From the NCAA ...
University of Mississippi football student-athlete Jeremiah Masoli may compete immediately, according to a decision today by the NCAA Division I Subcommittee for Legislative Relief. The subcommittee’s decision overturns the staff decision to grant the graduate student transfer waiver with the condition that Masoli could not compete until the 2011-12 academic year.
Friday, September 03, 2010
Survey says:
Pick breakdown by percentage
Our expert panel sees the best five games of the week this way
(145 ballots counted):
Utah - 53 percent
Pitt - 47 percent
Michigan - 76 percent
UConn - 24 percent
LSU - 85 percent
North Carolina - 15 percent
Cincinnati - 54 percent
Fresno State - 46 percent
Boise State - 50 percent
Virginia Tech - 50 percent
(145 ballots counted):
Utah - 53 percent
Pitt - 47 percent
Michigan - 76 percent
UConn - 24 percent
LSU - 85 percent
North Carolina - 15 percent
Cincinnati - 54 percent
Fresno State - 46 percent
Boise State - 50 percent
Virginia Tech - 50 percent
Live Fan Feedback: Friday style
Comments on the week from our expert panel of reporters, bankers, doctors, lawyers, ad wizards, lawn guys, bond guys, car guys, pilots, priests, principals, builders, teachers, bums, and nomads.
Continually updated throughout the day...
Yes! Green Wave wins! Suck it, Southeast Louisiana State, you losers! In other news, the Utes prevail decisively over Pitt (in overtime). Yes, Borkowski is tied for 1st place in the top college football pool in the country. Ramon! Ramon! -- Name withheld
I guess I will have to shoot for 4-1. Awful pass. If you're gonna miss on that throw, miss to the sideline. Not to the inside of the receiver. -- Mitchell G.
I love starting the season by losing my one "sure bet" game in OT and starting 0-1. I have never liked the state of Utah and the dislike continues. Seriously, the one thing you cannot do is throw an interception or fumble the ball in overtime. You have to at least give your kicker a chance (although I don't know if the kicker would have made the kick). -- Kazoo
I said to myself stupidly "Oh a Muscle Car... that's not too bad... until I scrolled down." It's the Man Show vs. Little House on the Prairie. I'll have to bring it next time. OR I may start finding very suggestive man poses for my entries. In which case it would be Man Show vs. Chelsey Handler show. -- Robyn E.
Continually updated throughout the day...
Yes! Green Wave wins! Suck it, Southeast Louisiana State, you losers! In other news, the Utes prevail decisively over Pitt (in overtime). Yes, Borkowski is tied for 1st place in the top college football pool in the country. Ramon! Ramon! -- Name withheld
I guess I will have to shoot for 4-1. Awful pass. If you're gonna miss on that throw, miss to the sideline. Not to the inside of the receiver. -- Mitchell G.
I love starting the season by losing my one "sure bet" game in OT and starting 0-1. I have never liked the state of Utah and the dislike continues. Seriously, the one thing you cannot do is throw an interception or fumble the ball in overtime. You have to at least give your kicker a chance (although I don't know if the kicker would have made the kick). -- Kazoo
I said to myself stupidly "Oh a Muscle Car... that's not too bad... until I scrolled down." It's the Man Show vs. Little House on the Prairie. I'll have to bring it next time. OR I may start finding very suggestive man poses for my entries. In which case it would be Man Show vs. Chelsey Handler show. -- Robyn E.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Pick submission designs of the week
One of the contests within Poolsville is to see who can come up with the best design in submitting their picks of the five best games of the week. Here's Week 1's contenders bringing it right off the bat.
Vote for your favorite by posting a comment below.
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| Submitted by DJ Jazzy Josh |
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| Submitted by DJ U-Explicit Johnson |
Harry King: Escobar Trophy Seals Pick'em Deal
Harry doesn't do Paypal, yet loves the Wabbits.
Read his column about The Pool here.
Speaking of King, if Matt doesn't do his version of (Larry) King's Things this year I might leave Poolsville forever. Well, OK, I won't. But I'll be a little bit sad.
Read his column about The Pool here.
Speaking of King, if Matt doesn't do his version of (Larry) King's Things this year I might leave Poolsville forever. Well, OK, I won't. But I'll be a little bit sad.
Live Fan Feedback: Thursday style
Comments on the week from our expert panel of reporters, bankers, doctors, lawyers, ad wizards, lawn guys, bond guys, car guys, pilots, priests, principals, builders, teachers, bums, and nomads.
Continually updated throughout the day...
Notice how “all that is great in college football” didn’t include an Iowa tradition? Even Bevo’s poop made it on the list… -- Yo Sal
This week's picks are very challenging. I see you are still the KING in making selections difficult. Hail to the KING. -- School of Noise
-
From the Bench special edition:
Pitt -- Traditionally if Pitt was going out West to play a Pac 10 team, I am going PAC all the way, but lets face it, Utah is not really a PAC ten school at least not yet. Plus, I figure the Utes are still too confused wondering about what BYU was thinking going independent.
Conn. -- I know that I am going against the grain twice on the home teams. The Big House is going to go nuts when they lose. Rich is on his way out and his team knows it. Uconn is always quicker than most realize. ND found that out the hard way last year.
LSU -- It will be close, but it's the SEC.
Fresno State -- PAC 10 team or should have been but it does not have the tv market.
Va Tech -- I saw Boise State last year in Tulsa at the Doubletree. I was not intimidated. I felt I could have slipped on a uniform and helmet and nobody would have noticed. They look like a bunch of kickers. Plus the BCS honchos have already paid off the refs for this game.
-
A poem, by Danny K.
The season starts. The games are here.
Everyone thinks they're a winner.
Now I've something to do on Thursday nights
Besides beating the wife after dinner.
-
Randi P, motivational speaker:
It is with great pleasure and an over abundance of excitement that I send you my picks for this week... this first week of the greatest season of the year, the week that people across the nation countdown to right after they make their new year resolutions, the week that people who are not participants in a College Football Extravaganza stop and think to themselves every Saturday afternoon during the season, "Man, I wish I would have joined a College Football Pool," the week that brings a smile to faces and puts a twinkle in eyes. From September to January people look forward to the coming Saturday and the games that can make or break a player, team, school and outcome to a College Football Extravaganza! This time of year brings people together. TVs will be checked. DVRs will be set. Parties will be planned. Tailgates will be used. Food will be cooked and/or grilled to perfection. Beverages will be on ice. Cheers will be shouted. Fight songs will be heard. Anticipation has been building and the time his here!!!! Let the games begin and good times roll! 2010 COLLEGE FOOTBALL EXTRAVAGANZA! Can you hear it....
WOOO - PIG - SOOIE!
WOOO - PIG - SOOIE!
WOOO - PIG - SOOIE!
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS!!!!!!
-
Jeff G.'s Weekly Breakdown:
Utah – What conference is Utah in now – WAC/Mountain West/Big Fourteen – I can’t keep up. Pitt can’t seem to win on the road, so I’ll go with the homers.
Michigan - I really want to see UConn win this, but I think Rich Rod will wait until the Big Ten conference schedule to tank.
Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
LSU – the Carolina fans and administration are so pissed about the recent cheating accusations that I have to think Butch will have to keep some of his cheaters at home to save some face. LSU isn’t what they were 3 years ago, but they should be able to handle UNC in that discombobulated state.
Fresno – Cinci’s days of winning went out the door with Kelly.
VTech – We’ll see if this sets the tone for the ACC games this year. I still do not believe the BSU hype and they’ll have a ton of pressure on them being it’s basically a home game for the Hokies. Thank God it’s not in Boise – I can only watch so much of that field before I need Tylenol. Also, Earl might soak the field this weekend = good for VTech running game.
-
Hoping these picks get me off to a solid 2-3 start... -- Hattan
I smell 0-5 in the air. -- Kazoo
Pitt - Because their QB doesn't party in Milledgeville. Boise State - Anarchy in the BCS? Yes please! -- HogTattoo
This is a week of "not quite there" in College Football. Traditional power schools will come out victorious... At least that theory holds true until you get to the Fresno State game, there's where I think coaching continuity will prevail. -- Husker Do
-
The Big O says:
I'm surprised, and a little bit hurt (Ha), by you having left out Auburn's eagle's flight around the stadium fans, but took a shot about tractor parades...I don't think I've seen a tractor on campus ever; for example, the transportation power for the Wreck Tech parade in days of yore being supplied by fraternity pledges carying the floats (ask Trey about boxer shorts, et al back during his Freshman year). Truth is, our mascot is the only (wild or tame) animal (other than a human in a mascot suit) allowed to roam free in or above a football crowd. Can't you just see a wild hog lose in Fayetteville? Or Bevo at Texas? Or LSU's Tiger outside his cage or the enclosed home on campus? Let alone a gator romping about in the Swamp? No, not even Uga whatever number without being leached. Heck, I don't even let my rescue dog Rowdy (75 pounds of pure muscle, half Boxer and the other have, we think, Great Dane) loose in an unconfined area). But back to your comments...I call for neither New World Order nor the BCS. Rather, I'm for the Congress, if necessary, to act, mandating at least an eight team playoff!
Turning to the task at hand, substituting astute reasoning based upon limited research capabilities, but lots of gut feelings, and absent choices based upon some unrelated reason, here are my picks (really guesses being it is the first weekend) for this week -- although I'm disappointed you didn't include ASU v AU, but I know you will include the AU/Clemson game two weeks later because no one can ever figure out what those Tiger Paws are doing early in the year -- or later for that matter. Here goes: (1) Pittsburg, because they likely have a better defense and that usually wins early in the season; (2) Connecticut, because there has to be some basis for that sports correspondent picking them to go to a reasonably good bowl game; (3) LSU, because they have SEC talent which is better than North Carolina talent and hopefully Les doesn't screw it up too early in the season (if he does, NC's coaching is superior and could change the outcome), but if he does, he's toast at LSU; (4) Fresno State, based solely on home field advantage plus a feeling that Cincinnati's best football days are behind them; and (5) Virginia Tech, because of home field advantage and more likely a better defense -- yet who knows about a team that has the highest winning percentage in D1 football over the past 10 years. One thing I know for sure, I can't do as poorly as I did last year even if I tried! War Eagle and Beat dem Indians -- opps, political correctness run amuck, now Red Wolves or something like that.
Continually updated throughout the day...
Notice how “all that is great in college football” didn’t include an Iowa tradition? Even Bevo’s poop made it on the list… -- Yo Sal
This week's picks are very challenging. I see you are still the KING in making selections difficult. Hail to the KING. -- School of Noise
-
From the Bench special edition:
Pitt -- Traditionally if Pitt was going out West to play a Pac 10 team, I am going PAC all the way, but lets face it, Utah is not really a PAC ten school at least not yet. Plus, I figure the Utes are still too confused wondering about what BYU was thinking going independent.
Conn. -- I know that I am going against the grain twice on the home teams. The Big House is going to go nuts when they lose. Rich is on his way out and his team knows it. Uconn is always quicker than most realize. ND found that out the hard way last year.
LSU -- It will be close, but it's the SEC.
Fresno State -- PAC 10 team or should have been but it does not have the tv market.
Va Tech -- I saw Boise State last year in Tulsa at the Doubletree. I was not intimidated. I felt I could have slipped on a uniform and helmet and nobody would have noticed. They look like a bunch of kickers. Plus the BCS honchos have already paid off the refs for this game.
-
A poem, by Danny K.
The season starts. The games are here.
Everyone thinks they're a winner.
Now I've something to do on Thursday nights
Besides beating the wife after dinner.
-
Randi P, motivational speaker:
It is with great pleasure and an over abundance of excitement that I send you my picks for this week... this first week of the greatest season of the year, the week that people across the nation countdown to right after they make their new year resolutions, the week that people who are not participants in a College Football Extravaganza stop and think to themselves every Saturday afternoon during the season, "Man, I wish I would have joined a College Football Pool," the week that brings a smile to faces and puts a twinkle in eyes. From September to January people look forward to the coming Saturday and the games that can make or break a player, team, school and outcome to a College Football Extravaganza! This time of year brings people together. TVs will be checked. DVRs will be set. Parties will be planned. Tailgates will be used. Food will be cooked and/or grilled to perfection. Beverages will be on ice. Cheers will be shouted. Fight songs will be heard. Anticipation has been building and the time his here!!!! Let the games begin and good times roll! 2010 COLLEGE FOOTBALL EXTRAVAGANZA! Can you hear it....
WOOO - PIG - SOOIE!
WOOO - PIG - SOOIE!
WOOO - PIG - SOOIE!
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS!!!!!!
-
Jeff G.'s Weekly Breakdown:
Utah – What conference is Utah in now – WAC/Mountain West/Big Fourteen – I can’t keep up. Pitt can’t seem to win on the road, so I’ll go with the homers.
Michigan - I really want to see UConn win this, but I think Rich Rod will wait until the Big Ten conference schedule to tank.
Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
LSU – the Carolina fans and administration are so pissed about the recent cheating accusations that I have to think Butch will have to keep some of his cheaters at home to save some face. LSU isn’t what they were 3 years ago, but they should be able to handle UNC in that discombobulated state.
Fresno – Cinci’s days of winning went out the door with Kelly.
VTech – We’ll see if this sets the tone for the ACC games this year. I still do not believe the BSU hype and they’ll have a ton of pressure on them being it’s basically a home game for the Hokies. Thank God it’s not in Boise – I can only watch so much of that field before I need Tylenol. Also, Earl might soak the field this weekend = good for VTech running game.
-
Hoping these picks get me off to a solid 2-3 start... -- Hattan
I smell 0-5 in the air. -- Kazoo
Pitt - Because their QB doesn't party in Milledgeville. Boise State - Anarchy in the BCS? Yes please! -- HogTattoo
This is a week of "not quite there" in College Football. Traditional power schools will come out victorious... At least that theory holds true until you get to the Fresno State game, there's where I think coaching continuity will prevail. -- Husker Do
-
The Big O says:
I'm surprised, and a little bit hurt (Ha), by you having left out Auburn's eagle's flight around the stadium fans, but took a shot about tractor parades...I don't think I've seen a tractor on campus ever; for example, the transportation power for the Wreck Tech parade in days of yore being supplied by fraternity pledges carying the floats (ask Trey about boxer shorts, et al back during his Freshman year). Truth is, our mascot is the only (wild or tame) animal (other than a human in a mascot suit) allowed to roam free in or above a football crowd. Can't you just see a wild hog lose in Fayetteville? Or Bevo at Texas? Or LSU's Tiger outside his cage or the enclosed home on campus? Let alone a gator romping about in the Swamp? No, not even Uga whatever number without being leached. Heck, I don't even let my rescue dog Rowdy (75 pounds of pure muscle, half Boxer and the other have, we think, Great Dane) loose in an unconfined area). But back to your comments...I call for neither New World Order nor the BCS. Rather, I'm for the Congress, if necessary, to act, mandating at least an eight team playoff!
Turning to the task at hand, substituting astute reasoning based upon limited research capabilities, but lots of gut feelings, and absent choices based upon some unrelated reason, here are my picks (really guesses being it is the first weekend) for this week -- although I'm disappointed you didn't include ASU v AU, but I know you will include the AU/Clemson game two weeks later because no one can ever figure out what those Tiger Paws are doing early in the year -- or later for that matter. Here goes: (1) Pittsburg, because they likely have a better defense and that usually wins early in the season; (2) Connecticut, because there has to be some basis for that sports correspondent picking them to go to a reasonably good bowl game; (3) LSU, because they have SEC talent which is better than North Carolina talent and hopefully Les doesn't screw it up too early in the season (if he does, NC's coaching is superior and could change the outcome), but if he does, he's toast at LSU; (4) Fresno State, based solely on home field advantage plus a feeling that Cincinnati's best football days are behind them; and (5) Virginia Tech, because of home field advantage and more likely a better defense -- yet who knows about a team that has the highest winning percentage in D1 football over the past 10 years. One thing I know for sure, I can't do as poorly as I did last year even if I tried! War Eagle and Beat dem Indians -- opps, political correctness run amuck, now Red Wolves or something like that.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
A rational prediction for Razorback football
on the eve of a much-anticipated season
For months, Razorback fans and the fans playing media members have unleashed their predictions for Razorback football on the Internet, radio, and in newspapers. Records of 12-0, 11-1, and trips to the SEC championship game are a common refrain on Drive Times Sports.
But if you sat through the 20-degree weather at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl during that chilling night in Memphis, and if that performance by the football team and coach are as burned in your mind from the experience as mine, it's hard to come to the same conclusion.
I just want someone to tell me what exactly is the difference between the team that needed the much-maligned kicker to pull one out in overtime to beat a Conference USA team and the one that so many have their hopes pinned on as the season begins.
So with a dose of reality, I offer this fail-safe prediction for the coming season: 5-1.
Arkansas has five games on the schedule it will win for sure -- Tennessee Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas A&M (sorry, Hattan), Vanderbilt (sorry, Tim the Enchanter), and UTEP (sorry, Destiny).
And the Hogs have one game it will lose for sure -- Alabama. The team that barely won the Liberty Bowl isn't going to magically take out the defending national champion that has a returning quarterback and Heisman-winning running back who will be back from injury in time for the Hogs. And even if he isn't, Alabama is always loaded, everywhere. Tide by two touchdowns.
As Michael in Stuttgart would say, you can take the above to the bank. So there's 5-1, and that takes care of six games. What about the rest?
Here is the real schedule that matters this season:
Sept. 18 - Georgia at Athens
Oct. 16 -- Auburn at Auburn
Oct. 23 -- Ole Miss at Fayetteville
Nov. 6 -- South Carolina at Columbia
Nov. 20 -- Mississippi State at Starkville
Nov. 27 -- LSU at Little Rock
What Arkansas manages in those games will determine whether this season is judged as a success and meets the expectations of demanding fans. Theoretically, the Hogs could win all six. Conversely, they could lose all six.
I don't think either of those will happen. If you take these games and split them at 3-3, that would give the Razorbacks an 8-4 season, and honestly, that's not bad at all in the SEC. But if the team can pull it together, play any sort of respectable defense, have the quarterback keep his cool and be a mature leader, and have the coach not continue calling such a stubborn game plan as he did in the Liberty Bowl, 9-3 is actually possible.
By my calculations, the difficulty factor by game (with worst odds for victory listed first) is in this order: Georgia, Auburn, LSU, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Ole Miss. I reserve the right to change that order should Jeremiah Masoli win his appeal.
So while this edition of Razorback football could actually go anywhere between 7-5 and 10-2, and maybe even make a trip to the Cotton Bowl, I'm sticking with a prediction I know for sure -- 5-1.
Take it to the bank.
But if you sat through the 20-degree weather at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl during that chilling night in Memphis, and if that performance by the football team and coach are as burned in your mind from the experience as mine, it's hard to come to the same conclusion.
I just want someone to tell me what exactly is the difference between the team that needed the much-maligned kicker to pull one out in overtime to beat a Conference USA team and the one that so many have their hopes pinned on as the season begins.
So with a dose of reality, I offer this fail-safe prediction for the coming season: 5-1.
Arkansas has five games on the schedule it will win for sure -- Tennessee Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas A&M (sorry, Hattan), Vanderbilt (sorry, Tim the Enchanter), and UTEP (sorry, Destiny).
And the Hogs have one game it will lose for sure -- Alabama. The team that barely won the Liberty Bowl isn't going to magically take out the defending national champion that has a returning quarterback and Heisman-winning running back who will be back from injury in time for the Hogs. And even if he isn't, Alabama is always loaded, everywhere. Tide by two touchdowns.
As Michael in Stuttgart would say, you can take the above to the bank. So there's 5-1, and that takes care of six games. What about the rest?
Here is the real schedule that matters this season:
Sept. 18 - Georgia at Athens
Oct. 16 -- Auburn at Auburn
Oct. 23 -- Ole Miss at Fayetteville
Nov. 6 -- South Carolina at Columbia
Nov. 20 -- Mississippi State at Starkville
Nov. 27 -- LSU at Little Rock
What Arkansas manages in those games will determine whether this season is judged as a success and meets the expectations of demanding fans. Theoretically, the Hogs could win all six. Conversely, they could lose all six.
I don't think either of those will happen. If you take these games and split them at 3-3, that would give the Razorbacks an 8-4 season, and honestly, that's not bad at all in the SEC. But if the team can pull it together, play any sort of respectable defense, have the quarterback keep his cool and be a mature leader, and have the coach not continue calling such a stubborn game plan as he did in the Liberty Bowl, 9-3 is actually possible.
By my calculations, the difficulty factor by game (with worst odds for victory listed first) is in this order: Georgia, Auburn, LSU, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Ole Miss. I reserve the right to change that order should Jeremiah Masoli win his appeal.
So while this edition of Razorback football could actually go anywhere between 7-5 and 10-2, and maybe even make a trip to the Cotton Bowl, I'm sticking with a prediction I know for sure -- 5-1.
Take it to the bank.
Starting out with a bang
Just imagine this: Auburn fans leaving after an away game. They get to the War Eagle van and it is completely stripped inside and out. The only thing left on the dash was their Kid n' Play CD.
I decided to come up with a haiku about it.
Starting with a bang.
Auburn fans love Kid n' Play.
They have a fan club.
I decided to come up with a haiku about it.
Starting with a bang.
Auburn fans love Kid n' Play.
They have a fan club.
Five Things: Hooray Football!
Celebrate the official end of summer here.
And we're now less than 24 hours until the publication of Harry King's column on The Pool. I have read it and it made me laugh. Welcome aboard Harry.
And we're now less than 24 hours until the publication of Harry King's column on The Pool. I have read it and it made me laugh. Welcome aboard Harry.
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