Five Things

1. And the Arkansas RazorBlah Streak continues this week.

After losing to Ole Miss, then playing the softest cupcake of the season, then an 11:21 a.m. kickoff (where both teams and the fans were listless through the first half), we come to the Troy game. Which falls on opening day of deer season (modern firearm) in Arkansas.

Yes, yes, Troy is 7-2, 6-0 in the Sunbelt. The Trojans aren't as cupcake-y as first thought when the schedule was released. But let's be honest here, the only Sunbelt team that would generate some buzz among Arkansas fans is based in Jonesboro, not Troy, Ala.

So if you attend the game or manage to find CSS on your cable or satellite provider, look for empty seats. More empties than in the South Carolina game. (Over/under on number of blaze orange caps and/or jackets in the stands? 57 1/2.)

Next week doesn't look much better. Yes, the game is in War Memorial Stadium against an SEC team. But it's another 11:21 kickoff. And it's opening day of duck season. Oh yeah, it's also against Mississippi State (4-5, 2-3). Given that, nobody can be blamed for choosing a Haydel Game Call over a Hog call.

2. Dear SEC, Please Upgrade To HD

In the wake of yet another SEC officiating blunder the replay officials in the booth of SEC games are watching low-definition TVs. That's right, you sitting at home with your 42-inch HD TV have a better view of plays under review than the guy actually doing the reviewing. Heck, there are people with HD TVs set up at their tailgates. Yet the SEC doesn't have HD for the replay official!?!

Even more troubling, this is an area the SEC could be monetizing. Given the craven chase for every dollar, it's inexcusable Mike Slive hasn't contracted with some manufacturer to be "The Official HD TV of the SEC." If nothing else get the local Best Buy to hook one up and slap a Golden Flake sticker on it.

3. You Can't Say That On TV (NSFW audio!)



4. Recurring Items

SportsJournalists.com Top 25 link is here.

AwfulAnnouncing provides college football announcers' schedules here and the Pammy Award update hasn't been posted yet.

5. M8B Prediction

Will Arkansas (-14.5) cover against Troy?



(Views expressed by the Magic 8 Ball do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog, the blog owner nor this post's author. Advice from the M8B is for entertainment purposes only and not for actual wagering ... especially since the Magic 8 Ball is 6-6 this season.)

This week's games

Heavenly Father, we know that you have been busy this football season with more important things, such as teaching Bob Stoops lessons in humility and cheering on your favorite professional football team (currently undefeated), but we implore thee to now turn your attention to your favorite college football team's final three games. Lord, not that you don't know better than I, but I hear there are a lot of sinners in Pittsburgh, Connecticut, and Stanford. Especially Stanford. So in closing, please guide your squad to play to the best of their abilities, and the coaches to come up with a game plan that puts the ball in Golden Tate's hands every down. In lieu of these prayers being answered, I call on thee for divine intervention to move Urban Meyer to leave Gainesville for South Bend. Let the congregation say amen.

For $800 and the Ramon Escobar Trophy, which Steve Straessle plans to use as a bookend for his Pat Conroy novels, described wonderfully in this month's issue of Arkansas Life, select your winners and e-mail them back to me by 5 p.m. Friday.

Tennessee - Ole Miss
11 a.m., Saturday, CBS
Line: Ole Miss by 4

Arizona - California
6 p.m., Saturday, Versus
Line: California by 1

Oldest Rivalry in the Deep South
Auburn - Georgia
6 p.m., Saturday, ESPN2
Line: Georgia by 4

Texas Tech - Oklahoma State
7 p.m., Saturday, ABC
Line: Oklahoma State by 4

Notre Dame - Pittsburgh
7 p.m., Saturday, ABC
Line: Pittsburgh by 7
* Underdog worth three points

Good luck.
****#****


Are you happy now, Sullivan?



* Note: The above prayer is not intended to be taken seriously by God or insult the fine residents of Pittsburgh or Connecticut.

This time, we are serious

SEC drops the boom on Urban Meyer to the tune of 30 grand for his commentary on the refs.

Yes, yes, because Florida never gets the calls.

Here's the release.

MEYER FINED
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Nov. 6, 2009) – University of Florida head football coach Urban Meyer has been fined $30,000 by the Southeastern Conference for his public comments concerning officiating, Commissioner Mike Slive announced Friday.

The fine is the first since the conference’s Athletic Directors, with the full support of the league’s Presidents and Chancellors, voted to have all violations of SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 enforced by suspensions and fines.

“Coach Meyer has violated the Southeastern Conference Code of Ethics,” Slive said. “SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that the coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from public criticism of officials. The league’s Athletics Directors and Presidents and Chancellors have made it clear that negative public comments on officiating are not acceptable.”

In other news: Enjoy this photo.

Michael Dyer commits to Dakota

Wait, the headline is wrong.
Michael Dyer commits to Auburn in a Friday morning press conference

So there you go, Arkansas lovers, kool-aid drinkers and Nutt haters. Bobby Petrino loses, at least for now, the biggest in-state recruit. Will you now put Bobby P's head on a stick?
The correct answer is, no, unless South Carolina wins tomorrow and then the grumbling begins!

E-mail designs of the week

Vote for your favorite.

Bowl Possibilities

It looks like Arkansas will make a bowl appearance this year. So I came up with the possibilities in a haiku:
Shrevport or Nashville
Bowl desinations for hogs
Win out for Cotton.

Five Things

1. Yet another "Most Important Game in the Razorbacks Season" is upon us.

But does anybody care?

Following that cupcake last Saturday (bonus points if you stayed for the entire game or even watched the entire game) and combined with the 11:21 a.m. kickoff, there is little to no buzz for this game. Perhaps it'll pick up by breakfast on Saturday. We'll see.

This is actually a dangerous time for the UA when it comes to losing the fans.

Next week, Troy plays at Fayetteville. As if playing a Sunbelt team in November isn't bad enough, Nov. 14 is the opening day of deer season (modern firearm) in Arkansas. So tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) will be wearing blaze orange and camo that day instead of cardinal and cream or red and white or whatever it is you call Razorback colors.

Arkansas better win this Saturday or whatever enthusiasm for this football season will be on the verge of slipping away entirely.

2. The South Will Rise Again

Over at Ole Miss, Houston Nutt continues to be the luckiest coach in the SEC. Instead of fans discussing how the Rebels went from top 5 to unranked, from manhandling Arkansas to getting whipped by Auburn, they're focused on this foofaraw about "From Dixie with love" (a bastardized version of "American Trilogy" by Elvis) and how students yell "The South Will Rise Again!" during it.

Background here ... http://www.ajc.com/sports/uga/ole-miss-may-drop-184268.html

Shepard Smith, Fox News and Ole Miss alum, weighs in ... http://sharing.theflip.com/session/05fa6bb33a230502020f4f90ef349de5/video/7100423

The defenders of such practices always trot out the "It's celebrating our heritage, not hate." Fine. Then to celebrate my heritage at Saturday's Arkansas game, I'll be ambushing people traveling on I-540 and scalping the victims. It's about heritage, not hate. The Cherokees Will Rise Again!

3. Hognoxious has nothing on this Mountain West fan ...



4. Recurring Items

SportsJournalists.com Top 25 link is here.

AwfulAnnouncing provides college football announcers' schedules here and the Pammy Award update is here.

5. M8B Prediction

Will Arkansas (-7) cover the spread against South Carolina?



(Views expressed by the Magic 8 Ball do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog, the blog owner nor this post's author. Advice from the M8B is for entertainment purposes only and not for actual wagering ... especially since the Magic 8 Ball is 6-5 this season.)

Letters to Ramon: Week 10

"I'm not falling for your trick of picking for bonus points... All favored teams and probably another 2 - 3 weekend. There is a reason Brent goes overboard on the Blackshirts... They deserve it! Suh for Heisman Baby!" -- Blackshirt Ryan

"I have yet to pick an Arkansas game correctly this year, I hope I start now." -- Brian R.

"I may be nuts, especially since I seem to be the only one with faith in USCe, but travel along with early game and emotions after UT, gotta go with Bobby P." -- Jeff K.

"Do you think Spurrier is done after this year? He’s got to be missing the golf course right now. The Tide’s weakness is at QB, but with that line and Ingram, it doesn’t matter that much. Until Pryor can prove he can make a decision beyond which direction to run, I will pick against OSU. Classic trap game for the Pac-10 leader, but Oregon appears to have a little more focus than those primal scream head-cases at USC." -- Jeff G.

"Some of my picks aren't necessarily b/c I think these teams will win; but I am WILLING them to win!" -- Dorian W.

"Tell Margot and Janis I want some of the water they are drinking. Well, I think they are drinking water." -- School of Noise

"Ahhh, fall is in the air and so are footballs. Does it get any better than this? Well, to be honest it does but football season is pretty dang sweet! Started slow and gaining momentum is SP's way of doing things! The Sem Prog is feeling good this week and thusly will share his keen insights into this weeks Gridiron Glory. To all my dear Arkansas friends who are die hard fans, please forgive me for picking your team. My track record this year has been pick Hogs, Hogs lose. But I have soiled myself enough this year and just can't pick the Gator anymore. Probably going to be Bama but I need the upset points so get a bit tipsy, start a fight, marry a cousin and Geaux Togers!!! Tough call but I think OU is OK so NU is PU! SEMINOLE TRIVIA: Did you know that Florida State has one of only two collegiate circuses in the United States. A unique tradition on the campus of The Florida State University since 1947, the Circus is a year-round program in which FSU students can participate. I have been told I am a clown but this circus actually does have them as well as trapeeze and high wire acts. Really a cool and unique deal." -- Seminole Prognosticator

"While trying to send you my picks just now, our dog (Rowdy) just grabbed something off the table and I've just chased him all over the house to get it back... even at my age, persistence wore him out. Isn't the 'companionship' of a 74 pound lapdog just great? Almost as much work as raising two boys. Anyway, here they are: 1) SOUTH CAROLINA (for no other reason than to take a risk to catch up with the field which I assume will pick the Hogs out of loyalty); 2) LSU (because it might eliviate some of the 'man love' for everything lil' bit found amongst most sports talking heads such as the disgusting Vern Lundquist and admittedly a current strong dislike for AU's cross-state adversary); 3) OHIO STATE (because I need the extra points to catch the boys and that overrides my dislike for the Buckeyes); 4) OREGON (because it isn't quiz time nor a uniform beauty contest); and 5) OKLAHOMA (because Chizik's boys at ISU decimated the Cornhuskers earlier this year). Well, guess I'll have to figure out how to get our game through pay-for-view against that powerhouse Furman (at least they have won a few games this year) Saturday since the War Wagon needs resting." -- Big O

"My lesson for David - don't pick a game just for the extra points! I bet you he is picking almost every team with extra points. It will be interesting this week!" -- Kay S.

"Gotta go with underdogs to have a shot...but I will never pick against the Hogs... ever" -- Jimmie D.

"Big 10 is terrible… can we get rid of this conference?" -- Joe C.

"In 2005, I sucked in the pool and things turned out good for the Horns, so I’m hopeful this year. We’re going to Pasadena baby!!!" -- Yo Sal

"I'll throw in UH as an underdog bonus. They are actually 2 point underdogs to Tulsa. So if I get all 6 games right, how many points is that worth?" -- Danny K.

"It'll be bird v. bird (Ducks v. Hawkeyes) for the national championship - when was the last time that happened (and yes, both Florida and Tejas will drop one before January)." -- Glenn B.

This week's games

This could be a bonus-point bonanza week with four of the five games offering extra points to underdog winners. If all four bonus teams won, a 5-0 would be worth a 14-point swing to the lucky contestant. So can visitors 6-3 South Carolina and 7-1 LSU, or home teams 5-3 Stanford and the 5-3 Blackshirts (I love Brent Musberger but please don't let him call this game because he goes way overboard on the Blackshirts) pull out some bonus points for you? It's double-or-nothing smoothie time, Larry Brannan. I will take a Blue Lagoon and Rockin' Raspberry.

For $800 and the Ramon Escobar Trophy, which Margot Vogel plans to put on display next to the football that Pulaski Academy superstar Sam Vogel is going to intercept and run back for a touchdown in the showdown against Little Rock Christian happening Friday night on ESPNU, select your winners and e-mail them back to me by 5 p.m. Friday.

South Carolina - Arkansas
11:20 a.m., Saturday, SEC Network
Line: Arkansas by 7
* Underdog worth three points

LSU - Alabama
2:30 p.m., Saturday, CBS
Line: Alabama by 7
* Underdog worth three points

Ohio State - Penn State
2:30 p.m., Saturday, ABC/ESPN2
Line: Penn State by 3

Oregon - Stanford
2:30 p.m., Saturday, Fox Sports Net
Line: Oregon by 6
* Underdog worth three points

Oklahoma - Nebraska
7 p.m., Saturday, ABC
Line: Oklahoma by 5
* Underdog worth three points

Good luck.
****#****

Gameday sign of the week

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