks beat the Washington Huskies 52-21.

Oregon State Beavers beat the Washington State Cougars 19-6.

Although not an Oregon team, I like Notre Dame, and the Irish beat Miami 41-3.

By my reckoning, and CG please review my answer here, BTD lost money on the Oregon game and the Notre Dame game. He won money on the Oregon State game.


Oops. BTD lost $$ on Beavers,too. (none / 0) (#38)
by caseyOR on Sun Oct 07, 2012 at 12:50:51 AM EST

I think.


I retract comment#38 and return to my (none / 0) (#39)
by caseyOR on Sun Oct 07, 2012 at 12:52:28 AM EST

original comment. He made $$ on the Beavers game. i think.


: Very comforting you (none / 0) (#40)
by oculus on Sun Oct 07, 2012 at 08:00:16 AM EST

also are stymied by this Sat. a.m. exercise. .

: Okay (none / 0) (#41)
by CoralGables on Sun Oct 07, 2012 at 08:32:03 AM EST

37 Correct, 38 Meatloaf, 39 Correct
Bad day for BTD. A major cash hit taking Miami and the points against the Fighting Irish and their new fangled helmets. If Notre Dame is going this route with uniforms, a change in the boredom of Alabama and Penn State helmets can't be far behind.
For the day for BTD
Record 11-16
Money -17 units

What about baseball? (none / 0) (#16)
by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 02:48:34 PM EST

The San Francisco Bay Area anticipates the possibilities, as both the Oakland Athletics (at Detroit) and San Francisco Giants (hosting the Cincinnati Reds) open the divisional playoffs.

This year's Cinderella story has to be the remarkable resurrection of the A's and their season-ending rush to glory, accomplished with a cast of knockoffs and whodats, led by a sensational all-rookie starting rotation.

My head says that the Tigers' experience will rule and Oakland's gone by next weekend, but my heart says otherwise.

Besides, if that division-clinching three-game sweep of the two-time defending AL champion Texas Rangers didn't speak volumes about the resiliency of the A's, then nothing will. I'd not bet against a young and hungry team that's been winning two out of every three games since July 1, and are just too excited to realize that they're not even supposed to be here.

If you want to talk about a Cinderella team, (none / 0) (#17)
by Anne on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 04:09:39 PM EST

I have one word for you: Orioles.

From the moment the season started, and even when this team started to win, no one gave them a chance, no one. The more one-run games they won, the more extra-innings games they grinded out to a win? Didn't matter to the sports media - the Orioles were just "lucky," or it was just a fluke, and they were all predicting the inevitable collapse. The O's would pull out another win, and the only way you'd ever read a headline about it was if they did it against the Yankees or the Red Sox - and even then it wasn't about the Orioles' win, it was about the other teams' losses.

That all started to change around the time the O's brought Manny Machado up from the minor leagues, and by the time his first week in the bigs was up, he was the AL Player of the Week. And the media finally started to pay attention to the Orioles in their own right.

And so did thousands of Baltimoreans, wary of getting their hopes up after 14 losing seasons. Finally, they started filling Camden Yards with orange and black, finally, Yankees and Red Sox fans didn't outnumber Orioles fans when NY and Boston came to town.

Then there were the guys Buck brought in - guys like Nate McClouth and Joe Saunders and Lew Ford - guys hungry for a second or third chance, who delivered when we needed them to. Or Jim Thome, an old hand who still wanted to contribute, and saw something special. When Markakis went down with the broken hand, that was going to be the beginning of the end, except it wasn't. When Jason Hammel injured his knee, that was the death knell for the rotation, except it wasn't.

And last night, the O's went into Arlington and spanked the Texas Rangers in a 5-1 win, and they did it with a pitcher who had never won there, and had a plus-9 ERA against the Rangers. It was a thing of beauty.

Buck believed, we all believed, and they came through.

Now, the Yankees come to town for two, and this town is going to be so orange the glow might be visible from space. Can we win this divisional series? Well, why not? It's been that kind of season, so why shouldn't the Orioles vanquish another arch-rival?

What about football? Oh, yeah, there's a game tomorrow in Kansas City...first time in 15 years sports fans in this town will watch the Ravens as the undercard to the Orioles game.


I'm very happy for the Orioles (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by lilburro on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 05:42:43 PM EST

my mom is from Maryland and when I was a kid I chose the Orioles as my team. Cal Ripken, Jr. was my hero bar none for several years and my bedroom a shrine with various Ripken posters scattered amongst DogFancy pullouts. Looking back I think there's something slightly amusing in me choosing a player known for his loyalty and reliability instead of someone more flashy (I was a serious kid!) but he really was a great player and a great role model to boot. No disappointments there. I was a fan of Brooks Robinson, too. Lots of great history with the O's.

Anyway I've lost interest in baseball over the years, but I'm glad the Orioles have finally made it back to the postseason. Congrats and good luck!


I am rooting for the Orioles to go (none / 0) (#19)
by caseyOR on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 06:03:54 PM EST

all the way this year. I like a good underdog triumphs story as much as anyone. And the Orioles fit the bill this year.

Usually the much hated Yankees get my American league loyalty. Whitey Ford was a childhood idol. And Joe Girardi and I grew up in the same town. But, like I said, there is something compelling about the underdog, the team that seemed to come out of nowhere to win it all.

Oh sure, I could cheer for the As, but I am generally not fond of any team that resides in Oakland. Plus, I always liked Brooks Robinson.

So, GO, ORIOLES!


: Those poor Nationals get no respect. (none / 0) (#21)
by oculus on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 06:57:27 PM EST

Good luck, Anne (none / 0) (#46)
by NYShooter on Sun Oct 07, 2012 at 02:53:54 PM EST

While I can't root for the Orioles to win, I do hope it goes the full series. The "O" certainly deserve that.

Back in the days, 50's, 60's, & 70's, when I was really into baseball, the Orioles had what was arguably the best bunch of pitchers ever. Guys like: Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar, Mike Flanagan (and, I'm leaving out a lot more.) If they only had a few bats to go with their arms we'd be talking about Two baseball dynasties today.

Again, good luck. And, if the Yanks aren't destined to win it all this year, I hope it's the Orioles that do.


Florida decides to (none / 0) (#22)
by MKS on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 07:27:46 PM EST

put Emmitt Smith back in the line-up to run the ball and beats LSU.

24 straight running plays (none / 0) (#24)
by CoralGables on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 07:52:57 PM EST

This isn't the Steve Spurrier team we all knew and loved.

For the record, BTD is 0-2 picking against the Gators this season.


Just watching (none / 0) (#27)
by MKS on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 08:10:03 PM EST

Johnny Depp in Dark Shadows on cable, and I have just learned that the Moody Blues song, which opens the film, is "Nights in White Satin."

And, I had thought all these years it was "Knights in White Satin." You know the Templar Knights.....

How could I have missed this all these years....


Good music in the film (none / 0) (#28)
by MKS on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 08:13:05 PM EST

I did too! (none / 0) (#43)
by ruffian on Sun Oct 07, 2012 at 11:05:27 AM EST

: Knights on a never ending quest (none / 0) (#45)
by MKS on Sun Oct 07, 2012 at 12:07:09 PM EST

looking for....love, meaning....
It fit with the dreamny nature of the song--sweeping white satin tunics of the Knights Templar....riding through the ages...
But not the actual wording of the song.

Romney will cry in Townhall debate (none / 0) (#30)
by MKS on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 08:35:37 PM EST

to show he cares....He is doing that now on campaign trail.

Cracked me up that he's using the (5.00 / 1) (#33)
by Anne on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 10:40:19 PM EST

catch phrase of the "Friday Night Lights" Dillon Panthers on the campaign trail: "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose."

That's just wrong; Mitt Romney ain't no Coach Taylor, that's for sure.


: I saw that slogan used much better (none / 0) (#44)
by Militarytracy on Sun Oct 07, 2012 at 11:08:00 AM EST

By an Obama group using a photo of a group of uniformed soldiers all crowding around President Obama and hugging him and shaking his hand. It made me teary, I know....what a sap. But for me he did go after the real enemy, he did repair so much of what I personally had felt so violated by.

Is he really? (none / 0) (#31)
by shoephone on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 09:20:52 PM EST

How unpleasant for the rest of us. Maybe the RNC has decided he'll win if he goes all John Boehner.


Ugh (none / 0) (#42)
by lilburro on Sun Oct 07, 2012 at 08:38:37 AM EST

so creepy. TPM today suggests his bounce may be falling a bit. We shall see.


Nick Saban, SEC head whiner. (none / 0) (#36)
by caseyOR on Sat Oct 06, 2012 at 11:35:04 PM EST

In recent remarks Nick Saban, head coach at Alabama, bemoaned the no-huddle fast offense adopted by some teams.

"I think that the way people are going no-huddle right now, that at some point in time, we should look at how fast we allow the game to go in terms of player safety," Saban said on today's SEC teleconference. "The team gets in the same formation group, you can't substitute defensive players, you go on a 14-, 16-, 18-play drive and they're snapping the ball as fast as you can go and you look out there and all your players are walking around and can't even get lined up. That's when guys have a much greater chance of getting hurt when they're not ready to play.
"I think that's something that can be looked at. It's obviously created a tremendous advantage for the offense when teams are scoring 70 points and we're averaging 49.5 points a game. With people that do those kinds of things. More and more people are going to do it.
"I just think there's got to be some sense of fairness in terms of asking is this what we want football to be?"

So, smashmouth football is pretty safe, but speed kills? Really, Nick?

Is Saban subtly suggesting that the refs tamp down the speedster teams? Is he revealing some insecurity about whether 'Bama could beat Oregon, the speediest team of all?