by naternet January 18, 2010
Unnecessarily Early, Throwaway Top 25 for 2010

In an effort to stay somewhat relevant, and to break up the monotony of editing video for work and piecing together a hasty take on the season that was, I thought that I’d throw out my under-researched, off-the-cuff Top 25 prediction for 2010.

  1. Ohio State
  2. Alabama
  3. Boise State
  4. Oregon
  5. Virginia Tech
  6. Texas
  7. Florida
  8. TCU
  9. Iowa
  10. Wisconsin
  11. Georgia Tech
  12. Cincinnati
  13. BYU
  14. Penn State
  15. Nebraska
  16. Pitt
  17. Miami
  18. Utah
  19. USC
  20. Oregon State
  21. UConn
  22. LSU
  23. West Virginia
  24. Arkansas
  25. Navy

Please feel free to discuss. Would you rank anyone lower/higher/not at all?

--Tagged under: college football--

--Tagged under: top 25--

by naternet January 8, 2010

So, Scottie Pippen-Midget Kicker?

I especially like that Gary Coleman was not only involved, but

“apparently climbing on a chair behind me to hit me over the head with a phone (twice).”

I like the fact that Scottie specifically remembers that it was only “twice.”

Well, my mind is officially too blown to continue on any further. G’night…

--Tagged under: scottie pippen--

--Tagged under: midgets--

--Tagged under: gary coleman--

--Tagged under: nba--

--Tagged under: weird--

by naternet January 8, 2010

Well, well, well. You know, Petey, you can’t body board in Puget Sound.

--Tagged under: college football--

--Tagged under: petecarroll--

--Tagged under: rumors--

by naternet January 7, 2010
Nate's Take - BCS Title Game

Look, this game has been broken down from so many angles that it’s going to be impossible for me to provide any meaningful, original insight into this game. We all know about Colt McCoy being clutch, Texas having no solid running game, Mark Ingram’s anticipated struggles with the Texas run defense and the pressure that is going to be put on Greg McElroy to get the ball to Julio Jones. So, let’s just cut to the chase, shall we?

I think that it’s about damn time that Colt McCoy wins something big, instead of being leap-frogged by anyone and everyone. The kid is a gamer who has been overshadowed by Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford most of his college career. By all accounts, he’s a classy kid who has taken it all in stride, and good for him. But I think he’s hungry for something big. Colt will show up with his “A” game tonight, put the Longhorns on his back and lead them to victory. Hook ‘em.

Texas wins, 27-24.

--Tagged under: college football--

--Tagged under: college football picks--

--Tagged under: picks--

--Tagged under: bowl championship series--

by adamrc January 6, 2010
Adam's Take - BCS National Championship

Now that I have officially fallen asleep on most of the Bowl games, I figured I should probably give my take on Championship game. So far this Bowl season the Big Ten has proved that they are much better than anyone has given them credit for this entire season. Now though the focus is on the two highest profile undefeated teams in the country.

When I think about this game my brain is telling me to pick Alabama with their amazing defense and Heisman Trophy running back, but my gut keeps telling me to pick Texas. Colt McCoy came back to win this game, and let’s not forget that Texas’ defense is pretty darn good.

One things for sure, this is going to be a great game.

Texas Wins 34-27

by naternet January 5, 2010
Nate's Take - Orange Bowl

Just a scant three games are left in the college football season. That, I guess, is reason enough to watch this year’s Orange Bowl, a game pitting the enigma wrapped inside a conundrum that is the Iowa Hawkeyes against the Ramblin’ Wreck that is Georgia Tech.

Sure, Tech sounds sexy, with their nu-triple option offense and Leach-esque Paul Johnson at the helm, but they have proven to be almost as frustrating this season as Iowa. Of course, they don’t have a close call to a FCS team, but they do play in the ACC.

On paper, Georgia Tech should blow Iowa out of the water. They’re explosive, high-scoring and play solid defense. But Iowa does feature a Top 10 run defense and…

Okay, I just can’t get excited for this one. At all. Nothing about it makes me want to watch this game, aside from the aforementioned cache of being 1/3 of my college football viewing left for the year. It’s being broadcast on Fox, who has made a habit of shitting all over college football with their half-assed BCS broadcasts for the past few years, and that’s enough reason right there. Add in the heart attack inducing Ricky Stanzi, who is just as likely to throw 4 INTs in a quarter as he is to throw 4 TDs and I have officially checked out. I’m looking forward to the GMAC bowl, starting….now.

What the hell, Iowa wins, 20-18.

--Tagged under: college football--

--Tagged under: picks--

--Tagged under: bowls--

--Tagged under: college football picks--

by naternet January 4, 2010
Nate's Take - Fiesta Bowl

So it’s come time for us to turn our attention to the two undefeated teams playing at the kid’s table of the BCS bowls. Boise State and TCU own some of the best overall records in college football over the past five seasons and all they got was a matchup against each other, instead of a chance to show that they belong with the big, bad Automatic Qualifiers. It’s bullshit, if you ask me.

The BCS is treating two undefeated teams like also-rans and it stinks. Not just for Boise State and TCU fans, but for college football fans in general. Part of the joy of college football is seeing a plucky underdog team, outmatched and outgunned, take down a powerhouse. Well, both of these programs have quietly built themselves up to powerhouse status in their respective divisions and they’re feeling the crush of the glass ceiling that the BCS is imposing on them, for no other reason than their names aren’t Texas or Alabama.

For those of you who are quick to point out the strength of schedule that Boise State and TCU faced this year, I’ll counter with last year’s Utah/Alabama matchup in the Fiesta bowl, where an undefeated Utah team bludgeoned a juggernaut Alabama team for 60 minutes. Or how about Boise State’s takedown of Oklahoma in 2007? This year, TCU’s Mountain West Conference is 4-0 in bowls and TCU itself was 6-0 during the season against teams that went on to play in bowls.

In the end, you play the schedule that you have. Boise State has tried to set up home and home series with a number of AQ teams, all of which turned them down. You might even say that big programs are scurred to face Boise on the Smurf Turf.

But we are where we are. Boise State will be taking on TCU tonight in the Fiesta Bowl and the winner will be able to argue that they should be either #2 or #3 in the final polls, marking the second straight year that a non-AQ team can do so.

Boise has been explosive all year on offense, whether they’re running or passing. Their defense has swung from dominant to simply aggressive and willing. Teams have been able to score on Boise State this year more than in the past and that could end up being a problem.

TCU, on the other hand, has been explosive offensively and utterly dominant defensively. Only two teams scored more than 20 points against the Horned Frogs all year, and most of those points came once the games were decided.

TCU is fast everywhere and would be a nightmare matchup for anyone. Boise is more savvy than overwhelmingly talented. They have swagger and some brilliant playcalling to lean on. Because of this, I think that Boise State is the definite underdog in this game. They have an uphill climb to overcome TCU’s athleticism and talent, but they have shown time and time again that, when confronted with that sort of challenge, they’re up to the task. Still, TCU has been demolishing people all year and Boise State has made their living this year outscoring teams more than dominating them. I think TCU wins this game and makes a case for a few #1 votes in the process.

TCU wins, 24-13.

--Tagged under: college football--

--Tagged under: picks--

--Tagged under: bowls--

by naternet December 31, 2009

Nice to see that, on a network that has been flat-out destroying Leach without all the facts, there is still someone at ESPN with enough integrity and cojones to say, “look, I don’t know all of the facts and don’t forget that there are two sides to this story”.

Good on ya, Matich!

--Tagged under: college football--

--Tagged under: trevor matich--

--Tagged under: espn--

--Tagged under: mike leach--

by naternet December 30, 2009
Nate's Take - Holiday & Outback Bowls

This is a bit slapdash and last-minute, but I’m working on about four different deadlines at the moment in two different mediums, so gimmie a break.

Holiday Bowl

Arizona has a tough defense and a capable offense. Nebraska has a great defense and a piss-poor offense. This one’s gonna be ugly, one way or another. I’m not going to pick against Suh, though.

Nebraska wins, 8-7

Outback Bowl

This one’s going to be a bit of a sleeper. Both of these teams fight hard and are full of overachievers. I think it’s going to be very entertaining all the way through. Something tells me not to pick against Mike Kafka and the Wildcats.

Northwestern wins, 34-30

--Tagged under: college football--

--Tagged under: picks--

--Tagged under: college football picks--

--Tagged under: bowls--

Adam's Take - Holiday & Outback Bowls

Holiday

This game looks pretty straight forward to me. I haven’t seen much of Arizona this year, but their most impressive wins either came earlier in the year (Stanford, Oregon State) or were against floundering teams (USC).

I’m not sure that the Wildcats stand a chance against the Nebraska defense. That, combined with the nicely balanced, but not overpowering Cornhuskers offense should be all that Nebraska needs to take this game.

Nebraska Wins 27-13

Outback

Both Northwestern and Auburn have looked very impressive at times, but have also come up short when they needed big wins. Northwestern however, is coming into this Bowl game riding a three game win streak; two of those games coming against Big Ten powerhouses Iowa and Wisconsin.

The Northwestern defense is going to be key. They’ll need to stop the Auburn run game and force some turnovers. If they can do that, and I think they can, they will win this game.

Northwestern Wins 17-13

--Tagged under: college football--

--Tagged under: holiday bowl--

--Tagged under: outback bowl--

by naternet December 30, 2009
Mike Leach Fired?!

Yup. Texas Tech has fired head coach Mike Leach with cause over this Adam James kerfuffle.

I’ve long been a fan of Mike Leach. I like the guy’s style and panache and wish that more head coaches had his kind of gusto on the sidelines. It’s hard to argue that there are many offensive minds as talented or brash as Leach.

I think that Leach will land on his feet somewhere soon, either as an OC or a head coach. Remember, Rich Brooks at Kentucky stated a while back that he might not return for another year…

All the reports out about Adam James’ personality and demeanor don’t paint him in a good light and Leach himself even stated that Adam’s father, Craig James, was a “Little League Dad.” While I’m not condoning putting a player in a closet (although I just saw a video of the “closet” in question and it’s not a closet), it’s not like he tortured the kid. Something tells me that Adam James is not going to be the most popular kid on the Texas Tech campus in the coming months and I would expect him to transfer.

--Tagged under: college football,--

--Tagged under: texas tech--

--Tagged under: mike leach--

--Tagged under: adam james--

--Tagged under: closet--

--Tagged under: fired--

by naternet December 29, 2009

I have to say that I totally buy Craig James as a “Little League Dad” and even though locking a kid in a cool, dark shed isn’t the most humane thing to do, it’s not like it’s the worst, either.

I’m going to have to come down on the side of Mike Leach on this one. Of course, this might be the death blow for Leach at Texas Tech, where he’s gone through a contentious back-and-forth with the administration before.

With few head coaching opportunities available right now, his best hope would be to catch on as a Offensive Coordinator someplace for 2010 and then find another HC position in 2011. Or, he could just sit out 2010 and write a book on the history of pirates. It’s his call.

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